New Beginnings (Sequel to 'Torn Apart')

Chapter 5

Cat's P.O.V
I feel the bed dip beside me, causing my eyes to open. It's takes a few moments before my eyes adjust and I see Rick sitting on the bed beside me, with Judith in his lap. I sit up, trying not to jostle Beth beside me. Once I have sat up I yawn, rubbing my eyes awake.

The late afternoon light filters into the room and I am able to see Ricks face clearly. Large, purple bruises cover the left side of his face, his eye slightly swollen.

"What happened to you?" I whisper.

"Your husband." Rick mutters.

"What did he do?" I gasp.

"I talked to him about you-" He begins.

"I told you not to do that!" I whisper yell, as Beth stirs in my arms.

"Well someone needed to speak to him, so I did! Let's just say he didn't take it to well." Rick says, staring down at Judith.

"Both of you are idiots." I say, shaking my head.

"I was just trying to help." He says.

"I didn't ask you too! I told you to leave him alone. If he wants to talk to me, he will but I don't want anyone forcing him to do something he isn't ready for. He's grieving." I say.

"He's been grieving for four months Cat! Even Maggie is at a point where she can get through the day without it overwhelming her! But he goes on as if it was apart of him that died, that he died in that hospital. He needs to grow up and face his responsibilities. He needs to remember that he has a wife and a child on the way, he can't continue on with this." Rick says, anger present in his voice.

"Think what you want, but I'm not going to pressure him. He's been through enough and I don't want to burden him. Even though him being away from me is like a knife to my chest, I respect that he wants to be alone. I respect his decisions because I am his wife, despite everything I am his wife and I will do anything to make him happy." I say, breathing heavily.

He looks at me with sad eyes and I burst out into tears. Rick pulls my head against his chest as he let's me cry into his chest for a long time. After awhile the tears run dry and I stop crying. I look up at him and he looks down at me. He reaches his hand up to wipe the remaining tears away, his hand cupping my cheek. I wrap my hand around his wrist and give him a friendly squeeze.

The door opens and I look up to see Daryl standing in the doorway. A large smile covers my face at the sight of him, but vanishes when I see his expression. His face contorts into a scowl and I can see the anger radiating off his body. I look at Rick and see what he must be seeing.

"Daryl-"

He storms out of the room and I quickly jump up, passing Beth to Rick. I rush as fast as I can out of the room following him, though he is farther ahead. He is already halfway down the stairs and I call out to him but he continues walking. I ignore the searing pain in my ankle and hobble after him as he walks through the front door.

"Daryl, wait!" I yell.

He turns, "Why? So you can tell me tha' it was nothin'? Tha' I'm over reactin'?" He yells in my face.

"Yes, because it was nothing!"

"Don' lie to me! I saw wha' I saw!" He says, walking away.

"Stop being a fucking asshole and talk to me!" I yell.

He stops in the middle of the lawn and turns to face me, "I'm an asshole?"

"Yeah you are. I get it, you're upset over Beth. I understand and I have given you your space, but this is fucking ridiculous!" I yell, walking towards him.