Little Dixon (Daryl Dixon)

Days That Passed

((Avery's POV))

I woke up in a small cot. I opened my eyes to see a gray, stone ceiling. I heard hushed murmurs and I strained to hear what they were saying. My head hurt like shit, and I was really confused.

Where am I? I thought. I cautiously looked around the room. I began to panicked as I realized I was in a jail cell. What happened to me? Why was I in a prison?

About three people stood in the room, whispering to each other. I shifted in the bed, making noise so the people would notice me. As they turned around everything came rushing back to me. The apocalypse... Loosing mom and dad and Dylan... Meeting Glenn and Rick and Daryl... The farm... The prison... Lori's death. Grief struck over me as I remember the beautiful woman. She had died during childbirth, insisting that her baby had to survive. I had to do it... I had to cut her open and end her life to save the baby's.

"Avery!" Daryl exclaimed, running up to the bedside and looking down at me. The other people in the room were Rick and Hershel. Rick was holding a older looking baby, and I assumed that was Ass Kicker. Hershel wasn't on crutches anymore. I was confused for a moment, then I saw the prosthetic leg.

"W-what happened?" I asked. My voice was soar and cracky from lack of use.

"That bastard Brice came after ya... You must've hit your head on something and ya became unconscious." Daryl explained to me. He was looking at me with so much emotion in his blue eyes. Damn, I missed those eyes so much. "I... I killed him. I had to. He would've hurt ya..."

Hershel put his hand on Daryl's shoulder, "You saved her life. You did the right thing." He assured him. Rick walked up to me and handed me the baby. She looked to be a month old. How much time has past?

"Meet Judith," Rick said softly. I stared at the baby who was sitting in my lap. She stared down at me with big, brown eyes. I smiled as she wrapped her hand around my fingers.

"How long was I out?" I asked, not taking my eyes off the baby.

"A week maybe..." Hershel told me softly. I looked up at him in shock.

"You're lucky you even survived that long..." He went on. "You had a concussion."

I looked back down at Judith. She was gurgling and playing with my hair. "How is everyone?" I asked.

"Better now." Rick answered. "Daryl found Carol. She's alive and alright."

"She stayed with you most of the time," Daryl added, gazing at me with soft blue eyes.

"Where is she now?" I questioned, looking around for Carol.

"She's probably somewhere with Axel. They've been getting quite close lately." Hershel chuckled. He exchanged a glance with Rick, who was smiling.

There was a knock on the wall and Carl slowly made his way into the small, cramped cell.

"You're awake!" He exclaimed when he saw me.

"Hey, buddy," I said softly and smiled. Carl's smile was a mile wide which made my heart melt. The kid didn't smile enough these days.

"Hey, Carl, let's go out and check the perimeter." Rick suggested. Carl shook his head and pouted, "But I haven't talked to Avery yet." He said.

"She just woke up, give her some space. You can see her later," Rick promised. Carl nodded reluctantly and followed his father out of the cell, leaving me alone with Hershel and Daryl.

"I'm gonna leave you two to talk. I'll be back to check on you," Hershel said as he stood up. He stood awkwardly on the prosthetic leg, as if he was still getting used to it. He slowly made his way out of the cell, and then Daryl and I were alone.

"I thought I lost ya..." Daryl admitted quietly once he was sure we were alone. I looked into his eyes. They were full of so much emotion, it was unbelievable. My gaze drifted down to his soft, pink lips that were surrounded by dark brown stubble.

My gaze flicked back up to his eyes, and I was shocked to see anger took over the softness.

"Don't ever scare me like that again, Avery. I swear, yer the only thing I have left..." He snapped. "I couldn't bare to loose ya too."

"You're not gonna loose me," I assured him. But of course, he didn't believe it.

"I broke my promise..." Daryl whispered. "I promised ya I'd protect ya... and I didn't."

"You weren't there at the time... You found me and brought me back." I said softly. "Thank you."

Daryl's eyes blazed with anger, "Don't patronize me. I knew that Brice was crazy, I could see it in the way he looked at ya! And I let ya go out alone!" He spat. I could tell he was more angry with himself that he was with me. And that hurt... "It's my fault ya almost got killed..."

"Daryl-"

"I love ya, and when I saw you laying on that floor, I thought I lost ya. I couldn't bear to loose ya..." Daryl said quietly.

"You won't loose me," I assured him. "I survived for three months on my own before finding the group. I've only had a few close calls, I'm okay."

Daryl nodded slightly, looking unconvinced.

"Do ya think you can walk?" he asked after a moment of silence.

"Duh, I hit my head not my leg." I retorted, smiling. Daryl smirked and grabbed my hand, helping me to my feet. Turns out, it didn't matter whether I hit my head or my feet. As soon as I stood up, I lost my footing and got really dizzy. Daryl caught me, wrapping his arms around my waist, "Careful." He said softly.

"I haven't walked for days, remember." I pointed out. We made slow progress, which annoyed me a little. I hated looking so helpless, but it was hard after being bedridden for a week.

We eventually made it to the door that led outside. Daryl opened it and let the light shine in. I was so used to being in the dark prison, the light blinded me. I covered up my eyes as I walked out of the prison. It was nice to breath fresh air, even though it smelled faintly of rotting flesh.

Everyone was outside, enjoying the warm, spring day. Beth, Carl, Rick and Hershel stood around a patch of dirt, each of them had a shovel in their hands. Carol and Axel walked around the perimeter of the fence. Walkers snapped at them, trying to get through the chains. Glenn, Maggie, Lily and Oscar sat at a table, laughing and joking around. Judith sat in the grass not far from them, playing with a toy car.

"Everyone seems to be having a good time," I commented. Daryl grunted in agreement. I looked around the courtyard happily. The prison was ours and the group was finally coming closer together. As I studied each other the members, I realized how much I missed each of them. And I also realized that I would do anything for these people. Because they were my family.