I've read back on some of my other chapters and realised there are some word/spelling mistakes. I do reread the chapters a good few times before posting them. Problem is apparently I read some of the mistakes how they are supposed to be read so end up missing a couple. I'll try to be extra vigilant from now on.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead or any of its characters.
Enjoy
Danny's POV
I never would have thought that I would cry at the familiarity of that voice saying my name. A sob catches in my throat and I know I'm on the verge of having a full break down. I can't believe they're here.
I stupidly take a step forwards, away from Sophia, knowing full well I can't hold my own but I can't stop myself. I have to be closer to them. My legs give out beneath me but before I even start to drop Glenn is pulling me into his arms. I wrap my arms tight around his neck, too afraid to let go now that he's here. I'm too afraid that this isn't real, that this is some delusion from my injuries; But his breath blowing against my neck lets me know that this is real, he's here and Sophia can see her mum again.
Who knows how long we stand here just embracing each other but when I finally turn my head to the side and open my eyes I realise who he's with. The Sheriff, the best Sheriff in the world. He's crouched down in front of Sophia making sure that she's okay.
I watch as he turns his head and I see the moment he realises something is seriously wrong. He's on his feet before I can even blink.
"Is it a bite?" The Sheriff doesn't seem completely surprised that I'm injured although I'm sure he wasn't expecting it to be this bad. I just stare at him, I can't gather the energy to move my head or my mouth.
"No...No." Sophia squeeze's between the Sheriff and I, shaking her head vigorously. "She's not infected. It was some metal".
He places a hand on her shoulder and gives it a, what I am assuming, reassuring squeeze.
"It's alrigh', I just needed to check". He then looks over at me. "We already knew one of ya was injured, we assumed it was you because they said ya tracks weren't even."
Of course they already knew, Daryl was tracking us... and we stepped into the stream.
Glenn tilts his head to the side so he can finally look at me. "The Dixon's didn't believe you'd been bitten, neither did I". He offers me is grin which I try to return but the pain surely turns it into a grimace. "You don't know how glad I am that we've found you because without you there the brothers have been a nightmare. I mean half the time I didn't know whether Daryl was gonna break down or kill someone. Worse than when we told him about Merle." He then chuckle softly. "And obviously I missed my friend".
I know I should apologise for everything I've put these guys through these last few days, but I can't. All I want is to go back, I want to see Daryl, I want Merle to make some smart-arse remark at me, I want Sophia back with her mum.
"Lets get you guys back", the Sheriff stares at me, "'fore ya pass out".
...
One of my arms is around Glenn's neck, the other is gripping tightly onto the front of his shirt. With both his arms wrapped around my waist I somehow manage to keep putting one foot in front of the other, but we're slowing. Before too long I won't even be able to lift my left leg. Each time I step fiery pain shoots through it.
Sophia looks at me over her shoulder and then stops walking. The Sheriff looks down at her in confusion but she's still staring at me.
"Can we rest for a bit please?" She doesn't wait for the obvious 'yes' he's going to give her, instead she strides right back over to Glenn and I. Glenn leans me up against a tree but he looks to have serious doubt about whether or not let me go. I release my grip on him which seems to give him the answer and then with one last parting look he's walking over to the Sheriff. Sophia grabs my hand in hers. "I thought you could use a break". I weakly squeeze her hand in reply but that's all I have left in me.
A black haze is settling over my vision and then I lose control over my body. I don't make a sound as I start my fall to the floor, somehow managing to remain silent, but Sophia's cry is enough to alert the others.
I never hit the floor like I expect instead small arms are wrapped tight around my stomach and I'm being pushed into the tree trunk. Sophia's doing her best to keep me standing but she shouldn't, she should just let me fall.
Her arms are quickly replaced as my own are forced to move around a neck.
With every ounce of strength I have left I force my eyes to refocus, barely. The Officers face is inches from my own and his mouth his moving but it's all just a mass of noise as it reaches my ears. I can't focus enough to make sense of it all. It takes him a few seconds to realise I'm not listening.
Glenn's arm is suddenly hooked behind my knees but before I can do anything to stop it he starts to lift me up. My scream has him wincing and it shoves back the feeling of just wanting to close my eyes and sleep.
"Walk". It's the only word I can seem to push out from between my lips but Glenn seems to understand, he puts his arms back around my waist and then we're moving again.
With the Sheriff stood so close on my right side I can just make out the conversation him and Sophia are having as we once again start up our slow pace.
He's telling her how they're all living at a farm with a man named Herschel and his family. He's telling her how untouched the place is, how beautiful and big it is. That it is a place that would allow me to heal and a place we could live and feel safe. I don't want to believe his words, surely nothing could be considered safe but they way he's describing it has me sort of believing him. But then again I would take anything right now as long as I could lay down and sleep.
...
Sophia ask's so many questions and she manages to keep them up all the way to the tree line. We can now see it for ourselves but I don't marvel in it's beauty instead my eyes go straight towards the cluster of tents they have set up. There are people walking around but we're too far away to actually pick out individuals.
Sophia is free and carefree as she bounces and then takes off running. How does she still have the energy to do that? The Sheriff casts me a looks before following after her. As she gets closer to them I can hear her shouts of delight as she calls for her mum. For a split second no one seems to move and then as one people are running towards her.
Without taking my eyes of the amazing scene before me I address Glenn, "I need a favour". I have no right to ask, not after everything he's done for me but it doesn't stop me because I know he'll agree. "Don't give this rifle or bag to anyone but Merle". Especially not Shane but he knows that's what I mean.
"Of course, promise". With great difficulty we manage to slide both off of my back so he can sling them over his shoulder. We then start our advance towards the 'welcome parade'.
The closer we get the easier it is to see who everyone is and I can't help but let the disappointment show when I realise they aren't there.
Shane's locks onto me and then he's charging. His hand goes to his belt but he realises the space where his gun usually sits is empty the same time I do. It's a first and is more than welcoming. I don't think I could cope with a gun in my face right now, not now that I can't draw mine back on him. I'd never be able to hold it.
The gasps all come at once when everyone else sees me. The Sheriff's voice is stern as he orders Shane to back up and tells him it's not a bite. Those words seem to relax few of the groups shoulders except for a man I have never seen before. 'Herschel' is whispered in my ear by Glenn as the man in question pushes to the front of the gathered group.
He takes one glance at my poorly covered leg and then he's barking out orders left right and centre. The only one I fully understand is when he tells the Sheriff that he and Glenn need to get me inside. Before the Officer can even step closer I'm forcing myself further into Glenn's side.
"Daryl?" It doesn't come out loud and no one seems to listen.
"Just pick her up", Shane orders and then tries to come closer but Glenn's arm comes up in defence. Stopping the man from coming any closer, although I'm fairly certain Glenn instantly regrets doing it with the glare Shane is staring him down with.
"Just tell us where Daryl is, then she'll go". I'm not sure if anyone even answers Glenn because I am no longer listening to them as my sight is set on the figures in the distance.
I can see them as they walk out of a stable and I can see the moment Merle spots the commotion. His steps falter and then his arm flies out to stop Daryl in his tracks. For a fraction of a second neither one of them moves but then suddenly they're both running this way. Tears well up in my eyes the closer they get.
"You better move" Glenn mumbles to Shane. Shane turns his head to see what he's talking about, just in time to because Daryl doesn't slow down as he charges through the group. The arms around my waist are gone but I don't have to time to fall as Daryl slams into me.
Pain courses through me at the impact but I push through it because as Daryl's arms wrap around me nothing else matters. I let the tears fall because with his face buried into the crook of my neck I can feel his as they hit my skin. I grip the hair at the base of his neck to force him closer, if that was possible, before resting my chin on his shoulder. Merle steps closer and puts his hand on the back of my head before placing a gentle kiss against my forehead.
"Hey Squirt". I give him the smallest of smiles in return.
A scream tears through me, the pain is worse than I've ever felt as Daryl's leg knocks into mine. I'm suddenly pulled away from him as Merle holds me against his chest, Daryl finally looks down for the injury he seems to have forgotten I have.
His face drops at the sight of my leg and I can see the pain in his eyes as he looks back up at me, the unspoken question written all over his face. I shake my head at him the same time someone tells him it isn't a bite, the relief is clear.
Herschel steps up beside Daryl, "She's losing too much blood, she needs to be moved now". Daryl nods his head at the demand before reaching for me once again and pulling me back into his arms, although this time he's a lot more careful. As he half carries me over to the house I let my head drop against him.
The field is big, too big, before we've even managed to get half way across my body gives out beneath me and I go slack in his arms. I can hear voices, like everyone's suddenly talking all at once, but my name being called is what stands out the most. I wish I could answer him or at least open my eyes to show him I can hear him but nothing happens.
His arms scoop up my legs, this time round I can't even react, it's like my body has completely shut down even though the pain is still there.
I can tell we're finally inside by the bang of the door. The air should be cooler in here but my body feels like it's just getting hotter with each step he takes. Daryl's chest vibrates under my head but I can't put together the words he's saying. Somehow I manage to push against the blackness of my vision and then I can see him as he's lying me down on something amazingly soft.
I follow Herschel as he moves around the bed before sitting as gently as he can on the edge of it, I still wince as the bed jostles.
"My names Herschel and you're Danny?" I make a noise in the back of my throat as a reply. "This is goin' to hurt but I need to take these off", he gestures to my makeshift bandage, "so I can get a better look". This time I don't give him any form of response and he doesn't seem to want to wait for one either. Instead he goes straight in and starts trying to untie them. The flinch is involuntary, I hadn't thought his fingers grazing the knot would hurt so much. Merle's hand wraps around my right boot as he pins my leg to the bed. As another flinch goes through me Daryl puts one of his arms around my torso, effectively pinning me to the bed. With his other hand he grips my hand that was digging into his chest.
I force my eyes to stay glued to Daryl's face but he's not looking at me, he has his gaze focused solely on Herschel's hands. I refuse to look away instead I start counting his blinks, trying to keep my mind focused. With each number my free hand twists more and more of the bed sheets into my fist, and the first unstoppable sound passes through my lips.
With each groan and cry I let out Daryl's face scrunches up more and more until all of a sudden his face goes slack and I hear a gasp from somewhere else in the room. With the sudden air hitting my wound I know that people can now see it and I'm terrified of what it may look like.
Daryl stands up straight, removing himself from pinning me down. I lift my head as much as I can off the pillow and the sight below makes my stomach churn, I instantly let it drop back onto the pillow. We don't have the same medical care as we used to, we're back to the old ways where people died form a simple infection, and this isn't a simple infection.
There's a bang and when my head drops to the side I realise Daryl has just spun around and punched the wall. Nobody scolds him for ruining a strangers wall. He doesn't turn back around but I can't blame him, I wish I hadn't looked.
My skin around the gash is black, it doesn't look like it was done days ago, it still looks fresh. Blood is still running from it, how am I even still alive. I should have passed out and never woken up.
Herschel wordlessly starts gathering all his equipment but I turn my head away when he starts laying it onto the small tray he has perched on the bed.
"Everyone out", Merle's order is very quickly followed by the sound of the door shutting. He doesn't leave though, thankfully, as out of the corner of my eye I see him pull a chair closer to the bed before taking a seat. I know he's done that because he's preparing to pin my leg back to the bed and I am not ready for it. Just taking the bandages off was more pain than I've ever felt in my life and it's going to be a hundred times worse when Herschel starts cleaning and stitching it.
I let out a muffled cry as my leg spasms. I can't lose this leg I wouldn't be able to survive without it. I don't think I'm mentally strong enough to lose it. This time the sob that forces it's way out of my throat has nothing to do with the pain.
I feel a hand as it once again grips my ankle but Merle is blocked by Daryl as he puts his arm across my torso, and then my world is on fire.
I blacked out, I know I did because the first thing I see when I force open my eyes his Herschel cleaning his hands from what I can assume is a bowl of water. I don't know how long I was out for but apparently it was long enough for him to get the job done.
I don't make a sound but he seems to feel my eyes on him because he looks across at me. He doesn't smile but I can see some sort of relief as it washes over his face. He drops the cloth back into the bowl.
"You aren't out of the woods yet". His words seem to alert the brothers that I'm awake because my hand is suddenly gripped tight but I don't look at Daryl, not yet. "The infection is bad and unless we can get it down with antibiotics then there isn't much else we can do. You're goin' to have to stay in that bed and we'll change the bandages every couple of hours as we need to keep it clean to help the infection." Herschel looks at Daryl beside me and holds out a tablet bottle. "Take these every 4 hours and in between she can take pain medicine". Daryl takes the bottle from him. "Didn't think we'd be goin' through all this stuff so quickly, we haven't got enough left to cover h..."
"I'll plan a run with some of the others". Merle interrupts Herschel before he can finish what he was saying. I'm not stupid, I know he cut him off for a reason. Herschel said they're going through the stuff too quickly meaning someone else is injured. God, I hope it's not bad and I hope it's not because of me. Who am I kidding, of course it's because of me.
"Can I speak to the two of you outside?" Herschel stares at them both, I don't think he'll let them say no. "Food will be brought up to you, you have to eat". All three of them then walk quickly from the room. Daryl leaves without a glance in my direction. He's pissed at me. I messed up and put that little girl in more danger, I failed at the one thing I had set out to do, take her back to her mum. I was out for days anything could have happened to her in that time and I would have never been able to forgive myself.
There's a small knock against the door but whoever it is doesn't wait for me. The head that pops through isn't the one I expected but it definitely isn't disappointing. Sophia stands in the doorway with her hands twisting together in front of her but she doesn't step further into the room.
I'm happy to see her but I can't even force a smile onto my lips. I'm not sure I can do anything, I can barely tap the bed with my hand to let her know to come in. The grin that lights up her face when she notices the invitation make my chest tighten and I have to blink back the tears.
She rushes over to me, I instantly wince at the thought of her climbing onto the bed but I don't stop her. She lowers herself so carefully onto the bed and leans back up against the headboard beside me. I lay here looking up at her, how does she not look tired? I can also tell she's washed up which I would love to do.
"Is the leg okay?"
"It'll be okay. The Doctor fixed it up, I've just gotta rest. So no more adventures for a while". Why does talking hurt? She laughs but I feel awful for lying. She's more grown up than she originally seemed but she doesn't need to worry about me, not anymore. I want her to just be happy that we're back and have somewhere to sleep for the night that's safe.
She doesn't say anything for a short minute and then she grabs my hand. "Thank you". I open my mouth but nothing comes out, I have nothing to say other than she doesn't have to thank me but I'm not going to tell her that. It'd be pointless. "You got me back just like you promised". She needs to stop, I don't want to talk about this but I don't want to hurt her feelings, not now. "You know this kind of makes us best friends now".
I raise my eyebrows, I can feel the corner of my mouth lifting. "Is that so?"
And that's all she needs as she goes into the basics of our new found friendship.
...
Sophia's name passes through my lips as a scream. The feeling of her being ripped away from me feels so real even as my eyes open and I'm met with the white ceiling of the farm house.
At my sudden out burst Daryl's boots hit the floor hard as he suddenly sits up straight.
"She's with her mum, she's okay".
I take in a couple of deep shaky breaths. "I know, it just... it felt real for a second".
Daryl leans back in his chair his eyes scanning over my face, his mouth is pulled into a thin line and I can see the muscle in his jaw flexing as he's tensing.
"You're angry at me?" The decision I made to follow her doesn't have anything to do with him but then again does it? We're a family now but if he'd gone out I would have just trusted him. Of course I would have been so worried but I wouldn't have gotten angry at him. What's the point? It's already happened and anger isn't going to change that.
"I'm not angry".
I make a small noise in the back of my throat, somewhere between a scoff and a laugh. "Yeah well tell that to your face". I watch as one of his eyes twitches and then his jaw relaxes.
"You shouldn't 'ave gone after her like that".
I sigh, "Why not? You can't tell me that you wouldn't have done the same thing". Actually he probably would have been able to stop her running off, but in my poor defence I've never had to look out for someone who didn't know how to fight. I forgot for one measly second that she was just a kid and just assumed she'd know what to do.
Daryl runs his hand over his mouth. "I wouldn't have nearly killed myself trying". And there it is. Him knowing he's better than me and that I was stupid and reckless.
"Right". What else do I say, because he's right. He wouldn't have injured himself and he would have known the correct direction back to the highway.
"We don't owe them anythin'". He shuffles in his seat, "Especially not ya life".
"Daryl... She's a kid".
"And you shouldn't even be here accordin' to the Doc".
"I'd do it again", maybe minus the leg injury but if it was that or save an innocent child then I'd save the child. Heck I'd save Daryl if it was between me or him.
"Yeah", I can barely hear him.
"I didn't technically get her back though, that's what's bothering me. I go out and help her and then end up getting lost. Maybe she would have been better off if I hadn't gotten involved". The Sheriff wasn't too far from us, maybe he would have been able to help her.
"She told everyone what happened. Ya kept her alive." He pauses to take a deep breath. "I guess all that matters is ya both back".
I smile up at him, "Exactly so no lectures on how stupid it was."
One side of his mouth lifts up in a small barely there smirk. "Fine".
"Did Glenn hand the stuff over?" I question.
"Yeah, Merle locked it in the truck. We ain't allowed to carry guns on the property. One of the Docs rules".