Chapter 8:We Are These Walls
Blurb: Hi everyone! Thank you so much for your reviews and follows. They are so encouraging! I hope you continue to enjoy the story. I really love writing it. ~This chapter is titled after The Deep- Data Romance.~
Ellen sat in the dirt. The sound of gunfire still rang through her ears. Silent tears streamed down her face, coupling with blood from the gash in her head. The streams made their way across her cheek. She felt hollow. The final bullet reverberated through her bones and left her numb. They had worked so hard to save Sophia. It had taken a single bullet to take her away forever.
Carol's sobs were deep and patchy. Daryl struggled to lift her off the ground, encouraging her to stand on her feet and get away from the scene. He cooed down at her, "Don't look. Don't look." She fought to break free from Daryl's grasp, flinging her arms away from him. He eventually released his grip on her. Finally free, Carol jogged away in a fit of grief.
Daryl was left to stare after Carol, unable to provide the protection he sought to give her. Ellen thought he looked like a knight who had lost his princess- his purpose suddenly torn from him. He circled around to face the barn, turning away from Carol. Frustrated, Daryl took to pacing like a prowling panther- settling to gravitate around where Ellen sat in the dirt.
The next thing Ellen knew, Beth was approaching the barn. Rick reached an arm out to stop her, but she was inconsolable. Driven by grief, Beth moved towards the pile of walkers that lay in the dirt. Beth knelt down to one walker in particular- a woman. Ellen realized then that it was Mrs. Greene, Beth's mother.
Beth turned the walker from its side so that it was no longer facing the ground, but instead laying on it's back. Suddenly, the walker opened its eyes and reached for Beth, growling as it grabbed her arms and pulled her forward. Beth's scream was delayed, as if she had been unable to process her mother's attack. The situation clicked, and her screams came with full force.
Everyone was in motion then. Rick and Shane made to wrestle Beth away from the walker, pulling them apart. Everyone else crowded around the pair, attempting to help in whatever way they could.
Ellen, alarmed by the scene and wishing to help Beth, had pushed herself up off the ground. Standing now, she took a step forward to aid them. Daryl's arms barricaded Ellen from proceeding further. Feeling helpless, she whimpered quietly. Just watching from the sidelines with someone she loved in danger- it was too painful. The entire reason she wanted to learn how to shoot- to survive- was so she could PROTECT them.
The walker's arm swiped at Beth, missing her arm by a mere few inches. Ellen screamed and fought against Daryl's iron hold. Daryl was patient, allowing her to struggle against him and refusing to break free. Even when the walker got closer to Beth's leg and Ellen jerked against Daryl's chest more urgently, his grip on her did not loosen. He was a wall she could not breach. Ellen barely registered Daryl's baritone words of comfort as he whispered into her hair, her neck, and her ears. She continued to struggle, but the fight left her as soon as Beth was separated from the walker… and then she really heard his words. "Hush, Peaches. You 'done enough. No more 'a this. You can't be strong all the time, filly. Let the others take care 'a this. You're hurt. You can't help her now. Please, Ellen. You won't help anyone by getting' in the way. Just stay put. Stay."
Daryl's words continued on as Ellen stilled. She silently watched as Andrea effectively put down the walker with a scythe to the head. Ellen let a breath of relief pass through her lips. She hadn't realized that she had been holding her breath.
With Ellen still and the walker down, Daryl seemed to realize Ellen wasn't going to rush into the middle of the fray. He eyed her cautiously before releasing his hold on her, "You gonna do anything stupid?"
Ellen shook her head passively. She was done.
Accepting her answer, Daryl swiftly removed his arms from her. It was almost too fast, as if he had suddenly realized her skin was as hot as fire. Confused by his sudden withdrawal, Ellen turned to face Daryl. She searched his face for an answer, but he wouldn't return her gaze.
Daryl didn't look at her when he said the words, "You need to get checked out. You're bleeding pretty bad."
Ellen suddenly noticed the blood that now covered the chest of Daryl's shirt. Alarmed for him, Ellen almost stepped forward to look for a wound on his torso. But then she realized, the blood on his shirt was at the same level her head would have been had their bodies been standing flush against each other… which they had been during Ellen's manic struggle.
Ellen slowly lifted a few delicate fingers to palpate the surface of her head. Her hand was met with hot liquid, which matted her hair. Ellen looked up at Daryl, "It's bad?"
Daryl looked at Ellen then, seeking to reassure her, "Ain't nothin' can't be fixed."
His gaze shifted away from hers as the conversation dissipated, "Lets go up to the house. 'Won't have you fallin' on your ass on the way there."
As Daryl lead Ellen towards the house, the rest of the group seemed to follow his lead. The scene by the barn was concluded. There was nothing to be done about it now.
Ellen had been following behind Daryl. Suddenly, he sidestepped her and allowed her to pass, choosing instead to follow behind. He wanted to analyze her current state for himself. He also wanted to be in a prime position to catch her if she should faint on the way up to the house.
Ellen didn't question Daryl's actions. She let him follow behind her without a backwards glance. If he wanted to be awkward and overprotective, she wouldn't stop him.
Ellen heard the group bantering a few yards behind her. Shane was insisting that the Greene family knew Sophia was in the barn and that they had kept it a secret. Hershel stated he had no idea that Sophia was in the barn. Maggie defended her father's answer.
Ellen had reached the porch steps of the house now. She pulled one foot up off the ground and placed it on the first step, hesitating before moving forward. As she pushed up to reach the next step, She felt Daryl's hand steadying her from the small of her back. He grunted his approval when she made it up the first step and nodded for her to continue. Daryl's focus was completely on her climbing the stairs. He ignored the approaching chaotic storm that Shane was bringing toward them.
"That's bullshit! I think that you knew and you wouldn't tell any of us!"
Hershel explained that Otis put walkers in the barn and he may have done so with Sophia before his death. Shane was not convinced, "What do I look like? Do I look like an idiot to you?"
Hershel fired back, "I don't care what you believe!"
Shane advanced on Hershel, almost as if he were about become physical with the elderly man. Maggie stepped between them and slapped her hand across Shane's face, "Don't touch him! Haven't you done enough?"
Silence followed as all eyes shifted towards Ellen, who had just made it to the top step of the porch. Her back was to the group, and she didn't turn to face them. She could feel their eyes on her… pitying her…judging her… fearing her.
Daryl met Shane's eyes with a cold glare.
Shane wasn't put off by Daryl's show of protection. He fired off on Ellen, "I bet the reason Ellen came at me outside the barn was because SHE KNEW Sophia was holed up 'n there with the rest 'a them! She didn't want me to discover her! That's right, ain't it?"
Ellen was livid. She spun on her heel to face Shane, peering down at him from her position on the porch, "I RISKED MY LIFE to look for Sophia! How DARE YOU!"
"Well, the way I remember it, you weren't all that helpful out there with Daryl, were you, Ellen?" Shane fired back.
Ellen was silent. She didn't have a good come back for that. Because Shane was dead on, and he would twist whatever she said in defense.
Daryl spoke up, "Ellen killed her first walker that day. That ain't somethin' a girl with a secret…even as big as Sophia, would be willin' ta do. Not on this farm."
Shane grew more urgent, "Man, you don't see because you don't wanna see! The girl's rabid! Take a look at her now!"
Ellen grew self conscious, willing the others not to do as Shane bid. She knew she looked a horrible mess. Blood and tears streaked her face, dirt covered her clothes, her hair was matted in drying blood, and her fingernails were dark with soil and flesh. She probably resembled a walker more now than a living being.
Daryl didn't waver from Shane. He had positioned himself a step bellow Ellen and now stood with his broad shoulders shielding her from sight. "You best rethink who you call rabid. Ellen was protectin' her own. You ain't even worthy to be in her presence."
Daryl turned from Shane then, lightly beckoning Ellen to enter the house. He almost let a gentle hand graze her arm, to lead her into the house, but he pulled back. Ellen obeyed Daryl's silent command as Shane called for them, "Hey! I ain't finished with you! This is bullshit! You can't just walk away without settling this!"
Maggie countered, "Ain't nothin' to be settled. You need to leave."
Hershel met Shane's stern gaze, "I want you off my property. You don't belong here. I mean it- off my land."
The rest of the Greene family followed after Daryl inside the house. Shane was left to talk to Rick outside.
Ellen turned to look at Daryl. His muscles were tense and he was still positioned between her and the door, which separated her from Shane. Daryl's back was to her and he seemed lost in thought as the rest of the Greene family pooled into the living room. Ellen reached her hand out to lightly place her palm on Daryl's shoulder, trying to get his attention. Daryl's body jerked almost as soon as her hand reached his shoulder. He pulled away from her quickly and his suddenly frightened gaze met hers.
Ellen's hand was caught in mid-air, floating between her and Daryl. Ellen wasn't sure whether to retract her hand or reach out to him again. Daryl seemed to realize Ellen wasn't a threat and straightened himself. He mumbled an apology to her quietly, trying not to cause a scene, "Sorry…"
Ellen let it go, retracting her hand from him. She searched Daryl's face as he righted himself- going on as if nothing unusual had happened. She had never realized the extent of Daryl's mistrust of others. It was this sudden display of defensiveness that gave Ellen the clue she needed to piece together the depth of Daryl's scars. His scars… Ellen had seen them after Andrea shot him. Ellen had only assumed then that Daryl was abused as a child. But his actions now confirmed it for her.
The man before her was not as strong as he led on. He had been battered and bruised, and it had left him scarred. The depth of this was more than physical- it was affecting Daryl's actions and mentality as well. He had been broken.
Ellen made a silent vow to do everything in her power to build this man up. Daryl may be broken now, but it was in her very nature to heal. As a nurse, and as a person… He wouldn't push her away. She would be strong for him.