Blackened

Even though they had gotten through one barrier, they still needed to find a way out of the building. The doors would not open when T-Dog tried the code, and there was no way that they could break through them. Shane and Daryl began swinging at the windows but it had nearly the same effect as when Daryl had been trying to break open the door. All it did was scratch the glass. T-Dog tried next with a chair, once more just resulting with scratched windows.

"What the fuck is that made out of?" Jamie asked aloud, not really excepting anyone to answer.

"Dog, get down! Get down!" Shane yelled as he walked up with a freshly loaded shotgun, shooting at the glass where the most marks had been made. More dents were placed in it, but it still didn't shatter. Jamie tried to think about anything that could break the glass, anything that they might have with them. The doors downstairs could withstand a rocket launcher, but the windows couldn't be quiet that strong. At the very least they'd need something that had an explosive effect.

She jolted when she remembered.

"Rick!" she screamed, startling everyone in the room as she whirled around to face him. "The grenade!" she yelled, watching as he whipped around to face her after watching Shane shoot at the glass. "When we were in the tank, you picked up a grenade on the shelf. Please tell me you still have that grenade!" she begged loudly.

Realization dawned in his eyes and his hands moved to his pockets as he felt around for the grenade that clearly wasn't there.

"Wait," Carol called, rushing over with her bag in hand. "The first night at camp, when I washed your uniform." she pulled her hands form the bag to show the circular grenade, pin still intact. "I found this in your pocket."

"Holy shit, you actually kept it," Jamie said in a rush of relief, leaning over as she placed her hands on her knees. Rick looked at the grenade for a moment before he took it from her hand, moving over to the window.

"Look out!" he yelled, the group all rushing over to the stairs so that they were away from the blast. Daryl pulled Jamie over to the stairs quickly, ducking down and tugging her against his chest. She took hold of the arms wrapped around her chest and ducked her head forward. The silence of the room allowed them all to hear when Rick pulled the pin and released the clasp, dropping the grenade at the base of the window and rushing over to them as he chanted "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit."

The blast pushed Daryl more firmly against Jamie's back, Rick's form flying past them and landing just before the stairs. The sound that everyone was waiting for came, though. They could all hear when the glass from the shattered window fell to the ground, breaking into millions of pieces.

"Everybody out!" Jamie yelled as she rushed over to force Rick back to his feet, rushing over to their things and collecting her gun and bag from the pile they had left. Everyone else quickly did the same, their boots sliding on the polished floors. They all jumped out the window frame, ready for the walkers that they knew were going to be there.

Daryl passed her his crossbow as they were crossing the front yard, the axe in his hand all the weapon that he'd need. Jamie only paused once to take aim with the weapon and fire, taking out a man that was hobbling his way toward them at surprising speed. She made sure to stoop down and rip the arrow from the man's head as she was running passed him, looking back in time to see Daryl swing the axe and take another walkers head clean off.

"Get to the truck!" he yelled up at her, throwing her the keys. She caught them in the hand that was holding the bloody arrow, running faster toward the truck. The others piled into their own vehicles, Rick and his family climbing into the RV since Dale had stayed behind. Luckily, he left the keys in the ignition most of the time.

Jamie ripped around the front of Daryl's truck and threw open the driver's door, chucking the crossbow and arrow into the back, before she fumbled to get the keys into the ignition. Daryl appeared at the driver's door pushing against her harshly to slide her across the seats before he jumped in, slamming the door closed. He threw himself down over top of her, knocking the air from her lungs at the force, and pressed her hard into the seat. She could feel his breathing hot on her neck, his hands gripping at her shoulders with his arms wrapped around her.

With a tremendous explosion that sounded like thunder a thousand times too close, the trucks were shaken violently for one second, a wave of air that felt as hot as fire itself rushing through the open windows of Daryl's truck. The ground shook with an artificial Earthquake as the entirety of the CDC building crumbled to the ground, huge chunks of stone and concrete falling like rain to the ground below.

When the shaking began to slow down, Daryl lifted up to look out the front windshield of the truck, to where the CDC once stood. A flaming pile of rock was all that was left behind, lighting the area with the blaze. Jamie was left gasping on the seat, her hands rising to her face as she tried to stop her trembling. She soon pulled herself up as well, looking out at the flames. She quickly looked back to Daryl, seeing that he was looking at her as well.

Her hands reached for him at the same time that he lunged for her, her hands gripping at his hair as he pressed her down into the seat again. Their lips met in a desperate kiss, a flurry of movement and emotion. Jamie could feel tears of relief burning at her eyes, the horrible tension that had been building in her stomach for an hour finally releasing.

"I love you," she gasped out as she pulled back from the kiss, soothing her hands across his sweat slicked face. "Oh, I love you, I love you, I love you," she chanted against his skin, feeling the press of his lips as he continued to kiss her. The sounds of the other trucks starting were masked slightly by the rolling flames and falling rubble of the CDC, but they were loud enough that Daryl knew they needed to get moving. He pulled back from Jamie with on last kiss, picking the keys up from where they had fallen to the floor of the truck.

His hands were far more steady than hers had been as he started the truck, waiting for the others to pull away before he could. He lifted his arm up and looked over at Jamie, immediately feeling her press into his side as she wrapped her arms around his torso, refusing to release him. They quickly made a U-turn, leaving the city that they had driven so far to get to. Jamie watched as the trucks drove before them, the warmth of Daryl's body a welcome feeling even in the heat of the sun and fire.

It's strange; the world had come to an end and they still abided to the laws of the road, staying in the right hand lane.

ᵻ

They found a place on the outskirts of Atlanta where there were clusters of cars and trucks that they could siphon fuel from, an abandoned town in the woods. They decided it would be best to leave behind some of the vehicles, since there was no point in driving so many and they were just using up needed fuel. In the end, they were left with the RV, one truck and a motorcycle. They moved their things around and left behind what they could, such as the things of Jacqui that couldn't assist them in the end.

"Daryl and T-Dog are going to siphon more fuel, Jamie can you go with Lori and Carl to help trade some of the things from the other trucks?" Rick asked as he looked over to the blonde. She nodded her head immediately and moved over to where Lori and her son were unloading the large van, bringing most over to the truck since that one wasn't holding as many people.

"Here, you're strong, carry this for me," Lori said as soon as Jamie was beside her, passing her a box of canned goods and other packaged foods that could be saved for a while. Jamie grunted slightly at the weight, nodding to Lori once she had a hold of it so that the brunette could get back to work. "You alright with that?"

"Yea, works as a great muscle builder," Jamie joked, grinning. Lori smiled faintly and nodded her head before reaching for something to give to Carl. Jamie carried her load over to the open back of the truck, sliding it in as far as she could so that there was still room for more things.

"Don't strain yourself there sweetheart," Shane called over from where he was standing and talking with Dale about riding in the RV.

"Don't call me sweetheart," she called back as she moved over to the van to get more things. Lori looked over to Shane in disapproval when Jamie was leaning into the van to get a bag and couldn't see. Shane ignored the look and turned back to Dale, asking him what he could do.

"Don't worry about Shane," Lori said from behind Jamie, smiling to Carl when he ran back over for another task. Lori handed him the bag of his father's clothes and asked him to put it in the back seat, getting an excited nod before running off. "He can be an ass but he's a harmless ass."

"That's not what I'm worried about," Jamie huffed as she pulled two bags of camping gear up toward her, throwing the lighter over her shoulder and turning to face Lori. "Daryl's a bit overprotective if you haven't noticed. If Shane's not careful, he's going to have an arrow through his-"

"Mom, what else?" Carl asked as he appeared again, completely oblivious to what he had interrupted.

"Here, kiddo," Jamie said as she held out the bag with the tent rain cover and the metal pegs that kept the tent in place. "I'm gunna need a strong man to help me with this one, wanna give me a hand? You look good and strong." She grinned down at the flush that appeared on Carl's cheeks before he took the bag and hitched it over his shoulder, just as he had seen her doing and rushed back over to the truck. Lori smiled her gratitude to Jamie, getting a pleased nod from the blonde as she lifted the bag with the actual tent and the rods that kept it up.

Lori and Jamie kept up light conversation as they passed one another between the trips to and from the van. Carl was a constant little helper, always looking for something that he could do to help. If he wasn't trying to help them he was off trying to please Shane.

By the time they were finished with emptying all they needed from the van, the guys were back with the gasoline for the RV, truck and bike. Jamie grabbed her things from the truck Daryl was leaving behind to hand them over to Dale when he assured her that he'd take good care of them. The other vehicles were crowded enough so she told them she'd be going with Daryl.

"If there's anyone that needs to do anything before we leave, best do so now," Rick called over the space they were occupying, getting nods and sounds of confirmation. Not a moment after, Daryl appeared at Jamie's side and had slung an arm over her shoulder.

"Come on, we're taking up the lead." She nodded her head and walked with him up to his bike, glancing back as the others all began to pile into their vehicles as well. Rick watched over everyone like the father of a large family, a caring man that was determined to keep as many of their lives safe as he could. "All ready to go?"

"Yea, I'm all set."

Daryl swung a leg over to bike first, leaving the space behind him for Jamie. His crossbow was already strapped onto the back, his other things in the RV with Dale. There was barely enough room for Jamie to sit, and she briefly wondered if he had done that with the sole purpose of having her sit as close to him as he could get her. She just shook her head in amusement and moved to hitch a leg over the side of the bike when she saw something that made her pause.

"You're wearing the vest," She said softly, gaining his attention. The leather vest that he was wearing was one that he had bought when he saw that angel wings on the back and was immediately reminded of the ones that covered Jamie's back. She had always teased him by saying he was just jealous that he didn't get the wing tattoos first, but she knew it wasn't truly that.

"Don't go thinkin' it's 'cause I want to match with you," Daryl said as he looked forward again, getting a smile from Jamie at his deflection. She had always had a soft spot for that vest and he knew it even if she tried to deny it. She took a moment longer to look down at the angel wings of the vest. Shaking her head in amusement, she hitched her leg over the bike to sit behind him, pulling her legs up so that her thighs were pressed tight against his, her pelvis pushed up against his lower back.

"Don't go gettin' hard or this'll be a very uncomfortable ride," she whispered into his ear, feeling his muscles lock up for a moment before he turned his head to glance back at her, getting an innocent grin from the vixen sitting behind him. The RV started up behind them and Daryl knew that that was their signal to get going. Jamie's arms wrapped around his torso as he started up the bike, the deep rumble was a familiar sound to her. They soon lurched forward, moving up the bend in the road that led toward the highway and out of the city limits.

"Goodbye; Morgan, Duane."

Daryl drove the bike with ease, having done so many times before, and was able to effortlessly glide along the roads to provide a smooth ride. Jamie's head rested on his shoulder to protect her face from the wind, her hands splayed on his stomach. She did not know how he could be driving without something protecting his eyes; he didn't even have sunglasses on.

She just leaned her head down on his shoulder and watched the trees as they flew by them, soon turning into open fields. The sun pressed on her back as it rose to claim the sky, brightening the day around them. She was always tempted to look back in the direction of the CDC, wondering if the thick plumes of smoke still clouded the sky. For the entire day after the left the CDC, all that could be seen were the dark traces of smoke. It blackened the sky nearly as much as the events that had led up to its creation blackened their minds and souls.

She looked up once in early afternoon when she noticed they were passing cars and saw that they were on a highway. There was a huge jam of cars and a large transport truck had been flipped on its side up ahead, blocking off most of the road. She looked back toward the RV, but the sun was too bright to see into the windshield and she quickly looked forward again. Daryl only went so far up before turning the bike around and heading back toward the others. He rode right up toward the window that Dale opened, leaning out.

"See a way through?"

Daryl glanced back before nodding once and motioning back toward the road, moving to drive around so they could come full circle. There was no point in trying to talk over the rumbling engine of the bike, they'd just be screaming at each other. Daryl drove as slowly as he could through the roads, letting the trucks keep pace behind him.

Jamie looked at the trucks and cars that they passed by, several still holding the bodies of people who had killed themselves. It looked like a graveyard in the middle of a highway. There were things thrown about on the road as people rushed to and fro, clothes and other belongings just lying on the ground. She almost felt sorry for running over all the different things but knew they wouldn't be missed.

They were making pretty good progress when the RV began to squeal behind them, steam rising from the engine as the hose that she had placed inside finally met its end as well. Their caravan of cars pulled to a stop, all ignitions turning off to preserve the fuel for later. Jamie rose from the bike first, walking a bit in a circle as Daryl dismounted to get the feeling back into her legs and ass.

"There a problem, Dale?" Shane asked as Jamie and Daryl made their way over to the others, the steam rising from the engine of the RV drawing everyone into a crowd to see what there was to do.

"Oh, just a small matter of being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no hope of-" Dale cut off suddenly as he looked over to watch as Daryl began to poke around inside the back of an abandoned van, seeing what there was to find. "Okay, that is dumb," he muttered finally, looking around at the vast number of vehicles on the highway.

"Can't find a radiator hose here," Shane said sarcastically, looking back at Dale over his shoulder.

"Plenty of things we can get here," Jamie said as she looked over to see what had Daryl so interested. "We can probably find some more supplies; medical, food, maybe deodorant." Daryl looked over at the word, seeing that Jamie was looked away from him but just knowing that the comment was secretly directed at him. Carol smiled softly in amusement at the two, looking over to notice a look much the same on Lori's face. It was actually quite amusing to listen to the two.

"Siphon more fuel from the cars, too," T-Dog added in.

"Do you want some help with that, Dale?" Jamie asked when she saw Glenn carrying over his bag of tools.

"Don't worry; I can take care of this old thing. You take a look around because there'll be more eyes needed out there than over here," Dale assured, getting a nod from Jamie as she moved off with the others in search of something important. She wasn't really looking for something specific since the only thing they could do was guess what was in each bag they came across.

It didn't take long to find some clothes that looked about her size, including jeans. She nearly felt like crying in happiness at the thought of finally getting out of the uniform pants that Rick had found for her. She double checked the sizes before she folded them up and placed them aside so she could continue to look through the different pairs of clothing and whatever else was in the bag. She found a small thing of first aid; Tylenol, Benadryl, Band-Aid's, and some disinfectant. She placed those on top of the clothes to bring back as well before pushing some things aside to look deeper.

She didn't want to add another bag to the mix, so she simply placed the things she found aside to carry back and give to the others or put inside her own bag.

"Jamie!" A hushed called caused the woman to drop down, knowing the tone. She looked over to where Lori was, mouthing a word to her. She squinted to see, her eyes widening when she finally realized what it was that she was trying to portray to her. Walkers.

She jumped up into the van that she was standing behind, pulling the back down as she ducked low so that she couldn't be seen in the windows. Her heart began to thrum wildly in her chest until she was almost certain that the walkers could hear it as they made their way by. She covered her mouth in an attempt to quiet her breathing, refusing to look up because she knew what she was going to see. The bags of clothes and other things that she had been looking through made a comfortable cushion for her to sit on, but she was sitting with her legs cramped up beneath her and it was starting to cut off the circulation.

She kept her head down as she listened to the raspy groaning of the walkers as they made their way passed the van, moving along without even realizing the food that they were leaving behind. Her head was spinning as she breathed through her nose deeply, thinking over where she had seen everyone littered around the highway.

But, where was Daryl?

I tried to get this chapter out sooner, but my internet decided to die. I hate wi-fi sometimes.

Getting closer to Hershel's farm. Oh, the plans that I have made. I might change the way of the story near the end because I'm sure that I'm going to get to the season finale before the new season comes out, so this story won't follow the show all the way through. I guess that's a good thing, some people get bored of it after a while.

Please review! It would be very much appreciated.

Chapter 18 - Angels Can't Die

"I don't need your help," he wheezed out, luckily not trying to pull away anymore.

"Shut up," Jamie ordered, looking down at his face for a moment. He was sweating profusely and his eyes were bloodshot when he looked over at her. "This is gunna burn like a bitch, but hold still as best ya can." She poured the disinfectant her hands before doing the same onto one of the square patches of gauze that came inside the bag. She looked down at the injury one more time, feeling lightheaded just from looking at it before she pressed down harshly on the injury, getting a scream from T-Dog. Using one hand to keep the soaked gauze on the injury, she took a second cloth from the bag and held it to his mouth, sticking it between his teeth and ordering him to bite down as hard as he could.

"What's going on down there?" Dale asked as he leaned over the side of the RV, looking panicked at the screaming that was coming from that large black man.

"Just a routine check-up, nothing to see here!" Jamie called up, never breaking eye contact with T-Dog as he bit down on the rag. Dale still lingered above as he watched Jamie work diligently on T-Dog's arm, first finishing with the disinfectant before she held a clean piece of the white bandage to his arm to stop the bleeding. She never took her attention away from her work, keeping her attention solely on getting T-Dog taken care of.