Haven (A Walking Dead fanfiction)

Chapter 11

"Hailey..." I hear Daryl's voice drift through my slumber. I feel his hand on my arm as my mind floats closer to the surface, he gives it a gentle shake. "Hailey.." He whispers again. I jump awake this time, sitting straight up. It feels as if I'd just fallen asleep.

"What is it? What's wrong." He's sitting up too, his eyes full of worry.

"Rick was just here...something's happened with Beth and they can't find Hershel anywhere. I'm sorry, i didn't want to wake you but I know you guys are close I figured you'd want to go be with her."

"Oh god...is she okay? What happened?" I ask fearing the worst.

"Rick said she just collapsed. Lori thinks she's in shock or something." I throw the blankets off of me, pulling on my shoes as fast as I possibly can. Daryl follows my lead, but I'm much faster than he is. I'm on my feet and out the door before he even has his second shoe on. I look back to him, worry churning away in my stomach. He nods at me.

"It's okay, go. I'll be waiting outside." I send him a grateful smile and make a run for the house. When I get inside I find Rick, Lori, Maggie, Glenn and Shane gathered in the living room. I immediately look to Maggie whose eyes are brimmed with tears. She gives me a weak smile as I wrap my arms around her waist. I honestly don't know if I did it for her comfort or mine, maybe both.

"Glenn and I are heading into town. There's a local bar, we think that's where we'll find Hershel." Rick says, filling me in as I pull away from Maggie. I nod. He kisses my forehead saying goodbye before heading outside to let the rest of the group know what's happening. Glenn says his goodbyes to Maggie, while I awkwardly avoid Shane's gaze. Eventually he leaves, scoffing to himself as walks by me. I can't help by sigh with relief. Soon it's just Maggie and I.

"May I see her?" I ask her shyly.

"Yeah sweetie of course, come on we'll go together." I nod, a little nervous to see her condition. Maggie links her arm in mine and we walk into the room where Carl was treated for his gunshot wound. Beth lays limply on the bed, her skin paler than I've ever seen it. Her eyes are open, but she doesn't even blink. Maggie and I sit on the edge of the bed on opposite sides of her.

"Can she hear us?" I ask, my heart retching at the sight of her.

"I don't know love, I sure hope so." Maggie says kindly. I take Beth's hand in one of mine, using my free hand to carefully brush the hair from her face.

"You're gonna be okay Beth. You're so strong, and your daddy's gonna be here real soon. He'll fix this. Everything's gonna be okay." I say tearfully as I stroke her hair. I can't help but feel guilty. I was so overwhelmed with my own grief that I wasn't here for her, she watched what she thought was her sick mother get shot then continue to come after her. "Annette" tried desperately to bite her. Rick and the others pulled her away just in time while Andrea sliced a sickle through her face while poor Beth watched terrified and helpless. I should have been here. I can see the wheels turning in Maggie's mind.

"Wanna talk about it?" I ask softly, looking up at her. She chuckles a little to herself, a few tears sliding her cheeks.

"I just.." She sniffles, wiping her nose on her wrist. "Daddy's missin', Beth is..." She can't find the words so she gestures towards her little sister. "After everything that went down today, I told Glenn I loved him."

"Maggie that's..." I was going to say amazing but she hears the excitement in my voice and stops me.

"He didn't say it back.... He just stood there."

"Everyone can clearly see how much he loves you Maggie, I'm sure he just choked in the moment. He's probably never even had a girlfriend in his life." I say with a laugh trying to cheer her up. She laughs a little, wiping her tears. Patricia and Jimmy join us. Jimmy sits in the arm chair in the corner of the room watching anxiously as Patricia looks Beth over again. She presses her hands against her forehead, cheeks, and chest, her face filling with concern as she does. Beth still doesn't move, her eyes staring unblinkingly at the ceiling. "What's wrong?" I ask fearfully.