cassette tapes |d. dixon| [1]

37

"I was afraid to open my eyes. I was afraid that what I saw before I passed out wasn't true, that I was just imagining Daryl. I was also afraid of waking up alone. What if Woodbury attacked again, and this time, they took everyone out."

WHEN CAROLINE OPENED HER EYES, her chest ached. Wether it was from the smoke or the ribs, she didn't know.

"There she is." Hershel smiled, "Was wondering when you were going to wake up."

"Where's Maggie?" Caroline whispered, her voice hoarse.

"Rick sent her out on watch." Hershel answered,

"Alone?!" Caroline began sitting up and let out a yelp of pain, "What if-"

Hershel pushed her back to lay down, "Rick didn't see any snipers. She'll be ok if she's out of sight." He grabbed a flashlight from the table behind him, "Now, I need to see your eyes."

As he was checking her eyes for reactions, she began tearing up, "Was I... was I imagining things earlier... or is Daryl back?"

"He came back with his brother." Hershel answered, "Do you want me to go get him-"

Caroline shook her head and winced, "No. No, I... need some time."

"I did need time. So much has happened in the past few hours I just needed time to breathe and comprehend."

Hershel nodded and sat back, "No sign of a concussion. Your ribs are broken, you're lucky you didn't puncture a lung. You need to take it easy for a while, or you could end up doing some serious damage."

"Okay." Caroline winced as she sat up, holding her side,

"That's not what I mean by take it easy." Hershel replied, his hands going to her shoulders,

"Hershel, there's a group of military wannabes who are going to show up at our door at any moment. I don't have the time to take it easy." Caroline replied,

Hershel stood, "I need to talk to Rick. I'll send Beth and Judie in here to keep you company."

Caroline sighed, wincing as she did so. Soon, the younger Greene walked in with the newest member of the group.

"How's she doing?" Caroline asked, sitting against the wall.

"She's fine. Can't wait for her to have a regular sleeping schedule so she doesn't wake me up at night." Beth smiled and sat next to Caroline, "How are you feeling?"

Caroline shrugged, "I'll be fine."

"He came back for you, ya know." Beth said, rocking the baby, "Maggie told me that's what he said while you were sleeping."

Caroline shook her head, "He left, Beth. Abandoned us."

"But he's here now." 

"But he wasn't here when we needed him." Tears filled her eyes, "Axel died. We were lucky that we didn't lose more. And he wasn't here."

"We did need him here. Despite knowing the muscle and power that this Woodbury group had, Daryl still left. And if he was able to leave once, no doubt he could leave again."

"Caroline!" 

"Great." Caroline sighed,

The younger blonde handed her Judith, "I'll go talk to him."

She heard Daryl's footsteps approach the cell, "She doesn't want to talk to you right now." Caroline heard Beth say,

"Bullshit. We'll talk now." Daryl walked around the girl and stomped into Caroline's new cell, "Seriously?! You moved cells?!"

Caroline passed the baby back to Beth, "You walked out on me... I can't do the same?"

"I didn' walk out on you!" Daryl exclaimed,

"Oh, how wrong he was in my eyes."

She stood up, holding her side, her face angry, "Yes you did! You made the decision to leave this group, thinking that you'd never come back!" Caroline yelled, "You made the decision to leave me. Judith, Carl, Rick, Glenn, Carol, everyone!" The cell became quiet, "Just get out."

"Care-"

"Out!" She yelled and Daryl sighed before leaving.

Once he was out of the cell, Caroline grabbed the bedframe in pain, "Do you need me to get my dad?" Beth asked,

"No, Beth. I'm fine." Caroline sat down on the bed once again, tears in her eyes, "I'm fine."

"I wasn't. I'm injured, we had lost more people over the past couple of days, and now, we have a heavily armed group after us. I don't think any of us are fine."