Hey guys. I apologise if the last chapter seemed rushed or chaotic I suppose it was me wanting to get to the more original parts of my story where I can completely deviate from the show plot. I hope people are still enjoying this, please leave a review to give me inspiration to continue
Rick POV
Watching over Allison reminded me so much of when she was a little girl and she cried herself to sleep after I had to break the news to her about mom and dad. When Allison first lost consciousness it was like time had stopped and I was right back in that moment from thirteen years ago. Allison and Amy now laid side by side on the two gurneys that were in the ambulance, the tubes providing Amy with Allison's blood had been removed. They both looked like sleeping angels; Amy with her blonde hair surrounding her like a halo and Allison's brunette doing the same. Amy's vitals were stable the fever had stayed down, however, she was in a coma. Shane had organised a rotation of people to keep watch over the two girls just in case Allison's plan didn't work and Amy died. Meanwhile the remainder of camp started the job of cleaning up and getting ready to head to the CDC. It was our best hope now.
"Yo Jimbo wake up" I heard Daryl instruct Jim who looked a bit out of sorts
"Ya. I'm awake" Jim muttered lazily heading in the direction of the pile of bodies we had built up. We had been lucky only four people had died. A young couple I think they were called Lola and Eric, and another woman Cathy, who was a similar age to Dale, she was a grandma to one of the other families that I hadn't had the chance to get to know yet; the final victim was Ed, Carol's husband. No one was sad about his passing.
"Jim. Is that blood?" asked a concerned Jackie
"I'm fine" Jim responded shortly
"Show me!" I heard Jackie, Jim proceeded to show Jackie what had caused the issue. I couldn't see from my vantage point but whatever it was, wasn't good, judging from the look on Jackie's face. "Ya'll Jim's been bit!" she screamed at the camp causing a flurry of activity. Daryl tried to attack Jim, but was held off by T-Dog. A lot of people started yelling, obviously scared of having someone who was infected walking around.
"Allison can save him too" I heard someone from the crowd shout. I think it was the Grandson of Cathy he looked about Allison's age.
"We even attempt to take any more blood from her she could die!" I shouted into the crowd, they seemed to understand. Yes, Allison seemed to have cured Amy but they wouldn't risk the potential of a cure for a lone person like Jim.
"We need to go to the CDC like now." Glenn interrupted.
"Everyone. Be ready to go in thirty minutes" Suddenly the new orders seemed to spur everyone on, and the low mood of the camp was slightly lifted, we all had a job to do.
I headed back to the ambulance to check on Allison and Amy. "Any change" I asked Lori who had been sitting with the girls, Andrea stood at the side of Amy having not moved since last night. Carl sat at the end of Allison's gurney he too, reluctant to leave a family member.
"I think Allison may be coming around." She answered with a smile, "No change for Amy" she added sadly.
"No change is still good." I responded trying to help Andrea as well. No doubt if it wasn't for Allison's blood Andrea would be putting a bullet in her reanimated sister right now. "Jim has been bitten" I informed the women quietly hoping Carl didn't hear.
"She can't give any more blood, not for at least 48 hours" Lori added defensively already guessing at the way camp had reacted.
"Everyone knows that, they're not coming near her. We're leaving in thirty minutes, why don't you go get your stuff sorted, I'll stay with the girls." Both women nodded at me, Andrea finally moving for the first time in hours.
"Is she going to be ok?" Carl asked me, I could still see the tears in his eyes. His auntie was his hero, whenever she was home from university she would take him on trips out; paintballing, the zoo, theme parks. She spoilt him rotten.
"Yeah son I'm sure she'll be fine. Your auntie is a Grimes and we are very tough" I informed him proudly. "I survived being shot in the chest, your Auntie can cope with losing a little blood" I smiled at my son.
Suddenly we heard a knock at the door. Daryl popped his head in. I still hadn't gotten around to talking to the man about his relationship with my sister, I knew he cared about her, it was obvious in the way he looked at her. It still irked me that this rough redneck was the guy she'd talked no stop about for a year before his abrupt departure. I wasn't stupid I knew there had to be something wrong with him for her not to mention his name. I called in a connection at the police department who couldn't say his name to me but did tell me his age. I nearly drove to New York to drag my baby sister away from this man when Lori reminded me that he had saved her. I let it go and was very glad when a year later she had told me he'd vanished. I'd set her up with Shane's cousin hoping she'd form more age appropriate relationships but he turned out to be ten times worse when I caught him bragging to his friends about 'nailing' my sister. I had seen red and given him a black eye, I was very lucky Shane was there and backed me up otherwise I would have been suspended.
"How is she doin'?" Daryl asked slightly timidly; obviously intimidated by me. I hoped I could keep him feeling that way for as long as possible.
"Lori thinks she'll come around soon. Amy is still the same. So whatever is in her blood seems to be working." Daryl let out an audible sigh obviously relieved Allison would soon be back with us.
"Everyone is ready ta roll" He informed me. At the moment people were looking to me because of my previous job and the role my sister had to play in this world. I knew it would be hard for Shane to take as he was never good at stepping down from something.
"Ok. Stay with them for a moment I'll be back soon" I instructed Daryl.
The transformation in camp was astounding, all the tents were gone and people were standing by their cars. Shane had told me that before he'd heard families talk of leaving the group to find other family members, however, it now seemed that everyone would be joining us on the trip to the CDC in an almost pilgrimage to find the cure. "Is everyone ready to go?" I asked Shane.
"Yeah man. We've reduced the vehicles to save on fuel. Merle being the only awkward one, but no one wants ta ride with him anyway. Jim is in the RV, Jackie is looking after him for now. You driving the ambulance?" He responded obviously pleased he still had some responsibility around here.
"Yeah and I know Andrea will stay with Amy, probably Daryl will stay with Allison." I informed him.
"Meanin' to ask you, what's going on there?" obviously worried about the relationship between one of the Dixon's and Allie-Cat
"He's wings" I told him with a smirk.
"You've got ta be kiddin' me. Nah we can't have that." The one thing I still liked about Shane at the moment was he was like another brother to Allison. I knew if something did happen to me that he would protect her just as well.
"Leave it mate. Think if I protest too much it'll just push 'em more together." I knew from experience trying to tell Allison not to do something would only make her want to do it more. In that respect growing up she was a typical teenager, it was the only thing that I would class as normal about her. Shane was not happy about my blasé attitude towards the situation, I could see his nostrils flaring. He huffed and walked off to his own jeep.
"Listen up people, if ya've got radios its channel 40. Those without, ya have a problem ya honk your horn. No one gets left behind" as I said my last statement my eye's caught Merle who gave me a smirk. I was quite pleased he'd been quiet since coming back into camp. I hoped Daryl could keep him that way.
The convoy consisted of ten vehicles; the smallest was probably Merle's pickup truck that could seat three in the cab whereas the largest; the RV, could probably seat up to ten people. Shane had insisted we do a head count before heading out. Lori was put in charge of creating a register of sorts with everyone's names and ages, to save time and get going quickly in a hope to save Jim she only got the details of the ones without a radio, the rest would be done on the road.
Allison's POV
It felt like someone had stomped on my head. I could hear a beeping sound that reminded me of when I worked in the emergency room and I tried to open my eyes. I must have made some movement as the person next to me started squeezing my hand.
"Come on Allie open those big blue eyes for me" I'm sure that was Daryl's voice, but it couldn't be, I hadn't seen him in years. Groggily I opened my eyes to see Daryl's gorgeous blue eyes looking at me. It felt like a rush of information flooded my head all at once. I remembered the fall in Atlanta, being on the roof with Merle, Daryl walking in, that kiss, the camp being attacked and finally giving Amy my blood.
"Ow. Did someone check the licence plate of the truck that ran my head over?" I asked Daryl who laughed at me. "How is she?" I asked referring to Amy.
"There's been no change, but, she's stable, feva is gone" He told me. That was a good sign, something must have worked. It was a long shot to start with, I knew my blood wasn't a direct cure from doing tests with the samples I had when I was in the hospital looking after Rick. I'd never tested it on someone in the process of an infection before so all this was new data, it needed to be monitored closely. "Jim, was bit" Daryl told me sadly. I tried to sit up to get the transfusion kit again, Daryl must have seen my movement and intent. "Sorry Allie, he's already gone" I was really upset about this. I knew realistically that I was in no state to try another transfusion but I wanted to be able to help everyone that was bit in our group.
"How far away are we from the CDC?" I asked Daryl
"10 minutes" my brother shouted from the front of the ambulance, finally bringing me to the attention that he was in the vehicle, thank God I didn't do anything embarrassing with Daryl.
I sat back town and let Daryl tell me everything I had missed whilst I was out. It upset me how we had lost people but I was pleased we had a large group heading to the CDC, hopefully once we got there things would start looking up. He told me how Jim had been brought along but when the RV had a small breakdown he'd asked to be left on the side of the road. Daryl gave me some food to give me back some of my strength.
"Allie-Cat come take a look at this" my brother called back into the ambulance. We must have arrived at our destination. Looking out into the graveyard that used to be the CDC parking area I felt so sad and sick but seeing the building still standing I knew there was hope.
"I need to head out alone, it's too dangerous for anyone else until I check someone is there to open the door." I told my brother. The look on his face told me he was reluctant to let me go but he nodded anyway.
"Convoy. Stay in vehicles AC is going to check entrance. Over." He said over the radio. He received several replays back acknowledging the order. I gave Daryl a quick hug, took a nervous glance at Amy and headed out towards the door of the CDC.
The smell was horrific, like a sewage treatment plant only ten times worse. None of the bodies on the ground were moving so the area was relatively safe at the moment. This amount of decaying bodies could only increase the risk of other diseases, we wouldn't be able to stay in the cities even if we found an answer to this thing. Making my way to the entrance I saw that the shutter was down. I remembered from my tour that this could only be done from the inside, so someone had to have closed it.
"Doctor Jenner, its Allison Grimes. If you're in there please can you open the door? I have a possible cure as well as a large group of survivors requiring shelter and food." I talked into the camera. I repeated my message three times just in case the person inside was away from the camera the first time. On my third time through my repeated message I saw the camera move. I never felt so relieved. The shutters started to open.
"Allison. I'm so happy you're here." Dr Jenner greeted me, however it was not the Dr Jenner I was expecting or hoping for but Edwin her husband. He was nice enough we'd shared a joke about his name when we'd met after my interview, however, I knew that he didn't have even half the skill and expertise his wife did. "I got your fax" Edwin informed me.
"Any progress?" I asked momentarily forgetting the group outside. "Wait. I need to get my group in. How is the clock?" I remembered Candace telling me about that silly clock on the wall, she called it the doomsday machine. Counting the generators down, they always kept it with about three months on it. I knew from Jenner's look it wasn't good
"Forty nine hours he informed me sadly." I felt sick. What would have happened if we had delayed our arrival at the CDC I knew that Rick hadn't intended to set out until tomorrow so we'd have had even less time? I knew I had some fuel that had been in the ambulance and was now in the trunk of one of the other vehicles but it wouldn't be able to hold out indefinitely. We would probably have enough for a couple of weeks at most, we couldn't use it all otherwise we wouldn't' have enough to put in the vehicles to get away in.
"I have some fuel" I informed him. "Is there somewhere to park the vehicles?" I asked hoping that we wouldn't need to get the group out of their vehicles in order to get people inside. It would be especially difficult to move Amy.
"Give me Ten minutes we have a garage entrance I can get VI to divert power to so you can all drive in." He gave me directions to the garage entrance and then allowed me to leave, a couple of zombies had come over obviously drawn by the smell of Edwin so I quickly dispatched those with the knife I always kept on me. Heading back to the ambulance I was apprehensive. I knew that if Candace was there she would have greeted me at the door, the fact that Edwin was the only one there worried me, however, he seemed in good spirts, obviously receiving that fax had given him some much needed hope.
"He's going to open the garage doors on the south side of the building it's about another three minutes driving" I informed Rick as I got into the passenger seat. I think Rick noticed I looked a little dejected.
"What's wrong Allie-Cat?" my brother asked worriedly
"Candace didn't come to the door, but her husband Edwin did. I'm just worried that we've come all this way and I'm still going to be on my own." I know I was sulking a little and it wasn't fair on Edwin; he was still a scientist after all but it was like waiting for a lecture by the World's best teacher only to end up with a supply teacher. Husband and wife teams were common in the scientific world just take Marie and Pierre Curie, but one was always stronger than the other. In this case Candace was a genius and I needed her so much right now.
"It'll work out Allie-Cat. I can feel it." My brother, ever the optimist reassured me. He instructed the convoy to follow the ambulance and we headed towards the parking structure for the CDC.
The carpark was located underground and the shutters were currently down, hopefully this meant there would be no surprises for us when Jenner got VI to power up that entrance. It felt like an eternity since I had been stood next to Jenner those ten minutes passed so slowly. Just as I was about to start moaning like a ten year old to my brother the shutter came up to reveal Jenner on the other side armed with a gun and looking out of breath. I wound the window down. "Sorry about that, we had a couple of live ones down here I didn't know about, all clear now." I was in shock, maybe Edwin Jenner wasn't as hopeless as I thought. The ten cars we had in the convoy drove in as Jenner guarded are entrance. As the last car rolled in I heard him give the instruction for VI to close the gate.
"First things first. I need you to get as much fuel as we can spare and ask Jenner where the generator room is." I told my brother sternly. He got out the ambulance and got straight on with his job taking a few of the men to help.
"Everyone. Gather around." I shouted to the rest of the convoy group. Having us all in a circle made me realise just how many people there were, maybe two weeks of power wouldn't be realistic with a group this size. Jenner came over
"Wow. So many people." He said out loud to himself "You all look exhausted so in a moment I will show you where the living quarters are along with a rec room and kitchen. I need everyone to submit to a blood test." Before he could go on I stopped him there.
"They all had a blood test less than forty-eight hours ago. I have all the samples in the ambulance along with someone I need you to meet urgently." I informed Jenner
"Well in that case let's get you settled as fast as possible." I headed back to the ambulance whilst Jenner took the group up into the building and the staff facilities; there would be just enough room for everyone but a few would need to share, I assumed families would want to stay together. Andrea hadn't left Amy's side it was like she was still in shock over the whole ordeal. I walked over and gave her a hug, it looked like she needed it.
"I don't know how to thank you Allison" Andrea finally spoke some words to me.
"Don't thank me yet Andrea. She's not woken up yet." I responded, even though Amy's vitals showed she wasn't dying of the bites she still remained comatose. We sat there together waiting for Jenner or the group that had gone to the generators to return. They both returned together having met up on their way back. Rick, Shane, Daryl, Glenn, and T-Dog returned with Jenner. "Edwin, this is Amy. She was bitten roughly thirteen hours ago, I gave her a blood transfusion from me, vitals improved and temperature dropped from 104 to 98." I said looking at the new reading, "She remains comatose." Jenner just listened to me but didn't look shocked.
"Right. Well let's get her moved to medical room 2, then there is someone I want you to meet." Jenner instructed. The good thing about the ambulance was the gurney, Rick and Shane both got the gurney out of the ambulance and started to wheel Amy in the direction Jenner was walking. I nearly joked how they missed their calling as Porters but thought I should resist. We set Amy up in Medical room 2 which was sort of like a private room at a top hospital, she would be comfortable here. Andrea stayed with Amy whilst the rest of us followed Jenner. Outside the room he led us to I saw a plaque indicating it was medical room 1.
Before we entered Jenner started talking, "You don't understand how happy I was to get that fax Allison. We had lost all hope. Candace was bitten." I nearly burst into tears. "Before she succumbed completely she managed to synthesise your blood." He opened the door. On a bed hooked up to machines including a respirator was Candace Jenner very much alive.
"Have you done a CAT Scan?" I asked immediately fearing the worst after seeing the respirator.
"Yes, brain activity is normal, however nothing I've tried so far has pulled her out of the coma." Jenner informed me, I could hear the hope in his voice; he wanted me to save her.
"Well then, let's get to work." I smiled at Edwin whilst the rest of the group looked on proudly.
Rick POV
Allison has been gone hours away in the lab with Dr Jenner. I could see in her eyes how excited she was, her blood held the answer. I could tell that she was worried that Amy's case was just a fluke, Allison was meticulous when it came to research she never accepted the first answer and always had to have mountains of data to back up her theories, one of her sayings was, 'one result does not an answer make' I always called her Yoda whenever she started saying that to me. The group was sat in the kitchen/rec room laughing together and having the first decent meal we'd had in weeks. Lori and Shane were sat together and it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. Andrea wasn't with the group, still refusing to leave her sisters side. I hoped we'd have answers quick, I didn't want the fiery woman I met at the department store to melt away. Daryl sat in the corner with Merle, not quite feeling like part of the group yet. Just as I was about to walk over and have that talk I needed with Daryl, Allison came rushing back into the room.
"Daryl, Merle I need you to come with me." The room had gone silent upon her entrance, I saw the faint blush appear on my sister's cheeks, obviously not too comfortable with the attention she was receiving. "Oh sorry everyone. Enjoy your meal." She directed at the rest of the group. "Hurry its important" she said to the two brothers who then got up to follow my sister.
"Well to Allison the saviour of the world." Glenn said tipsily. I laughed
"Here. Here" and raised my glass in salute to my baby sister. I hoped we were right.
Allison's POV
Looking over the results and tests that the Jenner's had done both together and then Edwin solo I started to notice a pattern. My blood was only half the answer we were missing something. I had donated some more of my blood to be given to Candace, having only had a synthetic version of my blood her vitals weren't as good as Amy's. Upon receiving the new batch of blood her vitals improved considerably to the point she could be taken off the respirator. I knew I was going round in circles looking at the data so decided to go back to my group sample and run some simulations using VI's virtual reality. Nothing seemed noteworthy until I got to Daryl's sample. His blood combined with an infected blood sample nearly eradicated the virus, but it returned after a short period of time in each simulation I ran, meaning that if we used Daryl's blood the person would need a large sample of his blood every day or so just to keep the virus in check.
I called Jenner over to show him what I had found. "Watch" I showed him the simulation excitedly. I knew that this wasn't the final answer but it was a big step.
Jenner then showed me what he had been working on, as I focused on the group samples, Jenner had a closer look at mine. The equipment I had to analyse blood was nothing compared to what the CDC had. So with the more advanced equipment I could see exactly what my blood did when it encountered the virus. My blood seemed to freeze the virus and slowly killed it. That is why the dead seemed to ignore me, I registered as one of them. My blood on its own was fighting a constant battle and I worried that long term this could eventually mean I would lose. I would have to run some simulations on that to keep my condition in check.
I suddenly had an idea. "Combine them" I spoke out loud. I ran a simulation combining my blood and that of Daryl into one sample, I then added it to the sample taken from someone who was bitten. The virus was gone. I ran the results five times open mouthed the whole time. I could feel Jenner next to me almost vibrating with excitement. It was only a simulation, I had to say that to myself over and over, but I knew this was it. I set up a quick presentation of my results giving the sample a title which was dear to me. "I'm going to get Daryl!" I shouted not even speaking to Jenner and ran straight to the rec room hoping he was there and not drowning in a bottle of Southern Comfort with his brother.
As I entered the room everyone stared at me and I felt myself blushing, I noticed that Daryl and Merle were standing off to the side of the group so decided on the spot to invite Merle along too. Leaving the room I heard Glenn's toast to me and I couldn't stop smiling.
I walked into the big room with Daryl and Merle, Jenner looked up still grinning but losing a little sparkle when he saw me flagged by two rednecks. "Oh don't be scared, their harmless" I reassured him giggling at his reaction.
Merle stalked up to Jenner. "Boo" He shouted in his face, I rolled my eyes, can't take that man anywhere.
"What ya got to show us than Angel?" Merle asked after terrorising poor Jenner
"I think I've found the answer. VI run simulation 'Angel Wings'" Merle laughed at the name, I wondered if he knew what the significance was, I would tell Daryl later, in private. The boys watched on the screen at the simulation whilst I narrated.
First I showed on the screen what normal blood looked like, then I showed infected blood which had the red blood cells being attacked by what looked like a parasite. "Sample Alpha has been taken from someone bitten one hour ago; sample bravo from four hours and sample Charlie from someone eight hours ago; the omega sample is from someone who has died and reanimated." I explained each of the samples the blood looked funny on the screen like that like little blobs of fat floating around apart from the last sample, that wasn't moving. I hadn't included the omega sample in my simulations, Jenner must have added it to my presentation whilst I went and retrieved the Dixon brothers. "'Angel Wings' created from mixing two bloods is introduced to each sample" The screen then split into four showing the reactions simultaneously. In each sample apart from the last the virus was reversed and the blood returned to that of a normal person. Even more interesting was the omega sample. When the sample was added to that the blood exploded. I looked shocked, I think I've found a weapon and a cure and didn't even realise it. The only problem would be creating a vaccine to prevent people turning who hadn't been bitten. There was no impact on the Rhesus factor that caused this when 'Angel Wings' was added to one of the groups' blood sample. Before I could speak or get back to continuing my explanation Daryl picked me up and spun me around.
"I'm in love with the saviour of the world" He exclaimed. I smiled so big it made my teeth hurt.
"Me too" I added, Daryl stopped spinning me.
"What do ya mean?" Daryl asked slightly fearful. He then proceeded to glare at Edwin. I broke out laughing and decided to put him out of his misery.
"I'm Angel. You're Wings." I decided to tell him that now and not the long winded significance of that, Rick was the only one who knew about that nickname as far as I knew. I could almost see the cogs in his head turning.
"Together!" Daryl asked excitedly.
"Always" I added kissing him just as passionately as I had on the roof.
"Alright break it up no need to be makin' babies in the middle of the floor." Added Merle jokingly.
"Actually that might be a great idea!" Jenner added excitedly
"Over my dead body" called an angry voice I didn't want to hear at the moment. Why was it always when I was kissing Daryl my brother shows up?
Just because they have a cure and a weapon it isn't going to be all plain sailing. Ideas and events you want me to include let me know when you leave a review!
Something extra for you – the register Lori completed on the journey to the CDC
The Atlanta Group Register
Vehicle 1 – Ambulance
Rick Grimes (36), Allison Grimes (20), Amy (24), Andrea (36), Daryl Dixon (33)
Vehicle 2 – RV
Dale Horvath (64), Jackie (41), Jim (47), Glenn Rhee (23), T-Dog (39)
Vehicle 3 – Jeep
Shane Walsh (35), Lori Grimes (35), Carl Grimes (11)
Vehicle 4 – Cherokee
Alex Vaughn (53), Jessica Vaughn (49), Alesia Vaughn (18) Carol Peletier (46), Sophia Peletier (12)
Note – Vaughn family; Peletier family
Vehicle 5 – Toyota
Morales (38) Miranda (34) Eliza (11) Louis (9)
Note – family
Vehicle 6 – Pickup truck with motorbike in bed
Merle Dixon (48)
Vehicle 7 – Nissan
Jan Harrison (41), Lesley Harrison (39), Frances Jones (28), Martha Jones (27), David Jones (30)
Note – Jan and Lesley sisters; Frances, Martha and David siblings
Vehicle 8 – Ford
Orlando Ortega (31), Marianne Douglas (29), Mitch Perkins (38), Joe Perkins (16)
Note – Orlando and Marianne couple; Mitch and Joe father and son (Grandmother just lost)
Vehicle 9 – Toyota
Duncan Smith (50), Ann Smith (48), Lily Smith (24), Harry Smith (5)
Note – Family Duncan and Ann Lily's parents; Harry is Lily's son
Vehicle 10 – Chevrolet
Richard Bryce (29), Rose Bryce (30), Sarah Conners (35), Beth Conners (14), Mary Conners (58)
Note – Richard and Rose husband and wife; Three generations of Conners women
Total in Atlanta group = 41 40
The underlined text is what Lori crossed off, I wanted to do a strikethrough but it wouldn't show up in editing the document.