Chapter 7
Charlie left Daryl that morning to take over watch on the tower. Maggie handed the rifle over. "How's he doing?"
"The same. Your dad was in to see him this morning."
"Well when he wakes up he'll be in good hands."
Maggie started to head to the stairs. Charlie bid her goodnight. "Sleep well."
She waved at Rick over at the other tower before putting her eye against the scope of the rifle. A quick scan of the grounds and then another wave to Rick. This would pretty much be the same routine for the next six hours broken up only by bathroom breaks and food that Beth and Carl would bring to them.
When Charlie hit her bed that afternoon she did like a ton of bricks. She wasn't thinking about Dom or Daryl all she wanted to think about was sleeping for a very long time which she fell into shortly after she hit the pillow. The time was too short really because before she knew it Mel was shaking her shoulder.
"Time to get up sleeping beauty."
"Ugh! Beauty my ass! I'm lucky I look human these days."
"You're still beautiful Charlie. Even though your hair looks like Medusa at the moment." Mel laughed as she handed over Judith. "She's all yours beautiful and she's about to shit so beware."
Charlie scooted back on the bed so that she could sit up. "I swear to God you make this child wait to shit on my shift!"
"No I don't, I just think she likes you. Or maybe that hair scares it out of her."
Charlie could hear Mel laughing as she walked to Daryl's cell. She turned her attention to the baby. "She's full of shit just like you." She said it in a singsong manner making Judith smile."
.
Everything was good the rest of the night including the baby she slept again which made Charlie think she might have the hang of this baby thing. Four thirty in the morning was a lonely time. The place was quiet and although she wasn't the only one up she had no one to talk to. She looked at Daryl. "Maybe I should start talking to you. Are you ever going to come out of this? Huh? Oh I see silent treatment. That's okay be a stubborn ass." There was a plate of food waiting for her. She looked it over and decided food was food might as well have breakfast. "Hey Dixon I got cold beans and rice for breakfast do you want anything." Curiously his eyes opened. Charlie snapped her fingers. "Hey! Are you listening to me?" When there wasn't a response she took a spoonful of food. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was staring at her. "I got a drink too. See what you're missing a nice glass of water."
Daryl moved his head and looked directly at her. She bolted out of the chair and came to rest on her knees next to the bunk. "You are listening to me. Daryl you're at the prison. You're going to be okay." She brushed is hair off his forehead as she talked. Suddenly he reached up and grabbed her arm. He squeezed her wrist so tight she almost could feel the bones about to snap.
His voice came out in a rough broken up growl. "Let me the fuck go!"
"You let go. You're hurting me! HERSHEL… someone come quick!' She tried to pull away but he tightened his grip. "Daryl let go!" Everyone came running all but Hershel. Andrea grabbed Daryl's thumb and Charlie was able to pull her arm free. He struggled a little bit but Andrea was able to get him to lie down. He looked at everyone confused and broken.
Charlie moved out of the cell and sat on the steps. Beth ran to get Merle as Rick talked to Daryl. He was still a little confused as he looked at everyone hovering over him. Finally he barked "I need some air! Y'all are smothering me!"
Merle skidded to a halt at the cell. He muttered one word. "Pussy…"
Daryl looked at him and with emotion in his voice he said "Dickhead…"
Merle grabbed the back of Daryl's neck and pulled him into a hug. "You shit you scared the piss out of me! Don't you ever do that again or I'll knock your head off."
.
Everyone was busy talking about how Daryl woke up. They guessed he'd be fine and talked about the different reasons why he was out cold for so long. Charlie was forgotten about until Mel turned around and saw her holding her hand. "Are you alright?" She touched Charlie's wrist making her yelp. "Sweetie I think that's broken."
"I'm fine."
Carol moved closer. "He hurt you?"
"It's alright he didn't' mean it."
Carol thought about how many times she said those words after Ed had hurt her. He didn't mean it. It was bullshit. He meant every last one of those marks he left. Daryl was different though he really hadn't meant to hurt her yet he did. "You're not fine, its swelling. I'll get Hershel."
Charlie tried to stop her and tell them it could wait but no one seemed to listen. This group certainly had head strong people stubborn really. Charlie giggled, a little kind of like her family. But as soon as she smiled she stopped because they were gone all of them.
Hershel asked her to move her fingers; she couldn't do it which shocked her. "I don't feel any obvious breaks but that doesn't mean it isn't broken. You're off guard duty. I'll talk to Rick about it."
"No I can still do it!"
Hershel handed one of his crutches to her and as soon as she lifted it she cringed and gasped. "Just what I thought it's broken. You're not going anywhere."
Charlie was frustrated with the fact that she let something like this happen. Carol reluctantly took her shift while Charlie sat with Daryl. She didn't mind it but being outside felt good. She felt so trapped in here.
.
Merle went back out to guard duty after a promise to see Daryl in an hour. Daryl's eyes were closed which she assumed because he was sleeping. Judith went to sleep again after her bottle so Charlie settled into the chair. Her wrist was throbbing from the tight bandage. Hershel had splinted it with a broken piece of two by four. It was ridiculously clumsy. She tried to wiggle the bandage a little but gasped from the sharp pain.
Daryl's eyes flew open and focused on her. "Charlie, I need some water."
"I'll give you some but don't you hurt me again."
He took some sips and leaned back against the pillows. "What the fuck are you talking about?"
"This, this is what I'm talking about." She held her arm up for him to see.
"How did that happen? How did we get here?"
"You don't remember any of it?"
He thought hard. "I was dreaming about Merle."
"That wasn't a dream." Charlie told him everything. He listened with a slight look of disbelief in his eyes. "Look around… you're in the prison."
He nodded and finally sighed deeply. "I really did that? I'm sorry."
.
Over the next few Days Merle did everything for Daryl. Rick had told Charlie that he had never seen Merle in the big brother protective mode before. It was afternoon when Charlie was standing with Beth and Mel in the doorway of Daryl's cell. He was sitting up and looked alright. Carol was fussing at him and he was fussing right back.
"Quit! I can dress myself! I ain't your kid!"
"If you were my child I'd put you over my knee, now stop moving around!"
"Pain in the ass! Has everyone lost their fucking minds?"
Carol finished buttoning his shirt. "You are going to have to stop that cussing as soon as Judith can talk. I don't want her running around here dropping the F bomb." She pulled his pants off the top bunk. The minute he saw them he snatched them from her.
"Oh hell NO!"
Carol laughed. "I'll get Merle to help you."
"All y'all get outta here! Sept her." He nodded his chin in Charlie's direction.
Carol stood up. "As you wish."
Charlie made her way inside as everyone cleared out. Daryl was struggling to get his legs over the edge of the bed. She rushed to him and helped. "What are you doing?"
"What the fuck does it look like I am doing?"
"It looks like you are trying to reinjure yourself."
"Help me. I figured you already seen my naked ass once. What's one more time?"
"Mel's seen your ass too, I could get her. Hell for all I know Carol's seen it and maybe everyone else."
Daryl grunted. "Don't get smart."
She put the boxers on his legs and did the pants too so that she could pull them up in one shot. He could adjust them for comfort. Their eyes met and lingered for a long time. She was attracted to him, more so than ever since she seen such a vulnerable side of him. She felt closer to him too. Having him almost die on her gave them a bond she hadn't expected. "What if you can't stand on your own? You've lost about twenty pounds but you still outweigh me."
"What are you a weak little girl now? I can do it just hold them while I get up."
"I'm not weak; you just sort of handicapped me."
I said I was fucking sorry. I'm sorry! I didn't know what I was doing!"
"You are so stubborn. I wasn't complaining I was just didn't want you bitching that I was moving too slow."
Charlie bent over; her face was against his stomach as he used his hands to pull himself off the bunk. She was too aware of how close she was to his naked crotch. She wouldn't look, instead she closed her eyes. He wobbled a little bit but managed to stay on his feet.
"Hand them to me."
She did but had to help him pull the back section of his pants up. Just as she was straightening her back and he was zipping his fly Merle entered the cell.
"My, my, my… what do we have here? You offer a two for one? Didn't think you were up for a blowjob little bro."
Charlie stared at Merle for a minute. She wanted to tell him to fuck off. She didn't though because if it wasn't for watching Daryl she wouldn't have anything to do. That would drive her crazy. She didn't know how Daryl was handling the lying around. "You keep wishing!" She turned her attention back to Daryl. "You better sit down now."
He didn't listen. He was happy Merle was alive and they finally found each other. That much was great. He was still pissed that his brother the one he trusted stabbed him. Plus the way he talked to Charlie after all she did for him. He wasn't going to let Merle get away with it. Daryl took two steps towards his brother. "Best watch that mouth of yours before I knock your teeth down your throat. Don't be talking to her like that. This is all your fault anyway. The fuck you stab me for?"
"I was trying to save your life genius. Maybe if you'd use your damn head you'd see that."
"What I see is you almost fucking killed me. I'm sick of yer shit. You best learn how it is and quick."
Charlie could tell he was losing his energy. He clung to the bars as he argued with Merle. She ducked under his arm so he could lean on her and Merle did the same on the other side. Theses brothers loved each other and this little argument was just the Dixon's expressing that love. She couldn't help the smile that crept across her face because he was defending her.
Daryl argued when they turned him and headed back to the bunk. "Hey I want out of this cage! Just give me a minute to catch my breath!"
Charlie felt bad for him a little bit, yet she wasn't going to let him wear himself down. "You have enough breath to bitch about everything. You're still going back to bed. Don't argue because I can get those pants off as easily as they got put on. Then what will you do?"
"Walk around butt ass naked!" Daryl groaned as he gave in, letting them take him back to bed. "Fine but tomorrow I want to get out and walk a little bit."
