Megan Grimes, thirty two years old and pregnant with her first child. It should be a happy time for her but instead she's fighting to survive with her sister in law and nephew. What happens when Daryl becomes overly protective of the mother to be?
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Megan woke up aching all over. She looked around the room she was in, squinting from the light. It wasn't familiar and she began to panic.
"Where am I? Where's Rick? Lori? Carl?" She asked herself.
The door opened revealing a man in a lab coat. "Your awake." He smiled as he entered the room.
"Who the hell are you?" She exclaimed as she stood up on shaky legs.
"Steady there." He said gently, holding his arms out to catch her if she fell. "I'm Dr Edwin Jenner. Your friends brought you here, we met briefly before you passed out." He explained moving away when he saw she was steady.
She groaned. "I remember." She sighed. "Where are they?" She asked.
"Eating breakfast in the dinning room. Follow me."
She nodded and followed still feeling a bit dizzy.
They arrived at a small room with a large table in the middle. The group was gathered around munching away on what looked like eggs.
"Why does Glenn look like he's about to throw up?" Megan asked causing everyone to look at her.
"Oh thank god your okay." Dale smiled.
Rick got up and hugged her.
"Rick, I'm sorry but you smell like alcohol and it's making me want to vomit." She said pushing him away.
He chuckled and backed away a bit before leading her to a chair.
"What happened?" She asked.
"Got drunk." Daryl answered simply.
"Oh." She replied. "You all had a party without me. Thanks." She chuckled.
"Here mama. Got you some eggs. There the powder stuff but I think I made them taste pretty good." T chuckled.
"Thanks T." She smiled. "So what happens now? What did you find out while I was passed out? Or did you all just get drunk?" Megan asked before shovelling a fork full of food in her mouth.
"He's the only one left." Rick said referring to Jenner.
"That's not good is it?" She asked.
Rick shrugged. "He's going to show us his research soon."
Megan nodded slowly. She and Rick were sure they already knew what his research would reveal.
After everyone ate they made their way to the lab where Jenner explained his research. To Megan he was talking gibberish and she didn't understand most of what he was saying.
To her it all sounded like. 'You're going to die, you're going to die nerr nerr!' In a mean mocking voice.
She walked away from the group looking at all the different computers checking out rooms she was pretty sure she shouldn't be in.
The sound of Daryl shouting sent her looking for the group again in the maze of corridors. She eventually found them, Daryl and Shane were trying to break through the entrance door.
"What's going on?" Megan asked confused.
"Get your bag Meg we are leaving." Rick explained.
"Why? Are we not safe?" She asked.
"This place is about to blow up!" Dale explained.
"Oh." She answered. She didn't even seem surprised. "Well open the door then." She sighed.
"Why are you not freaking out?" Lori screeched as she held onto Carl.
"This asshole won't open the damn door!" Shane shouted getting in Jenner's face again.
"This is the Centre for Disease Control, do you know what they do here or are you just plain stupid?" Megan asked Lori while folding her arms.
Lori glared at her. "You've turning into a right bitch you know that?"
"I'm aware thank you."
Jenner finally agreed to open the bottom door but couldn't do anything with the top.
"Not coming Doc?" Megan asked calmly.
He shook his head. "No, my place is here."
She nodded. "Well thank you."
"Wait." He said stopping her in her tracks. The rest of the group were trying to get out the door still.
"I already know. We all have it don't we." She said.
He nodded sadly. "Pass of natural causes or accident and you will reanimate. I'm sorry."
She nodded again. "Goodbye Dr Jenner."
"Goodbye Megan," He replied.
The sound of an explosion echoed through the walls and suddenly Daryl was running towards her dragging her from the building.
"Daryl slow down I can't run-"
She was cut off by the building exploding just as they reached the truck.
"Get in." Daryl shouted.
She did as she was told and within seconds they were speeding away from the burning building.
"Took your sweet time didn't you!" He snapped.
"I was saying goodbye to our host." She said calmly.
"You got a death wish girl!" He snapped.
"Just being polite." She said shrugging. "Do you care about me that much Daryl?" She asked grinning.
"No!" He snapped harshly.
She chuckled. "It's okay Daryl I care about you too." She grinned.
"Stupid bitch." He muttered.
She just chuckled.
Once again the vehicles were running on just fumes. Daryl ditched the truck and rode on Merles bike leaving Megan to join Lori, Rick and Carl in their truck.
Eventually the group came to a stop half way up the highway. It was similar to where they had searched for supplies the day before.
Everyone met at the RV to find out what was happening.
Shane ordered them to look for food, water and T went to find gas.
"Boring." Carl muttered. "Why can't we kill walkers or something?" He asked no on In particular.
"Because that's dangerous. We only kill them when we need to. We don't need to put ourselves in danger anymore than we already are." Megan sighed before walking toward a large van that stood across the road. She checked the drivers seat and saw no walker or body so she opened it up.
She found a bottle of whiskey and mints in the glove compartment. They weren't useful but she decided to take them anyway. She knew Daryl would probably appreciate the whiskey.
"Now, now little lady. That's mine."
She gasped when she heard the all too familiar voice. She looked into the back of the van.
"Merle Dixon you asshole." She snapped.
She groaned in disgusted when she saw his arm. "What is that?" She asked.
"Well it ain't useful without the hand so I taped a knife too it. Pretty good huh?" He asked holding it up and grinning proudly.
"I guess." She said pulling a face.
"Were are the others?" He asked.
"You already knew." She scoffed."why are you hiding in a van?" She asked.
He shrugged again. "You lot turned up while I was searching for supplies. Didn't know who your were." He answered.
She nodded slowly "Daryl will want to see you. Come back with me" She said.
He shrugged.
"You don't care? Maybe I will just go and fetch him anyway." She said attempting to leave.
"I don't think so sweet cheeks." He said pressing the knife against her throat pinning her back against the seat. "You're going to drop the stuff and leave without saying a single word to Daryl or anyone else in the group. Do you understand?" He asked.
She nodded slightly, although restricted by the blade pressed against her neck.
"Good girl." He removed the knife from her neck.
"Maybe I will see you soon princess."
She said nothing. She left the stuff on the seat and left the van and beaded towards the group.
"Are you okay?" Andrea asked. "Your bleeding!" She gasped pointing at her neck.
Megan wiped the blood away. "Just a scratch." She said.
Andrea shrugged and nodded before turning away.
"Not going to pass out again are you?" Daryl asked when he saw her pale face.
She shook her head and walked away.
He scoffed. "Ignorant bitch."
About twenty minutes into the searching and Dale shouted for the groups attention.
"Walkers!" He hissed.
Everyone crouched down unsure as to what to do.
"Under the cars." Rick and Daryl ordered.
Carefully they all began sliding under the cars.
Megan was under a car with Carol who was watching Sophia who was under a car with Carl. She was whimpering and had to cover her mouth so they wouldn't attract the walkers.
The groans and shuffles of the walkers seemed to last forever. They continued to stay under the cars even when the sounds had gone.
"Come on." Carl said to Sophia and they both began to get out from under the car.
"No, Carl, Sophia wait!" Megan ordered as she and Carol got out from under the car.
Two walkers were left which had strayed from the herd. Sophia squealed when one went to grabbed her. Carl took Sophia's hand and pulled her over the barrier and began running down the bank.
"No! Sophia! Stop!" Carol shouted as Megan was being pinned to a car by one of the walkers.
Blood splattered across her face as someone stuck their knife in it's head. The walker dropped to the floor just in time for Megan to see Rick running towards the woods hoping to get Carl and Sophia back all while Lori and Carol sobbed together.
Megan walked away from the scene feeling slightly guilty for not stopping Carl quicker.
Daryl approached her. "What happened?" He asked confused by the crying women.
"Carl trying to act tougher than he is. He told Sophia to get our from under the car. I tried to stop him but he didn't listen. By the time me and Carol got out there were those two walkers in front of them. One followed them and the other came for me. The next thing I saw was Rick chasing them."
"Ain't your fault you know." He said chewing his finger nails.
"Maybe if I wasn't fat and pregnant I could have gotten out quicker." She sighed.
"You ain't fat. Barely anything there." He said flicking up her shirt.
"Stop!" She giggled.
"You could do with a wash though."
"That's not fair. You all got the chance to clean up at the CDC before it blew up, I didn't." She grumbled.
"Ain't my fault you passed out."
She rolled her eyes. "Your mean."
He smirked. "I'm aware thank you." He mocked remembering what She had said to Lori.
She laughed out loud causing Lori to glare at her.
"Our children are missing and your laughing! Stop being disrespectful." She snapped.
Megan rolled her eyes and turned away.
"Have you two always been at each other throats?" Daryl asked.
"Not this bad. I didn't really like her when she and Rick started dating but it was none of my business. Then when they got married and had Carl we seemed to be on good terms but now she just annoys me." Megan explained.
"She is annoying that's why." Daryl replied.
Megan nodded. "Don't I know it."
There was a long silence. "Do you miss Merle?" She asked breaking the silence.
He shrugged. "Suppose." He mumbled.
She nodded. "You looking forward to seeing him again?" She asked.
"No one ever looks forward to seeing Merle." He smirked.
Megan wasn't sure if she should tell him she had seen Merle. She wondered if he was still in the van or if he had slipped away.
Rick appeared twenty minutes later shaking his head. He and tears in his eyes and hugged Lori tight when he approached her.
"We should head out and look for them." Daryl suggest. "Might be able to track them."
"I want to come." Megan said instantly.
"'No way!" Daryl, Rick and Lori said at the same time.
Megan huffed and walked towards the RV.
"They'll find them." Dale said.
"I hope so. Just wish I could help instead of being useless." She grumbled.
He chuckled. "I know you do but you gor precious cargo to look after."
She scoffed. "This is stupid." She muttered.
She took her gun from the truck and headed towards Daryl. "I'm coming." She stated.
"No you ain't." He answered sternly.
"Yes I am..and you can't stop me." She said in a singsong voice as she climbed over the barrier.
"Megan you're not going." Rick snapped.
"Yes I am! He's my family too! I'm useless here and you know it. I'm only pregnant! I can still walk, run and fight walkers off, you can stay here and comfort your wife and me and Daryl will find the kids, now are we going or what?" She snapped.
Rick scowled in annoyance before nodding his head once.
"You best keep an eye on her." Rick told Daryl.
"Whatever man." He muttered.
Daryl caught up with Megan who was stepping over branches and looking for tracks.
"Stupid girl." He muttered.
She rolled her eyes. "I'm sick of being watched over, told what not to do, i am still able to help so why won't anyone let me?" She asked.
"We care about you. We don't want you or your baby getting hurt." He admitted gently.
"Is this the real Daryl Dixon?" She asked herself as she looked over at him.
He seemed to be following some kind of path not paying attention to her stares.
"You care about me?" She asked.
"No." He scoffed.
"Liar." She grinned.
"I ain't lying." He snapped turning towards her and getting in her face. "Your really bugging me you know that?"
She smirked and nodded. "So your saying I'm not your friend?" She asked.
"No, don't need friends." He said stepping over a fallen down tree. He helped her over too.
"Yeah you do. I'm your friend." She said jumping down from the fallen tree.
"Fine whatever were friends. Don't tell anyone though." He muttered.
"Would it ruin your bad boy reputation?" She chuckled.
"I'm starting to think your more annoying than Lori." He snapped.
She gasped dramatically before laughing. "Whatever...friend." She grinned earning a groan from him.
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What do you want to happen next?
Who should die? Carl or Sophia? Maybe both? Neither? What about something completely different..I have an idea in mind...
Should Merle reappear again soon or leave it until they meet at Woodbury?
Also who should get shot by Otis? Anyone? No one? Maybe Lori straight through the head? Just a suggestion...
Let me know what you think.
Thank you for reading.
Frankie.