Alexis POV

My best friend had always been the one to get attached too easily and not only that but she was always able to sympathize with other people's misfortunes better than anyone. Her emotions always seem to get the best of her. I remember her crying during one of those commercials where the dad gets her daughter a bicycle and says you cannot put a price on love. When I asked her why she was crying, she said that the dad had probably worked so hard to make his little girl happy. Yes, that was Noah full of emotions she could go from sad to happy in a matter of seconds.

Only I knew why she acted the way she did and as I saw her trying to console a man she did not know I was not shocked what so ever. However, Rick, Glenn and T-Dog could not hide the apparent disturbance in their faces. It didn't take a psychologist to figure out Daryl was not a people person and his brother was all he had.

My job was to keep her and I safe. Noah is too dependable in other people. She has always been and will always be. That is why I had to make sure these people got their guns without any major incidents and we got the hell away from them as fast as we could. I was not a fan of big groups unlike Noah.

We all watched as Daryl wrapped his brother's mutilated hand and put it away in Glen's bag. I couldn't help but make a disgusted face and why he needed to carry it around was beyond me. No one had said anything yet; it was an awkward moment.

"He must've used a tourniquet. Probably his belt. Be much more blood if he didn't." He said pointing to the saw he had used.

"Blood leads that way." Noah said and rushed to follow the trail without waiting or thinking like always. We followed her inside the building.

"Geez Noah wait up!" I called after her.

"Merle? You in here?" Daryl called out. I was praying if he was here, he was alive and not out to eat us.

"Merle!" Daryl kept calling out.

"We are not alone here, remember that." Rick told him.

"Screw that. He could be bleeding out."

We reached a room that appeared to have been a kitchen of sorts Noah was standing there looking at something.

"Your brother is a badass." She told a confused Daryl and pointed to a type of Bunsen burner that had been left on and a piece of metal with what appeared to be burned skin. Gross.

"He cauterized the stump." Rick said.

"I know isn't that such a brave thing to do." Noah was full of amusement because she knew that meant he was alive. Everyone else looked a little troubled at the image of said procedure.

"Told ya he's tough. No one can kill Merle but Merle." Daryl said.

"You see I told you he is fine." Noah told Daryl and he just nodded.

"He busted out of here." Daryl said walking towards the open window where Merle had obviously escaped.

"Your brother is awesome." Noah was obviously amazed at the man's skills and intrepidity.

"He's doing what he knows how to do. Surviving."

At that comment, Noah looked away and lost all sorts of amusement on her face. She knew she could never be anything like that. All that bravery needed to survive in this new world she didn't have it. That was okay because we would always be together and if she had me she would survive. She is my best friend and I had to make sure she knows that.

No one seemed to notice her apparent change of mood as everyone was arguing about the actions leading to this; Obviously, Daryl was not happy his brother was not found. I offered Noah a small smile to break her out of her trance and she smiled back. It was all she needed to forget about it. For Noah, a simple display of affection can go a long way.

Daryl and Rick where about to go at it but Noah intervened. She positioned herself in the middle and put her hands in their chests.

"Please this isn't helping anybody. We need to come up with a good plan. Fighting and arguing won't solve anything." Both Rick and Daryl looked down at her face full of worry. She had never enjoyed seeing arguments or fights it reminded her too much of her parents.

"We can help you look a few blocks around but you need to keep a level head." Rick told Daryl.

"I could do that." Daryl responded and I heard Noah let out a big sigh of relief and a big smile adorned her face.

"You see that was better." She told them but they just ignored her and it was decided that we would look for the guns first then Merle. Great this mission just kept prolonging itself.

After a while I found myself in another room with the group while we tried to make some sort of plan to retrieve the guns. Truth is this was more in Noah's area of expertise. To me it was all confusing with the whole makeshift diagram of the street and the position we were supposed to be at. I rather just wait until someone tells me what is my job and so I wasn't paying much attention to them. I could see Noah and Glenn where doing most of the planning taking measurements and switching up strategies.

It was decided Noah and Glenn would retrieve the guns while Daryl covered them. I was to go with Rick and take cover somewhere else in case things went bad.

"Noah be careful okay. Don't rush into anything." I told her and gave her one last hug before we all parted ways.

It was Rick, T-dog and I making our way through an alley when suddenly walkers, as this group called them, where coming both ways. I got my knife ready and so did Rick and T-Dog. I sunk my knife in one's skull and blood gushed out into my clothes. The stench was horrible. I almost gagged but I had to keep going.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see one was about to get Rick from the back and before I knew what I was doing I made my way there and ended up wrestling the thing. Both Rick and T-dog where occupied now so it was just me and the walker. It was strong I was using my left arm to keep it away while trying to use my knife with my right hand. Everything happened so fast.

It just takes a small bite.

I could stab the knife and kill it but not before it got me. I lifted my long sleeve and sure enough I could make out the teeth marks on my arm.

My heart sunk to the bottom of my stomach.

This was it, the end of the road for me.

However, I had one more thing to do before the infection took over so I shook the feeling off and made my way to Rick and T-dog.

"Back there. That walker. You saved my life. I owe you one." Rick looked me dead in the eye and thanked me for what I had done. I was about to respond but we heard something.

"Ayudame! Ayudame!" It was a guy crying out for help. Things with the other group must not be going as planned. Something was wrong and we were all on alert. We rushed to where the cries where coming from.

When we got there, I noticed a really aggravated Daryl trying to punch a young teenager, and the bag of guns.

"Where is Noah?!" I started freaking out. Something was wrong. She was nowhere in sight.

"They took Glenn and Noah. That little bastard and his little bastard homie friends!" All his anger was directed toward the boy. But all I could think of was Noah.

I made my way to the boy and punched him hard on the face as he tried to coward away.

"Where is she?!" I was about to punch him again but was held back by Rick.

"T-dog back to the lab." Rick instructed and I was pushed in that direction as well.

We were back where we had previously been. Rick and Daryl where trying to get information out of the boy. I could feel the fever beginning to take over my body and I still had something very important to do.

"Rick, you got a minute to talk please?" I asked Rick urgency evident in my eyes. He nodded and followed me to another room.

"What's the matter?" Hands on his hips he was full on authority mode.

"I have a favor to ask you. You said you owed me one so here it goes," I lifted my sleeve and showed him the bite as he backed up a bit. "Please when you get Noah back take her in with your group." Tears started to form at the corner of my eyes. I never cried but It just hit me I would never see my best friend again. I had to make sure she would be safe.

"She won't make it out there in her own. You have seen her. She depends too much on others. Please I beg you I'm all she's got left and an-," my voice broke and I met Rick's compassionate look.

"I will watch out for her. I promise you have my word." He put a hand on my shoulder and I knew he was telling the truth. Rick was a man of his word.

I rubbed away the tears and reached out for a piece of paper and something to write with that was laying around the room.

Hey Bitch,

Sorry Noah looks like this is it for me. I know how I always tease you for being you but honestly, I would not trade you for anyone else. I'm going to miss everything about you. I don't say this a lot but you got something special. You will be okay so stop all that crying you look like a baby! Rick agreed to take you in his group so promise to listen to what they tell you. I trust them I guess you were right, they are good people. Take care okay? One of us must make it through to carry on our crazy adventures.

Love you Noah,

Alexis your BFF

I unclasped my necklace of a small blue butterfly and gave the letter and the necklace to Rick. He nodded and was about to make his way out of the room when I remembered I had something else.

"Wait Rick." I took out an old photograph from my bag and handed it to him. He took a good look at it and a small smile played in his lips. It was from a couple of years back, Noah had that happy toothy grin she was known for and I was rolling my eyes at her.

"She's a really happy girl ain't she?" He told me.

"She is but she's very special. She's had a tough experience as a kid. Being so happy, and well… childish is just her way of coping. Please take care of her." At this point tears where making their way down my face.

Rick walked out the door and I sat back and relaxed knowing Noah would be safe.

Hi

A little gift for the previous long wait. I deserve some reviews now right? :)

Sorry if there is any grammar errors I didn't double check.

Let me know if you like it so far and if I should update soon!