Having been dismissed by her uncle, Amanda headed out of the tower, a small smile on her face as she went to look for Rick. The smile fell when she saw Beth walking toward her, blanket and bottle of water in her hands, humming a happy tune. Catching the girl's arm as she tried to just pass by, Amanda turned to face her. "Where are you going, Beth?" Like I don't know.
Beth just shrugged, her smile still in place. "I thought Daryl might like some company." She moved to pull away from Amanda's grip.
"I really doubt it," the older woman cautioned. "He does better on his own." Not to mention he is not in the best mood right now.
Beth's face fell, and her eyes narrowed a little. "I'm just going to sit with him."
The girl was determined. Time for a change of tactics. "Does your dad know where you are?"
Beth actually pouted. "Please, Amanda..." And there was a whine in her voice. Amanda invented that move, she sure as hell wasn't going to fall for it.
"Does he know?" the ever-stubborn Dixon woman tried again.
Shaking her head, Beth pulled her arm free of Amanda's hand. "No, but why don't you tell him for me, since you are headed that way."
And give him a heart attack while I'm at it. "No way, girl."
Beth put her hands on her hips. "Please! Like I'm gonna seduce him while he's on watch," Beth retorted petulantly. "I just want to be with him. Near him," she clarified. "I think I need to be less subtle, show him…" her voice trailed as Beth twisted a blonde lock around her finger, watching the end flip over and over again, so she didn't have to look at Amanda.
"No, Beth, honey, it's not that." Where the hell was Maggie and why wasn't she handling this? Probably off using up one of the precious condoms that Beth couldn't find earlier.
The other girl's eyes widened and her face fell. "He doesn't like me?" Beth sniffled.
"No, no, that's not what I meant." Amanda was an only child and had no clue how to deal with a little sister's angst. Oh my God, Beth was pouting again.
"Why else would he not get my hints?"
Amanda shook her head, how did she explain how ass-backwards her dear, sweet, overprotective-as-fuck uncle was? "That's just it... Because he just doesn't get it."
She didn't think it was possible but Beth's eyes actually got wider, only with an intensity that was almost scary. "I was too subtle. I knew it. He seems a bit shy and I didn't want to scare him away." Damn, she was determined; Amanda had to give her that. "I guess I'll have to have to tell him that I want him to have my virginity." Beth started for the tower again.
Oh Jesus, that would go over well. "Wait, Beth." The girl turned back toward Amanda. "Don't be in such a rush."
"Why not, Amanda? We could die any day."
She's got me there. "Beth, promise me something, please. Don't do anything till I get back from this run. We'll talk and work this out."
"I don't know if I can make that promise," she gazed longingly at the tower.
Amanda tugged at a curl. "Oh for heaven's sake! I'm only going to be gone tomorrow, Beth."
"Fine," she pouted. "But, if I die before then, I'm going to haunt you every time you're with Rick so you can't get any either!"
Beth turned sharply and headed back to their cell block. Amanda followed a few feet behind.
Rick was kissing the sleeping Judith goodnight when Amanda and Beth entered the cell block. He glanced up at her with a grin that melted her heart. He spoke to Carl a moment then nodded toward the door. She smiled to let him know she understood. Rick grabbed a bat and walked out without saying a thing. Carl got up to lock the door behind him.
"Wait a minute Carl..."
"What's up, Possum?" She controlled the urge to smack him upside the head and instead just smiled.
"I need to go back out."
"What for?" Nosy little monster.
"I left something in the guard tower." She was such a bad liar but it didn't stop her from trying.
"Can't it wait? You shouldn't be out there alone, Amanda. It's getting dark."
"I have a bat." She twirled it cleverly. Should have been a majorette.
He gave a an unreadable look. Good or bad...she wasn't sure but the man-child finally relented and let her out. Aw hell, she was going to have to put in a good word for him with Beth. "Thanks, buddy."
As soon as Carl locked up behind her, Amanda headed for the infirmary. The darkness was oppressive. Tangible, not so much an absence of light but an entity in itself. Her flashlight scarcely covered a few feet before her. Shit, which way? Maybe she would have remembered if she hadn't been watching Rick's ass last time. Calm down, Dixon. She closed her eyes to listen. Nothing. That was a good sign but why didn't Rick just wait. "Rick," she called softly, not wanting to alert anything else of her presence. Maybe he was there already, waiting for her. She smiled at the thought.
After about fifteen minutes, Amanda realized she was utterly and hopelessly lost. Every corridor looked the same. Don't panic. Dixons don't panic. She wanted to call out to Rick but she was afraid of drawing the attention of any stray walkers. Shit. Shit. Shit. Retracing her steps wasn't an option. She was so turned around in the pitch black of this dungeon-like prison...Wait. Glenn had spray-painted arrows on the walls. Where were they? She shone her flashlight along the walls but couldn't find any markings, only black goo and blood smears. She shuddered. Then, she heard...what? Water dripping? Gurgling? Feet shuffling, groaning...Please, God, no, she silently prayed. With her back against the wall, she gripped the bat tightly with one hand.
Stay calm, Ladybug, Her daddy's voice warned her.
The smell of decayed flesh wafted too close to her nose. She tried not to gag. Ya big baby! Uncle Daryl's voice mocked her. That thing had to be close but she couldn't see it. Fuck! Was there more than one? The shuffling came nearer.
Please, God, give me strength. Silent tears welled in her eyes blurring her sight. She blinked fast to clear them.
Quit that crying shit! Be the badass you were born to be, Baby Girl.
Okay, Daddy...Shakily, Amanda scanned the half circle around her with the flashlight. One to the left about ten feet away and another to the right, six feet away. She would to have to be fast. Swallowing hard, she shoved the flashlight in her pocket and gripped the bat fiercely with both hands. "Hail Mary full of Grace..." and she swung, connecting with soft rotting flesh. She turned quickly, swung again hitting the wall this time. The reverberation of metal against concrete knocked the bat violently out of her hands. She screamed in pain and fear as she fell to the hard sticky floor. Fuck! She lost both bat and flashlight. Fuck! She scrambled backwards until she was up against the wall again, both arms stinging painfully from wrists to shoulders.
"Amanda!" Rick's voice...too far away...
Scuffling near her feet...too close. She kicked out as hard as she could.
"Amanda!" Not close enough...
She lashed out frantically with her legs again, this time tangling with the walker's legs, sending it sprawling on the floor in front of her. She yanked out her knife and started stabbing.
"Amanda!" Almost here...
She felt the dead flesh tear beneath her blade, not the head, too soft. She stabbed again and again not even stopping as the walker's body was illuminated by an arc of light. She saw the head, teeth still snapping, and she kept stabbing, plunging the knife through its rotted skull. She pulled it out, drawing back to stab the filthy mother fucker again.
"Mandy!" A strong hand grabbed her wrist and gently pried her knife from trembling fingers. "Baby, I'm so sorry," Rick lips pressed against her ear, "but we need to get to a safe place. C'mon, Mandy, baby. Get up." He half carried, half dragged her around the corner and through the infirmary doors.
Rick sat Amanda gently on the examination table and immediately started checking for injuries. "I'm so sorry, baby. I didn't mean to get so far ahead of you."
"I got lost," she cried softly. "I couldn't find you."
"Shhh...honey. You're safe now. It was my fault. I'm so sorry..." His hands were swift and thorough and when he found no bites or scratches, he was able to breathe again. He hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head. Rick realized he was shaking. One moment of carelessness and he almost lost her. He choked back a sob. Get a grip, man. He couldn't break down now. He had to be strong for Amanda. "Don't move, Mandy." He gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
Rummaging loudly through the cabinets, he finally found what he was looking for. A couple of bags of saline for IVs and some towels. He cut a small hole in one of the bags and soaked a towel with the solution. Starting with her face, he gently wiped away the specks of walker goo that clung to her flesh. Her breathing slowed but she still trembled.
She watched as Rick carefully cleaned her arms and paying meticulous attention to her hands. His own were shaking. She took them in hers when he was finished and pulled him in for a kiss. "I was so scared," his voice trembled against her lips.
"Sorry, Rick...I got disoriented in the dark."
He place a finger against her lips. "Hush baby, it wasn't your fault. When you didn't come right out, I went ahead to make sure the way was clear."
"I just went the wrong way," she said resting her forehead against his.
Rick shook his head, stroking her dirty, tangled hair. "I should've waited." Amanda wrapped her arms around him. He moved in closer to stand between her legs, hands resting lightly on her hips. "We can't do this anymore, honey." He kissed her again. "This sneaking around. If something happened to you," like it almost just did. He shuddered at the thought. After such a close call...he would make sure it wouldn't happen. Rick's voice broke. He tilted her chin up. "Mandy, I'm gonna talk to Carl, tomorrow, about us. I think you should move into our cell. I'm tired of hiding this, us. I want to sleep next to you. I want to wake up with you in my arms. Can we do that?" He kissed her softly.
Amanda's shoulders began shaking against him and he realized she was crying again. Climbing onto the table, Rick laid her down with him, wrapping her in his arms while she softly sobbed against his chest. He stroked her hair and back, whispering soft word of comfort and held her until the trembling stopped.
Thanks to all my reviewers and followers! Please take the time to review and let me know what you think!
Special thanks to Siarh for help with teenage girl angst.