Chapter 39

After about 45 minutes of pain I had a tribal tattoo of a Cherokee Rose on my left shoulder. I smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you Brandon. You always were good at what you do." I said.

He gave me the classic goofy Brandon smile.

"I know."

I laughed and then ran full speed to the tent. I smiled when I saw Daryl waiting. He saw me and took me in his arms. However I did not foresee the consequence of my new tattoo.

"Ow!" I said.

"Did I hurt ya?" He asked.

"No it is not you. I had to collect a favor Brandon owed me." I said.

Anger flashed across his face.

"What kind a favor?" he growled.

I smiled and removed my shirt to show him my tattoo. When I turned back around he smirked.

"He owed ya a tat?" He asked.

"Sort of. He owed me a favor. I chose this as the favor."

"Why a Cherokee Rose?" He asked.

I smiled.

"You know the story?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Well I am more then likely the last Cherokee Indian in the world so I thought I would make sure that everyone knew it." I said.

"Don't think walkers give a shit." He said.

I raised my eyebrow and pushed him back.

"Maybe not but I do." I said.

He smiled and kissed me.

The next morning when I woke up Daryl was already gone. I sat up and pulled on a shirt and different pair of pants. As I walked outside I heard a painful cry ring through the air. It came from the house and I ran towards it. I ran through the door and up the stairs into Beth's room. Maggie and Lori were trying to open the bathroom door.

"Shit! Maggie! Lori stand back!" I said.

They stood aside and I kicked down the door. Beth was on the floor with her wrist gushing blood.

"Oh shit! Shit! Shit!" Maggie said.

I rushed forward and picked her up.

"Where are Hershel and Patricia?" I asked.

Neither of them knew. I carried her back to my tent and got out my things. I still had the things I needed for stitches that Patricia had given me.

"Maggie I need you to get me something to stop the bleeding!" I said.

She tore from the tent and I grabbed anything to hold against her wound.

"Why would she do this?" I asked.

"She's been different since that shock. Earlier this morning I she took a knife and hid it from me. I got it back but then Maggie left her with Andrea…." She said.

That made sense. Andrea had wanted to commit suicide when she lost Amy. Maggie came back and I managed to stop the bleeding and stitch up her arm.

"Where did you learn to do that?" Lori asked.

I smiled a little.

"I can sew. When you marry Daryl Dixon he has a lot of cloths to be mended. Even before that I could embroider things. And well I was always accident prone and I got hurt a lot. So I had to learn to keep myself alive. And my sister….the oldest was a healer of sorts." I said.

"She must have been a really good teacher." Maggie said.

I smiled and nodded.

"She was. We were on our own after our parents passed. We did not have the money for expert medical care. But her healing skills were enough. And with my other older sister to protect us…..well we got by. They taught me everything. That is the reason I am still alive." I said.

They said nothing. I picked Beth up and carried her back towards the house. On the way back Andrea and Brandon came running to us.

"Oh god! Is she…."

"Yeah she's alive!" Maggie snapped.

"Watch it." Brandon warned.

"Why!? She let my sister try and kill herself! You stupid bitch!" Maggie snarled.

I gently placed Beth on the ground. The look in Brandon's eyes I had only ever seen once before.

"Maggie listen to me. You need to stop." I said.

"NO!"

She turned back to Andrea.

"You stay away from her! You are no longer welcome in this house!"

I lunged forward as Brandon jumped forward at Maggie. I pinned him to the ground but he was stronger then I. When we were children it was easier. Now he was a grown man. He threw me back but I got up and got in between him and Maggie.

"Brandon stop! She was upset!" I said.

He was beyond reasoning. I remembered not how to calm him. He ran forward again and I grabbed him and with all the strength I had I threw him back.

"Brandon this is not you!" I said.

Fail. He knocked me to the ground again and I hit my tattoo.

"Son of a bitch!" I said.

I jumped up and threw him backwards and jumped on top of him.

"You are not this man! Look at Andrea Brandon! Do you truly wish for her to witness what destruction I know you are capable of?!" I said.

He looked at her and the madness in his eyes disappeared. I got off him and he stood up and walked to Andrea. He looked at Maggie.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to try and hurt you. It's just…..I love her." He said.

Maggie nodded and she turned and walked off with Beth in her arms. Brandon turned to Andrea to say something but she kissed him instead. I cleared my throat and Brandon pulled away from her and looked at me.

"I owe you another favor don't I?" He asked.

"Oh hell yeah. You knocked me back onto my tattoo. That hurt like hell." I said.

"Sorry."

I smiled and nodded.

"Next time save that insane rage for walkers." I said.

He laughed and nodded.

I walked to the tree and climbed to the top. I was up there for quite some time when Anthony called up to me.

"Hey Prue?! Mind coming down for a minute?" He asked.

I came down and jumped in front of him.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I'm…I'm gonna ask Eveleen to marry me." He said.