Surviving the Apocalypse

Episode 4

A.N. I completely forgot about the scene with Carl finding the infirmary, so lets pretend that happened lmao. We get a little bit more insight on what the group sees when they look at Daryl. Again a lot of Season 3 consists of Woodbury scenes which I will be replacing with my own! 

       The sun had yet to rise fully when Rick made his way up the cell block staircase. He had agreed with the older teenage boys that they should get the yard cleared and bring in all their cars pretty early. That way they wouldn't have to work in the smoldering heat, and they could begin living the place up inside.

Daryl and Charlotte's door was the first room you came upon when entering the upper walkway. Rick peeked in seeing the boy sprawled out on his back, one hand dangling down to rest on his crossbow and the other wrapped around the little girl. She was curled up against his side, closest to the wall.

He hated to wake the boy, knowing out of all the kids he had trouble sleeping the most. Just as Rick stepped into the room, Daryl flinched and picked his head up, making direct eye contact with the man. He visibly relaxed, huffing out a huge sigh as he lifted his hands to scrub at his eyes.

"Sorry," Rick whispered, checking to make sure the little girl was still asleep, "Go ahead and get ready, if you want to help."

He waited until he got a nod to leave the cell, going next door to Oliver and Nathan's room. Nathan was on the top bunk, facing the wall his body curled up for warmth. Oliver was spread out on his stomach, his face squished into his pillow. Rick walked over and placed his hand on Oliver's ankle, knowing better than to be near any hands or weapons when he woke his people up.

"Hmm?" The boy mumbled, recognizing that it was someone of his group, and not a walker based on how gentle the touch was. A walker would have popped his leg out of socket with the force they use to attack, that is if they didn't just tear his leg apart by the knees.

"Time to wake up. If you want to help outside, we're about to start." Rick spoke, keeping his voice low enough to not disturb Charlotte next door.

The man watched as Oliver lifted his head while breathing in deeply, ending with a wide yawn. His lanky body barely fit on the bed as he stretched to his body's full potential. Rick couldn't help but to chuckle at the sleepy teenager, while reaching up to repeat on Nathan.

"I'm awake." Nathan cleared his throat, his voice raspy from sleep, as he rolled over to sit on the edge of the bed. Rick could tell the boy had been crying at some point during the night, reminding Rick that the boy hadn't been able to properly grieve either of his parents.

"Alright, we'll be waiting downstairs." Rick let the two know and then walked down the metal staircase, joining the small group waiting. Everyone except Lori, Beth, Carl, Charlotte, and Hershel would be working outside today. Lori and Beth were tending to the old man, while Carl kept a close eye to ensure their safety. Charlotte was just too young to help with what they were doing today.

They waited another five minutes, mostly in silence due to the fact that everyone was half asleep. Finally, Daryl came out of his cell pulling a shirt over his head, unaware of the eyes on him. Even though the teen tried desperately to hide the scars coated across his back, the group had seen them a time or two intentionally. Rick averted his eyes, not wanting the boy to feel awkward or embarrassed, everyone else following his lead.

Most of the pale slashes were on Daryl's back, but he had a few on his stomach. He had one on his thigh which Rick had seen on accident when Daryl was getting out of the pool at the Red Roof Inn, his boxers clinging to the marred flesh. He remembered the way the boy had snatched the wet fabric down covering the blemish, a tank top covering his upper marks.