Saved

II

When I woke up, it was dark, and there wasn't anyone around. I could hear the sounds of a crying baby, and I assumed it was Dale, since Lori couldn't have given birth yet. 

"Hello?" I called, moving my legs over the side of the bed, and before I could stand up, Carl had moved into the doorway, and was staring at me. 

"Riley! Guys! Riley is up!" Carl yelled, moving back to yell up at the stairs, and several feet were pounding on the ground. I could see Lori, Rick, Hershel, Beth, and Carol holding Dale, but Maggie, Glenn, Merle and Daryl weren't there. 

My eyes zeroed in on Dale. He was adorable. He was chubby, with a full head of brown hair, and his beautiful blue eyes were staring over at me. I must have been out for awhile. I looked over at Rick, who had tears streaming down his face. 

"How long was I asleep?" I said, staring over at Dale, and suddenly Carol rushed forward, holding him out for me to take, and I did so greedily. I cradled him in my arms, and gently stroked his cheek with my finger, staring into his beautiful blues while I waited for someone to answer. 

"Two months." Rick finally answered uncomfortably, and when I looked up, he was staring over at Hershel. 

"You went into a coma caused by the shock your body went into when you lost all that blood. You lost a lot. Daryl, Rick, and Carl each gave you two units over the course of two days until you stopped bleeding." I was shocked, but honestly not as much as I should have been. 

"Where is Daryl? Merle? Glenn and Mags?" I asked anxiously, looking over the group in front of me, and I noticed as they all shifted anxiously, exchanging looks before turning back to me. 

"Daryl and Merle went out on a run to the town a few miles down to get some more formula for Dale. They were supposed to be back last night. Maggie and Glenn went to look for them this morning. But they should have all been back by now, a woman... she showed up a few hours ago. With Daryl's crossbow and a basket full of formula. She says they were taken by a group that she was on the run from." I froze. 

"What? What are we still doing here?" I cried, jumping up from the bed, still cradling Dale, but immediately almost collapsed as my legs went out from under me. I twisted, preparing to land on my back so I didn't crush him, but someone caught me. I glanced up, positioned awkwardly, and saw Rick staring down at me, with alarm painted across his face, with a little bit of amusement there too. 

"We were waiting until morning to go after them." Rick explained, leaning me up, and keeping a tight grip on me while I tried to maintain my balance. 

I nodded, fear settling deep into my bones, but I tried not to let it show across my face. Before I could say anything else, my stomach let out a massive roar signifying my hunger, and everyone started to laugh, before parting to let Rick pull me out of the cell, and towards the table. Axel and Oscar were both sitting there, eating, and there was a woman locked in a cell in the corner. 

After sitting, I looked down and realized I was still holding Dale, and he had managed to fall asleep at some point during the walk from the cell to the table. I glanced up and Carol was sitting across from me, looking down at Dale with a blissful smile on her face, and when Rick sat the bowl of food down in front of me, I decided to ask her. 

"Hey Carol, do you mind holding him for a few minutes so I can eat?" When she nodded, extremely excited, and took him, and I tried to not be bothered by the fact that she was able to hold him, cuddle him, love him for the past two months, and I've only been able to be with him for a few minutes. And instead tried to focus on the fact that she held him and loved him, and took care of him for the past two months when I couldn't, and I should be thankful for that. 

That's when I noticed something else though. 

"Where's Bailey?" I asked anxiously, looking around the main room, where everyone had gathered, and yet she wasn't here. 

"Riley... I'm so sorry... but Bailey died when all the walkers got into the cells. She was locked in the cell block when the walkers came in, and they... they took her down."

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I let the tears flow, and the sobs follow. I cried for Bailey. For Daryl. For Merle. For Glenn and Maggie. For Dale, for missing his first two months of life. I cried for T-Dog, who I am assuming is dead as well since he isn't here either. And finally, I cried for myself.