Daryl Dixon: A Beautiful Disaster (SEQUEL)

Chapter 24: Burning Feelings

Shannon's P.O.V

I can't believe he just said he loved me. How could he say that to me? I told him yesterday that I used to love him and he tells me today that he does love me. Why today, why now? Daryl and I have never been on the same page and I can't believe he's doing this right now, while we're semi-lost in the woods trying to save Alexandria from a battle. Daryl clearly doesn't get what I'm upset about because he starts to mutter "I don't mean sex, I— obviously I meant sex but like make love to you— well, you know when two people—"

"Daryl!" I yell out his name "stop talking." I hold up my hand "you love me?"

"Wait, what?" He looks at me with confusion clear across his face.

"You said you love me." I repeat back to him.

He pulls his forehead together "well, yeah. Errone knows that."

"I didn't!" I yell at him.

"What? You think I agreed to do all this shit with Clint because we're friends? Go off and make secret plans with some assholes for shits and giggles. Of course I love ya, I have for some time." He snarls at me, like he's mad I didn't know this.

My voice gets caught in my throat and I say "you've never said it."

"Neither did you" he spits. He quickly adds on "I don't need to hear it to know what I feel, to know what we feel for one another and what it is."

I stand in front of him without words. He has loved me for some time and never once said it. Never really showed it either. I try to think back to every interaction we've had and see where I missed it. "This is ridiculous! Why didn't you say something yesterday when I told you?"

"Told me wha? That you used to love me." He argues me back, using my own words against me.

I huff out heavily "this whole thing is fucked."

"Look, forget I said it." He shrugs, trying to move on.

"I can't!" I yell back. I take one deep breath and say his name to make sure I have his attention "Daryl." His eyes meet mine, actually holding the gaze so I ask him "what are we doing?"

He answers, not really understanding what I'm truly asking him "we're trying to save Alexandria from a fight with Leroy and his men."

"No" I clarify "what are we doing?" I gesture between the two of us. He doesn't answer right away and I wonder what he's thinking. I take a step closer "what's going to happen if we survive this--"

"Stop" he says, stopping me from going on "we will" he adds.

I nod and go on anyway "when we survive this, what's going to happen with us? Are we going to keep doing what we've been doing?" He bites his inner lip and does a half shrug, looking back down at his feet again. I sigh with frustration and quip "see, this is what I'm talking about. You say you love me but you can't even talk to me. How can I believe that--"

In one instant his hand is against my neck and lifting my head up to meet his, our lips forced together. His lips over power my own, finding the pace he so desires and keeping me going with him. It only lasts a few seconds but it feels like minutes when he pulls away "I love you. That's all that matters." He says, staring directly into my soul.

Although I want to say something, I can't form any words, my heart aching in my chest for him to hold me again. "I--I uhh- love you too" I manage to say, his hands now to his sides.

Although I think he's done talking about it, he surprises me and says "les just finished what we have to finish then we can talk all yer want."

 I nod, wanting more then ever to finish this shit and figure out where Daryl and I will go next. "Yeah, okay." I agree in a whisper.

"Come on" He takes my hand in his and we walk together in the woods towards the smoke. It takes some time but when we get there, it's shocking to see. Everything is burned, charred and destroyed. Even from the outskirts, I can see burnt bodies every few feet of people who couldn't escape, people trapped. My stomach churns and I lean over to throw up whatever rabbit wasn't processed yet in my stomach. "I'm sorry ya gotta see this." Daryl rubs my back, still looking around at what's in front of us.

I remind him "this is what happened to my old home, everyone died. Left to rot into the ground." I shake my head, wiping my face and standing up fully again "we can't let him get away with this!" My voice is loud, anger now replacing my sadness and fear "these people, not all of them deserved this."

"I know" Daryl simply answers, letting me rant. I walk further into the mess, heat still emitting from the debris. A few more inches and Daryl grabs me "stop" he says as he does.

I look at him then he looks down where I was just standing. My hand flies to my mouth and I mutter "oh god."

Although I am queasy again, I know I won't throw up since there's nothing left in me to get out. I turn my head into Daryl's shoulder as I dwell over the fact that I almost just stepped on someones burnt and destroyed body. It's like that almost moment causes all my senses to heighten and the stench of the burned corpse and hair reaches my nose.

As Daryl consoles me, rubbing his hand up and down my back, a loud voice echo's through the charred rubble "come to pick up the pieces, have we?" I stand up straight as Daryl stiffens. My hand finds his and squeezes it. The voice belongs to Leroy, there's no mistaking that.