* Please Review! Lucy: of course you got a shout out! You have been with me since I came here, pushing and helping me through your reviews! Leyshia Gisel: You will change your mind when your pregnant, lol.*
Layla was picking some of the herbs and placing them in the basket she had brought with her and Shane. He was standing behind her with one hand on the butt of his gun and the other wiping the sweat from his forehead. He was looking from Layla to around them to make sure no one was sneaking up on them, living or otherwise.
" So what do you think is really going to happen once you pop that kid out?" Shane asked. Layla frowned as she stood up and faced him.
" What?" She asked.
" When you pop that kid out, what do you think is really going to happen?" Shane asked, slower that time as if she was stupid. Layla frowned.
" What really are you asking me?" She asked.
" When the kid comes, it's just going to be another mouth to fed once it gets older and that's if it lives that long."
" What do you mean, if it lives that long?" Layla asked as her hands went to her stomach.
" Don't be stupid, Layla, you know what I mean. Every time that kid cries, it's going to bring the walkers on us. Babies cry, kids cry. And what is going to happen to the group once it's here? Daryl is going to be to busy being a daddy and trying to keep it and you safe. He's going to be distracted by the two of you, hell, he's already distracted. He spent the entire day in the RV with you yesterday because you couldn't get your ass in check. He should have been out hunting and on watch." Shane said.
" What, the fuck, are you getting at?" Layla spit out.
" I waited for nature to take it's course. I thought, there is no way she will keep this baby, she'll miscarriage but you didn't so now, I think you should do what's best for the whole group." Shane said. Dread started to flow through her veins as he unstrapped his gun.
" And what is that?" Layla asked.
" You need to die. If you walk away, Daryl and the others will come after you but if you're dead, you're dead and we don't have to worry about feeding that brat or his cries alerting walkers."
" And you're going to kill me, aren't you" She asked. Shane nodded.
" I am. I have to do what I have to to protect Lori and Carl. I won't let Daryl's bastard kid get them killed now turn around." He said as he pulled his gun out and aimed it at her. Layla lifted her chin up.
" No. If you're going to shoot me then you are going to have to look me in the face when you do it. I want you to remember my face when you go to sleep. I want you to remember that you took the life of someone who stood in front of you defenseless." She said without a hint of fear in her eyes.
Shane narrowed his eyes but stepped in closer to her. Layla didn't even blink as he brought the gun to her forehead. They stared hard at each other for a few minutes. Both were breathing hard. Suddenly Shane grabbed her by her shoulder and flipped her around. A sharp pain went against the side of Layla's head a second before she was surrounded by darkness.
" Stupid whore." Shane snapped as he restrapped his gun.
She had called his bluff. She knew there was no way he could shoot her straight on. He had hit her on the side of the head and knocked her out instead. Shane scooped her up into his arms and started walking deeper into the woods. He would find a spot, lay her down, and hope a walker would come. He knew one would. She was bleeding from the head wound. The blood would draw one. If a walker didn't kill her, Shane was sure the smack to the side of her head would.
' This is for the best.' Shane said to himself as he walked. ' Baby will only get the group killed, get Lori and Carl killed.' And Shane couldn't allow that to happen. He would do anything to protect her and if that might killing some members of their little group, then so be it.
XXXXXX
Daryl had been pacing back and forth through the camp while he stared into the woods. He was feeling uneasy. Layla and Shane had been gone almost three hours. He wanted to charge in after them but was forced himself to stay at camp. Where the hell was that drive coming from? Why was his stomach upset? Why did he want to run in after her and drag her back to camp? He frowned and turned from the woods. He stalked over to the camp fire pit and plopped down in one of the fold up chairs. He leaned forward, letting his forearms come to rest against his knees as he frowned.
The answer slammed him in the face, suddenly. He stared into the fire while it swirled around him. He felt that way because she was his woman. Daryl's eyes squinted even harder. No, she wasn't his woman. Daryl didn't take a woman or have a girlfriend. She was his mate and he was hers. She was his mate and was carrying his offspring. His jaw started to work back and forward slowly. His offspring inside her was his mark. She was his and when she came back, he would make it known, officially. He would make her know it and the camp.
" Rick!" Shane's terrified yell propelled Daryl up in a flash. Shane broke through the woods as he grabbed everyone's attention.
" Where's Layla?" Daryl yelled as he started running to Shane at the same time everyone else was running. " Where the fuck is Layla?" Shane dropped to his knees, his shirt covered in sweat.
" I'm sorry, Daryl." He said. Carol broke into a loud sob as she covered her mouth.
" Where is she?" Daryl yelled as he grabbed Shane by the shir and hauled him up.
" There was a walker. I didn't see it until it already had her." Shane said. Daryl looked up into the woods as all the air left his body at once. " I'm sorry, Daryl. I'm so sorry." Daryl pushed him away and started towards the woods.
" Daryl, wait!" Rick called out.
" What the fuck for?" Daryl yelled back.
" She was bit, Rick. I saw it. She's dead. She fell down with the thing. It torn into her neck. There was nothing I could do." Shane said. T-Dog, Glenn, and Rick went after Daryl, leaving Shane at his spot.
XXXXXX
As Daryl moved through the woods, his cross bow was up and ready. He was aware that the other men were walking behind him but he didn't give a fuck about them. He needed to find her. He needed to see it with his own eyes. He would search the woods for her until he found her. There was no way he could let his mate and his baby roam around like the rest of the dead. He'd put her down then bury her alone. He would go back to camp and leave. That was it, he was going alone. He was done losing people.
" Daryl, we need to talk about this." Rick said.
" Ain't nothin to talk about. I'm goin to get her. Should have never let her go with that mother fucker." Daryl muttered as they hurried.
" It doesn't make sense. Walkers aren't quiet in the woods. How did Shane not hear it?" T-Dog asked.
" What if he lied?" Glenn asked.
" Will ya'll shut the fuck up?" Daryl snarled.
For an hour they walked quietly. When they came upon the thyme patch, there was a small spattering of blood on the ground. Sickness rushed up into Daryl's throat. Rick laid his hand on Daryl's shoulder but he shook it off and moved away. The other men lowered their weapons. Glenn dropped his head. T-Dog rubbed the back of his neck. Rick stood up with hands on his hips. They had all held out some hope that Shane had been wrong.
" Layla!" Daryl suddenly started screaming into the woods.
His hands were in fists at his sides while he yelled for her over and over again. None of the men tried to stop him. Glenn and T-Dog looked at him with pity in their eyes. Daryl stomped around the thyme field, screaming and yelling. He moved to the woods and crouched down. He was breathing hard as his eyes stung with tears he hadn't let out since he lost Merle. This lost was hitting him harder though. He pushed his palms into his eyes and rubbed them. Why had he waited so long to bond with her? Why had he wasted all that time?
A rustling in the brush pulled his attention up. The men tensed as a whole. Slowly Daryl stood up and brought his cross bow up. Something was coming towards them. It was moving slow as it shuffled through the woods. A stab of fear shot through him. Could he shot her? If she came through the woods as a walker, with her pregnant stomach showing through her shirt, could he put an arrow through her head? His arms started to shake slightly.
Layla broke through and stopped dead in her tracks as the men all either held their breath or whined. The left side her arm and chest was covered in blood. The hair on that side of her head was matted with blood. Her eyes were half closed and she was weaving on her legs. Her arms were hanging loosely at her sides.
" Shane said it torn into her throat." Glenn whispered to T-Dog. " Her throat is fine." Layla blinked and looked down Daryl's cross bow and right into his eyes.
' This is it.' Daryl thought. His arms were shaking slightly. He couldn't do it, he realised. He couldn't shoot her in the head. Daryl was done. He was done losing people. He was done caring about people only to lose them. He would never open himself up again...then Layla took a short breath and closed her eyes.
" Walkers don't breath." T-Dog said.
" Daryl." She whispered. He dropped his arms. She wasn't dead. She wasn't a walker. " Shane hit me." Rick rushed forward when he realized Daryl was frozen to his spot. As he reached her, Layla's legs gave out. He caught her before she hit the ground. Glenn and T-Dog came forward, pushing pass Daryl. Rick wrapped her up in his arms.
" What happen?" He asked.
" Shane. He said I had to die to protect the group. He said the baby would bring walkers to the group and was just another mouth to feed." She said slowly. Daryl shook his head.
" Shane hit you?" He asked. She whined as she nodded. Rick looked at Glenn who was at her other side.
" Take her." He said softly. Carefully they transferred Layla from Rick's arms to Glenn's. Rick stood up and walked over to Daryl. " Calm down, man." He said lowly. Daryl's biceps were tightening as he flexed his muscles in anger.
" He hit her, left her here to die and lied about it." Daryl said through gritted teeth.
" He lied about it and she's here, in front of you, alive. Go to her. We need to get her back to Hershel and let him look at her. He needs to check the baby over." Daryl looked pass Rick to Layla as she lay in Glenn's arms. " Go touch her." Daryl looked back at Rick. " Touch her, touch the baby, you will feel better." Daryl frowned but started to move slowly to her. He came down on his knees beside her. " Give her to Daryl." Rick ordered Glenn.
Daryl's right arm slipped under her knees as Glenn pulled his arm away. His left arm went under her shoulders to replace Glenn's. Glenn and T-Dog stood up. They made their way to Rick to give Daryl and Layla some privacy. Daryl was staring down at her. He pulled her into his lap then moved his arm out from her knees. He placed his hand on top of her stomach. He shook her stomach carefully as he held his breath. A few tense seconds went by before the baby pushed against him. Daryl pulled her into him and dipped his head down with his eyes closed. He squeezed her stomach.
" Baby's movin." He whispered.
" I don't feel good." She whispered back.
" Gonna take you to Hershel now. I'm gonna pick you up and get you help." Daryl whispered. They opened their eyes and looked at each other at the same time.
" Save the baby. No matter what happens to me ever, promise me you will always save the baby." Layla pleaded. Daryl swallowed but nodded. He couldn't save the baby, not right then. Hershel told him the baby won't live outside of Layla at the age it was at. So that meant he had to bust his ass to get her help.
" Hold on." He put his arm back under her knees before he rose up. He turned around and glared at them men. " We get back, you get the mother fucker and lock his ass up then let me deal with him."
" Let's just worry about Layla and the baby right now." Rick said. This couldn't, and won't, go unhandled. Rick knew what had to be done with his ex-best friend. He just hoped he had it in him to do it.
" When he sees us coming back with her, won't he bolt?" T-Dog asked.