Little Dixon (Daryl Dixon)

Alone

((Daryl's POV))

I stared after the two cars in shock. They took her. They just took her without a valid reason. She's gone.

My leg burned with pain. I pulled up my pants to reveal a very irritated looking bullet hole. Blood gushed out of it and I could tell it was deep. I slowly stood up and grabbed my crossbow.

I clenched my fist in anger. Right after I got her back, and right when I knew she was mine, she was gone just like that. I promised myself I wouldn't let anyone take her. I broke another promise.

I limped over to my bike. With each step I took, a new surge of pain shot through me. But I had to get to my bike. I had to get back to the prison to tell Rick. I needed back up to go rescue Avery. It'd be a suicide mission if I went alone, especially in the condition I was in. I climbed onto my motorcycle and started the engine.

As I drove down the road, my eyes stared blankly ahead. Those fucking bastards just took her. Whenever I found them, I was gonna shoot an arrow through their heads just like I did with the other guy.

I paid no attention to the walkers as they lunged at me when I waited for Glenn to open the gates at the prison. I knew he saw that Avery wasn't there, because he yelled at me as he was opening the gates. Though I couldn't make out what he was saying.

As I turned off my motorcycle, everyone crowded around me with fear in their eyes.

"Good lord people, gimme some space!" I muttered, pushing past Lily. I heard the clink of a prosthetic leg behind me and I knew it was Hershel.

"What happened to your leg?" He asked.

"Where's Avery?" Carl added.

"Is she dead?!" Lily question, looking around frantically.

"These sumbitches came out of nowhere and took Avery for no damn reason! They- they took her somewhere and I don't know where." I explained, huffing in pain. My leg was killing me, and putting pressure on it didn't help at all.

"Why didn't you go after her?" Axel asked. I scoffed at the prisoner. He was so stupid.

"Because the bastards shot me before I could. Shot me right in the leg," I spat. "Rick, we need to get 'er back. Who knows what they'll do to 'er."

Rick nodded, staring at me with understanding blue eyes. "I know, and we will. But not with your bad leg. Let Hershel look at it," he ordered. As Hershel stuck out his hand, I backed away.

"I'm not restin' till I know Avery's safe," I protested, backing away from the old man.

"At least let me bandage it up," Hershel insisted. "It won't put as much pressure on it."

I sighed reluctantly, then nodded. I followed the old man into the prison.

"Sit," Hershel ordered, pointing towards a cot. I obeyed, and sat down on the bed, making it squeak. Hershel pulled up my pant leg and looked at the irritated bullet hole. It stopped bleeding, but it was horribly red and blue, and the bullet was still lodged into the flesh.

"I'm gonna have to get the bullet out," Hershel said quietly, half to himself. "I can't do anything before it's out. It could cause a very serious infection."

Carol appeared in the doorway of the cell, "What do you need?" She asked.

"Antibiotics, peroxide, scalpel, needles, tweezers and stitches," Hershel answered. Carol nodded and disappeared. She reappeared a moment later carrying a bunch of medical supplies.

"Right, Daryl, this may hurt a tad bit," Hershel warned. He picked up the peroxide and poured it into the hole, making little white bubbles appear. I clenched my teeth in pain, but didn't say anything. Once the bubbles disappeared, telling us it was disinfected, Hershel grabbed the scalpel and brought it up to my skin. He glanced at me quickly before cutting the whole, making it bigger. Fresh pain shot up my leg, and it took all I had to not scream. I couldn't seem like a pussy. Once the hole was big enough, Hershel grabbed the tweezers and began poking at the bullet.

"Hmm," He said quietly, his eyes focused on the wound.

"What is it?" Carol asked worriedly. Hershel glanced at me, "I'm gonna have to go a bit deeper. This'll hurt quite a bit." He said. I nodded and braced myself for the pain. Hershel picked up the scalpel and covered it in peroxide before sticking it into my skin. He began to dig the knife into my flesh and I closed my eyes. I thought about Avery; I had to do this for her. If Hershel didn't get this fucking bullet out, I wouldn't be able to find her...

Before long, Hershel stopped digging the scalpel into my skin.

"I think I can get at it now," he told me. He picked up the tweezers and began to poke at the small, black bullet. He latched hold of it and began to pull, sending pain up my leg. I clenched my teeth and looked away.

"Hold still, son." Hershel ordered. "It'll be out soon."

He pulled and pulled at the tiny bullet. I heard the ripping of flesh as he pulled it out of me. Fresh blood began to leak out of the wound, but this time it was a lot cleaner.

"There we are," Hershel said, examining the tiny blood-covered bullet. "You're leg will be sore for a while. I'll wrap it up."

He grabbed a bandage and unraveled it. He picked up some gauze and wrapped some around my bleeding leg. Then, he wrapped the bandage around my leg several times. Carol stood close by me, watching intensely.

Once Hershel was finished, he dismissed me to leave, and I immediately went to find Rick.

"Daryl," Carol called behind me. I heard the sound of her footsteps feet away from me. I turned around to see her inches from my face.

"What?" I said. Carol looked at me with her soft, blue eyes. She seemed nervous.

"I don't think Avery's gonna come back," She admitted. I stood up straight and looked at her, "What'd you say?" I asked.

"I don't think Avery's coming back. By the sound of these people, I don't think you can get her back. They shot you for God's sake!" Carol exclaimed. I backed up, still glaring at her.

"Listen 'ere ya little shit, don't ya ever say that!" I spat. "I will get Avery back. I don't care what ya say. All ya want is me for yerself."

Carol stared at me, not denying it. I scoffed and shook my head. I turned around and began to stalk, or limp, away.

"Stupid bitch," I muttered.

I found Rick outside with Carl, Beth and Judith. The baby was crying, and Beth was trying to silence her.

"I think she knows something's wrong," She said quietly.

"She knows Avery's not here," I pointed out. "And she's the person that usually cares for 'er."

"We have to get her back," Rick said. He turned to me, "Are you sure you're up for it?"

"Of course," I said determinedly.

Rick turned to Carl and Beth, "Take care of Judith till we get back."

"We will," Carl promised. Rick nodded, then turned back to me.

"Let's go get Avery back."