Last One Standing ~ TWD Daryl Dixon

167

Happy Reading!

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Daryl

I got the others through the tunnels and out into the woods. I carried Little Ass Kicker, holding her tight against my chest. The little girl wound her small arms around my neck and cried quietly. I didn't think she fully understood what was happening, but she understood enough to be upset and to know her brother had just told her goodbye. My arms tightened ever so slightly as I thought of Merle.

Jo had been gone too long. I knew it was going to be hard on her to say goodbye to Carl, but this was too much time. Jo had seemed fragile even before she found out Carl was dying. I still didn't know what Negan did to her in The Sanctuary. I didn't know where her head was at and I honestly didn't know what this was going to do to her.

Urgency clawed at my throat. I had to find her.

I turned to Tobin who was standing just behind me. I motion towards him and he nodded. I handed Little Ass Kicker over. She whimpered but went willingly.

Then I looked back at Rosita. Her face was grim. "I'll keep an eye on everyone until you guys get back," she promised, like she understood exactly where my head was at.

Tara nodded. "Go get her," she agreed.

I jogged back through the trees the way we had come. If she was still in the tunnels with him I needed to get her out of there. She was strong, but I didn't think she would survive seeing Carl change. Or worse, if he changed and Rick wasn't able to put him down. Then it would fall to Jo.

I jogged faster.

I made it back to the manhole cover and had just squatted down to pull it off when I heard it. I froze. It was dark except for the fires over the fence. My head snapped around as I tried to find the source.

She was sitting in the shadows, her knees draw up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them like she was trying to hold herself together. The sound of her sobs made something in my chest ache. I swung my crossbow over my shoulder and headed towards her. Her face was pressed against her knees and she was crying so hard her entire body shook. I sat down beside her and she flinched. Jerking back like I was attacking.

I held myself very still and waited her out. She looked up at me her eyes full of tears. She sank her teeth into her lower lip and held her breath to try and stop herself from crying. Her whole body shook with the effort of holding back her sobs.

"Hey," I said in a low voice and I reached for her, drawing her into my chest.

She was trembling and it broke my heart. That she thought she had to hold back like this in front of me was almost painful.

"It's okay, just let it out," I whispered into her hair as I held her. She was always so strong for everybody else.

She choked over her next sob and collapsed into me. She gripped my vest in her fists and cried. I locked my arms around her and just held her. I had never seen Jo like this. She cried before but not like this. Never as though her entire world was ending. She cried so hard she hiccuped and struggled to catch her breath. I rubbed her back and pressed my lips against her hair, trying to soothe her. She tightened her grip on me and buried her wet face in my neck.

There was nothing I could do. I was completely powerless to help her. All I could do was sit in the flickering light of our burning home and hold her as she sobbed.

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Daryl