Thanks for the reviews. They mean a ton as usual.
I know it's been way too long since I updated, but I was out spreading my grandma's ashes. I hate excuses but the story might get a little rough. I just got back and found my cat dead last night so I'm still trying to overcome that. It was a wonderful 17 years while it lasted.
Daryl was right. Rick wanted him for the execution. What could they say to the other?
She watched Rick, Shane, Daryl and Randall walk out to the barn where he was sentenced to be shot. Apparently being shot was the most humane way to deal with Randall. So Lily waited in her room to hear the shot, but there wasn't one.
The four of them came out of the barn and it looked like Carl was out there with them.
"What happened?" she asked when Daryl came back in the room.
"Carl showed up. Rick couldn't do it with his kid watchin'."
"Should he have done it with Carl watching?"
It was obvious Daryl didn't want to hear what Lily thought because he'd already heard it. "No. I don't want to hear it," he said when she looked at him through squinted eyes. "You asked me to do what was right and I am. This kid could turn just as easily as that Stuart kid you told me about. I can't have that threat hanging over my head." His expression was one not wanting to argue. "Bed now."
"Not until you lie down."
Daryl huffed agitated she was being stubborn but he was not wanting to fight so he kicked his boots into the corner and jumped on the bed patting the spot next to him.
Lily just hoped he'd actually sleep tonight seeing as he'd spent the last few nights on the chair in the corner.
As she crawled in the bed, she noticed how he wasn't crawling under the covers. She made to ask him why but he was already going to respond.
"I'll crawl in bed, but I ain't gettin' under the covers," he said matter-of-factly.
She turned away and smiled. In these crazy times, at least he knew where he stood on things.
It didn't take long to fall asleep for either of them but it also didn't take long for them to wake.
A scream woke Lily from her sleep.
"The hell was that?" Daryl asked groggy from sleep.
"Dale," Lily breathed. Daryl gaped at how fast she ran out of the house in the direction of the scream taking out the new knife he'd given her.
"Hold up!" he shouted at her as he started running. He gawked at she wasn't even wearing shoes. Truth be told she didn't even realize it until she kicked the walker.
Lily kicked the walker so hard in the head Daryl was surprised it wasn't dead...again. Daryl then tackled it to the ground killing it on the spot.
Lily regretted running out of the house barefoot because now all the adrenaline was gone and she was hurting everywhere but someone was hurt and she would do everything she could do to help him. She tried to hide the pain overcoming her sadness and all that came out was her labored breathing but it was covered by Dale's panting and moaning.
Dale's hand was warm in hers and she held it. No tears. She wouldn't cry. Not in front of him. Not to show him it was hopeless.
"It's ok," she whispered. 'I sound like Daryl,' she thought. "It's ok."
"Help! Over here!" Daryl shouted. "Hang in there buddy."
The group had gathered around Dale and were staring in horror at his abdomen which was bleeding everywhere. There was only one way out for him now, but Rick was determined to fight it.
"Get Hershel!" he shouted.
Daryl met her eyes asking if Rick's efforts were going to prove fruitful. She gave him the slightest nod telling him no.
When Hershel convinced Rick that it was hopeless, Rick backed away from everyone screaming. He took out his gun to end Dale's suffering but he just couldn't do it.
Dale's eyes were pleading with him just to end it, but Rick couldn't do it. Daryl took the gun from him ready to do what Rick couldn't.
"Sorry brother," Daryl spoke before the shot rang through the night. Suddenly Dale's hand became heavier in hers. Lily closed his eyes before she stood and walked away from the death. The death would never end.
She got up from the ground fighting the aches and tears. They pulled her back down but she pushed herself to her feet and made for the house. She thought she could at least make it back to the house before collapsing but she was wrong. The ground grew closer as she fell crumpling to a heap overcome by the pain.
It took a moment for anybody to notice her, but when she was spotted, Lori ran over.
"Lily! Lily! What's wrong?! Over here!" she called nervously. "Get Hershel!"