Home for Dinner
Leaves crushed under her feet as she ran swiftly through the woods, shifting her weight from one foot to another making as little noise as possible. Her rhythmic heartbeat and breathing were in sync with every stride she took. Blue-green eyes scanned the forest before she pushed herself off the ground and jumped over a rock and landing back on her feet, continuing her run back to camp.
"Jazz?" barely opening her eyes, light blinded her before a shadow towered over her. "Don't touch me!" She screamed. A instantly covered her mouth as she screamed. "Shut. Up." It growled at her ear before she felt the man move away from her. Jazz recognised the voice. It was Drew's. "He's coming back. Leave." She mumbled as she tried to sit up from the cold hard floor. "We have to get the others out of here." Jazz watched as Drew tried to untangle her from the rope before the door suddenly swung open.
"YOU LITTLE-WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?" David yelled as lunged at Drew. He was suddenly slammed against the table as the old man wrapped his hands around his neck. Jazz struggled as she tried to stand before she spotted a gun tucked inside David's pants. She quickly grabbed it and slammed the gun on his head. The two tried to leave the room when Drew was suddenly pushed out the room before David locked it. Jazz shook in fear as the man stalked towards. "Just a little more cuts. Or maybe a huge deep one could repay his life." He mumbled. Drew slammed his foot on the door. Jazz suddenly pointed the gun at him.
"No. Don't you dare pull that trigger! You killed him! You owe me your life!" he yelled. "YOU SWORE YOU WOULD SAVE HI-" Jazz pulled the trigger and shot David in the face. Drew slammed the door open and saw Jazz holding the gun shaking violently. The gun went through his skull. David grabbed her before she started screaming.
"AH!" Jazz felt herself fly before she landed on the ground with a hard thud. "Shit." She groaned out before quickly getting on her feet scanning her surroundings for biters. Spotting the rock that she had tripped on she gave it a kick before inspecting herself and only found a few scratches on her knees that were bleeding. Her palms were however filled small scratches with dirt stuck in them. "Damn it." She mumbled under her breath before brushing herself off and pulling out her baton. Suddenly faint screams can be heard from the camp. Cursing under her breath, Jazz started running towards it.
"He either is or he ain't!" A southern drawl erupted from camp as Jazz stepped over the string of tin cans. "Oh no." she groaned out before quickly making her to the others. "Got sumthin' ye wanna tell me?" Jazz came in the clearing as Daryl got in Rick's face. Everyone was watching the three men. A few glanced at her except Rea who noticed she was covered in dirt. "Your brother was a danger to us all." Jazz winced before stepping up, intentionally getting Daryl's attention. "So I handcuffed him on a roof, hooked him to a piece of metal. He's still there." Rick said bluntly. Jazz stood there anxiously as Daryl paced. "Hold on. Let me process this." His eyes landed at her before turning to Rick. "Ye sayin' ye handcuffed my brother to a roof?! And you left him there!?" he yelled. "Yeah." Rick nodded. Everything happened quickly as Daryl threw his squirrels at Rick making him duck before lunging at Rick only to get tackled by Shane. "Stop it!" Jazz yelled at the men. Daryl took out a knife. Jazz ran a hand over her hair as everyone just stood by watching. Jazz then decided to interfere. "Daryl. Put that away will you?" Jazz exclaimed raising her hands up. "This isn't your business, Jazz." Rick glanced at her. Shane suddenly took Daryl under a chokehold before Jazz decided to grab the knife from him getting cut in the process. "Shit!" Jazz stuffed the knife on her pocket as her palm bled, before turning back to the men. "Jazz. Stay out of this." Glenn grabbed her by her waist knowing she was going to interfere. Daryl was on the ground with Shane who still had him on a chokehold with Rick knelt in front of him. "I'd like to have a calm discussion on this topic. You think we can manage that?" Rick asked Daryl. Glenn's hold on Jazz loosened when Jazz stomped on his foot and ran towards the three men as Rick got closer to Daryl's face.
"You think we can-" Jazz kicked Rick on his forearm before throwing Shane a punch, square on his jaw. "Oh my god!" Glenn yelled. "Hey!" Lori yelled but was only pulled back by Andrea. Shane stood with Daryl on the ground as Rick sat on his ass staring wildly at Jazz. "What the hell!?" Shane exclaimed. "Mind yer own business, girl." Daryl drawled at her. "You fucking idiots!" She hissed at them.
Jazz turned to Shane, "A chokehold!? Are you fucking kidding me!?" she yelled at him before turning to Rick staring down at him, "And you, Rick, really? This guy who I've never seen my entire life tells me he just handcuffed my brother on a fucking roof under the sun on a building filled with walkers. Like it's the most normal thing in the world. What kind of dumbfuck would take that thing lightly?" she then turned to the younger Dixon. "Taking out a knife? Who the fuck are you trying to kill, Daryl?!" she yelled before grabbing the knife and throwing it at his feet. "And will you fuckers just tell him Merle Dickhead's alive? For fucks sakes.." Jazz stormed off behind her tent away from the eyes of the whole camp. Jazz sat at a chair with water as she tried to clean the cut on her palm.
After that Daryl made his way to her. He sat beside her without a word before grabbing her hand gently. "The hell were ya' doin back there?" he grunted. "Setting things straight?" Jazz shrugged before hissing in pain as Daryl poured water on her palm. "That knife you had. Did you use it on walkers?" Jazz asked. Daryl nodded, "S' why I asked this from Rea." He said grabbing a bottle of alcohol. Jazz nodded. Of course he did.
"Shut yer' mouth, kay?" he grabbed her face roughly as Jazz nodded surprised at what he just did. Daryl stared into her eyes, "1…2."
He suddenly poured the liquid directly on the cut. "Hm!" she whimpered as she bent over in pain covering her mouth slamming a hand repeatedly on Daryl's thigh. She sat up and Daryl saw tears streaming down her red face. "One more." He said before pouring it again. Jazz once more bent down in pain clutching Daryl's arm. "Alright. Let's hope ye' don't get infected." He said seriously before wrapping a cloth around her hand. Jazz breathed heavily as she wiped the tears from her face. "Get those scratches cleaned. Don't run around the woods if yer' just gonna trip on yer own feet." "You saw me trip?" Jazz wondered. Daryl shook his head, "Just figured. Saw ye' running through the forest earlier thought you were a goddamn deer." "Sorry." She chuckled. "That cut on your lips and those bruises. Got that from the fall?" he asked. "Yeah. Rolled down a hill when I tripped." Jazz lied. "If yer' gonna be running out there, least look where the hell yer' goin." He said before leaving her.
After getting cleaned up Jazz stood with Glenn and Ritchie by the RV waiting for Rick and Shane. She wore a clean pair of black jeans, sneakers and a grey shirt. "You're not wearing cargos." Glenn noticed. Jazz chuckled and leaned against the RV as the two stood in front of her talking with low voices. "I'm going with them." "What? Why?" Glenn asked. "I'm not going with them to get Merle. I just need a ride to the city, Glenn." "I doubt that. They'll need you." He stared at her. "Just shut your mouth about this, kay?" she hissed. "I will. But are you even fit to go out there?" Glenn grabbed her right palm. "And you're right handed. Can you even shoot?" pulling her hand back she glared at Glenn. "I'll go with you." Ritchie said.
"No. I have to do this alone. And I need you here to protect camp and keep an eye on Riley." Jazz smiled at him.
"I'll be okay." "Why would you risk your life for a douchebag like Merle Dixon?" Shane caught up with Rick. "Hey choose yer' words more carefully." Daryl pointed an arrow at Shane. "I know. I did. Douchebag's what I meant." He glanced at the younger Dixon who didn't bother arguing. "Merle Dixon…" Shane spat at Rick. "The guy wouldn't give you a glass of water if you were dying of thirst." "What he would or wouldn't do doesn't concern me-"
"Jazz, Come here will you?" Shane cut him off. "What? Why?" she eyed the two suspiciously but nonetheless made her way towards them. "Look at her Rick." Shane grabbed her arm making him face him. Jazz tried to pull away from Shane. "Merle did that. To a woman. And you're going out there for him?" "Let me go. Goddamn it." Shane let go of her. Jazz walked back to Glenn avoiding a certain redneck's gaze.
"The hell did I just hear ye' say?" Daryl asked Shane. "Your brother did that to her." He glared at the Dixon. "The hell he did! She got that from tripping earlier in the woods!" "When she got back from Atlanta. She had those already." Rea piped up. "We all saw what happened." Glenn eyed Daryl.
Everyone sat inside the cube van quietly. Daryl sat on the opposite seat of Jazz, studying her face. An ugly bruise covered her temple and cheekbone, with a cut on her cheekbone and eyebrow. Another area was bruising where her neck and shoulder met. They had an ugly shade of purple and blue. Her side of her . Daryl chewed on his thumb studying her.
"We walk from here." Everyone got of the cube-van and started jogging along the tracks. Daryl slowed down as he stayed beside Jazz. "Sorry 'bout my brother." Daryl spoke up as they stopped at a fence. Jazz smiled at him gently, "You didn't hit me. He did. He's the one that should apologize, Darly." They all climbed through the whole. "Why ya' goin' back for him 'nyway?"
"I'm not." Jazz said before turning to the others. "I just needed a ride. I'm going someplace else." She said taking out her baton and checking her handgun. "What the hell?" T-Dog asked. "I've got someplace I need to check." She said before walking. "Where are you going?" Rick asked. "Look we don't have all day. I'll meet you back at the building." She said. "We won't leave without you." Rick promised. "At least tell us where you're going." Rick asked. "Come on, people! Can't stand and chat all day! She can handle herself she'll be fine!" Daryl yelled walking away. "Twelve blocks from the building. Head straight to Marietta Street. It's an apartel just across a music store." Jazz said. She nodded at everyone. "Are you sure don't need me with you?" Glenn asked. Jazz glanced at Rich as Glenn handed her the other CB. "Nah. I think I have to do this one alone." Everyone turned to leave, "Rick?" She called out. He turned back to her, "I'm sorry for kicking you earlier." she looked directly at him. "You did what you thought was necessary. Me and Shane could've handled it better." He nodded at her. "Yeah but I'm still sorry for kicking you." She shrugged walking in the other direction of the road.
Jazz walked passed low-rise buildings, dealing with a few biters before stopping at a three-storey apartel and swinging the door open. "Jazz? Are you there?" The CB suddenly went off. "This is T. Somethi-" "Shit." Jazz shut it off, listening for biters. She quickly scouted the first floor for biters and possible supplies. Jazz quietly made her way up the stairs before she heard movement from the second floor. Ignoring it, she walked down the hallway and stopped at a door that was left open. Jazz took out her handgun before swinging the door open. A foul smell filled her lungs before she took a step back, "Shit." she mumbled as a heavy man laid on the floor with a whole on his skull. Not far was the corpse of a kid, a boy lying next to him with also a whole on his skull.
Jazz bent down to the man before she patted his pocket and found a wallet. She flipped it open and found a family picture. Everyone was in the picture, Riley with her father, mother and little brother. Suddenly a groan was heard before a biter tried to grab her from behind. Jazz pulled the trigger to shoot but she fell on her back, dropping her gun in the process. She held the biter on it's chest feeling her fingers dig through it's flesh and into the meat. She pushed the biter will of her might before kicking it on the leg making it break with a sickening sound and falling to the floor. Jazz pulled out her baton as the biter crawled towards her before she swung the metal pole against it's skull. She repeatedly swung at it until the pole made contact with the floor.
Faint groans were then heard from outside. Peeking through the window she gasped as biters got closer to the building. "Fuck!" she hissed before grabbing her gun and running outside the hallway. Biters started coming out of the room. Cursing under her breath, Jazz ran down the stairs and stopped as the front door shook as biters tried to get in. A handful of biters limped along the hallway making their way to her. Jazz pulled open a door open before slamming it shut and pulling a table against it. She found herself on a tiny office without a window before opening a door and found a toilet with a small window near the ceiling. Jazz closed the door before remembering the CB. "This is Jazz. T-Dog, what's going on. Where's Glenn?" she radioed as she smashed the window open. "Jazz? Get your ass here now. We're at the building beside the department store. Something happened. Hurry."
"Jazz!" the kid yelled as he ran up to her. "We got a new game! Play with me please?! Riley never let's me play with it." Jazz laughed as she closed the door shut and taking off her jacket. "Kean, let's all have dinner first, kay?" the man said as he set up the table. "Hi, Mr. Fuller." Jazz grinned at him wrapping Kean around her arms. "Honey! Riley! Jazz is here!" he yelled. Riley then stepped out of the kitchen with a woman behind her. "Jazz!" they both yelled. "I am so happy you're finally here!" the woman squealed before wrapping Jazz in a hug. "Hi, Mrs. Fuller." she laughed before Riley grabbed her. "Stop hoarding, Mom." she rolled her eyes at her mother. "So where is he?" Riley's mom asked. "Ritchie's just parking the car." She smiled. "Well, he should treat you well. Everyone here knows you've been single for too long." Riley said before walking away. "Hey. We're not even official yet. We're just taking our time and enjoying what we have." Jazz said following the woman to the kitchen. "Please, honey. You both went on a holiday." The woman smirked at her as Jazz pulled up her button up and helped in preparing. "Stayed on a cabin in the middle of the woods." Riley added. "For a week." The man added as he grabbed the bowl of pasta. "He asked you to be his date on a wedding." Riley piped up handing the plates. "And now I'm having dinner with your best friend's family." Jazz turned to see Ritchie standing behind her holding a bottle of wine. "I'd say we're getting serious, right?" he asked before placing a kiss on her lips in front of everyone. Jazz felt head rise up to her cheeks before she swatted Ritchie on the arm, walking away as she heard everyone's laughter.
"How the hell did he got taken?" Jazz exclaimed looking at the three men. "I told ya', His friends just came outta nowhere and jumped me!" Daryl said for the second time. "And they want these bag in exchange of Glenn." T-Dog eyed her. "Them guns worth more than gold. Gold won't protect yer family or food on the table. Wanna give that up for that kid?" Daryl turned to Rick. Jazz looked at Daryl, "Did you really just asked that, Dixon?" Jazz frowned at him. "If we get Glenn back I might agree. You think that Vato's just gonna hand him over?" "You calling G a liar?" "Are ya' a part of this?" Daryl gave the kid a slap in the head. "Just give the chica to us. It's an even trade." "The fuck is that supposed to mean, kid?" Jazz jerked a head at him. "We're short on women back there." He shrugged as he looked at Jazz from head to toe. Jazz scrunched her face in disgust, "Want this to go through your skull?" Jazz pulled out her baton. "I'd stop pissing off these two if I were you." T-Dog warned the kid. Jazz glared hard at the kid before slamming the baton on the floor beside him as he whimpered. "Shut the hell up." She pointed the metal pole at him. T-Dog turned to Rick, "Now the question is do you trust that man's word?" "Nah. The question is: are you willing to bet on it? Could be more than dem guns. Could be your life… Glenn worth that to you?" Daryl eyes Rick. "I owe my life to Glenn. He could've walked away when I got stuck inside that tank… but he didn't." "So you're just gonna hand the guns over?" Daryl asked. "We're not." Rick turned to Jazz. "We can handle them. You and me." Jazz nodded before turning to Daryl. "We're not forcing you on this. You two can go back to camp." "And tell them what?" T-Dog groaned out. "Your friends are gonna yell at me for not coming back with you." Daryl sighed. Jazz snorted, "Nah. You're just worried that if something happens to me, you won't get to drink and smoke anymore." She chuckled before taking an assault rifle. Daryl smirked at her, "Maybe."
"Jazz, stay behind me." Daryl said as he pointed a rifle on the kid's back as they walked towards the big metal gate. "Okay?" she said as she followed him with T-Dog behind her. They all got inside as the men surrounded them. One whistled at as she passed him. "I see my guns. But they're not all in the bag." G eyed the guns that they were holding. "That's because they're not yours. I thought I mentioned that." "Let's just shoot these fools. Unload on their asses." One piped up. "Not the pretty lady. Wouldn't want to hurt her." Another man said. "Hey! Keep your eyes here." Daryl snarled at one of them. "You took a woman with you? We're pretty short on woman here." G eyed her as she kept her mouth shut. "People inside need a woman's touch." He drawled. "La polla." She drawled back at him. The men chuckled. "Felipe! Felipe!" an old woman called out.
Everyone followed the old woman as she lead them through the hallway of what looked like a shelter for the elderly. Jazz then spotted Glenn with a group who was huddled to an old man. "Glenn!" Jazz exclaimed running up to him. Glenn wrapped her in his arms and had to catch himself before they both fell, Jazz!" he mumbled against her neck. "Thought something bad happened to you." She shook her head before pulling away and watching Felipe as Glenn draped an arm over her shoulder. Daryl glanced at the two. "What the hell is this?" Rick asked looking around them. Glenn watched the old man, "An asthma attack. Couldn't get his breath all of a sudden." "Man, we thought you were getting eaten by dogs!" T-Dog yelled as Glenn turned to a couple of Chihuahuas in the corner.
"I'm sorry about earlier." G turned to her as Rick laid out the guns they were giving to the Vatos. "Which part?" she raised an eyebrow. "I meant it. We need woman here to take care of the elders. The Vatos can do more outside these walls than inside here. I'm sorry for offending you in any way." He said. Jazz smiled at him.
"What'd you call him back there?" Daryl glanced at Jazz. "A dick. I'm not sure." she laughed. "So what happened to your trip?" Glenn asked. "Took care of things.. For Riley. Another close call but it was okay. Got out through a small…window." She trailed. "Oh my god." Glenn mumbled. "Where the hell's our van?" Daryl asked. "Merle." "He's gonna be taking some vengeance back to camp."
"Riley?" Rea called as she stood outside her tent. "Yeah?" Rea zipped the tent shut before crawling in and sitting in front of her. "You need to know something." Rea started. "What is it?" Rea sighed. "Jazz the reason she came back to Atlanta wasn't because of Merle. She went back for your family." Riley sat there in confusion. "What do you mean?" "She went there to deal with it. For you." "Why would she do that? Won't she get killed?" Riley asked. "She'll be fine. But after this you need to let go of it, okay?" She looked at her. "Okay…" Riley breathed as she sat there deep in though.
As the four men and Jazz came closer to the camp they heard shots being fired. Come on, guys!" Jazz yelled as Rick and Daryl got left. "Rick!" Glenn yelled as Rick handed him a shotgun. Shots continued being fired as they got closer and closer to camp. Screams and groans enveloped the camp.
"It's not Merle! Biters!" Jazz yelled as they all ran faster. The group got to the clearing and saw camp was a mess as everyone was running around in panic.
Jazz spotted a biter heading her way before she shot it with her handgun. "Jazz!" Rea yelled. "Rea! Get in the truck!" she yelled as she shot another one. "Get everyone in the truck!" she yelled. "Riley!" Rea yelled as she smashed a biter's head. Jazz looked around rapidly before she spotted Riley who was taken down by a walker. Jazz screamed before she felt something push her and take her down with it. Jazz screamed in fear as she fought off the heavy biter before it started getting closer to her. Jazz wept in fear a she to get the thing off her before it went limp on top of her. Jazz laid there in shock before she tried to push the biter off of her. Daryl then came in her view as he pried the biter off of her and grabbing her arms and making her sit up. "Ya okay?" he asked grabbing her face and brushing off her hair. Jazz grabbed onto to Daryl before she mumbled something, "Riley… Riley!" she said before standing up and running to where she saw Riley fall. "Jazz?" Daryl asked as he watched her froze in place.
"Oh god.." she whispered before kneeling and grabbing a figure and making them lean against the tree.
"Riley!" Rea screamed from the top of the truck before she stumbled off of it and ran towards the two. Riley had a bite on her shoulder with crimson blood gushing out of it. She sat there with her eyes half open, breathing heavily. Jazz took out her small towel before pressing it against the bite. Riley groaned at. Jazz shook her head and grabbed Riley's hand. "H-Hey. It's me. I'm back." Her voice shook before she grabbed something from her back pocket. Drew and Ritchie stood by the three women. "I found them.." Jazz breathed as she opened the wallet she got from Riley's dad. Jazz saw in Riley's face light up. "Look." Jazz took out the photo and showed it to her. She smiled before choking on her own tears. Glenn and Daryl watched as Ritchie moved to grab Jazz but she shook her head at him. Riley's mouth twitched up before she closed her eyes in pain. "She's in pain." Jazz whispered before rubbing the tears from her eyes. "We have to do this." She said standing up. "NO!" "Are you crazy?" People stared at her with wide eyes as they waited for a response. Jasmine Foster, twenty-three years old. Thick, long and messy auburn hair pulled up in a ponytail shook slightly as her whole body trembled. Closing her eyes, she feared what was in front of her. Jasmine had caught sight of blood gushing out from under the woman and immediately looked down. She wouldn't be able to take in the sight that was unfolding in front of her-but she had no choice.
"Jasmine, don't." The voices around her then slowly disappeared and were replaced by…thumping. It was her heart. It was beating loud and fast. Jasmine shook her head to be able to regain her previous state. In a matter of seconds, the voices came back.
"Jasmine." "Please, don't do this." Ever since they had been thrown in this hell, she knew if ever the thing she feared the most happened, she would be the one to take care of it. Taking a deep breath she pulled out her gun from her belt. It felt a lot heavier than usual, a lot heavier. The voices then turned to panic yelling. "Stop her!" "Get the gun! Do something!"
Maybe it was because of the running back to camp; the trip to Atlanta; or simply just because she couldn't sleep well last night. Whatever the reason was she felt jello, unable to hold the handgun properly. "I-I'm.." Riley tried to speak. Jazz clenched her jaw and turned her head away. "Stop." she muttered under her breath. The woman stopped along with the shouting. She felt her stare. The woman slumped against the tree was staring and was trying to talk to her despite her current situation. "I'm.. sorry." She heard her tried to say. 'This is wrong', she sighed before kneeling in front of her and finally looking up at her lifelong friend's face. Jazz's chest tightened and her head felt heavy as her blue-green eyes studied the frail woman. Her skin was turning to a sickening shade of blue. The corners of her mouth oozed blood and her shoulder looked like something took a bite out of it. "No. No." she shook her head refusing the tears to fall. "I'm sorry." Jazz brushed a stray hair out of her friend's face. Her voice cracked and turned hoarse as a lump on her throat grew. "I couldn't protect you." Her mouth quivered as she pulled away and stood up. Gulping nervously she, put her hand over the gun and cocked it, looking down at the woman.
"It's okay now." She said a little louder as she gave the broken woman a small smile so as to comfort her. Pointing the gun at her head she clenched her jaw. "I'll see you soon." She promised before she pulled the trigger.
Screams and cries were heard as the gunshot echoed around the destroyed campsite, over the dark woods and to the moonlit quarry.
Thanks for becooley for the follow :) Next update will be in a week.