Chapter Sixteen

Daryl's POV

I sat with Summer and the baby for a few hours until Hershel told me Summer was probably going to be sleeping for a few hours. I reluctantly left the baby with Hershel and Patricia and went outside to see if there was anything I could do to help with search for Sophia. I walked out of the house and headed to the camp. As I was walking I over heard Maggie say she was going on a run into town for medical supplies.

"Maggie," I asked her, "would you be able to get some formula and any other things the baby would need on your run? If not I can go on a run myself."

"For that sweet thing? Of course," she said and smiled.

"Thank you," I said and walked over to Rick.

We talked about a plan of where to look through the woods and I decided I'd be better off looking on my own.

"Daryl, you ok on your own?" Rick asked me.

"I'm better on my own. I'll be back before dark," I replied.

"We have a base now. We can find Sophia and you can spend time with your newborn son. You don't owe us anything," Rick said putting his hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," I said shrugging him off, "Check in on them for me?"

Rick nodded and I headed out into the woods. I was tracking for a while before I came across a small farmhouse that seemed to be abandoned. I checked the perimeter and walked in and checked the house for walkers and didn't find any. I was checking through the kitchen and saw a small pantry. I opened it cautiously and saw that there was a small makeshift bed. I called for Sophia a few times and checked through the house and perimeter again before realizing that if she was here, she wasn't here anymore. As I walked out of the building I saw a bunch of Cherokee Roses blooming near the house. I picked one for Carol and went back to the farm. When I got there I found Carol in the RV. She cleaned it up and told me she wanted it to look nice for Sophia. I handed her the rose and told her the story of the Cherokee Rose.

"I don't think there are any flowers blooming for my brother, but I do believe that one bloomed for your little girl," I said.

She smiled at me and I headed back to the house to see Summer and the baby.

Summer's POV

I woke up a few hours later with the baby sleeping in a makeshift bassinet next to the bed. I heard a knock on the door and Rick walked in.

"How ya feeling?" he asked sitting down on the bed.

"I'm fine," I said, "how's Carl?"

"He'll be just fine, he's resting now," Rick replied.

He looked over at the baby and smiled.

"He's beautiful, Summer," he said.

"Thank you," I said with a smile, "Rick, where's Daryl?"

"He's in the woods helping the Sophia search," Rick said.

I nodded not having the energy to get pissed off at him for leaving us. I looked up at Rick and the look in his eyes told me he knew Daryl would be fine. I knew he was right but I still worried. Anything could happen to him out there. I laid in bed for a few hours on Hershel's orders and Maggie came in with more formula and some clothes for the baby. I got him dressed and as I was feeding him Daryl came in.

"Did you find her?" I asked as he took Harry to burp him.

"Nah," he said, "I found a small farmhouse with a bed in the pantry. She could have been there but she's not there anymore. How's Harry been?"

"He's been fine," I said with a smile, "he's been making adorable little baby noises and eating and sleeping. He hasn't cried much. Maggie brought him a lot of stuff from the run she went on."

"I asked her to," he said.

"Well she pulled through," I said and Daryl handed Harry back to me.

"I don't know if I'm allowed to stay in here with you tonight or if I have to stay in the camp," he said, "I haven't had a chance to talk to Hershel."

"Talk to me about what?" Hershel asked walking in.

"Staying here with Summer and the baby for the night," Daryl said.

Hershel took the baby from me to obviously check him to make sure everything was alright. He handed him back and looked at Daryl.

"Stay with your wife and son," Hershel said, "when she's ready to be out on her feet, then you rejoin your camp."

"Thank you," Daryl said, "for everything."

Hershel nodded and walked out of the room leaving us alone. We talked for a while before Daryl said he was heading back to the highway to get his motorcycle since he took the RV here with me. I told him to be safe and Harry and I were left alone again.