My Damaged Protector

Chapter Seven ~ Protected

The walk back to the farm was long but calming. The sun had started to set when we returned, my hand claimed by Daryl's the whole time. He only dropped it when Rick and Shane came running up to us. "Where the hell have you guys been?" Rick yelled.

I dropped my eyes to the ground and slid slowly behind Daryl, not wanting to explain. He looked back at me through the corner of his eye and asked an unspoken question. I shook my head slightly, telling him not to tell them what happened, I wasn't ready for the endless questions and comments. "We came upon this house a few miles out and went in, looking for Sophia. I took the front and she took the back." Daryl said, nodding to me. "We checked the house separately. A walker got the jump on her, but she managed to take it down. Only to get sliced by a tree on our way back." Daryl placed a firm hand on my back and led me away from the two men and into the house.

Maggie came running down the stairs with worry in her eyes. "What happened?" She asked franticly, noticing the red line on my neck. "You know what, I don't need the story now. Let me get you cleaned up." She held her hands out and placed them on my shoulders. "I got her." Maggie assured Daryl before leading me up to the room I had first woken up in. Daryl had followed the two of us upstairs, standing in the corner and looking out the window as Maggie grabbed all the supplies she needed.

"Ok I need you to stay still while I do this." She told me and I nodded as she pulled out gauze and peroxide. My hair was gently pulled back away from my face and I glanced over my shoulder to see Daryl holding my hair out of Maggie's way. "Take a deep breath. This is gonna sting a bit." I jumped at the stinging of the peroxide and grabbed a hold of Daryl's hand that was resting on my shoulder. He let me twist my fingers with his and squeeze lightly as Maggie cleaned the cut a few more times. She finally took the cotton ball from my skin and placed a small square of white gauze on my skin, taping it into place. "You'll live." Maggie teased as she cleaned up. "I'd take the bandage off tomorrow to let it breathe and begin to heal."

"Thank you." I smiled to my friend and hugged her before leaving the house with Daryl.

"That's something I've missed." He spoke softly, earning a confused gaze from me.

"What?" I asked, sitting on the porch swing. My hand patted the space beside me, beckoning Daryl to sit beside me, allowing me to rest my head on his shoulder.

"Ya' haven't smiled since..." He stopped himself as to not upset me too much. I twisted my fingers together at the thought of the little girl.

"I'll be ok, Hershel said its good for me to talk about her." I told him. "Of course, I miss her, and I'm going to miss her every single day for the rest of my life, but I know she isn't scared anymore. She doesn't have to live in his horrible world where a future isn't promised, and people lose each other." My mind went to my little brother yet again.

"What cha thinking about?" Daryl noticed my mind wondering.

"My brother."

"I'm sorry."

I shrugged my shoulders. "There isn't much I can do for him right now. I don't even know where he is." My eyes attached themselves to my hands as I twisted my fingers around themselves. Daryl then stood up, offering me his hand and leading me down the stairs and towards our camp.

Carol ran up to us, making Daryl drop my hand. "Did you find her?" She asked, her voice full of hope. Daryl looked down and shook his head. "Oh god. What happened to you Skyler?"

I pressed my lips into a line and thought of what to say. "She was scratched by a tree branch. We ran into a walker." Daryl explained for me.

Carol's eyes filled with worry. "Are you ok?" I nodded and she gave a sad smile before turning to go back into the RV, somewhere I figured she had been all day. Daryl was called away by Dale, leaving me to look around the small camp the rest of the group managed to set up.