When Hunters Become the Hunted
Chapter 16
The Things We Find
You know how people say that things kind of slow down with issues of trauma or something happens that shocks you? Well, that's not always the case. Sometimes things speed up or you become almost hyper aware of the things around you. That's what happened when he'd asked her what he did.
Celeste had been shocked when Hershel had asked about her safety or whether or not she felt safe with the group in general. The thought it self had struck her hard at first before she'd been able to answer him. Given his demeanor and the fact that he was a 'good christian man', she felt that she had to at least provide him with some sort of answer. If not for him, then for the group so that he knew that these people meant no harm. Even then, if nothing else then it was an attempt to let them stay long enough to find the girls. She couldn't take the chance of her response being the reason that they got kicked out and lost any opportunity that they had in finding those little ones.
And so she explained things to him, opening up with a thread of honesty to start. She'd started with speaking of Rick, the man who would do anything for his family. For the most part, Rick had done right by her. Granted, she didn't always agree with his methods, but no one was perfect and he was a persistent individual. She then went on about Lori, which was pretty much the same as Rick. She was a strong woman and would do anything for her family. Carol, though quiet and meek in general, she was a compassionate woman that loved her daughter more than the world. She'd also suffered a great deal over the years due to the mistreatment from her now dead husband.
When she came to Shane, she hesitated, unsure of what to say. She couldn't truly lie to the man, but at the same time, she couldn't exactly tell him the truth. She was almost positive that he was the real reason behind Otis' death, but she couldn't bring herself to speak of it, afraid that it would turn everything upside down. So instead, she told him part of the truth. She told him that Shane was hot headed, though would do almost anything to get things done that needed to be done. Also that he was protective. She didn't dare bring up the CDC, the thought itself making her touch the side of her neck. The mark sent a shiver up her spine, but luckily Hershel didn't comment on it.
Shaking the thought from her head, she decided to move onto Daryl. The mere mention brought a smile to her face. He'd protected her and looked out for her as she explained to the vet. She told him that though Daryl was a bit gruff, that he was also very honest. She explained how she'd initially met him, the fact that she'd nearly shot him with an arrow and yet they were still friends after all of that. He was also an amazingly talented hunter, being able to track deer for miles. She told him that he was also quietly thoughtful, being kind enough to think of Kenzie's well being without even being asked. Not to mention the fact that she wasn't even his. She just seemed to have so many things to say about the man and yet she could barely find anything for the others. It was rather embarrassing actually.
After speaking on the others behalf, Hershel took the time to finally sit down, his head tilting back for just a moment.
"From what you've told me, I am to surmise that this lot of people are honorable?" he asked quietly, before leaning forward slightly in his chair. "I must be forward with you though."
Celeste sat there quietly, waiting for his next words. She hoped that this wasn't where she had gotten them kicked out. In fact, she was pretty sure that she'd explained things fairly well.
"I have already spoken of some of this with your leader, Rick," he admitted, catching her off guard.
"But then..." she started, but was cut off when Hershel rose a hand.
"I wanted to hear it from someone else," he told her. "Someone who'd already seen hardship and yet still sought to speak the truth.
Slowly, Celeste nodded her head. It was true that she could understand why she was doing this.
"Your words may help solidify my answer," he started, her lips turning up at the sound of his words. "But I will still have to see for myself before I truly decide.
"I understand, Mr. Greene," she said, nodding her head in understanding.
"You may call me Hershel," he said, inclining his head. "I believe that we've reached enough of an understanding for that."
Celeste could feel herself smile a bit as she sat there. He truly was a kind man, yet she could still see why he was hesitant in letting this group onto his property. His family was here and he held them dear to his heart. For that, she couldn't blame him in wanting to protect what was his. People these days weren't always so kind and respectful as this group and it was obvious that Hershel realized this. The same had applied in the old world as well, but now, they just took what they wanted. There would be no questions asked.
"Now, I do have one more question for you my dear," he began, getting back up out of his seat and grabbing a glass of water. "This little girl the lot of you are searching for, she is not your own?" he asked, watching as she seemed to freeze in place. "Rick explained to me that she was a relative perhaps?" he ventured, giving her time to collect herself.
"No," she said, shaking her head slowly. "Kenzie..."
Again, she paused, biting down on her lower lip. Was she really ready to talk about things? Could she even find the courage to do so? Her eyes were closed as she spoke, head lowered.
"Carol, she's looking for her daughter, Sophia," she explained. "Kenzie on the other hand... She was born to a friend of mind."
Slowly, she let her mind wander, thinking back to before the dead started walking among the living. She'd met her one night when she was taking a walk around the neighborhood. She'd been unable to sleep, deciding that it was best to familiarize herself with the area. Karen had been sitting outside with Kenzie in her arms, the child a mere baby at the time. Some how, she'd caught sight of Celeste, calling out to her.
"Can't sleep either, huh?" she had asked, a tired smile on her face as she looked down at the tiny bundle in her arms, slowly rocking in the chair that she was seated it. "You just moved in a few houses down, right?"
It had been a simple enough question, one that she hand't thought too much on at the time. She'd answered her honestly and somehow they got to talking about other things. It was the first time that she'd managed to find a connection with someone.
"You should stop by some time," Karen had told her. "We'll have lunch and you can tell me more about yourself."
That's how it had started, a simple walk turning into a friendship that would span the next four years of their lives.
"Karen...she was a good friend," Celeste whispered, tears threatening to fall as she remember her last moments with her friend.
Her face had been pressed into the wooden panels of the floor, tears in her eyes as she lay in shock. Her hair had been stained with blood, the crimson liquid coating her face and shoulder. Her husband, the man that she loved and had promised her life to had torn into her and left her for dead in his mindless journey for food.
When they had seen each other, the older woman had asked her a simple favor. A promise as it were. The true love of her life had been locked up in a room away from them and away from danger. The bundle of joy that she'd clung so tightly to the last four years, she'd been left with one last hope. With the time that she'd had left, she'd asked her to take her pride and joy and run. She wanted her to run as far away as possible from there, no matter the hardship. It would be her only chance. Without even truly having to asked, she'd placed her child into Celeste's hands.
"She didn't even have a chance," she whispered. "And now...I've let her down."
"You know," Hershel started, placing the glass down in front of her. "I believe everything happens for a reason. Despite what we may think at times."
Celeste didn't respond as she set there, tears in her eyes. She'd never taken the time to explain things before, finding them to be too painful. Still, she'd imparted her sorrows upon this man, her tears finally trailing down her face.
"I let her down," she choked out, a sob tearing through her throat.
Because of her, Kenzie was gone, the little girl lost and alone. She was only four years old, barely able to process things on her own and she was alone in the woods with flesh eating monsters.
"It's my fault!" she cried, wincing as a shot of air surged through her nose.
"Now, now," Hershel sighed. "I'm sure she's alright," he told her. "If it's God's will, then all will be well, but we must learn to have patience in his ways."
She coughed as she managed to choke on her own spit, burying her face in her hands. The thought of that little girl by herself, it tore her up inside more than she was willing to admit. Over the years, she'd come to care for the tiny blond. Over the last few months, it seemed as though she were caring for a child of her own, despite the obvious fact that she hadn't birthed her in reality. Still, she felt protective of the little one. Even worse, she knew that in this world she could never have children of her own, something that she had debated on since she'd turned 21. Still, she'd never found the person that she'd wanted to spend her life with. As a result, adoption never even came into play since she wanted to be able to share that love with someone. The impossibilities of it all finally caved in on her and she was left in shambles.
It felt like forever before she managed to hear the voices around her, T-Dog shouting out as he came into the room.
"What is it?" Hershel asked, a look of confusion on his face at the sound of the shouting.
"I-It's Daryl," T-Dog said, heaving a heavy breath. "You need to see this."
With a strange look on his face, the old man stepped forward. Celeste was next as a streak of worry went through her, pushing herself up and stumbling forward. A moment later, the both of them found themselves outside. Daryl was walking toward them as he held something in his arms, his face red from the heat. It was wrapped in a blanket, the only thing she could see being that of a small...
Celeste felt her breath catch in her throat, tears forming in her eyes again as her lip began to tremble.
"Please," she gasped, her voice coming out in a whisper. "Daryl," she choked out, hands trembling.
The redneck looked up at her as he drew closer, a faint smile breaking across his lips. That was all that it took for her to break, tears falling as she felt the smile form on her face.
"Kenzie!" she cried out, running forward the rest of the way as she grabbed hold of the man in front of her, hands shaking as she pulled back the blanket.
Underneath, the little girl laid, her eyes closed in quiet slumber. She was afraid that she'd never see it again, the little button nose, and long lashes. It was still the same blond hair, the edges curling up slightly on the ends as it always had. Her baby blues were covered by pale lids, her tiny lips chapped, but pink.
Celeste's vision blurred as the tears blanketed her sight entirely. She had no words as she stood there, falling to her knees in front of him, a small smile upon her lips. She couldn't believe that he'd managed to find her, that she was alive. She'd been so worried, so afraid that the last time she'd seen her, that it would truly be the last time. Now, she lay in Daryl's arms, the man in question kneeling down beside her with the child nestled in his strong arms.
"I told ya didn't I?" he smiled. "I said I'd bring her back."
All she could do was nod her head as she reached forward, her hand touching his face. The skin there was rough with stubble, but she didn't care. She'd be forever grateful to this man, this man who'd pushed so hard.
"Thank you," she choked out, before turning toward the tiny thing in front of her, her hand stroking the girl's cheek. "I promise... I-I'll never leave you again," she whispered, pressing her forehead against Kenzie's.
"Why don't we get her inside?" Hershel spoke up, pulling Celeste from her crying. "I'd like to take a look at her and make sure she's alright.
T
It was a hour later when Celeste found herself standing before Kenzie's sleeping form. Despite having her back, Celeste wasn't really sure what to do. She was pulled between giving the girl space to sleep peacefully for the first time in days and hopping into that very bed, holding her close, and just simply crying herself to sleep in relief. Regardless, she still found herself staring, eyes never seeming to stop with their blurring nature.
Through the door, Daryl stood watching vigilantly. He had not left the house since they'd gotten the girl inside, finding that he couldn't pull himself away from the two girls that he seemed to have taken such a shine to. Through it all, he just couldn't seem to shake himself free.
All together, Hershel had drawn out that she seemed fine. Her diagnoses was that of severe exhaustion, along with a decent spell of dehydration due to her size and the heat of the day. It was a wonder that her little body had been able to process anything given how small she was.
When the man had expressed his concerns to Celeste, the woman had merely nodded her head, quietly busying herself with cleaning the girl up as best she could. She'd started with the hands, working her tiny fingers against the wash cloth. The girl's hand seemed to disappear beneath its depths as her skin was pulled of the dirt and grime. Eventually, they would make out the pink of her nails, pale skin glistening with the water. Next, Celeste had gone to her face, wringing it out and gently wiping at the supple skin. She was trying to make her feel more comfortable while sleeping, carefully removing every spot she could. When she was done with that, Daryl could of sworn that he was looking at a completely different person. Where dirt and grime had once sat, giving the girl's skin a dark grungy look, it now seemed healthier. Her cheeks had gone a faint pink due to the added circulation in her skin, hands twitching ever so slightly.
Slowly, Daryl stepped forward, his feet padding lightly against the wooden floor. He came to stand beside the woman that he'd fought so hard for. She'd never truly given up hope that he'd find her little girl. Maybe now, everyone would finally see that things were possible, that it was still possible to find Sophia and make all this right.
"Hey," he spoke, voice soft, but still gruff from fatigue.
Celeste turned to him as he placed what she felt was a comforting hand on her shoulder. The first thing she caught was his eyes. It was little precious blue diamonds, a stone that was still the hardest in the world, just as his could be at times. She knew she'd never be able to fool herself about his occasional temperament, but she knew that he'd never really been harsh or rough against her. No, he couldnt' be.
"Hi," she whispered, unsure of what else to say as her eyes began to water again.
"Don't start yer cryin' again," he pleaded, shoulders gripped in both of his large hands now.
She snorted slightly in faint laughter as she shook her head. She wasn't crying because she was sad. He hand't upset her or anything of the like. No, these tears were happy ones, thankful ones.
"I'm not sad," she whispered, a smile tugging at her lips as she looked up at him, her hand reaching up and laying tentatively upon his neck.
She felt him flinch slightly, but only just as he stood there, eyes trained on her. It was like he was watching every movement, taking in every breath. He wasn't used to being touched and she could tell. She would never directly ask him though why he behaved in such a way. If he wanted her to know, he would tell her, and not a moment before. Until then though, she just smiled, pressing her forehead to his chest.
"You never stopped looking," she smiled, closing her eyes as she breathed in his sent.
What she got back was an ever present smell of sweat, but it was also mixed with the sent of pine, grass, and earth itself. It was a reassuring kind of smell, one that she would commit to memory. It was Daryl.
"You told me you'd find her," she breathed out. "And you did. You found her, Daryl."
She shook slightly as she stood there, feeling his arms wrap around her and pull her closer to his front, her cheek now pressing into his collarbone as he hunched forward slightly.
"I'd never give up on that girl," he told her, his hand hesitantly threading itself in her hair, fingers kneading at the back of her scalp.
It was quiet for a moment after that as they stood there, merely enjoying the warmth that the other's body provided. It wasn't something that either of them were used to, but they'd be fools to deny that it felt nice, good even. Even though the feeling was still a bit foreign, Celeste felt herself curling into his embrace even more, savoring the feeling that his strong arms gave her.
Unfortunately, the warm moment between them was broken, the sound of someone clearing their throat tearing them apart quicker than they could blink. With heat raising in her cheeks, Celeste turned her gaze to the door, Shane standing in the doorway. The look on his face made her uncomfortable as he seemed to burn a hole in Daryl's chest.
"Can I help you with something, Deputy?" she asked, grabbing his attention and pulling it back her way and away from Daryl.
"She say anything?" he asked, his question obviously being centered on Kenzie.
Frowning, Celeste stared at him.
"She's sleeping," she said, her voice pointed and snipped.
"Well, that ain't gonna do us any good in finding Sophia, now is it?"
It wasn't really even a question when he spoke, causing her eyes to narrow. The bastard just couldn't take a hint.
"I'm not waking her up," she told him, stepping forward slightly. "And neither are you."
He didn't seem to like her response, his reaction evident on his face with a sour look.
"She tired and dehydrate," she pointed out. "This girl needs sleep if we even want any chance at finding Sophia."
Daryl stood beside her, waiting for Shane to try again. He never did though, merely turning around leaving. They could hear the screen from the front door slam shut as he left, Celeste wincing at the sound.
"Prick."
She nearly laughed when she heard Daryl speak, the word lingering in the air. It was fitting for sure.
"We should get something to eat," Daryl pointed out, attempting to change the subject.
Shane was always a poor subject in his book. In fact, he was pretty sure that the subject of Shane would never change in souring his tongue.
Turning back around, Celeste faced him, licking her lower lip to sate the dryness that lingered on her skin. She wished terribly that she had something to cover it with, maybe even decide to pick some up on their next run if she could.
"Well?" he asked, giving her a once over as she stood there.
"Yeah," she sighed, nodding her head before walking toward the door.
Daryl followed after her, closing the door behind him to let the little blond sleep. She'd need all the sleep that she could get because after she woke, there would be no going back.
T
Dinner was a bit on the quiet side, the group realizing the envy that Carol now held. They wouldn't say that the woman was bitter toward Celeste, but she was definitely a little on the jealous side. After all, Celeste's little one had been brought back. Sophia on the other hand, she was still out there on her own.
Honestly, the group was still surprised that Kenzie had even been found at all. The blond was so small, her arms unable to really even defend herself. It was a miracle that she'd even managed to last out in the woods for as long as she did and still come back in one piece. They were still grateful for the little miracle, the pureness of it lifting their spirits ever so slightly. If Kenzie was spared, then Sophia had to be alright.
"How's she doin'?" T-Dog asked, looking up from his spot around the fire.
The question itself had been directed toward Celeste, the woman swallowing the bit of food that she had in her mouth.
"She seems okay," she admitted, sitting her fork down on her plate as she thought about things. "She was pretty dirty, but she seems no worse for wear."
"That's good," T-Dog nodded.
"I'm just glad to have her back in my arms again," Celeste told him, eyes trailing toward Daryl for a moment.
The man in question sat to her right, blocking her view of Shane. Shane. The thought of him still irritated her. He had the gall to try and wake the poor girl up when she could barely even function. She wondered if he had kids if he'd treat them the same way. A qwshiver ran down her spine at the thought.
"You okay?" Daryl asked, brows furrowing slightly in question.
"Just a little cold," she told him, trying to brush it off.
"Got blankets in the RV," he pointed out.
For a moment, Celeste felt her cheeks redden, turning her head to the side. She didn't understand what she was feeling. Things just seemed to go back and forth in her head and it was driving her nuts.
"Better not be gettin' sick," Daryl muttered, stuffing some food in his mouth.
Alright, that was chapter 16. I hope that everyone liked it? Daryl and Celeste are starting to get a little closer. Things will start getting a little hotter in the next few chapters as the story progresses. After all, we all know how Daryl gets shot. Who wants to bet Celeste will go off the deep end? Maybe take charge? Maybe she'll be his caretaker? Maybe she'll rip him a new one for his stubborness? Let me know what you'd like to see happen? I need at least 3 reviews before I can update. That way I get feedback on what to do next. Thanks again everyone!