* Please Review! So I'm really sorry that I am picky when it comes to TWD fan fics that I like. I'm sorry if it hurts anyone's feelings that I don't like theirs. I have to say this, I only like fan fics in which Daryl and the others are true to their characters. I don't mind if the plot of the fan fic goes off in it's own direction and not follow the story line, I like that. But I don't like it when Daryl isn't Daryl. Reedus is very vocal about Daryl and how he wants him played so I choose to like fics that follow Reedus' words. I'm sorry but it's what I like and it's how I write. I want Daryl to be Daryl.
For those are you that did not see the last episode of TWD, Daryl did not come out, guns blazing, ready to kick ass. He was scared and panicking. Reedus said he choose to play Daryl that way to show that he does care about his brother and that he is not a complete hard ass so I took that and here you go.*
An emotion was coursing through Daryl, something he hadn't felt since his childhood. Seeing Merle and Ashlyn handcuffed, with a gun to her head, was sending fear through his veins, cold, fast moving fear. He was scared. He couldn't lose either one of them, both were important to him. He was trying hard to force himself to breath deeply and relax. Being scared was not going to do them any favors. He stood up, shot gun ready.
" Let them go." Thankfully Daryl's voice was strong. It wasn't betraying anything he was feeling. The Governor's men turned their weapons on Daryl but The Governor did not turn from Ashlyn or lower his gun. He turned his head to the side to glance back at the hunter.
" Well what do we have here? You really think you can take me on by yourself?" He called out. Sweat beaded down The Governor's face. The fire around them crackled loud. No one would say a thing.
" He's not alone." Rick said as he stepped out from behind a car, to the left of The Governor.
" We came as a group." Michonne said, popping out on the other side of Daryl. Finally, The Governor lowered his gun and turned. His smile was firm and his body was tense.
" Now that's cute. You really think the three of you can stop us?" He asked. " I will tell you what, I'm going to let you pick which one of them you want to take with you. I'm a reasonable man. I don't need to kill both of them. Make your choice. Merle or Ashlyn." Daryl's eyes darted from Ashlyn to Merle. His tongue shot out and over his bottom lip. His stomach was jumping and twitching.
" I'm takin them both." He said with his voice still strong. The Governor tucked his gun into his waist band then placed his hands on his hips.
" No. That's not the deal. You get your long lost brother," The Governor held out a hand towards Merle and hitched his fingers. Merle was pushed forward . " Or your woman." He turned back around and grabbed Ashlyn by her hair. He thrust her forward hard, making her smash her teeth together against the pain of her hair being pulled. " So who is it? Your kin, your blood, your brother or your little bitch, your little whore? Keep in mind, Daryl, you can always get another warm body for your bed. You can always find another pussy to bury yourself into but you will never find another brother."
" You're hurting her!" Someone called out from the crowd.
The Governor pulled her hair again and pushed at her, forcing her to her knees. Pain flashed across her face but she didn't cry out. Her eyes were locked on Daryl's. Her arms started to raise to grab at The Governor's hands but dropped when she seem to remember the handcuffs. Her chest was pumping up and down but Daryl didn't know if it was from pain or fear. All he knew was his was from fear.
" She left us! She left you! With no medical care to speak of! Do you think she cared that she was hurting you!" The Governor yelled.
" That's a lie!" Ashlyn yelled. The Governor whipped back around to face her.
" You shut your little slut mouth!" He snapped.
" I didn't leave you! Yes, I snuck out with Daryl but it was to help his group and I always came back!" She called out.
" Shut up!" The Governor yelled. The people gathered around them started muttering and looking at each other, clearly seeing how their leader seem to be falling apart in front of them.
" I always came back! I cared for them, I delivered a baby! I came back and cared for all of you!" Ashlyn yelled. The Governor pulled away from her hair to face her completely. Ashlyn propelled herself up quickly. She spun to face the crowd. " The Governor is a liar! He doesn't protect people! He weeds us out! He figures out who he can control and who he can't! He kills the ones he can't!" She yelled.
" I'm warning you to shut your mouth!" The Governor snapped.
Daryl's hands were starting to sweat and he wanted her to actually listen to The Governor. His mind was screaming for her to shut up. His heart was racing and he couldn't seem to control his breathing. Sweat dripped from his hairline. His eyes were darting, trying to watch everyone at once. The Governor, Merle, Ashlyn, the people, the men, everyone.
" I found one of those men! He was brought to me and I saved his life, only to have The Governor cut off his head!" Ashlyn yelled.
" It's true!" Michonne piped in. " He keeps the walkers heads in glass containers!" The Governor turned and almost hissed at her. The crowd started to mutter louder, even his men started to look around at each other. Some were shifting around, unsure of what to do.
" Daryl and I did not stage my death. The Governor trashed my room then waited for me and attacked me. He drugged me and I woke up in the warehouse at the end of the town." Ashlyn said, ignoring how The Governor started screaming for her to shut up. " You all know me. How many of you have I visited at home when you were sick? How many of you have I sat up with, taking care of or easing your fears? I have never lied to any of you!"
" I said shut up!" The Governor screamed out one last time. He drew back and backhanded Ashlyn, sending her flying, backwards, to the ground. Dust kicked up around her body. Every one tensed. He straddled Ashlyn as she rolled to her back and stared up at him. The taste of blood trickled into her mouth.
" You can kill me but they will find out the truth. I want to protect them. I want to grow this town, you want to control them. You get rid of everything that isn't your way." She said.
" I have had enough out of you." The Governor said, bring his gun up.
" Get away from her!" Daryl shouted as panic flooded his system. What could he do? What should he do? If he ran, he'd never reach her in time to save her. His heart kicked into overdrive. He started panting harder, almost whimpering with each breath.
" It's too late! You had your chance to pick!" The Governor yelled as he stared down at Ashlyn.
This was her chance. This was it. Lay here and die, or fight. Ashlyn gathered her wits about her and kicked her leg up, nailing The Governor hard. His balls smashed against his body, causing his knees to buckle. As he started to crash down, she rolled away from him. He groaned out loud. Ashlyn jumped up and started running towards Daryl. Regaining half of his wits, The Governor turned on his knees and held up his gun.
" Ashlyn, get down!" Daryl shouted.
A gun shot exploded through the air with the sound echoing off the walls around them. Ashlyn rocked forward, falling straight down on her stomach and didn't more. Daryl dropped his gun as The Governor was rushed by his own men. People started screaming and crying. Daryl took off with Rick and Michonne hot on his heels. Merle hurried towards the doctor. People cleared the bleachers, half running to The Governor and half towards Ashlyn.
" Ashlyn!" Daryl panted as he dropped to his knees. Blood was blossoming across the back of her shirt, right over her left shoulder. Daryl grabbed her and gently turned her around. She was covered in dirt and dust. Her breath was leaving her body in short bursts but she was alive. Weakly she started to hold her wrists out to him.
" Take...these...off. Please." She asked.
" Hold still." Daryl said as he positioned her body against him. He parted his legs so her upper body was resting against his waist.
" Where was she shot?" Merle asked as he knelt down beside his brother.
" Left shoulder." Daryl said. There was commotion behind him but he couldn't look away from her fast paling face. Ashlyn swallowed and closed her eyes as she started to sweat. " No, open your eyes." Daryl ordered as his hands came to rest against her arms. " Ashlyn, open them now!" He squeezed her arms hard.
" We need to get her to the clinic." A woman said. " We need to patch her up."
" I got the keys to the cuffs." Someone else said.
" Ashlyn, open your eyes." Daryl said again.
" I'm trying." She said. " My shoulder feels like it's on fire." Someone was touching her wrists. A second later the cold metal of the cuffs was removed. She heard everyone yelling, heard The Governor screaming, but her pain was making it hard for her to care about anything. She frowned but opened her eyes, meeting Daryl's right away.
" I'm gonna pick you up. Gonna hurt but you just hold on. We gotta get you to the clinic." Daryl said. "I'm gonna try hard to get you comfortable but I need to hurry so you don't bleed out."
" Okay." She whispered.
Hands started touching her all over, holding her up as Daryl slipped out from under her body. She closed her eyes and readied herself for the pain she knew was coming. A strong arm went under her knees. Another one slipped across her shoulders gently. She held her breath as she was pulled into a hard, hot body. Daryl's scent washed over her at once. Woods, fire, spices, and sweat. As he started to stand, white hot, sharp pain shot through her left shoulder and arm. She cried out before everything went dark.
TWDTWDTWD
Ashlyn sighed and snuggled into the warmth of the blankets around her. She rubbed her cheek against the pillow and started to roll from her right side to her back. A stab of pain hit her as soon as her back came to rest against the bed. She gasped and shot back onto her right side. Her eyes flew open as her memory rushed back. She had been shot. It took few seconds but her mind told her she was inside her clinic, in the same room she had first met Daryl in. As if he heard her mind whisper his name, the door opened and Daryl stepped in. Seeing her awake, he slowed his steps. He frowned, turned around and quietly closed the door. As he turned to face her again, he drew in a short breath.
" You alright?" He asked.
" Yeah. You?" She asked. He shifted, letting his legs straight out in front of his as he leaned against the door. He crossed his long legs at his ankles and crossed his arms over his broad chest.
" I ain't the one who been shot." He commented. She closed her eyes and swallowed.
" I'm okay." She opened her eyes to look at him again. " Was there a lot of damage?"
" No. Just ain't gonna be able to use that arm for a while. Had to stitched it up and shit, it's gonna be sore for a while but you gonna be alright." Daryl said.
" And The Governor?" Ashlyn asked.
" In jail, for now." Daryl said. Using her good arm, Ashlyn pushed herself up. She made a grab for her left arm to hold it against her body as she whined. " Here, got you sumthin." Daryl pushed away from the door and started towards her. In his left hand was a slung. " Nurses out there said you should wear it. It help with your wound and shit."
She watched his face while he worked, slipping the slung around her and positioning her arm inside it. He seem to be refusing to meet her eyes and she had to wonder why. She remembered the look on his face when they caught eyes across the way, with The Governor between them. Worry, stress, and fear had played over his handsome, rough features. Had it been for her and Merle or just Merle? Had he been scared for her life or just Merle's? She reached out and placed her right hand on his shoulder. Finally, Daryl looked at her. They stared. Heat came off his body and over hers. He was close to her, so close she could see the same emotions, worry, stress, and fear, were still in his eyes.
" Is Merle okay?" She asked softly.
" He's alright. He's outside with some of the men." Daryl said. So he wasn't only feeling those emotions for Merle only. She closed her eyes and smiled. " What the hell you smilin for? This ain't the time to be smilin." He felt her hand move up his shoulder to his neck. She pulled him closer to her, opening her legs so she could cradle him against her. She sighed loudly while bring her head to his chest.
" Thank you." She said as she rubbed her cheek against him.
" For what?" Daryl asked. His hands came to rest against her sides. His voice made her heart tighten.
" For caring about me enough to be scared." She said.
Daryl stiffed but didn't deny he had been worried and scared for her. There was no need to deny it. They both knew if he tried, it would have been a lie. She squeezed him and continued to rub against him. Slowly, so slowly, one of his arms snaked around her, his hand coming to rest against her lower back. Soon, another arm made it's way to her back. He squeezed her but didn't say anything. He didn't have too. His actions in caring for her well being and his expression when he thought she was going to be killed said enough to Ashlyn.