Kayla sat in the infirmary, her eyes glued to Tara's comatose form. It came as the most vulnerable Kayla ever saw her friend as she laid there with a bandage around her head, her body and face unmoving and unbelievably still. Kayla found happiness in the fact that Tara remained stable from her head injury, but a great deal in sadness when she remembered that she could also not wake up and that she would never see Noah again. The thought of him brought out a sob, causing her to immediately bring her hand to her mouth as the tears reappeared. Noah was just a kid who never got to live a full life before the end of the world. Then he finally escaped the clutches of Atlanta only to have that freedom cut short altogether. Despite the ugly world, he never lost the purity of his heart and soul and planned for a bright future inside Alexandria. All that was gone now.
The sound of the infirmary door opening made Kayla wipe her tear streaked face and stand to see whom entered the building. It was Glenn. Upon seeing his emotionally broken and battered face and figure, the tears returned to her eyes. Kayla walked over to him and engulfed him in tight hug which he quickly returned. She was just as grateful to see him alive and overall unharmed. They stood in a hug with one another for several minutes in the quiet and dimly lit room. Glenn released tears of his own as he hugged Kayla, feeling the grief of losing Noah and possibly Tara take him over.
"I tried," he said. "I tried to save him."
"I know you did," Kayla quickly replied. "You always do, no matter what."
A few more moments passed until the two separated. Kayla put her hands on Glenn's shoulders and had him look her in the eye. "Tara, Noah…they are not on you," she told him. "Never for one second think they are. This was Nicholas. I know that, you know that, and everyone who knows you, knows that."
Glenn nodded at her words in agreeance. Although he knew in his head and heart that what happened that day would never be at a fault of him, hearing those words from Kayla brought him more comfort. He hugged her once more and felt her place a kiss on the side of his head before they parted. "Now go home to your wife," she instructed him. "Tara is stable, and we are now just playing the waiting game."
"Thank you, Kayla." Glenn responded before turning to leave the infirmary.
Kayla watched him leave and let out a long exhale. She sat back down in her chair next to Tara's bed, feeling a tad guilty she was not the one to tuck Jonathan in that night. Thankfully, Angela took over the duty, so Kayla could remain at the infirmary to monitor Tara. She was grateful she had so many people to rely on to look in and over Jonathan when necessary, but it was not something Kayla wanted to make a habit of. She wanted to be there for Jonathan as much as she could be since she never knew when one of their moments would be their last. Jonathan already lost one set of parents and she and Daryl promised to always care for him like he was their own child. It was a type of adoption in the apocalypse. Jonathan lost his parents, Kayla and Daryl would never get the chance for a child of their own, and because of those realities, they managed to find and create their own family unit.
OOOOO
Off elsewhere in the area, Daryl and Aaron engaged on their first scouting mission together. It was the day after they first departed Alexandria and found themselves wandering through a neighborhood that has long been abandoned and showed no signs of residence. Nevertheless, the two decided to sweep through to search for supplies. Kayla put together a list for the infirmary that Daryl pulled out of his pocket and smiled when he saw her handwriting. Some people had difficulties reading it, but after so much time of getting supply lists from her, he read it so easily. He quite enjoyed his wife's unique font of combining cursive and print into one that resulted in lettering that seemed appropriate for her. It showed the classier and more put together side she possessed as well as her more casual, laid-back attitude. Granted, the classy side of her did not hold much of a presence these days, as it was an apocalypse, but Daryl knew it lived somewhere under her stained, old clothes.
The first few houses Daryl and Aaron swept through were pretty picked through and barren but managed to find a few infirmary and food items that were left behind. Bandages, cough drops, hydrogen peroxide, canned goods, batteries, and even a couple of flashlights. Not many walkers were in the area, except for a couple in the first house they entered and another two in separate former home. They loaded the supplies into Aaron's car since Daryl only had two messenger bags on his bike for smaller items.
"Wanna check a few more houses?" Aaron asked.
Daryl scanned around and saw no signs of walkers, it was still early in the day, and they had plenty of time to check off a few more areas that afternoon. "Don't see why not."
The two entered the next house, Daryl taking the lead with his crossbow aimed and ready to shoot any walker or threat they encountered. The house was only one floor, so it made clearing it quick. Once they had most of the rooms cleared, Aaron began loading up some more canned goods from the kitchen cabinets while Daryl went to the final room in the house, the master bedroom. There was a single walker in the room at the end of the house which Daryl took out easily with one pull of the trigger. The walker fell, and Daryl walked over to retrieve his arrow when he heard a sound come from the closet. He made quick work of reloading his bow before walking over to the door quietly. With his bow still raised, he reached for the handle and quickly opened it, scanning the closet up and down. A high-pitched squeal sounded, and Daryl immediately dropped his bow at what he found.
Sitting on the floor was a young girl, no older than eleven or twelve, whom looked like she had not slept or eaten in days. Her long blonde hair was knotted with dirt and leaves in it, her clothes ripped and tattered, and a thin layer of dirt and grime on her skin. She looked up at Daryl with big doe eyes, fear present in her irises. "Please don't hurt me…" she begged, terror lacing her tone. Daryl made quick work of setting his bow down as Aaron rushed in after hearing the squeal.
"It's okay, sweetie," Daryl reassured her as he knelt in front of her. "We ain't gonna hurt you, I promise."
"Did you kill them?" the girl asked.
"I did. They can't hurt you now."
Aaron slowly approached the two to see the timid girl in front of Daryl. He knees were pulled to her chest as she sat under the jackets in the closet to hide herself. She looked terrified.
"Can you come out of there?" Daryl asked her to which she shook her head vigorously in response as she looked at her feet.
"We ain't gonna hurt you, darlin'," Daryl repeated. "We're the good guys. I'm Daryl, that's Aaron. Can you tell me your name?"
The girl looked up at Daryl, then Aaron, and then back at Daryl. "Adaline," she told him. "But my parents always call me Ada."
That's a pretty name, Ada." Daryl replied. "Where are your Mom and Dad?"
The question caused Ada's eyes to well up with tears and she hid her face in her arms as she sobbed.
Daryl looked up and Aaron who looked like his heart just broke at the sight of the young girl. Both men could not help but wonder if the walkers they took out earlier were Ada's parents. It would not surprise them if a herd came through or a large group of walkers came through a place like this while they her parents were out on a run, one of the parents left to go find their spouse whom never returned from an outing, or the parents sent their daughter running away from walkers when they found themselves overrun. No matter what happened, it was clear that the girl's parents were not coming back anytime soon, and the girl needed help. She could not take care of herself in her physical and emotional state and her best chance was going to Alexandria with Aaron and Daryl.
"Ada," Daryl began. "I know you are scared, and you may not trust us fully right now, but Aaron and I have a safe place we can take you."
The young girl picked her head up and looked at Daryl with tear stained cheeks and watery eyes. "There are other kids there," Daryl went on. "Kind people, food, safety, and so much more. We can take you there.'
Ada's interest peaked, but she still had trouble trusting the two strangers. Although she was young, her emotional and physical vulnerability hid the fact that she was a strong girl whom had survived this long in the apocalypse. Her father once accredited her to be a great judge of character and while she had her concerns, both Aaron and Daryl had kind, honest eyes. Ada then saw the wedding ring hanging around Daryl's neck.
"Do you have a wife?" Ada asked him.
Daryl looked down at the ring and smiled before looking back at the young girl. "I do," he answered. "Her name is Kayla. We have a home, a boy 'round your age, and a great group of people who I'm sure would love to meet ya."
Ada smiled at the information and wiped the tears away from her face. "I hurt my ankle." She told Daryl. "I can't walk on it that good."
Daryl looked down and saw her ankle did have a bit of swelling to it, but it did not look too serious. She may have just twisted it and would only require some rest and ice for it to heal. After that, Daryl stood up and slung his crossbow behind his back before reaching his hands down to Ada. She took them, and he pulled her up gently and easily. She wobbled a little bit from her ankle as well as being cooped up in the closet for a couple of days.
"You promise you're the good guys?" Ada questioned Daryl and Aaron. Both men nodded. She then held her pinkies up to each of them. "It might be silly to you, but I still take pinky promises seriously." She told them. Aaron and Daryl exchanged a glance before pinky swearing to the young girl that they were indeed the good guys.
"Now how 'bout a lift?" Daryl offered.
Ada nodded, and Daryl bent down to scoop her up in his arms. She was light as a feather and all Daryl could think about then was getting her something to eat and drink. Once he had her, he and Aaron began walking back to the front of the house.
Once they reached they foyer, they noticed walkers in the street. It would not have been a lot if they had a full group, but it was a lot for two people, especially when one was carrying an injured kid. "Shit." Aaron cursed as he unholstered his pistol. Ada's scream must have lured some of the walkers out of nearby houses. Daryl counted about twelve walkers that were scattered amongst the path back to the car.
"Throw something in the opposite direction of where we're going." Ada's voice piped up. Daryl and Aaron both looked at her. "They like noise and will go where they hear it. My parents taught me."
Realizing what a good idea it was, Aaron made quick work of searching for an object to throw. He saw a glass bottle in the trash in the hallway and threw it down to the other end of the street. He quickly found another one and threw it in the same direction. The sound of glass breaking caught the walkers' attention and they began moving away from the path to the car. The men made a break for the car, Daryl's hold on Ada tightening as they ran.
The temporary distraction did not last long, and the walkers soon noticed the trio making a break. They turned around and began walking towards them. This only made Daryl and Aaron run faster to their vehicles when they took notice. When they reached the car, Daryl made quick work of putting Ada in the backseat before returning to his bike. Aaron started up the car the same time Daryl got his bike running and they took off to exit the neighborhood, the walkers following them as they sped out of sight.
OOOOO
Kayla stood outside the house Rick found himself isolated in after his blowout fight with Pete in the street. She had already been to Jessie's to settle her and the kids down, as well as to make sure Pete made no effort to come near the house. Angela remained at the house with her as a precaution, so Kayla could leave to see Rick. Some of the others already checked in to talk with Rick earlier but seeing as this situation unfolded underneath her nose without being include when it pertained to be people she knew, Kayla wanted a separate discussion.
As someone whom once suffered the hand of abuse, it killed Kayla that she did not see it herself. The kids and Jessie never showed signs of it, at least that Kayla saw. Before the apocalypse, they got along great and seemed to have a genuine love for one another and their children. Perhaps after the world fell to the dead, Pete became violent. Nevertheless, now the truth was out, and something had to be done about it. Kayla was most upset about what Jessie and the kids were forced to endure, but Rick lying to her and keeping the information withheld intentionally made it even worse. Kayla deserved to be included. She deserved a say on how to handle the situation. She deserved the consideration.
After spending sometime just standing outside the door for a while, Kayla finally opened the door and stepped inside. She saw Rick immediately sit upright from his original horizontal position, his face dropping when he saw who it was. He watched as she walked to sit across from him, meeting his eyes immediately. "Don't talk just listen." She told him abruptly. Rick remained quiet.
"We aren't out there anymore," she began. "We are in a community. A normal, safe community where our kids can grow up and have some sort of life. Carl, Jonathan, Judith…they deserve it more than anyone else. You pulling these stunts do not just affect you; the consequences affect all of us. Not only that, but you withholding all of this from me when it pertained to people I knew before, that I cared about, I deserved some sort of opinion in the matter. Everything you did, everything that has been done, Rick, it changes things between us. Things have changed. At that meeting tonight, don't look to me to speak on your behalf."
Rick felt his stomach and heart drop at the last thing she said. He watched her stand and felt his expression and body language change. "You would do that to me?" he questioned. "After everything we've been through, everything I've done for you?"
"You think I wanna feel this way?" she retorted. "But you put everyone in our group, our family, in danger today. You were supposed to be our leader."
"I messed up." Rick quickly snapped back.
Kayla felt her shoulders drop as she looked on at Rick. His face was covered in bandages, blood no longer staining his clothes, but without his facial hair intact anymore, he looked so normal. Seeing him in the state of injury, bloodiness, and dishevelment before fit him, but now it looked so out of place. To be honest, Kayla borderline did not recognize him. She wanted so badly to show mercy and understanding for the man whom took a chance on her so long ago on Hershel's farm, but it seems like that was lifetimes ago. Moreover, she had more people to think about now. She would always stand by the people whom she has fought alongside with for so long and been through hell and back with time and time again, but she had to think of others the way her group thought of her initially. To welcome the new people, establish new relationships, and make it work with them.
"Everything I've done," Rick went on, his voice hardening. "It was always to protect this group. To keep you all alive!"
"Then don't do things that are gonna risk getting us killed." Kayla snapped back. "It ain't just about us anymore. We have a chance here, so don't take that from those who want it!"
Rick knew he wronged Kayla and the group by going about the Pete and Jessie situation the way he did, but he did not think he deserved Kayla's treatment. He rose to his feet to stand in front of her and his eyes shifted from frustration and anger to apologetic as he approached her. "I'm sorry," he apologized, meaning his words. "You're right. Everyone of us deserve this, especially the kids. I guess when I got here, I didn't care about anyone else. I only cared about keeping us alive rather than trying to make it work with everyone. And I should have included you in on what was going on with Pete and I'm sorry for that, too, I am. That said, all I ask of you is to stand by me the same way I would for you. Don't give up everything we have."
Kayla heard Rick out and believed he meant every word of his apology. She met his eyes and nodded in acceptance. "Alright," she told him. "Just don't make me regret it."
OOOOO
That night, Kayla found herself still struggling internally with Rick's behavior. She heard him out, listened and considered every word, but still found herself at war with herself. Rick was her family, she loved him like she would a brother, and when she sat back and reflected on the last couple of years she had spent alongside Rick Grimes, she knew that he had his moments that were not his best. After the farm, at the prison, but he always came back to Earth. Remembering that allowed Kayla the clarity she so desperately needed. Once that happened, she poked her head in Jonathan's room to see him fast asleep, making her smile. She quietly closed the door and prepared to head down the town meeting. After leaving her house, Kayla made it halfway down the street when a familiar figure appeared. Her footsteps slowed to a stop as she saw her husband approach and it was when the street lamp hit him, she saw the young girl he was carrying in his arms.
A/N: What is up, readers? Happy New Year's! I'm not dead, I'm here to update, and season five is officially done. I cranked up some Imagine Dragon and boom batta bing, I cranked this out in a day. One of my New Year's resolutions is to get back to writing more regularly, so I am really hoping to stick to a more monthly update basis. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I look forward to seeing you sound off in the reviews. Happy to be back 😊
