Kaleb was missing from my tent when I woke up. There was light chatter from outside, not loud like normal. I put on somehting fairly new, a pair of blue super skinny jeans and a black tank top. I left my hair in the braid from yesterday and unzipped the tent.
Everyone was around the fire for breakfast except Daryl. "Where's Daryl?"
"Went looking for Sophia," Carol said quietly.
"And he didn't wake me?" I asked.
"Think he wanted to go alone, to get things done easier," Shane said.
"Makes sense," I said.
Glenn stood up when Maggie walked out of the house. He started towards the house without a word to us.
"They making a run?"
"Yeah," Rick said.
"And you didn't ask me?"
"They need some alone time."
"Oh!" I practically squeaked.
Chuckles emerged from the group at my moment of realization.
"I can't just sit around here doin' nothing."
"occupy the children with your humor," T-dog said.
"I ain't funny," I said.
"Not intentionally."
I made a face, making everyone laugh, before I grabbed a fresh apple from a fruit basket. "I'm gonna go find something useful to do."
I walked into the Greene house and looked around. "Has anyone ever taught you how to knock?"
"Jimmy, don't be so rude," Patricia said.
"It's fine, I should've knocked."
"Is there something you need?" she asked.
"Yeah, just curious on something I can do here," I said.
"Well I could use some help with dinner."
"I'd be happy to help."
While I was chopping up onions I heard shouts from outside. I ignored them, thinking it was Shane arguing with Dale, then went back to chopping up the onions. I dropped the knife, cutting my finger in the process, when a gunshot rang out.
I pushed open the screen door and cupped my eyes so I could see better. I gasped when i saw Rick and Shane carrying a passed out Daryl.
I took off running. I hopped the fence and let my feet carry me to them. "What happened?" I asked in a panic tone.
"He was shot."
"Is he alive?"
"Yeah, just passed out."
"Who, who shot him?" I whsipeed.
"Andrea."
I watched Daryl as he was laying on the bed as Hershal sewed up his side wound. He held an icepack to his head while he looked down at the map that was in front of him.
"What happened to my horse?" asked Hershal.
"If it's smart it left the country."
"That's Nelly, as in nerous Nelly, would've told you she would knock you off if you asked."
Daryl winced as the last stitch was closed and finished.
"All finsihed here," Hershal said.
"We're gonna go get on this trail."
And with that Daryl and I were alone. "You feeling alright?" I asked him.
"Peachy," he muttered as he laid back with the icepack still on his head.
"Least your alive."
He grunted and rolled onto his back. "Whatever," he mumbled.
"If your gonna start getting this way with me like you are with everyone else I won't say with you to listen to it."
"You know where the door is," he said with no emotion.
I stood up. "Yeah, I do."
I was sitting in the kitchen with the group while dinner was being served. "Do you mind running this into Daryl?" Rick asked.
"I do mind," i said and bit into my biscut.
"Carol," Rick said.
"I'll take it."
I smiled graciously at Carol as she slipped from the kitchen. "Everything alright?"
I nodded. "Yeah, just catching a drift of Daryl's assholeness."
"Damn, finally getting to ya huh darlin?" Shane asked.
I rolled my eyes. "Bet you like that don't ya?"
I walked through the field slowly, my bow slung across my back as I moved through the high grass, the wind blowing my hair all into my face. I stopped to push it from my face just as I was grabbed from behind. I screamed and heard the snarls. The Walker had it's nasty fingers tangled roughly in my hair as I fought to keep his nails and teeth from screatching me. Over my screams I heard a loud bang. I felt pain in my lower stomach and then another bang.
I fell to the ground instantly as the Walker fell next to me. I was gasping as Rick hovered over me. "Oh my god," he whispered.
"Rick, hurts," I muttered in pain.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Hershal, now," i gasped as the pain got worse.
He lifted me off the ground and into his arm. "HERSHAL!" he shouted as he approached the house.
Maggie ran out first. "Oh god," she whispered.
"She was shot."
"How many people are gonna get shot?" she asked which caused me to actually crack a smile thorugh my pain.
"Last one, I promise."
I groaned as I opened my eyes. "And she's responsive," Hershal said. I saw him wiping blood off his hands and I heard a set of footsteps coming into the room.
"How is she?" I heard Lori ask.
"Just woke up actually," hershal replied.
"Water," I said bluntly as I tried sitting up.
"No, don't try sittin' up," Lori said as she placed me back onto the pillow. "I'll bring you up some water alright?"
I gave a slight nod before dozing off again.
I woke up, startled, when a glass was placed on the bedside table. "Sorry, I tried being quiet."
"It's fine," I said groggily.
"Daryl has been fightin' the bit to see you, we didn't want him in yet in case you were still mad at him."
"Is he better?"
"Yeah, was on his feet just a few minutes ago."
"How long was I out?"
"A good couple days, thought you were gonna," she stopped.
"Turn?"
"Yeah, you were unresponsive."
"I've always been stubborn."
"So, do you want to see him?"
"Of course," I said.
"Okay, I'll send him in."
My breath was taken away when Daryl walked into the room. "How is your head...and side?" I asked with a small smile.
"I should be the one asking you that question," he said as he pulled an old wooden chair over to the side of the bed.
"You can lay with me."
"I'm fine with the chair."
I smiled at him. "So your feeling okay?" I asked.
"Are you?"
"My side hurts a bit but other than that I'm fine."
"You should'nt have been out there alone."
"Well excuse me for actually thinking for once I was safe," I said.
He leaned over to me and brushed my hair out of my eyes with a soft look in his blue orbs, a look that I've never seen.
"No where is safe," he whispered.
"I know, I was stupid to think I was for once."
"Not stupid, just nieve."
I smiled lightly at him. "Come here," I whispered.
"What?"
"I need you," I whispered to him.
"Your hurt."
"I don't care, the pain will go away," I whispered as I reached my hand up to touch the side of his face.
"No, when your better I'll do whatever you want, I ain't riskin' it now."
I groaned. "Your an ass."
He smiled lightly. "I don't want to hurt you."
"Please, the worst that can happen is that my stictches will break."
"Which can cause bad damage."
"I love you," I whispered. As soon as I said that I felt as though I shouldn't have. His eyes changed as he stood up.
"I'll um, I'll see you around."
"Daryl, wait," I begged.
But he didn't listen. He walked from the room and shut the door behind him. Who would've known that things changed from three little words? TBC
