Chapter 10
Daryl's POV
Walking into the R.V he patted T-Dog on the shoulder. The guy looked like shit, he didn't know a black guy could look pale. Making his way to the back of the R.V where Kat and Cora were laying he paused to ask Glen how they were doing.
"Cora has woken up for a little bit and asked for water. She just went back to sleep. Dale said it's not uncommon for someone to be exhausted after a seizure. He's not alarmed."
"And Kat?" he asked as he brought himself down to her level and placed some stray hairs behind her ear.
"No change, she hit her head pretty good. It's probably a concussion at least." The Asian handed Daryl a damp rag "We've been trying to keep her cool."
"Thanks" he placed the rag on her forehead and silently demanded that she wake up. Didn't she know that people needed her? Cora needed her and he needed her. He refused to entertain the idea that she might not wake up.
"Daryl?" looking up he saw Cora looking at him with concern in her eyes "Is momma gonna be okay?"
"Of course she is sweetheart. She's just resting is all. How are you feeling? You had me worried outta my mind."
"I'm just really tired" and she looked it "Can you hand me my bag?" she pointed to the right of Daryl and he grabbed the purple bedazzled bag and laid it beside her. He wasn't sure if she would be able to hold onto the weight of the bag.
She started to unzip the front pocket of her backpack and then pulled out a small book.
"What's that?" he asked as he dabbed the rag on Kats forehead
"It's my brag book, wanna see it?" she perked up a great deal at the prospect of showing him the brag book, whatever that was.
"Of course, let me clean up a bit then I'll sit up there with you and you can show me your book. I'll be right back."
Smiling she started to make room for him in-between her and her mother for when he returned.
Quickly changing out of the dirty and smelly clothes he made his way back to the girl who was waiting on him. Cautiously getting on the bed, careful not to jostle Kat around he sat between the two girls.
He put his arm around the smallest and she immediately nestled in under his arm "So what's a brag book?"
"It's kinda like a photo album but smaller. It has all of my favorite memories in it." Opening the book the first picture was one of Merle, Daryl, Cora and Kat sitting on the back of a hayride. "Do you remember this day? It just rained and I wanted to sit in the front of the hayride right behind the tractor. It was going to take us to the pumpkin patch and Merle and me were going to find the biggest pumpkin." She smiled as she looked up at him "It was so muddy that the tractor tires were kicking up mud all over us." She started to laugh "Remember Merle yelling at the guy driving the tractor?"
"Oh yeah I remember I thought the guy was going to make us walk back from the pumpkin patch" he was only halfway joking about having to walk. Merle was upset and was raising all kinds of hell. But he was only upset because Asskicker was sad that mud got on her favorite tutu. Of course the mud was forgotten once they went in search of the biggest pumpkin they could find.
"We had the hugest pumpkin, then Uncle Merle dropped it in our driveway when he was getting it off the truck when we got home. He was nuts." Her contagious laugh spread to him and he was grateful to share and be a part of these memories.
Looking at the photo they all looked so happy. Merle had Cora in his lap and was making a weird face. The "Hugest" pumpkin as Cora just called it was beside them then Kat and Daryl were on the other side. Their legs were hanging off the back of the hay covered trailer and Daryl had his arm draped over Kat. They all looked so happy and looked like a normal family.
Startled out of his thoughts Cora closed the book and whispered "We should finish looking at the book later I'm getting sleepy." She said through a yawn
"Of course, just close your eyes." He was rubbing his hand up and down her arm trying to soothe her like Kat does. He looked down and noticed her breathing had evened out and she was fast asleep. Looking down to his left, he knew he had a concerned look on his face. Why hadn't she woken up? Is this normal? Sliding down a bit on the bed he made sure that Cora was still comfortable with her head on his arm and he closed his eyes.
He was jolted awake by the sound of someone throwing up. Looking around he noticed it was dark outside and that Cora had moved onto her side and was no longer on his arm. Where was Kat? Quickly getting up he followed the sounds of someone coughing. Walking out of the R.V. he saw her on all fours and vomiting. Dale was rubbing her back and trying to comfort her. "It's completely normal to experience vomiting after a head injury. Just let it out."
"I've got it from here, you get some rest." He told the older man
As he walked away he replaced Dale's hands with his own and was rubbing her lower back in small circles. "How ya feelin?" that was a stupid question
"Like shit, I tried to make it out here. I didn't want to wake y'all. I only made it this far before I got too dizzy." She managed to say in between retching.
"You shoulda woke me up dummy. You shouldn't be up and about yet. You hit that hard head of yours pretty damn hard."
"Well you two looked too cute I didn't want to ruin it. Anyway, I'm fine, I'll be 100% by morning." She tried to stand but immediately grabbed her head "Guess I'm still a little dizzy."
As she was about to sit back down but instead he picked her up and walked her back to the R.V. "you are going to rest and no arguing. Ya hear? No more getting up, and if you need to, you better let me know. Understand?" he asked as he sat her back down on the bed.
"Yes sir" she gave a mock salute "Can I have some water please?"
Grabbing a bottle from the table he handed it off to her. "I'm going to go keep watch. I'll be back to check on you in a little bit."
"No, please" she reached out her hand and took hold of his "Can you lay with me for just a minute?"
His only response was climbing back into bed, as ninja like as he could. As soon as he was laying back down in between the girls Kat's head found his chest.
"I thought I was going to die. I would've if you hadn't once again saved me Dixson." She whispered to him "Promise me something?"
"Depends, what am I promising?" he hadn't noticed that he was rubbing her arm in the same way he was earlier with Cora.
"If something happens to me can you be there for Cora? I know it won't be long but I want to make sure she's not alone."
"I ain't gonna promise that because you're going to be there. And a promise aint gonna change the fact that I would be there for her anyway. You know that." He hated this line of thinking and talking. These are things he didn't want to think about, especially not after seeing both of their bodies motionless earlier that day.
"I know but I just wanted to make sure. It's a mothers job to worry, you know that." Yawning she patted his chest before she said "Thank you."
He didn't even think there was time for a reply before she fell back asleep.
Kat's POV
This was the second time in as many days that she was waking up with a splitting headache. Letting out a slight groan she turned to see Cora was sleeping beside her. Daryl must've snuck out, looking out the window she was curious why they were still sitting here on the highway. They should be on their way to Fort Benning by now.
Bracing herself against the walls of the R.V. she made her way to the door and was immediately greeted by a painful blinding light. A slight hiss escaped her lips as she covered her eyes.
"Well the dead rise...okay, maybe that's not a good joke anymore" Dale said a little too loud
"Hey, where is everyone? Why are we still here?" she asked as she stepped toward the older man.
"Oh, I guess you wouldn't know what happened would you. You have been out of it."
"What? What happened? Daryl is he…"
"No, no calm down. Daryl is fine. Actually better than most of us."
"Then what happened?" She sat down, not sure her legs could support her and her head was killing her
"Do you remember the herd of walkers that came through here?" She nodded her head, which was a terrible mistake. "Well Cora and Sophia were chased into the woods by a couple of walkers."
"What?" She stood up to go check on her baby and as immediately greeted with a bout of dizziness. Dale was at her side a second later forcing her to sit back down.
"Cora is fine. Rick went after them and hid them while he took care of the walkers. When he came back Cora was having a seizure and Sophia was nowhere to be found. We think she tried to get back to us for help with Cora. Everyone is out looking for her right now."
"A seizure?" She knew seizures were common with cancer but they never meant anything good. A list of things were running through her head. Fever, head injury, infection of the fluid around the brain, and a tumor on the spine or brain could all be causes of a seizure. Like she said nothing good. She knew Cora was not going to heal especially without treatment but this was making it a little too real.
She refused to cry. There was a little girl missing and she at least had her daughter with her. For now. "They will find her, Daryl is great at tracking." Dale smiled and laid his hand on her shoulder.
"Ain't you supposed to be fixin that radiator? What if they come back with Sophia and Rick wants to move on right away?" startled she turned to see T-Dog looking at Dale. He had a crude bandage over his forearm.
"I had it fixed yesterday." Dale said while shrugging his shoulders
"What? What was all that rubbing and sanding for then? - That just bullshit?"
"Yeah, that's one word. Another word would be pantomime- just for show. No one else needs to know that."
"Pantomime" T-dog repeated and looked slightly disgusted
"If the others know we're mobile, they'll want to mobilize and move on."
"So you don't think they're gonna find Sophia, that it?"
"I'm just guarding against the worst. Sooner or later, if she's not found, people will start doing math. I want to hold off the needs-of-the-many- versus-the-needs-of-the-few arguments as long as I can."
Smiling Kat piped in with "That is one tricky hose, huh T-Dog?" She knew Dale was right and if it was Cora out there she would be thankful for all he was doing
"Yeah, very" T-dog replied. He came to sit down next to her "How are ya doin?"
"I'm fine just a wicked headache." Looking at the man she knew he was in worse shape than she was. He was sweating more than what was reasonable for the mild heat and he looked exhausted, "You? What happened to you by the way?"
Looking down at his arm he gave a humorless laugh "I fell on a piece of metal and cut my arm up when the herd came through. Probably be dead if it wasn't for your man" the last was said as he pointed over at her "He saved my black ass from being eaten."
"He has a habit of saving people, did the same for me." Giving a shy smile she finished with "Also, he is not my man, just a dear friend."
"Yeah, whatever you say"
Ignoring the look he was throwing at her she decided she had enough attention on her and Daryl's relationship for the day. "Let's take a look at that arm."
Daryl's POV
Rick, Shane, and Carl continued off to further look for Sophia. Daryl was in charge and babysitting three women and an Asian. Sounded like a sitcom. They were doing more talking than looking for the missing girl and it was starting to work his nerves.
"So this is it? This the whole plan?" Carol asked
"I guess the plan is to whittle us down into smaller and smaller groups." He replied. Right now they were in three separate groups and he hated the fact that it meant less people to watch Kat and Cora. Right now their only protection was an old man and an injured man.
"Carrying knives and pointy sticks. I see you have a gun." Andrea shot a look to Lori
What was her deal with the guns anyway? Let it go already lady.
"Why, you want it? Here, take it. I'm sick of the looks you're giving me." Andrea took the gun Lori offered "all of you."
He guessed they were taking a break because Carol and Lori decided to sit down and have a pow-wow. He should've came out here on his own and searched. It would've been easier and he would've covered more ground.
Not long after the group started to track into the woods to continue the search for Sophia the sound of a gunshot echoed through the air. All of them turned in the direction the sound came from.
"Come on, were losing daylight" he didn't want anyone to start panicking.
"That was a gunshot." Lori declared
"We all heard it." He didn't see the point in announcing what they all knew
"Why one? Why just one gunshot?"
"Maybe they took down a walker." He was trying to keep the group calm. Panicked and afraid makes people do stupid stuff, like wondering around looking for someone and in turn getting yourself lost.
"Please don't patronize me. You know Rick wouldn't risk a gunshot to put down one walker, or Shane. They'd do it quietly." Actually he didn't know Rick or Shane but he figured she was right they seemed bright enough to know better.
"Shouldn't they have caught up with us by now?" Great now Carol was starting to panic alongside Lori.
"Look, there's nothing we can do about it, anyway. Can't run around these woods chasing echoes." He remembered why he hated people. They don't think.
"So, what do we do?" Lori asked
"Same as we've been. Beat the bush for Sophia, work our way back to the highway" he didn't give them a chance to argue with him because he turned and started to walk back to the road.
He got as far as about 30 feet before he noticed Andrea and Carol weren't with them. "God damnit!" he shouted to himself. These people were going to drive him insane. He walked back toward the two stragglers and overhead the last of their conversation. Andrea was telling Carol "We're all hoping and praying with you, for what it's worth."
Going off of his anger he decided to just speak what he was thinking "I'll tell ya what it's worth…Not a damn thing. It's a waste of time, all this hopin' and prayin'. We're gonna locate that little girl and she's gonna be just fine."
Giving one last look at the group he asked "Am I the only one zen around here? Good lord." Then he turned to go back to Kat and Cora not caring if the others chose to follow him or not.
Kat's POV
Dale decided that he could use the time to collect some spare parts from the abandoned vehicles while she tried to play nurse to T-Dogs arm. Pulling up the makeshift bandage made up of electrical tape and a single piece of gauze he hissed in pain.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" she couldn't stop she had to look at the veins around the cut. Peeling a little more off the wound he reached out and grabbed her hand "Please don't touch it, its throbbing something awful."
"Hey listen I have some heavy duty pain pills that I am going to go it for ya. Jenner gave them to me for Cora but you clearly need them. Then we are going to search these cars and hopefully come across some antibiotics. I think you have blood poisoning. Your veins are discolored and you have a fever and chills going on."
He started laughing "Oh, man. Wouldn't that be the way? World gone to hell. The dead risen up to eat the living And Theodore Douglas gets done in by a cut on his arm."
She didn't find the humor in it so she turned to go to the R.V. to get some pain relief for T-Dog. She stopped by the bed to make sure Cora was okay. Her daughter was still sleeping, her body not up for the task of fighting off any intruders that were inside of her. Watching her she tried to memorize her face. Her head that was once overtaken by unruly auburn curls was now as smooth as could be. Her eyes, though they were closed for now, would be a beautiful milk chocolate. Her nose that would wrinkle when she was thinking as just like her dads. She could see where she would chew on her bottom lip when she was worried about something or thinking really hard. Her daughter picked the last trait up from her. Bending down to give her sleeping angel a kiss, she turned to her bag and searched for the pills for T-Dog.
The search through the cars were not turning up the reward that she was hoping for. She did manage to find some Tylenol, batteries, water, a couple of boxes of cereal, and another pack of cigarettes for Daryl. Making her way back to the R.V she saw T-Dog was leaning against it.
"Any luck" she asked as she sat down beside him
"Nah, just a whole lotta nothing." He did not look good
"Don't worry we will find something soon. I just know it." She was trying to reassure the man
"What are we doin'? People off in the woods, they's looking for that poor girl and we're here.
Why? 'Cause they think we're the weakest."
Kat was a little confused where the man was going with this
"We got Dale who's like 70, you have a banged up head, your little girl is sick, and I'm the one black guy. Do you realize how precarious that makes my situation?"
"What the hell are you talking about T?"
"I'm talking about two good-old-boy cowboy sheriffs and a redneck whose brother cut off his own hand because I dropped a key. Who in that scenario do you think is gonna be first to get lynched?"
Shocked it took her a minute to respond "What is wrong with you? That redneck went out of his way to save you and me for that matter. They care enough to be out there combing the woods for a lost little girl. Ain't no one getting lynched T. what does that even mean? Am I missing something?"
"Look where we are- Stuck in this mess here. I mean it. Why are we on the side of this road like live bait? Let's go, you, Cora, dale and me. Let's go before they get back." He was talking non-sense, this wasn't the T-Dog she knew. She noticed he was shaking. She cautiously reached out to feel his forehead.
"Oh my God you are burning up" pulling out the newly found Tylenol she handed him a couple "Here take these. It's not much but hopefully it'll stop your brain from cooking any more than it already has." She grabbed a rag and dumped some water on it. "Here put this on your head, it'll cool ya down a bit."
She finally got T-Dog to rest and then heard Dale shouting about someone being shot. She walked out of the vehicle and found part of their group had returned. Daryl was clearly upset since he just told Dale to climb down out of his ass. She walked over to him and handed him a bottle of water.
He was disgusting looking. Covered in dirt and sweaty as hell, but somehow that combination made the muscles in his arms that much more prominent.
"Thanks" he muttered as he took the bottle "How are you and Asskicker doin?"
"We are doing great, ya know for it being the end of the world and all. How are you?" she pulled out a pack of cigarettes that she had been holding for him "Here I found these, figured you'd want them."
He took what was offered and nodded a thanks. "Apparently Carl has been shot. This group is dropping like flies."
"Well Carl has been shot he ain't dead yet, so stop talking like that. I know you, you'll find Sophia. If anyone can it's you Daryl Dixson."
Turning she went to join the rest of the group
Daryl's POV
That woman put way too much faith in him. Finding his lighter he lit the cigarette Kat gave him. He needed to think a second before being surrounded by those people again. He only ever talked to three other people before meeting up with this group and it was exhausting having all these people around. He entertained the idea of just packing up and taking Kat and Cora with him, but then, there was safety in numbers. Giving a frustrated growl he turned to join the rest of the group, he had to try and play nice.
As he was approaching the group he seemed to walk into another argument amongst the idiots. Great.
"Carol, the group is split. We're scattered and weak."
"What if she comes back and we're not here? It could happen."
"If Sophia found her way back and we were gone, that would be awful."
He could only imagine how the kid would feel if she made her way back only to see no one here. She would feel abandoned. "Okay. We gotta plan for this. I say tomorrow morning is soon enough to pull up stakes. Give us a chance to rig a big sign, leave her some supplies. I'll hold here tonight, stay with the RV." See he could be a team player.
"If the RV is stayin', I am too."
"Thank you. Thank you both." Carol said while turning to him and Dale
"I'm in."
"Well, if you're all staying then I'm…" Glen was cut off by Dale
"Not you, Glenn-You're going. Take Carol's Cherokee."
"Me? Why is it always me?"
"You have to find this farm, reconnect with our people and see what's going on-But most important, you have to get T-Dog, Kat and Cora there. This is not an option. Kat has a head injury and Cora needs to be able to relax in a house. Not to mention T's cut has gone from bad to worse. He has a very serious blood infection. We have to get him to the farm and see if they have any antibiotics, otherwise he will die." Dale told Glen
Walking around to Merles bike he noticed a rag on the bike. These people have no respect for anyone else's stuff. Reaching into the saddle bag he grabbed his brother's stash of various pills.
Making his way to the hood of the Cherokee he threw the rag at the old man "Keep your oily rags off my brother's motorcycle. Why's you wait till now to say anything? I got my brothers stash."
He looked up at Kat who was walking out of the R.V. "You could've said something. You knew Merle got the clap on occasion."
"Ew, I never talked venereal diseases with your brother, or you, for that matter. How was I supposed to know you would plan on getting the clap post apocalypse and hold on to his STD pills?"
He had to hide his smile. He loved it when she showed her feisty side.
"Here it is Doxycycline. Not the generic stuff neither. It's first class." He threw the bottle to Dale and followed Kat into the R.V.
"You and Asskicker are going to go with the Asian kid to meet up with Lori and Rick at that farm they took Carl to."
Turning her head she glared at him "Excuse me? That sounded an awful lot like an order and not a suggestion."
"Hey, chill out woman. It was Dales idea." Christ she had an evil glare
"Well Cora and I are staying wherever you are. So he will deal with it. Besides the doctor or whatever this guy is that's fixing Carl needs to be focused on T and Carl. Not Cora and I."
"You do remember you hit your head and was out like a light for hours? Not to mention she" motioning to Cora "had a seizure. I think yall's injuries are pretty severe. So I'm asking NOT telling you to go to that farm. Please"
Sighing and walking to the table of the R.V. she sat down and buried her face in her hands. "Daryl I can't. I can't do it on my own. I need you to be there with me when it happens and so does Cora"
Sitting across from her he could see the tears refusing to fall from her eyes "when what happens?"
"Don't you get it? That man on that farm can't do anything for her. Seizures are not good things Daryl, it probably means the disease is spreading and her body can't fight it no more." A sobbing sound escaped her as she was trying to hold it together. "We need you there when she does leave. She should be surrounded by loved ones and you are one of those loved ones. I know you'd hate yourself for not being there so you need it as much as we do." She gave in and her body was trembling as she cried.
Standing in front of her he dropped to his knees and held her. "Hey you are the strongest person I know and the smartest. You'd think by now I would know not to argue with you." His thumb stopped stroking her tears away and moved to her trembling lips, he traced them, a gentle caress.
She looked up at him and gave a hesitant smile. He didn't know what came over him but he leaned his head down and kissed away any remaining tears that were on her beautiful face. She leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder. She was so brave and strong. He wished he could take away all the hurt and snuff out anything that threatened to hurt her or Cora.
All he could do was hold her and rub her back. Hoping his hands relayed what he didn't have the nerve to say.