My Retribution (third instalment of Exception Series)

Seven

"Don't move!" he whispers.

My eyes flew open. Daryl's breath washing over me.

Talk about a lucid dream.

"I've been thinking about you. You disappeared," I whimper, teetering on the edge of sleep.

"Ye sen' me away, Rackel! Tha' fucker stole everythin' from me!" His tone becoming razor sharp.

I fluttered and rubbed at my eyes, Daryl didn't disappear. Not like the other times.

He was here?

He's alive!

"Da-" I chimed, but his hand roughly mashed across my mouth.

"Shut ye fuckin' mouth! I'm takin my family back!" He breathes in my ear, making tear prick the corner of my eyes.

This isn't Daryl. He wouldn't hurt me like this.

Daryl pulled up his right hand, revealing his Bowie. "I'm gonna make sure he don' come lookin' fer us!"

I shake my head, trying to plead with him through his vice-like grip.

Kicking my foot out, I alerted my husband.

Daryl wouldn't hurt me or the babies.

Surely he isn't that far gone!

"What? What? Are they coming?" Negan's eyes shot open and he sprung up.

The moment Negan took in the scene, time froze.

My blood ran cold as Daryl pointed the knife at Negan. "We're leavin' now, asshole! This is me family, not yours!"

My husband leaned over, but stopped dead when he placed the knife on my throat.

He wouldn't. Would he?

Negan leaped our of bed, running toward us. "Let go of her, you fucking crazed redneck!"

Daryl yanked me upward, backing us up toward the door. "Stay back, or I'll do it!" His voice broke. "If I can't have them, no one can."

Grabbing Lucille, Negan slow edges toward us. "If you harm her, you best be making peace with your maker!"

"It's a boy and girl, Daryl!" I plead with him, hoping to cut through. "I got one of each! Don't you want to see them grow?"

I gulp. "Don't you want to see our family grow? Daddy?" Placing his hand on my belly, I looked up as his grip loosened.

Negan grit his teeth, swinging Lucille in frustration. "I'm the Daddy, Rackel! Don-"

Fucking hell, Negan! Were you born fucking yesterday? Take a fucking hint!

My eyes lock onto my husband's, pleading with him. Please get the message!

Throwing him a pleading look, I hoped my saviour would finally get the message.

"I was just angry that he lied to me, Negan!" I purred, turning around as Daryl's grip loosened, hand making its way to the back of my head.

"I love ye so much, baby!" He drops his knife and kisses my forehead. "I'm sorry I lied! I know ye'd pick me."

"Of course! But, don't you ever threaten me again, Daryl!" I gently chided him before heading out of the room, my poor friend in toe. He's unarmed, and I'm heading straight for the lieutenant's dwellings.

They would stop him.

No one threatens my family! I don't care who the fuck you are!

"Boy an' a girl?" Daryl bounced around beside me, rubbing my belly as a waddled down the corridor.

I'm going to get you help, friend! I'm gonna get the help you need.

"They sure are!" I stop for a moment, trying to remember if he knew where the doctor's quarters was. "Did you want to see them?"

Not far now. Jesus is on guard duty.

"Can' wait!" Daryl's voice was uncharacteristically childlike. It stabbed me in the heart. I was going to hurt him again.

My children come first.

"Carson should be in his office," I practically yelled, hoping to alert Jesus ahead of time.

He became jittery again, walking too close.

What am I going to do?

Then it hit me, a terribly inconvenient need coming at the best time possible!

"I need to pee! Got a baby jumping on my bladder!" I crossed my legs as I informed my captor.

His eyes teared up, crinkling at their edges. "Not long now! I wish I didn' miss this."

Rough hands cupped my tummy as he kissed me on the forehead, releasing me. Letting me go to the toilet.

Hopefully that'll be enough time!

Before I reached the toilet, I heard the wince as a weight hit the floor. "Stay still, friend!" Jesus was crouching over Daryl's back, hands cable tied together.

"Fuggin bitch! Ye lied te me! AGAIN!" My old friend hollered at me down the corridor, pain constricting his features. "Why can' ye jus' pick me, Rackel? I'm so much better fer ya! I'm the righ' choice fer ye!"

Stamping my blown up foot, I let my tears free fall. "That's just it, Daryl! It's my choice! It's not yours, not Rick's, not Negan's, it's mine!" The babies kicked as my tummy constricted.

I needed to calm down. But it was too late.

"I shouldn't have to play all the time! I'm not some puppet to control for your own needs." The last words came out like venom, blinding my prey. "I'm not some pathetic damsel you can pump up your ego with! Go fuck yourself!"

Negan came running around the corner in boxers and a white shirt, all his reinforcements behind him. "Fucking kill that prick! Put that rabid dog down!"

As they all raised their firearms, I screeched, "NO!"

Negan stopped in his tracks, tilting his head at me.

I regretted the words that followed.

"That's too good for him! Let him rot and realise how much he'll miss out on!" Jesus looked at me with reprimanding eyes, while he picked up Daryl's distraught form.

Negan stood in front of the distraught redneck. "Lucky you! I would've booked a date with Lucille if it were up to me."

Glancing at my ex-lover, I watched him get carried away by Arat and Jesus. My husband held me as I wept.

Finally numb for a while.