Hey guys another update, trying to get things moving along now, finally Lexi is waking up, i know the grammer isn't great i'm not great at that stuff and i don't have word at the moment so having to spell check myself so i apologize for that. Hope you enjoy it let me know what you think.
The evening was coming to a close and for the most part Daryl had stayed on the porch keeping a distance from the camp. Charlie didn't come back out and he watched as people started to break off to go to their tents for rest. He suddenly realised the girls had nowhere to sleep and he noticed they must have realised this too as they suddenly looked unsure and he felt frustrated when he noticed them heading towards him. Of course they would look to him for answers even with Rick being right there.
Summer smiled at him she seemed to be in a good mood but he saw the minute she became nervous as she got closer to him. He noticed that little Jess looked almost asleep as she leaned against her big sister.
Summer guided Jess up the stairs and stood next to him, "We left our tent in the truck, we only bought what we could carry, it was stupid i guess."
He shook his head, "nah you couldn't carry everything, surprised you managed to carry what you did."
She seemed more relaxed with his reassurance and he led them both inside, Hershel was checking on Lexi and Charlie was still in her seat looking close to sleep. Daryl caught the old mans attention, "can i have a word."
Hershel nodded and followed him outside, "how can i help?"
Daryl was well aware that this man wanted them gone but he still had a kindness in him it seemed so he just laid it n the line, "they need somewhere to sleep until i can get their truck tomorrow."
Hershal looked into the room and back at him, "they can have the room next door there is a sofa bed and a sofa, it is short term though."
Daryl nodded at this knowing that Hershal needed to make it clear that they were not welcome long term, "I will have their tent by tomorrow"
The old man nodded, "someone should stay in there with the girl, she may wake up and need someone."
Daryl sighed and walked back int the room, all three girls looked exhausted and he wondered how long it had been since they were able to sleep. He figured with Lexi being injured they would have had to share keeping watch.
He gently shook Summers shoulder, "come on your all staying next door for tonight"
Summer looked surprised, "oh i thought we would stay here, what about Lexi?
Daryl became aware that Rick was at the door watching the exchange along with Hershel.
He shook his head, "you all need rest I will stay in here tonight."
He ignored the looks of surprise on the two guys faces and helped the girl to gather their belongings.
It didn't take long for them to make a bed up, Charlie took the sofa and Summer and Jess took the bed. They were asleep before their heads hit their pillows and when Daryl knocked silence greeted him. He stuck his head in and couldn't help but smile at the three sleeping girls, Charlie actually looked peaceful without her permanent scowl. He could see they were all sisters now they all looked similar when sleeping and peaceful.
"They all settled?" Rick had not said much letting Daryl take care of them, Hershel was checking on Lexi before turning in for the night.
He turned to the Sheriff, "see for yourself."
Rick smiled at the sight and sighed, they all looked so peaceful and too innocent for this world, "they must have been through hell these past days, i doubt they had much opportunity to rest"
Daryl shrugged, "we have all been through it."
Rick nodded, "yeah but at least we had the group, they are too young to have the kind of stresses we handle"
Daryl shut the bedroom door, he agreed with Rick but he wasn't about to have a heart to heart with the guy, he headed to the room he would be spending the night.
Rick stopped him however, "we could split the time, you need rest too."
Daryl shook his head, i will get some rest and i will catch up in the morning, we need to get their truck tomorrow.
The sheriff nodded and seemed to hesitate for a moment as if he wanted to say something other than the "night Daryl" he gave before leaving to join his family.
Daryl sat in one of the chairs next to Lexi mostly ignoring Hershel as he removed his boots, he doubted he would get much good sleep tonight. He looked up as Patricia came into the room with water and some other things and put them on the table.
Hershel saw him looking and gestured to the table, "if she wakes up allow her to have sips of water make sure she keeps this down before allowing her to eat anything."
Patricia turned towards them, "there are some dry crackers and cereal bars if she can manage them." with that the nervous looking women left the room.
Hershel then moved to a cupboard in the room he came back to Daryl with a stool and blanket and pillow, "if your going to spend the night in the chair may as well get comfy."
Daryl didn't know what to say to the act of kindness and nodded his head, "thanks, should i wake you if she wakes."
Hershel shook his head, "no she is out the worst of it, she may need some pain relief, there are some tablets on the side. Her sister told me they ran out of pain medication a while back, so she managed without, she may refuse the medication but it will help her recovery if she is able to sleep and she wont sleep or rest well if in pain."
Daryl noticed the antibiotics, "she need those?"
Hershal smiled, "apparently she was taking these since she got injured, which is good the chance of infection is reduced, she should continue taking them but she should be eating before she continues to take them. "
Daryl rubbed his hand over his face, "you know I'm not a damn nurse."
Hershel smiled at that, "you will be just fine, you have taken good care with them girls, now make sure you get some rest, I'm sure she will wake you if she wakes up."
Daryl squirmed at the old mans words, he didn't think anyone but Rick and Carol had taken much notice to the way the girls seemed to be going to him. Of course it was probably wishful thinking on his part, in these close quarters it was hard to keep secrets. He decided to focus on getting himself comfortable instead as the old man cleared his stuff and quietly left the room.
Daryl rested his head back and closed his eyes for a long time he lay there thinking of what would happen once they left the farm. After a while he dozed off, he wasn't sure how long he had fell asleep but he didn't think it was very long, his neck ached like a bitch though. Deciding he would be more comfortable on the floor he used the seat cushions from the chairs to make the floor more comfortable. He glanced at Lexi to check she was OK and still breathing, the small lamp cast a soft glow in the room. Deciding she looked fine he settled on the floor sleep soon found him unfortunately so did the dreams.
Lexi felt weightless like she was floating, her dreams were disjointed part memory part fantasy, when she started to wake she realised she was in a comfy bed. She couldn't place why the bed felt like heaven and she wondered if it was the bed in the hotel in Atlanta. Slowly as she woke more and more memories filled in the blanks for her, she then noted the dull ache on her stomach.
She groaned, "there goes thinking this was all a really fucked up nightmare" her words came out rough, damn she needed a drink.
She slowly opened her eyes wondering where she was and then she remembered the final minutes before she blacked out. Panic rushed through her and she sat up suddenly looking for her sisters. She instantly regretted it as pain flared up her side and she felt dizziness wash through her but her eyes met cool blue ones and she froze.
Daryl had heard her groan and croak out something about this being a nightmare, he slowly moved to sit up when she shot up looking panicked and in pain.
He moved slowly to not startle her holding his hands up in the way that he would to show someone he meant no harm, "you sound like you could use some water."
She remembered him now, Daryl he had carried her here, wherever here was, she had asked him t look out for her sisters. She still felt dazed but a little calmer, she felt a small amount of trust towards this guy seeing as he had likely saved her life.
He was holding a glass of water t her lips and she tried to drink long and deep but he wouldn't let her, "hey slow down, you don't want to get sick."
he knew he was right so she slowed down and pulled away to meet his eyes, "my sisters?" her voice sounded less rough now but still scratchy.
He nodded his head behind her, "they are sleeping next door, they are OK we looked after them." His voice was calm and quiet the voice he rarely used around others but he could tell she needed him to be this way.
She remembered him being more hard than this, his voice had been hard and his eyes unforgiving but now he seemed softer and she felt herself relaxing more. She couldn't help but want to doubt his reassurances though, she had learnt the hard way that trust could get you killed.
He sensed she wasn't completely sold on her sisters being OK, "look i can go wake one of them for ya, but they were worn out they need to sleep." It had obviously been a good few hours since he fell asleep and he felt rested but he was sure those girls could use a full nights sleep.
She nodded at him wanting to demand he go wake them now but he was right they needed to sleep, she could feel fatigue running through her own body and knew she needed more rest. She took a few more sips of water and suddenly realised she was half naked and pulled the sheet up more to cover herself. Daryl had sat n the bed to help her drink some water and she noticed that he had a vest on and jeans but it still felt a little too intimate.
He noticed she looked uncomfortable and for the first time he realised she had very little on under the sheet, he could feel a blush rising up and was glad the lamp cast a low light. He moved to sit in the chair next to her instead putting some space between them.
She felt more comfortable with him in the chair and she carefully moved herself so she could sit against the headboard. Her side ached like a bitch and she let out a small moan of pain as almost fell down on her uninjured side.
Daryl moved instinctively kneeling on the bed and gently he wrapped an arm around her back and the other under her knees and he helped lift her so she could rest against the headboard. He tried to ignore how hot is cheeks were once he realised just how close they were and he could see a blush rising on her own cheeks. He decided it was a good look on her, he had seen her very pale and now with color in her cheeks she looked healthy and alive. He realised he was staring when she started to squirm and he was still closer than necessary to her, e quickly darted back to his seat, "better?"
Her pulse was racing at how fast he had moved and basically carried her in some romantic way up the bed, she couldn't help but think how easily he lifted her. It wasn't surprising he ad some muscles, she averted her gaze from his arms and felt uncomfortable again at how close they were. An uncomfortable silence fell over them and he suddenly was back in his chair.
She nodded at him, "thanks"
He moved then wanting something to do, he refilled her water and bought her some pain meds, "i don't want to here any shit about you don't need them, cause you obviously do."
She smiled at his gruff nature and decided that this once she wouldn't argue with him, besides she was in pain, she checked the medication before taking it, she still wasn't fully trusting this guy just yet.
He smirked as she checked the medication she was so mistrusting, but then he figured he would be too if he was in her position.
After a while she had another glass of water and some crackers and a cereal bar, she looked tired and he knew he could sleep another few hours, "you should get some rest"
She had started to feel more human with some food in her and her pain was less but she was still tired as hell. She moved to lay down more but every time she closed her eyes she imagined something had happened to her sisters. After around ten minutes she had concocted a whole story that Daryl and that other guy Rick had her sisters locked up somewhere being abused and they were nursing her back to health so they could do the same. The rationale part of her knew she was over reacting bu when it came to her sisters she was anything but rationale.
He was drifting off in the chair but he constant movement kept interrupting his sleep, after ten minutes of it he lost his patience, "just go to sleep would ya?"
He sat up and met her eyes, that fear was back and something else, a wild look that people got before they did something crazy.
She moved then as if to get out of bed and he could see how much effort it took for her to move, he growled and tried to make her stay in the bed, "hey what the hell"
She felt an irrational surge of fear as he grabbed her and tried to keep her in the bed and she started to fight him. He increasingly got pissed off, she was going to rip her stitches open if she carried on. Somehow during the struggle he had grabbed her wrist and pinned her to the bed, he had been too forceful and he knew this when the strangled cry escaped her mouth.
He instantly released her wrist but stayed over her waiting to see if she was going to go all crazy on him again. He then noticed the tears she had her eyes closed and she looked pale again but tears were leaking down her face. He let out a growl of frustration, "fuck" He wondered if he had hurt her seriously she looked like she was in too much pain to even speak.
He tried hard to control his own temper because he was seriously pissed at her but that wasn't going to work right now. He slowly got off the bed realising he was almost straddling her, he realised that in itself would freak her out. He remembered what she said about the guy that hurt her, fuck he was an idiot, even worse the sheet was tangled up at the bottom of the bed exposing her half dressed body to him.
He jumped off the bed as if he was on fire and grabbed his blanket draping it over her, "look i wasn't trying to hurt ya,"
She eventually opened her eyes and met his they were calmer now but still wary and he hated that look in her eyes. He was used to everyone looking at him like that but he wanted her to trust him, he didn't know why.
He kept his voice calm and met her eyes, "The doc never said if you could get up, i don't want you hurting yourself"
She was still a little pissed at him for hurting her even though she knew it was mostly her fault for being irrational, "I'm not your problem"
He shook his head, "damn i wish you weren't but see i have three girls trusting me to take care of you and i really don't want them pissed at me."
She snorted at that feeling a warmth inside that he obviously did care about her sisters, "your scared of my sisters?"
He smirked at her, "I'm a smart guy, that Charlie is a firecracker, although something tells me your ten times worse."
She smiled at that, "better believe it, your lucky I'm injured or i would have kicked your ass just then."
He somehow didn't doubt that, "yeah what was that about, you have some kind of meltdown"
She slowly sat up then pulling the blanket around her, "i just needed to see them, to know for sure" She sounded small and fragile and he wanted the tough talking girl back.
He made a quick decision then and scooped her up as he had done back when he found her, she tensed in his arms but he met her eyes, "you ain't walking round til the doc says so."
She relaxed a little then as he carried her to the room next to hers, he managed to open the door without moving her around too much. It took her a moment to identify her sisters in the darkness but when she did she felt a surge of happiness. She couldn't recall a time she felt so happy and relieved and it overwhelmed her to see her babies all safe and more warm and peaceful.
Daryl smiled at the sleeping figures and knew it would bring some peace of mind to the girl in his arms but then he noticed she was crying. He gently closed the door and carried her back to her room and wanted to lay her on the bed but it felt wrong with the way she was crying so he stood there unsure what to do.
She started to laugh then and he was sure she was some nut job, just his luck, "they haven't looked that peaceful for a long time, it got really bad for a while before you found us. I'm sorry, it's just family you know" she shrugged wiping her tears feeling like an idiot, she hated to cry in front of anyone.
He nodded at that, he did get it, family did some crazy shit to your emotions, he still remembered the tears he had shed over Merle, "it's fine, you have been through a lot."
She laughed at that, "hasn't everyone? you can put me down now, thanks for ... well for everything"
He quickly moved to place her on the bed feeling himself blush at her thanks, fuck he needed to get a grip and stop acting like a girl, "yeah well don't expect it all the time."
She looked surprised at his suddenly cold words and he felt like a dick, fuck he couldn't handle being around people like this.
She sat squirming on the bed and he sighed in frustration, "now what?"
She blushed even more and sighed, "i need to pee OK"
He froze and looked helplessly around, just how the hell did he handle this, "can't you hold it?"
She raised her eyebrow at him, "yeah i guess i could or i could just go pee, where is the toilet?"
He pointed out in the hall, "look you can't be walking around just yet"
She shook her head, "look thanks and all but there is no way I'm having some strange guy take me toilet"
He didn't like the idea either, "OK but i take you to the door, you leave it unlocked in case i have to come in"
She scowled at him, "your worse than most nurses i know"
He snorted and scooped her up, "you know many huh?"
She nodded, "being a nurse i know plenty."
He had forgotten that she was a nurse and for some reason the image of her in one of those unrealistic sexy nurses outfits popped in his head, "oh yeah i forgot."
He slowly let her down outside the toilet and he watched as she took a step stumbled and grabbed onto his arms, he steadied her and the blanket fell away.
He wasn't sure if he should grab the blanket but she just sighed, "I'm fine, besides it's easier without the blanket."
He watched as she walked shakily inside the toilet, he just wanted to make sure she didn't fall down he wasn't looking at her ass in those black little shorts that he figured were her underwear. No way she would wear them on their own, they revealed too much. He suddenly felt hot and uncomfortable and like he had done something wrong.
When she came out minutes later he quickly wrapped her in the blanket ignoring her questioning gaze, "you erm seem OK on your feet, think you can make the journey back?"
She nodded at him, "yeah," She was getting dizzy from his hot and cold personality, she wasn't sure why he was being this way but she wasn't about to beg for his help.
As they walked back she felt her legs trembling, she had held onto the walls when using the bathroom now she had nothing and her legs were unsteady. When he leg gave way she quickly grabbed for the guy next to her and his arms were suddenly around her. She hated how quick his reflexes were she was left feeling like a clumsy child.
Daryl cursed when she almost went down, he was not doing a good job of taking care of her, his own inability to be around others was meaning he did a shitty job of looking after her.
He once again picked her up and carried her to her bed placing her gently down and avoiding her eyes, "you need some water or anything?"
She once again saw the change in his demeanour and it intrigued her, "some water would be good"
He waited until she was done and then snapped at her, "you done now ? cause i need some sleep"
She hated being a burden to anyone, she always looked after herself and this guy obviously saw he as a burden. He probably drew the short straw and got stuck babysitting her, she moved as quick as she could to get comfy and fall asleep trying to ignore the man next to her.
He sighed at her reaction feeling like a dick, "look, if ya need anything just wake me"
She frowned at his sudden change again, I'll be fine"
He scowled at her and suddenly got in her face, "look your sick, you may not like it but you need looking after so i need you to ask if you need something, ok?
She scowled back at him, "fine"
He nodded and moved back to his chair trying to get comfy, he didn't like the feelings this girl stirred up in him and he wanted to storm out and go to his tent. He knew he wouldn't though, because she may get hurt trying to do something for herself, he could tell she was stubborn enough to try and look after herself.
He still felt like a dick, he could tell from her breathing she was still awake, he turned slightly to look at her and she slowly met his eyes, "what?" she sounded more tired now and less pissed off.
He didn't want her to fall asleep pissed at him, "i didn't mean to snap at you, it's been a long day."
Her eyes softened at his words and she smiled at him, "i get that being around my sisters can be full on."
He was glad she was no longer pissed at him, "yeah, they are good kids but they were worried about you."
Lexi relaxed into the cushions, "I'm all they have"
He raised an eyebrow at her, "what about your folks?"
"they died a while back, I'm their full time guardian now"
He could see the sadness in her eyes, "damn that has to suck, i mean your young, that's a lot of responsibility"
She smiled at that she had heard it so many times from various people usually partners that couldn't handle the fact that she had so much responsibility, "i wouldn't change it fr the world, they are my life."
He respected that and didn't question it any further, she smiled and snuggled down into the bed, "get some sleep, you earned it"
He nodded getting comfy himself, "you too, that's an order."
She smirked at him. "oh Daryl first thing you should know about me is that i take orders from no one"
He smirked back at her, "i can imagine"
She could feel sleep pulling her under and she yawned , "night Daryl"
He waited until she was asleep before tucking the blanket around her, "night Lexi"
