Ann walked over to the rest of the group and sat down at the fire. As soon as darkness crept in everyone had gone to their respected tents and cars to sleep. Ann looked around glumly and moved over to the tent that Lori, Carl and Shane were sleeping in. Lori blocked her with one hand.
"There's just not enough room Ann. I bet Dale or the blond sisters over there can put up with you for tonight."
"Put up with?" Ann glared at her sister-in-law.
"Put you up." Lori amended her phrase but she didn't look an ounce apologetic.
Ann had asked if anyone else could spare the room but they had all said the same thing. Plus she could see that the others were cramped enough as is. She sat at the fire again and stared into it. The taller man Jim came over to stoke the fire and sat beside her.
"How long ya keeping the fire lit?" She asked quietly.
"Jus as soon as everyone falls asleep. Those things, we dubbed them the Walkers they'd be drawn to the fire light. So we gonna have ta keep a watch on how much time the fire burns."
"Did the Walker's have cold like symptoms?" Ann asked quietly.
"Most of them did. Most only got sick when they get scratched or bitten." Jim explained sadly.
"Then I guess my best friend is either dead or one of those things."
"You got any idea as to what THIS is?" Jim asked curiously.
"It jus seemed like the Flu to us at the hospital. I guess you guys don't have any idea as to where this thing has spread?"
"We jus as confused as you." Jim admitted quietly.
"I think the last person just feel asleep." Ann nodded over to the Mexican family as they stopped moving in their car.
"Suppose so. Don't sleep too far from camp. Still don't know if this place is as safe as we want." Jim frowned when the girl nodded in response and laid down facing away from the fire. "Not what I meant."
"There's no other place to go, so if you don't mind I am jus going ta fucking sleep!" Ann snapped acidly ignoring the burning in her eyes.
"Okay then. Wish I could offer a blanket but I only got the one."
"Thanks anyway." Ann sighed closing her eyes willing herself to fall asleep.
The cold mountain air was crisp as it whipped lightly through the camp. Ann shivered in her sleep and curled up into a ball trying to keep warm. The next morning she woke up she saw others milling around the camp trying to come up with things to eat. She was warmer than she had been when she fell asleep. Whenever she sat up the heavy jacket on her upper body fell down and pooled into her lap. She looked at it in surprise and took in the design of the jacket.
'Certainly looks like a hunting jacket.' She mused to herself. She picked it up and noticed two letters written on the tag. 'D.D' She looked around the camp again and came to rest at the tent that was housing Merle and Daryl Dixon. She felt her cheeks burn slightly when she realized that Daryl must of covered her with the jacket at some point. She folded the jacket nice and neatly and placed it on a rock beside the opening of their tent.
Ann looked over at the man who started to fuss with the batch of straws in his throat. She approached him after rolling her eyes.
"Hold it there…" She muttered knocking his hand away from the tape. "I see ya are a bit confused. Probably nervous as ta why there's a bunch of straws in yer throat." The man nodded carefully. "Ya started to choke last night. I've been told by yer sister that you hadn't eaten. So it weren't the usual choking. Found out about the spill in the woods ya took. Figured yer throat was swelled up making it hard ta breath. These straws are helping ya breath. I'm waiting for a while til the swelling goes down so I can take em out and stitch ya up."
"You. Doctor?" The man asked slowly minding his throat.
"No I'm a nurse, but tracheotomies are standard for all medical employees."
"Thank. You." He nodded minutely and gratitude.
"I'll be back over in a while ta check on ya. I left instructions with yer sister as to how to feed ya."
(Daryl)
Daryl Dixon looked back at his brother as Jim sat beside Ann at the fire. He looked back at Merle who was grumbling to himself about the liquor being less than he had before. Daryl rolled his eyes and looked back at Ann and Jim as they talked. He frowned when Ann laid down away from the fire.
"What in da hell she doin?" He muttered out loud and heard Merle sigh in annoyance.
"Probably tryin ta sleep like me." Merle bit out rolling over.
Daryl watched Jim put the fire out and head on to his truck.
"She's gonna freeze ta death!" He snapped annoyed with this situation.
"Why don't ya jus complain about it a little more!" Merle growled from his sleeping bag. "Or go club her and drag her back to yer cave. Whatever ya do I jus wanna sleep!" Merle threw his boot at his younger brother.
Daryl saw the girl shiver in the wind and curl into a ball.
"I'm gonna go cover her up with my hunting jacket…"
"Yeah you do that." Merle grumbled still trying to sleep. He did however look over as his little brother grabbed his jacket and made his way to the shivering girl. He smirked slightly shook his head before falling asleep.
Ann moved from her patient after assuring him again she would be back later. She approached Shane who was talking to Dale and Jim.
"Morning." She greeted the three. Jim nodded to her and Dale smirked and greeted her back. "Shane can I talk to you?" She asked curiously. He nodded but he had this look in his eyes that she couldn't describe. They moved away from the other two and he looked at her.
"What is it?" He asked sounding a bit impatient.
"Next time ya think ya can spare one blanket?" Ann asked sardonically.
"For?"
"Jus forget it." Ann walked away and smiled shyly at Daryl who smirked at her when they crossed path. She noticed the worried look on Shane's face while he stared at Daryl. He looked back over at her and shook his head as if to say 'anybody but him!'