Daryl's Precious Gem (Daryl Dixon FanFiction)

47: Reality

"And once the storm is over you won't remember how you made it through,
how you managed to survive.
You won't even be sure, in fact,
whether the storm is really over.
But one thing is certain.
When you come out of the storm,
you won't be the same person who walked in.
That's what this storm is all about." -Haruki Murakami.

It had been exactly nine days since the set up. Right after finding out what had happened to his son Rick chased after Abraham and rode in the vehicle over to Alexandria where Denise patched Carl up and saved his life. It was a miracle that he made it through as I thought for sure that he was dead. The fact that he was alive made me feel slightly less guilty.

After they had left Daryl, Rosita and I tended to the dead. I had stood over Jacks lifeless body and stared at the man I once considered family. Anger bubbled inside me as Jacks menacing laugh reverberated through my mind. No matter how many times I tried to push it out of my mind it was no use. He haunted me.

Daryl, Rosita and I scavenged through the dead saviors before piling the bodies and burning them. As much as I didn't want to return to the clearing where Spencer's body laid I forced myself to.

"What happened to him?" Rosita had eyed me curiously.

"Spencer saved me. Even though he was already injured he jumped in front of me and took the bullet." I swallowed the lump in my throat as Rosita kneeled beside him. Soft growls escaped his lips as he slowly turned into a walker. Thankfully Rosita took care of it before it became an issue.

"Guess he figured he could redeem himself that way." Daryl muttered.

"Spencer did." I sniffled. "Let's take him home. He needs to be buried next to his family."

Rosita and Daryl helped me drag his body back to a truck before loading up all of our finds (guns, knives, bullets, jackets, shoes, and a few walkie-talkies). Alexandria and Hilltop were able to replenish on guns and ammunition that we were now ready and set for the next battle. We split the supplies from the Oceanside supply truck with Hilltop. Olivia was overwhelmed with joy from the amount of inventory we now had. I had helped Tara and Olivia sort through and count through everything the first few days upon returning.

The drive back to Alexandria was slow and quiet. Rosita drove while Daryl and I sat in the back seat. I leaned my head against Daryl's shoulder while I stared blankly at the cream coloured ceiling. Not even sleep could keep my mind at bay. Flashes of Carl's eye being shot and blood splattering over my face consumed my mind for the majority of the week, right along with Spencer taking a bullet for me.

My eyes wandered the community as the sun rose and the birds chirped. Morning dew droplets dripped off the roof of the house as I breathed slowly. I hugged my knees to my chest while I wrapped myself in a blanket.

"No, no, no! Not you too! Don't go! Don't go!" The words replayed in my mind. My head rested on my knees as I gently rocked back and forth.

"Family don't betray their own like that! Daryl and the people of Alexandria are my family! They would never betray me!"

"But here you are betraying them by not revealing your secret." Jacks words haunted me. I pressed my head into my knees as I shook my head.

"What will you boyfriend think when he finds out the truth?" Jacks voice taunted me. I slowly raised my head and eyed the man who sat on the railing.

"You're not real." I said croakily.

"I may not be real but the question still remains the same." He chuckled. "I can only imagine how Daryl will react when he finds out that you're a liar!"