𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝔽𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 | Daryl Dixon

28 | LITTLE ASSKICKER

Everything was muffled, voices and crying all mixing together in Tori's head. She just kept hearing that scream, Lori's cries of agony as the blood poured from her belly.

Tori's vision was morphed and fuzzy as her tears dried on her waterline, her eyes refusing to blink. She was swaying on her feet, and someone came over, taking the baby from her arms. Her blood-soaked arms.

She was so out of it, she didn't even know who had taken the girl from her. Grateful that they did though, as she felt seconds away from dropping to the ground. Her panic had gone beyond a meltdown, moving straight to a complete disassociation with her surroundings. She couldn't feel, think, even move. Her body felt numb, her legs only barely keeping her standing.

Daryl had his hand on Tori's back, feeling under his palm how much she was shivering. She wasn't cold. If anything, she was burning up. Her eyes were trained to the ground straight ahead of her, void of anything other than tears and redness. Rick's sobs had stopped rather suddenly. The man kneeling on the concrete, his eyebrows furrowed like he had no idea where he was.

Daryl looked at Tori once again, his hand squeezing her shoulder, silently assuring her that he'd be right back. He went over to Rick, hunching forwards to try and meet his eyes.

"Rick," he called, gently as he could, waving his hand in front of his friend's face. "Rick, you with me?"

"Let me see the baby," Hershel said. Maggie was the one who'd taken the girl from Tori. She handed her down to Carl, letting him take his little sister to Hershel.

"What we gonna feed it?" Daryl asked, leaving Rick alone for a moment. "We got anything a baby can eat?"

"Well, the good thing is, she looks healthy," Hershel said, looking over the girl in Carl's arms. "But she needs formula. And soon, or she won't survive."

"Nope," Daryl immediately shot. "No way. Not her. We ain't losin' nobody else. I'm goin' for a run."

"I'll back you up," Maggie stepped up, her voice choked.

"Me too," Glenn also volunteered.

"Okay," Daryl nodded, "Figure where we're goin'. Beth," he tapped the young girl's shoulder, gesturing for her to follow him away from the others. "Kid just lost his mom, and his dad ain't doin' so hot."

"I'll look out for him," Beth quickly assured.

"And Tori..." Daryl added, more of whisper. "She probably ain't gonna be alright for a bit. Just try and keep an eye for me." Beth nodded again with silent reassurance.

He looked over to the brunette, still looking as haunted as before. Her eyes still glossed over, skin glistening with sweat while she shivered, legs swaying as she stood in her place, gaze cast straight ahead. The thought of leaving her in this moment, tore Daryl apart inside, but with Rick too out of it, he had to be the one to step up and head out.

The Dixon called over to Axel and Oscar. "You two, get the fence. Too many pile up, we got ourselves a problem."

Rick's wavering gaze landed on the axe he'd dropped on the ground. Completely blocking out the people around him, including the squeaky cries of his newborn daughter, he shot up from the ground. He grabbed the handle of the axe, the metal scraping on the concrete.

"Rick!" Maggie tried to call after him. He ignored her, storming up the stone steps, disappearing into the cell block.

"Glenn, Maggie! Vamanos!" Daryl shouted. "Get the gate, come on. We're gonna lose the light."

The couple ran around to the vehicles while Daryl walked over to Tori. She barely registered him approaching as he stood in front of her. His right hand reached out, cupping the side of her face in his palm. Her body jolted, startled by the contact.