CHAPTER 6

They'd been driving for hours now, having hit a jackpot of gas some miles back, and Noel was sick to her stomach. It was going to be dark soon and they needed a place to sleep so everyone's eyes were pealed. There was a small inn ahead, a few walkers in front but still good enough for the night.

Daryl was leading the group so he dispatched the walkers quickly and quietly. As soon as the caravan stopped, Noel was out, bent over, her hands on her knees forcing herself to keep the food down. While they had gas in surplus, food was scarce. Daryl was next to her now, his hand on her back. She felt her gag reflex relax and stood to look at Daryl.

"Ya alright?" He asked through furrowed brows not trying to hide his concern. She nodded and buried her face into his chest, enjoying his arms around her.

"I hate cars." He accepted this as the cause of her dry heaving led her inside the newly scouted inn.

Noel had been carsick before but it was nothing like this constant nausea that she felt and hid even hours after she exited the vehicle. She had her suspicion as to why this was happening but ignored it, claiming she was only being paranoid.

She stood watch with Daryl as Lori and Carol prepared something to eat. Her eyes found the pregnant woman, who was showing at this point. Hershel and Noel agreed she must be about 4 months along, maybe more. Noel studied Lori as she hid the discomfort that she shouldn't be having at this stage in the pregnancy, she made a mental note to check on her later that day.

After eating their meal of stale crackers and granola bars, Daryl and Rick discussed the groups' next move. She watched Lori again as she sat with Carl, about to make her way over to the pair when Rick spoke to her.

"What do you think we should do?" Noel knew Rick trusted her but only recently had he been including her in conversations such as this one that she wasn't paying all that much attention to.

"Well, we definitely need more food so maybe a few people could look around this place, they must have had a kitchen… and me and Daryl could check the woods nearby for any game." Rick seemed to like this idea because he and Daryl started conversing without her again.

Noel was about to check on Lori but she was once again interrupted, this time by Daryl. He took her wrist, leading her outside where he released his grip on her and they both took hold of their weapons. Noel took the lead walking into the woods with Daryl on her heals.

She could feel his eyes on her instead of the ground so she turned to meet his eyes with a small smile. She searched his features and saw the previous concern still there. Noel walked over to him pulling his hands from his crossbow and wrapping them around her.

"Yer still feelin' sick," Daryl muttered into her hair, "I can tell."

"I'm fine," she said as she rested her head against his chest, "Hours in the back of a crappy truck on dirt roads will do that to ya." She said before lifting her head and pulling his down for a kiss. It was quick but tender, both of them aware that they were out in the open.

They weren't going back empty-handed; two squirrels were on the dinner menu. As they neared the inn Noel could have sworn she heard a scream. Her head flew back to Daryl; the look on his face told her he had heard it too. They ran.

They busted into the inn through the back, Noel recognized the woman's voice before she saw her. It was Lori, something was wrong with the baby. Noel sprinted up the small flight of stairs to find Lori on the floor of the bathroom with Rick and Hershel at her aid.

The first thing Noel noticed was the steady flow of blood between her legs. She was having a miscarriage. She looked to Daryl and he bolted, returning within the minute with her medical bag.

"HELP!" Rick screamed having finally noticed Noel's presence.

"I came as soon as I could." Noel said, her words ridden with guilt. "Tell me what happened." She said looking to Hershel, who was on the ground with the crying woman.

"She starting having contractions, she was in a lot of pain, then the blood started. He quickly explained, "She's so weak, it's taking a lot out of her." Noel nodded quickly and attempted to take control of the situation.

"She miscarrying, and if we're not careful she could bleed out. She's not strong enough to handle this kind of trauma." She quickly went to work helping the woman any way that she could.

Noel sat back for the first time in hours, her bloodstained hands wiping her eyes. Lori was dying and there was nothing she could do. She should have stayed, she should have checked on her when she noticed something was wrong. They we're all starving and weak, how could she expect Lori and her unborn child to survive like this.

"She needs a blood transfusion." Noel spoke quietly when Rick frantically asked what they could do.

"I know her blood type! I'll find someone… one of us has to match…"

"None of us have the strength to pull that off even if the blood type matched. We've been starving for days now," Noel reasoned as she searched her mind for another way.

"Rick, please stop." Lori spoke up for the first time in a while; her voice was just as weak as the rest of her and it was heartbreaking for Noel to hear. "Get Carl… I want him here with me." Noel got up to fetch the boy, "Both of you." She heard as she exited the bedroom.

She knew that would ease Rick's guilt, it was no secret that him and his wife have been on shaky ground these past two months. She went into the room where Carl and Beth were sleeping and found the boy sitting, waiting. Noel took his hand and sat with him letting his head fall to her chest.

They sat there like that for a few minutes, holding each other tightly. They'd grown closer during their time on the road, spending most of their time together in the back seat of Hershel's truck. Carl was like the little brother Noel wished she had and Carl loved her like she was family.

Noel finally loosened her grip on the boy, allowing them both to stand. Carl held her hand tightly as she led him to his mothers' deathbed. Once outside the door Carl embraced Noel quickly. She placed a tender kiss on his head before he opened the door.

Daryl stood across from the door and he took Noel's hand as Carl disappeared into the room. He pulled her into a tight embrace with his lips pressed against her forehead. She cried against him silently, the tears running down her face without a sound.

"I should have –" Noel started as she pulled away.

"Shut up," Daryl interrupted firmly, "Ya did everything ya could've." He concluded pulling her back to his chest but froze when a muffled shot rang through the air. A while later, Carl exited the room followed by Rick.

"She said to thank you…" Rick began, "for everything…your help." He said placing his hand on Noel's shoulder. Noel just nodded and watched as Rick led Carl away from the room where his mother just died. Moments later Glenn, Hershel and T-Dog made their way up the stairs.

Noel began to follow them into the room but was stopped by Daryl's hand on her wrist, "They'll take care o' it. Ya can come wit me." She nodded again, unable to find words. He pulled her into another room and readied them for bed. They lay down, hands gripping each other tightly.

She opened her mouth to say something, to thank him, as she lay with her face buried in his neck but the words never came. Lori was dead and if her suspicion was correct she could be next. The silent tears started again.

"Girl… ya know I love ya." Daryl mumbled into her hair. She nodded and let sleep overcome her.