Protection (Rick Grimes)

Chapter Thirty Seven

I turn at the sound of my name and see Rick. I drop my crossbow and literally sprint towards him. I jump into his arms and knock him down.

"Rick." I cry onto his shoulder. He grips me tightly and I can hear him crying as well.

"I thought I lost you." He says.

"I'm not going anywhere." I promise him. I get off of him and help him up. "Is...is everyone okay?" I ask.

"Everyone's fine. What about Daryl?"

"Same Daryl as before." I smile. I go get my crossbow and motion for Rick to follow me.

As we walk back to the cabin, Rick keeps his arm around my waist and occasionally kisses my temple or the top of my head.

"This is where you were staying?" Rick asks.

"Yeah. Every since a day after we got separated." I tell him.

"We came across this cabin. Me and Chelsea searched it. Y'all weren't here." He says. My eyes slightly widen.

"So it was you and Chelsea who broke into the cabin while we were gone?" I ask.

"I guess so." He shrugs. I sigh, still finding it shocking that we missed them by maybe a couple of minutes that day.

I tell him to wait outside as I walk to the door. I open it and stick my head inside.

"Daryl? Can you come here?"

"Everything okay?" I hear him ask, but he doesn't get up.

"I just need your help with moving fire wood." I lie. I hear him get up. As he nears me, I smile at him. He nods his head once before stepping outside. He stops in his tracks when he sees Rick.

What surprised me, was that the two of them actually hugged each other. When they pull away from each other, Daryl walks up to me.

"Gather everything up." He tells me.

"We could stay here. I could go get the group. We could hold up here for a while." Rick suggests.

"Not big enough for everyone. There's 15 of us along with two babies. There's only two small bedrooms and a small living room in this cabin." Daryl disagrees. Rick nods and helps me and Daryl gather everything up.

When we get everything gathered up, Rick grabs my hand and leads up back to the group.

When we get to where everyone else is, I don't see Chelsea. Carl is the first one to run to me and hug me. I smile brightly and hug him back. I kiss his forehead and hold him tight. After he hugs me, Violet does. After her, everyone gets their hugs and the guys pats Daryl on the back. Carol, Maggie, Tara, Rosita, Michonne and Sasha give him a small hug.

I turn to Daryl and he's looking at Rick. Carl hands Judith off to me and I smile. I kiss Judith's cheek and look at Rick.

"She went to go find Rick." Abraham speaks up.

"By herself?" Daryl practically growls. Abraham goes to speak, but is cut off by yelling.

"Guys?!" We all turn and see Chelsea running towards us with walkers behind her. "We have to leave!"

She stops dead in her tracks when she sees me and Daryl. Her eyes widen then they quickly fill with panic.

"Come on!" Rick orders and everyone gathers their things quickly and we begin running.

Once we get far enough from the walkers, I hand Judith off to Rick and Chelsea engulfs me into a tight hug. When we pull out of the hug, she slaps my arm.