Wake the Dead

I had come in and out of consciousness multiple times, but not for long enough to even open my eyes. I wouldn't remember anything, but then I felt the pain around my body and thought back to last night, then pass out again. I felt myself start to come around again and I heard V and Daryl talking.

"So, Merle?" I heard V ask. Did they know each other? I wanted to get up and ask, but my body denied it and my eyes wouldn't open.

"S'not dead, jus' got separated from us." He respond, his voice seemed off. It was silent for a while, but then I heard Daryl speak up. "Did she get all beat up when she was with ya?" His voice was barely above a whisper.

"Na man, didn't even find her until half way through winter. Never seen someone look so beat up in my life." I heard V say.

"Do ya know what happened?" I heard Daryl's shaky voice.

"No, she never talked much. Only thing I know is she was almost dead when we found her. Doc in our group brought her back, tried to fix her up and feed her." V said.

"S'got bruises all over her body, a fucked up arm, ankle... Ain't anythin she could have done to her self.."

"...Yeah... I know."

I heard Daryl let out a grunt and then punch something in anger. "She'll wake up, just gotta give her time man." V said, trying to comfort Daryl

I wanted to scream and tell them I was here and I'm okay, but felt my head ache and then the blackness took over again. Was I okay?

*

I slowly blinked open my eyes and the brightness blinded me. Where was I? Heaven? Hell?... I finally let my eyes get use to the light and looked up and saw V asleep. Okay, but where were we? I turned my head and then was met with a familiar face looking at me in disbelief. Daryl? He can't be here....

"No no, you're not real.." I whispered, but he just leaned forward to me. "You're not real!" I tried to back up, but a shooting pain went all across my body causing me to yelp out. I felt a hand on my shoulder and spun my head around to see that V was awake. If V was real... that means Daryl is real!

"Daryl?" I croaked out, my voice horse and quiet.

"I'm here, Fi." His voice sent shivers down my spine and I almost screamed at the sound of it. I closed my eyes and started to remember what happened. I looked down and saw that I was shirtless and had a large bandage wrapped around my torso. My hip bones stuck out along with my ribcage showing how much weight I've lost.The bruises that where on my hips, ribs, and collar bones where also standing out on my pale skin.

We were still in the trunk of the car, but no one else was in it and we weren't moving. I laid back down, flat on the ground. Daryl didn't even touch me, obviously too afraid, but he looked at me, his eyes wide like they where when I found him. "I told you she'd wake up!" V said, happy I wasn't dead.

"Fi... What happened to ya?" Daryl asked, his voice cracking a little. The events of this winter flashed across my mind and my body shook at the remembrance. My mind went into shut down as I remembered the night I was attacked, raped, and left freezing in the snow. I guess it was my bodies natural reflex to shut down.

I just looked up to the ceiling, unresponsive. Daryl then slammed his fist against the side of the car and jumped out. I just continued to look at the ceiling. "Ya didn't tell me this guy you love was a Dixon." V said to me.

I shrugged and turned my head towards him. "Ya know 'em?"

"Yeah. Was buddies with Merle and him, met them at the bar a couple a years ago when I first started to serve down here."

I nodded and then the car door opened again, revealing Hershel. He sat down on the seat, but let his body face outside the door. "Can I walk around?" I asked him, wanting to see everybody. He let out a deep sigh. "Your body is very weak right now, Fiona, but i guess for a couple of minutes you may." He said.

V threw me a shirt to put on, then opened the trunk and the jumped out, reaching his hand to me for help. I slowly grabbed it with my good arm and sat up, wincing here and there. I finally sat up and my stomach was burning from the position. V sighed and then leaned over to me, picking me up bridal style, then got me out of the trunk. He set me down on my feet once we where out of the car. My ankle ached a little, but I quickly got over it.

I saw everyone was huddled around a car, besides Daryl, looking at a map and others eating. I very, very slowly made my way over to them, V having his hands up, ready to support me at anytime. When everyone heard me coming all their heads turned towards me. Everyone looked different. Rick; cold and determined. Lori; definitely pregnant, looks like she is about to pop. Carol; stronger? Carl; older and tougher. Glenn; more serious. Maggie; more serious, also. Hershel; a ton of more hair. Beth; more grown up. T-dog; rougher.

To sum it all up; everyone looked stronger and colder.

I saw multiple people look over in shock and others put their hands over their mouths. I can't even imagine what I must look like, probably close to dead and crazed. I stumbled over closer to them and they all turned and faced me. Rick's stern eyes found mine and I felt relief wash over me. I found them, I found my family. My hands where now shaking as I made my way over and threw my arms around Rick.

He sighed into the hug and I tried my best to not bump my mangled arm. He then released me and looked at me with his deep blue eyes. "I found you. I found you guys." I said and then felt my emotions become harder to shut off. I went around and hugged Glenn and Maggie, who both had smiles on their faces. I normally wasn't a huger, but I hadn't realized how much I missed these people.

Everyone else decided they wanted a hug, too, so I went around giving everyone one armed hugs. I finished going around and then back up so I was standing in front of them. "Uh- this is Vic... Victor." I said to them, signaling to V behind me. Rick walked up, but didn't hold out his hand like he used to. "Rick Grimes. Hershel tells me you spent winter with Fiona?"

"I sure did. She stayed with my group." He said.

"Group?" Rick asked, stepping forward with his hands on his hips.

"Rick, he's okay. I came across their group, but we left them to continue looking for you guys." I butted in.

"This group of yours..." Rick started, not trusting him.

"Military men, Rick." I cut in. "A group of good military men.. But, we left them, like I said."

He simply nodded and then Hershel pulled Rick aside to talk to him. I saw them looking over at me, so I guessed they where having a conversation about us. I sighed and leaned against the nearest car. I looked around for Daryl, but he was no where to be found. How could he just leave me?

I was starting to feel the pain in my stomach more and more, but I didn't mention it. V stayed over by me, still not fully comfortable with these people. I rested my head back on the car and shut my eyes while I took slow deep breaths, trying to keep the pain and dizziness away. A hand on my shoulder made me snap open my eyes, but only saw Rick standing there. He moved so he was also leaning on the car, next to me.

"We are going to start heading out soon, go out on the road, see if we can find a place to stay. Do you think you can handle that?" He asked, looking over at me.

"Yeah. I should be okay." I responded, but I could tell Rick didn't buy it.

"Hershel was telling me about your condition. You barely woke up and you should be on bed rest." He said. "But, knowing you that's already not happening."

I let out a breathy laugh. "Yeah, well I'll be alright. Just gotta go easy on the stomach."

He nodded and i couldn't help but let my curiosity take over. "What have you guys done all winter?" I asked, receiving Rick just to look forward. "Been on the move, looking for a place to stay, but nothing lasting more than a few days at most. Just lucky that we've all managed to stay together."

I looked to the ground, their lucky they all stayed together.... minus me. He noticed my reaction and shifted so he was facing me. "I'm glad you're back.. We all are."

I looked back up at him. "I'm glad, too."

He gave me a small nod and walked over to the rest of the group. I looked around, wondering where V was and then I saw him arguing with Daryl. When did Daryl get back? And where the hell did he go? Too agitated and in too much pain to worry about it, I hobbled back over to the trunk of the car. I slowly and painfully made my way over there, wincing every now and then. I saw Hershel by the car and decided to talk to him.

"Hey Hershel?" I called over as I reached the car and started to catch my breath. He raised an eyebrow up at me. "Do ya know what's wrong with my arm?" I asked and stuck out my mangled arm.

He pushed to the side whatever stuff he was messing with and grabbed it in his hand, inspecting it. "I noticed this earlier and it looks like that it has healed very incorrectly. You will still be able to use it, but after a while it could cause serious problems."

"How do we fix it?" I asked him.

He let out a sigh and let go of my arm. "We will probably have to re-break it and set it to heal right." Great. Just my luck. "But, I would advise to wait until your other injuries have somewhat healed before we go through with that process."

I sighed deeply and nodded as I went to get in the trunk. It hurt my stomach to sit down, so I just gave up and laid on my back. Hershel slid over some food and water to me, which I happily proped up on my elbows to eat. Hershel went back over to Maggie and Beth and I finished scarfing down what ever canned food he gave me.

I reached over to grab the water bottle, but I made a bad movement on my stomach and winced, causing me to accidentally hit the water bottle. It went rolling out of the back of the truck and out to the pavement. "Damn." I mumbled under my breath as I slowly tried to ease out of the trunk. I finally got out and took a breath when my feet hit the pavement, why was this all so tiring?

I hobbled over and like the dumb ass I am, bent to pick up the water bottle. Bending over made my stomach squish together and the gash to hurt like holy hell. I let out a yelp of pain and fell down onto my hands and knees with a 'thud'. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Daryl run over and try to help me up, but out of anger at him I shoved his hand away and fell back on my ass.

He tried again to help me up, but I again, pushed him away. I'm so sick and tired of being weak and helpless, dammit! "Go! I don't need your help!" I yelled at him, causing him to back up, eyes wide again. It hurt too much to use my mangled arm, so I tried to use one arm and get up, but my body denied it and I fell onto my side. "Dammit, yes ya do Fi!" Daryl yelled and then picked me up bridal style.

I tried to push and shove at him to put me down, but it hurt to much. "Put me the fuck down!"

He stopped and set me down on my feet by the car. I leaned my back on it and tried to catch my breath. "T'hell is wrong with ya?!" Daryl asked me, in an upset voice. I stood up off of the car and looked at him. "What's wrong with me?!" I was so angry and hurt with him that I wanted to punch him, but I held back. I clenched my fists and looked into his blue eyes. "Just go, Daryl." He just looked at me, not moving. I couldn't take him right now. I couldn't take the shock and hurt in his eyes. I couldn't take the fact that he was actually here. I couldn't take the fact that he had left when I woke up. And I sure as hell couldn't take the fact that I loved him and wanted to fall into his arms and never come back up. "Fuckin go!" I shoved him in the chest, but I was so weak he barely even moved. "Go." I said one more time. He picked up his crossbow and walked off, angry and upset.

I wanted to curl up and cry or at least tell him to come back and never leave again, but I couldn't. I just couldn't.

I felt every ones eyes on me, wide with shock. I turned away from them and slowly crawled into the back of the truck. I laid down on my side, ignoring the shooting pain that was going up my stomach. I wrapped my hands around my chest and shoulders and just store off at the side of the car. I wasn't going to let myself cry, at least not in front of anyone.. I wasn't going to show them how weak I am.

"Still thirsty?" I heard a familiar voice ask. I felt my throat throb at the thought of water and turned my head. I saw Glenn and Maggie standing there, holding the water bottle I dropped. I nodded weakly and they handed it to me. I took small, careful sips, not wanting to choke on it because I was on my back. Glenn leaned against the side of the car and looked over at me. "God, I never would have thought I would be seeing your face again." He said. I guess that explains why everyone looked at me like I was a ghost. I also guess that's why Daryl has been looking at me all shocked.

I sighed and put the cap on the top of the water bottle. "We all know what you did for us at the cabin. That you led the walkers away." Glenn stated.

"S'not anything anyone else wouldn't have done." I said as I propped up on my elbows, my mangled arm hurting a little so I put more weight on my other. Glenn just nodded. "Yeah, but you did it and it looks like you've been through hell because of it."

"Yeah..." I trailed off, not wanting to go into details about it. "Looks like you guys haven't had it too easy either."

Glenn let out a sigh. "It's been rough, but we've pushed through it." I just nodded and ran my hand over my face. "We're glad you'e back." He said and then gave me one last look and got up from the car. Maggie walked over and hugged me again, trying to be gentle. She pulled away and gave me a nod, then went with Glenn back to the others.

I laid back again and let out a sigh. I've barely been awake with these people for more than and hour and they are already making me feel more emotions than I have in a long time. It was still hard to process that I actually found them, though. It's truly unbelievable.

Someone jumping back into the trunk caught my attention. I looked over and saw V come in and shut the back of the trunk, I raised an eyebrow at him. "We're heading off, don't know where too, but we can't sit here much longer."

I nodded at him and then heard a few more people open doors and get in the car. I heard the familiar roar of Daryl's motorcycle and sighed. V looked at me and then laid down on his back next to me, letting out a sigh. "You'll be alright, firecracker."

I rolled my eyes at him, but was secretly glad I had him here. It was almost like I was reunited with my long lost brother.

*

I was woken up by us driving over a pot hole in the road. I slowly blinked open my eyes and realized my head was resting on V's shoulder. I sighed and laid back flat. "How long have we been driving?" I asked him.

"Couple of hours or so, made a pit stop a little bit ago, but now we are off in the direction of some house." V said, moving his head to look at me. I let out a sigh and then felt the cars slow to a haul. The back to the trunk opened and Rick appeared. "Found the house. Gona go check it out."

He walked off and V got out of the back and then helped me out. I grabbed my backpack that was in the back and threw it over my shoulders, then went over to the others who were waiting by the cars. Rick and Carl screwed the silencers onto their guns and them, T-dog, and Daryl ran inside and started clearing it out. It looked like they have done this a hundred times and I was surprised out how Carl had grown up enough to do it with them.

Glenn and Maggie waited for a little then ran inside to help out. After a few more minutes Rick whistled over to us and everyone grabbed their things and went inside. I felt better after my little nap, but I hadn't ate enough and I lost a ton of blood, so I felt like ass. V kept his hand on my arm as he helped me inside.

Rick shut the doors behind us and I looked around the house. It looked old and creepy, but shelter was shelter. I saw Carl looking around the kitchen for food frantically, we were all starving. We went into the living room of the house and saw everyone was sitting down in a circle, besides Rick. I didn't sit down though, the position was a bitch on my machete slice, so I leaned against the railing. Daryl was in front of me aways and was picking the feathers off an owl he must have found.

The room was silent and there was definitely some tension in the group. I personally think everyone was just hungry, tired, and colder towards the new world. Carl seemed to be opening up a can of fucking cat food, I don't think I would eat that if I was starving to death. Rick noticed and walked over, taking it out of his hands and throwing it into the fireplace. Everyone jumped up a little at his sudden out burst, but I guess they had become used to them. Rick was definitely different.

Everyone was now looking around with looks that still doubted Rick. That pissed me off still, they wouldn't be alive with out him. Daryl stood up and walked over to me, handing me part of his owl. I didn't want to take it from him and not let any of the group have any, so I looked over at Carl, but then something else caught my eye. I whistled at the group and pointed over to the horde of walkers that was coming out the window.
Daryl threw the owl onto the ground and then quickly grabbed his stuff and led the group to the back door. Everyone got their shit together and silently ran out. By the time we reached the cars I was starting to get completely dizzy. V basically threw me into the back of the car and then everyone else got in and we drove away with the caravan of cars.

I had my hand on my forehead and was taking deep breaths. "Don't pass out. Don't pass out." I chanted as I tried to steady my self. V was sitting there, ready to catch me if I did, but luckily I got my shit together. I let out a long breath and ran my hands over my face. "I'm good."

We drove for a little while to get away from the walkers, but then stopped to re cooperate. Everybody hoped out of the cars and huddled around a map on one of them. When V and I got over I heard them discussing something. "We can't keep going house to house, we need a place to hold up for a few weeks." Rick said, looking over to the very pregnant Lori.

A few people said they where going to go over to a lake in the woods to fill up on water. Daryl and Rick then went out to hunt, leaving only a few of us around the cars. I hated being useless and the next thing we do I am sure as hell going to help out even if I do rip my damn stitches.

I pulled my backpack off my back and dug through it, taking out some left over chocolate bars. I walked over to Carl who was on watch and handed one to him, receiving a small nod from him. I then walked over to Lori who had her legs up in a car and handed her one. She mumbled a thanks and gave me a weak smile, I walked away with a nod.
I went back to the trunk of the car and saw my machine gun lying there. I chuckled and took it, putting the strap around my shoulder and letting it rest on my back as I pulled my machete out. Even though this damn thing gave me a hell of a wound, I still loved it. I ate one of the chocolate bars, trying to get my energy up and then put my backpack back on, over my machine gun and went to the edge of the cars, keeping look out.

Daryl and Rick soon came back, running towards us. Rick had something on his face that looked like hope? Holy shit! I listened to them going off about something as I kept lookout and felt myself get excited at his words. A prison.. They found a prison.