Daryl's arms were completely dwarfing her into a huge hug. He didn't want to let her go, scared Anna was going to break into a million pieces and not being able to put herself back together. She felt unusually so very small there in his arms. But then again grief does that to a person. It has the power to make the strongest of people crumble down to absolute nothing. Daryl had to keep his head together, to stay strong and not let the emotion get a hold of him. Daryl rubbed her back gently, whispering sweet things to her, doing his best to make her feel better. Trying all he could to calm her silent cries that Anna was holding in. He knew Anna didn't want to cry.
He picked up his head from Anna, looking over her to see Rick down on the ground, rolling about and sobbing with grief for the loss of his wife. Daryl could feel her petite body shake with sorrow. Anna was trying so hard to bottle it all in. Anna was trying so hard not to break down, trying with everything she had within herself to keep herself together. She felt guilty because she could save Lori. God Daryl felt useless because there was nothing he could do to help her with this pain. Anna was strong but this one took a big hit for her. She now had noticed Carol and T Dog weren't there, burying her head more into his chest. He pulled her tighter into him, trying to piece her back together, filling in the cracks.
But Daryl knew that this time was different. They were all going to be changed after this, losing so many people. It was a too big of a hit to come back from for anyone. They had all lost a lot of people, people that were her family that day. To lose so many people in such a short space of time, it is going to leave scars for them all.
The echoes of the new born baby sounded, muffled to Anna's ears with her face against Daryl's chest, nuzzling herself even more into Daryl's chest. It was where she felt safe. Always would. He was her only solid strong hold to be able to keep her humanity intact. She could keep herself together if Daryl was around her.
"Let me see the baby!" Hershel asked Maggie. He could see Anna was having trouble, barely being able to stand up by herself.
Anna leaned away from Daryl, looking up to Maggie and handing the baby gently to her "It's a girl" she whispered, wiping away the tears with the back of her hand with a half attempted smile on her face "I think she has Lori's nose".
Daryl then nervously, hesitantly took his arms away from her and gently put his hands on her face, looking into her vivid green eyes. Daryl thought they were real pretty even before she was bitten, Anna said to him she didn't like them much anymore; they made her feel guilty that she was alive and there were others were not. But Daryl would always quickly point out it showed she is a survivor and she could get through anything that comes across her path. Without words and the feeling of having his eyes on her, Anna looked away from Rick and into Daryl's. He simply nodded at her, telling her she got this and he had to do what he had to do to help the little baby. She took one final shaky breath, Daryl wiped away the freshly fallen tears, quickly squeezing her arm and turning his attention to Hershel, walking towards him "What are we going to feed it? Do we got anything the baby can eat?"
Instinctively, he looked over his shoulder at Anna. Carl had already stood by her side and she had her arm over shoulder and had pulled him into a hug into her side "She looks healthy from what I can see but she is going to need formula and fast or she won't survive!" Anna called out, finding her voice once again "We need to move quick, go on a run and get her what she needs!"
"Anna is right!" Hershel nodded, agreeing with her as he took his eyes off the baby and then looking at Anna. Hershel was proud of her, stepping up and becoming the leader she was born to be. One that Hershel knew she could become. All Anna needed to do was just to believe in herself.
Anger filled Daryl, there was no way in hell they were going to lose anyone else today. He took his cross bow and slung it on his back "Nope, no way! Not her! We ain't losing anyone else. I am going to go on that run now!"
"I'll back you up" Maggie offered, "My dad is going to need the help from Anna with the baby" she added, looking at Anna and nodding at her, acknowledging her the lead of the group.
"I will back you up!" Glenn added to her.
"Okay, think where we are going!" Daryl told, he looked to Beth "Come here" he urged, with his finger "The kid just lost his mom and his dad isn't doing so hot. Anna, she's stepping up to be the leader of the group now while Rick is out for the count and is going to need all the help she can get. Anna needs to know she doesn't have to do this all on her own".
Beth understood, nodding her head and understanding what Daryl was asking "You don't have to worry about a thing, I will look out for them both!".
Daryl walked back to Anna "We are going to have to take care of the walkers at the fence or we have ourselves a problem!"
Anna wiped the Lori's blood from her hands in her trousers "I got it" She nodded, putting her hand on his arm, squeezing it "Look after yourself out there! Be careful, be safe and come back home to us here".
He nodded, still getting used to having someone worry about him. Her attention was interrupted as Daryl walked away from her. Rick had brought himself up off the ground, picking up his axe and walking back to go inside the prison.
Samson had gone to Carl's side and together they stood close to Anna. Tenderly, she put her arm around his shoulder and pulled him in tighter into her side "Rick!" Anna called out, taking a step forward. Hoping for him to stay with them "Rick, where are you going!? You can't go anywhere. Please!"
But it was no use, he was a man on a mission and there was no way in hell no one could stop him,
"Glenn! Maggie! Vamonos! Get the gate! We are going to lose the light!" Daryl yelled at them from over his shoulder and half way to his bike. Glenn wasn't able to go on the run as he couldn't get the car passed the walkers. Maggie and Daryl had to go on their own because the bike was easier to manoeuvre through the walkers.
"Be careful, all of you! I meant it! I want you all back home and safe" Anna called out to them.
Daryl turned his head slightly, peering over his shoulder and making eye contact with Anna.
She was rubbing her arms with her hands and making her way over to Hershel with the baby, taking the precious little cargo in her arm "Tom, do a perimeter patrol around the grounds. Take Carl and Samson with you, you will be able to cover more ground and you will have more eyes to cover too! Axel and Oscar, can you please help them please?"
Tom was proud, Anna was stepping up. He saluted her, nodding and patting Carl on the shoulder "You got it boss! We have got it covered".
Anna ignored the pain that was pulsating through her knee and her hip with each step she took. Her foot dragged along the ground, her vans getting There was blood everywhere all over her and covering her from head to toe. Covered in so much blood and gore, that she wasn't sure if any of it was hers or a walkers or Loris or even the baby's. It made her skin itch irritably and the smell made her feel sick in the stomach, bile rising to the back of her throat. Anna looked up to see Glenn looking on at her, waiting for her answers as what to do next. Hershel was holding the newborn baby in his arms and looking at her with an all knowing look in his eyes. He had every confidence and faith in the young, strong woman.
Beth, being the sweet heart was standing right by Anna's side and held out her hand out, wanting to help her walk. Not for the pain that was in Anna's knee but wanting to help hold her up as their leader while Rick was doing that he was doing. She knew Anna would be struggling but would be to stubborn to admit it that she needed a hand. Anna took the young girls hand, her hands trembling a little. Beth didn't even blink an eye at the cold touch of Anna despite the humidity that hung in the air.
Clouds were scattered across the sky, barely any blue peeking through the darkness. A sprinkle of rain began to fall gently down on them "Anna, you have got to be one of the most stubborn people I have met in my life! You don't need to do all of this standing up all by yourself, you know. Sometimes people need help to be able to walk every day. I know you and Daryl do it for each other even when you don't know you are. You have done it since he found you that night in the woods. So I hope I can do it for you, if you will let me of course. I am not strong like Rick, Maggie or Daryl but I will do whatever it is I can do to help you to get through the tough times".
Anna's looked up to the sky as they walked, letting the rain fall on her face, helping her wash away her worries. They reached the door of the prison cell but Anna stopped Beth as she held the door for them both. Anna smiled proudly, putting her arm around Beth's shoulder, looking down to her "You have got to give yourself a lot more credit, young lady. You a lot stronger than you realise".
Beth looked down to the ground, feeling overwhelmed by the words from Anna. Not quite feeling the confidence that Anna had for her.
Daryl pulled up the bike at the child care centre, his eyes instantly scanning the area for any walkers "Company is close, keep tight!"
Maggie quickly got up and off the bike, with Daryl close behind being her cover. He was feeling a little on edge, hell he was even feeling a little nervous being away from the prison and every one there. This was the first time that Daryl and Anna had been apart from each other in any way since they were separated at the farm that night all that time ago. It is a memory Daryl liked to bury deep in the back of his mind. This was important and they couldn't be selfish with themselves. But that didn't mean he wasn't worried about her or not in a hurry to get back. Anna wears her heart on her sleeve and always put herself second to everyone she scared about. Daryl knew Anna was strong and would easily be able to take care of herself out there on the road by herself. Being able to take care of any walkers.
Anna had only one weakness and that weakness was her heart and how much she cared about all those close around her. Anna would even put her own health and well-being before herself if it meant she would be in danger or get hurt.
She would die for any one of them without a second thought if it meant they would survive.
Maggie put her hand on the gate of the entrance to the playground. It was covered in rust and it creaked as she pushed it open. The vines were creeping all over the swing set and the round shaped jungle gym had started to give way because it was weakened by the rust. Daryl had a quick look inside if the window was all clear and then stood aside as a guard as Maggie smashed in the window with the handle of her gun, clearing away any jagged edges so they wouldn't cut themselves when they jumped through. She heaved herself up on to the ledge, finding it hard to squeeze through such a small sized space. It made her wander for a second in her mind that how on earth even with her knee the way it was, how Anna managed to go day by day as easily as she did.
Daryl was close behind, climbing through the window and he had even more of a trouble than Maggie "I have got no idea how Anna climbs the way she does! Can you imagine what she'd be like without a bad knee? Damn girl would be a ninja or something. So he would kick all of our asses and them some" he joked, looking around at the inside of the room "I saw her once climb a big oak tree like she was some monkey or something".
"Yeah, full credit to her I can tell you that much" Maggie added "Anna has got to be one of the toughest people I have ever come across and met in my life".
All over one of the walls was coloured in children's hand prints. One little pink coloured in hand had a name, Sophie. He faltered for a moment, gathering his thoughts, remembering his failure and not being able to find Sophia in time before she turned. To not be able to protect her. It is a thought that he never wanted to cross his mind when it came to Anna, to not be able to protect her. It made him feel sick.
There was an eerie feeling hanging around in the air as Daryl both wandered through the dark hall way with Maggie close, turning on his torch to better find his way through. Up ahead, somewhere there was a noise. He put his torch in his mouth, lifting the latch of the half door. Maggie stepped forward, slowly edging forward and putting her hand on the handle. Daryl was ready, his cross bow raised and ready to kill. Maggie opened the door, a screaming possum, snarling. Daryl shot it, taking the torch out of his mouth "Hello dinner!"
Maggie rolled her eyes at him, turning away to search some cupboards "You are not putting that into my bag. That is completely gross".
"Anna loves possum!" Daryl commented, deciding to look in the next room to see if there were any more supplies they could use "She really likes it barbequed and with some smoke paprika".
Luckily Maggie had her back turned to Daryl because she had a smirk on her face, nodding head "You two were made for each other".
"Nah, Anna wouldn't be into a red neck like me. She'd be more into people like Rick! White-collar workers that will bring home flowers every week. A white picket fence, a surrounding veranda and a dog" he answered her, closing one of the cupboards.
"You would be surprised, Anna isn't a like a lot of people. She isn't judgemental or self-centred." Maggie said "Anna has got to be one of the kindest people on the earth; there ain't no one like her".
"Yeah, I know" he muttered, not even turning around just because he didn't want Maggie reading him "I am just going to check out some of the other rooms to see if there is anything we can use".
He found the lunch room. Daryl picked up a first aid box that had fallen on to the floor, it contents open and had fallen about. Leaning down, her scooped it all up and put it in his satchel. Now there is one he knew about teachers or nannies or day carers. The children would sometimes drive them insane and they always had a secret stash of "something" in their drawer. Getting up, he walked over to the cupboard and opening it. In it was a bottle of malt whisky and a packet of smokes. The second door was a little jammed, so he got out his knife and jamming it in, opening it up. Inside was two packets of Reece's Peanut Butter Cups and four small cans of coke. He smirked, a perfect pick me up for Anna after the day she has had. Looking around, to make sure Maggie wouldn't see him stash it.
Maggie came around the corner "Did you find anything interesting?".
"Nah, not a thing. We had better get going now. But quickly, we need to make a different turn on the way back. There is a rehab/chemist place I want to check out and see if there is any medicine that hasn't been looted and if there will be any knee braces for Anna. The baby needs formula to survive, Anna needs knee braces to survive. Anna can't keep on going the way she has without getting herself killed eventually and I am not having that".
Maggie had to stop herself from smiling at Daryl and at how much he cared about Anna and just forced herself to nod. She knew what the hunter was like "Alright then, let's going. Anna looks out for all of us, we will look out for her. We might even be able to find her some new supplies for her medical bags".
Hershel had to admit to himself, Anna always had that something special, a power that had the ability to heal and he knew even before she was bitten and founding out she was immune to a walker bite. Here Anna was with a new born baby girl who had just lost her mother and the little one was silent as a lamb, comforted by Anna's warmth. He could tell Anna was feeling a little nervous, unsure of herself and what she can be as their leader. So, just simply he put his hand on her shoulder and nodded at her, smiling and his eyes gentle "You can do this" he muttered, quiet enough for only the both of them to hear.
Beth was holding the baby in her hands for Anna while she checked the water temperature of the make shift bath she had made of from a wash container. And now the water was just right. Anna held out her hands, smiling softly at Beth as she carefully handed Anna the baby "Alright little one, are you ready for your first ever Bath? It may seem a little scary at first but I promise you will like it. God knows we all would love a proper bath ourselves".
Slowly, Anna lowered the baby into the water and it whimpered a little as she lowered it into the water. Hershel handed her the wash cloth and Anna carefully dripped water over the baby. The blood washing away, turning the water pink. Beth smiled meekly looking down at the baby and then up to Anna "She likes you. Did you have much to do with babies back when you worked at the hospital or was it just trauma work you focused on?"
"Only once. There was one baby boy. He had a hole in his heart and a ruptured stomach. His mother was a drug addict. It was a rough twenty-four hours but he made it in the end".
"Did you have any kids before the world ended" Beth asked only because Anna seemed such a natural with the little one.
"Annie?" Tom urged.
Anna let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, thanking the heavens above that she managed to avoid that question and turned her head to see Tom, Carl and Samson stood at the door way of the cell. Samson padded up beside Anna, getting closer to his owner, "How is the baby?"
"She is going good. We have one strong little young lady and a Grimes at that! I know she is going to make it, isn't that right Carl" Anna asked Carl, smiling at him, making him feel better "How are the fences going on out there? Were there any breaches?" she asked Carl, hoping to distract him "Was there anything we missed? I can go out there and help with the…".
Tom interrupted Anna, chuckling quietly and holding up his hand, walking closer to them "You are not going to go out there. There are no more loose walkers that we can find" he informed her, wiping the sweat from his brow "The fences are solid, for now but I will go out again soon just to make sure there are no more surprises that will sneak up on us. I am going to do everything I can to make sure it doesn't happen again".
"Have you had a chance to talk to my dad yet?" Carl asked.
"No, but I will I promise. I will make sure your dad is okay and I will do whatever I can to help him"
"I know you will, Anna. You always do!" Carl beamed.
Craning her neck, Anna looked behind Tom "Where is Glenn?".
"He wanted to dig graves for Lori, Carol and T Dog" Tom told her, knowing what Anna was going to go and do. She always felt the pain and suffering of others, feeling the need to want to help stop their pain and make it all better. Sometimes, even feeling in some way it was her fault they were in pain. Sighing, Anna stopped washing the baby "I will go out there and help him".
"You don't have to you know. You can rest up and heal. You have been through an ordeal yourself today" Hershel told her "I am sure Glenn would understand if you actually took a break".
Anna shook her head, wrapping the baby up in a towel and gently handing the baby over to Beth. She wavered a little on her feet from both pain and fatigue but then she stood herself up tall, holding onto the table as she walked along, holding on to balance herself "I am not going to let Glenn dig those graves out there by himself. We all don't have to deal with this grief all on our own, we need to deal with it together or otherwise we will go insane or do something stupid. I have seen what it is like to do it by yourself and you just can't do it. You are fool if you believe you could but it is all a front when you try and pretend. You all are my family and I will always do what is the best for you all. I am not going to let any of you go into that dark place the same way I did. Thinking you aren't going to be able to find your way out of it. I know what is like".
Anna walked out then not as a temporary leader but as a partner for Rick to lean on, Samson padded along by her side with his head up. Beth nursed the baby, finding herself being able to smile. Hershel smiled his famous Hershel smile, so wise and all-knowing. Tom smirked, putting his hand on Carl's shoulder "We are all going to be alright. Anna will make sure it is for all of us. We will survive with that girl leading us. Annie is one of the strongest people I have ever met".
It was blistering, sticky and steamy as Anna walked outside. The sky was clear, not a cloud in the sky. The rain didn't really last that long for them. It was not as if she felt the heat anyway. Samson was by her side, putting his nose to the ground, investigating all the smells. She ignored the dehydration head ache that forming in her temples because the water that she needed was better needed for someone else. No doubt Daryl would kick her ass for being so stubborn yet again. He always seemed to tell when she was pretending everything was all fine. Her hair was still loose, some parts blowing in the wind while the others just stuck to her face and it made her sweat even more. Looking around, walkers littered the place and made it look like a grave site. This was their home, morale was low and these dead things had to be cleared out. A vile feeling hung in the air, the sooner these things were taken out, the better. Anna shielded her eyes from the sun as she walked, squinting her eyes ahead to see where Glenn was.
"Go ahead boy, let him know I am coming" she told Samson, who took off quick and ran ahead "Lord knows it is going to take me forever to get down to him" she muttered, blowing a piece of hair away from her face. Flies flickered about her face, she flicked them away annoyingly. Boy, she hated any sort of bugs.
The ground was a little unsteady under her knee. The ground had hidden mounds and holes, making her wobble a little but eventually got the open grass near where Glenn was digging. Then just a few metres away when from where Glenn was, he was walking with Samson by his side and met up with her. He held his arm out to her, a worried look on his face and a concerned look in his eye "What are you doing out here Anna? You should be back inside in there resting".
Glenn saw the flicker of disheartening on her face and he felt sorry for her "We all know that when Daryl comes back from his and Maggie's run and sees you with that limp you got there, I am big trouble and I will get my ass kicked to the moon and back".
"He told me to make sure you are okay" Glenn admitted.
She was feeling dejected, her walls started to come down and a tear fell down her cheek. Glenn was her best friend and Anna felt she had to help "I couldn't let you dig those graves by yourself. I have to help you. Please, let me do this".
They got to the graves Glenn had begun digging, he leaned down and picked up the spare shovel, handing it to her "You need to take breaks" he said firmly.
"Me? Take breaks? Never!" Anna smirked, a look of slight disbelief on her face and she began to dig "Well, that has to be a new personality that you just put on your head there Glenn and I must say I am rather impressed".
"Well, I was attempting to be firm like Daryl is when you don't do as you are told" he told her, ushering her around a hole in the ground by pointing at it "How am I doing being firm like Daryl? I don't think I am even remotely close because you haven't pointed your cross bow at my head or threatened to kick my ass if I kept on babying you too much. When you two fight, we all run for the hills or hide behind something hard. Beth actually said it is like a world war when you two fight".
He was trying to lift her spirits because Anna was a naturally smiley person and Glenn's plan had worked. She found herself being able to smile, even feeling herself being able to feel a little laugh let loose.
"There you go! You smiled! My goal is achieved" Glen cheered.
Anna drove her shovel into ground, using her good knee with force to help dig further "Thank you, Glenn. It gets harder and harder each day to find a reason to smile sometimes".
"The odds were against us when the dead started walking and we all began to learn that anything good would ever come into our lives were hardly ever happen anymore. It was common place for us all to think that. I believe Daryl was meant to find you in the woods that night, back when we were at the farm. You were meant to be a part of this group, a part of the family we now have. This is where you belong and I am for one glad you are here. I would hate to imagine where we would be without you around. Would Hershel even be alive right now? Would that little baby still be alive? You have saved people Anna and you have saved us all by being a part of this group" Glenn told her.
Anna wiped some dirt from the back of her hand and on her trousers. She kept her head bowed down to the ground to try and hide her emotions, sniffling back a small sob and blinked back the tears. She brought herself to look up at Glenn "You all would have found a way to survive without me. If it wasn't for Daryl and then me meeting all of you, I don't believe I would be alive right now. I know I would be dead in the ground or one of those dead things blundering around. You all are the best thing to have ever happen to me since the world ended, maybe even before. That is why it hurts so much to have lost so many people in such a short space of time. What I hate even more is about this is that we are going to have to accept it is going to be a common part of life now and I don't think I will ever be okay with that".
Samson had started to growl, moving from his spot beside the hole Anna was digging. He had his head down low, the hair on the back of his back sticking up and slowly edged his way to in front of them both, protecting them.
Anna shielded her eyes from the sun, seeing that the two remaining prisoners were just about near the, the shorter one had a guilty, sorry look on his face. His eyes looking frightened at the sight of Samson. Anna whistled quick, making Samson sit up straight and heel beside her.
"Smart dog you have there" Oscar commented, pointing at Samson.
"Thanks" she answered, striking her shovel into the dirt and using it to lean on, resting her knee.
Glenn climbed out of the grave, holding his hand out to Anna to help her out. She gladly took his hand, her foot slipping little on the loose dirt but she got out there. Glenn made sure Anna was behind him and away from the prisoners. He wasn't going to take any chances, not after with the day he had and losing so many people "How is the perimeter going?"
"We got the walkers spread out" Axel showed, pointing his hand around the perimeter of the prison and then pointing to the ground, referring the graves "Need help?"
Glenn just stared them down with a tired look, he wanted to dig the graves. Anna had a tight-lipped smile and tilted her head and implying she was sorry, following suit to Glenn digging the graves.
"Your friends, they were good people?" Axel questioned.
"They were family" Glenn answered firmly.
"Hell I didn't have one friend like that my whole life, you have a whole group" Oscar stated. "Sorry you lost them".
Anna looked up, seeing Hershel had walked to the fence line. Anna put down her shovel, going to walk up the small hill to him. She grimaced, her knee feeling sore as she took a step. Oscar stepped forward holding out his hand to help her walk "Do you need help walking up there?".
She didn't have a chance to answer him when Glenn was beside her, holding her side and helping her stand-up "I need two more graves" he told him.
"You are cold to the touch aren't you?" Glenn mentioned, trying to avoid Anna giving him a talk and making him feel bad.
"Daryl hates it when I stick my hands down the back of his shirt" she joked "You know, you didn't have to be like that with Oscar, you know. Both mean no harm".
He helped her walk over the mound just as they were almost to Hershel "Yeah, I know. Daryl would kill me if he knew I told you but he told me not one scratch on you while he was on out on the run. After what happened on the farm, he was just worried".
"Are you scared of Daryl Dixon?" Anna joked.
"Hell yeah, you should have seen the look he gave me. I just agreed to it so you are my responsibility while Daryl is gone" Glenn.
They reached the fence, Anna put her fingers through the wiring, holding onto it and using it to lean on "Rick?" she asked.
"He is still inside" Hershel told him, tilting his head back to the prison.
Anna let go of the fence, Samson stood to attention, and looking at his owner "I will go in there and get him".
Glenn shook his head, not liking the idea. He didn't feel comfortable with the idea of her walking about the prison by herself. Let alone going back into the prison boiler room where god knows how many walkers could be and with Rick the way he was, Glenn wasn't going to take the chance "Alright, I will go and get him".
"We lost a third of our group in one day" Glenn sighed.
"All because of one ass hole" Hershel added.
"Part of me wishes we killed all of the prison on first sight" Glenn declared.
Anna's breath became hitched and held on to the wire fence a little tighter. They were all becoming something they didn't want to be.
"Axel and Oscar seem like good guys" Hershel commented.
"You know, when the evacuation first started. T Dog drove his van to every senior person's home he knew. Just in case they needed a ride. He saved my ass a thousand times. He wasn't just a good guy, he was the best" Glenn muttered.
"That bit with him closing the gate, if he hadn't done that" Hershel mentioned.
"It could have been Maggie. It is wrong, but I would trade any one of their people for one of our own any day" Glenn exclaimed.
Useless was putting it mildly as to how Anna's felt, losing so many people and not being able to do a single damn thing about it. Her hair now had fallen freely from her loose braid, for god knows how long she wanted to cut it off to above her shoulders, scared it would get caught on something or a walker would grab it. Daryl would always just say don't be stupid, he will always be there to cover her and nothing would happen to her while he was around. Dirt and grime covered her face, even blood. Her eyes were blood shot from all of the crying when no one was around. She felt a hand on hers, looking up to see Hershel looking at her . seeing the pain Anna was feeling and doing everything she could to hold it in. With just one look from Hershel the tears fell down freely, allowing herself to feel the pain.
"You don't have to be wonderwoman all of the time" Hershel joked, doing his best to lift her spirits and squeezed her hand a little tighter. His heart went out to her, seeing her pain. An empath in a way "You are going to be okay".
Anna was probably the most emotional tortured person, feeling the pain of all of those around her and those who had fallen. She constantly felt guilty of being alive every day, trying to distract herself from it but it always came creeping back into her mind "I am just tired of losing people, Hershel" She bowed her head, kicking the dirt with her cruddy, faded black vans with remnants of walker blood "I don't like to not be able to have the chance to save them".
"Never have I seen such a strong woman like you. You willingly bare such sorrow on your shoulders without telling a soul because you are worried you will let someone down" Hershel commented.
"I don't like letting people down, Hershel. If I am selfish for one second, I am afraid I will miss someone who will need my help" Anna explained, "I can't bare the guilt of not helping".
It was only twenty minutes out of their way, a little chemist joined on to a day surgery. Daryl squinted his eyes and saw the roller doors were down and locked shut. Someone had been a selfish bastard and locked everything up. In a backward town, they were lucky enough to hit the jack pot and it was just the thing everyone needed. Anna would get her spark back, the group would have their heart beat going again.
"I can't believe it!" Daryl heard Maggie whisper as she looked over his shoulder "Touch wood, we might actually have the law of averages on our side after all the people we lost today".
With Daryl leading the way with a pair of bolt cutters and a crow bar, they both cautiously walked towards the building. With all the hope he had, Daryl banged on the roller door and waited for any sound of walkers.
"All clear" he whispered, looking up and down at the door, tapping the panels.
Daryl took some bolt cutters from out of his satchel, cutting the pad locks on the security cage and then leaning down, cutting the padlocks that securing it on the bottom and quietly lifting the door up. He signaled Maggie to stay back with his hand, shining his light underneath. He just wanted to make sure it was safe for them both to go in, whistling and banging on the floor with his torch, waiting any hidden walkers to come out of their hiding spots.
"I am going first" Daryl told Maggie.
Carefully, Daryl got down onto this stomach, his knife in his hand and began crawling into the chemist.
It was dark, dust covered every inch of the place. The place had not been touched and Daryl couldn't help himself, laughing as he got up and dusted himself off "You can come on in, this place is a damn gold mine" he carefully whispered shining his light back to the door.
"Oh my god" Maggie whispered, looking around and immediately filling up her bag with everything she could think of that was most important[ antibiotics, flu tablets, paracetamol. Stitching, needles of all sizes, gauze. It was everything Anna needed for her bags and then some. They didn't have much room on Daryl's bike so Maggie had to be careful what she picked. she grabbed a garbage bag, ripped it open and started chucking supplies into that.
The first thing he was going to find was different knee braces for Anna and he found the rehab section. She would need one for going on runs, a bandage to just relax in and let her knee relax. Then just one to walk around in and she would need spares for every single one of them. He saw the signage for bandages and braces, stopping for a moment and hoping to whatever god there may be that there would be something for her. He walked up to the section, instantly smiling, chuckling a little bit and touching the wooden floor for luck. He picked a soft bandaged knee brace, an elite padded one for her when she would be going on a run and an acl brace, two of each went into his bag, a neoprene braces brace to help her knee heal, knee straps.
"Did you find what you needed for Anna?" Maggie asked.
"Sure did! And a few other things along the way. Come on, let's get going. We can make another run back" Daryl told her.
It had gotten cold in the prison, Anna had put on the same long sleeved tartan shirt she had worn the night Dale had died over the top of her hooded sweat shirt. She had instructed Carl to go and get a shirt of Lori's so she could wrap the baby in it, hoping the smell of Lori would sooth the baby girl in her arms. Gently, she rocked the baby in her arms and sang her the only songs she knew at the top of her head, Metallica.
'Well, it works. That is all that matters" Tom commented, standing by the entrance of the cell block "Your voice sounds like an angel no matter what you sing, even if it is heavy metal" he joked.
The cell block door open, Maggie came in first followed close behind by Daryl. Anna let out a sigh of relief, smiling up at Daryl "Good to see you keeping warm" he whispered. He knew how cold she could get when the weather was cold.
Carl moved aside, who had Samson stay close by his side. Beth approached her, handing her the bottle. Anna showed the bottle to the baby, gently she put the teat into the baby's mouth and she gladly accepted it, drinking away at the formula "There you go little one" she whispered. "What a strong little lady you are".
"Anna has been so good with the baby. She is a natural at being a mom" Beth commented.
Tom's eyes flickered up at Anna, seeing her smile falter a little. Daryl, being as perceptive as he was, saw the look on both of their faces. He sensed, knowing there was something behind the look they had just passed. He knew the two-had history but wasn't sure what it was.
"Does she have a name yet?" Daryl asked.
"No, not yet. But was thinking Sophia" Carl stated.
Anna peered up at, seeing the sad look on Daryl's face.
"Carol too, Andrea, Amy, Patricia, Jackie or Lori. I don't know" Carl stated.
"Do you like that? Little ass kicker?" Daryl looked up at everyone, feeling chuffed with himself. Everyone had a little laugh, the spirits of everyone lightened a little "Do you like that sweetheart?"
The day began to catch up with Anna. Her head started began to feel like as it was floating. Her skin was tingling and her muscles began to ache all over. She looked over, smiling at Carl "Well I am starting to feel the day and I am going to have to pass on Little Ass Kicker to you Carl".
Carl was balked a little, taking a step back. He was scared, the baby was so small and he was scared he would hurt her "Are you sure I won't hurt her?"
She smiled, rocking the little baby in her arms. Holding the baby in one hand and arranging Carl's arms in another way "No, she is built tough. Just like you, your dad and your mom. I think you will be the best big brother a girl could ever have. I reckon you will be just like my older brothers".
The mood became a little sombre even with the happy smiles on every one had on their faces. Daryl could see what was really behind those green eyes of hers because he knew exactly the look because he has had the same one before "I will walk you back to the cell".
Anna yawned big, covering her mouth hands. Her finger nail still crusted with the blood from the baby and Lori. Normally she would fight him but she just nodded and giving in. After the day they all had, losing the people they did. There was no way Daryl was going to take any chances with Anna's safety.
"Good night everyone" she called out, waving to everyone with Daryl close by her side with his back pack in hand.
"Night Anna" everyone chimed, all feeling sorry for her. Everyone could tell she was suffering with guilt.
Truth be told she needed to get out of there, away from everyone and have a chance with herself to get a chance to breath, being able to process the aftermath of emotions that were going to hit her with the amount of people they had lost. Carol, a mother-like figure to her. T Dog, her best friend and Lori, finally was getting along with her and then this all happened. Of course Daryl was close behind her with his back pack in hand. She rolled her eyes a him "You know I can walk to our cell by myself".
He took a few steps forward, now walking beside her "I got stuff out on the run for you today".
"Oh really now?" she asked, muffling a yawn with her hand and messing about her loose hair as they entered their cells. When Daryl first met her, her hair was a few inches below her waist and now it was just above her trouser line.
Anna looked up from untying her shoes, her feet relishing being able to breath. Daryl reached into her clothes bag, passing her black bike shorts and he turned around to give her some privacy "Please say you have alcohol after the day we all had?"
Daryl reached into his back pack and taking out a can of coke, Anna's face lit up, although limping she jumped with a little excitement "Oh my god! Coke! And you didn't tell the others?"
"Nah, I figured you could have a treat to yourself" he muttered, handing over her the Reece's and opening his back pack more to reveal the knee braces.
Her breath became hitched in her throat, relief washed over her as she slid her blood encrusted hand over all of the knee braces. God it was a sense of relief, knowing now she wouldn't be putting Daryl in any danger with having to watch over her all of the time. Maybe if she shut her mouth with Shane this all wouldn't have come to that? She felt guilty, the emotion bubbling up to the surface and feeling herself beginning to cry. Anna turned and without a second thought she hugged Daryl, squeezing her eyes shut but failing to stop her tears falling, dampening Daryl's shirt "Thank you. Thank you so so much. I don't know what I would have done without through all of this".
"I won't let anything happen to you, won't ever" he promised Anna, pulling away from their hug. She sniffled a little, her eyes red and feeling itchy from the crying of the day, highlighting her green eyes even more.
Daryl chuckled, a fun look in his eyes "I still think your eyes are pretty bad ass" he joked, pointing down at them.
She laughed, wiping her runny nose with the back of her hand. Daryl shook his head, pretending to be disgusted at her habit, reach into the back of his pocket and got out his red hunting cloth.
"Did you wash this?" Anna joked, wiping her nose with it anyway.
He scoffed, "No" But then smirking anyway, he reached to the side of his trousers and taking out his hunting knife and holding it out to her "Here, take this".
"What? I can't take this Daryl?" Anna said in disbelief holding the knife in her hand, looking up at Daryl "What about you? What will you have?"
It was hard for Daryl to deal with having someone that looked out for him, someone who was caring and concerned the way Anna was with him. Then there was how he was with her. God, when he couldn't see her after running with Rick into the prison and having no idea where she was. His stomach was twisted into knots, feeling as if a knife was being driven into his gut with each step he took. But he couldn't believe it, there was no way in hell Anna could have been dead. After all they had been through since they crossed paths, there was no way in hell she could have been dead. Anna is and always will be a fighter. She was a survivor of the way the world was before and is still now.
Of course he knew Anna could handle herself but it was herself that was her own weakness. She would put herself before others "You can and you will, alright. It will make me stop feeling so damn edgy when I don't have you in my sights" he admitted, peering down at her "No fighting me on this, ya hear?" Standing there and having Anna look up at him the way she was, made him feel a little uneasy, not sure what it was or how he should deal with it. He has never had a friend, let alone family like Anna.
Anna nodded, holding the knife in her hand and feeling a little overwhelmed with such a gesture and she simply nodded. Words hardly had to be said between the two. They were on a whole different playing field when it came to communication compared to the others in the group. They could go on an all-day hunt with just hand signals and to not have spoken a word to each other.
Anna sat down at the head of the bed, sliding her new soft knee brace on and relishing in the feel of something new and gentle on her knee. Daryl had taken off his shoes and vest, sat on the other side of her, juggling the Reece's chocolate and coke in his hands.
"You need to find Carol" Anna told him "We can't leave her in there".
"Yeah, I will find her" Daryl promised.
Without even a second thought, Anna pulled up the covers over them, nestling more into her pillow and yawing as she tied her long hair into a loose plait, the remanets of the Reece's packet and coke were on the ground. It wasn't strange for them to share a bed like they were at that moment. There was nothing sexual nor any angst, they were just there as each other's half and helped keep each other sane. After the day they both have had, losing the amount of the way they did. It would scare anyone.
Anna nestled down more into the bed and back towards to the wall so Daryl had more room. But he knew better, as small as Anna was she always managed to take up more of the bed than he would. Not that he cared; she was his purpose each and every day to keep on going. To be there for the group, keeping their family together. He was a nobody before the world ended and now he was something so much more than a dirty, ol' red neck.
"I am glad you are okay, Daryl" Anna muttered, resting her left hand under her head and her right hand, the one with the braided leather bracelet draped across her chest and stifling yawn with half open eyes.
"Ditto" he replied, laughing a little inside his head.
If someone had of asked him if he would have been in a situation like this, he would have most likely have growled and then wanting to kick their heads in for making fun of him. Why would a smart, southern belle with old money and a career as a surgeon would want to have anything to do with him. Would she had of done if the dead didn't start walking?
Anna had already fallen asleep; he carefully lifts her arm off him and rolled over. She nestled into the side of him.