Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead.
Her Angel, His Strength
4 Vatos
Lily was so engrossed in her book she didn't look up when Andrea and Amy came back from their fishing trip. It was only when Carl started to praise them that she got curious about it. They had managed to catch several fishes. She was impressed, knowing herself how to fish but never being able to catch more than just a few. She smiled at them, knowing they would all have a good dinner that night.
When Dale came down to say that Jim had been all day long in the sun digging into the ground, she didn't really know why everyone was so against it. Of course, he should take a few brakes, but he wasn't doing anyone any harm. She followed them anyway, just because she had nothing else to do.
The way Jim went on, though, made her rethink about her opinion. Perhaps Shane was right, while Jim was not hurting anyone he was hurting himself. She watched with a frown as Lori went to say how he was scaring the kids. The kids would be fine; she was more worried about why Jim was digging those holes. They look like graves, Lily thought with a shiver running down her spine.
She watched as Shane handcuffed Jim and brought him down a shadow to tie him to a tree. Ruefully, she thought how these police officers were fond of tying people up. She honestly did not think it was necessary but made no comment about it. Jim appeared to understand and did not protest, so she thought it was not her place to. Besides, she never really talked to Shane before.
Lily sat down next to Jim after the crowd disappeared and he smiled at her. She smiled back and asked:
"You ok?"
"Yeah. Though I figure, I had better cooperate. You've seen the way he dealt with Ed." Lily bit her lip and looked away from him.
"I wanted… I wanted to have dealt with Ed the same way as him. The way he treats his wife… He deserved it." She concluded with severity. "Though I think he got carried away. It really wasn't necessary for him to destroy the man's face… And to do it in front of his wife, that was wrong. Just like I think it's wrong of him to tie you up here."
"I understand the need though. Didn't mean to scare those kids."
Lily sighed and closed her eyes. This wasn't a world for children. She felt bad for them, not being able to have a cheerful and happy childhood. They'd need to grow up fast. Frowning, she thought that again. She would need to grow up too. She knew that, if she were alone, she would end up walker's food. Perhaps Daryl would teach her how to shoot… Merle had already said she would need to man up her self-defence.
Getting up, she waved Jim goodbye and went on to continue reading Dale's book. She was getting worried they had not come back already, surely it should not take so long for them to get Merle and the guns back. Lily hoped beyond hope they were all okay. Especially Daryl, Glenn and Merle.
Lily tried to keep herself busy while waiting. She read a few more chapters but could not seem to concentrate so she gave that up and went on to retrieve the dry clothes. She got hers, Daryl, Merle, and Glenn's, not knowing if the others would appreciate her messing with their stuff. Smoothing out the best she could, she folded and placed them in their sleeping places.
Walking up to Amy, she quietly asked if she could stay guard for her while she bathed, the blonde-haired girl agreed and they went down the quarry. She learned that Amy's birthday was close, though she did not know if it had already passed or not, as no one seemed to keep track anymore. Lily thought Dale did, but was not so sure.
"Happy birthday, anyway." She smiled at her new friend. Amy beamed at her and asked when hers was. "October."
In their conversation, they discovered Lily was just two years younger than Amy, a fact that the blond thought funny. Amy told her about her past birthdays, and how it took the end of the world for Andrea to spend that special occasion with her. Lily smiled sadly, remembering how her own brother always made sure to spend her birthdays with her and how, even when he was just a kid, he had always insisted on getting her his own present. Of all her family, her brother was who she missed the most.
Finally, dinnertime came, and while the atmosphere was joyful, Lily could not bring herself to fully appreciate it; they should be back several hours ago. She did not want to bring up the topic though, seeing how everyone was having a good time for once. Shane even let Jim out of his tree. She smiled, and answered when talked to but she kept wishing she were back at her seat in the RV.
"I give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire, which will fit your individual needs no better than it did mine or my father's before me; I give it to you not that you may remember time, but that you may forget it for a moment now and then and not spend all of your breath trying to conquer it." Lily smiled.
"Faulkner." Dale beamed at her and she smiled back with sad eyes. Her father used to quote him sometimes.
When Amy got up to go to the toilet, she decided she'd excuse herself and retire for the night after Amy's return. Her worries were eating at her, making difficult for Lily to stay put.
It was then that it happened. Amy screamed and all seemed to move in slow motion. She could feel herself getting up and watching it, could feel the panic bubbling up her throat. Someone pushed her and she fell down the ground, a hand reaching out for her. She heard her own scream as she tried to get up but her legs failed her. The hand stopped coming, and someone grabbed her and pulled her up.
"Stay behind." Daryl, she thought in a daze, he came back! She followed him as he tried to make way towards the Winnebago, her eyes fixed on his back. Someone pulled her away, grabbing at her shirt. Acting sorely on instinct she took a bolt from Daryl's quiver and brought down at the face of the once upon a man that was snarling at her.
Daryl looked back and pushed her in front of him, deciding that it was better if he could see her. Pushing her, they made their way towards the others, and finally, the guns stopped firing. Turning Lily around he checked her body for bites or scratches, finding none he pulled her face close to him.
"Ya bit? Scratched?"
"No… No… Amy, Amy was." She said, shaking her head, not able to focus. "I- I killed it. I killed him." Daryl frowned, getting a hold of her hand and trying to pull his bloodied bolt out of her fingers. "He was going… I killed it. Amy was bitten. But it's her birthday!"
When he finally managed to make her realise the bolt, he took her face in between his hands, bringing it close to his.
"Hey. Stop that; look at me. Look at me, Lily." She blinked several times before being able to focus. "Breathe. It's over." She nodded and he let go of her face to hold onto her waist. She collapsed against him, sobbing into his shirt. Resting his chin on her head, he caught sight of Glenn making his way towards them. Daryl moved her to him and watched for a moment as the Asian got her into a sitting position and held her tight. Nodding, Daryl went off to find the others, having already realised Merle was not back.
It was decided they would take care of the bodies in the morning. Daryl would prefer to start right now, seeing it was only a matter of time before the ones bitten would rise again, but he nodded, eyeing Lily asleep with her head on Glenn's shoulder.
He walked up to them, ignoring Glenn and picking the woman up. Turning around he made his way towards his tent when Glenn said:
"Where are you going? The car is here." He pointed behind him.
"I got her." Daryl answered without looking back. Dropping her on his sleeping bag, he glanced at Merle's at the other corner of the tent. With a sneer, he went to it, but thought better about it and laid down next to Lily.
Lily rolled over, resting her hand on his chest and he glanced down at her. She freaked out for killing a walker, though Daryl was somewhat proud of her. It was a start, she only had to keep going and she would be just fine. He was glad they got back in time, having been worried when they first heard the screams and gunshots. He hated felling that way, but he figured the best way to cope with it was helping her learn how to survive. Closing his eyes, he draped an arm across the girl and, smelling down her hair, fell into sleep.
I am currently writing the season 3, and I would like to know if you would rather Merle die or live. Please give me your thoughts.
Thank you, EastDenise, for your comment. I had no idea that it didn't snow in Gergia. I'll make sure to remember that!
If there's no one reading, there will be no update.
English is not my mother tongue, if you find a mistake, please let me know.
Thank you,
Mel.
