Home Is Your Heartbeat ('Home Is' Book Two - Daryl Dixon)

Chapter 72 - My Sacrifice (Creed)

Nate

I all but fall out of the cabin. Start walking with no idea where the hell my feet are taking me.

My head however has reached the crossroads and I'm visualising the signs. Wondering which way to go.

Do I continue stumbling blindly down 'Fuckit I'm Done Boulevard'? 

Or do a U-turn and retrace my steps back to 'Let's Just See How Much More Nate Can Take Avenue'.

Hmmmm?

I couldn't tell you, dear friends. Which reaction of Daryl's pushed me into walking out like I just did.

His disbelief? When I told him Negan never accomplished his goal of making me part of his harem.

Or his total rejection of our bubby.

Nup. I'm just fooling myself here, aren't I? You guys don't need to provide an answer in that particular little poll.

The latter, most definitely....and by a country mile.

How did it all go downhill so quickly?

One minute? I was beside myself with relief that Daryl had finally woken. After a couple of hours of being out cold.

Then the next....?

***

Doc Harlan told me it was just his body's way of saying 'enough is enough'. After all the stress it'd gone through. A kind of hibernation so he could heal?

I got banished, while he tended to the gunshot and countless other injuries. With Jesus playing nurse.

"He's a strong man, Nate. And the wound is already healing well. Recognise the repair handiwork....my brother's."

"He's one of Negan's now. The man made his choice and I made mine. We both live with it"  He replied in quiet response to my shock.

"I'll be checking you out too, young lady. As soon as I'm done here with Daryl. But for now....scoot! "

Maggie, Sash and Enid stalled all my arguments.

Almost forcibly led me away. Shoved me in a huge old claw-foot bath and scrubbed me clean. Threw my old clothes in the incinerator.

While working me over, they didn't stop talking. Brought me up to date with everything that'd gone down with them at Hilltop over the last five or so days.

"The baby is Ok, Nate. I swear....we're both Ok"  Maggie whispered when I cupped her wan face in my hands.

She wrapped me up in her arms and we held each other tight, neither wanting to ever let go.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here with you...."

"Don't do that. Neither of you were exactly given a choice. And you were  with me. In here, like always"  She tapped her chest.

They then demanded to know what happened in the Sanctuary.

I kept it as brief as anything. Felt no guilt at leaving out most of the events and played things right down. What they don't know won't hurt them. They're already in more pain and fear than they can handle.

I wasn't going to add mine  to the mix as well.

Maggie simply held me tighter and it felt like I was dying inside. Because here she is, consoling me when her own grief is so raw.

"Where is he?"

"We brought him....they're both here. I'll take you to them later, we'll all go together. Is....is Daryl alright? "  Maggie whispered back.