A/N It's the weekend so I'm going to download extra chapters. Thanks to all those following and making this story a favourite.

Special thanks to

MonkeysGoBoo - Thanks for kind review, I'm glad you like Eleanor and hope you continue to enjoy this story.

Belli - Thanks, so much for the lovely, wonderful review, it really made my day.

Thanks for reading and enjoy.

Chapter 12

Maggie was on guard duty and as soon as she spotted the unfamiliar truck heading towards them she called down and told someone to get Rick. As he came out he was surprised to see her running across the yard towards the gates, yelling for them to be opened as fast as possible. It wasn't like her to abandon her post. As soon as the truck pulled through, Maggie opened the door and started giving the strange man driving instructions. Instead of parking the truck with the other vehicles he began to drive it closer to the entrance to the cell block.

"Get Daddy, quickly!" Maggie yelled. Trusting her Rick didn't hesitate, he turned and called for Hershel. By the time the two of them were outside the truck was as close as possible to the entrance and Maggie was in the truck bed, with a visibly distressed Eleanor. Rick ran to the truck and what he saw in the back made his heart sink. Daryl was face down on a blanket, unconscious, with a blood soaked towel covering his back. He threw himself into the truck.

"What happened?" he demanded

"Just help him" Eleanor was clearly hurt as well and seemed to be going into shock, she was exhausted and battered and shaking in Maggie's arms. "Please, help him"

With help from Glenn and Tyreese they managed to get Daryl into the cell block. He'd cried out in pain as they'd moved him. They laid him on one of the tables in the common room area as there was more space and light than the cell they used as a first aid room . Rick cleared everyone out, they didn't need to see this.

Carefully Hershel removed the towel, Rick turned away from the sight of his friends damaged back and he heard Maggie choke back a sob. Eleanor was standing next to him, a glazed look on her face.

"I poured whiskey over it to clean it, then covered it to try and stop infection. I didn't know what else to do" her voice cracked.

"You did good, that was the right thing" Hershel reassured her, as he assessed the injuries.

"I'm going to have to do a lot of stitches; I also need pain killers and antibiotics. We're short of those. I'm also going to need some form of sedative and IV drips" Hershel gave Rick a worried look "I need Bob as well, he'll be a great help" Maggie ran to find the army medic.

Rick stood "I'll organise a run, we'll find what you need from somewhere."

Eleanor pulled herself to her feet "I'm comin' too"

"Young lady, you are in no fit state to go anywhere" Hershel was firm with her "you are clearly exhausted and have obviously been beaten. Also if Daryl wakes up I think I'm going to need you here. Rick will be able to deal with it, you know you can trust him." She knew what he said made sense but still felt she had to be doing something. It was only when she tried to move that she realised how bad her own injuries were. Her back was burning and her cheek and jaw hurt where the woman had struck her. She was wearing a sweatshirt she had found in the truck and hadn't told anyone about her own wounds.

Hershel was telling Rick about a Veterinary supply warehouse about 30 miles away, explaining that a lot of the drugs used for animals were the same as those used on humans. They decided it was the best place to try. Bob rushed into the room with Maggie, his eyes widening when he saw the man on the table.

"What happened? Who could do something like this?" he was horrified. He started to examine the damage. "We need to stitch the worse cuts. We'll need to give him a lot of pain killers and an IV drip to keep him hydrated. I think we'll need to keep him sedated for a while. " He turned to Eleanor, "Are there any other injuries?"

She nodded "He was hit with a baseball bat, knocked out cold for a couple of hours. He was really groggy and dazed when he came round"

Bob exchanged looks with Hershel "Could be a concussion as well" they agreed.

Rick faced Eleanor "I'm going with Glenn and Michonne, we'll get what he needs. You stay strong and be here for him" He reached out and pulled her into a hug. She cried out in pain and pulled away.

"Eleanor, are you cut too?" he asked, grabbing her shoulders and turning her to face him . She tried to deny she was hurt but Maggie grabbed the back of the sweatshirt and lifted it, revealing Eleanor's injuries.

"Why didn't you say anything?" she gasped.

Eleanor twisted free "He needs help more than me. Don't waste supplies on me" Bob came over to her.

"At least let me clean the cuts and dress them. It's not going to help any of us if you get an infection. Hershel can start working on Daryl, while I take care of you" He was persuasive and she found herself agreeing to some basic care. She refused to take any painkillers until she knew they had enough for Daryl as well.

As Bob was treating her Glenn rushed in. He cringed when he saw her back and went white when he saw Daryl.

"Jesus" he whispered. He went to Eleanor and gripped her hands tightly. "The boys outside, they told us what happened and how you escaped. What you did, don't ever feel bad about it, they deserved it and more" He turned to Rick "Michonne's outside, we're ready to go" As they left he touched Eleanor's cheek.

"He'll be okay, he's a tough son of a bitch" With that he headed off with Rick.

Once Bob had treated her he started to help Hershel, they cleaned each cut before they started stitching, but they soon ran out of antiseptic. They didn't have any antibiotics left and had given him what pain relief they had but it wasn't really powerful enough to do much. Maggie and Carol tried to get Eleanor to sit and eat something but she wouldn't, she kept pacing around the room.

Daryl suddenly regained consciousness. He gave an animal like howl of pain and tried to get to his feet, thrashing around and knocking away restraining hands. He caught Bob with one of his arms and knocked him to the ground.

Eleanor ran to his side and caught his hands, calling his name. He slumped back down onto the table, breathing heavily, his eyes wild. She knelt in front of him, gripping his hands.

"Daryl, look at me" she commanded, she released his hands and took hold of his face, lifting it so she could meet his eyes. After a few seconds his eyes focused on her and he started to relax a little.

"Ellie" he croaked her name "You okay?" She rested her forehead against his, still holding his face.

"I'm fine" She reassured him "We're back at the prison, Bob patched me up, now him and Hershel are taking care of you. You just knocked Bob on his ass, better hope he don't hold it against you."

"What happened to those dicks that took us?" he asked, trying to turn and sit up. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him down.

"Don't worry 'bout them, they aint gonna hurt anyone again. You just worry 'bout getting' better." She didn't go into details.

His hands reached for hers and gripped them tightly.

"Hurts like a bitch" he muttered

She managed a smile "Don't be such a pussy, it's just a few scratches. Rick's out with Glenn and Michonne. They'll be back soon with some kick ass pain killers. You just gotta lie still and hang in there for a little while longer"

He released one of her hands and rested his free hand on her cheek.

"Ellie, sorry you got hurt, I should've looked after you better. The whip guy was right I let you down" his voice was fading and he was slipping into unconsciousness again.

"You did not let me down, there was too many of them, we had no chance. You don't get to think like that" her voice rose slightly. He didn't reply, his hand slipped from her face as he passed out again.

Eleanor slumped back onto the floor at the side of the table. She was aware of people helping her to her feet and trying to guide her away but she struggled.

"Need to stay here, what if he wakes up again?" she protested.

Carol was next to her, a supporting arm around her waist, carefully avoiding her injuries.

"You need to get some rest. You'll be no good to anyone if you're exhausted. Lie in the first aid room and get some sleep. I promise I'll wake you if anything happens." She let Carol guide her into the cell and help her lie on her side. Gently Carol brushed her hair from her face, then she covered her with a blanket. She was asleep before Carol had left the room.

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