A Survivor's Diary of the Apocalypse (TWD/Daryl Dixon)

S2Pt3 - Something About Him

It was the next morning and I couldn't help but feel guilty. Everyone probably blamed me for Sophia missing. I was the last one who saw her, and I didn't bring her back with me. I tried to control myself but I couldn't help but cry. At that moment Daryl walked into the RV and saw me. I wiped my tears quickly and attempted to look away from him.
"Kell. What's wrong?" He asked.
I wiped my tears and shook my head. "Nothing."
"Talk to me." He said, but I shook my head. "Please."
I looked at him and my emotions overwhelmed me. I wiped my tears again and sighed.
"Everyone probably blames me for leaving her out there alone. Carol no doubt hates me." I said. "I don't blame them. I mean, who leaves a helpless little girl alone in the woods in a world like this?!"
"Kelley. This ain't your fault." Daryl said and put a hand on my knee. "I didn't see anyone else run into those woods. You did the right thing, and bought her a little extra time so we can find her."
I wiped my tears again and breathed deeply. "She asked me if I would come back for her." I said, and my voice cracked. "I promised her I would be back."
Daryl sat next to me and hugged me, and I leaned my head against his chest and cried.
"It's okay." He whispered and pet my head.
I looked up at him and he stared at me, and wiped a few tears away. He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and I cupped his face with my hand.
Then, I leaned forward and kissed him. I needed this kiss. I wanted him to know I needed it. This kiss made me forget everything that was going on in the world, and I was only focused on Daryl.
He's changed with me in the past few weeks. He's always making sure I'm safe, that I'm okay, and he actually smiles around me. I noticed he hasn't done that with anyone else but me. He's never opened up to anyone, but he is starting to with me.
I stopped kissing him to catch my breath and regather my thoughts. Daryl just looked at me, caressed my cheek, and felt my lips with his thumb.
"It's going to be okay." He said, and I nodded.
"Why have you been so nice to me?" I asked him.
"I could ask you the same thing." He said, stood up, and walked over to the door. "But you should know there's something different about you." He said and left the RV.
I slightly smiled and felt my cheeks become flushed. "There's something about you too." I whispered to myself.

~~~~~~~~~~

It's been a week since Sophia disappeared. I was ordered by Rick to rest my leg and allow it to get better. But, I've been sitting down, and being useless, for too long. We set up camp here on the highway and the group has been out every day searching for her.
I called Bud over to me and he stood by my side at the couch. I grabbed his leash and hooked it up to his collar. I then grabbed his collar with one hand, the couch arm with my other, and stood up. He stayed still and waiting for me to get my balance. I didn't put full weight on my leg yet, but so far the pain wasn't that bad. I took a few steps over to the door, left the RV, and stood in front of it. It hurt to walk those few feet, but the pain was manageable. Using Bud as my support, I decided to walk down the highway. I needed to get strength back in my leg so I could walk normal again. It got easier and easier every minute I walked and I started to feel a little bit better.
"I am going to get better." I told Bud and looked at him. "We are going to find her. We have to."
I had to take a couple breaks along the highway to breathe and rest my leg. I felt like the more I kept this up, the quicker I would be able to walk decently. I decided I pushed myself enough for the day and started walking back to the RV. Once I got there, I saw the group emerge from the woods.
"Kelley, what are you doing?" Rick asked and jogged over to me.
"You're supposed to be resting." Daryl said.
"I can't just sit down and do nothing guys." I said. "I want to help find Sophia, and to do that I need to walk."
They sighed but nodded their heads when they realized I wasn't going to stop. Daryl then grabbed my arm and walked me over to his motorcycle.
"How's the pain?" He asked.
"It's manageable." I said and shrugged. "But i t's definitely better."
He nodded and opened his bag. I saw him pull out a bag of pill bottles, grab one, and handed it to me.
"Take it." He said. "It was Merle's. He always had some painkillers with him. I took his stash when we left camp in Atlanta."
I read the label and saw it was a mixture of oxy and norco pills. I smiled and sighed with relief. I haven't taken any pain meds since the accident because I knew the group was short on them.
"These are just for you." He said and wrapped my fingers around the bottle. "You need them most."
I nodded and put them in my pocket. "Thank you Daryl."
He nodded and walked past me, brushing against my shoulder when he moved. I looked down at the floor and smiled.
"He is different." I told myself. "Don't worry. He's not like him."

~~~~~~~~~~

It was early morning and I was feeling much better, thanks to Daryl. A few days of taking the pain meds, the pain was subsiding and my leg felt better every day.
I was sitting at the table in the RV cleaning my gun and knife, preparing myself for the day. Today I was going out with the group to search for Sophia. I could finally walk decently and was full of energy.
Rick walked in and saw me prepping myself. He smiled and knew what I was planning.
"You feeling better?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yeah." I said and grabbed my weapons and bag. "I'm going out to search with you today, so don't try and stop me."
"I don't plan on it." He said. "We're leaving in 5."
I smiled and walked outside of the RV with Bud. I saw Carol leaning against a car, looking off into the distance. Before we left I wanted to talk to her.
I approached her and she looked at me with sad eyes.
"Carol," I said. "I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am."
She nodded and put a hand on my shoulder. "I know you are. And I'm not mad at you. I'm just scared." She said and wiped a few tears.
"I am going to do everything I can to find her." I told her and hugged her. "I promise."
"Let's head out." I heard Shane call to everyone.
She hugged me tight before letting me go. Bud and I then turned around to join the group as they walked into the woods on the search for this poor little girl.