A Glimmer of Hope

Recovery

Athena POV:

I awoke the next morning feeling extremely groggy and hungry. Daryl was next to me in bed, still sound asleep. I had started to try to get myself around his body and off of the bed, when I felt an intense, deep sharp pain starting in my abdomen that radiated to my vagina, bottom and back.

I inhaled sharply as I tried to move again. "What-what the fuck?" I groaned and fell back down onto the bed. Daryl had started to stir after my failed attempt at getting out of bed. "'Thena? Wha' chu doin' babe?" He asked me sleepily.

"Trying to get out of bed. Failing miserably," I told him. 

"Mmmm.." he moaned sleepily.

I laid back down next to him as he woke himself up. Everything from the previous day came back to me. I started to feel the pain again, all over, radiating. I remembered where it had come from. The Governor helped me realize my only and greatest fear.

I had felt the tears stinging my eyes, but didn't realize when they had fallen. I was so humiliated as I recollected yesterday's events. Why did I feel so groggy though? There had to be an answer. Just then, I realized Daryl had gotten up. I didn't really know how to talk to anyone about what happened yesterday but I would say he's the best place to start.

"Daryl?" I called him tentatively.

"Ya? What's up?" he responded.

"I-I love you. Do you still love me? Like you did before what happened-" my voice broke, asking the question that was on my mind. "what happened yesterday?" I set a small sob escape my lips. I couldn't hold back the tears, as hard as I tried.

Daryl looked at me incredulously. "Are ya insane? 'Course I do, baby." He leaned down then to give me a soft kiss on the lips.

I smiled up at him after our kiss. I started to get up again, but the pain between my legs didn't allow it.

"Ya need to stay in that bed today. I'm takin' care of ya," Daryl said with authority. I smiled meekly up at him.

"You have things to do though and I have to take care of-" a sudden wave of panic washed over me "OH MY GOD! Judith! Where is Judith?!" I started asking loudly.

"Shhh, baby. Judith will be with Rick for a few days. I asked him to take her so that you could recover. I didn't know how you would feel about seein' her, either," he said sweetly, brushing his hand on my cheek. He came back to the bed and sat with me when I started panicking about Judith. 

That made sense. Everyone probably thought I was going to be a little spastic for a while. Which, truly, as hard as I could fight it, I probably would be.

Just then, someone was knocking on our cell's doorway, we couldn't see who because of the sheet we had hung up. Daryl walked over to open up the sheet. It was Rick holding Judith.

"Look who's here, 'Thena. Just the girl you were askin' about." Daryl smiled from ear to ear. He knew that Judith warmed my heart no matter what.

Rick walked in with a small smile and set Judith down next to me. It was amazing how fast she was growing. She was about two months old now and so much more aware of her surroundings.

She cooed and wanted to hold onto my fingers. She brought a genuine smile to my face and warmed my heart. "How's it goin', sweet girl? I've missed you." I told her gently.

She continued to coo at me and play with my fingers as she laid there frustrated all she could do was roll over, just barely.

"Good morning, Athena. How are you feeling?" Rick finally spoke up. He did mornings about as well as I did before breaking into the coffee we ended up finding in the commissary.