#He starts doing everyone else's laundry for them while on hunting trips. Nobody asked for this. Everyone is very confused.

[one-in-a-million-fishsticks]

A while back I made a post about how Trevor Belmont would definitely be the Mom Friend™, but can you imagine how much worse things got after he and Sypha had their kids?

His friends weren't prepared for the atomic level mother henning.

[reedusdixonfictionaddiction]

The Summer in Georgia

Chapter 33. Please, God! I’ll Do Anything!

Sunday night and Monday came and went. By the time, Tuesday rolled around, Isabella was back to her old self. Daryl and Rick had gone to Atlanta, just for the day. Rick had to see Lori to talk about the divorce, everything was just hitting him and he didn’t want to go alone, so he asked Daryl to go with him. Isabella stayed behind to clean the house, because she and Daryl were going camping in a few days.

Isabella spent the day happily scrubbing and dusting. That horrible weekend was just a distant memory now. She stuffed it down in to that dark, hidden place in her mind, just like she did to every damaging thing that happened in her life. It was easier that way, easier than dealing with her feelings and all the unpleasantness of life. When she finished cleaning she got a pen and tablet to write on. Daryl had told her to make a list of food and stuff they’d needed for the camping trip. She had no idea what one needs to camp, so she sat there daydreaming and doodling ‘Daryl Dixon’ with a heart around it over and over. She thought about their trip and how much fun it was going to be. She thought about skinning dipping with Daryl and she decided that first night in the tent would be the first time they made love.

Daryl called her around 2:00 to check on her, he told her that they’d be back before dark, probably around 6:00 or 6:30. After she hung up, she got on the computer for a while until the Wi-Fi went out. Isabella could hear the wind howling outside, the hair on her neck stood up. ‘It’s nothing to panic about, it’s just wind.’ She told herself. She needed to find something to take her mind of the weather, so she decided to watch TV, but the wind messed up the satellite. She tried to read, but sound of the trees hitting the windows was very distracting. It was about 4:30 when she looked at the clock, two more hours and Daryl would be home and everything would be ok. Isabella went out on the back patio to look at the sky. It was getting darker and the air felt damp, she started to panic a little bit, her heart was racing and she was sweating. She thought about calling Daryl, but she didn’t want him to think she was overreacting. Finally, she decided to lay down and take a nap. She put her earbuds in and turned up her music, she didn’t notice that the battery was at 36%. Isabella soon drifted off.

Daryl and Rick were running late, things hadn’t gone as planned and they had to stay an extra two hours. Daryl had been frantically trying to call Isabella for almost three hours, but she didn’t pick up. He was worried, it was starting to get dark and she was afraid to be home alone when it was dark outside. He hadn’t even thought about the weather. They were about an hour away from home, he tried to call her again, but still no answer. He didn’t want to do it, but he called Charlie to ask him to go and check on her, but Charlie was in Macon visiting his grandmother. Even if he’d left at that moment, Rick and Daryl would have still beat him there. He decided to leave anyway, his grandmother was getting tired and he was worried about Isabella too.

There was a three-car pileup on I85, Daryl and Rick were stuck in gridlock traffic when it started thundering and lightning. Rick was stressed from the meeting with Lori, so he had fallen asleep right after they got on the road. The wind was howling and the rain was blowing sideways. Daryl tried calling again and there was still no answer, he called Charlie to see how far he was from home, he was stuck in traffic just like they were. Finally, traffic started moving again. Rick woke up and grabbed a donut that was left over from the morning. He was dropping crumbs all over the place, so he asked Daryl if he had any napkins. Daryl told him there were some in the glove box. Rick opened the box and pulled out a napkin.

“Hey, Daryl. How come you have Isabella’s prescription in your glove box?” Rick asked.

Daryl’s heart dropped into his stomach. “Holy Fuck! We gotta’ get home now.” He hollered.

“Is she really that afraid of the dark?” Rick asked.

“No! I mean, yes, but that ain’t what I’m worried about. Thunderstorms scare the shit out of her, she has to take that medication, just to keep it together.”

“Then why do you have it?”

“Because, I didn’t like the fact that she was takin’ somethin’ like that, so I took it the other night. And now she’s alone and she’s got nothin’ to calm her down. Fuck, fuck, fuck!” He said, stepping down on the gas.

“Did you get ahold of her? Maybe you should call Charlie to go over and check on her.” Rick said.

“She still ain’t pickin’ up and I called him, he’s on his way there, but he’s comin’ from Macon. Fuck, she’s probably freakin’ out right now.” Daryl said in a worried tone.

“You should’ve told me about this. What if I had been home with her and she started to panic. I wouldn’t have known what was happening. So, they’re pretty bad, her panic attacks?” Rick asked.

“Yeah! Did you see the prescription? It’s Xanax, that’s some heavy shit.”

Rick looked at the bottle. “I really should have known about this, Daryl. This is serious. What happens when she panics?” Rick asked.

“All I know is what she told me. I guess, she has a really bad panic attack. Last time she didn’t have her pills, she had to go to the ER by ambulance by herself and she’s afraid of the hospital, because she was left there when she a little kid and no one came to see her for three days. Why the fuck did I take ‘em? Hey, can you call the station and see who’s on and tell ‘em ta’ swing by. See if Chris can.” Daryl said.

Daryl was panicking himself. She’d just gotten over that weekend and now this. The truth was, he didn’t know how severe her panic attacks were, he was just guessing because of the medication. He was trying to drive fast, but everyone else on the road was driving slow because of the storm. Daryl needed to calm down a little or he was going to cause an accident. Rick called the station and everyone was out on calls, but the dispatcher said, she’d get someone over there as soon as possible. She told Rick that the power was out, so the switch board was lit up like a Christmas tree. Rick hung up and told Daryl that the power was out.

“Fuck! Try ta’ call her again. Nobody can go over there right now?” He asked with urgency.

Rick was trying to call Isabella. “No, I told you the power was out and they have calls coming in like crazy.” He hung up the phone. “No answer, but it’s going straight to voicemail. That means the phones turned off… or the battery’s dead.” Rick stated.

If traffic kept moving well, they’d be home in 30 minutes or so. Daryl’s phone rang and it was Charlie. He told him he was about 45 minutes away and asked if they’d heard from her yet. Daryl told him ‘no’ and hung up. The rain was coming down hard, Daryl could hardly see the road and the thunder and lightning was booming.

There was a loud crash and Isabella sat straight up in her bed. It was pitch black so, she cried out for Daryl and Rick, but there was no answer. She felt around on her bed for her phone, she found it, but it was dead. She couldn’t charge it because the power was out. She started to cry, she needed light, she was terrified of the dark. So, she tried to calm herself as she made her way down the hall, feeling the wall the whole way. There was a flashlight and a couple of lanterns in the laundry room. The thunder boomed like it was just outside the door. Isabella started to shake, she was crying so hard, she couldn’t catch her breath. She got to the laundry room and felt her way to the cupboards and found the flashlight. She turned in on and the thunder boomed again. She slid down the wall to the floor, sobbing and trembling. Her heart was racing, it felt like she was going to have a heart attack. She cried out in the darkness for Daryl, but he didn’t come. She needed to get back to her room, so she could take a pill.

It took every bit of strength and courage she had to get up off the floor and make her way back down the hall. Lightning was striking all around and every time it hit the ground it lit up her room, but it wasn’t a comforting light, it was eerie and it scared her even more. She had to get to the bathroom, but her sobbing was blurring her eyes. She was hyperventilating, plus her nose was stopped up from crying, so she could barely breath. Isabella made it to the bathroom and over to her vanity table, but she couldn’t find the pill bottle. Things were being thrown around and broken, while she hunted for the Xanax. She emptied her drawers, she opened all the cupboards and pulled out the towels and sheets. They were nowhere, she couldn’t find them.

There was another loud crash and it made her jump, she dropped the flashlight onto the bathroom floor and it went out. She screamed in fear and frustration. She picked it up and banged it around, it finally came on, it was dim, but it was on. She checked all her drawers, there were clothes everywhere. She emptied her purse and backpack, nothing. She made it the bed and grabbed George, her stuffed monkey and then Isabella fell to the floor and when she did the flashlight went out. Lightning struck the transformer outside and there was a deafening crashing sound, that was followed up by earsplitting thunder. She covered her ears, shut her eyes tight and laid there on the floor in front of the closet, screaming for Daryl. She was shaking violently and her mouth was dry, she sat up suddenly and threw up on the carpet. She cried out for Daryl again, when he didn’t answer she curled up into a little ball and started rocking back and forth.

Images started flashing through her mind, a lifetime of bad memories that she’d stuffed down in that dark, hidden place of her mind, were starting to surface. She was soaking wet and the thunder and lightning was all around her, she cried for her mother, but she didn’t come. Then she was in the ER all alone, nurses and doctors were poking and prodding her, there was no one there for her and no one would talk to her and tell her what had happened. Isabella didn’t want to remember these things, she screamed and hit her fists on her head. She felt like she was going to black out…

Daryl screeched into the driveway and parked, he jumped out of the truck and ran for the house. He yelled to Rick to bring the pill bottle. Rick was right behind him. He flew through the door and called out for Isabella, there was no answer, he called out again.

“I can’t see nothin’.” Daryl yelled at Rick as he felt his way down the hallway.

Rick was right behind him, he ducked into the laundry room and grabbed the other flashlight and gave it to Daryl. Daryl called for her all the way down the hallway, when he got to her room he could see everything scattered on the floor. He called out to her again, but nothing, he quickly scanned the room with the light and she wasn’t anywhere. He ran to the bathroom and saw the mess, he panicked, where was she? He came out and told Rick she wasn’t there, he said that she must have been looking for the bottle because everything was thrown about in the bathroom too. They were about to search the rest of the house, when Daryl heard a little whimper. He scanned the room again, another whimper, it was coming from the closet. He ran to the closet and slid the door so hard, it came off the track. There she was in the corner of the closet. She was rolled up into a little ball, clutching her stuffed monkey. He fell to his knees and climbed in the closet with her. He touched her and she screamed.

“It’s me, rabbit. It’s ok, I’m here. C’mere baby.” He said softly, trying to pull her toward him.

“Should I call an ambulance, Daryl?” Rick asked, squatting down in front of the closet next to Daryl.

“No! She afraid of it.” He told Rick sternly. “Rabbit, c’mere baby. He grabbed her arm and tried to pull her out. She screamed again and then started crying.

Daryl just grabbed her and pulled her out and scooped her into his arms. “It’s ok. I’m here, baby. I’m here and everything’s gonna’ be ok. I promise. Ain’t nothin’ gonna’ hurt ya’, I won’t let it.” He whispered to her. She was crying heavily again, she clutched his arm and held on for dear life.

“I’m gonna’ get some lanterns. I’ll be right back.” Rick said, as he felt his way back down the hall to the laundry room.

Just then Charlie came bursting through the door with a spot light. He almost blinded Rick.

“Is she ok? What happened? Where’s Daryl?” He asked out of breath.

“They’re in the bedroom. She pretty bad off. Did you know she had a crippling fear of thunderstorms?” Rick asked Charlie, who was lighting up the laundry room for Rick, while he lit the lanterns.

“No, I didn’t. Is she ok?

“Yeah, well she does. She takes a heavy benzo and Daryl had them with him. She didn’t have them.” Rick said, handing a lantern to Charlie.

“Damn. Is she gonna’ be ok?”

They could hear her crying from down the hall. Rick looked at Charlie and shook his head.

“I hope so, she was in the closet when we got here. I think she should go to the ER, but Daryl says, ‘no’. I guess something happened when she was little. I don’t know, Charlie. She looks pretty bad. I’m worried.” Rick told Charlie. “Stay in the hallway until I see if it’s ok for you to come in, ok?”

“Yeah, ok.” Charlie answered.

Daryl had Isabella in his arms, she had her face buried in his chest and she was wailing and shaking uncontrollably. She was wet from sweat, her shirt was soaking.

“Please be ok!” Daryl whispered into her hair. “Please be ok!” She just kept crying.

“Is she ok?” Rick asked.

“Give me them pills and get a drink a water.” Daryl said sternly.

“Ok.” Rick said and headed into the bathroom.

“Can I come in?” Charlie said from the hallway as Rick came out of the bathroom with the water.

He shook his head ‘no’ and told to wait a little bit. He handed the water to Daryl and then held the lantern up to the bottle, so he could read it.

“It says, take one or two every 8 hours. Do you think she needs two?” Rick asked Daryl.

“Let’s start with one and see how she is after that.” Daryl said taking the pill from Rick.

He got Isabella to lift her head up and told her to open her mouth. She couldn’t stop crying, but she took the pill and swallowed it with the water. Daryl stood up and then bent down and picked her up. He carried her to the bed and laid her down. He took of her Converse off and threw them on the floor. Rick came up behind him to check on her and Daryl told him to watch his step, because she’d thrown up on the floor. Rick went to get something to clean it up. Isabella was crying even harder; her body was still trembling. Daryl covered her up with the blanket and said, he’d be right back, he had to go to the bathroom. Thunder crashed outside just as he let go of her and she screamed.

“Please don’t leave me, please. Please don’t leave me.”

“Hey, I ain’t gonna’ leave ya’. I swear.” Daryl told her softly.

Rick came into the room with some cleaning supplies and asked what happened. Daryl told him he was going to go to the bathroom, when the thunder hit and it frightened her. Rick cleaned up the floor.

“It’s starting to calm down outside.” Charlie hollered from the hallway. “Can I come in?”

“No, just stay out there. I don’t think she’d want ya’ ta’ see her like this. She just needs to calm down and rest. That pill should be kickin’ in soon.” Daryl hollered back.

“Is she gonna’ be ok?” Charlie yelled.

“I hope so.” Daryl yelled back.

“You want me to stay with her, so you can go to the bathroom?” Rick asked Daryl.

“Nah, I should stay with her until she falls asleep.” Daryl answered.

“Don’t… don’t …. Don’t leave me, please.” Isabella cried.

“I ain’t leavin’ ya’ rabbit. I’m right here.” He said, scooting her over and climbing onto the bed next to her. He spooned up against her and wrapped his arm around her, his face was in her hair. “I’m here rabbit, I’m here. Everything’s gonna’ be ok.”

Daryl was flooded with guilt. Why had he taken the pills? It was true, he didn’t want her taking them, but just taking them away from her without her knowing it and without him being there to help her through her panic, was not the smartest thing he’d done. He couldn’t believe he’d put her through another tormented night. She had just snapped back from the scene Saturday night and now this. ‘Please let her be ok, God! Please, I’ll do anything!’ He prayed, for the first time in 20 years. If ever there was a time for hope and forgiveness, it was now. Daryl’s eyes weld up with tears. ‘Please God, I’ll do anything.’ He cried quietly. Isabella’s breathing started to level off, she had almost completely stopped crying, just a little whimper every few seconds. A few minutes later she drifted off. He stayed their beside her all night, holding her close and telling her he was sorry.