I'll Take The Pain (A Daryl Dixon Story)

Just Breathe

Maisie's POV

I spent the next hour in my cell, sitting on the floor. Hershel soon came in with a first aid kit and sat on a stool in front of me. He gently took my hand that I punched the wall with and examined it. He then cleaned the blood off my knuckles before wrapping it up with gauze over my knuckles. He then looked at me and sighed. I didn't meet his eye contact as he spoke, "Your hand isn't broken, which is surprising considering the damage."

His words fell on deaf ears. I continued to stare ahead of me, looking through Hershel. The old man spoke up again, "You two were close. Anyone could see that. Rick told me that Daryl said you would understand. That if it were your brother you'd do the same. You'll come back from this. I know you will. You're a strong woman. Daryl is just not seeing what he's missing. He left behind a beautiful woman who loves him-"

"I don't love him," I said, cutting him off. He started at me silently for a beat before saying, "You may not know it yet, but I see how you look at him. You look at him differently than you do anyone else."

"That's because he's an insufferable asshole," I said, standing up and finally making eye contact with Hershel, "I don't need your therapy. I don't need your help. I've always done fine on my own. Why I stayed with all of you is beyond me. I said I would leave after Sophia but I didn't. I should have left when I had the chance."

With that I grabbed my bow and quiver, heading out of the cell block towards the gate, just to be stopped by Rick, "You can't leave."

I spun around to look at him and said, "Why the hell not?"

"We need you here. We could use your help with the Governor," Rick said. I scoffed. If I wanted to, I could wipe out the whole town that was there within the hour. He had no idea who I was and what I could do. Only Daryl had any kind of insight to what I used to do. Everyone else just thinks I was in the military. I stared at Rick and said, "I don't give two short and curlies what you need me for. If I wanted to leave, I'd leave. None of you would be able to stop me. In fact, if you were to get in my way, I wouldn't be able to guarantee your safety or survival. And worst of all, I would feel no remorse over who I might kill to get out of here."

Rick just stared at me. I could tell that there was fear in his eyes. He didn't know how to move forward with this conversation. He had never seen me like this. I was hoping I'd never have to be like this. But shit happens and now I'm back to who I was. After a while, Rick spoke, "But you're not leaving us, are you?"

"If I were, I'd have more stuff and with you trying to stop me, you may have ended up dead. So no. I'm not leaving. Y'all need food. I'm gonna go hunting. Is that alright with you, All-Mighty Leader?" I said, asking the question with sarcasm dripping off of the words. He just nodded and opened the gate. I walked out of the prison and into the woods, keeping my eyes open for any kind of game.

After a couple hours I had caught 3 rabbits, 12 squirrels, and 2 raccoons. I walked back into the prison, dropping off the dead animals in the kitchen area before heading back into my cell. I sat on my bed and clenched and unclenched my injured hand a couple times. It had almost given out on me a couple times when I was holding my bow. I groaned and laid back on the bed, closing my eyes for a second. Or, it was meant to be for a second. But I soon fell into a deep sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

An hour later, I was sitting on my bed as Beth was coming up the stairs holding Judith while Carol was making her little bed/crate. Carol looked at Beth and said, "You got a knack for that."

"Just trying to do my part," Replied the blonde girl quietly. Carol went on, "Sophia used to wake the neighbors. 3:00 AM. Like clockwork. Ed stayed at a friend's most nights till she calmed down."