Title - Bodies And Souls Collide
Chapter title - A Stranger Calls
Author - OblivionsGarden
Genre - Hurt/Comfort/Romance/Family/Horror
Disclaimer - I do not own The Walking Dead in anyway shape or form. I only own the plot points surrounding my oc's, not recognized from the show or comics.
Chapter Word Count - 2433 words.

"Can I help you find something?" Hershel's voice startled Teddy as she was knelt by the boxes of medical supplies one late evening.

"Figured you'd be louder on those things." She nodded at his crutches, dropping a package of dressings back into the box. "I need to sleep."

"Sleeping pills? Is that really a wise decision?"

"I'm not in that place anymore." She murmured, taking a seat on one of the chairs in the cafeteria. "I don't want to have to take them but I keep having these damn nightmares. I haven't slept properly in weeks."

"I've noticed." Hershel took a seat beside her, noticing the dark circles beneath her eyes. "Unfortunately we don't have any sleeping pills here. Mention it to Glenn and Maggie, see if they can't find some on their next run."

"No." Teddy shook her head firmly. "I don't want everyone to know."

"Bad dreams are nothing to be ashamed of. In fact I think you'll find that most of us have 'em nowadays."

"Just, don't tell anyone please. It's bad enough that Beth's worrying about me without adding everyone else too." She was grateful when Hershel nodded his agreement. Unfortunately that left her back on square one with no solution and so reluctantly she headed back to bed to stare into the darkness until it was time to wake up.

Teddy was still worried about Rick, still wanted to go to him but Glenn assured her that he was fine and just needed time. Daryl promised her that if he hadn't returned by that afternoon then he would go to him for her. When Rick did emerge over breakfast that morning, her worries weren't put to rest. His eyes weren't focused and clearly, nor was his mind. He came to check on his children and ensure things were ok before leaving again.

Gradually everyone began to leave, going about their jobs for the day. Soon enough it was just Hershel, Daryl, Teddy and the new baby. Daryl was cleaning a gun at one table whilst Teddy sat with her half sister in her arms, Hershel watching her fondly.

"She'll be alright." He murmured and Teddy sighed. "She's got you to look up to."

"I turned out ok." She shook her head, frustration crossing her face as she looked at the infant. "I only turned out ok cause I had my daddy for seven years to teach me things. He taught me everything. He taught me regular stuff, like how to ride a bike and tie my shoelaces but it was other stuff too." She didn't notice that Daryl had stopped what he was doing to listen to her. "He taught me how to be brave and ignore bullies at school, how to be the bigger person, how a little kindness can go a long way. He taught me stuff about life, even at seven years old. Stuff that Carl and this baby need to learn from him. Especially in this world." She stood up, satisfied that the baby was settled and would now rest easy. "Besides, I still got some being mad at him to play out and it's not worth it if he ain't here to see it."

She headed into the cell block to lay down the baby, assuming the footsteps behind her would be Beth's. When she turned to see Daryl she was confused.

"You're dad will come back." He said solemnly. "You told me not to loose hope for Carol, right?" He asked and she nodded. "So don't loose hope for your dad."

"Thanks Daryl."

"He's a good man. You say he taught you that kindness goes a long way... Went a long way with me." His voice became quiet as he said the last part, almost embarrassed to say it.

"I'm glad." Teddy smiled, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. "Have you finally accepted you're part of the family then?" She teased, knowing he was still on the edges of the group, although closer than he had been at the farm. He shrugged and made a non committal noise before heading away from the cells, calling for Carl and Oscar.

With Maggie and Glenn on a run and Oscar, Carl and Daryl ensuring the halls were empty, only Teddy, Beth and Hershel were left in the cafeteria and cells. The other prisoner, Axel, was wondering around somewhere, his footsteps echoing around them occasionally but other than that it was quiet. Beth was reading, a book she'd found in one of the cells that Teddy could see she wasn't fond of. Hershel was re organizing the medical supplies, making note of things that they could look for on the next run. Teddy was sat on the end of her bunk, watching the baby as she tapped a tune onto her knees.

She thought about taking a nap but wanted to be ready if she was needed. Besides, she knew her nap would turn into a nightmare so it would be pointless. Soon enough, Carl and Oscar returned, informing her that Daryl was still down in the halls but it was empty so he was safe. She wondered if he was ok but Carl told her he might just need some space. She took a moment, realizing how smart he was becoming for such a young age. She wished he had had more time to be a child but that innocence had died along with his mother.

She headed into the cafeteria, ready to feed the baby when Rick returned. He seemed more coherent than he had been but still not fully there. He moved to Hershel, who had been holding the baby whilst Teddy prepared the formula, and took the baby from him. She crossed the room, lightly wrapping her arms around her dad, for the first time since she was a child.

"Thanks for coming back." She smiled, holding up the bottle. "You want to feed her?"

Rick gratefully took the bottle and sat down, feeding his baby for the first time. When she was full and had been burped, the two headed outside to find the final member of their little family. Carl smiled when he saw his dad, and smiled even wider when he saw the relief on Teddy's face. The peace was short lived however, when Rick handed the baby to Carl and wondered to the fence, bringing their attention to a bleeding, dark skinned woman with an expression of distress.

"Is she bit?"

"Gunshot."

Teddy rushed after them, quickly handing the baby over to Beth as soon as they were inside, turning to help her dad handle this unexpected visitor. The woman was panicked, clearly she'd lost alot of blood, who knows how long ago she'd been hit.

"Who the hell is this?" Daryl asked, arriving suddenly at the door and for the first time, Teddy realized just how calm his presence made her. In the midst of all the commotion the stranger had caused she had been panicking, wondering if she would be a threat or a friend and now with just a simple question her heart slowly returned to it's normal pace and her mind began to think methodically on how best to handle the situation.

He frowned at her half smile as Rick asked the woman her name. He tilted his head, a silent 'you ok?'. She nodded, giving him a full smile which only made his brows furrow further. But she had said she was ok and so he continued on.

"Y'all come on in here."

"Everything all right?"

"You're gonna wanna see this."

Curious, the group followed him, leaving the stranger behind. Daryl lead them to the cells, stepping back s everyone could see Carol, sitting up on the lower bunk. She seemed exhausted and weary but she was alive and that was the best news the group had had in a while.

"How?" Rick asked after hugging her.

"Solitary." Carol answered, reaching for Teddy. Teddy gave her a good squeeze, relieved to see her friend alive and well.

"Poor thing fought her way into a cell. Must have passed out. Dehydrated."

When Carol saw the baby, Teddy stepped back, looking at Daryl who was chewing on his thumb nail.

"That's a bad habit, y'know." She gently pulled on his arm, stopping his nibbling.

"Thanks." Daryl was murmuring, purposefully Teddy knew, so she leaned in to hear him over the others. "For not giving up on her... on me."

"I'm too stubborn to give up." She shrugged. "Besides, I know you'd do the same for me... I hope so, at least."

"O'course I would."

"Just one thing, Dixon." Teddy was smirking and Daryl was fighting the urge to mirror her expression.

"What's that?"

"I told you so."

The group discussed what their plan was concerning the stranger and after discovering what was in the basket she was carrying they suddenly realized that Maggie and Glenn still hadn't returned from their run. Their was a feeling of guilt in everyone that it had taken them so long to notice the absence of their friends but with the manic few days and this new stressful situation, they knew they'd be forgiven. After they discovered that the stranger came from another town, a town she thought Glenn and Maggie may be being held, there was more deciding to be done whilst Hershel tended to her bullet wound.

"This is Maggie and Glenn. Why are we even debating?" Beth was tense, had been ever since it became clear where her sister and Glenn were.

"We ain't. I'll go after them." Daryl didn't miss a beat. He knew how worried the blonde girl was and with her worry came Teddy's worry and he owed her more than he'd ever owed anyone.

"Well, this place sounds pretty secure. You can't go alone."

"I'll go." Beth spoke up and Teddy cringed.

"Me, too."

"I'm in."

Daryl, Axel and Oscar went to load up as much ammo as they could whilst Teddy pulled Beth to one side.

"You gotta stay here."

"But I gotta go get Maggie back. I'll be fine, you've been teaching me."

"I know. But I don't think you're ready to dive in headfirst. Let me go in your place. Please?"

Beth sighed but ultimately knew Teddy was right, she wasn't ready for something like this. Maybe one day, with a little more practice. And she knew when that day came Teddy would be right at her side.

"Wasn't this place overrun?" The stranger, who had revealed her name to be Michonne, asked as she approached the girls.

"It was."

"And you cleared it out all by yourselves? Just the few of you?"

"There were others."

Teddy watched her expression. Sympathy, pity, curiosity... Sighing, she backed away heading over to where Carl and Rick were talking. She couldn't get much of a read on Michonne, she was guarded and it would take alot to break through her walls. If she was around that long.

"Daryl's been calling her Ass-Kicker." She heard when she neared her family.

"Ass-Kicker?" Rick tilted his head as he glanced at Teddy. "Has he, now?"

"Don't look at me, I think it's a fine name." She shrugged.

"I've been thinking, what should we really call her?"

"What do you think?"

"Remember my third grade teacher, Mrs Mueller? Her first name was Judith. Do you think that's a good name?"

"I think that's-" Rick paused, looking again at his eldest. "That's a fine name. Judith it is."

"Judith Ass Kicker Grimes." Teddy chuckled. "Got a ring to it, huh?"

The whole group was on high alert as soon as the car passed the prison fencing. Running through the woods with what gear they could carry and eventually finding themselves in a run down cabin. Then pushing on forward until the were outside the gates of Woodbury. The walls were high, lit torches casting shadows of flame up the walls either side and a handful of men, armed with various weapons pacing back and forth. This was no home, this was a fortress.

Michonne disappeared for a moment but soon returned to lead them into a house which would give them access to the street. Rick threatened a man that came in to find them, thinking they were stragglers trying to avoid the curfew. The man clearly had no knowledge of any prisoners.

Soon enough they found themselves towards the back of the community, a building that didn't seem to hold anything useful. They sneaked their way through, hearing someone with a husky voice just beyond the wall. Daryl threw a smoke bomb, Rick and Oscar quickly grabbing Glenn and Maggie and guiding them back out whilst Teddy and Daryl covered them. They hid themselves in another building, keeping away from the windows to avoid being seen whilst Maggie tried to help Glenn.

"Daryl, this was Merle. It was. He did this."

Both Daryl and Teddy stopped at Glenn's words. Daryl because it was confirmation that his brother was alive, Teddy because this could potentially be bad news. If Merle was the cause for the state of Glenn's face, had thrown a walker at him, planned to execute them like Glenn was saying... There was no way the group would allow Merle back in. But it was Daryl brother, Teddy's friend. She shook her head, deciding she'd cross that bridge when they got to it. If they got to it. First they had to get out of Woodbury alive.

They shot their way down the street, heading toward the way out. There were too many men, Glenn was too hurt to hurry.

"You guys go ahead. I'm gonna lay down some cover fire." Daryl stepped away from the group to take aim and Teddy's stomach lurched.

"No, we gotta stay together."

"Too hairy. I'll be right behind you. Ready?"

"I'll help."

"Teddy-"

"No, you said it yourself Dixon, we make a good team."

There was no more time to argue, people were coming. Rick and the others headed for the wall, Teddy was a little further back than Daryl, shooting as many men as she could. She glanced away for a second, watching everyone make it over the wall safely. But when she turned back Daryl was gone and there was a large man heading straight for her. She dove behind cover, quickly blind firing overhead until she head the man drop. She peered out from behind her spot, managing to catch the last glimpse of someone dragging Daryl, bag over his head, down the street and out of sight before she could get a good aim.