Left Behind (sequel to Not Alone)

Ch. 6 - She's Still Out There

Maggie

Before Dad asked Beth to sing and I joined her, I could just make out Daryl's and Carol's conversation back over by the bus. She had obviously said something about Anna that really upset Daryl because he went off on her. I've never seen him get that pissed, even at a woman. He finally came back and joined us, keeping his distance from Carol once they were back with us. I glanced around the fire, thinking about how much Anna would have liked it here to have her baby. I looked back at Daryl who had happened to walk over and stand near me and Glenn. When he looked down at me, I tried to give him a small smile, show him everything would be alright.

His lip barely twitched upwards to acknowledge the smile before I turned back to hear Rick start speaking to us all. "Better all turn in," he said looking around at all of us, "I'll take watch over there. Got a big day tomorrow." "What do you mean," Glenn asked from beside me. "Look I know we're all exhausted," he said looking around at all of us, "this was a great win. But we've gotta push just a little bit more." I looked around as we all waited for him to continue as to what he's got planned for tomorrow. "Most of the walkers are dressed as guards and prisoners," he said looking around, "looks like this place fell pretty early. It could mean the supplies may be intact. They'd have an infirmary, a commissary." "An armory," Daryl asked from behind me as we all looked to him.

"That would be outside the prison itself," Rick said, "but not too far away. Warden's office would have info on the location. Weapons, food, medicine. This place could be a gold mine." "We're dangerously low on ammo," Dad said speaking up, "we'd run out before we make a dent." "That's why we have to go in there," he said, "hand to hand. After all we've been through, we can handle it. I know it." I watched as he looked down to his son. "These assholes don't stand a chance," he said to him. I watched as he looked around again before standing up to leave. Everyone settled down around the fire as Lori got up and followed behind Rick, probably to talk about something, the baby most likely. I still can't help but feel bad for Daryl when I notice his reaction every time he sees Lori and her belly. He wanted that family, and now it's gone.

I laid down beside Glenn as I watched Daryl walk farther away from the group and just stand by the fence looking out from the prison. "Where you going," Glenn asked when I started to get up. "Gonna go talk to Daryl a minute," I said looking back down at him and smiling, "I'll be back in a moment." "Okay," he said as he moved his arm and I stood up, making my way over to where Daryl still stood with his crossbow across his back. "Shouldn't ya be sleepin'," he asked not even looking back to see who it was that was walking up to him. "Just checking to make sure you're alright," I said as I came to a stop beside him at the fence. "Just thinkin' bout her is all," he mumbled as I watched him glance over at me.

"If she's still out there you'll find her again," I whispered and looking over to him, "if not then you'll see her again when you're time is up here." "Yeah I know," he grumbled as he placed his hand on the fence in front of him. It stayed quiet between us for a few moments after that but he spoke up when I was about to turn away and leave. "I was just getting use to the idea of being a father," he spoke, voice barely above a whisper, "I was scared at first but finally it was sinking in that I'd get the chance to have a little one of my own. Never thought I'd get to." "You would have been a great father," I said smiling at him as I placed my hand on his shoulder and he actually smiled back at me, "you may still get that chance if Anna's still out there. And I believe she is."

I watched as his smiled grew some. "Don't lose too much hope Daryl," I said as I removed my hand from his shoulder, "if Anna's out there she'll come back to you. She loves you too much to not try." I watched as he nodded and I turned to leave again, this time making it a few steps before he spoke up. "Thanks Maggie," I heard him say as I looked back and smiled. "You're basically family Daryl," I said smiling, "the minute Anna told me about you I knew you'd be the one she'd end up with. Good night Daryl." He nodded once more before I turned around and finally made it back to bed with Glenn over by the fire we had.