Author Note: This is a Daryl/OC. My OC Annalise Grimes is Rick`s daughter to a high-school sweetheart, he is unaware of her existance until she is three years old when her mother dies in a hit and run. Rick is already married to Lori when she comes to live with them.
Time Line:
DAY ONE. Wildfire is created.
Rick is shot.
DAY FOUR. Ususually sighting appear on the news.
DAY SEVEN. Global Outbreak accures.
People panic & the CDC closes it doors.
DAY NINE. Shane declares Rick dead and take the remaining Grimes to Atlanta.
Walkers overwhelm Atlanta.
DAY TEN. Bombs fall on Atlanta.
DAY ELEVEN. Quarry group band together.
Chapter Two
Lori`s POV
I couldn`t believe how stupid I was to let her run off into the woods alone. I was sick with worry that something could happen to her, oh god baby please be safe.
In a fit of desperation I rush over to the Dixon`s tent just praying that they`ve returned from hunting.
"Oh thank god Daryl, Annalise ran off into the woods after we had this huge fight and it`s been twenty minutes and she hasn`t came back." I rambled at him.
He seemed to catch on quickly to the severity of the situation as he quickly grabbed his cross-bow, "Where`d ya last see her?" He asked.
"I`ll show you"
I took him to the last place I saw my percious daughter and pointing him in the right direction.
"Alright I`ll find her." He assured me.
Daryl`s POV
I`ve been tracking this brat for nearly five miles and sweaty up a stor, I paused to double checked the ground for her foot prints when a fear shivering scream pierced the air.
"Fuck" I swore as I took off towards the sound and after fifty feet I witnessed a horrible sight.
A walker was on top of her snapping its teeth inches from her blood stained face - 'fresh red blood not dark black walker blood, she`s been bitten' my hearts stops as I think this yound girl who was so nice to Merle and I when we first met.
She screamed again, it snapped himself of his self pity as he rushed forward with his cross-bow aimed and fired. His bolt hit its mark as he watched the walker slump on top of her.
Annalise`s POV
Fear gripped my heart as I struggled to hold the walker back as I gripped its decaying arms, alwhile it continued to moan as its teeth snapped just inches from my face.
Reslonation slammed into me, I can`t die here. I can`t die with how I`ve felt things with my mother and god Carl I can`t leave him, it`ll break him after the loss of our father.
Renew strength surged through my quivering arms as I struggle to hold death back, not to meantion the blinding pain from my head wound that had blood gushing into my eyes.
Eyes, dead eyes starred into mine as its teeth getting oh so ever closer to my delicate skin did another scream escape me. I prayed someone from camp had heard me and would come to my rescue - how far had I run?"
Just as the walker`s nose grazed my cheek did an arrow pierced into it`s brain as it slumped on top of me dead, again.
With my heart pounding as I struggle in pushing off the dead weight that had me struggling to breath.
"Oh god, get it off, get it off me" I cried out.
Two hands quickly pick up and casually toss it aside as Daryl`s face filled my vision.
"You bit? Let me look" he gestures up towards my gushing head wound.
His fingers brush aside my hair as he leans down to inspect my wound, "I`m not bit I think I hit it on a rock when I tripped."
I screamed as his fingers graze the open wound, "AHHHH fuck, don`t do that" I push him away as I scream in pain at him.
He grunted against my attack, "Sorry, it`s deep you`ll need stitches. Did ya pass out?"
Taking several deep breathe as the pain subsided, "Must off dunno for how long for. There wasn`t any walkers around before hand." I said as nausa bubbled up inside me.
I immediately covered my mouth as my eyes went wide, Daryl catching on to my dilemma helped me up as I vomited onto the forest floor for the second time today. He suprised me as he gathered up my long blonde hair as I continued to heave.
"Get it all out" he murmured quietly.
Minutes pass as I slumped back against his solid chest, "Come we need to get up back to your mother, she`s worried about ya." As he rubbed my back in comfort, however the second he said 'mother' it brought all the reasons why I was in the woods in the first place.
"I don`t wanna go back to see her." I cried out as I wiped away my tears.
Obviously Daryl wasn`t comfortable around a crying female I tried my best to stem the flow. Taking a calming deep breathe, "She said you`ll fighting" he added as he helped me to stand.
Instantly I swayed and I quickly grasped his arm as held pushed me back against the bark of the tree. My other hand went straight to my head as the pain intensfied.
"Here," Daryl offered me a semi clean cloth to press against my still bleeding head wound.
"Thank you Daryl and not just for the cloth but for saving me aswell." I looked at the man who saved my life and I couldn`t see him like the rest of them do any more. The camp was so affraid of the Dixon brother`s, Merle moreso than Daryl and that`s not saying that Daryl`s temper wasn`t a freighting thing to behold. Except now I see a kind man who came searching for a virtual stranger who doesn`t mean anything to him.
He grunted, "Whatever, we don`t have all day."
Daryl slung his cross-bow across his back as he wrapped his arm around my back and helped me to walk back to camp.
I had barely walked a dozen steps when dizziness overwhelmed me again, "Please I can`t" I whimpered as I gripped my head and closed my eyes as I tried to push back the pain.
He stopped and growled at me, "Gonna have to princess, we`re got a hell of a walk in front of us."
I frowned at both the nickname and what he said, "Wait how far did I come?"
"At least five miles, bloody long way princess." Daryl was unimpressed at the distance for he`s already hiked a fair distance today as he hunted rabbit and squirrels.
Sheepishly I apologized, "Sorry, I can`t believe I ran so far." I was kinda impressed that I still had stamina from my cross country races at school.
The dizziness sound passed even if the sickness still remained, however Daryl seemed to grow impatient as he suddenly swept me off my feet.
"Whoosh, Daryl what the hell?" I cried out in shock as he started towards camp as he carried me bridal style.
-THEWALKINGDEAD-
Miles slipped by as Daryl continued to carry me and for the first time I was glad for the lack of food lately as the weight I`d lost certainly helped him in carrying me.
For the second time I forced Daryl to stop as the nausa came too much as I dropped to the ground and heaved up very little as my belly emptied.
"I`m so sorry" I apologized again as I wiped my mouth alwhile still holding the cloth to my still bleeding head.
He grunted as he still held back my hair, "You finished we`re nearly there."
Camp the one place I didn`t want to go to and the only place left for us. I can`t stand the thought of seeing mother or Shane yet and having her hover over me - Carl I can`t let Carl see me like this. I look up at my savior.
"Is their a way we could avoid going back through camp?, I just really could do without seeing anyone right now." I hoped he could find a way for me.
He looked down at me with a frown, "Why don`t you want your family?"
Swallowing back thick painful memories; "I went looking for my mother, Dale said she was picking mushrooms however that wasn`t what I caught her doing, I caught her doing Shane." I couldn`t explain any more it was too much.
Daryl nodded with a shrug "Oh yeah, caught themself a few times and I know Merle has too."
Shock coursed through me, "You knew?"
"I ain`t one to gossip and I figure its noday but they`res business." He shrugged again.
I grew angry then "My father hasn`t even been dead a week and Shane is - was his best friend. How is that okay?"
Daryl looked at my with his rich dark blue eyes, "Didn`t know that part okay, at first it seemed like Shane was her husband when we all first met. But you know people grieve and cope in their own ways maybe this works for them. I ain`t saying it`s right." His reply made sense but I couldn`t get past or accept it yet the anger was way too fresh.
"I still don`t want to see her" I said stubbornly
He huffed, "Alright princess. What if I take ya straight to Merle`s and I`s tent, tell lori ya safe and fix ya bloody face. Does that sound okay?"
Thinking it though I nodded, "Seriously do you have to call me princess"
"Yes" he grunted as he picked me back up again and change direction slighty as he skirted the main camp boarder.
I sighed as I rested my sore head against Daryl`s shoulder and neck as a feeling of warmth and safety flutters through-out my body. A thing I found strange was even with him covered in dirt, grim, blood and god knows what else he smelt quite nice, he smelled of old leather, motor oil and something I could only call a manly smell that I found extremely addictive as I breathed him in. Daryl surprised me today, for someone so anti-social, angry redneck he was surprisingly nice and calm when I really wanted to freak out. I really hoped this new buddy friendship continues after this, as I really don`t what this to end.
Daryl grunted as a low hanging thin branch flicked him in the face, "Sorry" I quickly apologize as I should be paying attention as I bring my arm up to knock the rest away. We were close to camp now as unmistakable sound of mom`s voice reaches our ears.
"Oh god Shane what if I never see her again and this is how I`ll remember her by - she can`t die hating me - my baby girl." Lori cries into Shane`s chest.
My heart hurts with the knowlodge that I`m hurting her but a small part of me simply doesn`t care as I bury my face into Daryl`s neck as I try to forget about her. Daryl quicken his strides as we move out of hearing distance and into the clearing of there small camping ground.
Merle raises an eyebrow, "Nice catch lil brother, however I don`t think she`s our for the keeping." He snorts to himself.
Daryl ignores his brother and carefully lowers me down onto the fallen log; "Watch her Merle she`s got a bad concussion. I`m gonna go get the first aid kit and tell Lori ya safe." He walks off quickly.
"Wait Daryl, please don`t tell em about the walker," I pleaded
Daryl frowns as he shakes his head, "Too dangerous not to princess."
"Okay fine then, just don`t tell it was on top of me!" I adjusted my offer.
Merle laughed at that "Who knew you were into that kinky shit."
"Shut up Merle. Alright I`ll tell something." Daryl walked off.
Merle looks over at me, "You look like shit princess."
"Oh god not you too" I shook my head at him before swearing at that brought on a way of dizziness. Merle looked concern as he walked over to his tent, "Don`t move kid."
I close my eyes as I fight against the nausa as a single tear escapes me as the magatude of what happened today finally sunk in.
Lori`s POV
Shame, concern, fear and a sick feeling was choking me as I held onto my beautiful boys hands in a death grip. Carl too was going pale with worry.
It was approaching the hour mark since Daryl entered the woods in search of my daughter and every minute felt like a life time;
This couldn`t be the end, she has to survive even if she hates me forever I don`t care I just need her safe. What mades this worse was I knew she was right, what Shane and I were doing was so wrong on so many levels but I couldn`t stop it. He makes me feel so alive with pleasure and a hunger I haven`t felt in a long time. After months of fighting with Rick it was addictive drug that I couldn`t say no to.
And to my disgust I know I`ll be back in his tent no matter what happens.
Shane`s voice cuts through my self pity party "Daryl?"
My head snaps to the side as I stare confusingly at him, "Oh god no Daryl please don`t tell me she`s dead." I pleaded as Carl bursted into tears.
I hugged my son close.
"She`s fine, a little banged up" Daryl chewed his thumb nail.
Relief coursed through me, "She`s alive? Where is she? Where`s my daughter Daryl?" I demanded as I released Carl and got into Daryl`s face.
"She`s with Merle" He muttered.
Disbelief and slight glimpse of anger rushes into me as I storm passed him only to be blocked by Daryl.
"MOVE Daryl"
Daryl shook his head, "She doesn`t want to see you, or anyone tonight she needs space"
"What?" Pain speared my heart as I remembered my promise to her.
"Something about a promise you made to her!" He hinted which ment that she told me about Shane and I.
'Oh god, before long the entire camp will know' I thought to myself.
"I`m gonna need the first aid kit though" Daryl asked aloud.
"What? How bad is she hurt?" I made the mistake of getting further into Daryl`s face.
"Back off woman." Daryl snarls.
Shane steps forward "Easy Lori, Daryl`s helping remember"
"She needs stitches, she tripped and smacked her head on a rock" he pauses before kicking me when I`m down, "Almost didn`t make it, there was a walker about five feet from her unconscionous body."
My hands flew to my mouth, "How bad is it?"
Carl interupted "I want to see her, she`s my sister"
"She`s got a deep cut about yay big on her forehead" he indicates a 4cm gash, he looks down at Carl "She ain`t in no mood for vistors kid let her rest and see her tomorrow."
Carl frowns as I pull him closer to my side.
"Dale we got a first aid kit?" I call out.
Dale who had been listening like the rest of the camp, "I do but nothing good for needing stitches I`m afraid."
Andrea rushed inside to find it and was quickly back outside and handed it over to Daryl.
He went to walk away but I quickly grab his arm, "Please look after her until she`s ready to come back to me."
He nodded and walked back to his section of camp.
"Hold up there Daryl, How far away was this walker?" Shane called out.
Without turning Daryl answered, "Five miles west of us."
'My baby really did try to run away from me' I thought sadly.
Annalise`s POV
I winced as I slowly removed the cloth from my forehead, "ow ow ow" I muttered as dry blood stuck to both my skin and cloth. I gave up and reapplied pressure just as Merle amerge from his tent with a bowl of clear water and a semi clean cloth.
He straddled the log next to me as he grunted, "Turn around princess."
Doing as I was told I faced him as he carefully pulled the cloth away, "OW" I cried out.
"Toughen up kid, gotta clean it before we can stitch it up" He brought up the damp new cloth and harshly pressed it against my head.
"OW MOTHERFUCKER MERLE" I jolted away with a scream; 'Oh god the pain'
He laughed at me as my head bloomed with a new more fiercer head ache.
"What is that?" I indicated to the clear liquid as it obviously wasn`t water.
"Grade A Vodka kid, best disinfected in the world." He smirked.
I jerk back when he bring the cloth back up causing him to growl, "Don`t kid" I knew it had to be down so I gritted my teeth and let him clean it alwhile squeezing my eyes closed.
Minutes pass before Merle was finally done and Daryl had returned, he set the kit down on my lap before saying, "Gonna get some water and get the rest of the blood off."
Merle got up, "My job done" as he dumped the bowl of bloody vodka on the ground and went back to the firepit.
I sat there with my head in my hands as I pushed the pain away; "She wanted to come up here" Daryl informed her as he sat down in Merle`s previous spot.
"Thank you Daryl, I`m just not ready yet." I whispered
He chewed on his thumb-nail, "I get it"
"Unfortunately we only have bandaids and panadol, which means"
I interupted him, "It`s gonna hurt like a bitch and have I`ll have a scar on my forehead for the rest of my life."
"Yeah, pretty much" He used water to drench his cloth and began to wipe the blood off.
Thinking it through I smiled up at him, "My first war wound, gotta be proud of that right?"
He grunted, "Although I just finish it wasn`t the first thing people will see." I muttered as I opened the first aid kit and pulled out the pack of bandaids. They were all bright neon colours 'Oh god, this is even more embarassing' I thought to myself.
"Ya hair covers about a cm of the cut so a bandaid wont cover it." Daryl murmured.
I nodded as I handed him a neon yellow bandaid. In the end it took three to cover magority of the wound. "Gosh, I`m tired" I groan out as exhaustion suddenly hit me.
Merle frowned from his spot at the fire pit where he was cooking three skinned rabbits; "Ya got a concussion kid, if you sleep now you might not wake up"
"At this point I don`t care" I muttered softly.
"She can if she gets woken up every half hour" Daryl adds.
That`s when the penny dropped and my eyes snapped awake, "Oh shit, where am I even sleeping tonight. I`ll have to ask Glenn or Dale if I can bunk with them." I muttered outloud.
I never saw Merle sneaking Daryl a pointed look with raised eyebrows.
"Hey kid, why don`t you bunk down in with Daryl." Merle offered me
Daryl turned bright red, so I quickly turned him down;
"Oh no that`s okay" but Daryl spoke up "I can bunk with Merle so you can stay."
Merle chuckled at Daryl`s pink face, "Prefect I`ll go get your shit." He smirked as he strided towards my families tent.
"Are you sure I`m sure I can find somewhere else!" I offered
"Na, Merle will give me shit if you do. I`ll get my stuff." He muttered as he entered his tent.
Five minutes passed before Merle reappeared with Carl and Amy in his wake with my bedding and bags of clothes/books.
"Sissy" Carl called out causing me to wince.
"Not so loud lil man." I grimaced as my head continued to pound, Carl frowns but nods in concern so I pull him in close for a hug.
Amy looks horrified at my face, "Amy not now okay" I pleaded with her, "I just want to sleep" I added.
"I`ll come back tomorrow and we`ll talk. Come on Carl lets set up a bed for her." Amy ushes Carl inside Daryl`s tent.
Once my bed was ready I gave Carl a kiss and thanked Merle and Daryl for they`re help today and quickly stripped off my jeans, jacket and bra as I got comfortable to sleep. Within minutes I was dreaming.
THE END
Just a quick thank you to Shellyluv34 for reviewing, it means the world to me when you guys give me feed back.
Chapter three up soon :)