Save Me, Save You
Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead or the characters except my own! The rest is all AMC!
summery: twenty-nine year old Kathryn Smith and her daughter three year old Jasmine have been on their own until they meet the Atlanta group on the highway. both mother and daughter carry with them a scared and frightening past but Kathryn is also carrying with her something more. Enter Daryl Dixon Hunter, tracker, and all around bad ass as well carries a dark past can they both save each other or will someone or something tear them apart?
Theme song: Decode by: Paramore
Chapter 7: Barn of Walkers, A Sudden Change, Enemy No More
At breakfast Jasmine sat by Daryl on the ground eating eggs. The smell had gotten to Kathryn, so she declined until Daryl gave her his plate. It was a silent argument both still awkward over the kiss. Kathryn gave in and took the fork eating quietly knowing she'd just throw it up again later.
Silence seemed to be the main focus, though Glenn looked nervously unsure of what to say, Kathryn looked away and back at her plate.
Carol had walked over to Daryl glaring at Kathryn as she did. The older woman handed a plate of eggs to the hunter who nodded in thanks. Jasmine looked between her mother and Daryl, she smiled knowing they had kissed last night. She wondered if the grumpy hunter was going to be her knew daddy, she hoped someday he would.
Kathryn looked around and noticed Glen standing by a tree, he looked more nervous and on edge. "Umm guys...so the barns full of walkers."
Everyone stopped eating, fear gripped at Kathryn. She looked over at her daughter. "Go to our tent and stay there now." Nodding, the three year old got up and ran into the tent, the rest of the group got up and made their way to the barn.
Kathryn stood back further then the others, Daryl by her side until Shane said something about Fort Benning. Everyone grew into a frenzy talking loud, Kathryn kept her eyes on the barn until Shane made a comment about Daryl being methed out and scarring Sophia into the other direction.
The young woman had enough, walked over and slapped the crazed man. He turned and glared at her, before anyone knew what happened Kathryn landed into the dirt face to ground. Shane had hit her not just hit but punched her, Daryl tried to get at the man, but was pushed back.
Kathryn laid there frozen, memories start to flash before her, and she began shaking as Daryl walked up to her gently laying a hand on her shoulder. "Come on darlin let's go, come on." He hauled her up best he could without straining his wounds.
She gripped him, her body shook. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please don't let them hurt me...I didn't..." He hushed her as they made their way back to his tent. He waited until Kathryn was asleep and told Jasmine to find Carl that her mother needed sleep and to stay away from the barn.
An hour after her nap, she wakes to Daryl was grumbling under his breath. "hey...I'm sorry about what happened this morning...thank you for taking care of me." Daryl turned and launched himself at her, Kathryn gasped and fell. "I don't need to be watching you or your girl!"
Gasping Kathryn looks at the man, tears start to fall down her face, her body shaking. She watched as Daryl grabbed his crossbow and left.
Pulling herself together, she walked up to the house looking for Hershel, he needed to examine her today.
Maggie smiled as she walked up to her. "Hey, you looking for my daddy?" She asked, Kathryn nodded as Maggie informed her Hershel had went to do something with Rick.
Everyone seemed to gather at the farm house porch, Kathryn avoided Daryl's gaze.
Shane had come back with the bag of guns saying something about defending the camp, everything seemed to move so fast Kathryn couldn't keep up.
They all spotted Rick and Hershel leading two walkers, that's when all hell broke loose and Shane had gone crazy, well crazier then he already was, and broke the barn door open.
Daryl pushed Kathryn behind him as she grabbed Jasmine, the hunter stood between them and the walkers as they came out of the barn. Jasmine screamed and turned her head hiding from the monsters.
Gunfire echoed across the farm, Kathryn shaking in fear. As it ended, everyone stood looking around at the carnage. That's when movement came from within, Daryl raised his gun halfway, a little blonde girl steps out of the barn.
Carol ran past Kathryn and Jasmine, Daryl grabbed Carol and held her making sure the older woman didn't go to the walker. Kathryn shook as she held Jasmine, tears start to free flow as she made sure her child didn't see.
Rick stepped up to the walker Sophia and held his gun to her head and shot her.
At the funeral both Hershel's family and Sophia were buried, but Carol refused to come. Rick looked around asking if someone had anything they wanted to say.
Kathryn stepped up. "It's more a song really and I thought it would be appropriate for Sophia and Carol, along with Hershel's family." Rick nodded as Kathryn looked back at the little grave,
She began to sing. "Watching you sleep for so long, Knowing I can't turn the rain into sun any more I've given you all that I have, Now I stand here, too scared to hold your hand.
Afraid you might wake to see The monster that had to leave
'Cause you see the shelter as the storm Holding wind to keep you warm, You are everything to me, this is why I have to leave, So sleep well my angel.
Under the ash and the lies, Something beautiful once here now dies, And the tears burn my eyes, As you sit there, all alone. I just want to come home,
But you see the shelter as the storm, Holding wind to keep you warm, You are everything to me, this is why I have to leave, So sleep well my angel. Sleep well, my angel.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
You see the shelter as the storm, Holding wind to keep you warm, You are everything to me, this is why
You see the shelter as the storm, Holding wind to keep you warm, You are everything to me, this is why I have to leave, So sleep well, my angel.
Sleep well, my angel."
Once she finished everyone silently walked away, Daryl walked up to both mother and daughter.
He sighed shifting from foot to foot. "Look...I'm sorry about...what I said. Carol was giving up and I got upset..." He looked at Kathryn and then lowered his head "Still want to take care of you...and half pint here."
Jasmine smiled and hugged Daryl who in turn laid a hand on her head. Kathryn looked at him, she didn't know what to believe, but looking into his eyes he seemed sorry.
Nodding, Kathryn looked down then back up. "One more chance Dixon I want this to work." She whispered, Daryl nodded feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders.
Around the afternoon, Daryl moved both tents away from camp, he swore to protect both mother and daughter and he wasn't going to back down now. He left to go get squirrel, coming back an hour later. Kathryn began skinning and cooking them while the hunter was showing the three year old how to sharpen a knife.
A few seconds into cooking, Lori came into the little camp asking Darly to get Hershel and Rick. Kathryn's fists clenched. "Who the hell does she think she is?!" She thought to herself as Jass shook her head begging Daryl not to go.
Daryl told Lori to get them herself, causing Lori to ask why he was being selfish.
Kathryn stood and rushed at Lori. "Look, we may somewhat be friends, but I'm telling you right now! Daryl is anything but selfish! He went out day after day looking for that little girl! He got hurt and could have died! You want to talk about selfish? What the hell have you done lately?!"
That's when Daryl told Lori to go.
For the first time it they like a small family, well for Jasmine anyway. Mr. Daryl reminded her of her old daddy who taught her many things, since she couldn't go to school.
Night came and Carol came into camp, Jasmine sitting beside the hunter and Kathryn in their tent getting dressed for bed.
The older woman stopped, looking at the three year old smiling at Daryl as he was making arrows, Daryl showing her how. Carol shook it off as she walked into their camp, both girl and man looked up at her. The older woman told Daryl that Lori was missing and the others weren't back yet.
Daryl looked back down as he widdled the stick into a bolt. Jass looked back at the woman. "Mr. Daryl and mommy told Mrs. Lori she was mean and to look for both Mr. Hershel and Mr. Rick herself."
Jass looked down biting her lip, Daryl looked at the girl and told her to go to the tent.
"Why didn't you say anything either of you?" She asked, shocked by his actions "Olive Oil ain't my problem. Those girls in the tent beside mine; they're the ones I'm going to watch out for! No else seemed to care about them but me!"
Carol looked taken aback by his anger, she turned to leave, then stopped and looked at the tents and went back to him.
"Don't do this; don't let them...do this to you. I already lost my girl." Daryl stood up glaring at her. "That wasn't my problem neither, and they ain't done nothin!"
Carol walked away as Daryl scoffed and turned back to the tent. He bent down and looked inside the tent. "Hey ya'll ok?" Kathryn nodded but Jass was crying. "Why is Miss Carol mean to us Mr. Daryl?" She whispered in a soft cry.
Daryl looked down then back up. "I dunno Half Pint but what I do know is you and yer mamma got to get some sleep. I'll be out here watching all night?" Jasmine nodded as she crawled out of the tent and hugged the hunter.
Once both mother and daughter were asleep, he noticed Carol sneaking around their camp.
They both started talking, him yelling as Kathryn walked out. She waited quietly until the older woman left. Kathryn walked over to him, his shoulders tense. "Hey hot head come on...let's get some sleep. Ignore her she doesn't know what she wants."
Daryl nodded and looked at Kathryn who was wearing a tank top as sleepwear. He walks over and sees her arms; he gently runs his hand down following some of the scars.
His eyes run down to her wrists and he lifts them up to eye level.
"He...tied you up a lot..." He mumbled seeing that the ropes cut into her wrists, he was surprised that they even healed into scars.
Kathryn nodded, her heart thumped against her chest as she stared into deep ocean blue eyes. He gently kissed both wrists, then sent her to bed. He had a feeling tomorrow was going to be a long day.
WD~WD~WD~WD~WD~WD
Next morning Kathryn was up before her daughter and Daryl, made breakfast and set out a long sleeved denim shirt, a vest with wings she thought was beautiful and black jeans. Kathryn picked them up and set them outside Daryl's tent.
Going to her clothes, she found a tank top with a prying angel, a black jean jacket and some black pants. It must have been Maggie who found them for her. She put them on smiling; she got Jasmine around as she put a pair of biker boots on.
Smiling, she walks out of the tent to see Daryl ready. Jasmine running up to the older man and hugs him. Watching them, Kathryn is taken by surprise as Daryl hugs Jass back as well.
Jasmine said she was going to find Carl and runs off, Daryl looked at Kathryn. "Shane wanted me to meet him, we're going to look for Rick." She nodded, Kathryn walked with him as Daryl looked at her and sees the baby bump for the first time.
"You gunna be ok by yerself?" Kathryn looked up and smiled. "I'm a big girl I can shoot a gun and tie my shoes. Don't worry Dixon we'll be fine you do what you gotta do."
Daryl nodded as they made it to the red truck; she stood with Daryl as T-dog joined them. He handed Daryl a water bottle, who took a swig and handed it off to Kathryn who in turn took one handing it back to him.
As he threw it in the truck, Andrea came up to them. She pointed out a red and white truck coming up the drive.
They met the truck as it stopped by the farm house, every one greeted Glen and Rick.
Kathryn stood back; she felt it wasn't her place. That's when T-dog asked who was in the truck. She followed everyone's gaze to the boy in the truck. "That's Randell he got hurt." Rick introduced as Hershel asked Patricia to prep the barn for surgery.
Kathryn followed everyone else inside, Daryl lagged behind looking at Jasmine who looked back.
The little girl looks at the hunter as he walked up to her. "Is that man from the group you and yer mamma were in?" He asked pointing to the man in the truck. Jasmine shook her head. "No never seen him." She whispered looking at her pink shoes.
Daryl nodded and touched her shoulder. "Stay outside with Carl, the adults are gunna talk ok?" she nodded vigorously, hugging him and rushing up to Carl.
Entering the kitchen, door Daryl look at Kathryn and gave her a small smile nodding to her, she in turn nodded back with a smile of her own.
They all debated on what to do with the kid, which everyone decided on posting a guard. Shane ran his mouth once more, but what made Kathryn smile and want to cheer was Hershel telling him off.
That's when everyone dispersed, Daryl waiting on Kathryn. They both walked out, Kathryn feeling Carol glares a hole in her back.
"I don't want you or Jass near this kid, she told me he wasn't part of the group...ya were in." Kathryn nodded and hugged him which made him stiffen.
"Shit, sorry forgot no touchy feely..." He wraps his arms around her. "It's ok s'long no one sees." He mumbled, Kathryn smiled and hugged him tightly before they let go.
Daryl looks down at her, his hand moving to her baby bump. A warmth ran through him as he stares at her.
Biting his lip, he pulls her to their tents and into his. Kathryn looked around about to ask what he was doing when he grabbed her face gently in his hands. He wants this woman, needs her and everything about her wouldn't leave his mind, not even when he was in that stream.
Kathryn looks at him. "Daryl, what's going on?"
He bites his lip as he stares at her lips, she then knows what he's thinking, but lets him take his time. Daryl then lowers his lips to hers kissing her passionately. Kathryn closed her eyes feeling electricity spread through her. She knows Daryl is a good kisser, but damn, Kathryn slowly wraps her arms around his neck bringing him closer.
Daryl ran one hand down her side as the other went behind her neck, he had never felt this much and didn't know what to do but let instinct kick in.
Just as Daryl was going to slip his hand under her shirt they broke apart, Kathryn looked up into his eyes seeing emotions playing across his handsome face. Daryl slips her jacket off slowly his eyes never leaving hers.
Kathryn stopped him before he could kiss her again. "Daryl...I...I've never had...that is I've never done this before."
He looks her over blinking a little and then it hit him. "Ya were...a virgin when they..."
Kathryn nodded, a tear rolling down her cheek. "Please, I'm sorry...I just wanted you to know..." She mumbles looking at the ground.
Daryl lifts her head making her look at him. "Nothin to be sorry about ain't your fault. They took somethin precious to you, now I want to give ya somethin back...ta erase those memories."
He leans in once more claiming her lips in a gentle yet sensual kiss, he wanted to show her there was someone who cared, someone who wasn't going to hurt her but love her.
He lays her down on the cot, their lips never breaking the kiss as he has her lay on top.
Kathryn couldn't believe what she heard; Daryl wanted to help her, to care for her. No one had cared for her except her mother and aunt, now this man wanted to make the memories of what happened to her go away!
As they made out on the cot, Daryl ran his hand down her sides and inside her shirt, he felt skin but also scars. He broke the kiss as he lifted the shirt above her head and threw it across the tent.
God, the sight before him almost made him lose it. Her skin had marks all over, almost her whole back was covered in scars. He was afraid to look at her front he knew now what he wanted, and it's her. They both had a screwed up past but now they could make it right together.
He took one of his hands, laying it on her head and began kissing her but this time with more urgency then before. She met him his urgency, she wanted him Lord help her, she needs him.
Kathryn sits up, his eyes looking at her whole body as she takes his vest off and then his shirt. Her breathing coming heavy and ragged, she leans into kissing him heatedly.
Everything after was a blur of more clothes being thrown and passionate make out. Their hands seem to roam their bodies, nothing went untouched. Daryl had her now on her back looking up at him.
He could see remnants of a tattoo, but the skin was so broken up that it no longer existed.
Passion and love that's what Kathryn felt through it all, it made her happy to know that a man like Daryl cared for her. She rolled on her side looking up at the sleeping man.
She had felt even before the whole apocalypse that there was no one for her, that God may have forgotten about her. Boy was she wrong they fit together perfectly like two missing puzzle pieces.
Not wanting to disturb him, Kathryn got up got re-dressed and made her way to the farm house.
On her way she saw Jasmine and Carl talking. She couldn't help but over hear the conversation.
"Carl do you think Mr. Daryl could be my new daddy?" She asked looking up at the boy.
Carl smiled and looked down laying a gentle hand on her head. "I bet if you asked he would probably say yes."
Jasmine smiled and hugged him. "Good, because I's wants a daddy like you!"
Kathryn smiled at the scene that had played out; she continued to walk to the farm house. As she made it up the steps, Lori comes bolting out almost running her over.
"Whoa, where's the fire?" Kathryn asks.
Lori turns back around. "Have you seen Maggie or Hershel?"
Kathryn shakes her head. "No, sorry…is something wrong?"
Lori looks down then back up at Kathryn. "Can you watch Beth until I get back? I have to find Maggie."
Blinking, Kathryn nods. "Yeah, sure I can do that's no problem."
Lori nods running off to the RV, Kathryn walks inside and looks at the open door to Beth's room.
Looking in she smiled at the young girl. "Hey there sweety, what's going on? Everything ok?"
Beth shook her head. "No." That's all the answer she gave before Maggie came in thanking Kathryn for watching Beth.
Arguing and yelling came from both Beth's room and the kitchen, Kathryn trying to stay out of it until she was pulled into it by both Lori and Andrea.
Groaning, she walked in. "Look..ok, I may or may not help, but I can hardly do shit. Hershel says I can't put stress on the baby. Look Andrea I'm sorry I'm pregnant, but it's not my fault! Here, tell you what sweet why don't you go out there find those men try and defend yourself off against thirty of them!"
She glares at both woman who stopped talking. "Now what's going on with Beth needs to be settled and no not by suicide you heartless bitch! Just because you wanted to off yourself doesn't make it right for others!"
"Now I hope I'm not brought back into this, I'm going to watch my child. Leave me the hell alone!" Stomping out of the room, she stops holding her stomach and groans. Rubbing it slowly, Kathryn walks outside looking for Jasmine.
Sighing, she sits rubbing her growing bump with a small smile on her face. "You, like your sister are going to be a fighter...I'll make sure of it."
Looking up she saw Carol walking her way with a scowl on her face. "How dare you take him away from me!"
Standing, Kathryn raised her hands. "Look Carol, your still grieving I understand, but I didn't take anyone away from you. This was Daryl's choice, if you don't believe me talk to him."
Carol stopped and looked at the ground as she begins to cry. "I understand you lost your whole family, but trying to thrust yourself on Daryl isn't fair either."
The older woman nodded and hugged Kathryn. "Your right...and I'm sorry, he loves you even if he hasn't admitted it yet. Both you and Jasmine have been good for him."
Smiling, both her and Carol sat by the camp fire and talked, it was good to see Carol no longer hating her.