Yay next chapter is up! I love this story and hope who ever reads it does too. Oh yeah, I don't own any of the Walking Dead characters or plots, that's why I'm on this website...

Ch. 3

I wake up to bright sunlight shining into my eyes. I immediately closed my sensitive eyes and reached up to cover them, but something connected to my arm stopped me.

I looked down at my arm and gaped in wonder at the IV connected to it. What happened? I looked around and quickly realized that I wasn't in my own room...

I was so confused! Where's my family? What if they were all killed and I was left here alone? In panic I started to pull the IV out of my arm. As soon as it was out i quickly tried to get out of my bed but a quick uneasiness made me fall from the bed and onto the floor in a heap of weakness.

I let out a small scream and shook as a pain in my side erupted like a wild fire. I heard footsteps running near the room i was in and fear over took me. What if it was one of those monsters?! I listened as they got nearer and without warning my door opened with a crash.

Standing in the door way was a man with dark brown curly hair and a small beard. His shirt was soaked in blood, which frightened me, and he looked confused as he looked down at me on the floor. "Hershel!" He bellowed, turning and leaving the room in a flash.

So my family was still here, at least daddy was... Tears started running down my cheeks in a mix of pain and fear. "What do you mean she was awake?!" Bellowed a deep voice that I recognized very well.

Finally my Daddy ran through the door with a distressed look on his face, tears in his eyes. "Rick, help me get her on the bed!" He said as he rushed over to me and started to pick me up, along with the man who must have been Rick. They both slowly and gently hoisted me up on to the bed. I let out a cry as I finally saw where the pain was coming from. On my side there was a lot of wound tape and all I had on was a training bra, probably Maggie's.

My dad quickly had his shaking hands on my face, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. "Why, why, why, are you so much like your momma?!" He said softly but sternly. Then it all came back. I didn't cry though. I was done with crying.

"Daddy what happened? Where is everyone?" I asked him without hesitation. "Everyone is fine... Odis has shot a little boy and he... He is going to the High School to get supplies with a man that was with Rick... This is Rick Grimes, the father of the little boy, and leader of a group that is staying on one of the highways. When you ran out of the house you had your knife out and then you blacked out and the knife snagged you, not a bad wound but you have been out for 4 days now..." Daddy answered for me.

In shock I stared over at Rick, who was looking down in sadness. "I... I'm so sorry..." I whispered. Rick looked up and we met eyes. "Thank you ma'am... I'm sorry, but we haven't been properly addressed. My name is Rick Grimes and you are..." He started and i finished for him. "Railyn Greene." I said with a small, polite smile. He smiled at me as we shook hands.

As we pulled apart a face i have been longing to see ran into the room. "Maggie!" I squealed. My sister raced over to me and hugged me tightly. "Oh my god, Railyn! I swear if I wasn't at your birthing and I hadn't grown up with you then i wouldn't of known we were sisters!" She said with a smile on her face as she cried in pure joy.

I laughed and as she pulled away I turned to my Daddy. "Am i allowed to get up? I think i can handle it, i just got up to fast..." I said with hope in my gaze. Daddy gave me a weary look before nodding and ordering, Maggie to help me to the kitchen, making sure that I wouldn't fall.

As Rick and my Dad walked away and upstairs into one of our guest rooms Maggie helped me to the kitchen. I could walk pretty well but I was still kinda wobbly and my side ached slightly, not as bad as earlier though.

Maggie fixed me some toast and eggs and i thanked her with a kiss on the cheek. The rest of my day was boring, up until Odis leaving.

I walked slowly to the man who I thought of as a uncle and hugged him tightly around the neck. "Be careful..." I said as I pulled away and then walked over to the other man, Shane. I smiled at him and gave a small hug before looking him in the eyes. "You too... We want both of you to come back unharmed..." I said as he watched me in bewilderment. We had just met and yet I had this feeling like he belonged in our group. "Thanks, Railyn." He said with a small smile. I nodded and walked back over to my family, who were approving of my friendly actions towards the stranger.

I watched as the two men got into Odis's truck and drove down the dirt road, kicking up dirt and leaving a cloud of dust.

I sighed and walked over to a crying Patricia and Beth, who was trying to comfort her. I wrapped my arms around Patricia and soothed her. "He's going to be OK..." I said. She just pulled away and shook her head, running into the house.

I looked down and instead of following everyone I sat down on the stairs on our porch. I looked out at the forest and sighed, thinking about how the monsters, "walkers" as Rick and Shane called them, were probably taking over the world as I had thought.

The creaking of the door made me jump and spin around. It was just Rick though and I smiled. "Hey there," he said as he walked over to me. He hesitated, as if contemplating if I would care if he sat down. Chuckling i gave him an invitation. "Sit down, Rick..." I chuckled. He smiled slightly before his face went red.

"So, Railyn... I couldn't help but see you hug Shane..." He teased. I turned to him with a bright smile on my face. "Oh shut up!" I laughed, hitting his arm playfully.

He laughed and raised his eye brows at me. "OK, OK! I had to ask though!" he laughed.

I shook my head and laughed once more before Rick's face got serious again. "My wife will be worrying about us, and she needs to know that our son is hurt... Could I go and get her... I mean she deserves to know..." He said slowly. I nodded quickly. "We aren't going to keep you here Rick! But you may want one of us to go because we know these forests and because you are the only one with the same blood type as Carl." I warned him.

He nodded before standing up and claiming he would talk to my dad. I smiled once more and turned again to the fields of the home i grew up on, silently wishing that my family would come back.

Wow, what a long chapter! I never intended on it being so long but, here it is!