Disclaimer: I do not own Walking Dead or it's characters. Any unrecognized plot or characters are mine.
The song for this chapter:
From Here to the Moon and Back-Dolly Parton and Chris Kristofferson, slightly altered
Who's That Part 2
I blinked awake, groaning as my full bladder made itself known.
It was very warm tonight. Not quiet hot, but definitely not cool. The dirty clothes I wore were soaked in sweat and stuck to my skin in certain places.
I wrinkled my nose in disgust.
I grabbed a fresh set of clothes and made quick work of showering, wanting to spend as much time as possible outside. Memory came back to me slowly while my brain powered up to full function.
Rick's group is going to want to bombard me with questions and I have to finish talking to Willy.
May as well get it over with. I thought grumpily.
I descended the stairs as fast as I could to find a way to occupy myself in the hopes of finding a small measure of peace before the bombs drop.
Rick's group were throwing me a thank you bonfire in an hour. Apparently there would be food and a rougher version of familiar games from before.
It was sweet, but I wasn't entirely sure it was a good idea.
The preparations for the bonfire made sure the house and yard was bustling with activity, making it easy to slip by and make it seem like I was too busy to talk while I work my way around until I find a spot to hide.
That spot was right behind Daryl's campsite.
No one came out this far, the hunter himself had been roped into helping set up. He had made sure the entire farm knew how happy he was about it, but grudgingly complied.
I sat on a soft patch of grass, closed my eyes and listened to cricket song. It brought back a million memories of growing up with Willy and camping. I opened my eyes, taking in the view. I could see the structure next to Daryl's tent, the house off in the distance with faint yellow light glowing in the windows.
It was peaceful, deceptively so.
I lay on my back so I can look up at the stars.
It was so easy to feel tiny and insignificant when looking up at the large display of pure light of the stars. It also fills me up with childlike wonder at such beauty and purity.
I remember when I was a little girl, I would look out the window and wish really hard that the man in the moon would come down and scoop me up, that he'd take me with him to join the stars. I had always envied them, being so far up there with thousands of their friends where nothing bad could touch them.
Some things never change, but everything else did.
"Well, look what we have here. If that ain't a lovely little present, I don't know what is." A strong southern accent drawled, as close as two feet from me.
I jerked up, head snapping around to find the source.
My breath caught in my throat.
"What? No welcome mat, no party? We should celebrate, aw yeah, this reunion is a long time coming mmhmm. Waiting for ol Merle to join ya down there? That could sure be arranged." Merle drawled, waving his bandaged hand around lazily and shooting me his trademark grin.
I stood up slowly, my eyes trained on him. "Hello, Merle."
"Well, well, if it ain't short stack! Long time, no see. You filled out, mmhmm, you look good." He drawled, walking closer to me grinning. "Where's that boy'a yers? Ain't gonna come say hello?"
"He's helping set up for the bonfire. You have some strange timing, or good, depending on how you feel about parties and reunions and food." I countered, crossing my arms over my chest, taking him in. "Haven't seen you in a while, a month or less?"
"Aw, now you know I love parties, short stack. Lead the way!" He laughed, gesturing lazily toward the house.
I led him back, my mind racing and fully aware that my back was turned on him the entire walk.
Willy turned to me, shaking his head. "Abilene, ya ain't gonna believe this."
I stared, shock rocking through my entire body. Oh my God. "Is he dead?"
The man certainly looked like it. He was in his late forties, early fifties. He had short light brown hair. His face was gaunt, sort of long with sharp cheekbones. He looked like he'd led a hard life. A bloody rag of some sort was wrapped around his hand, some fingers poking out of the top.
It was a miracle walkers hadn't gotten to him. He was either lucky, which I doubted given his current condition, or he was tougher than nails and refused to die.
Willy and I exchanged a long look, deliberating.
"Where can we take him that's safe?" I asked, after a long minute or so of silence. I had decided to save him, if it was possible.
"We can go ta that sheriff's office. It's secure, it's empty and has cells if he gives us any trouble when he wakes." He answered thoughtfully, staring hard at the stranger. "Are you sure about this, Abi? We don't know this man. We don't owe him nothin'."
"We found him, he's injured and he'll die if we leave him here. If he tries anything, you can shoot him, but until then we should help him and give him a chance." I argued, defending my choice and my reasons. "We can use that thing that looks like a trolley a little ways back to move him. It's low enough, I shouldn't have to help you lift him, but we need to hurry."
The Sheriff's office was everything Willy said, we set the stranger up in an empty cell. I cleaned and dressed his wound with supplies from our improvised first aid kit, if you could really call it that. The wound was obvious when I removed the bloody rag. The mans thumb was amputated, by something duller from the look of it. I found drugs on him and flushed them immediately, I wouldn't have that nonsense around me. I left him to rest after I sort of force fed him pain killers while he was out, with a clean blanket and pillow from our bags.
It only took an hour for our guest to wake.
"Hey, let me outta here, you pigs!" The stranger yelled, his accent distinctively southern. "I ain't done nothin'! You can't keep me in here!"
I glanced at Willy, sliding from my chair and walking into the strangers view.
"You don't look like no pig." He drawled, seeming to quiet down some. "What are you doin' here?"
"My brother and I found you in the street, we brought you here. I'm sorry about the locked door, it was for our safety in case you turned. I can open it now that you're awake and coherent." I approached the door slowly, watching him for any sudden movements. "I would like your word that you won't harm us or steal our supplies. I'm willing to live in the same space as you, if you agree to a set of mutual rules and boundaries."
"What rules?" He rasped, his sharp eyes watching me.
"If we're in this together, we share all supplies. What's mine is yours, and you do the same. We protect each other's backs from other groups that mean us harm and the dead. I won't take kindly to any funny business on your part, I'll tell you that right now. I'll shoot you where the sun don't shine if you try anything. I draw the line at excessive drinking and drug use, so if you indulge in either or would like to, I can cut you loose. If you decide to leave at any point, we'll give you half of whatever we have and you can be on your way. Sound fair?" I spoke every word slowly and clearly, if he was going to stay with us, he had to understand and obey the rules. Simple as that.
"If I decide ta take everythin' ya got here an' now, girlie, what's stoppin' me? You? Him?" The stranger demanded, no malice in his eyes. "How do ya know I won't overpower ya?"
"I believe everyone deserves a second chance, but they only get one. If you try to overpower us, if I even think I see something in your eyes I don't like, I'll put you down without hesitation. My daddy taught me to shoot, I'm confident I can take the shot. The real question is. . . after the kindness we've shown you, would you really want to do something like that? There's no need for it. You can walk out of here as easily as we brought you in, no hard feelings."
"All I have ta do is stop drugs."
"Yes."
"It ain't gonna be that easy, short stuff. I been using well over twenty years."
"If you're truly willing to stop, I'll do everything I can to help you. We're safe here, it's the best place for detoxing. It's up to you."
"Why would you help me?"
"Why not?"
"That's not an answer."
"I guess, I hope that if I am ever in the same position one day, someone will do the same. It's a harsh world, harsher than it was before and kindness is even more rare these days. Survival and selfishness are the biggest motives for most survivors now. Why do I hope you'll drop drugs willingly? I believe it will be easier that way. Eventually, the man made drugs will run out and the ones left behind that know how to make them will die. Those that have become dependent on them will suffer for it, so will innocents that cross paths with the users. Maybe, in a way, it's kinder if it's your choice. Either way, it's your decision. I'll let you think on it."
I left, walking down the hall toward the dispatch office where Willy had set us up. He thought it would be smart to stash our supplies there, while we slept somewhere nearby. He was squatting outside the office, heating up something in our small soup pot, the windows all around the station secured with spare blankets and boards. The light from the fire and lanterns flickered eerily on the walls.
He glanced at me as I sat beside him on a small pile of cushions he'd made for me. "How'd it go?"
"We'll see. He hasn't given me reason to suspect he'll be uncooperative so far, but don't take my word for it. He hasn't agreed to the rules, yet, so he could still try something. I'll bring him some food after a while and see what he says." I replied carefully. I couldn't say the older man was ready to be released, but I also couldn't say he wasn't. It wasn't a thing you rushed, in any case. For safety reasons.
Canned chicken, baked beans and green beans was the menu for tonight. I ate with Willy, to give our guest a little extra time to think, then made a plate with a decent sized portion and took it to the cells.
He was laying down on the cot, staring at the bottom of the bunk above his own. One leg lay straight, the other he bent at the knee. His right arm, the one with the bandaged hand, lay over his forehead and the other hung off the mattress. He almost looked like he was sleeping, but his breathing was too fast, too uneven. He was awake, but resting, maybe thinking as I'd suggested.
"It isn't much, but it should fill you up. Willy or I have to make a run soon for more food. Atlanta is big, but there are too many dead to safely navigate the city." I sighed, scooting the tray through the slot for him to grab, or not.
Silence.
"I know you're not sleeping. It's okay if you don't want to talk, but at least eat." I waited a few more moments, then gave up and slowly turned on my heels. I wouldn't make him speak, I needed to gain his trust, if we were to live together.
"Name's Merle." He murmured when I was over a foot away, the quiet words might as welljave been a gun shot in the silence of the station.
I stopped, spinning to face the bars. Merle was sitting up on the cot, his eyes were locked on me, the food remained on the floor in front of the door. He was stone still. Watching. Waiting.
"Hello, Merle. I'm Abilene."
A soft snap behind me hurtled my brain into the present. We're nearing the camp.
The set up of food, beverages, and sitting spaces had taken up almost all the time before the bonfire was set to begin.
I'd been gone longer than I thought, was my first observation. Another, was that my absence hasn't been noticed. Everyone was finishing up their tasks and congregating at the fire pit in the middle of camp.
I see Hershel agreed, just this once, that it was alright to use the chairs from inside the house. Willy must have finally talked him into it, the farmer had been adamant when I slipped out that he wouldn't allow it. He gave Willy and Rick a long lecture on little critters that could hitch a ride into his home on the chairs if we didn't wash them.
"Ya didn't tell me ya shacked up with Rick. You have any idea what the prick did to me?" Merle growled, spinning me around to face him. He raised his hand up to rest against my cheek, the bandages brushing my skin. "You shacking up with him, are ya? Are ya?"
I let him rage, waiting for the worst to pass before I answered.
"We're living in the farm house and Rick is out on the lawn in a tent. I know of him, have talked to him, but I don't live with him in the sense you're implying." I stared Merle down calmly.
We resumed walking toward camp, now close enough to be seen clearly.
I knew the second Merle and I were noticed. The entire group stilled and stiffened, like time stopped suddenly. Then they stirred in a riot of activity. Shane demanded answers about what was going on, demanding guns and violence. Andrea agreed. Rick appeared to be in shock, attempting to calm Shane and take control of the situation. Lori grabbed Carl and herded him into the R. V, Carol right behind them. Glenn, T-Dog and Dale were standing together, prepared, but waiting for word or direct threat.
Daryl was frozen in place, staring.
Willy walked cautiously closer, ignoring Rick's calls to stay with the group.
"City boy!" Merle shouted in greeting, laughing. "Long time, no see, but it sure looks like ya were expectin' me. Nice little party ya got goin' here. Cozy little set up. Got food, protection, an' women. Small wonder ya kept it ta yourself."
"Abi." Willy barked, stretching a hand out. "Why don't ya come take a seat? Say, Merle, I'm sure we have enough ta go around. Sit down, take a load off."
I edged forward, watching Merle to see if he'd allow it, but he remained motionless. I walked faster, crossing the small distance to Willy and attaching myself to his side.
"Ya got any beer? Whiskey?" Merle asked, walking past us and heading to the fire.
"Never found any on runs." Willy deadpanned.
"Too bad we burned through them bottles, he city boy?" He called over his shoulder.
I caught up just in time to catch everyone's expression when they saw who had joined us for dinner. Rick, T-Dog and Glenn was relief mixed with cautious dislike. Dale was surprised, but otherwise quiet and blank. Andrea and Shane were still aggressive, suspicious and outright angry. Daryl was the reaction that confused me.
He looked like unsuspecting any of us would look if we were dropped back into our life before.
"Hey, baby brother, miss me? Sure as hell didn't come looking when your pal Rick left me on that roof. The sun beatin' down on me, freaks bangin' on the door ta eat me alive." Merle spat on the ground at Rick's feet, prowling the ground between them like a caged tiger. "Had ta cut off my thumb, get myself off that damn roof. I saved myself! No thanks ta you assholes!"
"Merle." I called softly, jarring him out of his rant.
"Ah, yes, short stack. Ya said somethin' about a party, this what ya had in mind? Hmm? Sure ain't what I pictured, that's for sure."
All heads swung to me, confusion plastered on their faces.
"I rescued Rick's boy. Party was to celebrate."
"By all means, let's celebrate!"
"We should probably talk first, clear the air."
Merle cocked his head, eyes boring into me. "Ya got somethin' ya want ta say ta me, short stack?"
"In private, please, Merle. It's important." I pressed carefully, aware this could go a number of ways.
A nasty grin spread over his face, his eyes glowing with mischief.
"Merle." Willy warned softly, shifting closer to me.
In response the older man laughed, tossing up his hands and backing up a few steps. "We're old friends, city boy. Ol Merle just wanted ta get a little rise outta her, that's all. Meek little things ain't half as fun as your little spitfire there when she gets all riled up."
I led him toward the house. I wouldn't take him inside, but it would be more private than standing next to the group.
"I have to come clean. I need you to listen closely and take this seriously, Merle, because I don't lie." I began, pausing to wait for his response. "I knew the day we found you who you were, but I didn't say anything because you weren't in a fit state to remember anything. Afterward, I decided not to because you were recovering and we were all concentrating on surviving. I don't think there is such a thing as perfect timing, but this is as good a time as any."
He groaned, clearly impatient and bored.
"The day we found you isn't the first time you and I met. You probably don't even remember it, but I do. It was roughly five months ago, we didn't talk or exchange numbers or anything like that. You met some buddies at a bar, they hooked you up that night." I took a deep breath, pooling strength of mind and will. "You raped me in the alley behind that bar, then when you left your buddies took turns raping me."
He bulked, anger crackling all around him like electricity.
"It took me a while to put the pieces together, but I did. I realized that you didn't even know what was going on, you were blind folded and led to me by one of them. He told you I was a virgin to cover up the fact that there was blood and when you tried to pay me for my services he took the money from you in my place. You stumbled away and never knew different." I swallowed. Here goes nothing. "That man drugged me up and took me from that bar, he was my father. After, during one of my appointments I asked for testing. The sample matched another from storage. You're the father of my baby."
Merle was quiet. Too quiet. It made me nervous. "You're trying ta tell me, I raped you without knowing I raped you an' that's my baby? I don't think so, sweetheart. Try some other sucker."
"His name was Antoni Treskov. Before you reached me you were talking filthy about a celebration you needed for some deal you closed. One of them you called Slim Gin, the other was Bobbino." I said, walling my emotions as I dug through my memory for evidence he would believe. "He called you Sergeant."
Merle froze midstep, his back ramrod straight and his shoulders stiff.
"I don't expect anything from you, Merle. I think you should know and decide what you want for yourself."
"Decide? Just what the hell is there ta decide, short stack? Ya tell me yer carryin my kid, that I done wrong by ya ta make em an' expect me ta-what?" He asked, swinging around to face me an array of emotions crossing his face and disappearing just as fast. "That kid is a Dixon, my blood whatever may have happened. Ya don't turn yer back on blood. Daryl's old enough ta fend for himself, I let the drugs rule my life and pull me from him. That was my mistake, I won't make it again."
"You're not your father." I told him, filing away everything he's told me for later.
He tensed, his face closing off.
"In Atlanta, when you were recovering, you said a lot of things. I haven't told Willy about them or that you were the man Antoni sold me to that night. I won't, because the first story isn't mine to tell and the second would condemn you for something that you weren't entirely guilty of."
"Why the hell do you care?"
"I was a victim of that man for seven years, you were unknowingly part of one of his crimes. We're not as different as you think, Merle."
"Ya want ta sit beside the fire braiding hair an' tradin' sob stories now?"
"I want you to know that I don't blame you and I don't hate you. I hate him and the others who knowingly did what they did."
Merle spat to the side, shifting in place and grinding his teeth.
I stepped back, giving him space. I glanced toward the camp, waving a hand at him to join me if he wanted and walked back toward the bonfire. Rick's group was mostly as we'd left them. Carol and Lori were outside with the others and everyone was convened in a circle around the fire. Apparently, they were having a discussion about us while also interrogating Willy.
Shane charged forward a few steps, Rick quickly following. "You knew Merle and you didn't think we should know?"
I sighed. "I didn't know he knew you until tonight. We didn't exactly braid our hair and gossip like school girls, Shane. We were more concerned with more pressing matters, like survival."
"Bullshit! You're with him! What's the plan, huh? Gonna team up, hit us when our guards down?" Shane demanded, aggression and suspicion rolling off him like heat off of one hundred degree asphalt.
"We don't know that they're planning anything. We never mentioned Merle to her or Hershel. When would she have heard or gleaned that we knew him? She's been inside with the Greene family, or outside with at least one of us watching her." Rick was using his cop voice, doing his best to talk his partner down. "You wanna question the whole camp? Make sure no one let anything slip?"
"Now you're making sense. One of them must have let it slip when we were searching for Sophia, or she knew and didn't say anything. You expect me to believe it's coincidence she knows Merle, he shows up here a week after we do and she's here. Hell, she walked him right to our door!" Shane shouted, throwing his hand out in my direction. "How long are you going to remain in the dark?!"
"We don't know for sure what happened out there. She hasn't tried to hurt us or Hershel's family, she already confessed to us why she's here, and I do believe that this may all be a coincidence. We can ask some questions and go from there."
"Do you even hear yourself? Wake up! She just happens to find Merle on a stroll. Merle was left behind in Atlanta, she knows him and he just happens to show up to the very farm we are using for camp. The common denominator is her! We can't trust her! What will have to happen before you realize that?"
I had edged away from Rick and Shane as they argued, but now Shane's head swiveled to me.
"Where the hell you think you're going?" He demanded, grabbing hold of my arm and shaking me as he brought me closer.
"You best let her go." A cold, hard voice snapped angrily from behind me. "Now!"
"This ain't none of your business, Dixon." Shane snapped back, ignoring the clear warning.
A large hand closed over Shane's arm, squeezing until the knuckles turned white. Merle's head came into view next, leaning over my shoulder. "It is my business, seein' as we're such good friends, as you pointed out. We hooked up back in the day, before that unfortunate incident in Chicago. That's my blood she's carrying."
Shane released my arm reluctantly, Merle stepping up to stand beside me.
Rick watched my face carefully. "Is this true?"
I nodded. "I didn't know for sure until I found out how far along I was and that even though a woman is five months pregnant she got pregnant six months previous."
"You can't seriously-" Shane began heatedly, ready to continue arguing.
"Enough, brother!" Rick silenced him firmly. "Enough. This is supposed to be a will no more of this tonight."
Shane clenched his jaw, storming away. Andrea met him hallway and they disappeared into the R. V.
Once the peace was restored, Rick did his best to get the party back on track. There was a brief time where questions were fired as the group grabbed some grub. Lori fetched Carl from the R. V, getting food and settled into chairs.
Merle had been the first to grab food and stole a seat beside my chair.
The food was a greasy, sinfully delicious smorgasbord of things I probably shouldn't eat, but decided to splurge on just this once.
The handmade burgers with the secret family seasoning recipe were one of the first things to be made. Jimmy snuck me one to eat just to try it and my mind was immediately blown. It tasted fantastic! I could even use the word addictive, since I grabbed two more while he was busy flipping another set of burgers.
I took my loot to the spot I'd chosen and dug in to a burger.
"Abilene, ya know that's not a good idea." Willy narrowed his eyes at me sternly, hands on his hips as he stood in front of me.
I froze, guilty.
"I've been keeping a healthy diet; everything baked or roasted, hardly any junk food, barely any sweets, no soda or caffeine. I've been good about not complaining or sneaking stuff I shouldn't, and I wanted to treat myself a little bit." I cranked up the shine on my eyes to full power and stuck out my bottom lip a tad.
"Now, don't ya try that, Abi, it won't work this time." He told me firmly, stance and tone unwavering.
Well, shoot. I gave it my best shot. I sighed, handing over the burger.
He ate said burger in front of me, which I deserved for the sneaking and diet breaking.
Everyone was outside, including Hershel and his family. Conversation flowed easily and laughter was frequent once the ice was broken regarding Merle, happy vibes echoed throughout the group clustered around our, slightly muted for safety, bonfire.
Of course, it couldn't last forever.
"Why did you help us? You have no tie or obligation to our group." Carol asked during a lull in conversation, something in her eyes told me she needed to hear my answer, needed to understand.
I thought for a moment, constructing a logical reason for my actions.
"We don't know how many uninfected humans are left or where they are. For all we know, everyone here is all that's left. If that is true, we have to support each other or all is lost." I murmured, each word a stab to my heart. "Carl is a child who was lost, wandering the woods alone, in this world there is nothing worse to be."
I uselessly wished the world wasn't so.
The group sat in solemn silence, pondering the grim truth of my words.
After a little while, Glenn disappeared and returned with a guitar.
Willy's face lit up like a Christmas tree. I laughed, making Beth look at me like I'd grown a second head.
"Can I try it out?" Willy asked, tentatively reaching a hand out, eyes alight with hope.
"Sure, man." The other man answered, handing over the guitar without complaint. "You know how to play?"
Willy checked the sound of each string first, making small adjustments to a few, then burst into a little tune I recognized. His fingers strummed and glided across the strings with an ease that came from years of practice.
Glenn nodded. "I'll take that as a yes."
I closed my eyes, letting the sound wash over me. We needed this, something to brighten a dark night in a ruthless world. Something to break the tense atmosphere between Shane and Merle.
Even though Shane had given up on outright arguing, he didn't have a subtle bone in his body. He wanted to start something with Merle and he was trying to do it in a way that Dixon took all the heat. The glares and not so subtle digs were really starting to get old.
Daryl stayed close, seemingly having a silent conversation with Merle when most of the attention was elsewhere.
Willy changed the tune to a song I hadn't heard in a long time. He stood and moved closer to me, playing the opening as slowly as possible. "Ya remember this, Abi?"
I shook my head quickly, knowing what he was doing. "Oh, sing it."
"Ya know darn well I can't sing it by myself, it's a duet." He replied, cool as a cucumber, a grin on his face.
I groaned. He was right, and I knew he wouldn't give up until I caved.
"Fine." I sighed, resigned.
I'd do it for Carl. Today was a really good day.
I ignored the raised eyebrows and confused expressions thrown my way as Willy played the opening of the song from the beginning.
"This is something our mother sang for me a few times when I doubted the sincerity of her love for me." I said in way of introduction to the song.
I could hold out my arms,
say "I love you this much"
I could tell you how long I will long for your hugs,
How much and how far would I go to prove,
the depth and the breadth of my love for you. . .
I smiled at Willy briefly, and his voice joined mine.
From here to the Moon and back,
Who else in this world will love you like that?
Love everlasting
I promise you that
From here to the Moon and back,
From here to the Moon and back
I glanced around the group, landing on the boys parents. Faces and words of a world past spun behind my eyes as I remembered my own mother singing this very song to me. She always knew what to say to make me feel loved and wanted.
I want you to know you can always depend,
On promises made and love without end,
No need to wonder how long it will be
Now and on into eternity
I locked eyes with Willy, singing directly to him even though we sang as one. I poured all my love, gratitude and all the words I wanted to say to him into it. Because of him, his family, and their endless love I was almost completely healed. I owed them everything.
From here to the Moon and back,
Who else in this world will love you like that?
Forever and always,
I'll be where you're at,
From here to the Moon and back
From here to the Moon and back
Willy smiled at me. He knew.
After a brief glance at the varying expressions around the campfire, I lifted my gaze to the stars. One star in particular twinkled bright and beautiful close to the moon.
I would blow you a kiss from the star where I sat,
I would call out your name to echo through the vast
Willy sang the next line in his deep tones, the slight twang familiar and comforting.
Thank heaven for you and to God, tip my hat
And I'll spend forever just proving that fact
From here to the Moon and back
From here to the Moon and back
Lori and Rick were looking at their child the way my mother had looked at me. I knew the song was the right choice, they were happy.
"That was beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us." Dale murmured with a wet smile.
The compliment was echoed in some variations by almost everyone. The exceptions being Shane, Merle and Daryl. Shane was scowling in his typical fashion, leaving the circle altogether rather than speak a decent word about our performance.
I shrugged it off. I enjoyed singing, Carl enjoyed it, so it was a win win for me.
Daryl was quiet, thoughtful. He left not long after, heading to his tent with Merle in tow.
I smiled at the group, who smiled at me, feeling lighter than I had all day. I developed the urge to walk around, get some alone time while I could. I flagged Willy to grab his attention. "I'm heading in."
"Goodnight." He called as I started walking away.
"Goodnight." I replied over my shoulder.
I slept like a log, completely exhausted.