My Damaged Protector

Chapter Three ~ The CDC

I woke up to the sound of birds chirping and a dim light streaming in through a mesh tent window. I sat up slowly and looked around the tent, trying to figure out where I was and what happened. My plaid long sleeve was in the corner, folded neatly with my boots at the tent door. My hands quickly reached forward and tugged my boots onto my feet before pulling on my plaid short, wincing at the pain in my shoulder. With a glance at my skin, I could see a bandage tapped tightly to my skin.

As I emerged from the tent, my eyes took in the horrific scene that filled our camp. Bodies littered the ground, Andrea was leaned over a dead Amy under the awning of the RV, and group members worked at moving bodies into places to either be burned or buried.

Instantly, I was searching for Elena, and when I couldn't see her bright hair, fear filled my body. Daryl was almost immediately coming over to help me out of the tent. "You doin' ok?" He asked.

I hesitated while looking around the camp again. "Where is she?" I asked, my hands shaking.

His brows knitted together for a moment before realization crossed his blue eyes. "Oh, right, she's with Carl and Sophia in the RV with Dale and Glenn." He told me, pointing over to the RV. I sighed a breath of relief and looked up into his eyes for more answers.

"What happened last night?"

"I guess we didn' get that shoulder of yours covered in time. Ya passed out from pain or blood loss. We got Glenn back but when we got back to camp, they were brin' overrun with walkers." I nodded along with him as we slowly walked over to a small campfire where Carol was cooking fish. She handed me a plate after Daryl sat me down on a log and allowed me to eat as Daryl filled me in even further on last night's events, we had lost a few people. Ed, Carol's husband had been attacked while he slept, not that we would be missing him all that much, and Andrea had just out Amy down a few minutes before I woke up.

Daryl had eventually gone off to help moving the bodies again and once I was finished eating, I headed into the RV to check on my little sister. Once the door shut behind me, Glenn stood from his seat and came over to my side.

"Thank god you're ok." I said, stepping up and hugging him tightly. He hugged me back and gave a 'you too'. I pulled away and looked mt the table. "Hey, baby girl." I smiled to my sister who was sat at the table with Sophia, Carl, and Dale playing cards.

Elena stood from her spot and ran over to my side, hugging onto me tightly. "Did you eat yet?" I ask her and Glenn, catching a glimpse of the other three going right back to their game happily.

"No." They both said in unison, making them both laugh.

"Well then, let's go get some you guys some food." I stepped out of the RV, Elena on my hip, with Glenn flowing behind us. I sat her down on a log, across from a reseated Daryl, only for her to get up and run over to him. I raised my eyebrow and gave a small smile at the little girl's actions. She gave him a quick hug and they started to talk, while I leaned over to Glenn. "When did she get so close to him?" I whispered.

"Last night when we got back, you were passed out in Daryl's arms and she just clung to him." He said shrugging his shoulders. I nodded and grabbed a plate of food for her before going over to join their side. "Hey girly. You got to eat." I sat beside her and handed her the food.

She took the plate and shoved the food into her mouth with a grin while Daryl was leaning over to Rick, talking about where to go next. "I'm going to change." I ran my fingers through Elena's hair. "Stay by Daryl ok?" She nodded with a mouthful of fish and scooted ever so slightly closer to the hunter.

I gave her a smile and took off for the tent I woke up in earlier. Unzipping the door, I found my bag resting in the corner. I unzipped it and pulled out a cleaner pair of jeans and a new tank top, changing quickly before anything could happen outside.