𝟏𝟖 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐔𝐓

𝟐𝐱𝟏𝟎

GROGGINESS. The only word that came to mind when I woke up. My eyes felt like anchors dragging me down towards the empty abyss that is the bottom of the ocean. I had heard everything in the past few hours as far as everyone checking in on me to see if I had woken up. I had heard Glenn talking to me earlier, begging me to wake up and get better. He obviously couldn't see I was awake, none of them could, which sucked.

I could hear them though.

That was a few hours ago. I was able to wake up now. My eyes, much to my surprise, had sprung open, like I was one of those dramatic characters from a show just waking up from getting drowned or something. I looked around slowly and saw I was in a bed with a bunch of IVs hooked up to me. I saw one red one amongst the many clear ones. I scrunched my eyebrows together and followed the trail until I saw Daryl.

I nudged him in an attempt to wake him up. He slowly opened his eyes and rubbed them. He looked at me and all of sudden jolted into action. "Are ya alright?" He asked me as he looked me over in concern. "Are you? Why are you giving me your blood?" I questioned with raised eyebrows. I can't even remember what happened after Rick, Glenn, and I went to the bar to get Hershel.

I mean I remember the whole Dave and Tony thing, and Rick killing them but after that it's kind of a blur. An illusion among a multitude of other illusions. It quite frankly hurt the hell out of my brain.

"You got shot. And Glenn ain't yer blood type, I am. You wouldn't have lived through the surgery if I hadn't given you any." He grumbled tiredly. "I'm out of surgery now. I don't want you fainting or anything and you look tired. How long have you been here?" I asked lowly due to fatigue."A few hours. I wanted to be here in case you woke up. Told Glenn I'd keep an eye on ya." He said looking me in the eyes.

Under all of that exhaustion, I could tell he was worried and it shocked me to say the least. Shocked at the fact he stayed here all night with me, and gave me his blood so I could live.

"Thank you." I said in gratitude. I lifted my shirt to see what all the fuss was about. It hurt to even just pull my shirt up. "Man, that's gnarly." I grimaced at the sight. "You think I'll get a cool scar?" I joked asking him looking to meet his gaze that was on my stomach. "That ain't funny Ara. You could've died!" He exclaimed frustrated while getting up out of the chair and pacing. I suppose I struck a nerve.

That had always been a bad habit of mine, joking during times that aren't in the least bit comical. I couldn't ever help it, even from a young age.

"Daryl, I was jus-."

"Nah, your gonna shut up and listen." He cut me off firmly. He was pacing and biting at his fingernails like he usually did when he was anxious or overthinking something. "Why ya sittin up in here and jokin about ya just getting shot! You know how many people care about you round here?! All of us!" He yelled at me heatedly. Veins had been protruding from his neck out of pure anger. I just sat there with glossy eyes and my mouth shut. He seemed like he was in a lot of pain and not the physical kind.

Yet, throughout his whole speech, I had realized one thing, he cared about me. He thought that I died and he was worried. He was pacing anxiously and continuously biting his nails in frustration. All I could do was just eye his movements and him. I knew that he wasn't used to sharing his feelings or have people openly care about him. I knew that he cared about me but, his feelings towards me became infinitely more clear at his outburst.

I had only ever seen him show that side of himself that hadn't "cared" for people, yet it was those small gestures that had shown that he did. Whether it was giving me back my sword after the attack on our camp, or giving me a flower in a beer bottle, opened up to me with his poison oak story, and now, giving me his blood so I could live.

He hastily made his way to the door. "Daryl." I called out to him as he turned the door knob and slammed the door closed. I sighed and rubbed my forehead with my hand. "Idiot." I muttered to myself. You just had to ruin it Ara.

𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐎𝐕

As Ara had been running out of time, one of the guys who had been with the opposing group gunning them down had been injured. He jumped off of a roof in hopes of landing in the back of his people's truck, he had been sadly mistaken and his leg got caught in a picket fence. He was screaming and begging for his people to help him, but they didn't. They just drove off.

Rick told Glenn to get Hershel as he ran off to go help the guy who had been injured. Glenn was calling out to Hershel who had been in a daze as he watched three walkers gnaw on a man as he kept screaming.

Glenn did succeed in getting him out of his daze and ushered him out of the alley they were in. "The gunfire must've attracted the walkers." Hershel guessed as he held his handgun up in position. "Where's Rick." Hershel asked. "He-he ran across." Glenn answered him. "Well, hell, we can't go without him." Hershel said as he ran towards Rick and the injured guy and Glenn ran after him.

"We have to go now." Hershel urged as he caught up to Rick. "No!" The guy cried out in protest. "Shh!" Rick shushed him, trying not to attract more walkers in their direction. "I'm sorry, son. We have to go." Hershel apologized. He had been worried about Ara's safety and the fact that the place was littered with walkers. "No no, don't leave me please." The guy begged as tears were in his eyes. "We have to go. Ara is bleeding out in the car." Hershel told Rick.

"We can't." Rick disagreed. "He was just shooting at us!" Glenn yelled. "He's a kid!" Rick yelled back. "Please help me." The guy pleaded yet again. "This place is crawling with walkers!" Glenn yelled again. "We can't leave him!" Rick yelled, going back and forth with Glenn. "The fence went clean through. There's no way we can get the leg off in one piece." Hershel informed them. The guy had been screaming at the fence being touched, considering the fence was plunged into his leg. "Shut up! Shut up or I will shoot you!" Rick threatened.

"That may be the answer. We're not gonna get that leg off without tearing the muscle to shreds. He certainly can't run. He may bleed out." Hershel informed Rick as Glenn walked up to the kid and told him to shut up because he was still screaming. "I'm sorry. Sh-sh-shut up." Glenn stuttered. "Maybe we should put him down. I don't wanna see any more killing, but this is cruel." Hershel suggested. "Can't we just take the leg off?" Glenn questioned while whispering.

"That hatchet still in the car?" Rick asked. "No no, don't-don't-don't cut my leg off, please. Please, not my leg." The guy begged in protest at the thought of him loosing his leg. "Will this cut through the bone?" Rick asked Hershel, holding up a knife. "I'll have to sever the ligaments below the kneecap, cut above the tibia. He's going to lose his lower leg." Hershel informed. "No, don't. No." The guy shook his head and whined.

"When we get clear of here, we're gonna have to find some tinder, cauterize the wound so he doesn't bleed out." Hershel informed before taking off his long sleeved dress street. "All right, no choice. Hurry up." Rick said hastily. "Oh god, oh god. No!" The guy freaked out as Rick held him down. "Hand me that stick." Hershel ordered. They proceeded to wrap Hershel's shirt around the top of the guy's leg as a makeshift tourniquet.

The walkers had still been an ever growing issue. They had been coming their way and fast. "Guys, walkers." Glenn told them as he held up his gun. The guy let out a blood curdling scream before Rick covered his mouth with his hand attempting to muffle the scream. "Hurry up!" Glenn yelled as the walkers were getting closer. He started shooting down the ones closest to them. "Shut up!" Rick yelled at the boy before looking over behind him to see a walker heading toward him.

"Oh god. They're everywhere." Rick uttered as he shot the walker down. More we're heading in his direction due to the gunfire. "Hershel, how we doing over there?" Rick asked him. "I need more hands! Easy easy." Hershel yelled before attempting to silence the boy. Glenn had been shooting down walkers from the front as Rick shot walkers from the back, in attempting to but Hershel some time. "No, don't don't don't don't cut my leg off please." The guy begged as Hershel aimed the knife below the guys kneecap.

"Come on, we gotta go! I'm almost out of ammo! We don't have much time! Come on, we've gotta go!" Glenn shouted. "Can't hold 'em off! Hershel, do it now!" Rick shouted at Hershel. "Come on, Hershel!" Rick continued as he came face to face with Hershel. "There is no time!" Hershel yelled.

"Hershel, come on!" Rick shouted again as the walkers were gaining on them.

"Please don't leave me! Please! No! Please don't leave me! Please! Please don't leave me!" The guy yelled frantically as Hershel left him to join Glenn's side. Rick then looked at him before pushing his leg off of the gate with a grunt. Then the guy let out an ear shattering scream as they hurriedly carried him to the car.

They put the guy, who they learnt's name was Randall, in the back of the truck. Glenn had sat in the backseat with Ara, while Hershel was in the passenger's seat and Rick was in the drivers seat. Glenn laid Ara's head against his shoulder before he noticed she had barely been breathing. "Her heartbeats slowing down, we have to get back to the farm." Glenn told them worriedly. "Come on Ara, you've got this your the man beater remember? You've gotta fight this. I need you." Glenn uttered to her unconscious body.

Rick had been speeding down the road in hopes of getting Ara back to the farm in time. He was worried about her more than Randall. She was his friend and he cared about her safety.

Hershel had been looking back periodically at Ara to see if she was still breathing. He wanted her to be okay and to live. He hadn't known much about her and hadn't really talked with her, but he was praying for her.

Glenn had been petrified to say the least. He needed Ara to live. She was his last living blood relative. He needed her, she wasn't just his sister, she was his best friend and if he lost her, it would be like losing apart of himself.

By the time they had made it back to the farm, the sun had risen already. They were driving in through the gate and already saw the group standing outside. The engine stopped and they hastily made their way out of the car. Glenn carried Ara in his arms bridal style as she laid limp in his arms and everyone had been worried.

Rick had reunited with Carl and Lori. Maggie had ran past Hershel to make sure Glenn had been okay but he hadn't even made a move to acknowledge her since he had been preoccupied. "Patricia, prepare the shed for surgery." Hershel ordered Patricia, as Hershel went inside and Glenn followed with Ara still in his arms.

The group had gotten reacquainted with one another and T-Dog had asked who the hell was that, referring to Randall unconscious in the back of the truck. To which Glenn told him it was Randall. The group wasn't exactly jumping for joy at the opportunity to get another member. Some of them were confused, some didn't want Randall at the farm, and some didn't even like him because his people could be the reason Ara will die. So the group sat down to discuss their opinions on the matter.

"We couldn't just leave him behind. He would've bled out, if he lived that long." Rick defended his actions. "It's gotten bad in town." Glenn added. "What do we do with him?" Andrea questioned. Rick was going to answer until Hershel walked in with some news. "I repaired his calf muscle as best I can, but he'll probably have nerve damage. Won't be on his feet for at least a week." Hershel told them, regarding Randall's condition.

"What about my sister?" Glenn asked Hershel. "Ara's had two seizures. She's loosing a lot of blood. Fortunately, there is an exit wound so I can sew her up. Do you know her blood type?" Hershel asked Glenn. "She's B+." Glenn informed solemnly. Glenn was worried, not just because she was loosing a lot of blood but, they weren't the same blood type. He was A+. "Do you all share a blood type? She's gonna need a blood transfusion for this to work." Hershel asked before telling Glenn the severity of the situation.

"No, we don't." Glenn answered. "I'll do it. She's my blood type." Daryl chimed in. Daryl had been biting his nail anxiously and regret clouded his mind. Regret because he hadn't gone out there earlier when Lori came up to him and anxiousness due to Ara's condition.

He needed Ara to be alive and well. He wanted to tell her how he felt, he just didn't know how and maybe she could help him with that. He was really getting to know her and he had realized he had fallen in love with her. It took her getting shot for him to come to terms with it. He had fallen in love with her laugh, her jokes, her smile, and her tenderness towards others, to him.

Before Daryl would head into the room where Ara was, Rick started the conversation on what to do with Randall. "When he is, we give him a canteen, take him out to the main road, send him on his way." Rick told the group.

"Isn't that the same as leaving him for the walkers?" Andrea questioned, voicing what some members of the group thought as well.

"He'll have a fighting chance." Rick answered.

"Just gonna let him go? He knows where we are." Shane said looking in Rick's direction with distaste. "He was blindfolded the whole way here. He's not a threat." Rick argued. "Not a threat. How many of them were there? You killed three of their men, you took one hostage, but they just ain't gonna come looking?" Shane argued back.

"They left him for dead. No one is looking." Rick emphasized.

"We should still post a guard. His people shot Ara." T-Dog chimed in voicing his opinion. He figured it was better to be safe than sorry. "He's out cold right now, will be for hours." Hershel informed. "You know what? I'm gonna go get him  some flowers and candy." Shane mocked sarcastically. He scoffed and stood up to make his departure before carrying on with his disagreement with Rick over the situation regarding their newfound guest.

"Look at this, folks, we back in fantasyland."

Shane had been making his way out of the house until Hershel's voice halted any further movements.

"You know, we haven't even dealt with what you did at my barn yet. Let me make this perfectly clear, once and for all, this is my farm. Now I wanted you gone. Rick talked me out of it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So do us both a favor, keep your mouth shut." Hershel asserted. He had been fed up with Shane entirely and wanted nothing to do with him. He had been scolding him as if Shane were a child, and due to the way he was acting, he might as well have been. Shane just looked back at him with an I don't care sort of look. Shane could punch Hershel in the face if he wanted yet he restrained himself. He had already been on thin ice as is.

Shane turned back toward the door while sighing and rubbing his hands over his head. He harshly opened the door and the screen door after it, taking his leave to cool down.

Rick walked up to Hershel, as Hershel turned around to face him, as though their minds were linked to each other and knew of the others movements. "We're not gonna do anything about it today. Let's just cool off." Rick informed aloud. 

Andrea, who had been standing in a corner, hadn't looked like she agreed with Rick and rather with Shane. She rolled her eyes before taking her leave out of the house as well.

Maggie had been eyeing Glenn in concern as he just sat there staring aimlessly at the table. Dale had patted his shoulder while passing him and he made no sudden movements as to acknowledging it.

Daryl walked up to Hershel and asked him to show him where Ara was, to which he replied right this way and lead him to where Ara was.

Daryl looked at Ara's unconscious body on the bed. There had been fresh bruises on her forehead where she had stitches. From the way her chest rose and fell it looked like she had trouble breathing. Daryl had looked over at Hershel and asked him what he needed to do. Hershel, in turn gave him a series of instructions as far as he needed to stay there with her, make sure she didn't have anymore seizures, she was breathing, and that he stayed still as Hershel set up what he needed to for the blood transfusion. He had also stitched her up.

When Hershel walked out, Daryl had kept his eyes on Ara. He really took in her features, he always had, yet when he was up close and personal with her at that moment, he noticed her freckles and her petite nose. Her hair had been all over the place and some stray strands of hair had covered her forehead. He had lightly pushed the strands away and tucked them behind her ear. For someone who had been on the precipice of deaths door, Ara looked peaceful and content.

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞

𝐀𝐫𝐚'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

After that whole ordeal with Daryl, Lori had brought me some food. "Knock knock." She said before opening the door with a tray of food and a glass of what I assumed was iced tea. "Open sesame." I groaned out. I sat up to the best of my ability as she sat the tray on the dresser next to me. "Sweetheart, I'm so glad your awake. You had all of us worried." She gushed while grabbing onto my hand. "Can't get rid of me that easily." I smirked. "Don't I know it." She grinned.

"How are you and my niece or nephew?"

"We're fine. I should be the one asking you that. You were just shot Ara." She said, her voice laced with concern.

"Just another day in this new world. I'm glad it was me and it wasn't Glenn, Hershel, or Rick. Speaking of, how are they?" I asked shrugging off my current predicament. I had hoped nothing happened to them. I just figured after I was shot they rushed back to the farm. "They're fine. Their worried about you like everyone else." She told me.

"When can I get out of this room?"

"Not for a while."

"Lori-." I started before she cut me off and shook her head. "No, Ara. You need to stay in here for your own good." She disagreed.

"You know I can't do that. This farm needs to be protected and you guys need everyone you can get. You know I'm more than capable of protecting my family." I voiced. I can't just sit here and do nothing while those mindless freaks are roaming around, and yesterday was enough indication as any that walkers aren't the only thing we need to worry about. People are just as bad and they can kill us too.

"I know that, better than most, but your gonna have to sit this out. This is about your safety, we cannot risk you dying because you ripped open your stitches. Your brother won't let that happen, and neither will Daryl, you know it."

"It's not up to them. What if the camp gets overrun? You want me to just sit here? You know I can't do that."

"Well your gonna have to. Please eat. I'll be back, I have to go check on Beth." Lori sighed before taking her leave. I sat there and sighed before letting my head hit the pillow. Today is just not my day.

I actually ate the food and took a nap after. It was a nice nap until I awoke to a bunch of commotion next door. Beth and Maggie had been arguing. Why? I have no idea. I'd love to get back in the loop. "You are being so selfish!" I heard Maggie yell. I feel like I'm interrupting. I grabbed the IV bag that was hooked up to me and held it in my hand. I needed to stand or walk around or something. I got up slowly, well as slow as I could. I groaned in pain at the throbbing radiating through my body. You know, an ice bath wouldn't hurt.

As I edged my way to the door, I slowly opened the door and gently closed it. I gripped onto the railing of the staircase for support so I wouldn't fall and end up back in that dreadful room. As I walked further down I heard Lori and Andrea arguing also. Well what the hell is going on around here.

"The men can handle this on their own. They don't need your help." I heard Lori tell Andrea. That's pretty sexist. A woman could do anything a man could do if not better. We tend to get shit done. "I'm sorry. What would you have me do?" Andrea retorted. "Oh, there's plenty of work to go around." Lori countered. "Are you serious?" Andrea questioned agitatedly.

"Everything falls apart, you're in my face over skipping laundry?" Andrea continued.

"Puts a burden on the rest of us, on me and Carol and Patricia and Maggie. Cooking, and cleaning and caring for Beth and Ara. And you, you don't care about anyone but yourself. You sit up on that R.V., working on your tan with a shotgun in your lap." Lori threw in Andrea's face. I heard a brief pause before Andrea continued.

"No, I am on watch against walkers. That is what matters, not fresh mint leaves in the lemonade."

"And we are providing stability. We are trying to create a life worth living."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Look, I went after Rick. I took down two walkers. Don't act like you're the only one who can take care of herself." Lori argued while Andrea's voice clashed with her own. "After crashing Maggie's car. Ever apologize for that?"

"Crashing her-. Your insane."

"No, you are. And your the one that's self-centered, the way you take it all for granted."

"My husband is out there for the hundredth time. My son was shot. Don't you dare tell me I take this for granted." Lori spat at Andrea.

"You don't get it, do you? Your husband came back from the dead, your son too. And now you've got a baby on the way. The rest of us have piled up our losses, me, Carol, Beth, but you just keep on keeping on." Andrea said with jealousy dripping from her mouth.

"We have all suffered."

"Playing house, acting like the queen bee, laying down rules for everybody but yourself. You know what? Go ahead. Go in there and tell that little girl that everything's gonna be okay, just like it is for you. She'll get a husband, a son, baby, boyfriend. She just has to look on the bright side." Andrea scoffed before walking away. Lori stayed quiet and watched her walk away.

"Well that was something." I said while gripping the railing until my knuckles turned white. "Ara, what the hell are you doing?" Lori exclaimed before rushing over towards me. "I want some fresh air, and everyone was preoccupied." I shrugged casually.

"Ara you aren't supposed to be out of bed this early after your surgery."

"Yeah yeah I kn-."

"Do you? Because I don't think you do. I'm helping you back up those stairs and you are going to stay there. I will bring you whatever you like." Lori cut me off before scolding me like she was my parent. I scoffed and rolled my eyes at that. In the back of my mind I knew she was right I just didn't want to believe her.

WHOOP WHOOP, folks we are officially almost done with act 2. I'm definitely trying to get through this book, Willow, and Irreplaceable Love so I can get started on my other ones and get started on sequels. Obviously y'all knew my girl Ara was gonna live. It isn't her time yet. Started the chapter off with some angst with a little lovers spat. As you can tell, Ara is very very stubborn and she's gonna find her way around and listen to no one but herself. She will get filled in on the drama with Randall and everything going on in the group. I'm genuinely excited for the upcoming season finale. It's gonna be good and so is next season. Anywhooo I will see you guys next time. I love you guys 3000.
-brayla❤️❤️