A/N This chapter was really hard to write, I hope I've managed to stay in character. I would love to know what you all think.
MonkeysGoBoo - Thank you for all your lovely reviews. Please don't hate me.
Chapter 45
Life at Terminus was pretty good, it was safe and fairly easy to keep secure. People were coming in all the time, which meant the workload was shared out. The original prison group had more time on their hands than ever before. They were growing a lot of their own fruit and vegetables and even had some livestock. They had searched local farms and found some chickens, which gave them fresh eggs. Catching the birds had been an entertaining few hours, Daryl was an excellent hunter, hardly ever missing, almost always bring something home, but catching a live chicken was more than he could cope with. Watching him running around, trying and failing to grab the panicking, flapping birds was, according to Eleanor, one of the funniest things she'd ever seen. They had finally managed to bring back about a dozen birds and planned to let some of the eggs hatch to build up their own flock. They also had pigs, found running wild in the forest, which had already had a litter of piglets. One of the best finds was four half-starved cows in a field behind a farm. They had bought them back in a trailer also found at the farm and Maggie and Beth had nursed them back to health. They now had fresh milk, which was a real luxury. In the garage of one of the houses they had searched Eleanor had found a mother cat with six kittens which she had bought back. The kittens were now grown and the seven cats earned their keep by keeping the rats and mice under control. There were also several dogs that were excellent guard dogs.
Eleanor and Daryl had been together for about two years and were still blissfully happy. They still had loud arguments and he was still over protective of her but other than that they were content together. They couldn't imagine life without the other.
The only problem with having so people was they keep running out of basic supplies, the things they couldn't grow or make. The local area had been cleared out and they had to go further and further to find anything.
Rick, Maggie, Michonne, Daryl and Eleanor had taken the pick-up and trailer and headed to an out of town shopping mall about 60 miles from Terminus. Daryl and Eleanor had lead the way on the bike. When they arrived the five of them had worked together to clear the area of walkers before heading into the mall. They were doing well, finding a surprising amount of stuff. While Rick, Michonne and Maggie moved to the next store Daryl and Eleanor took several bags back to the pick-up.
Rick was suddenly aware he hadn't seen them return, it had been longer than it should and he was instantly concerned. He called the two women over and they decided to go and check they were okay. They left the mall and stopped in horror at what they saw.
Daryl and Eleanor were surrounded by walkers, a small herd must of come at them while they were loading the truck. There were bodies everywhere and they could see Daryl fighting two walkers off, as Eleanor struggled with two of her own.
Eleanor drove her knife into the skull of the closest walker, while holding a second away with her free arm. She struggled to pull her knife free. She saw Daryl stab one, while a second tried to sink its teeth into his arm, as he held it away. As she watched a third lunged towards his back. He had no way of seeing it and no way of defending himself. She pulled her blade free. She knew she couldn't kill the one she was holding off herself and get to the one behind Daryl in time. She did the only thing she could think of. She let go of the one she was holding and twisted round, sinking her knife into the one behind Daryl. She felt a sharp pain in her side and stumbled to the ground.
Rick saw the third walker reaching for Daryl and drew his gun, before he could fire he saw Eleanor twist round and stab it. He fired at the walker she'd been holding but, even as the back of its head shattered, he knew he was too late. He heard Maggie's anguished cry behind him and the muffled curse from Michonne, as she ran forward, her katana drawn.
Daryl heard the shot and saw the walker fall from behind him as he killed the one trying to sink its teeth in his arm. He pushed it away and glanced at the one on the ground. A knife was still embedded in its head. He looked across at Rick, saw him still holding his gun out, a stricken look on his face, he saw Maggie standing behind Rick her hands pressed to her face. Michonne was running towards him, her katana held out. Her eyes met his, her expression unreadable, then she dropped her gaze. Their reactions told him everything he didn't want to know.
He forced himself to move, made his feet turn. Eleanor was on the ground behind him, a walker with the back of its head missing still draped over her body. He dropped to his knees beside her, reaching for her with shaking hands. Her face was away from him and he caught her shoulders, gently rolling her over to face him. Her eyes were closed, her face screwed up in pain, covered in a film of sweat.
"Ellie" his voice broke as he called her name. Her eyes opened and she looked at him, managing a weak smile.
"You're okay?" she was relieved. Her hand reached for his and he grasped it tightly.
"I'm okay" he managed as he lifted her head, cradling it against his chest. Her eyes were full of pain and fear, as well as tears. He could feel his own tears as he stared helplessly at her.
"I'm sorry" she whispered "weren't meant to be like this"
"You aint got nothin to be sorry about" he told her, stroking her cheek and brushing her hair from her face. He heard the swish of Michonne's katana as she kept the remaining walkers away from them. He saw Rick drop to his knees beside them and drag the walker off her body. Carefully Rick lifted her top and revealed the ugly wound in her side, just above her hip. There was nothing they could do. He stood up and backed away, giving them space. Maggie was standing to one side sobbing quietly as she watched her dying friend.
Eleanor lifted her arm, her hand cupping Daryl's face, using her thumb to wipe his tears away.
"Don't " she choked "Don't cry for me. You said I had nine lives like a cat, guess I used them all up, but you made them happy" she swallowed hard, her breathing becoming harsher.
"Don't let me turn" she pleaded, She turned her head, looking across the road from the mall.
"Take me over there, into the forest" she asked "always liked being in the forest with you. It was where you were the most relaxed. Take me there, then leave me. " He shook his head, fighting to speak.
"Aint gonna leave you" he held her tight, refusing to let her go.
"You gotta" she whispered " You gotta leave me, walk away"
He knew he had to do what she wanted but he wasn't ready to let her go. He lifted her face to his, brushing her lips with his.
"Love yer" he whispered against her neck as he struggled to his feet, holding her in his arms. He felt Ricks hand on his arm, helping him up.
"I'm sorry" Ricks hand brushed Eleanor's cheek as he reached down and kissed her forehead lightly.
"Goodbye Eleanor" he whispered as he stepped back, brushing his own tears away. Maggie stepped towards them, tears rolling down her face as she grasped Eleanor's hand.
"Eleanor" she touched her face "I'll miss you so much, I love you like my own sister" she couldn't speak anymore and turned away, crumpling against Rick and he held her against his shoulder.
Eleanor looked around, seeking out Michonne. When she saw her she reached her hand out. Michonne stepped up and took it.
"Promise me you'll look out for him" she begged "he won't do it himself, I need to know someone's watching out for him" Michonne nodded
"I promise" she said simply, eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Thank you" Eleanor's hand dropped from hers and she looked up at Daryl.
"It's time" she whispered "You gotta let me go"
He nodded and turned away from the others, heading to the forest like she wanted. Once there he set her down, her back against a tree out of sight of the road.
They stared at each other for along moment, then she reached up and pulled his gun from its holster.
"Go now" she told him "Don't look back"
He pulled her to him, feeling the heat from her body as the fever took her. Her breathing was slow and raspy. She didn't have long left. He reached down and kissed her one last time, a long lingering kiss he didn't want to break. She pushed him away gently.
"Go, please" her voice was fading. Reluctantly he rose and stumbled backwards, away from her, his eyes never leaving hers.
"I love you" she breathed as he turned and walked away, hardly able to see where he was going. He'd barely got back across the road when the gunshot rung out. His knees buckled and he slumped to the ground. He felt arms wrap round him and he tried to push them away.
"I aint going anywhere, I promised her I'd look out for you" Michonne told him as she held him and he sagged against her.
I'm sorry
xxx