AUTOR´S NOTE: Ok, so I couldn´t wait until Monday to post another chapter, so here it is, enjoy & let me know what you think :-)

CHAPTER 2 – OFFICER FRIENDLY

Kiara's POV

I woke up slightly startled by all the voices around me and realized I was still in Rick's arms. Darryl with all my gear was walking right behind us, his eyes scanning the situation in the camp. There were many strange faces, people just staring at me, concerned questions being asked.

"Dad? Is that Kiara?!" I turned my head in a direction where the voice came from and saw Carl running towards us and stopping in his tracks when he saw my bloody shirt; "What happened to you?"

"I got stabbed buddy. It's a long story." I winced as I was being laid on a mattress in someone's tent.

"Darryl and I found her in the woods slaying Walkers like some kind of warrior princess or somethin'. I was impressed." Rick joked around making me chuckle only to hiss in pain. He shot me an apologetic look and called for Carol, whoever that was, to come have a look at my wound.

The woman that walked into the tent had a cute face and short grey haircut. She sat on the mattress next to me and opened some kind of first aid kit, then unbuttoned my shirt and lifted up the tank top I had underneath to have a look at my wound.

"The cut is quite deep. She's definitely going to need some stitches. It seems it's good we're headin' to the CDC after all. The doctors there will take care of her. All I can do now is bandage the wound properly to stop the bleeding."

She started opening the pack of sterile gauze and cleaning up the area around the cut with some rubbing alcohol. The tent was a little bit crowded at that point, so Rick nudged Carls towards the entrance: "Carl, why don't you go find your mom. I'm sure she's looking for you by now. I'll call you back later when there's less people in here."

"Ok dad, see you soon Kiara."

"You know it Big Chief." I smiled and waved at him. I love that kid so much. I looked around and saw Rick looking at me, thoughtful expression on his face. I felt my stomach twist and blush rising to my cheeks. I thought I'd never see him or Carl ever again. I smiled at him wanting to tell him everything, to pour out my feelings and hug him and never let him go. I opened my mouth but instead of doing what I wanted and should've done long ago, I asked him for some water. I watched him leave and mentally cursed myself for being such a chicken. In the meantime Carol finished tending to my wound and left me to rest.

Few minutes after, Rick walked back in with a water bottle and some canned sausage and beans. I hadn't realized until then that I was starving. He placed it on a make-shift night table next to the mattress and turned around to look at me.

"You know I thought I'd never see you again Kiara. I still don't understand how we found you today. We were planning to leave this place for good and try for CDC tomorrow morning. I ... I thought it was a miracle that I found Carl, Lori and Shane here, but to literally stumble upon you two days ago ... it's ... I don't know ... it makes me feel like everything's goin' to be ok in the end. It gives me hope ... if we left today before we found you ... I can't even..." he started to stutter and needed to take a deep breath to calm himself. I could see he was scared and feeling lost and that he was trying to hide it, to be the rock for his family and friends. I sat up and gave him a hug.

"Don't think about it. You found me and that's what matters. There's no need to play what-if games right now. You'll drive yourself insane. I thought I'd never see you again too. You have no idea how glad I am to be here with you and Carl and Shane and even with Lori." That last remark made him chuckle and he hugged me even tighter. "So how'd you ended up here anyway? I'm sure there's an awesome story." He let go of me and handed me my food and water. He planted himself right next to me on the mattress and started with his incredible and almost unbelievable story.

When Rick told me how he first saw Carl in the camp, I cried like a little bitch. I really hate crying in front of people, but I couldn't help myself. Rick then told me how he decided to go back for Darryl's brother they left on the roof in Atlanta and how they came back to the camp only to find it overrun with Walkers. He was looking down and rubbing the nape of his neck and I could see frustration and guilt written all over his face. I was sure he blamed himself for what happened.

I got really sleepy and started to look around for my stuff. "I should probably get up and try to find some tent to sleep in. I feel stupid just laying here and taking up someone else's place."

"Actually it's my tent. Shane and I have watch tonight so you will stay here and rest. We have a long journey ahead of us so get as much sleep as you can. I'll bring in your stuff and some more water so you can wash and change. Let me know if you need anything." He got up and started collecting his essentials for the night.

"Will do Officer Friendly." He smirked at me and left. I still couldn't believe that after everything I've been through I finally found Rick and Carl and was with a group of decent people for a change. I felt incredibly lucky and as I started to drift away into deep sleep I thought of the first time I met him.

It took me a while to get myself to actually do this, but I finally did it. I moved out from my parents' house to a completely different city. I love my family, I really do. I'd die for them, but I wanted to start a life for myself. Also, ever since my brother Colin broke up with his fiancée and moved back home, the thought of starting my life some place new became a burning desire. It's not that I don't love my brother, quite the opposite, he's my best friend and my rock, but sometimes he can be a little too protective for my taste. Not to mention my dad who's a cop and a former soldier. You can only imagine how long it took me to make my parents consent to the idea of me moving away.

So here I was driving my pickup truck loaded with all my belongings to my first house in the little town of Kings County. It was much cheaper to find something outside of Atlanta and commute from there. I also managed to get a great deal on a cute and quite large place in Atlanta to turn into my very own Capoeira studio. Capoeira had been my passion ever since I was fifteen and it was my lifelong dream to open up my own place. I even invited few of my buddies to come work with me. I felt so lucky I couldn't even begin to describe it.

I entered the town and was thinking about colour pallets for the rooms of my house when my stomach churned loud enough to drown out the music blasting from my radio reminding me that I hadn't eaten anything since early that morning. I snorted and decided to find the nearest diner and get some take-out before I head home. That was the first time I called my new place a home. It made me smile.

It didn't take much time to find probably the only diner in this town. I sighed contently, parked my truck and headed for the door. I went in looking around and chuckling slightly as few of the locals took in my appearance which made them widen their eyes and then look away somewhat ashamed when they realized I saw them. It's not like I looked that weird or something, but my looks could appear a bit "unusual" to say the least, especially in a small town like this one. I had a sleeve tattoo on my right arm, a nose ring and dark auburn dreadlocks that were my pride and joy and almost reached my lower back at the time. I was wearing dark blue skinny jeans, my brother's AC/DC T-shirt paired with my trusty old leather biker jacket and my beloved converse sneakers. I decided to sit behind the counter and took a quick look of the menu trying to figure out what food I was in a mood for biting my lower lip doing so.

"I wouldn't order the salmon if I were you." Low macho-like voice said which made me look away from the menu on its owner. I wanted to tell him to mind his own damned business but I realized he was wearing a cop uniform. I took in his appearance and noticed he was quite muscular which reminded me of my brother; his complexion was slightly darker giving him a little bit exotic look. His eyes were dark brown, almost black and glistening with mischief. I opted for a more diplomatic approach since I didn't need to get in trouble the first day in town.

"Well thank you for your concern. Do you always take such a great deal of interest in strangers' well being?"His partner, who I hadn't until then noticed, chuckled slightly and tried to help his friend.

"Well madam, he's a police officer so he should be concerned with how'd you put it... strangers' well being now shouldn't he?" You know the flip your stomach does when you first see someone really handsome? Well mine did just that leaving me speechless for a while, my usually smartass mouth hanging open. He was probably ten or more years older than me, but boy, was he gorgeous. He had short dark brown hair, the most hypnotizing bright blue eyes and cutest smile I've ever seen. I pulled myself together and responded.

"Well that's awfully kind of you, but I can handle myself, thanks." I decided for a burger and some fries pining for a slice of Ernesto's pizza and placed my order to a middle-aged waitress whose name tag read "Julie" and who was kind enough to pour me a cup of coffee on the house while I waited.

I turned around back at the two officers, smiled and started sipping on the sweet dark brown liquid I couldn't function without. Yeah, I was an exemplar case of a coffee addict. I continued the conversation with the two officers, introductions were made and Shane flirting a little too much for my comfort. Nevertheless I realized I was enjoying myself. Time passed-by very quickly and my food was ready.

"Well this would be my cue. It was nice to meet you Officer Friendly and Officer way too Friendly." Those nicknames I made up for them made Rick choke on his coffee, Shane looking down, rubbing his head not knowing how to respond. I made my way to my truck, placing my food on the passenger seat when I saw Rick and Shane exit the diner and head towards their car that was parked right next to mine.

"So where're you heading now?" Shane asked. I told him the address and asked them if they could point me to the right direction since I wasn't quite sure where exactly my new house was. I saw that looks have been exchanged between the two officers and when Rick looked at me, the look on his face was one of genuine amusement. That got me a little confused to say the least.

"Why don't you ...ehm...why don't you follow us? We're headin' that way actually. I'll drop Shane here home and show you." Smile never leaving his face. I was still a bit confused but agreed to do so since I didn't feel like roaming around the town trying to find the damned place.

I hopped into my truck and followed the officers. After five-minute-drive I was parking outside of Shane's house and waiting for the two friends to say their goodbyes for the day. I followed Rick and after another ten minutes or so, he was pulling up outside a cute house that looked a little too well maintained for it to be my place. I got out of the truck and looked around noticing the number of the house wasn't right.

"I think you got the numbers of the house confused. Mine's 294, this is 292."

"I know. This one's mine. Yours is next doors." Smile still plastered on his face, and a glint of amusement in his eyes. I found myself staring at him again, with my mouth hung open, again. Holly crap I was living right next to the Officer Friendly.