Chapter 9
I sat by the dying fire after Daryl left. I starred at the dwindling flames as they danced back and forth. Nothing could hurt them. They didn't feel pain. In that moment I wanted to touch them; I wanted to hold them in my hands and just be there with them. I shook my head of the stupid thought. I heard dirt crunching and I grabbed my knife that was in my pocket. Shane rounded the corner of the RV and put his hands up.
"Just me." I lowered my hand and readjusted myself on the tree stump where I sat. He walked over to me and sat down next to me. Giving me my space, but I could still feel the warmth of his body heat.
"What a day." I said, looking back at the fire.
"Mmm." He said rubbing his mouth with his calloused hand. I saw him glance over at me. "You okay?" he asked, leaving me a bit confused.
"Why wouldn't I be okay?" I wanted him to ask me a different question, or go away. No, I didn't want him to go away; his presence made me feel safe. And right now, that's just what I needed.
"I heard you and Daryl fightin' just wanted to know if you were okay that's all." I admired his kindness, but I changed the subject.
"So what's up with that Rick guy? He gives me a bad vide. What's his deal?"
"Rick, uh, he's been in a coma for a while. We all thought he was dead when this whole thing started. He's only been here about two weeks; he's still getting adjusted to everything." I rolled my eyes but keep looking at the fire. "He's a good guy; he's just got some baggage."
"We all have baggage." I felt like I had to defend myself or something.
"Yeah. We all take care of each other here, so," I wanted to look at him but couldn't. "If you ever need anyone to talk to, about anything. I'm here." Wow what a shitty pick up line.
"So, if you all 'take care of each other' how come someone hasn't done anything about the guy that's beatin the shit outta his wife and kid?" I snapped. His head snapped up.
"How did you find out about that?" he asked.
"I'm not an idiot, or deaf. I saw the way that little girl clung to Daryl, I saw the bruises all over her. And what's her name, Carol? You tellin me you couldn't hear her screamin before?" I looked over at him a little enraged.
"It ain't our business." He said sternly.
"Not you, you're a cop aren't you Shane?" he nodded. "Then it is your business. Once a cop always a cop, right?" I waited for his response.
"Everything's different now. People are different. We're all different." he stared at the fire. I wanted to have it out with him right then and there; but I didn't.
"We'll I'm tellin you now, if I see that bastard come near that little girl with fury in his eyes, I won't hesitate to go after him." I poked at the fire more predominately now. "I know what it's like at the end of that rope, and I didn't have nobody to stand up fer me." He was silent. Why was I even tellin him this? He didn't care.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that, but believe me if ever he touches Sophia we're all gonna have it out with em. Some of us, more than others." I watched him stare off into the fire; almost looking through it.
"Well," I paused for a brief second. "good. I didn't want to have to be the only one to beat the holy hell outta him." I scoffed. "Be glad Merle isn't here."
"Oh I am."
"You didn't know him," I whipped my head around to look at him; "You only knew the side that he wanted you to know. Did you know that he was a Marine? Or that he pull four little kids out of a burning school house?" he stunk of shame and sweat. "You all might think that he was a racist redneck, with no manners and a dirty mouth, and you'd be right about all those things; but you didn't know him the way I did." He laughed a little bit. "What?" I demanded.
"You; yer talkin like he's dead. You don't know if he's dead or not." I looked back at the fire and scratched my forehead.
"He might as well be." The replay of him being taken away still hit me hard. "You weren't there⦠you didn't see what I saw." I rubbed my arms trying to fight away the goose bumps.
"Well, if I've learned anything from bein' a cop is that cha can't lose hope. Now I might think he's an ignorant bastard, but he's still your family and you don't give up on family." He was right; it was just easier to give up than to push on not knowing if he was dead or alive. Shane brushed his hands across his jeans and slowly stood from the log that he sat on. "You should go and get some sleep. Ya look like hell kid." I rolled my eyes.
"Thanks." He chortled and walked away. "Shane," I called out after him and he stopped in his tracks to turn and look at me. "Thank you, for saving me in the woods." He smiled and nodded, and then entered his tent and I was alone. I glanced up at the stars that looked like fire flies in the sky. It had been so long since I just looked at the stars. I guess it was because I was too scared to ever look away from what was around me. "Ah shit." I said to myself and blew raspberries through my lips and kicked some dirt over the nearly dead fire and looked over at the truck. My heart jumped a little bit; I didn't want to have to face him, not after what I'd said. "Here goes nothin." And I cautiously walked over to the tent.
I could hear him breathing heavily inside but I just stood there outside, biting at my lip. The rustling of his sleeping bag startled me a bit, sending my heartbeat up to speed. I took in a deep breath and unzipped the tent as quietly as I could and stepped inside and quietly closed it behind me. The tent floor was covered in blankets and sleeping bags. I slipped my shoes off and tore off my tee shirt and tossed it on the ground. The tank top I wore underneath was filthy and disgusting; but we'd been dirtier. I looked over my shoulder to look at Daryl. He was facing the other direction and he breathing was slow; he was defiantly asleep. I didn't feel as uncomfortable crawling into his sleeping bag knowing he was asleep.
Whenever I was settled in my bag and zipped it up tight I closed my eyes and kept my back to his. He moved around more and I held my breath. I could feel him turn over and move in closer to me. I didn't want to move from this spot, I wanted to stay like this forever.
"I'm so glad I found you." I heard him whisper through my hair and wrapped his arm around my waist. I turned over so that I could look at him. "D'you know how long I searched fer you?" he asked, brushing hair away from my eyes. A tear climbed over his thumb and he brushed it away. I touched his chest and took in a fistful of his tee shirt. "Kris," I looked into his eyes, "I promise I'm never gonna let you go again. And I'll always chase after you." My lower lip quivered and I nodded my head.
"I missed you." I whispered and closed my eyes to prevent myself from crying any further.
"Baby I missed you too." He said, this time kissing my lips softly. I shifted in the sleeping bag so that I was laying up against him, feeling his body heat against mine. He stroked my hair as I fell asleep in his arms.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN WAY TO LONG SINCE I'VE UPDATED THIS STORY, HOPEFULLY SOME OF YOU GUYS ARE STILL OUT THERE AWAITING ON AN UPDATE. I'M SO SORRY IT'S TAKEN ME THIS LONG, I'VE JUST HAD A LOT OF THINGS ON MY PLATE THAT KEPT ME FROM WRITING. HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOY THIS CHAPTER. I'M GONNA TRY AND HAVE ANOTHER UPDATE FOR YOU GUYS WITHIN THE WEEK. XOXO
