Chapter 2

Hannah opened her eyes. She blinked a few times until the room came in focus. It was dim but even with very little light she knew immediately where she was. She stared at the familiar ceiling and groaned softly.

Her side was throbbing dully but there was a fuzziness to her thoughts that she recognized as a result of pain relief medication. She turned her head slowly and stared at the IV in her left arm.

With another soft groan she started to push the quilt from her body. There was a scraping noise from beside her and Paul's face appeared above her.

"Hello little duck." He said delightedly.

She smiled, "Hello Paul."

"How are you feeling?" His warm fingers found her wrist and he counted her pulse.

When he dropped her wrist, she cleared her throat, "I feel okay. What happened?"

"You don't remember?"

She grimaced, "I remember a pain in my side and then I looked down and there was my blood everywhere." Her stomach rolled with nausea at the memory, "I immediately felt sick and then I think I fainted."

You were shot." He said solemnly. "Hershel and I dug the bullet out and sewed you up."

She smiled a little, "Another scar to add to my collection."

He frowned, "You were very lucky Hannah. It took them nearly an entire day to get you back here. You had internal bleeding and you lost a lot of blood. Another couple of hours and you would have died. It's a miracle the bullet didn't lodge in one of your internal organs."

"Thank you for saving my life." She reached for his hand and squeezed it gently.

He nodded and then ran his hand through her shorter hair, "I like your hair little bit."

She smiled, "How long have I been out?"

He thought back, "About 3 days. Let's take a look at your latest battle wound yeah?"

He eased the covers down around her hips and carefully peeled back the bandage. He leaned over her, poking and prodding gently at the area. She winced a little.

"Sorry my love." He replaced the bandage, pressing the tape back down. "It looks good. Very little swelling and the skin is starting to heal. You'll have a scar of course."

She grinned, "Shocker."

He grinned back at her before running his finger over the scar that started below her ear and ran under her jaw to her chin. "What's this one from?"

She shook her head, "Nothing I want to talk about."

"Fair enough. How's the pain? I'll take your IV out if you think you'll be okay without it."

"I'll be fine. I'd rather have the IV out."

As Paul started to take the IV out, Hannah looked around. "Is this my old cabin?"

Paul nodded, "Rick wouldn't let anyone move into it."

She swallowed, "How is he?"

Paul gave her a careful look, "Quieter. You leaving the way you did hit him hard."

"I had no choice." She whispered.

"I know pet." Paul said soothingly.

He pulled out the IV as a soft knock came from the door. "All clear." Glenn's voice called through the door.

"You should have seen the look on Rick's face when Scott came tumbling out of the SUV shouting that he had found you."

"Why did you let them leave for God's sake?" she asked grouchily as Paul put a band-aid on the small hole left in her arm from the IV. "He and his friend almost died and Beth would have been raped and killed."

"We didn't let them leave any more than we "let" you leave. They left us a note saying they were going to find you. Hershel and Maggie were going crazy and the rest of the group wanted to go after them immediately. Rick said no, but one more day and I think Glenn and Maggie would have just left to find them."

She shook her head, "That stupid kid."

"Scott was upset when you left but kept telling everyone that you would come back. You've been gone nearly 5 months – I guess he got tired of waiting."

Hannah sighed and flexed her arm experimentally as Paul tucked the covers around her.

"Your new friends are pretty worried about you."

Hannah smiled a little, "They're good people."

"Things got a little heated when those three large blokes came out of the SUV dressed head to toe in army fatigues and loaded down with weapons the way they were."

"Tell me no one got hurt." Hannah said frantically.

Paul shook his head, "No, it was fine. Rick was yelling at them to drop their weapons but the one with the shaved head – "

"Thomas." Hannah said.

"Right - Thomas. He just ignored him and pulled you out of the car. Rick took one look at your bleeding self and holstered his gun in a hurry. Nikki and her baby girl Selena went a long way in diffusing the situation as well."

Hannah nodded. "Thomas and Nathan and Mattie look tough, but they're big softies."

Paul arched his eyebrow, "I'll take your word for it."

"They saved my life." Hannah said quietly. Paul didn't think she was aware that her fingers had found the scar on her face and were rubbing it softly.

The door of the cabin opened and Amelia entered. "How is she this morning?" she asked Paul anxiously.

"Why don't you ask her?" Paul winked at her.

"Hannah?" Amelia ran across the room and jumped onto the bed, making Hannah wince.

"I'm sorry!" she said excitedly. "Oh Hannah, I -" she started to cry and she sprawled on the bed beside Hannah, putting her arm carefully around her waist and resting her head against Hannah's.

"I am so mad at you right now." She whispered.

"I'm sorry. But I had to leave and I knew you wouldn't let me."

"I know. I'm just glad you're back." Amelia sat up cross-legged on the bed and smiled at her. "How do you feel?"

"Okay. My side hurts and I have to pee."

Amelia laughed, "I'll help you get out of bed."

With Paul's help, Amelia pulled the covers up and helped Hannah to sit up. She was dressed in just a pair of black boy shorts and as she stood carefully, feeling shaky and weak, Amelia looked at Paul.

"Jesus, she's got a six pack!"

Paul laughed as Hannah blushed, "That's impressive duckie."

"You try living with 3 military men and not get one." Hannah muttered.

Amelia stood back and looked Hannah over carefully. "Shit girl."

Hannah's previously thin body had thickened, not from fat but from muscle. In addition to her newly-acquired six-pack, her legs and arms were taut with muscle. Amelia put her hand on Hannah's upper arm.

"Flex for me." She demanded.

"Amelia, stop being such a dork." Hannah tried to pull her arm free.

"Not until you flex. Go on – do it."

Hannah rolled her eyes and then quickly flexed. Her upper arm bulged and Amelia's mouth dropped open. "Oh my God, you're like a teeny, blonde Rambo."

Paul laughed as Hannah pulled her arm free. "Shut up. And I still have to pee."

"Right - sorry!" Amelia stopped staring and helped Hannah to the bathroom.