Mara winced. "Shit, Elias."
"Sorry," he said, even though he couldn't be treating her with more care. He gently dabbed antiseptic on her cut.
"I'm sorry, just fu-" Mara saw Carl watching intently, "freaking stings.
Carl squared his shoulders offended. "I know what you were going to say. I'm not a kid."
"Well I don't know what you're talking about," Mara retorted. Everyone except Maggie and Christine were squeezed into a cell block eating and swapping war stories from the day.
"You shoulda seen this walker, Man," Daryl was telling Rick. "Like watching a bowling ball take down an alley pin."
"I'm so glad you were there to see it," Mara said sarcastically.
"Glad t'save your life, ya mean?"
"I could have done just fine," Mara said with as much dignity as someone getting patched up could muster.
"You have many encounters with walkers in Australia?" Hershel asked.
"We never had a spook, walker, set foot on our soil," Yussuf answered with pride.
"None?" Glenn asked
Nathan shook his head. "There was an incident with a ghost ship but we dealt with that before an outbreak could follow."
"But what about the ones that just die naturally? Surely you've had some deaths in a year?" Rick asked.
The Australians looked baffled. "What are you talking about?" Elias asked. "What does it matter if a person just dies?"
There was a loaded pause from the survivors. Mara could sense something wasn't right. Fear began to uncurl in her belly. What did they know that they didn't?
"They're all turning aren't they?" It was more of a statement than a question from Nathan.
Rick met Nathan's stare and nodded once. "Their bite doesn't turn you, it just kills you."
"Are you shitting me?" Mara shouted, pushing away from Elias. She felt something inside of her snap and her stance was hostile and she was furious.
"Mara, calm down," Yussuf pleaded.
"No! We're infected. We weren't and now we are! From being in contact with them," she pointed at the wall at some invisible walker. "And from them!" This time she jabbed her finger at the survivors.
In her mind she could see herself drinking from Daryl's water bottle and she felt sick.
"You knew about this," she whirled to face Daryl.
He held up his hands, "we didn't know y' weren't infected."
Some rational part of Mara knew that is wasn't Daryl's fault, or anyone's fault. But that part was very small and he had the misfortune of standing closest while she lost it.
Mara grabbed him by the front of his shirt and shoved him back. "I have parents, a family, a life!"
Daryl tried to uncurl her fingers but she had them dug tight in the fabric. He ended up pushing her back. Mara fell back on the floor. Daryl looked surprised that he'd shoved her that hard and was taking a step forward to help her up.
"I don't want your help," Mara spat out. "Stupid white trash, should have known you'd push women too."
The instant those words left her mouth Mara felt shame. Daryl's shoulders stiffened like loaded springs and two spots of colour burnt in his cheeks. He stalked from the room without a backwards glance.
"That was uncalled for," Carol said quietly. Mara knew that Carol was right and that her temper had done the talking for her but she was struggling to process the fact that her life as she knew it was over.
She stayed on the ground with her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands. Her deep breaths were ragged and bordering on hyperventilation.
Yussuf knelt by her. "Mara, you need to calm down."
"Yussuf, don't you understand? They're not going to let us back. You saw how things were. They turned away hundreds of refugees so they're sure as hell not gonna let us in now that we're carrying this filthy disease."
Mara thought she'd save lives by volunteering and she knew there was the risk of death but she always believed that she would go home and resume her life. Now she was stuck here until they came up with a cure, or until she died.
Five years ago, Darwin
They were talking about him like he wasn't there again. Elias didn't mind, in fact he was completely used to it.
His mum was sad with what she was hearing, he could tell. He didn't know much but he knew that.
The guidance counsellor was explaining that with his grades there was no chance of him getting into university and with his learning difficultly there weren't a lot of options left.
The guidance counsellor tried to be matter-of-fact and professional, sending sympathetic glances at Elias.
Elias didn't take any of it personally because he could tell she just wanted to help. Teenagers had been cruel and Elias had a thick skin because of it.
His mum and dad were having a hard time hearing the fact that their son would never amount to much more than a grocery stacker.
Elias hadn't thought too much about his future. With his side the option of football always came up, maybe league or union, but it didn't interest Elias much at all. He didn't have that aggressive streak.
That didn't bother him too much but disappointing his parents? Yeah, that was the sticker.
Present day, Georgia
Christina and Mara had dug some workout clothes out of their pack and were running laps inside the prison fence. Christine was pushing to stay with Mara who was the fastest in the group. Michonne had joined them and she kept up an easy pace. She was obviously in good shape from the constant roaming.
In Georgia being fit was synonymous with being alive and they were still adjusting to the sticky Georgia heat.
It was still early in the day but it seemed like all the prisons occupants were taking the morning to enjoy the nice weather before it got too hot.
Rick and Nathan were sitting next to each other as the girls walked up from their run. Mara was finding them in each other's company more often than not and suspecting they were working out a plan.
Christine put her hands on her hips. "Hey Sergeant Mastermind, you know if they have working showers? We all stink!"
Nathan looked to Rick. "She's got a point. Hygiene should become a priority if it's safe. Disease is one of the worst killers in battle."
Rick considered the question. "Prison should have working pumps. We've never found the showers."
"I know where they are," Carl piped up.
"We can take the women first; make sure no one gets hurt. Take the opportunity to wash Judith too." Mara had been subdued for the last couple of days. She was slowly becoming more communicative. She knew that she had to apologise to Daryl too but she kept putting it off. It wasn't because of Mara's pride, she knew she had crossed a line, but because she was too embarrassed to face him.
Rick considered the suggestion and nodded slowly.
That was how the women ended up in a group in the showers.
"Alright ladies, here's the plan. Two in the shower at a time, I need the rest of you ready to fight just in case," Mara said as she wrapped a chain through the handles of the door, which would slow the spooks down if they attacked.
She wasn't sure they were paying her any attention, judging from the delighted whoops that sounded when the water started.
"Shh," Mara hushed them but the obvious joy brought a smile to her face. Beth and Maggie were the first in to the shower, the rest turned to give them some privacy. Beth let out a little squeal at the coldness of the water. Even Michonne cracked a smile at their antics.
"Don't forget this," Christine said, throwing a bar of soap over her shoulder.
Mara leant against the wall near the door and didn't hear Carol approach. She started when Carol spoke.
"You doin' ok?"
Mara sighed. "I'm better. Pretty ashamed of my tantrum though."
Carol was understanding. "You had just learned something pretty horrific. That would weigh on anyone."
The two women were silent for a minute listening to the water.
"Daryl is a good man," Carol said abruptly. "He's done some things he ain't proud of but he risked his life to save my little girl."
Nathan already had told them about Sophia and even Daryl's part in all of it.
"I'm sorry for your loss." That was all Mara could think to say. What could you say that would offer any comfort to a grieving mother?
Carol's smile was weak around the edges. "Thank you. I wished you'd make things right with him. He hides it well but he's sensitive and he's been sulkin' ever since-"
"Since I was a rude bitch?"
Carol laughed outright.
"You're right, Carol. It was uncalled for. I'll apologise today."
Carol looked satisfied with the outcome.
Mara used the shower last, almost moaning with pleasure as the water ran over her body. After living in the heat and stench, the cool water was a blessing. Mara was pulling on her cloths, her wet hair dripping down her back when Beth shrieked and not in a playful way. A spook was pushing at the door.
The scream alerted it to the fact it had found jackpot. Six warm adult bodies and one baby. Christine and Mara pushed to the front. Christine tossed Mara the weapon she had been holding for her.
Mara tossed her impenetrable jacket behind her. "Wrap Judith in that!"
As soon as enough of the spook's face was visible, Christine plunged a sword into its face.
Christine moved back in line with Mara. "There are more."
"Enough to break the door?"
"Probably."
Michonne, Maggie and Carol moved forward creating a stronger shield between Judith and the dead.
The chain started to give. "What knot did you tie?"Maggie asked.
"The only kind of you can really tie with chains," Mara said. "We're gonna have to fight."
The gap between the doors widened enough to let one slip through and then another. They rushed at the group snarling and snapping.
Mara took one and Christine the other. They killed in perfect synchronicity, not having to exchange a word.
"Be careful, Mara," Christine instructed and Mara knew she was talking about her bare arms.
The chain slid off the handle like a snake. The door swung wide on their hinges. It was ten spooks and they were backed against a wall trapped.
Mara and Christine lunged forward. Michonne, Carol and Maggie fought with equal ferocity. Michonne demonstrated her precise skill with a blade. Maggie and Carol didn't have the training but they had the motivation. One spook slipped past the fighters and reached for Beth. Its face was sliding off its bones. Beth took a terrified step back and clutched Judith closer.
Carol swung her bat into the Walkers torso and the Walker staggered away. Maggie ended it with a sharp thrust in the temple.
"Let's move, "Mara hissed. "Go quiet."
Christine was on high alert as she took the rear guard of the group with Michonne. They had told Mara this part of the prison was clear except for maybe the occasional incident but there must have been a way for a bigger group to sneak in.
Mara kept the flashlight steadily pointed forward. It was the moans that alerted her to the presence of the spooks up ahead. A small group ambled around the corner. "Back it up," Mara called.
"They're behind us!" She heard Christine shout from behind.
Mara swore and launched herself forward; Maggie was right next to her. Mara quickly realised that in the tight corridors surrounded by living bodies she couldn't use her sword for ultimate damage.
As smoothly as she could she switched to her knife but the push of walkers caused her to drop it. Using the only weapon she had left, her body, she kicked the closest spook hard in the face. Her heavy boots made a crunching sound.
They had all been taught hand to hand combat during their training but Mara had never thought she'd have to use it against spooks.
There was a small space around them. Maggie and Carol were killing the spooks efficiently enough. Mara took the risk of bending down to grab her knife.
A spook on the ground wasn't quite dead. Mara couldn't help the startled cry that escaped her lips as it grabbed her wrist and her bicep, slamming it up against the wall and stretching it out like a buffet.
Mara frantically snatched the knife up, breaking finger nails along the ground. She slammed it into the spooks head just when she felt its panting wheezes on her skin.
Carol was there in an instant, pushing the spook away and dragging Mara to her feet.
Mara nodded her thanks and took the lead again. Christine was still using her sword at the rear, keeping the spooks clear of Beth and Judith. Somehow Michonne and Christine were managing to avoid cutting each other with their swords.
It ended abruptly. One minuted they were fighting for their lives and the next minute all the spooks were dead at their feet. Mara didn't take a second to enjoy the victory.
"Let's go."
The rest of the journey was spook free. Mara's body still trembled a bit from the adrenalin rush and the fear. That was the closest she'd come to being bitten before now. If she had been a fraction slower she'd be dead now. It was a sobering thought and gave Mara a renewed respect for the survivors in the prison.
"We almost got killed for a shower," Christine pointed out when they made it safely back to the cell block.
"I don't know about you," Carol said, "but I almost think it was worth it." The grin on her face made the other women laugh.
Glenn came up to Maggie and embraced her. "Oh my god, you smell amazing."
"It's just soap," Maggie answered, but she looked pleased anyway.
"Where are Yussuf and Elias?" Mara asked.
"Out on guard with Daryl," Hershel answered.
"We've been coming up on with a plan," Rick spoke.
"Sarge?" Christine turned to Nathan. If there was a plan, it didn't apply to the Australians unless Nathan was on board. Nathan nodded at his two corporals, silently giving his support.
"We're going to fortify the prison, make it our base and clear it out. Then we can go looking for other survivors."
Mara understood why Nathan and Rick had been talking in private so much. Nathan had been persuading him to let more strangers into the prison. He'd not kept his corporals in the loop because this plan confirmed one thing. They weren't going home and they need a more permanent base.
Mara swallowed the lump in her throat. "That's a good idea. What are our orders?"
"Mara, you and Daryl are gonna make a run into town tomorrow. We need cement, medical supplies, pretty much anything you can find that'll be helpful."
Mara stared at her sergeant. Was he trying to punish her by sending her off with the one person in the group who had a reason to hate her?
"And you'll have to watch out for the Governor and his men," Rick added.
Christine put her hands on her hips. "That reminds me. I feel like you owe us a story about this Governor."
Rick exchanged looks with Nathan. "You're right. I'll tell it tonight when all your people are here."
"Mara, can I speak to you please?" Nathan asked.
"Sure." Mara followed him off some ways. If Nathan wanted to speak to her in private it could only mean she was going to get in trouble.
"You need to make things right with Daryl."
Mara would never accuse Nathan of wasting words. "So that's why I'm getting sent on this errand."
"That man is an integral part of this group. Rick and Hershel both respect his opinion. He's saved nearly everyone in this group at least once. He's important and they're never going to fully trust us if one of mine is antagonising one of theirs."
"I know. I was going to apologise I was just trying to find..."
"Some balls?"
"The right time!" Mara corrected.
"Either way, do it soon."
Mara watched Nathan walk off. That was the second person in one day demanding she get her act together. It was time to bite the bullet and apologise.
AN: I'm just trying to establish a dynamic between the Aussie's and the survivors, including the prejudices that come with it all. Next chapter will have more Daryl POV but I thought I'd stick with Mara after her outburst and the guilt she's feeling. Please review and let me know what you're thinking. I'm still very much in the 'getting to know you' stage.
MD666