Lost then found • Daryl Dixon

Chapter Twenty Eight

Waking up gasping for air was never a fun way to wake up. Feeling the sweat pool from my forehead, my body feeling on fire. It was still dark outside, the cell block quiet apart from a few light breaths here and there.

I thought about trying to fall back asleep, but my eyes refused to close. The cell walls feeling like they're closing in on me. Pushing my blanket off me, swinging my legs off the bed, my feet hitting the floor before pulling myself up to my feet.

Grabbing my jacket off the top bunk and quietly stepping out of my cell, it wasn't that much of a shock seeing Daryl's back leaned up against my cell wall, his head lowered as he slept. Quietly stepping around, climbing down the metal stairs hoping my soft steps were enough not to wake anyone.

Feeling the nights cold air hit my skin as I stepped out the door, finally being able to take a deep breath, filling my lungs with much needed air.

The steps to the guard tower seemed to get shorter and shorter the more times my legs took me there, the climb to the top becoming less challenging each time. The view from the top getting better every time I stepped out onto the balcony.

The clouds covered the nights sky so thick not a single star was able to shine its way through. I leaned my head back against the wall as I took my necklace from my pocket; the chain was still broken. Clenching it in my hand as I slid down the wall as tears start to pool in my eyes.

The nightmares seemed worse than before, they started including Daryl.

Taking a few deep breaths, the tears slowly stopping from rolling down my face and I listen to the quiet moans of the walkers below me before letting sleep over take me.

•••

"Hey," a soft southern accent came through as I felt something rub my shoulder. Slowly opening my eyes as they instantly locked with his blue.

"Hi," I smiled tiredly, moving to sit up in a better position. Daryl's hand quickly dropping from my shoulder and standing back up to his full height.

"Is my dad back?" He gave a small nod before speaking, "yeah, got back last night after you went to your cell. He didn't wanna wake you." I nodded in understanding.

"What you doing up here, Lee?" he asked softly. Pushing myself to my feet, stretching my back out. "I couldn't sleep, needed the fresh air," I explained.

"Come on, your old man needs to speak to us," he tells me before making his way down the guard tower. Following down behind him, I shouldn't have been so shocked that he was waiting at the bottom with his hand held out.

Taking his hand, I jumped off the last run, making Daryl chuckle. God it was good to hear him laugh a little again I missed that, I missed everything. I missed him. My thoughts changed to the nightmare from last night, Daryl's face covered in blood, blood everywhere seeping through his clothes. "You did this." His beautiful eyes full of pain and anger.

"You alright?" He asks, breaking me from my thoughts only to realize I was still clutching his hand, I look back up to his face and the worried look he has.

"I'm fine," I croaked out, before Daryl took a step closer, lifting his free hand and slowly running his thumb over my cheek. He wiped away the stray tear that had broken free.

I could barely stop myself from leaning into his touch, he slowly pulled me closer giving me enough time to pull away but I didn't. I couldn't.

Leaning my head against his chest, taking in his scent that I missed so much, before he moved his hand to the back of my head. We just stood there for a few minutes not moving, just taking this single moment to pretend that everything was okay.