Thank you to everyone who's reviewed/Favorited/followed! It means a lot to me that you like this story! I know the suspense is killing you all of Daryl and Natalie's confrontation. I promise you, it's coming next chapter! I hope you like this chapter! As always keep reviewing, and enjoy!
Daryl woke to soft light filtering through the window; he could see raindrops running down the windowpanes. Daryl rubbed his eyes as the realization set in that he was in a bedroom, barefoot and shirtless in bed. He slowly slid his feet over the side of the bed, taking a deep breath to stand. His hand shot out, grabbing the foot board of the sleigh bed to steady himself. Ol' Doc Kendall knew exactly how much morphine it took to knock Daryl on his ass, the man had been taking care of him off and on since he was for the better part of twenty years.
Daryl knew the layout of the house intimately, stumbling his way down the hall through the lightheaded feeling of the morphine wearing off, to the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face before drinking heavily from the water in his hands. The worst part about morphine was the cotton mouth; it felt like he'd ate a pillow for dinner. The glazed over eyes that stared back at him in the mirror didn't look like his own. They were haunted with everything he had witnessed over the last year and a half. Of course it had been a long time since he had looked in a mirror, with most of the mirrors in the prison being covered in grime and blood.
"Damn I need a haircut. Looks like Doc fixed me up alright. Best go find him and thank him." Daryl ran his fingers over the angry red suture lines in his armpit and on his shoulder; they were warm to the touch and tender. Daryl guessed he had been out overnight, given the look of his healing wounds. Daryl made his way through the house, his bare feet silent on the carpet and hardwood, as he searched the rooms for Doc Kendall. Finding no one in the house, Daryl made his way outside.
Leaning against the post near the porch railing, Daryl listened out into the quiet of the farm, hearing a familiar tink tink tink sound coming from the stable. The tranquility of the farm brought a sense of peace in Daryl, here he had always been safe, and this was the place that held some of the happiest moments in his life. Daryl crossed the dirt barn lot carefully measuring his steps as the drug finally wore off. Daryl sought out the metallic sound, finding Natalie seated on a stool in the stall, caring for a mare's hooves. Her back was turned to him; her dark hair billowing in the slight breeze as she picked the back right hoof. He had the sudden urge to tuck that hair over her shoulder and run his lips over her pulse point, making a bee line for her ear. Daryl beat down that urge; he had more important things to discuss with his ex than sex.
"Natty, we need to talk." Daryl huffed, chewing on his thumb nail, waiting for Natalie to answer. He saw her pop up, the horseshoe nail ring on her finger made his breath catch in his throat. When her blue eyes locked on his own, Daryl was confused for a moment as his brain registered this wasn't his Natalie, but she damn sure looked like her. The dumbfounded look on his face must have been clear as day, the young lady in front of him came around the horse grinning.
"Mr. Dixon, I'm not my mother." Allie brushed the dust on her hands off onto her jeans as she looked Daryl up and down. He was clearly confused as she brushed her hair behind her ears, tying it into a quick ponytail.
Daryl choked a bit when the girl said she wasn't her mother, he couldn't believe he was just moments ago fantasizing about kissing her neck. He had no idea she wasn't Natalie, so blame couldn't be laid could it?
"Your Granddaddy here? I wanted to thank him for patching me up." Daryl eyed the girl carefully; she was a spitting image of Natalie when he was engaged to her back when they were kids. The only difference was her eye color, everything else was dead on. Daryl would have to ask Natalie why her daughter wore the ring he had gave her when they were kids. It kind of bothered him a bit to see someone else wearing it.
"No sir, Grandpa Roy passed from cancer about two years ago now. You're welcome by the way." Allie pointed at Daryl's wounds, grinning. She was glad to see him up and moving around, as well as coherent enough to have a conversation, it meant the drugs were wearing off and he was on the mend.
"You girl? You patched me up? How old are ya and what's your name?" Daryl's eyes grew wide as silver dollars. She couldn't be more than fifteen could she? Had Natalie gotten married and moved on with another man? The thought of another man touching Natalie set his anger to boiling.
"Yes sir. I helped my mom patch you up. I put your chest drain in myself among other things. My name's Allie and I'm seventeen." Allie had to choose her words carefully, there were secrets that were not hers to reveal yet.
"You ain't gotta call me sir, Daryl works fine. Where's your mama at? Girl like you shouldn't be doing doctor's work at your age." Daryl had a bone to pick with Natalie, not her teenage daughter.
"She took your friend Rick back to your camp with his share of the two kills they brought in with you. Rick gave us half as payment for saving your life. Mom said she was going out to see if anyone else needed her help and would be back this afternoon. She told me to keep an ear out for you. I skinned and quartered them out in Grandpa's cooler so everyone could benefit from it. My mom was the same age I am when she started doctoring folks up." Allie was a bit irritated at Daryl's lack of gratitude for saving his life, much less the attitude he was throwing around her.
"You processed those kills by yourself? Allie girl, you got a lot of tricks up your sleeve just like your mama." Daryl sneered as he stalked towards the house. Right now he wanted a shower, and if Natalie was anything like her mother, there would be clean clothes for him in the bedroom he was staying in.
Allie bit the inside of her cheek as she watched Daryl walk away. The guy had some serious attitude issues; she hoped he was just grumpy from the meds wearing off. She couldn't really understand how her mom could be in love with a man like that. But time changes people, and that was something that couldn't be stopped. Allie grumbled to herself as she followed him to the house, if there was one thing she couldn't do was let Daryl starve after being unconscious all night. Her mother and Grandmother had taught her better than that.