Chapter 6 – Kennesaw 911

Rick Grimes knew as soon as he and his partner Shane Walsh rolled up on the scene that there would be a lot of paperwork to do tonight. He thought briefly that he should text Michonne and tell her he would be late. Relegating that thought, he got the witnesses names and contact info. Then, he went into the specifics of what lay before them as they waited for the ambulance to arrive.

"So, Mr. Dixon. Can you please tell us what happened here in as much detail as possible? Do you know either of these people?"

"What's with the Mr. Dixon shit Rick? Ya known me since we were twelve."

"This is business Daryl. You're a witness. Tell me what happened here."

Daryl nodded, swallowing hard. He was not budging from his spot beside the female victim, still holding her hand. "Know the man by sight only. He's been hangin' around the bars awhile here. Far as I know, he don't live here, though. The woman? Never seen her before."

When Rick looked pointedly at his hand still wrapped around the victim's, Daryl reddened a bit. "Just don't want her waking up scared and alone is all. Don't know her."

Rick nodded, and Daryl continued.

"Glenn was helpin' me out rehabbing the house. Just bought it last month. We were sanding the floor in there and heard her scream. We ran out here and found that piece of shit hollerin' at her. He was punching and kicking her, but she was already on the ground. I got him offa her, punched him once and knocked him out. When we looked at her, we saw her pants were all around her thighs. We covered her up, but she was out. She woke up for a few seconds, but she was so scared. She passed back out again, and we called 911. Waited for y'all to show up. Just stayed with her and kept an eye on him.

Shane had overheard and led Glenn over to the other two men. "Story jives with what Rhee here told me. Sounds like an attempted sexual assault gone wrong. EMT's are on their way. ETA six minutes."

Rick nodded and walked a bit away with Shane discussing who would take what statements formally once they got to the station. Both victims were breathing, and the bleeding to the woman's head seemed to be slowing. They were both acquiescing to Daryl's request to stay by the woman's side while holding pressure on her head wound. They had seen the protective glint to his eyes when they had tried to take over. Their time was better served by beginning their report while they waited for the ambulance.

Eugene Porter had a pretty black and white view of the world that served him well in life. Unable to secure the gumption needed to feed into his borderline wannabe hero complex, he instead directed his life's efforts to providing safety and order to those needing help. His career as an ambulance driver fit him perfectly. He was able to engage in adrenaline rushing rescues but be safe behind the wheel while doing so. He wouldn't have the stomach to be a full-fledged paramedic but would be able to save a life if he had to. His colleagues had made sure of that.

Tara and Rosita made the best co-workers he could ask for. They were made for helping people and held endless compassion while doing so. By partnering mostly with them, they had taught him what it meant to truly ride to the rescue. They were his closest friends to boot. His frequent self-deprecation tendencies told him he was the lucky one in the whole friendship deal. With him being socially awkward, they not only tolerated him, but embraced who he was.

Right now, he was rushing to the scene of a possible sexual assault and battery with them holding up the back of the rig. It was certainly a situation outside of the normal hustle and bustle of the area. Outside of the occasional bar brawl, the Kennesaw area didn't see a lot of violence. Car crashes, farm accidents and health crises made up the majority of the crew's responses. Tara and Rosita were cool as cucumbers under pressure. Him? Well, he was learning.

It had begun with the 911 call from Glenn Rhee. He had reported an assault with possible sexual battery at the residence of his friend. The two men had restrained the perpetrator and were staying with the unconscious victim, awaiting authorities. Deputies Rick Grimes and Shane Walsh had been the first to respond. They were area natives but had just returned to the area when a need for deputies had lured them back from their patrol duties in King County. Now, they served Cobb County, based in Kennesaw.

The two deputies had radioed in after securing the scene. They had the unconscious perpetrator and victim both under their care until EMTs arrived. Now it was up to Eugene to just get them there as fast as possible. After deploying traffic light sensors, Eugene was able to shave the six-minute ETA into four. He rolled the rig up to the abandoned home and backed it into the property where the victims still remained on the ground.

As Rosita and Tara exited the back, Eugene hung back, waiting to see if he could be of any further assistance. Rosita and Tara dropped their bags next to the female victim first. When Rosita ascertained that the bleeding from her wounds was slowing, she moved over to the side of the alleged perpetrator, leaving Tara to the female victim. She was shocked to see this stereotypical grandfatherly type cuffed and unconscious on the ground. She looked up at Grimes and Walsh for an explanation.

"He came to a moment ago but wouldn't give his name. Was talking out of his ass about needing to get home. Then he passed out. That's all we know for sure. Two witnesses observed him assaulting the female victim with punches and kicks. Best we can tell, he got her pants down, but we are uncertain if she was raped." Shane Walsh was glowering at the man's still form as he related the preliminary report to the EMTs.

Tara had done a quick check on the unidentified woman. Pulse was strong, but she was unconscious. She counted one wound to the scalp, two to the face, and at least four to the torso. There were actual boot prints on her clothing and body. Tara was relieved to see that while the woman's pants were down, her underwear were still in place. Hopefully, the woman had been spared the ultimate violation. "She has blood and skin under her fingernails deputies," she reported.

"That may correspond with Mr. Wonderful's lovely scratches on his face," Rosita quipped. "I hope she caused him a lot of pain. Did she knock him out somehow?"

"No, according to the witnesses, that would be courtesy of the homeowner and witness, Daryl Dixon," replied Rick Grimes. He knew his manner was too formal; they all knew Daryl, but it was what the badge dictated.

"Can I stay here with her?" The question hit Grimes hard. He understood wanting to keep comforting a victim, but Dixon was a witness. Protocol advised against it. Somehow though, he knew it was where the man belonged. He chose not to answer verbally so he could escape any repercussions. Instead, he just briefly nodded at the man and turned back to Rosita.

It wasn't long before both victims were loaded up. While everyone involved hated the situation, they knew they had to get both of them to the ER as soon as possible. With only one bus available to the area, they loaded them in side by side for the trip to the hospital. Daryl never left the woman's side holding her hand the entire time and blocking her view of the man who assaulted her. Daryl had spent the time at her side on the ground hoping she would open her eyes. Now, he prayed she wouldn't until the vermin beside them was out of her sight.