Hello fellow fanfiction writers and readers, here is another chapter of this story that I hope you guys will enjoy. As usual I own nothing except new characters and ideas, I make no money from writing, and all rights go to the rightful owners. Thanks for reading, please leave a review!
I woke before the sun rose, I noticed my hand was still on his chest feeling the steady rhythm of his heart. I was a tad shocked that his hand was placed atop of my own. I needed to pee and have a talk with my brothers before we leave. I slip from bed but getting my hand from his was a task in its own, but I managed. The house was silent as I walked through it touching things as I passed, small intricate reminders of my childhood and all the fun times we had growing up here. Abby was in the kitchen packing some small bags up when I walked in, Kyle and the boys are at the dining table all talking.
I snorted, "Am I interrupting a meeting of the minds?" the smile was heard in my voice as Kyle winked pulling out another chair for me. I sit with my family knowing we needed to talk about things before I had to go. We are a day behind and something tells me Rick will be looking for us.
Abby takes a set next to Kyle, "I have to go, ya'll know that right?" I asked them trying to make eye contact with each one as they stared me down.
My sigh can be heard on the west coast, "I have noticed since my arrival you lot have stopped being leaders and are back to over protective older brothers. You have neglected your duties here and it has been because of me, plus I am needed in Alexandria. I am important there and not a distraction, I love you boys to the moon and back, but I have to go."
They all just looked at me with different degrees of understanding, Bobby stood. "It's that man upstairs ain't it?" Brice just yanked him down his ass hittin the chair hard.
I narrowed my eyes, "You leave Daryl out of this, he is a damn good man. He has been through more than any of us and you will shut that trap, or I will shut it for you Bobby. He is important to me."
Abby spoke up, "Cami, they understand even if they are not showing it. They all got girls now, I married Kyle months ago. They will not begrudge you anything they all assumed ya'll were a couple."
I smiled, "They did but he and I are friends right now. But we're leaving, and I don't want you thinking I don't love ya'll or am trying to escape as fast as I can. We are ten hours away add in a bike repair after we hike to it's location than an eight-hour drive back if all goes well. By now I am sure Rick has sent people out for us." each in turn gave a single nod as we talked for a little longer.
Kyle looked behind me seeing this I turned seeing Daryl "Come in have some food before you both head on home." Abby smiled starting to plate him some food she was passing it to him as he took a seat next to me, his dark eyes moving to my own.
"Morning." even just waking up his voice was groggy with sleep, but he was ready even his bow was across his back as he ate.
I answered, "Morning, sorry I didn't wake you but since you seldom get enough sleep I didn't think it would hurt you none." but the bags are still under his eyes, he nods but says nothing going back to his food.
Kyle cut in, "We will send scouts to you, well it will be two of us at a time. But you should get going soon it is now about ten in the morning and ya'll have a long journey."
It was later than I thought as I stand taking the offered pack from Abby who hugged and wished us well, Daryl was shaking hands with each of my brothers each saying something low before moving on to me hugging, I wanted to cry.
I did as we walked from the house heading towards the gate "I will bring her back." Daryl took the motorcycle part from some guy I had never seen before as my brothers nodded.
I walked next to Daryl with my gun strapped to my back as we took to the woods heading back the way we came, which means walkers after the bridge. The sun beat down on us as we moved tree branches from our way until we came to the large opening to the river. Lone walkers roamed as we moved together keeping to the tree line trying to avoid detection at all cost, the bridge was in front of us as I glanced behind us every few seconds to ensure none are coming from behind.
The bridge was not as sturdy as it once was, the drop wouldn't be bad the river was deep under it. It shook and made noises that had me shaking as I moved slowly over it even when a snap was heard, it was loud.
"Don't look down."
"I am not scared of the fall, it's those walkers I am scared of." in front of us walkers roam closer seeing us, hearing the snap of the tightly strung rope. He grabbed me pulling me the rest of the way until my body was over the bridge, he looked around there was no way we would make it past, again. I took my knife out holding it like he showed me in one hand was the knife in the other was my extra pack filled with things I needed.
He looked ready to hide me, "No one can make it out here alone, don't you dare try it Dixon." I practically growled at the untamed man, his face lit up with a smirk.
He retorted right before sticking his blade into a very moist looking walkers head, "Never could."
We just needed a path and once thing became silent we could make it further into the cover of the woods, I slung the backpack as far as I could in the general direction of the woods. I did what I had too, the sound was the most disturbing thing it sounded like something being removed harshly from a wet tight hole, I just followed his lead.
I pulled the gun out bracing the hilt against my right shoulder aiming for the three advancing on Daryl, the sound echoed but the first was down, then another, and another but soon enough we flee into the woods with the sounds of walkers behind us, but in the commotion, I get myself lost, with Daryl nowhere in sight as the panic rises.
I stop dead scanning the area surrounding me, but I knew I couldn't stay in a single place, I turned trying to double back before skidding to a halt I was even more lost now since I didn't make it back to the clearing, I could feel the prickles of tears as I moved through the dense forest only stopping to look for Daryl, I wanted to scream for him but that would only bring walkers my way.
I watched as a few lone walkers roamed but not close to my location, I moved faster away from them when I noticed it was near twilight, but I was noticing the trees not as close together now.
All those thoughts ceased as my body was knocked into the dirt by a man with long black hair, his face lean with a large "W" carved into his forehead. I kicked hard sending him flailing back before scrambling to my feet, but three on one was no match.
The men smiled moving around me, "What we got here, a little girl lost in the woods?" I wanted gag and cry at the way he looked at me, I was so stupid to leave Alexandria, stupid for getting myself lost in the woods.
"Owen, take care of them walkers. Her screams will only attract them."
The one with long hair was in front of me a blade to my skin, it moved down slowly, "We can free you."
"Leave me alone." I near sobbed but this didn't seem to affect them this even might be all fun and games to these beasts.
I could fight back, and I did but as I was being pressed into the cold hard dirt nothing mattered but getting this asshole off me, I screamed as loud as I could trying to attract walkers to us but soon enough the side of my face is pulsing in pain.
He nearly cooed after punching me, "When there's an opening, we'll make a break for that path. Hmm?"
I screamed, "No, I'll just slow you down." but I saw the path, I could run if I just managed to get free. I calmed down thinking my brothers always dog piled on me, to me this was no different. I rammed my knee up at the same time my head slammed into his sending him back as I stabbed the other man in the leg before ripping it out, snatching my bag and taking to the path sobbing like a child. I ran wanting to scream but staying silent running, hearing their own footfalls behind me when I slammed into a wall, but the wall hand hands as they pawed at my face.
I screamed shoving him back only to see it was Daryl, then I was on him hugging him close. "Three men, they tried, they're behind me." pointing to the men smiling behind us, I blinked, and his bow was out, and an arrow flew.
"Get behind me." he moves firing again taking the limping one down, but the one who tried to hurt me was gone, vanished.
Daryl moves me back to better cover, "Hey, you good?"
I sobbed, "No."
His arms come around me pulling me to his chest, "Come here." I never wanted to leave these arms, so for now I just hold on to him.
But soon enough we must move, "I was trying to find you, I swear. I turn, and you were gone, I doubled back to the clearing and nothing but your extra bag."
"I doubled back and became even more lost; those men have big W's craved in their foreheads. I was so scared, I stabbed one, kicked another in the nuts and ran for it."
"He do this?" his voice tight with anger as I gave a nod, for a spit second, he looked to leave me here and find the last one, but I held on.
Pleading with my eyes, "Please, don't leave me here alone." he saw something since he just dragged me up the path for a while until we came across the covered bike, I just sit watching him work, the way his muscles flexed, tight then relaxed with every movement. He would turn to check on me and smile seeing me already staring like a fool, but after another few hours he sighs.
"We need to get to a safer spot, come on," I took his hand as he helped me up and on to his bike, the cool night air hit us as he drove seeing walkers but no herds, I just held on with my head against his back every so often he would touch my hand letting me know he was still there, even though I was impersonating a baby Kola bear. cricket's chirped but the only sound other than a few moans is the bike as it makes its way home.
About two hours from home a car was coming towards us, they saw us, and we saw them, but Daryl still pulled over aiming his revolver as the car pulled to the other side, but when he saw Michonne, Tara, and Aaron he lowered his gun.
Tara started in, "Rick and Deanna are freaking out, oh god her face."
It must be bad as Aaron gives Daryl a look as he and Michonne talk to him while Tara fusses over the issue that is my face, "Guys with something craved into their foreheads, sick fucks." she went on as she dabbed at my eye with a wet nap, she didn't move when Daryl and crew walked over to us.
Michonne touched it, "Are you okay?"
"I am now."
Aaron smiled, "Get on that bike, we will trail you home."
I had no problems doing that, as the sun rose we entered the gates of Alexandria. Deanna called a meeting, she was more determined now we needed to learn to protect ourselves.
I just sit watching Rick talking to Daryl, Enid holds Judith her eyes on Carl as they smile at each other, young and alive.
I only found peace and quiet once was in my home, he said nothing to me since we left the woods, with his door shut I took it as a sign he didn't want to be bothered, maybe I had caused him enough troubles.
So, I left him alone and he was silent as we passed in the halls, ate dinner together he was sullen, Aaron and Carol said he was upset with himself for not protecting me, that it had nothing to do with him being mad at me. So, I say enough is enough the silence is over as I grab my sweats tossing them on and a ripped tee, next was my scissors maybe he wanted a haircut.
I walked out seeing him laying on his bed watching the ceiling as if it had answers, "Hey, you want a haircut? Just a trim?" I offered, his head turned slowly until his eyes fell on the silver in my hands, he moved off the bed in only his sweats he didn't slam the door in my face.
"Sure, but just a trim." I smiled leading him downstairs to the kitchen area, he sat as I combed through his hair looking at how much to take off.
He asked, "You do this often?" I liked the gruffness in his voice, he had an accent as well as I did but they were not the same.
I conceded, "No, you're the first to let me after I nearly cut off all of Denise's hair. It was on accident I never meant to take off so much then it was me trying to fix it, well it was out of control. But you saw Denise it grew back out and looks great." the truth shall not set you free, because I felt him tense up before he bolted from the seat.
I stomped my foot, "Get back here and take your haircut like a man, damnit."
But he backed away, "You know what Cami, I am good."
I gave chase as he run into the den, I smiled, "Afraid of me?"
He chuckled, "No, but I am not in the mood to let Kruger lose on my hair."
"It's on!" I jumped the sofa in midair tossing a pillow at his head, it nailed him, but he recovered running from me, but the chase was on, he couldn't hide in this house. I crept through the downstairs trying to be silent, I checked the spare room but nothing when something hit my ass, but I turned nothing was there. I was going to lose this game. I walked up the stairs the scissors forgotten in the den, room after room was checked but nothing. I entered the loft leading to the hall. He jumped me from nowhere his hands pinning mine to the wall as I just had a slight panic attack, my mind trying to come up with where he hid.
"The hell you come from?!" I gasped.
"I was hiding from you and your death shears."
I narrowed my eyes, but seeing the humor and how he let his guard down made it hard to be pissy with him "I will just do it as you sleep, can't run away then."
But he said nothing, he just watched me looking at my lips move, I never noticed him leaning in until it happened.
His lips touched mine.
