YEARNING - Daryl Dixon

FIFTY THREE.

THE group pulled up to the gates of Alexandria.

Not a single word had been spoken during the drive home.

Just fallen tears.

Bonnie pushed the back doors of the van open and a group had surrounded the van, curious to see what they came back with.

It was late afternoon, the sun was setting on an almost unrealistic and happy Alexandria.

Bonnie stumbled out of the back as Glenn could be heard yelling for help with Tara.

Bonnie looked around, no emotion.

Walker blood all over her face, neck, chest, everywhere.

Once Tara was tended too, Bonnie left without another word and made her way to her "home".

She received sideways glances, noticing people whispering as she walked past them.

"Bonnie?"

The blonde turned her head to see Rick just leaving his house with Carol following.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" The man asked and Bonnie nodded "Yeah, I'm fine, but Tara isn't and Noah's dead." She spoke with no emotion, walking past him and up towards the front steps.

"But are you okay?" Carol asked again and Bonnie spun around "W-We had him, I had his hand in my own and he slipped." Bonnie looked down to her stained hands, an ugly, dark red meeting her gaze.

Rick turned to look at Carol, and the older woman turned and left Rick with Bonnie.

"Come on, lets get you cleaned up."

Rick reached out, wrapping Bonnie up in his arms and walked her over too his home.

"My best wasn't good enough." She muttered, eyes forward as he sat her on the couch.

Rick ran and grabbed a bottle of whiskey, two glasses, a bowl of hot water and a cloth.

"Come on." Rick whispered, taking her backpack off her shoulders, as well as the rifle shoulder, placing them on the couch beside her.

"I think I might have fractured some ribs too." Bonnie looked up at Rick as he poured the girl a glass of whiskey, and handed her the glass.

Without even thinking, Bonnie brought the glass up to her lips, her throat burning from the strong alcohol.

"Show me your ribs." Rick asked gently as he watched her down the whole glass, placing it on the table, before she leaned back and pulled her top up to show her ribs.

"Yeah, they're broken." He reached out and touched them gently, though Bonnie's body retracted from the pain.

He dipped the washcloth in the hot water, wringing it before he began wiping away all the blood from Bonnie's skin as best he could.

"This place, it's cursed." Bonnie whispered as she downed another glass of the strong whiskey.

Rick nodded with a hum "That's why we need to take it, make it strong, change what needs to be changed." He replied.