It was dark, dark and sticky, the kind of blackness that made Rayne think of spoiled molasses as she crouched behind the factory building. Above her no moon gave illumination to light her mission and she wasn't sure how long her flashlight would hold out. Behind her Layla clutched her free hand still weeping from the horrible sight they had seen in there house. How could that have been Bre? How could that thing have been the person she loved more than almost anything in this world?

The roads had been blocked by the masses trying to escape to the promised safety of the refugee camps, but Rayne knew enough that there was no place around her to accommodate that many people. It didn't take long for others to realize that as well and start turning on each other. Rayne scooped Layla up and retreated before things became violent, trying their best to find a way around the angry travelers and secure a place before they all caught wind. It may have been underhanded of her, but she would do most anything to keep them safe.

Rayne stopped her trek and turned to peek around the corner where fresh blood had splattered the walls like some demented child's finger painting. She scanned the area and realized there was no way she was going to make it pas the road without them seeing her. Licking her lips, Rayne said, "Ok, we are going to have to sweep through the forest and pass under the bridge if we want to make it first. From there we will register and find some food, shelter maybe some..."

"What's wrong with mommy?" The tiny voice peeped and Rayne continued to scan the area, "Mommy's sick."

"Is she going to get better?"

Rayne noticed an underpass she could squeeze through, but it would be difficult with a child, "I don't know." Maybe if she could dig up the bottom, Layla could hold up the fence while she climbed under?

"Will we ever see her again?"

"I don't know! Ok Layla? I don't know what's happening or what we are going to do!" Rayne snapped and instantly wished she hadn't. She turned around and saw her god-daughter holding her face in her hands, something she had watched Bre do and mimicked whenever she cried. Rayne sighed and bent down to her level, brushing back her tangled curls and resting her hands on Layla's impossibly tiny shoulders, "I'm sorry, kitty cat, I didn't mean to yell at you."

The four-year-old continued to sob, "I want to go home."

Rayne nodded, "I know, but it isn't safe there anymore. We have to keep moving." She sniffled, "Why is mommy a monster? Why Rayne?" The tired woman felt her heart ache at the memory and bit her lip before replying, "Because mommy got sick. She got real sick." Layla sniffed, "Does she miss me? Is she scared?"

Rayne shook her head, "Mommy's soul went to heaven. You remember when I taught you about heaven right?" The tiny blonde nodded, "Where your mommy and daddy are?" She hummed an agreement, "And do you remember what I said it's like for them?" Layla sniffed, "Uh huh. You said it's warm and pretty and they aren't worried about anything anymore."

Rayne slid her hands down Layla's bare arms to hold her delicate fingers in her own, "And what else did I say?" Layla's teary green eyes looked at her, "That they are always watching over us." Rayne nodded, trying to keep herself from crying as well, "That's right. Mommy is watching over you right now. That thing we saw at the house wasn't her. Your mommy loved you more than anything and she told me that if anything were to ever happen to her, then I would take care of you. You believe me don't you?"

Layla's hands trembled as she nodded, "Yes ma'am." Rayne made sure to keep eye contact with her little one, "Layla, I'm going to protect you. I'll find a safe place for us and you will be all right. I promise and have I ever broken a promise to you?" Layla shook her head and Rayne pulled her in for a hug, "It's all right...we'll be all right, kitty. I promise..."

"I promise." Rayne whispered as her eyes fluttered open. She was still in the white room with the old fashioned furniture only from the look of the sun, it was almost evening. "Oh you're awake." A voice made her jump when she looked in the corner of the room where the shadows of evening had hidden him from her sight. The man who shot her was sitting across the room, his blue eyes catching her own as she nearly squeaked, "How long have you been there?"

He shrugged, "A while. You've been asleep for two days, thought we might have lost you for a second or two, but you have this pesky habit of shooting back to life at the last second." Rayne cleared her throat so that her voice came out stronger, "I have someone to live for. Did your group find her? Is Layla here?"

She started to rise out of bed when Daryl's hand came up, "Yeah they found her. Everyone has been obsessing about it all day or at least that's what it sounds like from the noise down stairs. She's all right if you're worried."

Rayne exhaled a sigh of relief and closed her eyes, "Thank God."

Daryl shrugged, "I wouldn't give Him all the credit, Glen found her. Oh and not that I'm complaining or nothing, but you might want to cover up." Rayne's crystal eyes turned from him down to herself where she was shocked to discover that she was wearing practically nothing but a thin slip she had never seen before. She quickly gathered up the blankets and pulled them over herself, face turning a light shade of red with embarrassment.

The man across from her coughed, "Your fever was getting really high so they stripped you. That's one of Hershel's girls' slip. Lori washed your clothes...they're on the chair beside you." Rayne peeked over to see her jeans and tank top folded neatly beside her with her boots underneath the chair. She tried to speak past her embarrassment, "Thank you. I'll get changed and will go down to see Layla."

Daryl shrugged, "Doc says you've got to stay in bed tonight. I'll tell them to send up the kid. Looks like you are going to make it after all." He stood and turned to walk out the door when he mumbled, "About what happened...shooting you...I'm...uh...I'm sorry." Rayne watched him and spoke softly, "It's all right, if it weren't for you, that monster would have killed me. You saved my life. You just made it interesting."

He stopped and looked her up and down, noticing the cute smile she had when she said that. He wanted to say something more to her, but couldn't seem to think of anything that wouldn't make him sound stupid. He opened his mouth to speak when a voice cried out, "Rayne!" and the little blonde haired girl rushed past him.

Rayne's face instantly brightened as she reached out her arms, "Layla!" Daryl watched from the doorway as the child flung herself into her guardian's arms and how easily she fit into Rayne's embrace, like she belonged there. He looked down and away before walking out of the room, unsure of what it was he was feeling.

Rayne pulled Layla back to get a good look at her, "Oh kitty cat, thank God you're safe! Were you scared? Have they been treating you right? Are you hurt at all?" Layla giggled and shook her head, "Nope, I'm all good. They let me sleep in a bed, a real bed Rayne! Mrs. Lori made me some dinner and Ms. Maggie took me for a ride on her horsey! It's been a lot of fun."

The sickly woman smiled, "Well I'm glad you've been having a good time while I've been lying here. You haven't been causing them any trouble have you?" The sound of creaky footsteps announced her presence when a lovely woman with brunette hair stood in the doorway, "Oh no, Layla has been a perfect little lady the whole time."

Rayne looked over to her when Layla giggled, "This is Mrs. Lori, Rayne. Isn't she pretty?" Rayne nodded, "Yes, she is. I hope Layla hasn't been giving you too much trouble. She can be a handful when she gets hyper." Lori shook her head, "Not at all, the entire group has been thoroughly entranced by her. The only time we had any problem was keeping her away so you could sleep. Are you feeling better?"

Taking a mental account of herself, Rayne nodded, "Yes, very much so. Thank you so much for taking care of her. Is your doctor around so I may thank him as well?" Lori nodded, "Yes, I'll get him and Rick to come up and see you. This is Hershel's place and my husband Rick is sort of our leader. I'll give you a moment to change first so the men don't get any ideas. Daryl hasn't left your side since Hershel finished stitching up your leg and your fever started to break."

Rayne felt herself blush at this knowledge and nodded to Lori when she left. Her eyes turned to her god-daughter, "Layla, will you bring me my clothes please? I can't really stand up for a while." The tiny girl slid off the bed and returned with her clothes. While Rayne was changing, Layla prattled on about everything she had been doing with Rayne giving the occasional, "Mm hmm" in acknowledgement. It wasn't until she said, "Oh and that man, the one with the um...what are they called Rayne?"

She looked down, "What are what called?" Layla's tiny brow furled, "Oh you know. The things Indians have...they go like this..." She pulled back her arm as if she had an invisible bow and Rayne gave an indulgent smile, "Arrows, they are called arrows." Layla smiled, "The man with the arrows kept coming up here. I didn't think it was fair that he could when I couldn't, but he wouldn't come out! He just kept on sitting over there talking to himself and rubbing that flower. Kind of weird if you ask me."

Rayne looked over to where she was pointing and saw the white flower he had brought her earlier. A small flutter went through her heart as she pulled her tank top over her head and combed through her thick hair with her fingers, "I think he felt bad about accidentally hurting me. Not that weird." Layla tilted her head back and forth as if considering this, "Nope, I think he likes you. I can tell."

Laughing softly, Rayne reached for the flower and secured it within Layla's golden curls, "Well I don't know about that. Why don't you keep that thought just between us ok? Pinky promise?" She asked holding out her pinky while Layla giggled and wrapped her tiny finger around it, "Promise!"

Rayne smiled when the voice she knew as Hershel's said, "I'm glad to see our patient is awake. You gave us a real scare for a little while." Rayne nodded to him when another man who looked like a sheriff followed him in with a kind smile, "Hello there, Rayne. My name is Rick and you already know Hershel. How are you feeling?"

She looked over herself quickly, "Much better. I don't know how to thank you for your hospitality and for bringing my little kitty to me." She went to hold Layla tight until the little girl's nose scrunched, "No offense Rayne, but you are kind of stinky." The twenty-five-year old felt her checks darken, "Well I guess I am, aren't I?"

Rick laughed, "Got to love children's honesty. There is running water here, but its on a well system so try to keep it short. When you clean up, come on down stairs and have something to eat." Hershel shook his head, "She really shouldn't be moving very much. You have to let that leg heal up and your body is weak from the fever."

Rayne shrugged, "It's all right, I've been through a lot worse and a shower sounds amazing. I promise to take it slow." The old man ran a hand through his white hair, "All right, well let me get one of my girls to help you. We don't want you collapsing or anything." Rayne smiled to him while Rick looked down, "Layla, why don't you go find my boy? It's almost dinner time."

Layla nodded, golden girls bouncing as she slid off the bed. Rayne watched her leave, heart fluttering, "Stay in the house, kitty! Don't leave without someone with you!" Rick smiled kindly, "It's hard to not worry about them. My boy can't ever seem to stay in one place for too long. He has caused a lot of worry for his mother and I. Maybe your girl will be a good influence on him?"

It didn't take long for a girl she came to know as Maggie, took her into the shower and sat on the toilet while Rayne nearly gasped at the feeling of warm water on her aching body. It was amazing what the past few months had put her body through and having this little piece of the past was enough to make her want to cry. She washed out her chestnut hair which was more tangled than she ever remembered it being and Maggie cleared her throat, "So where did you two come from?"

Rayne finished scrubbing dirt away from her body, "Just outside Atlanta, we lived in a small farm town about thirty miles away." Maggie nodded, "Where is your daughter's daddy?" Rayne turned off the water and waited while Maggie gave her a towel, "Oh Layla isn't my real daughter, she was my best friend's little girl. Her father was a low life scum who has spent most of her life in jail. Good riddance if you ask me, he was a monster long before anyone else in this world became one."

Maggie helped her step into her jeans and put on her red tank top, "I see. Well you two certainly traveled a long way. That must have been difficult by yourself. You should think about staying around here, Layla has been a breath of fresh air." Once she was fully dressed and her long hair clipped behind her head with Maggie's help, Rayne shook her head, "We have imposed enough. It is time to move on."

The farmer's daughter helped her down the stairs where a group larger than any she had seen in quite some time were just sitting down to eat. There were so many that they took up two tables and it made Rayne stare at their numbers, "So many...so many have survived in your group. How?"

An older man in a Hawaiian shirt pulled out a chair for her, "Because we stick together, watch out for each other. It's the best way to hold on to our humanity." She seated herself and smiled a "thank you" to him before looking out at the curious eyes looking back at her. There was a bit of an awkward silence before Rick stood up and cleared his throat, "Everyone, this is Rayne and we've all met Layla." He smiled at the tiny blonde who was poking at a boy's hat, before going on with introductions.

Rayne tried to remember everyone's name and she spoke quietly, "Thank you all so much for everything you did for us. I don't know if there would be a way to repay your kindness, but name it and we shall try." This seemed like an acceptable answer and the group went on eating until the one named Shane grunted, "You aren't thinking of staying are you?"

The awkward silence returned and Rayne dabbed at her mouth before replying, "I wasn't planning on it, no. We'll rest up a night and be on our way." At this, Layla stopped poking Carl and looked up with those huge green eyes, "We can't stay? I thought we could stay! Oh please Rayne? Please? I like it here."

Rayne looked at her god-daughter and spoke quietly, "This isn't the time to talk about it, Layla. We don't belong here and have imposed on them long enough. Now finish your food like a big girl." Layla's jade eyes began to water and she looked around at the adult faces sadly. Her gaze turned to Rick, "Is it up to you if we stay, Mr. Policeman? We would be good, I promise!"

Rayne watched a look pass between Rick and his wife. She knew the effect Layla's puppy eyes had and it wasn't fair for her to use it on them, "Layla, that's enough." There was silence again until it was broken by the sound of the screen door creaking open and slamming shut. Rayne looked up to see Daryl coming in with what looked like a squirrel on his belt. His cornflower eyes took in the group as he held up the dead rodent, "Since we had two more, I caught some extra meat...here..."

Lori stood up to take it from him with a smile and Daryl flicked his gaze at Rayne before sitting down beside a woman with cropped hair and sad eyes. Rick cleared his throat and looked to Rayne, "You have any special skills you could bring to the table? Anything you are good at?"