Penance (Book One): Daryl Dixon x Sage Wilson

chapter 7

(Just so everyone is aware, yes not everything is going to be chronologically correct because it aligns with the story line I am going for! I want to make sure that readers have a unique experience reading instead of it being repetitive with every fan fiction. However, the plots are not changing except maybe a few minor things here and there)

"Sage?"

A hand waves over my eyes; as I open them, I immediately find myself backing up against the concrete wall on a thin and hard bed. I look around me, startled. My brain kicked into an immediate fight or flight mode- an overdrive it was stuck in for about a month.

I look up to see Lori, her belly protruding from her small thin self. She was sat at the end of the bed, a concerned look written on her face. By her side stood Beth and Hershel, Beth having a relieved look on her face and Hershel as well. He was carrying a small kit with him, and a friendly old man smile.

I feel my chest start to deflate with ease, as I facially recognize and register everyone.

"Didn't mean to startle you, I can see why you were though.." Lori says quietly. Her eyes look down, gesturing to my body.

I look down, seeing the right side of my body covered in black and blue splotches. I look to the left and see the same, followed with gashes covered with stitching. I wince as I touch the raw and sore site, feeling a sense of relief but helplessness.

"I'm glad to see you're alive," Maggie walks in with Glenn on her hip, smiling at me. I offer her a smile back, nodding.

"Can say I'm glad as well- I'd want to go out in a fashionable way anyways." I say as I lean back into the thin pillow. I point around the room and circle with my finger. "So what it take you guys to clear this whole shit hole out? Pretty nice I'd say," I cross my arms.

"Well," Glenn says as he leans forward against the wall. "This is only two of the four cell blocks there are that are cleared out. We have to find the artillery and ammunition to clear out the others."

"And in order to do that, we need rest and time in our side," Hershel finishes.

"I get that. Well, I'll be up and attempting to kill some assholes again soon, so-"

"No, you will not." Hershel gives me a stern look through his bushy eyebrows. "Sweetheart, you're going to need a good weeks of rest."

"I can't just sit here," I gesture around the room appalled at the statement.

"I was there too not to long ago," Carl walks in with a sheriff hat on and his arms crossed. He has a smile on his face and runs over to me within seconds, softly throwing his arms around me. "Can she help me in the garden with Dad?" He looks back to Hershel with hope in his eyes.

Hershel looks between the two of us and I raise my eyebrows. I didn't like the sound of farming but I'd take it over sleeping all day.

"Fine. But if you break a stitch or start to feel too sore, see me immediately so we can reevaluate your conditions." Hershel says in a warning tone.

I give my fist to Carl and he bumps it, bodies finally starting to leave the room. Carl sits at the end of my bed, looking down at the sheets.

"You doing okay?" I reach out and put a hand on his knee, and he just solemnly nods.

"Trying to distract myself the best I can; I just can't believe Sophia is gone.. I was mean to Carol back on the farm, and I'm sure she's sad too." He sighs, looking away.

"Carl, I'm sure Carol understands you were upset too. Did you apologize?" I raise an eyebrow. He shakes his head, biting his lip.

"Well maybe if you do that you'll feel a little better, yeah? Give me a little bit and I'll have your dad show me the way to the garden." Carl looks at me and smiles, leaving the room and pattering down the hall.

"Knock knock," I knew the voice almost immediately. Can I get a break?

"What, Shane." I say blankly. I see his freshly shaved head peek around the corner, his face written with concern.

"I just wanted to come in and uh.. check up." He sucks on his teeth as he puts his hands on his hips.

"Well I'm fine- thanks for stopping by." I turn away and face the wall.

"Look, Sage. I'm sorry. I don't know how far that'll get me, but I am. I was drunk and stupid, I let the whole Lori thing get to my head- I'm still trying not to let it." I hear him rub his head out of anxiety, and all I could do was bite my tongue. "I owe you one for.. the farm too."

"I'm just going to say this once," I turn to Shane. "I forgive you but not for the sake of your ease of mind. For the sake of the group and especially Carl, I am stopping this whole fucking ordeal. Touch me again you're as good as dead." I turn my head back to the wall, and close my eyes.

Within moments, I hear his boots exit the cell, and I try to get into a position where I could rest for a few before leaving.

Suddenly, the bed shifts towards the end.

"Oh my God I said go away—" I look over and find Daryl sitting at the very edge, his hands clasped as he looks at the ground. "Oh, hey." I say silently.

"Like a like to a roller coaster tryna get in here. How you feelin'?" He looks at me, biting his lip. He had a bandage or two covering his face, but luckily he wasn't beat up too bad.

"I'm fine." I say abruptly.

"I didn't hear fine," he grunts. "Fractured cheek, broken ribs, deep cuts, finger prints on your.. leg?" He almost couldn't say it as if he was trying to depict the images in his mind. "I'm not gonna ask what happened. But did my brother do it." He wasn't asking, he was demanding.

"No. He did hit me across the face a few times and fractured my complexion and bitter ego but other than that I'm fine." I try to crack a joke but he doesn't budge.

"It's not a joke, Wilson." He grunts. "Can't believe that asshole- I thought he was finally dead. But looks like I'll have to finish it myself," he leans back against the end of the bed.

"He let us go, Daryl. That might say something about his character- he's working for a monster. Imagine what we look like to them in their eyes." I sigh, feeling the pressure in my ribs stab me.

No response. I could just hear his breathing.

But within moments, I found myself in an exhausted deep sleep.