Rose bit her lip, her hands gripping the sides of the table as she felt Daryl's hands moving up her sides, warm and rough, just like she remembered them. It had been so long since they were together, since she could feel his breath on the back of her neck, hear his steady breathing in her ear. She missed it, the only touch she missed so much.
She let out a surprised gasp when his hands gripped her sides tighter, pushing his body against hers, pulling her shirt from her as his lips found her neck, sucking, nipping, licking all those spots that drove her wild, and coaxed moans from her mouth easily, her not even trying to hold back now. "God Daryl," She breathed out, feeling his hands slipping under her skirt as he pulled her underwear down, one of his hands on her hip while the other one tangled into her hair, pulling her head back just a bit so he could feel his scruff against her cheek as he nibbled at her ear, "You're mine now." Her eyes widened when she heard the governor's voice, and she let out a scream when her head was slammed down against the table.
Rose sat up with a gasp, her eyes wide as she clutched her chest, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked around, hearing snores around her. It was a dream, it was just a dream. She told herself her eyes closing as a few traitorous tears slipped out, her hand moving to her mouth to keep herself from sobbing. She jumped just a bit when she felt a hand run up her back, and she heard Daryl's soft hum, shushing her gently as he sat up, his lips finding her shoulder.
"S'alright," He murmured against her skin, pulling her into his side as she nods, leaning her head against his chest, "S'alright Rose." He whispered, stroking her hair gently with his hand, trying to coax her back to sleep. It had been like that all night, she'd drift off for a while before she was plagued with nightmares from her time in Woodbury.
But Daryl was there with her, keeping her calm through it all, and acting like a rock, him and Jamie being the only things holding her together right now.
"I'm sorry Daryl," She whispered as she laid her head in his lap, Daryl telling her not to be as she stared off at the sun rising, Merle and Jamie's snores filling the air, "I wish… I wish I could just dream about you without him ruining it." She whimpered, and Daryl frowned a little, stroking her hair.
Daryl wished he knew what to say to her, what to do to help her, but there wasn't anything, they just had to wait it out, he had to be strong for her, and they had to wait until this was in the past. The sound of yawning caught both of their attentions now, and Rose sat up slowly, wiping at her eyes as Daryl looked back, watching as Merle stretched his arms over his head, his good hand going down to scratch at his stomach, looking at the two.
"What are ya'll gawking at?" He asked loudly, Daryl glaring at him as Jamie stirred now, and Merle looked at the girl, "Well, looks like we're all up, time to get movin'."
҉
Logan was sitting at the picnic table in the cell block, a clipboard in hand as he wrote down the list of all the medical supplies he had left, his lips pursed in concentration before he let out a soft sigh, using the cap of the pen to scratch the back of his neck. They were running low on supplies, and he'd typically discuss with it Rick, but the man was out in the field. They'd returned, and Rick went berserk on the group that they had rescued, and forced them to leave. Logan had given them a little of their supplies to tie them over until they found a safe place, but he couldn't help but worry about them… Rick really didn't leave a good impression on them either.
"Hey you," Logan turned his head, smiling as Johanna placed her hands on his shoulders, squeezing gently as she bent down to press a chaste kiss to his lips, "How are we doing?" She asked, wrapping her arms around his neck as she leaned into him, Logan sighing again as he set the clipboard down shrugging.
"Not to good," He mutters, "We're low on antibiotics, we've only got about five syringes left, no medical tape, and the only thing we have to sterilize the surgical kits is the stash of Wild Turkey Daryl had hidden."
Johanna laughed just a bit at Logan's attempt to lighten the mood, but frowned when she remembered that Daryl was no longer with them, nor was Rose, or Jamie. "We'll go on a town run soon," She murmured, moving to sit by him on the bench, placing her hand on his knee, "There was that small clinic not to far from here, maybe they have some supplies."
Logan nods slowly, "Maybe." He echoed, looking around the room now, everyone was still a bit down because of the new losses to the group; Rose and Daryl really were a big part of the group's stability, and not having Jamie running around, cheering up everyone definitely made the prison feel even more depressing.
"Things will get better baby," Logan looked back at Johanna as she moved her hand to the back of his neck, pulling at his hair a little, "Sure, right now… things are pretty rough, but things will look up." Johanna smiled sadly, and Logan nods.
"Daryl is the only reason we're here," He murmured, "I just… I feel a little bad we weren't there to convince him to stay."
Johanna nods, she felt the same way… in fact, since Rick returned she couldn't help but feel a little angry at the fearless leader for not trying harder to get him to stay… She had heard about what Merle had done… but Daryl was important… he was so important to the group. She sighed, "There was nothing we could have done."
Logan closed his eyes, she was right, of course she was right, "I'm sure they're doing just fine," Johanna murmured, leaning her head against Logan's shoulder, "It's Daryl and Rose after all, what could possibly happen to them?"
҉
"Man, ain't nothing out here but mosquitoes and ants," Rose slapped her arm as Daryl spoke, successfully killing the flying bug that was trying to make a meal out of her, glaring over at Merle, who was busy relieving himself on a tree, Jamie's back to him, the young blonde glaring at the woods ahead of her.
"Patience little brother, sooner or late squirrel's bound to scurry across your path." Rose rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked over to Daryl, who was scanning the forest.
"Yeah well even so it ain't much food,"
"Eh, more than nothing."
Rose really wanted to punch Merle in the back of his head, more than nothing, sure it was more than nothing but it wasn't enough to feed all damn four of them.
"We'd have better luck looking through those houses we passed on the turn off,"
"At least one of the Dixon brothers has brains," Rose turned to look at Jamie as the little girl spoke, her eyebrow raised as she took in her daughter's snarky comment, that only she and Daryl heard.
"Yeah, is that what your new friends taught you? Hmm?" Rose turned to look at Merle, watching as he looked to his brother as he fastened his pants back up, mocking his brother. "How to loot for booty?" Merle chuckled, looking over at Rose, "Which you did pretty damn well in that department."
Rose rolled her eyes, turning away from Merle, "Man, we've been at it for hours." Daryl sighed, ignoring his brother's perverted comment on Rose, "Why don't we try to find a stream, try our luck with some fish?"
Rose really didn't understand what the dramatic change in attitude was with Daryl, she knew that Merle had always had an a way of getting to him, Daryl had told her that much, but this… passive aggressive attitude he was holding wasn't something she understood, "I think you're just trying to lead me back to the road man, get me over to that prison."
Jamie sighed, "It be safer than being stuck out here in the stupid woods." She grumbled, kicking some of the forest brush up towards Merle, who was knelt down beside the girls turning to them.
"For you maybe," Merle said to her, Jamie pouting as she turned away from him again, "Ain't gonna be no damn party for me,"
Rose placed a hand on Jamie's shoulder as Merle stood up, Rose knowing perfectly well what Jamie was wanting to say to Daryl's brother right then and there, "You'd get used to each other," Rose watched as Daryl continued to mess around with his crossbow, speaking to Merle, but not really looking at him or acknowledging him, almost like he was afraid to.
"They're all dead," Rose looked to Merle as he spoke, "Makes no difference."
"How can you be so sure?" Rose felt Jamie tense up just a bit as she listened intently on what Merle said next, the little girl becoming angrier by the second.
"Right about now, he's probably hosting a house warming party." Rose winced, she knew who he meant, the Governor, he was going to attack the prison; he probably already did, "Where he's going to bury what's left of your pals." Rose closed her eyes now, Jamie pulling from her hold, "Let's hook some fish."
"You're an asshole." Jamie shouted at Merle, and Rose eyes snapped opening watching as her daughter pushed passed Merle, and Daryl both, trotting ahead of them, and she let out a sigh.
"God damn it Merle," She grumbled, "Jamie, Jamie honey wait up." Daryl stood back as he watched the girls walk ahead, Merle chuckling to himself.
"Come on," He said, and followed after Rose and Jamie, Daryl standing there for a moment before following after them.
"Jamie, Jamie, honey do not run off like that." Rose said, catching her daughter by her elbow, the little girl jerking from her hold.
"Mr. Merle is a liar," She said angrily, "How could he say that about them? They would never get killed, never… we… we should go back momma, we should make sure they're okay."
Rose bit her lip, "We can't baby, we gotta stay with Daryl." Jamie shook her head, her hands balling up into fists.
"Daryl can come to! Momma, you can convince him! You can always make Daryl do things he don't wanna do. You're you! You could even get Merle to shut his big dumb mouth I bet!" Jamie was obviously tired, and when she was tired, she got cranky, and she didn't try to be the polite little girl Rose had raised, a lot like Rose herself. But Rose couldn't do any of that, she didn't want to… she didn't have the will to try and sway Daryl back to the prison, and what kind of person would she even be if she tried to get him to go against his family?
"No honey," Rose murmured shaking her head again, "Merle is Daryl's brother, and Merle doesn't belong in that prison, he did too much harm." She didn't know how to explain it where her daughter would understand, a PG version of the situation, "We'll just have to struggle through this honey, we've done it before, we can do it again."
Jamie crossed her arms over her chest, "I don't want to do it again… I want to be with the group, with Beth and Joey, with Carl," Jamie was starting to choke up, and Rose turned her head, "I don't wanna move around anymore momma… I want this all to be over. I want to go home! I wanna go home, and I want nana back, and granpa." Jamie rubbed at her eyes, the tears spilling out now, and Rose knelt down in front of her, her hands going to her daughter's arms as she pulled her to her chest.
"I know baby, I know." Rose didn't fight back her tears now as Jamie began to sob into her chest, stilling mumbling about going home, about their family they lost.
Rose stood outside of the big wrap around porch, glancing back at the boarded up front door every now and again. They had been attacked by the time Rose got there, her father was bit, and her mother was in shock… and now they were busy trying to get all their supplies together, ready to make their way to Atlanta, but her father wasn't doing very well… In fact, Rose was afraid he was going to turn into one of those things. She knew how infections spread, and he was bit, so as far as she knew he was no infected… but she just didn't have the heart to give up on him, not yet.
"I thought you quit that," Rose jumped just a bit at the sound of her mother's voice, and she turned, watching as she wiped her bloodied hands onto the floral apron she wore, smiling sadly at her.
"Thought I deserved one," Rose mumbled, taking another drag from her cigarette as her mother walked down the steps towards her.
"Still kills you," Julie said, taking the cigarette from her hand, and took a drag for herself, Rose snorting.
"Thought you quit?"
Rose's mother smiled, her blue eyes sparking, "I know I deserve one," She chuckled, and Rose laughed, leaning her head on her mother's shoulder as she sighed, taking the cigarette back.
"Maybe this will all be over tomorrow," Rose murmured, relaxing some when her mother's arm wrapped around her waist, "The military will release some cure through the air, and all those… things will die, and all the infected will be cured." She glanced over at her mother as the woman sighed.
"Maybe Rosemarie, maybe… or maybe this is God punishing us," Rose groaned, "Or maybe it's just damn bad luck." Julie elbowed her in the ribs, Rose rolling her eyes as she threw the cigarette on the ground, looking over at her mom as he woman smiled, "But it ain't nothing to be giving up about."
Rose opened her mouth, and her mother held up a finger, shutting her up instantly, "I know that face Rose, I've seen it on you so many times baby… When you didn't think you'd be able to overcome your addiction, when you were afraid you would be a horrible mother, " Rose frowns as she looks away, her mother grabbing her chin, making her look back, that damn finger still pointed at her, "You are a Waters, we don't give up, we overcome, we thrive, and we will get through this." She said, and slapped her daughter on the face gently, but still hard enough to leave a sting, making Rose wince.
"Ow Mom," She groaned rubbing at her cheek as her mother nodded.
"Damn right ow, now snap out of it or next time I'll-,"
Her mother was cut off by the sound of Jamie screaming, Rose and Julie both looking at each other for a moment before running into the house.
"Jamie! Jamie! Baby?!" Rose shouted for her, running up the stairs, her eyes going wide at the sight of her father, who had been asleep on the bed only a few moments ago, was now pounding at the wooden door to the closet, leaving bloody hand marks as he tried to get to the crying girl behind the door.
"James, oh God please no." Rose heard her mother's cries from behind her, her father slowly turning to look at them now, his once green lively eyes cloudy and dead, as he let out an animal like noise.
Her father came towards her now, and Rose shouted to Jamie not to leave the closet as she quickly moved back, pushing her mother back with her as she pulled the gun from her pants, pointing it at her father as he hobbled towards her.
"Daddy, daddy please stop, listen to me." She cried, pushing the man back with all her strength making him fall down, and her mother held onto her wrist.
"Baby no, he might.. He might still be in there, maybe we can just talk him through it, get him to come back to us." Her mother cried, and Rose shook her head, the tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Daddy," Rose sobbed as she watched the man try to pick himself up off the floor, growling and groaning, reaching out for her as she kept her mother back, "Please… daddy, don't make me do this."
It was too late, Rose knew, she could tell her father was gone, he wasn't there anymore… he was dead and whatever this thing was in front of her wanted nothing but to hurt her. She let out another sob as she leveled her gun with his head, "I'm so sorry." She cried, her hands trembling as her finger tightened on the trigger, her eyes squeezed shut as the gun went off, and her father's body fell with a thump to the ground.
"Rosie," Rose felt Daryl's hand on her shoulder, and she looked up, "Come on, we're moving, I can carry Jamie for a while." He murmured, Rose pulling back as Jamie moved so Daryl could pick her up, grabbing onto Rose's hand to help her to her feet as Merle sighed.
"Come on you four, we ain't got all day."
҉
Rose was stumbling over her own feet now, her entire body sore from how long they had been walking through the woods, being eaten alive by all the damn mosquitoes in Georgia it seemed. She tuned in and out of the conversation Daryl and Merle were having, trying to guess what river or creek they were approaching. Jamie seemed to be even throwing in some meaningless rambles, and Rose wondered if she was either trying to distract herself, or if she really just enjoyed being mean to Merle right now… either were possible.
When the men stopped, Rose stumbled into Daryl, who quickly grabbed her by her elbow to keep her from falling, shushing her as he listened to something that she hadn't noticed before. A baby crying.
"That's a baby," Rose looked over to Daryl, swallowing a little as she worried about the crying infant, looking over to Merle, who scoffed.
"That there is the sound of coons making love sweet love," Rose let out a sigh as Merle's remark, placing her hand over Jamie's eyes as the man made crude gestures, Daryl rolling his eyes as he took a hold of Rose's hand, "Yah know what I mean?" Merle chuckled as Daryl dragged Rose and Jamie away, heading towards the sound of the baby crying.
Rose eye's widened when they came out of the woods into a clearing of water, the bridge over top of it full of walkers, and a few survivors trying to fight them off, spouting out Spanish to one another, the infant's crying loud and clear as day now, Daryl letting go of her hand.
"Hey, jump!" Merle shouted, and Rose slapped the man in the stomach, sending him a dirty look.
"Shut it Merle," She said shaking her head as she looked back up at the bridge, Jamie holding onto her hand tighter as Merle laughed.
"We gotta help them," Jamie said, following after Daryl who was making his way towards the bridge.
"Huh?" Merle asked, following after Jamie and Daryl, Rose giving one last look at the bridge before following in toe, "Why? Hey, man, I ain't wasting my bullets for a couple of strangers who ain't ever cooked me a meal, that's my policy."
Rose sighed, quickly pulling her bag off of her back, as she reached in for the little pistol, "Jamie, Jamie baby." Rose managed to catch up to her daughter, Merle and Daryl running on a head, "Here baby." Rose said as she quickly checked the gun's ammunition, before popping it back in place, and handing it to her daughter carefully, "Only use it if one gets to close baby okay?" She said, Jamie nodding as she took the gun, and Rose pulled her own gun from the side of her pants, the two girls hurrying to catch up to Daryl and Merle.
Rose moved ahead of Jamie, letting out a nervous breath as she took in all the walkers surround the cars on the bridge, Daryl ahead of them, taking out as many as he could as Merle stood on the sidelines, "Move your fucking ass Merle!" She shouted at him, dropping her bag, before grabbing Jamie's waist, and helped her move to get on top of one of the cars, "Baby stay up here, aim for the heads alright?" Jamie nods, and Rose quickly moves ahead, managing to get one of the walkers banging against the car door the crying infant was in right in the back of the head.
"No se preocupe, estamos aqui para ayudar!" Rose shouted out in the little bit of Spanish she knew, noting how the other survivors seemed to understand her.
"Gracias, Gracias!" The man standing beside either his son or brother said, and Rose aimed for the walkers after them, taking one of them out as Daryl got the other, Rose aimed at the walkers that were heading towards them across the bridge as Daryl killed the remaining walkers around the car, Jamie taking a few out ahead of them, the little girl shouting in joy on top of the old car whenever she got one.
"Daryl, I gotcha," Merle shouted, and Rose glanced back at him, about time she thought to herself shaking her head as she went back to taking out the rest of the walkers.
Rose lowered her gun once all the walkers were gone, and walked over to the man, giving him a small smile, "Su familia esta a salvo." She said, placing a hand on his shoulder, the man thanking her again before being distracted by whatever Merle was doing.
Rose turned to him, her eyes wide a he pointed the gun at the man, "MERLE WHAT THE HELL!" She shouted, walking over to him, getting in front of the man, "What are you doing? These people were just attacked!"
"Let 'em go," Rose glanced over at Daryl, who was glaring at his own brother now.
"Lo siento mucho," Rose said, turning to the man as Daryl simply stared down his brother, "Queremos decir nada malo."
"The least they can do is give us an enchilada or something," Merle murmured as he lowered the gun, and began to rummage through the man's car.
"Merle, stop," Rose moved towards him, looking over at Daryl as he rounded the car now, "Jamie honey, come here!" Rose shouted, looking back over to Jamie, her daughter nodding as she slid off the car, and ran over to her.
"Stop it Merle!" Jamie shouted, stopping beside her mother, "Las nachos," Jamie said as she turned to the man, Rose wincing as she shook her head, placing her hand on her daughter's head.
"Triste," Rose mumbled, turning back to Merle, watching s Daryl pointed his crossbow at his back.
"Get out of the car,"
"I know you're not talking to me brother," Rose glared at Merle, looking over to Daryl as he told the family to get out of there.
"Meterese en el coche e ir." Rose translated for him, gesturing to the vehicle as she took a step back with Jamie.
"Go, get in your car!" Daryl shouted again, and the men listened, Merle looking back at Daryl, before moving away from the door, Daryl with his crossbow pointed directly at Merle's face, not dropping it. The car reversed, Rose making a face as it ran over a walker's head, before speeding away and Merle gently pushed at Daryl's crossbow, and he dropped it, the brother's glaring at each other still. Daryl walked away now, and Rose gestured for Jamie to follow Merle turning to look at her.
"What," He snapped at her, and Rose narrowed her eyes before doing the first thing that came to mind, and punched him as hard as she could in the jaw, making him stumble back.
"Asshole," She spat out, before storming after Daryl and Jamie, who only stopped to look at the punch for a moment, Daryl handing her, her bag as the three headed back into the woods.
Rose walked alongside Daryl, glancing over at him every now and again. He was angry, his jaw was clenched, and he was walking very fast, so fast Jamie was having a hard time keeping up with them.
"Daryl calm down," She murmured, gently grabbing onto his hand, noticing how he flinched a little, as he looked over at her for a second, "Don't get to worked up." She said, giving him a look and he nods.
"You punched him," He states, and Rose nods.
"Yeah," She said, holding up her hand, flexing her fingers, "Hurt a lot more than I expected it to." She chuckled, and Daryl shook his head, fighting back a smile as he took her hand, and brought it up to his lips.
"Nice to hear you're laugh," He said, and Rose gives him a weak smile, going to speak, but was interrupted by Merle.
"The shit you do pointing that thing at me," Merle asked angrily from behind them, Daryl walking along still, Rose falling back some to get with Jamie.
"They were scared man," Daryl said, Rose nodding.
"Big ol' red neck like you comes barging into their car, I'd be a little scared to." She says with a small shrug, Jamie giggling by her side.
"They were rude is what they were," Rose scoffed, shaking her head, "Rude and they owed as a token of gratitude."
"They didn't owe us nothing,"
"Yeah, you helpin' people out from the goodness of your heart, even though you might die doing it, is that something your sheriff friend Rick taught you?" Merle asked, and Daryl turned around.
"There was a baby!" Daryl shouted, and Rose placing her hand on Jamie's shoulder to keep her from getting into their argument.
"Oh, or otherwise you would have just left them to the biters then?"
Rose bit her lip, moving her hand to the back of Jamie's head as she pulled her daughter closer, watching the Dixon brothers carefully.
"Man I went back for you, you weren't there," Daryl shouted, pointing his arrow at Merle, "I didn't cut off your hand neither, you did that, way before they locked you up on that roof, you asked for it." Daryl said, and Merle shook his head, laughing a bit.
"You know, you know what's funny to me? Hmm? You and Sheriff Rick, you're like this now, right?" Merle said, his fingers crossed together as he looked over at Rose, "You and your sheriff, and your girl here," Merle turned back to Darly,"I betchu a penny and a fiddle of gold that you never told him that we were planning on robbing that camp blind." Rose heard Jamie let out a little gasp, and Rose sighed shaking her head as Daryl looked over at him, giving him a small nod.
"It didn't happen," He almost growled out, and Merle nods.
"Yeah, it didn't, cause I wasn't there to help you."
"Like when were kids? Huh? Who left who then?"
Rose felt her heart ache at that, she could see how much that hurt Daryl, Merle leaving him as kids. He didn't talk much about it, but he had opened up every now and again, and told her enough to understand exactly what he meant, and how angry that seemed to make Merle.
"WHAT? HUH? IS THAT WHY I LOST MY HAND?"
"You lost your hand cause you're a simple minded piece of shit!" Daryl shouted back at him, turning to walk away and Rose followed after them
"Yeah you don't know!", Merle yelled, Rose yelling at Merle when he grabbed onto Daryl's shirt, trying to pull him back, and causing his shirt to rip, making him fall, revealing all his scars his father had caused him. Jamie ran over to Daryl's aid as he tried to fix his shirt, embarrassed, pulling away from Merle, the two men both breathing heavily as Merle stared at the scars on his brother's back.
"I-I didn't know he was-,"
"Yeah he did, he did the same to you, that's why you left first." Daryl interrupted, gathering his things back up, putting his bag back on as Jamie handed him his arrows, and the other few items he dropped, Rose going over to stand beside them.
"I had to man, I would have killed him otherwise." He said, Daryl grabbing Jamie's hand as he stood, nodding for Rose to follow him as he headed away from his brother, "Where are you going?!" Merle shouted, and Daryl stopped turning back to look at his brother.
"Back where I belong," He said looking over at Rose, "Where my girls belong!" He said, "They don't need to be out here, not now, not after what happened." Daryl looked back to Merle, "What you let happen." Rose closed her eyes, shaking her head as Merle became quiet
"I can't go with you," Merle said, "I… I tried to kill that black bitch," Rose glared at Merle, shaking her head, "Damn near killed the Chinese kid."
"He's Korean!"
"Whatever," Rose placed her hand over her mouth, closing her eyes as Jamie gripped onto her shirt, "Doesn't matter man, I just can't go with you. "
Rose looked over to Daryl, seeing him thinking about it for a moment, "You know, I may be the one walking away, but you're the one that's leaving, again."
Daryl took Jamie's hand, and headed back towards the prison, Rose looking over at Merle before following after Daryl, her hand going to the back of his neck as they walked, leaning her head against him, not really knowing what to say to him.
"Merle stopped it," Rose murmured suddenly, Daryl turning his head a bit to look at her, "He… he came in before the Governor was able to…" She trailed off shaking her head as she remembered, "But he stopped him, and he tried to save me still."
Daryl nods slowly, biting his lip, "Bastard's trailing behind us right now." Daryl muttered, Rose glancing back, before stopping when Daryl moved to pick up Jamie, "Don't know what I'll say to convince the other's to let him stay."
Rose nods, smiling a little as Jamie wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling against his shoulder as she yawned, "I'm sure we can think of something." She smiled, giving him one last look before he nodded, and they began to walk again, Merle still trailing behind them.
҉
Logan gritted his teeth as he pushed one of the old concrete tables onto its side with Johanna's help, both of them had thought it be a good way to keep themselves safe once the governor attacked, and still give them room to fight back. But those damn tables were heavy as hell.
"How many more?" Logan groaned as he placed his hands his sides, leaning back to crack his back, Johanna laughing a little at his whiny voice as she wiped the sweat from her face.
"Three," Johanna smiled, walking over to the other table as Logan followed behind her sluggishly, "Come on, it's not that hard." She teased, Logan sending her a look as he grabbed onto the edge of the table.
"You try doing it by yourself then short stuff," He stated, and Johanna rolled her eyes, "Yeah exactly, you wouldn't be able to." He chuckled as the couple began to push the table over, Logan letting out an unflattering grunt as the table fell to the side, and he fell back on his ass, spreading his limbs out as far as they go as he groaned. "I'm done, let's take a break."
Johanna smiled shaking her head as she walked over to him, placing her hands on her hips. "You're being lazy," She accuses, and Logan shook his head, throwing his arm over his eyes to block out the sun as Johanna kicked at his shoe, before sighing, letting him have his little break.
Axel and Carol had been setting up defenses up on the bridge, but were now talking to each other while Carl and Beth stood a little bit away from them. Everyone seemed to be watching Rick and Hershel curiously; even Michonne who had been by the bus, guarding the front gate all day seemed very worried, and Johanna couldn't blame them. Rick had definitely lost it, and she wasn't sure what it was going to take to bring him back.
"Hey Joey, come look at this." Johanna turned, seeing Logan, who was now kneeling beside the concrete only a little away from where he had been lying, and she walked over, sighing sadly when she saw what he was looking at.
"Jamie's chalk drawings," Johanna mumbled as she crouched down beside him, looking at the fading pictures of the group, each member drawn out with their names scribbled under them, "She got you spot on." Johanna giggled pointing to the drawing of Logan that had legs longer than the rest of his body, and messy hair, "And me." She ran her fingers under the drawing of her, a short little figure next to Logan, and next them was Jamie with Rose, alongside Daryl and Ryder who had angry faces.
"Wonder when she did this," Logan murmured, resting back against his heels as Johanna stood up.
"Must've been a little before she went missing, we haven't had any rain as of lately so they're still here." Johanna crossed her arms over her chest, looking out into the field as Logan hummed, nodding his head, "Logan… Do you… Do you ever think about us having kids?"
Logan looked up from his spot on the ground, raising an eyebrow at Johanna as she looked back to him, "What?"
"Do you ever think maybe we could have kids," Johanna trailed off frowning some, "I.. With Lori… it was just… just a case of horrible and tragic timing." She closed her eyes, "If we, maybe if we are able to secure this prison even more, and deal with that Governor guy…" Johanna shook her head, "Never mind, I don't know what im saying."
Johanna turned to walk away, but Logan was up and grabbing onto her wrist before she could, and he pulled her back, smiling a little, "I think we could." He smiled, shrugging, "Not now… but once we're sure we're safe." He cupped her cheek in his hand, smiling more when she did, "We can finally get married too."
Johanna bit her lip as she nods, "Hershel could marry us," She smiled, and Logan laughed.
"One legged preacher, sounds like something straight out of the south." Johanna hit him playfully, and Logan laughed as he wrapped his arms around her neck, pressing his lips to her temple.
"Don't be mean," She laughed, her arms wrapping around his waist, "I just wi-,"
The sound of gun fire, and Carol's shouting interrupted her, and Logan quickly pulled her down the ground, the two scrambling for cover behind one of the concrete tables, Logan pulling his side arm out.
"What is going on!?" Johanna whispered, and Logan peeked over the edge of the table, being fired at as soon as he did and ducked back down.
"It has to be the Governor's men," He said shaking his head, "Hershel and Michonne are both trapped out in the field," Logan placed his arm over Johanna, moving a bit to check on the others, "Looks like Axel's dead, Carol looks okay, Beth and Carl are safe." He cursed, "I think Glenn's still gone." He moved back, pressing himself against the table, "There's a guy up in Rose's tower." He murmured, "He's got a bird's eye view on us all, do not move you understand?" Johanna nods, swallowing down the lump in her throat.
"What are we going to do?"
Logan shook his head slowly, not knowing how to answer her as the gun fire ceased, and he turned slowly, looking over the top of the table again, hearing Maggie calling to Beth, and spotted her running out with some guns, "Come on, we gotta run, now." Logan grabbed Johanna's hand, "Stay low." He ordered as the two sprinted towards Maggie, being shot at a few times before they reached her, both safe.
"Hershel's out in the field," Logan said quickly as he grabbed the gun she handed to her, "Michonne too, and Rick's still on the other side of the fence." Logan told her, "Jo, stay here with Beth and Carl, I'm going to try and take that bastard out." He said, Johanna nodding as she quickly kissed him, watching as he ran, dodging the bullets being shot at him before ducking down behind one of the concrete tables on the far side of the prison, aiming for the person in the watch tower.
The gunfire ceased again once Maggie and Logan had managed to get the gunner in the tower down, and Johanna's eyebrow's creased together in confusion, hearing the sound of an engine revving in the distance before a van crashed through the gates, almost hitting Michonne in the process before slamming to a stop, and letting dozens of walkers out of the back of it.
"Shit," Johanna shook her head as she quickly moved towards the gate leading out into the field, the grass was tall, and she was short, she'd easily be able to hide from the gunners to get to Hershel in time, before he was found by the walkers. She quickly shouted for Beth and Carl to stay put as she squeezed through the opening in the gate, and sprinted towards Hershel, a few shots being fired at her, all missing. She fired away at the walkers near her, successfully getting them down as she spotted Hershel.
"Are you alright?" She asked quickly as she reached him, grabbing onto his hand to help him up, spotting Michonne making her way towards them, hearing the sound of another engine in the distance, spotting Rose's old truck that Glenn was using, "Glenn's on his way, come on."
Johanna said, helping Hershel stand, trying to support the one-legged old man through the rugged terrain back to the safety of the prison. Johanna heard Michonne scream out a warning, but was too distracted trying to get Hershel to safety - she could save him, she knew she could. The growls and moans that were alarmingly close to her brought her out of the blind resolution, and she turned around, ready to stab whatever was behind them - but it was too little, too late. The very undead fingers of Ryder wrapped around her arm, and his teeth sank into her arm. Johanna let out a shrill scream, her eyes welling up with tears as she felt every strand of flesh being tugged out of her arm as Ryder tugged at her arm. The sight before her was so surreal, but she managed to tug her arm out of his weak hold, falling back in the process. Weak sobs and breathless whimpers left her lips as she glanced back at Hershel, only he was nowhere to be found. She kicked back against the dirt as Ryder moved forth, his eyes fixed on her arm and the very open wound in them. Johanna, on the other hand, didn't look at it. She was going to die, but she wasn't going to die eaten, and she sure as hell wasn't going to become one of these things. She scrambled on her feel, tumbling weakly, falling to her knees before she went up again on wobbly feet. She let out a weak scream when someone's arm snagged around her waist, and pulled her back into the truck. Johanna burst into breathless sobs, her arm growing numb from blood loss. "I'm bit..I-He bit me..I'm bit, Glenn.." She gasped between sobs, and Glenn's eyes fell to her arm, before she cursed under his breath, "We'll fix this." He said in a desperate attempt of solace, and his eyes turned desperately to the old man, who cut the sleeve of his shirt to tie it above her elbow. Johanna stared at him with confused and rather tired hazel hues, before she looked down at the open wound again, "I don't want to become like them.." She whispered weakly as she looked up at Hershel again, then her eyes flickered to his amputated leg - and just like that she felt like she was going to hurl.
Logan managed to get Maggie to safety, but his mind never shook the image of Johanna running off into the fields to get Hershel. He'd seen Glenn close by, and had to tear himself away from the gunman on the tower shot them down. Now though, he was frantically searching everyone who made their way in – looking for Hershel, Glenn, and most importantly, Johanna. "Where are they?!" He demanded to Maggie who too was pacing around nervously.
When the gate doors where open though, Logan froze. Glenn walked in; in his arms he carried Johanna- who looked even paler than her usual self. One arm draped over her stomach and the other dangled down by her side, and Logan's eyes traced down to the blood that dripped to the ground from the wound in her arm. "No.." He shook his head, feeling someone just punched him in the gut. He drowned everything, until Maggie slapped the back of his head, "Snap out of it! You need to help her!" She told him sternly, and when he glanced around, they were nowhere to be found.
"H-help her?" Logan asked, his voice weak, "She's going to die..." Logan gasped, and he could feel his heart start racing. Maggie grabbed his arm, "Daddy's gonna cut her arm. You need to help her." Maggie explained, and he could hear the tears in her voice. Logan followed after Maggie, tripping over his feet before they finally reached the empty cell. Logan took a deep breath, his eyes falling onto Johanna's pale figure on the ground, a pillow underneath her head as Glenn scrambled around the room, "We need fire." Hershel muttered as he eased on the ground. Maggie had to push Logan in before he realized what he had to do. Quickly, he fell to his knees beside Johanna, and took her free, unharmed hand in his, "Baby I'm so sorry…" He whispered as he pressed his lips to her palm, stroking her hair out of her face. Her eyes flickered up to him weakly as she breathed heavily, "Are you…are you sure you want to do this? You don't have to do it for me…Are you sure?" Logan asked, because he would never live with himself if Johanna cut her own arm off just to save him the agony of losing her. Hershel stopped when he heard the question, and his eyes moved to Johanna's face again.
Johanna's gulped, then smiled, "I'm doing it for the kids." Johanna whispered weakly, and Logan laughed – it was weak, sad. He looked up at Hershel and nodded. The old man had a grim expression on his face as he raised the axe. Logan held Johanna's shoulders down, pressing his forehead against her chest. Maggie moved to hold her feet. Then the axe came down.
"I'm so, so sorry…" Logan sobbed as Johanna's scream echoed through the cell block. Everyone had fallen silent. Hershel stroke the axe down around three times before the infected limb was separated, and they weren't even sure if it'd work. Logan stroked her cheeks as Johanna's passed out, the pain of it being too much. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He whispered as he stroked back her hair, kissed her forehead. "I'm here...I won't leave, I promise."
҉
The entire yard was full of walkers by the time Daryl, Rose, Merle and Jamie got to the prison. The Governor had attacked, and they had gotten their in just the nick of time to save Rick from being walker chow.
Rose was following close behind Rick, Merle, Jamie and Daryl, the Governor and his men had left, but not before leaving them a parting gift, a yard full of walkers, all over again. They'd be able to clear them out sure, but the damage was still done.
"Come on! Hurry up!" Merle's voice rung out as he cut through walker after walker, following Rick towards the gates where Glenn stood, and Rose was doing her best to keep up, they had almost reached safety, that is until she went to take out one of the walkers lingering around, and froze.
Rose stood three feet from a version of Ryder she had never wanted to face. He was her first love… her first heart break… the father of her child, and the man that died because of her, and now here he was, in the same tattered, blood stained clothes she saw him in last, fresh blood staining his teeth and around his mouth, and his green calloused eyes on her.
Daryl stopped once they were inside the gate, realizing now that Rose was no longer behind him and he turned, his eyes widening when he saw her.
"DADDY?" Jamie screamed at the sight of her father, and Daryl wrapped his arms around her, forcing her around so she wouldn't have to see him, the little girl sobbing now.
"God no," Glenn whispered as he leaned against the fence, Rick shouting for Rose, Daryl doing the same.
She heard Daryl calling to her from the side, Jamie in his arms, sobbing at the sight of her father, "Rosie, Rosie come on, let someone else take care of him… just come inside the fence." Daryl was being smart, the yard was full of walkers, sure the rest weren't as close as Ryder, but it wasn't safe.
"Rose, come on, we need you to help fix up Jo, we had to amputate her hand." Glenn called out to her, another reason for her to move, but she just couldn't, she couldn't will her feet to move… it was like seeing her mother in that state, her father… their once loving gaze turn to this… this hunger, their eyes blank, their voices gone… nothing left but an empty shell. Ryder was just a shell, he wasn't Ryder, Ryder was dead, he was dead because of her.
"Rosie," Daryl sounded desperate, and she heard the fence open up now just as the shell that was once Ryder approached her, and she gripped the knife in her hand tighter, "Rose, come on." She felt Daryl's hand wrap around her wrist, and she jerked herself away from him, letting out a strange sound that was a mix between a sob and a scream, flinging herself at the walker.
Daryl shouted out to her, his eyes going wide as he imagined her being bitten, but instead being greeted by the sound of her screams as she plunged the knife into the walker's skull, over and over again, her body on top of his, sobbing as she killed the walker, "Rose," Daryl whispered her name as he looked up, noticing the other walkers in the yard getting closer, Jamie sobbing from behind the gate, Rick holding her now, Carl and Glenn at his side, "Rose… baby, he's dead, he's dead." Daryl placed his hand on Rose's shoulder, stopping her movements, her breathing heavy as she let go of the knife that was stuck in Ryder's skull, pushing her bloody hair from her face as she held her arms out, looking at her soiled clothes, the blood splattered all over her, covering her face, her hands, her arms… Ryder's blood was all over her again.
"I'm sorry," Rose sobbed, her body slumping forward as she shook her head, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry Ryder, I'm sorry." She wailed, her hands going over her face, Ryder was there, he was forced to watch the Governor abuse her, he called out to her, trying to get the man to stop, trying with all his might to get free, and then he was shot… and he died, because she wasn't strong enough to fight back.
Daryl wrapped his arms tightly around Rose's waist, and pulled her away from Ryder's body, despite her protesting, and dragged her back within the safety of the gates, Rick quickly shutting it behind them, going to her side to try and help Daryl coax her from her hysteria.
"Rose," Rick's hand was holding her chin, keeping her from shaking her head as Daryl kept her from kicking and flailing, Jamie sitting on the ground not to far from them, "Rose calm down." Rick said his eyes pained and serious, "Johanna needs you right now Rose, Logan needs your help, or she might die."
Rose looked at him finally, her eyes glassy as she closed her eyes nodding, "Come one, we need to get inside." Rick pulled back, and Daryl let go of Rose, his hand on her arm still to keep her balanced.
"Come on," Glenn whispered, his hand on Rose's elbow, "Everything's alright now Rose." He whispered, he had been there too, he had heard everything that happened to her, to Maggie, to Ryder… and Rose closed her eyes as she remembered, "Let's go in."
Rose nods slowly, leaning into Daryl some, Glenn's hand moving to her back as Rick picked Jamie up, and carried her inside of the prison. Rose sill felt broken, but she could pull herself together, she had to, for her family's sake.
**So, finally, a new chapter. I'm so sorry this took so long guys! But school and social life is a bitch. But anyways, first off, I'd like to thank my wonderful and amazingly talented muse, Yasmin, for providing us with those last few Loanna scenes, I couldn't have gotten this chapter posted if it was for her, and secondly, I have a blog dedicated to this story! It's for all of you to keep in touch with me, since I have a knack for vanishing, the url is safeandsound-fanfic at tumblr, I'm sure all of you know how to reach it from there, if not send me a PM. I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Don't forget to review, and let Yasmin know how wonderful she is! Thank you all!