The Odd One Out ~A Daryl Dixon X Reader~

Chapter 44

So, I have no word from my mom about this whole thing, so I'm going to go ahead and assume it's chill. Here's an update, all my wonderful kittens.

She quickly composed herself and smiled brightly, holding Judith close. "So they found you too?" Tom watched us both carefully. My head was spinning and my heart clenched. "I'm so glad!" Judith cooed and reached to me.

Beth gave me a great, big hug and Judith joined in, nestling her face in my hair. I hugged back, filling with relief. "Beth!" I held her out at an arm's length. "How long have you been here?! Me and Daryl have been her for, like, days!"

Beth's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" Her face lit up even brighter. "So... You had Judith?" She placed Judith on her hip.

"No." I shook my head. "Rick and the group did! Maggie's here! And Glenn!"
"I know about Glenn but-- Wait! Maggie?!" Her voice caught and her eyes were wide as silver dollars, begging for me to say yes.

"Yes! She's downstairs! C'mon we need to--" Suddenly we were thrown off our feet as the building rumbled. Sirens blared, going off, and I heard shouts. Beth and I hit the floor hard with a gasp and yelp, but Judith was fine.

We jumped to our feet and rushed out of the room, where Tom had disappeared from. The sirens wailed, pounding inside my head. "What's going on?" Beth asked a guard rushing past. He pointed out the windows and dashed off without a word.

We gaped out the window. Smoke billowed up in the distance. Beth suddenly shoved Judith in my arms. "I have to go find Mike!" She wouldn't let me ask any questions and dashed off. "Go!"

I cradled Judith close and sprinted down the hall as the sirens began to muffle my brain. I dashed and pushed around people, all in different attire and heading in different directions, to Daryl's room.

"Daryl!" I threw the door open. "Daryl, there's a tank coming and we need to go!" Daryl quickly crossed the room and grabbed Judith out of my arms. The look he gave her made my heart burst. It was the most loving, adorable, fatherly look I'd ever seen.

Moment over.

We rushed out of the room and I led him down the stairs, desperate to the jail and get everyone out, when Daryl sprinted to the door. "Hey!" I cried rushing after him. Why wouldn't he go after the others?!

We stopped out in the parking lot as an icy wind whipped around us. I nearly ran into him as he stopped up short. I stumbled to a stop and gaped as a tank slowly pulled up to the office building.

Daryl grabbed me and bent over so his back was facing the tank, cradling me close and shielding me from view.

"What's wrong?!" I demanded.

"Well!" I heard a redneck voice float over the wind. "If it ain't my baby brotha."