The ride to the Grimes' was anything but uneventful. That one image Isabella had seen on the news with Merle the morning before was replaying itself out over and over again in front of her eyes on the streets of her hometown. She had given up trying to be brave shortly after they pulled out of their trailer park and was now sobbing into Daryl's shoulder as he drove.
Daryl was doing his best to comfort her while dodging all the crazy people and keep an eye on his mirrors for Merle. He no longer doubted what Shane had told them, he just doubted there was a safe place.
As they pulled up in front of the Grimes' house two people ran in front of the truck. Before he could help it Daryl hit them both. Not that it would matter as one was eating the other. Shane came running out of the house and shot the people who had just been hit and then threw bags into the back of the truck. Isabella looked up and saw Aunt Lori and Carl getting into Shane's jeep.
Shane came around to her side of the truck and quickly pulled open the door. She jumped into his arms. "Bubs, I am so scared. What's going on? Where is Uncle Rick?" she cried out while holding him tightly.
He ran his hand over her head and looked at Daryl and Merle, who had pulled up next to them, and said, "I have no clue what is going on. Some kind of virus I think but I know we need to get to Atlanta there is supposed to be a center there or something."
Isabella pulled her face away from his shoulder, looked at him and asked again, "Where is Uncle Rick, we can't leave without him."
Shane looked like he would start crying, "Bella Bug, Uncle Rick didn't make it. I went to get him, but he wasn't breathing. I am sorry."
At this news Isabella started crying hysterically again. Shane placed her back in the truck and shut the door. He looked at both his brothers and said, "Follow me. We need to stick together. Lori and Carl are coming with us. I can't just leave them to fend for themselves."
Both Merle and Daryl just nodded their heads at Shane as he headed back to his jeep. They moved their vehicles out of the way and let Shane take the lead. They followed him through a few neighborhoods and onto a highway. They were only on the road for about 20 minutes before they reached a standstill; there were lots of cars not moving and people standing around outside them.
Shane parked his jeep, with Daryl and Merle following his lead. They all met up at Shane's jeep and while the adults were talking trying to figure out what was going on, Carl and Isabella decided they would stretch their legs a bit. They took off walking down the road looking at all the people.
"You think they are all trying to get into Atlanta?" Isabella asked Carl.
"Probably. Think we all will make it?" Carl replied.
Isabella just shrugged, she didn't want to admit that she was scared or that she thought that no one was going to make it.
Just then they heard their names being shouted. They had gotten pretty far ahead of the jeep without realizing it.
Apparently Merle was the one looking for them and when he caught up to the pair he asked, "What the hell was you two thinkin'? Walkin' off like that, hmmm?"
Isabella looked down at her feet embarrassed. Carl just shrugged. Merle lifted Isabella up, "You Bella Beth are coming back and are going to stay put til you hear otherwise. You understand me?"
"Yes," Isabella replied nervously, unsure if she was in trouble or not.
"And you," Merle said looking at Carl, "your mama is worried out of her mind about what happened to you." This statement had Carl hanging his head in shame.
Merle put his hand on Carl's shoulder and turned him in the right direction, Isabella still in his arms. Right now she was a little embarrassed to be carried; she felt like a toddler not like an eight year old. The three made their way back to Shane's jeep and Aunt Lori started in on Carl the minute he was in earshot. Isabella would have felt bad for him except that Shane and Daryl looked like they were going to skin her alive. Merle put her down in front of the both of them and patted her head and said. "Time to face the music baby girl." Then he walked back to his bike and started messing with things in his bags.
Isabella looked up at Shane and Daryl. Shane rubbed his hands through his hair and looked to Daryl, then back at Isabella, "I am not sure what to say to you. You see all this," he gestured to all the stalled cars and people just standing around, "and you and Carl thought it was a good idea to just take off on your own? Not smart Izzy, not smart. I expect more from you." With that Shane walked towards Lori and Carl.
Isabella figured she got off easy with Shane and Merle but tears were still starting to fill her eyes at the thought that she had disappointed them. She slowly turned to Daryl. He was wearing a look that could kill her.
"I'm sorry bubby," Isabella finally said because she could no longer take the silence.
"Are you? Or are you just sorry you got caught?" Daryl replied harshly.
"No. I am sorry. We didn't mean to walk that far. Honest. We was just talkin' and not payin' attention."
Daryl picked her up and carried her around to the back of his truck where the back was down. He set Isabella down on it and leaned into her placing his hands on either side of her, "That is the problem Bells, you weren't thinkin' or payin' attention. If you don't tell one of us where you are, how are we supposed to keep you safe?" He was still not being her nice brother so she knew she messed up.
"I dunno. I didn't think about it," Isabella started sniffling hanging her head down.
Daryl sighed and sat down beside her. "Lil' bit, I am not sure what is going on, but I know that I want to keep you safe. I ain't mad mad at you. Just disappointed. No reason to get all upset about it," he pulled her in for a side hug. "Just from now on make sure that you tell me, bubs, or Pearly where you are going ok?"
Isabella looked up hesitantly, "ok," she sniffled out.
"Seriously Lil' bit, don't be beatin' yourself up over this. If we was real mad we woulda whipped ya for it. You sittin' ain't ya?" Daryl chuckled. "You are fine. Dry it up and let's go see what Carl's up too," with that Daryl placed Isabella on the ground and took her hand and they walked together to find Carl. Isabella usually wasn't a fan of holding any of her brothers' hands because it made her feel like a baby, but right now, after being scolded it felt good that he wanted to still be near her. Plus, she figured she would be pushing her luck if she tried to get out of holding his hand.
The pair of them found Carl playing checkers with another little girl. Isabella looked up at Daryl, who encouraged her to go join the pair. "I will just be over there with Shane or at my truck. Make sure to let one of us know if you leave that spot, ya hear?" Daryl reminded her before she took off.
Isabella pulled him down so she could hug him. "I remember and I will. I love you bubby."
"Me too Lil' bit. Now go have some fun," he replied while lightly smacking her on the backside.
Isabella joined up with Carl and the girl. She found out that her name was Sophia and that she was the same age as Carl. Sophia said that she was traveling with her mom and dad. Isabella had glanced at Sophia's dad a couple times and he scared her. He reminded her of Daddy Dixon and that was NOT a good thing.
A few hours passed by and Isabella was bored and she really needed to use the bathroom. It was dark out now but she could still see all three of her brothers; they were all sitting around on the front of Shane's jeep and Daryl's truck. Isabella made her way over and tugged on Shane's hand.
"What's up Bella Bug? You ok?" he asked looking down at her.
"'m bored and I have to pee," Isabella whispered to him.
Shane chuckled a bit and said, "well let's go find you a place to go." Shane looked over his shoulder and let his brother's know where he was going. They headed through the woods and found a semi-secluded spot. As they were heading back they heard helicopters and looked up to see the city being bombed.
Isabella couldn't help herself, she got scared and took off running. It was something she had learned to do pretty much since birth; run away from who ever or whatever was scaring her. Shane took off after her. Isabella got back to the cars before Shane and nearly tried to crawl up Merle's body. "Pearly, save me!" she was screaming as she reached for him.
Merle picked her up not sure what was going on, looking to a winded Shane for answers.
"We saw them drop bombs on the city," Shane huffed out with his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath. "She got scared and took off."
Merle took Isabella back to his bike and set her on the seat. "Look at me Rose. I know I have always told you to run if you were scared and I ain't mad at you for doing it, but bubs was right there. You are okay right now. You gotta get ahold of yourself. Ya hear me?"
Isabella nodded slowly. She wanted to be brave like all her brothers were, but she was so damn scared of everything before dead people started walking now; now, she was just scared shitless.
Daryl came over and grabbed Isabella by the hand. Looking at Merle he said, "Shane and a few other vehicles are going over to the quarry. Thinkin' it might be safe for now." He quietly led Isabella to the truck and had her climb in through the driver's side door.
She settled in the middle seat. Daryl started the truck and pulled out behind Merle's bike. He was chewing on his thumb noticing how sad Isabella looked. He reached over and pulled her into a side hug. "Lil' bit, whatcha thinkin' 'bout?"
"I'm….ummm….I'm just sorry I ain't brave like you and Pearly and bubs," she admitted.
Daryl nearly drove off the road at this admission. He looked at her and said, "Isabella Elizabeth Dixon, that is the craziest thing you have ever said! You ain't gotta be sorry for that. You ain't gotta be anything but you."
Isabella smiled up at him.
"But just so you know, Bells, I think you are braver than you think," and the way Daryl said it made it clear that there was no more discussion on the subject. Isabella laid her head on Daryl's shoulder and let her eyes close. She knew that she was safe right now and she had all her brothers so she was happy.
