Until the End

Chapter Sixteen: Saving grace.

After finding the houseboat that was named Sea Beast, which caused the others to laugh at it's name, Rick and the guys boarded the houseboat to make sure it was vacant. Glenn was the first one to climb off of the boat. He was sporting a huge grin as he ran down the dock and back to the vehicles where everyone stood waiting.

"It's huge inside. There's even electricity inside that works." Glenn stated, excited.

"But that's impossible. Nothing with electricity has been working unless it's powered by gas." Dale said, before looking at Kirby.

"It's solar and wind powered. See the planes on top of the there and that small windmill? Those work and store energy that power the Sea Beast." Kirby explained, smiling as she held Mallorie on her hip.

"You mean...there's hot water?" Lori said, moaning at the thought.

"That's not the only thing." Rick said as he stepped onto the dock. "The freezer is packed with meat and the pantry is also full."

"Yeah and there's booze!" Daryl shouted from on deck of the Sea Beast and holding up a bottle of Jack Daniels.

Kirby shook her head at him, but was smiling.

"Hell yeah! I'm going to get wasted tonight!" Andrea admitted, not at all shy when her sister gaped at her.

"If you are then I am too." Amy said.

Andrea shrugged.

"We'll get wasted together." Andrea grinned at Amy.

"Before anyone gets shitfaced, we should hurry and get everything on board." Shane suggested, looking out to the gate entrance of the marina that was about a mile away from where they were.

"Oh my god." Carol whispered, her arms going around Sophia.

Everyone raced back and forth, carrying supplies to the houseboat. Sophia and Carl were in charge of watching Mallorie and staying inside the houseboat. Since Merle was deprived one hand, he could only take bags that had handle, which mostly consisted of food.

"They're coming!" Jacqui screamed as more then fifty walkers stumbled, crawled, and pushed forward towards the group.

Shane backed up the RV and blocked the dock with it, buying some time for everyone to get on the houseboat. Daryl took the boxes that were handed to him inside as everyone scrambled to get on board.

"Shit." Kirby gasped, as she stepped wrong on one of the planks.

Unbalanced, gravity forced her down and she gave a cry of pain as she hit the dock hard. Seeing her fall, Amy climbed off of the small ramp that connected the houseboat to the dock and knelt down to help Kirby up.

"My ankle." Kirby said, gritting her teeth from the pain.

Amy struggled to help Kirby up, having only been able to get her up halfway as the first walker found it's way around the RV.

"Somebody help!" Amy shouted, trying to hurry to the ramp.

"Amy!" Andrea screamed as the walker reached out for her sister.

Kirby shoved Amy out of reach and onto the ramp. Doing so caused the walker to miss Amy and grab Kirby instead. The two were sent into the water with a loud splash.

"Fuck! Oh fuck! Daryl! Rick!" Andrea screamed, grabbing Amy.

"What!" Daryl shouted, running outside with his crossbow.

"Kirby! A walker got her and they fell in the water." Amy cried, clinging onto Andrea.

More walkers were beginning to swarm the RV, trying to get by. Daryl dropped his crossbow and was ready to jump in after Kirby, but was held back by Rick and T-Dog.

"She's gone, man! A walker got her." T-Dog shouted hanging onto Daryl's left arm.

"Shut the fuck up and let me go! She's still alive!" Daryl yelled, kicking his feet up to get loose from the two.

"She hasn't come back up, Daryl! She's....Kirby is gone." Rick said.

"No! NO!!! She's alive!" Daryl screamed out in rage, tears making his throat want to close.

"Rick, we can't just leave her here! She might not have been bitten!" Lori screamed, her face wet with tears at the loss of one of her friends.

"Dale, start the boat. We'll move away from the dock and look for her. If we don't find her after thirty minutes, then we're leaving. I can't let anyone else die." Rick said, his face falling.

"Don't say that! Kirby isn't dead!" Daryl shouted, shoving Rick back.

"Mama?" Mallorie called out as she, Carl and Sophia can out on deck to see what all the shouting was about.

"Oh no....Mallorie, come here honey." Jacqui cried, squatting down for Mallorie to come over.

The child ignored Jacqui and watched as Daryl struggled against Rick and T-Dog.

"Stop it! Don't hurt Daddy!" Mallorie cried, her small face going red from screaming so loud.

She ran over, but was scooped up by Lori.

"Ssh, don't cry. No one is going to hurt Daryl." Lori said, calming the girl down.

"Where's Mama? I want Mama." Mallorie said, looking around as far as she could see.

A gasp came from the other side of the boat, catching everyone's attention and going over to peer over the side. There, hanging onto the side rope, was Kirby. Her face was pale and she had her eyes closed as she sucked in oxygen.

"Jesus!" Merle said, making a grab for the rope as it began to slack up.

"Kirby, hold on!" Daryl shouted down at her.

Daryl, Merle, Lori, Rick and T-Dog pulled Kirby up. As soon as she was in reach, Daryl grabbed her and pulled her up. She was shivering and her lips were a blue contrast to her pale skin. Daryl held her to him as he collapsed to his knees, burrowing his face in her neck.

"Here." Carol said, bringing a blanket from inside and covering Kirby with it.

"Daryl, bring her inside and out of the wind." Rick said, motioning for everyone else to get inside as well.

Keeping his mouth shut for later, Daryl got to his feet with Kirby in his arms. The women followed closely, wanting to make sure Kirby was alright. Going into the first bedroom he came to, Daryl slid the door open. He laid Kirby down on the bed and moved her wet hair out of her face.

"Lori." Daryl whispered, not taking his eyes off of Kirby's face as he ran his thumb over her cheek.

"Don't worry, Daryl. We'll take care of her." Lori said, moving to the other side of the bed.

Carol, Jacqui, Amy, and Andrea shut the door to get Kirby out of her wet clothes and get her dry. The only time they would leave the room was to take Kirby's wet clothes to hang outside on the railing and to get something warm for her to drink. Carl and Sophia were playing with Mallorie, keeping her mind off of her mother.

Daryl found Rick in the Captain's quarters with Dale behind the wheel. Shane stood leaning against the wall as Rick and Dale discussed where to go. Shane looked over at Daryl, standing straight as the look of anger on Daryl's face.

"Daryl, don't do it." Shane said, seeing his fist clench and unclench.

Rick turned around when Shane spoke and didn't have time to move, before Daryl's fist plowed into his gut. Rick let out a gasp of pain from Daryl's hit and crumpled to the floor as Shane and Dale move to separate Daryl and Rick. They stopped, surprised, when Daryl stepped away from Rick.

"If ya ever stop me from helpin' Kirby again, I'll do more then punch ya in the stomach ya fuckin' traitor." Daryl threatened, before leaving the room.