Chapter 1

Rick Grimes woke up with adrenaline racing through his veins. Weather it from still from being shot or from being in a coma, he didn't know. His first thought was of his wife and son, Lori and Carl Grimes. He sat up straight and looked around. The room looked like hell. Papers were thrown all among the floor. He tried sitting up but ended up falling to the floor.

"Nurse!" He yelled. He waited a few seconds but heard no reply. He pulled himself up using the hospital bed as support. Once he was on his feet he limped to the door to change into his uniform. He pushed past the bed that was put in front of the door. Looking down both sides of the hallway, he knew something was wrong. Lights were hanging from the ceiling, others not working or flickering. Blood was scattered along the walls, drips in some places, splashes in others. Rick started down the hall looking around at the disaster area. He reached a chained up door that read 'DON'T OPEN DEAD INSIDE.' As he stood confused, the door was slightly pushed forward stopping because of the chains. He heard a groan as the door was pushed again, with more force. Rick turned around and started running. He reached outside and ran full force into something, or someone. The collision caused him to fall backwards onto his back, the same for the other person. Rick scooted back up against the wall as the figure sat up.

"Damn that hurt. Are you okay?" The figure asked. It was a girl, probably in her twenties, if not eighteen or nineteen. She had a backpack slung over her shoulder, a gun in hand, and a knife strapped to the bag. Her brown hair hung to past her shoulders and her brown eyes full of concern for Rick. She looked at him. He seemed lost, lonely, and confused.

"Um, yeah I'm sorry. There were things in the hospital." He finally replied.

"We call them walkers. They didn't bite you or anything right?" Rick shook his head. "You just leave the hospital?"

"I'm a sheriff. I was shot awhile ago, the shot putting me in a coma. I just woke up 'bout twenty minutes ago."

"Well sheriff, you slept through the beginning of the end of the world." The girl said, looking around and putting her hands up.

"What do you mean? And what are walkers?"

"The world turned to shit. People started dying, but they didn't stay dead. They stood back up and ate anything with a pulse. The worst part is, a walker bites you and you'll come back as one of them."

Rick stared at the young woman. She stared back, feeling pity that he didn't know anything had happened. She didn't know if he had anyone to look out for, a child, a wife, maybe parents or siblings.

"My name's Emma Townsdale." She said reaching out her hand.

"Rick Grimes." He replied shaking her hand.

"Well, sheriff, where were you planning on heading?"

"My house, my wife and son might be there."

"I highly doubt that, everyone left the minute corpses came to life. Most people headed to Atlanta." Emma told.

"My wife has family there, she might've headed that way. I'm checking my house first." Rick stated.

"Okay, lead the way. You sheriff, just got a companion." She said with a smile. Rick returned the smile. The duo started towards the Grimes household.

They reached the street that Rick's home was located.

"Hey I'm going to scavenge these cars. We need more supplies." Emma said as she started towards the closest car. "Wait, take this." She handed Rick her gun. Rick took the gun and started back towards his home. Emma was busy digging through cars as he heard a voice yell. A gun shot was heard soon after. She grabbed her knife and ran towards Rick's home. She saw a boy standing over an unconscious Rick with a shovel.

"What the hell are you doing?" She asked walking towards the boy.

"Stop right there." A deeper voice demanded. She turned and faced a taller colored man pointing a gun at her.

"Were either of you bit?" The man asked.

"No, he was shot awhile back. He's healed now."

The man lowered his gun and nodded towards the house. "We're held up in there. Bring your friend inside. The shot attracted some already."

Emma grabbed Rick's legs as the man grabbed his arms and they carries him inside. They placed him on the mattress, waiting for him to relive himself from the hit. Emma sat at his feet waiting.

"Names Morgan Jones, and that's my son Duane." The colored man said holding out his hand.

"I'm Emma Townsdale, and the sheriff you beat is Rick Grimes." She replied shaking his hand.

"Have you seen his family? He has a wife and a son that live on this street."

"Ain't seen nobody living in awhile."

Emma sighed feeling more compassion for Rick. An hour passed before she felt the man stretching. She faced him and saw him sitting up.

"Bout time sheriff. Was getting worried I'd have to take you out." Emma said with a smirk.

"Where are we?"

"In the house of your attackers. Morgan and Duane Jones, they've been held up here for awhile. They haven't seen your family, I'm sorry."

Rick felt his heart drop a little but he knew he couldn't give up hope. They were both alive. Emma helped him stand up and brought him to Morgan.

"Thank you for letting us stay until I woke up." Rick said.

"Ain't nothing to worry about. You two stay until you think you're ready. But you're not leaving tonight. Too many walkers roaming round."

Emma walked to the peep hole and watched the street. A decent amount of walkers were along the street just staring into space or walking to no where special. She sat back down next to Rick. He explained the story of how he was shot chasing criminals. It then occurred to him it was the first time he thought of Shane, his co-worker and best friend. Hopefully he was safe and maybe even with Lori and Carl. The four ate a small dinner before a car alarm went off.

"Stupid things, they bump into them and the alarm attracts even more." Morgan told the two. Duane stood up and went to the peep hole. He then ran back in tears digging his face into his pillow.

"It's his mom, I couldn't put her down. I tried, but it was just too hard." Morgan said as he wrapped his arms around his son. Rick stood slowly and silently walked to where Duane was just standing. He looked out and a woman was staring at the doorknob trying to open it. It seemed like it remembered this place, hopefully walkers had memories Rick hoped. A few seconds passed before the woman walked down the porch stairs, not an ounce of realization on her face.

"If you two are feeling tired, there's a bed upstairs if you want."

The duo nodded, said their goodnights, and went to the room.

"I'll take the floor." Rick offered as he took off his boots.

"Non sense Rick. Lets just share the bed. Don't make it awkward." Emma Rick felt uncomfortable but thought how long it'd be before he found another bed. He scooted in next to Emma who's breath was already evening. He looked at her and realized he barely knew her. He didn't know if she had family, why she was in front of the hospital, or the hell she'd been through already. That would be a story for another day.