I think I have done quite well with my new chapter to come out so quick.. Thanks again to my home girl for helping me..
Andrea was sitting down next to Beth, staring down into her hands. She was frustrated, feeling useless just sitting in the house and doing nothing, just hanging around and twiddling her thumbs. Irritated, she got up out of her seat "I am going out after them".
Lori was sitting down on a chair, biting her nails "You don't know where they are and if Randall or Anna come back we are going to need you here".
The back door banged opened, Daryl was carrying Anna who was in tears. Her body was light in his arms he was scared she was going to fall apart or break. Her breathing was coming in shallow and short bursts as her pain went from pulsating to constant pain. Everything hurt all over. A shocked Glenn came in behind them, his face white and clammy, and carrying Anna's cross bow. T Dog unfolded his arms, stepping forward and feeling concerned for his friend.
And of course Andrea had to step in "What is she even doing in here? What the hell happened out there tonight?"
"Your boyfriend is what happened! Tell you something, he is a dead man when I see him next!" Daryl yelled.
Hershel put his arm on Daryl's shoulder "Son, you need to be calm for Anna's sake. Take her to the same room we fixed her up in that first night".
Hershel grabbed his medical bag, "Follow me. Patricia, I am going to need your help".
Patricia gasped, only just being able to catch a glimpse of her "The girl looks like she has been through hell and back". She followed Hershel down the hall "Look at her injuries, how is she even still alive? There must been some guardian angel looking over her tonight to survive that".
Glenn stepped forward, feeling a little shocked after the nights' events "She didn't take Randall; all of us should have known that. Daryl said their tracks were right top of each other and Anna's was just behind them because she was tracking them, to bring them back. Thing is, we found Randall as a walker but with no bite and he was dead".
Daryl turned his back and pushed open the door, being so careful not to knock Anna. Her eyes were closed shut, her breathing coming in short and fast. She was concentrating so hard to block out all of the pain with a sheen of sweat that covered her skin. Nervously, he carefully laid her down on to the bed. She gasped in pain as she lay down on the bed "Sorry, sorry" he muttered, looking worried and feeling guilty. Anna looked like a broken little doll lying there.
Anna was now shivering and in shock, her hands laid out straight alongside her body. The lights were turned on by Hershel and Patricia "Daryl, you can leave if you want to".
Daryl turned around, standing up straight to face Hershel "I ain't leaving her. I made a promise".
The old man figured as much "You two really are joined at the hip"
Patricia got to the bed, giving Anna a quick once over "Where does it hurt the most, Anna? And how bad out of ten?"
Anna's face contorted in agony, biting her lip. Sweat beaded down her face. "My knee. Is there such thing as a hundred out of ten for pain cause this hurts like nothing else I have been through before?" her voice croaked.
Hershel went into his bag, getting out some scissors. Daryl looked on in worry, his hands behind his head and doing all he could to not scream.
"Daryl." He snapped out of his daze, looking into the kind man's eyes "I need you to go and get Anna some trousers, I am going to have to cut the ones she is wearing now open to able to stabilize her knee".
His eyes went to Anna and then widened. Patricia had taken off her scarf, revealing purple and blue bruises around her neck in the shape of hand prints.
"Her voice box is fractured by the sounds of it Hershel" Patricia informed them, picking up some pillows and propping them behind her back to help her breathe.
Hershel put his hands on the hurting shoulders of Daryl, looking him in the eyes "You got to be calm for her sake. Anna panics with the way her throat is now, she could suffocate herself. Now, go and get her trousers. Pick something that will be comfortable for her to wear"
He nodded calmly, looking over the shoulder of Hershel "I will be right back, Anna. You are going to be alright. The doc here is going to take good care of you". Trying to convince himself just as much he was trying to convince her.
Reluctantly, he turned away from her and put his hand on the handle but his hand was shaking. He took a second to gather his composure. He was so angry with himself, why did she keep on getting hurt when he promised to protect her? Daryl took a deep breath, finally turning the handle to step out of the room. His eyes kept to the ground as he walked out, bumping into someone. He looked up, seeing Beth stand there with some clothes in her arms. He instantly got his hackles up. She sniffed, shifting on the spot, not being able to look at Daryl because he made her a little nervous, "I thought she could use something new to wear. Her clothes being dirty and all. I even have her Vans. They will be a lot easier for her to walk in".
Daryl was still wary, taking the clothes out of her hands with a gruff look on his face. Beth stood there, plucking up the courage to look up at Daryl "I never did believe that Anna took Randall or even hit Shane in the face with a rock because she isn't a coward. Anna is brave, she faces the dangers she comes across and never even thinks for a second to run away from it. Shane is the coward"
There was a moment of silence between the two "Is she going to be okay?"
"Your dad is doing what he can for her but the rest is up to Anna's body to heal. But Shane ain't gonna get away with this" Daryl went really dark with that last line. Beth felt a shiver run down her spine. He scared her. She didn't have anything else to say so she just nodded and briskly walked away.
A groan came from the room; he turned and went back in. Hershel had turned a bright light, pointing at her knee, looking down closely at the damage that had been done.
"Here, let me take those' Patricia asked.
Without taking his eyes off Anna, he passed on the clothes to Patricia. Daryl sat down on a chair, looking at her knee. It was swollen and all shades of dark colours. It made him feels sick. There were cuts, grazes from Shane's boot. Daryl looked up at Hershel, whom just shook his head at him solemnly. It tore Daryl apart on the inside.
Hershel tenderly put his hand on hers "Anna, I am sorry but your knee is very badly injured. It is a miracle you even could walk. Lucky you have been blessed with such stubborn nature otherwise I don't think you would have made it"
Anna was laying down flat, taking her arm off her eyes. So worn out, battered and bruised "Tell me the verdict doctor" Anna croaked. "How bad is it?"
Hershel felt bad, he really dad "I will administer morphine to ease the pain, then I will administer the cortisone for anti-inflammatory and then we will rub some heat ointment into it. We will bandage to stabilize it. I have some crutches here you can use to get yourself around. As I think you might know; you need surgery for this knee but we don't have the resources to do it. You will have a limp and will always have to take it easy on your knee. We will have to find you a strong knee brace because you won't be able to walk without it properly and I am afraid I don't have one of those lying around here"
Daryl sat forward out of chair, putting his hands together and intertwining his fingers "You don't have to worry about that, I will go out on a run and find her one. Anything else Half Pint here needs, I will get it"
Hershel, the wise man that he is, saw then what was between Daryl and Anna. It was evident with the tone in his voice. How he was so willing to do to just go out there without a moment's thought and get what she needed. Hershel had no doubt that Daryl would die for her. Patricia smiled as she looked on, seeing the bond between the two, making her miss Otis "I will go and get that ice pack for you, young lady"
Then Anna suddenly realised about Shane but forgetting about her knee and being frantic, she quickly moved her legs even before Daryl or Hershel stopped her. The pain vibrated through her whole leg, her face twisted agony and cried out in pain. Daryl rushed forward, holding her hand "Rick, I need to see him. Shane took Randall and killed him".
"You don't have to ever worry about Shane. Rick is dealing with him and he won't be a problem anymore. You have got to concentrate on yourself now" Daryl hoarsely whispered, making eye contact with Hershel "Don't gotta worry about anything else now".
Hershel nodded, getting the hint "Rick has got it handled, you need to be selfish and think about yourself young lady".
Daryl took his hands away from hers, cautiously he leaned her back into the pillows scared she would fall apart any moment "I keep on saying it, but I have never met someone so stubborn".
All Anna could do was smile, half-heartedly at that but her eyes shone through. Patricia came back with two ice packs wrapped separately in cloth and a humidifier. "Never thought we would have had to use this, Beth used to need it with her asthma as a child".
Patricia saw the concern on Daryl's face "You don't have to worry; this is going to help Anna breathe a lot easier. She has got to be careful with talking, eating and drinking so her throat can heal".
"That ain't going to happen" Daryl scoffed. "She can't stay quiet for five minutes".
Anna glared at him, but before long the shot through from her knee up into her hip. She gasped, trying to calm her breathing "Daryl" she wheezed.
"Alright, young lady, we need to put this knee cap into place" Hershel put his hands on her knee "I am going to count to three. On three, I will push your knee back into place".
"1, 2…" Her knee cap popped back into place with an audible crack that instantly relieved some of the pressure in her knee.
"I think it is time for Anna to have some of those needles now doc" Daryl stated.
Hershel nodded, taking out the morphine vial and the needle. He took out antibacterial wipes, going over her knee.
Daryl saw the size of the needle and his eyes widened "I am glad I am not getting that needle, what is that for? A horse or something?"
Hershel put the needle in the vial, drawing in the medicine. He tapped the needle, looking at Anna "You ready Anna?"
"As ready as I could ever be" she whispered, closing her eyes.
Hershel worked around her knee with the needles. She groaned, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth together. Her breathing was laboured. Patricia was rubbing her back tenderly. Daryl was feeling proud of her. Doing what she did that day with Shane and Randall and finding him. All the pain she was going through now with god knows how many needles. A lot of people would be playing the victim, but not Anna. She was being strong as Hershel finished wrapping up her knee, with a make shift splint to stabilize it.
There was a pair of elbow crutches leaning against the lounge and Anna begrudgingly looked at them. Hershel packed away the last of his medical supplies "You are always going to have trouble with this knee from now on. Not that you needed reminding with your medical background. All of the tendons in your knee have been twisted and possibly torn. The cartilage in your knee is damaged, it is now going to wear thin as time goes on and soon your knee will be bone on bone".
With the way the world is now, she won't be able to get a knee replacement when the time comes.
Patricia passed her a soft ice pack "You need to ease the bruising on your face as well. Ice your knee twenty minutes on, ten minutes off and remember, no talking young lady".
Anna nodded, softly smiling and nodding.
Hershel tenderly touched her shoulder "We will leave you to it. You need anything, just talk to Daryl"
They left the room and Daryl could feel his walls beginning to crumble down.
"Can you pass me those clothes, Daryl" Anna asked, her voice cracking.
He mentally shook his head "Sure" he whispered, getting up off his seat, walking over to the table.
"Thanks" whispered, taking them from him.
Daryl nodded nervously, taking in all of her injuries. He turned with his back turned to her "You are going to lose the movement from that knee and not be able walk properly ever again"
"I have the other knee" she remarked.
Beth had picked the comfiest clothes for her; a pair of Adidas slim track pants, a faded blue sweat shirt but then he had to laugh. Anna was wearing her Vans.
He bowed his head, hiding in his hands "You could have died out there today" Daryl looked up "You scared the hell out of me" he growled.
Anna flinched, a little caught off guard by Daryl's outburst "I'm sorry" she whispered, twiddling her thumbs and feeling a little nervous under his gaze.
"Alright, we got to work on your knee getting stronger. But for now you have got to rest" Daryl ordered.
"And what about Shane?" Anna asked.
"Shane won't be a problem anymore. No one will ever be for ya" he said with malice in his voice.
There was a frantic knock at the door; both Daryl and Anna looked at each other.
"What?!" Daryl called out.
Glenn came into the, feeling a little nervous "I know Anna just got back".
"Just spit it out" Daryl told him, getting impatient with the man's nerves.
"There are a herd of walkers coming for the farm. Rick isn't back yet, Carl and Samson are missing. We are going to need you both because you are the best shots out of all of us".
There never seemed to be a rest for any of them. Never a dull moment when they could just sit and take a breath. Anna looked at Daryl with a look he knew all too well. She wanted to help and there wouldn't be a thing that could stop her. Defeated, his shoulders slumped. His eyes never leaving hers "Get her cross bow, quiver and a gun. We will meet you out there in a second".
"Before we go out there. I need to ask you something" he asked her, getting up to help her off the bed "Promise me something, okay?"
"Anything" she answered, carefully swinging her legs around and off the lounge.
"Just if you're ever in trouble, don't be brave. You just run, okay? Just run away. Don't look back, not for anyone. Not even for me. You just get out and get yourself safe"
"Why are you so good to me?" she asked.
"Because you are my girl" he told her without even thinking about it.
Anna paused, taking a second. Before her stood a man that not a lot of people understood, that a lot of people were scared of. But Anna wasn't, she knew this man was a brave soul and she is proud to know him for who he truly was, a man people failed to see "I will always be your girl, you never have to worry about that".
Carefully, Anna walked with Daryl staying close just in case she needed help. Glenn was outside of their door, with her cross bow, quiver and a gun "Just be careful. You are an injury magnet".
They walked out to the front porch.
"Patricia, kill the lights" Hershel whispered.
"I will get the guns" Andrea told them.
"The others on the high way just passed, should we wait inside?" Glenn asked.
"Unless there is a tunnel down stairs I don't know about. A herd that size will tear the house down" Daryl said sarcastically.
Lori came out to them "Oh my god, my boy is out there. I am not leaving without my boy"
"You don't have to worry, we will go and have another look and we will find him" Carol informed her.
Andrea came back and put the bag of guns on the porch. Maggie picked up her gun; loading it. Glenn gave her a look, shocked "Maggie?"
"You grow up in the country; you learn a thing or two" Maggie explained.
The herd was getting closer, there moans making Anna's skin crawl. Daryl looked out to herd "Not that is matters, we don't have the numbers"
"You can go if you want" Hershel told him as he loaded his gun.
"You going to take them all on?" Rick asked.
"We have guns, we have cars" Hershel replied.
"We kill as many as we can. We use the cars to lead the rest of them off the farm" Rick told him.
"It's my farm, I will die here" Hershel claimed.
"Good as night as any"
Anna instinctively follows after him, ignoring the pain that was throbbing in her knee. She stopped at the stairs. Daryl looked down at her "Remember what I said?"
"Yeah" she answered "Let's do this"
Daryl walked down the steps; an uneasy feeling was settling into his stomach and niggling away in his head. Something didn't feel right and it wasn't the herd of walkers. He looks over his shoulder; Anna poked her tongue out and smiled at him. Daryl etched it into his mind, taking that one last look of his light and hoping to god he would see her again.
Anna kept her eye on Daryl as she made her way to Shane's truck that Glenn and Maggie were in. She got there, shutting the door "You ready?" Glenn asked, starting it up.
"Be careful of your knee" Maggie said.
Carol, Beth, Patricia, Hershel and even Lori had no one strong to protect them at the house "Sorry, Glenn. I am going back" Anna said as she jumped out the truck.
"What? Why?" Glenn asked frantically.
"I need to go back. Don't worry about Daryl, I can handle him" she joked, getting out of the car.
Glenn drove away. Anna got out her knife, limping as she ran. A walker with half its face chewed off lunged for her. She moved to the left, stabbing it in the temple. Another grabbed her by the shoulder, making her twist around, shooting it in the eye. She kept on going, taking out the walkers as she went. Anna looked up, seeing a mass of at least forty walkers coming towards her. She looked over at the farm house, not being able to see anyone and couldn't hear the sound of Daryl's gun or bike. So, Anna did what Daryl had made her promise to do, she turned and ran the fastest she could with her sore knee. Pain shot up and down her leg like electric shocks but she didn't let it stop her. She could feel walkers grabbing at her but not being able to hold. There was a large oak tree that had a low lying branch, she jumped, and the shock waves of pain sent through her body but missed it. A snarl came from behind, Anna looked and saw a walker with others coming for her "God damn it" she cried, feeling frustrated.
Again she jumped, getting a hold of the branch and hauled herself up. Her knee hurt but she had to get higher, away from the walkers so they didn't see her. She pulled the hood of her jumper over her head and tucked herself even more into the crook of the tree, settling herself in. Below, walkers pawed at the tree, hungry for her.
Daryl's eyes searched the group as soon as he could see them. The horrid feeling building up more into his stomach and hoping to whatever god there is that he was wrong. He pulled up his bike, instantly getting off quick, looking around. The look on everyone's face was telling him something he didn't want to, something he didn't want to believe taking a step back "Where the hell is she?" he asked in disbelief.
Glenn, visibly distraught with grief "We were in the car. Anna was scared that everyone back at the farm didn't have anyone strong enough to protect them, so she left to go and help them".
"Why the hell didn't you try and stop her?"
Scared, Glenn took a step back "I tried going back but there was so many walkers. Anna wouldn't…".
Daryl lunged forward like a maniac to get to Glenn, his arms trying to throw punches. Rick ran forward, taking a hold of Daryl and pushing him back to the bike "No, no, no. She was meant to get out of there!" Daryl growled, holding back his tears. "She is meant to be safe!" Daryl yelled.
"She should be here" Daryl whispered. He should have listened to his gut instincts. He should have taken her on his bike. He should have made sure she was safe. "What have I done?" Daryl asked himself, his face contorted in pain and feeling like the world has shattered. He looked up at Rick "What have I done?"
Rick held him by the shoulders, staying resilient because he knew Daryl would be rattled with blame, holding himself responsible. "You haven't done a thing wrong, you understand me? We will back track the herd and look for her high up in the trees. I heard Anna is the best climber out there".
"Her knee and hand, man" Daryl moaned, shaking his head slowly and feeling guilt-ridden. "She could barely lift her cross bow. How can she drive a knife into a walker or climb a tree?"
"If I go by anything from what I have come to learn about Anna, is that she is the most stubborn woman I have come to know. Anna wouldn't go down like that, out there. She would put one hell of a fight up, somehow finding a way in that trickster brain of hers and she will make it back to her family. Nothing is more important to her than family. No matter what, we will all see her again. Anna would not give up on us, so we won't give up on her. I give you my word on that".
They agreed to set out in search for her, following behind the herd of walkers but keeping safe on the highway.
Before long, Rick had sounded the horn of the car. Daryl stopped his bike, looking back at the other two cars. Everyone got out of the cars, with Rick at the lead heading to Daryl.
"You out?" he asked.
"Running on fumes for the past hour" he told him.
They had all gathered together "We can look for gas in the morning when we have more light. It will put us in a better position to look for Anna as well"
"Spend the night here?"
Carl was shivering, his hands in the pocket of his jumper "I am freezing". He snuggled up closer to Samson.
Rick took his jumper off, walking over to his son and putting it on him. Daryl closed his eyes, just thinking how cold Anna would be at the moment. Wandering the woods alone with nothing but the clothes on her back and her cross bow.
"We will build a fire" Lori said out loud to everyone, rubbing Carl across the chest to keep him warm.
"We go out looking for fire wood, stay close. I have so many arrows. How you doing on ammo?" he asked Rick.
"Not enough" Rick answered, walking ahead of the group to get a better bearings.
"We can't just sit here with our asses hanging out"
"You watch your mouth. Everyone stop panicking and listen to Rick"
"Alright, we set up a perimeter. Make camp, in the morning we go on a run looking for gas and supplies. While we do that, we look for Anna on foot. Once we find her, which we will. We will head on our way".
"Glenn and I can go on a run together now and scrounge up some gas" Maggie whispered, clutching her gun.
"No, we stay together. God forbid something happens to someone and they are stranded without a car" Rick argued.
"Rick, we are stranded now. We lost Andrea back at the farm and Anna is wandering out there alone" Glenn told him.
"I know it looks bad, we all have been through hell and back. But at least we found each other and we will find Anna out there. I wasn't sure, I really wasn't but we are together. We keep it that way" Rick stated. He was just keeping it together but only just for his group "There has got to be shelter. There has got to be a place somewhere".
Glenn stepped forward "Rick, look around. There are walkers all around the place. They are migrating or something".
"There has got to be a place, not just where we hold up but we fortify. Hunker down, pull ourselves together. Build a life for each other. There is a place out there we just have to find it" he growled.
"Even if we do find a place and we think it is safe. We can never be sure for how long? Look at the farm, we fooled ourselves into thinking it was safe" Maggie said, holding her gun.
"We won't make that mistake again" Hershel pointed out.
Rick looked over to the side of the road, noticing a bridge that sheltered them form the road "We make camp over there and the break of day we will leave".
"This alright to you?" Carol asked Daryl.
"What if another herd comes through or another group like Randall's?" Maggie questioned.
"You know I found Randall right? He turned but he wasn't bit" Daryl declared.
"How is that possible?" Beth asked.
"What the hell happened?" Lori asked.
"Shane killed Randall just like he always wanted to. He almost killed Anna" Daryl revealed.
The blood drained from Rick's face "What?"
"He smashed her knee in so she couldn't walk and she won't ever be able to walk without a brace. Strangled her and damaged her voice box so she couldn't scream for help" Daryl explained.
"And then the herd got him?" Lori asked, looking questionably up at Rick.
There was silence, not even the birds around them were making a noise. Rick didn't want to tell them this way, not after what just happened but it was weighing so hard down on him "We all are infected"
Everyone was in shock with the news.
"What?" Daryl asked.
"At the CDC Jenner told me whatever it is, we all carry it" Rick confessed.
Daryl waked, turning around in a circle and facing the group again.
"And you never said anything?" Carol pointed out, feeling angry that she was lied to.
"It didn't seem to make a difference" Rick shrugged.
"You knew this whole time?" Glenn asked.
"How could I have known? You saw how crazy…" But he was cut short by Glenn.
"That is not your call! I found out about the walkers in the barn and I told everyone for the good of the group"
"But I thought it was best that people didn't know" Rick said in defeat.
Daryl came back from gathering some fire wood; still keeping an eye out for any tracks that could have been Anna's. He kneeled down in front of the fire, chucking in the wood he found. He had to keep himself busy; the moment he stopped he found he was thinking too much.
"We are not safe from him, keeping something like that from us" Carol said, looking behind her shoulder to see if Rick was anywhere near them "Why do you need him? He is just going to pull you down".
Daryl pressed his lips together, shaking his head "Nah, Rick has done right by me. First light we are going out to find Anna".
"You both are his henchmen and I am a burden. We deserve better" Carol declared.
He stared at her, not believing the words coming out of her mouth "What do you want?"
Shamefacedly Carol looked at him "A man of honour".
"Rick has honour" Daryl scoffed, chucking the last of his sticks into the fire.
"I think we should take our chances" Maggie told Glenn.
"Don't be foolish" Hershel said, scolding Maggie. "There is no food, no fuel and no ammo".
Just as Rick returned, a branch snapped just outside of their camp and every one jumped, scared it could be a walker.
"What was that?" Beth asked, looking around at the others.
"Could be anything, a raccoon or a possum" Daryl replied, not phased at all by the noise.
"Or a walker" Glenn added.
"Nah, it ain't a walker. Samson would have alerted us if it was" Daryl stated.
"We need to leave I mean what are we waiting for?" Carol voiced.
"Which way?" Glenn asked.
'It came from over there" Maggie pointed out.
"The last thing we need is everyone running around in the dark. We don't have the vehicles and no one is traveling on foot"
"Don't panic" Hershel urged everyone.
"I am not going to sit here and wait for another herd to blow through. We need to leave now"
"No one is going anywhere!" Rick demanded.
"Do something!" Carol cried out.
"I am doing something!" Rick growled, outstretching the hand with the gun, feeling overwhelmed with the burden of being the leader "I am keeping this group together and alive. I am not going to lose any more good people. I have been doing it all along, I didn't ask for this! I killed my best friend for you people for Christ sake!"
Everyone was shocked.
"You saw what he was like. How he pushed me, how he compromised us. How he wanted to threaten Anna from the very beginning just because she stood up to him. He staged the whole Randall thing to lead me out and put a bullet in my back" Rick howled.
"Asshole deserved it. Just wish I was the one to put the bullet in the ass holes back, Rick took the fun away from me"
Daryl looked to his side, there Anna was sitting and kicking the dirt the way she did when she was pissed off. But he knew she really wasn't there, it was just like seeing Merle again. Beth look at him questionably, the smile disappears and he puts his face back on but not helping himself to keeping look to his side to see her again.
"He gave me no choice, he was my friend and he came after me!" Rick
Carl started crying, hiding his head in Lori's arms.
"Oh Rick. I wish I could be here". Anna sighed.
"My hands are clean!" Rick wailed. "Maybe you people are better off without me, go ahead! I say there is a safe place for but maybe it is another pipe dream. Maybe I am fooling myself again. Why don't you go out and find out for yourself! Send me a post card. You can do better? Let's see how far you get!" he paused for a reaction. "No takers? Fine, but let's get one thing straight. You staying, this isn't a democracy anymore" Rick walked away from the group.
Daryl stepped away and Samson and Anna followed him. He couldn't believe he was even imagining she was there.
"What? Do you really think I am dead?" Anna questioned.
"Tell you the truth, I don't know what to believe anymore" he answered her "Are you alright?"
"I will be better once I get back to you lot. Seems you all need me around at the moment"
"I am so sorry Anna" Daryl whispered.
"There is no need for you to be sorry Daryl Dixon. You did what was right for the good of the group"
"But I didn't do what was right by you" Daryl admitted.
Anna walked up to him, placing her hands on his face "But you did. You did what you could to make this group, our family, safe. That is what is important now. There isn't much we can do without the people we care about these days" Anna said.
"I don't know what to do without you" Daryl admitted.
"You do what you were doing before me" she said without missing a beat. She looked over to Samson and smiled. "I have to go now. But I will see my boys in the morning." She looked back into Daryl's eyes.
"I don't want you to leave" he admitted.
She just shook her head. "Good night redneck" she said with a cheeky grin and a wink. Poking her tongue at him the way she always did.
"Good night half pint" he replied and she faded away.
The sun was high up in the sky and they had been searching all morning. Rick was beginning to think they weren't even going to find her at all. They were all getting thirsty, delirious with the humidity that was making it hard to breathe. Even Samson was getting agitated. He was bouncing around like a lunatic and barking. Carl couldn't calm him. Poor thing is probably lost without his mom. There was a snap of a branch not too far from them. A walker maybe? Every one froze, still a little shell shocked from what happened at the farm. Rick put his hand up, signalling them all to stay behind him. Rick puts a firmer grip on his knife, ready to lunge as soon as it rounded the tree. But he felt short, dropping the knife to the ground and stopping dead in his tracks. He tilted his head, focusing his eyes more and not quite believing what was in front of him. He looks back at the group, who were looking in the same direction as he was. He looked on as Daryl ran into Glenn at the back of the group. Daryl nearly ripped Glenn's head off for getting in his way. "Oi watch it! Why you stopping in the middle of the path for?!"
Anna giggled at his temper. "Back off redneck. You know Glenn is scared of you" she teased him.
His head snapped up, "Ya'll see her too?" Daryl asked, looking back in disbelief then back to her.
"Anna, you survi…: Daryl was cut short, as if someone had cut off his air supply.
His eyes looked down and widened with shock and disbelief. Anna's right arm was hanging there limply, blood dripping down her hand. The realization kicked in and Daryl's heart started beating out of his chest. He could barely catch his breath to speak again. His reaction didn't go unnoticed by her. She glumly smiled and shrugged, knowing what he was going to ask next.
"Anna", Daryl whispered, barely audible, "you've been bitten?"
Her eye lids were feeling heavy; everything started to spin around her. Daryl rushed forward, catching her in his arms and falling to the ground. Rick quickly went over to her, taking off his over shirt. He ripped the sleeves off, tying them up to make a long
"I found you! I heard a dog bark and I wasn't sure if it was real but I followed it anyway and there you all were. I finally found you, before it was too late" Anna rambled.
"I know a house that isn't too far from here. We can take her there" Hershel instructed.
Anna was so light in his arms, looking like a broken little doll in his arms.
"We need to get there fast. I will be your cover" Hershel vowed.
Never before has there been a time where Daryl had felt so scared before in his life. Her face contorting in pain as he ran. A branch lashed against his cheek, cutting him deep. But he didn't care, all it mattered was the woman in his arms. She had to survive!
Daryl ran out of the bushes, with Rick close at his side. Ahead of them was an old plantation mansion. Two large sweeping stair cases from the second story. He looked down at Anna, already so pale and shivering. Daryl could barely breathe with the stitch in his side. Daryl kicks down the door, his eyes darting around the place. There was a large door on the right half way up the hall. Daryl made way for the door.
Hershel came through behind him, throwing the cushions of the large plush navy blue lounge, not worry about where they landed. "Sit her carefully down there" he told Daryl while sticking one of the cushions behind her head.
Never has Daryl been so nervous before, his arms trembled from exhaustion.
Rick, feeling exhausted ran into the house, following the blood trail to the room "I will find something sharp enough". Quickly running away from the door.
The house was huge and Rick was panicking because he couldn't find the kitchen. There was two large double doors, he ran towards them, seeing they were swinging ones and pushed them. A man was standing there but Rick was quick and got his gun out, pointing it at him.
"Who the hell are you?" the man asked, keeping his shotgun sighted on to him.
"Doesn't matter because you are in the way of what I need. Is this even your house?" Rick asked.
"I am friends with the family who live here" The mysterious man, raised one arm in surrender, pointing to the photo frame on the island table.
The blood drained from his face, lowering his gun "You give me that chef's knife there. Anna has been bit"
He was confused and picking up the knife out of the knife block "You know Annie?"
"Come on, she won't have long to live" Rick bit as he snatched the knife out of the man's hand and turning on his heel and racing back the way he came in.
Hershel was taking Anna's pulse; it was beating like the sound of humming birds wings. Something wasn't right, he looked the side where her arm was lying against it and to his horror there was fresh blood. Anna had another bite on her ribs. He looked at Daryl Dixon who was down on his knees; his hands clasped together on the bed and was praying.
The door was pushed open, in came Rick with a chef's clever and a saw in hand. A stranger came in behind him, Daryl looked behind his shoulder and instantly putting himself between him and Anna.
Rick put his hand up in caution, walking to Hershel and holding out the clever and knife to Hershel "He knew Anna before".
But Hershel didn't take them from Rick, shaking his head.
Daryl looked between the two men "What the hell are you waiting for? Just chop her arm off and save her!" Daryl roared at him.
"Daryl, she has another bite on her side. I thought it was from her arm, but there is fresh blood there now" Hershel told him.
"No! no! no!" he cried out and punched a hole in the wall.
"Daryl!" Rick boomed.
The broken down man pushed him away. The look on his face would scare anyone away "Leave me the hell alone!"
"Hey? Daryl, hey stop!" Rick called out to him.
He didn't. He didn't turn to see when he stopped following. He needed to be away, just for a little, he needed to be out.
He found a spot in the woods, a twenty minute march in. He went looking for the, for the walkers. Anytime he saw one he just hacked at them, slashing hard, harder than he needed. When he was there he dragged one he'd just killed and started punching.
It hurt. The crack of the bone to fist rippled through his arms. He wished he were in a bar fight, he wished it were safe enough to pick a fight with someone, anyone, and for them to hit him back. He wanted to get socked hard across the jaw. He wanted to beat the living hell out of how he felt, of how Anna felt, of how unfair this world, of how everything was.
He stopped because he hit something blunt whilst he pounded through the walker. It was, thank god, a rock, and the impact was enough for him to recoil. He held his hand on his chest, body rolling against the muddy ground. He cried then. He curled, foetal, and cried like a baby, a little pathetic baby.
When did he get so invested in another person? Why did it hurt so much, why did he let it? WHY!?
His girl. His Anna. She was alone, hurt and dying. He was here because he was too weak to keep his feelings in check and she was alone.
But he had to get himself up. He put down the hand that wasn't damaged and push himself to sit up. He had to get back to her and hard as it would be for him, he had to be there at the end for her. Daryl closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Why did it have to hurt so much?
He walked past Carol, who had tears on hers. Beth was hugging Maggie and sobbing into her shoulder. Glenn was sitting down, silent tears falling down his fac. Carl was sobbing into the next of Samson, who was whining with his head down on to his paws. Lori just stood to the side of Carl. T Dog was standing up, looking dazed, touching his shoulder as he passed "I am so sorry man. We all love her".
He walked back into the room where Hershel was treating her. The Tom guy was still there, standing with Rick in the corner. Daryl didn't care though, his eyes were on her.
"We will leave you two alone" Hershel said, looking at both Rick and Tom. "Introductions can come later".
She was awake and staring at him "Hey there, Half Pint".
Anna couldn't find the words to speak to the man standing before. A man who has become so much to her in such a short amount of time that she just felt like she had let him down. She just stared up at him with tears welling up in her eyes and rolling down her face. Anna had failed the most important person in her life.
Immediately he went to her, sitting on the lounge beside her and held her. She sobbed, crying because she was so scared of leaving him alone and there would be no one to look after him "I am so sorry".
He closed his eyes and silently the tears fell down his face. He gently patted down her hair, tenderly the top of her head "You have nothing to be sorry about".
It was a heart breaking moment for the pair "But who is going to look after you?" her voice cracking, nestling her head further more into him. "Because no one can look out for you like the way I can".
"You will always be looking after me Half Pint, no matter what" he muttered.
A moment of silence passed between the two "Who is going to annoy you now?"
"Always cracking a joke" Daryl
Tom looked around at the people, all crying for Anna. He felt like he had stepped into a family in mourning. Her father and brother weren't here with her and that meant only one thing "That guy saved her didn't he? Because her father, Michael and her brother, Mathew aren't here" What happened to them?
They all looked at him in a little shock "I am good at reading people, situations" he explained.
"A group ran sacked their camp. They made sure Anna was safe but they didn't make it. He found her that night, walking half a day with her and brought her back to the farm where we were. They have been unknowingly inseparable from each other since then. They are two halves of a whole and are always in harmony of each other whether they are together or not. Always knowing how each other are. That is why he is so heartbroken now; I know he was so sure that she wasn't dead. She was something so pure and good for this group and stubborn as a mule. Even though Anna got under people's skin, she was still the light that guided them in the right direction we needed to go".
Rick buried his face into his hands.
"It is a great loss and we will cherish her memory forever" Hershel added.
"As annoying as Anna could get, she still felt like family and I will miss her" Maggie
"She saved my little girl" Hershel clarified.
"Anna saved all of us as soon as she made it to that farm" T Dog added.
Beth wiped away her tears, straightening out her shoulders "I want to say good bye to her".
"Me too!" Carl added.
Rick simply stared at Lori "Of course I don't want anyone to die. She was good for Carl and she helped you a lot. It won't be the same without her"
'What is Daryl going to do?"
"He might take some time out, go and look for his brother. He needs to get his head straight and some time away from the group"
"She taught them a lot. Not just about guns and protecting themselves but also about loyalty and that blood isn't the only thing that makes you family"
Everyone looked at each other to see who would go first, who would really want to. But Beth wiped away her tears, standing up strong despite feeling heartbroken she was going to lose a close friend "Anna would want us to be strong"
Hershel smiled fondly, proud of his youngest daughter and got up with her "She would also tell us to suck it up".
"Let's go and say good bye to Anna" Rick said.
"But it isn't good bye daddy, it is see you later is all because Anna will always be with us, no matter what" Carl claimed.
Anna's chest was rough, taking almost all of the effort she had to take each breath. Her skin was wet and clammy, but her skin was cold to the touch. Weird for the fever that comes with turning. Daryl wasn't surprised Anna was lasting this long because he knew Anna was a fighter. Anna would fight until she took her last breath.
There was a small knock at the door and slowly it opened. Beth peeked her head around the door, walking in followed by Hershel and Maggie.
"I don't know how long she has so best make it quick" Daryl told them.
Anna blearily woke up, sensing someone had come into the room. Instantly smiled and with the help of Daryl, she sat up properly with her back propped up by pillows "I wasn't expecting any visitors".
Beth felt nervous, trying to keep her emotions in check and walked into the room.
"You can come and give me a hug; I am not going to bite. At least not now anyway" she joked.
Beth rushed forward, sitting on the lounge but being careful of her wounds and gave Anna a hug "This isn't fair!" she cried. "I don't want you to go."
Anna took a deep breath to gather her thoughts, look at Daryl "This is the way life is now, Beth. I know it isn't for any of us but we have got find the strength to get through the dark moments. I know you will".
The young girl pulled away, wiping away her tears "I am going to miss you" Beth whispered.
"Thank you for everything you have done for my family. I can never repay you" Maggie thanked her.
Maggie pulled Beth into a hug, taking her out of the room, leaving Hershel with Anna and Daryl in the corner. An itch started to etch its way in her chest, making her go into a coughing fit. Daryl's muscles tensed up, knowing the end was close and it too everything he had not to break into pieces right there and then. Hershel reached over to the bed side table, handing the rag to her. Her throat was itchy, her lungs were on fire. She took it, wiping away the blood that trickled down her lip.
Hershel saw her spirits were starting to go down, her body getting tired of fighting the disease that was invading her body like rapid fire. He put his hand on hers, making her feel warm and at ease, squeezing it gently "I knew you were a god send as soon as you came on to my farm a guardian angel for us all, you saved me and my family. You were the spark that livened this group when we were all so lost. Thank you for being who you are"
Anna blinked back tears, hugging Hershel "Thank you".
He released her from the hug, smiling fondly at her "No, thank you young lady. The heavens above will be a very lucky place to have you"
Hershel smiled at her, rubbing her arm and got up to his feet. He stopped at the door, taking one last look at her "It is an honour to count you as family" And he left the room.
She took a moment to gather herself together, closing her eyes and trying to zone out the pain. Her head was pounding, her skin felt like it was on fire but her skin was cold to the touch. Daryl was leaning forward out of his chair, biting his thumb nail out of nerves.
Of course it didn't go unnoticed by Anna "I am not dead yet".
Daryl chuckled, shaking his head and sitting up properly in his seat "Always with the jokes Anna"
"Hey, I don't have much more time left; I need to get in as much as I can" Anna said indifferently.
A sheepish Glenn and a sad face T Dog walked into the room. Her face lit up with what little colour she had "Never thought I would have ever seen the two of yours faces again"
"This isn't fair" T Dog exclaimed. "Ain't nothing in the world that can make this right and what Shane did to you".
"Life isn't fair on any of us, even before the world ended" Anna told them. "We all just have to find it within ourselves to soldier on for as long as we can".
T Dog shook his head "Aww hell, I need to give you a damn big bear hug" Striding forward, he took the fragile woman into his arms "I am going to miss you so much" he whispered.
T Dog held out his hand to fist pump her, she returned it "Peace out, white chocolate. See you on the other side".
"Ride on, dark chocolate" Anna said with the best smile she could manage.
The room was silent. Daryl was slumped back into his chair, absentmindedly patting Samson behind the ears and pretending he wasn't listening. Glenn was too nervous to look up at her because of Daryl sitting in the corner. He was stuck for words and didn't know where to begin.
"Thanks for making Daryl less grumpy" Glenn muttered. Daryl shot a glance to Glenn to watch himself.
"My pleasure" Anna chuckled.
"This is all my fault" Glenn confessed.
"Nah, it's mine. I shouldn't have gotten out of that car or I shouldn't have pissed off Shane in the first place. We can all say what if I had done this or that; it is never going to help us. It will just hurt us even more" Anna explained.
That's when Tom walked in. Glenn didn't know what else to say. His mind went blank. He didn't know how to say goodbye. He didn't want to say goodbye.
"This isn't goodbye Glenn, This is See you later" she told him.
"Yeah. See ya later Anna" he replied and left the room, nodding a hello at Tom on his way passed.
Tom walked up to the coffee table and sat on the edge of it. "Well Annie, this isn't the reunion I was expecting" Tom said jokingly.
Daryl looked at her strangely, more with the look of what the hell with the nick name of Annie "Isn't Annie something with curly red hair?"
Anna's eyes flicked up, not believing her eyes and thinking it was her fever taking a hold of her "Tom?"
"You haven't changed that much in the way of looks. Except your hair is back" he smiled.
"It has been what? Nine years?" she guessed.
He chuckled to himself "Yeah, about that. Too long if you ask me, except for that one time I visited. I am happy you have made an extended family with the group here. You are so important to all of them. God, I wished I was decent enough to stick around when I had a choice. I left something good".
Daryl's eyes flicked up, wandering exactly this man was implying.
"Been living with the wrong choice all of these years" he added, putting his hand on hers.
"Can't be going on blaming yourself" she told him, putting her fractured hand over his.
"Just wish I got to know the Anna that everyone is saying goodbye too" Tom admitted.
He leaned forward, taking her into a hug "Promise me something, please look after them" she whispered into his ear.
Tom pulls out of the hug, subtly nodding and crossing his heart with his fingers "Don't got to worry about a thing. I will look after your family".
There was a soft knock at the door.
"Come in" Daryl called out.
Rick walked in with Lori close behind, holding Carl's hand and with a shy Samson at his side, following loyally with Carl. He jumped up on the lounge settling himself at her feet.
Anna smiled softly "Hey, little man".
Carl ripped himself away from Lori's hand "Carl".
But Rick put his hand on her shoulder, giving her a look to let him go "Let Carl have his chance to say goodbye to her"
Carl was hysterical at the thought of losing Anna. He didn't want her to die. She was one of his favourite people in the group and he, hers.
"I'm going to miss you so much Anna. I wish I could save you" Carl sobbed into her shoulder.
"I will miss you too buddy. More than you will know. But don't be too sad. I hear that where I am going next is a wonderful place. I will wait for all of you." Anna explained softly in his ear. Her voice still effected by Shane crushing her throat. "Can you do me favour though?" she asked the young boy. "Can you take care of Samson? He is going to need help when I'm gone and who better to care for him than you?"
Carl sat up and wiped his face. "I swear it on my life that I will look after to him" he sniffled and then leaned in for another hug. He could hear her heart fluttering. Then it started to get faster and Carl jolted up right, frightened for his friend. Then she stopped breathing. Everyone stopped for a split second before Rick dragged Carl away from her and Daryl dived into Carl's spot frantically grabbing for her. Samson had his head down on his paws, whining because he could sense something was wrong. Carl didn't want to leave. He was screaming out for her. Rick motioned for Lori to take Carl out of the room. Instantly turning back to Anna to see what happened.
Anna had caught her breath again, only barely. She scared them half to death. Rick didn't want Carl to be in the room when the time come. He was relieved to see her breathing again.
Rick sighed with relief and shook his head. "You really scared us there Anna. I thought I didn't get to say goodbye".
She smiled at him gingerly. "Sorry" she said with a faint shrug.
Rick bobbed down to her level, "Oh Anna you have nothing to be sorry for. In fact I should be the one that should say sorry. I didn't live up to my word on protecting my group, my family. Ever since you arrived on the farm and joined our little group, you have always been family. I can't thank you enough for the help and guidance you've given all this time. I didn't expect a goodbye so soon. We will miss you, I will miss you. You have my word on that." He leaned over and kissed her on the top of the head. "Until we meet again Half Pint". He got up and placed his hand on Daryl's shoulder, who had said nothing in that time. He just held onto her.
"I'll be just outside the door" Rick told Daryl before he left the room. Daryl just nodded without a word.
Anna had to let Daryl know her final wishes before it was too late. Sitting there cradled in his arms, she softly whispers to him. "I want you to shoot me, before I turn. I don't wanna one of those things. Do it after I take my last breath. I can trust you to do this for me. I don't want your last memory of me to be me as one of those freaks." She started to sob in his arms because she knew that this was it. Her time would be up at any moment and she was going to miss him so much. Daryl had become the most important person to her.
Daryl held her in his arms, she had stopped crying "Anna?" he asked, moving her a little bit in his arms and her bitten arm fell limply. Samson crawled as close as he could to his owner, moaning and nudging her leg as if to try and wake up her up from a deep sleep. But she didn't and he settled his head on her leg, whining, somehow knowing what had happened.
His face contorted in pain and he cried, rocking her in his arms "No, no, no. Oh god no" he wailed. His hands were shaking as he reached for the gun that was on the coffee table in front of the lounge. The gun was so heavy in his hand as he held it up to her temple "I am sorry Anna. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, My Anastasia, I…"
"Daryl…" a little voice whispered.