Chapter Ten

Eight Months Later

The months Joelle was alone after the farm were harder then she had assumed they would be. Her humanity could be seen draining out of her as she reverted into full survival mode. She never stayed longer than one night in each place, scavenging for food and barely eating enough to live. Joelle's appearance had also drastically change; her hair was dull and straggly pulled into a low, messy bun, there were dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep, her face was gaunt and dark from lack of nutrition. Her body once lean and muscular was reduced to nothing; she looked like a skeleton covered in skin. She looked like the walking dead.

Joelle had tried tracking Rick and the others and for a time it worked she had steady leads but as the cold came and the snow settled, the trail became cold and she lost whatever ground she had gained.

Daryl POV

They all sat around the fire talking happily about the prison and the opportunities it gave to them, all except Daryl and Rick. Other than Rick it was Daryl that took Joelle's death the hardest, he had almost completely lapsed back to his old angry self, barely talking and only doing what was needed.

Rick was walking the perimeter of the prison while Daryl stood on the bus taking watch. After Rick's third time round he came and sat down taking a bowl of meat, he offered it to Lori who took some.

"I think we greatly underestimated how much he cared for Joelle," Lori said softly to the group her eyes on Daryl.

"She changed him and in a good way, without her it's like he's lost again," Carol replied. It was true she hadn't really like Joelle but seeing how depressed and angry Daryl had become after her death she regretted all harsh thoughts about her. Joelle had made Daryl happy, made him free and without her she doubted he would open up again.

Daryl paced the bus keeping his eyes peeled for movement outside and inside the fence. His eyes found Carol who was walking towards him with a bowl of food in her hands. He didn't want her there, didn't want anyone near him. Carol placed the food on the bus, gave him as small smile and left. He sighed, he knew she was just trying to help but he didn't want Carol. He wanted Elle.

He looked at the dark sky and wondered if she was watching over him, if she had cared enough to. He laughed internally what the hell was he thinking, no one cared for him, no one could, only Merle and he was gone. Sighing he returned to his watch, wishing that he could have held her one last time.

General POV (Joelle)

Joelle's eyes scanned the store for any sign of movement, flickering over shapes until she was content that it held no threat. Making her way down aisles gathering what little food and supplies that were left. She was near the back of the store when a large hand touched her shoulder, she spun around but instead of facing the walker she was expecting she was facing a man. He had cold, dark eyes and a thin mouth pulled into an evil sneer.

"Hey boys! I foun' us some dessert," his sneer grew showing off his rotten teeth; his foul breath blew over her face causing her to gag. Joelle's body was already seizing up at his words and if she didn't do something soon she would be dead by sundown.

Quicker than the man could react she kneed him in the groin, he doubled over in pain and she ran. Joelle ran around the aisles and out the store only to be met with three more men leering at her hungrily.

Pulling out her handgun she shot two in the head before the third tackled her knocking the gun from her grasp. Had she still been fit and toned she could have fought him off, but after months with lack of nutrition and no food she could barely keep herself moving.

The man on top of her grinned as his hand made its way to the button on her jeans and ripped it open. Joelle's struggling became frantic.

Unknown POV

He looked to his wife Roxanne, her golden blonde hair pulled into a tight braid, sweat and dirt covering her body and face but she was still beautiful, breathtakingly beautiful. He watched her sure, graceful steps for a second before turning to his son.

Daniel was sixteen and already had a body most girls would die for, the apocalypse had built muscles over his body quickly and he hadn't lost much weight; they had always found enough food that they rarely went hungry. He had mothers green eyes but his dark chestnut hair.

He sighed wishing his son could've had a childhood like his own but that was never going to happen and he knew it. He hoped that the rest of his family were safe, that they were okay but as strong as they were he knew it was a long shot.

"Come on, I remember seeing a store somewhere near here," his voice was quiet, careful but it was enough to get them moving faster, with more purpose.

The store had just come into view when two loud gunshots rang out, his steps faltered slightly as he watched two men drop but his steps became surer and faster as he watched the third man tackle the lone woman, he could hear his wife and son following him as he ran.

The closer he came the clearer his actions became, the man was about to rape her. The sound of their arrival alerted the man to them, he just grinned pulled out his gun and shot towards Daniel. Luckily the woman had bucked her hips at that moment pushing his aim off of Daniels head and causing the shot to hit his leg instead, with a cry of pain Daniel fell.

The woman took advantage of the man's laps in attention by pushing him off and stabbing him in the head with a large hunting knife. A fourth man came out of the store grinning at the group before running off. Loud groans suddenly filled the air, he looked up to find a huge amount of walkers surrounding them.

"Shit!" he spat, he turned to the woman and was surprised when he saw the woman helping his wife get Daniel to his feet, he moved and took her place when he saw her knees nearly buckle. She was thin too thin and a veil of dull, dirty hair covered her face.

She moved and stared shooting walkers closest to them, "There's a cleared prison up the road, I can fix up your boy there!" her voice was rough with lack of use, they didn't hesitate, they ran.

Daryl's POV

The quiet was disrupted by Rick carrying a black woman who was barely conscious. Daryl sighed there he was struggling to provide for the group and here was Rick bringing in more strays. His hand went to the chain around his neck, pulling it out from where it was hidden under his shirt, her tags "For good luck" her words echoed in his head as he gazed at the engravings.

Grimes
Joelle Kate
137-23-694
A Positive
Catholic

Daryl ran his thumb over the engraved metal before giving it a kiss and tucking it into his shirt once more. He walked out to the small cooking space they had, "Rick, who the hell's this?"

Rick looked back down to the woman, "you wanna tell us your name?" when she looked at him blankly he repeated the question quietly.

"Yo, come on in 'ere," Daryl said roughly.

"Everythin' alright?" asked Rick looking at his right hand man.

"You're gonna wanna see this," was all he said before leading Rick towards the cells. Carl and Hershel followed Rick and Daryl out to the cells locking the woman in the separate area.

The joyful moment of Carol's reconnection to the group was shattered by a loud bang as the gate to cell block C was flung open. The group ran to where they had left the women to find four haggard looking people. A teenage boy leaning on what looked to be his parents while an unnaturally thin woman held up her gun aiming it at the group, Carl quickly unlock the cell and they piled, in but the woman holding the gun ignored them.

"Get him on the table and cut open his pants," she ordered, they hurried to do her bidding, carefully placing their son on the metal table, "Keep them busy while I fix him up!" she nodded her head towards Rick and the others.

Daryl looked at the man as he came forward with the blonde woman, he looked like Rick too much like Rick, his thought were interrupted when Rick gasped, "Lucas! Roxie!"

Rick smiled as he embraced the couple before his eyes saddened, "is that Daniel?"

Lucas nodded, "Yes he was shot when we saved her from being raped, we had to run from a large herd of walkers. We don't know her name but she saved us and she's saving Dan right now so," Lucas looked at his brother, "How's your family are they…." He trailed of unwillingly.

"We found Justine as a walker. We had Joelle, Lucas and she slipped right through our fingers, we lost her. Lori she… she died giving birth to my daughter," Rick buried his face in his hands.

"I'm sorry brother, I really am," Lucas placed a hand comfortingly on his brother's shoulder.

"I don't mean to interrupt but the woman you found is going to die of starvation," Hershel's wise voice moved the sorrow and made them turn to the woman who had finished stitching up Daniel.

She stood, nearly falling as her knees buckled Glenn moved to help her but she flinched back, Daryl moved forward looking at her dull chestnut hair. Pulling Glenn back he knelt down next to her, "Elle?" Daryl asks carefully, the group held their breath.

Silver eyes snap up to his and elation takes over him, it's her but it's not. She's so thin, her face gaunt she's barely recognisable, a thin frail hand reaches up and strokes his cheek, "I found you," her whisper is soft, she sighs before collapsing into his embrace.

Daryl wrapped his arms around her and lifted her easily, turning he met the groups disbelieved faces, they were all socked that Joelle was alive and they hadn't known. He marched passed them his hard glare telling everyone to back off silently, "We had no idea she was Joelle! We should have known!" Lucas whispered to Rick.

"I don't think it's the same Joelle Luke, I really don't," Rick sighed back.

General POV (Joelle)

The thin broth slipped down her throat easily and was welcome. She could feel it travel through her body as it warmed her limbs, pulling life back into her body. Ice blue eyes watched her every move, it was like he couldn't bear to take his eyes of her, just in case she wasn't real.

Once she had finished the broth and had at least seven glasses of water she relaxed onto the prison bunk, letting the blankets shroud her in warmth and comfort. Daryl had stayed even after he'd finished feeding her, he'd opened his mouth numerous times as if to start speaking but no words ever came. Joelle patted the bed inviting him to come and lie with her. When he didn't move she tried again, "please D, come lay with me."

At the sound of her dry broken voice he seemed to break from his thoughts and moved to lay by her side. He wrapped his strong arms around her before burying his face in her hair, breathing her sweet scent deeply. Joelle sighed as she once again felt safe in his arms, she had been alone for too long, broken, scared and hungry she had managed to find her way back to him, just like she promised.

Joelle awoke to a dark room still secure in Daryl's arms, a smile on her face, she was home. Daryl's face was still buried in Joelle's neck, his warm breath tickling her skin, she shifted in his arms and they tightened around her waist, "Stay Elle," his voice was husky from sleep and made her shiver in desire.

He moved his face from her neck and gave her a quick peck on her lips before pulling away, a light blush staining his cheeks. He didn't get very far before Joelle pulled his face back to her and crashed her lips to his. He ran his tongue along her lips before she opened her mouth giving him entrance, she let out a small moan when his tongue stroked hers, his hand trailed up her spine before cradling her neck and pulling her closer.

Joelle smiled as she felt his growing excitement against her leg, he pulled away gasping for air, "Elle," he whispered his voice gruff, eyes dark with lust.

"Shh," she whispered back before placing a trail of kisses down his neck nipping slightly at his collarbone before continuing the trail down his chest.

An awkward cough form the door way broke the lust filled haze and both Joelle and Daryl turned a light pink at being caught in the middle of something. Rick stood there looking slightly embarrassed at what he had just witnessed, Judith in his arms.

Joelle was the first to react as she stood straightening her shirt, "is that…"

"This is Judith, Lori…. She…" Rick couldn't continue as his eyes filled with tears and his voice cracked.

"No! Please tell me she's okay Rick!" Joelle's expression broke down, she was silent for a moment before lifting her eyes to meet Rick. "Can I hold her?" she asked timidly.

"Of course," he handed Judith over quickly, "Daryl calls her little ass kicker," he said chuckling.

Joelle joined him, "She gorgeous, aren't you Little ass kicker?" she cooed to the baby.

"Joelle, thank you, for coming back to us, we missed you," Rick said softly before leaving her in the cell with Daryl and Judith.