Love Amongst The Dead-Rick Grimes

11

A Gift From One Friend  To Another

Alexia's POV

The morning was peaceful. Something new to our group, hence the consistent attacks.

Each of us stood around in a horseshoe shape, a wheelbarrow full of rocks beside a fresh grave. Otis.

"Praise be to him. For the gift of our brother, Otis." Hershel recited.

We had been gathered round the front of the truck planning how to find Sophia, Daryl and I being the only ones able to since Shane had a limp and Rick gave a lot of blood to Carl.

Carol was so worried, she had no clue where her little girl was and or if she was even alive.

All we had was our beliefs, the hope as to whether or not it was false.

"How long's this girl been lost?" Hershal asks.

"This would be day 3," Rick replies, looking at me for confirmation. So much has happened to his own child, Sophia hadn't exactly been his top priority.

Maggie came over with a map, "County Survey Map, shows terrain and elevations."

"Perfect," Shane piped up.

"Finally get this thing organised," I said.

"We'll grid the whole area and start searching in teams." Rick said.

"Not you, not today. You gave 3 units of blood. You wouldn't be hiking 5 minutes in this heat before passing out. And your ankle," he says turning to Shane, "hell you should be off it for months,"

"Guess it's just me and you, Montgomery," Daryl chirps in beginning to take hold of the map.

"What?-," "No way," both Rick and Shane protested in unison.

"I can do it, it's just a little tracking. Besides Daryl taught me a few tips and tricks back at the quarry." I crossed my arms, putting my foot down. I'm not helpless for god sake.

Daryl nodded, oh I know he was forcing back a smile.

"I'll drive back up the interstate, see if she wondered back up there." Shane mentions.

Daryl and I got ready to go, about to leave the farm when Rick called us over "Lexi, Daryl! You guys gonna be okay doing this?"

"Course we are," Daryl replied, slight sass coming from him.

"Just making sure and Lexi?" I departed from Daryl and got a few feet closer to Rick.

"Yeah?"

"Are you sure you're gonna be alright? Can't have one of out best shooters injured." Humor in his voice and yet concern in his eyes.

"Don't you worry, I'll make sure he doesn't go off the edge." I smiled, lightening the mood.

"You know i meant you."

"I know, now you make sure Carl's alright for me." Placing my hand on his shoulder, i gazed behind at Hershal emerging from the house, giving him a slight nod.

I followed Daryl off into the trees.

Daryl and I came across an abandoned house not far from the farm. "So, how is the infamous lone hunter doing anyway?" I chirped up.

"You know, getting by 'n all," he shrugged, clearly not in the mood to talk. As per usual.

He kicked the door in and we began to search through the place, "I'd keep a close eye on Shane if I were you," his croaky voice echoed through the house.

My gun lowered as I took a moment to process what he said, "hold on, what the hell do you mean by that," I stepped in front of him, my face contorted into a look of confusion.

"Rick told me to keep an eye on him when he's around you simply because he seems to have a thang for you,"

Rick? Why is Rick concerned?

"Shane wouldn't do anything to harm me, and how come this is coming from Rick?"

"Because he prob'ly knows what the scumbag is like, like what happened at the CDC,"

"You told Rick about that?" Irritation began to rise in me, but then i figured they were looking out for me, if Shane is really that way.

"I had to," He circled back round, going into the kitchen, "it was the right thang."

Daryl held his hand up to me, signalling for me to be quiet. He stalked towards the small closet at the end of the room as I held my gun up, the only thing I could hear was the sound of the floorboards creaking under his feet and my heart pumping blood around my body.

He quickly flung the door open to reveal shelves lined with canned food and below that a small pile of blankets.

"Someone's been staying here, gotta have been a child because that's a tight space,"

I nodded my head in agreement, then we made our way to the backyard to look and Daryl came upon a flower, it was beautiful. Innocent. Pure white  with yellow and magenta sprouting from the centre.

"Here, Cherokee Rose. For Carol, her little girl. But also for you, I know you need hope," a tear ran down my face, not knowing what to say back to the guy, who was usually cold and acted so indifferent. But something to give Carol hope, hope that we'd find her daughter. And luck. If only luck had been on our side. Maybe the world wouldn't have even ended.

It was nearing midnight when I trailed through the Greene house towards the front door, ready to call it a night when I heard my name being called behind me.

Rick Grimes had retired his deputies' uniform for the night and was wearing a white t-shirt that showed off his strong but lean build. "How'd it go with Daryl? No signs of Sophia?"

"Daryl was surprisingly not so Daryl-like today, but we did find a closet someone small like a child had to have been staying in," I smiled at the image of Daryl handing me a flower that represented everything that helped us to keep fighting.

"And how are you? Since the quarry and the CDC you have seemed... preoccupied," He scrunched his eyebrows together in concern.

"Don't worry about me, I can handle it," I tried to laugh it off as it didn't feel as though it mattered.

"You helped me, it only seems right that I return the favour. You are a good friend to me Lexi."

"Well when the time is right I'll take you up on the offer." Smiling i began turning away, "Goodnight Rick, and thank you,"

Nodding, he responded "Goodnight Lexi," with a warm smile.

I began my walk to the door, not hearing a sound behind me. 

Glad to to say I had people I trusted. 

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Heyyyyy hope you guys enjoyed this chapter which focused a little more on Lexis friendship with Daryl and blooming friendship with Rick.!!!!

Wonder what's gonna happen next...

xxx