Disclaimer: I own nothing involving the Walking Dead, except for my adoration and my OC Cerys. :)
Authors Note: Hey everybody so I know it's been awhile but school kept me busy and I work a lot of nights so i'm usually pretty tired. As you can tell this is a filler chapter to kind of set up the next one which will probably be one of my favourites to write! Thank you to everybody who is reading, I always appreciate feedback so don't be afraid to review I welcome it!
It had been a few days and my leg was starting to heal nicely. There wasn't as much muscle damage as we had initially thought, Hershel had stitched me up and now I was starting to hobble around. I had started wearing shorts because it let the wound breathe, not to mention Georgia was hot as hell anyway. I started to hobble out of my cell when I saw Daryl gathering items near his bunk, his crossbow on his back. We hadn't spoken since that day in my cell but I could tell something was wrong. I searched my head for a reason to talk to him when I saw his vest lying there that had yet to be claimed. Thinking quickly I grabbed it and approached him on quiet feet.
"Hey"I said causing him to turn quickly. He looked me up and down, his gaze landing on my leg and stopping there for a few moments.
"My eyes are up here." I joked. He turned his gaze to my eyes and spoke.
"Should be laying down." he said turning to pack more of his bag.
"I'm fine how else am I supposed to get my strength back if I don't use it." I paused. "Where are you going?"
"Gonna go get Glenn and Maggie, you're stayin" Daryl said without looking at me.
"Excuse me?" I asked not quite believing what he had just told me.
"Can't have you bringing down our speed. Stay here and look after the prison." Daryl said turning around to face me. At this I was getting very angry, no one ever told me what could and could do before this damned apocalypse and I would be damned if they started now.
"Alright, fine if that's how you feel." I muttered. I turned to walk away but stopped.
"Oh by the way here's your stupid bloody vest." I said throwing it on his cot. I reached my cell and began suiting up. I grabbed my daggers from underneath my bed, wincing when I bent and my thigh scraped a bit on the bed frame. I bit my tongue to keep from calling out, that would only prove to Daryl that I was still hurting, which if I was being honest I kind of was. I strapped my daggers on a bit higher than usual so I could hide them under my shirt. I wasn't stupid I wasn't going to rush into a situation without working myself to see how far I could take it. I tucked my gun into my the back of my belt and left my cell. Going down the steps was harder than I thought but I made it. Rick was holding a brief meeting with everyone who I assumed was going to rescue Glenn and Maggie. I stared at Daryl's back for a moment before I continued on my way outside. Hershel stopped me on my way out.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked.
"Out for a bit of sunshine i'm going crazy in here." I told him honestly.
"Now I know sitting around doesn't seem like the most fun, but it would be best for your leg." Hershel said looking at the half healed wound. I knew Hershel knew what I was up to, but I needed to do this.
"I promise I won't over do it." I said. Hershel just gave me a sympathetic smile and turned away. At this I started towards the exit. The Georgia sun was already high in the sky this early in the day. Carl was standing there with the two former inmates and Beth.
"Oh hey Cerys, good to see you up and about." Beth said greeting me with a smile. The smile only stayed for a brief moment until she saw my still healing leg and gave me a questioning look.
"I'll be fine, do you mind if I take a walk. I won't be long I promise." I said looking at the small group that was outside.
"Do you really think that's a good idea?" Carl asked.
"I'll take it easy I promise." I said beginning to walk. I took a deep breath, my thigh telling me maybe that everyone was right, but being forever stubborn I decided to ignore it. I started off slowly but picked up a little speed as I continued. I was going at a slow jog around the fence of the prison, walkers moaning as I went by. I lifted my shirt a little and grabbed my daggers stabbing them as I went. It felt natural to be at this again, I smiled a little telling myself I was practically recovered. I looked down at the muscle, it was weeping a little blood but nothing major. I did a test jump, it was a little painful but nothing I couldn't handle or so I thought. I put a dagger between my teeth, tucking the other into my belt and started climbing the fence. I was about halfway up the fence when my leg decided to give out.
"Fuck." I muttered.
"Cerys!" I heard a voice behind me yell. I turned and saw Daryl storming down the path. I turned my head angrily and tried to continue climbing, which was obviously not going to happen. I felt the fence move from the weight of another and soon arms were encircling my waist hauling me down. Soon we were both on the ground and Daryl set me in front of him.
"What the hell were ya thinking?!" He yelled. At this I was a little taken aback, Daryl had never yelled at me before let alone shown his angry side.
"I was trying to get my leg.." I started.
"No! I aint gonna listen to it. What you were doing was gonna hurt'cha more!" Daryl yelled pointing to the group up at the top of the hill taking all of this in.
"Daryl you can stop yelling everyone is staring." I said trying to calm him down.
"I don't give a damn! What if you hurt yourself worse!?" he asked. This struck a cord with me.
"So? What if I had, you wouldn't have cared anyway! I'm only going to slow the group down in your words." I said tears starting to creep out of my eyes. "I'm sorry that all I am to you is a nuisance that gets in the way." At this Daryl seemed to get even more upset.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He said quieter than before. By now I was really upset, I hadn't realized how much his comment had hurt me earlier but it was all coming out now, for the first time in a long time I was letting tears actually fall.
"Well i'm right aren't I? Before you didn't even care that I was still hurt you were just worrying about coming back for me if I fell. Jesus, I know we aren't exactly best friends Daryl but I at least thought you respected me." I finished. I glanced up to the group who was watching this little show, once Rick realized I was just upset he started ushering everyone to look away. I started to walk away and i'll admit my leg was killing me but I was ignoring it.
"Is that really what you think?" Daryl asked from behind me. I turned and wiped a few tears from my eyes.
"What else would I think? You just stopped talking to me. Now you don't want me near the rest of the group. I'm sorry i'm not from Georgia but i've earned my right to be here just as much as anyone else." I yelled pointing at myself to further drive the point home. I stood there shaking from all of the emotions coursing through me. I was upset but I was more angry than anything. Daryl took a step closer to me, but my legs were locked in place.
"I thought you were dead, I didn't wanna go through that again." he began "don'tcha get it I wanted to keep ya safe." This took me completely off guard.
"Daryl, I.." I began to say but he cut me off not even realizing I was talking.
"Goddamnit London," I laughed at the nickname as he continued "ya came in with an attitude that made me think ya weren't gonna make it, but ya sure as hell proved me wrong." I stood there completely dumbfounded. Daryl Dixon wanting to keep me safe, that was something I don't think I ever would have thought of. I kept silent letting myself mull this over in my head. Daryl must have taken my silence as anger.
"Whatever be pissed at me if you want, see if I care." He muttered while pushing past me to walk away. I laughed as he continued up the hill. I ran to catch up to him as fast as my leg would allow. I grabbed his arm forcing him to turn and face me.
"Than why didn't you bloody say that." I said grabbing both side of his face and capturing his lips with mine. Once again I felt him tense at the contact, but when I moved my hands from his face, over his shoulders and laced my fingers through his hair he seemed to relax a little. It felt strange to be feeling any sort of romantic emotions towards another person in this fucked up world, but I suddenly realized what else was there to hope for. I could feel Daryl slowly return the kiss, I could feel his hesitance and I knew he hadn't experienced genuine romantic attraction for a very long time, if ever. I pulled away slowly placing another quick peck on the lips before I actually pulled away.
"If I don't go to Woodbury you have to promise me that you'll come back safe and sound." I all but whispered. Daryl simply made a noise indicating he would.
"Now, since I was an absolute twat can you help me back to the prison, my leg hurts." I said half laughing. Daryl took my arms and wrapped them around his neck and scooped my legs up, carrying me up the hill. He set me down next to where Carol was standing holding little arse kicker.
"Don't forget your promise Dixon." I said reaching out for his hand, it was much larger than my own and twined my fingers through his.
"I won't." was all he said before turning to join Rick and the woman Michonne along with one of the prisoners. Carol nudged me as we watched the vehicle drive away.
"At least one of us is getting some action around here." she joked. To this I turned a little pink and laughed.
