My Damaged Protector

Chapter Nine~Nebraska

Sophia's body laid on the ground in front of us, Carol sobs seemed to echo throughout the now quiet land. Daryl gently helped the grieving woman to her feet, only for her to throw his hands off and run to the RV. I stayed in my place, wiping away the tears that didn't seem to have an end. Daryl took up a protective stance in front of me, almost as if he were worried more walkers would come out of the barn.

Beth broke away from Jimmy, running towards the bodies and pushing one walker off a woman with blonde hair, someone I could only guess was important to the young girl. Just as Beth turned the woman over, its hands reached out to grab at the blonde girl. She screamed loudly, Glenn and Andrea rushing forward to pull her out of the way and send a knife through the walker's head. Hershel finally got up from his spot and pulled his daughter into a tight hug, leading her to the house. Daryl held out his hands and pulled me to my feet, following the Green's as they went back to their house.

Shane went to place a hand on the retreating older man, only for Maggie to step in and protect her father. "Don't you touch him." She slapped Shane across the face, stopping his advancements.

I looked up to Daryl who was still at my side. "Can we go to the RV?" He nodded his head and walked along beside me as I went to go check on Carol. Daryl opened the door for me and allowed me to walk in first. I sat beside Carol as she looked out the window, giving her a soft pat on the shoulder to let her know that there were people here to help her get through this. "I won't ask if you're ok, 'cause I know you're not. But we're all here for you." She sniffled and wiped at her cheeks. "But you will be ok, everythin' is gonna be ok." My voice was barely a whisper as I sung the few words to try calming her.

"You sing?" She looked up to me between sniffles.

"A little. Used to sing Elena to bed every night."

She wiped her cheeks again and rested her head against the window. "Can you sing something for me?"

It took a moment for a song to come into my head that she might know and that would work in this situation. I ended up choosing a very popular song that Elena had loved me to sing for her.

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in a river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh,
And life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life, oh well
I've had just enough time

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life, oh well
I've had just enough time

And I'll be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger,
I've never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holdin' my hand,
There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me forever,
Who would have thought forever could be severed by...

...the sharp knife of a short life, oh well?
I've had just enough time

So put on your best, boys, and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh, no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'