Fallen Angel (Daryl Dixon)

Truth

This is an added back story of Leah's truth to Daryl of her time with Negan. Couldn't fit it in between chapters, so I put it as a side story.

The night was hot as I finally fell asleep. My skin was on fire with no fan or air to cool myself down. I had trouble sleeping the past few nights. The insomnia was holding on to my mind, leaving me captive. Daryl laid next to me, and I knew that it should have made my mind calm, but every time I closed my eyes, thoughts of Negan crowded my dreams.

He haunted my thoughts during the day and walked into my nightmares at night. When sleep came, it was only from my body giving into fatigue.

My breathing became labored while my body jolted.

There, he was standing in the doorway of my cell. His laugh echoed through my ears. Then his deep, terrifying, southern voice calling out my name.

"Leah, where have you been? I've been looking for you, Peach. Welcome home."

Then he pulls me into the darkness away from Alexandria, away from Daryl.

I'm screaming in my dream but it was so loud, so real. A hand comes around me, and I jump.

"Shhhh, Leah, it's okay, you're alright."

The voice is soft... Daryl.

Sweat runs down my face, sticking to my hair. My clothes cling to my body as I rock myself for comfort.

I can hear the front door pushed open with force and loud foot steps coming up the stairs. Daryl jumps from my side to grab his gun and readies himself for the intruders.

"Daryl, is everything okay?"

Rick and Abraham announce their presence with guns drawn. Daryl relaxes when they come through the door. Rick looks confused when he sees me in a state of panic with no sign of danger.

"We heard a scream." Rick puts his gun back on his side.

I must have been screaming in my sleep.

"Yeah, we're okay, I think she was having a nightmare."

They all looked down at me with pity. I hated it, I felt weak, and there's nothing I could do to make the situation different.

"You good, Daryl?"

Daryl nodded, and then Rick and Abraham turned and walked out.

"Damn, I think I soiled myself."

Abraham laughed to himself as he walked down the steps. Rick just shook his head.

I could hear the front door shut. My body was still numb, and my throat hurt.

"Hey, do you want to talk about it?"
Daryl's arm came around my back as he sat back down by my side.

I didn't want to tell him about my nightmare because then he would want to know about my time with Negan. Reliving that time was hard, but telling Daryl was excruciating.

We sat in silence as I pondered on how much I should tell him. I knew that Daryl had spent some time at the sanctuary, but I also knew he had his own experience. Negan's expectations were different for Daryl and I.

When I finally spoke, my voice was hoarse.

"Daryl, it's so hard to talk about."

"I get it, but maybe it would help. This is still killing you, I can see that."

I waited thinking about his words. He was right. I couldn't go on like this much longer without losing my mind. And, so, I began.....

"It was something I had never experienced. No one had ever hurt me the way Negan did during my time at the sanctuary."

I started from the beginning when I was with Mason and Jackson at the camp. He sat quiet as I told him about Negan's plans to make me cooperative. How he tried to be nice and then when it changed into the horrific beatings. When Big Mike came into the story, I could feel Daryl shift uncomfortably. His skin became hot on mine, and his facial expression turned to anger.

Every moment came pouring out, finishing on how Dwight tried to save me. It was over. I had finally let go of the horror that plagued me for so many months.

The room fell silent, and I feared for Daryl's response.

He pulled my face to his and spoke in a soft but firm voice, "I will never let anyone touch, hurt, or take you from here. I promise, if Negan comes back around, I'll kill him. You never have to worry about him as long as I'm here."

I caressed his face and smiled.

I did take comfort in Daryl's promise, but I also knew how powerful Negan was, the day with Big Mike proved it. He could take Daryl out, especially if he knew my feelings for him. I had to stay strong for me just in case Daryl was not around when Negan came calling.

The nightmare would eventually come true. Negan would show up in Alexandria to finish me off. Once he knew I was alive and well, he would do everything in his power to take me out. There was nothing I could do to change the outcome. This time, I had something to lose, a bargaining chip.

The next day, Rick and Daryl began their morning run for supplies. I laid in bed trying to recover from lack of sleep. Thoughts of Daryl's promise ran through my mind. He was so strong, but I knew if Negan came, I wouldn't let him take on my fight. I needed him alive with or without me. The thought of him not being around made my heart sink into a dark place. Depression was taking over, and I had to push forward before it sucked me into its dark hole.

As Rick prepared for the run, he could see that Daryl was distracted.

"Daryl, you alright?"

Daryl nodded.

Rick knew it was hard to get Daryl to talk about his concerns, but he needed him straight when they were outside the gates.

"Daryl, what's going on?"

Daryl hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to tell Rick my personal issues, but he had been holding in a lot. Taking his own advice of letting it out came to mind.

Rick spoke again, "Is it, Leah?"

Daryl looked down and then nodded.

"What's going on with her?"

Rick stood waiting for a reply. Daryl spoke softly.

"Yeah, she can't sleep, and when she does, she has nightmares of her time with Negan."

Rick looked down, knowing that it had to be bad.

"What did he do to her?"

Daryl shook his head and then looked up at Rick.

"He put her through hell, and I can't ever let that happen to her again. If he comes for her, she will give herself up to save the rest of us. I can't let that happen."

Rick placed his hand on Daryl's shoulder.

"We will do everything we have to in order to keep her safe, I promise you that."

Daryl shook his head.

"Okay, let's go."