Loving a Wounded Huntsman

Chapter 13: Safety

Walking into the medical center felt like walking into heaven. It was cold inside, the air conditioning still worked. Lights still lit brighter than beacons, and floors still shining as if just being waxed. "Welcome to CDC. Considering the size of your group, at least two three people will have to be in each room, giving the circumstance that there are only four working rooms and 11 of you. Also-"
"Wait, wait what do mean working rooms?" asked Shane.
"I mean it has no lights and no sheets. Unlike the others." Said the doctor. "As I was saying-"
"And what even is your name Doctor Do Little? How can trust you? How can believe a damn word your saying?" Shane continued on. "Shane! Calm the hell down and let the man finish!" Spat Jackie. "I'm just looking out for the group, unlike this sonofabitch who has to be lying to us!" Shane spoke out of anger. "Shane! Just shut the fuck up!" I yelled at him. When he tried to open his mouth again, I opened my eyes wide and crossed my arms. He then just moved to the back of the group.
"I apologize on his behalf Doctor..?"
"Jenner. Edwin Jenner. Now, if I may continue. You all are subjected to a blood test. Effective immediately."
"Blood Test..? As in needles?" Casey murmured out.
"Oh Case, Casey- listen to me, it'll be just fine. I'll hold your hand and you can just look at me
Ok?" I said down on my knees, gently squeezing her shoulders.
"She'll be fine, she just has a little fear of needles."
"Ok, well then, I'll do her last." Jenner told me.

"No, I'll be fine,we can do me first. Just will you please tell me
when Dr. Jenner?" Casey spoke up.
"Of course young lady, now sit here now." He said as I directed Casey to a brown office chair. It was leather and sunk her in as she sat in it.

"Ready, 1, 2, 2 1/2, .."
"OH JUST DO IT ALRE-OW!" Casey yelled out. She looked at my hand then up at me. I knew that face... shit.

"Oh no Casey, please don't cry not h-" her wails began before i could finish my sentence, and I picked up her small self and craddled her. As doing so I turned to Daryl who was smiling at the floor. Probably found such profound "weakness" hilarious, since he was probably raised in the woods his whole life.
"Ok, who's next?"

2 HOURS LATER
Once all of our blood was drawn and Casey had settled down, it was time for a tour of our new safe haven. The lights seemed to glisten brighter and brighter, even though we were heading lower and lower into the earth on an elevator, making its way to the basement.
The whole elevator was silent, no one even looked at each other besides my occasional looks at the back of Daryls' head and Caseys' small hand gripping mine.
The elevator doors opened with a large clunk, and we were revealed to a dark hallway with dim lights and many hallways.

"Welcome to the basement. There are 4 rooms down here folks. Count 'em. Only 4, so you must decide who goes where, sleeps where and does what where." He ended the last sentence with a snide grin looking towards me, making me shiver in uncomfortableness.
"There are two showers, with hot water." This sent my shivers away quickly at the thought of warm water running down my back again.
"So- with that, good luck and meet me for dinner in 2 hours. Dont be late."
With that Dr.Jenner pushed past us and entered the elevator and was gone.

"Ok, so four rooms and 11 of us. That means three for three rooms, and a pair for one room. Who wants the alone room?" Spoke Rick.

"We'll take it." said Daryl raising his hand then pointing between us two.

"Wait what?" I mumbled to him.
"Just go with it." He mumbled back to me.
"But Case- but we- are you trying to sleep with me?" I mumbled a little quieter.
"No!" He yelled out. Everyone stopped the conversation they were holding and turned to us. "We'll be going to our room now." He said bitterly to the group. With that he grabbed my arm and flung me into our room.

"Why the hell would you think that?" He said to me weirdly calm.
"I-I don't know, am I that disgusting to you our something that you wouldn't?"
"Ok, just shut up! Your not disgusting! I wanted you in this room, so I had someone to talk to!" He spoke a little louder.
"You are the only one I trust in this group right now, and I needed to be able to talk to you whenever I needed to, what does that make me a pussy now or something?!" He actually yelled out.
"Shhh no!" I said quietly. "Your emotions dont make you less of a man, alright. I understand."
"I didn't want you think that I forced you to come in here to sleep with me." He said. "That's not who I am, I'm not my father and I'm not my brother and I'm most definitely NOT my mother."
"Your family was like that?" I asked.
He scoffed back at me, then sadness roamed his face. I could see tears slightly forming. With that I walked up to him and engulfed him in a hug.

"What did they do to you?" I asked.
"Not they, her." He muttered out as i felt a single tear shed unto my collarbone.
"She-" I quieted him there with a simple "sh" and pulled away to look him in the eyes.

"You dont have to tell me. You dont have to remember it. You here and your away from it all now."

"Thank you Shay." he then grabbed my hand and interlocked our fingers. He places his free hand on my hip and began to pull me towards him. I saw his eyes shut.

This can't be right? Right? Can it? Should I
Go for it? Call it day? I mean I deserve it right? But before I could think more, floods of the horrible past flew in. Affair, after scandal. Heartbreak after betrayal. And I pulled away.

"I can't. I have to much burden." I said to his lips which were an inch or two away from mine."

"Your 5 cheating ex's? Im not them." He said with a bitter tone pulling back.

"I know your not, and I believe that. I just can't. I can't risk being hurt again."

"I would never hurt you." He said gritting his teeth.

"That's what they've all said to me Daryl. It's not you, I just can put my trust in any relationships, at least not now. Give me time. Please."

He gritted his teeth some more, took a deep breath, and relaxed.

"Ok." And then he walked out.

I peered put the door as well and saw Casey waiting for me.

"Ready for a hot shower and some gooood dinner baby girl!" She joined along with a celebratory "whoop" and we made our way to the open bathroom.

Before doing so, I looked at the back of Daryl's body as he stepped into the elevator, when and turned and saw me, he gave me a sideways smile and the door shut.

"I think I'm gonna like my room after all." I told Casey. She giggled we went our separate ways to the two showers.