Angel (Daryl Dixion x Reader)

~21~

   The next morning Daryl woke up beside you. Half slumped over the bed side and still holding your hand. He didn't remember dozing off, but apparently he did at some point. He slowly sits up, spine and lower back protesting from leaning over for who knew how long. He runs a hand down his face with his hand not laced with yours. "Mornin'." Rick softly says, slightly startling Daryl when he looks over to where Ricks voice came. He saw Rick sitting in the other chair looking at him curiously. "When'd you get in here?" Daryl lowly asks, obviously confused on when Rick snuck into the room, simply because he never heard him. "Woke up last night, n wandered in here to check on her. You were already out, n I guess I dozed off too." Rick answered as Daryl looks back at your sleeping form. Rick stares at Daryl looking at you for a second, noticing how his eyes genuinely soften when gazing at you. It was obvious he loved you, simply because he was always different when around you. He was gentle with you, and Rick really liked that about Daryl. He treated you good so far, and that made Rick happy for you. Rick was about to say something to Daryl when your head turns to the side. Pressing back into the pillow as you mumble something completely inaudible in your sleep. Rick and Daryl look to each other in confusion at the low, almost dangerous sounding tone your voice had taken on. Then your grip on Daryl's hand tightens, snapping their attention back to your face.

Your breathing suddenly shifts. Increasing what what appeared to be genuine panic, but your face twisted into a painful expression. "...No-" you growl between clenched teeth, rather loudly and Rick immediately stood up. "She's havin' a nightmare-" Rick quickly tells Daryl as he leans over your body. Instantly ready to hold you down in case you woke up fighting, just to insure you wouldn't accidentally rip stitches. "(Y/n)- Wake up, sis. It isn't real." Rick gently, but cautiously says. Your jaw works harshly as your teeth had already gritted together. A low growling whimper leaves your throat, the sound more of pure agony mixed with rage than anything else. Daryl immediately stands up from you at that, because you weren't wake up. He was really starting to get worried now, especially when he noticed sweat starting to bead on your brow. He knew you had night terrors, because he had heard you screaming in your sleep before back at camp. Something you didn't wake yourself up or rather couldn't, not until Shane came to wake you. Until now, he'd never actually saw you have one. Honestly it was kind of frightening to think the things you've been through that haunt you this way. Your head jerks to the side, a desperate whimper escaping your throat from the swiftness of the turn. "(Y/n)! Wake up!!" Rick says louder this time, as Daryl watches your body tense up with an ungodly amount tension, now completely unsure of what to do.

Rick's hands instantly grab your shoulders, "(Y/n)!" He kinda shouts down at you. Your eyes snap open, "Jess!" You scream out with your whole chest, as you shoot straight up into a sitting position, your arm flying to your immediate left, reaching for someone who wasn't there. Rick jerks back form you sitting up so quickly, actually having to take a step back. Daryl's whole body jumped from the swiftness that you lurched up, only for his muscles to briefly lock at the guttural scream that came from you. Panting heavily, you were obviously confused as you jerk your arm back to your chest at the sight of Daryl staring at you in complete frozen sock. Your eyes dart around the room for a second, trying to figure out where you were, or rather, when you were. Then the pain in your side slams you harshly back into reality. You growl lowly, your arm snaking around your side as your body curls in on itself. "..Easy- Easy, sis." Rick gently tells you as he moves the pillows behind your back, so you can sit against them. "..Fuck-" you barely whisper out loud, partly from the pain, and partly from the vivid nightmare you just woke up from. Or rather, one of the vivid memories that you carry with an insurmountable amount of heavy guilt.

You feel Ricks gentle hands on your shoulders, guiding you to lean back against the pillows, instead of being uncomfortably curled in on yourself. Once leaned back, and only after you'd managed to remember how to breathe through the uncomfortable stabbing pain in your side, did you open your eyes. You saw Daryl's eyes on you. His gaze a mixture of frozen, stunned shock, and overwhelming concern. Your gaze immediately shoots down to your feet not, wanting to see him looking at you with that concerned blue eyed gaze. Because deep down, you knew you didn't deserve such pity or concern. Nor did you really want it. You sigh heavily as Rick cautiously sits back down beside your bed. Your twins slowed movements were to not startle you, and you can feel him staring at you too. Watching you like he was anticipating you exploding or something... just like how Lori commonly looked at you. "Ya okay?" Rick finally asks from beside you. "...M'fine." you say quietly, simply, while still looking at your feet. The answer so rehearsed from when Shane woke you up, that it now felt like second nature. Feeling Daryl's gaze still on you, "..M' sorry. I didn't mean to scare ya." You add flatly, still not looking at them. Another rehearsed answer. "...Who's Jess?" Daryl asks suddenly and your eyes widen at the sound of your best friends name. Your mouth goes bone dry and you didn't answer him because your mind just draws a blank.