When life kicks you down.

"You're going to make a fine soldier"

"I told you to drop and give me fifty now get on that damn ground and give me FIFTY!"

"You gotta' just take it in kid. The sooner your trained the better you'll be"

"Fuck Amelia what was that for? I was only asking ya' on a date woman no need to knock my teeth into my throat"

"No matter what this world fucking pushes on us we got this. We will take every one of these fuckers down, even if we have to go with em'! HOORAAH!"

The chatter of loud voices in her head became unbearable as she was slowly pulled into another dream, her subconscious refusing to give in and wanting to take her attention to moments that she had tried so hard to forget. All the pain of the past twenty five years came flooding back, hitting her chest and shoulders like a train without a driver.

"I just gotta' call. We're going into Atlanta in thirty minutes. There's been an outbreak, some sort of wild cannibals roaming the streets. We have to hit hard and rescue civilians before they nuke it" Kyle, the leader said as he began quickly packing his bag.

Amelia eyed him suspiciously, they knew how much of an idiot he could be, getting them all riled up for missions.

"Pull the other one!" Andy Joked as he sat on the Jeep.

"I'm not fucking kidding. Shit's going down" and that's when they all stopped to look at one another. He really was telling the truth, just by the look of terror written across their leaders face.

Amelia felt a little sick. "What are they saying it is?"

"They wouldn't give me much" he looked right at her "but they said it's spreading like an infection. This is a big deal A"

Amelia had dealt with tough things, they had once been sent into the desert with no supplies and limited amo to take down fifty terrorists threatening America but this wasn't controlled. This disease was already out there now, like in all the horror stories she had watched and she knew it had to be real bad if they were calling in there their special services.

The dream changed quickly, dark black lines blurring her vision as she slipped into another one so effortlessly, she hated this part. It always came back to haunt her, she'll always remember the smell, the fire, the screams and the guttural moans of the roaming dead.

"Kyle this hallway is too fucking dark. We need an exit, now" she hissed to him as they slowly made their way down a hospital corridor. Their where beds and bloody bandages everywhere but no human activity so far. Amelia was hoping it was just a small outbreak that would be able to be obtained quickly until she saw Kyle stop.

Kyle began to shuffle backwards, forcing her to go with him and everyone behind her.

"Fucccccck!" he whispered, Amelia looked quickly around him and found his light shining brightly against five snarling people covered in blood and guts. Their mouths were slightly open in amazement at them but their eye's blood shot with hunger.

"Special unit. You have been order to fire at will. No one is allowed to escape that hospital. Nobody. Out" came the loud crackle over all of their radios.

The enemy suddenly lurched and Amelia was already firing shots expertly at their heads, hoping to quickly end their attack.

"What the fuck is going on man!? Rob the second in command of the unit called from the rear. Just as he had finished a young healthy nurse came running towards them, screaming for them to help her but Kyle had already had his orders.

He put her down without a second glance.

"You heard what they said. Lets get this done and lets get the fuck out of here" and it was like Kyle had called upon the bad omens as a rush of blood thirsty freaks burst through a door behind them. It was Chris who became their first casualty as one ran at him, her mouth gripping his thick arms muscles and tearing the muscle away from the bone. Chris gurgled a scream as the rest attacked his throat and chest. Amelia felt sick rise from her stomach until Kyle grabbed her arm and pulled her.

Amelia felt her palms begin to sweat as they made a break for it. Their was no amount of skills that could of helped them win that fight.

Kyle was trying hopelessly to find an exit when he saw a light blue door with a hospital bed blocking the front.

"That's not the exit man!" Amelia yelled, she saw the shape and knew it was a patients room "Keep going down and then left" she hissed as she followed the instructions on the hospital ceiling.

It felt like they had been running forever in the dark. This had possibly been the worst decision their leaders had ever made for the small unit and she was suddenly hating her job. Tightening her grip on Kyle she urged him on, her found the exit tied with black plastic ties put her pushed past them with fierce strength.

They all stumbled out into the light, blinded by the brightness but hyper aware of their surroundings.

"Oh shit" Andy breathed as they all looked to the sky, huge blobs of billowing smoke surrounded Atlanta as the army began dropping bombs. Nuclear bombs. Amelia knew the problem was far to great to be solved now. It was all going to shit.

"We need a plan Kyle. We need to get back to the Jeep and get into the woods. This shit is out of our hands" Rob said as he locked the hospital door from the outside.

"Right lets do that. Keep your eyes peeled and do not lose your partner. If you see anything holler"

Amelia felt her back arch with pain and her shoulders being pulled but she couldn't escape the next dream that was pulling her painfully back in.

They had been running for half an hour, only slowly to clear room from the walkers that blocked their way and Amelia was starting to feel the panic build. They had to kill a few non-infected because they had clung to the group with a need for safety but the group had their orders and had to take quick action. Amelia hadn't felt bad. It was survival.

It was only when they where running down a alleyway when Amelia saw the most tragic thing, a little blonde girl stood in the middle clutching her teddy bear, mouth covered in blood and her face speckled with the same red substance. Amelia's heart lurched as she slowly walked up to her and placed a bullet between her eyes. No guilt. She was better off now.

Just like her little sister.

Daryl watched as they painfully placed Amelia down onto her bunk. Hershel spent no time messing about as he began readying his equipment by his side and calling Carol and Maggie in to be his help.

"What happened Rick?" Hershel asked calmly as he took her temperature.

"She was out there too long, fighting them off. We found her by the small opening in the woods. She was spent" and Rick began taking his belt of and placing it by her feet. He wanted to be comfortable to help if he needed to. He felt like he had too.

"Carol I'm going to need a bowl of water, fill it will salt and get me my bag" And Carol nodded quickly before leaving the room. Daryl watched her go and just hoped she would be as quick as Hershel had asked her. This damn crazy bitch had nearly killed herself trying to save Carl.

"Their too many cuts to see if there's any real damage. Rick help me lift her shirt" and Rick didn't hesitate as he bent over and pulled the teared fabric up towards her bra line. Daryl flinched in the corner as he witnessed the thick black bruises across her ribs and stomach. They had got her so good.

Maggie had just entered the room when she was treated to a full frontal shot of black bruises, she gasped and turned to Glenn who was just behind her.

"They got her good but she doesn't have any broken ribs so that good" Hershel said as his fingers expertly prodded her sides. "Her temperature is high and I'm going to have to stitch her wounds. Maggie, Glenn I need you to get me some antibiotics and Rick I need plenty of water. Looks like she's dehydrated, exhausted and may possibly come down with an infection from the dirt and whatever this is"

Everybody scrambled to do their jobs but Daryl felt himself rooted to the spot, daring down at her in pure wonder. How had she survived that attack? When it only took one walker to tear down T-dog. Amelia stood at five foot four and didn't look like she had much muscle, she was slim and agile but she had to be something else to have done what she did.

Carol burst into the room, not flinching at Amelia's obvious bruises as she bent down with Hershel and getting to work. They cleaned her up first, wiping down her face and neck, trying to put her hair up but their was too much and Carol gave up. Hershel began cleaning her wounds, trying to determine how deep they where and he watched as Hershel found the one on her shoulder. It would definitely scar.

Maggie and Glenn had already left the prison on their run as Rick came into the room carrying a large bowl full of water. Rick looked at Daryl for a second and wondered why he was staring so intently and it dawned on him quickly that Daryl felt this girl was now a part of his group.

Rick only hoped she survived the night.

"This aint' good Rick. This poor woman took a real beating" Hershel said disapprovingly as he shoved bloodied gauze into Carols hands.

"Is she going to be okay?" he asked.

"I'm not sure. From what you described it sounds like she threw herself into the ground for your boy" and Rick grimaced painfully. He still hadn't asked Carl why he had been out in the woods in the first place.

"Why is she doing that?" Daryl asked and they all turned around to find Amelia arching her back, her breath suddenly fading. Rick's hand twitched for his gun that lay on the prison cell floor.

"Daryl I need you to hold her down!" Hershel yelled as Amelia suddenly began to fit, her body jolting rapidly against the thin mattress. Hershel knew not to hold her down but the small space meant she would do more damage.

Daryl tried his hardest to keep her down but it was like she was fighting him, she burned his skin again as he tried to focus on the task at hand but he just wanted to fix her. To pull her in and fix her. Carol whimpered behind him, clearly distraught by the sight in front of her. Amelia suddenly stopped and her body fell back into the bed, her cuts oozing fresh blood. They started again, patiently keeping an eye on her as they did so.

Rick was in charge of giving her small bits of water through her closed mouth and helping her to swallow. Hershel was impatient, he needed to make sure dehydration wasn't going to be on her list of injuries. Rick looked down at the woman's face that had saved her son and suddenly felt an overwhelming feeling of strength. He was no longer being drowned by the depths of sorrow. It was an odd mix.

Daryl didn't like the way Rick was staring at her so he took the cup and told him to go check on little as kicker and Carl. Rick nodded eagerly, he wanted to check on his children to make sure they were both okay but also to stop the new wave of guilt engulfing him.

"Are you going to be okay to watch her tonight?" Hershel asked Daryl slowly, unsure on how he felt on Amelia.

"I've been doing it for the past week aint' I?" he snarled back, not meaning to have the venom in his voice. Hershel nodded, not wanting to get into an argument with the young man.

"It was so stupid us leavin' her like that. We could of all got out of there. There was no need for her to act like a damn fool" and he put the cup down.

"Sounds to me like she was trying to make herself a real member of this group, by protecting the boy"

"She doesn't even want to be here" he snapped back, daring him to have an answer.

"Could of fooled me'