When Michonne had awoken this morning, she had not expected what had happened within the space of half an hour to happen. She had been in the clearing, getting rid of a small group of walkers, while also keeping up her fighting skills, never letting herself get soft and complacent, it was too dangerous to do so. She hadn't even expected Daryl to show up and try to talk to her, especially since their relationship was still tense after what happened.
She remembers turning round and seeing a ghost next to Daryl, and had stared without any emotion, knowing what her psyche was capable of, evidenced from the past, so she just ignored it. She had ignored it until Daryl interacted with her hallucination by physically touching it and pushing it forward towards her. She had honestly thought she must be in the most perfect dream when she touched him, when she could smell his scent. She felt like the pieces of herself that had shattered all those years ago were being put back together once again. The taste of his lips sent a shock-wave throughout her body and the sense of coming home was overwhelming that she refused to not be touching him at any given second.
She had looked past him for a second to Daryl, inquiring silently with her eyes if he had revealed anything about RJ or what had happened to them. His expression told her he had left that for her to break to Rick which she was thankful for. She had taken Rick's hand and brought him through the gates of Alexandria, she had watched him reunite with Carol and then Judith, followed by meeting RJ for the first time.
She had watched as he held their children and she couldn't help but to join the embrace and that was when she felt like all the pieces were finally together and permanent. That was until a few minutes after when she has spotted the blood dripping from a bite on his arm, and the pieces of her soul had once again shattered to even smaller fragments.
Rick had tried to say something but lost consciousness, falling forward, his hand slipping out of hers and she felt a small scream ripped its way through her throat. He fell into Daryl who managed to catch him, and throw him over his shoulder, looking at Michonne with despair.
"Infirmary." She says with a shuddering breath to which he nods and starts walking as fast as he can with Rick to the direction of the clinic.
"He was bit by a walker?" Judith asks from beside her, eyes shining with unshed tears, her lower lip wobbling and Michonne felt bile rise in her throat.
"I-I think so. Carol can you take them to Tina's she will mind them." Michonne looks to the older woman who nods, shocked at the sudden turn of events, catching RJ's hand and coming up beside Judith.
"No! I'm coming with you." Judith argues, moving towards Daryl who was ahead of them. Michonne catches the girl before she can move more than a few steps.
"Judith, I need you to go with Carol and stay with your brother, please." Michonne pleads with her daughter. Judith is silent for a moment.
"Promise me you will let me say goodbye before it happens. Please. He's my dad."
Michonne nods in agreement as Carol takes Judith by her free hand and directs her children down the street. Her feet hit the pavement quickly as she catches up with Daryl, throwing open the clinic door, startling an unaware Siddiq who takes in the injured man as Daryl places him on a free bed.
"Oh my god. Is that-" Siddiq asks, stunned.
"Man, there aint no time. He's been bit, don't know how long ago, but we have to cut the arm off right?" Daryl says hastily. Siddiq shakes out of his shock and quickly examines the bite , feeling Rick's skin, a frown on his face.
"He has a high grade fever, but not as high as we know it goes… but if he is already losing consciousness, it means the virus has spread too far."
A torturous spell of silence fills the room for a few moments before the shuffling of Daryl's feet fills it, moving back and forth agitated, anger and desperation clear on his face. He flips over a bedside table in a fit of rage, causing Siddiq to jump slightly and all Michonne could do was watch Daryl rush out the clinic bay. Siddiq's words sink in, the feeling of coldness and the numb despair sets within her. It was almost if her brain had shut most of herself down so she wouldn't have to feel this pain, not again.
"How long?" She hears herself ask Siddiq in a detached voice.
"I don't know, but he's more than likely going to regain consciousness before then." Siddiq says watching her make small steps back towards the exit door. "I need to go to the storage room, get some stuff to make him comfortable, you should stay with him Michonne."
Siddiq walks towards her and puts a comforting hand on her tense shoulder, waiting for her to respond. She nods stiffly and he leaves her alone with an unconscious Rick.
She finds herself staring at his motionless figure for an extended period of time, not really comprehending what to do. After awhile, her feet move on their own accord, bringing her right beside him as she looked at his discolored and sweaty face, his breathing slightly heavy but not as bad as she had seen others suffer, meaning he still had time left. She brings her hand to his beard, stroking it soothingly only to retract it quickly as her body tries to fight the emotions struggling their way to the surface.
Her brain tries it's damnedest to keep the pain and agony at bay but by doing so, it allows the unjustified anger to seep through instead.
A gentle breeze hits her skin as the door is pushed open, Siddiq walking in with his arms full of IV bags and bandages. She takes this as an opportunity to escape knowing he wasn't alone and Siddiq would call her should he wake up. She brushes past him and through the door, coming to lean against the side of the wall, taking deep breathes through her nose as nausea passes through her.
A few minutes pass where all she could focus on was getting her breathing back to normal that she didn't even notice that Carol had approached and was standing to her side, mimicking her position by leaning against the wall, until she was there.
"The kids?" Michonne asks quietly.
"They're over at Tina's house. RJ is okay, he doesn't understand what's happening." Carol supplies.
"What about Judith?" Michonne asks, her heart clenching for her little girl.
"She - she's handling it, holding it together. She's strong Michonne."
"She's 11 years old, she shouldn't have to be strong for this."
"I know."
Michonne feels her anger bubble once again as she thinks of her children, thinks of Judith's beaming smile at seeing her father alive, at RJ's hesitant but happy one as he finally got to meet the hero of his stories. Rick had held onto them all, had made her feel so complete and at peace, that this was forever yet it had be ripped away from her once again.
"It's just cruel." Michonne says angrily, tears falling out of frustration and heartbreak. "The universe is so cruel to give children their father back only to snatch him away from them again, from me again."
Carol eyes glisten with understanding and sadness, bringing Michonne into an almost motherly embrace.
"I can't do it again." Michonne whispers, tears falling onto the older woman's shoulder. Carol had been there for Michonne since Rick had sacrificed himself all those years ago, she had been one of her rocks throughout her pregnancy and although they fell apart after what happened, they were still family.
Carol takes Michonne's face in her hands "Yes,you can. You never got the chance to say goodbye last time, but you do now, so you have to be strong for Rick and the kids okay?"
Michonne nods and vows to try but she was hardly keeping herself together. Before anymore can be said, Siddiq comes rushing out of the clinic door, searching frantically for her and Michonne feels bile rise in her throat. Was this it? Was she not even getting the chance to say goodbye?
"You should come and see this." Siddiq says, confusion evident on his face. Carol and Michonne look at each other before moving inside, wondering what had caused the strange reaction.
"I was cleaning up the blood off his arm and around the bite and- look." Siddiq lifts Rick's arm up so it's visible to her and Carol. Michonne's brows furrow in confusion as she takes in the many scars and healing marks across his skin.
"Are those…?"
"Bite marks. Varying different time scales. Some of these are years old." Siddiq pointed to barely visible outlines of teeth around his elbow. "And the one that was bleeding, there are remnants of stitches here, someone sowed it up and it looks to be around 4-7 days old."
Michonne's brain was going too fast, trying to understand what was going on. What had he been through these past 6 years, what was happening right now?
Suddenly three familiar faces rush through the clinic doors, all wearing expressions of unease. A man she had not seen in over 8 years leads and she can't help the small gasp at seeing Heath alive after all this time. He is flanked by a confused and irritated Daryl and a shocked Tara.
"Please tell me you haven't stabbed him in the head." Heath asks breathlessly, pausing for a second to get his breath back. "He's not dying, and he wont die, not from that at least." He indicates the bite on Rick's arm.
Silence falls as everyone stares at Heath in disbelief.
"I think you need to explain." Carol says sternly to him, to which Heath nods and moves closer to Rick's bedside, Tara and Daryl following behind him. Michonne took hold of Rick's hand, holding it tightly, wanting to believe what Heath was saying but the way this world was, she didn't think it would be as kind to offer such a miracle.
"The place we were being held, they experimented on us. More Rick than me, he had it almost everyday and it was extreme. I don't know the ins and outs of it all, I wasn't an 'A', but they got a walker to bite him every few days, but he doesn't die because of the 'combined blood' or something. He's immune." He looks around and takes in the varying forms of disbelief and shock on everyone's faces.
"That bite that's been bleeding, that was from around 4-5 days ago. He would be long dead by now, but he's not. He's not infected."
"But he got the symptoms…" Daryl says gruffly, emotion clear in his voice.
"That's the blood transfusion withdrawal symptoms, the doctor who stitched that bite up said he was going to get them." Heath sighs, shoulders loosing their tension now that everyone knew Rick didn't need to be put down.
Michonne looked between Heath and Siddiq, the latter's face lighting up as understanding took over. He moves over and hooks up an IV, inserting the drip into the other arm that Michonne was holding onto for dear life.
"These are symptoms are blood transfusions, and if Rick's been on them for 6 years, it's going to be a few weeks of recovery at least, but we just need to keep him hydrated and rested." He said happily, smiling at Michonne. Michonne felt her heart beat harder, as if it was coming back to life and she felt a tear slip down her cheek. She strokes Rick's own cheek lovingly, a small laugh escaping her lips.
"Holy shit." Tara exclaims, looking at Daryl who seems just as flabbergasted as the rest of them.
"How is that possible? An what's an "A"?" Carol asked Heath, though Michonne could hear the relief in the woman's voice.
"I think Rick would want to tell you all that himself, it's a long story. I just had to tell you the basics so you didn't kill him."
"Thank you Heath. How did you know though?" Michonne asks, turning her gaze to the man, still softly caressing Rick's face.
"Well I didn't know he had collapsed until Daryl came running up to me and nearly biting my head of for not telling him Rick had been bit. I ran straight here as soon as he said that."
Daryl shrugged unashamedly, his eyes giving away his elation that he wasn't going to have to watch his brother die again.
"It's good you did, now I know what to treat, he will be fine and should be conscious soon." Siddiq supplies and the group nod, the tension evaporating to be replaced with utter relief.
The group sit in comfortable silence as they wait for Rick to show signs of waking up and after 35 minutes or so, his eyelids begin to flutter and he mumbles incoherently. Michonne had not moved from her place at his side, hand still holding his.
"Rick?" She asks gently, squeezing his hand. He returns the gesture as his eyes open, revealing the bright blue that always manages to en-capture her every time.
"Hey." He replies groggily, a weak yet sincere smile playing on his mouth. She senses Tara come closer to Rick's other side, a look of astonishment in place. Rick turns his head towards her.
"Can you stop making it seem like you died on us now?" Tara says humorously, causing Rick to chuckle lightly, holding out his hand in a fist.
"You got it."
Tara beams and returns the fist bump eagerly. She glances over at Carol and Heath, before turning back to Michonne and Rick.
"Do you want us to bring RJ and Judith here?"
Michonne looks at Rick for confirmation who smiles wider and nods. Tara smiles in return.
"okay, see you later Mother Goose."
Rick rolls his eyes as she and the others exit, leaving Daryl alone with her and Rick. Daryl shuffles over, gripping Rick's shoulder.
"Good to have yah back man."
Rick squeezes a hand over Daryl's residing on his shoulder, nodding but not saying anything. Daryl and Rick had always had a strong connection and she was happy they both were still able to retain it after everything. Daryl glances at Michonne and they keep eye contact for a few seconds, happiness coming from both of them as their loved one had come back from the dead. There was still a tension between her and Daryl and it was to be expected after what they went through together, but he was still family.
Rick's questioning gaze catches their attention and Daryl fidgets awkwardly before moving towards the door.
"I gotta do some stuff, I'll come see yah tomorrow."
Michonne watches him leave before turning her full attention back onto the man she was still finding it difficult to believe was actually alive. His brows were furrowed in confusion and eyes concerned.
"What's goin' on with you and Daryl?"
"What do you mean?"
"Just now, and before in the clearing, I noticed it. What's happened?" He questions.
"A lot has happened since you have been gone Rick. Daryl and I went through something a couple years back and it was- it was something bad, and we don't really discuss it, we just try to forget, but we are fine."
"What happened that was so bad?" He demands, his frown deepening.
"That's a long story" she recites his own words from earlier "and right now you need to rest, we have time to catch up later right?" Her statement turns into a question as brief flickers of doubt appear, a part of her just waiting for him to be gone again. He nods in reluctant agreement, his attention brought to the door that had burst open, Judith running straight to her father's side, throwing her arms around him as Rick held her tightly. Carol brings RJ in, who walks up to Michonne, asking to be picked up which she complies with.
"Auntie Carol said you were going to be fine, but you were bit, how can you be?" Judith demanded.
"I was, but when I was- when I was away I had a special medicine that means I wont die from it. I promised you I wasn't leaving you all ever again." Rick says with conviction and Judith nods, moving out of their embrace, sitting on the seat next to his bed. Rick turns to RJ in her arms and beams at the little boy.
"Hey there, little man." He reaches out and RJ surprisingly reaches back, moving into Rick's arms for a cuddle. Michonne was surprised as RJ was often cautious around new people but the innate bond between father and son seemed to win over caution.
The four of them spent sometime just enjoying each others company, with RJ telling Rick his favourite stories that Michonne had told about him and Rick would look over at her with a loving gleam in his eye and she knew he was grateful that she made sure their son had knew him even when he was gone. Carol came to get the children an hour later, stating she would stay with them tonight so Michonne could stay with Rick in the clinic.
After the children and Carol had left, Siddiq came in to set a new drip to keep Rick's temperature down as well as keeping him hydrated before bidding them goodnight. She watched Rick stare at the tubes connected to his arm, grimacing for a prolonged period of time, she could see he was uncomfortable.
"Hey." Michonne whispered to catch his attention, his troubled eyes diverting to hers, turning brighter as he looked at her. He moved silently to the side, making room for her to join him which she eagerly did, curling up to him as his arm came round her, almost squashing her to him but she wouldn't dare complain.
She felt his breath on her face, his hand coming to cradle her cheek, thumb rubbing gently. They stay in that position, lips close, but not touching, foreheads pressed together, needing as much contact as they can after years of deprivation.
"I can't believe you're actually here." She whispers softly in the space between them.
"I know what you mean, I feel like I'm about to wake up any second." He responds, a worried look crossing his face causing her to take action and press her lips to his, showing him that this was indeed reality. He responds after a second, his tongue looking for entrance and she grants it as his hand slides down to her waist and under her shirt. She grabs the back of his head to bring him closer to her but suddenly her whole body tenses as his hand drifts to the scar on her back. His hand and lips halt at her reaction and the feeling of jagged skin as he gently follows its pattern.
"What is that?" He murmurs.
"Something bad." She replies after a moment of hesitation. She feels his own body tense and watches as his jaw clenches, anger beginning to burn in his eyes.
"Did someone do that to you?" He practically growls, almost every part of him radiating rage except his hand which was gently place over the 'x' shaped scar. She grasps his face with her hands, making him unable to avoid her eyes.
"Rick, I'm here, you're here, we are okay. So for now, can we just be." She begs him, not ready to go into everything after such an emotionally turbulent day for both of them. The fire in his eyes resides and is replaced with only warmth and affection.
"Okay." He agrees, bringing her closer once again, hand resting on her hip,closing his eyes as sleep begins to demand his priorities. She finds herself staring at a face she never thought she would lay eyes on ever again, yet here it was, and she wasn't going to let anything tear them apart again.
"You came home." She whispers, pressing her lips to his nose in a lingering peck. Thinking he had drifted off, she closes her own eyes so sleep can claim her too, but not before she hears his soft reply.
"Yeah, I came home."
THE END