FWD: Inspired by the song "The Sleigh in the Moon" By Sufjan Stevens. Apologies don't have to be long and drawn out explanations for behaviors.
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Chapter 11: The Sleigh in the Moon
A day and a half later the herd had diminished to the south. The sun was out, the wind had died down for a time and Carol was searching through the medicine cabinet of another house a few miles from where Daryl lay holed up in bed.
He'd seen her dehydrated, starving and helpless in the tombs. He had been her savior then. The bright light that met her in the darkness. Now it weighed on her that her stupid decisions in the middle of the night might be his end. The fever had raged on, relentless after administered medications and what little he could keep down.
As she closed up her pack and shoved one last bottle of aspirin in the pocket she hung her head and said a silent prayer for him. She scoffed at herself, "Who are you kidding." She jumped into the truck and peeled off down the road. She'd been gone too long already.
Thirty minutes later she sighed at the sight of the house and pulled the truck into the barn. The snow had started to melt off of the solar panels and the yard was walker free. She looked out the horizon and took note of the position of the sun in the sky. There was plenty of time for her to check on Daryl, administer the aspirin, and set up an alarm system with the fishing wire she'd found on her run.
Entering the house she was surprised to see him in the living room wrapped in a blanket looking a little better. He looked freshly dressed in a white t-shirt and a pair of pajama pants he'd found in the bedroom dresser. She gave him a soft smile and put her pack on the wingback chair near the front door. "Ya okay?" he asked concerned.
"mm hmm." she mumbled. Rustling through the pack, she found the aspirin and a pair of wool socks she had stumbled upon in one of the many houses she'd raided that day. She turned and handed him the socks, "I found more aspirin. It's probably time for you to take it."
He reached out weakly for the socks and gave her a tired smile. "Thanks," he croaked.
She took off her coat and shoes, checked the levels on the thermostat and hurried to the kitchen. Standing at the stove she emptied a can of soup into a pot and glanced at him over her shoulder. He pulled on the new socks and scooted down onto the couch. "Do you need a book to read?" she called out as she filled a clean glass with water.
"Naw." he sighed, "Socks feel good." She smiled sheepishly to herself and grabbed two pills and the glass she'd filled. She carried them into the living room and nudged him to sit up.
"Here." she handed him the pills and glass of water.
"How was it out there?" he asked gasped after a large gulp.
She shrugged, "Warmed up a little, snows melting off in places. Sky was clear so we might be getting a break from the cold front." He nodded and laid back down. She leaned down over the back of the couch and stroked the locks of hair away from his forehead. "You wanna go upstairs?"
He shook his head and closed his eyes, "Naw, here's good. Here's where I can keep my eye on ya." he smirked, grabbed her hand and held it to his chest.
A warmth spread through her own chest. She would remain hopeful.