Dangerous | Daryl Dixon The Walking Dead

11

(Cats pov)
I wake up my head rested on Daryl's shoulder I'm surprised he didn't cut my hand off

"Shane's back!" Daryl says as we all stand up and head outside to see Shane hobbling out the car with a heavy rucksack and a limp

"Carl?" He asks looking at Rick

"There's still a chance" Rick tells him and we all look around as we were told Shane didn't go alone

"Otis?" Hershel asks and Shane just looks at him heavy breathing

"No" he breathes out avoiding eye contact I can see Maggie at the corner of my eye a hurt expression crosses her face, her eyes glossy so I rub her back as reassurance that I'm here for her

"We say nothing to Patricia. Not 'till after. I need her" Hershel demands beading into the house. Rick and Shane hold eye contact before Rick pulls him into a hug Shane's eyes are wide

"They kept blocking us at every turn. We had nothin' left. We were down to 10 rounds. Then he said... he said he'd cover me and that I- I should keep goin'. So that's what I did. I just... I kept goin'. But I... I looked back and he... just. I tried" Shane strutters causing me to look up at daryl and shake my head, I don't believe him

"He wanted to make it right" rock assured Shane causing him to rub his hand over his mouth and nods this is just causing Maggie to cry so I hold on to her arm for support

"Cat?" I hear Shane's voice say as he looks over to see I'm back and I just avoid his eye contact "you're back?" He asks

"Yeah" I reply still not looking at him and Daryl notices somethings off he has done since that night at the CDC ever since he saw those Cat scratches on Shane's neck he knew something wasn't right.

The family head in to the house as we all sit outside in silence, too scared to breathe incase it makes too much noise. Everyone tense not knowing if Carl will pull though, Lori clinging on to Rick.

Glenn heads in to the house where Maggie is and I raise my eyebrows at him knowing he has a soft spot for her.

The silence is interrupted by the door creaking open all of our heads turn towards it, Shane leans against the car to try and stand up, Daryls eyes stay on the ground

"He seems to be stabilised" Hershel announces causing all of us to let go of the breath

"Oh, god" Rick exhales dropping down to his knees the older man giving a smile to Lori, then Rick, to me and then to the rest of the group causing us all to smile back. Rick pulls him into a hug

"I don't have words" Lori sobs tears of happiness

"I don't either. Wish I did," Hershel replies honestly "how do I tell Patricia about Otis?" He asks as our group goes silent everyone looks at Shane that's when I notice a clump of hair missing from his head

"You go to Carl. I'll go with Hershel" Rick announces indicating they'll tell her as they silently head in moments later the sobs of Patricia are heard from outside.

After a busy night he set up our tents

"Jumpin' in? Looks like your buddy's moved on from ya" Daryl says pointing at his tent then over to Glenn who's hugging Maggie

"What a snake" I scoff sarcastically before crawling into the tent and getting comfortable in the sleeping bag

"'M glad your back" Daryl tells me so I turn my head to look at him

"Really?" I ask and he nods

"Ain't the same with out ya, Glenn, Dale, Carl, Rick they were all worried about ya" Daryl tells me