Chapter Sixteen – Awake
It was warm, so warm when she woke up. She had dreamed of her children, of being with them. Daryl was there too, his arms around her waist, his face in her hair. She opened her eyes slowly. It was daylight, the fire was out, and she didn't see Daryl anywhere. For a moment panic settled in, he hadn't saved her, she was somewhere else. She took deep breaths, and looked under the covers, she was dressed. Jeans that were a little snug on her, socks, and a tank top. Daryl must have found them. She heard footsteps outside, and ducked under the covers as the door opened. "Riley ya up?" Daryl's voice was gruff, and almost hoarse as made his way into the cabin.
"You did save me." She looked tired, even now. She had been out for a couple days. "Thank you." She looked so small there, cowering and peering around him.
"Couldn't find ya under garments." He looked at the floor. "But the cabin across the way a teenage girl musta lived there. Tons of girly shit." He pointed to the corner, where shirts and pants were piled. "Man left this place behind, I got some from here." She nodded. She was standing.
He was confused. He knew after what happened to him he didn't want anyone to touch him. He didn't know how to do feelings. It was the briefest moment, and she was beside him, then nearly on him. Her face planted in his chest, her arms around his torso, clinging to him. "You kept me alive. Daryl…" Her voice dropped off. He sighed, patting her head like he had saw Carol do in the past to comfort the children. He let his other hand rest on the small of her back, dropping the squirrels he had rounded up for them. He didn't know how long she stayed in his arms, or how long she cried, but he knew the moment she left his arms that he needed her more than she needed him. He felt empty the moment she pulled away. He wanted desperately to drag her back, afraid that she would be afraid of him.
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