Dixon Family Matters

A Family Again

            They stared in disbelief for a second before Rick sprang into action.

            "No!" he screamed, looking back at the farm where the shot had come from. "No!"

            "Daddy!"

            "Daryl!"

            Rick knelt down and was relieved to see Daryl was moving. The hunter raised a hand to the graze on his head.

            "I was kidding," He said as Rick and Shane hauled him to his feet. "Th... kids..." He slurred before his head lolled forward and Daryl passed out.

            Rick glanced back at where Glenn and T-Dog were trying to get a hysterical Sophia an Christian to calm down.

            "Oh my god! Oh my god! Is he dead? Is he dead?"

            "Just unconscious," Rick replied.

            "What the hell happened to him?" Glenn exclaimed as he ran to catch up with them, Christian in his arms.

            "He got hurt," Sophia said, "Before he found us."

            "Where did he find you?" Dale asked, but before Sophia could answer they ehard a strangled cry.

            "Sophia!"

            "Momma!" Sophia ran forward, wrapping her arms around her mother as Carol cried.

            "Is he..." Lori started, staring at Daryl.

            "Passed out," Rick shook his head.

            "Take him upstairs," Hershel said, "I'll take a look at him. Patricia, you want to take a look at the kids? Get 'em something to eat."

            Patricia nodded and walked over to where Carol was now kneeling in front of Christian, looking the boy over.

            "I bet you guys are hungry, right?"

            Sophia and Christian nodded.

            "Alright, come on, let's get you guys something to eat," Patricia said.

            "What about my daddy?" Christian asked and Maggie stepped forward.

            "Hi there, I'm Maggie," she crouched down, "That guy who went inside with your dad and the others? That's my dad, Hershel. he's going to take real good care of your daddy. But in the meantime, why don't we get you and Sophia something to eat and make sure you guys are okay?"

            Christian nodded and Maggie smiled at him before standing up and going inside with him, Carol, Sophia, Patricia, and Glenn.

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            "You wanna tell me how this happened?" Rick asked as he sat on the other side of the bed, watching Hershel clean Daryl's wound.

            "Horse threw me," Daryl replied, "Fell down a cliff, bolt went through my side."

            Rick sighed.

            "What?" Daryl said, "Ya gonna lecture me 'bout how I coulda died?"

            "Thinkin' about it," Rick told him, but Daryl just shrugged, wincing as he did so.

            "But I didn't," he said, "An' I found Christian an' Sophia."

            Rick laughed slightly at how pleased Daryl looked with himself.

            "Told ye I would, didn't I?"

            "Yes you did," Rick nodded, "Where'd you find 'em?"

            "This house in the middle of the forest," Daryl replied, "Looks like they mighta been holed up there for a few days."

            "And my horse?" Hershel finally spoke up, "Any idea where she is?"

            "If it's smart it left the country," Daryl retorted.

            "We call that one Nelly, as in Nervous Nelly," Hershel told him. "I coulda told you that if you'd asked."

            Daryl just shrugged again and Rick sighed in exasperation.

            "I give up," he said, "Just don't do it again."

            "Ain't like we got a ton o' lost kids out in those woods, is it?" Daryl said and Rick nodded. Well, he couldn't argue with that.

            "Alright, done," Hershel said. "You need ta rest. No more gallivanting off on stolen horses."

            "Trust me, I ain't goin' neat them things again," Daryl said.

            Hershel exchanged amused glances with Rick just as there was a knock on the door. He opened it to see Carol, Sophia, and Christian staring on the other side.

            "Daddy!" Christian ran forward and clambered up onto the be

            "Careful Christian," Rick laughed slightly, "Your dad just fell down a cliff, he needs ta take it easy."

            "Ya fell down a cliff?" Christian asked, wide eyed, "Is that how you got hurt?"

            "Sorta," Daryl nodded, "I fell and I accidentally shot myself with my bow."

            "You shot yourself?" Christian asked flatly and Daryl could've laughed at the boy's expression if it wouldn't have pulled at his side. "Daddy, yer supposed to point it away from yourself."

            The other adults in the room laughed and Christian looked around at them all, confused as to what was funny. Rick and Hershel excused themselves, leaving the two recently united families alone.

            "Thank you," Carol said, stepping forward so Daryl didn't need to crane his beck to see her. "For finding Sophia and bringing her back to me."

            "Told ya I would, didn't I?" Daryl said.

            "Well still, thank you," Carol repeated, "I'm just happy both of them are okay."

            "Yeah..." Daryl looked down at where Christian had settled against Daryl's uninjured side and it appeared the boy was falling asleep.

            "Do you want me to take him so you can rest?" Carol offered.

            "Naw, he's a'right," Daryl replied, "Doubt either of 'em have slept much."

            "Probably not," Carol agreed, looking down at her daughter who was leaning heavily into her, eyes drooping. "I should get her to bed." She bent down and kissed his forehead gently.

            "You're a good man Daryl Dixon," she whispered, "Thank you."

            "Thank you Daryl," Sophia murmured sleepily as her mother led her out of the room.

            Daryl laid there for a moment, staring at the spot where Carol had stood. He shook his. Nah, it didn't mean anything. He shifted into a more comfortable position before drawing the sleeping give year old closer to his side and closing his eyes.

Getting closer and closer to Caryl! Also really liking exploring the Rickyl brotherhood.

 

Thanks so much for reading and let me know what you think!