Risin' Up Chapter 24

… I could feel her shallow breaths on my back through my shirt and vest all the way back ta the prison. 'N for tha first time that I could remember, I prayed ta God, prayed that she wasn't bitten and that she'd live.

DPOV

The gate ta the prison was comin' into sight as I continued ta dodge walkers here and there; I revved the engine a few times to try and get someone ta open the damn gate. There was no way I was goin' ta be able to get off the bike and open the gate without her fallin' off. Andrea came down from the tower walkin' slow as fuck so I revved the bike again and yelled "Come the fuck on!" Her response was to glare at me, keepin' the same pace and say "God Daryl, could you be any louder?!" So I revved the engine again hopin' ta get her movin' a lil' faster. That didn't work neither till some walkers started to close in on us and she ran ta open it just enough to let us in. "Oh my god, is that Bella?" I heard her ask, but didn't pay her no mind as I raced for the C-block doors.

I pulled up as close as I could get, then ducked under the cuffs and whipped off my vest ta lay over her front; no one else needed to see her like that while she was unconscious. I picked her up as easily as I could, surprised at how heavy she felt for such a small person, minding her injured foot that was still dripping blood. Her skin was cold, hopefully jus' from the ride over with hardly any clothes on. I kicked the door with my boot try'n ta get someone ta open it, when Glenn's face popped through a crack in the door. He yanked it open when he saw who I had and the condition she was in. I thought he'd gone inta shock until he turned to run yellin' for Hershel.

Joggin' after Glenn to a cell, we found Hershel wipin' his hands off after fixin' up a cut on Rick's face. I glared at Rick as he looked up then turned ta Hershel "Forget 'bout his ass, I need ya' ta help me with her." He looked up and I heard him mumble "Lord have mercy" as he came closer ta us, probably taking in all the blood that covered her. "Bethy, get some buckets of warm water and some rags, Glenn grab that bag and follow us" He gave his orders and they got to it immediately. I followed 'im to another cell, this one empty, and set her down. I pulled out my knife and cut the straps ta her pack to take it off her. I moved her bow but could'n get it off with the cuffs on. As I tossed her bag something fell out, looked like some kinda key chain. There was a tag on it that said "Hells Bells", a wooden wolf and what appeared to be a big ass diamond along with some keys; a key that looked like it went to an old GM, and a few others, and a handcuff key. Quickly undoing the cuffs, I tossed 'em next ta her pack and laid her out flat on the bunk, puttin' her bow under it. I pulled her pistols out of their holsters too, puttin' them in her pack, not knowing what frame of mind she'd wake up in.

Hershel came up next ta me, askin' "Do you know what happened to her, where she's injured?" I shook my head, "Naw, I donno what happen'd ta her, 'cept that she was dragging that foot. She was limpin' before she went down 'n a walker grabbed it. She was all out of it when she was tryin' ta get ta the bike, before she passed out cold" I told him, when a voice that grated my ears rang out "She was taken down by a walker? We need to put her down before she turns. Daddy get away from her!" Maggie screeched out, while pulling her gun. I pulled mine and stepped in front of Bella. I was pointin' my gun at her, and she was pointin' her gun at me, when Hershel stepped between us, "Margaret Katherine Greene! I'm very disappointed in you. This young lady is still very much alive and for you to want to kill so easily… I … go somewhere else so I can help her and I better not hear another word of killing her, you hear?" She put her weapon down lookin' at Hershel like she could'n believe he didn't take her side. Glenn was at the door way look'n pissed off at Maggie before she glared at the floor and ran out of the room.

He came in slowly, handing Hershel his bag, and slid down the wall with his head in his hands. Hershel started untyin' her boot and working it off her foot; blood poured out of the boot onto the floor makin' even me cringe. There was a gasp at the door as Beth followed by Carol, came in with pots of water. Hershel put on some gloves and took off her sock, tryin' ta find out where the wound was; I think all of us were holdin' our breath waitin' ta see if it was a walker bite. "It's a puncture wound. Doesn't appear to be from a knife, but its deep." He said taking a wet rag to wipe off the area. "Her whole ankle is swollen, look here, this bruising goes all the way around… I wonder how that happened?" he went on cleaning the wound. I looked at it some more when it finally hit me what it probably was, "It's an animal trap" I said when all four heads shot ta me with questioning looks. "Ya know, a spring trap. Like a bear trap" I added when they still looked at me confused.

"Well that does explain a lot. Her boot kept her from losing her leg most likely. She'll need to keep it wrapped and take antibiotics when she wakes up. For now I am going to give her some fluids since she has lost a lot of blood; it would be better to give her blood but without knowing her type it's a pointless venture. Unless anyone here is O-?" He questioned. Everyone shook their head no, so he set about hookin' her up to different bags of fluid. After he had her hooked up and her wound wrapped, he handed me a sheet "Can you hang this up somehow? I need to check her for any more injuries and I don't think she would appreciate the wondering eyes" He nodded to the crowd gathering in the common area. I glared at them as I tied the sheet ta the bars and most of them went about their business. I turned 'round ta find Hershel cutting her pants off and quickly turned back 'round my ears burnin' hot. "Glenn, why don't you step out and make sure no one else comes in here unless I ask, ok?" Hershel said. Glenn nodded and got up without lookin' in Bella's direction. "Bethy, honey, I'm going to need you to help me get her cleaned up, ok? I think she's going to be fine Bethy, no need to worry." He said patting a cryin' Beth on the back.

She nodded and dipped her cloth in a water pail along with Carol then walked over ta Bella. I was about to step out myself when a small voice called out my name "Daryl." My head whipped around, forgetting about her state of undress, but my eyes didn't wander as I looked at her open eyes. She smiled happily at me and even giggled a little like no one in pain like her should. I sent a questioning glance at Hershel and he smiled a small smile and pointed to a small bag hanging next to a big one "Morphine" he said softly. Aw, she was high as a fuckin' kite. I almost smiled till I remembered there was information I wanted ta know, like what happened ta her and if that slimy fucker Randall was still out there. "Hey Swan, how ya' feelin'?" I asked tryin' ta figure out what sort of state she was in. "Hey Daryl!" she sang out, "Why are you wayyyy over there?" I kept my eyes on her face as I stepped closer to her. "Come down here" she said, so I knelt down closer to her. She smiled a goofy smile at me, makin' me look to the floor.

Ain't nobody ever smiled at me like that, 'n without the drugs, she wouldn' either. So I got on with the questions "What happen'd ta ya? Did you find Randall?" Her eyebrows went together like she was thinkin' 'bout it before answering with a nod. "Where is he?" I asked. "Dead" was her plain answer. She reached a hand up and rubbed my cheek. I flinched at the small bit of contact but I wanted to know more, "Did you kill him?" "No, well yes I guess…" she trailed off rubbing my face. Well that was no help, what the fuck did that mean. I was about to ask again when she started talkin' "You know Daryl, I like you. A lot. You're a good man. Thank you for saving me." My eyes were glued ta the floor and my ears burned hot. She donno' what she sayin', so I grabbed her hand off my face and set it back on the bunk. Lookin' at her bow under the bunk, I asked her again "Did you kill Randall? What about Shane, was he with 'im?"

She looked to the bottom of the top bunk, not at me, and said "I killed him the second time, Shane did the first; then I killed Shane. I didn't want to but he begged me.." She trailed off, just staring at the bunk. Then Beth was there cleaning the blood off her face, "Heyyy Beth! You know you are just as good a Maggie right? Well better actu.. acu … actuaaaallly, your better because you have a good heart along with everything else…" She trailed off and seemingly went to sleep. I got up to leave as soon as her eyes closed. My eyes continued to stare at the floor as I walked past everyone else to go outside ta have a smoke.

My mind rolled over all the stuff she told me, n something just wasn't addin' up. I thought back ta runnin' through the barn earlier, track'n Bella's prints. There was another set of fresh prints along with hers and Randall's; someone else had been in that barn with Randall and it wasn't Shane. I was missin' part of the story but I wouldn' get the answers I needed till Bella was awake. And Sober. I started unpackin' our stuff, no not our stuff. Her stuff and my stuff… two different things, and took 'em inside C-Block. I set hers next ta Glenn who was still posted outside what I guessed would be her cell, "She going to be ok?" He asked. I shrugged slightly, "Hershel seems ta think so" and went to walk off, spotting a perch area on the upper floor that I would prefer, "Did she say what happened to her?" he asked. Puffin' out a breath of frustration, not just at him, but at myself for not piecing together the whole story with the information I had. I shook my head "She's messed up on morphine. Said Randall and Shane are dead, don't know any more than that." He nodded and glanced back at the curtain. "Do you think Rick is going to be upset with her… Tell her to leave?" he asked quietly.

My gaze hardened as I thought 'bout Rick and the time he cost me. I could've been there ta help her… "Naw, I think he still wants ta know what she knows" I said, mostly believing myself. I really didn' think Rick would do anything like that, but there was always that what if. Rick seemed ta be changin' just like Shane did, and if he didn't get ahold of 'emself something bad would happen soon. "Come get me when you leave, I'll take watch after you" I said walkin' away and climbin' the stairs ta my perch. It was quieter up here away from everyone and I could see most of what was goin' on. There was a few cells up here and I put my stuff in the middle one. I went back down ta grab somethin' to eat when I heard Patricia, I think her name was, askin' if anyone had seen Jimmy. That's when all the dots connected for me; those were Jimmy's prints in the barn. He had motive; Bella had embarrassed the shit out of him and got him disowned by Hershel… But why with Randall. I went ahead and got some food, decidin' ta keep this information ta myself for now till I knew the whole story.

Sorry it took so long! I've had car issues all week . The next update might take a while as well since its Thanksgiving week and my little will be out of school. Back to Bella's POV next time, Daryl's takes forever to write! Tell me what you think. Another letter from Alice and Jasper coming soon with lots of information! Deciding whether to keep Lori or get rid of her… decisions decisions…