After my error earlier I thought it be appropriate to give you guys another chapter with the correct character :-p Enjoy everybody! Review! Also would like to comment their are mentions of suicide/depression in this chapter. If something like this triggers you please refrain from reading.

Chapter 15

Blake had dozed off on Glenn's shoulder, the lull of the RV slowly rocking her into a fitful sleep. They were trying to make the ramp onto the highway to start heading toward Fort Benning. The group new their journey was going to be a rough one and after the CDC, everyone had suffered a blow. Andrea sat in the passenger seat, only speaking to Dale when needed too. Blake heard she tried to stay behind but Dale convinced her otherwise. She wondered if maybe she could help Andrea, considering she helped with Suicide Prevention programs at her college. Ever since Leila, Tanyon's late fiancé had passed away Blake tried to involve herself in programs as a way to help herself and her brother cope. After Leila committed suicide Blake attended all types of events and meetings in order to help those at her college who were overwhelmed with issues in their lives. Blake had seen herself go down that road before, her insecurities almost taking her down. Depression had coursed through Blake's blood for years as she tried to cope with the spiritual and mental blows. She did some stupid things, met stupid people, and put her career and life in jeopardy way to many times to be acceptable. Ever since Leila she has always tried to never let her thoughts go down that road again, for she saw first hand what that can do to the people around you. Blake thought maybe she could use some of that knowledge to help Andrea. Maybe that time at college won't be considered a waste now, she thought to herself.

Blake finally let her eyes flutter open, feeling very odd about the nap she just took. It was one of those naps where you feel you're asleep but all your thoughts were clear enough for you to think that you were wide awake. So many things ran through Blake's mind but when her mind drifted back to college she forced herself to hold back tears.

She missed her roommate and her best friend. She missed her boyfriend. She even missed the work load. Blake wanted to work in the music business and had been ready to start a short internship in New York City this upcoming winter. She had so many things going for her and she stressed herself out trying to make her family proud; to be the first person in her family to graduate with a degree. Now its all gone.

She hasn't thought about him in a long time. Derek and Blake had been dating for about a year and a half when the outbreak broke.

"Blake, baby, I love you," Derek choked into the phone.

Blake continued wiping the tears form her eyes as she professed her love, "I love you too, Derek, be careful," she said, her lips whimpering with the thought of never seeing Derek again.

"I'm going to the refuge center but I have to stop home first. You know that. My baby sister and my dad are there. I'll meet you there. Ok? I love you but I have to go now," Derek said soothingly.

"I don't want to hang up," Blake announced hysterically, the emotion in her voice reaching its peak as the end of their phone conversation neared.

"I don't either baby," Derek said, his voice cracking as he tried to stay composed for the girl on the other end of the phone line, "but I have too."

Blake began to cry, finding it hard to believe that she would see him again if he went to face the craziness outside on his own.

"Please be careful, Derek. I'll hate you if you don't come back. You have to promise me," Blake struggled to speak.

"I promise Blake. I promise. I love you." And the phone line went dead.

"Derek…..DEREK….please, ple-"

"Bea, lets go. He'll catch up we have to get a move on, now," Carl snapped at her from the other side of her dorm apartment. Carl softened at the devestation on his sisters face, "I'm sorry sis, we have to go."

Blake had successfully put thoughts of him into the back of her mind. She was surprised how easy it was for her to filter those thoughts, maybe because she knew how crippling it would be to face the fact that he's gone forever and she was never seeing him again. Blake took a shaky breath in the RV and lightly bumped the back of her head against the RV. The smell of body odor being accentuated by the Georgia heat did nothing to keep her head from being woozy.

"What's wrong, sis," Tanyon interrupted.

Blake looked down at her big brother as he sprawled out on the RV floor using an extra map to fan himself. His one arm sat behind his head as his light brown muscular arms were accentuated by the position they were in. She wouldn't be surprise if the odor came from the black hairs of his underarms. His grey muscle shirt was soaked from the pits down to his ribcage.

"Derek," she replied, that's all she could say. She didn't want to get to much into it.

"He's out there, he's a tough dude," Tanyon said to comfort her. He wasn't exactly sure if he was alive, but he also wasn't sure if he was dead.

"Yeah he was, I'm just trying to move on from it though. It's better that way. I'd rather him focus on his survival than try to come find me. But something tells me he's too stubborn to do that," she said with a sad smile.

"You're probably right. If he is, he'll find you," Tanyon returned with a smile as well. The siblings paused in their chat. When Tanyon began to speak again the caravan once again came to a stop.

"What's goin on," Glenn asked from the seat beside Blake.

"Daryl stopped us up front. Let's see what's going on," Dale said as he lifted himself from the drivers seat, "Move your feet, Tan," Dale said as he lightly kicked at Tanyon's long legs.

"Sorry, get a bigger RV," Tanyon said smartly.

Dale laughed as he made his way down the RV steps, "I'll keep my eye out for a luxury hotel on wheels. It's the only one that'll have a floor big enough for your giant feet,".

The occupants of the RV laughed, besides Andrea who listlessly stared out of the passengers window at god knows what.

"Let's see what's going on," Tanyon spoke as he attempted to get off the floor.

"Come on, Carl," Blake said as she grasped Carl's shoulder with her hand, "I promise a certain lady I'd bring you by to see her on the next stop".

"Do I have to?" the freckled boy pouted.

"Yes, she'll kick my ass if I don't. Now come on before I kick yours," Blake said jokingly as Carl dragged his feet down the RV steps. With Blake right behind him he scanned the group for his mother, who waved him down from next to the station wagon. Lori was standing next to little Sophia and her mother, Carol. Carol kept her daughter sitting on the edge of the seat with her feet hanging out the door. The pair was as pale as anything. With that golden blonde hair and blue eyes Blake assumed she could've been Irish or English, which means a brutal sun like this could bring this little girl hell when it came to sunburn. As Blake watched Carl make his way to his mom she saw Daryl waving his arms as a interested Rick glanced towards the woods.

"What do you think's going on up there," Blake asked Tanyon. He shrugged his broad shoulders in response.

"Let's check it out," he said.

The siblings walked toward the Sheriff and the redbeck side by side. When they approached Rick was speaking, "Lemme ask a few people to accompany you, no one should be going out alone right now. I know you are perfectly capable but it's just better this way".

"Where we headed," Blake interrupted as Rick turned to face both her and her brother.

"Perfect you guys are here," Rick said as he cast a glance toward a very anxious Daryl.

Blake scanned his features. The skin around his eyes and mouth were tighter than usual and the muscles of his arms bulged as his hands squeezed anxiously, waiting to do something. He was pacing back and forth, grunting when he saw the brother and sister.

"There's a white van over there that we took to Atlanta when we went to find Daryl's brother, Mer-"

"Merle, yeah, I know who he is," Blake interrupted.

"Well, we took this van and realized he had gotten away. We couldn't find him but realized he was most likely alive, our van wasn't where we left it when we got out of the city. We think he took it. Daryl saw it along the road just now and wants to check it out. I don't want people weaving through these cars on their own so I'd like you to come with us to check out the van," Rick finished.
"Hell yeah, Sheriff. Let's do it," Tanyon spoke

"Let's hurry the hell up. We ain't got all day to wait for y'alls decisions. Les' go," Daryl said as he stormed off in the direction of the abandoned van.

Blake followed Rick, Tanyon took the rear and Daryl spotted up front. They slowly weaved back and forth between the cars, making sure no unexpected visitors snuck out of open car doors or from under the abandoned vehicles. There were a couple stragglers that Daryl took out with his crossbow. It made Blake jealous and a little pissed that Daryl made her leave her bow behind, but in the end she knew he made the right call. Wasn't worth the trouble finding her weapons when the whole CDC was ready to set fire to every molecule within its confines.

The foursome arrived closer to the van, one of the two back doors slightly unhinged from its bolts. As Daryl hurried his steps a little bit Blake heard the distinct sound of gurgling and moaning from beneath her. Before Rick could react a walker grabbed his ankle, making him trip forward.

"Shit," Rick yelled as his body hit the ground. Before Rick could even turn onto his back Blake jammed her hunting knife into the skull of the melting walker. It's face was sliding off the bone due to the sweltering heat and the clothes were tattered and bloodied.

"Christ," Rick said as Blake helped him up from the ground. "Thank you," Rick said as the paleness of his face started to return to its natural peach color. "It's all good, Grimes," Blake said as she smirked at the Sheriff, wiping her sticky blade onto the seats of one of the open vehicles. No reason to wipe the knife on her halfassed clean pants.

When Tanyon, Blake, and Rick turned back toward the van, Daryl was already jumping in with his hunting knife ready. They began walking toward the vehicle when they heard Daryl yell, "FUCK!", followed with a loud bang from inside the van.