Your Crying Shoulder

She Can't Swim

Daryl's pov

"So ya gonna tell me what at was all about?" Merle asked following me into the woods to hunt.

I knew he was still pissed off about me bringing Mae and her family back here. Why can't he just let it go? I seriously don't know what went through me with that. Normally I could just walk away, but I just couldn't that time.

"It was two women and an old man. The hell was I supposed to do?" I glared.

"Leave em. They were fendin fine on their own" he grunted.

"They would've died." I said.

"Tat wouldn't have been our problem." He yelled.

"Mae was the only way those other two were surviving! I wasn't just gonna leave em when she passed out!" I yelled. Why was I feelin so protective over this girl?

"S that's what it is huh? Baby brother got himself a crush." He taunted.

"Shut up merle!" I said and heard him chuckling.

I was about to yell at him again when screams filled the air. We both ran as fast as we could back to camp and everyone was fine. We watched as T dog ran with the two kids crying. Lori and carol immediately ran to them with nancy, Shane, and Richard right behind em. Merle and I made our way over to see what's going on. The two mothers took their crying kids in their arms and T dog was catchin his breath.

"what happened?" Shane asked.

"Mae and I took the kids down to the lake to swim. Got attacked by some walkers." He said in between breaths.

"Where's Mae?" Her mom asked.

I got this really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Where was she? Wait why am I worried? She ain't my problem. Then we heard a scream and It wasn't just any scream, it was hers.

"Mae!" Nancy screamed and ran towards the lake.

I didn't even think twice and ran after the woman. I heard footsteps behind me, but I didn't care who it was. I had to get to her. I ran faster, passing nancy as I came to the lake. I looked around and there was no sign of er anywhere. My heart began to pound. The others finally caught up to me and none of us saw Mae. I heard nancy wimper behind me. How could a girl just up and disappear? I took in my surroundings very vividly till I saw a walker in the water. I looked over more and that's when I saw her. She was fighting to stay up. I quickly ran to the side and then the others followed me. Her mom finally saw her,

"Mae!"

the girl was fighting to stay above water. She'd come up and then disappear under. Why the hell can't she just swim to the side? What is her problem? I tried to get as close as I could, but I still couldn't reach her. She went under again and this time, she didn't come back up.

"Daryl!" Her mom yelled.

I looked over to her and she screamed, "she can't swim!"

Worry overtook my body. I quickly threw my crossbow down on the ground and jumped in, swimming to the last spot I saw her surface. I took a deep breath and went under. I couldn't find her at first, but then I saw her purple shirt. I quickly grabbed her and resurfaced. I swam back to shore and set her down on the shore. Everyone surrounded us as I felt for a pulse. Nothing. No! Dammit! I quickly began CPR. I wasn't letting her die this easy.

"Come on Mae!" I grunted.

After what felt like forever, I got a response. She began coughing and I moved out of the way so her mom and grandpa could get her.

"Thank god" nancy said hugging her daughter.

"Daryl thank you" Richard smiled taking hold of his granddaughter.

I nodded my head and finally made eye contact with Mae. Her eyes had fear in them and she was shaking, but we couldn't take our eyes off each other. It was liked she was shocked I saved her. I was too, but I couldn't fight the urge to protect her. I watched as T made his way over,

"You alright?"

She took her gaze away from me and looked at him, nodding. Anger took over the worry in my body. I quickly got up and grabbed T dog by the collar and slammed him into the tree. His eyes were fearful.

"Why The hell did you leave her alone!" I yelled.

I wanted to beat the shit out of him.

"She told me to! She told me to get the kids out of there!" He stammered.

"I don't give a damn what she said! She could've died, I Otta beat yer ass!" I screamed.

I was about to throw a punch when shane came and yanked me away from him,

"Woah, woah calm Down daryl!"

"Don't tell me to fuckin calm down! She almost died because of that prick!" I yelled trying to get back to him.

Shane pushed me off again," I understand, but she didn't she's ok. "

"Barely" I grunted.

I looked back to Mae and her family and she sent me a small smile. I glared at her. I wasn't pissed at her, I was just mad at the situation. I grunted and went to pick up my crossbow and stomped back to camp. That prick better hope me and him are never alone.