Chapter 2

Merle and Daryl slipped into the hospital through a door Merle knew was never locked so the employees could sneak out and smoke- ever since the hospital had instituted it's no smoking policy the employees had found ways around it. This was just one door he knew remained unlocked at night so the employees could get in and out without fuss or notice.

Merle motioned to Daryl to follow him and they slunk silently down various hallways and then up two flights of stairs. Peering out the doorway cautiously, Merle smiled and waved Daryl to follow him. The nurse at the desk was an old acquaintance of his and wouldn't report them for being on the floor at this hour. Merle waved a hello to her and she rolled her eyes and nodded back.

Merle led Daryl to a door where there was a sign announcing visitors were prohibited unless cleared by family. There was a guy sitting in a chair in some type of guard uniform and Merle smiled at him as well. Daryl glanced over at Merle and Merle shrugged. "Got contacts everywhere." Daryl shook his head in disgust-same old Merle.

They stopped in front of the door and Merle cleared his throat. "Pete, this here's my baby brother. He's here to see Lucy." Pete glanced at Daryl and then back at Merle, frowning.

"Hell Merle, ya know they'd have my hide if I let anyone in here but the family," the man began to whine and Merle glared at him.

"They wouldn't be too happy knowing you're stoned half the time you're supposed to be guarding anything of theirs," Merle snapped quietly, glancing around furtively. "Now shut it and let my brother in there. I'll stay out here ta keep ya company," Merle continued and waved Daryl in.

Daryl entered the room nervously, not having any idea what to expect. As he rounded the corner of the wall, he stopped, breath choked in his throat.

Lucy lay in the bed, appearing to be asleep. She had never been a big girl but it seemed to him as if she'd shrunk. She seemed to be skin and bones, all angles and hollows. He stepped closer and peered intently at her. He could see the hollows of her cheeks, dark circles under her eyes. Her hands, lying on her stomach, were nearly skeletal. He could faintly see from the way her hospital gown had shifted that her collar bones stood out sharply. She looked like someone who'd been starved half to death. Her hair was dull and dry and hanging in tangles around her.

He stared at her, feeling a pain in his chest from the rush of emotions he was experiencing. He hadn't thought he'd ever see her again, but had consoled himself the last eight years with the hope that she would have found some way to be happy in her marriage to Wade. He cursed himself as he had every day and every night those long years that he hadn't been smarter about their plan to run away together. That he hadn't been strong enough for the both of them to take her away from this shithole and her hateful and cruel family.

Lucy sighed and stirred and Daryl leaned over the bed rail, clutching the rail in a white knuckle grip to prevent himself from startling her with his touch.

As he gazed silently at her, Lucy's eyes opened and she stared at Daryl in confusion. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes and dropped to her cheeks rapidly. Her mouth opened, and he noticed how dry and chapped her lips were, signs of having been bitten often on them.

She opened her mouth to speak, but a hoarse rasping noise was all that came out. Daryl remembered what Merle had told him about her screaming and realized she'd screamed herself hoarse.

He shook his head slightly and smiled softly at her. "Don't gotta speak, Lucy. Rest yer throat," he said softly. Her eyes widened on hearing his voice. She turned her head to look about the room then turned her eyes back to him. She coughed and licked her lips.

"Am I dead?" she croaked in a whisper he could barely hear. His eyes widened at her question.

"No Lucy. Yer in the hospital. I'm here, got here tonight. Merle called me," he explained, not wanting to overwhelm her with too much information.

She nodded, uncomprehending of what he was telling her. She continued to gaze at him in disbelief and reached a shaking hand to her temple. "I really am crazy now," she rasped again.

Daryl shook his head, his throat tight with emotion. He reached a hand out and grasped her free hand firmly. "No, I'm real. Feel that?" She nodded uncertainly. "I'm really here. Ya ain't crazy."

Lucy lowered her hand to rest on Daryl's. She frowned slightly and a blush crept into her oh so pale features. She lowered her eyes and tried to pull her hands from Daryl's grasp. "I killed Wade," she whispered, almost as a question.

Daryl gripped her hands to keep her from pulling them from his grasp. "Don't care. Just know I'm glad yer alive and I'm here with ya," he whispered to her. Lucy's eyes flicked up in surprise to his, and she saw a tear slide slowly down his cheek. Daryl raised her hand to his lips and kissed her softly. Lucy's mouth fell open slightly in surprise. "Never should have left here without ya. Ain't leavin' ya here alone again," he whispered against her skin. Lucy rolled to her side, facing him, and winced at the pain in her abdomen. Daryl pulled a chair over toward the bed and after lowering the rail he sat down as close to her as he could get. He immediately clasped her cold thin hands in his big, rough, warm hands and rubbed his thumbs over them.

Lucy opened her mouth and Daryl shook his head. He leaned over and pressed a soft kiss on her cheek. "Don't talk. Rest. I'll be here with ya when ya wake up. Ain't goin' nowhere," he whispered and he brushed a hand against her cheek. Lucy nodded and closed her eyes, but Daryl never felt her grip loosen its hold on his hands.