Wreckless Fool

"You going out searching?" The older blonde asked in the late morning, her legs infront of her Indian style. Breakfast hadn't passed calmly this morning. Their had been a massive argument about whether searching for the missing girl was frivolous or not. It had been pretty heated. And there were almost a few punches thrown.

So when Ellie saw Daryl stomp back to his tent, she followed him after giving Maggie a parting good-bye. The brunette was healing up nicely, and had wandered out when the argument broke out.

Ellie had followed him in and plopped on the ground, folding her legs infront of her quickly to avoid him from stomping on her still sore ankle accidentally.

"Yeah." He grumbled under his breath. He was trying his best not to take his anger out on her. She had been one of the few to speak on his behalf, agreeing that they should continue searching for the missing girl.

"I'm coming."

"Lke hell you are!" He snapped back at her, shoving an extra knife set into his belt loop. You could never have to many knives in this new world. Or guns. Or anything sharp enough to crack open a skull. "You're still hurt, ya fool."

Ellie rolled her eyes, grabbing her own bag and making sure the two water bottles and powerbars she had placed inside incase of emergency was still there. They were, so she zipped it up and pulled it over her shoulders. She stood up, checking to make sure the knife her father called a Tom Brown Tracker Knife was still holstered to her right leg.

"I said you're not coming!" The hunter yelled at her, whipping around and grabbing the arm of her backpack.

"I'm coming, you big headed idiot! It's not safe out there by yourself!" Ellie growled loudly back, taking a step back. He didn't realize how tightly he was grabbing her strap, because her jerk movement caused her so stumble, falling the ground, and him falling ontop of her. He scrambled up like he was on fire.

"God, can't you keep your damn hands to yourself?!" He snarled harshly.

Ellie pushed herself up, fists clenched. "You fell on me you jackass! What is your problem?! I was just trying to help!" Ellie's eyes were watering now, and she reached up and wiped them. "You are an asshole. Why wont you let anyone help you? I just want to know you."

Ellie flinched. She didn't mean to say the last part. She didn't know where that came from. She hadn't meant to say it. But she was still to angry to really care. "I'm going to find Gertrude, you jackass. Try not to get killed until you find that girl." She went to stomp off, and then whipped around, she threw her backpack at him full force, muttering about how big of a jackass he was.

Gertrude was only a few feet away, and she shook her head. "You two are so stupid." She told her sister, quickining to meet her angry pace.

"What?" Ellie snapped, taken aback.

"I know you. You like him."

Ellie snorted, rolling her eyes. "No I don't. I barely know the guy."

"You have a savior complex. And I know you. Better than you know you."

Ellie let out a loud puff of annoyance, throwing her hands in the air and storming away.

She needed to exert some energy or she was going to go back a pumble him.

She made her way into the stables where she peeked at Glenn, pitchfork in hand. He was spreading hay out, a look of intense concentration on his face.

"From delivery boy to farmer Bob!" Ellie called out upon entering, giggling as the Korean flicked a pitchfork full of hay in her direction.

"So, how was last night?" She inquired, wiggling her eyebrows at him. His face turned crimson and he turned back to the large pile of hay he was spreading in the stalls.

"Did you?" He quipped back.

"Why does everyone think that about us? Hes obnoxious and mean and he only cares for about himself. God, just talking about him makes me angry." By now Ellie had stormed over, grabbing a giant arm full of hay and throwing it onto the ground, kicking it to spread it out.

Glenn had stopped now, leaning against the pitchfork, his eyebrows raised. "Well, you guys are sharing a tent."

Ellie threw her hands in the air, stay pieces of hay falling to the ground. "With my twelve year old sister! And only because of Shane!"

Suddenly a brown haired head popped up from the last stall, curious. "What did Shane do?" Maggie askes curiously.

"When did you- ugh nevermind." The blonde shook her head, petting the head of the white horse that rubbed his nose against her hair. After a moments hesitation she told them about the weird encounter a few nights past.

"Theres something off with him. I know it. The story he told us about Otis...it doesnt check out." Maggie murmured, shaking her head. "I'm going to have to tell Daddy."

"Maggie, thats not a good idea. Hes already mad about Daryl taking the horse-" Glenn began before Ellie cut him off.

"Please dont. Please, I dont want to make things worse."

Maggie sighed, putting her hands on her hios and shaking head. "Fine, but if he does anything else, Im going straight to my father."

XxXxXxXx

After their conversation in the shed Ellie wandered around aimlessly. She spent three hours playing with Carl and Gerty, another helping wash and hang launry even though she detested it, and the rest of the afternoon subconciously thinking of Daryl. Sunset was approaching and even though she was still mad at him, she was starting to worry. He had never stayed out this late when he searched for Sophia.

She felt something was wrong in the pit of her stomach.

And then the bang of a gun rang out acrossed the farm and time stood still. That was until Rick and T-Dog came running up the stairs, a bleeding Daryl limping at their sides.

Ellies vision blurred as she chased after them, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Ellie, whats happening?!" Gerty screamed. Ellie turned around, frantically grabbing at her sister and pushing her towards the door.

"Stay with Carol, okay? I'll come get you later okay?"

Tears were streaming down the younger sisters face. "Is he going to be okay?"

Ellie shoved at her sister, pushing her out the front door. "Just go! I'll come get you later."

She slammed the door in Gertrudes face before scrambling down the hall. In swconds she was slammed onto the floor, her nose smacking with a loud crack. She was blinded by the pain, clutching at her nose as hot liquid streamed down her face, soaking her white tank top. Shoving herself up and squinting at the floor through tear filled eyes.

Blood. She had slipped on his blood.

Her stomach started doing summer salt and she swallowed back vomit, dropping her hands and letting the blood from her nose drip free as she raced into the room.

Hershel was leaning over his body, snapping on gloves as Patricia pulled a cart full of medical supplies forward.

"Ellie, help Rick hold him down, im going to have to pull the arrow loose." Ellie rushed forward gripping at his shoulder and he yelled in pain. He was filthy covered in dirt and blood, he was drenched in sweat and smelled like fresh hell.

She pressed down hard squeezing her eyes shut as Hershel braced himself and yanked out the remainder of the arrow.

"Fucking christ!" Daryl roared his body jerking forward before collapsing breathlessly onto the bed.

"Okay," Hershel sighed, "now I'm going to stitch up the wound. Those painkillers I gave him should start kicking in." He ripped open Daryls shirt, the buttons popping and falling to the floor, revealing a very questionable necklace made of ears, but a chest full of scars littered acrossed his chest. At this point Daryl was unconcious, thankfully because Ellie winced as the vet dumped straight alcohol right onto the jagged hole.

"Jesus, what happened to you?" T-Dog asked from the foot of the bed, eyes wide and going back and forth from Daryl being stitched to her bloody broken nose. "You look almost as bad as him."

"I slipped," she winced slowly letting go of Daryl and touching it gently, "on Daryls blood. I wasnt paying attention and fell forward and smacked my face on the floor. Think I broke it."

T-Dog snorted, crossing his eyes. "Looks like you broke your damn face."

Hershel quickly glanced up from his work before back down. "I'll take a look at you in a moment, but for now, everyone that isnt hurt or assisting me needs to leave."

T-Dog slinked out first, happy to be away from the blood, and Rick slowly followed, glancing at Ellie. She gave him a reasuring nod. He left, softly shutting the door behind him.

"Ellie..."

She looked down, seeing Daryl, eyes barely open.

"Ellie..."

She leaned forward, pushing his hair away from his forehead. "Yes, what is it."

"You were there." He whispered his eyes fluttering.

"Where? Where was i?"

"You helped me. You got me back here. You saved me."

"Daryl, I was here."

Patricia stepped forward, wiping at his forehead with a moist cloth. "He's in shock with from the accident, and has had quite a large dose of painkillers."

Daryl was still staring at Ellie, his eyes heavily lidded. "God your beautiful."

Patricia smiled slyly, pretending not to hear and turning away, but to the rolling cart.