SURPRISE! SURPRISE!
I know this isn't my usual post day but hell, I'm feeling generous and a few of my USUAL supporters made me laugh/cry/smile at their reviews yesterday so fuck it, I'm posting another chapter! lol This chapter is dedicated KyraNoelle, Frankie, Bri47 and UmiNight Angel Neko cause ya'll are fuckin' awesome! Seriously, it's reviews that put a smile on writers faces and I look forward to seeing your reviews every week! Thank you!
New followers: Gerabeth, AURyuichi-san and sister-tattoo! Welcome to the dark side!
Reviews:
KyraNoelle: I was so tempted to have Rick do something but just couldn't figure out the right time and then realized it would throw future plans off lol Jealous Daryl is just, fuck yes. That man being jealous/protective is just the perfect amount of kryptonite to kill me, that man is definitely going to kill me one day. Also, wanted to thank you for your kind words about my schedule. It sucks but I just wanted ya'll to know, in case you think I've suddenly fallen off the face of the earth cause I've had readers bust a nut when I was late by one day, drives me nuts. Love ya!
Frankie: It makes me so happy when people leave comments about how much they like and relate with Ana. I had a slight fear before I started this story, worried people wouldn't like her or her personality so it so great to hear how much people actually have come to like her. I mean, she's basically us when we're watching, or me cause I know I screamed at the screen every second I got and even threw things at people that pissed me off. I'm surprised my television has lasted this long lol by the way, no, it's not wrong to find him funny and adorable because that man is just a fuckin' masterpiece. He could be doing anything and I'd still find him adorable. Bastard.
Bri47: HE IS, ISN'T HE?! OMG! Like, I cannot deal with jealous Daryl cause I get stuck at my computer and just squeal for 20 minutes before getting any shit done. Girl, I knew you were a RICK girl through and through so I was waiting for your reaction to that lol glad you loved it as much as I did.
UmiNight Angel Neko: HAHAHAHHAHA I gotta be honest, I busted out laughing LOUDLY at your review lol caught me off guard in the besst way possible lol
Disclaimer: I do not own the AMC's The Walking Dead or it's characters, just Ana.
Rick's POV...
I watched as she slowly headed down the dirt road, back to camp, making sure she made it there safely before I slowly turned my eyes to my wife where she was already staring at me, an unknown emotion flashing through her hazel ones.
"Everything alright?" I asked, looking at her worried as she turned to look in the direction Ana had disappeared in then back to me.
"What was that about?" She asked, an accusing tone to her voice as I blinked confused by her question.
"What was what?" I asked, stepping towards her as she took a step back to match mine.
"Any specific reason you and Ana were out here, talking, alone?" She changed the subject as I opened my mouth to respond only for her to scoff, putting a hand to her forehead as she began to pace the small space between us.
"I just wanted to confide in her about some things happening around camp, that's all." I explained, hoping that would stop her from pacing as she froze, slowly turning to look at me in disbelief.
"You told her? You told her about us, didn't you?" Lori accused as I shook my head, knowing she about to blow though she had no reason to.
"She knew, Glenn confided in her." I explained as she let out an unamused chuckle.
"And that made it alright to confide in her about something personal?!" She snapped as I gaped at her, realizing how twisted her accusation was as I took a step towards her.
"Who else am I supposed to confide in here?! You already turned my best friend against me!" Okay, that may not be completely true, but some part of me, knew this entire situation was heading in that direction.
"I trust her, to tell me how it is and not to sugar coat things. I just needed to talk to someone who won't tiptoe around the subject." I calmed down slightly, realizing I might have overreacted about her comment.
Not hearing any more comments from the woman still standing in front of me, I slowly turned my eyes back to hers, noticing the tears filling her eyes as she stared at me.
"You like her, don't you?" Lori whispered as my eyes widened in surprise, not expecting those words to leave her mouth.
I reached out for her, wanting to deny her accusation but found my arm stopping just inches from her shoulder, my mouth hanging open, unable to speak. I slowly shut my ajar mouth, confused by my own actions as Lori sniffled, using the collar of her shirt to wipe at her tears.
"Should have seen this coming, I guess. You're always looking for her, or seeking her out. You even went out of your way to put together a search party when she was only gone for an hour and sat at her bedside like you did with Carl. How long have you liked her?" I couldn't find any words to answer her question as I just silently stared at her, realizing that I couldn't even defend myself against her accusing comments.
She stared at me for a moment longer before nodding, wiping her face clean before taking a step back.
"I get it. She's young, capable. I'm just a liability now." Lori turned the blame on me as I scoffed, not liking one bit that she was now turning the blame on anyone else.
"Don't blame her, this has everything to do with you and me, Lori." I calmly pointed out as she rolled her eyes before dryly laughing.
"Wow, I literally told you I was pregnant yesterday..." She began to blame as I took a step forward.
"And that you've been messing around with Shane..." I added defensively as her lips snapped shut before she silently stared at me.
"Is that what this is about? You moving on to Ana because I slept with Shane, once! I thought you were fuckin' dead! I grieved for you! My heart broke for you!" Lori began to scream, marching forward to pound on my chest with her fists as I grabbed her wrists, as gently as I could.
"Don't...don't lie to me!" I snapped in her face, effectively silencing her as her watery eyes stared wide eyed at me.
"I know...I know it was more than once. I know, the chances that the baby inside you being mine is slim to none, and I know, even when I came back, you both still..." I was trying to keep my emotions at bay, not wanting to cry in front of the woman I had loved for so long. I had no fault in this situation. Even if I had been dead, how could she have fallen into the bed of someone else, so quickly? And not just anyone, someone I had once considered a brother at one time? This woman, even after realizing I was alive, still, she continued to mess around with Shane. I had noticed, from the moment I had returned, she was different, they both were different.
Lori sniffled, ripping her arms out of my hands before taking a step back, her pale complexion worrying me only slightly.
"So...that's it? We're through? Just like that?" Lori whispered, wiping at her cheeks viciously as she turned to glance back at the camp.
"I just...I need time." I whispered through a hoarse voice as she chuckled forcefully before nodding.
"Time to what? Come to terms with the fact that you're falling for the new girl? A girl you just met a month ago? Rick, I made a mistake, an honest to god mistake. I thought you were dead, I was in a bad place and Shane was there to pick me and Carl up from the pile of grief and terror we were in. What the hell did you want me to do?" Lori cried out as I felt my heart clench slightly at her words before I turned to the fields on either side of us.
"People really do deal with grief a different way, huh?" I unintentionally muttered under my breath as she blinked, confused by my words.
"What?" She asked for me to repeat what I had just said as I shook my head, turning away with a sigh.
"I don't know what you want me to do or say, Lori. You've gotta understand where I'm coming from too. Had the roles been switched, you'd be feeling just as hurt as I am." I pressed my hands to my hips, taking in a well needed breath before facing off with my wife again. She gazed at me intensely before nodding, sniffling as she wiped at her face again.
"Alright, okay, I understand, just let me ask you one more thing, first." Her voice wavered as I watched her, giving her a short nod for her to go on.
"I'm right, aren't I? You like Ana, don't you?"
What the hell was happening?
Ana's POV...
Okay, I didn't get the exact answer I was looking for, but the fact that he had stopped me from doing what I had said I was going to do, put a little hope in my heart that maybe the redneck had a soft spot for me, as I did for him.
In the end, I was able to convince him to move his tent back towards the house, next to my own, mentioning that I knew a bit about motorcycles, which wasn't a lie, my grandfather had a few around while I was growing up.
It grew awkward between us, naturally, though every time I looked over my shoulder, he wasn't far from my side, which I appreciated.
About halfway through the afternoon, Rick had approached our little corner of the yard causing Daryl to stand from his seat, glaring hard at the Sheriff that stopped, not wanting to approach any further.
"Ana, may I speak with you for a second?" He mentioned as he gestured over his shoulder, glancing over at Daryl briefly.
"What do you need 'er for?" Daryl defended as I pried myself from the lone lawn chair, adjusting my sling before marching over to stop Daryl from stepping any closer to Rick, who stubbornly held his ground.
"What's up? Everythin' alright?" I met Daryl's hard eyes before turning to look over at Rick who seemed to have realized by the redneck's stance, that we weren't about to have a private conversation any time soon.
Putting his hands up innocently, Rick stepped closer to our fire pit, making sure he was out of ear range of anyone else before dropping his hands onto his hips.
"I came to ask if you'd go speak to Hershel with me about the barn." Rick blurted out as I dropped my hand from Daryl's chest, turning to him in surprise.
"Why me? Figured you'd ask Dale or even Glenn." I retorted back to him, unconsciously feeling Daryl step a bit closer to my side.
"Well, aside from Dale and Glenn, you have a talent to persuade people in the right direction, even when you don't realize it." The corner of Rick's mouth, twitched in a teasing smile causing her to snort out a laugh as she side eyed Daryl who was muttering incoherent things under his breath.
"And what exactly do you want me to persuade him to do?" I cocked my head in interest, shivering lightly as I felt Daryl's hand lightly brush across my hip before he bypassed me to his brother's motorcycle, squatting back down to tinker with it again, though he kept an eye on us at all times.
"He needs to know that his beliefs on a cure for his people, are false and is only feeding his family's hope. Coming from someone else in the medical field, he might come to agree with the way things have turned out and allow us to take care of it." Rick explained as he made to look around once more, not wanting anyone from the Greene family to hear him just yet.
"I keep telling you people I was literally in medical school for under a year, doesn't really give me any leverage over the medical field aside from stitching people up and doing minor check ups." I whined annoyed as my eyes snapped over to glare at Daryl as soon as I heard him let out an amused snort.
"Something funny Dixon?" I barked over at him, wanting nothing more than the ability to cross my arms as said redneck passed me a knowing smirk from over the seat of Merle's bike.
"Nothin'." Daryl taunted with a shake of his head, going back to his work as I quickly flipped him off before turning back to Rick.
"I just need someone there with any knowledge of the medical field. Plus, I know you spoke to Jenner back at the CDC." Rick added as my eyes slightly widened, only a bit, not enough to be noticeable by Daryl who perked up at that comment. Shit. I had totally forgotten about my little conversation with Jenner. Rick had seen that?
"You know there is no cure for this." Rick finished as I sighed, nodding in agreement before turning to look over at Daryl who passed me a confused glance.
"When do you plan on having this sit down?" I didn't want to go into detail with Daryl right this second so I ignored his glances and gave all my attention back to Rick.
"As soon as possible. With everything happening, don't think we should push it on the back burner any longer."
Naturally, Daryl refused to let me and Rick go alone. He went a far as following us into the house where I caught Maggie in the kitchen, quickly inquiring where her father was. She was hesitant to tell me, I could tell by the look in her eyes as she peered back and forth between me, Rick and Daryl. Promising her that everything was alright, I followed her direction to Hershel's study, peeking in around the doorway to see him silently sitting at his desk.
"Daryl, you need to stay out here." Rick whispered as we ducked out of sight again. I turned my eyes to Daryl to see that he did not like what Rick had insisted on him doing and stepped forward to cut them both off before a fight broke out.
"He's right Daryl." I agreed as his shocked eyes snapped down to me, opening his mouth, no doubt to spat some dumb ass comment before I cut him off.
"Not for the dumb ass reason yer gonna come up with but the fact that we don't need Hershel thinkin' we're tryin' to start an up rise with the 3 of us marchin' in like we own the place." I explained seriously as he opened and closed his mouth a few times before scoffing, obviously knowing I was right.
"You give off this aura like ya mean fuckin' business." I smirked teasingly as he narrowed his eyes down at him before rolling his eyes.
"Just wait out here, but let me and Rick go in and try to get his head out of his ass, alright?" I added, knowing if I explained to Daryl bluntly what and why we needed to do things the way it needed to be done, he'd back off enough for us to get something done.
"Bitch." I heard Daryl mutter under his breath as I chuckled, teasingly reaching over and slapping his ass. I fought to keep my laughter in at the girlish way he squeaked at the hit before I brushed past him, knocking on the doorway to get Hershel's attention.
"Come on in." Hershel's deep voice reverberated through the room as I nodded at Daryl once more before both myself and Rick stepped into the room, approaching his desk.
"A little light reading for lunch?" Rick asked, noticing the book laid out on the desktop in front of Hershel as I branched away from the desk to his bookshelf.
"Been working so hard lately I get my studying where I can." Hershel explained as I recognized a few medical books lining the second shelf of his bookcase.
"Oh, you have Robert Miller's latest book 'Med School Confidential'. I read this thing about a billion times." I couldn't fight the smile as I pulled the familiar book off the shelf and into my arms, flipping through the pages to see highlighted notes here and there. Realizing that the room grew silently, I glanced over my shoulder to see both men staring at me, both in awe and interest, sending a blush across my features as I was quick to push the book back into place and turn to the conversation at hand.
"You know we are more than open to help you with the work." Rick passed me an unknown look as I approached his side, turning to Hershel who shut the book he had been reading, slipping it to the side.
"It's my field to tend to." Hershel stood, taking the book with him to return to the shelf I had just been inspecting.
"I have experience in fields like your own, once i'm able, I'd be more than willing to pull my own weight where I can. I know how to help with the horses and animals as well, plus I'd like to learn anything else you are willing to teach about the medical field for future purposes." I was trying desperately to appease to Hershel's farming needs though I felt like I was only tooting my own horn at this point as Rick placed a hand to my shoulder and stepped around me.
"We found the barn." Rick quickly dove in as I sputtered my lips, knowing he had gone about this all wrong.
"Leave it be." Hershel didn't turn to face us as he continued to stand in front of his bookshelf, zoning out.
"Well, I'd-We'd like to talk about it, but either way...your barn, your farm, your say." Rick carefully added though I knew the damage was already done as Hershel turned his hard eyes towards us, clearly already pissed with our entire existence.
"I don't want to talk about the barn. I don't want to debate." He barked out as he brushed between me and Rick, heading back towards his desk as the Sheriff passed me a panicked glance.
"Not a debate, a discussion." I calmly explained, meeting Hershel's disagreeing eyes.
"I need you and your group gone by the end of the week." Hershel cut me off before I could go any further as Rick let out a disgruntled gasp, approaching my side as I put my arm out to stop him from getting closer and saying anything further to piss off the man.
"Let me talk to him, Rick. Where I'm standing, you are just making this worse." I whispered bluntly to Rick, ignoring how close we were standing together, his warm breath blowing across my cheeks as I kept my eyes pinned to Hershel's.
"Ana..." Rick whispered as I shook my head, cutting off his following words as I grabbed the seat in front of his desk and sat down.
"Hershel, I know we know nothin' about each other and you have no reason to trust or listen to shit I say, excuse my language. I also know we have a completely different opinion on how we look at walkers. Those people you have locked in the barn, they may be dead, they may be alive, but us, our people, we are alive right now, right here, right in front of you. You send us out there, that could change, easily." I pressed, watching the way Hershel's face contorted between frustration and guilt till he scoffed, turning to look at the wall of photos of his family.
"I've given you safe harbor. My conscious is clear." Hershel brushed off as I sighed, looking up at Rick who stood silently beside me before I turned back to Hershel, determined to have this man see our way.
"And we couldn't be anymore grateful then we are. But this farm...this farm is special." I pointed out, briefly meeting Hershel's eyes as he looked over at me.
"You and your family have been shielded from what's really going on out there. I know you saw everything happening on the news but it's been a while since the camera's stopped rolling. Things are different, dangerous now." I confessed, knowing this man had no idea how hard it was out there, away from his farm.
"The first time I saw a walker, it was just half a body snapping at me from the ground. My inclination wasn't to kill it. But how the world is out there, isn't what you saw on TV." Rick's voice caught me off guard as he suddenly spoke, though I couldn't agree more with what he said as I turned back to Hershel nodding.
"It is much, much worse and it changes you. Either into one of them or something a lot less than the person you were." I whispered, knowing that to be true from what I had watched from day one.
"Please do not...do not send us out there again. My wife is pregnant." I heard the way Rick's voice broke as he mentioned Lori and unconsciously reached out to grip his hand, passing him a silent show of comfort, knowing how worried and desperate he was to have somewhere safe for his family.
Ana's POV...
I knew our conversation wasn't going to do us any favors by the way Hershel was reacting to everything we were saying and instead, stood, startling Rick who turned to me confused. I offered to leave Hershel to his 'me time' , practically having to drag Rick out of the study and into the hallway before pulling the door shut before Rick could say anymore shit to push our chances.
"Ana, what the hell?" Rick hissed as Daryl kicked off the opposite wall, immediately standing at a defense at my side as I stared up at the Sheriff, not the least bit pushed off by his tone.
"We needed to leave, pushing that man any further in one day is gonna do the exact opposite of what we want him to do." I scolded Rick who opened his mouth to say something only for me to shake my head, effectively shutting him up.
"Trust me on this, Rick. Let him simmer in his thoughts for a while, in the mean time, we should figure out stuff to do around here to show our worth. No point in preachin' if we're just bumming off the guy. He's gaining more if we leave at this rate." I explained as Rick stared at me for a second longer before sighing, his hands now pressed to his hips as he turned to glance down the hallway towards the stairs.
"So, what are you suggesting we do?" Rick then inquired as I massaged my still healing arm with a knowing glance.
"Exactly what I said, prove our worth. If we can't push him with words, why not actions? Show him he's gainin' somethin' with us being here." I pushed watching as Rick stared at me before nodding in agreement, a small smile crossing his face as his hand slowly shot out to grip my good shoulder, where as Daryl tensed up at my side.
"Glad to have you around Ana. Nice to have someone who has a level head on their shoulder, even in this fucked up world." Rick patted my shoulder once more before brushing between me and Daryl, heading back down the hallway, disappearing down the stairs.
"Any reason the Sheriff continues ta put his hands on ya?" Daryl gruff voice pulled me from my thoughts causing me to snort at his obvious jealous side.
"He's a physical guy, I guess -not in the way yer thinkin, fuckin' sicko." I explained innocently before noticing the way he was slowly narrowing his eyes in the direction of Rick's disappearing form. Rolling my eyes sky high, knowing exactly what had went through Daryl's mind, I flipped him off before heading after Rick.
Daryl followed me out of the Greene's home and towards the fire where I was quickly reunited with Sophia. The little girl practically glued herself to my side the second I came into view and even tried to cuddle against me the moment I had shifted myself into a law chair. Carol scolded her, pointing out the fact that I was still healing from various injuries and that she needed to be careful, though I was quick to shut her worry down, allowing the little girl into my uninjured side.
The two of us laid out on the lawn chair, watching Carol shuffle around to get things ready for a late lunch as I simply allowed Sophia to rest against my chest, her arms around my waist.
"Ya okay?" Daryl's voice had startled me from the peace and quiet as I blinked my dazed eyes up and over the backrest of the lounger, to see him standing just a few feet away.
"'m fine." I muttered, turning to check on Sophia who had fallen asleep against me, a soft snort slipping from her.
"She hasn't been sleeping well since she's been back." Carol commented as I looked up at her sadly, only to be welcomed with a soft smile from the mother. I offered a half-ass smile back though deep in the back of my mind, I wanted to kill those bastards once again, for anything they may have done to the small girl before we could get there.
"If it helps, she is more than free to sleep with me. She's young, she needs her sleep." I whispered as Carol's smile widened before she went back to cooking.
"How is the camp getting supplies and food to eat? I'm sure the Greene's aren't willing to supply us with everything." The fact that Carol was cooking, yet again, struck my interest as I watched from the corner of my eye as Daryl sat down on a seat close by.
"We get what we can find, but we're running low on everything. Rick and the others have been going out to find things, but have been coming back more and more empty every time." Carol explained in concern as I turned my head to face Daryl, wanting further confirmation as the man nodded.
"Daryl, can ya carry her to her tent for me? Please?" I then asked, my mind running away with itself as I attempted to think up a solution to the kids starving within the next few days if Hershel didn't agree to allowing us stay.
I had to do something.
"You can just leave her there, she gets hot in the tent." Carol offered as Daryl froze above us before nodding, helping to slide me out from under the small girl before standing.
"Carol, how much food do we have left?" I adjusted my shirt as Carol turned to me confused before slowly pointing to the barrels just beside the tree. I sidestepped Daryl and walked over, peering in the barrel to see that it was only about half full with veggies and other items.
"This is all?" I asked in concern as she nodded, passing Daryl a sadden look.
I stood there, staring at the pair, knowing we had to find a way to feed ourselves without completely bumming off of the Greene's but we also had to prove that we were worth something to the farmer and his family.
They were basically living off whatever we were able to scrounge up from the highway, which wasn't much from the looks of it. My eyes glanced over to the RV where I only then noticed the wagon I had picked up on the highway, still full of tools and car parts I was able to get my hands on before...
That's when my mind seemed to narrow on something I realized I found on the highway. From the looks of it, the group hadn't stumbled upon what I prayed was still there and untouched.
"Daryl." I called as his head snapped in my direction, his eyes eyeing me up in worry as he pushed from his seat, approaching me quickly.
"Ya okay?" He reached out his hand, pressing the rough palm to my cheek as I met his eyes with hope.
"I know where we can find some supplies."
Author's POV...
Ana tried to explain to the group of men that she had a hunch where a 'shit-ton' of supplies were hidden. She tried to avoid telling them exactly where it was or what it was in, not wanting to either put their hopes up or allow a certain someone the pleasure of finding it before she could.
"Wait, wait, wait, let me get this straight, you somehow know somewhere that has a 'shit-ton' of possible supplies and you want us to just let you go out and get it? Just like that?" Shane mocked her from his spot against the tree trunk as she fought the eye roll that so desperately wanted to escape because of said man. Rick, Daryl and Glenn easily ignored the man's comment, their hesitant and unsure eyes still pinned to her.
"Ana, we can't let you go out there, without any back-up, especially in your..." Rick made to disagree as she put her hand up, immediately stopping both him and Glenn from going on about allowing an injured woman out on a run before sighing.
"Even if I wanted to go alone, this dumb ass wouldn't let me." She grumbled, gesturing briefly over to Daryl who playfully flipped her off.
"I'll go too, then, you'll need the help." Glenn took a step forward in offer as she went to shake her head, only for Rick to grab the man's shoulder, stopping him.
"No, we need all the hands we can get here, Glenn." Rick stopped him as Glenn opened his mouth to complain before Shane spoke up.
"Wait, you're gonna let her go out, just like that?" Shane kicked off the tree, glancing at Rick like he was about to explode as Rick sighed, slowly turning to peer at his once best friend.
"We need to prove to Hershel that we are more than just hoarding off his farm, we need to prove our worth here." Rick explained defensively as Shane continued to stare at him, not understanding what he was going on about.
"And that has to do with the injured girl, how?" Shane growled out as Daryl's hand found its way to her injured arm, lightly brushing his thumb across the underside of her elbow before stepping forward, blocking her from Shane.
"Cause unlike you, she's tryin' to prove to the farmer that they are gainin' more with us bein' here. We all know what ya wanna do, storm the barn, gun those fuckers down." Daryl hissed out as Shane slowly turned his eyes to the redneck glaring at him.
"Don't act like you don't want to do the same thing, Dixon." Shane fully turned to face Daryl who stood tall as Ana placed a comforting hand on his back between his shoulder blades.
"Ya I do, I ain't tryin' hide that shit, but we can't. This ain't our place or our rules, and with all the shit you've been spouting, the man is about 10 seconds from kickin' us out his front door. So how 'bout ya shut yer fuckin' mouth for the first time in yer life..." Daryl began to bark out as Ana grabbed his elbow, stopping him from going any closer to the psychotic man that looked milliseconds from gunning the redneck down.
"He's right Shane. We all want to deal with the problem our way and we've preached our case to Hershel, only thing to do is wait and give the man time to realize his mistakes. But in the meantime, we can't sit around on our asses and do nothing. If Ana knows a possible location for supplies and food, I say we let her and Daryl head out and check it out. We need more supplies and food, and it would be a great way to show Hershel that he is benefiting by allowing us to stay. Either than that, we have to be gone by the week ends." Rick cut off the two men as Shane scoffed, a slow smirk crawling onto his face as he nodded.
"Okay, fine, I agree, but instead of Daryl, how about I go with the girl?"
How was that for surprise posting? Hope it was alright.
Just a small forewarning, if I don't get around to posting next week due to me trying to get used to my new wanky schedule, apologies beforehand!
Until next time~