Chapter 25
A nice big chapter for you all. :) I finally had a day to spare writing a chapter. So I hope you enjoy, I worked very hard on it. Enjoy! xx
Rick left the RV, heading back to his own vehicle where his family were sat, his pace was urgent, giving the situation they were in.
"She alright?" Lori asked, watching her husband enter the drivers seat of the car.
"She's fine," he nodded, a happy look in his eyes. "A few scratches, but she's fine."
"Thank, God." Lori gave a sigh of relief. "That would have been…horrible, if we had lost her."
Rick looked back at his son, who had fallen asleep in the back seat, before giving his answer to Lori.
"That's why we need to get out of here," he spoke quietly.
"I know," Lori spoke in the same tone, running a hand through her hair. Her head turned to face him, and she shrugged. "Everywhere we go, it's a dead end. It makes me wonder if we even have a chance-"
"Don't say that," Rick stopped her, sternly. "Don't start questioning things. When we do that, and start losing hope…" Rick looked like he wanted to cry in some strange way, but it was more anger than sadness in his tone. "Then that's it."
"Rick," Lori put a comforting hand on his shoulder, an attempt to calm him. "I'm not saying, to give up."
"But you were thinking it," Rick looked into his wife's eyes. The fear and uncertainty that filled them.
"All I want," Lori whispered. "Is for us to be safe. For Carl to be safe, and to be in a place where he doesn't have to worry."
Hearing his wife become upset over the matter, Rick put an arm around her and held her close to him, giving a kiss on the top of her head.
"Me too." Rick admitted. Of course that is what they wanted. What they all wanted for themselves. Getting there, was the hard part. For that moment, however, they needed to wait until they were sure it was safe to go.
Allowing Sophia and Carol to use the beds for that evening, Daryl and Brooke took a seat at their usual place, the RV table.
Daryl had his forehead rested on his arms which were crossed in front of him on the table, while Brooke stared out of the window. Observing the abandoned cars out of the window, picturing scenes that might have happened before the scene became like this. How scared the people must have been, the screaming and the crying. It was tear jerking.
Stirring was heard from the front of the RV, as Brooke turned to see Glenn switching to a more comfortable position in his seat, as he too, had fallen asleep. Dale was on the roof still, with Andrea, keeping watch for the time being.
Brooke resumed looking out the window, until Daryl stirring, grabbed her attention. He looked so cute sleeping like that, and Brooke wasn't afraid to admit it. She rested the side of her head on hand, which was supported up by her elbow being on the table, and watched him.
She would have thought he would have been a snorer. Nope, he slept making barely a sound, she heard him breathe heavily every now and again, but that was normal.
"What are you doing?" Carol's voice asked, startling her. She didn't even notice Carol approaching from the bed area. Caught off guard, Brooke tried to act as innocent as possible.
"Thinking," she thought fast,
"Really?" Carol asked, sleepily. "What's on your mind?"
Now Brooke needed to answer that one. She shrugged, thinking.
"You know, before all of this." Brooke spoke quietly, respecting those who were sleeping. Carol nodded, her head looking very heavy. "Why are you awake?"
"Getting a drink," Carol was reminded. "Lost a lot of tears today." Carol gave a small smile, looking back to her sleeping daughter. "I didn't thank you for finding my daughter." Brooke smiled. "Daryl told me what you did. That was so dangerous, but you did it anyway."
"Yeah…" Brooke replied, it was barely audible, but Carol heard.
"Why?" Carol asked, which Brooke raised her eyebrows at. "I mean, I am incredibly thankful you did, but…why did you do it?"
Brooke looked down, taking some time to think before looking back at Carol to answer.
"Sophia is…innocent," said Brooke, which Carol wasn't following what she meant. "She is a child, she's growing. She needs to live her life to fullest, even if our days are numbered. She deserves to spend them all with her Mom."
There was a short pause, which caused Brooke to feel slightly awkward. Had she said the wrong thing? She looked down, in attempt to feel less awkward, and heard footsteps approach her, feeling arms embrace around her. Slightly shocked by this, Brooke had to take a moment to process what was going on, before returning the hug Carol had given her.
"God bless you." She whispered, thankfully. Giving her a smile before returning to her daughter at the beds. Brooke watched her, the feeling of the hug not leaving. She hadn't felt contact like that since…her own Mom. It was comforting, so comforting that Brooke had to fight tears that came with the memory of her Mom. She managed to do a good job, and found herself observing Daryl once more.
Muffled voices were heard from the roof, clearly Andrea and Dale were having a discussion, Brooke thought about Andrea. It bothered her that Andrea had a problem with her.
"Ya' better shut the hell up…" Daryl's voice startled Brooke out of thought. She observed him to see what the cause of his sudden outburst was aimed at. However, Daryl still had his head on the table. "I mean it, I'll stomp ya' ass."
Brooke had to stifle a laugh. Daryl was sleep talking. That was hilarious, so he wasn't a snorer, he was a sleep talker instead. She sat herself in a comfortable position, ready to listen to the funny things he would come out with.
"I don't get why you don't trust her, Andrea." Dale sighed, standing whilst holding his rifle. Andrea sat down not far behind him, holding a small gun of her own.
"Why should I?" Andrea replied. "I don't know her."
"Well you didn't know us, either." Dale looked down at the blonde. "You accepted us, why can't you do the same for Brooke?"
"There is something about her, I don't like." Andrea admitted, her eyes scanning the woods near them. "I don't think she is all she makes out she is."
"From my time with her, I'd say she is a young woman, trying to help others. She let us into her Uncle's home to stay. Why would she do that, if she wasn't a good person?"
"That place," Andrea barked. "Was filled with Walkers!"
"She didn't know that, Andrea." Dale was not appreciating the tone, but keeping his voice down so Brooke couldn't hear. Andrea gave a small scoff under her breath.
"So what do you want me to do?" She shrugged.
"Give her a chance," said Dale. "Be civil to one another. The world has gone to shit, we shouldn't be attacking each other, too."
Andrea gave a sigh and thought about it. Moments later she nodded up at Dale, who smiled and nodded back.
Brooke didn't know how she was containing her laughter, because Daryl sleep talking was the funniest thing she had ever heard. She let out a snort every now and again, thankful it didn't give her away, and wake him up.
"What…Brooke?" Daryl asked, which silenced Brooke, curious as to why he was dreaming about her. She leaned in closer to listen. "Yeah…she's alrigh'…a nice girl." Brooke smiled at his comment. "Has a fat ass though." Brooke's mouth gaped open in horror. A fat ass? How dare he. Brooke used her hoodie as a weapon and threw it at him.
"Oi you!" She barked, throwing it. "I have not got a fat ass, you cheeky git!"
Daryl's laughter gave him away, he wasn't sleeping after all. He lifted his head, removing her hoodie that draped over it.
"That's what ya' get for watchin' me sleep." He smirked. "Pervert." Brooke felt her face heat up. She squinted her eyes at him, before turning in her seat, in attempt to not face him. "Smarter than ya' think, right?"
"Annoying, is more like it." Brooke smirked, not facing him. Daryl gave a small laugh and stretched.
"We still here?" He asked, looking out the window, disappointed to see the same area.
"Yep." Brooke replied, fiddling with a bit of loose string that hung from the jeans. "Rick wants to leave in the morning."
Daryl gave a small groan of frustration, using his palms to rub his eyes.
"Why can't we just go, and be done with this?" He fidgeted in his seat. Brooke felt the same, but didn't want to complain about it.
"We got to wait, Daryl." She brushed her hair back with her hand. "Only a few hours left to go anyway."
Slightly confused on how she knew that, seeing as none of them knew the time anymore. They judged the day by daylight.
"Why ya' awake?" He asked. Brooke shrugged.
"Couldn't sleep."
"Bullshit," he said, Brooke didn't expect that answer but shook it off. "Ya' need to sleep."
"Too much going on for me to sleep, don't get so worked up about it." Brooke frowned slightly. Daryl didn't like that answer, and gave a small glare, before chewing on his bottom lip. Brooke grew nervous under his look, then forced a smile, which came off as nervous.
"Suit ya'self." Daryl shrugged. "Do what ya' want."
"I plan to," she smiled, regretting it slightly in case he grew mad, but relaxed when she saw the faintest smile on his face. "We'll find somewhere, don't worry."
"Pfft, I ain't worried." He frowned, looking down at the table. Brooke knew he was lying but if she went on, they could wake up the others. She didn't want that. Daryl saw her shaking. "Ya' cold?"
"Little bit," she nodded, reaching for her hoodie, putting it back on. However, she still shivered at the cold.
"I ain't cold…" Daryl stated. A secret hint, but did Brooke get it?
"Don't have to rub it in," Brooke smiled, playfully. She didn't get it, which Daryl sighed at. He rubbed an annoyed hand down his face.
"Just sayin'," he shrugged. "Come and look," he couldn't have made it more obvious. He mentally kicked himself for making it that obvious.
"I believe you," said Brooke. Daryl couldn't believe it. She still didn't get it. He could have a big sign saying come here and hug and she still wouldn't get it. He couldn't take it anymore, he wanted to give up. It was winding him up too much. Brooke then gave a small snort, which grabbed his attention.
"What, you're the only one who is allowed to have a laugh?" Brooke asked, which made Daryl confused. It became clear once she walked around the table and sat next to him. He wanted to do this, yet, he still was unsure about it, he didn't want to be seen as going soft. She grabbed his arm, and wrapped it around her, giving a playful smile. "You're right," she sighed, dreamily. "You are warm."
Daryl felt his heart race. As he rubbed his eye awkwardly, giving a small smile down to her. He used his other hand to hook under her legs, which caught her off guard slightly, as she curiously watched what he was doing.
He lifted her up, bringing his legs up onto the seat where she had sat, and let her sit along his lap.
"That's better…" he muttered, avoiding eye contact. Brooke could see he was new at this emotion. So smiled.
"Yeah," she whispered, getting comfortable on his lap. It was nice to see Daryl show his softer side, a bit strange, but nice. His warmth and protecting arms that draped around her, helped her feel tired. She could feel his breath on her ear, which sent shivers down her spine. She didn't mind, she leant back and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight."
"Night," he spoke quietly, still stunned by what he was doing, and the kiss he just received. In the end, he decided he didn't care. It was what he wanted to do, and he didn't care what anyone had to say about it. Life was looking shorter and shorter everyday. He might as well do whatever he wanted to now, before he missed his chance.
Oddly enough, he enjoyed having her in his arms, her light, small body sat on his lap. It was comforting, something that was alien to him. He was going to spend rest of the night enjoying it.
Yes, I know what you're probably thinking. AT LAST Daryl and Brooke get closer! lol. Even if you're not, you should be thinking it. (Shifty eyes) LOL anyways, hope you liked this chapter. :) please leave a review and thanks for reading! Be sure to check my profile page to find my twitter. Get in touch, and let me know what you think of Despite the Dead there. xxx