Hey everyone. thanks for the reviews from DarylDixon'sLover and all the new follows and favorites. Hope you enjoy this chapter :)
It seemed like hours until he could see her again.
It wasn't that Daryl hadn't been keeping himself busy. He had been helping with Beth, trying to get people in and out of the infirmary as much as possible, while also making sure Lydia was okay and keeping a constant eye on her.
But it wasn't until nighttime when Beth had told him Isabelle's condition had stabled, and that she was okay to be seen. Daryl had headed into the room behind her to see Isabelle fast asleep on the bed, but her face seemed cold and devoid of the usual rosy cheeks she had.
Daryl takes a seat next to her and Beth bites her lip from the doorway. "I wouldn't suggest staying too long, Daryl."
"I'm just lookin' out for her," he admits, glancing at the blonde. "She fainted. She needs someone here."
Beth shrugs her shoulders and sighs. "Suit yourself, archer." She closes the door after that, leaving the two of them alone. Daryl glances over at the girl and then quietly moves the blanket so it was tighter around her shivering body.
He sat there for a few minutes in silence, contemplating how this had all happened. The poor girl had just been trying to help and because of it, she ended up getting sick herself. That seemed to be the go-to with Belle.
She helped people, even if it meant it was going to hurt her. And that really pissed him off. How is it that one person could be so selfless that they forget to take care of themselves?
"Damn dumbass," he mutters, leaning back in the chair.
But what Daryl didn't expect was that he would fall asleep in that very chair, watching over her until the next morning, when the early rays of winter were just starting to peek through the curtains of the dusty window.
~%~
When Isabelle opened her eyes the next morning, the first thing she felt was an aching headache. The last thing she remembered was that she suddenly felt very faint while taking care of one of the children and then everything went black.
Her eyes looked around the room half-asleep until they landed on a chart that was right next to her bed. She reaches out and takes it into her hands until she reads the temperature she had previously. Her eyes widen at the number. 104 degrees.
"Jesus," she mumbles, shaking her head. It was no wonder she had fainted. She had been sick. In all honesty, she still felt not so good right now, but nowhere near as bad as she had felt yesterday.
She places the chart down and turns around to see someone sleeping in the chair next to the bed. Upon further inspection, she could see it was Daryl who was there, his head hanging, his arms crossed against his chest.
At that moment, she took a second to admire him in his sleep. It was crazy how a rough guy like Daryl, who always looked like he low key wanted to kill something whenever he touched it, could look so peaceful in his sleep. But it was very possible because it was right there.
His hair hung in his eyes and his body was so much more relaxed than the normal stiffness that he acquired. It suited him, but she knew this was a state that he was rarely in. Fully relaxed.
Even so, she had to admit that looking at him now, he was much more handsome than she had seen before. Don't get her wrong, getting in relationships was something she wasn't really into in this world, especially after everything she had gone through with the Whisperers.
But that didn't mean she couldn't appreciate a nice looking guy every now and then.
The archer's eyes drizzled open and he looks around sleepily, before landing on Isabelle. He straightens himself out and nods at her. "Yer awake," he says quietly.
"I am, and I can see you stayed all night," she teases.
He rolls his eyes. "Shuddup. Stayed cause I was worried. Happy?" he asks her, walking to her side. "Scared the shit outta me and some of the others. Fainted right in front of us. Thought ya were bein' more careful."
She sighs and shrugs her shoulders. "I thought I was too, but shit just happened. I feel a lot better now though…especially knowing I had a 'big, strong man looking over me,'" she teases again. Daryl snorts and shakes his head, looking away. "Hey, I'm only teasing. I really do appreciate it."
She reaches over and takes his hand in hers, squeezing it gently. Daryl responds with his own squeeze, although barley there, and then pulls back a moment later.
"While I was out, got something for ya. Was gonna give it to ya when I got back but then ya…well, ya know."
Daryl reaches over and grabs his bag, before handing it to her. Isabelle's brow furrows as she reaches inside and pulls out books upon books, most of which were on survival and gardening skills so she could learn. But it was the ones at the bottom and caused her to smile brightly.
"Harry Potter!" she yells out, grabbing all seven books practically at once. "Aw, Daryl…you didn't have to find these for me."
He shrugs a bit, but she could see a hint of blush on his cheeks. "Ya said ya liked it. Thought I would get 'im while I was out. Give ya somethin' to do."
She grins and nods her head. "It will…I love these." She turns her smile to him and then gently leans over, before giving him a soft peck on the cheek. His beard was stubbly against her lips but she didn't mind. He stiffened at her touch but looked over at her afterward.
"What was that for?" he mumbles.
"Thank you. For this...these really are amazing."
Daryl nods quietly. "Well…yer welcome." He gets up after that and heads over to the door. Before he leaves, he turns to her and bites his thumb. "Get better quickly. We miss ya."
Isabelle chuckles a little. "I'll try."
After that, he nods and leaves, leaving her alone. She looks down at the Harry Potter books and then back at the door, before resting her head against the pillow. Quietly, she opens the first book and dives right back into the series she had loved reading as a child.
But she knew a certain archer was going to be on the back of her mind all day.
~%~
Over the next couple of weeks, it was a constant flow of work towards all the inhabitants of the zone. Everyone was trying to make weapons as quick as possible for a war with the Whisperers if they decided to attack early. The people who had been sick were healing. Lydia was out of quarantine, and so was Isabelle. Some people were still sick, so they were trying to find out what was causing it. So far, they hadn't been able to find anything, but they wouldn't stop looking until they did.
Daryl had to admit that he had gotten used to the quiet girl. She had taken up space in his and Lydia's home and provided a much-needed escape from the hectic shit that happened outside their walls. A few nights after she had gotten out, she had even made dinner for them.
Even though it had just been pasta and butter from the cows, he still felt thankful that it had been someone else taking care of them for once. She had said it was in thanks. Lydia had been okay with it as long as she ate, and Daryl had laughed.
After that, Daryl had noticed that she would talk with them a lot. Not as much as the others, but around him and Lydia, she would speak about her past, her likes and hobbies; really anything. She was slowly becoming more open. It made him feel good that she trusted them so willingly, but a part of him was still stressed that someone would use that to their advantage.
Eventually, she had come up with the idea that more people should take self-defense classes so they know how to protect themselves even if they didn't have a weapon. Within the next couple of days, they had been setting up classes for people to take, with Daryl often using Isabelle as a volunteer to show people what they needed to do.
Each time she learned something new, she impressed him. But at the same time, there was this voice in the back of his head that was saying someone was going to hurt her. Beta was going to come back. He would end them.
But Daryl knew he couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't. There wasn't a chance.
Early on one morning, he could see Isabelle had gone outside to practice, and her stance was great. She had all the moves down and seemed okay, and the fact that she was practicing made him even more grateful to have someone like her helping him. But before he could commend her on what she was doing, the doors suddenly opened to the safe zone.
Both turn their heads over and see Will and Tammy dragging two Whisperers into the zone with them, blood on their faces. The two had been charged with changing the water supply for the zones due to the virus' that had happened, but it seemed they had run into some trouble along the way.
"Will, Tammy, what happened?" Isabelle asks, running over. Daryl does the same, seeing how one of the Whisperers seemed passed out.
"We caught these fuckers outside pouring shit to lure walkers here," Will growls, dropping them to the ground. "I say we kill them right now." Daryl raises a hand to calm him down before glancing at the two people.
He then sinks down to their level. "How did ya know about the shit happenin' here?" he asks them. They don't speak. "Alright, if ya don't fucking tell me, I can assure ya yer death ain't gonna be fucking pretty. Tell me. Now!" he snaps, practically spitting on the awake Whisperer.
That seemed to have broken him, and the guy begins to talk, sweat running down his forehead.
"We were sent by Alpha to keep on luring walkers here...make more trouble...more than ever...you'll never know...we are everywhere," The Whisperer said sullenly, glaring at the archer.
Michonne nodded at him. Daryl turned to look at the other Whisperer and pulled her mask off, but it was just another Whisperer. Not Gamma, the one Aaron had talked about. Daryl sighs and looks to Michonne, who nods again. The others brought out the other Whisperers, and brought them all down to the cell, not even risking having them put somewhere else.
Once they were gone, Daryl turns to Isabelle, who was quiet.
"Ya okay?" he asks her gently.
She bites her lip and nods, before turning to him. "Yeah, I'm good."
After that, she leaves and heads off back to the house, closing the door behind her once she was inside. Daryl sighs and walks after her.
Why did he have a bad feeling about all of this?
~%~
Over the next couple of hours, Daryl hadn't heard anything from Isabelle. She had been staying in her room for the time being, and it felt strange. Usually, when it came to the girl, after something like this, she talked about the Whisperers, or whatever she felt about the situation.
But this time, she was quiet.
He had decided to take the time to rest on the outside, glancing at people as they passed. Lydia had gone to train, so it was just him and Dog relaxing next to him.
The animal had been taking more breaks lately, due to the craziness that had been happening, but Daryl didn't blame him. If he was doing as much tracking as the dog had been doing, he would want a break too.
While he was lost in his thoughts, the front door opened. He turns his head to see Isabelle come out with her bow, and a knife in her holster. His brow furrows as she walks down the stairs, and he stands up, heading after her. "Hey, what're ya doin'?" he asks her lowly.
He grabs her arm and she turns to him. "I'm just heading out…gonna do some patrols."
Daryl's brow furrows as he glances at her, and then around the sidewalk. He didn't see anyone looking at them, but he always felt like someone was watching. Daryl quietly pulls her aside, to the other end of the house, before turning to her. "The hell ya think yer doin'? 'Goin' on patrol?' Isabelle, ya ain't done anythin' by yerself here, let alone go on patrol. What's goin' on?"
She bites her lip and takes a deep breath, glancing at the ground. "Look." She looks back at him and then nods back towards the group near the front. "I feel horrible for what's been happening, Daryl."
His brow furrows. "What do ya mean?"
"The Whisperers keep trying to take us down from the inside-out, whether it's through sending herds to take down the walls or something else. It's slowly eating away at you all until you can't fight anymore. I hate to talk about her and...him...but Alpha and Beta are smart. Smarter than a lot of people give them credit for what they do…I'm partially deaf, not blind…I understand what's going on with Carol…I can see the pain she feels."
"Ya have barely spoken to her."
"You don't need to speak to someone to understand the pain they are going through," Isabelle states softly. "It's in the way she talks to others, walks, interacts…you don't need to have 20/20 vision to see that. And I'm sick of it. Lydia feels horrible about being here…but I feel even worse. The main reason they haven't even attacked fully is that the two of us are here…but if I leave, then I can-"
"Isabelle, ya ain't leaving," he states, his voice leaving no room for negotiation.
"Daryl-"
"Isabelle, if ya think I'm lettin' ya go out there on yer own, yer fuckin' insane. Ya ain't fuckin' goin' anywhere," he growls.
She looks up at him, trying to get through what she was trying to say, but her mind was fuzzy. She looks at the ground, and then back at him. "I'm not trying to leave, Daryl. I love this place. I love being here. I've never felt safer than I do here. But…someone needs to look for this herd. To figure out what we need to do to stop it. If I'm not here, you're out of at least the danger of me being here. I want to help and I'm sick of just…sitting inside and playing house…I've gotten sick and done nothing…I feel useless. I want to go out there and do shit."
Daryl sighs. "Belle, ya've done a lot-"
"But not enough," she interrupts. "Please, Daryl. Let me do this."
The way she was looking at him was hard to say no to. She had so much hope in her eyes and her lip was quivering like she would cry if he said no. Honestly, he shouldn't have been keeping her. She was a grown woman with her own life. He didn't control her. But she was his responsibility ever since bringing her in, and the last thing he wanted was for her to get hurt.
Or worse, bit.
Daryl looks down at her, biting the tip of his thumb. He glances at the gate, and then at her again, before letting out a deep breath. "Yer right. Carol ain't in a good place. A lot of people aren't. But I'm still not lettin' ya go out there alone. We go together."
Isabelle's brow raises. "Really? What about Lydia?"
"She can handle herself for the time being. She ain't a little kid. Ya need someone to watch yer back out there. I'll let people know, and we'll grab some stuff and go together."
Isabelle nods quietly before offering a soft smile. "Thank you, Daryl."
"Just don't get bit."
She snorts and nods.
Within a couple of minutes, he grabs a pack of supplies, both saying they were going out hunting to her family and to the others, before the two of them head off towards the gate, weapons in their hands.
xX AUTHORS NOTE Xx
Hey everyone. So if you noticed in the beginning of the chapter I didn't seem too thrilled and honestly, it's because I've just been going through a lot lately. School has been kicking my ass and the future seems really bleak right now because life after college is a scary thought but writing has been a coping mechanism. If you guys see more chapters come up pretty regularly now, it's because I need a way to deal with all these thoughts.
I just want to say thank you for everything so far and that I am really enjoying writing this. I've had such a bad time with stories in the past that I was so afraid to start writing again but seeing people check this out has made me want to keep writing. If it's not too much, please leave a review and let me know what you think because i'm being honest when I say seeing people's reactions is the best part of my day and really keeps me going, because not much else does half the time. Same with follows and favorites. All of you mean so much to me.
Thank you for everything, and I look forward to putting out the next chapter. Love you all :)
-Ali