-𝐖𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝗴 𝐔𝐩-
TAYLOR
TAYLOR AWOKE THE NEXT DAY,
her sleep-clouded eyes landing on a figure above her as they dabbed what felt like a wet cloth against her forehead.
"Oh, your awake. Daryl said you had been sleeping for awhile." A gentle, familiar voice said.
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Taylor looked up at the figure once again and saw Carol, smiling down at her as she gently rubbed the cloth against her forehead.
"Carol!" She exclaimed, jolting up as she quickly brought the elderly woman into an embrace.
"Hi, sweetie." Carol smiled, hugging her back.
"I-I thought you died. Daryl said you..." Taylor whimpered, tears pricking in her eyes as a few rolled down her cheeks.
"Aw, sweetie, don't cry. I'm alive and perfectly fine. Me and T-Dog got separated from the others when all the walkers got let loose, and he sacrificed himself in order to save me. I ended up getting lost, and I hid inside a cell. Then, last night, Daryl found me." Carol explained.
"Oh god Carol, you must've been so thirsty and hungry." Taylor gasped.
"I was, but it's okay. I'm just fine now. I'm worried about you though. What all happened?" Carol asked, her fingers tracing around Taylor's bite mark.
"I was the diversion in order for the others to get Hershel back to the cell block after he got bit; I'm guessing Daryl told you that much." Taylor said, looking over at Carol who nodded.
"Well then he told you about the Firefly soldier then. The Firefly; (y/n), she brought me to Woodbury, and I saw one of my dad's friends and his daughter, Joel and Ellie. I also saw Andrea again." Taylor explained with a smile.
"That's good. I'm sure you've missed them." Carol smiled back.
"I did. I turns out, the Firefly's want to make a cure out of me and Ellie, as she's immune too. The plan was for us to head Northwest to their base, but some shit happened. The Governor turned out to be a nut job, but Rick and Maggie came to save us. I had to leave Andrea behind." Taylor mumbled.
"Aw, I'm sorry, sweetie." Carol apologized.
"No...it's fine. Anyway, Rick wouldn't allow Merle back to the prison, but me and Daryl couldn't abandon him. More shit happened, I got this fucking infection, and now we're here, back at the prison." Taylor sighed.
"Sounds like you've been through the ringer." Carol said, grabbing a pill bottle and glass of water from a nearby table.
"That about sums it up." Taylor nodded her head in agreement.
"Here. Take two of these; it'll help with the infection." Carol instructed, handing Taylor the pill bottle and glass of water.
She took two and then a sip of water, handing the items back to Carol.
"Here. Hershel's said you need the substance. Not only that, you must be starving." Carol said, handing her a bowl of oatmeal.
"Oh my god, I'm so hungry. Thank you." Taylor sighed, taking a bite of the oatmeal.
Giggling, Carol smiled, "Your welcome sweetie.".
"So, where is everybody?" Taylor asked, taking another bite.
"Well, Rick, Michonne, and Carl went out on a supply run to find us ammo and guns to defend ourselves against the Governor and his men. Not only that, Daryl went out by himself. He said he had to do something." Carol explained.
Cocking a brow, Taylor looked up at Carol as she took another bite, "Daryl went out by himself to do something?".
"Yeah, but he didn't say what he had to do. All he said was that he'd be back this evening." Carol replied, her fingertips gently tracing the mark left by the back of Merle's hand on Taylor's cheek, "Daryl said Merle hit you...".
"...Yeah...he did..." Taylor mumbled, biting the inside of her cheek.
"Oh sweetie. I know the feeling. It's not the same as...abuse, but it's the same feeling. You just feel...scared and terrified." Carol sighed, trying to forget the painful memories of her own past.
"Yeah, like you said, it's not abuse. Merle was...he was just in the heat of the moment I guess." Taylor said, taking another bite of the oatmeal as she finished it, "So, what's everyone else doing?".
"Well, Maggie and Beth are helping Clementine with her reading, and Glenn's helping Ryan and Ben with their shooting. Hershel's sorting through our medical supplies, and Lee and Kenny went out on a small supply run. I have no clue what Merle's up to." Carol explained, taking the empty bowl and sat in on the table.
"Am I clear to walk around? Or do I have to be bedridden all day?" Taylor asked.
Smiling, Carol helped her up, "I don't see the issue with you walking around as long as you take it easy.".
"Thanks, Carol. I'll see you around." And with that, Taylor walked out of the cell.
———
DARYL
FOR SOME REASON, DARYL FELT
obligated to the two Thompson girls survival.
He had already failed the youngest, and he had no idea what he'd do if he failed the oldest.
He knew Hershel said that Taylor would cover just fine from her infection, but he couldn't help but worry.
He hoped maybe his little drive back to Hershel's farm would take his mind off it all for a short while.
Finally arriving there after an hour drive, he left his motorcycle by the front porch.
The only signs left that the herd had ever passed through here was the rubble of the barn and Dale's abandoned RV.
All the walkers had completely cleared out, off to find their next meal.
Looking over at the large oak tree on Hershel's property, Daryl looked down at the array of flowers growing beneath it.
Walking over to them, he picked a handful of them, and once he was satisfied with the amount he collected, he walked over to the line of graves, all marking the deaths that happened during their time at Hershel's.
His eyes falling on Chloe's grave, the bouquet of flowers Taylor had left from Carol had long wilted away many months ago.
Tossing the old bouquet to the side, he placed the freshly-picked one over the grave, his hand resting over the wooden cross, "Sorry we couldn't save ya', darlin'. No way in this fucked up world did you deserve a fate like that...".
Sighing, he stood back up, making his way up the porch and inside Hershel's farmhouse.
Walking to the guest bedroom, he saw Taylor's old backpack was left right beside the bed, just how it was left.
Grinning, he picked it up, looking over all the pins and keychains Taylor used to decorate it.
"Bet she'll like to have this back." He said to himself, swinging one of the straps over his shoulder.
He saw on the armchair over in the corner of the room, her crossbow had also been left, and he decided to bring it back too.
Satisfied with what he got, he headed back to his motorcycle, hopping on and revving up the engine before he drove off and back to the prison.
———
TAYLOR
TAYLOR SQUEEZED HER EYES
closed as Maggie and Clementine's slender fingers worked through the short tresses of her hair, tidying it up after she cut almost all her hair off in order to escape the Governor.
She'd never tell anyone aloud, but she wanted to cry that about all her hair was gone.
Her dream since she was a young girl was to have her hair long and smooth.
She had never chopped her hair at the salon, instead, opting for just a trim.
But now, for the benefit of her survival, she was forced to chop most of it off.
"I miss my hair." She mumbled sadly as Maggie picked up the small pair of siscorrs she had been using to trim the edges of her hair.
"I know ya' do, Taylor. It was really pretty, but we'll make sure to fix it up an' make it look good." Maggie said with a smile.
"This flower crown will make it even more pretty!" Clementine chimed, placing a colorful flower crown on the top of her head.
"Aw, thank you, Clem. I love it." Taylor smiled.
"Don' forget about your makeup. I've never seen you with any, so this'll be fun." Beth giggled as she did Taylor's eyeshadow.
"You guys really don't have to do this for me. Why don't we help the others load up the guns?" Taylor suggested, but the three immediately turned down the thought.
"No, Taylor. You've been through a lot these past few days, so you deserve this. Besides, it's good to treat yourself once in a while." Maggie said, trading the siscorrs for the hair brush as she began to brush out Taylor's hair.
"Annnnn'...done! Taylor, you look amazin'." Beth smiled, finishing Taylor's makeup as Maggie and Clementine finished her hair.
They handed Taylor a pocket mirror to look at her reflection and she gasped, a smile spreading across her face.
She hadn't looked this nice since before the outbreak, and that was nine full months ago.
"Guys...I can't thank you enough. I really appreciate it." Taylor said.
Smiling, Maggie replied, "Don' mention it.".
Carol walked in with Judith in her arms, handing her to Taylor, "Someone hasn't met little Judith yet.".
"Awwww. Hi cutie pie. Your such an adorable chicken nugget; yes you are!" Taylor cooed, bouncing Judith as she gently pinched her cheek.
"Daryl named her lil' asskicker if you could believe that. Guess two creative minds think alike, huh?" Maggie smirked, causing Taylor to roll her eyes.
"Har har Maggie. Little asskicker, huh? I like it, it suits you for your badass nickname.".
Daryl then walked into the cell block, smiling as Taylor continued to bounce Judith.
"Met lil' asskicker?" He smirked, walking up to the group.
Smiling slightly, Taylor handed Judith back to Carol, "Didn't take you for the nickname type. Anyway, where have you been?".
"I'll explain outside. C'mon." He led her outside to one of the guard towers, the two out on the balcony.
She waited as Daryl lit his cigar, taking a drag.
"...Why do people like them so much; cigars I mean." She said, looking over at him as she folded her arms and leaned against the rail.
Shrugging, he took another drag, "Some like it, some don'. It's got those addict chemicals or whatever the fucks in 'em. Jus' you don' go smokin' 'em, alri'? There shit for yer body.".
"...Well then why do you smoke them if there so bad? Could you...you know...try to quit for me?" She asked.
Sighing, he looked down at her, "Kid, I hate to break it to ya', but it ain't exactly that easy ta' quit.".
"...To tell you the truth, I'm afraid of them. I'm not trying to blame you or anything; it's not you." She rolled up the sleeves of her jacket, "Madison...one day in the girls bathroom she was having a cigarette...and I went in to pee. She stopped me...pinned me down, and left burn marks all over my arms. Ever since that, the sight of them freaks me the fuck out...".
"...My dad did the same to me. I was like his fuckin' ash tray..." He muttered, taking another drag.
"...I'm sorry, Daryl, really. You never deserved that treatment from your dad." She apologized, looking up at him.
"Naw, it's fine. It's uh...it's in the past now.".
"...! Is that my backpack and crossbow?" She asked, pointing down to the two items.
"Oh. Uh, yeah. I uh...went back to Hershel's farm. I uh...put new flowers on yer sisters grave an' got yer stuff." He explained as she looked over her backpack and crossbow.
"Thank you, Daryl." She said, hugging him.
He chuckled, hugging her back, "Yer welcome, babygirl.".
"Oh, yeah. Glenn said he was up here fixing my guitar yesterday." She said, walking back inside the guard tower and came back out with her guitar, "Mind playing me something?".
"What? C'mon, Taylor. I haven't played this thing in months." He argued, taking another drsg of his cigar.
"Daryl, really? You played it perfectly back at Hershel's after years of not playing." She said.
Scoffing, he tossed his cigar to the ground before putting it out with his boot, snatching the guitar as he sat down, "Fine, fine.".
"Thank you.~" She chimed, sitting down in front of him.
He tuned the guitar a bit, strumming the strings before he picked up a beat and began playing.
"Welcome home. Where the faucets drip at night.".
"Welcome home. Where the screen door don't hang right.".
"Welcome home. The only place you'll ever fight, 'cause ya' love.".
"Over an' over again.".
"Chicken on the grill. Hole in the wall where I got ill.".
"Comin' home late smellin' like a still.".
"Mom waited up to get in my grill.".
"I swear my dad caught me becomin' a man.".
"Came with the bail money, did the best he can.".
"A cross on the wall, a bible on the table. Under a full moon, drinkin' the black label.".
"Standin' on a screen porch that lean.".
"Chiefin' the good leaf feelin' the breeze.".
"Mom said everyday hit your knees and give thanks that your alive.".
"Oh, take it to the house. Take it to the house. Take it to the house. Take it to the house.".
"Welcome home.".
"Where the faucets drip at night.".
"Welcome home.".
"Where the screen door don' hang right.".
"Welcome home.".
"The only place, you'll ever fight. 'Cause ya' love. Over an' over again.".
———
(A/n: A song made by one of the best bands ever, Rehab. Here's the link to the song down below for you to listen to if you'd like. :) )
———
"...You know..." She smiled, "That one really fits you.".
Chuckling, he sat down the guitar, "Really.".
Nodding, she rested her head in his lap, "Hell yeah.".
It was silent between the two for a moment before Taylor spoke up, "Hey Daryl?".
"Yeah babygirl?" He replied, looking down at her.
She lifted up her pinky, "Promise me you'll never hit me like Merle did. Ever.".
He wrapped his pinky around her's, "I promise, babygirl. I'll never hit you. Ever.".
Smiling, she nodded, "Okay.".
To Be Continued...
Word Count: 2400
Edited: ❌