The Swan Verse: A Walking Dead Fanfiction

Chapter 28 - Say the word

"Rick, you with me?" Daryl asked the group leader, who was still zoned out and hunched on the floor. "Rick?" the archer repeated.

Rick was unresponsive, he was zoned so far out that he couldn't hear anyone calling his name or the cries of his newborn daughter in Maggie's arms.

"Let me see the baby" Alison spoke, stepping forward. Although her experience was limited, she did a semester volunteering on a premature baby ward in college so she knew a little bit.

"What are we gonna feed it? We got anything a baby can eat?" Daryl asked, looking at the newborn.

"The good new is she looks healthy but she needs formula and soon, or she won't survive" Hershal informed the group, which caused Daryl to spring into action.

"Nope, no way. Not her. We ain't losing nobody else. I'm going for a run" He stated, grabbing his crossbow and getting ready to swiftly head out.

"I'll back you up" Maggie offered.

"I'll go, too" William said almost instantly after Maggie offered. Alison looked between the two of them.

"Okay, think where we're going. Beth?" Daryl said, beckoning the blonde over to him "Kid just lost his mom. Hi dad ain't doin' so hot" he stated.

"I'll look out for him" Beth clarified, and with that - Daryl made his way to the vehicles.

"You two get the fence, too many pile up we for ourselves a problem" Daryl said to the two prisoners. "Maggie, Will, Vamanos!" He yelled.

"Rick!" Maggie pleaded to no avail as the leader left up the staircase Maggie came down.

"Get the gate. C'mon, we're gonna lose the light" Daryl yelled, running to the silver car. Alison followed Maggie and William over in hopes of helping with the gate or any type of medical terms they might need a hand with.

"There's a Piggly Wiggly on 85?" Will suggested.

"No, the baby section's been cleared" Maggie rebutted "Lori asked me to keep an eye but I haven't had much luck."

"Is there any place that hasn't been completely looted?" Daryl asked, growing impatient at the small wait.

"We saw signs for a shopping centre just north of here" William responded quickly.

"Yeah but there's too much debris in the road. A car will never get through there" Maggie replied shakily, her voice almost cracking. Her hands were shaking and she looked like she needed to take a lay down. Other than the blood splatters on her cheeks and neck, her complexion was white as a ghost.

"I can take one a' ya"" Daryl stated.

"I'll go." Ali volunteered "There's no time to argue. I'll go" she reiterated, shaking her head.

William shot his sister a look, but Ali simply diverted her gaze to Maggie - who had simply nodded in acceptance.

"Are you sure?" William asked Alison, who nodded.

"Maggie is too shaken and the group needs you. I'll be fine" She nodded, to which William embraced his sister in a tight hug and passed her her bow and quiver which he found in the red car.

Ali walked over to Daryl, who nodded back at her as she climbed onto the back of his motorcycle. She wrapped her arms around his torso as he took off toward the gate and out onto the open road ahead.

If it weren't for the stressful circumstances in which they were out, the ride would have been quite nice. They went down a few smaller side roads which passed through fields overrun with natural flowers. All very beautiful but something Ali couldn't focus on until they had what they needed for the newborn.