The Walking Dead

Chapter 12

Ekkk! I got 1,000 reads (it might no be a lot to you *cough Kay cough cough*) but it is to me. I didn't expect to even get this many!

Anyways! Enjoy reading, and once again, thank you for reading! :D

The ride was silent on the way back, each of us lost in our own thoughts. Honestly, my mind was solely on Daryl. I didn't know how he would react after we got back. He might just space, he might pull away, he might even go into a rage. 

I gently gave the large hand that was holding mine a reassuring squeeze, telling him through that simple gesture that I was there. That I would listen if he needed me to. He weakly returned the gesture without looking at me. My heart fell as I realized how this truly affected him. 

He was crushed.

He was broken. 

He was mourning.

Sure, Daryl put up a mask to hide his feelings - and I mean all of his feelings - but he couldn't hide from me. He could try, but I have a knack for tearing down masks, and I was going to break his. He wouldn't pull away from me. I wouldn't let him. Unconsciously, I had been gripping Daryl's hand with my full strength, almost breaking his hand. 

"Um, Faith? Your crushing my hand." Daryl murmured, his body twisted in an odd way.

"Hm? Oh, sorry." I said sheepishly. "Did I hurt you?"

"Only a little bit." He said sarcastically, rubbing his hand, trying to rid it of the pain.

"Sorry." I apologized again.

"It's fine. I'm a big, strong boy. I can handle a little pain." Daryl flexed his arms, showing off his impressive muscles.

Glenn, Rick and I all snickered as Daryl continued to make a show of his muscles. I let out a low whistle, poking his arm for myself.

"Impressive, but check out mine."

I made sure to exaggerate my motions. The guys chuckled at my motions. "Yup," I sighed, "I've got strength, and looks. Perfect package." 

Unexpectedly, Daryl's arm wound around my wait and pulled me to his body. "That, you are, Faith. That you are." Daryl's low voice rumbled in my ear, his hot breath brushing across my ear. I swallowed, and the car jerked to a stop at the camp. We all piled out of the car, me on jelly legs staring at Daryl with wide eyes. He sent me a wink and a smirk, tucking his hand around my waist and holding me up. 

"Careful sweet cheeks. Don't want you to fall and get hurt." Daryl said, smirking.

 I hummed an answer, my breath coming shallow gasps. I felt my pulse in the hollow of my throat, the strong beating of my heart against my ribs. I couldn't focus. I couldn't breathe. I could hardly stand with him so close to me. Daryl stared down at me through hooded eyes. 

"W-what are you doing?' I stuttered, breathlessly.

"Nothing really. Helping you stay up right." Came his calm answer.

Momentarily, I got my senses back, "Yeah right." I snorted.

"Okay. I give. Your right. I'm not doing this to hold you up. Mostly because I wanted to be close to you. But still." He shrugged.

And just like that, I couldn't talk again. Couldn't move. But did Daryl care? No. 

"You suck, Daryl." I muttered.

Daryl, of course, immediately took advantage of my weakness and swung me over his back, into a piggyback and carried me into camp.

"I'm not even going to fight with you about this." I murmured into his shoulder.