Chapter 12

Big ass chapter coming your way :') you have been warned. LOL. Enjoy! xx

The sun rose through the guest room window, shinning it's powerful light into the face of Daryl Dixon. Who opened his eyes, squinting at the rays, which he used his hand to block. It then came to his attention where he was. He leant up and observed the room, feeling a slight sting on his shoulder. He looked down, and saw stitches, where his arrow wound was.

"What the?…" he muttered to himself, pressing the wound lightly, hissing at the small sharp sting it shot through his shoulder. Which taught him not to do that again. Which brought his attention to his knuckles, all bruised. The memory came flooding back.

His face was combined with a fear and pain expression. The Walker came down and was inches from Daryl face when Daryl grabbed the Walker by the neck, keeping it away. Punching the face, blood splattering at his face. However, Daryl then had to quickly kick back, luckily for him, the Walker had a weak frame, and the neck upwards remained in Daryl's grasp, but covered him in a pool of blood from the torn neck.

The body wasn't an issue anymore, it was just the head, that kept chomping, trying to bite at his arm and hand. Thankfully, Daryl managed to throw it, allowing him to get up. However, not walking on his leg yet, didn't allow him enough time to react when his leg gave way, which lead in him falling into the dirt once more.

The chomping head was still hissing and chomping. Daryl struggled to get back up.

"Shut up," he spat when he did, he then stomped on the face, flattening it, and killing the brain in an instant.

Daryl ran his hand through his hair at the memory. The closeness of it all. If it had been a full grown Walker, he would be dead by now. The blood that stained his hair and face came off slightly on his hand.

"Aw man," he groaned wiping it on his clothes, only to realise he was shirtless. He pushed himself off the bed carefully, limping to the door, but the combination of mini pains slowed him down, as he gave small groans of pain as he walked. He used his hand to hold the wardrobe to keep him up.

The door opened, Brooke walking in with a tray of food and drink and other supplies.

"What are you doing?" She squeaked, shocked by his over eagerness of getting up.

"How the hell did I get here?" Daryl barked. Brooke placed the tray on the bedside table and grabbed Daryl's arm. "Hands off me!"

Brooke was startled. She knew he was confused and in pain, so he would obviously be in a very bad mood. She shook off his intimidating behaviour and held his arm gently once more.

"Daryl, calm down. I'm just trying to get you back into bed."

"I don't need to git in there, I'm fine!"

"You're barely standing," Brooke gave a small laugh at his stupidity. "Please, stop being silly and get back into bed," she was cut off by Daryl gently grabbing her hand off his arm. "Daryl."

"I'm fine!" he barked again.

"Are you?" Brooke stepped in front of him and asked, sternly. "Are you really?" she could see his face, wincing in pain, so rolled his eyes and sat back down on the bed. Brooke gave a small amused smile of accomplishment. "I'm only trying to help you," she took a seat beside him.

"I know," he sighed, then looked at her. "You did this?" he asked, referring to the stitches. Brooke nodded. "Since when did you learn how to do that?"

"There are things you don't know about me," Brooke smiled. "Just like there are things I don't know about you." She stopped smiling when she noticed his face, his shoulder was in pain again. She reached to the tray she brought up and grabbed the painkillers she brought up with her. "Here," she handed them to him.

"Thanks," he muttered. Taking a couple and popping them in his mouth, pulling a face as he swallowed them.

"I brought you up some wine, too," she offered, also grabbing the wine bottle from the tray.

"Wine?" he gave a small chuckle. "Ya' tryin' to get me drunk?"

"Well you missed out on last night."

"Yeah, was kinda busy fightin' off some dead prick." Daryl's comment was mixed with amusement and hatred. Brooke let out a small nervous laugh.

"That…was my cousin," she informed, which he frowned at.

"The dead kid?"

"Yes."

"But, you said it was just ya' Uncle livin' here. Ya' lied?"

"I didn't lie, you never asked."

"No, ya' said, 'ya' Uncle's house, where no one ever went'. Those were ya' exact words."

Brooke gave a sigh.

"You're right, I'm sorry…" she rubbed her eyes. "Because of me, you almost died." The fiddling with her fingers showed that she was upset about what happened to him. However, Daryl didn't want her to feel guilty about it.

"Nah, ya' didn't know." He patted her shoulder gently, without looking at her.

"But you just said-"

"Never mind what I said, if it were the others I woulda probably meant it. Can't say it to you though." Brooke listened to him, watching him chew his lip.

"Why?" Daryl only shrugged. Brooke raised her eyebrows then left it at that, processing what he said. "Lay down."

"What?" he asked, confused by the random command.

"You need rest." She said, smiling. "Lay down."

"What if I don't wanna?" he smirked. "Ya' gonna make me?"

"I will beat your ass down if I have to," Brooke giggled, her intimidation failing miserably.

"That would be very funny to see," Daryl gave a small laugh. "Even with my busted shoulder I would be able to take ya' scrawny ass down."

"Oh really?" Brooke challenged.

"Yeah," he smirked. "But I ain't stupid enough to try it."

"Because you know you will lose?" Brooke teased.

"No, my shoulder, genius." he reminded. "Ya' would use that to ya' advantage."

"You think I fight dirty?" Brooke laughed. "I would actually go around your shoulder, like at these parts." she began poking different parts of his torso, avoiding the wound on his shoulder. Giving a small snort of laughter, Daryl discretely tried to stop her without laughing fully.

"Don't ya' know how to play fair?" Daryl grabbed her hands, which she smiled innocently at.

"Told you I would win," Brooke giggled, in which he received a hand messing up her hair and pushing her off the bed. "Hey!"

"Tha's fer pokin' me," he smirked, leaning back onto the bed so he could position himself to lay back down. Brooke pushed the hair out of her face, and used to bed to hoist her back up onto her feet.

"Guess I will have to admit that you can kick my ass, even when you have an injured shoulder." Brooke gave a small laugh, then sat back on the end of the bed. Only to find herself being pushed off again, this time by Daryl's foot. "Daryl!" She could hear him laughing to himself, whilst not even facing her. He looked around to see Brooke's unimpressed face whilst she sat on the ground. "I bring you up breakfast, and painkillers and you do this to me?" Brooke faked sulking. "How mean."

Daryl only smirked at Brooke, watching her get back up once more. Brooke looked at his face, with the blood still on it. She gave a disgusted look, before heading to the bathroom. Daryl heard the taps go, and moments later, she returned with a wet cloth, taking a seat just in front of him. Daryl watched her, as she began to clean the blood stains off his face. He felt the water against his skin, but if anything, he felt himself slightly nervous at this close contact. Daryl Dixon, Redneck and hothead was feeling nervous, and why? Because of a girl being close to him. He fought a mental battle in his head, telling himself, it was because of what happened last night that he was feeling this way. He was still startled by it. That had to be it.

"Can I ask ya' something?" he asked, looking serious than before.

"Yeah?"

"When ya' said no one knew where this place was," he looked down, then back at her. "Did ya' mean that? Or did ya' say that to get you down here to see if ya' Uncle was alive?" Brooke looked at him for a moment, his gaze became too overwhelming so she had to look away.

"You think I'm that shallow?" Brooke sounded hurt. "You think I would do that?"

"Just curious," Daryl shrugged. "Can't blame a guy for wonderin'."

"Well, then, the answer is no. I didn't lie. I meant every word, I don't think risking lives is a nice thing to do."

"Good," said Daryl, knowing he had upset her. "Don't take it personally. Was just a question." Brooke looked at him, then smiled. It seemed forced, as she got up to leave the room.

"Eat your breakfast." She said before leaving. Daryl gave a sigh before looking at the food she left him, picking it up and eating it. Once he tasted that it didn't taste like squirrel, but actually nicer. He began tucking in further. For some strange reason, he missed Brooke being in the room. She was keeping him entertained, and then he had to ask her that question. He gave a sigh then took one more look at the stitches.

Brooke walked downstairs and joined everyone who was sat eating around the dining room table.

"He alright?" Rick asked, noticing her presence.

"Yeah," Brooke replied. "Daft git tried to get out of bed already, though."

"Yeah, that's Daryl." Dale gave amused smiled, which spread across the faces of all the others, except Andrea's. Her gaze was directed at Brooke, she watched her every move discretely from across the dining room, to the kitchen, where Brooke was stood, fixing coffee for everyone who needed a refill.

Unaware of being stared upon, Brooke's mind was occupied with other matters. Like the fact Daryl asked that question. Did he think she was shallow enough to do that? He said it was harmless, but Brooke felt paranoid over the matter. Given the circumstances of their situations, it was normal to find it hard to trust others straight away. However, she thought she and Daryl had developed a bond.

Putting a plate into the sink, next to where Brooke stood, Glenn gave a smile to her when she shot her head around to her side, a tad startled.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," Brooke answered, returning the friendly smile. "You?"

"Yeah, breakfast was good."

"Glad you liked it," Brooke held up one of the coffee's she made. "Coffee?"

"Nah, I'm good."

An awkward silence fell upon them. Glenn adjusted his hat and cleared his throat. Brooke put all the coffee's on a tray and gave a small smile to Glenn before heading back to the dining room.

"Here you go," she put the tray onto the table.

"Brooke," Carl grabbed her attention. "Could Sophia and I see the horses today?" Brooke could tell that Lori had made them ask permission first.

"Sure," Brooke replied. The sound of someone coming down the stairs, stunned them for a moment. All the men standing to see what the cause was. Only to see Daryl limping from the staircase, holding the tray she had brought up for him.

"What?" he barked at everyone looking at him.

"Daryl, why aren't you in bed?" Carol sighed. Daryl didn't answer but limped to the kitchen. Rick followed Daryl into the kitchen.

"Daryl," he spoke, coming up behind him. Daryl made a small groan sound to show he was listening. "What ya' did yesterday. We would like to thank ya'."

This confused Daryl, and he turned to face Rick, squinting at him.

"Yeah?" he asked. "What for?"

"Well, at the time ya' were fightin' for ya'self I'm guessin'," Rick stated, which Daryl knew was true. "But, if ya' didn't fight it off like ya' did. Lettin' it roam. It could have injured someone. So we're mighty grateful."

Daryl was slightly surprised by this. He took out a Walker, for himself, but was being thanked for it? Maybe they were trying to make peace with Daryl? Maybe because they still felt guilt about Merle. So they should.

"S'fine." Daryl nodded at Rick, not sure if he meant it or not. Rick nodded back, giving Daryl a small pat on his good shoulder.

"Now, we would really appreciate it, if ya' got back to bed, and get all rested up." Daryl knew there was a catch. "Alrigh'?"

"Alrigh'." Daryl sighed. Chewing his lip. He looked over to Brooke, who had been observing, but pretended that she hadn't, when he looked at her. He began to limp back to the staircase, almost losing balance when his foot gave way. "Shit!" he spat to himself. Carol rushed over to him.

"You okay?" she asked, helping him up. "Come on, let's get you back up the stairs, and back to bed."

All this kindness was alien to Daryl, so he gave a small thankful smile to Carol as she helped him up the stairs. Brooke watched then smiled, looking at Rick. He smiled back, heading back to the table.

"Come on," Brooke spoke to Carl and Sophia. "I'll show you the horses." Both kids cheered and excitedly followed Brooke out to the barn.

Being helped into the bedroom, Daryl let Carol know he was okay to walk to the bed from the door.

"Get plenty of rest," she smiled at him.

"Thanks," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck tiredly.

"Why did you get out of bed in the first place?" Carol asked, curiously and concernedly. Daryl sighed with a shrug.

"Bored, I guess."

"Brooke had come to see you though, surely you couldn't have been that bored straight after?" the expression on Daryl's face put a smile on her own. "You like her?"

Daryl's eyes shot up at Carol.

"As a friend, yeah?"

"You tell me," Carol smiled.

"She's the first real friend I've made out here," Daryl admitted, shyly. Almost whispering it.

"That's good, isn't it?" Carol asked.

"Yeah, but I think I upset her."

"Well, apologise to her, when she next comes up. She's a nice girl and we all know she likes you too." Carol smiled, watching Daryl think about it, before leaving him with his thoughts.

Decided to leave it there lol hope you liked this chapter! Please leave a review and thank youu for reading! xx