Chapter 25 - The Final Trip
The meeting that evening was the group's most serious yet. The topic of conversation - Emma. Everyone took a seat in Merle's living room, as per usual. The only person not in attendance was Daryl, who was on watch. The kids were upstairs. It wouldn't be like the last meeting, even if it did concern them. Rick and Shane stood in front of the group. Rick had his hands on his hips. Shane was leaned against the wall, arms folded over his chest. They were waiting for everyone to get settled before they got down to business. Emma sat on the floor, like usual. She looked up at Rick, whose eyes were already upon her. It was the first time Rick had ever looked at Emma that way. Even so, she recognized the emotion his face was conveying. Rick was disappointed in Emma. She tried to lie to herself and say that it didn't matter. Rick wasn't her father. He was her former employer and a friend. The truth was, though, it did matter to Emma that Rick was disappointed in her. She just wasn't sorry for what she had done.
"All right, everyone." Rick cleared his throat. "Let's get down to business."
"We're here tonight because...Emma broke one of our rules-"
"One." Carol snorted.
"I'm not going to say this again," Rick pointed at Carol, "you will have a chance to speak, but not right now. Now is the part where you listen."
Carol shut her mouth.
"...as we were saying, Emma broke one of our rules." Shane continued, pushing himself off the wall. "She took guns without our permission."
"I want to give everyone a chance to say something..."
The door suddenly flung open, getting everyone's attention immediately. Daryl stomped into the room, wearing a severe scowl. His rifle was slung over one shoulder, his crossbow at his back.
"Daryl-"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Daryl snapped, glaring at Rick and Shane. "Did you just think you could do this while I wasn't around? Didn't you think I might have something to say?"
"Daryl, you're supposed to be on watch." Shane pointed his finger at Daryl. "This is unacceptable."
"Send someone else." Daryl growled.
"Daryl-"
"Send someone else!" Daryl barked.
Emma slowly stood at the same time that Shane was pointing at Sam. Emma went to Daryl's side while Sam made his way over. Daryl took his rifle from his shoulder and held it out to Sam without taking his narrowed eyes off of Rick and Shane. Sam silently took the rifle and slipped out of the house to take over for Daryl.
"I can't believe ya'll tried to pull this-"
"Daryl." Emma murmured for his ears only as she wrapped her fingers around his wrist.
"Let's take a second to simmer down." Rick suggested, holding his hands out to everyone peacefully. "Why don't you two have a seat-"
"We're staying right here." Daryl interrupted, wrapping one arm around Emma's waist.
Rick sighed.
"Fine."
"Now, we're going to open up the floor for people to speak." Shane got everyone back on track before the back and forth could continue between Daryl and Rick. "Anyone?"
"This I gotta hear." Daryl scoffed, only quieting down when Emma's grip on his wrist tightened.
"Knock it off." Emma muttered, lifting her eyes to give him a glare of her own.
"Well, if nobody else is going to say anything, I will." Carol spoke up first. "After all, it was my daughter who was frightened today. It was my little girl that came running out of the woods in terror, screaming and crying for her mother."
Carol's voice was getting higher and higher as she spoke. Tears were already shining in her eyes. Mary and Ellen both patted her shoulder and her knee comfortingly. Emma could hear Daryl's eyes rolling. She didn't need to look up at him.
"What you did was despicable." Carol spat as viciously as she could muster. "You lied to me, to my face, about what you were doing with my daughter. I have let you take her out into those woods five times. Those are five different occasions that you could have gotten her injured or killed."
Carol wiped away her tears were quivering hands.
"That wasn't your decision to make!" Carol suddenly shrieked. "Sophia is my child! Mine!"
Carol couldn't speak anymore even if she wanted to. She was openly sobbing in front of everyone. Ellen pulled Carol into an embrace.
"...does anyone else have anything to say?" Rick asked softly.
"I couldn't agree with Carol more." Mary glared daggers at Emma. "We trusted you with our children. How could you just lie to our faces like that?"
"Do I get a chance to answer any of these questions?" Emma asked, letting go of Daryl.
"Of course." Rick replied.
"Yes, I lied to you about what I was doing with your kids." Emma admitted, turning towards the group. "If you want me to apologize to you, if you want me to fall to my knees weeping, begging for your forgiveness...I won't."
"You're horrible." Ellen spoke as she rubbed Carol's back.
"I'm not horrible." Emma argued. "I want your children to be safe. I want them to be able to protect themselves. How can they if they don't know how to?"
"They have us." Shane said, leaning back against the wall.
"For how long?" Emma asked. "Can you guarantee me, these mothers and Rick, that we will all be here tomorrow to protect these kids?"
"No, but-"
"Exactly." Emma interrupted Shane. "You can't."
"What if they accidentally shot each other?" Mary asked.
"For the first three lessons, none of those kids held a loaded weapon." Emma replied. "I taught them how to hold a rifle, how to use the sight, how to be safe. I didn't just put loaded rifles into their hands and say, 'here you go, figure it out'."
"Emma, you're lucky there wasn't an accident." Rick intervened before Mary could say anything else. "You were one adult watching three kids...plus two rifles? I don't like those odds."
"I don't like the odds of there being twenty of us and a town full of those hideous freaks." Emma snapped. "Those are the odds, though. That's what life has become."
Carol finally sat up, her sobbing more of a pathetic whimpering.
"We are trying to keep these kids innocent for as long as we can." Carol sniffed.
"Innocent?" Emma asked, throwing her arms out. "How innocent do you think these kids are? Carl's mother died in his own house when he was eleven. Todd lost his dad before all of this shit happened. Sophia and Anna both lost their dads to this awful illness-"
"Shut up!" Ellen screeched.
The reverend, who had remained silent up to that point, finally stood up from the sofa.
"I think this has gone on long enough." The reverend stepped over people to get to the front with Rick and Shane. "Listen to me. Nothing is going to be solved here by bickering back and forth like this."
"What do you suggest we do?" Shane asked.
"I don't agree with Emma lying to any of you, but her intentions were pure. Emma truly cares for all of us, especially for the younger ones, and she just wants what is best for everyone-"
"It isn't her decision to decide what's best for my child." Carol interrupted.
"You're right, but should we be cruel to Emma because she tried to do the right thing?"
"The right thing would have been to ask our permission."
"Would you have said yes?" Emma asked, looking from Carol to Mary to Rick. "Would any of you had said yes?"
Nobody spoke.
"That's what I thought." Emma mumbled.
"Please, everyone-"
"What are we going to do about this?" Carol asked. "I want to know what's going to be done."
"Hold on, Carol-"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Daryl asked, interrupting Rick.
"Daryl-"
"No, I want to know what the hell she meant by that."
"I'm trying to explain." Rick snapped, aggravated at having not gotten a word in edgewise in several minutes. "Emma broke a rule, so there needs to be some sort of consequence-"
"I would just as soon set fire to my entire property than let you do a goddamn thing to her." Daryl snarled, taking a threatening step towards Rick.
Shane quickly came away from the wall to be at Rick's side. The reverend stood in between Rick and Shane, and Emma and Daryl. Emma gently tugged on Daryl, but used a firmer grip when he continued standing toe to toe with Rick and Shane. Emma pulled him towards the door. The rest of the group was already talking amongst themselves. The reverend tried to calm everyone down.
"Listen to me." Emma lowered her voice as she spoke.
Emma reached up to hold Daryl's face between her hands. His eyes finally found hers.
"Daryl, listen to me." Emma murmured. "They aren't going to send me off the farm or hurt me. They're just going to punish me for breaking a rule. Okay?"
Daryl's wild eyes were tamed by Emma's soothing tone and her hands on his face.
"Let's hear what they have to say and get this over with."
Emma released Daryl.
"Is everybody better?" Emma asked, turning back towards the group.
"I think we all just needed a timeout." Rick said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"A lot has happened over the past few months." The reverend started to return to his seat since tempers were no longer flared. "Let's not forget who we are or how we should treat each other."
"Well said, Reverend." Shane gave the reverend a nod.
"Now, Shane and I have discussed the consequence for taking a gun without permission." Rick got down to business so that he could put the issue to bed. "Emma, you won't be permitted to use a gun at all for the next month. We'll be moving the guns to a new location since you obviously know where they are-"
"Actually-"
"Okay." Emma interrupted Daryl before he could reveal that he had given her the guns.
"Also, I know you volunteered to go into town with us in a few days, but we won't be taking you with us." Rick finished listing off Emma's punishments. "Does that sound fair?"
"Sure." Emma replied with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Fair?" Mary asked. "It doesn't sound like a punishment at all. You're basically saving her life."
"Mary, what do you suggest we do?" Rick asked, suddenly sounding angry.
Rick quickly pulled out the pistol at his hip. He lifted it and pointed it in Emma's direction. Daryl stepped protectively in front of Emma. He was about to reach for his crossbow, but Emma's hands stopped him. She saw that Rick's finger wasn't on the trigger. Meanwhile, everyone else gasped in shock and horror.
"Would it satisfy all of you if I shot her dead right now?" Rick snapped.
A pin dropping to the floor would have been audible as Rick slowly lowered his weapon.
"Well, since nobody can come up with a better solution, the previously mentioned punishments hold." Rick put his pistol away. "Now, this matter is finished. I don't want to hear another word about it."
Without a word, Rick stormed out of the house.
0o0o0
Daryl convinced Emma, without having to use words, to stay at his house that night. After all, the group had to know that there was something going on between them due to Daryl's behavior at the meeting. If the secret was out, there was nothing barring the couple from spending the night together.
Emma sat down on the edge of the bed to pull off her boots, then fell into Daryl's bed with a sigh.
"I still can't believe they tried to pull that shit without me being there." Daryl grumbled angrily as he stoked the fire already burning in the fireplace. "Rick and Shane had some nerve-"
"What's done is done." Emma interrupted Daryl quietly. "There's no sense in getting all worked up over it again."
Daryl turned his head to look at Emma, who was curled up on her side facing him.
"Come to bed." Emma murmured, patting Daryl's side of the bed.
Daryl complied after he stripped down to only his long underwear, which he unbuttoned down to the waist. He got into bed as he shrank out of the long sleeves and tied them around his waist. Daryl and Emma laid on their sides facing each other. The shadows cast by the flickering flames swayed across their faces.
"What happened today?" Daryl asked, propping himself up on an elbow.
"You mean with Sophia?" Emma asked, rubbing her cheek against the pillow under her head.
"Mhmm." Daryl nodded.
Emma sighed.
"Well, like I said at the meeting, for the first three lessons, none of the kids held a loaded weapon. I just had them practice holding the rifles and using the sights." Emma explained while Daryl used one hand to rub her arm. "On our fourth lesson, I showed the kids how to load the rifles. Carl and Todd were begging to try out shooting, just once. I gave in, let them do it once a piece. Of course, they weren't very good, but that's beside the point."
Daryl's hand drifted into Emma's hair. He gently tugged it free from the bun at the back of her head. Emma's curls tumbled down around her face and body. Daryl carefully arranged them so that they were off of her face.
"I decided to hold off on Sophia that day, but told her that the next time we went out, she was going to fire at least one round." Emma continued as Daryl played with her curls. "So, the fifth lesson was this afternoon. I had the boys both shoot once before I handed one of the rifles to Sophia. The boys were so encouraging, and so was I, so I thought she would be okay..."
"She wasn't, though." Daryl said.
"No." Emma shook her head. "She was so scared that when she pulled the trigger, the stock came untucked from her shoulder. It gave her quite a punch."
Emma closed her eyes.
"She started screaming bloody murder, then tore off towards the farm." Emma bit her lip and opened her eyes. "We tried to go after her, but she was way ahead of us. By the time we got back to the farm, everybody was already running towards Sophia and us. They had heard her screaming..."
Emma shook her head again.
"It was a disaster."
"Hey." Daryl's fingers glided down to Emma's chin. "You tried to do a good thing for them kids. If their parents can't see that, then they're damned fools."
"I don't care about all that." Emma replied. "I just feel bad for Carl and Todd. They were having fun, but more importantly, they were feeling less scared about the biters. Now..."
Daryl leaned in and captured Emma's lips for his own. She reached out and ran her hands up and down his chest as he kissed her, his free hand moving past her cheek and deep into her hair. Daryl's lips parted as he tried to deepen their kiss, but Emma pulled away.
"What is it?" Daryl asked.
"I just..." Emma was struggling for words that would express how she felt. "I don't know."
Daryl pulled his hand out of Emma's hair so that he could hold one of her hands in his.
"I know what it is...because I felt the same way before." Daryl murmured.
"What?" Emma asked.
"You don't trust me." Daryl replied as he caressed her palm with his thumb.
Emma wasn't sure if that's what the emptiness inside of her was. It sounded logical. Daryl slept with her and then abandoned her for months. Then, after she drugged his coffee to keep him from returning to town, he had abandoned her again. Emma didn't feel a sudden epiphany upon hearing Daryl's explanation for why she felt the way she did, but she decided that maybe he was right. Maybe she just didn't trust him yet.
"It's just going to take some time-"
"I know." Daryl interrupted softly.
Emma leaned in and gave Daryl a kiss.
"Thank you...for understanding..."
"I owe you a lot for all the chances you've given me."
Emma smiled before she rolled over to go to sleep. She didn't realize it right away, but the second she had turned away from Daryl, that smile on her face faded. Even when he scooted in close to her and wrapped one arm around her waist, the frown remained. Emma wanted to be with Daryl, she knew that for sure. She just couldn't identify what belonged in the empty space within her, and it was eating her up inside.
0o0o0
The next day, Emma decided that she needed to talk to Rick. She thought maybe that was why she was feeling so strangely. Emma was hopeful that once they hashed things out, and once she started to trust Daryl again, she would feel complete.
Emma skipped breakfast and instead waited for Rick to finish his. She knew he was set to take watch when he was finished. While he ate inside with Carol and the kids, Emma saddled and bridled Danny for him. She was waiting with his horse when Rick finally emerged from Merle's house. Rick paused on the porch when he saw Emma waiting for him.
"You didn't have to do that, Emma." Rick told her as he came down the steps.
"I know, but I wanted to." Emma replied, handing the reigns over to Rick. "I thought I could walk you to the gate so that we could talk-"
"There isn't anything for us to talk about." Rick interrupted. "Like I said last night, the matter has been taken care of. There don't need to be anymore discussions pertaining to what happened."
"Well, there are things that I want to say...if that matters." Emma bit back a little harsher than she meant to.
Rick lifted an eyebrow in surprise, but he nodded.
"All right."
Rick led the horse on foot while Emma walked on the other side.
"Do you remember when I told you that I've never been very maternal?" Emma asked.
"Yeah." Rick nodded.
"Do you remember what you said to me?"
Rick looked up at the road ahead.
"I told you that you're one of the most maternal women I'd ever met." Rick answered.
"I don't have any kids, and I probably never will, but..." Emma ran her hand along the length of Danny's neck as she walked beside him. "I think you were right. I think that I do have a maternal streak running through me, at least when it comes to certain people in my life..."
"Carl? Judith?" Rick asked, turning his head to look over at Emma.
"Them, and Sam...hell, even the other kids we have with us." Emma replied.
"What's your point, Emma?"
"My point is that my decision to teach the kids how to defend themselves came from that maternal place, even if ya'll don't see it that way." Emma answered. "I know I'm not their mother-"
"That's right." Rick interrupted Emma before she could continue. "You aren't their mother. Therefore, the choices that are made on their behalf aren't made by you."
Emma frowned over at Rick.
"I thought you said we were all in this together." Emma muttered.
"We are, but-"
"There are exceptions?" Emma asked as she and Rick approached the gate. "If we aren't all in this together, if this isn't a group, then why was it so important to you that I get involved?"
"Emma-"
"You stood there at the stream and told me to give all of you a chance." Emma pointed back to where they had come from. "I've been trying my damnedest to do just that. I've been friendlier to everyone. I saw that the kids were bored and scared...and I got involved."
Rick didn't say anything.
"I don't care that I'm being punished." Emma continued when Rick stayed silent. "I broke a rule, several in fact, so I get it...but, why are you treating me this way after..."
Emma shook her head.
"It was better for me when I lived my life as though nothing had changed," Emma turned to go, "and as though none of you were even here."
"Emma..." Rick started to speak, but Emma was already heading back.
0o0o0
Over the next few days, Emma continued to stay the night at Daryl's house, although nothing transpired between them that went past kissing.
Carol, Mary, and Ellen wouldn't let Emma anywhere near their kids. Although Rick didn't keep Carl and Judith away from Emma, he was still distant. The reverend and Sam treated Emma just as they always had. Everybody else was either short with Emma, or they gave her the silent treatment. Emma found it all sort of humorous. It was as though she couldn't have her cake and eat it, too. When things were good with the group, they weren't with Daryl, and vice versa. If Emma had to pick, she would choose Daryl every time.
The day of the final trip into town before the pass would become too treacherous to travel in the winter arrived. As Rick and Shane mentioned before, there would be two carriages going into town. Rick, Daryl, and Luanne would be in one carriage. Shane, Benjamin, the doctor, and Mary would be in the second. They planned to leave at first light. Emma got up with Daryl to see him off. She wished she would be going with him, but as per her punishment, she had to stay behind on the farm. Emma was glad she would at least have Sam with her.
While everyone helped get the horses and carriages ready, they also said their goodbyes. Trish and Benjamin held each other. Rick crouched down to speak with Carl, then gave him a hug. Shane and the reverend shared a few words, while Andrea stood silent beside her father. Mary said goodbye to her son. Ellen promised to look after him while Mary was in town.
Emma suddenly felt Daryl's hand slip into hers. As she looked up at him, he gently tugged her away from where everyone was gathered. They crept over to the side of the barn where they couldn't be seen by the others. Emma stood with her back to the barn with Daryl's hands on her waist.
"Don't let them give you too much trouble." Daryl said.
"You don't worry about me." Emma told Daryl softly, but sternly, as she raised her hands to lay on his chest. "You keep your mind on the task at hand. If you start thinking about other things..."
Daryl lifted one hand from Emma's waist to pin one of hers to his chest.
"I'll be back." Daryl promised.
"You better." Emma snorted. "Otherwise, I'll be down an ally."
Daryl chuckled. Emma felt it rumbling in his chest.
"Just be safe." Emma murmured, bringing them back to a serious place.
"I will."
Daryl and Emma leaned in at the same moment to share one last kiss before he left. Emma slid her hands up Daryl's chest and over his shoulders as he wrapped his arms around her. Without breaking their kiss, Emma stepped back until she was flush with the side of the barn. Daryl pursued her. Emma remembered the night he found her at the cabin. Images of Daryl sweeping inside, his lips on Emma's, and pressing her firmly to the wall flickered through her mind.
"...Daryl?"
Daryl and Emma both heard Rick's voice, then Shane's. They reluctantly ended their kiss with matching sighs. Daryl reached for Emma's hand. They circled the barn together.
"We're ready when you are." Rick said as Daryl and Emma appeared.
"I'm coming." Daryl replied roughly.
Daryl's hand began to slip from Emma's, but she found herself tugging him back. Daryl turned his head to look at Emma as she kept his hand hostage in her own. That half smile Emma had come to know so well appeared on Daryl's face. He gave her a wink. Emma returned his smile, then let go of his hand.
Emma watched with the others that were staying behind as the ones who were going on the last trip of the year loaded up into the carriages. Trish blew kisses at Benjamin while silent tears streaked down her cheeks. Kate had her arm around her shoulders. Todd waved goodbye to his mother, who has trying to keep her tears hidden from her son.
As the carriages started off, Carl walked after them. Emma caught up to him easily and walked beside him. Daryl, who was riding in the back of the carriage, turned his head to look back at Emma. Their eyes met. Emma thought back to the day of the fall gathering, when she had turned to look back at Daryl as she, Merle, and Sam rode away from the farm. Emma lifted her hand as Carl finally came to a stop beside her. Daryl returned her gesture. His hand remained in the air until the carriage disappeared from sight. Emma lowered her hand and sighed.
"They're going to be okay." Emma reassured Carl as she set one hand on his shoulder.
"I hope so." Carl muttered.
"Carl!"
Emma and Carl both turned at the same time, though she kept her hand on his shoulder. Carol was approaching them, her eyes on Carl as though Emma was invisible beside him.
"Come on." Carol waved for him. "Let's get inside for lessons."
"I don't want to." Carl mumbled, looking down at the ground.
"Honey, I know you're worried about your dad, but maybe lessons will keep your mind off of it." Carol said, keeping a warm and sympathetic tone.
"No." Carl shook his head. "They won't."
"Well, maybe they will, maybe they won't, but you still need to come inside." Carol replied, waving her hand to Carl once again.
Emma looked down at Carl. His eyes were still on the dirt. She knew he didn't want to go to lessons in part because he was worried about Rick, but she also knew it was because of what had happened with the guns. Over the past few days, Carl had barely spoken to Carol, Sophia, or Mary.
"Carol-"
"You aren't his mother." Carol interrupted Emma coolly before she could even finish her sentence.
"You aren't either!" Carl suddenly shouted, lifting his head to glare at Carol.
"Carl-"
"Carl, don't speak to me that way." Carol said, pointing her finger at him.
"You shouldn't have talked to Emma like you did the other night." Carl bit back.
"Carl, this isn't up for discussion." Carol's tone shifted. "Come on. Let's go."
Carol started to walk towards Carl, motioning for him to come with her. Carl wrapped both arms around Emma's waist. Emma instinctively returned his sudden embrace with one of her arms. Carol paused.
"Emma, you let me take him right now."
"I don't want to go." Carl began to cry as he shoved his face into Emma's chest. "I don't want to go with her."
"I think you should go inside and leave this to me." Emma replied calmly.
Carol started to reach out for Carl.
"I'm taking him inside-"
"Carol, don't touch him." Emma snapped.
Emma felt an intense wave of ferocity crash over her when Carol tried to grab Carl's arm. She felt like an animal out in the wild protecting its young. Carl's voice was muffled in Emma's blouse. She lifted her free hand to rest against the back of his head. Carl seemed to nestle further into her chest.
"I'm going to handle this." Emma told Carol, lowering her voice to a more reasonable tone. "Go inside and start the lessons for the day."
Emma knew Carol wasn't going to argue with her anymore. When Emma had snarled at Carol before, she had jerked her hand back as though Emma had bitten it. Carol looked at Carl, then narrowed her eyes as she lifted them to glare at Emma. Then, she turned, and headed back to Merle's house. Emma waited until she was gone before she lifted Carl's chin to look into his eyes, which were no longer wet with tears.
"It's time you and I had a talk." Emma told him. "Come walk with me."
Carl let go of Emma so that they could walk the property side by side. Emma was reminded of her conversation with Rick after the meeting pertaining to the new house, which was practically finished.
"I know you're mad about the guns, but you have to put your feelings aside when it comes to lessons." Emma spoke as she and Carl walked under trees shedding the last of their leaves. "I already told you before how important it is for you to have them."
"I don't care about lessons as long as Sophia's mom is giving them." Carl huffed.
"Look, I'm not going to tell you that you have to like her, but you do have to respect her."
"I don't." Carl argued.
Emma reached her hand out to grab Carl's shoulder so that she could stop him. She stood in front of him, her hand still on his shoulder.
"Yes, you do." Emma replied firmly. "You need to respect the adults here, even if you don't like them. You're still a child, no matter how much your life has changed over the past year."
Carl still looked angry. His jaw was set. His eyes were hard. He reminded Emma of Daryl in that moment. She tried not to laugh.
"You still need to attend lessons, but when they're through, you don't have to spend anymore time with Carol." Emma told Carl, her tone softening. "You can come and spend time with me."
Emma saw a crack in the tough exterior Carl was trying to maintain.
"Even though we can't shoot anymore, you can still help me around the farm."
Carl's jaw slackened as he opened his mouth to speak.
"I can?" Carl asked quietly.
"Of course."
Carl sighed.
"Do I have to go to lessons today?"
"Yes." Emma nodded as she took her hand from Carl's shoulder. "You better head back."
"Okay." Carl mumbled.
Emma watched Carl head back for his lessons. Then, she got to work herself.
0o0o0
It was early in the afternoon when Emma suddenly heard screaming coming from the back of the property. She dropped the bucket she had been carrying and started running towards the screaming. Andrea and Sam burst out of Merle's house as Emma ran past. As Emma got closer to the willows, she saw Kate dragging Trish up from the stream. By the time Emma reached them, Kate had Trish sprawled out on the ground. Her dress was stained with blood around her privates. Emma couldn't tell right away if the blood was spreading, or if it had stopped.
"What happened?" Emma asked, falling immediately to her knees beside Trish.
"I don't know!" Kate shrieked, fluttering above Emma and Trish as Andrea and Sam approached. "She just said she felt woozy, then..."
"What's happened to Trish?" Sam asked as Andrea tried to settle Kate down.
Emma checked Trish's pulse as Kate tried to explain what had happened.
"We have to get her up to the house." Emma said, pulling her fingers from Trish's throat.
"I'll take her."
Sam kneeled down. Emma lifted Trish's arms and wound them around Sam's neck.
"Andrea, run ahead and tell Carol and Ellen what's happened." Emma started giving out commands as they all walked alongside Sam. "Kate, go make up the bed at Sam's house."
Although nobody held Emma in high regard those days, Andrea and Kate listened. They both ran ahead to do as Emma said. By the time Sam and Emma had gotten to the house, the bed was ready for Trish and Ellen had come from Merle's house with Andrea.
"What should we do now?" Kate asked, looking to Emma for direction as Sam laid Trish down in the bed.
"We need to check and see if the bleeding has stopped." Emma replied, motioning to Trish.
"I'll step outside." Sam said to no one in particular on his way out.
"I'll do it." Ellen spoke as she rolled her sleeves to the elbow.
"What can we do to help?" Emma asked, sensing that Ellen knew more about what was happening to Trish than she did.
"Andrea, boil water." Ellen began pointing at the three women. "Kate, bring the doctor's bag. Emma, get any medical supplies from Merle's house that you think we might need."
The three women scattered to collect the item Ellen had tasked them with retrieving. Kate was back first with Dr. Torrence's bag, so Ellen sent her to get Trish fresh clothes. Emma came next with bandaging, herbs, and towels. It took Andrea time to boil water, but by the time she had returned with it, Ellen had checked Trish. The bleeding had stopped, but that didn't calm Ellen's nerves.
"The bleeding might be nothing, but I'm worried." Ellen said aloud as she gently changed Trish into the clothing Kate had gotten for her. "Trish hasn't woken yet, which isn't..."
"We need the doctor." Andrea said.
"I'll go." Emma decided, heading for the door.
"Wait."
Emma turned.
"Do you think that's a good idea?" Andrea asked. "Will you be all right by yourself?"
"I'll be fine, and anyways, it's more important for me to get the doctor for Trish than it is for you to worry about my safety." Emma replied.
As Emma looked at Trish, who was still unconscious, she suddenly thought of Lori. Emma wondered if Trish could be dying. Then, that reminded Emma of something else. She thought of Jackie in the barn. None of the people present knew that Trish would turn into a biter if she died. Emma couldn't leave them without sharing that information, but with the current crisis at hand, she didn't feel comfortable adding fuel to the fire. Emma decided she would have to send Sam instead.
"I'm sending Sam for the doctor." Emma announced before she exited the house.
Sam was standing outside with Skipper at his feet. The dog had to have trotted out of the house at some point. He spent most of his time with Sam, though the kids loved playing with him. Sam and Skipper had really cemented their preexisting bond during those first few weeks after Amy's death.
"Sam, I need you to go into town to fetch the doctor." Emma said.
"I'm on it." Sam replied, already starting to move towards the barn.
"You go and get your horse ready." Emma told him as he hurried past her. "I'll meet you at the barn in ten minutes. Don't leave before I get there."
Emma quickly made her way to the new gun location. Daryl had shared that information with her right after they had been moved. She wasn't going to let Sam ride down to town without a gun. When she reached the sack of guns, she pulled a rifle out and made sure it was loaded. As she was getting ready to put the sack back where she had found it, she saw a revolver at the bottom of the bag. Emma didn't know if she would need it or not, but decided to take it in the event that Trish didn't make it. Emma hid the revolver in her boot.
By the time Emma reached the barn, Sam had his horse ready outside.
"Here." Emma said, holding the rifle out for Sam. "Take this with you."
"How did you-"
"It doesn't matter." Emma interrupted, waving her hand as Sam took the rifle from her.
Emma didn't like the idea of sending Sam into town alone, but she had no choice. She threw her arms around him before he could mount his horse.
"Be safe." Emma murmured.
"I will." Sam replied, returning Emma's embrace.
Emma pulled away to look into Sam's eyes.
"I mean it." Emma told him seriously. "You do what you have to, but be safe."
"Emma," Sam took her hand into his and squeezed it, "I will."
Emma reluctantly let go of Sam so that he could be on his way. She watched as he mounted his horse, took up the reigns, and gave the horse a kick. Sam galloped away from the barn, kicking up dirt behind him. Emma stood and watched him ride away. She felt her guts tying into knots as he disappeared. She knew they wouldn't be soothed until Sam had returned safely.
Meanwhile, Emma knew she needed to help Ellen care for Trish until Sam returned with the doctor.
0o0o0
Hours passed, but still nobody returned. The reverend, Carol, and Kate were caring for the kids up at Merle's. They didn't want them worrying about what was happening with Trish, who wasn't doing well. She had woken once from her unconsciousness, but had done so screaming and writhing in pain. Nothing would ease her suffering. The women tried cool compresses, massages, and sponge baths, but to no avail. Finally, Ellen asked Emma to get the laudanum. Although they all knew Trish probably shouldn't take any, Ellen spoon fed her the tiniest dose. Trish was calm in seconds. She even fell asleep. Then, she started bleeding again. The women did all they could to try and stop it, but there was little to be done without a proper doctor. Trish grew pale. Her pulse weakened. Emma knew she was slipping away, taking her unborn child with her.
"Where are they?" Andrea asked, pacing in front of the windows.
"Sam had to ride all the way to town, find the doctor, and bring him all the way back." Emma replied, keeping her cool. "Give them more time."
"How much time?" Andrea asked frantically. "How much time does Trish have-"
"Stop it." Ellen hissed from Trish's comatose side.
"She can't hear me." Andrea replied tiredly, waving her arms wildly. "Why is this happening?"
Emma got up and went to Andrea's side, although she continued to pace.
"You have to calm down." Emma told Andrea quietly. "You aren't helping anyone acting this way."
Andrea paused long enough to give Emma a dirty look.
"Well, I'm sorry if-"
"No..."
Although Ellen's voice was barely above a whisper, it got Emma's and Andrea's attention quickly. They both turned to see Ellen standing over Trish, her fingers wrapped around her slim wrist.
"No." Ellen shook her head. "No."
"What is it?" Emma asked.
Ellen looked up from Trish, her fingers still around her wrist.
"Trish..." Ellen sniffed, tears already welling up in her eyes. "There's no pulse. None."
"What?" Andrea asked in disbelief as she crossed the room. "No. Oh my god..."
Ellen fell into the chair beside the bed, still holding onto Trish's lifeless hand, and covered her face with her free hand to hide her tears. Her shoulders silently quivered. Andrea sobbed as she sat down on the edge of the bed. She pressed her hands to Trish's belly, as though she was trying to feel for movement. Emma watched both women mourning their friend. She should have felt something, some sadness or grief, like Andrea and Ellen felt. Instead, all Emma was focused on was taking care of Trish before she could come back as a biter. Especially with Andrea and Ellen in such close proximity to Trish's body.
"Are you sure she's dead?" Emma asked, crouching down as she put one hand into her boot.
"What?" Ellen asked, coming out from behind her hand long enough to look incredulously at Emma.
Andrea fell upon Trish's body, her head upon her chest.
"There's no heartbeat." Andrea announced with a sniff before she lifted her head to continue crying.
"Okay." Emma replied, her hand wrapped around the revolver in her boot.
Emma pulled out the gun while Ellen and Andrea were preoccupied with grieving over Trish.
"Andrea, get up." Emma said, raising the revolver.
Ellen looked up, her eyes widening in horror as Andrea turned her head.
"Emma!" Andrea leapt off the bed in surprise. "What are you doing?!"
"Where did you get that?" Ellen asked, standing up so quickly from her chair that it turned over.
Emma motioned with the revolver.
"Step away from Trish." Emma told them calmly. "I'll explain everything in a minute."
"What-"
"Do it." Emma interrupted Andrea before she could ask another question.
Slowly, and arm in arm, Ellen and Andrea took several steps back from the bed. They watched as Emma clicked the hammer back with Trish in her sights.
"Cover your ears."
Emma gave Ellen and Andrea a moment to obey her before she pulled the trigger.
Several things happened at once. The moment the gun went off, and a bullet ripped through Trish's head, the door to the house swung open so violently that it nearly came off the hinges. Ellen and Andrea instinctively ducked when the gun went off, their hands over their ears to muffle the sound. Emma turned her head to see Benjamin standing in the doorway. His face was beet red, as though he had been running for miles. Beads of sweat trickled down his cheeks, as though they were tears. His eyes were on the body of his lifeless wife, but then, they were upon Emma.
"Benjamin-"
"What did you do?!" Benjamin thundered.
Suddenly, the gun was being grabbed from Emma's hands. She had been so focused on Benjamin that she hadn't realized that Ellen and Andrea had approached her. They clawed at Emma's hands, trying to wrestle the gun away from her. Then, Emma was being thrown to the ground by a force that knocked the wind out of her body. Benjamin was on top of her, his knees on either side of her body, his hands around her throat. Emma grabbed at Benjamin's hands. She was unable to kick her legs since they were pinned between Benjamin's legs.
Though the words were indistinguishable, Emma knew the next sound she heard was Daryl roaring in fury. Moments later, her suspicions were confirmed. Daryl was suddenly on top of Benjamin, his strong arm around his neck, choking him the way Benjamin was choking Emma. Daryl's eyes were almost black as he growled and snarled words and threats that Emma couldn't understand. Finally, he wrenched Benjamin off of Emma and to his knees. There were hands that had freed Emma's neck from Benjamin. They belonged to Sam, who was helping Emma to sit up as she coughed, air rushing back into her lungs.
"Are you all right?" Sam asked worriedly, his fingers gliding along Emma's face and neck as he checked her for injury.
"I'm fine." Emma insisted hoarsely.
Rick was pulling Daryl off of Benjamin, who appeared to have gone unconscious. Benjamin fell to the floor with a thud. Shane was comforting Andrea and Ellen, who were a matching pair of wrecks in his arms. The reverend was standing in the doorway looking confused. The doctor was hovering over Trish, inspecting the fresh bullet wound to her head.
Daryl seemed to snap out of his murderous rage as his eyes fell on Emma. He ran to her so quickly that he stumbled and had to use his hand to push himself up off the floor. He fell into a crouch in front of Emma, his hands automatically finding her face.
"Emma, are you all right?" Daryl asked through his heavy breathing.
"I'm fine." Emma repeated herself.
"Let me help you up." Sam said as he got to his feet.
Emma accepted Sam's hands as he hoisted her up, with Daryl's hands on her waist as though she needed the support. Emma allowed Daryl to run his hands along the length of her neck while she watched the others as they tried to process what had happened. The only sounds in the room were several sets of heavy breaths and tears.
"Okay..." Rick spoke through his own ragged breaths. "What...happened?"