Until the End

Chapter Five: Meet the parents.

The man raised an eyebrow at her and smirked.

"You can either stay up in that tree like a damn squirrel, or you can come down and go back to camp with us where its safe." He stated, not caring which one she chose.

"Daryl." The guy wearing the police uniform hissed, before sending an apologetic look up at Kirby. "Please, we mean no harm. We heard your screams from our camp and came to help you. Don't be afraid." He said, holding his hands out in a peace offering.

"Afraid? Afraid! I'm not fucking afraid. I'm petrified. This world has gone to shit and I have no idea why." Kirby shouted.

Mallorie tightened her gripped on Kirby, getting her attention. Kirby cupped Mallorie's face and brushed her lips across her forehead.

"Ssh. Everything is fine now, sweetheart." Kirby whispered, rubbing Mallorie's back in comfort.

"Ma'am, if you would lower her down to me, we'll help you down." A dark haired male said as he shifted a shotgun to his other shoulder.

Nodding, Kirby moved and placed Mallorie's feet onto a lower branch. Mallorie began to panic and clung onto Kirby's hands, refusing to let go.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm right behind you." Kirby said, repeating her earlier words.

Kirby had to pry Mallorie's fingers from her hand and the male in the police uniform took hold of Mallorie. Kirby then shifted herself on the branch she was on, before stepping down to a lower branch. Her hands stung from the bark biting into her skin when she was almost pulled down into a group of walkers. Wincing, her grip slipped and she gasped as she fell.

"Watch it!" The male that held the crossbow shouted as he dropped his weapon to catch Kirby.

Kirby's body tensed as the adrenaline left her and she gave into exhaustion. Daryl had to brace his legs as he almost dropped her when she went limp.

"Mama!" Mallorie cried out, struggling to get out of Rick's arms and over to a passed out Kirby.

"Ssh, she's fine. She just fainted is all." Shane explained, not able to take his eyes off of Kirby's face.

"She looks like a doctor and look at the medical bag." Glenn said, picking up the red bag.

"Stop, that's my Mama's!" Mallorie screamed, stretching her small arms out to try and take the bag.

"Hey now, calm down. You don't have to be scared. Your mama is going to be fine." T-Dog said as he picked up the other bag.

Mallorie's bottom lips tremble, before she gave into her tears once again. She didn't know these people. The tall man with the dark brown hair and carried a shotgun reminded her of her father. Her tiny body shook as she sobbed into the neck of the stranger who held onto her.

"What's your name, honey?" Rick asked.

She ignored him and continued to cry. Rick let out sign and followed after Daryl, who had already began walking back to camp. When they emerged from the trees, Lori sent Kirby a cautious look, before her eyes widened at the sight of Mallorie.

"R-Rick are they infected?" Lori asked, running over to her husband.

"I'm not sure. Would you and the other women take care of these two? She won't stop crying and her mother fainted." Rick said.

"Sure, come with me, darling." Lori said and took the crying child from Rick.

"Daryl, put the mother in the RV and out of the sun." Dale said, already opening the door to his RV.

Daryl didn't bother saying anything and just rolled his eyes, before complying. Lori followed Daryl into the RV to let Mallorie be with Kirby.

"Glenn, you should probably take those bags inside as well." Rick mentioned, when Glenn would have went through the bags.

"Fine." Glenn said, sighing.

Inside the RV, Daryl laid Kirby down on one of the beds. Standing up straight, he took a moment to look at her. Her scrubs were bloodies and the hem on the bottom was torn a little. Her blond hair was tangled and a few of her bangs were matted to her hair from the heat. Without a doubt, she was beautiful. Daryl could remember how her eyes looked when she had first saw him. They were the most unusual color of green he'd ever seen. Almost like wet moss.

The sound of crying entered the RV and Daryl turned his attention to the young girl Lori was carrying. As soon as Lori stopped and sat the girl on the edge of the bed, the girl moved over to the woman's side and burrowed her face into her chest.

"Here are their bags. Rick said for me to bring them inside." Glenn said, placing the two bags on the floor next to the bed.

"Daryl?" Lori called out his name as he continued to stare at the woman and child.

His thoughts vanished and he looked over at Lori.

"What?" Daryl demanded, his usual mean self back in place.

Lori glared right back at him.

"Nothing, but if you wouldn't mind leaving. I have to check them for bites." Lori stated.

Glenn left, not wanting to get in the middle of it.

"Whatever." Daryl sneered, leaving as well.

Lori sat down on the edge of the bed and touched her hand to Mallorie's shoulder. The small girl flinched and peered up at Lori with fear and uncertainty.

"Hey there, I'm Lori. What's your name?" Lori asked, smiling gently at the young girl.

"M-Mallorie." Mallorie answered, rubbing her casted arm over her face to dry the tears.

"Oh what a beautiful name you have. What about your mother? What's her name?"

"Mama." Mallorie said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Lori giggled slightly at the girl's words.

"No, I mean what is her name?" Lori asked again.

"Kirby. Mama's name is Kirby. Are you going to take Mama away from me?" Mallorie asked, her grip tightening on the front of Kirby's top.

Lori frowned.

"Of course not. I'm just here to make sure you and your mama aren't hurt." Lori stated.

"Promise?"

"Promise." Lori said, smiling again.

Kirby let out a groan as she started to come back to reality.

"Mama!"

Mallorie's scream had Kirby's eyes shooting open and she sat up with a fierce look in her eyes as she instinctively wrapped her arms around Mallorie to protect her. Lori almost fell off of the bed from Kirby's sudden movements and held up her hands when Kirby continued to glare at her.

"It's alright. No one is going to hurt you. You passed out before you got here and Daryl brought you inside to rest. Are you okay?" Lori asked in reassurance.

Kirby let out a sigh of relief and let her body relax.

"We're fine. If your wondering if we were bitten, then the answer is no. Who are you?" Kirby finally asked.

Lori smiled and offered her hand.

"I'm Lori Grimes, Rick's wife. He was the one in the police uniform. If your feeling up to meeting everyone, I can show you around." Lori suggested.

Kirby licked her dry lips and nodded.

"Could you hand me that red bag first? I scrapped my hands on the tree and want to sterilize them." Kirby said.

Lori picked up the medical bag and handed it over to Kirby. Kirby didn't waste any time in going through the bag. In just a few minutes, Kirby had her hands cleaned and bandaged.

"Are you a nurse?" Lori asked as she watched Kirby look Mallorie over for any new injuries.

"No, I'm a Pediatric doctor. Well, I was before all this happened." Kirby said, referring to the end of the world.