Can't believe this is nearly at an end…
Morning was soon upon the lovers. Daryl groaned as he rolled on to his back, his memories of the days and night before sweeping into his mind as he clawed his way to consciousness. He looked down at the young woman in his arms, looking surprisingly peaceful for someone with a black eye and the blood tattered hair. Daryl tried to slip out from underneath her but only succeeded in waking the woman.
"Daryl?" She murmured against his chest, not looking up or opening her eyes.
"Ya'?"
"Tell me last night was a nightmare."
"I can't."
Aurora sighed, before rolling off of the blonde and sitting up, her back to Daryl, "I was afraid you'd say that," She mumbled, "Who'd we lose?"
"I dun know," Daryl mumbled, sitting up so that Aurora could tug the blanket around her still naked form, Aurora said nothing but leaned over to her open duffle bag to pull out a hairbrush she'd been wise enough to pack when Shane was pulling her through the house. Aurora grunted in pain as she pulled the brush through the back of her hair in an attempt to dislodge the dried blood.
Daryl watched her, contemplating helping her but decided getting dressed and staying out the way was a better option, he had never been good with women or their emotions. They dressed quickly and silently, Aurora worried about what she may face through the flaps of her tent and Daryl wondering how he had left himself care so much for the brunette next to him.
"Come on then." Daryl grumbled, opening the tent and crawling out.
/
Aurora watched as Lori crouched beside Andrea and Amy, whispering sweet words, telling the mourning sister that we'd be gentle when we took her. Aurora lowered her head, her eyes shut tightly as to not let the tears escape. Amy was gone. As simple as that, everything that ever was or would be her friend existed no more. Put out in an instant, a bite, and Aurora couldn't even help her best friend when she needed her most. Honestly, she doubted she could help anyone; she couldn't save Carol from Ed, couldn't save Amy from someone thinking she was a snack, and couldn't even handle a bump on the head. That made her a liability and in a world ruled by the dead that was truly dangerous.
Aurora sighed as she looked up, her tears retreating, at Daryl, who had acquired a pickaxe from somewhere, Glenn and T-Dog how were destroying the brains and cleaning away the corpses.
Aurora's head snapped up hearing a gun click. Andrea had her gun pointed at Rick telling him she knew how the safety worked. Rick apologised, back away, his arms raised to show he meant no harm. Aurora rushed over to the group, standing between Dale and Daryl.
"Ya'll can't be serious," Daryl protested, his arm gesturing to Amy, "that dead girls a time bomb."
"Her name is Amy." Aurora snapped but was ignored when Rick spoke up.
"What'd you suggest?" The ex-police officer spoke calmly.
"Take the shot." Daryl said, pickaxe resting on his shoulder, stepping towards Rick and miming a gun to his head, "Clean in the brain from here, hell I can hit a turkey between the yes from this distance."
Aurora seethed with anger at him.
"No." Lori spoke calmly, "For god sakes let her be." Lori sat down and Aurora shot her a rare look of gratitude.
The group looked at each other in silent agreement. Daryl spat on the floor and stalked off, not happy without having it his own way, to taunt Jim and help Morale's move a body.
Glenn stopped them, "What are you doing? This is for geeks, our people go over there." Glenn pointed.
Daryl continued dragging the body, "Whats the difference, their all infected."
"Our people go in that row over there," Glenn told them, his voice weak with emotion, both Daryl and Morales turned to face him, "We don't burn them!" Glenn shouted, "We bury them."
Through the tense moment of Daryl taking in the request, Aurora strode up to stand beside her Korean friend, "He's right." She agreed simply, daring either man to object with her stare.
Morales and Daryl dragged the body off.
"Reap what you sow;" Daryl shouted, Morales instantly telling him to shut up, "Ya'll left my brother for dead," He pointed at the body he had just moved, "You had this comin'!"
"A walker bit Jim!" Jacqui's scared voice shouted.
The camp stood instantly.
"Show it to us." Daryl demanded. Jim grabbed a shovel, ready to defend him. T-Dog rushed at him from behind, holding his arms to stop his escape, Daryl jumped forwards pulling up Jim's shirt to reveal the bite.
"I'm okay," he told them, obviously not believing it himself, "I'm okay, I'm okay." He repeated.
"I say we put a pickaxe in his head," Daryl grunted as the camp counselled in a circle, "And the dead girls and be done with it."
"That what you want," Shane said, "if it were you."
"Yeah and I'd thank you why you did it." Daryl reasoned.
"I hate to say it, I never thought I would be maybe Daryl's right." Dale reasoned.
Rick scowled and like the lawman he was, shot any idea that wasn't his down, "He's not some kind of a monster, some rabid dog."
"I'm not suggesting th-" Dale started but Rick talked over him.
"He's sick, if we go down that line .." he stopped when Lori held his arm.
"Line's pretty clear," Daryl told them, Aurora stood listening, not saying anything, "Zero tolerance for walkers for the infected."
Then Rick decided to start yet another could-be-catastrophic mission, suggesting the CDC to the camp with, of course, Shane objecting.
"You go looking for aspirin," Daryl stated turning away, "When what you need to do is have some balls and take care of this damn problem!"
Daryl ran at Jim, pickaxe raised. Aurora rushed forwards with Shane and Rick. Rick pushing a gun to the back of Daryl's head, Shane standing in front of him and Aurora in front of Jim, holding his hand in support.
"'.." Rick warned.
"'s funny, coming from a man that just put a gun to ma' head." Daryl glared at Rick intensely.
"We may disagree on somethings, not on this." Shan said calmly.
Daryl's harsh gaze washed over Aurora, Jim and Shane, "Weren't saying that when we took care of those looters, or dun you wan' your buddy to know bout that?"
Aurora could feel Rick's questioning gaze upon her.
"Put it down, com' on." Shane told Daryl who, with a huff, threw his pickaxe on the floor, grabbed hold of Aurora's wrist and yanked her up to drag her off, "Ya'll stay away from him!" he snapped at her as he dragged her away.
"Get the fuck off me!" Aurora growled at Daryl as they reached the tree line.
He let her wrist go and contented himself with glaring at her.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Aurora snarled, "Amy and Jim are my friends, their human."
"One's dead and the others infected what ya' wan' me to do, let 'em bite ya?" Daryl growled.
"No," Aurora snapped, "I expect you to be human like the rest of us; you don't think we're scared of them coming back? Of course we are! But we're dealing with it, when Amy..when she..we won't let her suffer, you were going to kill Jim for christ's sake!"
Aurora calmed down slightly. Daryl said nothing, just watching the woman before him. His eyes squinted slightly, "You fuckin' wan' him don't cha?" Daryl accused.
"Excuse me?" Aurora asked shocked at the accusation.
"Jim!" Daryl growled, "I saw ya'll holding on to each other, he's gon' get you killed and you want him."
Aurora looked at him, angry at the seriousness in his eyes, "I cant believe you!" Aurora snapped shocked before pushing past Daryl back towards camp.
"Where the fuck you think you goin'?" He growled after her.
"None of your business!" She growled, speeding to a jog into the camp.
Daryl snarled in her direction before turning and punching a nearby innocent tree.
"You're not moving her." Andrea warned when Aurora approached.
"I don't want to," Aurora whispered, stepping around Amy to crouch next to her, opposite Andrea, "I came to pay my respects."
Andrea glanced up at Aurora, who made no more to touch Amy or move closer. Andrea nodded her consent and Aurora gently lifted one of Amy's limp white hands and held it in both of hers.
"I don't know if you are..were religious," Aurora whispered to Amy, so that only Andrea could hear, "I'm not, I can imagine you joining some form of religion based on technology and phones," Aurora gave an empty laugh, "But belief or not, I hope you are safe now Amy. You don't need to run anymore, no more fear, no more cold and bitter." Aurora swallowed her raising tears, "I would say I hope you're looking down on us smiling but I'm sure the view isn't too great." Aurora gently kissed her friends lip hand before laying it back on her stomach. "This isn't goodbye; it's see you later." Aurora gave a small smile before standing and wiping her eyes.
Andrea looked up at the brunette, tears in her eyes even though Aurora doubted that the blonde could cry more, "Thank you." Andrea whispered.
Aurora walked off, nodding her head in greeting to Dale as the old man went to sit with Andrea.
/
Daryl ripped his pickaxe from the face of another walker. His anger building with each swing. The redneck knew he shouldn't have said those things to Aurora that they weren't true but he was a slave to his own anger, it used to land in quite a few sleepovers in a jail cell, which is probably why Daryl and his girlfriend's brother didn't get on, society or not they knew they were opposite. Daryl swung again, that was if she was still with him after his burst of stupid.
He readied the weapon over Ed's remains, ready to destroy him even in death for hurting Aurora, Daryl paused when Carol approached him.
"I'll do it," she said weakly, "He was my husband."
Daryl handed her the weapon knowing he couldn't deny her the right to see off her husband not matter what he thought of Ed. Daryl grimaced watching Carol cry while she went to town on her husband's face.
/
Aurora followed the rest of camp to where the bodies were going to be buried, she could hear Daryl bitching about rules and burning the bodies and once again as thankful for Lori stepping in to get the men in line. Everyone fell silent as Amy was buried, it may have been a simple attempt to cling to their humanity but it mattered.
Aurora subconsciously bit her lip as they walked off, something that Daryl didn't miss, it was a turn on for the hunter, he didn't know why but whenever he saw Aurora do it he had to stop himself to dragging her away from everyone and having his way with her.
/
Sometime later, when they were all sat around the fire, Shane addressed them, "I've been thinking about Rick's plan, there are no guarantees either way, I'll be the first on to admit it. I've know this man for a long time, I trust him. We need to stay together, those of you that agree, we leave first thing in the morning,."
The plan was set.
Aurora sat in her tent that night; sleep a distant hope as she thought about her options. No one was going to stay, just go with the group or alone. Aurora turned when she heard a cough in at the entrance to her tent; Daryl was crouched down looking for Aurora consent.
"What'd you want?" Aurora snapped and Daryl took this as an invitation into the tent.
"So, we're going to the CDC?" Daryl grumbled sitting back on the make shift bed.
"Weren't you listening earlier?"
For a while neither said anything for a while until Aurora simply whispered, "I'm sorry about Merle."
Daryl shifted behind her so that he was sat cross-legged, "I'm sorry about the girl." He mumbled before pulling her backwards into his lap. Aurora sighed, leaning her head on his chest as his arms wrapped around her and he kissed the top of her head.
"You think the CDC will be safe?" Auroras asked quietly.
"Nowhere is safe." Daryl mumbled.
"Joy killer." Aurora grumbled into his chest snuggling down.
"What's I tell you 'bout me not being a damn teddy?" Daryl grumbled, not really bothered about the closeness but not wanting to sleep sat up if he could help it. Aurora huffed dramatically before throwing herself onto the blankets, dragging her lover with her.
"Happy now?" She mumbled falling into sleep quietly. She never heard his reply but felt him swept her hair back behind her ear and kiss her forehead.
/
Aurora stood beside Daryl the next morning as her brother and Rick told them all about the radio frequency and to honk once if there were any problems. Morales spoke up, him and his family were not going. Rick gave them a gun and Shane some bullets, much to Daryl's distaste, Aurora stepped forward, hugging all four of them in turn.
"Be safe." She kissed Morales cheek.
The group drove off mostly in silence.
Aurora sat in the passenger seat of Daryl's truck, watching the silent dead world around them, occasionally glancing back to check on her brother behind them. Daryl's eyes watched ahead, occasionally glancing to the side to watch the wind manipulate Aurora's hair.
The line stopped when the caravan came to an abrupt halt, T-Dog and Shane scouted ahead to a gas station to try and find that parts that the caravan needed. Jacqui jumped down out the caravan, "Ya'll its Jim and I don't know how much more he can take."
Rick came back to tell the group the news, Jim wanted to die, plain and simple. After a small discussion between the group they decided to let Jim have his wish why he was lucid.
"I wanna be with my family." He told them when they asked if he knew what he was doing.
Each said their own goodbyes to the infected man, Aurora was one of the last, she leaned down and kissed Jim's cheek, "You'll be with them soon." She whispered to him. Jim smiled at her as she walked back down the hill beside Glenn; Daryl nodded his farewell to Jim before following the others. Glenn and Aurora shared at quick hug at the bottom of the hill before removing themselves from each other and returning to their respective rides. Everyone watched Jim as they drove by, the silence engulfing them once more.
/
They pulled up outside the CDC some time later.
"Jesus Christ," Aurora cursed, the mass of bodies hitting her senses before the smell. The stench was thick and heavy in the air, clogging the survivor's nostrils and lining the roofs of their mouths. The survivors coughed and spluttered as they made their way forwards, weapons raised as they listened for any sound other than the collective buzzing of the flies on the corpses. They moved quickly towards the building.
Shane and Rick pushed at the closed doors.
"Nobody's here!" T-Dog snapped.
"Walkers!" Daryl shouted, stepping forward in front of Aurora and shooting it in the head.
Rick started to shout at the redneck.
"I made a call!" Daryl shouted.
Shane dove forward, pushing Daryl's chest, telling him to shut up.
"This is a dead end!" Shane snapped, striding towards Rick.
"Where are we gonna go?" Coral wailed.
"We can't be this close to the city," Aurora told them, "not after dark."
"We can still go to the fort," Shane said, "Its still an option."
"On what?" Lori asked, "On no fuel, no water, no food?"
"Fuck that we need answers now!" Aurora growled she could hear Daryl and T-Dog clicking their weapons.
"We'll think of something!" Rick shouted. Aurora and Glenn glanced at each other, a silent 'don't die because I'll miss you' .
The group started back to the car, Daryl keeping close to Aurora.
"No wait the camera!" Rick ran back to the doors, pounding against them, pleading for entrance. Chaos filled Aurora's senses as her brother dragged Rick away from the door as he repeatedly shouted "You're killing us."
Everything stopped as the door slid open. Aurora's hand fell by her side, Daryl's large hand coming down to hold hers as a white light washed over them all. All Aurora could think was that if this was 'the bright light' that meant she was dead, at least she had Daryl beside her.
Can't believe this is almost over *cries* Review please; I wanna leave this story on a high!
Idioticnoise: Thank yooou! I'm glad you love it!
ErisandDysomnia: I knew you'd like the smutt ;) at least it saved my life!
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