Broken

Strange

The room I'm in has a soft blue color, "Hey, Hey! She's awake," someone says from beside me. "Carl?" I question as I push myself up.

"Lay back down," Enid says as she gently pushes my shoulders. "You're okay," she reassures, her dark hair falls around her face. "What's happening?" I ask, "You fainted," she says.

"How long have I been here," I ask, "Just a few hours," Kelly says. I smile at her, "Where's Carl and Chonne?" I ask. "Michonne had to go back, Carl is with Dianna discussing Alden and Luke," Enid tells me.

"Why what happened?" I ask, "They're missin'," Daryl says from the other side of the room. "You need to rest," Enid says, "No, if I can help out then I'm helping out," I say as I sit up again. "Elaine stop," Kelly says.

I reluctantly lay back in bed, "When was the last time you ate?" Daryl asks as he stands. I shrug, "When we were on the road to get here," I say, "Two days," Kelly mutters.

"I'll go get ya somethin'," Daryl says. "Shut up," he says before I can even think about opening my mouth, "Dog stay," Daryl tells his mutt as he walks out the door.

The dog sits down in front of the door, "Kelly can I talk with Elaine alone for a moment?" Enid asks. "If you need me just yell," the woman says before she moves to the door.

"Are you pregnant?" Enid asks, "What?" I say, "Come on, fainting, nausea, dizzy spells," Enid says. I shake my head, "No, that's impossible whether it's me or Carl I'm pretty sure I can't get pregnant," I say. 

Enid sits down on the bed, "It only takes one healthy swimmer to get ya," she says with a smirk. I shake my head, "It could always be me," I say, "Same goes for eggs too," she says.

"Well if you are then you need to stop being stressed and take care of yourself," Enid commands. "Fine," I mutter, I look at the IV in my arm.

"I think that girl has an ear infection," I say. "I'll check her out later," Enid says, "You have to be patient with her, I'm pretty sure she was abused," I say.

"How do you know?" Enid asks, I shake my head, "The way she acted, how she flinched. I remember when I was the same," I say. Enid frowns, "Daryl?" she questions cautiously.

I almost laugh at her assumption, "He's never hurt me," I reply. "Yeah I should've known, he's a big teddy-bear," she says. Suddenly Dog stands and walks toward the bed he lays his head on the edge.

"Come on," I say as I pat the mattress. The dog hops up and lays at the edge of the bed. I run my hands over his dark colored fur as he lays his head down. 

"Good boy," I whisper as I pet him. I watch as Enid paces over to the window, then back over to the counter. I watch as she folds a towel, she shifts the jars on the table. "What's wrong?" I ask her, "Alden," she says. 

"Alden?" I question, "Yeah," Enid says as she turns to me, "He's my, uh- lover. No, boyfriend?" she says. 

"Lover?" I ask, "Well we haven't really established what we are yet and I get it but with him being gone it's," Enid stops talking. 

I smile, "Making you realize that you might just want him to be more than someone you sleep with?" I ask. Enid smiles, "I think that might be it," she says. "It's kinda unfair. You and Carl have always known what you were," she says. 

"We've been through a lot together," I say, "But that's not what makes you close, you love each other like the world's about to end," Enid says. I smile, "I guess we do, but you don't need to know what you are to love someone,"  I tell her. 

The door opens gently and Connie walks in with Daryl behind her. I wave to the woman and she smiles. How are you feeling?  she signs as she takes the plate from Daryl to hand it to me.

I'm fine, just dehydrated, I tell her so she doesn't worry. The woman sits down beside me and we talk about my girls. I wish I could have a big family like that, Connie signs. Daryl watches her hands move, I watch him as he smiles in her direction. 

I'm going to be around here more often so you can just have mine, I say to her. She smiles widely, Thank you, she signs as she mouths the words.

"Thank you," I whisper back. Connie gives me a nod as she stands. I watch as the woman leaves. I begin to eat a little faster because I'm really freaking hungry.

Daryl take Connie's spot at the side of my bed. "Teach me," he says with his knees on his elbows. "Teach you what?" I ask, he shrugs, "Oh you want to learn sign?" I say.

He wants to be able to talk to her. I do the motions for yes and no. He copies them, "Why can't I just nod or shake my head?" he asks.

"Its more respectful and better for her if you sign it," I say, he shrugs again and mutters something under his breath. "Connie's name is easy, C O N N I E," I say as I sign the letters to make up her name.

Daryl does her name pretty smoothly, "Your uncle Jimmy taught me the alphabet," he says. "That's a good start," I say. I tech him how to say thank you, be quiet, get your weapons, and how's your day been. Then how to respond to that question.

Daryl signs a thank you before he stands up. He places a kiss to the top of my head, "See ya Monkey," he says with a smile. 

I nod and wave him goodbye, he leaves quietly as Carl walks in. He smiles at me, "You okay?" he asks I nod and motion for him to get in bed with me. "I'm fine," I tell him as he lays down beside me. 

"I want to get back home," I say. He cradles my head with his arm, "We'll leave after we find Alden and Luke." 

I look up at him, "We don't know if they're just taking longer than expected or if there are more walkers than we thought," he says. 

I press my forehead against his chest, "The girls are safe right." 

"Mom said she'd take care of them, but she wanted things settled here," he says. 

"Maybe we should think about staying. Tara wants to go back, even if her and Ro aren't together anymore Abe and Milo miss her. And Daryl can't run this place, Jesus doesn't want the job. He just wants to be with Aaron," I say, "Dianna wants to go back to the Kingdom."

Carl pushes himself up so he can stare down at me. He stares at me, his eyes are darker than they were just a few years ago. I stare at him just the same, the look in his eyes hasn't changed. 

"You should get home, I don't want the girls there without you," he whispers. I place my hand on his cheek. 

"I don't want to leave you here alone without-," Carl presses his lips to mine, "I'm fine here on my own. You need to get home. Daryl's gonna need my help with Lydia," he says. 

"When will you come home?" I ask him. "When this is settled when we get some info from Lydia," he says, "You work on trying to convince Michonne to go to the fair."

"You gave me the most impossible task," I say, "If anyone can do it, it's you," he says. "I don't think that's true, Carl. The only one she listens to anymore is you," I say. 

"She listens to you, more than you think," Carl says, "Yeah 'cuz she's making sure I stay in line," I say, "Not just that, she misses you, I can tell. Trust just needs to be reestablished," Carl says.