The sun was just coming across the sky when streams of light shined through the top flap of the tent and woke Daryl up from his sleep. Daryl rubbed his eyes had a little look around her tent, it was neat and organized. Her cross bow sat in the corner with the spare bolts and her knives. His boots were beside her little pair of black vans, tiny compared to the size of his army boots. They were less than half the size of his boots; it made him laugh a little.
Anna was fast asleep; the sleeping bag over her chin, curling right up to him, so close her hair was tickling his chin. Just near his head was her camera with the pile of Polaroids of the photos from her party. Anna insisted on not calling them photos but memories. He found himself wanting to have a look at them. Knowing she wouldn't mind, he picked up the pile of Polaroids and leafed through them, it made him smile. There was a photo Anna kissing T Dog on the cheek; T Dog grinning like the cat got the mouse. There was a whole heap of self-portraits with Maggie and Beth. But then there were a few photos of Daryl and Anna. There was one where they were both sticking their middle finger up at the camera and sticking out their tongues, being cheeky. Another with Anna sitting on Daryl's lap; he had one eyebrow cocked, a smirk on his face and his arms around her waist. But there was one that caught his eye; Anna was smiling, beaming up at him and he was looking down at her, a contentment look in his eye and a small smile on his face. Daryl took the photo and put it in his pocket; he knew she wouldn't mind him having it. There was an old photo of her own, it was folded in half. He opened it up; it was a photo of her, her father and her brother. Her twin brother, Anna had never told him she was a twin. They both had the light green eyes, the dark brown hair, and the crinkles round the eyes when they were smiling, big dimples and cheeks that were like little apples. By the looks of the photo, they had all been out hunting. They all had disheveled hair, dirt smeared across their faces and hands. Michael and Matthew had their guns, wearing flannelette shirts. Anna had her cross bow hanging across her back. Samson was sitting in front of them. They all looked happy; Daryl wished he had family like that. People that cared, people that were happy.
He lay then thinking a little, was she really there with him? He found himself actually smiling a little bit. Anna was curled right up against him, her nose touching him and it was freezing cold. Her hair was everywhere now, completely undone from her up do from the night before. He liked her long hair; it reminded him of the angels you would see in the big fancy paintings and the sci-fi shows on cable. "I gotta get up Anna. Got to get out there and get the day started."
She moaned, half asleep, pulling up the blanket further up and over her head. "Five more minutes. It is too cold outside. You are now like my official space heater or something. I should like move into your tent where there's more room. You don't wanna move into a smaller girl's tent. Yours would smell like the woods."
Anna snuggled further into him, her fingers grazed his arms and he jumped a little. "Not my fault you are unusually cold."
Anna picked up her pillow and put it over head. "I hate the cold."
"I can tell that." Daryl felt nervous, twiddling his thumbs a little. "Ya really wanna move into my tent? What about what the others think?"
Anna scoffed, pulling out her hand and reaching over Daryl's chest patting Samson behind the ears "I don't give two shits what people say or think about what I do. I want to and it sucks being alone left to my thoughts. Safety in numbers right?"
Damn straight it was and he was going to make sure of it. He still felt a little awkward about it but he would do anything to make her safe and feel better.
"Okay then. We will move your stuff later on. At least now I can keep a better eye on you." Daryl got out from underneath the sleeping bag, he shook his head at Anna acting like a child; it gave a sense of normalcy. She reached out grabbing Daryl's pillow and put it over her head to block out any sound or sun. Her head was just pounding, like as if someone was banging pots together at the base of her skull. Samson perked his head up, looking up at Daryl and wagging his tail. Daryl leaned forward and gave him a scratch behind the ears. Samson eyes started to droop, his head lowering to the ground and softly moaning. "Stay with your momma until she gets out of bed, boy. Anna is a little bit worse for wear and needs all the help she can get at the moment".
Anna pulled out her hand from underneath her sleeping bag and stuck her finger out up at him. "I hate you Daryl Dixon, I really do. You are the bane of my existence." her voice muffled.
He smirked to himself "Pfft. You don't hate me" he scoffed, putting his boots on. "Carol will have breakfast ready for all of us soon. You need to get up and eat something to soak up all of that alcohol in your stomach, sober up for the day ahead. Never know when you might need to up and run from walkers. Need to be on your A game" Daryl reached over, put a bottle of water near her head and a slide of aspirin for her to take, looking out for her as per usual. "Make sure you drink plenty of that water. Dehydration is a bitch but even more of bastard with that hang over you have there. Drink at least two liters of water today, ya hear me? Or else." he threatened, poking her in the side with his finger.
A little hand snaked out from under the layers of blankets and grabbed the bottle of water. Daryl had to laugh a little. "Thank you. And stop laughing at me you jack ass. I know you have that smirk on your face. I can even see it from underneath all these layers".
Daryl nudged her leg, she groaned 'What would you do without me, half pint?" he joked.
"Right now I would be having a sleep in and trying to get over a massive hang over that feels like world war three banging around in my head." she moaned. "I would be lost Daryl Dixon."
"Talk to you later, Half Pint" Daryl got up and headed out of the tent. She sure was a character.
Anna had decided to finally get up out of her little haven, much to her dislike of course. She felt lazy and really did need to get out there in the hot Georgian sun. She yawned loudly, pulling down the sleeping bag and moving the pillow from her head. Anna shook Samson awake with her feet, he grumbled at her, shaking his head and getting up from his stomach. She laughed, pulling her waist length hair up into a big messy bun on to the top of her head and tied the pink and purple bandana around her head. She searched around and found her dog tags, parent's wedding rings and St Jude necklace Daryl had given her around her neck. Samson was whining, bobbing his head up and down and looking back to Anna, giving her the biggest puppy dog eyes her could. She knew where he wanted to go "Alright then. I will let you go on out to your bum buddy out there. You two are thick as thieves".
She unzipped the tent with just enough room for Samson to crawl under to go running to Daryl. Samson couldn't find himself running out of the tent fast enough, barking as if he was telling Daryl "hello, hello!"
"Boys. You all really do stick together like nothing else, don't you?" she muttered, sighing.
Looking around her tent, Anna found her plain blue flannelette long sleeve shirt, her dirty light blue jeans and her brown hiking boots. She grabbed her bottle of water, slipped on her Ray Bans sunglasses and made her way out of the tent. Looking up, she sees Samson is already sitting down beside Daryl, with his head up and silently begging for his scrambled eggs.
The scene before her was actually quite funny for Anna to see. Daryl was holding his plate up high and out of the way from Samson's nose. Samson was resting his head on Daryl's knee, edging his nose closer and closer to the plate of eggs "No!" Daryl growled, pointing his finger down at the dog. "These eggs are mine! You hear me, yeah" Samson sat down, his tail wagging like mad and moaning to Daryl, giving him big puppy dog eyes. "That big eye act may work on your mamma, but it's not gonna work on me" he protested,
Samson accepted defeat, stopped the act and laid his head on his paws. Daryl smirked to himself, chucked Samson a little bit of egg. He looked up, seeing Anna slowly making her way to the group. He found himself holding back a laugh; she was dragging her feet and yawning. "Good morning Half Pint, don't you look a treat?" He leaned further back into his chair, putting his plate onto his lap and reached down to the camera to take a photo of her looking a treat. "Especially love the birds nest on top of your head. Look out the winner of Miss America is Anna Hendricks, Miss Georgia everybody!"
Anna looked at him, wanting to be angry but too tired to care and a little impressed he knew what Miss America is. She just waved him off with her hand and sat beside him in her camp chair. "I feel so tired I can't even think of a come back to that witty remark you came up with just then. I don't even have the energy to stick my middle finger up at you and I have to actually forcefully call you a jack ass" She took a big sip of her water, closing her eyes and leaning her head back over the back of her chair. "I vow never to get shit faced drunk ever again. I well and truly hate you both T Dog and Glenn".
"Love you too baby girl." T Dog teased, blowing a kiss in the air to her.
Carol came to her, giving her a plate a scrambled eggs "Feeling a little worse for wear sweetheart?" Carol asked.
"I should not have told him the drunken story. I should not say a word to any of you. What I should have done was take it to my grave" Anna groaned, the scrambled eggs a welcome relief. "I have not had eggs since all of this started, these are simply just amazing Carol. Oh my god".
Carol smiled at her "You are more than welcome, sweetheart. There is more where that came from just for you too. I can see you starting to wither away before me. You need your strength to get better sooner rather than later. I am starting to see more of your collar bone sticking out."
"Yes Mom" she joked, then realizing what she actually said and felt guilty. "I am so sorry Carol that really just slipped out. I didn't mean to" Anna was wide eyed and felt guilty if she caused Carol any more pain.
"Don't be sorry. " Carol liked the sound of hearing that again, she even laughed and patted her shoulder. She knew Anna has a heart of gold and meant no harm. "Now eat your breakfast like a good little girl or I will take your cross bow away from you. I know how much you love that weapon of yours. Now, eat! Or you go in the naughty corner"
"Yeah Anna, the naughty corner isn't fun" Carl called out.
"Yeah, you heard that right Half Pint. The naughty corner ain't fun, so eat up!" Daryl taunted, smirking and eating some of his eggs.
Anna tilted her head, smirking at him. He knew that all knowing look on her face and had to hide his smile by wiping his mouth and eating some more eggs "Carl, sweetheart, will you get your mom or dad to cover your eyes. I need to give Daryl a message that you can't see".
Anna gave him the middle finger without even looking at him. The whole camp laughed together.
'There is the girl we all know and love." Daryl joked.
She picked up her fork from her plate and ate a fork full of eggs. She waited until Carol had her back turned towards her. Anna sneakily took a part of her eggs, sliding them off her plate and down to Samson, Daryl squeezed his eyes pointedly at her leaning over, taking the cross bow off the ground. He pointed it to her, pretending with all he had to be annoyed at her but being so close to cracking a smile "No cross bow till you eat your eggs Anna Hendricks. I am going to keep this on me till you eat every scrap of food on that plate".
Anna scraped around her plate took a big spoonful of eggs and shoved them in her mouth "Happy?" she asked.
Daryl screwed up his face, shaking his head. Anna was really full of surprises; he liked it "You are one disgusting woman Anna Hendricks. You really are!"
She rolled her eyes at him, biting a piece of bread 'Thought I was the girl you all know and love".
Rick looked on from across the fire, laughing. "You are in trouble now, Anna. Daryl just called you by your full name. Suggest you pull yourself in line." He joked.
Anna rolled her eyes at him before taking another bite of her eggs "Like you said, you all love me for who I am remember". Anna made screwed up her face a little and poked her tongue out at Daryl "He really is such a bully! I can handle him on his worst days with no problem. It is a piece of cake".
Glenn stood up, clearing his throat and looked all around at the group. "So the barn is full of walkers." Everyone just stopped and looked at Glenn absolutely shell shocked.
They were all standing there, staring at the barn. The sun was beating hot down on their skin, Anna skin a little red from the sun. Shane had walked up to the door, peering through the crack at all the walkers and going back to the group absolutely furious. Anna cautiously began walking up to the front of the barn; she found herself drawn to it. Daryl kept his eye on her "Be careful yeah. Don't know how many are in there"
"Mmm hmm." she muttered, Samson by her side whining, not leaving his momma's side.
Shane came storming back to Rick and in his face "You can't tell me you are alright with this?"
"I am not okay with this, but this is not our land! We are guests here!" Rick replied, turning his attention to Anna who just kept on walking to the barn door. "Anna, come back please? We don't know how strong that door is".
"We have gone this long with them in there. That door is locked tight and held together securely. Nothing is going to break out" she replied.
She looked in, trying to see the walkers when one suddenly appeared behind the crack, snarling and growling at her. "Jesus Christ." she gasped, jumped back a little and her knee gave way from underneath her. Daryl took her shoulder and walked her away from the barn door. "Ya alright?" Daryl asked, giving her a quick once over.
"Yeah. There is something, a feeling about that barn that I just can't shake off" she muttered aimlessly, looking back to the barn. "Not just because it has walkers in it either. Something doesn't feel right with it, something in my gut tells me that. It scares the hell out of me"
Shane was feeling outraged; his pulse was racing "For god sakes man, this is our lives! Don't listen to Anna's hoodoo crappy feelings. Let's deal with the real world, right here, right now!" he yelled.
Glenn walked to him, feeling scared and putting his hands up "Keep your voice down!"
"We can't just sweep this under the rug!" Andrea pointed out, quickly defending Shane.
Anna couldn't believe the all gung-ho attitude of Andrea. It is like she had a death wish. "You know what? You need to stop your rambling on and listen to what I have to say Barbie doll! Let's see if what I tell you doesn't just go through one ear and out the other!"
Andrea scoffed, stepping forward and looking down to Anna. "What did you just say to me?"
"I think you heard me. Don't pretend you didn't. I ain't afraid of you" Anna shook her head, smirking a little at Andrea, which pissed her off even more. She knew how to get under people's skin.
"We can't exactly go in there and shoot all of those walkers, you hear me. Rick is right on this one, this is not our land. We can't go in there all guns blazing, shooting all those walkers! Doing that is not our choice to make. We need to talk to Hershel about this" she answered.
Andrea crossed her arms and stood strong. "Of course you side with Rick on this one. I mean you always do, don't you? Never wanting to piss people off. Always playing the nice girl card to get on everyone's good side. Never having the guts to say something".
"I did to you just then, didn't I?" Anger built within Anna, she folded her arms and stepped up to Andrea. Andrea stepped back, feeling a little uneasy under her gaze. "Yeah, you are right on one matter. I will always choose to side with Rick because I trust the decisions he makes for us to be in our best interest. I believe in him as our leader. I choose to side with Rick because it is the right thing to do! He isn't all gung-ho and blazing like a lunatic that Shane is. Rick thinks all of his decisions through, unlike some of the people around here." She pointed out looking directly at Shane and Andrea.
"I am really sorry Anna but this ain't right, not even remotely" T Dog pointed out, feeling a little guilty.
Anna sighed, shook her head and took her stand by Rick. "I have made my choice. I am with Rick on this one".
Daryl stood by Anna, Samson by his side. "Well then Half Pint. Guess Samson and I had better stick with you. Someone has to have your ass when you continually piss people off like this." The three leaders had somehow unhinged the power of what Shane held and he didn't like it. Daryl stood there beside Anna, he always would.
"Can't help it when people deserve it. Just seem to not be able bite my tongue these days" she whispered, looking up at him and shielding her eyes from the sun.
"We got to go in there, we got to make things right and we get out of here! We have been talking about Fort Benning for a long time" Shane whined.
Rick was getting angry at Shane now "We cannot go to Fort Benning"
"Why not Rick? Why?" Shane growled, getting up into Rick's face
Carol was starting get a little upset over what Shane was saying. Anna put her arm around her shoulder and pulled Carol in to a side hug. Carol put her hand over Anna's, squeezing it. "Thank you sweetie." Carol whispered, looking up to Shane.
"It is because my little girl is still out there, alone and scared! Anna's father and brother will still be out there looking for her just the same way we are looking for Sophia. What if they are close by and they just miss her? We go and they come along to the farm, they could lose her again. I would hate to know what her family is going through, what I am now, any longer than they should be. I don't want them feeling how I am with Sophia."
Shane rubbed his hands over his face, frustrated and angry. Why can't the woman just face reality of the situation? He knew Carol needed to face reality "I think it is about time we explore other possibilities. Anna could just stay here on the farm and catch the trail of her family if we go to Fort Benning."
Daryl stiffened at the thought. He had given Anna his word and he was going to stick by it. It gave him some self-worth.
Anna shook her head, pulling away from Carol.
"We are not leaving Sophia or Anna behind!" Rick told him starting to get angry. He felt responsible for them both.
Daryl threw his arms up; feeling frustrated "Me and Anna are close to finding this girl. We just found her doll a few days ago out there in the search! We leave without Anna and Anna's family show up, knowing we ditched her. I would like to see her father kick your ass till your nose bleeds for doing that shit! He would want her to be safe!"
"You both found her doll Daryl. That is what you did. You both found her doll! What do you think her father would do?" Shane snapped.
Anna scoffed, shook her head and was highly pissed off, and went straight for Shane with her fist going for his face. Samson was barking beside her, helping defend his owner. But Daryl was quick on his feet and grabbed Anna around the waist setting her down and whispered in her ear. "Hey, hey, hey. Calm down alright. We don't want to break your hand on that pretty little face of his".
Anna was still trying to squirm out of Daryl's hold "Trust me; my fist connecting with his face will be an improvement. I know a good move too and just the right spot your nose will be crushed ass hole!"
"There the crazy girl is at it again. You're always coming from the woods all bloodied up and looking like death. Let's not forget about when Daryl first found you, abused from god knows what those men did to her."
Shane turned his attention to Daryl "I bet she failed tell you we lowered her in the well when her wound was fresh, to use her as bait? That Anna was that close to being torn to shreds, that's how she got that grazed up knee and the limp. We have all got to realize the reality of the situation. Sophia is gone and Anna's family are long gone. Men like them would have tracked her down by now. We got to face reality. All parties are dead and gone!"
Anna stopped fighting Daryl's hold on her, just standing there in his hold. Tears brimmed her eye lids, she sniffed. That didn't go unnoticed by Daryl, he glared at Shane. "You don't know, you asshole. You don't know." she growled.
"How many men were there any how? All used up and nowhere to go. It's a damn miracle you even made it out of there alive!" Shane taunted, sneering.
"Screw this shit." He quietly growled, feeling the anger boiling over. He let Anna go, putting Anna protectively behind him, waving his arm at Shane "You don't know what the hell ya talking about. You don't talk to her that way! No one does!"
Daryl was seething, his lips in a straight line and his muscles tensed, ready to pounce. Rick stepped in front of Daryl, trying to defuse the situation.
Shane knew how to fire the situation and he was hell pissed with it all. "Let me say something else, if she saw you coming with you and ya girlfriend all methed out, with your buck knife and geek ears all hanging about. I mean Anna is always covered in blood whenever she comes back out of those woods. I mean seems death is following you around, Anna. She would run in the other direction to just survive!"
Daryl went straight at Shane with his fists. Rick stepped in front of Daryl to stop him. Anna was knocked over in the fight by Shane. Samson went growling and snarling at Shane. She quickly called him back and kept him close by her side, worried what Shane would do. Daryl stopped when he saw Anna was on the ground looking at her bloodied knee of hers. Glaring up at Shane. Rick put his hand down to Anna, helping her get up "You alright there?" he asked giving her a quick once over, grimaced when he saw her bloodied knee.
"Yeah. Just a graze reopened." she whispered, hissing at the pain. Samson was whimpering, looking up at his owner. "You don't got to worry about me, okay" she said with a smile to Rick.
"Can't help it." he muttered, dusting the dirt off her shoulders.
Rick was furious, pointing his hand at Shane "Back off! Let me talk to Hershel and figure this out".
"What are you going to figure out?" Shane growled, barreling at Rick. Rick put Anna behind him, protecting her. Lori pushed Shane away, locked eyes.
"If we are going to clear this barn I have to talk him into it. This is his land." Rick told Shane, angry.
"Hershel sees those things in there as people. Sick people. His wife! His step son!" Dale told them.
"You knew?" Shane scoffed, not believing it.
"Yesterday, I talked to Hershel." Dale told them all.
"And you waited the night?" Shane wondered.
"I thought we could survive one more night and we did." Dale sternly informed him. "I was waiting until this morning to say something but Glenn wanted to be the one."
"This is crazy Rick, if Hershel thinks those things are alive." Shane bellowed.
The barn door began being pushed by the walkers. The chain rattling, almost everyone jumped back.
Anna stood by Daryl, staring at the barn. "This is crazy." she whispered, looking up at Daryl.
"You got that right Half Pint. The world has certainly turned to stark crazy. But we have each other's back" Daryl put his arm over her shoulder.
Anna was putting some antibacterial ointment on her graze; it was stinging like a thousand needles. She reached over and picked up the large Elastoplast bandage and taped it around her knee. Anna got up off her feet, limping a little from the pain but it was nothing like the pain of all her other injuries. Anna got outside of her tent and sat on the log nearby when Carol came up to her with a worried look on her face.
"Anna, sweetie, I am so sorry to ask you this but I need your help with something. Daryl is going to the barn to get one of the horses again and he wants to go to look for Sophia. I am afraid if he goes out there, he will get himself hurt even more. Something even worse and I can't let that happen. Not if I can help it" Carol's breathing was fast, she was holding her arms around her body and a little scared.
"I will come with you and talk to that stubborn red neck. He tends to lash out when you try and help him. Doesn't handle it too well".
Carol smiled "You really are a little miracle worker aren't you?"
She laughed, getting up off her feet and putting her arms around in a hug "One has to be at times to deal with the phenomenon of Daryl Dixon." She let go of Carol and sauntered off to find Daryl.
She found Daryl in the barn, He was carrying the saddle; he threw it on the saddle rack but a stinging, searing pain shot through his torso and he dropped it suddenly, clutching his side. Anna ran forward, limping a little and touched Daryl's shoulder "Daryl. You alright?"
"I am fine." he growled, not use to having someone looking out for him. It made him feel a little uncomfortable.
Anna scoffed, looking at him with raised eye brows and shook her head at him "No, you aren't. Will you please stop being so damn stubborn for once in your life, alright? You are hurt, badly hurt! You have to start looking after yourself and let people around help you" she told him.
"Yeah. I don't care." he replied, taking the bridle and putting it over the horses head.
Anna couldn't believe what she was hearing; it hurt her that he thought so little of himself. "Well, guess what, Daryl? I have some news for you, I happen to care about what happens to you in this goddamn sucky world we are in right now. You don't know how close I am to losing it all together. You are one of the only ones that is stopping me from going completely insane and losing it altogether. So this may be bad luck or good luck for you, depending on how you choose to see it. But you are stuck with me for the rest of your life whether you like it or not. "
Daryl looked at her strangely. "Yeah, well I am not going to sit around and do nothing."
Carol had walked into the barn during Anna tirade. Anna silently put her finger up to stop Carol from talking to Daryl "I am not going to sugar coat it. You are going to go out there and get yourself killed. I can't let that happen".
Daryl did the side buckle up of the bridle, stubborn as ever. Anna shook her head, walking over to get the saddle cloths and put it on the horses back. "Fine, have it your way then. I am coming with you".
He stared her down "What are you doing?" He couldn't believe it. "You aren't coming with me."
Anna scoffed at him "Like I said. You are stuck with me for life, Daryl. I am not going to let you go out there by yourself. Same as what you just said, I am not going to sit around do nothing either." she told him.
"We don't know if we are going to find her Daryl. We don't" Carol muttered, holding herself.
Anna held a breath, looking between Daryl and Carol. His face contorted a little, hurt. He stopped with the horses. He turned to face Carol with a disappointed and angry look on his face "What?"
"You go out there, Anna will follow you. She will always follow you wherever you go, no matter what. You are both are still hurt and only just healing. I can't lose you both as well. I can't. I won't."
He just stared her down, not believing a word Carol was saying. Anna watched him warily, her eyes going between Daryl and Carol. Daryl dropped the reins on the ground, walked to the saddle. He tried picking it up, throwing it to the ground, a surge of pain going through his side. Carol went to him but Anna ran ahead. Daryl lashed out, his hand hitting Anna on the lip. She cried out, putting her hand to her lip, bleeding a little. He stepped back, shaking his head a little. Carol rushed forward to Daryl but he walked away "Just leave me be. Stupid bitch"
Anna brushed away the blood on her face "Let him cool down for a little bit. He will calm down eventually. I'll just get ready to go out there today with Daryl. We can at least go for a walk and track any trails we can get our sights on. I have a math lesson with Carl and then I will go and tell Rick the plans."
Carol reached into her pocket for a rag and gave it to Anna for her lip. "Thank you. For everything. But why?"
"Because I still believe" she replied. "A little girl shouldn't be without her mother. I lost my mom at a young age. Not much older than Sophia actually. I had come home from school and I had found my mother, she drowned. So I know how Sophia feels like out there right there."
Carol's heart leapt for Anna "I am so sorry."
"It happened a long time ago. I am okay; I mean I have my down days but then again who doesn't? I had better get going to help Carl".
Anna found Carl and Samson sitting underneath the big oak tree. Samson was laid out flat, Carl was itching his stomach. Carl looked up; he smiled and got up off his seat. "Anna, my mom helped me set up for the lesson. I even asked for some snacks and lemonade that we can have if we get hungry or thirsty".
Anna put her arm around Carl's shoulder "My oh my, aren't you a gentleman? Now let's get on with this lesson shall we?"
They had been sitting there a little while, now taking a break sitting out in the bright sunshine. Carl was thinking hard 'Do you think Sophia is dead?"
She sighed, wanting to help Carl out in any way she could. A child should never be without a sense of hope "I still have hope that she isn't sweet heart. Shane was just scared today." Anna replied.
"Of the walkers in the barn?" Carl asked.
Carl bit into the apple, patting Samson behind the ears "I am not leaving without Sophia. I don't want to go even after that."
"Well, we aren't going to go anywhere." she promised him, putting her arm around his shoulder, giving him a kiss on the head. "Now, finish those problems okay buddy"
He nodded his head, thinking "I think, I think she is going to like it here. I know she is going to love you, everyone in our group does! She will want to braid your hair, it being real long, pretty and all. Don't girls do that?"
"Yeah, yeah I bet they do. I only had an older brother. It will be good to have someone like a little sister around the place. We need more girls" she replied. Carl is a little sweetie.
Samson got up from the ground, walking over and putting his head on Carl's lap "Sophia won't leave Samson alone. I know I don't".
"Oh this dog will lather up any attention he gets. He especially loves it when the ladies pay him attention" she laughed, rubbing him behind the ears.
The young kid made her heart melt, "This could be a home for her."
Anna sniffed, putting her arms around him, giving Carl a big hug and pulled away from him.
"Can you promise me something?" she asked him, wiping his hair away from his face.
"Anything." he answered.
"Don't lose this hope you have. No matter how dark the times get or what happens, don't give it up. It is what will get you through it all. It is what is getting me through it all"
"And Daryl. I bet Daryl makes you happy" Carl joked, with a little smirk on his face.
Anna laughed, a tear rolling down her cheek. Carl reached in to his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. "Before anyone sees. I know you don't like people seeing you upset".
"Thank you." she wiped her eyes, breathing out loud.
"I promised I would look after you, remember." he said, with a determined look on his face.
Anna put her arm around Carl's shoulders and gave a kiss "That you did, that you did."
Rick looked on; it was good to see Carl happy. Anna was really finding her place and was becoming an important part of the group. But at the moment he needed her help with Hershel. Rick had found that Anna had this ability to be able calm and reason with people in any situation. He felt a little guilty, not wanting to interrupt their little play date and what they had going. It was a moment where as if the current dooming reality wasn't going on. They were in their own little world, it gave them a break. Anna and Carl were lying down on their back, looking up at the clouds and making out shapes. Samson has his head across Carl's chest, his eye drooping and just about falling asleep. "Sorry to interrupt, but can I have your help, Anna for a moment?"
"Of course." Anna answered, getting up on to her feet. She picked up her cross bow and helped Carl get up off his feet. "Go to your mother, okay? Take Samson and be safe. No wandering about by yourself ya hear me?"
"Always." he joked. "You be safe too. " Carl put his fist out.
Anna laughed, putting hers out and fist pumping with Carl. "Always, little dude."
Anna swung her cross bow over her shoulder, when she caught Rick just smiling at her.
"What?" she chuckled. "Oh god, I have something on my face don't I?" She wiped her face with her hand worried.
"Thank you." He voiced.
"What for?" she wandered.
"For doing what you are doing with Carl. Making him feel like he himself, before all of this happened. Giving him a little bit of hope." Rick explained.
"It would be a horrible world if a child didn't smile or laugh. Carl can't lose what hope he has now or he will find it real hard, almost impossible to get through it all later on down the track when times are real tough and bad. He needs that to get through it. Besides, I have warmed up to the kid."
Rick sighed heavily, looking to the ground and to Anna. She knew something was up "Rick? Is something wrong?"
"Lori is pregnant. I am so sorry for putting you in to this situation but I was hoping you could help her during the pregnancy."
"Of course I can. Anything I can do to help, I will"
Rick knew he could trust Anna "Would you mind keeping this between you and I, for now?"
"You have my word on that. You don't have to worry me spilling the beans" Anna promised him.
Anna knew this wasn't the only reason Rick had called her away "What else is there Rick?"
He felt bad bringing Anna into these situations, but she was at talking to people. Getting them to calm "I need to talk to Hershel about letting us stay on the farm. He says once Carl is ready and healed up we are to leave this farm. To go back on the road. And I don't think we would make it with Lori being pregnant and all"
"We can't go back out there." she wiped her hand her face. "There are worse things out there than walkers. Lori is pregnant! Carl."
"I hate to put you into this situation, but do you think you can help me talk to Hershel?" he requested.
"Of course, you don't have to worry. Anything I can do for you all, I will. You are family to me" Anna exclaimed.
Rick felt a weight lift off his shoulders, he actually smiled "I really do appreciate it."
"It's no problem, any time. You don't have to carry all the weight by yourself, got me now officer friendly. You are stuck with for life now" she promised.
Rick found himself laughing, putting his arm around her shoulder "That means a lot, Anna"
Shane looked on, not happy.
Anna put down her cross bow at the front door, a sign of respect for Hershel that she meant no harm. She would do anything for them. Rick was impressed by her bravery, a strong woman. "Thank you again."
"You don't need to thank me Rick. Let's get onto this shall we?" she said, smiling.
Rick shook her head, not quite believing it. When does that girl not have a smile on her face?
He knocked on the door, Hershel's voice calling them in. Anna's eyes wandered all over the house. It made her smile, thinking of her childhood home. She wandered if it still stood or if it was raided or anything since the whole end of the world started. Anna missed her home. There was an old piano in a passage way. She used to play with her father, while her mother would sit on her chair on the front porch, listening to the sound of the music drifting through the house. Her remembering them made her miss them even more.
Rick turned his head, seeing the ghost look on her face "You alright?" he whispered, putting his hand on her shoulder
"As rain. Just thinking of some memories before all of this happened. I used to play the piano with my dad" she replied. Rick all but knew that Anna was a stubborn young woman, she wouldn't tell him even if she wasn't okay.
Hershel was sitting down for lunch, reading a book.
"A little light reading over lunch?" Rick pointed out, feeling a little nervous.
"I have been working so hard lately, I fit my study in while I can." Hershel put down his spoon and looked up to Anna "I have a good hunch you would know all about that, wouldn't you Anna"
She remembered it all too well "The sleepless nights studying, stressing out about my exams and assignments. I waited on tables, making coffees at Starbucks while I was in med school. Any time during the day I would have my head buried in some form of medical book. I still do even now. I like to learn something new every day".
Anna peered up at Rick, leaning forward and put her hands on the chair "I can help with your study. I was the top of my class, graduated with honours. I was the best of the best with interns, my residency. Was the best surgeon in Atlanta till all of this happened".
Rick liked having Anna around "We can all help with your fields, ease the load a little. Anna can ride a horse real well; she can exercise your horses and help take care of them".
"It is my field to tend. My horses to look after" Hershel insisted.
Anna took a steady breath, not wanting for Rick to take all of the burden "Hershel, we found the barn and what is inside it."
He didn't even look up from his book "Leave it be.'
"Well I would like to talk about it but it is your barn, your farm, your say" Rick informed him.
"I do not want to talk about, I do not want to debate about it" Hershel insisted.
Anna was used to talking to people going through huge extremities of grief. She knew how to choose her words carefully "Hershel, we don't want a debate, but a discussion. Please, please let us just talk? We can work something out!"
Hershel, sighed, wiped his mouth and leaned back in his chair and looking pointedly at Anna and Rick. "I want you, your group out of here by the end of the week".
Anna's breath was caught in her mouth, a lump forming in her throat and she felt sick to the stomach. This couldn't be happening to them, she looked back to Rick in a panic and he put his hand on her shoulder, doing his best to reassure her.
"I talked to Dale, you and I have our differences with our views on the walkers. But those people, they may be dead, they may be alive. But my people, us, we are alive, right here, right now and in front of you. You send us out there and that can change. Anna will be further separated from her family." Rick was desperate, felt the harder he tried the more he sank.
"I have given you all safe harbour, my conscience is clear." Hershel told him.
Anna took a deep, steady breath and sat down on the chair. "Your farm is special. You have been shielded from what is going on out there. Dale said you saw everything on the news, it has been a long time since the camera has stopped rolling. Those people you have in the barn aren't the only things out there. Humans are doing some pretty desperate actions out there."
Hershel felt the guilt setting in with Anna talking to him; he got up out of his chair. Anna quickly followed after him "This world has gone mad since all of this happened. And there are worse things than walkers out there. The night I got separated from my family. We were just camping, eating dinner when we had fifteen men surround us. They weren't interested in food or weapons. Just me. They held down my father and brother, made them watch while they had their fun with me."
Anna looked to Rick, desperate. He squeezed her shoulder, walking after Hershel. "The first time I saw a walker it was just half a body snapping at me from the ground. My first instinct wasn't to kill it. But the world you saw on television isn't what's out there. It is much, much worse. Look at what Anna just told you, the world is cruel out there! It changes you. You are either one of them or you can find yourself to be something worse."
Anna's little voice came through, Rick turned around "Please, please do not send us out there again? Please don't do that to us? Please?"
Rick shook his head, smiling sad at Anna, walking away from Hershel, and then turning back to him "My wife is pregnant."
Hershel turned around. "That is either a gift here or a death sentence out there! If were to stay, we could help you with you work. Help you secure, we could survive together!"
Hershel sighed, putting his dishes in the sink "Rick, Anna. I am telling you we can't."
'Think about what you are doing." Anna said.
"I have thought about it." Hershel yelled.
"Well think about it again. We can't go out there again." Rick growled.
Anna dropped her head a little, rubbing her hands over her face, wiping away the tears. Looking up, she saw Maggie standing there, tears in her eyes as well.
"Sorry." Maggie mouthed, putting her hand up at Anna as an apology.
Rick put an arm around Anna's shoulder and together they walked out of the house. Anna's body felt tired, as she lazily picked up her cross bow, swinging it on her shoulder and looked out to the barn "I am sorry I couldn't help. Maybe if I had said something in a different way or chose different words to say"
Rick shook his head and put his arms around Anna "You have nothing to be sorry about. You hear me okay" He pulled away from the hug, tilting his head down to her eye level.
Anna nodded, thinking "Please don't tell Daryl what I mentioned in the house? I don't want him to know what happened just yet. I don't want him thinking any different of me like I am some freak or something. I don't want him blaming himself. It was something out of his control, but we all know what he will be like".
"You have my word." He assured her.
She walked off the front porch "I am going to find Daryl and Carol. They went for a walk earlier. He needed to cool off; we had bit of a fight in the barn. He went to wave me off, accidently got my lip."
Rick knew not to baby her "Be careful, alright? Be alert. You get one mark on you and I will have Daryl biting at the bit to kick my ass. God knows he wanted to do that today to Shane. And I bet to himself."
"Daryl is a good person. He just hasn't realized it himself just yet. I will make sure he does" Anna vowed.
Anna walked off to the direction of the woods, Samson ran up to her side. Rick stood there until he saw he go into the woods. He knew she could handle herself well, she got out of the hell with those men. But god forbid if Daryl ever found out, got his hands on those men. They would want to wish they were one of the dead.
Anna had found a trail, but it wasn't Daryl's or Carol's. It looked as if they person was struggling with something and another set of foot prints that were following them, It was strange. The trail was leading off to the river. It made her curious and she followed it. Over the clearing she saw Dale and Shane confronting each other. She gasped, pulling back the string and loading her cross bow. She made an owl noise only Dale would know, Dale raised his head. Anna shot the cross bow right at Shane's feet. Shane stepped back, shocked, looking up to see Anna with a look of loathing and anger passed over his mouth.
Anna reloaded her cross bow, keeping it aimed high at his heart. Samson was taking slow steps beside Anna. He bared his teeth and growled. Shane raised his arms "Well, well I guess I underestimated you a lot. You tracked me all the way here. Guess that big tough act really wasn't all for show. You can actually hold your own".
"I didn't track you; I didn't want to find you. I was tracking Dale. Samson seemed to have something rotten following him into the woods. Seems we found it" she shot at him.
"Anna. Be careful" Dale told her, holding the gun to Shane.
'Oh you don't have to worry about me Dale. I could have shot him a long time ago but I chose not to. I was meant to make that shot. He makes one wrong move and Samson will tear his throat out."
"You threatening me?" Shane scoffed, stepping forward to her, trying to intimidate her.
"Yes." He told him not feeling intimidated at all.
Shane stepped forward, staring Anna down "Now Dale, why don't you just give me that bag of guns before someone gets hurt."
"I am not going to do that." Dale said firmly.
Shane stepped forward again; Anna took a few steps back, keeping her cross bow aimed at him.
"Yeah you are Dale; you do have that shot gun hanging over your shoulder. Anna with that death firing cross bow and a rabid German shepherd." He finding excuses as to why he needed the guns.
"What you going to shoot the both of us out here in the woods? Go back and tell the others a different story?" Dale challenged.
Shane scoffed "Well I am not going to do that. The way I see it, the cold light of that, you both are pretty much dead already. I mean, the times you only have survived anything is because of Daryl. Just give me those guns." Shane insisted yet again.
"Do you really think guns will keep us safe?" Dale questioned.
"Yes." Shane bit back. Shane shook his head "Will you both please just shut up and give me the guns."
Anna moved sideways towards Dale, Samson stalking Shane. Dale put down the bag of guns, cocked his gun "I will shoot you. Is that what it is going to take?"
Shane couldn't believe it, stepping forward to have his chest against the gun "If that is what it takes. You won't shoot me with that gun, same as Anna won't shoot me with the death machine she is holding there. She doesn't have Daryl beside her to back her up or to hold her hand and she doesn't wanna get in Rick bad books"
Dale lowered the gun; Anna accepted and lowered her cross bow "There really is no hope left for you is there Shane?"
"You really do belong in this world don't you?" Dale said.
"Why is that?" Shane asked a little confused.
'This world, the way it is now."
Anna slung her cross bow around her shoulder, whistling to make Samson retreat. "Just so you know. I don't know if I have long left in this world. But I'll be damned if I am going to end up like you. This world gone to shit, at least I know I have gone down fighting."
"Watch your back." Shane threatened.
"Oh I will. You watch yours." Anna threatened back.
Dale stared after Shane, his eyes not leaving Shane's back. "You go straight to Daryl, you hear me? Don't leave his side.'
"You going to be okay?" Anna asked him.
"I am going to be just fine. Just get to Daryl" Dale demanded.
Anna nodded "Be careful."
Daryl and Carol were walking by the small pond when he pointed out the flowers. "Hey there they are. You see it?"
"See what?" Carol asked following him. "Anna and Samson?"
"What?" Daryl asked, looking up. 'What the hell is she doing out by herself? I told her not to go anywhere alone".
Anna walked around the pond to where Carol and Daryl were. A bolt had been fired from her cross bow but she didn't have any kill with her. "You go no kill?" he pointed out, hands on hips.
"It got away alright." she growled, kicking the ground.
"I know your shot, you don't miss!"
"I am not in the mood at the moment Daryl, alright." Anna smiled, bending down to her knees "The Cherokee rose Carol. We will find her, look at all of the flowers. Gotta mean something right?" She got up off her feet, laughing at Samson who decided to go for a swim in the pond.
"Yeah we will sweetie," Carol answered, giving her a hug and a kiss to the cheek.
Samson was edging closer and closer to the pond and jumped in. Playing, snapping at the water.
"Do I have permission to try and get my dog out of the leech infested pond?" she asked, teasing Daryl. "Because I am going to regret picking them all off him later" she laughed.
Daryl pointed his finger at her, trying to keep his face serious "Got five minutes."
Anna rolled her eyes and playfully punched him in the arm. Daryl faked being hurt, rubbing his arm "Four and half minutes now."
Anna had sat down her cross bow on the small jetty, her hands on hips and giving a stern talking to Samson.
Daryl was watching Anna trying her best to get Samson out of the water without much luck but felt the need to apologize for his behavior. He knew he overreacted, "Hell, I am real sorry about this morning." He mumbled to Carol.
"You went to look for her. Why? This whole time? Why?" Carol asked.
"Because I believe she is still out there. Truth be told, what else have I got to do?" Daryl confessed.
Anna was trying to reach down into the water when Samson would come close. But he was being cheeky and would be just out of her each.
"You have Anna. Don't be getting all defensive either. I don't mean it like that. At the moment you are all that she has that is keeping her focused. Yes, Anna has me and Rick to talk to. But you are her friend that is keeping her together at the moment. Just go and talk to her. What if something happens to her and you don't? You will regret it for a long time."
Daryl hesitated, Carol laughed a little. "She won't bite."
He raised his eyebrows, crossed is arms looking over at Anna and back to Carol "You sure about that one? Because she just scares me when she doesn't have a coffee in the morning".
Carol put her hand on his shoulder "She won't bite unless you piss her off. Now go on, talk to her. You will regret it if you don't".
Anna had her back turned to him; she let her hair loose from the braid and it flowed freely in the small breeze that was around. She was dangling her feet in the water, Samson still swimming around, biting at the water and playing. He slipped off his boots and socks, putting his cross bow down beside him. He sat down next to her, dipping the red rag into the water, putting his hand on her chin and wiped away the dry blood off her lip. "Hope you washed that rag since your last hunt." She teased.
She wasn't even angry at him, which made him feel even guiltier "I am real sorry. Here I am trying to do what I can to keep you from all the bad shit in the world and here I cause something bad to happen myself."
He finished wiping away the little bit of blood. "You aren't a bad person Daryl Dixon. You never could be. You saved my life didn't you?"
Anna rested her head on his shoulder, putting her arm around his good side of his waist. He put his arm up over her shoulder and together they watched Samson snapping at the water. Anna smiled, feeling happy, waving her legs, her toes dipping into the water "Nice to pretend for a moment that the world hasn't gone to shit. No dead people walking around."
"You got that right" he replied. "The peace and quiet is good"
"You have a girlfriend before all of this?" Anna asked.
Daryl scoffed; almost snorted at her. "Pfft. The women where I was from were either skinny as a rake or big as mountains. Missing teeth or fake as all hell. Yourself? Boyfriend? Fiancé? Husband?"
Anna scoffed "I had just as much luck as you did by the sounds of it. I had a fiancé, but with my job in the ER, getting the job as the leading child surgeon. I then worked ridiculous hours because of it. He always had a little temper on him, but I just didn't think any of it. He complained that I worked too much. That I wasn't home enough."
Daryl scoffed "What a douchebag. You were saving lives. Making a real difference in this world compared to some people out there doing jack shit."
"That isn't even the start of how he was." she admitted, feeling a little ashamed of herself. "There was this emergency surgery one day on a new born baby whose mother had over dosed. She had died but we could save the baby and it was an emergency cesarean. The baby had a stomach ulcer and a hole in his heart. He survived. I came home after like a 24 hour day. I had stayed with the baby until I knew he was okay. He uh, got so angry. Wasn't the first time either" Anna's face softened, shaking her head.
"He thought I was having an affair or something because I was away so long. I tried to explain I wasn't, where on earth would I find the time? I had just enough energy to even feed myself each day. But he wouldn't have a bar of it and didn't believe a single word that came out of my mouth. The next day I came home, he was sitting there waiting for me. I had missed a date night and I just shook my head, walking away as per usual when we had our fights. He called my name, I turned. I saw his fist coming at my eye. A friend of mine, Tom, had found me not soon after. My right eye unrecognizable. A broken cheek bone, eye socket and nose. I landed on our wooden coffee table. I now have a metal plate in my right eye. Guess that's why I like to hide behind glasses sometimes. The plate gets hot or cold, depending on the weather. So I always get headaches. At first I looked like a total monster, broken, bruised and all cut up. Stuck to my ray bans for a very long time. I was lucky Tom decided to visit out of the blue and actually found me. God knows how long I would have laid there for".
Daryl wiped his hand over his mouth, hardly believing someone could be so cruel to someone so kind. It pissed him off. He squeezed her a little with the arm he still had around her shoulders, still staring out at the little lake "I would have made him suffer for what he had done".
"Trust me, my brother and father wanted to do that and then some. But somehow Tom stopped them; god knows how he managed to do so either. He somehow convinced them both that being in jail wouldn't do anyone any good, that the family needed to be together to get through it. They go in for a fight; they are classified as a lethal weapon because they were Special Forces."
He looked down to her "I am not going to let anyone lay a finger on you again. I promise you that. Any one does, they will regret it. Ain't no one going to touch you while I am around."
Anna laughed, pulling her legs up from the water and slipping back on her black vans "you got my back Daryl Dixon?'
He thought for a moment, "I think am actually going to regret even saying this but as you said, you are stuck with me for life. We have got to watch each other's asses in this shit for world".
Samson finally decided to get up out of the water on the side, shaking about and barking at them. Anna, smiled a little sad "We had better get going back there. See if Rick has found anything out on the search for Sophia today."
Daryl put his shoes back on; Anna put out her hand and helped him up from his feet. "We can move your stuff into my tent. If you still wanna that is?" he said shyly.
"Yeah I'd like that." she answered.
Samson climbed up the side of the pond, shaking all of the water off his coat and sat there waiting for Anna. "I swear he become human more and more each day" she joked.
Daryl and Anna walked back together to farm. Samson was ahead sniffing the ground, turning up dirt and moving sticks smelling for any walkers.
Anna looked ahead, Maggie and Glenn sitting and talking. Lori was with Carl. But there was no Rick.
"Weren't they meant to be out looking?" she muttered.
"Yeah. Yeah they were" he replied.
Glenn shielded his eyes from the sun when Anna and Daryl reached them "Anna. Have you seen Rick?"
"Not since a couple of hours ago" she answered.
"There you all are." Andrea puffed.
"Have you seen Rick by any chance?" Glenn asked her hopeful.
"No. He went with Hershel. We were meant to leave a couple of hours ago." Andrea replied.
"We were meant to go and look for Sophia." Glenn alleged.
"Yeah you were. Damn it aren't any of you taking this seriously. We have ourselves a trail!" Daryl barked.
He was angry, turning and saw Shane coming with all the guns. "Here we go."
"What is all this?" Daryl asked, looking at all of the guns.
"You with me man? You ready to protect?" Shane asked him.
Daryl looked over to Anna for a split second. Her arms were crossed defensively across her chest. Samson was pointed, staring straight at Shane. Daryl took the gun off Shane and cocked it. Anna shook her head, slinging her cross bow off her should and holding it in her hands.
"It is time to grow up! You still got yours?" he asked Andrea.
'Yeah. Where's Dale?" she asked,.
"He is coming." Shane answered, looking back at the barn.
"Thought we couldn't carry." T Dog said as Shane handed him his gun.
Anna stood taller with her shoulders back "We aren't."
"Yeah well we can and we have to. Time to get off that high horse you and Rick are on. Look it was one thing sitting around picking daisies when we thought this place was safe. Now we know we ain't." Maggie was looking wide eyed at Shane. Anna stood beside her, to support her.
"You ready to protect your own?" Shane asked Glenn, holding out a gun.
"How about it Anna?" Anna stared him down, not saying a wood. "Fair enough then, you go on back out to that forest. You are as good as dead out there as you are here with no gun!"
"Can you stop!" Maggie growled. "You do this, you hand out these guns and my dad will ask you to leave tonight."
"We have to stay Shane!" Carl told him. Anna was proud of him at that moment.
Lori stormed over to Shane "What is this?"
"We ain't going anywhere okay. He is just gonna understand okay. Well he is gonna have to. We are going to find Sophia alright." Shane leaned down to Carl, getting out a hand gun. "Now I want you to take this. I want you to keep your mother safe. You know how, take the gun and do it".
Lori was furious, storming off the verandah and down to Carl, putting herself in front of him. "Rick said no guns, this is not your call to make!"
"Oh shit." T Dog gasped.
It was then as if something snapped in Shane's mind as he ran off ahead of them all.
Anna ran along with Daryl, her cross bow still on her shoulder. Rick had one big male walker and Hershel had another. Anna skidded to a stop, dust floated around her feet, and her chest began to feel tight, heart pounding against her chest. Daryl looked at her strangely. "No." she muttered. "No, no, no!" she yelled. Picking up her cross bow and aiming it at Shane's head. "You put that gun down and step away from them right now!" she threatened, the tears falling down her face.
"You kidding me right, Anna. This is the second time today you have threatened me with that cross bow of yours. Think through that pretty head of yours. Do you see what he is holding there?"
"My family!" she yelled, tears falling down her face. "My dad and brother!"
Her breathing came in fast, short breaths, her cross bow wavering in her arms. Daryl had another look at the small one of the towering walkers. They both looked just like Anna. It was like seeing her as one of them!
"I see who I am holding onto. These are Anna's father and brother. Her only family!" Hershel replied, holding on with all of his might with the strong walkers.
Shane circled them again, keeping his eye on Anna with the cross bow still aimed at his head.
"Nah man, you don't!"
"Shane, just let us do this and then we can talk" Rick warned him.
"What do you wanna talk about? These things aren't sick, they aren't people. They are dead" Shane shouted.
Anna shook her head, feeling absolutely pissed off "You asshole." she growled steadying her cross bow, preparing for a shot. Daryl dropped his gun, running to Anna, the arrow flying off to the side past Shane's head. "He ain't worth it you hear me?" he whispered, putting his hand on her cross bow and taking it from her. She started muttered into Daryl chest, tears falling her cheeks "They're dead, Daryl. What am I going to do now?"
"You have me Anna." he whispered so only she could hear. "Always will."
Shane circled the walkers, standing in front of them "All they do is kill, they let them go. All they would want to do is eat you alive, Anna! They are the same things that killed Otis, they killed Amy".
Andrea stood there, nodding her head and agreeing with Shane.
"Tell me something, Hershel. If these were a living breathing people? Could they walk away if I shot them in the head?"
Shane got out his gun and took the safety off. Daryl put his hands on Anna's jaw line, looking into her red rimmed eyes, wiping away the tears quickly "You ain't gotta see or hear this." Daryl put his hands on her ears and pulled her head into his chest, glaring at Shane.
"No. No." Anna's voice muffling against his chest.
There were three loud bangs, Anna jumped and pulled herself even more into Daryl's body.
Rick saw Anna, despair ripped through his body. "Just stop it." Rick yelled, holding tight onto walker in front of him. "Give them some respect for god's sake. Look at what you are doing to her! You are torturing her!"
Anna turned her head away from Daryl's chest; he kept his arms around her shoulders protectively.
A sneer came across Shane's face "Tell me something Anna, could your brother or father come back from three rounds fired into the chest and survive? That was shot into his heart, into his lungs? Why is it still coming?"
Shane fired more shots into her brother. Daryl felt Anna shaking from shock.
"Shane. This is enough!" Rick roared, looking at Anna.
"You know what, Rick? This is enough" At that Shane walked up to Anna's brother. She knew what was coming as Shane walked up to Matthew, it was all in slow motion. Her heart was pounding through her chest. Daryl put his hands around her face
Shane shot her brother point blank in the head. It was in all slow motion for her. Her breathing became shallow, tears falling freely down her face. Daryl shook his head at Shane, who he thought was a mad man.
"You are damn crazy!" Daryl yelled, holding Anna protectively in his arms.
Shane stalked up to him "You going to protect your own? You wanna be able to protect her"
"Enough of risking out lives for a little girl who is gone. Enough of living next to a barn full of things that want to kills us! Enough Rick, it ain't like it was before. If you want to live, if you want to survive. You got to fight for it! I am talking about fighting, right here right now!"
Shane went running to the barn, like a crazy man. Hershel was in shock, Maggie had her hands on his shoulders.
"Hershel! Hershel grab the stick! Listen to me man, take it now! Hershel! Please?" Rick screamed in desperation.
"No, Shane! Do not do this! Brother, please" Rick yelled, still holding on to Anna's father.
"Don't do it!" Glenn yelled.
Daryl looked at the barn door, not knowing how many walkers could be in there. There needed to be another man with a gun and he had to protect his own. Daryl felt between a rock and a hard place, looking to Rick and nodding his head to Anna. Her eyes not leaving the barn door, he put his hands on her face. "Anna." But she didn't look to him, too stuck on the barn door. "Anna." he whispered louder.
Her head snapped up to him, her mind back to reality. "Look at me okay." he whispered. "I gotta get a gun and help defend. I got to do this to protect you alright."
"Okay" she whispered, trying to gather her thoughts but her head was going a million miles an hour and it felt like someone was hitting her head with a hammer.
Daryl noticed the look, determined to keep her safe. "It's gonna be okay ya hear me? Made that promise remember?"
Daryl steadied her on her feet, quickly reaching for his gun and shooting the walkers that came raging out of the barn. Anna stood there, watching it all before her, feeling absolutely numb, it was as if all of her emotions were switched off. Daryl looked behind him for her every time he reloaded a shot. It was as if she was a ghost now.
Glenn had ran in front of her "Anna?" he whispered. "Rick! Come to Anna."
Glenn looked her in the eye "I am so sorry".
Rick looked back to Lori and Carl "Stay back!" he yelled, jogging up to Anna.
The tears were just falling down her face, staring at her father and brother just lying there, dead. She looked up at Rick, just staring at him. His heart broke at the look in her eyes, the loss of hope and her world shattered. He put his arm around her shoulder and hiding her head into his chest. She had seen enough death already.
Anna, looked up from his chest, peering over his shoulder. The last of the walkers came out of the bar. Patricia was crying. Hershel was on his knees in shock, looking around at the horror. Maggie looked at her with sympathy, her eyes red with tears. Beth was crying hard in the arms of Jimmy.
Then a noise coming from the barn caught her eye. A little girl walked out of the barn, she knew who it was. Carol, wailed; a noise that would haunt her mind forever. A cry that tore through her. Carol ran forward, Daryl catching her in his arms as she collapsed to the ground. Rick pulled his arms away from her, looking into her eyes, knowing what he was going to do. She nodded "It's going to be alright." she whispered.
There she was trying to make it all better again, Daryl thought.
Rick stepped away from her, bowing his head in shame and pulling out his gun and walking to Sophia. It was all in slow motion. Daryl locked his eyes with Anna "Don't look." he mouthed. She was going to blame herself.
Rick held out his gun, shooting Sophia.