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

S2Pt6 - The Little Survivor

"So, what happened?"
I was now sitting up in bed and fully conscious, and Daryl was sitting in a chair by my bedside. Bud was laying by my legs and I was petting his head.
"You and Carl got shot by this man, Otis. Last night, him and Shane left to get medical supplies. Otis didn't make it back." Daryl said and sighed.
"What happened to Carl? Is he okay?" I asked, scared for him.
"He's okay. But the bullet still hit him, and shattered in his body. Hershel, the old man here, he did surgery on him." Daryl explained. "But he's expected to make a full recovery. He's just resting now."
I put my hand over my heart and felt tears fall down my cheek. I wiped my tears away and shook my head.
"I'm sorry I scared you." I told Daryl, and he nodded his head as a way of saying 'it's fine'. "But I couldn't lose another kid."
He grabbed my hand and squeezed it. "I know." He said. "I know."
I took the blanket off of me and lifted up my shirt. I saw where I was shot and there was a gauze pad taped over it. I swung my legs over to the end of the bed and sat up, and I groaned in pain. My side was all sore and I was stiff.
"You need to rest, you just got shot." He said and put his hand on my knee.
"I need to see Carl." I told Daryl.
I tried to stand up but I was struggling. My leg still hurt and I was sore, so I sat back down. Daryl was just sitting there watching me.
I looked up and stared at him. "Can you help me up?" I asked.
"You should really rest Kell." He said.
"Fine. I'll do it myself." I said, being persistent.
Daryl sighed and grabbed my waist, lifting me up. I held onto him for balance and he moved to my side. We walked out of the room and he led me over to where Carl was. I peeked around the corner of the doorway and saw Rick sitting down by Carl's bedside and Lori laying on the bed next to him. He was still sleeping, and I saw he was patched up just like me, the bandage in the exact same spot and all.
Lori saw me, smiled, and nodded. Rick saw me and instantly stood up. He walked up to me and moved us into the hallway.
"I just wanted to see him.. Make sure he's okay." I said.
Rick nodded and hugged me. I was caught off guard but slowly hugged him back.
"Thank you." Rick said. "For saving my son, and risking your own life. I'm forever grateful."
"You don't have to thank me." I told Rick and put a hand on his shoulder. "I'd do it again if I had to."
He smiled and hugged me again. "I'm sure you would."
I smiled back and looked back in the room at Carl. I sighed and started to feel a little bit relieved.
"I'll come back later to see him." I told Rick, and he had no objections.

~~~~~~~~~~

It was later that evening and I walked over to Carl's room. I stood in the doorway and saw no one was in there at the moment. I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall, just thinking. He was still passed out, but he looked so peaceful.
Daryl then walked up to me and lightly touched my shoulder. I looked at him and smiled.
"Hershel and his family made dinner. It's ready if you want any." He said.
I nodded and looked back over at Carl. "I'll be there. I just want to see him real quick."
Before Daryl left, I grabbed his hand and he looked at me. I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, then let go of him. He ran his fingers through my hair and smirked.
"I'll give you a minute." He said and I thanked him.
He turned around and left me with Carl. I then walked over to him and sat down in a chair. I held his hand and just stared at him.
He reminded me so much of my little brother, and it made me wish that he was still here. I sniffled and wiped away a few tears.
"Oh Carl." I said and pet his head. "I'm sorry this happened to you."
He didn't respond to anything I said, and I'm pretty sure he couldn't even hear me.
"But there's one thing you need to know kid... and that is you're a survivor." I told him. "You are already so strong. This will only make you stronger."
Down the hall I heard talking and laughter. Then my stomach growled, making me notice how hungry I have been. I slowly got up, still in pain, and left the room. I walked down the hall, and once I entered the dining room everyone greeted me.
"There she is!" Glenn cheered.
"You're one tough son of a bitch Kelley." Shane said and held up a beer.
"Oh it was nothing." I said jokingly and played it off.
Everyone laughed at me and continued eating their food. Daryl nodded at a chair next to him and I took the invitation to sit down. Dinner was steak, beans, rice, broccoli, and rolls, and I couldn't wait to eat. I prepared my plate but before I ate, I looked around the table to see all the new faces.
"You're the doctor right?" I asked and pointed at the older man.
"Well, a veterinarian." He said and chuckled. "Pardon me, I didn't introduce myself. I'm Hershel Greene." He said and nodded.
He then pointed at a woman with brown hair who looked oddly familiar. "That's my oldest daughter Maggie." He said, then pointed to a younger girl with blonde hair. "And that's my youngest, Beth."
I looked over at Maggie and nodded my head. "You're the one who fixed me up, huh?" I asked.
"That would be me, yes." She said and smiled.
Hershel then pointed to a young man. "That is one of our family friends, Jimmy. And down there we have Patricia, Otis' wife." He said and pointed to a lady.
She looked at me and slightly smiled but I saw the sadness in her eyes.
"I'm sorry." I said and she looked at me. "I'm sorry for your loss."
She nodded and so did everyone else.
"Thank you." She said quietly and continued eating.
Daryl rubbed my back and I breathed deeply, trying to relax myself. Everyone slowly started eating again, but since I said that everything went quiet.
"Well Hershel." I said and broke the silence. "We appreciate all that you've done for us." I said, and the rest of the group nodded their heads in agreement. "Thank you."
I held up my glass and so did everyone else. We all toasted each other and my last toast was with Daryl. We looked at each other and I smiled at him.
"And thank you." I said sincerely.
He smiled, shrugged, and pointed at my food. "Eat up."
I laughed and nodded my head. Before I started eating I grabbed a slice of steak and tossed it to Bud who caught it in the air. After that is when I finally began eating the most delicious food I've had in a long time.