I'll Always Find You (A Daryl Dixon X Reader)

CHAPTER 1: The Beginning

It had started out as a normal day. I kissed Shane goodbye as he left for the Kings County Police Station, being a Deputy and all, along side Rick Grimes who was the Sheriff. I made Charlotte's lunch, woke her up and we both got ready for our day. Everyday I checked myself over in the mirror and grabbed the small purple vile around my neck praying for a good day. I dropped her off to Lori and Rick's so Lori could take her to school for me and I went to the hospital. I had become a nurse, just like I had always dreamed about. My shifts lasted early morning all the way until Charlotte would get out of school.

I was working through some of my last rounds of patients when my cell phone rang in my pocket.

    "Hey, Babe." Shane said on the other end of the phone.

    "Hey, hun. What's up?" I asked curiously.

    "Any chance you can get Charlie from school today? We got a, uh, call for some back up in the next county over. I don't think I'll make it back in time to get her today." He asked.

    "Well, yeah of course I can. I hope it's not something serious. You be safe now, you hear me, Shane Walsh? You come home to me in one piece." I warned and I heard a chuckle on the other end of the line.

    "You got it, Mrs. Walsh. I'll bring home dinner." Shane said.

    "Ha-ha." I said sarcastically. "Okay. And since I know he can hear me. That goes for you too, Rick. Be safe out there." I pointed out.

    "Don't you worry, Y/n." Rick's voice echoed in the background. "We got this."

    "Bye, babe. Love you."

    "And I love you." I said and then hung up the phone. "Jenny?" I called out to my coworker.

    "What's up?"

    "That was Shane. He's on a call and I've got to go to get Charlie. Take care of these last two for me?" I questioned showing her the last two charts and she chuckled.

    "Of course. Go on, now."

    "Thanks."

I quickly clocked out and grabbed my coat heading out the door of the hospital. I drove just down the road and made it to the kids elementary school. When I got there and I walked outside, I noticed Lori waiting too. We smiled and waved at each other.   

    "Hey." I smiled.

    "Hey." Lori grinned as I stood next to her. "How are you?"

    "I'm good. Real good. How about you?"

    "Eh, you know. Good, same things as usual going on." She chuckled.

    "Ah. I know that look. So, how are things with you and Rick?" I asked cautiously. I knew they'd been having some troubles.

    "We had a fight this morning. It got ugly. Hurtful." Lori explained exasperatedly. "If I'm being honest, I was being the asshole. He was trying so hard to be reasonable. You know how he gets. It just... Pushed my buttons all the more. I mean, Jesus. I just want him to yell and have it out with me sometimes for god sakes. Tell me I'm being a bitch if that's what I'm being. I'd take that over the damn silence all the time, you know?"

    "I'm sorry, Lori. You can't beat yourself up over it." I said softly touching her arm with my hand.

   "Easy for you to say." She chuckled. "You and Shane are the definition of a perfect marriage. You're so great to each other. How do you do it?"

    "I wish I could say that." I pointed out with a laugh. "Believe me, Shane has no problem expressing his opinions. He's a bit of a hothead in case you've never noticed. When we fight, we do try to make sure Charlotte isn't around... In case things ever do get out of hand... But usually we're able to just take a break and then talk. I don't know how to explain it. But I repeat it's far from perfect." I shrugged.