He felt like shit.
Without even moving, he knew he hurt all over. Turning his head slightly to the side, he realized he was in the prison, laying in his bed, only his arm was covered in copper hair. Puzzled, he looked down a little and saw that Katelyn was asleep in a chair with her head resting next to him on the bed, and her hand was holding his limply.
Even though he was in pain, he smiled a little and tried to sit up.
That was a bad idea.
Searing, pain shot through his chest and shoulder, making him gasp for air. The arm that she was laying on, flailed uncontrollably, waking her up with a start. Daryl squeezed his eyes shut against the pain, hoping that if he breathed deep enough, it would dissipate.
It wasn't.
Katelyn was startled awake by Daryl's movement, her eyes flying to his face to see it scrunched up in agony.
"Shit." She mumbled, thinking she had hurt him, "I'm sorry baby. I'm sorry."
Pulling away, she was surprised when he grabbed her arm to stop her.
"No." Daryl muttered through clenched teeth.
"Okay. I won't go. What d'you need?" She whispered, putting her hand back on his forehead to soothe him.
She tried to turn to look at her, but he couldn't because pain shot through him.
"Fuck!" He gritted out in agony.
"Hershel!" Katelyn yelled, realizing that he needed more medication.
Maggie bolted into the room ahead of Hershel. Seeing the look on Daryl's face was enough. She knew exactly what was wrong and ran over to the table where the syringes were filled and waiting. Hurrying over to Daryl and Katelyn, she stuck the needle into the I.V. tube and injected.
"It'll only be a few seconds. Hang in there." Katelyn said, trying to keep him soothed. She could feel the tension in his body. His fists were clenched and every muscle was tight and hard.
She waited, counting in her head.
She knew the minute the medication hit because he let out the breath he'd been holding, and his muscles began to relax. All the while she brushed his hair back from his face.
"Better?" She asked, when he opened his eyes.
He turned to look at her, a small smile on his face. She could tell he was three sheets to the wind because his eyes were glassy.
"Hi." He said, reaching up to touch her face.
"High is right." Katelyn said, chuckling at the effects of the morphine.
"I think I was shot." Daryl mumbled, looking comically confused.
"Yeah, you were." Katelyn looked at Maggie who was grinning while answering him.
Leaning forward, she kissed him on the forehead.
"Hey. You missed." He said with a big stupid grin on his face.
"Wow. He's gone." Maggie chuckled.
Katelyn kissed him gently on the lips but pulled away before he could grab her.
"Nice try but you don't feel as well as you think you do. You're just on medication." Katelyn warned.
"Come on. Gimme a kiss." He looked hammered as he looked up at her with his lips pursed. It was hard to keep a straight face when he looked so adorably silly.
"Maybe later, when you're feeling a little better." She replied, "You need to get some rest."
She could already see the meds were dragging him under. His eyelids were drooping and his speech was slurred.
"I'm sssorry." He mumbled to her, "ssso tired."
Katelyn smirked lovingly and pulled the blanket up around him.
When she looked back down, he was asleep.
##############################################################################
Katelyn found Rick outside in the courtyard.
"Hey." She said, walking over to stand next to him.
"How's he doin?" Rick asked, concerned about Daryl.
"He'll be okay. He's just in a lot of pain." She said, looking over at Rick and smiling, "Thank you."
He looked up at her and smiled back.
"He'd have done the same for us." Rick said.
"Yeah, he would have." She agreed, thinking back to when he had done just that, for her.
There was an uncomfortable silence that followed, neither one knowing what to say. She really wanted to talk to him about her father and their plan but was afraid to bring it up.
He beat her to the punch.
"What do you think would be the best way in to Woodbury?" Rick asked.
Katelyn was surprised, but immediately began thinking.
"Well, he's probably solidified the defenses by now so we're going to have to use a ruse to get in…and that's dangerous." She stated, putting her fingers through the fence to lean it a bit.
"He's seen Glenn and Maggie, and Michonne, and you're out of the question…" Rick began thinking, pausing for a moment before speaking again. "He's never seen me."
Turning to look at Katelyn she began shaking her head.
"There's no way. You could be perceived as a threat to him. He's just as likely to kill you as he is take you in." She answered emphatically.
"Then who?" He asked passionately, "This mission is important for everyone."
"I know. I get it, but if we send any of the men in there it might not end well." She said.
Rick's head popped up suddenly with an idea.
"Carol." Rick said, his eyes wide as the idea sank in, "She's the least threatening one of us."
"I don't know." Katelyn said, thinking about poor Carol in the hands of her father.
"We should at least approach her…ask her." Rick said. If so much wasn't at stake, he would never suggest this, but this was a unique situation.
"I don't like this." Katelyn said, sighing as she followed Rick inside.
######################################################################
Carol was sitting in with Daryl when Rick and Katelyn found her.
She smiled up at them but then saw their serious expressions.
"What's wrong?" Carol asked, hurrying over to them.
"We need to talk to you 'bout somethin'" Rick said, sitting down on the bench.
Carol sat down slowly next to him.
"We need someone to infiltrate Woodbury so we can find that flash drive." Rick explained, "If we send in any of the men, he might see them as a threat. He's already seen Michonne and Katelyn can't go back…"
"…and you want me to infiltrate." Carol finished for him.
"I wouldn't normally ask this. I know it's dangerous, but Madeline needs that flash drive…for all of us." Rick stated emphatically.
Carol chewed on her lip, raising her hand to her chin as she paced. She was terrified, but she also understood the importance of the mission. Thinking about all of the people that she cared about who had died, she didn't see how she could say no. This could save everyone.
"Okay. I'll do it." She whispered, turning around to face them.
Rick was surprised. Grasping her shoulders in his hands he looked intensely into her eyes, "Are you sure?"
She nodded, closing her eyes to gather her courage.