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

S2Pt9 - Apologies

I dragged Daryl over to a tree and leaned him against it. He was still passed out and I was struggling trying to sit him up. Once I got him steady against the tree I sat down a few feet away from him. My side was aching and my ankle was throbbing. I picked myself up and began pacing back and forth, trying to figure out how my weight my ankle could take. I felt good enough walking and went over to the pond. I dropped on my knees and began drinking the water out of my hands.
"Water never tasted so good." I thought.
I looked around and tried to think of a way out, but there was no easy way. I had to get us out of here, and the only way was climbing up the steep hill.
I walked over to Daryl and stood in front of him. I just kept replay the fight we just had, and what he said. I felt myself wanting to cry but I shook it off.
"It's not worth it." I whispered and wiped my tears. "You don't need to cry."
I looked at Daryl and didn't know how to feel.
"He almost hit you." I told myself. "But he didn't mean it. Did he?" I thought and began pacing. "No, he's not like that. He's not... him."
I walked up to Daryl and kneeled down in front of him.
"Daryl." I said and shook him lightly.
He didn't respond.
"Wake up." I said a little louder, and shaking him harder.
Still no response.
I had no choice. I was going to have to carry him. I dragged him over to the edge of the cliff and scanned it. There was a small ledge that would fit us about halfway up. If I got us there I could rest, and would be able to carry him the rest of the way. I lifted up Daryl and tried to sling him over my shoulder, but he was heavy. I set him back on the ground and groaned in pain.
I kicked some dirt and yelled in frustration. "Ugh, I can't!" I yelled at Daryl. "Fucking get up!"
I sighed and realized how stupid I was for yelling at an unconscious man to get up. I lifted up Daryl again, and with all my strength slung him over my shoulder. With my adrenaline rushing, I had the strength to carry him and eventually made it to that small ledge. I sat him down and collapsed next to him. I was panting and felt everything in my body aching. I closed my eyes and passed out from exhaustion.
I was slowly waking up and heard a groan from beside me. I looked over and saw Daryl open his eyes. He looked around frantically, confused about where we were.
"Where are we?" Daryl asked.
"I got us up here from the lake." I said.
"How?" He asked.
"I carried you. Slung you over my shoulder and climbed." I said like it was simple, but I was still in a lot of pain.
He reached over to grab my hand but didn't let him touch me. I was still upset about what happened.
"Kell-" He said.
"Let's just get out of here and head back to the farm." I cut him off and pointed up.
I groaned as I stood up and so did Daryl. I let him climb up before me just in case he passed out again. He did fine and reached the top. He held out his hand and I took it. He pulled me up and I finished climbing. I got to the top and bent over in pain and held my side, where I got shot.
"You okay?" He asked.
"I'm fine." I said.
I pointed in the direction of the farm. "The farm's that way. I'll be right back and meet you there." I said and turned around.
I felt Daryl grab my arm and I tensed up when he touched me. I turned around and yanked my arm away, and glared at him.
"Where are you going?" He asked softly.
"I need to get Hershel's horse back." I said. "I'll meet you back at the farm."
Daryl hesitantly nodded and began walking back to the farm. I turned around and followed the tracks that the horse left. Probably a hundred yards away I found the horse standing in a clearing and eating some grass.
"Hey, boy..." I said and held my hand out to the horse.
He neighed but didn't run away. I grabbed the reins and pet him. I checked him for any snake bites, but he was perfectly healthy. I mounted the horse and sat still for a minute. Once the pain subsided, I began walking back the way I came. A minute later I heard a single gunshot and instantly got a bad feeling.
"Daryl..." I thought. "Come on." I told the horse.
I got her to trot and we rode to the echo of the gunshot. I emerged out of the forest and saw Rick, Shane, T, and Glenn huddling in a circle. I quickly dismounted from the horse and walked over to them.
"Kelley, you don't want to see this." Glenn said sadly.
I pushed passed them and saw a body laying on the ground. It was Daryl.
"No!" I cried and tried to reach him.
Shane grabbed me and tried to pull me away. I slapped him arms away and pushed pass everyone. I ran to Daryl and fell to his side. He was shot and the bullet grazed his head. I checked his pulse and his heartbeat was faint. Luckily it didn't kill him, but he was once again unconscious.
But he was still alive.
"Who shot him?!" I yelled.
No one answered me. I grabbed Daryl and tried to pick him up but collapsed. I grunted in pain and felt my body was completely worn out. Rick helped me pick up Daryl and together we walked him back to the house.
"Glenn. Get that horse back to the stables for me." I said and Glenn nodded.
We soon approached the house and the group began to crowd around us to see what happened. I was boiling with anger at the moment because I knew someone in our group made that shot.
"Lay him on the bed." Hershel ordered, and we took Daryl to the room I was originally staying in.
Hershel assessed Daryl's head and began cleaning him up.
"An arrow went through his side too." I told Hershel. "I'd feel better if you looked at it."
"Where's the arrow now?" Hershel asked.
"He pulled it out." I sighed and tried not to get emotional over what happened.
What happened in the woods between us stays there because I didn't need the group knowing MY business.
"What about you?" Hershel asked because he noticed I was in pain still.
"I injured my ankle again, and my side is killing me. But I'm fine." I said and sat down in a chair next to the bed.
Maggie came over to me and began wrapping my ankle and I thanked her. She also gave me some pain medicine and I took them quickly.
"It's absolutely surprising how your small group can go through most on my medications in a couple weeks." Hershel said with a hint of annoyance.
"I'm sorry." I said and sighed. "I'll go on a run to town and get some more."
Hershel nodded and finished wrapping Daryl head and side injury. I nodded at him in thanks and then it was just me and Daryl. His eyes fluttered open and he groaned in pain. We were silent until Andrea ran in.
"Oh my..." Was all she could say.
I looked at her and she looked at me with fear.
"I'm so sorry." She began.
"You shot him?" I asked and titled my head at her. "You??"
"I'm sorry. I thought... I thought he was a walker." She said.
Her eyes were big and she looked at me sadly. Daryl just sighed and I looked away from her.
"Just go." I said.
"What?" She asked, not wanting to leave yet.
"Just leave us alone!" I raised my voice.
She flinched at my voice and quickly left the room. I sighed and clenched my fist.
"I swear to God, I can kill her right now..." I muttered to myself.
Daryl looked at me and grabbed my hand. I was all jittery and pulled my hand away, but then sighed. I grabbed his hand and held it, but still refused to look at him.
Rick then walked in. "What happened to you guys?" He asked.
I didn't know where to start, I was still shocked by everything, but Daryl started explaining.
"We were riding on a trail when the horse got spooked. It threw us off and we fell down into a gorge. I passed out, and well..." Daryl said and looked at me. "Kell got us out of there."
I looked over at Daryl and he reminded me of his normal self. I couldn't even understand how he turned into that person in the gorge. Rick nodded and rested his hand on my shoulder.
"I'm glad you guys are safe." He said and turned around to leave.
"And Rick." Daryl said, and he turned around. "We found Sophia's doll."
Rick smiled, nodded his head, and left the room. Once he did, I instantly felt Daryl's eyes on me.
"Kell..." He said.
I sighed and looked over at him. "Yeah?"
"I'm sorry for what happened. I shouldn't have gotten angry at you." He said.
I turned my head and wiped away a couple tears.
"I'm sorry for calling you a bitch, and almost hitting you." He said and clenched his fist. "I'm angry at myself for it."
I just nodded and just barely looked at him.
"I'm very sorry." Was all he could say.
I let out a cry and wiped my tears and grabbed his hand with both on mine.
"I know." I said, and he wiped my tears. "I'm sorry for what I said."
"No.." Daryl said, and gently touched my cheek. "You're not the one who has to be sorry. You did nothing wrong."
I rested my forehead against his hand and cried.
"You did everything right. You saved me." He said and squeezed my hand.
"I was so scared. I thought I couldn't get us out of there. And then you got shot." I ranted. "I was so scared I was going to lose you."
He lifted up my chin and I looked at him. He wiped a tear that was sliding down my lip and I leaned my face into the palm of his hand.
"And I do love you." He said.
I stared at him and didn't know how to respond. I didn't know if what he said was real, and I was surprised that he said "the L word".
"I love you." He repeated and caressed my cheek.
I nodded and slightly smiled. "I love you too."