Protection (Rick Grimes)

Chapter Eight

Daryl's POV

"Uncle Daryl!" I hear Lyndon yell. Everyone turns and looks at me. I look around and see him running from the lodge and up to me.

"Uncle Daryl, it's mom." He says, out of breath. I jump up.

"What about her?" I ask.

"She's having a panic attack. She locked herself in her room and won't let me in. I can hear her crying." He explains.

"Stay here." I demand and begin running to the lodge. I quickly open the door and run up the staircase and to Danielle's room.

"Danielle, open the door." I demand. I hear her crying making me sigh.

"Go away." She manages to say. I can tell she's gasping for air and I know it's about to lead to her passing out.

"Dani. What's wrong? Why are you having a panic attack?" I ask, trying to sound calm.

"Nightmare." She breaths.

"Let me in, Dani. I'm the only one out here. Just let me in."

Her breathing gets worse making me panic. She's about to pass out. I stand back and kick the door. I hear her squeal, letting me know that I scared her. I kick the door again and again until it's breaks.

I run over to her and she's visibly shaking. Her breathing is short and choppy along with her cries and she is gasping for air. Her eyes are red and puffy and tears are constantly running down her cheeks.

"Dani, calm down. Please, calm down." I practically beg. She lays her head on my chest making me wrap my arms around her.

"Daryl." She breaths making me sigh. She suddenly goes limp, letting me know that she passed out. I lay her down on the bed and look at her. I check her pulse and she's still breathing.

We need to find medicine for her panic attacks. If we don't she could end up needing medical attention like the last time and we don't have that. She could die. The only reason why she ended up in the hospital last time was because it got so bad she literally couldn't breath. She passed out, but she wasn't breathing. That could possibly happen again, and we don't have the equipment or experience to help her if it does.

"Is she okay?" I turn and see Lyndon standing at her door.

"She's fine. She passed out, but she'll wake up in a few minutes." I tell him. He nods and just looks at me. I get up and walk to him.

"I wish Merle was here." He says. I clench my teeth together and sigh.

"Me too, kid. Me too." I say and ruffle his hair. He suddenly wraps his arms around me. I tense and look down at him. I've never been the affectionate type or whatever with anyone except Danielle. Mostly because she is my sister and she really needs me. And because she gets me more than anyone else.

Lyndon has never hugged me before, so I'm kind of shocked by him doing this. He always hugged his mom, but that's all. Well and his past girlfriends, but still.

I slowly wrap my arms Lyndon and just stand there.

"Uncle Daryl?" He speaks up.

"Yeah, kid?"

"Carl told me about mom trying to kill herself."

"How'd he know?"

"He seen her debating and seen you yell at her for it. Then she admitted it to Carl." He says then adds, "I can't loose mom."

"You won't. She won't kill herself." I assure him. He nods and pulls out of the hug. Damn that was a long hug. I can tell he wants to cry, but he forces himself not to. He sighs before leaving the room.