Daryl's Angel (Book One in the Apocalypse Angel Trilogy)

Chapter 72: Bliss

I wake up inside the car, with the sun already high in the sky. Carl and Michonne sleep in the driver and passenger seats, and I'm lying across the back seats. My shirt is back on, and my bra is done up, and I'm guessing that someone probably helped me after I passed out. I reach my finger up to touch my cheek, and my cut is cleaned up. The sun has risen, and it's probably late morning. The presence of Michonne and Carl proves to me that last night wasn't just some terrible dream. They're all alive, and Joe's group is dead. Thank goodness.

I look out the window, where I can see Rick and Daryl sitting. The window is open slightly, and I can hear their conversation.

"They found me after that," Daryl says. "I knew they were bad, but...I didn't know what they were capable of. They had a code. It was simple, stupid...but it was enough."

"And you were alone," Rick says.

"I was hangin' back, I was gonna leave. Then, the day I was plannin' to do it, we're out in the woods, and one of the guys sees an animal, a dog, and he shoots it." He pauses. "I heard screamin' and cryin', and when the rest of the group went to see what was goin' on, I held back, ready to leave."

"Was it...?" Rick asks.

Daryl doesn't say anything, but he nods. "I heard a woman's voice. She yelled at the guy who shot the dog...her dog. He'd been keepin' her company. They didn't want her in the group, and they were debatin' what to do. I was gonna run, when I heard one of 'em say that he had an idea of what to do with her. They started movin' in on her. I went closer to them, wanting to stop them from hurtin' the girl and...it was her...Hope. After the prison, I was so sure she was dead..."

Rick lets out a long breath. "It must've been a relief..."

"For a second, I couldn't think. My heart was racin', I was tryin' not to cry or somethin'. She...she was really there. She was ok. I claimed her, and they backed off...her face was so full of disbelief, like she didn't believe it was really me."

"So, you saved her, and..."

"We stayed. I convinced them, and we went with them. They told us they were trackin' a guy. When they found you three, Hope didn't want to watch what could happen, and we stayed back. I felt somethin' wasn't right, and...you know the rest. When you saw us..." He stops. "I didn't know what they could do. She got hurt 'cause of me."

"It's not on you, Daryl."

"Carl...Hope almost got-"

"It's not on you. You and Hope being back with us, here, that's everything," Rick says. There's a long pause, and the two men just sit. "You're my brother."

Daryl looks at him, and nods.

I open the car door slowly and step outside.

I walk to the side they're sitting on, settling down next to Daryl. Rick is holding a red stained rag, and his face and beard still have traces of Joe's blood on it.

Daryl takes my hand, making me sigh. I lean my head on his shoulder and I look up at his face. He has a black eye, a split lip, a few cuts, and a bruised cheek, but he looks relieved. I'm relieved too; that he's alive and didn't get more hurt by Joe's men.

"Are you alright?" he asks, his hand touching my face lightly, right near the cut.

"He didn't get the chance to get me. Are you ok?" I ask, my thumb drawing circles on his palm.

"I'll be fine. Just a few cuts and bruises." He kisses my forehead. "He didn't rape you, that's what's important."

I shiver, the memory flashing back to me. He wraps his arm around me tighter.