This is a work of fan fiction and is not meant to infringe upon properties of Kirkman/Moore/AMC.
Of Alexandria
By Leah Pensotti
Chapter Two: The Weight
Anna did mostly what Rick advised. She ate a little, but didn't sleep. She sat next to the fire while Tyreese and Sasha kept watch. She felt alone, mostly because all that she knew in this new world was back at Grady Memorial for good or ill. Soon, she had a bit of company in the form of Rick's adolescent son, Carl and his baby sister Judith.
A baby. Rick was protecting a baby. One that would have been close to her own baby's age, had it been born. Anna was in awe, and also quite emotional. One evening with this group and she had felt more than she had allowed herself in over a year.
She hadn't lied to Rick. When she first found out she was pregnant, Phillip and Anna were both elated. And then the outbreak. And then the bomb. When Phillip died, she prayed that she and they baby would, too. That this new, death-ravaged world was too much and too dangerous to bear.
Her prayers were only sort of answered. And she felt responsible.
Carl comforted Judith and tried to keep her quiet so whatever lurked in the night would not stir. He must have seen the look on Anna's face and asked plainly, "Haven't seen a baby in a while?"
"No. Not since the early days of the outbreak."
"What did you do? You know, before?"
She felt a small smile play at her lips, "Nothing really. I was a housewife. I played tennis and volunteered a lot. Nothing useful. I did go to college though. My husband was a orthopedic surgeon. They called him into Grady to help with the hospital when the city was overrun."
"Did you know Beth?"
Beth. The fragile little blond that Dawn tormented. The fragile little blond who acted in defiance of Dawn's orders for Noah to return in her stead. The fragile little blond they just buried.
Anna shook her head, "No. By the time she got there I learned not to talk too much. I stayed out of the way as best as I knew how. I'm sorry about your friend, though. She seemed very loved."
Carl nodded and they were joined by two figures stepping out of the woods. Both witnesses to the horror in the hallway. The man had carried Beth's small body out of the hospital and the woman had been the last patient that Dawn Lerner had "saved."
Carl introduced them as Carol and Daryl. Daryl brooded and remained quiet while Carol made polite, apocalypse appropriate conversation with her. One question appeared to be of utmost importance, "Do you have any skills?"
Anna smiled in spite of herself, "I have a rapier wit. I am well acquainted with guns, my Daddy was a card carrying NRA member. I can sew. I cooked in the hospital. My husband taught me basic first aid. I can give stitches."
Carol nodded while Daryl grunted in her direction, "Yup. Wasp-y Beaver Cleaver shit. Don't worry, we'll dirty up your hands real quick."
"I'm not scared. Put me to work."
Daryl shrugged off with his cross bow over his shoulders. Anna felt Carol's hand on her arm, "His bark is worse than his bite, but both can be bad. Losing Beth has been a lot for him."
Rick slumped against the side of the fire truck. Abraham told him about D.C. The things that happened at the hospital. Burying Beth.
How much humanity did he have left? How little did he have to lose before becoming a full fledged monster?
He questioned fighting for Noah's freedom. He questioned bringing along Father Gabriel and the girl...this Anna. She reeked of appearances and social graces of manicures and kitten heels. Time gone by. How was she gonna make it in this world?
He recognized the look in her grey eyes as the one he saw in his own. Haunted.
Rick figured he had a bit of humanity left. Some part of a soul. He wanted to protect his own. He took Noah, Father Gabriel and Anna into his fold. if he was heartless there would be none of that.
He looked toward the fire. To where his children sat with Carol and Anna and he approached slowly.
"My Daddy loved The Band. You know that song, "The Weight?" He said that Levon Helm had the best damn voice of any man. So he named me Anna Leigh. Thank God he passed up the name "Fanny". "
Anna saw Carol stifle a chuckle with the back of a long hand full of graceful fingers . She felt a smile pull on the corners of her lips. That lonely feeling had gone for the moment.
Rick strode slowly to them, and found that Carl and Judith had fallen into an easy sleep near the fire. Anna pulled her knees to her chest and avoided direct eye contact with the man who she felt knew all of her secrets and with one question saw the shape of her soul.
Carol told Rick she was going to check in on Maggie and Michonne and left Rick and Anna in silence by the fire.
Rick spoke after a few minutes, "I'm sorry. I ask everyone those questions. It helps show morality. I didn't mean to...drag up your past."
Anna shrugged, "Sometimes it's good to feel things. Especially in this reality. What we have left of it, anyway. I don't think anyone in this group has had it easy. I'm not delicate, Rick."
They sat in silence for moments, until sleep finally drifted Anna away. She vaguely heard him say "I never said you were delicate, Anna".
