Walking Dead: Unexpected Return
Chapter 1 of a new Walking Dead story, non zombie AU with characters based on their TV series versions, albeit appearances would be more similar to how the actors presently look, compared when they were last seen on the show. Inspired really by a The Last of Us story over on AO3, called Phoenix Girl, a story I'd recommend. Anyway, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Walking Dead or its characters.
Chapter 1
Tucking an errant strand of blonde hair that had escaped her ponytail behind her ear, twenty year old Beth Greene let out a soft sigh. The pale slender farmer's daughter looked around the waiting room of the hospital, green eyes focused to see if anyone needed immediate assistance. She was currently interning at the hospital for experience as she worked on her nursing degree in college.
'It's been a pretty quiet day for once, not too many people here...but then you never take anything for granted.' She reflected to herself.
Indeed, even as she thought that there came the sound of sirens getting closer, indeed everyone within the waiting room became alert at that and it wasn't long before a team came in wheeling a gurney, Beth tried to make sense of what was happening, but there was just too much noise, most of all screams from the person in the gurney, a girl judging from the pitch. Hurrying through to the emergency department properly to try and assist, Beth heard the screams much more clearly.
"No, no...please!" It was definitely a girl screaming.
Beth began to hurry over when one of the doctors spotted her and shook his head.
"Please Miss Greene, stay back." He said. "This is an emergency and we-"
Beth didn't stop however. "I want to help, maybe I can help."
The doctor didn't say anything so Beth got closer.
The first thing that struck her was how young the girl was, she couldn't be older than sixteen, she looked like she'd come off worse in a fight, there were bruises on her face, blood coming from her nose, her left arm was at an awkward angle and it was clear there were even more injuries that her rather ratty clothes were concealing. She had long dirty blonde hair and her brown eyes swam with tears. Despite her injuries she was fighting the medical team that were trying to help her.
"We can't sedate her and get her down to surgery, she won't stay still." One of the team said.
Again they tried and again the girl lashed out. "Stay away! Don't touch me!"
Beth immediately hurried to the side of the gurney, putting herself in the girl's view.
"Hey, hey, it's okay. Listen to me, you can hear me, right?" She said at once.
The girl gasped but then, nodded slowly. Her breathing was erratic but that wasn't what gave Beth pause. Indeed her eyes widened as she looked properly on the girl's face.
'No way, could it be?' She thought in disbelief.
But she forced herself not to react, what was important right now, was helping this girl.
"Okay, that's good, listen, you're safe here." She continued to explain. "You're in hospital, we're here to help you, everybody here just wants to help. You're in no danger."
As she was talking another member of the team tried to hook the girl up to an IV, but she jerked and pulled away again.
"Please, we need to get you sedated so we can treat your injuries." Beth pleaded with her.
The girl shook her head, tears spilling. "Don't let him touch me!"
Beth paused upon hearing that.
She looked around the emergency team, namely males, while running the girl's words around in her head, it now made sense and terrified her.
"Alright." She said softly to the girl, before turning to the team again. "Is there a female member of the team here."
One of them stepped forwards nodded. "Denise Cloyd, what?"
"You need to give the IV, it's the only way."
Denise nodded and began to work while Beth spoke softly to the girl again.
"There, see it's alright." She paused and then recalling her earlier thoughts, asked. "I'm Beth, Beth Greene. What's your name?"
The girl swallowed, still breathing heavily. "S-Sophia."
Beth bit her lip to stifle her gasp, she wasn't going to get anything else out of the girl who was finally hooked up the IV and being sedated so she stepped back, letting the emergency team wheel her away.
"Denise." She said quickly. "While treating her...maybe check for signs of sexual assault, the way she was behaving…"
Denise nodded. "Got it."
With that they left although one doctor happened to give Beth a rather sharp look, she ignored it and turned away, taking a deep breath.
"While normally I was chastise you for overstepping your duties…"
Beth started and turned to see the doctor in charge of the hospital standing there, smiling.
"...I must congratulate you on your quick thinking and bedside manner, Miss Greene." He continued.
Beth smiled thinly. "Thank you. Um...I need to make a phone call, to a friend of my family."
"Miss Greene-" The doctor began with a sigh."
"He's a Sheriff's Deputy and he's going to want to come down here...That girl, I'm pretty sure I recognize her, as a missing person." Beth explained quickly.
The doctor paused. "Surely a simple call to the police would suffice."
"They'd have god knows how many people down here, it'd overwhelm her...Besides, he was the one who was on the case when she first went missing." Beth explained.
"I...I see...Very well then." The doctor relented at last. "Go call him. When she first went missing?"
Beth swallowed. "Four years ago, aged twelve...but I'm sure it's her, something in her face, her eyes...I recognize them."
The doctor just nodded and so Beth hurried outside, pulling out her phone as she went. She made the call and waited anxiously until the tired voice replied.
"Beth, what-?"
She explained quickly. "Rick, you need to get down the hospital at once, I think...I think I've just seen Sophia Peletier."
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.