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When Daryl woke in the morning he felt horrible. His chest hurt and he was angry. How dare she hate him. It wasn't his fault Sophia had been killed. She told him she loved him, she lied. He should be the one mad at her. He pushed himself to sit up. He frowned as he snatched up his toothbrush and toothpaste. He changed his clothes, brushed his teeth then set out to the camp. He was going to bury Sophia, get his brother and leave. She wasn't in love with him, that was fine. He wasn't in love with her.
" Fuckin stupid ass." He muttered to himself as he stalked around.
He should have known better than to let himself believe she really cared about him. Merle had been right, no one would care about him but his brother. He narrowed his eyes as he saw people moving slowly around by the camp fire. His stomach felt hollow and he was searching for her. He did not want to see her. Secretly he was scared that if he saw her, he'd fall apart. He was sure his heart would stop beating immediately and the breath would be sucked right out of his body. In front of people though, he was just going to be Daryl, angry redneck.
" Daryl? You gonna to bury her?" Rick asked as he came to up him.
" Where the hell you think I'm goin?" He muttered.
" I brought a shovel and grabbed a sheet. We can wrap her in it." He said. Daryl sighed but nodded. The two walked quietly through the camp. Carol and Jillian were nowhere to be seen. He was searching without moving his head.
" Haven't heard from Carol or Jillian yet. Do you think we should wake them up to see her before we bury them?" Rick asked.
" How the hell would I know?" He snapped, pulling Rick's eyes to him.
" I'm asking what you think." Rick said.
" I don't care what you do. Once she's buried I'm gettin my brother and we're leavin camp." Daryl said. Rick's head snapped up and he looked at him.
" You can't just leave." Rick said.
" The hell I can't!" Daryl snapped. " I can do whatever the hell I want."
" You can't just leave her." Rick said as they reached the field.
" I ain't gettin into this with you. It ain't any of your business what I do." Daryl said. Rick grabbed Daryl's arm, stopping them both.
" What are you thinking? Her sister was killed last night and now you're going to leave her? How do you think she will get through this?" Rick asked. Daryl ripped away from him and glared. He snatched the shovel up.
" I'm gonna bury that little girl then pack up and me and my kin are leavin. Ain't any one's business but my own. Jillian's grown, she will figure out it out. Now back off and leave me be." He snapped. He yanked the sheet from Rick and stormed away.
" I thought you loved her! I guess I was wrong!" Rick called out after him. Daryl's mouth tighten as he gripped his shovel.
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Daryl spread the sheet out on the flat ground beside the field. Everyone was keeping their distance from him. The group members were milling around around, watching out of the corner of their eyes. Carol and Jillian still hadn't emerged from Carol's tent. Daryl kept his head down as he walked towards Sophia's body. When he reached the little girl, he walked around her so his back was to the group. He slowly dropped to his knees and stared down at her.
He swallowed hard, pushing down the lump from his throat. Here was the little girl that meant the world to Jillian. This was the little girl that brought Daryl and Jillian together, that helped start their relationship. He frowned as his hands came to rest on his thigns. She was always the little girl who's death had helped end their relationship. Daryl closed his eyes and brought his right hand to them. He started rubbing them as he took a few deep breaths.
He dropped his hand and opened his eyes. He slipped one arm under her knees and his other arm under her neck. Slowly he stood up without looking at her. Her head fell back when he reached his full height. Daryl refused to look at her as he walked. The sun was beating down on his back. His mouth went tight and he squinted his eyes. Each step he took jousted her little body against his. Her legs were swinging lightly with every step.
When he reached the sheet, he knelt down again. Daryl gently laid the 12 year old down. He set her legs down first then her head. He sighed and started wrapping the sheet around her, starting at her legs. He still didn't look at her face. He tucked the sheet around her as he moved up her tiny body. When he finally reached her neck, he let his eyes move to her face. His breath caught and his chest started hurting again. He frowned and closed his eyes. He swallowed a few times then covered her face. His hands stilled on the sheet and he tilted his head up so the sun was beating down on his face. He sighed and pulled away to start digging the hole for her body.
Daryl wiped his hands against his jeans as he stared at the grave he had just finished working on. It was hard for him to image the little girl buried under all the dirt. The little girl who used to dance with Jillian across the field. He shook his head and backed away from him. He frowned again as he turned around and started back to the camp. He raised his eyes up and saw Carol being led towards him by Dale. The old man had one arm around the woman's shoulders and his other hand was holding on to her arm. Her face was pale and he could see she was crying softly.
When Carol, Dale, and Daryl reached each other, she looked up at him and offered him a small, sad smile. She pulled away from Dale and wrapped her arms around Daryl's waist. She brought her head to his chest as she squeezed him. Carol closed her eyes and sighed. Daryl wasn't sure how to react so he brought one hand to her back and gently patted her. She pulled away and looked up at him.
" Thank you, for everything." She whispered.
" I ain't done nothin." Daryl said as he dropped his arm from her.
" You've done everything." Carol started. " You brought both my girls to me when I thought they had been lost for good. You have taken care of them when they were out there and you have once again taken care of Sophia. I can't thank you enough for all you have done for us." She said. Daryl nodded but didn't say anything. She patted his chest then took a hold of Dale and they started towards the grave again.
Daryl took another deep breath than started towards Carol's tent. He was just going to take a quick look at her then pack his stuff and leave. He just needed to see her one more time. He looked up and saw the group started towards him. He knew they were going to the grave. Everyone but Rick and Shane were there so he figured they were still with his brother. Lori nodded her head to Daryl as he passed them.
The windows to the tent were open so he slowed his steps. His heart started pounding again and his stomach was hurting him. A huge lump swelled in his throat. Daryl walked quietly to the tent until he reached one of the windows. He looked in and found her laying on her right side, not facing him. She was curled up into a ball and clutching the blankets to her. He closed his eyes at the sight of her.
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" I love you, Daryl." She whispered as they laid together in the bed at the farm house. They were facing each other with one of her hands under the pillow and the other one holding onto his shirt.
" You sure bout that?" He whispered. She nodded and smiled.
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Jillian sighed and rolled around unto her left side. Her left hand patted the spot beside her, looking for him, but found it empty. She frowned and slowly opened her eyes. She looked around and saw she was in Carol's tent. The night washed over her as grief turned her stomach. She covered her face with her hands and started to cry again.
Daryl had ducked out of the window when she opened her eyes. He closed his eyes as he listened to her crying. Everything in him wanted to rush in and grab her but he stayed rooted in place. She didn't want him to hold her anymore, she hated him. ' She hates me. It's my fault Sophia's dead.' He repeated to himself. He frowned and opened his eyes. He backed up quietly away from the tent. He turned and hurried to his tent before she knew he was there.
Jillian curled up into her left side and took a hold of her stomach. She felt like she was going to throw up. Sobs took a hold of her body and she couldn't stop shaking. She cried until her eyes burned and her head felt like it was going to burst. She barely heard the tent being zipped opened then zipped closed again. Someone was coming towards her but Jillian was covering her face with her hands.
" Oh, Jillian," She heard Andrea say a second before she felt the woman take a hold of her arm. Andrea pulled her up and gathered her to her. She wrapped her arms around Jillian and held her close. "It's okay. It's going to be okay." She said as she ran her hands through Jillian's hair. " Why don't I help you to the farmhouse? You can take a nice hot shower. You might feel better, okay?" Jillian's sobs started to die down and she nodded.
