* Please review even though this story is finished. *
Daryl aimed down his cross bow and noticed his hands were shaking. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes and aimed down at the face that looked just like Jillian's. Jillian refused to let go of Jocelyn's hand. She was holding it tightly and had their hands resting under her chin. He slipped his finger on the trigger and studied himself. When he fired the arrow, Jocelyn's head rocked to the side while Jillian jumped.
" Will they come and eat her?" Jillian asked, not opening her eyes.
" No," He said. " Geeks don't eat the dead." Daryl said. Jillian nodded. " Look, I will give you a few minutes with her then we have to go back to camp." Daryl turned his back and started scanning the woods again. A few minutes went by before he heard movement in the woods. He turned around and saw Jillian was gone. " Fuck me!" He said before taking off towards the sound.
By the time he reach the lake, she was already climbing up some boulders that lined the lake. He slipped the cross bow over his shoulder and started after her, calling her name. Since she was so small, only standing about 5 foot 1 inch, she was very fast. She reached the top of the boulders, completely ignoring him. She stepped over to the edge, despite him yelling for her to step back. Jillian closed her eyes and was ready to step over the edge. Her family and friends were gone and now her twin sister was dead. She felt herself starting to slip when a strong arm wrapped around her waist again and slung her around quickly.
" What the hell is wrong with you! Are you fuckin crazy!" Daryl yelled in her face. He gripped her shoulders tightly and shook her to make her look at him. " What the hell did you think you were doin! You know you will kill yourself if you fall off here!"
" I don't care!" She yelled back. " I have nothing left! I have no one! You should have let me fall, push me over the edge! I have no one left!" She yelled.
" Stop it! That ain't right so stop talkin like that!" Daryl shouted at her. He was trembling as he searched her face. After a few minutes of their eyes being locked together, Daryl stood up straight. They were both taking deep, quick breaths, almost panting. Without another word said between the two of them, he took her hand and led her down the boulders carefully. He took her to the side of the lake and pulled her down to sit by him.
Daryl took her chin in his hand and with his other hand, he scoped up some water and gently started washing her cheeks. Her eyes were red and swollen from the crying. He rubbed one cheek until the blood was gone then moved to the other cheek. He kept stealing glances at her eyes. She wasn't moving and didn't seem to know he was there. He was wondering if she had just checked out. Once he had all the blood washed from her face, he took her hand in his and pulled her to stand.
" We are goin back to camp now. You are gonna spend the night in my tent." He picked up his weapon and they started back through the woods.
He pulled her behind him, carefully watching where she stepped since she didn't seem to notice or care. Everyone at camp was by the fire by the time they got back. It was dark and they were eating. The people was staring at him but he didn't pay them any attention. Instead, he led her to the outskirts of the camp to his tent. He unzipped it and stepped inside.
" You want sumthin to eat?" He asked as he pulled her inside. When she didn't answer him, he shook his head. " Me either." He dropped her hand and moved to close the zipper. He put his hand behind his head as he came around to the front of her again. " Look, it's been a long day. Let's just go to sleep." When she didn't move, Daryl took her by the shoulders and gently pushed her to sit on his make shift bed. " Stay here, Jillian." He said.
Daryl came out of his tent and zipped it back up again. He saw Rick and Shane coming towards him but choose to ignore them. He walked over to her tent and undid the zipper. Even though it was hot during the day, the temperature at night could drop down very low so he wanted to get a few extra blankets and pillows. He also hoped that having her things around her would snap her out of whatever place she had slipped into. He knew from hearing them talk at night, that Jillian slept on the left side of their bed so he grabbed her pillows and blankets. When he came out of her tent, Shane and Rick were waiting for him.
" Is she alright?" Rick asked.
" She aint talkin." Daryl said.
" We checked the woods, there are no other walkers." Shane said.
" Look, I know this is important and shit, but can we talk in the mornin? I don't want her alone for too long." Daryl said.
" First thing in the morning." Rick said. Daryl nodded and went to his tent.
He found Jillian right where he left her. He zipped up his tent then faced her with a sigh. He walked around her and put her pillow and blankets down. He came around to the front of her again and came down on his knees. He soothed one hand over her hair then took a hold of her chin. Taking on the role of caregiver was not something he ever thought he'd do but he felt responsible for her. He turned her face from side to side and noticed that her eyes were glazed over. He figured she was in shock but wanted to make her knowledge him so he would know she was some what okay.
" Jillian, look at me." Daryl said. When she didn't react to his voice, he took her face in both his hands. " Jilly?" He said, using the nickname he had heard Jocelyn use so many times. She finally met his eyes but didn't talk. He sighed. " I'm gonna take off your shoes then I want you to lay down and try to sleep." Thankfully, she nodded.
Jillian laid down on her side, not facing him. Daryl was laying on his back, one hand behind his head and the other one resting on his chest. She was laying on his right side. He had put a blanket over her and had one of his over him so they weren't sharing a blanket. To his surprise, Jillian took her blanket and threw part of it over him and moved closer to him so her back was against his side. The camp wanted to double up the watch for the night but Daryl refused to leave her and no one wanted to argue with him.
" Thank you." Jillian's voice was so soft he almost didn't hear it. He looked at her, then back at the top of his tent before clearing his throat.
" I just did what had to be done, what I'd want done to me." Daryl said.
She turned over and put her head on his chest. She was laying on her left side. Her left hand took a hold of his shirt while her right arm went around his waist. Daryl stiffened at first then took his hand from behind his head and wrapped it around her shoulders, holding her closer to him. He put his other hand into her hair, running his fingers through it. After a few minutes, her breathing had slowed and he knew she was sleeping.