Another chapter, as promised! I'd love to hear what you guys expect for the next chapter or even events/interactions you'd like to see more of! Thanks for the follows and favorites, I get so excited every time my inbox lights up!
Enjoy!
Chapter 28
Rick drove back into Alexandria, his mind heavy with the knowledge that he and Morgan hadn't found Carol, but at least they had found the scene of devastation she left behind. The sight had reassured Rick, knowing he could count on Carol to survive and take care of herself, but he would still prefer it if the woman was back with them, where she belonged.
He got out of the car as Abraham closed the gate behind him, his body tired but his senses alert.
"Morgan's still out there looking. Is Michonne here?
"She's still out there too." Rick sighed, rubbing his eyes as concern filled his already anxious mind. He turned back to the man besides him as Abraham talked again.
"You afraid… to go back to it? With somebody close..." The military man had an unusual expression of worry on his face, his eyes filled with disquiet and uncertainty.
"Yeah." Abraham's brow was furrowed as he hmm'ed, the lines on his face seeming more pronounced.
"Me too…" he said softly, "But now, I think I'm that much more ready to tear the world a brand new arsehole."
Rick shook his head, a small smile on his lips at the gruff man's words, knowing exactly how the redhead felt and agreeing wholeheartedly with him. He would do anything for his family, for Michonne, even tearing the world a new arsehole, as Abraham so crudely stated.
"Any second now. Yeah...any second."
The two men stood quietly, watching the gate and waiting for their family to return, the moment seeming to stretch on and on. Until it didn't.
"Dad! DAD!" Rick spun around, his eyes wide as he searched for Carl, his son's voice loud as he ran towards him.
"Carl? Wha-"
"Dad, Anna woke up! She's awake Dad!" Rick's heart stuttered and barely sparing Abraham a glance, he started running, his son by his side as they made their way towards the infirmary. Taking the porch steps two at a time, he burst into the house, quickly walking through it till he came to Anna's room. When he entered, it felt like his breath was knocked from him and he had to pause, his eyes drinking up the sight before him.
Anna was sitting upright in the bed, her gaze turned out the window as her fingers fidgeted in her lap. She seemed a thousand miles away, but she was awake and upright and Rick couldn't ask for more. He wished more than ever that Daryl was here, especially when her blue gaze turned towards him.
"Anna…" He croaked, his voice cracking in relief at seeing someone he considered a sister awake when no one thought she would awaken. A small smile lit her face and she held out a hand that he immediately moved forward to take, settling on the chair at the side of her bed.
"R-Rick." Her voice was hoarse and it sounded painful to talk.
"We thought...You-...Daryl…" Rick stumbled over his words, not sure what to say and his mind overcome with the knowledge that this was really happening.
"Wh-where-"
"Daryl's… out. I'll tell you everything that happened, but first, how are you feeling, do you need anything?" Anna grimaced, her hand rising to her neck to gently touch the bandage.
"It burns a bit." Rick's eyes narrowed, knowing that anything could have happened to the wound since Denise died, since he wasn't sure if someone had changed the bandages since.
"I think we should take you to Hilltop, get their doctor to check out your wound and make sure it didn't take a turn for the worse."
"H-hilltop? But what... about Denise? C-can't... she ch-check it?" Rick watched as Anna's eyes seemed to fill with dread when she saw his own serious expression and he knew she had an idea of what was coming.
"Anna… Denise was killed. She went out with Daryl and Rosita on a run and they were ambushed. She...she didn't make it."
"Wha… Is Daryl-"
"Yes, Daryl is fine and so is Rosita, but they're both hurting." Anna nodded, her forehead lined deeply as she looked down at her lap.
"Ambushed b-by... who?" Rick felt a heavy weight settle on his shoulders, dreading having to tell Anna everything that had happened and the danger the community was in now.
"They're called Saviors." Anna's expression immediately changed and Rick paused, his keen eyes taking in the hard glint in her eyes and tense shoulders.
"You know them…"He said slowly, the tension in her body coiling tighter as she shifted slightly.
"Yes… They w-were the ones who attacked me and caused me... to end up like this. But… I have a h-history with them that begins lo-long before this attack." Rick settled back, his gaze focused on the woman in front of him. He could feel Carl hovering outside the door, wanting to come in, but knowing better than to interrupt.
"What kind of history?" Anna's expression was thunderous and her voice, though still hoarse, came out stronger than before, barely stumbling over her words now.
"I had a run-in with them a f-few months ago. Killed all but one and got h-heavily injured in the process. Their l-leader, Negan, sent his saviors," Anamika sneered the word, her expression full of loathing, "after me to either capture or k-kill me. I sho...showed him why that was a bad idea."
"What do you mean you...showed him?" Anna's eyes darkened and the former sheriff could feel the weight of her gaze on him as she scrutinized him. When she answered, her voice was soft, but filled with steel.
"I attacked one of his outposts while he was visiting. Killed all the saviors there and injured him. Almost killed him too, but he got away. I showed him it wasn't worth it to mess with me. They mostly left me alone after that."
Rick's breath rushed out and a hand lifted to rub at his brow, feeling his head start to pound. It was such a… Anna thing to do. Taking on an entire outpost on her own… Outpost…
Rick's head shot up, his eyes pinning the startled woman where she sat, his voice cracking like a whip.
"One of his outposts? Meaning there's more than one? How many?"
"I don't know. I heard Negan w-was going to be visiting an outpost in Triangle from the radio I took from... one of the saviors I captured. They have a m-main base somewhere, but I never managed to find it. With how many people was at Triangle a-and the level of security Negan arrived in, I'm guessing they have a large scale o-operation going on, with probably at least a hundred people."
The weight on Rick's shoulders pressed down on him, his mind cast into disarray as he thought about the threat they now faced. If this group really had that kind of manpower…
"Rick, did the saviors find this place? I was certain they were far enough away to not notice us, especially as I've seen that they tend to focus their attentions in other areas. I mean, a lot could have changed in the months since my initial run-in with them, but it seems odd."
"We...we attacked them."
"What?" Anna's icy gaze was focused on Rick and not for the first time, Rick wished that she had been there when they went to Hilltop the first time and brokered the deal. She would have been able to warn them and shed more light on a situation they had thought simple.
"Hilltop...Hilltop was under the Savior's control. We said we would take out the saviors in exchange for food and supplies. Only now… Now I know we only took out an outpost, probably. It would have alerted the rest of the saviors that there's a new player around. I thought we had taken out Negan in that attack."
Anna nodded, her gaze serious as she squeezed her hands together, before responding, "Negan wears a leather jacket with a red scarf and carries around a bat wrapped in barbed wire. Was that who you took out?"
Rick shook his head mutely and his eyes closed in dread at Anna's next words.
"Then Negan is still alive… and he's ruthless and revenge-driven."
It all seemed too much and Rick wished it would all just be over, that they wouldn't have to fight, day after day, even as he knew that was a useless pipe dream.
"Regardless of everything, I'm happy you're awake Anna. We… we were worried we were going to lose you." Anna's eyes softened and she reached out to take Rick's hand again, squeezing it gently.
"I'm fine now Rick. What those bastards did… Not just to me, but to Denise and all of you as well, they won't get away with it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but we will get those arseholes and show them to not mess with us." She stated to Rick, her voice hoarse after being strangled, her body frail after her prolonged state of unconsciousness, her hair tangled and limp, but her eyes burning with an unholy fire and her jaw clenched determinedly. Her words struck a chord deep inside Rick and a grim smile graced his face as he squeezed her hand back.
"Yeah. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but we will…"
A comfortable silence enveloped, but Rick could see Anna glancing at him from time to time, before she took a deep breath and broke the silence. Rick wished she hadn't.
"Rick… Where's D-Daryl now?" The trepidation in her voice was reflected in her face as Rick pinched the bridge of his nose, before sitting forwards, his gaze on hers.
"He...He went after the saviors that killed Denise. He was so broken up after you came back, on death's door and with Denise dying… He's just filled with anger at the moment." Panic filled the gaze of the woman across him and her voice was high as she replied.
"What? R-Rick, he can't go after them, they're a lot more people than he is, he's g-going to get himself killed! W-we have to go after him!" Rick jumped up as Anna threw back the covers, struggling to stand up as her legs were shaking too badly to keep her weight.
"Anna, Anna calm down! Michonne, Glenn and Rosita went after him, I'm sure they'll be back any second now. In the meantime, we need to get you to Hilltop. The doctor needs to check your wound, we don't want it to become infected."
"But-"
"No buts. You need to see a doctor Anna, you're too weak to go after Daryl now."
"Rick-" Anna's complaint was interrupted by a commotion outside the room and the next moment, Enid rushed in, Carl following her.
"Something's wrong with Maggie, she says it's the baby!"
WD
Anamika sat inside Rick's house, her hand clutching Maggie's. All around her people were rushing about, grabbing the things they needed and loading it into the RV as Maggie moaned, tears running down her cheeks. Anamika wiped the sweat from Maggie's brow, trying to ignore the burning in her throat and the small beads of sweat on her own brow.
She had stubbornly followed Rick out of the infirmary when Enid brought news of Maggie, though Carl had to help her as her legs seemed to want to buckle out from under her every few seconds. Rick had thrown her an exasperated look, but she ignored him and slowly made her way to where everyone was clustered around a crying Maggie.
Rick had quickly took control, delegating tasks and telling her in no uncertain terms that she was to sit down by Maggie and wait. They needed to get Maggie to Hilltop as fast as possible, and since Rick had wanted her to see a doctor anyway, she was going with. She would never admit it to Rick, but with how her throat burned, she thought he was probably right in that she needed medical attention.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up to see Sasha smiling at Abraham, her hand running down his arm before she left the house, leaving the redheaded man to stare after her. As if feeling Anamika's gaze on him, he turned to meet her eyes and she smirked.
"So, you and Sasha huh?" He glanced at Maggie, whose eyes were closed as she breathed deeply, not paying attention to anything but what was happening in her own body. He came closer, walking surprisingly soft for such a large man and gingerly sat on a chair nearby, rubbing his beard as he regarded her.
"I'm glad for you." Anamika stated, smiling softly and was amazed to see an equally soft smile on the man's face, one she wasn't aware he was capable of.
"Hmm. And how you doing wildcat? That cut fucking up your morning?" Chuckling softly, Anamika nodded at Abraham, answering in a wry tone.
"You know it. Can't even sing a fucking song or walk on my own. How does that even work, my throat cut, but my legs are the ones impaired?"
"Well, Sleeping Beauty, that tends to happen when you lie on your back all day like a whore in a whorehouse." Snorting, she punched the man on the arm, his grin unrepentant as he teased her.
"Still good enough to land you flat on your back big guy."
"Whatever princess, we both know you ain't even got the strength to land a wet behind the ears greenie on his back at the moment, nevermind me."
Mock scowling at the military man, Abraham reached over and patted her shoulder, before he left the house, leaving Anamika smiling at his back. Despite his crude words, she knew the man meant well and couldn't help but find him amusing.
It wasn't long after that Carl came back in the house, helping Anamika stand and leading her to the RV, while Abraham carried Maggie into the vehicle behind her. She watched as they settled Maggie, the woman grimacing with every jostle, and Anamika retook her place next to Maggie. The pregnant woman gratefully gripped her hand, a strained smile on her face as her eyes fluttered shut.
"Let's go." She heard Rick say as he climbed into the RV and then they were off. Aaron came to sit with them for a while, his eyes worried as he glanced at Anamika, but she just smiled and watched his gentle face as he offered Maggie some silent support. When Rick came to the back, Anamika followed Aaron out, as the room was small and she wanted to give Rick some privacy to talk to Maggie.
Carl beckoned her over and she gratefully sank onto the seat beside him, her hand coming up to gently cup her neck, which was still burning slightly. It was more uncomfortable than painful, but she was more anxious about what it meant.
"You alright? Is your throat hurting more than before?" Anamika smiled at the concern in Carl's voice, the young man watching her with serious eyes.
"No, I'm alright. It'll take more than this to keep me down." Carl smiled at her false bravado and she returned it, before laying her head on his, closing her eyes in an attempt to get some rest. Abraham's crude words ten minutes later put an end to that attempt.
"What the bitch?"
She opened her eyes, sitting up and peering out the front windshield, only to have her body tensing up as she saw the group of saviors standing in the middle of the road. Scanning them, she realised with a start that she recognized the apparent leader of the group. He was the one who had helped Negan escape and if she remembered correctly…
Yes, she could see one of his hands was missing three fingers, while his pointer finger was cut off at the second knuckle, from where she had shot him during the attack. She quickly sat back, praying he hadn't seen her inside the RV.
"What?" Rick barked, coming out of the room he had kept Maggie company in.
"Enemy close," Abraham said, stopping the RV and waiting for Rick to take in the situation, "We doing this?"
"No." Rick stated, before turning to get out of the vehicle as Abraham turned off the engine.
"Rick." Anamika reached out and grabbed his hand, halting him from getting out. His intense gaze turned to her questioningly and she pointed towards where the saviors were.
"The leader, the one missing some fingers on one of his hands, he was there that night, when I…" she paused, aware that there were other people around, but Rick seemed to know what she was referring to, "Anyway, it's better if they don't know I'm here, it'll only make things more difficult for you."
Holding her gaze, the man she was coming to regard as a brother nodded, before leaving the RV to confront the saviors, everyone except her and Maggie following him out. She carefully moved to the back, sitting down next to Maggie and holding her hand, the woman's eyes fluttering open at her touch. She was aware of the threats and back and forth Rick and the fingerless savior engaged in, but kept her attention focused on Maggie's exhausted face.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing, just a little roadblock. You just focus on yourself and the baby. Get some rest maggie, you need your strength." Despite her worried expression, Maggie closed her eyes and pressed herself deeper into her pillow. She exhaled slowly as Anamika carded her fingers through her hair, humming softly so as not to agitate her throat more than necessary. It wasn't long before the others got back into the RV, their expressions stern and tension lining their bodies as the RV backed up, the last words of the savior that she had managed to catch still echoing in her ears.
"What if it's the last day on earth for you? For someone you love. What if that's true? Maybe you should be extra nice to those people in that RV, coz you never know, just like that. Be kind to each other, like you said…
Like it was your last day on earth."
WD
Pain pulsed through his shoulder, his head swimming and his vision blurred. Sweat drenched his body and sounds blurred together. He was sitting in darkness, small piercings of sunlight coming through the holes in the vehicle doors, but he couldn't focus on that. His breath was heavy in the enclosed space and his stomach roiled. Despite all the mind-numbing agony, despite the nausea and fever, only one thought hung in his mind.
Anamika…
WD
Well, things are starting to heat up. I guess you can all guess who is going to make an appearance in the next chapter ~smirk~ Please let me know what you guys think, I love hearing from my readers!
