So who's going to be happy to see Camille back?
Hope you're enjoying it so far...
Chapter 21: Reunion
We were only riding about ten minutes before Daryl started to slow down. Passing through the small town I had circled on the map, we rode through to the other side, then we came to a few lone houses.
I recognised the Cherokee and the Prius parked out front. People started filing out of the house at the sound of Daryl's bike I assumed. Lori and Maggie came running up, both hugging me as soon as I had stepped off the bike.
"Oh my god! We were so worried about you!" Lori said pulling back, the smile falling a little, "I can't believe you made us leave you.."
"Sorry" I mumbled.
"We're so glad you're alright." she said, tears brimming in her eyes.
Maggie just hugged me tightly.
T-dog was the next to come over, he held me by the shoulders and held my gaze, "Don't ever make me do that again. We can't leave our people behind!" he said before he pulled me into a tight hug. I knew he was a little angry about it, but at the moment it was overshadowed by my return and that I was safe.
"I'm sorry, I know it was a bit reckless and scared you guys half to death watching me run towards the group of walkers. I needed to give you guys a chance and there wasn't enough room in the Cherokee as it was. And you needed the extra time. Otherwise that gate would have been unlocked and there wouldn't have been any time to leave a message for Rick and the others. Its done now but I'm safe, ok?" I said quickly trying to smile. T-dog still looked conflicted.
Rick smiled and nodded at me, Carol forced a smile before turning back inside. Hershel and the others warmly smiled towards me. Glenn coming over hugging me tightly. Daryl hung back, leaning against his bike, keeping his distance since we got back.
"C'mon we'll get you cleaned up" Lori said pulling me towards the side of the house. I wasn't sure how rough I looked right now. Probably a little worse for wear I imagined. And if looking at my hands was any indication to how I looked, probably looked like I needed a really good wash.
I zoned out as she washed away the filth and blood from me. Both my mind and my body were exhausted. It had been a long two days.
"Are we staying here tonight?" I asked, tuning back into reality.
"I think so, for the night at least...You know I tried to make T-dog go back for you as soon as he started driving away...Rick and the others showed up to us early this morning...and when Daryl heard, he just about lost it, have never seen him like that...As soon as he had calmed down a little he took off saying he was going to find you" she said ending it with a smile.
"It all happened so quickly...As soon as I heard you guys leaving I did a loop around the back of the house through the woods, got back to the house, jumped the fence and started running, once it got dark I knew I had to stop for the night, slept in a tree...I was afraid I would die out there alone..." I said my face dropping.
"Well you're not alone, not any more" Maggie said from beside me, she said squeezing my arm. I kept the fears that they might leave me behind to myself. They had waited and that was all that mattered right now.
I walked back round to the front of the house, feeling fresher. Lori and Maggie both heading inside, they stopped because I wasn't following them any more. I waved them off, heading towards Rick.
Rick, T-dog and Daryl looked up as I approached.
"So do you need someone for watch tonight?" I asked.
"No" Daryl bit out, scowling at me.
"No" Rick said softer, "You need a good nights sleep" he said raising an eyebrow. I had to admit, a night's sleep would do me good after running yesterday and today. It was more out of habit to offer, regardless of how tired I felt. I wanted to contribute towards the group and doing watch was one of the ways I felt like I contributed the most. More so because I hadn't had a chance to do much hunting lately.
"And thank you for what you did, giving them the chance, getting them...out" he said more quietly.
I didn't look at Daryl, I kept my eyes on Rick and nodded, heading back inside. I would take advantage of the downtime I had for the moment. I was looking forward to getting some sleep and hopefully a decent meal. The berries hadn't exactly filled my belly.
It was quiet inside. Glenn smiled to me as we passed each other, squeezing my shoulder on the way past.
"Do you need help?" I asked Carol. She smiled and handing me a knife and some vegetables. I got lost in my thoughts as I cut up the vegetables, chucking them into a pot. Carol assembled a few more ingredients adding them to the pot. I had no idea what she was making, I was more focused on doing the task in front of me and nothing else.
"Thank you for what you did yesterday. It was brave" she said quietly beside me. I stopped chopping, not expecting her to talk to me.
"Yeah...but it was also pretty reckless too. It wasn't till I was over the wall that I realised I was on my own...that I might never see any of you again or that if by some miracle I made it to the town, you guys would already be gone..." I trailed off and mentally slapping myself for saying that out loud. No one needed to know that fear I had. It sounded like I had no faith in the group or the bond that I have with them.
"We would have waited" she said simply as he clutched my hand. I couldn't help but smile and sniffle as a few tears rolled down my cheeks.
"Go have a rest, we'll come get you when dinner is ready." she said placing the pot onto the burner and shooing me away out of the kitchen.
I walked down the hallway till I saw an empty bedroom. I closed the door, stripping off my bow and machete, kicking off my boots and taking off my hoody. I sat on the bed and fell back too tired to pull the rest of my body on to the bed or take off any more of my clothes. My body was still aching quite a bit, from all the running and hacking and also trying to sleep in the tree last night had been less than favourable. I never appreciated a bed so much until right now.
I thought about what Carol had said to me. I knew lately the relationship had become strained but that was to do with Daryl. Before he was even a thought, we had gotten along fine. She had been there for me after Shane attacked me, mothering me a bit, even afterwards. Her statement though, about saying they would have waited, did make me smile. Especially coming from her. The last few weeks have been so hard, mostly me being hard on myself, isolating myself. But to hear that I did matter and they would have waited meant a lot to me. It put some of my other fears to rest.
I felt myself starting to doze off. I heard the door open then quietly close. I sighed, feeling myself fall deeper into my haze but also feeling eyes watching me.
"What, Daryl?" I said through a yawn. The bed shifted beneath me. "You're mad at me?" I asked dragging my eyes open.
"I'm furious!" he growled. "Ya could 'ave got yerself killed" he said quieter but just as angry.
I closed my eyes, afraid of how he would react when I said this, "Daryl I knew it was more than likely a suicide mission...I knew there was only a small chance I could make it out and meet up with everyone...I had to...to give them a chance to get out...they wouldn't have been able to if someone didn't do something. No one else was going to step up to do that, so I told them to leave and lock the gate behind them" I said pinching the bridge of my nose.
"And what bout you? What bout yer' chance?" he spat angrily.
"I didn't think about me honestly, not till I was over that wall. I know it was reckless and stupid but its done and I'm fine" I said swallowing nervously. I was expecting a lot more yelling.
"Damn right it was fuckin' stupid!" he growled.
I tried reaching for him but couldn't. He shifted, the weight coming off the bed. Then the sound of the door opening and closing. I sighed again.
He was right though, in that moment I wasn't thinking about my chance. I knew the risks though, I had done it for the group because they needed that extra time. In the back of my mind I hoped I would survive and find my way back, despite the risks. And by some miracle I had found my way back to them.
A soft knock woke me, I groggily opened my eyes, Maggie had poked her head in the door, "How ya feelin?" she asked.
I yawned. "Exhausted" I smiled.
"Well dinner's ready, c'mon" she said coming in and holding a hand out for me, helping me up off the bed.
Carol handed me a bowl of what looked to be some sort of stew. I normally wouldn't cook something like this back home but this smelt amazing. Anything food related smelt amazing these days. I took a seat at the table next to T-dog, Daryl seating himself next to me. I was just about to tuck in, I had the spoon to my mouth, mouth open, when Lori spoke, I froze at her words, "To Camille" she said simply, everyone raised their glasses towards me. I felt the blush staining my cheeks. Why did they have to make me centre of attention?
"Um...You guys would have done the same" I said ducking my head. I felt Daryl brush his arm against mine, I wasn't sure if that was deliberate or not.
Soon enough the only sounds were everyone devouring the meal in front of us. A few conversations started, I stayed quiet, I didn't feel much like socializing. I was just happy to not have to spend another night in a tree, alone.
As everyone started to head to bed. I offered once again to stay on watch, Rick and Glenn both gave me stern looks and shook their heads, pointing back towards the house.
"You're allowed a night off" Glenn said laughing quietly.
"Doesn't feel right having a night off" I sighed, kicking the stone near my boot.
"Well even so, you're still taking the night off, promise you can have watch tomorrow night" he said nudging my arm with a chuckle.
I shouldn't be arguing it but I couldn't help it.
I said my good nights and went back inside, heading towards the bedroom I had napped in earlier. The room was only lit by the moon shining outside, giving a soft glow.
I was about to head back out to grab my bag when I ran right into Daryl.
"Sorry" I mumbled looking at my feet.
"Should watch where yer' goin'' he said gruffly and then held out my bag towards me, "Thought ya would want this" his voice softer this time.
I looked up to him and smiled, "Thanks...uh, you on watch tonight?" I asked. He nodded and headed back the way he came.
He was still be mad at me, but I think he was finding it hard to stay mad. I smiled to myself. I mean he made the effort to get my bag and bring it to me. Surely that counts for something.
I sighed, I shouldn't be reading into this. Daryl had only kissed me once, and the other time he had bolted when I kissed him. We weren't Glenn and Maggie and I doubt we ever would be. I needed to get past this, what ever this was. It was a distraction and in this world you can't afford to be distracted. That gets you killed.
Back in the room I stripped out off all my clothing, grabbing a cleaner top and some clean underwear. Clean underwear felt amazing. I never appreciated them so much. Just wish I could have a hot shower too. Dreams are free I guess.
I curled up in the bed, wrapping the blankets round me. I lay there for a while, my mind still too wired to sleep. I thought back to everything that happened yesterday. The walkers, the running, being on my own. It was different to when I had got separated from the original group before Atlanta. It was hard to explain, that group I had mourned the loss but after I felt stronger on my own. That was one of the reasons why I had avoided finding other people to join up with. I didn't feel like I needed anyone else. My dad's words coming back to me, "You're stronger than you think and you have a good head on your shoulders, so stop the self-doubt, gotta keep your head up kiddo." So all those years I had spent in the woods with him hadn't just been about father-daughter bonding time. I'm sure he hadn't meant for these skills to be used in this way but he would be proud.
I tried closing my eyes, trying to will myself to sleep. I know I needed it, I hadn't had much the previous night. Damn uncomfortable tree and critters keeping me awake. Finally my mind started to shut off and I could feel my sleepiness coming back.
I was standing in the middle of the road. Alone. I whipped my head around, thinking I had heard the noise again. I was hallucinating it, again. I had thought I heard the sound of a motorbike several times today. But every time, nothing followed. I was left in the middle of the road, alone.
I yelled out in frustration, cursing myself quietly as I did. Noise attracts unwanted things. I was such an idiot sometimes.
Rustling from several different directions put me on high alert. As I looked around I could see walkers emerging on to the road. I couldn't keep track of how many there were. So I started running. The sound of shuffling feet and moans following after me. I reached for my bow, only to find it wasn't there. Where the hell was it? Instead I reached for my machete, smiling that at least I had some sort of a weapon.
Up ahead two walkers were coming out from the trees and making their way towards me. I gripped the machete tighter, raising it and slashing at one of the walkers, taking its head clean off. The other walker lunging towards me. I stumbled backwards, it grabbing a hold of my arm, gripping painfully tight. With my free hand I put as much force into smashing the blade through the skull of the walker, its grip still tight and it fell to the ground, pulling me with it. The strong smell of death filling my nostrils. I pulled hard against the hand, prying it from my arm. My arm aching, it was sure to leave bruises at the very least.
I heard the noise again. I looked back to see a small herd of walkers making their way towards me. A flash of metal passed them, speeding past me me, the skidding to a stop not too far from me. My eyes followed the sound and I blinked a few times, unsure if what I was seeing was real. It was Daryl. He was yelling something to me, but I couldn't make it out. I strained my ears to try hear him but all I could hear was the moaning and growling of the fast approaching walkers. I glanced back to them seeing they were very close, I needed to move now. Pushing myself up off the ground, I pulled the machete free and looked back to Daryl. But he started to fade away, until he was gone and I was left standing there looking at the empty road.
"Daryl?!" I yelled. I was confused, I had seen him drive past me, stop and yell something to me. He was real, he was there, wasn't he? Had I been hallucinating him this time as well? My mind had been playing tricks on me all day, was this another trick?
I took a step forward, only to be pulled back violently, hands and arms grabbing me. I screamed and tried to struggle from their grips but they were too strong and there was too many. My eyes widened in horror as I watched a walker lower its snapping jaws towards my arm. I struggled harder, screaming for help. Pain snapped through me all over my body as I felt teeth tearing into my flesh...
I woke startled. Sweat covering my body, I looked around, sitting up quickly and feeling my arms for bites marks. Realising I was in a room, I wasn't out on the road like I had dreamed.
The door suddenly burst open, Rick standing at the door, gun in hand, Carol and Glenn behind him, all of them looking panicked as they looked round the room for what had made me scream. I took a deep breath, trying to slow my panting.
"Sorry I had a nightmare...was far too real" I said trying to shake the images from my head, my breathing still coming out in pants. "I didn't mean to wake you guys" I said feeling bad.
"I heard you scream, didn't know what was goin' on" Rick said coming in and sitting beside me.
"Shit, I'm so sorry, I didn't know I..."
Rick cut me off, placing a hand on mine. "It's ok. Just glad you're ok" he said giving it a squeeze. I sighed loudly.
"Do you need me to stay?" Carol asked quietly from the door way.
"No, no, its ok. Just need a few minutes to calm myself and I should be able to get back to sleep." I said, hoping I didn't sound too ungrateful.
We all held our breath when we heard hurried footsteps coming down the hallway. Daryl appearing behind Carol, looking round the room for the disturbance.
"What t'hells goin' on? Heard screamin'? He breathed, his eyes landing on me, eyeing me.
"Bad dream. Didn't mean to wake everyone" I mumbled.
"Bout time I took over for watch anyway" Rick said standing.
"Ok, I'll go wake T-dog" Daryl said before disappearing back down the hallway.
"Sorry again" I said embarrassed.
"Don't worry about it, just get some sleep" he said before he shut the door behind him.
I lay back down on the bed sighing heavily. That nightmare felt far too real. It was one of the only things that really scared me now, eaten alive by walkers. I closed my eyes and tried to get my mind to think of other things, something happy. Thankfully my exhaustion had me falling back asleep in no time.
I woke in the darkness, hands pulling me closer, I struggled, panicking.
"It's just me" Daryl said in my ear.
"You scared the crap out of me" my breathing still coming out in gasps.
"Sorry" he mumbled pulling away.
"Just reminded me of my nightmare" I said shaking my head again. "Thought you were on watch?"
"Was. T-dog and Rick taken over fer' the night...and I know ya sleep better when i'm 'ere" he said the last part quietly.
He wasn't wrong, I did sleep better when he was there. I can't explain it.
Silence hung between us. I wasn't sure what to say back to him, if I should. I pulled the blankets back up to my chin, closing my eyes and sighing quietly.
I could feel him moving around on the bed beside me. Even though we had slept next to each other for quite a few nights, he still sounded uncomfortable lying next to me. He was probably afraid I was going to jump him or want to cuddle. Sure I'd thought about doing both at one time or another, but going through with either wasn't going to happen. I certainly wasn't about to make the first move with him and also still trying to put some distance between us.
And I was pretty sure he was still angry with me. So doing either of those would infuriate him even more. I didn't need to have him offside again. It had almost broken me last time.
I took another deep breath before I spoke, "How long are ya going to be mad at me?"
He huffed loudly. "Well if ya stop doin' reckless and stupid stuff then I wouldn't 'ave ta be mad at ya" he sighed, repeating my words from earlier.
"Can't ya just be happy that I'm ok?" I said furrowing my brows.
He grumbled something inaudible to himself before rolling over, his back to me. I too rolled over on to my side, away from Daryl, closing my eyes.
Flashes from the nightmare popping into my head, the one image that I focussed on was Daryl disappearing. My body shivering at the thought. I felt him shift again. I froze and tried to focus on my breathing. I could feel my weariness coming back and I started to relax.
So grumpy/angry Daryl was back for a bit this chapter. I know there were some of you that hoped he was gonna kiss her since he found her but I felt like he wouldn't go there straight away, anger would be one of his first emotions. What do you guys think?
And I like that Carol was bit friendlier this chapter too.
Love to hear what you think so far!