Angel
I knew Katie better than most. She was strong willed with a heart of gold. Yet she was hard – having had to raise her daughter on her own these last few years taught her to become hard, in order to protect her daughter from the cold, harsh world she was thrown into.
Katie was the mother hen of our group, as cold as she was, she always put the needs of others before her own. When our group fell on harder than usual times the past winter, she went out every single morning to hunt, and when she returned, she cleaned, skinned and cooked the food on her own, before making sure everyone had enough to keep them going. She often times went as long as a week without touching a bite of food. The same went with clothing and medical supplies. She always put others before herself.
But Katie Anderson was no saint. She harbored a dark past of drug abuse, violence and hate towards the world. More times than not, I found myself wondering if it was the end of the world that brought out the kindness in her, or if something snapped long before. You'd never guess by looking at her, that she spent three years in prison when she was only 16.
Katie never openly spoke about her feelings, which left the group to come to their own conclusions as to why the young mother spent so much time out gathering food or supplies, instead of making plans with the group. She rarely came up with a surefire plan, unless it was dangerous. Katie was queen of making dangerous decisions.
Like a few months back when we had been surrounded by Walkers one night while setting up camp in an old, abandoned warehouse. She was the one who suggested going out, guns blazing. Scottie only agreed to the plan because he couldn't come up with a better one himself. We lost six good men that night.
I don't know if it was her rebellious streak, or the way she didn't think of the consequences that attracted me to her so much. Maybe it was just the fact that she had so much charisma or the fact that she loved with her whole heart, even if she didn't tell you it to your face. Maybe it was the fact that we could relate on so many levels, though differed on countless others.
Or maybe I just liked how she never once let fear show. Unless it regarded her daughter. Deep down, I think the only person she truly loved and would die for was that little girl.
Mackenzie was sleeping in my lap as I watched through the chain links of the fence for her mother to return. Daryl, the man with the crossbow, was a few feet off, his face emotionless as he too, watched the treeline for our last member.
"She's gonna come back," I assured him. "I know Katie well enough to know she ain't gon' let no Walker kill her."
"Can't be too sure now a days," the scruffy redneck countered. "Expect the unexpected."
"You talk like you know it better than most," I observed.
"Sure do," he grunted. The conversation died as quickly as it started.
I leaned against the board behind us, letting Mackenzie's warm body inch away the chill seeping into my bones as night began to settle in.
"Where's mommy?" she asked, looking up at me with those sad blue eyes.
"Mommy's coming," I promised her, kissing the top of her head softly.
I didn't know if my response was true or not. Maybe Katie really wasn't going to come back. Maybe she got herself killed after all. But you just don't look at a kid and say their mama might be dead. You just don't. Not even at the end of the world.
Katie
I wasn't sure where I was going or what I was doing. The sun had long since set against the horizon and I knew it was all a matter of time before a herd of hungry Walkers picked up my scent. On any other night, I would have eagerly set a fire and let the warm amber heat my skin. But not that night. That night, I was barely strong enough to stay perched high above the ground.
Blood was still seeping out of my arm, the wound sore and itchy. I knew it was a bad sign. I had one bullet left in my gun, three things of firecrackers and almost all of my metal balls still intact. I was left with nothing else. My plan suddenly seems fruitless.
"Think, Katie, think," I muttered as I forced my eyes open. I had a headache that just wouldn't let up. So much as breathing made it hurt that much worse. I forced myself to stay alert as I braced myself against the tree. The Walkers were fanned out enough that if I really wanted, I could have jumped from my perch to the next tree. Or better, if I had the strength, I could have made a run for it.
Instead, I found myself braiding the firecrackers together, using pieces of bark as flint.
"One chance, Kate, that's all you've got," I told myself. I tossed the firecrackers to the next tree, keeping a firm grip on the other end. I watched as they sored through the sky, landing a good few feet away. I smiled slightly and lit my end with my lighter. The fire took and quickly made its way down the thin string.
I didn't stick around long enough to witness my plan unfold, but the loud cracking and stream of smoke assured me that the plan worked out that far.
I hit the ground running, using the last of my strength to weave my way through the dark, tripping and stumbling as I went. It took a lot longer to reach the clearing, but when I did, I could barely stand, much less breathe.
I was thrilled to see that there were very few Walkers around, but it wasn't as easy as that. Nothing ever was. My knees gave way as the adrenaline wore off, exhaustion and blood loss finally taking control. My last conscious thought was how it killed me to know I was that close, yet still so very far.
Scottie
I watched as Katie's breathing changed for the millionth time that night. Hershel had tried to assure us that she would survive, but deep down, I wasn't as confident as the old vet was. Her fever had spiked again and as much as I didn't want to consider it, facts were facts.
"She has to make it," Grace sobbed into my shoulder as we watched out unspoken leader waste away in front of us.
"She always thought of you as the leader," Angel whispered. "You know this isn't how she intended to end her life."
"She can't die," I said strongly, for the sake of my small group. "Katie's invincible."
"That's stupid talk," Victor snorted. "She's nothing but a little, broken girl."
"She's got more guts than you, you ol' fool!" Angel spat. "For cryin' out loud, she's done things none of us have even considered to survive!"
"Shh," I said gently. Something felt different. Something changed.
"Found me a dog!" Carl, Rick's little boy, cried out. I turned just slightly to see a furry beast burst through the cell door, jumping onto the bed with Katie.
"Shoo, mutt," I shooed. The dog growled at me.
Mackenzie, who had been silent since Daryl, this real rough around the edges hick, carried her mother's limp body into the prison, looked up, her eyes flashing with joy.
"Bessy!" she cried with delight, pulling the dog into her arms. The old dog whined happily, her thick tail wagging. Behind Angel, stood a much smaller, much thinner dog.
"Kenzie, you have two dogs?" I asked carefully. We'd all heard countless stories about Bessy. The old dog was dear to the young family and we all knew how much it killed Katie to lose her a few months back.
"No, but mommy said Bes was gonna be a mama when we saw her last," the little girl explained. "Prolly her puppy."
"I'll be damned," I laughed softly.
"Where'd you find them, Carl?" Angel asked. She was patting the younger dog's head. His tail wagged happily at the attention.
"Outside the fence," a different voice chimed. We all looked up to see Daryl standing in the doorway. "Dog had Kate's name on it, figured it was safe to let 'em in."
"Look!" Grace cried.
Much to my surprise, Katie was stirring. She groaned softly before opening her eyes, a slight gasp escaping her lips as the large sheepdog landed painfully on her chest.
" 'M I dead?" she groaned, her eyes glassy.
"Not in the least!" I exclaimed, my hand clasping down on hers. "Daryl here found your dog."
"Who the fuck is Daryl?" she asked, pushing herself up. I was about to make her lay back down, when I look of pure surprise crossed her face.
"No freaking way!" she yelped. "No freaking way in hell!"
"What?!" I exclaimed, following he gaze.
"Well I'll be a monkey's cousin, if it ain't kid Dixon in the flesh!" she said, her entire face brightening as she looked at the dirty redneck.
"You two know each other?" I asked carefully.
"I don't think so?" Daryl said with a grunt. "Do I?"
"Not exactly," she grinned. She sat up straight and reached for her bag. Grace handed it to her without question, too shocked to even consider it.
"'Less there are two Daryl Dixon's roamin' this world, I'd like to think I just found, oh, how'd that man put it…" she closed her eyes to think. " 'shit kickin', no good, sonovabitch, arrow throwin' baby brother o' mine' Daryl," she grinned.
Daryl looked stunned.
"You know Merle?!"
A/n - I'm not too sure about this chapter. I rewrote it half a dozen times, and tried my best to make it flow just right, and hopefully, it came out that way for y'all. Anyway, I wrote it while being sick and half asleep, after a long, looooong night at work, so bear with me.
Little side fact - I had to have Katie know someone related to someone in Rick's group, and decided her knowing Merle would be perfect. You'll find out how exactly in the next chapter. ;)
Let me know what you think. I will warn you all of one thing - if you don't like oc x Daryl, stop reading now. It won't be a sappy love story, but there will be a connection somewhere down the line. That's all I'm giving you. :D