So I just have started watching The Walking Dead and it has me on the edge of my seat each and every episode.. I thought I would give a Daryl O.C. a go.. it may be cliche but hell, I like it that way.. so if you don't like it or what not, don't read it.. So here I go.. Please enjoy..
Daryl walked silently on his feet and quiet as the hills through the woods, his cross bow fixed in his arms aimed, keeping an eye out for any walkers that could make a surprise assault on him. During the night Daryl, had seen five already on his patrol, they were attracted to the area for some reason. Looking down, he saw blood on a branch, walking further in to the woods; he found a torn piece of clothing. Daryl looked ahead, peering through the bushes, noticing the tracks going up ahead, across a little stream and over a large log.
Something made a noise, a branch broke ahead, his head snapped up. He whistled, hoping the walker would come out. Daryl just wanted the patrol to be over and done with, to go home, well the camp site that was his home and have a nice warm meal.
"Come out, slowly. " he threatened, his cross bow loaded, aimed towards the tree just by the creek and his torch shining ahead.
A small, petite female barely over five feet tall made her way around from behind the tree, limping on her right leg, a cross bow in her hands and knives on her back. Somehow, this young woman still held herself strong and up right, holding her crossbow up high, aiming for Daryl's left shoulder. Daryl smirked, impressed by her. Smart Girl he thought. This girl was aiming directly for artery that led to his heart.
"You been bit?" he asked, looking down to her wound.
"No, shot by an arrow, by a gang north of here. They ran sacked my family's camp. " she hobbled on her leg, her arms beginning to waver under the weight of her cross bow but the damn girl was stubborn, refusing to falter. Her dark skinny jeans were caked with mud, laced leather work boots, a worn dark green scarf, a weathered black leather jacket and a faded green hooded jumper.
'Why did they shoot you?" Daryl asked slowly stepping forward keeping his cross bow at her.
"Humans have been doing some crazy things these days. You know with the whole world been taking over with those dead things" the female muttered.
Daryl raised his head, eyeing her off, nodded "You're a smart ass aren't ya"
"So I have been told..." she said back.
"Take ya hood off!" he told her, wanting a better look at her.
The young woman lowered her cross bow in her right hand and raised her left palm up to show she wasn't about to try any funny business, and so she pulled back her hood. There was a gaping wound across her eye brow and to her temple, the blood going down to her chin. It was hard to say what this woman looked like being covered in blood, scrapes, cuts and bruises. She gasped, nodding to behind him.
"Fuck!" Daryl turned, there were three walkers and with a quick slide of the hand, she shot the closest one with an arrow right in the eye.
She grimaced, pulling an arrow from her back and shot another before collapsing to the ground. Daryl swiftly shot the third walker. Then quickly turns, putting his cross bow down and knelt down to be level with the young woman.
"You got hell of a reflex there little half pint. Two walkers with an arrow in a few seconds, hell you aren't no hick like me, that's for sure" he tore off a piece of his shirt. "Wearing good jeans, boots and a leather jacket. That cross bow there is a sure fire killing machine, you use it well"
He looked at her thigh wound, grimaced "Now this is gonna sting a little, well more hurt like hell, you are losing a lot of blood and really fast, if we don't patch you up soon it will end up with you dead in the ground"
Daryl handed her a stick to bite on applying pressure on to her leg, she growled "Fuck me!" she incoherently growled, tears forming in her eyes.
"You pulled an arrow out of your leg?" Daryl asked, putting more pressure on her wound and tying his shirt piece around her leg but the blood was still seeping through.
"I couldn't dress it right with it in. " Her eyes started to droop, Daryl moving her hand from her side.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Wake up girl! No falling asleep on me now, ya hear me" whispering, putting his hands to the side of her face, her skin wet and clammy, her dark brown hair sticking to her face, probably from a fever "What's ya name?"
"Anna... My name is Anna Hendricks..." Anna, grimaced, her eyes closing as she took in a deep breath, whistling like an owl. "Yours?"
"Daryl Dixon"
"Pleasure to meet you Daryl Dixon despite the circumstances". Still able to make light of the situation in her condition.
Daryl looked at her strange when he heard rustling from behind him, turning he saw the biggest German shepherd he had ever seen in his life, growling at him and keeping his eyes constantly dancing between Daryl and Anna.
"Is that damn dog gonna bite my head off because I am just about going to shit my pants right about now. That German shepherd is near the size of a god damn horse" he muttered, not making a move.
"His name is Samson. Best hunting and protection dog there ever has been. He has been known to take down a buck by himself" she joked. "Samson, be nice to Daryl here okay, he is going to help me out, so no biting"
Samson nuzzled Anna's hand, getting down to his belly and moaning. Daryl handed her his belt "Here, bite on this because the pain will hurt like a bitch."
Daryl slowly pulled his hand off her wound, blood seeping out, wrapping his scarf around, and tightening till firm. Anna growled, tears falling down her cheeks, breathing heavily.
"I am going to have to take you back to my group, they have a vet there but just as good as any doctor around here" He picked her up and started walking with Samson loyally walking beside. "Geez, you are a little midget aren't you? You're as light as a feather" he joked.
"Good things come in small packages Daryl." she joked. "You have a whole bundle of joy here! It is the quiet ones you have to worry about, didn't you know that?"
"Here you are practically dying and you are making smart ass remarks like that"
Anna, in his arms noticing the straps for his cross bow and gun on his back "You were tracking someone?"
"Looking for a little girl, Sophia, she is missing out there in the woods... I can see you are a hunter and tracker yourself. There are not that many people that can hide from me."
She laughed a little "My dad, Michael, is a Special Forces commanding leader. My older brother, Matthew, sniper in the army. My dad taught me and my brother well with survival. After those people attacked our camp, he told me to run and to not look back, to just keep on running. I don't know if any of them are dead or alive or even one of those dead things I have heard been called a walker. "
Anna felt her head fall heavier into Daryl's shoulder, smelling petrol, whiskey and the woods.
Just my luck he thought as panic began to set in, his pace quickening in a hurry to get back to camp.
"He has been gone far too long" Shane noted, telling Rick who was next to him on the caravan.
"Something must have happened out there, he hasn't taken this long before" Rick replied, coming back from in his own thoughts. "If he isn't back by sunrise we will go searching for him" looking through his binoculars, seeing flash of light in the distance. "What the hell was that?" he asked.
'A walker?" Shane replied looking through the scope of the rifle.
"No walker carries another person or has a German shepherd following beside him" Rick replied with his binoculars over his eyes. "It's Daryl, but whatever he is carrying, it isn't Sophia" Rick noted.
"Let's go and check it out" Rick said and Shane followed him off the caravan, to the woods, shining their light closer, as a familiar person stepped out of the woods.
Then the German shepherd stepped in front of Daryl and Anna, snarling and protecting them from Rick and Shane. Shane put his rifle up to the dog. "That dog been bit? Damn thing is crazed like an angry wolf!"
"Get that damn torch out of my face man" Daryl protested with squinted eyes, annoyed at Shane. "Don't you even dare think about shooting that dog! Heel Samson!" he commanded and Samson stood beside Daryl, moaning and looking up to his owner in Daryl's arms.
'Where the hell were you?" Shane asked cocking his gun.
"I found this girl alone, injured ya damn Cajun. Some douche bags raided her family's farm, so she ran and got shot by an arrow in the leg, a bang on the head and a busted wrist. I wasn't going to let her die alone out in the woods, so I carried her here you jackass!" he yelled.
Rick stepped forward, touching her forehead; damp and hot. "Let's get her to your tent, it is closer. The girl looks like she is hanging to life with just a thread, let's go"
Daryl placed Anna softly down on to his bed, Samson quickly darted in from behind him and settling near her face, head on his paws, looking up at Daryl. Rick told Shane to keep on going with the watch. "How long had you been walking?" Rick asked examining the girl.
"Half a day, I tried to keep her awake but she kept on falling in and out of it. She kept on mumbling about her father and brother, wanting to go back for them "
Rick put his hand to her forehead, her skin hot to the touch "She definitely has a fever, forehead is burning like a furnace.".
"I tried to keep her wounds clean, redressing but it kept on bleeding like crazy" he replied, pulling back the scarf revealing a deep wound. "It doesn't look good."
"I will go and get Hershel.." Rick told him, stopping from the touch of Daryl's hand on his shoulder.
"You sure, more people on his farm. He won't like it"
"If we don't help this girl here, she will lose more blood and won't make it through the night" Rick replied, Daryl nodded. "I will go and get him" Samson whined, looking up at Rick, he smiled and bending down to pat the dog "You are a loyal friend. Don't worry, we will make sure she is safe"
Rick unzipped Daryl's tent, stepping out when Daryl spoke up "Her name is Anna."
Rick nodded to him, walking off towards the farm house. Daryl went into his back pack next to both of their cross bows and her two long silver knives, rummaged through his bag for a bottle of water, a clean wash cloth and the sandwich that was going to be his dinner.
Samson looked at him with his big puppy dog eyes, Daryl accepted defeat looking in to those puppy dog eyes "Now, if I hand you this, promise not to bite my hand off okay?"
Samson crawled slowly to him, Daryl slowly handed Samson the sandwich. He opened his mouth slowly and took the sandwich in his mouth. "I have a feeling your owner here would have my ass and then kill me if you weren't fed well, I know I would. A dog like you needs respect"
He opened up the water bottle, soaking the wash cloth and washing away the dirt and blood off her face. She welcomed the soothing of the cold cloth against her skin. 'Samson?" she whispered trying to move her arm to find him, he got up to her licking her hand. "Where am I?" she asked.
"You made it to the farm" Daryl told her applying the wet cloth to her fore head.
Anna, sighed, closing her eyes. The coolness of the water was soothing against the heat of her skin. "You know, you shouldn't be wasting water like that. It's a valuable resource"
"Won't hurt anyone." he muttered, pressing harder to get some dried blood off Anna's face, she winced "Sorry" he muttered.
There were some male voices coming from outside of the tent, her eyes widened, she grabbed Daryl's hand and Samson, up on his feet and began to growl.
"It's okay. They are here to help ya" he told her, tears in her eyes "Ain't nothin' is gonna happen okay. Not while I am around, promise you that"
She blinked, everything a daze around her and passed out.
Anna stirred from her sleep, images were blurring around her as she attempted to get her bearings. "Ssshhh stay still. You sure have caused quite a stir here on the farm; people are wandering who this pretty long dark haired stranger is that Daryl carried cave man style from the woods. I am going to go and get my dad, stay still okay and I will be right back" The voice was calm and gentle, friendly and it reminded her of her best friend she grew up with in Atlanta.
Her head was spinning, hearing voices getting louder. She was now in a bed in someone's house. She assumed it was the house on the farm were Daryl took her back to. There were scratching noises on the floor boards and a big, belly bark from behind the door.
"I don't give a goddamn rat's ass or even if Jesus Christ himself said not to go in, I saved the girl's life and I will go in. Now let us both in that damn room or I will kick some asses!" Daryl's voice echoed from behind the door. Samson by now was barking like a mad, crazed wolf. "Yeah, you tell em' boy. Show them who is boss. Now I suggest you let us both in or Samson here will bite all ya dicks off"
"Alright, alright. Just keep that dog in check okay, he doesn't need to be waking her up, Anna needs all the rest she can get to recover from her injuries" a male voice whispered.
"Dog looks like he wants to bite my head off" another added.
The door slowly crept open, Samson's nose pushed it ajar, and he came rushing through with his tail wagging, going straight to his owner. He was panting, licking her fingers, she eased herself up a little, smiling. Anna, sighed, patting Samson's ears, with her now bandaged arm, fingers black and blue. "Have you been a good boy for these people?" Anna asked, looking up at the five people in her room.
"He has been a pleasure to have around, I am Rick"
They were the two men that came up to Daryl the night before, one she now recognized. He stayed back away from them all, keeping a watchful eye on them.
"I know you" she smiled slowly bringing herself up sore, looking at Rick.
Rick looked at her, a little baffled, stepping forward to her and sat down beside her bed.
"How?" he asked.
"I was a part of your surgeon team back in Atlanta. " she replied, "I always knew you were a fighter. I refused to listen to the other med staff and what they had to say about it"
"You made it out of there? How? That hospital was completely over run by the dead!" he asked.
The large tanned skinned man came forward "When I went there, the walkers were everywhere!"
"My father is a Special Forces commanding officer; my older brother is an army sniper. As soon as there was even a hint of an outbreak, my father and brother got me out of that hospital, to our farm, but then a herd ploughed through our land, we always had a backup plan where ever we went. We hid in the bomb shelter until they were gone"
Rick, held her hand, squeezing it "What happened at your farm, to get you shot and make you run in to the woods like that?"
"Our farm was overrun by a rogue group." She scoffed to herself, running her uninjured hand over her face and tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "A group of humans would you believe it or not despite what is going on in this mad world now. My father, brother couldn't take them on, they told me to run."
Anna, smiled softly, tears threatening to fall from the brim of her eye lids. "More likely they forced me to run away. I didn't want to leave them. My father and brother know I am quick, quiet on my feet. I grew up hunting and tracking with my dad. They knew this group would never find me once I started running".
Anna looked up at Daryl, leaning back into her pillow "Just this one time, I am grateful someone did" Daryl nodded.
The kind, old man came forward ushering Rick away and giving Samson a pat on the head.
"Enough of interrogating this young lady, I am glad you are feeling better. Being a surgeon, I am sure you know of your recovery time. How do your wounds feel?"
He moved back the blankets, revealing Anna was wearing tight black bike shorts, tanned legs battered with cuts, bruises and scratches. Her right thigh was bandaged from knee to top of the thigh. Her right wrist, fractured and in a brace.
"As if they are on fire. But they feel good despite all that is considered. You did a good job stitching me up."
'You can call me Hershel" he offered.
Rick smiled, squeezing he hand "Rest up, take your time. We will set up a tent for you and once you feel strong enough you can come and meet the camp. I know my boy, Carl, loves your dog Samson. He has quite taken to him, when he isn't out hunting with Daryl of course"
Hershel chuckled, smiling at the girl "I could use some lessons from you as well. But for now we will leave you to get cleaned up"
Then it was just Daryl and Anna, a comfortable silence filled the room. Anna sighed, patting the bed for Samson to hop up on the bed.
"He is a good, trusty dog. Damn straight hunter as well, thanks to him the camp got a good size deer. I never would have tracked it down without him catching the scent of it" Daryl commented, Anna's hair was long, all the way down to her waist tied in to a braid. She was patting Samson as his eyes started to droop down, staring despondently with a sad look on her face.
"I am so sorry" she muttered, looking to Daryl, her head heavily bandaged.
"What have ya to be sorry about?" he asked scrunching his eye brows together.
"You found me, you rescued me, instead of being out there looking for that little girl. If something has happened to her in the time you helped me. I couldn't. She is just a little girl."
"I couldn't leave you out there in the woods injured, alone and bleeding to death now could I? Will leave you to it, let you rest up"
Samson, lifted up his head, whining at Daryl and then to Anna. "Oh go on. I know you want to be outside with Daryl" she laughed.
Anna, looked to Daryl "Daryl."
He turned towards her, "Thank you."
"No problem" he answered and left the room with Samson walking beside him.
He walked down the hallway of the Hershel house, he sighed, running his hand over his face, trying to shake off the awful feeling. Daryl was the one, the one to hold her down while they removed parts of the shattered arrow head from her leg. Never had he heard a scream like hers or the pain in her eyes. He looked down to his hands, blood drying under his fingers.
Daryl and Samson, came out into the front yard, Rick and Shane, came up to him "How is she?" Rick asked.
"Feeling guilty that we found her instead of been out there searching for Sophia..." Daryl replied.
Rick raised his eye brows, shaking his head "Does she really think that?"
Shane shifted on the spot, looking between the two "She said her father was Special Forces and her brother was a sniper. My bet, that woman..."
"Her name is Anna, douchebag. "
Shane rolled his eyes "Well Anna mentioned her family always has a backup plan, my bet is that back up plan includes food and weapons, some decent ones at that. You seen that cross bow of hers? Not to mention those white daggers" Shane pointed out. "My best bet is that entire arsenal would be deadly. I'd say we give Anna a choice, we helped her out, now she helps us out.. Or..."
Daryl, shook his head stepping to Shane "What? Let her go out there injured and be walking walker bait?"
Rick intervened between the two "Now, Shane, this isn't the time nor place. Anna almost died, she is lost from her family and all alone. I will not have her questioned until she is ready, do you understand me? Until then the cross bow and knives stay with Daryl"
Shane scoffed at him, shifting on his feet and glaring Rick down. Rick stepped forward, closer, face to face with Shane. "Do you understand me?" Rick muttered.
"Yeah, crystal clear. Just keep that damn mutt on a leash or I shoot it."
He walked past Rick, bumping into Daryl's shoulder "Yeah, you touch the Samson here puto, I will shove that gun so far up ya ass you won't be shooting just words from ya mouth, jack ass"
"Do me a favour, keep an eye out for her"
Daryl kept his eyes on Shane's back "You got it?"
A tall brunette and a shorter blonde haired girl came into her room with clothes in hand.
"Hey there, my name is Maggie, here is my little sister, Beth. We have some nice, clean clothes for you, cargo jeans to make it easier with your leg..." the tall brown muttered.
"Thank you,' she whispered." You didn't have to."'
"It our pleasure. Really. It is nice to have another girl on the farm. You can use the shower" Beth told her, walking to her and handing her a bag of toiletries with shampoo, conditioner, soap and body scrub. "You have beautiful hair. So here is all that you need, you shouldn't have to be like this."
The older sister, Maggie, smiled at them both "Now, come Beth, leave Anna in peace. We can talk to her later."
Anna was now alone in the room, picking up her new clothes, the toiletries and eased herself off the bed, to the bathroom. She set down everything, walking to the mirror, grimacing. The side of her face was black and blue, dirt and blood through her hair. Anna, looked down to the sink, taking a deep breath and refusing to be upset. She sniffed "Be strong", she whispered, worried.
Feeling stiff and sore, Anna ran the water in the shower to get nice and warn. Her hand was under the water, then Anna felt guilty and she cried, the shock of the events were setting in. Anna, took a deep breath, steadying herself.
"No crying. No crying. Be strong. Do not cry. Do not give up" she whispered looking up at the mirror. She was a ghost of herself.
Her eyes were blood shot red, green eyes were pale not as bright as usual, dark circles under her eyes. Carefully she peeled off her clothes and went under the hot stream. It just seems every one she has loved gone away in the end and here she was alone.
Anna shampooed and conditioned her hair, scrubbed away the dirt and blood, the water swirling a mixed colour of red and brown. Anna's muscles began to relax under the hot water, putting her hands up against the wall; she raised her head to rinse the dirt off her face.
Anna, stepped out of the bath, being careful of her leg stepping out of the basin and trying not to bump her hand. She picked up the green skinny cargo pants, a black tank top and a pair of black vans. The jeans were stretchy, soft, comfortable, sliding them up her legs. She put on her black tank top, put on her socks, slipped on her vans and tucking in her laces. Anna never liked tying up her laces to her Vans back home. She smiled, thinking back to her father always scolding her not tying her shoe laces up. In the corner, she picked up her small back pack Daryl must have left. A deep breath, stood up off the bed, tied her hair into a side way plait, picking up her bag and she walked out of the room. There was no one in the house as she limped along the hall way looking at the family photos…
"Hi!" a young boy interrupting her thoughts.
"Hi!' she replied smiling tucking a piece of hair behind her ear
"My name is Carl Grimes. I don't know if you remember me back from the hospital"
The young boy put his hand out and Anna shook it.
"Pleasure to meet you Carl again...My name is Anna Hendricks. "
The boy stood there looking at her, nervously shifting on her feet.
"Thank you." he finally said.
Anna was taken aback by the boy "What for?"
"My dad told us you were his surgeon and that you were the one that fought for his life. If you didn't, he wouldn't be here today, my mom and I would be alone. There would be a lot of people that would have lost their lives if he wasn't around. So thank you."
"It is no problem at all. But right now I am a little lost here. Wondering if it is okay if you show me around? I don't want to tread on any toes by going somewhere I am not supposed to"
She put her hand out to Carl, he gladly took it "Sure. I know my mom would want to say thank you. You have an awesome dog too!"
Carl helped her down the steps of the farm house "Just wondering if you can do me a favour with him. "
"Really?" he asked bright eyed.
"I need someone to help me look after him while I am getting better. Take him for walks, feed him when you can, brush him and to make sure he doesn't forget his manners! As a form of payment here."
Anna looked around, reached in to her bag and gave Carl two Mars Bars.
Rick and a woman, whom Anna presumed to be Rick's wife walked up to them,
"Anna, this is my wife, Lori. " Anna hobbled forward and shook Lori's hand.
"I never got to thank properly for helping with my husband. Your dog, Samson, has given my boy something good to do. It is real excellent to have a human surgeon around as well"
Anna, grimaced slightly as the pain killers began to wear off, she stumbled a little. Rick came forward, holding her shoulders concerned about her "You sure you should be off that bed?"
"Don't feel right just sitting about. "
Rick helped her stand up right, she went into her bag and got out eight bags of freeze dried dinner meals; chili con carne, mac n cheese, lasagna and shepherd's pie. Rick felt himself smiling, thankful there is some humanity left in the world.
"Here is some ration packs, a couple of cans of beans and spaghetti. It may not be much for what you all have done for me but it is least I can do. I can show you where my family home is. "
Rick put his hand up to stop the girl "This food is more than we can ask for. As for your family home, you can show us when you are well healed."
A young, Asian man came up to them. He was friendly looking, with a gentle smile and bright eyes. "The tent is ready, but it is right beside Daryl's which was the only comfortable spot. Hi, I'm Glenn. "
"Anna Hendricks " she said with a smile.
"We will leave you for Glenn to show you your tent. These packs will serve us well tonight. Thank you."
Anna followed Glenn to her tent, he unzipped the front part which had a plush blanket for Samson. Then inside the main tent was a thin mattress, two pillows, a sleeping bag and doona. There was three bottles of water, two apples and a torch.
"It isn't much"
"Better than lying in mud, injured and almost freezing to death. "
Glenn was taken aback by her comment, a bit nervous.
"I was joking Glenn. Relax, thank you"
The tent looked inviting, cozy and warm compared to the last week or so in the woods. Looking up she sees Daryl working with her cross bow, Samson lying down with his eyes up to Daryl. Slowly she walked over to Daryl, her leg dead straight from her bandage.
"How damaged is it?" she asked sitting down beside Samson.
"The release is bent a bit. Just trying to get it out. What did you do to get it this warped?"
"Clocked a man around the head, he could very well be walker food at this minute..."
"That how you fracture your hand there. Throwing a fifty pound cross bow up and knocking a man out?"
"Yeah. Stupid huh?"
"Not stupid, smart. You fought back, didn't give up. There a lot of people aren't doing that these days".
"I go down fighting"
T Dog and Glenn were just sitting down with their chicken and potatoes. T Dog looked up, looked in confusion at the sight before him. Daryl was walking very close to Anna, holding his arms out straight and showing her how to hold his cross bow.
"Well, would you look at that?" T Dog muttered holding. "Daryl Dixon might have a lady friend, never thought I would see the day."
"Well, he did rescue her.' Glenn commented, picking some squirrel from his fork and eating it.
T Dog started hitting Glenn in the chest, stunned "He actually smirked then. For like a second there he didn't have that constant scowl on his face"
"Well I hope she is a lady friend. Daryl scares the crap out of me even on his best days!" Glenn laughed.