Hey guys, can I just say thank-you for the amazing response I received because of my last chapter! None of you saw that coming, eh? That's exactly what I wanted.
I'm trying to keep Taylor fairly well rounded (she's obviously not perfect, and I don't want her to be) so thank-you for all your input on that. Now, back to the story!
Just a reminder, I own nothing in this story.
Taylor couldn't help but worry. The rest of the group didn't seem to acknowledge or think anything of it, but it was a gunshot for Christs' sake. They knew it was risky to fire a gun, Rick and Shane more than anyone, and yet they'd heard it. They'd all heard it. But at the moment, it was impossible to find out why.
"You still worrying about it?" Andrea stopped, turning to speak to Lori who had begun looking off in the distance.
"That was a gun shot." Lori replied, not bothering to face the younger woman.
"We all heard it." Daryl told her, shrugging slightly.
"Why one? Why just one gunshot?" Lori asked, looking slightly panicked. Taylor couldn't help but mirror her emotions, having a creeping feeling in her stomach that something just wasn't right.
"Maybe they took down a walker..." Daryl offered, not looking too sure of his response.
"Don't patronize me." Lori told him firmly. "Shane and Rick wouldn't risk a gunshot to take down a single walker." She shook her head angrily. "They'd do it quietly."
"Shouldn't they have caught up with us by now?" Carol questioned.
"Yeah, unless something went wrong..." Taylor responded without thinking, seeing the fearful look on the older woman's face.
"Not a lot we can do about it anyway." Daryl said, turning his back from the group, facing towards where the highway was believed to be. "Can't be runnin' 'round these woods chasing echos." Taylor sighed. As much as she hated to admit it, he was probably right; all that would accomplish was them getting lost, something that they couldn't afford to do. Too much was at stake.
"So what do we do?" Lori questioned, obviously angry about the situation.
"Same as we been. Beat the bush for Sophia and work our way back to the highway." Daryl told her, keeping a level head despite the absolute hurricane that was the situation.
"I'm sure they'll hook up with us back at the RV." Andrea tried to comfort them, but no one seemed particularly convinced.
Taylor stood beside Carol, trying to find words to comfort the woman. "I'm sorry for what you're going through, both of you." Andrea seemed to read her mind, speaking to the Carol. "I know how you feel," she added as an afterthought. Taylor simply nodded her head, trying to keep a positive outlook on Lucky, but knowing that if it came down to it, he'd be dead long before Sophia. He'd die protecting her.
"I suppose you do," Carol replied, a sad smile on her face. "Thank-you."
"Thanks," Taylor said simply, walking back towards Daryl. She didn't know what to make of Andrea, her behavior revolved around the idea of being allowed to handle a gun, something Taylor couldn't comprehend. Taylor had only carried one in case she was swarmed and didn't want to die being feasted on by a horde of hungry walkers; besides that, they were almost useless. In such a large group, having a gun seemed like almost a bad idea, but who was she to say. She'd never been in a group until she'd found them.
"It's the not knowing that's killing me." Carol told Andrea, Taylor pausing her walk to listen. "I just keep hoping and praying she don't wind up like Amy." Pain crossed Andrea's features, and suddenly Taylor recalled their conversation in the RV. Amy must have been her sister...The sister Andrea had been forced to kill.
Carol seemed to realize the impact of her words, immediately trying to comfort her. "That's the worst thing I've ever said..."
Andrea shook her head, blinking back tears. "We're all hoping and praying with you, for what it's worth." Andrea assured her.
"I'll tell you what it's worth," Daryl marched past Taylor to come between the two women. "Not a damn thing." Taylor's eyes widened at his words. How could he be so cold? "It's a waste of time all this hopin' and prayin'." Taylor opened her mouth to say something, but he continued. "We're gonna locate that lil girl, and the mutt, an' they're gonna be jus' fine." Taylor let her breath out, relieved that he hadn't meant what she'd initially believed. "Am I the only one zen 'round here?" Taylor couldn't help but smile at the last comment, catching Lori's eye, who was doing the same. She gestured for Lori to follow, and they both did, smiles on their faces.
The walk was quiet for a long while, hours possible until Daryl broke the silence. "We're losing light," he said simply, looking at the group.
"Let's head back." Lori replied, machete slung over her shoulder.
"We'll pick it up again tomorrow?" Carol questioned, ensuring that everyone was still on board to continue the search.
"Yeah," Lori nodded her head the whole time while speaking as to assure Carol, "We'll find 'em tomorrow." Taylor smiled at everyone's commitment; if Lucky had run off while she was on her own, she probably would have gone to pieces and ended up killing herself looking for him.
The silence sank over the group again, and Taylor let her mind wander. She was surprised that they hadn't encountered a walker for a while, although she had to question how many would reasonable have ended up in the woods scavenging for food. The cities were much more optimal, particularly the airport.
"Good luck, really." Taylor told Chris, giving him one last hug before lifting the heavy bag onto her shoulders. It was filled with everything and anything Chris could afford to spare; pop, bags of peanuts, bags of chips, forks, spoons, a couple bottles of water, and a box of vitamins. The people who'd promised them fuel had met them outside, telling them inside was havoc before quickly fuelling the plane and boarding, most with nothing more than the clothes on their backs.
"Keep it," Chris told her, a sad smile on his face. "I have a feeling you're going to need it a lot more than I will. Do you know where you're going?"
"Vaguely," she admitted, adjusting the bag on her shoulders. Chris sighed, pulling a piece of paper from his pocket and handing it to her.
"A map?" She asked, unfolding it. "Thank-you!" She shoved it into her back pocket, knowing it would be useful later.
"Figured you'd need it. Look, just remember, aim for the head. Nothing else'll kill them." His eyes pleaded with her, almost knowing that hell was waiting for her out there.
"Got it." Her voice shook a little She'd never had to kill, well, anything. She hadn't even been there when they had the family cat put down, attempting to avoid any close encounters with death. She took a deep, steadying breath. "Chris," She looked up at him one last time, trying to find the proper words to thank him before he interrupted.
"If you intend on leaving," He told her, "I'd go now, otherwise you'll end up wanting to stay. Not that I'd mind..."
"You're right. Goodbye, Chris." She descended the stairs they'd set up to board their passengers, before Chris spoke one last time.
"If this thing blows over," He yelled to her when she was halfway down the stairs, "Please, please, please call me! You've been the best." She could hear the sadness in his voice; he was obviously convinced she was making the wrong decision. She nodded at him one last time before running down the stairs and making a break for the pilot's entrance into the airport.
"How much further?" Lori asked, snapping Taylor back to reality.
"Not much," Daryl told them. "Maybe 100 yards, as the crow flies."
"Too bad we're not crows." Taylor snickered at her comment although her own legs were aching. When she was on her own she could walk at her own pace, making as much or as little distance as she had wanted to. She'd never felt compelled to push herself.
Taylor shook the thoughts from her head, before a scream caused her to jump. She looked around to take stock of the group, noting that Andrea was missing.
"Andrea?" Carol called, being the first to figure out which direction the scream was coming from and taking off. The rest of the group followed after, all trying desperately to figure out what was wrong.
Taylor saw it; Andrea was on the ground, a walker trying to get close enough to take a bite. Her breath caught in her throat; as much as she wasn't fond of her, Andrea didn't deserve to go like that. Before Taylor could process what was happening, a horse passed by Andrea, swinging a club to take out the walker.
"Lori?" The woman on the horse called out, looking between Andrea and the rest of the group. "Lori Grimes?"
"I'm Lori." Lori called, a puzzled look on her face.
"Rick sent me, you gotta come now. There's been an accident. Carl's been shot." The woman hurriedly explained, "He's still alive, but you gotta come now." Lori looked at her, as though trying to figure out whether or not she was serious. "Rick needs you, just come!" The stranger urged, and Lori took of her backpack to climb onto the horse.
"Whoa!" Daryl exclaimed, looking at Lori. "We don't know this girl! Ya can't get on that horse!"
"Rick said you had others on the highway?" The woman questioned, stunning Daryl. "That big traffic snare?"
"Uh-huh." Glenn answered, speaking for the first time.
"Backtrack to Fairburn road. Two miles down is our farm. You'll see the mailbox; the names Green." The stranger explained before taking off, Lori on the back end of the horse.
The zombie moaned from the ground, beginning to recover from the blow to the head, even sitting up. "Shut-up." Daryl said simply before shooting it with his crossbow. Taylor stepped forward to help up Andrea, who took it gratefully.
"You okay?" Taylor questioned, surveying for bite marks.
"Fine," The woman said shortly, brushing herself off before continuing forward. Taylor sighed, trying not to take it personally; she'd just been attacked, she can't imagine she'd have any manners either.
"I won't do it." Carol told the group, "I can't just leave."
Dale tried to be the voice of reason. "Carol, the group is split. We're scattered and weak..."
"What if she comes back and we're not here?" Carol accused angrily. "What could happen?"
"If Sophia found her way back and we were gone, that would be awful." Andrea agreed, and Taylor couldn't help but nod.
"We can't just leave her to fend on her own indefinitely." Taylor mirrored the others sentiments.
"Okay," Daryl agreed, nodding. "We gotta plan for this. I say tomorrow mornin's soon enough to pull up stakes. Give us a chance to rig a big sign, leave her some supplies. I'll hold here tonight, stay with the RV." He said, meeting Taylor's eyes.
"If the RV's staying, I am too." Dale said, placing his hand on his vehicle.
"Thank-you." Carol said, clearly grateful at the gesture. "Thank-you both." Both men nodded.
"I'm in." Andrea raised her hand, volunteering to stay with the RV that night.
"I'd prefer to stay, if no one minds." Taylor asked, unsure as to how the others felt about it. Daryl nodded.
"Well if you're all staying-" Glenn was interrupted by Dale.
"No, not you Glenn, you're going. Take Carol's Cherokee." The older man told him, clearly not in the mood for arguing.
"Me?" Glenn asked, gesturing to himself. "Why is it always me?" The question seemed more rhetorical to Taylor.
"We have to find this farm," Dale explained calmly, trying to soothe Glenn. "Reconnect with our people and see what's going on. But most important, you have to get T-Dog there. His cut's infected and he's got a real bad blood infection." Taylor noted the thoughtful look on Daryl's face. "Get him to that farm, see if they have antibiotics. If not, T-Dog will die. No joke." At this point, Daryl began walking towards his bike, much to the confusion of the rest of the group. He picked up a rag from the seat, throwing it over his shoulder with a small huff before rummaging through a bag attached to it, returning with a clear bag filled with pill bottles.
"Keep your oily rags off my brother's motorcycle." Daryl tossed the towel towards Dale who caught it. "Why'd you wait so long ta say anythin'?" He asked, opening the bag. "I got my brothers stash...Crystal, X, don't need that..." He pulled a few bottles from the bag. "That's some kick ass pain killers." He tossed a bottle at Glenn. "Oxycyclin." He stated, pulling the bottle from the bag. "Not the generic stuff neither, that's first class." Taylor looked at him, questioning why he had so many bottles of pills. Daryl seemed to understand what she was thinking and shrugged. "Merle got the clap on occasion." He stated simply before throwing everything back into the bag and walking it back to the bike.
Taylor couldn't help but laugh a little as the last statement, shrugging her shoulders at the rest of the group. "Come on, it is pretty funny." No one seemed to share her humor, so Taylor quickly stopped her laughter. Glenn shook his head at her.
And I got through another episode! I'm catching up, slowly but surely! There will be a lot more Daryl/Taylor interaction next chapter, but I'm glad I got some more back story in there.
As always, review to tell me what you loved/hated. Thanks for reading!
-PassiveAggressive101