My Fallen Angel (Daryl Dixon Love Story)

Chapter Nineteen: Found and Taken

"Esme?" A voice breaks me from my trance of staring at the graves. I turn to see Maggie standing a bit behind me. I get up realizing my legs were numb. I wobble a bit and she comes to help me stand better. "Are you ok?" She asks. I nod clearing my throat.

"I'm fine, my legs just fell asleep." I answer as I realize that it's probably around nine now. I was out here for a while. The tears on my face were now dry.

"Well breakfast is ready. Oatmeal." She says looking at me with worry.

"Sounds good." I say as we walk back together. When we get back inside everyone is sitting around together talking, but it falls silent as I walk in, I look around knowing they were talking about me or at least Rick maybe. I walk upstairs grabbing my diabetic pack and go downstairs to sit next to Carl. I check my sugar, 102. I look up when a bowl is placed in front of me.

"Thank you." I say to Beth as I see her.

"How are you feeling today?" Herschel asks from his seat.

"Much better than yesterday, thank you." I answer softly taking a bite of the oatmeal.

"Everybody okay?" I hear Rick's voice from the cell block. I turn to get up at the same time.

"Yeah, we are." Maggie answers.

"What about you?" Herschel asks.

"Cleared out the boiler block." Rick says.

"Rick? Are you okay?" I ask noticing he avoided my gaze and didn't answer the question.

"How many were there?" Daryl questions.

"I don't know, a dozen, two dozen," Rick answers his question. "I have to get back, just wanted to check on Carl." He says stepping away from me when I step closer.

"Rick, we can handle taking out the bodies. You don't have to" Glenn says.

"Brother? Are you okay?" I ask again, confused about him ignoring me.

"No, I do," Rick answers only Glenn again. He walks up to Daryl passing me. "Does everyone have a gun and a knife?"

"Yeah. We're running low on ammo, though." Daryl answers. I was getting angry now.

"Maggie and I were planning on making a run this afternoon," Glenn says. "We found a phone book, some places we can find some bullets and formula."

"We cleared out the generator room. Axel's there trying to fix it in case of emergency. We're going to sweep the lower levels as well. Also going to take Esme hunting, teach her more." Daryl explains. I look at him surprised as he had not totally agreed to take me hunting last we talked about it.

"Good, Good." Rick says and walks out.

"Rick!" I call after him, but he doesn't come back. "Ugh." I sit down in frustration and look at everyone.

"How long has he been ignoring others?" I ask.

"Since Lori." Maggie answers. I nod understanding, my anger lifting a bit.

"I'll check on him." I say getting up again.

"No," Herschel said. I turn to him confused. "He needs time."

"But, he's....."

"He needs time Esme. Give him time it's only been 2 days."

I sit again nodding and turn around to my now cold oatmeal.

Later that day Glenn and Maggie had gone on the run as they planned and Daryl, Carl, Oscar and I are clearing the lower levels. I didn't like the thought of Carl with us, but he convinced me when he said he would do whatever I told him to do, even if it was run. We are moving to get to the place where we left off when we hear a metal clunking noise from a hall we already cleared.