"Cammie?"
She felt the bat fall from her limp fingers as she struggled to breath.
Her best friend since junior high was snarling at her as she moved towards her.
She'd never had a panic attack but thought vaguely this is probably what it would feel like. Her chest hurt as she tried in vain to catch her breath.
She thought she heard shouting, but she couldn't turn away from the horrifying sight in front of her. She felt like this was her fault.
Cammie had offered to come to King County with her after Rick was shot. Over the two weeks that Charlotte had been with her brother's family Cammie had offered to come anytime, but Charlotte told her it wasn't necessary.
She'd left her in the city to die.
Stepping closer Charlotte held her hands out to her friend, "Cammie? It's me. This isn't you. You need to snap out of it," she cried as Cammie reached for her attempting to take a bite out of her neck.
Struggling, Charlotte pushed her friend back before screaming when a bolt landed in the side of Cammie's head making her drop instantly.
"No!" she screamed, dropping to the ground beside her friend and shaking her.
"What are ya doing? Ya trying to get killed?" Daryl asked angrily, pulling her up by her arm.
"Get off me! You fucking killed her!" she screamed, shoving at him, but he had a firm hold on her arm and didn't budge, "How could you?" she continued as she tried to hit him.
Dropping his bow on the ground he grabbed her other arm and pulled it down trapping her arms to the side of her body, "She was already dead. Ya know that," he reminded her.
Staring at the man in front of her she slowly nodded as tears fell down her cheeks. Looking once more down at her fallen friend Charlotte turned her eyes to the door of her apartment complex, "Belle," she whispered, pulling out of Daryl's hold and rushing towards the building.
Pulling out her keys she struggled to get the right one into the door lock.
"Christ, Charlotte, you can't just go rushing in," Daryl snapped, snatching the keys from her hand.
"She has a little girl, just three years old, I need to find her," she replied, frantically making a grab for the keys he held.
"Then we go in carefully," Glenn stated, coming up behind the two and taking the keys from Daryl. Handing Charlotte the keys, Glenn told her to open the door once they were ready, "When Daryl gives you the signal, open the door. You shoot anything that comes out first," he said, looking at Daryl, "And we'll take anything behind if we need to," he continued motioning between himself and Charlotte.
Getting into position, Daryl nodded before Charlotte opened the door.
Almost immediately her downstairs neighbor Mindy came lumbering out the door. Once she was clear of the door Daryl fired a bolt through her forehead.
Feeling her chest tighten at the sight of her elderly dead neighbor Charlotte shook her head, "Coming to my apartment was a bad fucking idea," she muttered.
"I'm sorry," Glenn apologized quietly.
"Anymore?" Daryl questioned stepping over the body to look into the downstairs hall, "Doesn't look like it," he answered himself, "Let's go," he ordered stepping inside.
Sighing, Charlotte followed him inside with Glenn pulling the door shut behind them.
"Where's yours?" Daryl questioned, looking back at them.
"Second floor," she responded, "Cammie's is across the hall from mine. I need to go there first and look for Annabelle," she told him as they began climbing the steps to the second floor.
Making sure the hallway was clear Daryl allowed her to pass him. Hurrying down to Cammie's door she found her best friend's apartment key on her key chain and stuck it in the door. Taking a deep breath, she slowly backed away, "I can't," she whispered.
Motioning towards the door Daryl told Glenn to open the door before he went in with his crossbow raised.
"Her name's Annabelle?" Glenn questioned following behind Daryl after Charlotte nodded.
"Living room is clear," Daryl called after opening Cammie's hall closet.
"So is the kitchen," Glenn announced, coming back into the living room.
Taking a few steps inside of the familiar apartment Charlotte could hear them calling out for the little girl as they headed down the small hall towards the bedrooms.
"Charlotte!"
Rushing down the hall towards Annabelle's room where Glenn had called her name, Charlotte stopped in the doorway at the sight of Glenn lifting the little girl out of her closet and placing her on her bed.
"She alive?" Daryl questioned, pushing past Charlotte into the room.
"She's breathing," Glenn confirmed, "I think she may be dehydrated. I saw water in the kitchen," he remembered rushing out of the room.
"Is she really breathing?" Charlotte asked, taking a few cautious steps towards the little girl laying in her toddler bed.
Dropping to the floor after Daryl confirmed with a head nod that she was alive, Charlotte began calling her name, "Belly Girl, can you open your eyes? It's Aunt Coco."
"Here. I brought a rag too," Glenn announced hurrying back into the room with a bottle of water and a rag. Taking them Charlotte poured some water onto the rag before wiping the little girl's face with it.
"Can you go to the bathroom? There should be Pedialyte in the closet and grab one of her sippy cups from the kitchen," Charlotte instructed, "I think the pedialyte will work faster than the water to rehydrate her."
Glenn was out the door before she even finished her request.
"Hells Pedialyte?" Daryl asked.
"Something for kids when they're sick," she replied, continuing to call Annabelle's name as the little girl's eyes fluttered open.
Looking into the green eyes so similar to her mother's Charlotte felt her chest tighten, "Annabelle? Belly Girl, can you hear me?" Smiling as the little girl nodded, Charlotte continued wiping her face and arms with the rag.
"Mama?"
Biting her lip, Charlotte attempted to keep her smile in place, "Mama had to go to heaven, Sweetheart," she told her quietly, "But she sent me to get you and Mr. Daryl here," she continued pointing at Daryl, "And Mr. Glenn," she said pointing to Glenn as he rushed back in the room with one of her sippy cups and a bag of animal crackers, "We're gonna take you somewhere safe. Okay?"
Blinking her wide little eyes, Annabella looked around at all three adults before nodding, "Otay," she whispered, taking the sippy cup from Glenn's hands.
"I need you to drink this," Charlotte told the girl.
"Slowly," Daryl interjected, "Don't need her sick," he muttered.
Nodding, Charlotte told Annabelle to drink it slowly before handing her some of the animal crackers too, "Eat slow, Honey."
"So, what now? We can't leave her while we go check out that store," Glenn questioned.
"Gather what we can between here and yours, "Daryl responded looking at Charlotte.
Shaking her head Charlotte told them to continue down to the store, "Try and look for shopping carts or something or just fill duffel bags and carry what you can back here," she told them, "You guys saw what it looks like out there. If the store isn't damaged and they have supplies, I think we should gather what we can and get it back here. If there are other survivors, they'll be going for the stores too. We could probably bring others back to get what we leave here and then to go through the apartments here also. There are sixteen in total."
Glancing at Glenn, Daryl nodded, "You gonna be okay here with her?" he asked.
Looking down at Annabella who was happily biting the head off of an elephant cookie Charlotte nodded, "Yeah, I can pack up food, water, and blankets while you're gone," she told them.
After handing the key to the apartment complex to Glenn the two men left to continue down to the sporting goods store while Charlotte went to Cammie's closet and pulled down an empty duffel bag and her old sleeping bag. Once she had clothes for Annabelle packed, she and the little girl went to her apartment and packed more of her own clothes inside the same bag before adding a few bath towels to the bag.
Grabbing her own sleeping bag too she then threw her guns and ammo into the bag before stuffing two pillows inside. Closing it up she set to work gathering any non-perishables to take back to the camp. Loading Cammie's reusable shopping bags, she filled her shopping cart with as much as it would carry.
Putting the duffel and the cart by the door she found one of her old school bags and filled with bathroom necessities for the two of them. Charlotte had her toothbrush back at camp, but she made sure to grab Annabelle's and any extras she could find for anyone who may need one.
Finding Annabelle's diaper bag she filled it with pullups, diapers, wipes, and two more sippy cups. She knew Cammie had been in the tail end of potty training, "Guess we get to finish potty training during the end of the world," she muttered. Setting that by the door too she then went back for her bow and arrows.
Pulling them out from under her bed she was in the middle of flipping the case open when she heard a commotion in the hall. Throwing her quiver of arrows onto her back she grabbed up her bow, "Get under the bed Annabelle and be very quiet," she instructed before nocking an arrow and cautiously heading down the hallway towards her living room.
Turning the corner, she came face to face with Daryl's crossbow.
"Christ, Babe, you keep pointing that damn thing at me and I'm gonna expect more than just dinner," she commented, winking at him.
"Shut up."
Laughing, she looked around, "Where's Glenn?" she asked immediately, concerned.
"Got two carts of shit downstairs in the hall. He's guardin it. I'm goin for the truck," he told her.
"Coco?" Annabelle called.
Putting the arrow she held back in her quiver Charlotte told the little girl she could come out before turning back to Daryl, "You think you can get it back here?" she asked as Annabelle wrapped her arms around Charlotte's leg.
"Yeah, but ya'll have to be ready to load up and get the fu…..,sorry," he stopped looking down at the little girl, "Just get your stuff downstairs," he finished lamely.
Smiling, Charlotte ran her hand down Annabelle's head of blonde curls, "With the sight of dead people walking around your language is the least of my concerns."
Shrugging, Daryl turned and rolled Cammie's shopper cart out of the apartment.
Grabbing her duffel bag and Annabelle's diaper bag she threw her school bag onto her back along with her bow and quiver before she locked her and Cammie's apartments. Picking Annabelle up she followed Daryl down the steps to the front hall.
Seeing the two carts filled with various camping gear and duffel bags she smiled at Glenn, "Looks like you two got lucky."
"It was already looted, and half the building was collapsed, but we managed to get a good start. We'll come back tomorrow; see what's left," Glenn told her, "I think we'll need about another five tents based on the list T-Dogg gave me. Got a bunch of sleeping bags, another camping stove and a bunch of those propane things for them."
"While you two discuss your shopping list I'm going for the truck," Daryl grumbled before shoving out the door.
"He's not a very pleasant man," Glenn commented with a roll of his eyes.
Snorting, Charlotte laughed, "What about weapons? Did you guys manage to get anything?" she asked, rummaging through the cart.
"Don't know for sure. I was put on camping gear while Mr. Grumpy went for the weapons," Glenn replied.
Charlotte didn't know how long they waited but it felt like forever before Daryl finally rolled right up to the door of the complex. Telling Annabelle to stay inside she and Glenn hustled the two carts out the door and to the truck.
Throwing the diaper bag along with her book bag into the cab of the truck she began helping Glenn throw the stuff from the carts into the bed of the truck.
"I'll get the rest," Daryl told them, disappearing back into the complex.
They were still throwing stuff into the back of the truck when Daryl came out pushing Cammie's shopping cart, carrying her duffel bag, and Annabelle in his arms.
Charlotte knew he was a handsome man before but seeing him carrying the little girl in his arms she swore one of her ovaries exploded. Especially when he opened the door to the cab and told Annabelle to lay down on the seat and keep her eyes closed.
She just about melted into a puddle.
"We got incoming," Daryl called, moving around the front of the truck towards four geeks coming their way.
"Get the rest of this in. I'll help him," Charlotte told Glenn before grabbing an arrow out of her quiver.
In just a few seconds the two had arrows sticking out of the four geeks dead on the ground, "I'll get the arrows," she said, "Help Glenn finish up so we can get the fuck outta here," she told Daryl, yanking on of her arrows out of the closest geek.
Charlotte was on the way back to the truck when she saw Cammie's body laying where she'd dropped. Not wanting anything to happen to her Charlotte hurried towards her and began dragging her towards the apartment complex.
"What are ya doin?"
Glancing over her shoulder, she continued dragging her best friend, "I'm not leaving her here to get eaten or some shit," she huffed out, "Glenn reopen the door."
"Damn it, Charlotte, we don't got time for this shit," Daryl told her angrily as Glenn hurried back to the door and opened it, "She was my best fucking friend and I'm not leavin her out in the street like a dead fuckin animal!" she cried, "Just make sure Belle still has her eyes closed," she told him as Glenn helped her move the body into the front hall.
Laying her inside the door, Charlotte grabbed Glenn's arm, "Thank you."
Nodding, he gave her a small smile," We really should get outta here."
Making sure the door was shut the two hurried back to the truck and climbed inside where Daryl was already waiting with Annabelle who was covering her little eyes with her hands. Sliding into the truck Charlotte settled the child onto her lap turning her so her head was buried in her neck.
"You can open your eyes, Belly Girl, but you can't look outside just yet," she murmured to the little girl.
"Wan mama," the little girl cried.
Squeezing her eyes shut, Charlotte hugged the girl closer, "I know Baby, but mama had to go to Heaven," she whispered.
She didn't really remember the ride back to the quarry; she was so focused on Annabelle as the little girl cried in her arms. As Daryl came to a stop back at the quarry several of the campers came running to see what they could claim. After asking Glenn to keep her stuff separate Charlotte slid out of the truck with Annabelle in her arms.
She met Lori and Shane halfway between the truck and where their tent was set up, "Is that Annabelle?" Lori questioned wide eyed.
Nodding, Charlotte told them to give her a minute and continued past them to where Carl was sitting on the ground playing in the dirt, "Hey Carl, do you remember Annabella?" she asked, squatting next to her nephew, "Can you watch her for a bit for me?" she asked after he nodded.
Once Annabelle was settled next to Carl Charlotte walked back towards Lori and Shane, "We found her in her bedroom closet. Cammie must've put her in there before she went outside," she told them.
"So, where's Cammie?" Shane asked.
Biting her lip, Charlotte shook her head, "She didn't make it."
"Oh, Charlie, I'm so sorry," Lori sympathized, pulling her into a hug. Feeling the tears building Charlotte gave her sister-in-law a squeeze before pulling away from her, "I need a minute. Watch her," she muttered, turning on her heel and taking off into the woods surrounding the quarry.
Ignoring Shane and Lori calling her name she continued walking till she was far enough away that she no longer heard them. Crouching by a large tree she let the tears fall as she grieved her best friend.
She didn't know how long she knelt there when she heard a twig snap. Pulling Rick's gun out of her waistband she got to her feet and pointed the gun towards where the sound came from.
"Shit Dixon. Can you stop sneaking the fuck up on me?"
"Didn't. Ya heard the branch snap," he replied with a shrug.
Rolling her eyes, she put the gun back in her waistband before wiping her face with her t-shirt, "Something I can help you with then?" she asked, looking him over.
Pursing his lips, he shook his head, "Nah, saw ya come out here. Didn't think you had a weapon on ya so I came to check," he told her simply.
Leaning against the tree behind her she shrugged, "I needed to cry."
"For your friend?"
Swallowing thickly, she nodded, "Yeah, best friends since like seventh grade. Roommates in college and then moved to the city together. I'm Belle's godparent," she told him scoffing, "You know when you say, 'sure I'll be your kid's godparent raise them and shit if something happens to you' you don't actually think you're gonna have to raise them."
Biting the inside of his cheek, Daryl studied her before reaching into his pocket for two cigarettes. Handing her one he almost smiled when she laughed and took it from him.
Standing in the woods smoking silently with a virtual stranger was the most peaceful Charlotte had felt since getting the call about Rick.
Glancing down at her half-finished stick she smiled mischievously, "So, when the cigarettes run out what do you propose we do for stress relief?" she asked, "I myself am partial to mind blowing orgasms."
Choking on the smoke he'd just inhaled Daryl glared at her as she laughed, "What the fuck is wrong wit ya?" he gasped.
"Me? What's wrong with you? I'm practically beggin for you to throw me against a tree," she retorted with an eye roll, "You can't tell me you've never had a woman come onto you."
Shifting uncomfortably Daryl huffed, "Not sober."
Taking a final drag of her cigarette, Charlotte put it out against the tree before walking the short distance between them, "Well, that's a damn shame. Had I met you in a bar I'd a certainly stayed sober to engage in some hot bathroom sex," she stated patting him on his chest, "Let me know when your game, Dixon," she called over her shoulder.
Making her way back to the quarry she smiled when she heard him let out a low, "Fuckin crazy."
"Hey, I, uh, put your stuff by Shane's jeep," Glenn told her as she walked back into camp.
"Okay. I guess there's no tents left?" she questioned. Scrunching his face, Glenn shook his head, "No, sorry. We still need to get more."
"Damn, I was hoping not to have to sleep in the stupid jeep again."
"If ya keep your mouth shut ya two can stay in my tent," Daryl voiced from behind her.
Turning to look at the man, Charlotte smiled, "Is that your way of telling me your game?" she asked with a raise of her eyebrows.
"Never mind," he responded, turning to walk away from her.
"No, no, no. I promise I'll keep my mouth shut," she said quickly grabbing his arm before he could walk away, "I really don't want to try sleeping in that jeep again, but what about your brother?"
"What about him?"
"Aren't you two sharing?" she asked.
Giving her a distasteful look, he shook his head, "Hell no. Merle snores like a fuckin chainsaw," he replied.
"Are you sure it's okay?"
"Kid deserves to be comfortable after everything," he told her with a shrug, "Sides you'll get your own tomorrow."
Glancing over at Annabelle drawing in the dirt with Carl Charlotte sighed, "Thank you. If you don't mind, I'm gonna see if she'll lay down for a nap."
Shrugging he pointed towards two tents set up next to the motorcycle that had been in the back of his truck, "Mine's the blue one. I'm a see if I can catch up with Merle huntin if ya want to move your shit in," he told her before walking away towards the woods.
"You sure rooming with Grumpy is gonna be a good idea?" Glenn questioned as he helped her pick up her belongings to take up to Daryl's tent.
"It's better than sleeping cramped up in a car," she replied.
"Where are you going?" Shane asked, walking up behind the two.
Rolling her eyes, Charlotte turned to look at him, seeing Lori following not too far behind him, "Belle and I are going to share a tent with a very generous quarry camper tonight until we can get our own," she answered innocently.
"And who's the quarry camper?"
Pursing her lips, she sighed, "Daryl," she responded, "And before you accuse him of rape again just keep in mind it's not rape if I'm willing," she told him with a satisfied smile as he glared at her.
"Charlotte!" Lori hissed, "There are kids around," she chastised.
"I'm just putting it out there before he gets a chance to accuse him again," Charlotte told her, "Anyway if that's all, I want to get this stuff inside, change out of these disgusting clothes, and get Belle to maybe lay down for a nap."
Glancing at Lori, Shane huffed, "Just be careful," he grunted before stalking off.
"He's just trying to protect us, Charlie. He feels it's what Rick would've wanted," Lori attempted to explain.
"I know Lori," she said tiredly, "But you also know that since we were kids, we've always pushed each other's buttons. The end of the freaking world is apparently not helping that situation," she stated.
Sighing, Lori nodded, "I know. Some of us are gonna go down to the quarry to try and do some laundry so bring me those clothes after you change. You too Glenn," the brunette told them before heading back towards her tent.
"How come you and Shane don't get along?" Glenn questioned as they continued towards Daryl's tent.
Shrugging, Charlotte unzipped the tent, "We used to when we were really little. Then puberty hit. I got boobs and it was a complete 180. He became this little player and made it a game to sleep with my friends. Cammie was the only one who didn't give him the time of day, well except me, which I think always pissed him off," she told him, throwing her sleeping bags, Annabelle's diaper bag, and her book bag inside.
Handing her the duffel bag Glenn laughed, "Ya'll are like a soap opera."
Once she changed her clothes Charlotte took her dirty ones down to Lori on her way to collect Annabelle. Thanking her sister-in-law and Carol, who were heading down to the quarry with two other women, Jacqui and Miranda, she then asked Annabelle to come check out their tent.
Climbing back into the tent she had Annabelle help her roll out their sleeping bags and lay out their pillows on the empty side of Daryl's tent. Sifting through her duffel bag she noted she still had her guns in the bag. Moving them to the bottom of the bag where Belle wouldn't find them, she pulled out the girl's favorite stuffed duck and handed it to the little girl.
"So, I was thinking maybe you and I could lay down for a little bit. Close our eyes and just relax," Charlotte suggested, pulling Annabelle's wipes out of the diaper bag and wiping her hands clean from playing in the dirt, "Do you have to go potty before we do though?"
Heading back out of the tent with Annabelle, she grabbed her bow and arrows and took the little girl's hand before walking off into the woods.
Helping Annabelle pull her pants down, Charlotte instructed her to squat and pee, careful to keep her pants out of the way. Once she was done Charlotte used the baby wipes she'd brought to clean her up before pulling her pants back up.
Tossing the wipe to the ground she picked up her bow and arrows again putting them back on her back before taking Annabelle's hand to head back to the camp.
"You littering now?"
Suppressing the urge to scream, Charlotte turned to confront Daryl, "Can you stop sneaking up on me?" she exclaimed, "And the dead are walking around. I don't think a baby wipe is gonna change a thing."
"Why you out here by yourself?" he asked, looking around.
Picking Annabelle up she held her on her hip, "Belly Girl just went potty in the woods for the first time ever," she answered, bouncing the little girl happily in an attempt to let her know she did well.
"Sounds fun," he deadpanned.
"It was, wasn't it," she laughed, kissing Annabelle's cheek, "Now we're heading back to lay down and rest our eyes because we don't call it a N-A-P or else we freak out," she told him spelling out the forbidden word, "Weren't you supposed to be hunting your brother down?" she asked as they walked back to camp together.
"Got some rabbits," he replied, holding the rope up from his shoulder, "Figured I'd bring them back. God knows when Merle will be back."
Reaching the tent Charlotte unzipped it after putting Annabelle down, "Well we'll be inside. You have fun with all that," she said, gesturing towards the dead rabbits.
"Typical city girl," he scoffed, rolling his eyes, "Expectin everyone else to feed her."
Turning back after helping Annabelle inside Charlotte opened her mouth to argue with him when she caught the glint in his eyes. Mouth dropping open she laughed, "My God, if I didn't know any better, I would think you were flirting with me, Daryl Dixon."
"Pfft, keep dreaming city girl," he responded, turning away before she could see the smile on his face.
"You usually do naughty things to me in my dreams, Big Boy," she giggled before crawling into the tent with Annabelle.
It didn't take long after laying down to rest her eyes that Annabelle fell asleep. Charlotte followed her into dream land and woke with a start at the sound of boisterous laughter outside.
Realizing Merle was back she kept her eyes closed as she listened to the conversation happening outside the tent.
"Your tellin me you're letting Princess and her Pea sleep in your tent and ya ain't hittin that shit, Lil Brother? Have I taught ya nothin?" she heard Merle question.
"Ain't like that," she heard Daryl reply, "Girl, just lost her best friend and the kid just lost her mom."
"Well, ain't ya a bleeding heart," Merle snorted.
"Shut the fuck up," she heard Daryl respond causing Merle to laugh.
"I'm just sayin I ain't ever seen ya go out of your way for anyone let alone some chick. Makes ole Merle wonder why.