Lost | Daryl Dixon

19 - Over&Over

Elizabeth's POV

I avoided looking up as I played with the food on my plate as we all awkwardly sat around Hershel's table. I kept beside Dale, avoiding a pair of eyes that kept on me as I scraped at the food, forcing myself to eat knowing how scarce food was.

"Does anybody know how to play guitar?"

I glanced up, Glenn was placed on the kids' table, as was Maggie, with the two teens due to lack of table size. He smiled brightly, trying to diffuse the awkward silence as everyone ate their food. I felt dark brown eyes piercing into my cheek - fully aware I was avoiding looking at him. "Dale found a cool one. Somebody's got to know how to play."

"Otis did." I looked down as Patricia answered, feeling an embarrassed silence build again.

Hershel nodded, smiling gently at Patricia. "Yes, and he was very good too."

I heard some paper crinkle and looked up as Maggie and Glenn passed notes between themselves, a carved look from Dale and Hershel. I pulled a face, glancing towards Carol. 'Daryl?' I mouthed, pointing to the food. Carl was being fed regularly and asleep now, so I knew he'd get some. She nodded, and I glanced towards Hershel.

"I hope you'll excuse me and Carol, we're going to bring some food to Daryl," I nodded my head to him, in respect. He looked at me carefully but nodded - I had a feeling although he wasn't a fan of any of us, he was in favour of the few us at least attempting to show respect to him and his land. I smiled in gratitude, grabbing a clean plate and loading it as Carol took mine and hers to be washed.

I kept my eyes away from Shane and Lori, I couldn't bare to even share the table with them, but I did only because I needed to make them confess, calmly - and Dale had agreed to mediate. But, the dinner being so awkward rescinded that opportunity.

I nodded at Patricia as I walked out of the room, "Thank you again, Patricia, for helping."

Carol walked through the hall with me as I felt like the ring on my neck was burning my skin. She glanced at me. "You okay?"

I blinked. "I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile. She didn't look convinced, but opened the door as a bandaged Daryl turned on his side to face us. Carol placed him a glass of juice down, and I held up the tray as she smiled at him.

"How are you feeling?"

"As good as I look." He groaned, turning back away. I awkwardly placed the tray beside the glass.

"We brought you some dinner," Carol commented, he turned back around. "You must be starving."

He looked at us awkwardly, and I stood in surprise as Carol leaned down and pecked his head bandage - as did he. "Watch out, I got stitches." He responded, avoiding the affection.

She didn't seem to care, glancing at me a moment, before back at him. "You need to know something," She started. "You did more for my little girl today than her own daddy ever did in his whole life."

He blushed lightly at the ears, shuffling in the bed. "I didn't do anything Rick or Shane wouldn't have done."

"I know," She smiled. "You're every bit as good as them. Every bit."

She nodded to me and gave him one last look of kindness, before leaving the room and closing the door. He turned and thought about what she said for a moment, almost forgetting I was there, before I walked to the window of his room and jutted it open. "What're you doin'?"

"I owe you two cigs," I replied, grabbing his lighter left on the other end table. "And I am in desperate need of one." He groaned as he sat up, I looked at him worriedly. "Don't stand if you need to rest, you can have yours later."