Kiddo- Daryl Dixon/OC

Chapter 13- new beginnings?

I woke up from a nightmare, drenched in cold sweat and my heart beating out of my chest. Working on getting my breathing back to normal I glanced around, Daryl was sitting by the window looking out. I knew I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep so I stood up leaving his vest on the ground and walking over to him. I sat down next to him where he looked at me with concerned eyes.

"Ya okay?" he asked in a low tone.

"Yea. Nightmare is all." I muttered back.

The stars were still out and the moon still high in the sky. I reached over into Daryl's shirt pocked where I knew he kept his cigarettes. Taking the pack I took one out and lighting it.

"Haven't seen anything out there." He said breaking the silence.

"Is that good or bad?"

"No idea."

I sighed and leaned against the wall, looking over at Daryl I saw he was exhausted, but who could blame him.

"I'll take watch, you get some sleep." I suggested, he desperately needed it.

"Im fine." He said being stubborn.

"No, go to sleep, I'm wide awake. I promise I got this."

He looked over at me before sighing and getting up from his spot from the window. I smiled moving over to his spot and getting conferrable.

"Here." He said handing me his loaded crossbow.

"Your letting me use your crossbow, are you sure I'm old enough?" I playfully teased at him.

"Don't go crazy now."

"Yes sir." I said as he turned away to go lay down.

Putting my gaze back out the window I kept watch, he was right, there was nothing out there. No movement, no noise, nothing.

The hours ticked by and eventually the sun rose, the night going by without a hitch. I stayed by the window all night just watching, hoping nothing would emerge. Not soon after the sun began to rise Daryl woke up. Putting his vest back on he walked over to me where I gave him back his crossbow and we got ready to leave again. Getting back into the car we found Daryl opted to drive since I stayed up most of the night. Before we took off he pulled out the map and planned were we would go and just like that we were off into the unknown.

A few hours into the ride we noticed the car was getting low on gas and I was starving. I dozed in and out of sleep but each time I fell asleep I was trapped in a nightmare again. The ride was quiet mainly because we were both exhausted. My whole body ached and my chest hurt I guessed from stress.

"Sais we only got 'bout thirty miles left." Daryl informed me.

I pulled out the map and instantly started scanning were we could go.

"There's a small town next exit."

He nodded and followed my instructions; the town was torn up badly. It looked like fires had been set causing mass destruction and walkers filled the area. We sighed and looked at each other, Daryl parking and turning off the car we attracted the attention of every walker that was around. I knew I wouldn't be able to take out many with just my bow and arrows. So pulling out my hunting knife I jumped to action.

Covered in walker blood and sweat I dropped my knife taking several deep breaths. Bodies scattered everywhere symbolized that we had won another battle against the undead. The adrenalin I had pumping through my veins had disappeared and I was left way more exhausted then before. Not even making it a few steps I collapsed onto the hard concrete, I couldn't walk another step without a break. Feeling two hands on my sides and attempting to lift me to my feet I protested.

"I just can't go anymore Daryl, I just can't." I cried, he still holding my body into an upright position.

"Let me help ya." He muttered softly, pulling me off the ground and holding me close to his chest.

Looking up at his face he was just as covered in walker blood like I was and just as exhausted as me too. I felt bad I didn't even have the strength to walk but I couldn't worry about it. My vision started to blur over and my body went limp one last fleeting thought running through my mind before it shut down completely.

I woke up what only felt like a few minutes later but looking outside I saw the sun was down and the moon high in the sky. Sitting up every muscle in my body ached but I needed to move. It was pitch black all around me so I felt around wanting to know where I was but better yet where Daryl was. I patted the floor until I found one of the bags, wasting no time I dug inside and found a flashlight. Clicking the button the whole room was engulfed with light, I was in a house of some sort. Standing up my legs were weak and shook as I attempted to walk. Walking through the house I didn't pay any attention to the surroundings, odds are it was just like everyone else's house we broke into. People lived here with families and friends but didn't live to see the worst of the epidemic. I found a door that led to outside and opened it, finally finding Daryl but only asleep in a lawn chair. Breathing a sigh of relief I walked over and gently touched his arm waking him up.

"Ya feeling ok?" he asked.

"No, can you come back inside with me." I asked.

He stood up and walked back inside, laying on the couch I clutched my chest right over my heart.

"My chest is hurting really bad." I complained gripping at myself. On top of my whole body hurting to the point of tears.

"Try an relax." He coaxed rubbing small circles into my back.

"Im so sick of running all the time, I just want to be home and safe. Im done living like this dad, I really am." I was crying now curled up into an upright fetal position.

"Kiddo, did ya just call me..dad?" Daryl asked in a whole different tone, a tone almost sounding happy.

I paused remembering what I just said, "Um yea I guess I did."

"Wish I could make it official, like with papers and shit."

"I think protecting me from the undead trying to eat me alive compromise." Slightly laughing as I talked sent a jolt of pain through my chest so I curled up tighter.

Daryl pulled me into his lap and rubbed my back more, for being such a hard willed person he had a soft comforting touch, like I would imagine a parent would have towards their own child. I couldn't stop crying for the sake of anything, I clutched onto his shirt and buried my sobs into it; trying to make as little noise as possible. He never once told me to stop crying instead rocked me gently whispering that everything was going to be ok and I was safe. Every fiber of my being wanted to give up on everything but in my heart I knew I couldn't, I couldn't give up on making it so far possibly just out of pure luck.