-𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐧𝐞-
TAYLOR AND THE OTHERS HAD
arrived back at the prison the following morning, and Rick had given her the rundown as she waited right outside cell block D for Daryl to make his recovery, or until Hershel said it was okay for her to see him.
"Me an' Carol went out scavengin'...an' I...I sent her away." Rick admitted, immediately earning a glare from Taylor.
"Why the hell would you do that!? Carol's one of us!" She argued.
"She killed Tyreese's girlfriend and another survivor when she found out they caught the virus. You heard about the two bodies that were burned alive?" He asked.
"...Heard from Carol. But Rick...what if Carol was just trying to protect us?" She suggested, earning a sigh from Rick.
"I did what's best for the group. While you guys were gone, more people died, and on top of that, walker's breached through the weak point in the fence line. We took 'em out an' got the fence back up, but uh...it's been a rough few days..." He explained.
"Tell me about it..." She groaned, leaning back in her chair as she massaged her temples.
Suddenly, the doors to cell block D opened, and out walked Daryl looking good as new.
"Oh thank god." She gasped, rushing up to him as she brought him into a tight hug, burrying her face in his flannel.
"Hey, babygirl." He chuckled, hugging her bsck.
"I-I thought I lost you; that I was too late. H-Hershel wouldn't let me see you until you fully recovered a-and..." She cried as he gently rubbed her back.
"Shhh. It's alri' babygirl. I'm here now." He murmured, placing a kiss on the top of her head.
"Good to see you awake an' feelin' alright." Rick smiled.
Nodding, Daryl replied, "Feels good too. C'mon, kiddo. Let's grab some breakfast; I'm starvin'.".
"Okay." She nodded, following behind him and down to the pantry.
"So," He said, grabbing a can of beans, "Hershel told me what ya' did. How ya' led Glenn, Michonne, Jordyn, an' Tyreese all the way to the university.".
Shrugging, she replied, "I just did what I had to. Deep down, I was losing my shit.".
"I don' care if ya' were losin' yer shit. I'm prouf of ya' kiddo, you stepped up." He smiled.
Giggling, she nodded, "Thanks, Daryl.".
"So, what else happened while I was down for the count?" He asked, grabbing a can opener.
"...Carol...she's gone. Rick sent her away..." She mumbled.
"Why the hell would Rick do that for!?" He griped.
"Carol killed Tyreese's girlfriend when she found out she had caught the virus. She only did it to protect us; stop the spreading. Rick didn't see it like that and sent Carol away on her own." She explained.
"Jesus fuckin' christ..." He grumbled, tossing the can lid into a nearby trash can.
"That's about all that happened besides the breach which I'm guessing Hershel told you about. But um...about...the whole Andrea thing." She began.
"I don' need yer apology, Taylor. Ya' didn't do anything wrong." He protested.
"No, I did. I'm...I'm sorry I blew up at you like that. I just...Andrea being gone is hard to imagine. At least...at least she's in a better place now though." She sighed.
"Yeah, I bet she is. Ain't no one's death is on you, Taylor. Not Amy, not Chloe, not even Dale or Andrea. Jus'...jus' remember that, alri'." He said, to which she nodded.
"Yeah, I will. I uh...I gotta head out to the courtyard and help Glenn burry some more bodies. I'll see you later, Daryl." She smiled before she walked off and out to the courtyard.
———
TAYLOR HAD ALWAYS DESPISED
the sweltering heat of Georgia, and especially today.
She wished she could move up North where it was colder and take her chances with the snow than the heat waves.
"Your, Taylor, right?" She heard the voice of a young girl say, looking up and seeing one of the two young sisters: Lizzie Samuels.
Her sister was Mika Samuels, and they had lost their father the other day when the virus originally broke out and was killing people.
He had gotten bit by an infected, and Carol had to put him down.
"That would be me. Your Lizzie, right?" Taylor replied, continuing to bury another dead body.
"Mhm. It's nice to finally meet you; Carol's told me a lot about you." Lizzie smiled, watching as Taylor slowly lowered the body into the hole she had dug.
"Has she now?" Taylor smirked, cocking a brow as she began to dump dirt over the body.
"Does death scare you?" Lizzie suddenly asked as Taylor finished.
Brushing off the oddness of the question, Taylor replied, "Yeah, it scares me. It scares a lot of people.".
"It doesn't bother me. I'm not afraid." Lizzie said before walking off.
"...That was weird..." Taylor mumbled, sticking the shovel into the ground as she wiped the sweat off her forehead.
"Hey. Uh, they found Diane's body in cell block D. Choked on her own blood." Daryl said as he walked up.
"Good. Have someone burn her body." She muttered.
"...Look, if yer still pissed at me-" He began, but she interrupted him.
"Promise me. Promise me your not keeping anymore secrets from me; promise me that everything you have said to me is true." She said, her eyes locked on his as she was desperate for an answer.
"...When (y/n) came back for ya' three months ago an' took us straight 'cross the country to their base in Utah...me an' Joel lied to ya'. They didn't...they didn't jus' run some tests. They tried makin' a cure...but it woulda' killed the both o' ya'. Me an' Joel stopped 'em...killed every las' one o' 'em except (y/n). In the end, Joel an' Ellie went to fin' Tommy while (y/n) helped us get back here..." He explained.
Biting the inside of her cheek, she replied, "So basically there's no cure and my immunity means nothing right?".
"Taylor, it ain't-" He tried to say, but she flipped him off as tears pricked at her eyes.
"No, Daryl. That's exactly how it is. I really thought I could be worth a damn for once in my life...but that was just a fucking lie.".
He stayed silent, avoiding her gaze as he folded her arms.
"You don't get it, Daryl. Your like a fucking dad to me, and to have you lying to my fucking face like I'm an idiot fucking hurts. I just risked my ass for medicine to save your fucking life because I love and care about you and think of you as my own father, but you obviously don't think of me the same way..." She then walked off, Daryl's voice stopping her.
"...Where ya' goin'?...".
"I...I need time to...to think..." She simply replied before heading inside to the cell blocks.
———
RYAN HAD TRIED TO TALK TAYLOR
out of heading to the woods to clear her mind, but she protested, saying she needed time alone.
She never thought the woods would become her solitude, but that's what happens when you're around Daryl twenty-four seven.
She didn't want to think about him, Joel, or anyone for that matter.
She just wanted it to be herself, her crossbow, and the woods.
The snap of a broken stick startled her, and she quickly raised her crossbow, her eyes darting around the surrounding woods.
"Whoever the hell you are, you better come the fuck out." She demanded, trying to hide the fear in her voice.
"Jesus, kiddo. Don' gotta be a bitch." A familiar voice said as the unknown person stepped out.
"Kenny!?" She gasped, lowering her crossbow.
"Hey there, kiddo." He grinned.
To Be Continued...
Word Count: 1315
Edited: ❌