The Swan Verse: A Walking Dead Fanfiction

Chapter 31 - When the dead come knocking

"Rick, we gotta help her. She's clearly hurt." William looked over to Rick with wide eyes, his fingers looping through the wires on the gate. It didn't seem as though Rick was wanting to help the woman, but she was carrying something and it looked as though she was walking with a limp. She was hurt and William wasn't the type to just leave a helpless woman out to die.

He started to make his way over to gates where Carl stood, noticing that the woman had fallen over and passed out. Now his worry began to grow.

William turned to Carl, "Take care of those walkers."

Carl nodded and lifted his pistol, taking two shots to drop the walkers above her.

Rick came running up from behind, "Carl!" He held out his hand, catching the keys that Carl tossed to him. "Shit.." He muttered under his breath.

Hershel heard the commotion and walked down to the gates with his crutches, "Is she bit?" He questioned.

Rick examined the woman's body, noticing where the blood was coming from. He took a closer look, "Gunshot."

William rushed over, helping to lift the woman alongside Rick.

They all carried her into the prison, being very careful with her in case she was to wake up and try something dangerous.

"Carl, get a blanket." Rick ordered, "Beth, water and a towel."

"All right." Beth said, running along to grab the needed items.

"Here?" Carl questioned, placing down the blanket.

"She's not coming in the cell blocks." Rick said, "Woah, woah, woah. Steady now." He put her down carefully onto the blanket.

Beth comes in with the water and towel and hands it over to Rick.

"All right. Thank you." Rick takes the water bottle into his hand and pours it over the woman's chest. She soon began to wake up from the cool liquid on her, "Shh. It's all right. It's all right. Hey, hey, look at me. Look at me." Rick leans over her, "Who are you?" He questions, brushing the towel over her arm. "It's all right. Hey. Hey."

The stranger reaches for her katana but Rick was too quick. He pins her down and kicks away her katana, "No. We're not going to hurt you unless you try something stupid first, all right?"

Daryl came into the room from behind, "Rick. Who the hell is this?"

"You wanna tell us your name?" Rick leaned over the woman, questioning her further, "You wanna tell us your name?"

"Y'all come on in here." Daryl said to the group.

"Everything all right?" Rick asked, looking back at him.

"You're gonna wanna see this." Daryl said and a small smile formed on his face. Daryl Dixon smiling, this had to be good.

"Go ahead. Carl, get the bag." Rick nodded, picking up the katana from the floor. "We'll keep this safe and sound. The doors are all locked. You'll be safe here." Rick motioned to her gunshot wound, "And we can treat that."

"I didn't ask for your help." The woman spat out.

Rick turned his back and started to walk away, "Doesn't matter. Can't let you leave."

Everyone follows behind Daryl into the other cell block, and to their surprise, Carol had lived and was sitting right in front of them.

"Oh, god." Carol muttered, standing to her feet slowly. It was obvious that she was weak, probably from the lack of food and water.

"Thank god. Thank god." Rick wrapped his arms around Carol carefully, repeating his thanks over and over until he finally was able to let go.

Carol moved to Hershel and wrapped her arms around his neck, "How?" He questioned, looking down at her.