A/N (if you care)
I have no words that can express how sorry I am for my lack of updating. I have had a really rough couple of months between school, looking for a job, a lot of family issues that I won't go into detail with, extra-curricular activities, and for icing on the cake I got into a car accident. I'm fine, I just messed up my front bumper and no one was hurt except a cement pole which was no more than scuffed. In short, life has been quite shitty these past couple of months and my motivation/inspiration to write has just been non-existent. As of now, I can't make any promises of how my updating will play out in the near future, but for now I give you a chapter. Happy Reading and sorry again.
OOOOO
The following morning, Kayla and Angela were nailing boards across the outside of the church windows with Jonathan helping by holding and handing them the pieces of woods when the girls asked. It was already getting hot and humid out even though it was only about nine o'clock. Sweat was dripping off of Kayla's head and her t-shirt was clinging to her skin in the most uncomfortable of ways. Her jeans were now a second skin, glued to hers with sweat. Her hair was tangled and damp in its messy bun as it say on the top of her head. As the time went by, no words were spoken between Angela and Kayla after the events last night after Daryl returned. He explained to the group what had happened in Atlanta with Carol and Noah and how they now knew where Beth was. The only thing more shocking at the fact that Daryl went into Atlanta, found out where Beth was, and how Carol was hurt and still in the city, was that Beth and Carol were at Grady Memorial Hospital. It was the first hospital Kayla and Angela worked at together. They only spent about two years there, realizing the city wasn't the place for them and deciding to move to a smaller town. Although she was ecstatic to hear that Beth was alive and that they could now get her back, when Kayla heard Daryl had gone into Atlanta of all places anger took over. She knew Daryl had every reason to follow that car if it meant finding Beth, but she couldn't not be angry at the fact that he went into the city. The city that has been crawling with walkers barely a couple of months into the end of the world.
She walked out of the church in need of some air after hearing everything Daryl had to say the night before. Angela went to follow her, but Daryl put a hand on the woman's shoulder. "I'll get her." was all he said as he walked by without so much as a glance at her let alone waiting for a response. He walked down the aisle of the church and pushed the front door open again before it could close all the way. Once outside, he saw Kayla standing at the foot of the stairs with her hands on her hips and back to him. Before he could get a word out, she spoke.
"Atlanta…" she said with an unamused tone before turning around to face him. "Atlanta. You went into that city that's been overrun for years…"
Daryl began walking down the steps, but Kayla backed away from him. "It was the car that took Beth." he reminded her.
"I know. And I understand and I am so happy she's alive but put yourself in my shoes Daryl. You mean to tell me you wouldn't be pissed beyond belief if I got in a car and drove off without telling anyone?"
"I didn't just drive off for no reason."
Kayla walked closer to him. "You are missing my point, Daryl. I woke up and you were just gone." Tears were filling her eyes now. "You were just and I didn't know where you went or why…my husband just was up and gone."
Daryl went to wipe the tears from her eyes and cup her face in his hands, but she pushed his hands away. "I get why you left, but imagine if that were me who just vanished."
After that, Kayla walked around him and went back inside to return to the group. Daryl was left outside by himself, staring ahead in the empty space where Kayla originally stood. She had every right to be mad even if he had good reason to drive off. If the roles were reversed, he'd be reacting the same way she was. Maybe even a little worse. He heard the church door close and it broke him from his daze, causing him to finally turn around and go back inside. This clearly wasn't a resolved issue, but it would have to wait for the time being. In that moment of time, Beth was a priority.
Now the group had a plan to get Beth back. Once the church was reinforced Sasha, Tyreese, Kayla, Daryl, Noah, and Rick were all heading into Atlanta. Angela was staying behind wit Michonne, Judith, Carl, and Jonathan to hold down the fort until the others returned. Kayla wanted to go in case anyone was hurt while going through Atlanta. Angela wanted to go, too, but Kayla had pulled her aside from the others.
"If something happens to me," Kayla began to say but Angela interrupted.
"Don't say-"
"If something happens to me." Kayla went on as she placed her hands on her friend's shoulders. "I need you here for this group. You can have the same set of skills I have that can save their lives. I need you here if I can't be."
Tears welled up in Angela's eyes as she quick nodded and pulled her friend into a tight embrace. Kayla allowed a tear or two to slip past her eyes as she held onto the friend she was lucky enough to cross paths with again. Kayla didn't have any intention of dying today or any day in the near future, but that didn't stop the tearful goodbye. It was even harder to say good-bye to Jonathan who asked her twice if she really had to go.
"I will be back very soon." she assured the young boy.
"Promise?" he asked
"Cross my heart."
Jonathan smiled and leaned forward, giving Kayla the tightest of hugs. The embrace made Kayla's heart feel warm at the young boy's affection for her. The last thing she wanted was to leave him alone again. Even though he'd have Daryl and the rest of the group if Kayla didn't live to see a tomorrow, Kayla promised him a long time ago she'd take care of him and be his family since he had none. The last thing in the world she wanted to do was break that promise.
After the goodbyes the group heading to Atlanta headed out, the ride almost silent. Kayla and Daryl were driving in a pickup behind the transport truck Rick was driving that also had Noah, Sasha, and Tyreese inside. Daryl focused on the road and Kayla staring at the passing trees. The silence was heavy between them, both of the wanting to say something but not knowing what. The ride would be at least an hour and a half to two with the detours they planned to take and the ride only felt longer with the silence between them. After about thirty minutes, Daryl finally spoke up.
"Remember on the road," he began. "…after the farm when Lori was just starting to show and she ran out of those prenatal vitamins?"
Kayla turned her head and looked at Daryl. "Yes." she answered simply.
"And remember how many places we went through looking for more, but couldn't find any anywhere?"
"Yes."
"But we finally found that little strip mall and there was a pharmacy that was practically untouched because of all the walkers in the area?"
"Does this story have a point, Daryl?"
Daryl turned his head to look at Kayla. "The point is, despite there being too many walkers, you were the one to finally to convince Rick to take them on which we did. And then you took bolted into the pharmacy to find Lori those pills and you did, a walker nearly biting your ankle in the process because you were so focused on those damn vitamins over anything else. The point is, I was so focused on finding Beth, I didn't think of the consequences. I just went after the first lead I saw. I'm sorry for scaring you like that, but you gotta understand."
The memory Daryl brought up made Kayla think back to the day she nearly got bit if not for Glenn's perfect shot to the walker's head. She could still remember smiling at the bottle of prenatal vitamins in her hands, oblivious to her surroundings and the walker that was crushed under pieces of ceiling and shelf. She also remembered Daryl being pissed for her running off into the pharmacy alone once all the outside walkers were cleared. Hearing the connection made Kayla unbuckle her seatbelt and scoot closer to Daryl. He turned his head back to her and watched as she leaned forward to press her lips to his cheek. She pulled away after a moment and met his eyes with hers.
"I'm sorry." she said simply. "You're right."
"What was that?" Daryl asked as he looked back at the road to make sure he didn't swerve. "Cuz' it sounded like you just said I was right."
"Don't push it redneck." Kayla warned as she went to move back to her original seat, but Daryl pulled her closer to him again. She smiled and leaned into his side as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder with one hand still on the wheel.
"You know I love ya, right?" he asked her.
"Yeah I do." Kayla replied with a smile.
OOOOO
When they first entered the city, Kayla felt herself clutch to Daryl a little tighter as he eyes observed the city through the windows. She never made it into Atlanta on her way in what seems like a lifetime ago. When she first met Dale and T-Dog on the highway, she was on her way into the city to scavenge for supplies and head out of Georgia. But she made the decision to stay with them. A decision she was glad she made. She couldn't imagine where she'd be if she didn't take Dale up on the offer to join the group all that time ago. Maybe she'd be holed up with another group somewhere, maybe she'd be on her own…maybe she'd be dead.
The group found an abandoned warehouse building to set up in for their time in the city and came up with a plan to get Beth back. At first Rick just wanted to ambush the hospital. Kayla knew it was a plan with a lot more cons than pros, but didn't dare speak up. She and Rick weren't on the greatest terms after what happened at the church with Angela and hoped someone else would speak up. Thankfully Tyreese did and voiced that they capture some of the officers who worked under Dawn, the one who ran things at the hospital according to Noah. Rick seemed skeptical of Tyreese's suggestion, but luckily Daryl lent his support to Tyreese's plan which led Rick to going with it.
Once they had a plan, they geared up to put the plan in action. Kayla was loading her M911- the gun she's used since the apocalypse began- when she heard a familiar voice go, "Nope." Turning, she found Rick handing her an AK47.
"Rick-" Kayla began to say as she holstered her gun. She wasn't a fan of automatic guns because they had so much kick to them and she never really mastered firing them. She's always done better with handguns.
"No arguing. If all goes to hell you're going to need more than a pistol." he told her.
Without another word, Kayla took the gun and slung it over her shoulder. "Thanks."
Rick turned around to look at the others for a moment before looking back at the Kayla. "Look even if Angela wasn't a part of what Terminus was, I'm still pissed you didn't tell me." he told her. "I've always expected more out of you ever since we met."
"Rick I made a call to protect my friend."
"You thought you needed to protect her?" Rick questioned. "From who?"
"From you." Kayla told him in a sharp tone. "I trust you with my life, you're my family, but after Terminus I saw how you were. You'd a killed her on site and I wasn't gonna let that happen."
Rick processed Kayla's words and knew she was right. Looking back, he knew he wasn't stable. All he wanted to do was kill every last one of the people from Terminus and if Kayla told him the truth about Angela straight away he would have shot the girl on site. Had that of happened, he knew things with Kayla would only be worse. And he didn't want that. Kayla was the woman who helped save his son's life without even being asked. She was still the same person she was then which is was he admired most about her. She was still the same Kayla she was all that time ago.
"I'm sorry, Rick." Kayla apologized.
"Don't be." Rick replied. "I am."
Kayla smiled and couldn't help but hug him and he hugged her back welcomingly.
OOOOO
While everyone got into position to kick off this thing, Kayla pulled Noah aside. "You got this kid." she told him as she handed him a gun. "Pop off the rounds and start running. We have ya covered."
Noah nodded and gave smile. "You're doing a good job." Kayla reassured him. "I just thought you should know that."
"Thanks." he replied. "Anything to get Beth back."
Kayla gave him a pat of the back and then moved into her position with Sasha behind a dumpster.
"I know you're mad." Kayla whispered to her. "You have every right to be. But me not telling you about Angela had nothing to do with Bob's death. He was bit. Those people followed us…it isn't me or Angela's fault."
Sasha shot a look at Kayla at the mention of Bob. Kayla could see the fury in her brown irises. "Your friend could have led those people to us."
"But she didn't. And either way Bob was gonna die with or without those people making a reappearance. So don't be pissed at me."
Before the conversation could continue, the sound of gunfire and screeching tires filled the air causing everyone to turn their attention to the tunnel Noah would be running down. It wasn't long before he was, a police car following him in pursuit. Kayla couldn't help but wince when Noah hit the car when it turned to cut him off. He went to run, but the officers in the car got out with guns raised. One was a woman with bale skin and curly brown hair pulled into a bun and the other a Hispanic bald man- both of them dressed in police uniforms. They had Noah drop his gun before the Hispanic man went over and zip tied Noah's hands.
The group got ready to move in and when the Hispanic man asked where the walkers Noah should have been shooting were, the group made their move. They came out of cover with guns raised and aimed at the officers whom aimed back.
"Hands." Rick said.
"What do you want?" the woman officer asked.
"Whatever this is, we can help." The male officer seconded.
"You do what we say-we don't hurt you." Rick told them in a threatening tone.
After a moment, the officers lowered their guns and did as Rick asked when he said to drop their firearms and kneel on the ground. Daryl and Sasha collected their guns and zip tied their hands while Kayla cut Noah's bound wrists.
"You good?" she asked him. That hit to the car looked like it hurt.
"I'm good." he told her.
Once the group was ready to take the officers inside the warehouse they were holed up in, a car came screeching around the corner. Kayla pushed Noah out of the way and raised her gun, firing rounds off towards the car. Despite having the stock nuzzled into her shoulder, the kick still won and most likely ended up bruising Kayla's shoulder. She dove out of the way as the car got closer and landed next to Tyreese. They fired at the car as it stopped so the two officers the group zip tied could get in and Sasha, the great shot she was, managed to shoot the back tire as it went to drive off. The group chased after it, only to find the automobile abandoned in a lot filled with skeletons and walkers melted to the ground.
"Shit." Kayla cursed. They couldn't have just lost their only chance of getting to Beth.
As the group looked around the area and Kayla's hope detreating, they saw the two zip tied officers run off. A breath of relief escaped her lips.
"On me!" Rick told the group as they took off towards them.
Kayla followed after, but stopped when she saw Daryl stop and look in the empty car.
"Daryl!" she said as she jerked her head in the direction of where the group ran.
"Go I got this." he told her.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah go on."
After a moment of hesitation, Kayla ran to catch up with the rest of the group. She rounded the corner of a building, her gun raised. She looked at the AK for a moment before slinging it onto her back and pulling out her pistol. She followed the fresh prints in the dirt down the alley for several yards when she saw a pair of footprints take a left turn into the brick building. She walked through the empty doorway, her gun raised ready to shoot. The room she entered look to be an old storage room with empty boxes stacked on shelves along the walls and not much else. Looking at the ground, she saw a trail of dirt leading to the door on the other side of the room. Following it, she kept her elbows locked with her gun raised and ready to pull the trigger if need be.
Approaching the door, she reached one hand to the knob to open when suddenly the door swung out violently, knocking the gun from her hand and Kayla on the ground. The female officer came out of the doorway, her hands still zip tied but her legs still able to kick. She went to bring her foot down on Kayla's head, but Kayla quick rolled out of the way. She got to her feet quickly and brought her AK around to her front, aiming it at the officer.
"Try something else stupid." Kayla told her. "I dare you."
The female officer let out a frustrated breath. "Fine." she said. "You win."
OOOOO
The group took the now three officers back to the warehouse where Kayla now felt the extent of her shoulder pain. After setting her gun down, she walked over to the supplies they brought in as she undid the first few buttons of her flannel to look at her shoulder. A purple bruise was already forming on her shoulder and there was blood smeared on her skin.
"Seriously?" she said to herself as she reached in the one supply box for a rag and alcohol. She sat down to clean her wound before putting a bandage over the area where some of her skin was torn from the gun recoil. Once she was done bandaging it, she redid the buttons of her shirt and saw the others sitting the officers down and giving them some water, with Rick talking to Lamson, the Hispanic officer. She wondered how the others at the church were holding up and hoped Angela and Jonathan were doing alright without her present. This was the first time Kayla and Jonathan had been separated for an extended period of time since the prison fell and Angela's first time by herself with the other group members. Part of her worried, but another part knew that she had to have faith that they'd be alright. If she didn't have some faith, she might be too fearful all the time when she may not have to be.
"You alright?" A voice asked, breaking her thoughts. It was Daryl. Kayla looked up at him and smiled sweetly. He was covered in dirt from his brawl with the officer that tried rescuing Lamson and Shepherd, the female officer. She knew she should have stayed and covered him rather than chase after the others. But at the same time, Shepherd may have gotten away had Kayla not gone after the others.
"I'm good. You?" she replied.
Daryl sat next to her and reached into their supplied for a rag. "I'm alright." he told her as he wiped his face.
"Give me that." she said as she took the rag from him. She got a water bottle from the box next to her and wet the rag. "Look here." she told Daryl who turned her head to look at her. She placed a hand on his chin and cleaned the dirt from his face.
"You really need to stop getting beat up." she told him as his skin became cleaner. Daryl just chuckled as he looked at her. "Maybe I just like you taking care of me." Daryl replied, making Kayla smile as she wiped the last of the dirt from his face. "All right Casanova, let's go get ready to leave." she told him as she put the now dirty rag back in the box. Daryl helped her up and put his and around her as they walked towards the exit. Kayla looked over the officers and her eyes landed on Shepherd who looked a hundred percent done with the entire situation. Kayla felt bad about how this situation was the one they were in, but it was the only chance at getting Beth back.
