Lost and Found

Song preference: Safe and Sound- Taylor Swift

"Hey." ... "Hey! She's still breathin'. Come on, let's take her back to the group, Rick will know what to d-"
"And if she wakes up? What'll we do then, Daryl? She could be a threat."
"Don't be stupid, Michonne. She's an innocent-"
"Why don't you stop thinking with your eyes and use your mind instead? Look-she's armed."
"Alright then, you carry the knife. I'll carry her."

I only vividly remember that conversation. What I do remember, is a tall-long haired man with a crossbow thrown across his shoulders, picking me up. I was fully awake by that point, but I still kept my eyes shut-only squinting when I felt his short breaths on my neck. What seemed like several minutes later, I heard shouts coming from ahead.

"Daryl? Who the hell is that? Is she bit?!"
"No, Rick. She's weak from all this heat. Just let me take her to Hershel, K?"

Daryl whispered in a very low, but urgent manner. "Hershel will take care of you. But you're gonna have to open your eyes now." On cue, I opened them and the most sweetest pair of eyes were staring into mine. A smirk slowly spreads across his face. Right when I was about to speak, an older looking man with snowy white hair and with a leg missing comes to check me out. "Sweetheart? You alright? Why don't you come on in and we'll get you taken care of." I just now notice that what these group of people called home is a..Jail.

The man with the crossbow slowly lowers me to the ground and keeps one arm around my waist as I limp to an empty jail cell. "Daryl?" Oh. His name is Daryl. "Explain everything to me. She looks exhausted." Daryl proceeds to tell the old man, Hershel, how he and a Michonne were hunting and they came across an empty shack. As they were checking around for useful supplies, he noticed me laying on the ground, trapped in the only bedroom. "(Y/N)? Do you remember any of this?" Daryl watches me with kind and caring eyes. "Yes sir. I was in a group..but we got separated. I stayed there for a few days, but then a herd came and swarmed the shack so I couldn't leave." I continue to say how I haven't eaten a thing in several days, so I must have blacked out. "You are very lucky to be alive, darlin'. Why don't you sleep in here and I'll check on you in a few hours." Hershel must have read what was on my mind or the expression on my face said it all. "Your safe in here. The only thing you'll have to worry about is getting bored." He smiles and walks out.

Daryl starts to turn around. "Daryl?" "Yeah?" "Thanks for savin' my ass back there. I owe you one." He smiles and starts to say something sarcastic in response, but changes his mind and walks out-shutting the cell door behind him.

I slept for what seems like days-but my new friend, Carl, quickly notifies me that it has been 5 hours. I want to ask how in the world he knows, but he quickly answers, "My Dad has a watch." Nice. Keeping up with time in this new world is practically useless.

Before I even have a chance to get up from my jail bunk, Rick Grimes, apparently the leader of this group, comes to have a friendly chat. "Hershel and Daryl tell me you're innocent enough. But I have 3 questions to ask you." "Alright, ask away." Suddenly his face becomes very stern and he slowly turns his head to one side. "How many walkers have you killed? How many people have you killed? Why?" I knew by the type and tone of these questions that Rick and his group have had some misfortunate events. So, I answer honestly.

"10, 1, and because I had to." "And why did you have to?" "She was my sister and because she got bit. A promise is a promise." I knew what he was referring to. Why did I kill the person? He wants to know if I'm trustworthy enough to be with the group. Fair enough. "Daryl hasn't stopped talkin' about yah." He knows a good person just by lookin' at em'. So, I trust yah. You can stay if yah like, but you're gonna have to work for it." "Okay." "Okay."

It's morning (about a week later) and Rick is holding Judith while giving out everyone's job for the day. "Daryl, you and (Y/N) have guard tower watch until noon. Beth-" I didn't hear the rest 'cause I was so happy to be with Daryl for a few hours. I finally have a chance to see who this mysterious crossbowman really is. These past few days have been confusing in how he'll wink or smirk, but won't mutter a word to me. Not since the day I arrived. But today, Daryl Dixon will show me who he really is.

We sit here for a few minutes when I finally say, "Daryl? You were so friendly to me the first day I was here. Now...you've just shut me out. Have I done somethin'?" "No." "... Okay?" As I turn around and watch Maggie and Glenn talk as they kill walkers at the fence, I feel a familiar touch on my hips that I've been longing for. I turn around and a look of lust is filled within the crossbowman's eyes. " "D-" I'm interrupted by the planting of his warm lips on mine. He kisses me very eagerly, almost like he's afraid to lose me. I slowly run my fingers through his long, sweaty hair. He starts to rub my shoulders with thumbs and traces my arm all the way down to the bottom of my shirt. He starts to pull my white tank top up but stops and says "Lay down." I do what he says while climbing on top of his muscular, strong body. He kisses my neck and makes his way up to my lips-very slowly. Nothing too intense happens this time though. No rushing-just patience. I roll over beside him and whisper, "I needed that." He replies, "I needed you." We slowly fall asleep in each other's arms and the last thing I remember is that cocky smirk of his until we're awoken by shift change.