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For the next two weeks Daryl came to see her every day. She always declined coming back to the group with him but would send fruits and vegetables back with him. Rick and Shane wanted to see her, wanted to talk her into moving to the farm but Daryl refused to let them come with him. He didn't know if she would be get mad if they came and he didn't want to find out. He liked having her all to himself.
They would look for Sophia for a few hours then go back to her cabin and talk or play cards. He'd helped her around cabin or the grounds. He climbed onto the roof and removed branches that had fallen from a storm. He picked the fruits she couldn't reach or he'd sit at the table while she was canning vegetables or made jam. Whatever they did, they had a good time together. He was surprised at easily she made him laugh and smile. He liked that she thought he was funny and was eager to try and make her smile whenever he could.
At the end of the two weeks, he was riding the horse in the morning to her cabin again. It was already warm so he knew the day was going to be hot. He felt his stomach jump and he smiled when her cabin came into view. He never got excited about anything, he just wasn't that kind of guy. But seeing her did strange things to his stomach and heart. His pulse always seemed to increase when he was around her. He knew that when they were together he stared at her but he couldn't pull his eyes away from her and she didn't seem to notice.
He frowned as he got closer to the cabin. She knew what time he always came to see her and was usually waiting for him. They'd drink a few cups of coffee on her porch and talk before setting out for the day and that day, she wasn't outside. He slipped off his horse and took a hold of the reins. He led it over to a tree and tied the animal up. He crept over to her cabin but stopped dead in his tracks. Her door was hanging open.
He grabbed his cross bow and slung it around to the front of him. He took aim as he narrowed his eyes. His stomach was starting to hurt and he could feel himself starting to sweat. He walked quietly and quickly to her door and peered in. He didn't hear or see anything. He walked in and saw her place was a mess. Her bed was unmade, something she never let happen. Her coffee table was overturned and some of her dining room chairs were flipped over. He scanned the area with his eyes for walkers but saw nothing. Daryl started walking again and came around her bed. She was laying on the floor, close to her bathroom.
He threw his cross bow around to his back and ran over to her. She was laying on her side, not facing him. He sank to his knees and took a hold of her arm. As carefully as he could, he rolled her onto her back and sunk in his breath. She had a gash across her forehead, her left cheek was bruised. Her left arm was bleeding from a slice across her forearm and her shirt was covered in blood. He swept his hand over her face to push her hair out of her eyes as he slipped his arm under her neck.
" Saint, can you open your eyes?" He asked softly. When she didn't respond to him, he pressed his fingers to her neck and brought his cheek to her mouth. Her heart was beating and she was breathing but she wasn't awake. He looked around, feeling completely helpless. He had no choice, he was going to have to take her to the farm. She needed Hershel's help.
As carefully as he could, he picked her up, fireman style. He hurried out of her cabin, closing the door behind him. He ran over to his horse than. He laid her on her stomach across the horse's neck than untied it. He climbed up into the saddle and took a hold of her. He gently turned her over so she was resting against his chest. He put one arm under her knees and the other around her back as he took the reins. He dug his heels into the back of the horse to make it run. He held her against him as best he could as the horse ran.
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Rick spotted him first. He was walking to their campsite from the farmhouse but stopped walking as soon as Daryl came into sight. He called out to Shane and they started hurrying towards him. They knew he didn't normally return to camp until close to nightfall so something had to be wrong. It wasn't until he was closer to them that Rick and Shane saw he had someone in the saddle with him. Someone who was to big to be Sophia.
" I need Hershel!" Daryl called ou but he didn't stop the horse. Rick and Shane ran along side him, asking him who the girl was but Daryl ignored them as he drove the horse to the farmhouse. Hearing the shouts, Hershel came outside, holding onto his suspenders. Daryl slowed the horse down than carefully rolled her onto the horse's neck.
" What happen?" Rick was yelling.
" Who the hell is she?" Shane was asking. Rick tried to reach up and bring her down from the horse as Daryl slipped to the ground, but Daryl stopped at him.
" Don't touch her!" He yelled. He put his hand on her back and brought her down from the horse to his shoulder. He faced Hershel. " Help her, please." He begged.
" You better bring her in." Hershel said.
Daryl ignored all their questions as he followed Hershel through the house. He looked down at her face but she hadn't stirred. Her face was pale and her hair had blood at her hair line. She was light in his arms and he was nervous that she wasn't moving. She wasn't moaning, crying or anything. He looked up at Hershel who motioned him into a bedroom. As carefully as he had been, Daryl laid her in the bed. Hershel left to get his bag and supplies.
" Is she the lady from the cabin?" Shane asked. Daryl nodded as he stared down at her.
" What happen to her? You think she has been bit?" Rick asked.
" Does she look like she's been bit?" Daryl snapped. " Found her like this. Someone attacked her, she ain't been bite." He sat down in the bed beside her and took her hand. He leaned down closer to her. " Saint, can you hear me?" He asked gently. Shane and Rick glanced at each other. Shane raised one of his eyebrows. Daryl took a hold of her chin and turned her head carefully from one side to another. " Can you open your eyes?"
Daryl refused to leave the room as Hershel checked her over. He stood in the corner, his arms crossed over his chest. He was frowning and his mouth was tight. Hershel had cleaned up her head and arm. He cut her shirt around her stomach so he could look at her better. He wanted to take it off but Daryl snapped at him to leave it on. No one needed to see her undressed.
" Well, she's been stabbed but the bleeding stopped. It wasn't very deep but she's going to need a few stitches. I'd say whatever happen to her, happen last night. She's just passed out from the blood lost." Hershel said as he faced Daryl.
" She gonna be okay?" He asked.
" She should be. Just let me stitch her up and we will see what we can do bring her around." Hershel said.
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Daryl sat on the right side of the bed while Hershel worked on her head. She only needed four stitches on her forehead so it didn't take him long. Daryl was holding her right hand, watching everything Hershel was doing. Hershel moved to her forearm and started with the stitches there. She needed six stitches there. Hershel moved to her stomach and quickly stitches her up there as well, place another six stitches. He sighed and stood up.
" Get me some water. I need to clean her up better." Daryl said.
" Maybe one of the women are better suited to do that." Hershel said. Daryl looked up at him and narrowed his eyes.
" I ain't gonna touch her wrong or nothin. Just gonna clean her." He said, his voice dropping. Hershel sighed but nodded.
" I'll get you the water and see to it she has a new shirt." Hershel said before he walked out of the room. Daryl looked down at her again. He leaned down to whisper to her.
" Wake up, Angel." To his surprise, she turned her head towards him. " Open your eyes, Angel." He said but she didn't move again. He touched her neck, needing to make sure she still had a pulse. Her heart beat was strong and it reassured him.
