Chapter 12 – if you thought I'd leave then you were wrong, cause I won't stop holding on
It had been a week since Randall had been brought to the farm. A week since his own group had abandoned him for dead and Rick had been left with no choice but to bring the kid into his territory. Things had been quiet around the farm, well mostly. The tension remained but it was mostly undetectable unless you knew what you were looking for.
The Greene family, still mourning for their losses also had the continued problem of Beth to keep them occupied. They had little time to wonder about the fate of the teenager still locked up in their shed, waiting to be delivered to a roadside somewhere and forced to fend for himself. Of course it was the best course of action for everyone involved, including maybe Randall himself, but there were always those who would disagree and so it wasn't only the Greene's who were suffering dissent amongst their ranks. Between certain people being more vocal about Rick's chosen plan, Beth remaining in her severely depressed state- despite waking up- and Randall causing more problems than solutions, it was clear to see where the heavy atmosphere was coming from.
It had been decided that Rick, as if anyone else would actually do it, would be responsible for driving Randall out into nowhere and setting him free, a safe distance from the farm. He would be gagged, blindfolded and bound, thrown into the trunk and then abandoned somewhere. It was easy to see where some disagreement came into it. But Rick knew what was he was doing and the majority would stand by his decisions. Even more so when he announced that Shane would be the one to accompany him. The Greene family, Penny in particular, were still not too thrilled by his actions the previous week and though Hershel had revoked his order that Shane leave the farm all together, the strain between all involved was painfully obvious and so the chance that he would be away from them for a day wasn't seen as a bad thing.
Penny was currently sitting by Beth's bedside, trying to coax a slightly happier response from the traumatised girl before her. She was trying, the whole family was, but old tales of past childish adventures and ruined vacations could only do so much. They were all aware Beth was just going through the motions of everyday life- wake up, get dressed, eat, sleep. She never smiled and never gave more than a few words in response. Penny didn't really know what was worse- this Beth or the one who couldn't move. But still, she was trying to remain hopeful since Beth used to be like the households ray of sunshine, with her smiles and optimism. Maybe she'd find a way back to that. The happiness and relief that swept through the farm when Beth had finally moved just a few days ago was fading fast.
"...and Shaun just swung you over his shoulder and ran away before me and Maggs even realised what was happening," Penny recounted. "I'd never heard something as small as you were screaming as much when he took you into the trees. We ran in there for hours, remember?" She smiled as she reminisced. "Then your mom came out, told us to get back in the house but you just stood there. Six-years-old and you were the most stubborn kid ever. Only way Annette got you in the house was by telling you the monsters would come and eat you..." Penny trailed off as she realised what she'd said. She couldn't look at Beth. "Ironic really," she muttered.
"Because she turned into a monster herself?" It wasn't so much Beth's words that startled Penny as much as the soft, defeated tone she used.
"Sweetie, I didn't mean-"
"Because she was the one that tried to eat me?" Beth cut her off. The same defeated tone and Penny once again found herself unable to look at her youngest sister. Her eyes slid closed as she leant forward to rest her head in her hands.
"Knock, knock," Lori called out as she walked through the door, a tray of food balanced in her hands. She spotted Penny there and a quick glance at the sisters revealed the strain between them. Lori's eyebrows knitted together in concern as Penny met her gaze, eyes filled with emotion. The younger woman simply shook her head. Sensing Penny needed a break but knowing it wasn't exactly her place to tell her to leave her younger sister's bedside, Lori tried a different strategy.
She turned to the window before looking back at Beth. "How about this, you eat up all your food; we'll get you up and out of here and go take a walk. What do you say?" Getting Beth out would be beneficial to everyone. "It'd do you good to be outside." Penny looked to her sister for a response but Beth wasn't at all interested. It didn't even seem she was paying attention.
"You're pregnant?" Beth eventually responded. Her gaze didn't move away from her bed sheets and the same distant, defeated tone was back. "How could you do that?" The look on her face showed just what she thought of the idea- completely disgusted.
"Beth," Penny scolded but Beth didn't acknowledge her.
"I don't really have a choice," Lori tried to blow off the comment, an uncomfortable laugh forced.
"You think it'll make a difference?"
"Of course it will... You eat something." Lori replied before forcing a smile to Penny and leaving the room. Left alone with her sister, Penny glared at her. At this point the only thing she could think of was maybe a good slap would make Beth a little more responsive. She certainly felt like it, all traces of guilt at her earlier slip up forgotten. The strain was pulling harder on everyone.
Penny stood, preparing to leave. "You know, that was none of your damn business. Lori wants to keep her baby, that's up to her... I can't believe you said that."
"It's just gonna die like the rest of us."
Penny could think of a million things she wanted to say, some her father would not be pleased to hear she'd said but she refrained. Instead, she merely shook her head in disappointment. "Eat your food Beth," she settled with, closing the door behind her.
-8-
In her emotion-ruled state, Penny had made it to the stables. In the past week, she'd spent more time out there than she wished to account for. She passed her horse and Ruby made a noise of discontent as Penny only paused in her stride long enough to run a hand down the mare's mane. The blue plastic was in the same position as Penny had left it the previous night. She pulled it back, revealing the bike beneath and reached out a hand to tenderly wipe a speck of dirt from the now straightened handlebars. She then pushed the same hand into the pocket of her jeans to retrieve the small silver key resting inside before throwing a leg over the bike, straddling it.
"Ya actually gonna ride that thing today?" Daryl asked as he walked towards Penny who was hovering the key above the ignition but hadn't actually got around to putting it in yet. She didn't even glance at the man beside her as she answered.
"Maybe."
Daryl glanced at her still hesitating with the key, as he placed his crossbow on the floor. He knew why she was being hesitant about riding it, even if she'd never told him specifics. She needed time to work out her issues with it but maybe she also needed that little push in the right direction… Penny looked up at him as Daryl plucked the key from her hand and placed it into the slot. She couldn't even bring herself to glare at him for interfering in her moment. A lot had changed in seven days.
Daryl glared after Penny as she walked away. What the hell was that about? Flipping out over some bike. Except she hadn't really flipped out- she'd acted like it never existed. But what did he care whether some girl wanted to obsess over scrap metal? …Except she wasn't just 'some girl' anymore- not since her family had become part of the group and he cared about his group.
Penny had gone back to the stables that night, not intending to check on the bike that she hadn't paid attention to in months but finding herself doing so anyway. So when she found the handlebars straightened almost perfectly she didn't know whether to be completely pissed or a little grateful. The anger had won. Logically she knew that she wasn't mad as much as embarrassed and a little hurt that someone had encroached on her property. All Penny wanted was her privacy back. In her typical fashion, she hadn't hesitated in storming over to Daryl's make-shift camp, knowing for a fact that no one else knew about the bike or had the downright rudeness to actually touch it.
"I told you it was none of your business, but you just couldn't help yourself could you?" she called once she was close enough, her voice sharp and biting rather than merely screaming at him. "Always having to involve yourself in things that don't concern you." She was talking crap, even she knew that. Daryl never involved himself in anything if he didn't have a reason to.
The man in question stood to face Penny as she got closer. He could feel his own anger rising to respond to hers but through sheer stubbornness, this time he refused to let it take over. The way he had acted with Carol, when he'd almost raised a hand to her, he wouldn't let it happen again. "The hell does it matter if I fixed it up? Did yer a favour."
"A favour I didn't ask for, nor want. It's my property Daryl," Penny responded, vaguely aware of her arms moving in wild gestures, showing her irritation. "It's not another little toy for you to play with when you get bored. You've got your own shit to screw with, stay the hell off mine." She'd turned to walk away, having made her point but Daryl wasn't having that. So he'd straightened her handlebars and now she was making him feel like an idiot for it. Why was it such a big deal?
"Hey, what's yer problem? It's just a fuckin' bike."
She stopped in her tracks, back still turned to him. He'd expected her to turn back, give him hell for saying that but she hadn't; she'd merely straightened her slumped shoulders and walked away again.
Looking at the bike now and knowing what he did, Daryl understood Penny's reaction because he could relate. Well mostly. And now he'd developed a kind of friendship with the opinionated farm girl. Daryl would never say 'bonded' or anything close but they'd… connected over a mutual love for family- more specifically, brothers. Because the bike had belonged to hers, to Shaun, and so the protectiveness she felt for it, he completely understood.
He'd gone looking for Rick the next day, something to do with Randall-watch-duty, but he found her first sitting on the porch. She'd stood up as he climbed the steps and he barely spared her a glance. She'd thought he would walk straight past her but something about the way she had looked at him made him stop, against his better judgement; he hadn't been in the mood for an argument but she hadn't looked like she wanted one either.
"I talked to Lori earlier…" Penny began. Her gaze diverted down to her hand, currently picking at the flaking paint covering the porch railing. Daryl had no idea where she could take that sentence, what Lori could possibly have told her to make her not as aggressive. "She mentioned your brother. I always wondered about that bike o' yours. Makes so much damn noise but you still ride it."
Daryl glanced up at her from under his lashes, still debating whether to just carry on into the house and see if Rick was there but Penny looked back at him for just a moment and the corners of her mouth twitched upwards. He didn't understand how her knowing about his bike being Merle's –since that was obviously what she was getting at- helped at all.
"I'm still not happy that you touched mine but if anyone had a chance of understanding, strangely, it would be you."
"Understanding what?" he finally spoke.
"Keeping your brother's memory alive."
Despite allowing Daryl to fix the rest of the bike and being there while he did so, Penny hadn't actually ridden it yet- something Daryl was getting increasingly impatient about. She looked up at Daryl as he stood back before reaching out to turn the key in the ignition, the headlights and indicator light immediately blaring. Penny smiled as she recognised the familiar action. Putting it into neutral was another thing- Penny hadn't been great at starting it in the past and then she'd had Shaun there. Gaining confidence when the green neutral light flashed up, she pressed the start button and the rumbling engine noises filled the air but the volume wasn't what Penny was expecting and she immediately switched the key back to the 'off' position. Daryl narrowed his eyes in question but Penny just shook her head, about to pull the keys back out when Daryl's hand covered it.
"Jus' do it," He told her, not unkindly. He removed his hand and Penny considered doing what he said until someone calling her name echoed through the stables. She climbed off the bike immediately and walked to the stable door, reaching it just as Andrea did.
"Penny, Lori asked me to find you. She needs you at the house."
"What for?"
The blonde shook her head. "She didn't say but it sounded urgent."
-8-
"What the hell were you thinking?" Beth didn't so much as glance at her oldest sister as she stood at the end of the bed, visibly furious. "Lori catches you hiding a knife and you don't have anything to say? Don't just sit there Beth, look at me!"
The younger girl raised her head casually, as if the action was too tiresome to carry out. She met Penny's gaze with blank, uncaring eyes. She made no attempt to talk, to explain her actions. It truly felt, and looked, like she'd given up. Penny gripped the bed rail, needing some sort of grounding just as Maggie walked in. The two eldest sisters looked to one another.
"Lori told me," Maggie stated as she moved to the bedside. "Are you crazy? What if Dad found out?"
"What's he gonna do, kill me for committing suicide?" Beth responded coldly.
Maggie moved to sit on the bed. "Stop being such a brat. He'd die… so would we."
"You know, this isn't just about you. We all lost Mom," Penny spoke next.
Beth glanced between her older sister's, seeing the concern for her there. "We'll lose each other and I couldn't stand that."
"So you just give up?" Maggie pressed.
"It's easier than living like this!"
"Do you even know the meaning of suicide?" Penny scoffed, leaning forward over the rail slightly. "Do you actually understand it or is this just some kinda cry for help? Making us all terrified that you're gonna kill yourself when it's the attention you're after!"
Beth glared, the most emotional response she'd given since she woke up. "You don't understand! None of you do!"
"Of course we do-" Maggie began but was quickly cut off as the conversation volume escalated, turning into a full argument.
"Are you kidding me? What part of we all lost them do you not get?"
"What do you care?! You don't even want to be here! That's why you're out of here every chance you get!"
"Oh so now I'm abandoning you too?! Stop being so selfish, the world does not revolve around you! You're sixteen Beth; you don't even know what the world looks like!"
"I know that the only thing left out there is the dead!"
"Alright!" Maggie eventually yelled. "Penny just back off a second," she said before turning back to the youngest girl. "But she's right… Mom would be ashamed to know she'd raised such a coward. What about Dad, Beth?" she asked, trying a calmer approach than Penny had opted for.
Beth's turned her glare onto Maggie. "He's clueless, he had us waiting on a cure."
"He knows he was wrong."
"When has Dad ever admitted he was wrong? He's just telling Rick's group what they wanna here."
"And Jimmy?"
"We went out for three months and now I'm married to him?"
"And Penny? …Me?" Maggie asked, close to tears. "I can't take another funeral."
Beth's expression softened into something close to sympathy. "You can't avoid it. What are we waiting for? …We should all do it." She looked between her sisters whose own expressions displayed their shock.
"What?" Maggie managed to respond.
"At the same time. Help each other."
"No," Penny's own reply shaking.
But Beth seemed to be gaining confidence, becoming frantic about it. "It's hard to do it, no one ever wants to but we could-"
"No, Beth stop talking like that-"
"It would be easy and then it would be our choice-"
"Are you even listening to yourself-?"
The volume rose once more as the sisters began talking over each other in hysterical, short sentences. Maggie and Penny in their effort to calm Beth, make her see sense, started to crowd her; grabbing her hands only to have her pull them away. "-then all of this would be over. Or we'll be forced to do it when the farm, this house, is over-run. No one can protect us," Beth stated.
Penny snatched up her hand again, grasping it tightly as she watched both of her younger sisters hold back tears. "Honey, that is not true."
"Really? Rick will save his family. The rest of them too. We're alone. The three of us and Patricia with only Dad and Jimmy against a whole world of those things…" Beth replied, tightly holding one of Penny's hand in one of hers and Maggie's in the other. Her eyes jumped between their devastated faces. "I don't wanna be gutted. I wanna go, in this bed tonight, with the two of you beside me… Please."
The stunned silence that followed the youngest girl's plea lasted too long, each sister lost in their own mind. Penny stared at Beth as Maggie looked down to their joined hands. Penny could see it in Beth's eyes, how much she believed her own words, how much she wanted to leave this life and she couldn't stand it. She stood abruptly, dropping Beth's hand and whispering that she'd be right back before leaving the room. Downstairs she walked straight past Lori and Andrea and out onto the porch; she just needed air, the house felt too enclosed.
She could have been sat there for hours just staring over the land when Maggie sat down beside her. Noting the panic in her older sister's eyes as she abruptly faced her, Maggie reassured her.
"Andrea said she'd keep an eye on her."
Both women were silent again until Penny dared to bring up the topic too fresh on their minds. "What're we gonna do? We can't watch her twenty-four hours a day."
"Not sure," Maggie replied. "Penny… do you think maybe she's right? Not about the suicide but about us having no chance."
Penny took a minute to respond as she phrased what she wanted to say correctly. "I think that if we go around acting like there's nothing left for us, then there really won't be. But right now, we're safe. We got food, water, family..."
"But how long is that gonna last?"
"I don't know. But I don't think we're ready to give up yet."
Maggie linked her arm through Penny's, leaning into her side slightly. "Me either. Just wish Beth could see it like that… she was so serious about that, Penn."
Penny leant her head on Maggie's, "I know, but she'll get over it. Learn to live with it… we just gotta make sure she has the chance to."
"I'm gonna go check on her… see if she wants to eat or something."
Maggie stood up again and Penny smiled at her before she disappeared into the house. Penny sat quietly for a few moments more before following her sister's lead. She walked through the open door just in time to hear Maggie shouting Beth's name and banging on something… Penny sprinted up the stairs, two at a time, reaching Beth's room as Lori forced the bathroom door open. Maggie immediately went in and Penny rounded the door frame just as Maggie and Beth walked out.
"She needs bandages," Maggie told her as she pressed a hand on top of Beth's, attempting to stem the blood pouring down from a cut on her wrist. The younger girl was sobbing as she looked at the injury, apologising over and over- she didn't want to die anymore.
-8-
Penny stood watching as her father cleaned Beth's wrist before stitching it. They'd eventually tracked him down when they realised he had a right to know what was going on and that Beth would need something better than a bandage to fix the cut. It hadn't been too deep as she'd stopped when the pain got too much but she'd still managed to do some damage. Penny was going between being relieved that Beth wasn't going to try this anymore and complete white-hot rage towards Andrea for daring to leave Beth alone at her most vulnerable. If the cut had been a little deeper and Maggie hadn't found her in time… well, she didn't want to think about the possibility. It didn't matter that it hadn't happened; only that Andrea had allowed for the chance that it could have.
She looked to Lori, who was stood beside her. "Do you know where Andrea is?" Lori looked back at her before she answered, contemplating the best option to take.
"Are you gonna do something you'll regret?"
"Nope," Penny answered easily. "I won't regret it."
"Look, Penny, I know you're mad at her but-"
"My sixteen-year-old sister could've killed herself because she left her alone. Do you know where she is?"
Lori looked at the younger woman for a long moment, "She's outside."
It was all too easy for Penny to find her after all since as soon as she stepped foot out of the door, Lori and Maggie close behind, and Andrea was making her way up to the house. Penny stood at the bottom of the porch steps causing Andrea to stop in front of her.
"Where were you?" Maggie called from the top but the older woman ignored her.
"I just heard, is she alright?" Andrea asked, glancing around Penny to Lori for a moment. "How bad is she?"
"It wasn't deep," Lori told her.
Andrea smiled. She actually smiled. Penny was practically shaking with anger as Andrea spoke. "She wants to live, she made her decision."
"She tried to kill herself!" Maggie called once more as she walked to Penny's side.
"No, she didn't," Andrea replied in the same arrogant, know-it-all tone and Penny's fists clenched.
"Yes she did. My father's stitching her wrist up right now!"
"She'll live." The patronising quality of the words was in Penny's eyes being directed at both of her sister's and she reached her breaking point. Just as Andrea tried to step around her, her hand flew from her side and connected with Andrea's cheek, the slap echoing around them.
"Don't you dare speak to my sister like that," Penny spoke, eerily calm. Andrea clutched her reddening cheek in shock as she stared back at the younger woman. "Never come near us again. Stay away from this house." With those final words, she turned her back and walked into her house.
Andrea looked between the other two women still outside as if she was expecting them to take her side but Maggie quickly shot her down. "She meant it and so do I. Stay away from my family."
Taking the hint this time, Andrea made her way back to her own camp but Lori stopped Maggie just before they could go inside. "I'm not gonna say she was right but Beth has made her choice. She wants to live and now she knows it… and sometimes you have to cross the line."
Maggie merely raised her eyebrows as if she really couldn't care less. "I'll let you tell Penny that theory." Her words were met with silence and Maggie re-entered her home to join her family.
-8-
The situation with Beth had meant that most of the group hadn't had time to think about whether Rick and Shane had dealt with Randall. They'd left early in the morning, hoping to be back by nightfall so when in the late afternoon the car pulled up in front of the house, everyone was more than a little relieved. The relief wasn't long lasting. Rick and Shane exited the vehicle covered in blood which was worrying in itself but then they walked around to the trunk. The sight of Randall being lifted out, alive, was a shock no one was expecting. Mostly because they would have expected Randall's dead body to be brought back more than an alive and struggling one but also because no one had any idea what they were going to do now.
-8-
Daryl approached the porch slowly. He knew she'd be out there- she always was. Sitting alone on the top step, he spotted her and made his way over, stopping at the bottom of the stairs. Penny knew he was there but with her head in her hands, she didn't acknowledge him.
"Hey," Daryl nudged her foot with the handle of his crossbow, causing her to finally look up. "Come on."
"Where are we going?" Penny asked cautiously.
"Some place else. Got somewhere to show ya."
"Daryl, it's gonna be dark soon."
Truthfully enough, the sky was beginning to turn into the soft colours of the evening as the sun began to set. It went without saying that going out when you couldn't see anything was beyond idiotic, even if you were with Daryl Dixon.
"Won't be out long… jus' come on," Daryl insisted and began to walk away. Throwing her house one last look, Penny did the one thing she probably shouldn't have and followed right after him, jogging slightly to catch up. However, when they reached the lakeside, all former reservations left Penny's mind. The place was stunning. The silence was soothing and the sky cast beautiful reflections in the water. The pair sat on the edge of the small wooden dock, Penny's bare feet were making soft circles on the surface of the water while Daryl sat completely still beside her.
"They're gonna kill him. Aren't they?" Penny questioned, breaking the silence. "Randall, I mean."
"That a problem wi' you?"
"Not as much as it should be," Penny replied. "You know, death it's everywhere. Literally. If killing him is the price to keep my family safe then… so be it."
"How's yer sister doin'?" Daryl asked, changing the subject but Penny just shrugged.
"She wants to live. That's always a good thing. Can't say I would object to it being Andrea they were lining up for execution right now."
"Hey, she might not'a gone about it in the right way… but she helped if you like it or not."
"She was supposed to look after her, not let her slit her wrist. Let's just talk about something else, please." But it seemed neither were in the mood for talking as they both took to just enjoying their surroundings before they had to go back. Daryl kept his crossbow right beside him at all times and occasionally his hand would brush across it, making sure it was still there but nothing came to disrupt them. Until Daryl pointed out something skimming across the water's surface. Penny involuntarily shrieked and scrambled back as she recognised it, forcing Daryl to react by putting his hand over her mouth; his eyes swept through the trees around them waiting to see if the noise had attracted undead company. Once he'd declared them safe enough, he removed his hand and Penny glared at him even if it did go unnoticed. The rather large and hairy, eight legged beast was still waiting in the water undisturbed as Daryl reached a hand in and splashed some water in its direction.
Penny grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop as the spider moved. "Don't," she ordered, firmly.
"Jus' a water spider. Ain't nowhere near us, relax."
"Really, please don't," Penny resorted to begging as Daryl tried to pull his arm out of her surprisingly strong grip.
"So dead people walk around an' you're still scared o' spiders?" Daryl asked.
"Terrified."
"Yeh live on a farm."
"And?" Penny threw back. "In high school, this guy I was dating… his friend thought it'd be hilarious to put a spider in my hair. Wasn't so hilarious when I had a panic attack 'cause no one would get it out."
"Still… don't yeh gotta see 'em everyday?" Daryl questioned and Penny couldn't help but laugh lightly at how bewildered he seemed with her fear.
"Yeah… try to avoid them though. Sorry but we're not all cross-bow wielding tough guys," she told him. "Some of us do have redeeming qualities."
"Huh, clearly."
As the sky began to darken, Daryl led the way back to farm. They passed Rick and Hershel as they stood outside the barn where the newly returned Randall had been locked up again, awaiting his fate. Daryl walked Penny up to the house, making some snide remark about not wanting her to pass out if she saw an insect. They reached the porch and Penny turned to face Daryl.
"Thanks, for taking me." But Daryl's earlier slightly more talkative mood had dissipated, leaving the silent man she'd come to know. He nodded once and Penny just smirked. "Goodnight, Daryl."
Hey! Been a while… a lot has happened in my little absence but most importantly- season 3 first half. Wow. Then the mid-season finale ending… they're deliberately trying to kill me. So anyways, since I'm so in love with season 3, thought I'd give you a little preview of the stuff I've been writing for it. These are two little snippets from my Killer Within episode… Just over 250 words altogether so not long but if you haven't watched the ep yet then I wouldn't recommend reading them. ALSO, my Rick/OC story is up and chapter 2 should be posted in a few days so check out Apocalyptic Deceptions if you're interested!
Previews: may contain spoilers for season 3, episode 4
Penny stumbled to a sudden stop as she heard more groans approaching them front the front causing Carol and T-Dog to almost crash into her. Four more walkers rounded the corner and easily spotted their prey. Penny pulled the trigger of her gun but nothing happened except a faint click. This was not the time to run out of ammo. She reached into the back holster to retrieve her second handgun but it wasn't there. The walkers were right in front of her now and when the same clicks sounded from the other guns, Penny pulled the knife from her belt and ran forward, grabbing the back of the head of the first walker and plunging the blade through its eye.
Removing the knife, she threw the body to the floor and turned to the second just as its hand was inches away from her forearm. Using it to her advantage, she seized the rotten limb with her left hand and pulled it towards her. The walker was a lot taller than her and so she used her right, knife still in her grip, to take a hold of its neck too, turning to slam it against the wall and removing her hand to sink the knife through its temple.
She had been about to turn to the third, aware that she was the only one with a working weapon. A rush of air was the only warning she got before T-Dog charged towards the remaining two, who were uncomfortably close to Penny, and shoved them into the far wall. He held them there with his arms outstretched and screamed at them to go. He had seconds before those things would tear into him. Penny had seconds to decide what to do.
He could see her visibly relax as she looked at him before practically throwing herself across the space separating them, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck and leaning into him heavily. Daryl had no choice but to support her, wrapping his own arms around her waist but at that moment he didn't care; he couldn't focus past anything but the way she felt in his arms, all memories of their argument gone now that she was safe.
"Daryl," Penny whispered, her voice cracking with emotion as she buried her face into his chest. "I lost them."
T-Dog and Carol.
"S'not your fault Penny," he told her knowing how hard she would take this on herself. She didn't have a chance to respond to him though as a small cry sounded, breaking into their reunion.
