The early morning sun was sending a thin stream ray of light through the square window of the cell of Anna and Daryl's. It was relaxing for them both to be able to just be there and do nothing for once. Just laying there beside Anna with his eyes closed, not wanting to open them because he was thinking all of this must have been a dream. Daryl felt even more responsible now for Anna and anything that had to do with her day to day safety. It was nothing like he had been anyone else in his life. Even a blind man could see it what was happening between the two former broken people. There was something that felt different between the two now. Love not quite being the word to explain what was happening between them. It was something much more than that between the two.
Daryl's eyes now fluttered open and he saw that Anna was curled up into a little ball and was still sleeping. He always secretly liked her long, thick hair. It reminded him of all those princesses you hear about in the fairy tales or the pretty ladies that walk those fancy runways. God, Daryl thought, he was a lucky man. He shifted a little away from her just to get a better look at her and thinking how someone as good, someone so pure liked a redneck like him. That was all he was, was a dirty, old redneck who hadn't even finished high school. Anna had graduated at the top of her class at medical school, a masters and a PhD and a certified genius. Truth be told, he was feeling petrified and nervous about all of this. All of this was new to him and for this reason Daryl felt ever more so responsible for her.
Anna's dark, long hair was starting to fall out of its intricate braid and she had loose curls, covering her face and she looked so relaxed. Her peaceful, sleepless nights were few and far between and for once Anna had a decent one. She was always worrying about everyone else, even when she was asleep. Her mind naturally just kept thinking about all of those around her. It was what made her a good surgeon but more importantly, it was what made her be the compassionate human being she is and be the guardian angel for them all. Always looking over all of those around her.
Her eyes slowly fluttered opened, she yawned and stretching out the kink in her bad leg. It was always stiff and sore if she slept too long. She had to find a way to tell Daryl she was going to go out on a run with Glenn and Maggie and that was going to be a hard one "Morning" she yawned loudly, rubbing her eyes and wiping away the grit that was in the corners of her eyes.
"Good morning to you too, Sunshine" he chuckled, flicking her nose playfully. Daryl could get used to waking up like this every day.
Daryl got out of bed, slipping his feet into the cruddy, mud and blood coated hunting boots. Tying up his laces into double knots and with a little worry in his eyes, he looked over his shoulder at her "What are your plans for today?"
Anna knew what he was trying to say but knew he couldn't openly say it about how worried he was about her. "I am going to go and find Rick. I need to try and talk some form of sense into him without sending him over the edge". She got up off the bed, leaning down to pick up her faded long sleeved purple flannelette shirt and pulled it on, looking nervously up at Daryl who had his back to her. She knew he was not going to be happy with what she was about to add to the conversation "And then later today I am going on the afternoon run with Glenn and Maggie. I am going out there to help them find supplies for ass kicker and anything medical we need for all of us".
The blood drained down from Daryl's face, his face now pale. His stomach flipping, performing somersaults, making him feel ill and as if he was going to throw up last night's dinner. Daryl's muscles tensed up hard and his shoulders became square, harder again even as he straightened his back "Oh, yeah?", whilst thanking everything under the sun that his back was turned to her because he could feel himself getting angrier than he should do. Anna would have seen all of the emotions all over his face "Won't be anything like the last time you were all together, will it?", Daryl gathered whatever courage he had in himself turned around and faced her "You died, then almost lost your life from the blood infection from the walker. We almost lost you. I don't think the group could cope if we lost you".
The air was thick with nervous tension as Anna put on her leather hunting boots and without words Daryl took Anna's little shoes in his hands, proceeded to tie her shoes the only way he liked them to be if Anna went out on a run "I can't and won't go through that again".
There was no way in heaven or hell that Daryl actually wanted her to go out there on that run with Glenn and Maggie and not have him with them out there "I know I can't stop you from going out there today because I don't own you" Daryl stated her "I just wish you were one of the damsel in distress type of girls that were too scared step out of the limit of their own safety net. Rather than go out there with a crook knee that is just holding together, facing walkers and god knows what else?"
She smiled, small wisps of hair falling on her face and tickling her. He liked her smile, it always warmed him. Made him feel like he was worth a damn. Daryl couldn't believe someone so pure, someone so good as Anna chose someone like him as their number one "I can't be locked away and wrapped up in cotton wool, Daryl. I will not just sit back idly and let the people I love and care about, risk their own lives while I sit back, twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the ice tea to brew as I sit by the window waiting, hoping to god you come back in one piece. I just can't and won't be like one of those girls. I need to feel like I am doing something on a day to day basis to do my own part to protect my family. I want it to be just as you all have always done for me the second I entered your lives all that time ago at the farm. I owe all of you my life".
God, Daryl prayed to heaven and to hell, wishing she wasn't so damn stubborn. But Anna wouldn't be herself she is if she didn't do that. A more serious look appeared on Daryl's face "Alright, but you have got to promise me that you will look after yourself out there today. I do not want you to take any unnecessary risks, promise me? You do as exactly as you did running on the farm. Run for your life. I do not want you coming back with no form of scratches, broken bones or bruises".
Anna sighed, resigning to how Daryl would be feeling about her run today and she could tell he was scared. Daryl was thinking back to the exact moment on the high way, how he felt everything in himself fall apart and break when he found out she wasn't there. He got up from the bed, holding out his hand to help Anna up "Just come back in one piece today, alright?"
Knowing what crazy thoughts that were going through his mind, Anna took a sturdy breath and chose her next actions carefully. Feeling nervous herself, she put her hand out and took his hand in hers. He looked at them, thinking were they so small, yet capable of saving so many lives. She smiled softly, a tender glint in her eye and that there is what Daryl got through each day. That smile of hers. Knowing that he had something to go back to after each run or if Anna was with him, she was his reason to get back safe and sound. Anna made him feel like he was worth a damn. If Anna was safe and sound, he was content. He could sleep at night and wake up in the morning with some sort of purpose of having the job of looking after her.
Together they walked out of their cell and as nervous as he was feeling, he let out an anxious breath. Daryl had taken the courage and put his arm around Anna's shoulder. Surely, any second Anna was going to recoil away in disgust from him and run away screaming. Instead, she leaned a little more into him. He thought it would make him feel weird, but it didn't. It was hard to say exactly what it was like for him because he had never had experienced it before. This was all too new of an experience for them for them both.
It had been so long for her since she last felt this way for someone and it hasn't been since her teenage years that Anna felt completely safe around someone, the way she did with Daryl. Anna knew if there was any danger, she knew she had to get out of it. Anna had to do it for Daryl because she couldn't bear the thought of leaving him alone in the world. It was funny how fate worked for the two to meet. All it had to take was the end of the world with the dead walking around and humans became the number one food source. At that somewhat worrying thought, he frowned, and it didn't go unnoticed by Anna. She was always picking up on those sorts of things with him and that was despite how good he was at hiding his emotions from everyone else in the group "What is floating around in that head of yours, huh? Is it how much you miss eating squirrels because I know I miss it, especially how you cooked it with smoked paprika".
A seed of doubt formed in the pit of his stomach because of the thoughts that was going through his mind and it was making him feel ill. Daryl was afraid to ask something he had always wanted to scare "Would you have wanted anything to do with me if the dead didn't start walking around the place and people weren't trying to take over".
Anna knew it was just going to be a matter of time before this question was going to pop up between the two of them and become the elephant in the room. They were chalk and cheese but they were made for each other. She sighed, kicking the dust that had settled on the prison floor and making it form a little dust cloud floating about. There was still a little mess around the prison, but it will all eventually be cleaned up and feel like a home for everyone "I think that question is a little hard for either of us to answer at the moment Daryl. We were both different people before the dead start walking. It was a different time for the both of us and we are far from the same people we are now" She smiled up at him.
Daryl pulled her in a little tighter under his arm, unconnectedly not wanting to lose her "You would not have wanted anything to do with me with the way I was before all of this. I was nowhere near like who I am now. You would have gone running for the hills screaming with your hands in the air and leaving a dust storm in your trail" Daryl saw himself as a monster back then. All he had done was doing odds job around Georgia and drifting along with Merle "I was a bad person and I was no good to be around anyone as good as the likes of you".
It scared him a little because Anna was being a little quiet for too long for his own liking and that was saying something because the woman always had something to say, good or bad. Daryl was starting to think the worse of things that she was thinking and going to say to him.
But she had finally spoken up and there was a thoughtful, long distance glaze across her face "We all have our demons that we want to stay in our past, to have them to stay locked away and hidden in a chest and throw away the key. We both are shadows of the people who we are now. I was weak, once upon a time. Too scared to say boo to anyone or upset my ex fiancé. I hated the thought of being alone. But everyone changes and are destined to be the person they were meant to be. We both are meant to be who we are now. So, yes. I would have wanted to have had something to do with you. Although, I would have probably told you were being a jack ass and to pull your head in. And no doubt you would have told me I was being a stuck up southern belle princess and to mind my own damn business".
"So, it was nothing out of the ordinary to what I would have said to you even now?" he chuckled, flipping the braid of her hair up over her shoulder, teasing her and she laughed, playfully nudging him back. Truth be told, Anna would have to be the toughest person he has ever known in his life, even more so than Merle. And that was even before the world had ended.
A bark echoed through the corridors of the prison cells, Anna smiled and she ducked from underneath Daryl's arms. She always loved the feeling of Samson always getting excited. Coming home from a long day at the hospital, feeling like crap from seeing families broken from deaths and injuries that would send a person crazy. Just seeing Samson always made her feel better and almost put her back together again. They were taught not to let their emotions get the better of them, to remain emotionless but still work with professional compassion to get the job done. Samson was all over Anna, licking her face and pushing her down the ground.
Daryl had always wished he had something like this before the shit hit the fan with the world ending. To have a home to go to at the end of the day and to have someone waiting, a dog to sit at his feet and now that Daryl had, he was never going to let it go and would do anything to protect it.
Beth came around the corner and actually had a genuine smile on her face "Anna! I got your breakfast ready. I made some quick oats, then added some dried blue berries with a little brown sugar and a swirl of honey" She took Anna's hand and lead her away to the mess hall. Anna looked over her shoulder and Daryl laughed to himself, urging her to go on. Anna really was stepping up to the plate and being the leader while Rick was out for the count, going through what he was. He would hate to think how they all would have been without her. Although they would have found a way to make it, it would have been a darker place to live in.
He came around the corner, through the little passage way and into the mess hall. Anna was getting down on one of the steps while Oscar held onto her breakfast and held his hand to help keep her steady as she sat herself down on the steps. Anna smiled up at Oscar "Thanks". He nodded and picked up his own bowl of breakfast "Anytime, little cricket. I got your back".
Beth now had Little Ass Kicker in her arms and was feeding her. She was already getting so big and was only days old. Carl was just sitting there and staring at his food, only smiling when Anna had chucked a piece of paper at his head and urged him to eat his breakfast. Hershel was reading a book, looking up to Daryl and nodding him a hello.
Maggie and Glenn were off in the corner from everyone and they were looking through a phone book to get an idea on where to scout for more supplies. Daryl knew with no doubt it was for their run out today. He found himself frowning as he picked up his own quick oats. They really weren't that appetising for this morning to eat. Glenn looked up from the phone book, instantly feeling the glare of Daryl and quickly looking back down. He grunted and took a mouthful of his porridge and went to sit by Anna.
Anna could feel the anger radiating off him and she nudged him, giving him a pointed look along with stern glare "There is no need to be mean to him, you know! You could be nice to Glenn and try not to make him run to the hills" she whispered.
And without a second thought, not looking at Anna. He knew how to get straight into her head "I don't know what you are talking about, Anastasia" Daryl knew what he had to say to get his message across clearly to her.
Now Anna knew she was in deep trouble because she could count the amount of times Daryl has called her by her full name on one hand. It was always brought up when she gets into trouble.
Daryl was feeling scared, therefore angry without showing it obviously and he was most well beyond that. Confused could even be a better word to describe what he was feeling. They were both new at this whole thing and were both unsure at what to do when it is just themselves let alone with everyone around them. Daryl never having something like he did with Anna before nor Anna with someone like Daryl.
"You make sure you eat all of that, you are getting too skinny for my own liking and I need you to get more meat on your bones. We got to get more strength into that knee too!" Daryl told her with his mouth full of the oats and pointing down at her bowl. She smirked, looking up at Daryl while he had his head down at his food and filling her mouth with as much of the oat meal she could. Anna knew he thought it was disgusting when she did this, so it gave her motivation to keep on doing it to annoy him "You mean like this?" she partly gargled.
Daryl turned his head and instantly pulled a face. Anna had her mouth open, showing all of the chewed-up oatmeal in her mouth "You are absolutely disgusting. You look like a damn walker with that face you got going on there, looking all twisted and demented. You had better not go out there because whoever is on guard duty will mistake you as one of the walkers".
And out of the blue, Anna started coughing and the oat meal went all over Daryl. Without skipping a beat, he just scooped up the oat meal that Anna had spat out on his shirt with his spoon and ate it. Anna's lips curled up in disgust "And you call me disgusting. That is just plain ol' nasty!".
"Waste not, want not. That is my motto!" Daryl replied to her, then rolling his eyes "Like you can even talk anyway, you ain't no prim and proper princess anymore remember. No maids, cooks or nannies to look after your southern belle self".
She frowned, looking down at her bowl, realising how often they all get a decent meal now and took her spoon, trying sneakily to scrape some oatmeal off that was on Daryl's arm.
"Makes me really wonder what would actually get Daryl annoyed and be mad at Anna because she does no wrong in his eyes" Maggie commented, "I reckon she could get away with murder like one of those nut jobs on criminal minds with him".
"Us going out on a run without him around to protect Anna, that is what really makes me nervous. I have never been so worried before going out on a run ever since what happened at the farm. If she comes back even with one scratch on her or a hair out of place from her braid. I know I am a dead man walking" Glenn then added, his palms sweating "I am surprised that he hasn't even come and given me a really good stern talking to".
"Everybody okay?"
Everyone looked up to see Rick behind one of the cell doors, he opened it up and entered the mess hall but still keeping his distance. The poor man fully been taken over by a horrible grief and it was etched across his face. His eyes were finding it hard to stay open because they were feeling heavy. And there were dark bags under his eyes because of it. His movements were lagging from fatigue of not getting any sleep since Lori died. Everyone was feeling a little wary of Rick. No one was sure what to do or say without wanting to upset him or making him tip over the edge.
Anna looked around at everyone, waiting for anyone to say something. No one did, so she took the lead for them all "We are all good. What about you though? How are you going? I haven't see you a little while and you are starting to have me worried" she tenderly.
"I cleared out the boiler block to make it safer for everyone" Rick mumbled, not taking his eyes off the ground. Despite being grief stricken, he knew one look up at Anna with those green eyes of hers would do him in. The walls he had built up would come crashing down.
"How many were there? You look pretty worn out, looks like you can barely stand, Rick" Tom asked, worried as well about their leader "You looking out for yourself in there?"
"I don't know. A dozen, two dozen. I have got to get back, I just came back to check on Carl" Rick answered him, avoiding speaking with Anna again.
Anna couldn't help it but she was feeling a little annoyed but sympathetic at the same time, as this was all for them, he had to be there for his family "Rick, we can handle taking out the bodies. You don't have to! I can organise people later and you can spend some time with Carl and the baby".
Rick shook his head, still refusing to look up at anyone at all "No, I do! I need to get back in there and finish my job"
"Has everyone got a gun and ammo?" he asked Daryl.
"Yeah, but we are running a little low on ammo" Carol replied.
"Maggie, Anna and I are going out on a run later this afternoon. We found a few places we can look for baby formula, medicine and ammo" Glenn informed.
"We cleared out the generator room, we have Axel in there to fix it in case of an emergency. We are going to sweep the lower levels as well" Anna responded.
Anna kept a steel eyed gaze on Rick, who purposely kept his head down and looking to the ground as he walked away from them all. A look from her would break down anyone's walls and Rick was avoiding her "Good, good".
Everyone was looking at Rick's back as he walked away. But Anna was really "looking" at him and what was inside of him. The pain of losing Lori. The torment of what the voices were saying what he should have done instead of what he had choice to do. He was living the regret and letting it rule his life, letting it overcome everything that was good.
Anna had been through the very same thing with her mother's passing with all of those people around her. There was something different between her and Daryl now, she really wanted to go out and talk to Rick. It needed to be just her and him, something personal to talk to each other about what they have both been through. She wanted to help him. Anna was fidgeting, shifting on the steps and playing with her breakfast. Daryl peered up to see Tom, his eyebrows were raised knowingly, and he shrugged his shoulders. Tom thought he had knew who Anna was from all of their time together before but she was something completely different now. A whole new person and was becoming something so much more each day.
Daryl sighed, resigning to the fact Anna will be always be a free caring spirit and would always wear her heart on her sleeve daily. He knew he wasn't ever going to be able to control that. Daryl picked up her cross bow, giving her a caring pointing look and sat it in front of her legs. She looked up in shock, feeling a little surprised that Daryl had put it there. He couldn't bring himself to tell her what to do. All Anna wanted to ever do was to protect those she loved and do whatever it is she could to help them heal. Why did she have to be so good hearted? Anna was her own weakness "Go on now. You take Samson with you and make sure you be really careful going through those corridors, there could be some slippery spots and I don't want you to slip over, hurting your knee or breaking an arm".
"Thank you!" she said, getting up off her feet and slinging her crossbow across her back. Daryl looked down to his feet, feeling bad he could be stopping Anna from helping. She put her hand on his shoulder, gently squeezing "I won't take any chances in there, I promise. I will be back before you know it".
"You had better not and if you aren't back within the hour I am coming in there after you" Daryl watched Anna go around the corner and he could tell she was trying her best to walk without a limp in each step she took. He always felt sick in the stomach whenever Anna left his line of sight. Daryl just hated because ever since what happened at the farm, if he didn't have his sights on her. It never sat well with him hence why Daryl always had to know where Anna was. He was not going to know where she was ever again. He couldn't get through that sort of pain and torment again.
But Daryl knew he had to let her go to try and fix what was wrong with Rick. She had that special touch being able to put people back together. The young woman had a heart of gold, never liking when those she cared were in pain. She knew the pain Rick was going through. The voices that were dancing around in his head telling him everything that he could have done to make it right with Lori. He had lost his appetite, sitting down his bowl of porridge.
"Don't you worry, she will come back. Anna always does", Daryl peered up, seeing Tom had stood up and was kneeling down beside Carl "That small half pint sized lady has been through hell and back. Basically, giving the finger to the devil himself a few times and she came out of that unscathed. I know Anna will do anything for her family and she will bring your dad back".
Carl whispered, wiping away his tears "But I don't want to lose Anna too".
The further Anna went into the prison corridors, the darker it got and it was making it hard for her eyes to adjust and be able to see. She flicked on her flash light to get her bearings straight in such a dark environment. Looking down on the ground to find any tracks and she found Rick's foot prints in the dust. She looked up, pieces of her hair had fallen out of her braid. Anna whistled softly, signalling for Samson to go ahead and find Rick. Raising her crossbow and despite her disability with her knee, she stealthily walked along the corridors. Anna bit through the little hit of pain that was aching through her knee and she took a long, deep breath to try and steady her actions. One wrong step, her knee could give way and Daryl would flip out, losing his mind from worry.
There were walkers scattered all around "dead", all been bashed, their heads had been pounded in "Oh, Rick" Anna whispered, shaking her head and peering up to the direction he would be. He is going through so much pain and torment. Anna's fringe fell out over her eyes, the green even more highlighted by the shades being casted across her face.
Her torch began to fade away, flickering on and off. Anna frowned in frustration, banging it on her hand but it finally shuddered, fading away. She sighed, putting it in the back pocket and walked on to go to Rick, hoping she was going to be able to help him. The door was slightly ajar from when Samson had gone through before, so Anna knew she was at the right spot. Anna walked down the stairs, stopping at the second last step. Rick had his back to her, his shoulders were slumped in obvious grief and he had Samson eyeing him off, whining and pawing at his leg. Even nudging his foot with his wet nose. Animals have such an amazing way of knowing when someone they knew was sad. But sad wouldn't even cut it to what Rick would be feeling at the moment. Anna felt her heart break a little, she knew the trauma of losing family and the regret of not having the chance to say good bye to those you have lost. It doesn't leave you. You just learn to live with it.
Rick looked up, seeing it was Anna. Of course, she was here for him. Anna always was when Rick was in a state of mind like he was. God knows how many times he had gone to her for advice since she came to the farm. As cliché as it sounded if Rick said it out loud, he wouldn't know what he would have done without her in his life. Anna is his moral compass and his second in command.
She had to tread lightly here. Rick was like a broken puppy "May I? I kinda only have my soft knee brace on here. Can you keep a secret? Please don't tell Daryl but I am struggling more often these days with a soft knee brace".
"Your secret is safe with me" He nodded his head, pulling out a chair and moving it closer to Anna.
She gladly accepted the offer, resting her one hand on the chair and the other to help steady herself to get on "Oh I miss having a good knee. Some days I like to imagine in my head when I look at a tree that I can go up and climb it like a monkey. Then I think of Daryl yelling at me for being so damn stupid and get down before I break something".
The guilt that Rick had over why Anna's knee was the way it was because of Shane came bubbling to the surface of his tough exterior. He kneeled to pat Samson behind the ears, not being able to look up and look Anna in the eye "You should know I am really sorry about that. I don't think I will ever be able to forgive myself for that happening to you".
"Rick", Anna's face softened, laying her crossbow against the last bottom step. And with that softened angelic voice of hers, Rick had the courage to look up to her but only just barely. "Every single one of you saved my life from the moment I got to the farm and you all came into my life".
"Look, I know Lori and I had our moments together but you should know she was sorry, for the things that happened. She told me that and was planning on tell you that too. None of us are perfect" he informed Anna.
"Take your time with whatever you need to do. You carried us all, you didn't let us give up. You gotta see that" Anna encouraged.
"That is not enough. This is not safe enough" Rick worried
"There won't be anywhere else safe enough. I know you want to get away from this but we have run so much already. Where else is there to go?" Anna questioned.
Rick closed his eyes and tapped his head a little before looking up to Anna, hoping she wouldn't think he is going stir crazy "I got a call".
It was hard for Anna to keep a straight face when she heard it and not one of bewilderment "What?"
He reached for this phone and putting it front of Anna "Someone called on this phone".
"A woman, she was young and a part of a group. She said they had a safe place" Rick explained.
Anna picked up the phone, looking at Rick with a puzzled look on his face. She put the phone back down on the dial. There were no noises, let alone a dial tone for someone to call them. The grief was making Rick hear things that weren't there, maybe even seeing things too. And Anna's heart went out to him tenfold. Seeing this, Anna knew Rick was a broken man because she had been in the same spot he had been in. It was dark and so big of a place that you were so enveloped by it you couldn't make it out.
"She said they were just dialling numbers and I just picked up. She said they would be calling back" Rick explained, sounding a little unsure but hopeful.
Anna sighed in acknowledgement. She was worried for him. She didn't know whether it was real or all in his head, but either way, she let him explain his experience.
"If it sounds right, I want to talk them into letting us in" Rick expressed.
"Did she say where they were?" Anna questioned hesitantly.
"No but it doesn't matter. If it is safe we will get there. Don't go and tell the rest of the group, not yet. Not even Daryl, you promise me that?" Rick pleaded
"I will sit here with you, I am sure Daryl would like that rather than me go out on that run with Glenn and Maggie today" Anna offered.
"No, it's fine" Rick said dismissively.
He needed this time to grieve, Anna nodded understandably.
Daryl had come from outside his boundary patrols, sweating like a pig and to say it was a frustrating patrol was the understatement of the day for him. He had lost count after ten of how many walkers he had killed on the fence simply out of anger and fear. He was feeling scared because Anna was going out on what he would say was a stupid run with Glenn and Maggie and because he wasn't there. It made him feel on edge and it was like as if he was going to jump out of his skin at any moment whilst looking at her, his little half pint lady. Daryl stopped suddenly as he reached the entrance of their "cell room" and nervously started to bite on his thumb nail. Anna was way too damn strong for her own wellbeing. Him and Merle put together was nothing to her, not even half of her inner strength. Anna hadn't noticed Daryl standing there because she had a Walkman up loud with some Beats headphones. Daryl had found, bright pink ones! She was playing some rock music while working on her cross bow to make sure it was sound and perfect to go out on her run. Nothing was allowed to go wrong out there today, so Anna couldn't risk a single thing to go askew. She had a faded black tank top on with a red flannelette long sleeve shirt of Daryl's and with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Anna also had her black leather Timbaland boots on with her light blue jeans on. They had little stain of god knows what but who cares these days about stained shirts? Anna had her hair tied back into a braid with her pony tail rolled up into a bun. She was prepared with the quiver loaded up with bolts with green and white fletchings and had a second quiver that could be strapped on her back. There was a faded black back pack with supplies, rations and first aid in it, with a spare one rolled up and strapped to the top of her bag sitting in the corner. She was prepared. "I know you don't want me to go out there with Glenn and Maggie today", she looked up as she finished off tying her shoes and placing her feet on the ground. Small wisps of fly away hairs were out of her braid. Her green eyes appeared to be a little bluer around the centre of her eye. Daryl was mesmerised of her green eyes.
He stopped biting his thumb nail, taking a step forward "I want to lock you in this cell and throw away the key into a deep, dark hole but I know I can't stop you from going out there today. No one could!"
Anna let out a little sigh and with her brows furrowed, gnawed nervously on her lips with her guilt biting away at her conscience. She felt bad going out there on the run without Daryl by her side but it had to be done eventually. She couldn't always be by his side. Anna boosted herself up off the bunk and she plucked up the courage to finally look at Daryl in the eyes "You won't always be able to be there to save my life, Daryl. We can't avoid me going out on a run without you there with me. This had to have happened eventually".
"Doesn't mean I can't try my hardest to change your mind" Daryl told her. His mind wandered back to the time on the highway, that horrible memory on not seeing her cheeky grin. All of the feelings that came with it came flooding back into his mind. That gut wrenching feeling of finding out that Anna wasn't on the road with the rest of them made him feel empty. Daryl's heart was thumping hard in his chest, a sick feeling in his stomach making him feel ill and it was like he was going to throw up. So, he bit on the nail of his thumb even harder and could not bring herself to look up at Anna. He was scared she was going to see what was behind his eyes and revealing all of his emotions. Even though the world was hard on all of their hands, Anna's were always soft, so gentle and kind. She brought his hand down, so tiny against hers "Now, I don't want you ever be afraid to look me in the eyes, Daryl Dixon".
He didn't want to look Anna in the eyes, god he didn't want to. But he plucked up what little courage he had through the fear that was taking a hold of him, bubbling around in his stomach and he looked down into Anna's bright green eyes. She brushed away the hair that was hanging in his eyes "You will never get a haircut will you. Your hair is getting so long. How about I at least give you a little trim when I get back".
"Anna. Please, don't do this" Daryl took her hand, nervously taking her hands in his.
Anna smiled, a little laugh escaping her lip. He took that in, locking in all of the details "Daryl, I promise you that today isn't going to be like last time you will be seeing me. I will cross my fingers and stick a needle in my eye!" she assured him. As much as Anna was trying to make him feel better, it wasn't working all that well. And she could see it "I will be back in one piece before you know it and annoying you by stealing all of your shirts with actual sleeves".
He lowered his head even more to the ground, glaring at nothing but the dirt on his shoes. Daryl was trying his best to hide his emotions from her, scared of them showing their true colours to Anna "You had better come back to me or there will be hell to be paid. Glenn when he gets back with you, my foot will be so far up…", he cut his sentence short when he heard someone coming.
Tom's head came from around the corner, he had his hand on the bars. He knew he had interrupted something between the two and about time really they had both got their act together "Glenn and Maggie are in the car, waiting. They are just about ready to head out on the road".
And now the regrettable time had come for Anna to go out. The colour drained from his face and his body tensed up. Anna distracted herself from Daryl, picking up her crossbow and slinging it across her back. Daryl reached down to take Anna's bag and he fidgeted a little on the spot. She smiled at him softly, putting her hand on his arm and looked up at him "I will see you out there in a minute. I had better go and say bye to Beth and everyone else".
Then it was just Tom and Daryl standing in the cell room together. The air was thick with tension and there was an awkward silence between the two main men of Anna's life. Tom looked at Daryl and he was staring at him dead in the eyes with no fear. He could see the hunter was feeling nervous, the fear and anger showing in his eyes. The fidgeting with Anna's bag in his hand, shifting on his feet and taking a step forward to Tom.
"You do know it will be okay out there. Anna has to be one of the toughest people I know" Tom assured him.
Daryl's face changed, the worry lines even more prominent across his face as he thought about not being beside Anna there today. The realisation of the day hitting him in the face "You may think you know how strong Anna is but you really have no idea and neither does she. I know how strong Anna is. But that doesn't make her super woman and Anna will still bleed if she falls down. But what Anna does not think about that when it comes to protecting her family. Then she sees herself as a bulletproof vest and that there is my problem. Anna will throw herself down for those around her to get them out of trouble".
He pushed past Tom and headed out to Anna "None of us can tell her what to do", calling from over his shoulder.
Carl ran up to Anna, crashing into her and wrapping his arms around Anna like there was no tomorrow. Carl didn't want to let go of his best friend who has become something more, someone he looked up to with his mom gone. The fear of her going out there today was taking a hold of him. It made the poor boy's stomach feel like there were butterflies flying around in his stomach because of the nerves. He had his eyes tightly squeezed shut and was trying his best to stop the tears so no one saw them fall. He also wanted to be brave for her. Carl was trying to be brave just how he promised his mom "Please be careful out there today, Anna. I don't want anything to happen to you out there today".
It was a touching scene to look at as they stood by the car "It is going to be okay little man. You just need to look after my post while I am away and make sure Samson doesn't get up to any mischief" Anna rubbed his back reassuringly, whispering sweet things in his ear "I will be back before you know it so how about when I do come back I can finally teach you how to use a crossbow". She winked at him.
"Okay" He took a breath, sniffing wiping his nose and nodding his head as he looked back up to Anna "You had better come back in one piece or I will be talking to Glenn with Daryl when you all get back. He will have the two of us waiting at the gate with our weapons ready".
Anna pressed her lips together, keeping her emotions in check as she ruffled his hair. God, she hated crying in anyway "You got it. I can't wait to be back with my two favourites boys".
Hershel had finished saying goodbye to Maggie when he walked up to Anna. A kind smile on his face. He was worried for her just as much as he was for his own daughter "Now you come back to us young lady or I will be giving you a stern talking to when I see you again".
"It would be nothing compared to what Daryl will do even if a hair is out of place when I do get back. He will over react on anything that is wrong with me anyway" Anna joked.
"Daryl only does it because he cares about you a little more than the rest of us" An all-knowing look came upon his face "That man has become rather fond of you, you know. I haven't seen anything like it, not even with my own wife. I was watching him this morning, I had lost count how many walkers he had killed because he was not a happy camper you were going out there today. When Daryl is angry he is just scared".
Anna's eyes flickered to the ground for a moment, wanting to hide her shyness. She looked up, her cheeks a little pink from the embarrassment of Hershel knowing. Her bright green eyes had crinkles in the corners from her small smile as she kicked the dirt with her shoes "Now go on, the sooner you all leave the sooner we can have you all back here safe and sound".
Maggie was walking with Glenn, helping to carry some bags. He could tell Glenn was feeling a little tense, even more so when he saw Daryl ahead and waiting by the gate to let them "He hasn't said a word to me all morning. I was expecting something by now but I have not got even one of his red neck I want to kill you glares. And frankly I am a little scared to tell you the truth. He is going to want to kill me taking Anna out there today. Come to think of it, why hasn't he yet! I thought he would have been on to me now".
It was amusing for Maggie seeing Glenn awkward. But then again, she didn't really blame the poor guy. Everyone in the group knew that Anna was the most important thing to Daryl, even more than his own life "Don't worry, I don't think he will kill you. Maybe just break a finger or two but they will just mend themselves over time".
"I feel like I am going to throw up" Glenn muttered "Why can't Tom tell Anna she can't go out there today? He would last longer than the rest of us" Glenn nervously wished.
"Ha! None of us here will be able to tell that lady not to go out there today. Nothing will be able to stop her to help her family, not even god himself" Maggie admitted.
Anna came jogging from behind them, not showing a single weakness with her knee. She had her orange back pack on and holding her crossbow in her hand. Samson was close by her, his tongue hanging because of the heat "Are we ready to get this show on the road or what?"
As much as Glenn didn't want to but he was going to have a talk with her and give her a little warning beforehand "As long you don't do any super hero moves by going out and jumping out of cars. And you don't leave my sight at all today, if you do you take Samson with you".
Maggie stifled a giggle, turning back and looking back at the prison for a moment. Anna rolled her eyes, taking her gear off her back and tapping Glenn on the shoulder "Don't worry, Glenn. We got this! It is all going to be A-Okay".
His face dropped, stopping in his tracks and pondering his life "Don't worry. How can I not worry", he muttered, walking on and looking up to see Daryl waiting for them by the gate "Why hasn't he threatened to kill me yet".
The humidity was stifling, not that Anna couldn't feel it. She took off her flannelette shirt, leaning forward and tying it around her waist. God, it felt good to just be in a tank top and her jeans. More freedom! She ran her hand over her hair, trying to tuck back the annoying wisps of hair that fell out. They were the ones that always tickled her face. But it reminded her of a prank Carl and she had done. Carl had convinced Daryl, Anna had cut all of her hair off and boy did he run to her. He had found her with a beanie on, he wasn't happy and wandered out loud why earth she cut her hair! Anna had just shrugged, making no fuss of it and said she wanted a change. Of course, he didn't believe her and just stared her down. Eventually she crashed under the pressure, taking the beanie off and letting her long hair fall down. Then the prison was filled with Daryl calling her all kinds of names of being evil and a trickster. Anna's cackle bounced around and off the walls. It was a normal way of life for this to happen and it brought a smile to everyone.
"Oh no" Glenn muttered, the colour drained from his face and the fear making his whole body stiff.
"What?" Anna asked from the back seat of the car, leaning forward to look over and out of that front window of the car "What's going on?"
Daryl was motioning with his hand that he needed some help with the lock. The look Daryl had plastered on his face was priceless.
Anna smirked and put her hand on Glenn's shoulder, trying to make him feel calm "Come on, Glenn. He won't be that bad"
But oh no, Glenn did not find it all that funny. His head turned around that quick, he almost would have gotten whiplash. Maggie tilted her head back in laughter at Glenn and his fear of getting the talk from Daryl "Come on, you didn't expect to not get a talk from Daryl".
"He won't bite that hard" Anna told assuring him with a hand on his shoulder "Just approach him slowly like you would a scared, cornered animal and it shouldn't be too bad for you. Maybe just a graze but I can fix that up for you".
A shock look spread across his face "That is easy for you to say, Anna. You and Daryl do have your fights, but he cares about you too much to even hold a grudge against you. Me taking you out there today! That is what is making him want to kill me a 1000 times over and then some. After what happened last time Daryl doesn't trust anyone to go out there on a run or scout with you but himself".
The bile was starting to bubble up from the bottom of Glenn's stomach and the closer he got, the higher the bile threatened to bubble up and it made him want to vomit. The closer he got, it actually looked like the lock was actually stiff and Daryl really was struggling to get it to open. And the relief washed all over his body as he kneeled to get a closer look at the lock "How bad is it?"
Daryl looked up at Glenn and he let the lock became loose in his fingers. Then seeing the look on Daryl's face, of course Glenn knew it was too good to be true. He was going to get the talk from Daryl now.
"You had best pretend this lock is stuck or else the look on my face will be the least of your worries. Not everyone needs to know my business" Daryl muttered, his eyes not leaving Glenn "Anna does not need to see or hear this".
"Yeah, I get what you mean" Glenn replied, leaning down to pretend to take a closer at the lock "Tell you the truth I was expecting the talk sooner from you".
It was an unusual emotion for Daryl and suddenly the lock became so interesting "Anna is the most important thing in my life right about now. Anything at all happens to her out there you will be hearing it from me when you get back. Even if Anna has one scratch on her, you will be put so far into the ground that you will be back in Korea again. And that is a promise to you".
Glenn knew the gravity of the threat Daryl had just made to him and he knew it was serious. Anything to do with Anna is "At least you remember to say Korea and not China" he joked, trying to add light to the situation.
It was difficult for Daryl to openly put his emotions out there, even to Glenn who he trusted his life with "Just bring her back home in one piece, that is all I want".
Glenn understood the situation at hand. He feels the same when Maggie is not with him. Anna going out there today without Daryl after what happened with the herd "Anna is my family too. I will guard and protect her just as I would with Maggie. She is just as important to me to as she is to you".
There was a mutual understanding and respect between the two men about the importance of Anna going out there on the road and bring her back safely. But as Daryl still shook Glenn's hand, it still didn't sit right in his gut. If Anna wasn't in his sights "Alright I will be waiting here by the gate. I will be seeing all of youat the end of the day" Daryl stressed.
Walking away, Glenn was finally able to properly breathe again. It went better than what Glenn had initially thought as he still had all of his limbs intact. Well for now at least until they get back because he knew Daryl would be looking Anna over with a fine-tooth comb when no one was around, away from prying eyes and all in secret. Even a blind man could see that Anna was the only bright and shining light in Daryl's life. Though the hunter himself would never admit it.
Glenn was back in the car, Anna leaned forward and was resting her chin on the car seat, looking Glenn over "I see you have no broken bones, the talk must have gone well then?"
"Until I come back" Seeing the look on Glenn's face, Maggie had brought up her hand to stifle the laugh that was about to escape. After everything that had happened way back at the farm, he was still nervous going out on the run "Do you really want to come with us today? Can't you just stay here at the prison and look over everyone?"
She mockingly rolled her eyes, leaning back into the back seat of the car. Out of the window, by the gate, Daryl motioned for his hand diagonal across his torso. He was telling her to put her seatbelt on. Anna put on a forced smile and scrunched up her face making sure Daryl could see her and she leaned back in her seat, putting her seat belt on. Glenn had started the car, Samson clambered over Anna to get his head to the open window as they drove closer to Daryl. As she patted Samson, it was dawning on her a little being the first time going out on a run without Daryl. And it made her feel a little nervous herself, scared even and as they were close to Daryl, she hid the nervous smile and put her trade mark smirk on her face when they reached Daryl. She stuck out her tongue, smiled big and gave him the peace sign "See you when we get back".
"See you later half pint. Look after yourself out there, you hear me. Do what I told back at the farm if you have to" Daryl reminded her.
Anna could read Daryl like a book and she knew what was running through his head "Always".
Discreetly he put his hand on hers, squeezing it. Then patting the happy dog behind the ears "You look after your mother out there today Samson".
"Actually," Anna thought suddenly and leaned across the back seat to open the door to let Samson out, she whistled short and high pitched and with that Samson barked and jumped out and sat at Daryl's feet as Anna closed the door again.
"What are you doing?" Daryl asked a little puzzled, as Glenn and Maggie exchanged a confused glance.
"If he stays here with you, it gives me all the more reason to come back" she shrugged with smirk playing on her lips. "Bye!"
Daryl watched the car drive away before he could say anything else, Anna was watching him and he didn't leave the spot he was standing on until he could no longer see the car. He sighed, looking down at Samson. "c'mon then" he ushered Samson, heading to his post until they came back. Samson bounced around happily and followed Daryl obediently.
They were now patrolling the lower tombs of the prison, Daryl was the lead of the group with Oscar in second and Carl, with Samson by his side, close behind them. He had to do something to distract himself when he wasn't outside to stop from thinking about Anna out there today, so he decided to make use of his time and to make it go quicker.
"Check that out man" Oscar pointing out a loose door that was rattling with some walkers behind it "We must have missed them".
Daryl got closer to the door, pushing it a little. They must have been there for a while because they smelt to the high heavens. He chuckled a little, thinking of Anna's face if she had smelt that "They don't have much fight in them, we will take care of them on the way back".
Carl had a little lost look on his face, thinking and worrying about Anna. Carl had lost his own mother, he couldn't lose her as well. Daryl could see the worry on Carl's face, so he kept to his word and would look out for Carl. He whistled to get Carl's attention and whispered in a softer tone, one that wasn't heard all that often "Come on now, we need to keep moving. You know Anna will come back to us, she always does. She got bit by a walker and survived that. Today will be a piece of cake for her".
"But what if she doesn't, Daryl? We don't know anything for sure. I don't want to lose any more family" Carl told him.
"You know, Anna lost her mom in a really bad way and found her. It has never left her mind even when it happened. It changed her but she didn't let it take her over. Hell, I even lost my own mom when I was a kid. My mom, she liked her wine and she liked to smoke in bed", he leaned forward and checked behind the door "Virginia slims".
There was some rubbish in their way, Daryl pushed it aside "I was playing out with the kids in the neighbourhood, I could do that with Merle gone. The kids had bikes and I didn't. We heard sirens getting louder and they jumped on their bikes, riding after it. Hoping to see something worth seeing. I ran after them but I couldn't keep up" he paused for a moment.
"When I went around the corner I saw all of my friends staring at me. Hell, I saw everyone looking at me. Fire trucks everywhere. People from the neighbourhood" Daryl said almost without emotion.
"It was my house they were there for. That was my mom in bed, burnt down to nothing" Daryl informed. He looked down at the young boy, "That as the hard part, you know, she was just gone. Erased, nothing left of her. People say it was better that way. It just didn't make it seem real".
"I shot my mom" Carl whispered "She was out and hadn't turned yet. I ended it, it was real, I am sorry about your mom" Carl advised.
"I am sorry about yours" Daryl replied.
The car jolted to a stop and Anna's head jolted up from the head rest, she'd fallen asleep. Anna rubbed her eyes stretching, yawning. She stretched out her leg, twisting it about to get rid of all the kinks and knots "Take it you have found a spot for us to scavenge?"
Glenn unclipped his seatbelt, leaning forward to take a better look at his bearings "By the looks of it, yeah we have. Thank god! Touch wood we will be in, out and able to get back home to everyone quickly".
There was a line of small sized shops with some broken cars out front that were covered in dust, dirt and grime. They all got out of the car, Ann on the lookout for anything dangerous around.
Maggie had a huge smile on her face, feeling good that the shops looked somewhat untouched "Hopefully we will be able to hit the jack pot for some baby formula and get back to Daryl, that way he won't want to kill Glenn for taking you out today".
Anna had a smirk on her face as "Oh come on now, Daryl is just a big ol' puppy dog, I don't see why you people are scared of him".
The look on Glenn's face was classic, a look of "are you kidding me?!" and Maggie couldn't help but let out a cackle, quickly using her hand to cover her mouth to muffle the laugh "Everyone is scared of Daryl except for you Anna. Even on your worst day, he would never stay mad at you. Remember that time where you pretended to cut your hair?!"
Even though it was hot and humid and Anna not feeling the heat, there was a slight pink tinge of embarrassment spreading across her cheeks, her face getting hot "There is nothing going on between Daryl and I" she mumbled, drawing her crossbow and looking up to make eye contact with Maggie "And don't go getting any ideas in that pretty little head of yours".
Anna was still quick on her feet, even with a busted knee. Her eyes were darting around the place, looking for any signs of danger or threats, "Let's just go to the chemist to check out for any supplies for my med bags. There will be a lot of things in there that people may not think they can use but I can find a way I can. Like peroxide, eye contact cleaning solutions, which is basically bleach. I can use that to clean wounds".
"Alright. But I am leading going in, you two follow me behind me" Glenn instructed.
Anna went to fight the argue but Glenn stopped her with one look "You get one scratch on yourself, Daryl will beat my ass into the ground and then chew me up and spit me out. I am going first, you both will follow on behind me".
"Wow, you really are scared of him" Anna noted, half amused.
"Well not every body is little Half Pint, are they? You could commit murder and still get away unscathed. I can't believe it has taken this long between you two" Maggie said in disbelief.
It was comic relief for them all, having fun at Anna's expense but she didn't mind, not one bit. It reminded her of having friends before, joking and having fun. The chemist was clear, so it was safe for all of them to go on their own to scavenge what supplies they could make use of. Glenn and Maggie went to the next shop over in search of baby formula while Anna had her medical list and looked on the broken-down shelves, maybe there could be something under there that could be useful. She took off her crossbow, leaning it against an empty shelf with discarded boxes of denture cleaners. Those could be useful, she mentally noted before crouching down to the ground. Underneath Anna could see there was a couple bottles of pain killers left, it was awkward for her but she got down on her stomach to reach for them. Just as Anna had her fingers on the bottle of pills she felt something dig into the edge of her spine. Anna closed her eyes. The colour drained from her face, her muscles tensed up.
"Who the fuck are you and what the fuck are you doing with my baby brothers knife?" the voice demanded, digging into her back a little harder.
She turned her head to face the voice, knowing full well that this man was Daryl's brother, Merle "He gave it to me".
"Bull shit, you thieving little bitch" he accused.
He pulled Anna by her hair to get up off the ground. Merle goes to grab the knife, but she takes advantage of the loose grip on her hair and dives out of his reach. He corners her and knocks her out with the butt of his gun, knocking her out instantly. There was nothing of the little woman as he lifted her up over his shoulder, not even noticing the crossbow against the shelves.
Daryl heads outside to try and find Rick. He had looked all through the prison but hadn't had much luck finding him. So being outside near the entrance waiting for the others to come back was the only place. He knew Anna would want someone to look out for Rick and Daryl took on that job. The patrols paired with keeping his eye on Rick, kept his mind off Anna being out there. Daryl had just about thought of every single scenario, both positive and negative in his head. It was all new to him because he wasn't used to this sort of worry. Anna liked to show everyone not all was lost and because of that Daryl had found some inner strength and he had found Carol. Even when Anna wasn't physically there with them, she was still able to work her magic on them all.
But when Daryl got close to the group he saw the way everyone looked at him and it made him feel uncomfortable and uneasy. It was just like all those kids giving him the look, all those years ago when he was just a young kid. Time slowed down, his ears were ringing, and his chest was becoming tight. He looked ahead in the distance to where everyone was looking to where Rick was standing by the fence, looking at something that Daryl himself couldn't quite see. There was something that wasn't sitting well in his gut and his protective instincts took a hold of his mind as he found himself in a quick jog to the boundary fences. His instincts never let him down and what they were, telling him wasn't anything good to go by. A part of him felt dead.
He got close to the fence line and seeing what he did, his feet came to an automatic stop and his breath became caught in his throat. There was dark skinned woman surrounded by walkers, carrying a basket with baby formula but that wasn't what caught Daryl's eye. It was the fact this strange woman was carrying Anna's crossbow. Anna never let anyone touch her crossbow with Daryl was the only exception. The crossbow being a gift from her father, her most prized possession.
"No, no, no" he muttered, pushing pass Rick "Please no!"
"Daryl…" Rick tried to stop him "Anna isn't out there".
"Yeah, but she has her crossbow!" he whispered. He needed to know how she got and where the hell Anna is.
"Where the hell is she!?" Daryl called from over Rick's shoulder.
Anna's head was pounding, her eye lids felt heavy and she could barely even flicker them open. They hurt with every blink she took. Anna shifted but she couldn't move, something was tying her down "What the hell?"
"Good morning sunshine" a voice said to her.
Slowly, Anna's senses were coming back to her and they were screaming at her, telling her to get out of there but she couldn't. Her head was pounding from the hit Merle had given her. That voice, it oozed with trouble and all she wanted to do was run. Her fight or flight senses hitting overdrive. Anna opened her eyes fully and she knew instantly she was in something deep, something more than trouble. Looking around and gathering her surroundings, finding she was just in her crop top and tied down by her shirts. Her body jolted, like when stress hit you and it is like an electric shock. She was completely vulnerable and who ever this man was, he could see everything. Every single mark on her skin.
Anna looked up, looking at her captor. And from the look on his face, Anna knew he could tell even more from her eyes, she was different and that was dangerous.
"Interesting bite marks you have there" he taunted.