Chapter ten

- Day Seventy Two -

Apparently Lori was pregnant. And apparently only a few people knew about the newest addition. But if I had known, then I would have actually tried to keep the woman safe at the farm. She didn't need to go out there, not just because she was pregnant, but because she didn't know how to handle herself out there. She was still clinging to a way of life that didn't work anymore.

Shane had tried jumping down my throat about bringing her out there. As if it were my idea to go out there and look for people who were perfectly able to handle themselves. But Daryl had gotten him to back off and before leading me back to his solo camp.

When morning came, Daryl walked me back to the main camp. Rick, Glenn and Hershel hadn't gotten back yet, so a small group was going to go into town to bring them back. Daryl had threatened to all but hog-tie me so that I would stay at the farm.

"I don't need to be worryin' about you" he told me. "You're legs all fucked up, Talulah, ain't no way."

"Stop fucking calling me Talulah, Daryl" I responded, sending him an angry look. But I mean, he did have a point. Sure I could walk, but I don't think I'd be able to run again after straining my ankle as much as I did yesterday.

So instead of subjecting myself to Shane's company even more, I decided to help with the laundry. Not that I wanted to spend anymore time with Lori, either. But she was the lesser of two evils.

"Are you sure you wanna risk it?" I heard Dale ask Andrea as they walked towards where I was sitting. Daryl had threatend me, saying he'd kick my ass if I moved an inch before he left. "You might not make it back.

"I'll be fine" Andrea sighed.

"With Shane at the helm, I doubt that" Dale muttered.

"Psycho's lost people before" I scoffed from the camp chair just as Dale and Andrea stopped walking.

"And he's had my back" Andrea responded. "Just what are you two insinuating?"

"He doesn't want Rick back" Dale told her.

"Or Hershel" I piped up and Dale nodded.

"With them gone, he's got everything he wants and no one to tell him otherwise." But Andrea still didn't see the truth behind the old mans words.

"Shane's done more to keep this group alive than anybody. Including Rick" she told us.

"You can't possibly believe that" Dale all but scoffed.

"I do" was all Andrea said as she started walking towards the truck once more.

"The dick can't be that good" I muttered. I wasn't expecting Dale to hear me. "What, sorry Dale but it's obvious that she's fucking him."

I was just about to call out to Daryl to take my gun, but there was no need. Hell there wasn't even a need for the guys to go out anymore. Because not even a minute after Andrea walked over to Shane and the others, Hershel's red 4x4 came driving down the dirt road.

"Hey, Dale, you mind? I asked, offering my hand. The old man just smiled and helped me to my feet, supporting me as we walked over to the others. I got a small glare from Daryl, but he could get over it. It wasn't like I was walking on my own or anything.

"Patricia" Hershel addressed the blonde woman. "Prepare the shed for surgery." He told her as he walked past everyone and into the house. Probably to change his bloody clothes.

I was vaguely aware of the conversation between Rick and his wife. Only half paying attention when Shane basically blamed me for the accident. Such a fucking asswipe. At least it didn't look like Rick was blaming me. So that was something at least.

"Who in the hell is that?" T-Dog suddenly asked, pointing towards the figure still inside the truck.

"That's Randall" Glenn answered.

"We couldn't just leave him" Rick told us as we all sat in the dining room. "He would've bled out, if he lived that long."

Apparently Randall was a kid from another group. And they had left him behind when he had fallen and impaled his leg on a steel fence as they were escaping. He was lucky that the guys were there.

"It's gotten bad in town"Glenn told us, looking towards Maggie as he spoke.

"What do we do with him?" Andrea asked from her spot next to Shane.

"I repaired his calf muscle as best I can" Hershel told us, wiping his hands as he entered the room. "But he'll probably have nerve damage. Won't be on his feet for at least a week"

"When he is," Rick started. "take him out to the main road, send him on his way."

"Isn't that the same as leaving him for the walkers?"

"He'll have a fighting chance" I answered Andrea's question as Daryl walked onto the house, i could smell the cigarette smoke as he stood behind me. "Jerk" I muttered as I elbowed his knee playfully.

"Just let him go?" Shane scoffed. "He knows where we are."

"He was blindfolded the whole way here. He's not a threat." Rick responded. Our fearless leader seemed a little angry that his once best friend had spoken against him. But honestly, I think it might have been something more than that.

"Not a threat?" Shane scoffed once more. "How many of them where there? You killed three of their men, took one of them hostage, but they just ain't gunna come looking."

"They left him for dead" Rick defended. "No one is looking!"he shouted.

"We should still post a guard" T-Dog suggested.

"Why?" I scoffed. "It's not like the kid can get anywhere on that leg" I added with a shrug.

"He's out cold" Hershel nodded in agreement. "Will be for hours."

"You know what," Shane started once more. "I'm gonna go get him some flower and candy. Look at this folks, we back in fantasy land!" he added as he started walking out the door.

"You know, we haven't even dealt with what you did at my barn yet" Hershel addressed the crazy man. "Let me make this perfectly clear once and for all...this is my farm. Now, I wanted you gone. Rick talked me out of it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So do us both a favor...keep your mouth shut."

"We're not going to do anything about it today. Lets just cool off." Rick told us after Shane stormed out of the house in a tantrum.

After everyone had left the house, I stayed behind so that Hershel could take another look at my ankle. It needed to be re-wrapped, but other than that it looked alright according to the old man. He also took a look at my arm. I had hurt it in the wreck yesterday and I just wanted to make sure that it didn't need any treatment.

Thankfully it was just badly bruised. I am never getting into a car with Lori ever again.

And I still had to wait around for Maggie to walk me back up to Daryl's camp at the edge of the property. The poor woman just wanted to check on her sister first, which I completely understood.

So while I waited, Hershel decided to sped the time getting to know me better. Even though what happened with Shane and the barn was regrettable, I'm glad that the old farmer was putting the blame where it belonged. And that he finally understood what was happening in the world.

"So you haven't been with this group long?" he asked me. I just shook my head.

"No, just about a week or so. Daryl and Rick found me hiding out in a nursing home." I answered as I bit into a peach Hershel had given me.

"And you were alone before that?"

I almost froze.

"No" I finally answered after a moment. "well, I mean I was but not for long. I was with another group when all this started but they didn't...work out."

"Is that why you have such a problem with Shane?" Hershel Greene was not a stupid man, that was for sure.

Thankfully, Hershel didn't press the issue and ask more questions about my last group. Instead he asked me the simple things like if I had any family and what I did for work in the old world. Simple.

Maggie came back downstairs not too long after that and she helped me limp back to the secluded camp. It was when she left that I remembered, I still hadn't set my tent back that it was packed away inside the RV.

"Well, you gunna sit down or what?" Daryl asked as he poked at the low fire in front of him.

"Oh, um yea" I said, taking a small step towards one of the camp chairs Daryl had set up before sitting down. "So...you mind if I crash with you tonight?"

AN: Okay so Daryl and Ally's just sort of...happened. Like...idk how to explain it. But yea I feel like maybe since Daryl feels like so much of an outsider in the beginning,and Ally technically is an outsider right now that that is why their getting closer as friends. And Maybe he also can tell that she had gone through hell, just like he and Carol had. Like I said, idk.

Also, I totally had to have a scene with Hershel and Ally. I feel like since Hershel is at the point of having absoltely no more patience where Shane is concerned, and it's no secret that Ally doesn't like Officer Crazy Pants. So, like with Dale, it makes sense I guess that Ally and Hershel would sort of...bond over something like that.

And yes I might have Ally actually call Shane Officer Crazy Pants at some point in S2 lol.

So we have like a week between episodes right now. Which means I have days 73-80/81 to play with.

Hint: You can look forward to some more Ally/ Daryl bonding!

As Always, Leave Love

)0( Iris RainbowWolf )0(