Summary: Stone had a list of rules, these rules were never meant to be broken. But when her right hand man falls injured, she must break these rules to let strangers into her life to help save the one man she trusts. What could possibly ensue?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for my two characters :)
She was blindfolded, crouched and terrified. She could hear the low buzz of conversation around her, but couldn't actually hear the voices. There was a rustle of leaves, a brush of a hand against her skin and then a hoarse voice.
"You've got a little fight in you" A voice whispered near her ear, a grin no doubt followed. "I like that" The voice continued, pulling hard at her hair. She struggled defensively, pulling away swiftly. A chuckle was heard briefly, before she was pushed hard to the ground. She tried to scream, but her voice came out in muffled cries. She was alone.
"Let's see if you're too good for me now" The voice hissed, before the blind fold was pulled from her. She stared up at Tom, who grinned gleefully back and waggled his fingers. His grin disappeared suddenly and he turned her over aggressively, his hands reaching for her t-shirt.
Stone woke from her dream panting, she was drenched in sweat and her hands were clenched in hard fists, her fingernails had broken skin. She wriggled free from the blankets that had wrapped around her tightly, a feeling of suffocation overwhelming her. She took a moment to breath slow and calm, telling herself it was all just in her head. The past was the past, it was called that for a reason.
After calming herself down, she reached for her gear quickly. Only to realize that her beloved equipment was missing, in a panic, she searched the entire tent area. Even looking through the red neck's few items. In a quick rage, Stone bolted out the tent, only to smash into said red neck himself.
"Watch where ye goin'" he sneered, a whole line of squirrels circled over his shoulder.
"Where's my stuff pilchard?" She questioned, silently seething.
"Wha'?"
"Wheres my stuff?" She snapped, "My bow, arrows, sword, and the rest" Her voice was raising.
"Shane took it" Daryl answered shortly, frowning hard at her.
"Son of a bitch" She muttered, storming off towards the farm house.
"Ye' go git Shane angry, maybe he'll kill you and git you outta my tent" Daryl yelled after her, angry at her rudeness. But why did he care, she was just some stranger.
Stone ignored Daryl's comments, his opinion mattered less. She was blinded by fury, seething at the fact Shane had taken her property and hidden it somewhere else. It angered her that she had trusted Rick, who had said that no one would take her stuff. Stone stopped short, he hadn't actually promised anything she thought bitterly.
"Damn pigs, always hated em. Not gonna trust one now because the world's turned to shit" Stone muttered to herself, recollecting her fury and making her way to the farm house with speed. She only realized how southern she was becoming, every now and then southern slang would just find its way to her. Rick must of seen coming from afar, as he stood on the porch defensively with Shane by his side.
"You damn Nancy" She shouted, coming right up to Shane's face "Couldn't take my weapons when I was awake, could ya?" Her arm was raising dangerously high.
"Now look Stone - " Rick started.
"No, you have no right" Stone interrupted, "That is my sole protection. I want it back" She stared at Rick.
"We can't give you it all back" Rick said lowly, "However we can give you this" He passed her bow and arrows over, his gaze averted else where.
"So you're going to ration me my own weapons" She said, her voice raised almost to a shout.
Rick nodded "I'm sorry Stone, but we don't trust you yet" He said.
"What do I have to do? Save one of your people to earn it? I already helped Maggie" Stone frowned.
"Why don't you be happy you even got some of your stuff back?" Shane said bitterly, rolling his eyes.
This irritated Stone beyond belief "I shouldn't have to be rationed weapons you no good hick, why can't you all just mind your own damn business and leave me the hell alone. I'm not going to hurt anyone, you dumb ninny" She argued.
"You're on our farm" Shane yelled "What you do is our business, and the sooner you get it in your thick little skull, the sooner you can leave."
"I believe this is Hershel's farm" She bit back childishly, automatically feeling ashamed of her come back.
Shane rolled his eyes "I want her put on watch Rick" Shane said, turning to Rick with expectation.
"I am not going to be looked after by some nob head. I can handle myself" She sneered, taking her bow and arrows and heading towards the woods.
"Where are you going?" Shane shouted after her.
"To catch some food" She snapped back, making sure to flip him off as she left.
She was satisfied to hear Shane grumble behind her, she didn't need this type of treatment. She felt as if she was being cheated, all her protection was gone and it left her more vulnerable than ever. She stubbornly made her way through the dense bush, shooting down several mammals she found along the way. Being the one to hold a grudge, Stone constantly muttered about not needing a baby sitter, aggravation creeping up on her too quickly.
She sighed loudly, taking a seat on a nearby log and plucking out arrows from the three marsh rabbits she had caught. She was at ease in the forest, the quiet comforted her more than being surrounded by people, it always had. It was humid, her clothes were clinging tightly and she cursed Georgia for its ridiculous heat. She had been in Georgia for a year and she still hadn't become use to the temperature difference, England had always been so cold. She reminisced to herself, smiling at the memory of her childhood.
She was snapped out of it quickly when a cold scrabbling hand grabbed at her shoulder, letting out a small shriek, Stone turned and grabbed the nearest sharpest thing. The hand belonged to none other than a walker, who squawked at her loudly and lunged forward. Fully prepared, she held a sharp rock and smashed it into the walker's head, repeatedly beating the walker until it moved no longer.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she went to removed the scalp area of the walker's head. However a shadow loomed over her, she looked back expecting to find Shane behind her and to only realize that another walker was just about to take a huge bite out of her neck. She fell backwards in shock and kicked away with panic, she mentally cursed Shane and Rick for taking her hunting knife. Typical that I get attacked now she thought bitterly.
This particular walker was persistent, he fell forward and crawled after Stone. She tried reaching for her arrows, but they had fallen down the bank with the rabbits tumbling after them. She reached for a tree branch, making sure it was sharp before plunging it into the walker's head. Triumphantly she grinned to herself, commentating her performance to herself like a radio presenter.
Laughing to herself, she cut into their scalps and put them in her trouser pockets. She hadn't been so at ease in a long time, she blessed the forest verbally before edging her way down the bank and recollecting her bow, arrows and marsh rabbits. Stone then continued to catch a few more squirrels before she started heading back to the farm house, she knew that the red neck had probably caught a dozen squirrels and together it would provide enough for the camp. Stone was hoping they would take her marsh rabbits as a peace offering or a bribe for the return of her gear.
"Eh Pom, nice catchin'"
Stone clenched her fist tightly, ignore him she thought. She pushed through the last of the bushland and into the clearing, where Daryl Dixon himself was wiping his cross bow. He looked at her with a glint of smug arrogance in his eyes, irritating Stone.
"Yew spent an 'our in there or two, yet ye've only come back with three rabbits and a few squirrels" Daryl drawled, his lips tugged at the side.
Stone smirked to herself, she was certainly going to play this up. "Didn't know you were havin' a perv, redneck. You ought to just approach me, instead of stalking me" She gave a provoking wink, and by the way Daryl had stiffened, she knew she'd pissed him off.
"I wasn' have no damn perv. Shane jus' asked me to watch over ye ass" Daryl defended.
Stone laughed loudly "Most people say my ass is my best asset" She snorted, walking past Daryl and shaking her head.
"That ain't what I meant" He spluttered, his face reddening.
Stone just laughed and blew him a kiss over her shoulder, he certainly was fun to annoy. More smug than ever, Stone walked back to the farm house in higher spirits than she had left it, she even ignored the stares she was receiving from the rest of the camp.
"For someone who has just arrived, you certainly have sparked chaos over the group" A voice from behind Stone said.
Stone turned to find the woman who had first spoken to her at the dinner table, "I suppose all negative?" Stone smiled.
Carol smiled slightly "Not all, but some. However you've sparked an interest among the more friendlier side of the group, how about you come pick peaches with us?" She had been the nicest person Stone had encountered so far in this apocalypse. Amazed by her friendly attitude, Stone nodded mutely and added a real genuine smile.
"Well come on" Carol said, leading Stone towards a cluster of tents.
"Hey, whats your name?" Stone asked, catching up to Carol's fast pace.
"Carol" She answered simply, showing where Stone could leave what she had hunted.
"You've been the nicest so far Carol" She said truthfully, taking a basket from Carol.
"What about Hershel?" She asked, leading Stone down a dirt path.
"He may of saved my partner, but he wasn't the kindest" She muttered.
"Is that man your husband?" Carol asked, looking over at Stone with a slight smile.
"Oh god no" Stone laughed, picturing the thought of being married to Rivers. "I'm too young to be married anyway" She added.
"How old are you anyway?"
"I'm turning twenty one next week" Stone mumbled, wiping sweat from her brow.
"Finally legal to have a drink" Carol said, a small giggle passing from her lips.
Stone grinned widely "That's the one problem with this country, drinking laws" She chuckled.
Carol smiled at her "I haven't been relaxed like this in a few days" She said, stopping by a cluster of peach trees. Surrounding the trees were many of the woman from the camp.
"Why?" Stone asked curiously, giving a small nod to acknowledge the group.
Carol retold her story about her time in Atlanta, her bastard of a husband and her girl Sophia missing, she voiced her concern openly and Stone could hear her voice waver emotionally. Stone tried to comfort her, but realized that silence was all that Carol needed. Hell, she needed silence to mask the huge waves of guilt she felt.
She could of helped the group out, if she had, Rivers would probably not be unconscious, Tom's group would of never found her and she would never have been left with this feeling. She filled up her basket silently, tuning in every now and then to the girlish chatter surrounding her. She couldn't believe these women were having a normal gossiping session, when the world had turned to shit.
"What about you Stone?" A voice said.
"Huh?" Stone turned around.
The same woman who had asked her about Tottenham was speaking again, "Have you got a story about your conquests?" She laughed, the women around her were giggling as well. Stone scowled.
"How can you stand here gossiping, when the dead are walking around and eating people" She said, clearly astounded.
The woman shook her head "It's the only way to keep sane" She said.
"It's how we remain normal" Another woman added.
"That's what you don't understand, the world isn't normal anymore. There is no time for keeping sane, only surviving" Stone said, putting her last peach in her basket.
"You sound like Shane" The woman with blonde hair said.
"I've never heard a bigger insult" Stone muttered, frowning hard at the woman.
"Keep frowning like that at this rate, you'll have wrinkles like an old man?" A tall woman with brown hair said, chortling slightly. Stone couldn't help from grinning at them, dammit she thought, she had already broken so many rules by arriving here. Now she was beginning to be amused by them.
"I'm Lori, by the way" The brown haired woman added, "That's Andrea" she indicated to the blonde woman, "That's Beth, Maggie's sister and Patricia, a family friend" Lori introduced the group. Stone nodded at each one of them, earning a smile from each woman.
After joining into a short conversation, Stone trailed after Carol with a basket of peaches in each of their arms. They remained silent on their journey back, both content with the comfortable silence between them.
"You seem to get along pretty well with the woman" Carol said, breaking the silence.
"I know, I'm breaking so many rules by being here" Stone muttered.
"Rules?" Carol questioned, peering at Stone curiously. Stone shook her head, dismissing the conversation her rules would bring. They faded back into a silence, still remaining silent when they placed the baskets of peaches into the farm house. Stone retrieved one of the marsh rabbits and gave it to Hershel as a small token of gratitude.
"I wish I could offer you something bigger that could represent my gratitude" Stone explained to Hershel, watching as Carol left to talk to Rick. Stone smiled after her.
"Some extra protection on the farm and doing some runs into the city while you're here could help" Hershel said, handing the marsh rabbit to Patrica, who had just arrived back with Beth. Stone chewed on her lip.
"Officer dip shit took all my gear and Rivers'. Maybe you could talk to him" Stone said bitterly.
"Language" Patricia muttered before leaving to skin the rabbit.
Hershel sighed "If Rick believes its best to take away your weapons, then perhaps we should let it be" He shook his head. Stone scoffed and voiced her disbelief that Hershel was agreeing with Rick.
"This is my land young lady, you will respect my decisions" He sad sternly.
Feeling like a child that had just been scolded, Stone mumbled that she was going to see Rivers and disappeared into Rivers' room. She hated being talked to in that tone, that had been the main reason she dropped out of school at a young age. Stone chuckled to herself, several people told her she would end up a failure and now here she was, surviving and they were mindless dead people.
She shook her head and sat down beside Rivers, grabbing his hand and giving it a hard short squeeze.
"Wake up Rivers" She whispered, poking the man in the face "I've broken a rule for you, I feel at ease around some of these people. We need to leave before we get attached" Stone sighed loudly.
"Stone" Rivers croaked, his eyes opening slightly.
"Rivers" She exclaimed, "About time you woke up" She grinned.
"Been treating me so well" Rivers sighed, closing his eyes.
"What?" She looked at him seriously.
"They have been treating me well, we could stay" He whispered.
"No" Stone muttered.
"So many rules" He laughed, coughing slightly.
"Those rules kept your dumb ass alive" Stone snorted.
He scoffed before falling unconscious again, "Damn it" She snapped, dropping his hand and standing up. She left the room in search for Hershel, she looked through various rooms and stopped when she spotted a young boy laying in the middle of a bed, a bandage was wrapped around his torso. Stone looked at him curiously before closing the door quietly, is this a damn hospital? she thought, shaking her head.
When she found Hershel, she told him about Rivers brief consciousness. Hershel immediately left to the room, a sign of relief crossing his face and Patricia followed after him. Stone then sauntered outside, the heat smacking her straight in the face. She groaned quietly, wiping her brow and looking up at the sky, oblivious to the approaching male behind her.
"I suppose you aren't use to the heat" The male said, he too was looking upwards.
Stone was startled, turning to face an older man with a funny looking hat.
"How'd you figure?" Stone said, squinting at the man underneath the brutal sun.
"Well you're British aren't you?" The man said, Stone felt immediately stupid, of course she was.
"Yeah" She murmured.
"How about you come by my RV, tell me a bit more about yourself" The man said, shouldering a rifle and indicating the RV parked underneath a nearby tree. Stone grimaced, not really feeling like telling her story.
"Or I'll tell you about me" The man grinned, walking towards the RV. Stone shrugged and followed after him, ignoring the feeling of someone watching her. She entered the RV after the man, taking a seat opposite him on a small table inside.
"I'm Dale" The man said, passing her a bottle of tepid water.
"Stone, and thanks" She replied, swallowing the water hurriedly.
"You've created quite a stir" Dale said, taking his hat off and throwing it onto the table.
"So I've been told" She said, smiling slightly.
Dale shrugged "Not always a good thing"
Stone shrugged also "Weren't you going to tell me about yourself, pops" She said, changing topic quickly.
Dale laughed, spinning off into a story about his wife and how he came to find Andrea and her late sister Amy. While he retold his story and made her laugh at times, Stone couldn't help but consider the option of staying and helping this group that was so much like a family. Damn this group She thought, she hated that her rules of survival were slowly breaking because of this group. Despite her religiously working these rules into herself, they were breaking from the first sign of generosity and comfort.
Dale's amusing stories were shortly interrupted by Daryl, he was holding his crossbow and didn't look like he wanted to be there. His eyes crossed over Dale before stopping at Stone, they narrowed at the sight of her.
"Yer guy is awake" He grunted, "Rick wants ye" he added, before he left in a huff.
"I suppose he's one of the few that don't like me" Stone said, smiling at Dale warmly.
"Well Daryl doesn't like many people, it's only recently he has warmed up to the group. He's just a reserved person" Dale defended.
"I'll believe that when I see it" Stone scoffed, thanking Dale for the stories and trailing back to the farm house. Reserved? She thought with disbelief, there was no way that the red neck was reserved. He was just plain mean and in front of her.
"Wanna take ye damn time" He drawled, slinging his cross bow over his shoulder. Stone was getting sick of that damn cross bow.
"Want to stop stalking me" She retorted, side stepping him and approaching the porch to the farm house.
"Yer a real piece of work lady" He said sharply, his southern drawl enhancing with irritation.
"Cheers" She muttered, walking into the house and leaving Daryl behind to fume on the porch.
"Ah there you are Stone" Rick said, appearing in front of her as she approached Rivers' room.
"Rick" She acknowledged him.
"Look I'm sorry about taking your weapons away, you've got to understand that I've got my groups best interests at heart" He said truthfully, a sincere apologetic look on his face. Stone sighed, wishing he wasn't so nice.
"I understand Rick, I just don't like it getting taken off me when I can't defend myself. Specially by your punk ass-"
"Language" Patricia interrupted.
"Sorry" Stone mumbled before adding "You should of just asked, I would of giving it to you"
"Reluctantly" Rick said, raising his eyebrows.
"But I still would of given it." She reasoned, "Can I at least get my hunting knife back? I was attacked by two walkers today and all I could use was a stick and stone" Stone added, suddenly remembering the walker scalps in her pockets.
"Sure I'll give you your hunting knife, I'll get you and your friend some dinner too" Rick said, before leaving out the front door.
Stone shook her head and entered Rivers' room, where Hershel was standing beside the bed and chatting to a very talkative Rivers. She acknowledged Hershel with a nod and rounded the bed to sit on the far side of the room.
"How is he doc?" She asked, leaning back into a chair.
"Fine now, you two will have to stay so that the wound heals properly. It'll be no good if he goes outside and infects the wound or gets injured more" Hershel said sternly, raising his eyebrows at Rivers. Stone nodded her head thoughtfully.
"Another thing" Hershel added "If you are to stay on this farm as guests, there is one thing you should know. We don't kill the walkers, we treat them as people. That means no guns" He looked more pointedly at Stone than he did Rivers. Hershel threw her coats towards her, and the large chain consisting of walker scalps.
"I don't want to see anymore scalps added to that chain, you hear me" He said, quivering slightly.
Stone tucked them out of sight "Okay" She mumbled, heating rising to her cheeks from his stern gaze.
"I also want to thank you for protecting Maggie in the chemist, when you didn't have to" Hershel said.
"Well thank you for saving this dumb twat" She said, smiling slightly.
"I'm going to assume that's profanity" Patricia said sternly, her head popping in from outside.
"Sorry" Stone mumbled.
"You'd put a sailor to shame" Patricia said, shaking her head.
However Stone could see the amusement within her eyes.