Would you believe me if I told you I tried to write a million times between now and the last time I updated my last story? Probably. This story started in 2013 when I was in high school, and I graduated college in May of 2021, and yet some of you are still here or I have people adding this to their favorites as of this week. Side note, since my last update, I adopted not one but two cats, moved to a new city with the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, and am settled into a job. Of course, not in the field I went to college for (got my degree in English Lit and minored in Linguistics. Writing for college really burned out my desire to write since all I did for school, work, and some extra curriculars was write or help edit writing). We also went through, and are still going through, a pandemic. All the in-between stuff aside, I miss writing in general, but especially these fan fics that showed me that writing is something I want to spend my time doing regardless of what it is. So, here I am. If I still have any OG readers, let me know in the reviews. Not because I am fishing for reviews, but because I am genuinely curious. I missed my stories, especially this one, and in turn I missed you all. Fingers crossed I can maintain some sort of writing schedule that I made a New Year's Resolution to do.
Also, just as a side note, for all you new readers please know that most of this story was produced while I was in high school and some of the plot lines may seem underdeveloped, cringey, and outright bad. I know this, you know this, we all know this. A part of me thought to scrap and start from literal scratch when I did a reread, which would not only would that be stupid given that I spent so much time on this story, but I get to see where my writing started and how far its come. I am not saying my writing is amazing, but it is definitely better compared to when I started this story at 13/14 years old. If you read all that, thank you, congrats, appreciate it. If not, no biggie. I would want to jump right to the content if I had to wait almost 3 years for an update.
"You better eat every last bite of food on that plate, girl." Daryl told Ada as he scraped her serving of scrambled eggs onto her plate.
Both Ada and John were sitting at the kitchen table for breakfast where John wasted no time putting down his pile of eggs, slices of toast, and tall glass of water. Ada on the other hand, was still adapting to her new diet which entailed three meals a day and snacks in between. Daryl and Kayla made sure to ease her into her new consistent meal schedule, so she did not end up throwing the food right back up. Ada seemed acclimated to the meal schedule after a few days, so Kayla then focused on making sure she got up to a healthy weight.
"You guys are going to make my stomach explode," Ada replied as Daryl filled her plate and she picked up her fork. "Not trying to sound ungrateful or anything."
"Doctor's orders, hun. You're a growing girl who's underweight."
Ada began eating her breakfast as Kayla rounded the doorway into the kitchen. Daryl immediately smiled at the sight of his wife who looked much better after a few days of rest. She tied her hair into a loose messy bun and dressed in a pair of black jeans, an oversized gray t-shirt that was topped with the vest he picked out for her on their last outing, and a her usual worn boots with the laces not yet completely tied.
"Y'all already started breakfast in here?" she asked with a smile.
Her smile sent a warm sensation through Daryl. Just a few days prior, she was a mess over Jessie and the boys' deaths, but she was getting through it. Her first day up and about, Angela declared her dehydrated and still in need of a lot of rest following a checkup. So, she instructed her friend to rest and rehydrate. Kayla followed her friend's instructions and did nothing more than watch Judith and keep an eye on the kids for the last couple of days. Now she felt like her usual self again and planned to return to the infirmary to help Diane and Angela. Seeing her up and smiling made Daryl the happiest man in the world.
"I got your plate right here." Daryl assured her as her dish down at the table.
Kayla took a seat where Daryl set the plate and soon after he took a seat at the last chair. Since Ada moved in, they since needed to upgrade their kitchen table to seat four and also intended to give Ada a more furnished room like John's, so it felt more like her room as opposed to a room she slept in. As of now she only possessed her bed, a dresser with a few sets of clothes, and an empty bookshelf. Kayla and Daryl intended track down some books and other items to fill the empty space with once they began going on runs again.
Right now, the main priority in Alexandria concerned getting the walls rebuilt, burning walker corpses, and rebuilding and fixing the structures that took damage from the walkers and Wolves. That, and updating all the supply inventories. Kayla chose a good day to return to the normal, as she along with Denise, Angela, and John, who began training and helping in the infirmary, needed to go through the infirmary and update their inventory and establish what they needed, making for a busy day. After the attack by the Wolves and the breach of walkers, they burned through a lot of antibiotics, bandages, and disinfectant among other things. Kayla also volunteered to check in on Carl, who remained bedridden until further notice, and to take out Daryl's stitches first thing that morning. Meanwhile, Daryl continued with helping to rebuild the wall while Ada would go to the pantry and armory to help Olivia. Ada began growing more comfortable everyday engaging with people outside Daryl, Kayla, John, and the rest of the group and expressed a desire to start helping out around Alexandria. After gauging her interest, as well as factoring in their concern for her well-being when the wall remained unsecure and the summer heat scorching Alexandrian residents every day, Daryl and Kayla asked Olivia if she wanted to take on some extra help in the pantry and armory. Olivia required no convincing, as she was more than happy to have Ada help.
On the way over to Rick's house, Kayla and Daryl dropped Ada off with Olivia who greeted her with a storage clipboard complete with pens and pads of paper for their day of inventory. Daryl reminded Ada he would stop by in the afternoon to pick her up for lunch while Kayla asked Olivia to make sure she ate something before then.
"It doesn't need to be anything major, just a granola bar or something," Kayla explained. "I am just trying to get her up to a healthy weight again."
"Of course," Olivia assured her. "Your girl is in good hands."
"I know."
After bidding Ada goodbye, Kayla, Daryl, and John resumed their walk to Rick's house where they found Rick on the porch with Judith. His peripheral vision noticed them approaching, and upon seeing Kayla he smiled. Even though she spent the last few days watching Judith, he knew today was her first day back to business as usual which meant she made an easy and full recovery. Things between them remained tense, as Kayla still felt grief over the loss of Jesse and the boys, and she could not fight placing some of the blame on Rick. The quick succession of losing Pete and then Jesse, Ron, and Sam made her heart hurt and unfortunately, Rick was on the sidelines at the times demises as he tried to get them somewhere safe. Kayla knew that the Pete situation was complicated and justified, he was hurting his family and then unintentionally killed Reg in his rage when going after Rick, but the loss of so many people she once knew pained her. While Rick knew to give her space and the time she needed to recover from the losses, he looked forward to their relationship improving.
Kayla greeted Rick and Judith before heading into the house and up to Carl's room where the teen laid asleep, his head and eye still bandaged. Even though she did her best to enter quietly, Carl stirred as soon as he heard the door open and close as Kayla came into this room.
"Hey, kiddo," Kayla greeted as she walked over and sat on the side of his bed. "How ya feelin' today?"
Carl watched as she set her first aid container on his bedside table, pulling out some fresh bandages. He managed a smile despite the dull ache in his head and face from the bullet wound as he was happy to see Kayla.
"As best as I can with a hole in my head," he told her. "how about you?"
"A bit run-down, but I think that is a normal feeling at this point." Kayla responded as she dug out her disinfectant.
Carl sat up, the bed slightly shifting, as Kayla asked if it was okay if she took the bandages off. He nodded, bracing for the burning sensation that occurred when the bandages came of and exposed the wound to air and eventual disinfectant. Kayla was careful as possible removing the bandage, knowing that it must inflict pain, but it was a real-life example of just having to rip the band aid off. When the bandage was fully removed, Kayla was fortunate for her years of needing to wear a poker face in her years of an EMT and ER doctor because Carl's wound made her stomach churn.
She did not expect anything less from a gunshot would to the head but seeing the wound in person and Carl still being alive seemed like an impossible combination as she assessed the damage. The whole upper left part of his face torn by the bullet, leaving no trace of his eye anywhere to be found. She dabbed the flesh as gently as possible, not missing how the young buy flinched at the stinging sensation.
"I'm sorry sweetie," Kayla apologized. "We are almost done."
Carl gripped the bedsheet under his hand and clenched his teeth, waiting for the sensation to end when Kayla put the fresh bandage around his head. As she promised, they were done soon, although not soon enough, and she put the fresh gauze around his eye and head.
"You and stray bullets don't pair well, huh?" Kayla questioned. "This is the second time I have helped patch you up after you found yourself in a bullet's path."
Carl squinted the eye he had left, realizing that Kayla did not know the full story of how he got shot. She did not know that Ron shot Carl by accident after Michonne took him down when Ron tried shooting Rick. Quickly realizing that Daryl or Rick must have spared her these details because of her connection to the Andersons, Carl did the same. He hated Ron for everything he did, and he was glad he was dead, but Kayla deserved to retain the positive memories of Ron and his family even if it means hiding the truth.
"Well, I will try my best not to get shot again," Carl promised, trying to change the subject. "As long as you promise not to go missing again in a herd of walkers."
Kayla smiled as she finished wrapping his gauze and closing up her kit.
"Deal."
Kayla kissed the top of Carl's head, telling him he needed to rest for a few more days before he could get up and move around the house and start some physical therapy. He thanked her as she left, returning to his bedrest with no objection.
Going down to the kitchen, Kayla found Daryl and Rick with Judith at the table. She advised Rick what she told Carl; for him to stay in bed a few more days before he could move around and start some physical therapy.
"Denise did a good job," she reassured. "He's also always been a hopeful one which will make for a better recovery. Kids almost always recover faster than adults, and I am confident that even in though is in his teenage years, he will be back to himself in no time."
Rick thanked Kayla for checking in on him, and walked her and Daryl out.
"Kayla," Rick began as she and Daryl stepped off the porch.
Daryl's heart stopped for a moment, thinking that Rick was going to tell Kayla the truth about Carl's shooting that Daryl asked him to keep to himself not five minutes ago.
"I'm sorry," he went on. "I was a bad leader, but more than that I didn't put my people's needs and wants before my own thinking. I acted too quick and didn't think of the group. Obviously, I can't take what I did back, but I don't want us to be at odds. You can hate me now, but I just want you to know I am sorry, and I'll do better by you and your family."
Seeing Rick's sincereness, Kayla smiled. She would not forget what Rick had done, but she promised to allow himself the opportunity to change through actions since that was the only way his apology would retain any validity. Even if she wanted to hate Rick, she could never bring herself to. He was too important to her.
"We're good, Rick." She told him before offering him a final reassuring smile and walking off with Daryl.
At the inventory, Kayla greeted Angela and Denise who were doing inventory with John's help as she led Daryl back to the private exam room to take out his stitches. As Daryl hopped up on the table, Kayla gathered the instruments she needed to take out his stitches; scissors, tweezers, rubbing alcohol, cotton wipes as well as a bandage and disinfectant ointment to put over the wound once the sutures came out. As she collected her items, she could not but notice the low amount of rubbing alcohol left in the bottle and how Daryl would get the last of the disinfectant ointment in the tube she grabbed. She set them on the table beside the exam table where Daryl sat and told him to take his shirt off.
"My arm is still pretty sore," he told her with smirk. "I might need your help."
Kayla side-eyed him before rolling her eyes completely. However, she could not help but smile at this side oh him; his playful side. She thought back to the early days of their relationship when Daryl still got awkward and borderline uncomfortable around her. Before the world ended and Kayla appeared in Daryl's life on the highway outside Atlanta, he never developed a romantic relationship with anyone the way he has with Kayla. So, when he and Kayla began their relationship, everything was new to Daryl. He was never sure of himself when it came to affection, private or public, did not know how to express his emotions, and it took a long time for him to feel like he deserved a woman like Kayla. A couple of years passed since she first kissed him on Dale's RV and now, Daryl did not hesitate nearly as much when it came to showing the world how much he was in love with his wife; a reality that Kayla relished in every day.
Not wasting a second, Kayla stepped in front of Daryl and raised her hands to his shoulders. Gently, she pushed his vest over his shoulders, and it slid down his arms before landing at his wrists. Daryl slipped his hands from the vest and raised his arms above his head. Normally, he wore his usual flannel with the sleeves cut off, but it was the rare day he opted for a t-shirt. He quietly thanked himself for opting for the clothing option as it now allowed for him to initiate this moment. Kayla wasted no time reaching for the hem of his shirt and slowly lifting it off his body. Daryl felt the cool air hit his skin as she took his shirt off, but he barely noticed it as his focus was on his wife's fingertips grazing his skin. She pulled the shirt over his head, and Daryl wasted no time lowering his arms and wrapping them around Kayla. She let out a laugh as he pulled her closer to him and pressed his face into her neck. As much as the two would have enjoyed continuing, a door knocking made them stop and pull away from one another.
"Come in!" Kayla called out as she moved to the adjacent side of the table Daryl sat on to tend to his stitches.
Denise came through the door holding a notepad and wore a discouraged look on her face. Kayla immediately knew it meant that the infirmary officially ran out of something, and something of vital importance.
"What's gone?" Kayla asked, already getting an idea of what item they no longer possessed.
"Antibiotics," Denise answered quickly. "They're all gone."
Although he faced away from her, Daryl could feel Kayla's despair as he heard her let out a deep breath and slumped closer to the table. However, her feeling of hopelessness did not last longer than a few seconds as she quickly stood up straight and began to think out loud.
"Okay, not an ideal situation with how many people are currently injured, but we can get more." She assured.
"How? Where?" Denise questioned.
"I'll figure out the logistics of it when I am done here, but we can't afford to not have anti-biotics right now. Between Carl having a hole in his head, half of this town riddled with injuries, plus the possibility of something else happening that requires anti-biotics, we need them. For now, just keep logging what we do have and see if you can scrounge up any that people may have in their medicine cabinets."
Denise nodded and left, leaving Kayla to Daryl's injuries. Kayla began removing Daryl's stitches which he instantly winced at a bit.
"Sorry, hun," she said as she remembered the similar reaction he gave the first time she gave him stitches on Hershel's farm.
Even though she stitched Daryl up countless times since then, he still flinched on occasion.
"Where do you think you'll be able to find antibiotics?" Daryl asked as she felt the slight tugs on his skin as she snipped the thread. "We've been through a lot of places and there ain't a lot of people fit for a run right now."
Kayla let out a defeated sigh. "I know there are a few clinics in some of the surrounding towns that would take no more than a day and just a couple of people."
She finished taking Daryl's stitches out and promptly wiped it down with the rubbing alcohol, making Daryl flinch again from the sting. Kayla then proceeded to layer on the disinfectant ointment followed by the bandage. She grabbed Daryl's shirt as she walked around to the other side of the table to stand in front of him once more.
"And one of those people will be me," she added as she tossed Daryl's shirt over his shoulder.
Daryl took a deep breath. "I am sure Angela could handle looking. You just got back on your feet."
"I am sure she can, but I would rather keep her here with Denise to keep eyes on Carl and manage the rest of the injured parties. Denise proved more than capable, but I want to make sure it wasn't just because of the adrenaline rush. Besides, I think Angela is more comfortable in here than out there."
As much as Daryl understood, the only reason he felt nervous stemmed from new human threats creeping around the area now coupled with how Kayla getting into a run into them. He knew she could handle herself just fine on her own, but that did not mean she needed to all the time. Reaching out. Daryl slid his arms around his wife's waist who reciprocated by wrapping hers around his neck.
"I love you," he told her. "Promise me you'll be safe.'
"I love you, too," Kayla replied. "and I always am."
OOOOO
I had this chapter started and mostly done a while ago, and just wanted to end it here to get it up. Once I plan a little more ahead, I will try to get out some more exciting chapters since we are slowly but surely getting into some more intense episodes/seasons. See you soon!