Thanks for the reviews! I am glad everyone's enjoying the ride. I know we are getting into canon story lines, some plots will follow canon but others will change. Hopefully I keep a balance. I'm glad some of you enjoyed Merle being a softy. Don't worry he hasn't lost his edge.
In other news: Backroads my Daryl/Jameson fic is coming to a close. I am currently struggling to tie everything up and have written and rewritten the final chapter too many times to count. I promise it's not abandoned but I want to make sure the fic ends properly and without any letdowns. Please be patient with me, I swear it will come.
Trigger warning, descriptions of assault. nothing graphic. 18+ only please.
Thanks for reading and reviewing all my fics!
ENJOY
Sam was keeping watch while Rick, Carl and Michonne slept in the their makeshift camp in the woods. The wire noisemakers were rattling slightly in the wind but otherwise the night had been quiet. She glanced over at the others seeing Rick lying close enough to his son to protect him if need be. Michonne was curled up on Carl's other side framing him from danger. Sam strolled along the edge of their camp her eyes tracing the woods, the moon barely giving enough light to make out shadows. Standing still at the furthest corner of their perimeter, Sam listened to the forest around them. There was a breeze causing the shifting of grasses and clack of branches hitting each other. In the distance a groan and cracking of twigs reached Sam's perceptive ears. Holding her breath she tried to place the direction and an idea if the walker was alone. Another set of moans echoed out giving Sam an idea of the corpses location and numbers. She moved smoothly through the camp toward Rick to warn him of the incoming walkers.
"Rick," she hissed quietly, the man's eyes shooting open almost immediately.
"Walkers. Sounds like a handful." She whispered standing up, pulling out her machete. Rick climbed to his feet easily, touching Michonne on her shoulder, "Walkers. Watch Carl."
Rick and Sam stood back to back circling Michonne and Carl's prone bodies. Another set of groans sounded off making them aware of the approaching dead. Sam raised her nose and smelled the air to see how strong the scent of rot was. It didn't seem to be bad enough for a herd and the moans sounded to be around five. The first alarm broke the silence in the woods, the metal rattling loudly and ringing the dinner bell. Sam moved forward toward it in three large strides. Her blade slammed into the walker's temple, spraying blood across her arms. The next walker stumbled near by, its legs tangled in the thick wire. Sam stabbed it in the forehead, and placed her foot on the rotten head to yank out her stubborn blade. Glancing back she saw Rick stabbing a walkers while Michonne stood over the now awakened Carl. Sam let her ears focus on the sounds of the woods and heard another corpse moving in their direction. She circled the perimeter line, her head turned catching the faint sound being carried on the winds.
"Anything?" Rick whispered from nearby, his hands untangling the walker's legs from the noisemaking fence. The cans clattering loudly making Sam cringe.
"Shhh," she hissed her eyes desperately searching for the next biters. A snapping of a branch made her head turn fast, her eyes catching a glimpse of shifting shadows.
Moving quickly Sam stepped over the walker at Rick's feet and swung her blade high, cleaving the walker's temple in two. It's hands just falling short of Rick's hunched shoulder. His eyes widened at the sight and gave Sam a thankful head bob. She nodded in return but went back to listening to their surroundings again. The woods became quiet as they waited and soon both finished setting the fence lines up again. Sam hoped the dead walkers helped ward off anymore passing walkers.
"Thanks for that." Rick rasped to Sam both sitting near the cold campfire. Sam nodded and whispered, "No problem. It's what we do." Smiling at him.
They sat silently for the next few hours before the sun finally peeked over the horizon. Rick started a fire and got a can of food heating up. Sam rose, stretching her back and rolling her shoulders. She looked over the bodies they killed, searching their pockets for anything useful. She found a crushed pack of cigarettes and a zippo with a little fuel. In another set of cargo pockets she found a tiny switchblade and set of brass knuckle. Sam snorted and slid them on, the metal being slightly too wide for her fingers but useful just the same. Walking over to Rick she showed him with a grin, drawling, "Wanna brawl Rick?"
Rick smirked and rolled his eyes , "Nah I kinda like my chiseled jaw."
Sam laughed and sat down heavily, pulling out the pack of cigarettes to see if any where salvageable. Placing one in her mouth she cupped the lighter after flicking it a few times, the stick lightly quickly. Inhaling deeply Sam felt that old familiar sting and buzz of nicotine rushing into her system. Her head got dizzy for a moment before she exhaled with a sigh of relief. Rick snorted and scolded her, "Shouldn't smoke those. Bad for ya."
"Gotta die sometime Rick. I'd rather it be from somethin' I enjoy." Sam responded tapping ash on the packed dirt forest floor. Soon Carl and Michonne woke up, taking their serving of navy beans. Sam was finishing up her ration when Rick packed his bag, "Well, it's been a while. I'm gonna go check the snares."
Carl sat on the ground looking up at his dad and asked, "Can I go with you?" Sam smiled at his hopeful eyes and shoved her water bottle in the food supply bag.
Rick bobbed his head and smiled at his son, "Well, how else are you gonna learn?" Carl grinned and bounced to his feet and slid the rifle they found over his back.
"Hey, both of you, too." Rick said walking away from the group. Sam watched him with a cocked eyebrow but stood to follow just the same.
Sam walked with Carl in the back as Michonne and Rick spoke. She could hear them talking about Terminus and how far away it was. Every time they spoke of the place Sam's chest tightened. She was having some major anxiety thinking about the self-proclaimed sanctuary. She feared it was another Woodbury. Another Governor.
Sam was brought back to the conversation when Carl asked, "When we get there, are we gonna tell them?"
They all looked at Carl with confused expressions. Rick asked what they were all thinking, "Tell them what?"
Carl shifted uncomfortably and explained, "Everything that's happened to us. All the stuff we've done. Are we gonna tell them the truth?"
Sam chewed her cheek thinking about all the things she had done in her life. She thought about how even the people she was walking with didn't now much about her beyond her time at the prison. They didn't know she had killed before the world even went to shit. 'Pffft. Fuckers don't need to know anything.' She thought wryly.
Rick drawled, "We're gonna tell them who we are." It seemed to be the most diplomatic of responses. Michonne nodded and looked down at Carl who chewed his lip before saying, "But how do you say that? I mean... who are we?"
Rick opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by someone's' piercing screams coming from the woods. Carl didn't hesitate, taking off in a full sprint towards the hollers.
"Fuck Carl!" Sam shouted following Rick and Michonne.
Rick shouted, "Carl! Stop!" The kid burst through the tree line followed by the others, all watching the sight of a man surrounded by walkers. Rick yanked carl behind a tree and held him still, "We can't there's too many"
"We've gotta help!" Carl exclaimed. Sam rushed forward and peeked around the tree to see the man's throat and face be torn into.
"Nothing we can do." She whispered stepping backwards away from the clearing. Rick whispered, "We can't help him. We've got to go."
The rest of the day was spent collecting their few trapped rabbits and hiking further down the road toward Terminus. Carl was keeping to himself obviously having a hard time with the idea of leaving someone to die. She could see him struggling with the guilt of watching the man lose his battle against the walkers but there was nothing they could do. The world was brutal and savage. They had to make decisions that would get people killed, choices that went against everything in their beings. Decisions that would haunt them. Sam felt bad for the kid having to learn these lessons but the sooner he did, the better chance he had at surviving.
Merle watched as the walkers passed by the group's hide out in a tiny convenience store. Tyreese was sleeping while Carol fed Judith the tiny amount of powder milk they found. Merle shifted from his spot by the window and knelt down next to Carol.
"We need t'find 'er more food. What can she eat?"
Carol wiped the little girls chin and said, "Well she's getting to the age where she'd normally try pureed vegetables and fruits."
Merle nodded and scrubbed his chin thinking of how to find a place with supplies. Standing up he wandered behind the front counter, digging through the shelves until he found the large book. Pulling it out and slapping in onto the counter he thumbed through the yellow pages. He looked for any listings for baby supplies and nurseries. Carol approached bouncing Judith on her hip and read the page upside down.
"Hey. That's smart," she said with a grin. Merle snorted and drawled, "I ain't just a purdy face Sweetcheeks."
He gave her a toothy grin and pulled out a map from the tiny rack next to the register. Looking over the listings and finding the closest locations Merle said, "There's a nursery school a mile west and a mile from there is a pediatricians office. Probably hit for the drugs already but might be formula samples. We hit a couple for Woodbury's preggers once."
Carol nodded and shifted Judith to a makeshift bed in a box. The girl finally falling asleep, little snores sounding out.
"I'm going to go and then come back." Merle announced shoving a water bottle into a bag. "You guys stay here and I'll be back a couple hours."
"What? No we all stay together. We're not separating again." Carol demanded her eyes hard. Merle gave her a dismissive wave, "Nah. I can go faster without y'all."
Carol shook her head, "No Merle. I can't… I can't lose another person. Stay with us. When Tyreese wakes we'll go together. Stay there if it's safe and then head towards Terminus."
Merle scrunched up his face with dislike but sighed, rubbing his neck. Giving her a stiff nod he watched Carol approach, gripping his bicep she said, "Thanks Merle."
Pursing his lips he gruffly said, "S,nothin. Jus' don't get use to bossin' me around woman." Carol laughed lightly and nodded, "I won't. That's Sam's job."
He snorted and sauntered over to the window, watching another couple of walkers move through the area. 'Gettin' soft Dixon,' he thought to himself.
Merle pulled out the last box of formula samples and handed it over to Carol who opened it up. The samples were in little packets making it easier to transport than cans. They found enough to feed Judith for a week and couple days. The nursery school afforded them some jars of puree turkey, green beans and carrots which would help them transition her to solid foods.
"Ok it's gettin' dark in a hour. I'm gonna scout the area, check for tracks 'n then we can hole up here." Merle drawled before teasing, "That a'right Bosslady?"
Carol smirked and gave him a nod, "Just don't go to far."
Merle snorted and rasped, "Fuckin' go where I want woman. I'm just humorin' ya."
His feet took him through the woods looking for possible prints. The ground was covered in fallen leaves and broken branches. It looked as if a storm had rolled through at some point tearing down trees and foliage. His eyes traced the natural pathways and the trampled branches finding nothing recent. The area hadn't been traversed in more than a week and even then it was walkers.
Once back inside he sat down near the tiny gap they left for watch and relaxed his body. He hadn't slept much the last few days and it was catching up with him. If they were going to make it to Terminus they would need to haul ass and Merle wasn't going to stop until they hit their gates. He'd been without Sam for too long and it was getting to the point that his chest ached all the time. His focus was getting hazy and all he could think about was her pretty face and hearty laugh. Merle was going to get himself killed by daydreaming all the time.
'M'comin' for ya Sam. Hold on sugar.' He promised inwardly.
Sam was sitting on the ground by the broken down suburban. Michonne and Rick were chatting while Carl slept in the car. Sam was tired but didn't think sleep would come. They were almost to Terminus and her gut felt off. The idea of it felt fake. Those who arrive survive. It felt too good to be true.
Suddenly Sam was grabbed for behind and when she looked up she saw Rick and Michonne were being held at gun point. The man holding Sam had an arm around her neck and a hand groping her chest.
"Claimed. Lookit her. She's mine. " The slimy bastard holding Sam drawled his mouth hot against her cheek. Yanking her face away she growled, "Fuck you."
"Oh y'll be fuckin' me alright." He sneered his hand shoving under her shirt. Throwing elbows and stomping on his feet Sam ended up thrown on the ground while he kicked her in the back and ribs. Sam could hear their leader speaking about killing them all and heard him counting down.
"Joe. Hold up" a voice said from the shadows. Sam's eyes widened as she saw Daryl carefully step around her into the center of the group, his eyes cutting to hers momentarily.
His throat bobbed in worry as he kept the crossbow lowered. Joe sneered at him, "You're stopping me on eight, Daryl."
"Just hold up." He said a calming his hand up to the leader.
"These are the folks that killed Lou, so we got nothin' to talk about." One of the others said. The guy kicking Sam yanked her to her feet, his arm wrapped around her bruised stomach. Brushing his lips along her throat. "Gonna fuck ya realllll good girl." He grunted while rubbing against her. She's struggling against him while the others talked.
"The thing about nowadays is we got nothing but time." Joe drawled, "Say your piece, Daryl."
Daryl approached them, his tone even and firm, "These people, you're gonna let 'em go... These are good people."
"Now, I think Lou would disagree with you on that." Joe laughed humorlessly. "I'll, of course, have to speak for him and all 'cause your friends here gutted him in a bathroom."
"Ya' want blood, I get it." Daryl reasoned. "Take it from me, man."
Sam yelled, "No!"
"Come on." Daryl ignored her his feet shuffling on the pavement toward the leader and Rick.
"These folks killed our friend. You say they're good people." Joe's explained, "See, now that right there is a lie." He said with a sharp-toothed grin, waving his gun at Daryl.
"It's a lie!" One of others shouted loudly. Sam's attacker was squeezing her against his chest, his hands digging into her curves. Her gut was twisting at the knowledge that Daryl's attempts to save them were failing. The tension rocketed as the men seemed to be turning on him.
"Teach 'em boys!" the leader ordered. "Teach 'im good!"
"Come on." Daryl still tried to talk to them but was hit in the head with a rifle butt from behind, knocking him to the ground. His attacker kicked him the face while Daryl tried to grab his leg.
Sam was screaming, "No!"
The man holding her threw her to the ground again, her head bouncing off the pavement. Everything blurred and her head buzzed loudly. She watched while blacking in and out as her attacker joined in kicking Daryl in the head and ribs. When he noticed her sitting up he stomped over pushing her to the ground again.
Sam felt him yanking at her clothing. Shaking her head clear, she reached out for him pulling him onto her looking the knife on his belt.
"That's it girl. Ya like it rough huh? Dontcha girl. That's its. Rough lil' girl." He grunted as his hands grabbed and squeezed her painfully.
She wanted to gag. No one called her girl. No one but Merle and this man was making the word feel oily and repugnant. His voice slithered into her ear. Sam was pinned underneath the disgusting man. His painful grip on wrists let up as he continued yanking at her clothing. His grubby mitt tearing at her shirt while he licked her neck and face.
She was growling at him as she writhed and struggled to get free. She could hear the others fighting. Carl was screaming which made Sam struggle even harder. Her right hand finally grabbed his hunting knife. She tried to slice him but he clutched her wrist. They both had hands on the knife, the blade began to slip from her grasp. Sam threw her weight upwards rolling them over, her legs straddling him as they both push and pulled on the knife.
Sam hand slipped onto the bare blade the metal slicing into the heel of her hand. Blood poured onto the handle making the man's grip slip. Sam shoved her weight against her hands pushing into the end of the hilt, twisting it to face downwards. The blade began to sink into the man's chest. At an inch deep he shoved up almost freeing himself but Sam threw all her weight into stabbing him. Her growling snarl ripped out her chest as she thrust one more time, the sharp blade shoving its way home, straight through his heart. He coughed up blood, the coppery liquid sprayed across her face. His eyes were wide and watering. She sneered at him, baring her teeth like an animal before spitting on his face and rolling off his body.
Rick was struggling with the man holding him. Sam threw the hunting blade burying it deep into the man's back, making him scream out. Ricks head snapped towards her when he saw it. He threw his head forward, his mouth sinking into his attacker neck. Blood sprayed across Rick's face and chest, the man's heart pumping the spray across the pavement.
Turning around Sam saw Daryl still being stomped on. Sam hopped on his back and wrapped her arms around his neck. He struggled trying to get her off but she was using the last of her energy to hold on. Daryl got to his feet and stabbed the guy in the chest making him fall to his knees, gurgling up blood. Sam climbed off him and to the ground with a loud groan. Daryl finished the job with a stab to his right eye. Her breath coming in gasps, Sam sat on her knees, her hands braced on her thighs as she fought the waves of vertigo. Daryl stalked over toward the others and saw Michonne had killed her captor and Rick was currently gutting the fat fuck that tried to rape Carl. Michonne held Carl in her arms as they witnessed Rick losing control.
Someone grabbed Sam's shoulder and she flailed out. "It's me." Daryl exclaimed as her fist landed on his chest. Sam launched herself at him, hugging him tightly and crying. She was covered in blood and had tears running down her bruised cheek. All she could think about was finally finding one more person. It gave her hope they would find Merle. That they might all be alive somewhere.
"Y'a'right Sam. It's over." He rasped his voice pained as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Yeah. It's good to see you Dixon." She whispered her hands shaking as she wiped blood out of her eyes.
"You too. Any of that yours?" he asked his calculating eyes flitting over her appearance.
"No idea." She said backing up from him, her legs trembling. Her head pounded and her vision blurred for a moment. Black spots and static edged her tunnel vision. She stumbled towards the ground again almost falling down.
"Woah there," Daryl exclaimed grabbing her elbow "Le's sit ya down."
Sam flopped to the ground and shook her head. "Just dizzy. Hit my head pretty hard."
Daryl prodded around and felt the giant lump on the back of her head. "Ya got a goose egg back 'ere. " Sam grunted in pain and squeezed her eyes shut only to make the ache splinter across her skull and down her neck.
Nodding she laid her head on her bent knees. Talking in slow breaths as nausea hit her hard. "Fuck," Sam muttered before rolling to the side and throwing up. Her stomach lurched while she was on her hands and knees. After a minute of dry heaving and coughing she sat back on her hunches, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Ya got a concussion." Daryl said offering her a bottle of water.
"Yeah." She muttered sipping water, then rubbing her eyes, blood clumped on her eyelashes.
Daryl and Rick searched their bodies and gathered the weapons while Michonne took Carl into the vehicle. Rick came over and collapsed next to Sam, his breathing heavy and his hands shaking. He was covered in blood, his beard caked in crimson. After a few minutes he turned to look at Sam. "Thanks for helpin'." He said roughly, his voice cracking.
Sam shook her head but winced, her hands going to her temples. "Fuck." she moaned as the throbbing in her skull became too much to handle.
Rick put a hand on her shoulder rasping, "Ya alright."
"Nah. I'm not. " she croaked and rubbed her face with bloody hands. Rick left a soothing hand on her back while she buried her head in her hands. She didn't sob but she let tears roll down her face. The whole experience was terrifying. It was too close to her time with the Governor. Groping dirty hands, slithering disgusting words said into her ear. Hot stinky breath on her face. They had almost been killed. Carl had almost been raped. Nothing was ok.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly Sam sat up. Trails of tears ran through the blood the man sprayed over her. She stared ahead while her body burned through the adrenaline, tremors rattled through her small frame. Daryl and Rick were speaking but she couldn't hear them. All she could hear was a dull throb of her heartbeat in her skull and the occasional chatter of her teeth.
The sun was coming up and the massacre from the night before lay around them. Blood coated the cracked pavement and soaked the fallen leaves. A scarlet sheen covered the ground.
"Gonna clean ya up girl." Daryl said softly his hands soaking a cloth.
"Don't call me that," she sobbed and dug the heels of her hands into her eyes, "Jus' don't."
He crouched in front of her, pulling her into his chest again. Sam struggled for a minute hitting him and kicking her legs but then gave in. Her tears started again and they wouldn't stop.
Daryl smelled so much like Merle that it hurt her chest. The deep ache she'd been ignoring was back with a vengeance. Leather, smoke, forest and sweat. The softness of the leather vest and broadness of his shoulders. It was too similar but not enough. They weren't the arms she wanted. The ones she needed.
It wasn't the right raspy voice telling her things were going to be ok. None of it was ok or right because it wasn't him. 'Goddamn you Merle. Goddamn you.' she sobbed inwardly.
Pulling back she sniffed loudly and wiped her nose on her sleeve. Blowing out a huge breath she mumbled a sorry. Daryl wet a cloth and began wiping down her face and neck. Her clothing was ruined but her skin was less grotesque. He then wrapped her injured hand and sat back down next to her. His shoulder slowly reassuring her that he was real.
After getting cleaned up a little they talked about their plan to go to Terminus. The walk would only take a couple hours. Sam felt itchy about it. It felt too nerve wracking but she wasn't going to separate from the people she knew now. Deep down she wanted them to show up there and see that dumb old bastard hanging out smoking a cigarette. Merle would look at her and say, " 'bout damn time Sugar. Figured ya was walker food by now. Ain't I teach ya nothin 'bout survivin' ?'
Thanks for Reading!
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