While this chapter isn't particularly plot heavy, it involves a lot of Jamie/Carl interaction, for all you shippers out there. Also- Daryl's becoming a bit more distanced here, so it seems only natural that Jamie finds comfort in someone close to her own age (and who is, quite possibly, her best and only friend since Beth got taken).
If you guys are having questions as to why people did what they did in the last chapter or so- please post them in a review, and I'll gladly answer them in mailbag! Thanks and godbless!
She woke up to the gray light of dawn on the horizon, still leaning her back against Carl. His arms were still around her, his warm breath tickled her ear, and he was still asleep. She smiled.
It'd been the safest she'd felt in awhile, she realized.
Though she hadn't really told Daryl- ever since they'd lost Beth, she'd been on guard constantly. When they were with Joe and that group of perverts, when they fought them off in the clearing... Then the brief day's walk with Rick. She'd felt safer, then, knowing she was with old friends, but even then, the atmosphere had been tense.
And then... Terminus. The day's walk through the woods, and then here. She'd relaxed last night, feel asleep in Daryl's arms... And he'd left her. She'd almost been bitten.
She felt slight anger boil up within her at the thought. For once, she'd felt safe, surrounded by people she knew and loved, and he'd just... left her. He knew she hated being alone. If she'd known he was going to ditch her, she would've climbed the damn tree in the first place, and not risked her skin sleeping on the ground, alone.
She looked down at the base of the tree, and her anger melted slightly. There was Daryl, leaning against the trunk of there tree, dozing lightly. He'd made a mistake. It happened- they were only human, after all. She'd best just move on and forget it.
She wriggled slightly in Carl's hold. It'd been nice- waking up warm in someone else's arms- but she was awake now, and antsy.
"Carl." She whispered quietly.
"Mmmm..." Carl screw his eyes shut from where he slept, behind her.
"Carl." She gently peeled his intertwined fingers from her midsection, and the gesture caused his eyes to flutter open. His cloudy sky blue eyes met her green ones- he was still half asleep.
"What?" he asked hoarsely, scrubbing the back of his hand over his eyes in an attempt to clear the sleep from them.
" 'S time to get up, dumbass." she said, grinning. Carl offered her a tired smile in return, which quickly gave way to concern as he reached out to brush his fingers over her cheek. "Last night... you sure you're okay?"
She nodded, offering a wane smile. " 'M fine. Been through worse. We always make out alright."
And with that said, she climbed down from the tree carefully, Carl behind her.
Abraham had been on watch, and he studied the two as they set to work, Jamie quietly unclipping two squirrels from Daryl's line as Carl knelt before the remains of last night's fire, digging up the few hot embers that still remained and blowing on them, tossing in some trigs and starting a small fire, so as not to attract attention. He wondered if his kid's would've been this savy, had things not fallen out the way they did...
Jamie set to work beside Carl, her knife cleaving out the whatever she'd be able to find within the carcass. Carl stabbed them onto sticks, and set to roasting them over the fire quietly.
Jamie still knelt before the carcasses, however, smiling as she cut something free and popped it easily into her mouth. Abraham realized what is was when he saw the blood dribble down her chin.
"That's gross." Carl said, wrinkling his nose at her.
Jamie shrugged, pulling another kidney from the squirrel, ignoring her bloodied fingers, before looking up at him. "Not like anybody was gonna eat 'em anyways."
Carl rolled his eyes and set back to work on the meat chunks, pulling them the stick when they were browned and quietly setting them against the trees. They'd eat them either the rest of the group, once everyone was awake.
Jamie wordlessly strode to the edge of the camp, studying the ground quietly.
"Tracking something?" he asked eagerly.
"Yeah. Breakfast." And with that, she tossed a Pecan at him.
They spent the next fifteen minutes shelling and eating the nuts, as well as pocketing some for later, as the camp slowly came to life around them.
Jamie quietly filled the pockets of Daryl's vest, which she still wore, with the nuts.
Carl smiled slightly. "You look good in that." He said quietly, popping a Pecan into his mouth.
Jamie rolled her eyes. "You said the same thing when I was covered in dirt."
"Because it's true."
"Whatever, Grimes." she muttered. But she was smiling.
The morning walk was uneventful at first. Rick ordered the group to tighten up their lines, wanted everyone staying close. And Daryl kept shooting Jamie glances, making sure she stayed close. Whoever the hell it was that was watching them- it sure as hell wouldn't hurt her.
It wasn't that he didn't think the walker last night had been a big deal- he felt bad, leaving Jamie alone. But she'd fought off walkers before, and he didn't see how that one had been any different. It may have rattled her a little, but truthfully- he was worried about bigger problems right now. Like whoever the hell was tailing the group.
The dead, they could handle. It was the living, breathing people you had to worry about.
The uneventfulness ended at ten that morning, judging by the sun. The woods, that had been silent, save for the sound of their own footfalls in the leaves, was suddenly loud.
A scream for help in the distance. Everyone stopped walking, and Rick frowned.
Carl already had his gun out, and was intent on helping whoever it was that was calling. Rick stopped his son with a heavy hand on his shoulder, looking uncertain.
The call sounded again. Moans, as well, walkers were involved. "Dad." Carl said urgently.
"Think it's a trap?" Sasha asked quietly, looking at Rick carefully. "With someone watching us last night..."
Rick nodded, looking to Daryl, who shrugged. He was fine either way, truthfully, as long as Carol and Jamie didn't get hurt.
The cry sounded again. Desperate, pleading, whoever it was sounded genuine...
It was at that moment Carl took off towards the sound of the cry, not caring what his father did.
"Carl!"
At seeing him bolt, Jamie moved. Bow in hand, she moved past Daryl, nimbly darting by a still shocked Rick, after Carl, into the woods. She heard Daryl's muffled call of her name, but didn't care. Her focus right now was Carl.
She could see his back as he ran towards the pleas. Thorns raked her skin as she tore through the brush after him. The things she did to keep Carl Grimes alive...
Damn him, damn Carl. He always had to be so damn kind, always risking himself, always trying to save everybody. Someday he was going to get himself killed, him and his stupid heart of gold...
Her thoughts were short-lived, however, when she saw the source of the cries. A man on a rocky outcropping, struggling as walkers clawed at the rocks around him from all sides...
Carl skidded to a stop, taking aim. He fired off a round that hit a waker in the head, before going completely through it's skull, ricocheting off the cliff face, and landing in a tree that was too close to Jamie for comfort.
The shot had attracted the attention of the other's, though, and Jamie's arrow felled one while the others, five in total, stumbled forward.
Carl took a tentative step backwards, aiming again, while Jamie pulled back her bowstring.
Before either of them could fire, there was a gunshot from behind them. They instinctively dropped to their knees, not wanting to be hit, before a mixture of arrows and people were moving, sinking blades into skull's and dropping walkers like rag dolls.
It was less than a minute when it was over. During that time, however, they'd locked eyes and were simply staring, weapons held by white-knuckled hands.
When the wet gasping sounds of the undead could no longer be heard, they stood, finding the walkers dead around them.
Rick was shooting Carl a heated glare, and Jamie could feel Daryl's displeasure, radiating out like spiders crawling over her skin. But she refused to acknowledge it by turning to face him.
The man they'd saved- a priest, by the look of his collar, stumbled down from the rock, breathing heavily like HE'D been the one who'd just killed seven walkers.
Rick stepped forward, eyeing the man narrowly, about to speak, when the man put his hand up in a gesture for him to wait, before puking all over the leaves.
Jamie wrinkled her nose, slightly disgusted, giving Carl a slightly pissed off look. They'd risked their asses for this guy?
The man finished puking, finally, and stood, wiping his mouth and catching his breath.
Rick looked at him, unamused. "You good?" he grunted.
The man nodded. "I... do you have any food? I had some, but... it's on the ground now."
Everyone exchanged glances. First they saved this mans ass, now he was asking for food? Clearly, this man was inexperienced in dealing with other survivors. Hell, he looked inexperienced in dealing with walkers, too.
"I've got some Pecans." Carl said easily, extending the handful of nuts out towards the priest.
Jamie looked over at him, clearly thinking he was insane. They didn't know shit about this guy, and here he was, offering him Pecans? Yet again, she realized Grimes was too damn nice to live in this world. Which made her love him even more.
The priest quietly took the nuts, mumbling his thanks to Carl.
Rick got down to business, then. "Do you have any weapons?"
"No- the lord protects me." he said confidently.
"Didn't look like it five minutes ago." Daryl muttered from where he stood.
"I called for help- the lord sent you." The man replied, cool as ever. Rick searched him anyways, slightly surprised he was telling the truth- he had no weapons.
They stood in awkward silence for a moment, before the priest spoke again. "My name is Gabriel." he looked like he was about to say something more, when Judith gurgled in Tyreese's arms and he noticed her. His face broke into a timid smile.
"That's a beautiful child." he was clearly trying to fall into their good graces, and failing miserably. People didn't just not carry around weapons and coo at babies anymore.
His smile dulled a few watts, his eyes seeming to sweep across them all, desperately searching for a somewhat welcoming face. He found none. But his gaze landed on Jamie- she was still sporting the bullet graze from Terminus. It'd reopened and bled some this morning, and the dried blood crusted her cheek.
"I have medical supplies. I can help you with that..." he offered.
Jamie's eyes narrowed. "Don't need your help..." she muttered. There was something off about this man, he had to be insane- he didn't carry a gun, had never killed a walker. It seemed as though the apocalypse had hardly changed him at all. Either that, or he was hiding something.
"You have supplies?" Rick asked, looking interested.
Gabriel nodded, eager to have gained some approval, at least. "Yes. I've got a whole church- some food, some medicine..."
Everyone exchanged glances, the adults seeming to come to a consensus.
"How far from here?" Rick asked quietly.
"An hour or so's walk. This is the farthest I've ever ventured before..."
They needed supplies, not a life story. Rick nodded to him. "Can you take us there?"
"Of course."
And so they walked on- being led by, most likely the most inept survivor they'd ever met. Gabriel babbled on about how he'd survived off canned goods, never had to use a weapon, remained safe in solitude, much like the monks during the black plague... Generally, a lot of bullshit that didn't matter.
But with the adults mostly occupied in following Gabriel to food and shelter, meant they were off the hook for their little stunt of running off. For now.
Jamie fell into step beside Carl, glaring at him. He met her gaze with his own,warm brown eyes, looking upset at the expression on her face.
Wordlessly, she slapped him upside the head. Not hard enough to attract attention, but enough to let him know she was pissed.
"Ow." Carl rubbed the back of his head, looking at her, slightly annoyed. "What was that for?"
"For running off like an idiot." Jamie hissed, keeping her voice low. "You could've gotten yourself killed."
"You followed me." Carl protested.
"Yeah. Because I didn't feel like watching you get dismembered. You go running off to save some damsel in distress..." she lifted her chin towards Gabriel, who was still chattering incessantly- "almost get yourself killed trying to play hero, and offer the sonofabitch Pecans? If he'd been anybody from Joe's group, you'd be dead. Or worse."
Carl's gaze hardened slightly at the mention of Joe's group. He was, in truth, still healing. Jamie's presence simply seemed to help him forget, mostly.
"So you wanted me to just ignore it?Every time somebody calls for help? That was you, one time, when you got shot- that was ME. Where would we be if people didn't help people?" Carl hissed. He didn't like what he was hearing.
"What if it was those Terminus bastards instead of this guy? You'd go charging in and get cut down a minute later by a rifle. Don't seem worth it to me. It ain't worth it- nothing's worth losing you." Jamie responded, voice cracking slightly at the end.
Carl's gaze softened slightly, realizing she wasn't suggesting they abandon those in need, but she wanted him to go about it in a less risky fashion... They'd almost lost each other too many times.
"Not to mention our Dads are pissed off, now." Jamie sighed, looking over at him, frustrated and slightly defeated. "You know, I seriously don't need your help, Grimes. I can get into enough trouble on my own."
Carl couldn't help but smile slightly at her statement, and his fingers brushed the back of her hand as they walked. "Daryl can't be mad forever. We've been in trouble before- at the farm, the prison... everywhere. We always make it out alright."
She nodded quietly, eyes distant. They'd always made it out... so far. But everybody's luck ran out eventually.
Mailbag
Gingerman454 Chapter 79
For a copple of hours I thought that this supply of bloody amazing writing was endless, why must it stop *crys a little*. I don't know how your keeping this story so good for so long I'd be lost. Good luck at school I know it's depressing sometimes (especially with bad teachers) but well done at juggling this awesome story and school at the same time.
I can see this story going for as long as the show and maybe (hopefully) talking about the rebuild after (because we all know the shows going to end with the walkers getting ether cured or killed off) and I hope you do that.
Ps. All caricterizing is perfect :).
Response; Thanks- I'm glad you enjoy my writing style and characterization. School is going alright- and I seriously hope my fic will continue until the end of the show. When I see a fandom, I get incredibly attached- there are several shows I currently want to see, but am restricting myself from, because I know I'll get addicted to them and begin writing too many fics to handle at once, and i refuse to do that to you guys. Three stories or so at once is all I can really handle at any given time during school. Thanks so much fir your support, and I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint! :)
Britney Chapter 79
Omg this chapter was amazing, like usual, but Daryl not even checking on Jamie once the walker was dead surprised me. But are you planning to follow the show with this story?
Glad you're enjoying the story! As for Daryl not checking on Jamie- I like to think he was incredibly preoccupied. He's just gotten the women he loved, and practically everyone he loves from the prison back, and when he finds someone is following them, that makes him really concerned. So much so that he forgets about Jamie for a minute.
Not to mention- Daryl thinks Jamie's grown accustomed to fighting off the dead. Hell, she and Carl just walked through a herd of them to reach the shack. And it isn't the walker attack, per say, that rattled Jamie, but rather the fact that Daryl, her father, just left her there when she was most vulnerable and allowed it to happen.
There's a slight disconnect beginning to grow between Daryl and Jamie, stemming from their lack of communication. (Damn, that's some deep shit- I should become a physiologist! lol)
As for following the show with my fic- I most likely will be following it the majority of the time, but with my own twists added in (like Jamie being shot at the prison, Jamie and Carl managing to escape from Terminus, exct.)
Hope this helps clear up why Daryl hasn't really checked on Jamie after the walker incident!
Guest Chapter 79
I suppose that when most people read the "warnings" they think that you're joking-but it's real! I read the first 40 something chapters all at once my only sustinance was a bag of sun chips. Haha Update ASAP!
Response; People! Please, heed the warnings! My goal as an author is to make you melt/fangirl with happiness, not kill you from exposure because my fic is so long.
SLEEP! EAT! BREATHE! GO TO THE BATHROOM! The last thing I want is for someone's relative to pm me link to an obituary, saying they were found dead at the computer. Because while it would be freaking awesome to die reading fanfiction, I like you guys much better ALIVE!
Good rule of thumb- stop reading every ten chapters or so and think- how long has it been since I've gone to the bathroom? Gee, maybe I should grab some soda or some dinner...
ESPECIALLY FOR DIABETICS! I DON'T CARE IF YOU LIKE MY FIC, THIS ISN'T WORTH DYING FOR! I love you guys way too much... Just, please, be safe, alright?