>@sagittariisism< -- a better look at what he was dealing with.

>@sagittariisism< The body was barely recognisable, covered from head to toe in many scars and bruises. Anyone could've mistaken him --

>@sagittariisism< -- for a walker, but thankfully, Rick didn't. "Hey, man." A brow arched in confusion, mostly because he had no --

>@sagittariisism< -- no idea how he managed to get himself into this state. Perhaps he was beyond saving, but Rick needed to at least --

>@sagittariisism< -- identify this guy for his own sake. "Stay with me." He didn't want to hurt the victim any further, but he didn't --

>@sagittariisism< -- know how to keep him conscious. He had prodded the guys cheeks a fair few times but that appeared to do nothing --

>@sagittariisism< -- and in a matter of minutes, his body became nothing but limp in the leaders arms. "Dammit!" He shook the body, --

>@sagittariisism< -- but the beaten male still did not stir and Rick grew worried for everyone's safety. How was he to know if this --

>@sagittariisism< -- was all just a trick set by Negan? Everything he had worked so hard for could just disappear in a flash. "Dammit, --

>@sagittariisism< -- someone 'elp me get him inside!"

>@sagittariisism< Rick had insisted being by the unknown males side until he was to awaken, mostly because he was concerned for others --

>@sagittariisism< -- safety; but looking at this injured man, he was reminded that he shouldn't have to worry. Still, he did even so. --

>@sagittariisism< -- A throaty groan of pain was released from the males swollen margins, disturbing Rick from the peace that he had --

>@sagittariisism< -- created amongst the two. He sat up almost abruptly, slender digits wrapping around the glass of water he had --

>@sagittariisism< -- placed on the bedside table. "Here, have th-" Dampened strands that had previously hidden the males face --

>@sagittariisism< -- now remained tousled, revealing a lot more than Rick had discovered earlier. "Daryl?" His baby blue orbitals --

>@sagittariisism< -- now focused on the man in front of him with a lot more depth and meaning in comparison to before. He couldn't --

>@sagittariisism< -- believe that his friend - no, his brother had survived whatever Negan and his men had put him through. He had --

>@sagittariisism< -- lost so much, and he was sure he had lost Daryl for good. But now, here he was. Completely worn out and vulnerable, --

>@sagittariisism< -- which certainly worried the leader beyond explanation.