Hey guys, sorry for the late update! I have to say, I was kind of sad that not a lot of people seemed to enjoy the Daryl/Anamika chapter, but oh well. That's not to say I'm going to let that do me in and so the next few chapters are all Daryl/Anamika chapters, not based on canon. Hope you guys enjoy the development of their relationship! Thanks for all the favourites and follows and to celia azul for reviewing!
Enjoy!
Chapter 17
"Hey Daryl?"
The hunter grunted as he carefully stalked through the foliage and Anamika briefly admired the way his arms flexed as he maneuvered his crossbow through the leaves and branches. She shook her head, ignoring the attraction she felt towards the redneck and continued on her previous line of thought.
"I know about a warehouse nearby that I've been wanting to check out since I arrived in the area and wanted to know if you'd come with me. We can show Rick and the others where the cabin is and then go check out if the warehouse is a viable option for a run. Then, tomorrow morning we can do a proper run, We need some new clothes and medicine, so hopefully we can find some more of those stuff for everyone."
Daryl had stopped walking as her babbling got worse and she finally saw the vaguely bemused expression he wore and her mouth snapped shut. He seemed to be considering it and finally, he nodded.
"Sure. Let's go get Rick, we're almost at Alexandria. We'll go in a separate car, then Rick can take some people and a van to pick up the stuff we found. After we showed them where it is, we'll go with my bike to check out that warehouse."
Anamika nodded and the two walked for another 30 minutes before the familiar walls of Alexandria loomed up before them. Waving to Spencer who was on guard, Daryl and Anamika made their way in, heading straight for where they saw Rick talking to Maggie and Glenn, probably about Maggie's pregnancy, since Glenn had that proud glow and Maggie kept throwing soft glanced towards her still flat tummy.
"Rick!"
Their fearless leader turned at Daryl's shout and waited patiently for them to reach him. Daryl wasted no time in explaining the treasure trove they found and Anamika could see the hopeful and pleased gleam in Rick's eyes. However, it was Glenn who spoke up first.
"Rick, I can come along. I know where they keep a van for runs that usually take more than a week, should be more than enough space for everything. Tara is still recovering, and Abraham is working on the construction of the wall, but Carol could probably come, as well as Rosita?"
Rick nodded at Glenn's suggestion, then turned back to Daryl, "We'll meet you guys by the gate in half n hour, we should still have enough time to get there and back before dark, if it's as close as you say."
With that, Rick headed off to prepare, as Glenn headed in the opposite direction to go recruit the people he mentioned. Daryl stalked off, probably to give the turkeys they had caught to Olivia and that left Anamika and Maggie alone together. Pointing awkwardly at her flat belly, Anamika smiled.
"How's it going with the little peanut? Nothing weird so far? All the fighting didn't cause any harm right?"
"No, nothing so far. I mean, I've never been pregnant before, so I'm going off on what I saw when Rick's wife was pregnant and what my dad taught me before, but it all seems good so far."
Anamika nodded, relieved nothing seems amiss, then mused out loud, "I should keep an eye out for prenatal vitamins and such. We still have a few from my stash in my truck, but it wasn't really something I searched for actively."
"That would be great. Any help I can get to make sure my baby gets everything they need is appreciated."
"Of course, little peanut will grow up strong and healthy and with the coolest parents ever and the most kickass aunt!" Maggie laughed, her eyes shining with pride and amusement as she thought about her baby growing up. Anamika felt weirdly happy that she managed to make the woman laugh, as she seemed so serious all the time, not necessarily glum, but focused on rebuilding and as if she was still recovering from a loss. Then again, if the stories Carl told her were true, which she knew them to be, Maggie had lost her father and sister in the span of six months, a blow one cannot simply shake off.
"How's the expansion going? It seems as if the walls are coming along nicely." Maggie nodded, a proud glint in her eyes as she surveyed the new walls being built in the distance.
"Yes, should take us another week and a half at this pace, then we can start planting. Grow our own food so we can get some fresh fruits and vegetables," Anamika made a mental note to be on the lookout for any types of seeds, "and we're also starting to cut down some of the surrounding trees. Rick told us about your suggestions and we're going to implement them. We need to find some barbed wire and then as soon as we have everything wrapped again, we can start digging the holes."
Anamika nodded, her brow furrowed, "Yes, the wire didn't keep the wolves out, but then again, we didn't wrap it that thickly. Daryl and I am going to go check out a warehouse I know off, I'll keep an eye out for some more barbed wire."
"Thanks, I appreciate it." Anamika nodded and then bid Maggie goodbye as she saw Daryl coming down the street, a bag slung across his back. Probably filled with supplies in case anything went wrong and they had to hole up somewhere for the night.
"Carol gave you a care package?" Anamika lifted one eyebrow and laughed at Daryl's snort, though he didn't deny her knowing question. "The warehouse is about ten miles away from the cabin, so we should have enough time to at least check it out and then still be back before dark."
Daryl nodded, and threw his bag into the car they were using. It would have been a lot more convenient if they still had Daryl's bike, but it had been taken along with his crossbow by some asshole couple he had met when heading back to Alexandria. Anamika hoped for just five minutes alone with them, she would savour those minutes and get Daryl's stuff back for him. Alas, she didn't know where they were and Daryl already spoke to Rick about everything, so she didn't ask further. She reckoned they'd tell her if it was important.
Soon they were on the road and though it took a while to actually find the beaten, overgrown dirt road leading to the cabin, they managed. As soon as they were sure Rick and Glenn had everything in hand, they said their farewells and headed off to the warehouse Anamika knew about. It took them roughly half an hour to get there, having to turn around and take backroads a few times due to the other roads being blocked.
When they finally made it, they both surveyed the abandoned parking lot, the wind blowing leaves around lightly and less than half a dozen walkers wandering around aimlessly. Nodding, they climbed out of the car and, wanting to save their ammo, used their machete and knife to get rid of the walkers. When Anamika had buried her machete in the last walker's head, she turned to find Daryl watching her, his gaze intent and she felt her belly heating up, like a low burning ember. Swallowing, she watched as he blinked and looked away, though she could swear she saw a slight red tinge to his cheeks. Or it could just be wishful thinking.
Shaking her head, she focused her thoughts and followed Daryl to a side door, both waiting silently after he had banged three times on the door upon finding it locked. Hearing nothing, she stepped back and watched as he kicked the door hard two times, before it burst open on the third kick. Her gun was up and her body alert, ready for anything that might come out of the darkness of the doorway or around the corner of the building, but it remained quiet.
Daryl gestured with his head for them to advance in, and she nodded, following the lethal hunter into the depths of the warehouse. After they had bypassed the offices, they reached the main room and though it was impressive, it was nothing like the one she had set fire to. Still, she could see a few rolls of barbed wire stacked against the wall on the far side of the room and several boxes on the derelick shelves.
Opening one of the boxes, she found some clothes, though her face fell in a grimace when she saw the moth balls on them. Some of the clothes were falling apart, having been some moth's nest, but she was sure there would be some useable ones. Daryl grunted as he threw a small plastic pack to her and she rolled her eyes when she saw it was instant ramen. She had to eat these before and had to admit it's not her favorite thing in the world.
They looked around for another forty minutes, then agreed to come back the next day with the van. Though there wasn't much in the way of food except for the instant ramen, they could still use some of the clothes, the wire and some over the counter medicine they found.
"Come on, gonna be dark soon. Don't wanna get caught with our asses hanging out." Anamika snorted, following Daryl to the side door, but her sarcastic retort was stopped by the sound of Daryl swearing. She just had enough time to see the small herd of walkers outside in the parking lot, before Daryl had the door closed quietly to avoid calling the walkers' attention.
Her mouth twisted and she said dryly, "Well, that's us getting caught with our asses out."
WD
Luckily, Daryl had the forethought to bring Carol's care package with inside, so they decided to try and wait the herd out, since they didn't seem to be aware of the two ready made meals waiting in the warehouse for them. Digging through a few of the boxes, Anamika scrounged up one usable blanket, though it wasn't that thick and she knew it could get cold at night, especially in a warehouse that isn't properly insulated.
"Looks like we're sharing."
"Naw, I'll be fine, you use it."
"Daryl, don't be ridiculous, this blanket is more than big enough for the both of us and we could use the body warmth. Stop being a baby about it."
"I ain't no baby!" Anamika just smirked at his indignant growl, raising one eyebrow and smiling widely when Daryl sighed and turned away. She knew that meant she had won. Sitting down by the lantern Daryl had fished out from the backpack, she gladly accepted the tupperware filled with some of Carol's cooking, marveling at the homemade meal instead of something like instant ramen.
"You know, I never even thought food could taste this good." Daryl eyed her askance and Anamika, seeing the disbelief in his eyes, went on to explain.
"Since the apocalypse started, I've eaten whatever I could get my hands on. That usually meant canned good or ramen and the occasional fruit of vegetable if I could find them growing somewhere. I have no memory of home cooked meals. I have the images of what various dishes look like in my mind, but I couldn't smell them, couldn't taste them."
Daryl was silent and Anamika was lost in her thoughts, of a past she couldn't remember. She startled though, when Daryl's low voice spoke up from beside her.
"I know what ya mean. I mean, maybe not to your extent, but my ma wasn't really the cooking type. Figured it had to do with recovering from the beatings my pa always gave her and drowning her thoughts in alcohol. So I know junk food and shit, but… It was only after this all started that I experienced that."
Anamika could tell he was embarrassed about what he was revealing, not just about the food but about his homelife and she felt lit up with a confusing warmth inside that he trusted her enough to share that. Scooting closer, she tucked the blanket around them both, ignoring Daryl's uncomfortable shift, as she herself had to slowly relax her tensed body.
"I sometimes wish I could remember my past life. Remember any friends or family I might have had, but then I think about the pain of not knowing if they were live or dead and think it might be better that I can't remember…"
Daryl was quiet, his breathing slow beside her, before he spoke up. "I had an older brother. His name was Merle and he was pretty shitty. A racist, sexist asshole who always mucked everything up. Got separated from him in the beginning, only to meet him again later. There was some trouble, as he worked for this douche called the Governor at the time."
Anamika remembered Carl telling her about the Governor and though he had mentioned Merle, she didn't hear much about his relationship with Daryl.
"My brother was a dick, but he was my brother you know. He tried to look after me when I was a kid, but he was always in juvie or something and he left soon as he turned eighteen, left me alone with my pa. But in the end… In the end he sacrificed himself, tried to take down the governor, took out most of his trained men. Without that, we probably wouldn't have fared so well in our scare tactics when we chased them away, as it was mostly normal people left."
Anamika regarded his face closely, seeing the sorrow in his expression and the rigid line of his jaw. Reaching out, she softly cupped his cheek, turning his face to hers with gentle pressure. His blue eyes met hers and the depth of emotion in them knocked her breath away. Daryl might not always say a lot, but he didn't need to, as he said everything with his eyes.
"He was trying to protect you. He wanted to make everything right. Sound to me, like that was his apology." Daryl blinked slowly, his eyes gazing to the side, unable to meet hers and she smiled, releasing his cheek and sitting back.
"I would have liked to meet him, even if he was a racist, sexist asshole." Daryl barked out a short laugh, the low smooth sound sending a thrill down Anamika's spine.
"He would have loved you. Would have flirted and tried ta get into ya pants, but also respected you for your skills. I think you would have gotten along well."
"Well, I like his brother so far, so I'm sure he couldn't have been that bad."
"Stop." Anamika delighted in the definite blush on daryl's cheeks, determinedly ignored the warmth in her own at the sight of Daryl peeking at her through his fringe, his lips twisted in a barely-there smile.
Exhaling slowly, she leaned her head against his shoulder and felt him relax inexplicably, but she didn't bother to think about it now. She had a long day and her body was still hurt from her earlier fall. Closing her eyes, she felt sleep pull at her and the last thing she was aware of, was Daryl's muscular arm slowly lowering her to the ground, all the while keeping her close to his body.
WD
The next morning, they both woke up at the crack of dawn to find that all but a few of the walkers had moved on, much to their relief. The made quick work of the ones that were still there, before heading straight to Alexandria, knowing Rick and them would be worried if they stayed away much longer. Arriving back, the gates were immediately opened after Anamika hung out the car window like a madman as they drove up, waving cheerily at the guard on duty.
Rick was there to greet them, his smile relieved as he placed a hand on their shoulders and squeezed it in relief. "Had some trouble?"
"Naw, not much." Anamika left Daryl to explain the situation, because she had seen someone else coming closer. That familiar sheriff's hat glinted in the sun and though half his face was still covered in gauze to keep the scars clean, she would recognize that lanky teenage body and long luscious locks anywhere. Honestly, he could compete with Daryl with that hair.
"Carl!"
"Anna!" She grinned widely as she gave the teen a hug, a great weight off her shoulders at the sight of him up and about and she promptly stole his hat and ruffled said luscious locks. Carl rolled his eyes, but his smile belied his amusement.
"How's the war injury?"
"Good, Denise said it should be fine to take off the gauze in about a week, before then I have to change it every day."
"Well, I've got something for you. Snagged it from the warehouse." Anamika produced a tub of silicone gel from her jacket pocket and held it out to Carl.
"Scars are cool, shows you're a survivor, but that should help keep your scar clean and minimise the scarring at the very least. Maybe put it on and then place the gauze over it. Although, maybe you should just check with Denise first."
Carl smiled and nodded, before stealing his hat back and waving as he retreated to the infirmary, Anamika's threats getting lost in the face of his laughter. Anamika was still smiling when she turned to find Rick gazing after his son, though his grateful eyes soon turned to her. She shifted, uncomfortable with the gratitude he expressed, but luckily Daryl intervened and broke Rick's silent thank you.
"Alright then, Anna, Rick and Glenn are coming with, we're gonna go clear that warehouse." Anamika sighed and then nodded, knowing they had another long day ahead of them.
WD
Ok, there you go, it's kinda a filler chapter to get some bonding between Anamika and Daryl, it's going to happen for the next few chapters to get everything rolling. Please review, I feel so excited about Daryl/Anamika interaction and the feel like the only fangirl in the chatroom hahaha.