Lena came to discover that there was a large horde of walkers outside the walls of Alexandria. As Lena searched for somewhere to make herself useful, she ran into Aaron. "I'm so glad you're okay!" he exclaimed, hurrying over to hug her. She didn't resist the contact from the man who'd brought her here and given her a place to call home.
"I'm glad you're okay," she agreed. "Is Eric okay?"
"Yes, but we've lost a great deal today…" he trailed off, as they separated from the hug.
"What can I do to help, right now?" she asked.
"I know they could help moving bodies out of the streets."
"Okay," it wouldn't be a fun task, but Lena knew that she had to help in any way that she could. Plus, she had no ties to any of those they had lost here, it would be less painful for her to transport their dead. As she was working on moving bodies with some of the other Alexandrians, she noticed Rick walking towards her. She finished what she was doing and rested her hands on her hips. "Hey," she greeted uneasily. She didn't think Rick liked her all that much, but she couldn't be sure.
"For what you did, I want to thank you-"
"Rick, I already told you, it's not necessary, I'm just doing my part," he motioned for her to follow him. They put some distance between themselves and the others.
"You stepped up today, that's something most of these people don't know how to do, I'm glad Aaron and Daryl went out to find you."
"Thank you," she nodded.
XxX
It was getting late, Nick and Glenn were still missing, as were Daryl, Abraham, and Sasha. Yet again, Lena couldn't sleep. She found herself pacing towards the wall. She knew that there were walkers beyond it and she thought that maybe she could be useful, help whomever was on watch, give them an extra pair of eyes.
Upon climbing the ladder, Lena found Maggie standing with her arms crossed, facing the road leading out of Alexandria. "Hey," Lena greeted, in effort not to scare the woman. Maggie said nothing as she stared off for a bit longer. Lena said nothing, standing quietly. She watched as a tear streamed down Maggie's face.
"I'm sure you've heard this before, but I'm sure Glenn is doing everything in his power to get back to you," Lena said, clearing her throat.
"He should've been back by now. What if he's dead?" Maggie's voice was quiet, she hadn't really expected a response from Lena.
"Then you have to honor his memory, you guys finding each other at the end of the world is something to be appreciated in itself," the blonde frowned and noticed Maggie's hand resting on her flat stomach. Maggie met Lena's dark blue eyes, noticing that she had seen. Maggie moved her hand off of her stomach and opted to hold onto the railing instead. "And take the time you'd need to grieve properly. "But don't give up hope, all kinds of things could happen out there, he could be unable to give you a signal right now."
"Thank you, Lena," Maggie appreciated that Lena wasn't to give her fault hope, but was also trying to comfort her. The blonde knew what it was like to be in Maggie's shoes, wondering if the person you love is ever going to make it back, she also knew what it was like to have that person not return to you. She wanted Maggie to be prepared for the worst, but grieving properly was also majorly important.
XxX
When the walkers made their way into Alexandria's walls, Lena found herself hurrying with Aaron and Eric from their home and to the infirmary. Throughout the day of the walkers, she helped to hold down the infirmary and keep the patients safe. When dusk came, Denise managed to make her way back to the infirmary from the wolves' grasp. Soon after, Michonne and Rick came running through the masses and straight for their position. Lena wasted no time, she sprinted out the door and began taking out walkers in their path. They made it inside, Carl had an eye wound and Denise got to work straight away.
Lena watched carefully out the window, but out of the corner of her eye she saw Rick ready his weapon and head for the door, once again, Lena didn't hesitate, he wasn't going out there alone. Soon, everyone else followed from inside the infirmary. Each of the survivors took a stand and kept in formation. There wasn't even time to exchange thank yous, everyone worked as a well oiled machine. Lena had to switch from her bow to her knife, after killing a couple dozen walkers, her arms were sore, but adrenaline continued pumping through her veins, giving her the ability to keep pushing. She also knew if she didn't keep pushing, those risking their lives for her could quite possibly lose their own lives.
Eventually even more of the scattered survivors made their way to the formation. As one unit, they took down countless walkers, but their luck was wearing thin, that was until an explosion drew the walkers into the flaming lake...they all lost interest in the idea of fresh meat and ran for the heat and light. The survivors were able to conquer to last of the walkers, clearing their community once again.
Many of the group needed patched up after a long day at war, Lena found herself checking in on everyone before taking a few minutes to herself a few paces away from everyone else.
"Blondie," Daryl called as he walked over. She couldn't help the small smile that formed on her features upon getting to see him again.
"Hey, that was a kick ass job that you did with the gas!" she complemented. "Saved our asses out there."
"Did what everyone else did, 'cluding you," he gave her a small smile. She met his brighter blue eyes and even through all of the carnage of the day, she found a smile spread a little more on her face.
"I'm glad you made it back," she told him, honestly, he grunted in reply. "Thank you for dragging my ass back here," she accidently bumped her shoulder against his, not realizing how close they had been standing next to each other.
"Glad I did," he nodded to her.
XxX
In the coming weeks, everyone worked together to make Alexandria a home once more. Rick had decided that it was also time for the community to make a run, there were many supplies that they needed and they were running low on far too much. Rick and Daryl sat in the dining area preparing for their run. "I've been thinking," Rick started. "Lena's proved herself to be useful, what if we asked her along."
"Might be a good idea," Daryl agreed, keeping his eyes trained on the map.
"You wouldn't be bothered by here bein' there, would you?" Rick watched his friend's facial expression carefully, trying to see if there was any sort of tell.
"Nah, you're right, she's proved herself. I trust 'er."
"Yeah, I've noticed you two hanging out a bit."
"She's good company, don' muck up tracks or stomp 'round and scare everythin' off," it was true. Daryl had spent quite a bit of his time with Lena in the last couple of weeks. They would hunt together nearly every morning and they would end up talking long before the sun rose when neither of them could sleep at night.
"You two talk too," Daryl caught the smile on the other man's face and scowled at him.
"And?"
"I'm just saying you should do what makes you happy, Daryl, for whatever time there is."
"It ain't like that," Daryl stated, catching what Rick was suggesting.
"Okay," he decided to drop it, and speak more about why they had actually sat down to talk. "So we should bring her."
"Yeah, she's been itchin' to get out there anyway."
The next morning, Rick, Daryl, and Lena loaded up and headed out on the road. They arrived at their first store, it sold farming, hunting, and other types of equipment. They started to park the car, but then Lena had an idea. "Pull around back," she said. Rick did as she asked and pulled around to the docks. "The office for this type of building is usually right around the back," she said as she led the way to a back door. She grabbed a crowbar from her backpack and busted the door open. Rick and Daryl were on her heels with their weapons raised and ready, just in case there were any walkers waiting inside.
"Good call," Rick said, shining his flashlight in the office area. They easily found keys to the only truck parked outside. They checked the fuel level to find three quarters of a tank. The back was empty and they were easily able to find a ton of supplies within the store. There were very few walkers, and overall, they had been very lucky.
They headed to a gas station next, the three of them were focusing on getting the pump to start that the hadn't noticed the other man in their presence until he had run straight into Rick. Lena and Daryl had their weapons on him immediately.
"Sorry," the man apologized. He had a bandana over his face and a black knit hat on his head. "I was just getting away from some of the dead, 'bout half a mile back, heading this way," he started to make his way away from the trio. He took in the two men's appearance, neither looked like people he'd like to end up fighting, but he also thought that he could take them. Lena looked like she'd also be quite a lot to handle, she had a sort of determination about her that he'd be hesitant to reckon with.
"Thanks for letting us know, Rick lowered his weapon and Lena glanced at Daryl to see if he had done the same, seeing that his gun was still pointed at the man, she followed suit, keeping her gun trained on him.
"Do you have a group?" the man asked them.
"Do you?" Rick countered.
"No," he replied.
"Us neither," Daryl said, not removing the man from his line of sight.
"What's your name?" Rick asked.
"My friends used to call me Jesus," he removed his bandana and Daryl lowered his gun, causing Lena to do the same. His beard was surprisingly trimmed neatly. "Anyway, I should be going."
Rick started to call after him and Daryl told him to set him go. Gunshots rang out behind the gas station, Lena was the first to move, she quickly hurried around the corner and Daryl noticed that she was barely paying attention to what could be around the corner and he cursed under his breath as he hurried after her.
"Firecrakers," She murmured, seeing the trash can lighting up before her eyes. She hurried back around the building, thinking the same thing as Daryl.
"Rick, you got yer keys?" and it was at that moment that Rick realized that Jesus had tricked them. The trio took off sprinting. They found the vending machine they had attached to the back of their truck. Daryl picked up a few soda cans from the inside of the machine and a few other snacks, he tossed her a rice crispy treat and she couldn't help but smile a little. A couple days ago she had told him about the time early on that she survived in a gas station for a few days on rice crispy treats and warm Powerade.
"Thanks," she laughed lightly and she caught the corners of his mouth twitch upwards. The trio continued running until they caught up to Jesus stopped with the van. They managed to overpower him and take their van back once again. Rick hopped in the driver seat and Lean climbed in the passenger side with Daryl following behind her, she took her spot on the floor between the two of them as they began driving.
"It's still a good day," Rick commented as they sped down the road with the windows creating a heavenly breeze throughout the cab.
"Not the worst, by far," Lena rested her elbow on Daryl's knee and held her chin up with her hand. He didn't flinch, he wasn't sure why but though she was pretty much a stranger, he trusted her. Rick casually glanced at them and allowed a small smile to take home on his features. They had lost so much, but today really was a good day, they were heading home with some much needed supplies, and Daryl seemed more at ease than he had been in a long time.
"Wait, what's that?" Lena sat up straight, upon hearing the thumping on the roof.
"Shit," Rick cursed. They stopped and Jesus came flying off the roof. Rick began chasing him in the van through the open field.
"He's not worth the supplies in the back," Lena said, urging him to stop the van.
"I got this," Daryl jumped out of the moving truck. Chaos only came from there, by the end of it all, the van was at the bottom of the nearby lake and Jesus was knocked unconscious.
XxX
Back in Alexandria, Daryl was taking watch over Jesus in the infirmary with Lena sitting next to him on the couch. "You ain't gotta stay up," Daryl told her.
"I'm okay," she promised, letting out a small yawn.
"What ya did earlier was stupid," he told her, causing her to turn to him quickly.
"What?"
"When ya ran 'round the building-when he thought it was gunshots. Gotta stick together when we're out there."
"Daryl, I was fine," she knitted her brow and looked up at him.
"I don' wanna lose nobody else," Daryl met her eyes and she saw the sincerity staring back at her through his light blue orbs.
"You're not losing me anytime soon," she turned back to him, resting her hand on his shoulder. His hand moved to her side on its own accord.
"Better not see ya running into danger like though."
"It's better me than you or Rick," she said, breaking eye contact. Daryl grunted and pulled away from her. "What?" she questioned, watching the confliction cross his features. "Ya think ya wouldn' be missed if were gone? Yer one of us," he said.
"One day, I'll be dead and you all might mourn me, but I'll be forgotten eventually, and I'm okay with that...I just want to help everyone that I can along the way."
Before their conversation could continue, Eugene came in to relieve Daryl from his watch duty. The older man left the infirmary without another word. Lena found herself confused. She liked Daryl, he was a good guy, and hell, she was attracted to him, but she had too many issues of her own to work out before she could push that boundary too much. The apocalypse had not treated her well-not that it was a beach day for anyone. She had lost everyone from her old life that she cared about, subconsciously she rubbed her ring finger and let her feet carry her home.
AN: Sorry I'm not going super into detail about what happened in the series, I just don't want to word for word type the dialogue, this way I summarize it, I suppose. Review please!