DarylxReader: Gunshot

Maggie entered the kitchen. "Thank you for taking care of the dishes (Name)."

"It was no problem. How is everyone doing?"

"Daryl still isn't back from looking for Sophia. I saved dinner for him but still..."

You frowned as you glanced out the window; it was getting late. "I'll go look for him." You picked up your sword that was leaning against the kitchen wall. You attached it to your belt so you could draw it quickly. It was times like this you were thankful for all the kendo classes you took in school. A sword might get you closer to a walker but it was silent and didn't attract any more company.

"You sure you'll be okay on your own?"

You smiled at Maggie. "I'll be fine and I'll bring him back." You walked out of the kitchen and left the farm house. You glanced over at the cars and tents set up near by where the rest of your group had been sleeping. You could see Rick doing something with Carl by the tent. Ever since Sophia went missing, Rick had been trying to distract carl so he wouldn't worry. Meanwhile, Daryl had been spending every moment of his time searching for her. Daryl had left after breakfast this morning to look for her and hadn't been back since. He completely missed lunch and at this rate he'd miss dinner too. You made your way across the lawn to the tree line far from the group. The clearing was useful to see any walkers coming, though you hadn't seen even one try to enter thanks to the fence around the farm. You hopped over said fence and entered the forest.

You weren't worried about being out here alone. You had been alone before you met Daryl and the others. You were a college senior when all hell broke out. You had entered your dorm room when you heard the screams. At first you had assumed it was some people playing pranks; that is until your door was broke down by a walker. You had seen enough horror movies to know this wasn't right, so when it charged at you, you grabbed your wooden practice sword and slammed it down hard on it's head. Without missing a beat, you grabbed your backpack and threw stuff you'd need into it before leaving your room clutching your practice sword. The campus was a mess; people running around screaming and walkers everywhere chewing on people. It was amazing how fast it had spread. You rushed to the gym avoiding walkers. You're practice sword was good for a hit or two but it wouldn't last you long. You needed something a lot stronger and you had your eye set on the sword displayed in the kendo room.

When you reached the kendo room you thought you were finally having a streak of luck, the room seemed to be empty. Practice wasn't for a few hours so it made sense that no one had been in here. You ran to the far side of the room where the traditional Japanese katana hung from the wall. Just as you reached up to grab the sword, there was a deep groan from the right. Your head whipped towards the sound. Standing in the doorway was your kendo teacher. His skin was tight and gray, his eyes sunken in and his pupils were pure white. His classic kendo outfit was ripped in several places. Through one of the rips you saw that there was a bit mark on his arm and the blood from it had stained his sleeve. He had stumbled towards you and you were forced to make your second kill. You had slammed the practice sword on his head snapping both his sword and your teacher's head in half. After that you had snatched the sword from the wall and ran off school grounds. A few weeks later, you had met Daryl and the others. It took some convincing on Rick's part but he finally got everyone to accept you and allow you to join them.

You snapped out of your daydream as you walked deeper into the forest looking around for any sign of Daryl coming though here. Suddenly, ahead you, you heard mumbling. Since walkers weren't known for their conversions, it was a good guess that it was the man you were looking for. You walked ahead and nearly fell as the ground disappeared below you. Below you set a deep valley with a small pond at the bottom, with a walker laying half in the water. You knelt down, glancing below into the valley. Half way down there was a lone figure trying to climb up. You almost mistook the bloody and bashed figure for another walker, until you saw the cross bow strapped to its back.

"Daryl." You said as loud as you'd dare, as to not attract walkers.

The hunter looked up and blinked when he saw you. "Oh come on. First Merle and now (Name)." You noticed a necklace of ears around his neck. "Trying to show me both sides?"

"Daryl, what are you talking about?" You looked around for something to help you pull him up. "Wait there, I'll find something to help you up." You stood up and grabbed a vine hanging by a near by tree. "This should work." You tied one end to a tree and threw the other down towards Daryl. "Grab onto this."

Daryl looked away from you and demanded. "Can't you all just leave me alone?"

"Daryl, I have no idea what you're talking about but if you don't grab the damn vine I'm going to go down there and dragged you up here myself." You gripped the vine and swung it so it hits his shoulder. "And soon, I rather not hang out here all day."

He blinked looking at you like it was the first time he had seen you. "(Name)?"

"Yes I'm (Name) and you're Daryl. Now will you grab the damn vine?" He must have been out here too like this for too long. He was really out of it. Daryl looked at the vine before grabbing it and using it to help him climb up the wall. When he got close enough you reached down and helped pull him up. He lay on the ground, on his back, panting. He was covered in dirt and sweat; he must have been struggling to climb out of that valley for hours. "You alright?"

"Yeah. Just...gimme a minute." Daryl took a deep breath and sat up. "So you really were here?"

"Of course I was. What was all that about seeing your brother?" Merle hadn't been around long before you met the group. Carl had told you about how they had handcuffed Merle to the roof of a building. Apparently he and Daryl had attacked the group; so Rick had handcuffed him and when they returned for him Merle was gone, having cut off his own hand to escape.

Daryl groaned. "Long story. Let's just forget about it n' head back."

You got up. "Good idea, it's getting late. Can you stand?"

He stood up. "I'm fine."

You noticed the doll hanging from his belt loop. "Is that...?"

"Yeah, I found it down there. No sign of her though." He sighed. "She didn't fall down there at least, I didn't find a body."

"I guess that's something. She could still be out there." Even saying it, it was hard to believe she could be okay. She was only a little girl and she had been gone for days in a forest probably crawling with walkers. Everyday the chances got slimmer. "Let's go." You started the walk back with Daryl following behind you. He was limping slightly, causing him to walk slower than normal. You stepped out of the tree line first, followed a minute later by Daryl.

"(Name)!" You heard someone shout. Your head snapped up and you saw Rick and Glenn racing towards you. You blinked, wondering what could be wrong. Before you could figure it out, there was an explosion from a gun and you heard a grunt behind you.

You whipped around and saw Daryl fall to the ground, blood quickly covering the side of his shirt. "Daryl!" You screamed, running over to him and catching him just before he hit his head on the ground. "Daryl! Stay awake!" You pressed your hand against the wound, trying to stop bleeding. Rick and Glenn finally reached you and gasped seeing Daryl. With their help you got Daryl back to the farm house where Hershel treated the gun shot wound. You also had found out that Andrea had shot Daryl from the top the RV, thinking he was a walker. Dale had told her not to shoot, but she thought she knew better and ended up shooting Daryl in the side. Thankfully, she had missed hitting anything vital.

Now, you sat on the chair next to Daryl's bed a few hours after Hershel had patched up the wound. You were refusing to leave the room until Daryl woke up. You would never admit it out loud but you have had a crush on the Southern hunter for a while, and you weren't about to leave while he was in this state. You sighed as you leaned back in your seat. Could today get any worse?

The door creaked softly as it was pushed open. "(Name)?" Damn, you had spoke too soon. Andrea walked into the room, glancing at Daryl out cold on the bed. "How's he doing?"

"Fine." You crossed your arms over your chest and glared at the woman. "No thanks to you."

She glared back. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"If it weren't for you being so pig-headed and ignoring everyone's advice this wouldn't have happened!" You stood up from your seat, no longer able to stay seated as the fire of anger licked at your heart. "You shot him! Even though Dale told you not to shoot!"

"I thought he was a walker!" She screamed back.

"Even if he was, you could have hit me you idiot! Rick and Glenn were right there! They would have been in a better position to shoot!" You gestured to Daryl. "You almost killed him!"

"It's his fault for stumbling like a walker!"

You growled, about to say something when another voice spoke up. "So it's my fault that you shot me? That's a new one."

You whipped around and saw Daryl's eyes were open. "Daryl, you're awake."

"Kind of hard to sleep with you two yelling at each other."

You flushed. "Oh, I'm sorry Daryl. I didn't mean to wake you."

He jerked his chin towards Andrea. "It was 'er fault, not yours."

Andrea growled, glaring at both of you. "I came here to apologize, but you know what? Forget it!" She stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind her, making the picture frames on the wall shake from the impact.

"She shoots you and then acts like she's in the right." You sighed, sitting back on the chair. "Anyway, how are you feeling?"

"Like I've been shot." He groaned, putting a hand on the wound. "Any permanent damage?"

"No." You smiled. "Hershel said you'll live. Though you'll have to rest for a day or two."

He groaned. "Great, I'll have to stay here and be bored."

You giggled. "Well at least you're more with it now than you were before. The heat must have gotten to you. I gave Carol the doll and Glenn said he'll take up your searching while you're here on bed-rest."

"I'm surprised you didn't volunteer to take over."

"I would have, but I volunteered to watch over you."

Daryl raised an eyebrow. "Watch over me? What are you, my nurse?"

"I guess you could call me that."

He glanced over you and you felt your cheek warm as his eyes roamed your form. "You should be wearing the outfit for it then." He grinned.

"Yeah let me just walk out to the local costume store and get one." You rolled your eyes playfully. "Now is there anything you need?"

"One thing."

"Oh? What's that?"

"Come down 'ere, my throat hurts too much to talk louder."

"Alright." You leaned over the bed so your face was close to his. Daryl's hand shot out, grabbing the back of your neck and yanked you down hard until your lips slammed onto his. You gasped your cheeks turning bright red. Just as quickly as it started, Daryl released you and turned his head away from you. You leaned back slightly and touched your lips. "D-Daryl?"

"I must still be feeling out of it..."

"Don't give me that. You were fine a moment ago." You placed your hand on his arm. "And I know you didn't hit your head."

"I just felt like doing it, alright."

"I never said it wasn't alright." You grinned. "Though it was a bit weak."

Daryl looked back at you with a furrowed brow. "Weak huh?"

"Oh yes, very."

"Get back down here." You grinned and leaned down. Daryl pulled you close and kissed you hard. You moaned kissing him back and tanged a hand in his hair, pulling lightly. He fully proved to you that he was a very good kisser and once he got better, he dragged you to his tent and showed you just what he could do. Though, you think everyone else heard what he could do to you too that night.