Exhausted {Daryl Dixon Fanfic}

XXIV. Fever Dream

The second my feet hit the ground I was pulled in for a tight hug. I squeezed Sophia back gently before taking a look at where we were. I didn't really recognize where we were, but I figured if I found a street sign I could navigate us back.
As I was thinking of the best way to get us back, Sophia slipped from my hand and ran towards the trees. I caught up to her easily and pulled her roughly to a stop.

"You can't run away anymore Sophia," I sighed heavily as she looked up at me in shock. "One day you won't come back."

Tears welled up in her eyes as I pulled her into the trees away from the building of my nightmares. I didn't have time to stop and console her, although I wanted to. We needed to get away from the men before they found their buddy, bleeding and most likely turned and hungry.

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I desperately wanted to get back to camp before dark. The last thing they needed was to think Sophia had gotten lost again, too. The young girl hadn't spoken since I snapped at her, but she didn't say anything about the group moving camp either. That was a problem for a few reasons. Once the men saw that I was gone, there was no doubt in my mind that they would come back - and this time they would kill me and whoever was protecting me on sight.
I could only hope the stream was far enough from the camp that they wouldn't find us, or maybe they would see the size of the group and leave. Both of those sounded unlikely, though.
I knew we hadn't gone very far, but my head was started to spin. Everything around me looked blurry and my chest ached painfully.

"How far did you walk?" I gasped out.

She sniffled, "Not that far, I promise. I wouldn't have come if the walk was too far from home."

I felt guilty for yelling at her now. She thought I was asking because I was still angry.

"I know you wouldn't do that," I sighed. I paused and leaned against a tree, "I think the heat is getting to me. That's all."

"I went when it was dark," she continued quickly so I couldn't scold her, "But I had a plan."

"A plan.." I murmured as I shut my eyes.

Her voice sounded far away, "Daryl was talking to Mr. Rick about looking for you. He said that there were some old building on the other side of the trees but he didn't wanna go alone in case the men were there."

"You saved me all by yourself." Now my own voice sounded thick, as if I was behind a wall.

"You did a lot of it, too. Can I have my pliers back now? If I show momma she won't be as..... Cara? Hey, wake up. Cara?"

I tried to tell her that Carol wouldn't be upset with her, that her mom had too big of a heart to do that. But I felt myself sliding down the tree trunk slowly. My eyes wouldn't open now, and everything felt like it was spinning. The last thing I heard before passing out was Sophia's footsteps running off.

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I felt like I was in a bouncy castle. You know, the big inflatable houses at birthday parties. The whole world was rocking wildly, like I was on a boat. I was so warm, though. Cozy, almost. The only logical thing I could think of was that I was dreaming.
What an imagination I had, then. Sophia's face was so clear in my mind. The way she smiled through the window, and the way she sniffled when I yelled.
A dream didn't explain the warmth, though. The floor of the basement was made of cold, hard concrete. Maybe I was dying. I guess that would explain my father's voice.

We aren't always given a fair chance. But you have to use the opportunities you're given.

I nodded, "I know dad."

The voice of a younger me, more innocent me, mimicked my words.

I know daddy.

I'm serious. Don't be like me, okay? Don't run from things because you're scared to open up.

"Like how you left mom," I mumbled out loud.

Like how you left mom, little Cara echoed.

I could see my dad's face fall, I loved her Cara, but... your mom had demons.

"Do I have demons like her? Will I hurt Lucile?" I asked as the bouncy castle shifted beneath me.

Young Cara repeated my thoughts.

No, no. You're an amazing sister, dad smiled sadly.

"I let him die," I choked out.

I let him die, little Cara begun to cry.

"Dad, I can't do this alone," my voice shook as it reached my ears. This all felt so real.

You're not alone. Even now, he's there with you, my dad pointed to something I couldn't see.

Who? Younger Cara looked around wildly, until her eyes were staring straight at me. Him?

My dream felt different now. My dad's face disappeared and I watched as younger Cara ran after him. The light faded, and I could feel tears - real tears - on my cheeks. It didn't feel like a dream anymore. My head pounded with confusion as the bouncing sensation didn't go away with the dream. I was still moving.

"Mom! Mr. Rick! Mrs. Lori!" Sophia's voice screamed ahead of me somewhere. 

I tucked my face into the warmth as voices flooded over to us. The warm feeling against my face was replaced with rough fabric and I groaned, reaching desperately for the warm body to come back.

"Daryl, stop where are you going?"

Rick's voice was right next to me now, his chest vibrated against me and I realized he was carrying me. Who was carrying me before?

"Kill those bastards," Daryl's voice was angry. I wanted to tell him to stay.

"You can't. She needs you right now," Lori whispered.

They think I'm asleep, I thought silently. Maybe I am. Maybe I'm still locked in that basement.

"Look what they did to her! I oughtta go back there and kill 'em all," Daryl's voice was closer now, softer too.

I heard him start to step away and I shot a hand out painfully. I grasped the air until I felt the smooth fabric of his vest. I gripped it as hard as I could, silently asking him to stay. The argument stopped as soon as my arm moved.

"Okay, I'll stay. I'm here," he whispered.

That's when I passed out again.

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