Thank you guys for the wonderful reviews! :D Here is the second half of Kryptonite. I contemplated uploading another story first, but then I thought you guys really might set me on fire. LMAO. So I present Through the Fire. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not mine!

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Chapter Twenty Five: Through the Fire

Fire.

The flames were everywhere, licking at her skin and searing her bones as she opened her mouth in a silent scream of agony. She couldn't breathe for the thick smoke, and she was slowly suffocating in her own skin.

Just as the fire consumed her entirely, a soft voice reached out to her, whispering a single word.

"Carol."

The flames still ripped at her flesh, but then there was a gentle touch, calling her back from the agony. The touch was soothing and almost familiar, and just like that, the flames were gone.

Then there was nothing but darkness.

When she opened her eyes again, there was no more fire, no more heat. She was slightly chilled, sticky and damp from sweat, and she felt a heavy pressure on her chest accompanied by a dull ache in her arm. Her first thought was that she was having a heart attack, but then the pressure moved slightly.

Her eyelids felt like they were fused together with crazy glue, and it took several attempts to force them open. Once they were finally opened, she was greeted by darkness. Memories slowly began creeping into her brain. Memories of running to the fence, of seeing a walker grabbing baby Judith and attempting to bite her… Her chest began to heave as the memories came faster and faster.

"Carol?"

Rick's voice came through the fog, slowly drawing her attention to him. He was crouched down beside her, his face drawn with worry. Once he saw that he had her attention, he moved closer to her.

"Carol, can you hear me?"

She managed a small nod. Her eyes drifted down to the source of the pressure on her chest. Daryl was draped across her, breathing deeply as he slept. His fingers were tangled in the fingers of her right hand.

Rick smiled guardedly. "He hasn't left your side."

Her mouth was dry and uncomfortable, but she managed to find her voice. "How long…?"

"Two days. Do you remember what happened?"

Her eyes shifted to Daryl once more. "Walker at the fence…Judith…"

"Yeah. You saved my girl's life. Thank you."

Relief coursed through her. Judith was alive.

"But you were bit in the process."

Bit… She vaguely remembered Daryl screaming her name as the walker tore her flesh, but her memories were a blur beyond that point.

"Daryl, he… He saved your life. He had to amputate your arm below the elbow. We thought you were going to die from shock or the fever."

"Fever…?" she repeated dazedly.

He nodded. "You were unconscious for the first day, but you developed a fever yesterday. It got so bad, you had a seizure. Daryl almost went out of his mind."

Daryl… Without thinking, she gently squeezed his hand. He wasn't a light sleeper, she knew for a fact. But he burrowed closer to her and settled back into sleep.

"I checked on the two of you around midnight, and your fever had broken. Hershel thinks you're out of the woods now." He produced a bottle of water and unscrewed the cap before lowering it to Carol's lips.

She raised her head and took a few sips before he took the bottle away again. She relished the water, and her throat felt immensely better. "Thanks," she rasped.

"You're welcome." He placed his hand gently against her forehead, but they were both startled when a low growl was heard from Daryl.

"Get the hell off her, Rick." The roughneck raised his head and glared dangerously at the deputy, who slowly withdrew his hand from Carol's head.

Carol watched Daryl, bemused. Daryl looked exhausted, but the relief at seeing her awake was clear in his eyes. Had she really been so close to death?

Obviously uncomfortable, Rick cleared his throat. "I'm glad to see you're awake, Carol. I should head down to start breakfast."

"Thanks, Rick." Carol watched as Rick headed down the stairs and disappeared from her sight.

Once he was gone, Daryl shifted onto his side, but he kept his hand on Carol's abdomen. She enjoyed the touch and closed her eyes with a tired yawn.

"Ya okay?"

Daryl's voice was soft, almost hesitant. Like a child in desperate need of comfort, he was reaching out to her, something he rarely ever did. It occurred to her that, despite saving her life, he might have felt guilty for taking her arm.

Moving carefully, Carol rolled onto her side until she was face to face with the man who had saved her life. Her bandaged limb lay between them. "Daryl, I'm alive, thanks to you," she whispered, her eyes burning with unshed tears.

"But…"

"No buts." She placed her good hand gently on his side. "You saved me."

His eyes watered, and Carol let out a surprised sound when he scooted closer and pulled her firmly against his chest. Her body tensed, then relaxed and settled against his.

"I ain't lettin' ya go," he whispered, his lips feather-light against her forehead. "Ya understand? I… I need ya too much."

It occurred to her how much bravery it took for him to say those words, and her reaction to them could potentially heal a lifetime of pain, or slam him into destruction at a hundred miles an hour. It was all on her. "Daryl…" She moved her hand to his cheek and allowed her fingertips to slowly run over his skin. "You're not going to lose me."

"I almost did." His voice was soft and broken.

"But you saved me," she gently reminded him. Her thumb wiped away a single tear from his cheek. "I'm here now because of you."

He seemed unconvinced, and the next move she made would forever be imprinted in both of their minds. She closed the distance between them and pressed her lips softly but sweetly against his. The first kiss was tentative, almost fearful, and when she pulled away she was afraid he would be angry. But she couldn't have been more wrong. He followed her and captured her lips in a bruising, possessive kiss that left her gasping for air when it ended.

She was still so exhausted even after the kiss, and Daryl seemed to sense her weariness. He held her closer and rested his head against hers.

"Sleep," he ordered gruffly. "Ya need ta rest."

As if in agreement, she yawned deeply and snuggled into his chest. Despite his gruff, filthy and angry exterior, Daryl was quite warm and comfortable to press up against. Drowsiness took over as Daryl slowly ran his rough hand up and down her back. He didn't realize it, but she had never felt safer than she did in that very moment, laying there with him on his perch.

"I'm really glad you're okay."

She realized he must have thought she was sleeping, and she continued to listen as he spoke quietly.

"Don't ever scare me like that again, woman, or I swear to God, I'll follow ya and kick yer ass all over eternity."

She smiled into his chest. Maybe she had lost her arm, but she had her life and she had Daryl.

As far as she was concerned, it was a fair trade.

The End.