Small World

Chapter 11 - Fort Bennett

Sami's P.O.V

after talking to Daryl I walked to the fence line and sat in front of it. I can't believe that Zach was just here a few hours ago. I don't want to be mad at Daryl but I am. I'm just mad at everything now, I don't even know if I want to be here at all anymore. Maybe I should just leave, just move on.

Maybe I was too hard on Daryl, it's not his fault. I know that he tried his hardest, I know if it were up to him he would've chose himself over Zach. I need to apologize to him and go talk to people. After sitting outside for about an hour I get up and head back inside.

"Hey." Shane smiles walking up to me.

"Hey what's up?" I look at him.

"So I've been thinking." He scratches the back of his head. "Since you're immune we should get you to fort Bennett so someone can make a cure out of your blood." He explains.

"I'm not going anywhere nor am I going to be someone's guinea pig." I push past him and he grabs my hand tightly.

"Don't be stupid, Sami." He looks down at me. "You can end this." He grips me tighter.

"Get off of me!" I snap trying to snatch my arm back but he just grabs my other one. I head butt his chin and he groans throwing me to the ground.

"Sami you could end this." He picks me up by my shirt collar. "You could give my baby a living chance." He starts dragging me to his car.

"Put me down!" I kick him in the back and it doesn't phase him. "Someone help me!" I yell. I hear the door fling open a couple seconds later and I see Daryl, Dean and Rick come running out.

"Put her down!" Daryl sprints over to us with Dean and Rick following right behind.

"Back up Daryl!" Shane puts a gun to my head as he wraps his arm around my neck.

"Shane don't do this brother!" Rick calls out.

"I will kill you." Dean growls.

"Listen!" Shane barks. "She could end all of this. Lori's baby can grow up happy and healthy. You guys aren't willing to risk her life for the greater good but I am."

I look at Daryl and I can see fire building in his eyes. I grab Shane's hand and I bite it so he lets me go. I fall to the ground and he yelps in pain. Dean quickly grabs my hand and moves me behind him.

"Give her to me!" Shane yells charging at me. Rick meets him and throws him to the ground. Daryl goes to charge him and I grab his hand and he looks at me.

"Stay behind Daryl." Dean looks at me and I nod. I stand behind Daryl, gripping his arm. I don't have the energy to fight anymore.

Dean and Rick pin Shane down and Rick tries talking him down.

"Rick you gotta kill him." Daryl speaks up and I look up at him, his eyes are focused on Shane.

"Daryl." Rick sighs.

"He's been trying to get rid of you and you know it." Dean sighs. "Either you take care of him or I will." Just then Shane breaks free and stabs Rick in the leg with a knife. Before anyone can react I shoot Shane with my handgun in the head. He falls dead and the three of them look at me.

"I'm not losing anyone anymore." I whisper. Dean lifts Rick up and carries him inside for Hershel to look at. Daryl starts walking inside and I grab his hand.

"Wait." I whisper. "I'm sorry." I look up at him. "I know you did everything you could. I don't blame you, Daryl. Thank you for taking care of him while I was gone."

"It was my fault." He looks down at me. "I told him to not come with us and he did anyway. I should've tried to stop him harder."

"He was stubborn that's for sure." I gently lift Daryl's face. "I forgive you." He hugs me tightly and I hold him close. We stand here in silence for about a minute then we pull away and walk inside together.

I spend the next few hours talking and catching up with everyone. I spent a lot of time talking to Beth as we both processed our greatest loss together and it helped a lot.

I'm not happy and I'm not sure if I ever will be again but like Beth said tonight, we don't get to be sad, we have things to do. I need to rest so we can build this place into a safe sanctuary. I chose a cell that was empty at the end of the cell block to set up as my own.

Things are different now, I don't ever remember a time in my entire life where I've been this sad but it's time to move on. I have to carry on the legend Zach would have left behind.

Even the worst 24 hours always come to an end.