Chapter 38: Show Me...

Those three words rang out in the silence for a while and I just stood looking at the injured girl in the closet.

"Sophia, uh come on out here sweetie. What happened? Did u get cut?" I snapped out of my surprised gaze after a minute and I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do now.

The little girl shook her head 'no' hard and I swallowed before I kneeled down so I could see her properly.

"Show me; show me what happened, Sophia. You're momma's very worried about you...everyone's out looking for you. Show me" I didn't know where the words were coming from, but I wasn't going to question it right now.

I couldn't think of what to do...I knew I said I could do it, if I came upon her like this...but I can't hurt her. I don't know if I'll be able to kill her if I have to. She was just a little girl.

She shook her head again and I sighed pursing my lips, I slowly moved towards her and she cowered further into the corner of the closet. When I reached for the table cloth she flinched away from my hand and I hated myself even more.

She thought I was going to just hurt her...do something to her before I even knew what was wrong. I wasn't that kind of person, but I guess I seemed that way to her.

"No, it hurts...im hurting...just leave me alone" her voice was tiny and made me pause my movements for a second.

"I need to look, this needs to be dealt with...I'm so sorry Sophia" I finally got my hands on the blood soaked cloth and pulled it away from her...she held on as tight as she could but I was stronger.

(3rd person POV)

"Why the hell aren't they back yet" the youngest Dixon muttered as he paced in front of Samara's car.

He stalked over to where the remainder of their group where discussing who would go to the farm the mystery girl mentioned.

"I'm headin out to find Merle and Sam, the suns headin down now and they've been out there all day" he said interrupting whoever had been talking...he didn't really care.

"You can't leave Daryl, Glenn and T-dog are heading to the farm...we need you here." Dale said his voice calm as always.

Though everyone was one edge with both the children of the group down, Dale seemed to always have a level head.

"I don't give a shit, I needa go get my brother and Sam and make sure they're a'right. I don't owe you people nothin'. I don't needa stay here and watch over ya like a damn dog" Daryl half shouted, he looked around at all of them and huffed...

He knew with Rick not being there and Glenn and T-dog going that he and Dale would be the only man power left.

Even then, Dale was older...he wouldn't be able to do much to protect the three women left here.

"The kid should go to; she ain't got no reason to stay here. Just more dead weight" Daryl kept his voice harsh, but he knew they would take his statement as a sign that he wouldn't be going to get the two people he cared for most.

"Hey, I told ya I ain't a kid" Kiley muttered though she did agreed with man...she had no reason to stay.

"Alright, well you guys should go. I don't think T-dog will last much longer without any medical help. He's got a serious blood infection...he won't last till morning without any antibiotics" Dale said, looking at Daryl at the last part to fill him in on what he missed when he was pacing.

Daryl nodded before walking over to Merle's motorcycle, grabbing the rags off; he glared at Dale before opening the side saddle.

"Keep your oily rags off my brother motorcycle" he threw them at Dale's chest before plopping a bag of pills on the hood of a car.

"Why did ya wait til now ta say anythin? This is my brother's stash...crystal, X...and some kickass painkillers. Doxycycline that ain't the generic stuff neither, that shits top of the line...Merle got the clap on occasion" Daryl said while riffling through his brother's bag, knowing he might get in shit for it later.

He threw the painkillers at Glenn and the Doxycycline at Dale before walking away back to put the stash where he found it.

He went over and rested back on the hood of Sam's car again, he watched while half their group went about getting ready to leave, thinking about his brother and the girl that took over his mind pretty much every day.

(SPOV)

"What's takin so long Girly? Are ya a'right?" Merle peeked his head in through the door after a while and I was surprised he hadn't come in sooner.

I knew it was getting close to sundown but I couldn't muster up the strength or willpower to do what was needed next.

"Over here Merle" I said and my own voice sounded so foreign to me. I hadn't talked since I finished trying to sooth the crying girl in my arms...her whimpers still to be heard in the quiet room.

He walked over with his machete at his side, his eyes on the girl in my arms. I could see his expression go from shocked to hurt to almost broken until his face hardened like a stone.

He looked at me and I nodded at him, but held out my hand to stop him from coming any closer.

"...the teeth just grazed her neck...but there are scratches along her arm and shoulder...she's not gonna make it to the morning" my voice broke and I hugged the girl to my side tighter.

When I'd seen her injuries I could do nothing but take the girl in my arms once she'd started crying. I tried to tell her it would be okay...that she was fine...but I stopped once I knew I couldn't lie to her. I was a terrible liar.

I had watched the shadow of the trees from outside go across the floor; I guessed two maybe three hours. Holding the girl in my arms while she silently cried...I was genuinely shocked it took Merle this long to come in.

I wasn't sure if it was because the walker didn't get to fully bite into her...but it took a while before her fever really started to hit. She was sweating more now though and whimpered any time I moved her...even just a little bit.

Merle nodded and sat down at the table...as if he was silently telling me that he'd be just right there... that I didn't have to do this alone.

OMG im actually early on this chapter... :D lol i jus sat down and wrote it all out last night :O

and im sorry...to those of you that wanted me to keep sophia alive...to have it just be a cut... this needed to happen, as much as i hate it too.

I'm already workin on the next chapter...so it'll be up soon also :) review and maybe it'll give me motivation to finish the next one as fast as i did this one :P