I woke up in Daryl's arms and I couldn't help but smile. "Hmm... Darling no." He mumbled. I guess I had squirmed a bit, so he was halfway awake, looking at me. "Don't get up yet." He mumbled, his hot breath hitting my neck. It made me want to stay, but I knew we had things to do today. "Come on, Dare... I gotta get up." He sighed as he released me, and I began to get dressed. "Kat..." Daryl stated carefully. "What?" I asked, not thinking. "Uh... Eh..." Realization hit me, and I sighed. "The scars, right?" He gulped and I shrugged. "Told you my dad was a jack ass..." I mumbled, throwing on a tank top. I had another tattoo on my shoulder blade of a dream catcher with feathers on it. It was an inside thing between me and my mom, and it covered the first real scar my father had ever given me. You could see the tattoo through the tank top, but eh, I don't really care. Daryl grabbed me before I could leave the tent. "Don't run..." He mumbled. I furrowed my eyebrows, as he slowly turned around. Thin white scars spread a crossed his back, and I felt tears in my eyes. I couldn't help but trace one, causing his body to tense up. I slowly moved closer, wrapping my arms around his stomach and leaning my head against his back. He turned around, them gave me a sad smile. I got onto my tip toes, pecking his lips. He brushed a piece of hair behind my ear, then kissed my forehead.
I walked out of the tent, thinking through what Dale said about the boy. I huffed, until I saw Maggie on the porch. I steadily jogged up there, sitting with her. "Kat!" She smiled as she hugged me, and I felt my body tense at the mere touch of someone other than Carl or Daryl. "I'm sorry.... I'm so so so sorry... You have no idea... I mean, I know you think it was the right thing but I shouldn't have asked you to go, especially with your loss too and I ju-" I threw my hand up, signaling for her to stop rambling on. "It's fine. I'm fine now...." She nodded a bit, breathing. "I still feel bad." I shrugged. "Don't."
We sat on the porch in silence for a moment, until Glenn came up. "Rick needs you."
I walked over to where Rick was working on the fence, kneeling down and boarding it up with him. "She's... Pregnant... Shane could be the father." I sighed a bit, nodding. "He's starting to scare them..." I nodded a bit, and he looked up at me. "Lori told me about your guys' fight at the CDC... Why you guys were really messed up... How you've been protecting her from him..." I rubbed the back of my neck, and Rick grunted. "Thank you, but... I'm gonna handle him..." I nodded. "Okay... But Rick." I looked him in the eyes. "He's not the same man... His conscious isn't as thick as before..." He gave me a slight nod. "We're having the meeting in a couple hours, for the boy." I nodded and he turned away, beginning towards the house. I sighed, leaning against the fence. "What the hell..." I grumbled under my breathe. I threw my head back with a breath, then got up.
I spent most of the day working, then going to the woods and catching some squirrel and a rabbit for the group, then killed a snake that I figured would be mine, since most everyone in the group hated snake. Especially Carl...
As I approached the house, I saw the group going in. I huffed as I slowly walked into the house, everyone looking at me. They were arguing over the boy, and Dale was on the verge of tears. "What about what his group did to Kat!?" Shane growled. "We don't even know what all they did to Katherine..." Hershel said, his voice a light grumble. They all looked at me as if they were asking me, but I only looked to the ground. Almost getting raped by a man isn't something I plan on sharing, so.... Rick began talking, trying to get everyone away from that topic, and more onto the boy. I felt a hand touch my back lightly. Daryl hid the fact he was trying to comfort me, by only touching my lower back, but it still made me smile.
"So we'll do it tonight." Rick began with a sigh, but I knew how bad he hated it. Daryl's grip tightened a bit on the waistband of my pants before he released all together. I slowly left the room, not wanting to be around them much at the moment. I was followed by Dale, who came in front of me, holding my shoulders. "Katherine." At that moment, he only reminded me of Sal. The thought made me feel a mixture of happiness and sadness, and I didn't know whether to cry or smile. "Just tell me... Just me... What'd they do to you?" His voice was soft. "They... They tried to..." I felt a tear roll down my cheek, but refused to let any more. Alas, Dale saw it, wiping it with his thumb. "They tried to rape me, but I... I kicked him... He didn't want it after that." I mumbled.
Dale looked at me with a deep sadness, then hugged me. I tensed up at even his light, gentle touch. "I'm so, so sorry."
