Anna's head felt as if it was spinning around and around a million miles an hour. It felt like at any second it was going to explode into a million pieces. There was a high pitched ringing sound in her ears and it made her cringe in pain. Anna tried opening her eyes but they felt as if they had a dead weight hanging off a piece of string, holding them closed. Samson was now on the floor looking up at his mother whining. He wasn't sure what to make of her, she smelt different.
Daryl looked at Samson with a questioning look on his face; he looked down at Anna just to make sure he wasn't imagining anything. He saw her eyelids move. Realisation finally hit and the nerves hit the hunter like a Mack truck as he held her limp body in his arms. Anna wasn't dead! "Rick! I need you in here now!" Daryl yelled out in alarm. He kept his eyes on her, wiping away a loose strand of hair and feeling anxious "It's going to be okay" he promised her.
Rick and Hershel came rushing through the door in a panic. Rick had his gun ready to fire but stopped himself when he saw that Daryl was okay. But he was instantly confused when he saw Anna and she was breathing.
Daryl was cradling her, scared and confused. Anna looked like a broken little doll in his arms "Anna came back and said my name. She isn't a walker. How is this happening? Anna should be dead but she ain't" Daryl asked.
Hershel had his arms up, trying to keep the nervous hunter from going over the edge. A kind look on his face. He knew how protective Daryl was of Anna and right now he didn't want to risk him going over the edge "I don't have the answers for you right now, Daryl. But let's be thankful we have her back and alive".
Hershel rolled up his sleeves "Daryl, I am going to need you to carefully lay Anna down so I can take a closer look at her injuries. Now that we know we have her back, I can take better care of all that is wrong with her".
Daryl nodded his head, understanding what needed to be done and would do anything to help her get better. He felt a little nervous moving because he didn't want to hurt Anna any more than she already was. It felt like she was going to fall apart at any second. He carefully slid his legs out from underneath her being careful of her bad knee. He held her torso in his arms and moved himself out from underneath her. Once Daryl got a good, solid footing, he carefully laid the broken woman softly back down onto the lounge "Please, you have to be alright Half Pint" he whispered in her ear.
Hershel picked up Anna's medical bag that was sitting by the blue lounge. Hershel got out a torch, putting his hands on her eyes lid and opening them up, to try and get a response from them.
"Oh my god" he whispered, fascinated, leaning in closer to Anna to get a better look. Her eyes were a vivid, light shade of green and the whites of her eyes had small red veins, etching across them like spider webs. "You are one lucky young lady Anna" he whispered.
"What the hell is going on here?" Daryl asked, feeling like as if everything was in slow motion before him "Why is Anna still even alive?" he demanded his stance rigid and looking between Rick and Hershel.
Beads of sweat were dripping down her face, her hands shaking from being in pain and shock. It was as if her bones were made of broken glass. It was horrendous pain. Hershel felt guilty but he had to check her vitals. He shined the light in her eyes, her pupils quickly shrunk as small as pin heads. She was quick to shut them, her head feeling as if it was going to explode, like a baseball bat was hitting her all over her body. Anna was completely delirious and in shock with the fever streaming through her system and the pain becoming too much.
Hershel could see Anna was going to happen "Rick, pass me that bin. The poor girl is going to be sick".
He was quick, going to the redwood table, getting the bin and passing it to Hershel. He put it down just as Anna lurched forward, throwing up in the bin. Rick's heart went out, feeling so bad because he felt useless and there was nothing he could do.
Tom come racing into the room, stopping in his tracks when he sees her eyes, looking at Hershel, hoping he had the answers.
"Tom, I need you to take Samson out" Rick told him, taking a hold of the situation "The last thing we need right now is for Samson to over react if something happens to Anna while he is in the room with her. I will get you to go and find Carl. Take him outside with you out to the garden or something for me. I don't him to see or hear anything of what happens. Samson will help distract him by playing outside".
Tom found he was stuck on the spot, finding that his legs couldn't move. He couldn't believe his eyes. Rick stood up, seeing Tom was confused and putting his hand on his shoulder, helping to bring the man out of his trance "We don't know why Anna didn't turn but the important thing is we still have her and she is alive".
"Oh thank god" he whispered, feeling relieved and waving his hand through his dark hair "Come on, Samson" he called, leaving with him out of there "Your mother is in safe hands, let's go and get Carl".
Hershel was digging through her bag, looking for something to knock her out with. She was crying in Daryl's arms, her eyes squeezed shut and her head tucked into his chest. Daryl was scared, only just keeping it together "We need to hurry".
"We need to do something. She is in too much pain" Rick commented, nervously biting on his nails. "She can't keep on going on like this or the pain will kill her".
Hershel got out a needle, tapping it on the vial "Rick, I need you to hold her hand still so I can administer a mild sedative and only then are we only able to look after her. No way on this earth will it happen while she is awake. Every time we touch her it would feel like glass shattering for her".
Nervously, Rick stepped forward, kneeling down and holding her hand in his.
"Daryl, Daryl" she was mumbling as Hershel put the needle in her vein. "Daryl".
He closed his eyes, leaning his head down to hers and feeling a mixture of raw emotions "I am right here, Half Pint. I am not going anywhere".
Anna had finally gone slack and Daryl felt relieved she was no longer in pain.
"We should take her somewhere where she would feel more comfortable. We can work on her there" Hershel suggested, zipping up the medical bag and getting up off his knees.
Daryl carefully shifted himself from underneath Anna, still keeping a gentle hold of her. It hurt his knees as he slowly stood up with the broken girl in his arms. But he didn't care about the pain that he was feeling in his knees. All that mattered at the moment was her.
They all walked out of the office and all eyes were on Anna.
Rick raised his hand up to everyone, taking an immediate hold on the situation "I will explain everything later to everyone. Tom, where is Anna's room?"
"It is the furthest door on the second floor, you can't miss it" he told them "You will know it when you see it".
"Anna" Carl whimpered. Lori went to hold his hand but he yanked it away and stood with Tom, glaring up at his mother. Lori looked up at Rick, who just shook his head and implying just let him be.
"Maggie, I am going to need your help with Anna" Hershel told her as he walked past, following the others.
She was confused, looked up at Anna and Hershel "How is Anna alive?"
The stair case to the second floor reminded Daryl like something out of a castle or something, so big and grand. He took the stairs two at a time, looking down at Anna every few seconds just to make sure she was still alive "You are going to be alright, Half Pint. You have to be alright. No dying on me, okay. You aren't allowed to".
Daryl looked up and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when seeing the door at the end of the floor and it was a pale pink "Typical" he laughed, trying to make himself a little bit better.
Rick jogged ahead, opening the door for them. Maggie was through first, going to the big four poster bed. She took off the doonas, chucking the pillows on the floor and pulling her sheet across the bed to make to bed nice and flat. Daryl came through behind, softly placing her down. He stood up, facing Hershel with a determined look on his face "I ain't leaving her alone" he told Hershel straight away.
"I wouldn't expect any less from you Daryl" Hershel answered, taking out a pair of scissors.
He need to get her cleaned up because if the walker disease didn't clean her, a blood infection could. Hershel had to make sure her wounds were clean "I don't know how but she didn't die from the walker bites. I'll be damned to hell if I am going to let an infection take her from us. This little lady saved my life and my family" Hershel looked Daryl in the eyes "It's my turn to save hers".
Maggie came out of the ensuite of Anna's with warm wet clothes in her hand to clean her wounds. They were lucky enough that Tom had kept the electricity going by looking after the generator. Hershel cut through her jumper from bottom of the front, up to her neck and cutting away the sleeves. He was being careful of the bite on her arm and her fractured hand on the other. Daryl's flannelette was soaked through with blood and he cut that away until she was left in just her crop top. Hershel carefully removed the temporary bandage, slightly sticking to the wound as he peeled it away on her arms. The wound on her side was making Daryl uneasy in his stomach and it felt to him like he could throw up. The skin moved with each breath Anna took, the jagged edges of flesh moved, opening it up even more and making fluids seep down her side. Anna's ribs were bruised all over and her bitten arm was red and swollen, with blotches of dis colour spreading all along her arm.
Maggie carefully wiped away at the bite of her arm, being careful not to aggravate the wound. She moved on to the ribs as Hershel worked on her arm, sanitising the wound. He injected her with antibiotics in the wounds. He stuffed them with gauze, putting a dressing over top and wrapping it with a bandage. He done the same for her ribs as well, Maggie gently lifted her up, so her father could wrap around her ribs to bind her wound well. Anna's skin was pale with a grey undertone and her lips going a slight pale blue.
The little woman wasn't out of the woods yet.
"How is she?" Rick's voice cracked, his eyes glistening a little.
Rick's voice echoed through Daryl's mind, bringing out him out of trance. He looked from Anna to see Rick and Lori were in the room now. Instantly glaring at the woman who has always had something in for Anna since she came to the group.
"Anna is a tenacious fighter. I honestly don't know how long Anna survived this long but she has despite the odds that were stacked against her. It is a god given miracle we all have her here" Hershel told Rick, wiping her blood away from his hands on a rag and chucking it in the bin.
Lori balked at the sight of Anna, feeling afraid of her "What if her blood or anything from her does something to one of us to make us sick or turn into a walker? Can we even risk her being alive and a part of the group? Maybe we should drug her and just take her out into the woods. Leave her there. Anna is strong, maybe she will make it".
Daryl smiled at Anna, squeezing her softly and getting up off his seat. There was no way in hell Anna was going anywhere, not on his watch. And if she did, he was going to go with her. His face calm but his eyes smouldering with anger, making everyone feel anxious. Daryl shifted on his feet, his head raised "Anna's heart stopped beating and she died in my arms" Daryl pointed back to Anna's limp form "She came back alive as herself and not a walker. I don't know how but I am sure glad she did. I am sure almost everyone here is happy she is too! Anna isn't a danger to this group and she isn't going anywhere, not on my watch. We take care of our own".
"I have to agree with Daryl on this one" Rick agreed, taking his eyes away from Anna and looking at his wife "We don't abandon our family, no matter what place we are in".
Lori looked at her husband in disbelief "Of course you are agreeing with him. You will always will when it has anything to do with her" Lori sneered and stormed out of the room.
"Is Anna going to be alright?" It was hard for Daryl to stand back as all of this was going on.
Rick could see his struggle. He put his hand on Daryl's shoulder "There is nothing you have to worry about. She will be alright; we have a fighter on our hands. Anna has gotten through all that she has, even before the dead started walking. I have a strong feeling she will get through this"
An uneasy feeling settled in Daryl's mind as he looked back to her, thinking "What if she loses this fight? What am I going to do if that happens? I don't know what to do".
Anna was lying back down and blankets over her. Maggie simply nodded as she walked past, knowing how the hunter is with his personal space.
"You don't have to worry about her, she has to be one of the most persevering women I have ever encountered in my life. Anna will pull though just fine and with flying colours" Hershel commented, smiling a little at the thought "It is going to be nice to have her awake again. The world has been a little darker without her smiling face around us"
"Anna is a warrior and she won't give up that easily. Besides, Anna has got you watching over her tonight. I know she will pull through just fine" Rick commented, taking his hand off Daryl's shoulder "Just give me a yell if you need anything for either of you. I will be close by all of the time" Rick declared and left the room.
Daryl was left all alone. He was frozen on the spot, held down by the conflicting emotions that were running rapid through his head. Daryl couldn't bring himself to go over to her just yet. There was some photos on the fire place that caught his eye and there was one more so than the others and he picked it up to take a closer look. It was a head shot photo of her with her brother, Matthew. It was almost too hard to tell the difference between the two. It was a school photo, a private school one at that because he could see the collars of their blazers. Both had short cropped hair, with the same dark brown, almost black hair falling in front of their eyes. He took a closer look, paying close attention to the eyes and he knew who Anna was straight away. He smirked, one corner of his mouth lifting up. Her eyes were a much brighter green and had that little more look of mischief in them than her brother. And of course that trademark smile of her. A smile he couldn't wait to see.
The fire was stone cold. Daryl made a mental note he would get someone to go and get some fire wood. Anna hated being cold.
His hand was holding the frame, he found the courage to turn and face her. It was hard to look at her, looking so small in such a big sized bed. It was a god given miracle she was still alive. Daryl took one of the big, fancy white chairs and pulled it closer to the bed. He put the photo on the bed side table as a nice little thought for her. To have her brother closer to her in a time of need.
Anna was white as a ghost, a sheen of sweat shone across her face and she was shivering. Daryl pulled her blankets up a little higher on her, tucking her in. He picked up the wash cloth that was left by Maggie and gently patting away at her face. Daryl knew she was strong, surviving two walker bites somehow but now it was all a waiting game with blood infections and possibility of brain damage.
"Please don't leave me alone because I don't think I can do this life by myself" he whispered, "You better come back to me, ya hear? You come back to me. You can't be dead. Don't die on me. Please come back to me. I need you".
Knock! Knock!
Daryl was broken from his thoughts, lifting his head from her bed. He wiped away the tears on his face and turned to face the door "Come on".
A shy Beth came in, with a tub of water and some cloths hanging over her arm. She stood up straight, feeling a little braver this time around with the hunter "You don't have to worry, Daryl. I am here to help clean her up. Anna will feel much better once she has all the blood, dirt and grime cleaned off her".
The young girl had finally plucked up the courage to look Daryl in the eye and not be so shy. Carol came in behind with some food on a serving tray "Figures she will be hungry as a horse when she wakes up. We all know how big of an appetite that tiny woman had. You need to try and eat as well".
"Food is the least of my worries right about now" Daryl muttered, moving a little about on the sun bed. "I don't think I could even eat if I tried without puking my guts all over of the floor"
"She is going to be okay, you know that right" Carol said.
No matter how many times people have said it to him in such a small amount time. He still couldn't help but worry for the woman on the bed "Yeah I hope so" he muttered.
Hershel and Rick found Tom sitting outside watching on as Carl threw a stick for Samson. Tom picked up on the sound of someone coming, turning around "Is Annie" He shook his head, then correcting himself "I mean is Anna okay?"
"What is wrong with Anna?" Rick went to Carl trying to calm him down.
"Anna needs blood or she will die. Do you have any idea what blood type she is?" Hershel asked.
"O negative" Tom answered.
The old man gritted his teeth, closing his eyes and opening them back up "She is a special one even now" Hershel answered, feeling frustrated "If she doesn't receive blood soon, I am afraid she will go into shock and have organ failure" Hershel said.
Tom slung his gun across his back "It is not going to be too late because I am O negative"
"Right then, you come with me. We can't waste any more time or we will lose her for good" Hershel asked, turning back and straight to the house.
First quickly Tom leaned down to Carl "Anna is going to be just fine. I have never met someone stronger before, not even me. She will pull through this because she is super woman"
Carl nodded, sniffling a little and nodded "Okay"
Daryl was leaning on Anna's bed Hershel came in with blood transfusion equipment and Tom close behind with his jacket off in one hand and his shirt sleeve rolled up. Daryl got up off his feet "What the hell is going on? What aren't you telling me?"
"Anna needs blood and Tom is the same blood type. He is the only one able to give her blood for sure without killing her" Hershel went straight to work, setting both Anna and Tom up.
Now was a time where Daryl had never felt so useless before in his life. He didn't know his blood type. Rednecks don't go to the doctors for colds, let alone knowing their blood types.
"I understand what you are feeling right now" Tom said, holding his arm out as his blood saw drawn out. "I know you love her. In your own way"
Daryl scoffed, his eyes glaring at the man "You don't know how I feel! You don't even know me! Going around, calling her Annie and thinking you are all that! Her name is Anna, ass hole. You don't even know what she has been through!You don't know jack shit about her anymore, pretty boy" he growled wanting to rip the guy's head off but instead he went out to the veranda to get some air. To try and clear his head.
He pulled one of the chairs away from the outside tablet set and he turned it to face the bed room. Daryl sat down, scowling at Tom and sticking his finger up at him "Ass hole" he muttered.
Tom whistled, turning back to look at Rick "That Daryl guy is a real charmer isn't he. He really knows people skills, hey. He could win over the Queen of England with that personality" he said sarcastically.
Rick had to smirk to himself. Tom had a lot to learn about the enigma within an enigma that is Daryl Dixon "May I suggest something to you? If you are going to be a part of this group, I suggest you not push Daryl's buttons, especially for Anna's sake. You may have known her before the dead started walking. But you don't know who she is now as a person. That man you see sitting out there, he is her rock now and there won't be anything in the world that can change that. Anna will choose Daryl over you, that I can guarantee".
Rick went outside to Daryl, leaning against the balcony railing. It over looked a lake that had a little jetty on it and a small boat "You need to stay calm and collected for Anna. Even though she is unconscious. Anna will be able to tell what is going on and would be worried about you. It is who she is and she can't help it. But I suggest you try and make peace with Tom before she wakes up or you both will have to face her rage".
Rick put his hand on Daryl's shoulder and went inside, leaving his words with Daryl and letting them sink in. Daryl now felt guilty, selfish even. He groaned into his hands and decided to go inside.
Carol was now in the room and was wiping a bead of sweat that had trickled down past Anna's temple "We all love Anna and we want her to get better".
Lori was standing in the corner and biting her nails. Tom noticed "Clearly not all of us" he muttered.
"You got that right" Daryl replied, taking his spot on the chair.
The two men had agreed on something but not knowing they had.
"How do we know Anna won't turn? She could be a ticking time bomb, we shouldn't take the chance. She could just up and run. A safety risk for anyone that is around her" Lori said.
A person could have heard a pin drop in the room if it wasn't so thick with anger and tension. Daryl's eyebrows furrowed and his fists were clenched tight, his eyes not leaving her "Anna died in my arms and but came back alive as herself. She said my name, we all know walkers don't talk. You got any problem with her being here tough luck because she isn't going anywhere. Where she goes, I go. You remember that".
Lori looks to Rick and he shrugs his shoulders. Lori scoffs, looking around in disbelief "Oh you are got to be kidding me?" Lori whispered, her eyes darting around wildly. "Of course you choose her side. You always will when it comes to her" Lori muttered, storming out of the room.
Hershel picked up Anna's medical bag "I think it is about time we give Anna some space so she can rest. Daryl, you make sure you eat. You need your strength as well. As soon as she wakes up, make sure you come and get me"
Carol, Tom, Hershel and Rick left the room, leaving Daryl with Anna. He still couldn't believe Anna was alive but was so confused as to why. There had to be a valid reason.
A stream of light was peeking through the pale baby pink curtains, landing on Anna and giving her some much needed colour to her cheeks. Samson was on the edge of her bed and had his head on her feet, being protective of his mother.
Anna's fingers twitched and she slowly began waking up. She blinks, the light sending a sharp pain through her temple and moaned in pain. Samson became alert, barking at Daryl.
He woke up quick, jumping up and quickly patting Samson behind the ears "Good boy"
Daryl ran to the door, hastily pulling it open "Hershel! Anna is awake!"
"Daryl!" she whimpered, her eye clenched shut in pain "Oh my god everything hurts" she croaked.
He quickly goes back to her bed side, holding her hand. Suddenly himself finding it a lot easier to breath "You are going to be okay"
"Why am I alive?" she asked, looking at him. Daryl had to focus, trying to not stare at her eyes because he didn't want to scare her so soon "I should be dead" she whispered.
"I don't know and I don't care why. All it matters is that you are still here" he told her.
Hershel came into the room, followed closely behind by Rick. The old man with a smile on his face, beaming down at the little soldier on the bed "About time you are awake sleeping beauty. You had us all scared there for a bit"
Anna looked around at everyone, catching on to the way they all carried themselves. Anna wasn't stupid, she knew they were hiding something from her "How am I still here?" she demanded with a focused look in her eyes "I should be a walker right about now but I am alive"
All of the men looked at each other, Hershel nodded and Rick picked up a hand held mirror, handing it to Anna. She gingerly lifted up the hand that was fractured, taking it from him and looked into it.
"What the hell" she murmured, in shock about the colour of her eyes "Why are they like this? Why am I like this?" Mostly wandering out aloud to herself
"Anna, we don't know why but you need to stay calm. The important thing is that you are still alive. We can deal with how you are alive later but first we need to fix you up" Hershel looked over her, seeing she was in pain and injected her with enough morphine to keep away the pain but keep her lucid enough to talk.
Carl came rushing through the door, with a worried Lori at the door. Carl ran up to the bed, smiling as he saw Anna was alive and marvelling at her eyes "You are alive! I knew you wouldn't leave me".
"Are you going to give me a hug?" Anna asked.
"Yeah" he said, walking up to Anna and engulfing her in a hug.
Carl pulled back, looked at her eyes and marvelling at the "Your eyes are so cool!"
Anna ruffled her hair with what little strength she had left "Thanks little guy".
"It is just like in all of those fairy tales mom has read to me at bed time. You are like the beautiful princess who was in a deep sleep and your prince charming woke you up with true loves first kiss"
Carl's eyes widened in shock, his mouth opened wide "Oh my god, did Daryl wake you up with a kiss? Oh that is so gross!"
Daryl's eyes went straight to the ground, feeling his cheeks to red.
Anna laughed, ruffling his hair up "No kisses little man".
She pulled Carl into a hug and she made eye contact with Hershel, searching him for answers. One thing is for sure, Hershel was stumped for words.
The fire place was crackling away, Anna was sitting on her sun. It had been a week and Anna feeling absolutely bored out of her brains being cooped up in her room and not being outside. Samson was sitting below her, keeping guard and alert.
It was early morning, Daryl was out on a hunt and he wouldn't be back for the rest of the day. So she was going to take the chance to try and get out of her room, even if it was for a little while. Being cooped up and wrapped up in cotton wool has made her feel like she had cabin fever.
She eased herself out of her chair. Slowly Anna put weight on her knee, holding her side where the bite was. Samson got up on his feet, bobbing his head up and down. His tail wagging low "Ssshhh" Anna whispered, limping across the room. "You are going to get me busted if someone hears you and then Daryl will find out. I will get my ass kicked"
Anna took easy, steady breaths as she walked and focused on her balance. Finally, she made it to the door and slightly out of breath. Samson bobbed his head up and down, worried about her. She turned the door knob slowly, opening up the door and looked down the hall way "No Daryl, no Tom. I just might get away with this".
The house was quiet and she thanked her lucky stars because that meant that everyone was down on the first floor or outside. Anna stepped out, instantly feeling a whole lot better because the walls weren't closing in her. She let out a sigh of relief. Samson followed her close by. Anna knew she would never be able to make it out if Tom or Daryl were in the house, so she was taking her chances while they were gone. While holding her side, she hobbled along the hall way and used the walls to balance herself. Anna had made it to the top of the stair case and took a moment to rest. She looked down and suddenly they became so daunting to walk down. But she was determined and began her journey down, taking step by step. Anna had made it down six steps when Samson darted forward, running down the stairs. The colour drained from her face, her eyes widened and she cringed. Daryl wasn't meant to be back to at least after lunch time "Oh shit" she whispered.
Samson was barking like mad just at the front door, looking back and forth from the door to her Anna had to move to make it back to her room. The door was open and Anna's eyes widened, hearing Daryl's voice. Anna knew she was going to be in trouble "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit" she whispered, trying to get up the stairs to escape the wrath of Daryl's anger.
"Oi! You aren't meant to be out of bed by yourself"
Her shoulder's slumped, hopping a little to turn around to see Daryl standing there with his hands on his hips and glaring his eyes at her "What do you think you are doing?", he pointed back to the direction of her room "Go on now".
Anna grumbled underneath her breath as she turned, pulling faces.
"And no smart mouthing me or pulling faces at me either" Daryl told her.
"How did you know that?" Anna asked.
"I know you too well, that's what is it!" Daryl told her.
Rick came around the corner, a little taken that Anna was out of bed but quickly regained his composure "Anna, we found a safe behind a painting in your dad's office"
"A safe? I thought it was just a painting all of these years" she wandered out loud, making her way down the stairs. "I never knew it was behind it".
She knew there would be only one date and she opened the safe "My brother and I weren't twins. I was the youngest of triplets. The code was the date of when he died in an accident"
There were photos in the safe among the documents. Rick picks them up to investigate. His breath was caught in his throat. He recognized Jenner in the first photo. He flipped through them quickly, stopping at a photo of Jenner with his arm around Anna's shoulder. He was younger in the photo but it was definitely him. The last photo was of four young adults smiling at the camera. Rick couldn't mistake Anna's parents. Even without having seen the family photo's all over the walls with Anna and her parents. He could see they were related. Anna was a carbon copy of her mother.
"How do you know Jenner?" Rick asked.
"Who?" Anna replies.
Rick points to the photo of the four adults in his hand.
"That's my Uncle Ed. My mother was a brain surgeon and she worked with him" Anna answered confused "Wait! How do you know him?"
"We made it to the CDC and Jenner was the only one left. He let us in but we didn't know once those doors came down they don't come back up. There was a countdown but we made it out. There was something he told me just as we were running out" Rick told her.
'What did he say?" Anna
Now came the hard part for Rick, he looked up at Daryl and then to Anna "Everyone is infected"
Daryl watched her, warily. Anna was baffled, confused by the statement because why was she still herself. A little different in the eyes but she was definitely not a walker. Then she spotted a word among the papers. POSITIVE in big red ink. She grabbed the papers that were stapled together to have a closer look. She gasped, starting to hyperventilate and the paper slipped from her hands. Daryl grabbed Anna and spun her around "What is wrong?" he asked frantically.
Lori was curious, reading over Rick's shoulder "You are immune? What sorta of freak are you?"
Anna was at loss for words, not making eye contact and limped out of the room. Daryl glared at Lori, wanting to tear shreds off her but Rick gives him a look to say he'll handle it. Rick knows Daryl is better off making sure Anna is okay. Rick can deal with his wife. Daryl hesitates for a second and then goes after Anna.
Before Daryl could even speak Anna speaks up "She's right"
"The hell she is" Daryl growled "That woman ain't got her head screwed on straight"
It hurt Anna because she loves the group as her family. Even the ones she doesn't particularly got along with "Maybe it would cause a lot less drama if I just disappeared or maybe if you never found me that night in the woods"
"Don't, just don't" he muttered, grabbing a chair and pulling it to the side of her bed, His arms leaning of the back of the chair "You can't even think like that. I know I am glad I found you that night in the woods. Don't know how the group would go without you".
"They are all going to hate me" she whispered, looking up from her hand with bleary eyes and a sad smile on her face "They are going to be scared of me".
"I don't reckon the people who care about you the most will give a damn" Daryl pointed "Those who do can come and have a talk with me. I will give the what they deserve" he added.
He watched her, glad to see a small smile on her face "We should go and talk to Rick, he might have found some more answers for us".
"Okay" she whispered, sniffing and using the back of her sleeve to wipe away the tears and her running nose. She looked to the corner of her eye and stretching out her arm to try and wipe it on Daryl.
Daryl knew Anna's I am up to something look on. Daryl shook his head, reaching over for a box of tissues and passing them to her "Clearly you dying and coming back hasn't stop you from being a grot" he joked.
"I would hate to imagine what would stop me from being me. It would have to be some earth shattering cosmic event. The only thing that really comes to mind is if you and I aren't talking and are hating on each other" Anna.
He stood up, holding out his hand "Yeah, well I don't see that ever happening to us"
Anna smiled, feeling grateful for Daryl's support and she held out her hand "Every day I keep on thanking my lucky stars for the night I met you in the woods. I don't know where I would be now"
The corner of his left corner lifted up, lifting up into a half smile thinking back to the night he found her. Anna was a smart ass even back then and is still even now despite what is going on "Same here, Half Pint" he replied "Same here"
Daryl was helping Anna walk to her father's office spotted when T Dog and went up to them. He eyed T Dog off but Anna nudged him softly, giving him a subtle look to back off.
"I don't care how but I am thanking whatever god there may be and glad you are alive" T Dog told her "I don't know what the group would have done without their little cricket telling them what is right and wrong".
Anna leaned more into Daryl, easing the weight off her knee "Thanks T Dog. Good to be alive and kicking once again"
"You need me to do anything for you, just give me a holler" T Dog offered.
She smiled "Thanks T Dog".
Anna closed her eyes, letting the pain subside making Daryl feel a little concerned "You alright to keep on walking? Need me to take you back to your room?"
"No, I am okay. We need to go and find Rick and Tom. See if they found anything more that is wrong with me" she told him.
"There is nothing wrong with you" He shifted his arm, holding her a little firmer "But as soon as you need to rest, you tell me".
"I will, promise" Anna told him.
They found Rick standing outside by the sunken fire pit. He turned around to face them. He smiled, glad to see Anna back up and running "Good to see you back down and outside in the fresh air "
Anna saw the papers in Rick's hands "Did you find anything else"
"No" he told her, the papers in his hands heavy hands, "And no one else will ever find out" he walked over to the open fire and chucking the papers in "You are a part of my family and I do whatever it takes to protect my family, no matter what the cost"
"Thank you, Rick"
"Anytime" he told her.
Anna smiled to herself, an idea coming to her head.
Daryl knew that look "What plan are you hatching inside of your head?"
Tom and Glenn came out back to the,. Tom went back out during the day so he could teach Glenn how to track and trap wild animals. Glenn's face lit up, seeing his friend out of her room "Patient 0 is out!"
"I almost didn't make it out, he came back early from his hunt" she joked "I saw you got some kill, good work"
Glenn put his hand up on Tom's shoulder "This man here is a good teacher. I will go and put these in the kitchen, I can see you want to talk to Tom here"
Samson had walked up to Tom, patting himself behind the ears "What do you need me for?"
"I am going to go back up to my room because I have something else I need to burn" she told him.
He gave her quizzical look and Daryl gives her a look. Anna just smirks and heads back to her room.
"You have any idea what she is on about?" Daryl asked.
"I think I have an idea" Tom shakes his head "But it is crazy!"
Anna comes down the stair case with a large garment bag, a veil on her heads and carrying heels in her hands.
She stops, dropping the heels down at Daryl's feet. Tom takes the veil of her head and clipping it on his head and asks "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely" Anna unzips the bag, taking out the wedding dress.
Her heals were super high because she is so short. Daryl picks them up. "How the hell do walk in these? You'd break your neck of you ever fell"
She just laughs at him. Which makes him stop and look up. The chime of her laughter is bliss to Daryl's ears. To think that he thought he'd never hear it again.
"I told you she was nuts" Tom told Daryl, pulling the veil away from his face.
"Can you imagine being married to her" Daryl questioned screwing his nose up.
She gives them both the finger, walking away with the dress "Stuck with me for life remember" calling out in a sing song voice and looking from over her shoulder, smirking.
Daryl smiled to himself, hearing her say their promise and giving Tom a side way look "Damn straight".
Maggie was just outside of the house and on watch. A bigger look of confusion on her face when Tom walked past with a veil on his head "What is Anna doing with that expensive Vera Wang dress?"
"Oh, she is burning it" Tom told her, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Everyone was gathered by the sunken fire pit, all up with a mixture of confusion. Anna chucked the dress in like as if it was a tree branch. Daryl came up to the side of her, giving her the shoes and she chucked them in as well.
Tom took the veil off his head, proudly giving it to Anna and feeling proud of her "Annie"
"Is that all?" Daryl asked.
"Nope, just one more thing" Anna reached into her pocket and bringing out a big diamond ring, chucking it in the fire without a second "Now I am done with that life" She smiles and walks away.
Anna's hands were shaking as she finished tying her shoes on the floor beside her bed. She rested her hands on the high impact knee brace that Daryl had found for her out on a run. She had her head ducked in between her arms "Come on Anna, get yourself together".
There was a soft knock on the door. Anna popped her head up, gathering herself together just in case it was Daryl "Come in" she called out.
Samson came through the small opening and Carol's head popped from behind the door. Anna breathed a sigh of relief "Are you feeling a little nervous sweetie?"
Samson nuzzled her hand "Nervous is putting it mildly. I need to calm my nerves down. If Daryl sees me like this, he will cancel the hunt because he won't risk it"
Carol walked into the room, "I know Daryl can be a meat head sometimes but because he cares about you but you will be okay out there today. It is like riding a horse. You just get back on and keep going. Try not to let him upset you if he seems a little grouchy. We all know that man doesn't know how to express himself" Carol put her arm around Anna, kissing her on the side of her forehead "You are one of the bravest women I have ever met, you will be fine out there"
Anna smiled, giving Carol a hug "Thank you, Carol".
"Now you pick up that cross bow, go down stairs and show that hunter how it is done out there today" Carol told her.
Anna laughed, leaning down and picking up her cross bow, slinging it across her back "Come on Samson, we better get down stairs before Daryl comes up and growls at us. See you when we get back Carol".
Daryl was standing up, leaning against the wall and waiting for Anna to come down. He was picky at all of the times Anna was tested on her knee and her wounds, delaying her going out there as long as possible. If Daryl could, he would lock up her up and never have her outside of the house. But of course he knew the fiery little woman all too well because the only time that would happen is if hell froze over.
Samson came bounding down the stairs and sat down by Daryl's legs. Anna was coming down the stairs and he instantly began critiquing her. Her hair was braided and rolled up into little balls on the back of her head. She was wearing her black leather jacket, jeans and her hunting boots. He focused on the way Anna was walking, focusing on the way her feet placed with each step she took.
She eyed him off "I saw the way you were looking at me. So did I pass your tests walking down the stairs?"
He crossed his arms, shifting his weight a little "Step on each knee with the other leg raised".
"Are you serious?" Anna asked "I have showed you so many times already".
Daryl raised his eye brows, pointing his finger at her "Oh I am deadly serious. If you want to go out there with me today you will do it. You go on now".
Anna rolled her eyes at him, huffing annoyingly "You have got to be kidding me" she whispered. She raised her good leg first and standing on her bad knee just to prove a point and repeated with the other leg "Have I proved enough?"
"Alright, alright. Come on now, we are losing light" Daryl growled, walking away from her.
Anna waited till Daryl was out of the front door when she cringed a little in pain, quickly popping the loose pain pills she had in her pocket in her mouth and swallowing them.
They had been out for a better part of the day. It took all that Anna had to fake she was 100% okay because Daryl watched her every move. He let her draw her cross bow, kill some walkers with her knife and even something as simple as hopping over a log without his help. And it felt like is if it was just about killing her.
Little droplets of rain starting to drop, then slowly became harder "We had better head back quick, this rain has snuck up on us quicker than I thought it would have done"
That was the last thing Anna wanted to hear as the rain came down heavy. Her knee was killing her and was just coping with her walking. Let alone going any faster than that in pouring down rain and the ground being slippery. Daryl looked at her closely, watching her closely. Anna wiped away that was annoying her eyes "Well, we had better head back then before the others start worrying about us in this rain"
A walker then came limping out from the bushes. It was a woman, her jaw hanging loosely and arms swinging loosely about. Daryl raised his cross bow but before he could shoot it Anna had her cross bow off her back "I got it!" she yelled out, looking out over her shoulder at him.
Truth be told, Daryl knew Anna had been struggling the moment he saw her walk down the stairs. She was trying so hard, he didn't want to burst her bubble. Daryl knew she wanted to be out of the house and making use of herself.
Anna hopped a little on her leg as held her foot in the stirrup of the cross bow. Cringing as she tried to pull the draw string back but her arms didn't want to, they hurt and pain shot through the bite on her arm. She stumbled back, Daryl took a quick step forward and holding his hand out
"Don't! Just don't" she growled, knowing him all too well what he would be thinking "I can do this my myself without your help!"
The walker was just a few metres away and Anna wasn't close to drawing her cross bow. Daryl growled "Damn stubborn woman" He took his cross bow of his back and drawing up it. He shot the bolt, hitting the walker in the eye. He glared his eyes at her "You almost got yourself killed there now" he yelled, throwing his arms about "What if you got bit again? You could die! I am not going through that again"
Anna snarled, "Well at least you would have peace and quiet. You would be able to focus on yourself rather than watching my every move. I'm not stupid Daryl"
Oh now she had him riled up "Well somebody has to! I know you aren't! Throwing yourself head first into every dangerous situation that you come across because you trying to save someone. For god sakes, for once in your life why can't you be selfish and look out for yourself!"
"BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE SELFISH! LOOK WHERE THAT GOT MY MOM! I DO NOT ABANDON THOSE I CARE ABOUT. I WILL DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES TO PROECT THE ONES I LOVE" Anna shouted back at him.
Anna took a step but the ground was thick with wet mud from the rain and she fell, landing hard in the wet sludge "God damn it!" she cried, flinging mud up.
Daryl cautiously stepped forward to the weeping woman. The rain making him wet to bones. The cold temperature making his skin hurt but it didn't worry him. All it mattered was his little Half Pint. He has been in the place Anna was in now and she was there for him. Even though Daryl wasn't sure how but he would there for her now "You can't keep on rescuing me. You can't keep on doing this"
"I can't help it. I care about ya. I have got to where I am because you were the only one willing to stick your neck out for me" He reached down to her, the rain coming down even harder on them both. She didn't deserve to be sitting down in the mud. Daryl held out his hand and soaked to the bone "We are stuck with each other for life, remember?".
She smiled, her spirits lifted and held up her hands to get up. Daryl took a hold of her hands, gently lifting her up off the muddy ground.
Anna was shivering, holding her arms to try and keep herself warm "The group needs to leave this place. Anyone can come along and tear right through us. We need to find somewhere safe and more secure"
He got into his backpack, taking out a waterproof jacket for Anna to put on "But it's your home. Do you really want to leave?"
"It's not healthy for me anymore. I can't stay in this place" she told him.
Daryl helped Anna take off her leather jacket and put the water proof parka on her "Alright, we will talk to Rick and have a plan. But first we need to get you out of this rain, get you nice and warm. Then we need to get the Doc to take a look at you to make sure everything is alright"
"You knew my knee wasn't good from the moment you saw me this morning?" Anna asked, pouting.
He shrugged his shoulders. Daryl leaned down, taking his bolt out of the walker's head and picking up her cross bow, putting it around his back "Yeah, I did because I know you too well. I figured I would rather have you with me so I could keep a close eye on you rather than you trying to sneak out and follow me out here".
"You know me too well" Anna replied.
"Yeah, I do. Come on, let's get out of this rain before we catch our deaths" Daryl told her.
"Yeah, trust me dying isn't a fun thing to do" Anna teased,
Anna knocked on the frame of her father's lounge, alerting Rick. He looked behind his shoulder, smiling at her "Glad to see you survived the day".
"Only just, Daryl knew from the beginning my knee wasn't right" she told him, easing herself into the chair beside him and stared into the fire "I think we should leave the house. We can't take the chance like we did at the farm".
"You are still healing" Rick told her, worried about her and her injuries "Are you sure about this".
"We can't stay here, Rick. We need to go out and find somewhere secure" Anna warned.
Daryl had a shower, well was more forced to have one by Anna. She said he smelled to the high heavens and he needed one. He was in what would have been their family get together room. There was a large fire place, with photos all along the mental and a lot of them had Tom in it. There was one with Anna all dolled up for a wedding or something, all prim and proper. Looking pretty. The next photo was of her with a red flannelette, torn up jeans and pulling a face "There my girl is" he laughed.
"Growing up with this family, there was never a dull moment"
He turned around and Tom was standing in the room. His arms raised as if holding a white flag "The one with her covered in mud would have the to be the funniest"
Daryl turned to look at it. Anna had her riding clothes on, her hair caked with mud and an unimpressed look on her face with her middle finger sticking up and her brother standing by her. He was holding a rubber snake.
"Anna would ride rain, hail or shine. That day I had never seen so much rain before. Matthew planted a rubber snake on a track when she was riding. Her horse spooked and she fell in the biggest puddle there was around. Those two could prank each other like this" Tom said pointing at the photo, a distant smile on his face. He looked at Daryl "But they would have done anything for each other".
"Did she win some kind of award or something here?" Daryl asked.
"Yeah. Anna was the youngest person to finish medical school and was the top of her class. She went to become of the leading paediatric surgeons in the state. Anna has an IQ of a genius but had the humour of a circus clown" Tom teased.
"You have got to give Anna more credit. Medial things don't matter to her anymore. What is important is those she has around her. That is probably her only weakness, she cares too much for everyone around her. She adores her family to no end. When her brother died in that accident and finding her mother in the lake. Most people would just quit. It wasn't easy for her, she lost a lot of her popular friends. Cut her hair short and hid herself in a book. Her dad bought her Samson when she was 17 and he helped bring the old Anna back" Tom told Daryl, picking up a photo of the three them together, smiling remembering the times when everything was so much simpler than what it was now.
"The kids at school were saying cruel things. Stuff like with kids like that no wander their mom committed suicide. Kids can be so cruel. Matthew, her brother got into a lot of fights. Michael, their father told him if he kept going down that path, he'd end up a criminal and ruin his future"
Anna limps into room, looking between the both of the men "What were you two talking about? Not little ol' me?"
"Yeah" Tom answered, putting his hand out to shake Daryl's hand.
The hunter took it, shaking it and nodding at Tom "We are good, man" he muttered.
"Be kind to him" Tom whispered as he passed her.
"Didn't you have something better to talk about than little ol me" she joked.
"No, that's the point. You are too good" Daryl said shaking his head.
"Now, you listen here Daryl Dixon and you listen good" Anna scalded.
Now that makes him pay attention. She ain't joking anymore "You are every bit as good as Rick or Hershel or Dale. Just because I HAD fancy things, doesn't mean I am too good for anyone".
Anna was a little scary, stepping forward to him "You got that?"
"Yes ma'am" he answered her.
"Good, we need to get some sleep. Rick agreed, to my idea. Tomorrow we spend the day getting ready because we leave the house the day after tomorrow"
Anna looked down at her watch, it was six o'clock in the morning. They had been packing, preparing for the past twenty-four hours. Rick had put the plan to everyone and it made sense. The group worked hard to go on runs to gather supplies and raiding the house for everything they could use. Now Anna was standing alone, with an empty can of petrol and Samson sitting beside her.
"You ready to head out?" Daryl asked.
She turned, seeing Daryl standing by the entrance way to her father's lounge "Yeah, just about. Taking in as much as I can before we leave".
Daryl walked to stand by her side "You sure you want to burn it down?"
"Yeah, this isn't a part of my life anymore" she whispered "But I will always have the memories that I had here. Help with the photos I have now"
"Yeah, I found some plastic sheets and bags to keep them into help protect them from the elements while out on a run"
"Thanks" she whispered, sniffing and trying to hold back her tears.
Daryl reached into his pocket, pulling out a braided leather bracelet with little beads woven in it "I found some leather out on the road, made these. I have one too!"
She took it and she held out her arm, smiling at it "Wow, thank you"
"You ready to leave now?" he asked her.
"Yeah, yeah I am" she answered.
Anna got out a lighter, walking to the curtains and lighting them up. Together Anna and Daryl walked out of the house. Daryl got on the bike first and Anna carefully got on behind him. He started up the bike, Anna looked on as the flames of the fire flicked out of the bottom floors windows. There she thought. even though it was just for a second, what life would have been for her and Daryl in the house if the world hadn't ended.
She rested her chin on Daryl's shoulder and together they rode off ahead of the group, unknowing to what was going to happen to them all out on the road. But there was one thing for sure. They were going to do it together.
One group. One family. One heart.