Sawyer point of view

He held my hand so tight as Wentworth drove to haven, I was whole or what I used to think was whole. Enid and Daryl are my life now, my family was glued back together and now to keep it that way. The ride was awkward with the silence, and maybe Addy knew it was too tense, her voice was bubbly and happy.

"So, Daryl. You become a man whore?" an excellent question one it might hurt to hear the truth about, but now all eyes are on us.

He looks tense and uncomfortable, "Don't you ever go away?"

"Nope, now answer. It looks like Sawyer wants to know the answer too," in a way her statement was correct even if her tone was hinting at anger.

"I was with a fair few girls, nothing serious and nothing ever happened but sex," he was disgusting, and by the flash across my face he knew what I was thinking.

"And you,"

It was not a question it was a southern demand of information "I ain't seventeen, boy. You need to watch it or watch me walk away. I slept with one man in all of fourteen years," he even looked angry about that but then like an overfilled balloon he deflated.

"You are giving me a full check up ain't you,"

"Oh, bless your heart, of course," he could mumble whatever he wanted under his breath, but he was getting a full workup done real fast. We arrive at the gates as I turn to him, "Stay right here," but it looked much harder now than when we were younger for him to be away.

I walked to the gate alone, more walkers than average as the gates opened and the Jeep pulled in with me behind it. I pulled Gage from the tower as the truck was docked, "Boy, you in for a treat. But first the Walker situation,"

He frowned, "Over the last few hours the walkers have shown up in greater numbers, Han said they are all still in varying states of decay, some new. I think someone is leading them here, it seems to perfect they found this base," his voice was tired but Mabel walked up smiling in her hand was the Grape pop we brought back.

Her eyes turned to me, "Thanks for these, you came back with so much,"

Gage kissed her forehead when the gruff, raspy voice of Daryl chimed it, "Oh, now who's slumming it,"

Mabel snapped, "Fuck off, Dixon. Gage will always be a better man than you," just like old times, a fond smile was plastered on my face.

"My god man, it is good to see you alive," they hugged but very manly, I just turned seeing my baby girl running up with Carl, both smiling.

I moved from them heading towards Enid, I smiled "I am back and safe," she just hugged me, I saw a cut on her face.

I spoke low, "If you so much as leave the base again, I will lock you in your room. You are good at killin walkers but don't put yourself in harm's way, please," she was red, but Carl spotted the man behind me. He bolted to him; I felt some tears welling up Carl was hugging Daryl.

His deeper voice was echoing, "You made it, I am so glad. How are my parents?"

Daryl touched his shoulder, "No one can break me, I am just fine. Your parents said they loved you. You look like you grew two feet,"

Carl shrugged, "Sorry, Daryl this is my girlfriend, Enid,"

I laughed as Daryl paled seeing the girl next to me, her eyes so like his, her hair as well. "Daryl, meet your daughter, Enid. Enid, this is your father," they both looked to the other looking to be sizing the other up even as Carl took Enid under his arm, cute, young and still filled with hope we needed that.

Minutes of silence, Addy, Mabel, Gage, Wentworth, Carl, Daryl, Enid, and myself all just caught up in the mounting tension filled section of the base. Enid moved just a little closer to me, "Enid love, he is okay. You know I had been looking for him give him a chance," my voice mothering.

Carl chimed in, "Enid, he is like an Uncle to me. He saved me more than once he is awesome. And she is everything, smart, funny, wild, sharp as a tack, she can fight and do injections, now I see who she is isn't all Dr. Sawyer but you too,"

Mabel snapped, "Everything Enid has become is her mother's doing, Sawyer was the one building her up making sure she was everything she could be. She might look like her Pa, but credit goes to Sawyer, she kept her roots even when she moved to the city," she was right.

Daryl finally spoke, "Carl, this annoying skank is right, it was Sawyer. But now I am home and ain't ever leaving, I am here and going to try and make things as right with you and your maw as I possibly can. I am not a good guy, but I have loved you something fierce since I found out about you," he had this sweet side still.

She gave me a look before she spoke, with a nod her words are careful. "okay, if mama thinks you can then I am willing to give it a shot. I always wanted to meet you Aunti Addy said you were a good man to mama but are dumber than a box of deformed rocks on crack," oh no she didn't, Addy was backing up before she bolted from the scene with Daryl hot on her ass.

"Wentworth he won't hurt her, might hang her over the ledge but that's it," Gage laughed making Mabel smile too.

"Gage bring him to Lab three, he needs a full workup and a damn shower,"

I leave them Enid and Carl walked with me, "Snow Queen," Carl smiled down at me.

"Excuse?" I asked him.

He answered, "Daryl once showed me a picture of a girl he called the snow queen, said he was still in love with you," he still carried it, oh my lord it was old and not true, well it wasn't true any longer.

"When I was younger in our town I was crowned Snow Queen, and it was an honor, but those days are long gone,"

Addy was safe next to me as last I heard Daryl was showering weeks of dirt off himself before we started doing work up. She winked, "Hey girl, he only got hotter with age. More gray than normal but hell not like he lived a stress-free life,"

I never got the chance to answer as Gage and himself walked in, he was clean and in clean clothes, black pants and a black tee that clung to his lean body, it was sweltering in here. "Just leave you ladies to poke and prod this man," than he was gone he hated needles.

I just moved around the table with a twenty-two gauge in hand, taking some blood while she was swabbing his mouth. I called back, "Do vitals,"

"Now are we doing a full workup?" was asked as I gave a yes. 'Take off the clothes than," oh god.

"No, forget the full work up let's just do blood and cultures,"

He was a good sport and very healthy, his CBC, RBC, and every other test we ran was good. He was cleared by me but not by God who would deal with his ass sooner or later.

Standing in front of him, "Looks like your clean nothing wrong as far as I can tell, no std's your red and white blood cell count is perfect. Your potassium could use some work, and you have a high fat count, but that's it,"

"This means you are going to kiss me?" his voice was sultry and sinful.

I snorted, "later,"

Day's later we have done so much more than kissing, but he saw that one single goal was my focus now, a vaccine. He was not very happy with the closeness of our daughter and Carl, "Enough, you're her father. Carl makes her happy in a world that not many can be happy in. You should be happy it's Carl he seems like a very down to earth kid,"

"She is only fourteen,"

"Nearly fifteen, and so what we got together when I was sixteen. Don't interfere either it will all backfire on you. I need you to go to Hilltop, take these to Denise," a bag filled with IV bags that were needed.

Daryl just nuzzled my neck; it was the same always wanting to fuck the others brain out, a never-ending game. "I will be back tomorrow afternoon,"

My head needed to be in the game the one where the human race was not extinct in the end. Each serum was unique nothing like the one before, Dr. Han and Dr. Michaels have been able to secure some viles of walkers "venom" it was spit filled with aggressive strains. Seeing the "venom," it had me re-working each serum in a distinct fashion. I never noticed he left my mind trying to wrap around everything; our time was nearly out, Earth was doomed. Humans are reverting to dire needs after only two years; we would not last another two the way it is all in decline.

"Bring Kyle, Wentworth, and Uli to me," I called not knowing whom I was asking, but hearing the door open and close, someone heard me. I moved to the fridge setting the samples in when the door re-opened and in walked Mabel and the three men.

I was not happy about this, "I need you to travel, go to North Bend, we have had this debriefing before now it is imperative. It has to be done, and I trust you three to do as such,"

Each was ready and leaving in a matter of minutes.

Carl and Enid stood next to me; Gage was in front of Mabel, Addy was on Carl's other side when the gates open, the loud banging was the work of Negan and his crew or what was left of them.

I stood tall with my back straight they would not bully us, "We came to a hard decision, this is ours now. We will have to rebuild our home,"

"No. A shame Rick has not managed to kill you yet but please do not get this situation turned you will no be overtaking haven," all eyes and guns up, I just stood looking rather harmless.

Negan was not a natural man, but more of his crew walked in, maybe outnumbering us since some are on raids, some on missions. "You don't have a choice sweetheart we outnumber you; now you will have to learn the hard way like every fucking one else. You ain't shit," he was not a fan of rejection he was like this before the outbreak and would be after.

I moved forward when a man walked up to his side, tall and muscular, brute strength. "Had to kill Wade, so this is my new right hand and meaner than shit, Merle," if he had not been a fan of mine he wouldn't be now.

I replayed every conversation we ever had, in the bar, when I was eighteen right before the break up he muttered something. "Well you see, that little doll you holdin is my little brother's world, and so she will always have me backing her,"

I spoke, "Yes very scary. So, by now you figured I was the one supplying food and weapons to your enemies, and you figure you can overtake us. You think I would bow out and down to you because you wouldn't hesitate to threaten my daughter, and maybe you're right but my daughter is a Dixon, And they don't die. I will alert you that you met her father,"

Needed time, more time as Merle was looking at the girl his face changed a slight softness. "Oh, really sweetheart and who is her father,"

"Daryl, couldn't break him. It's okay your incompetence is normal when dealing with him, you tried to kill him, to torture him. But here we stand so try it, Daryl well he should be arriving real soon, and I am sure you two have unfinished business,"

He was teed, "Looks like you like bad guys well hun, I am the worse. Going to kill him take you and maybe let your daughter and oh look who it is the future serial killer, they both might live,"

I snorted, "Is my back still covered," it was not a question, but a statement as Merle gave me a look he had so many emotions running over his scarred face, he lost his hand, he was a survivor, but family meant something to him too.

Merle spoke, "Girl, you're nothing but trouble and seems like my little brother, and you found each other in this shit hole. She looks like ma and Daryl with small hints of you working there way through; I told you once that I did and that still stands,"

He grabs Negan, he was stronger, Dwight turned against Negan at the same time along with many others, "Didn't see that coming," was all Negan muttered.

"Merle Dixon meet your niece Enid, Gage show Merle where to take our friend. That get me others,"

I walked behind Merle with Carl and Enid; Addy was with us as Negan was tossed in a cell, a few others in others. "Thank you, Gage and Merle. I have plans for them,"

"Like what sweetheart," so cocky. "You are now a lab rat; I will need to see if the vaccines work," I was not evil nor crazy but in a world on the brink of death, humans about to be erased from history this was a global killer.

"Is my brother on his way or was that a lie?" his old man voice was the same. I nodded, "I found Daryl not even days ago, he was taking supplies to Rick and coming back. Come on Merle you have to get a work up new clothes the whole nine, just like every other member,"

Addy just fumed, "It was years ago you still hate me?"

"You nasty, you hurt many girls in your quest,"

I added, "When they were working on our fence you spit in everything he ate or drank," laughter filled the lab even his own, Enid handed me another vile his eyes touched hers.

"Hello, Enid. Sawyer, I left Daryl when I knew Rick would watch out for him and I could locate you without his ass getting hurt. I found your house it looked untouched for the most part, in my bag is some things I found that Daryl would have liked to have,"

"You're a puzzle Merle,"

"Also shower and come back in for results,"

Carl showed him to our showers while we ladies got to work on his lab work, his blood was wonky. He had infections from multiple outlets, "Get an IV kit now, Enid. Addy, top shelf a blue bin bring it to me," knowing it had the most potent antibiotics we had. We got a bed ready; the bags hung when he and Gage walked back in both laughing.

Mabel had a tray of real food ready; she was this culinary mastermind after we stopped talking to her she had no one to hang with that was her friend. She taught herself to cook along with her mother it hurt since she acted like we did nothing wrong, she blamed her self-centered, spoiled younger self.

I sighed, "Get in the bed, your body has a raging infection, and if it isn't treated you will die, "

He says nothing lays down while I started the IV, the drip was beginning at a ten we would slow it down after two hours. "See didn't hurt, eat and after I will clean your hand pretty sure that's where the infection began,"

I was looking over all his blood; Addy was prepping a kit for me as he finished eating, Enid took his try leaving us knowing he was about to be screaming. I touched the wound with the latex glove it was hot to the touch. I groaned, "You want some painkillers?"

He his head no, "Okay after I am injecting some, you'll have no say,"

Addy was a great nurse; she was not weak stomached like most she watched as we peeled dead rotten flesh. Dr. Han assisted me, "Do you think we will need to take it to the elbow,"

"Not sure, wanting to give it a few days to heal. We might have just caught it in time. Merle how are you holding up," his face was covered in sweat as red as humanly possible as Addy cleaned his face. "Fine just do what you have too,"

A girl walked in with Enid, she was pretty her hair a lighter brown she was a little plus size, but that was nothing. "Is he okay?"

"He will be, I can't have too many people in here," I ordered as Eind understood taking the girl by the arm.

"Michelle hunnie, I will be fine. You go on and help here," oh, he found a girl he seems to like.

Merle just stared at us daring one of us to say something; I gave in. "Found someone to like your ugly mug?"

Merle snarled, "Lucky I am tied to this bed, get back to work Doc,"

Dr. Han was injecting the stub, while I was cutting chunks of dead burned skin, it smelled awful. Right as I was done he let out an anguished bellow, the dressing was going on, and he finally lost it. DR. Han smiled, "Finally, was wondering how long it would take,"

Addy informed him, "The Dixons are a rare breed,"

But when we looked, Daryl was staring at us all. I Stood, "Babe, look what I found. He has a raging infection due to his hand, I was ensuring he lived," he bolted to his brother, but his arms came around me placing a kiss on my lips. First, my heart was all mushed.

"I am the one being cut up, and you kiss her," oh poor dear.

Daryl just hugged Merle, "Thought I lost you, you bastard,"

I hated to break this up; I had 6cc of Morphine, "He needs rest you can stay, but he needs some relief,"

Finally, Merle was at rest, "Mabel, grab his girl she can see him now," I was so tired and tomorrow was a new day, he was talking to his brother when I spoke.

"Bringing Michelle in for you, don't pull on the lines. I will be back to check on you, Daryl can we have words?" I asked he gave me a nod as Addy and I walked off heading to the cell's when he caught up.

"You okay love?"

"Tired cleaning his wound was hours, it has a fifty percent chance of needing further amputation so giving his medication and time to see if I will have to," I was allowed entrance to the cells.

"He was with Negan when they arrived to overtake us, well he once said he has my back, and he only proved that this morning. Hello Negan,"

Daryl snarled "This bitch is here,"

"I need him and for all the death, vile acts he has committed he will be used to make sure we survive a last act of goodness,"

"But hopefully he dies painfully," Addy added hearing the vile things he was doing with his "wives."

"The good die young," Negan added "Well we will see,"

"Come, one babe; Enid is waiting,"

He was just so angry he wasn't moving, "Let's go see our daughter and eat, then you and I alone," he got the meaning as we three left the bellowing men behind.