A Fresh Start

Chapter 12

I was in the van laying down on the back seat with my arm over my eyes, waiting for Daryl and Bob to come out. After a few minutes, someone nudged at my leg. I looked up to see it was Daryl.

"You all right?" he asked.

I sat up.

"Yeah. Just anxious to get back home, you know," I said.

"Well sit tight. We'll be on the road soon," he said.

I nodded. He kissed my forehead and then went to the hood of the van. I closed my eyes and kept the hope alive that we'd make it back to our people. Sleep unexpectedly found me. I wasn't aware of how deep in sleep I had been until I could feel Daryl shake me.

"Amelia, wake up. Please," he said sounding desperate.

I quickly opened my eyes to see him hovering over me. I sat up.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Don't ever scare the shit out of me like that again, you hear?" he said angrily.

"What? Daryl I was asleep," I said.

"You weren't waking up. We got the van running. Saw you were asleep so we all let you get some more. But when we tried waking you up, you wouldn't," he said.

"I'm sorry. I...I must have been sleepier than I expected," I replied.

"You feeling okay?" he asked placing his hand on my forehead.

"Yeah I'm good. Daryl, I swear. It was just sleep, nothing else. I feel fine," I said.

He looked at me not entirely convinced. I looked around.

"Are we here already?" I asked.

Daryl nodded still eyeing me suspiciously.

"Like I said, you weren't waking up," he said.

I placed both hands on his cheeks.

"I'm fine, Daryl. I promise. I'm sorry I freaked you out. Okay?" I said.

He pressed his forehead against mine.

"I thought I'd lost you," he whispered.

"I'm still kicking, Dixon. Come on. Let's get the meds," I said giving him a quick kiss.

I slung my backpack over my shoulders and grabbed my knife and gun. Michonne, Tyreese and Bob had made their way out of the van.

"You okay?" Michonne asked.

I nodded.

"I was just really sleepy. After everything that's happened, haven't really found the time to take a nap," I replied.

"Glad it isn't anything else," she said.

I smiled at her.

"Me too," I said.

We started walking to the front of the campus.

"Ty, can I see the map?" I asked.

Tyreese handed it to me. He seemed to have calmed down quiet a lot. I guess he needed to release the anger a bit. Daryl peered over my shoulder so I held the map up.

"Looks like we're getting closer," he said.

"Yeah. The building we're looking for is up ahead. Come on," I said folding the map and putting it in my pocket.

The building's door was fortunately unlocked so we entered. Our weapons raised and fully alert.

"Come on. Come on. Move. Move," Daryl whispered.