The sun was washed out from the overcast sky. The clouds settled low and cold this morning, making the air bite at any exposed skin. Rebecca pulled her jacket tighter around her as her head swam. She had woken with a blocked nose and throbbing head ache. A cold. Her midnight watch on the cold roof no doubt to blame. She rubbed at the tight pain in her sinuses and walked from her cabin, on heavy legs, to the main lodge.
Daryl had gotten up early to take over watch from Glenn. He had kissed her softly on the side of the head and dressed, leaving the cabin silently in the dark early hours. She saw him now, standing out the front of the lodge, watching her approach him.
Rebecca relaxed her arms and closed her eyes as she crashed into him and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Wusa' matter?" He asked concerned, putting his hand to the back of her head.
"I don't think I can go today." She mumbled into his jacket. "I have a cold."
"Go on inside. I'll tell Rick." He pushed her gently towards the door and opened it for her.
She walked in and dropped on the couch, as Daryl stepped into the kitchen for a moment before turning and going outside to speak with Rick.
A minute later, Carol came out of the kitchen with a mug in her hand.
"Daryl told me to bring you a cup of tea." Carol said with a tiny smile tight on her lips.
Rebecca laughed quietly to herself and sat up. "Thanks Carol" She smiled.
"Are you ok?" The mousy woman asked
"Yeah, it's just a cold." Rebecca replied over the mug of steamy water. She did feel soothed from the tea and comforted by the caring gesture from Daryl and Carol.
"Well, I don't think you should go with them today." Carol said considerately.
"No, I'm not. Daryl is talking with Rick about it now." Rebecca agreed.
After a pause Carol returned with "He cares about you. It's nice to see him happy. He deserves that."
Rebecca thought of the story Carol had told her early on about Daryl's efforts to find her daughter Sofia.
"Try telling him that." Rebecca whispered into her mug.
"I have." Carol replied softly. "Maybe you can make him see it."
"I'm trying too." She smiled inwardly.
…...
After a while Daryl returned. Rebecca was on her feet taking her mug back to the kitchen, determined to seek out some paracetamol for her head.
"Yer stayin'. Rick says we'll take Maggie instead." Daryl said flatly, as he dropped his crossbow on to the smaller couch.
"Oh, Glenn will be happy." She replied with a chuckle.
Daryl smiled a half smile at her words. After a quick check over his shoulder to make sure they were alone, he stepped forward to her and put his arms around her waist, pulling her against him. She smiled and he felt that familiar warmth spread through him that only Rebecca could make him feel. He kissed her quickly on the lips before she turned her face away.
"Don't kiss me. You'll get sick too." She scolded, but not really meaning it.
"Don't care. It'll be worth it." He said defiantly, before kissing her again.
She melted into his kiss and let her cold nose push into his warm cheek. His hands at her waist pulled her harder against him and she smiled into his mouth. Her own hands pinned between them, holding onto the mug. She had to break away from their kiss as she couldn't breath through her nose. His kisses literally made her dizzy. He moved his hands up to cup her face and gave her one last peck on the mouth. He stepped back and took the mug from her hands, placing it on the small coffee table. He grabbed her by the jacket and dragged her back to the couch. Rebecca allowed him to throw her onto the cushions playfully, as he followed her down, kneeling between her thighs and planting one more short but passionate kiss on her mouth.
"Stay." He said to her, pointing at her chest, as he got back up to his feet.
She coughed out a little laugh as he picked up her mug and took it to the kitchen.
He returned and picked up his crossbow from the opposite couch, giving Rebecca a quick smile. "You best still be there when I get back." He growled at her.
"Where else am I gonna go?" She retorted. "Hey, wait." She called as Daryl had turned to the door. "Be safe. Ok?" Rebecca's eyes watered a little. "You mean everything to me too."
His mouth pulled into a firm line as he looked her in the eyes. He gave her a small nod. A gesture promising he would come back to her in one piece, before he turned and exited the building.
…...
They had been gone for about an hour and fifteen minutes. Ok, exactly an hour and fifteen minutes. Rebecca had dangerously been watching the clock. Two hours, that was all they would need, max. She couldn't help but shake from the bad feeling in her stomach. It was probably just because he was out there, without her. Too much distance between them, when she belonged by his side. Her head was starting to clear but her chest was starting to ache. Her stomach in knots and her heart swelling with tension.
She grabbed the blanket Carol had put over her and pulled it around her shoulders as she sat up. With a sniff, Rebecca got to her feet and walked to the window. She looked towards the gate, hoping his bike would turn the corner at her request. But she knew she would hear it before she saw it. Standing up she was beginning to feel a little better. Deciding to break Daryl's instructions she left the couch, and went to the kitchen to find someone to talk to.
She walked in and the kitchen was warm and humid. The best kind of environment for a head cold. Carol was standing beside the wood stove, boiling a large pot of water so they would have more safe drinking water when it cooled. Hershel was at the back window, keeping an eye on the tree line. Lori, Kitty and Beth were sitting at the table. Beth braiding Kitty's hair, while Lori read to her. Rebecca had seen Carl and T-dog go outside earlier to take watch. Lori only agreeing if Carl took the roof, at least then she knew where he would be.
Rebecca breathed in the steam as it softened her sinuses, but her body was exhausted.
Hershel leaned forward and looked at something outside the window. Suddenly there was a banging on the roof, Carl stomping his foot to get people's attention. Hershel grabbed his rifle and ran to the door. Rebecca's hand dropped automatically to her knife. Her heart started racing as she followed the older man out of the lodge.
A walker was leaning against the chest high wire fence, rasping and moaning, leaning forward against the tight line. T-dog came running from the front of the building. He slowed and walked towards the walker, long metal stake in hand. He gave them a nod, saying he will take care of it. He stabbed the walker in the brain with the steel and pushed it away from the fence. It fell backwards and T-dog looked around to see if there were any more. Rebecca returned to the kitchen door.
"It's ok. T-dog got it." She calmed the tense women in the room. "Stay here while we just check around for any more." With that she pulled the door closed behind her. No point letting all the warmth out.
"Hershel, we can't afford for you to get sick too." Rebecca said concerned. "Go inside, and maybe see if you can get Lori to calm down. Don't want her going in to labour or something."
"Are you sure?" The man replied, asking if she was certain she wasn't going to pass out or anything.
"I'm fine." She smiled. "I think that little surge of adrenalin was what I needed."
"Well don't over do it. And come back inside as soon as possible." He said with a firm nod.
"Yes doctor." She smirked, turning to go around to the side of the building where T-dog was scanning the tree line. Her body was flat and she didn't intend on staying out any longer than necessary.
She jogged over to T-dog's side and turned to look up at Carl. She put her hands up in a gesture that asked if he could see anything. Carl replied by shaking his head. Rebecca turned to T-dog. "Well, I'll start up near the cars and you can start down near the reserve gate and we'll work our way back to the middle."
"You gonna be ok?" T-dog asked, giving her a concerned once over.
"I'm ok." She replied again, still lying. "My nose is so blocked I wouldn't be able to smell a walker even if I stepped in it, but I'm feeling ok."
"Got a weapon." He asked looking at her hands.
"I got my knife." She put her hand to the blade. "But if I see anything I'll be sure to scream." She smirked at him. He shook his head with a smile and turned towards the hunting reserve. "Hey, T. Make sure the gate is locked."
He waved over his shoulder and she turned towards the front gate and the cars. As she passed the small wood pile, the sunlight reflected off something shiny to her left. She looked back and saw the freshly sharpened axe still resting where she left it. Rebecca walked over to it and picked it up, smiling to herself at her handiwork. She felt the weight of it and pictured it just sliding into the head of a walker as she swung at it.
Axe on her shoulder, she walked around the cars.
"There's more!" Carl shouted from his spot on the roof. "Lots more!"
Rebecca turned back to the fence line where the first walker had been. Three more were suddenly leaning and pushing against the wire. Then another two emerged. Then more.
T-dog ran forwards, swinging his rifle from off his back. He shot repeatedly. Corpse after corpse slumping over the wire. But more just emerged from the trees. Two taking the place of each walker that fell.
Carl stood at the edge of the roof and shot at the crowd, hitting and missing. He took out some, but the mob wasn't thinning.
Hershel had come back out from the lodge, shot gun in hand. He stopped near T-dog and shot into the herd.
Rebecca stood breathlessly watching the scene unfold in front of her. There was too many, they had no chance. The fence wire strained under the weight of the massive horde. 30 something ghouls pushing forward on the single line. A post groaned and suddenly the top wire snapped.
It seemed to happen in slow motion. The throng of dead fell forward and got the their feet, moving towards Hershel and T-dog. They were going to run out of bullets any second.
Rebecca didn't think, she just acted. She picked up the axe that had fallen, at some point, to the ground. She held it below the head in her right hand and drew the sharp edge across her left palm. The red warmth poured from the slice. It pooled in her hand as she slid her right hand down to the handle of the axe.
Rebecca ran forward to the mob of hungry dead, shouting. Some turned and seemed to sniff at the air. Others, who had already been eyeing at her hungrily, lunged forward.
She flicked her cupped hand at the mass of walkers, splattering them with her blood. She drew their collective attention and turned on her heals.
"CUM'ON FUCKERS!" She screamed, her voice was a hoarse, shrill call.
The freshest of the decomposing corpses moved quickly to the front of the pack.
Rebecca made it to the front gate and swung it wide open. Her bloodied hand smeared on the timber as she pushed it back. She glanced back briefly. She had successfully captured the attention of perhaps 20 of the 30+ walkers that had overrun the grounds. Rebecca held firmly to the axe and sprinted to the open road.