S2E6P1

Ava groaned, rubbing her head and turning over to see Glenn at the door. He grinned when she rolled her eyes.

"If you're here with more food, I may just puke. I've had enough people force-feeding me stuff these last few days."

"I reckon you'll like this one." Glenn said, chucking a peach at her. Ava caught it, gasped, then bit her lip.

"Man, I can't wait to eat this – but I also feel like I've been stuffed full of grossness, so I'll save it for later." She said before shifting under the covers. Glenn was immediately at her side but she waved him off as she dragged herself upright, leaning her back against the headrest. Ava'd had the room to herself for a few days now, not that she'd been awake for much of it. Rick was there when the fever broke and told her everything she'd missed. It still killed her that Sophia hadn't been found and that Carl had been shot and she hadn't been there. At least he was okay.

"I'm really getting fed up with this, Glenn." Ava said, reaching up to re-plait her hair. She'd learned when she woke that Maggie had cleaned her while she slept, which was both touching and disturbing to imagine. Still, it was nice not to wake up covered in grossness.

"Well, tough. Hershel said to stay off it for a week. You're only four days in."

"But I'm fine." Ava moaned.

"You almost died down that cliff. You would've if it weren't for Daryl."

This she knew too, not that she remembered much of the hike to the farm. Her bunk-mate had moved outside before Ava'd even woke from the fever, so she hadn't had the chance to speak with him. Most of their group had visited her in there. Only Daryl, Shane, Lori and Carl hadn't. Daryl Ava understood, so she didn't expect touchy-feely, but Lori's absence was strange to her. She'd always seemed kind and caring about others and Shane was, well, Shane.

"I'm aware of that, but I didn't die. I survived and I don't intend to spend the rest of my life trapped in this bed. I need fresh air."

Glenn sighed.

"I'll get out of this bed eventually. You can't tie me down."

"Wanna bet?"

Ava cocked a brow.

"You really think you could tie me down? Come on, Glenn. Even injured you're no match for me." She grinned. Glenn rolled his eyes.

"Fine. If you're going to walk you'll at least have someone to lean on."

He came to the side of the bed and Ava perked, surprised she'd actually managed to get her way. He helped her shift to the edge of the bed, then crouched and wrapped an arm around his shoulder, standing with her. He watched Ava carefully as she tested the injured leg.

"Everything alright?"

"Think so. It aches but it doesn't hurt, not the way it would if it was bad."

They took a judging step and everything seemed to be going okay. Glenn took her back to the bed and helped her put shoes on. Maggie had dressed Ava in a pair of stone trousers and a white vest top which she now covered with a black and yellow plaid. Glenn helped her up again and they headed outside.

As they hobbled onto the porch, Ava grinned.

"Wow. I haven't seen anything this communal since the camp."

"Yeah." Glenn said, helping her down the steps. "It's been nice having a place to get used to, to live."

"Ava!"

She turned to see Carl running towards them, the people in the camp drawn by the commotion and smiling when they saw Ava. Carl wrapped his arms around her waist so tight she would have fallen if not for Glenn. She hugged him back with her free hand.

"Hey, buddy." Ava said, ruffling his hair.

"Carl, don't run like that. You could hurt yourself." Lori said, walking towards them.

"She's right bud." Ava said.

"Hypocrite." Glenn smirked. She elbowed him.

"I'm really glad you're okay." Carl said, letting go of her with a smile that warmed her heart. Ava squeezed his shoulder.

"I'm glad you're okay, too."

"Carl." Lori called, and Carl went back over to her. They went back towards camp and Ava frowned. Lori hadn't even looked at her.

"Ava." Andrea came over, arms wide and wrapped her in a big hug that required Ava letting go of Glenn. From there she was passed around the people of the group who were relieved to see her up and about. Over Dale's shoulder Ava saw Rick and Shane by the hood of a truck. Rick smiled when she caught his eye and quickly looked away.

Glenn returned to her side and she immediately steered them over, aware of what Rick was doing.

"Yeah," She heard Rick say as they approached. "What's up that way?"

"A housing development." Jimmy said. "It went in maybe 10 years ago."

Rick nodded, then turned to Shane.

"Take a run up there after gun practice. I'll hold down the fort here, but take backup. After what went down with Daryl, I don't want anyone going out alone. We stay in pairs."

"I'll take suggestions on a partner." Shane said.

"See how they do on the range, then take your pick." Rick suggested, turning as Glenn and Ava approached.

"Look who it is." Shane said. "Miracle in the flesh."

"If we're calling Daryl Dixon the deliverer of miracles, I think we need to have a serious word with God."

Rick chuckled, grabbing a peach from the basket Glenn was holding in his other hand. Shane grabbed one too and they bit into it, moaning. Ava's stomach roiled.

"You tried these?" Rick said, quirking a brow at her.

"Not yet. I still feel icky after, you know, everything. I'll have one later."

Rick frowned and she could practically see the concern building.

"If you're not feeling well, why're you up? Shouldn't you be resting?"

"If I rest any more, I might never wake up. Or meld with the bed."

"I already tried getting her to rest." Glenn said. "She said she'd come out on her own anyway."

Ava rolled her eyes.

"Yes, yes. I'm a naughty girl. Now what's this about Sophia? What's the plan?"

Rick chuckled, finishing his peach and throwing the stone into the field.

"You won't be doing anything, Ava. I think Carol can forgive you for not going out again. Not only can you barely walk, but you nearly died last time."

She bit her lip.

"I know. And as much as it pains me to say it, I know I can't go after her." Ava rested a hand on the handle of her dagger, lovingly returned by Glenn. "Though you can be certain this thing is never leaving my sight again."

Rick chuckled.

"Good."

"We'd like to join you for gun training today."

They turned to see two of the women who lived on the farm – Patricia and Beth.

"Hershel's been very clear. I can't involve any of you in what we do without his okay." Rick said.

"He doesn't like it, but he consented." Beth said.

"Otis was the only one who knew guns." Patrica told them. Ava didn't know Otis, but she'd heard about what happened to him. "Now that he's gone, we gotta learn to protect ourselves. Her father saw the sense in that."

"No offense, but I'll ask Hershel myself." Rick said.