The hot Georgia sun was bearing down on my back and I could feel the sweat covering my face. I brushed the sleeve over my face only covering it with more grime and dirt.

My calves began hurting from the crouched position behind the dumpster. I peered over in the direction of the tank where the Walkers were occupied with eating a horse. The duffle bag was just behind the walkers.

It could have food! Supplies! I need it. But how do I get to it…

"Come on Pol, think!" I muttered to myself. Any plan I tried to come up with required a two man job. The walkers began converging around the tank trying to get in. I furrowed my brow, what's so interesting about that tank.

Okay I need a closer look. I stood up and was suddenly faced with the living dead in all its glory. Peeling grey skin with yellow lifeless eyes and a lust for human flesh. I tried not to gag at the smell of its intestines dragging across the floor behind it. I quickly took out my knife and forced it into the skull pulling it back out.

It dropped to the tarmac with a sickening crunch. I ran over to the other side of the alley to hide behind the other dumpster, so I could get a closer look. I heard rattling above me as the metal staircase began to creak and shake.

"What the-" I looked up at the building above me and saw a rush of feet.

A walker?! I moved into the alleyway slowly trying to look up. A person! Maybe they have a group! I wouldn't have to survive by myself anymore. It was a young Asian guy in baseball cap holding a walkie talkie out began to talk.

"Hey, you. Dumb ***. Hey, you in the tank. Cozy in there?" He drawled sarcastically over the talkie. I snorted and felt my own walkie talkie make static sounds.

"Shit shit!" I exclaimed.

"Come on switch it off," I looked up seeing the Asian man look around down there. Some Walkers began looking in my direction as I crouched down again.

"Oh how have you survived this far," I wondered to myself.

"Hey, are you alive in there?" He asked again into the radio. Maybe I can team up with him, we can get the duffle bag together and split the contents.

But just as I was making a plan I was pushed to the ground and loud sounds of eerie moans were filling my ears. I struggled with the Walker trying to claw at my face before stabbing it with the knife.

"Shit too late!" I swore seeing the horde of Walkers coming towards me. I stood in an attack stance ready for them. If I could just get through them I could make my way up the ladder to the top of the building.

I slashed and moved my knife into different dead bodies but that didn't stop more and more from coming at me. I heard a loud clanging sound on the other side of the street and whipped my head around getting distracted I was tackled by a Walker who was about to bite into my arm.

Suddenly I heard the unmistakable sound of gunshots straight into the Walker latched onto me. A man in a sheriffs outfit ran towards me shooting the walkers surrounding me.

"You alright?" He gripped my shoulder and I noticed his striking blue eyes.

"Yeah, thanks." I snapped out of my thoughts as he led me over to the ladder where the Asian boy was.

"Whoa! Not dead! Come on! Come on! Back here! Come on! Come on!" He put his hands on the man's shoulders then looked over to me.

"Who's this?" He gestured to me as the man was about to explain.

"We don't have time!" I said frustratedly as he nodded and went up the ladder. The man in the Sheriff's uniform let me climb up the ladder and he followed close after as we scrambled up as fast as we could.

"What are you doing?! Come on!" He said wildly down to us as we went even faster. We finally reached the roof of the apartment block out all breathing hard.

"Nice moves there, Clint Eastwood. You the new sheriff come riding in to clean up the town?" The Asian boy mocked as the other man scoffed.

"It wasn't my intention." The other man said, I noticed now that he had a southern drawl. He must be from around here.

"Yeah whatever, Yee Haw you're still a dumbass."

"He saved my life." I defended him causing both men to look at me.

"You saved my life." I stared directly into blue eyes.

"Thank you, Uh?" I prompted him.

"Rick Grimes." He tipped his hat slightly.

"And your welcome." He gave a quick smile and I felt a small pang. Oh no. Stop it. I inwardly cursed. Rick was an attractive man no doubt about it, he was a good 10 years older than me but that didn't stop me from liking what I saw. At all.

"Thanks," Rick said to the Asian boy.

"Glenn. You're welcome. Oh no. The bright side: It'll be the fall that kills us. I'm a glass-half-full kind of guy." He smirked.

"You are?" Glenn turned to me.

"Oh Polaris. But you can call me Pol." I explained and he nodded his head.

"I want to thank you for letting me tag along." I said gratefully to Glenn.

"You're not from here are you?" Rick asked forcing me to look at him.

"Uh no, London, England originally." I explained when they finally heard by British accent.

"What are you doing in Georgia?" Glenn said curiously.

"Look I'd rather not tell my life story to people I don't know. No offence." I said uneasily, I'm sure I could trust them but that doesn't mean they need to know all about me.

"Fair enough." Glenn resigned.

"Back at the tank, why'd you stick your neck out for me?" Rick asked Glenn as we started to move across.

"Call it foolish, naive hope that if I'm ever that far up shit creek, somebody might do the same for me. Guess I'm an even bigger dumbass than you." Glenn scoffed.

"I think I like you." I grinned at Glenn who smiled back. I never knew I'd be so happy to be around people again. We followed Glenn across the rooftop keeping low and down another ladder leading to a building. We reached the ground where Walkers were barricading the the door

"Hey it's me," Glenn spoke into the radio, eyes darting towards the door.

"Got a couple of guests. There are 4 geeks by the door." He said. The door swung open squashing a Walker against the wall as two men in protective armour came out with baseball bats to bash the walker brains in.

"Let's go!" Glenn shouted as Rick and I ran after him into the store followed by the two men. I looked inside the building seeing a black haired and blonde haired woman who pointed a gun at us. I held my knife out towards her challenging her.

"You sons of bitches. We ought to kill you." She threatened. Rick looked at me lowering my knife in my hand.

"Back off Andrea." One of the men in the protective helmet said taking it off.

"Why the hell would you wanna do that?" I said angrily. What was wrong with this woman? Didn't she realise having more people would help, a greater chance of survival? Strength in numbers.

"You kidding me right?" She said disbelievingly putting her hands on her hips. I sheathed my knife into my belt and crossed my arms over my chest.

"We're dead because of this stupid asshole." She threw her arm out at Rick still holding the gun towards him. I moved slightly in front of him feeling protective of him for saving my life. To anyone else it must've looked ridiculous. A girl 5"1 standing in front of a guy who was definitely over 6 feet tall.

"Watch it. He didn't realise, he was just trying to help." I said to Andrea putting my hands up.

"Realise what? I don't understand." Rick said behind me. I turned around looking up at him. He was a good head taller than me, most of the people in the room were.

I leaned in lowering my voice.

"The sound of gunfire draws them." Realisation dawned on Rick's face and he looked solemn.

"Every geek for miles around heard you popping off rounds." The other man in the protective gear complained.

"Geeks?" I scoffed slightly causing the man to glare at me.

"Calm down T-dog." The other woman said to him.

"Get the picture now?" The man called Morales said to Rick who stayed silent. We moved through the store silently as I pulled out my knife, not wanting to be ambushed by anymore Walkers. There were dozens of Walkers blocking the double entrance doors to the store and were trying to smash their way in.

"It's not gonna hold much longer." I muttered catching Rick's eye who heard me.

"Oh God." Andrea gasped looking at the Walkers. I looked up at Andrea and realised maybe I judged her too harshly, she was just a woman trying to survive in this post-apocalyptic world. She was just as scared as the rest of us.

"Hey T-Dog, try that radio. Can you contact the others back at the camp?" Morales gestured to the man who began playing around.

"Others?" Rick and I said to the same time.

"You got a group?" I said hopefully as they all looked at each other uneasily.

"No signal." T-Dog complained.

"Try the roof?" I suggested. We all started making our way up before hearing loud gunshots.

"Damn it Dixon!" Andrea said frustrated and ran up the stairs to the door leading to the roof. She heaved it open with my help and we ran out seeing another man laughing maniacally and firing a rifle into the street.

"What the ****?!" I shouted at the man. Was he trying to get us killed.

"Are you crazy Dixon?" T-Dog shouted at him. The man ignored him and continued shooting.

"Hey man you're going to get us killed." I shoved his shoulder slightly getting his attention.

"Hey, Back of-" he started then stopped. His lips curled up into a predatory smile when he laid his eyes on me.

"Well, well. Where did you find this beauty China?" the man Dixon said to Glenn and began pulling my arm and I shoved him off joining the others who were standing a distance away. I knew his type, inbred white trash thinking they could have anything they want.

"Just relax Merle. We've got enough trouble." Morales said trying to keep the peace.

"I ain't taking orders from you and it'll be hell that freezes over when I take orders from a nigger." He spat out. T-Dog and Merle rolled around on the floor beating and punching each other to a pulp. Merle takes the gun from T-Dog and points it at him.

"Hey no please!" Andrea calls out from next to me.

"Now that means I'm the boss right? Yeah. Anybody else?" He waved the gun around cockily as everyone shrunk back.

"Yeah," Rick said from behind. How did he get there so fast?! He hit Merle over the head with a rusty old pipe and handcuffed him.

"Someone needed to do it." I reached up and patted him on the shoulder in approval. He nodded at me before bending down in front of Merle.

"Look here, things are different. There's us and the dead. We survive this by pulling together, not apart." he reasoned with Merle who spat at him.

"What can you do to me?" He challenged him smirking with a bloody face.

"All I am anymore is a man looking for his wife and son. Anybody that gets in the way of that is gonna lose." Rick said determinedly, his jaw clicking into place. I could feel my face fall at his statement. I don't know why I thought I even had a chance with him, he saved my life and that's a debt I could never repay. I thought we might have a connection but he's already married. I don't want to get in the way of that. Great my mood was completely down and Merle mouthing off to me or Andrea every two minutes was not helping.

"These streets ain't safe in this part of town. Ain't that right, sugar tits?" I turned around seeing Merle grin at me.

"Hey honeybunch, what you say you get me out of these cuffs, we go off somewhere and bump some uglies?" He raised his eyebrows suggestively. That's it. Before anyone could stop me I walked over and delivered a right hook straight to his jaw. He looked taken aback and my knuckles ached slightly.

"That's a mean right hook." Glenn grinned from beside me.

"He was asking for it." I shrugged smiling seeing Merle had shut up. Rick and Andrea turned around from looking over the building at us. Andrea was frowning whilst Rick was wearing an unreadable expression on his face.

I walked over to Morales who was eyeing the territory where the tank was.

"Well there are no manhole covers so it's not going to work." I stated.

"How do you know that?"

"I've been surviving in Atlanta for the past 6 months." I said peering over the edge.

"I've scoured this place and there's nothing." I said defeated.

"Looks like we're stuck on this roof with this inbred piece of white shit." I pointed to Merle and Morales rolled his eyes.

"You're wrong." I turned around seeing Jacqui look down at me.

"An old building like, usually had large drainage tunnels which lead into the sewers." She explained as Glenn, Rick and Andrea joined our group.

"How do you know that?" I asked her.

"City zoning office. Used to be my job."

"Huh." Glenn led the way through the door all of us following him down the steps to the basement.

"Your hand okay?" Rick pointed to my knuckles which were red and slightly swollen. I rubbed them gently feeling them to be tender.

"Let me see," he took my hands in his own and I looked up at him. He had dark curly hair and his eyes were concentrated on studying my hands. Careful. A voice went off in my head, wouldn't want to go falling for him now.

"They don't really ache that much." I said nonchalantly drawing his icy blue eyes into my whiskey coloured ones. Rick raised his eyebrows not believing me. I gently shrugged his hands off my mine.

"Honestly it's because I used to box. So my fingers are kind of used to it." I explained and he nodded. He was definitely a man of few words. But he was the type of man who conveyed all his emotions in his eyes.

"Impressive. That explains you punching Merle." He gave a hint of a smile before walking in front of me as I bit back a grin.

"I really scoped this place out the other times I was here. It's the only thing in the building that goes down. But I've never gone down it. Who'd want to, right?" Glenn chuckled looking around at the rest of us. The whole group, Rick included looked at him expectantly.

"Oh great." His smile fell.

"Come on I'm not even the smallest." He pointed to me.

"Hey!" I defended causing the group to look at me.

"Look I can't have all of you behind me because if something goes wrong and I have to get out there's no way I won't be killed." Glenn explained

"I'll take Polaris."

"Okay first off. I can't even shoot a gun. And second why not Rick?" I flustered to the man standing next to me.

"I'd feel much safer if Rick, Andrea and Morales covered the roof. If something happens yell down to us." He said to Rick.

"Okay everyone knows their jobs." Rick said as they were about to leave to go to the roof. I grabbed Ricks arm forcing him to look at me.

"Look officer friendly,"

"I'm not comfortable with this. I'm much better with a knife and I don't think I'd be much help for Glenn." I said uneasily.

"Look I've seen you fight Pol, I think you can handle yourself. You're the smallest one to go down there and really I think you just don't want to go into the sewers." He drawled lips quirking up.

"You're damn right I don't." I moaned and Rick pleaded with me.

"Fine," I resigned. Rick took Andrea's gun and handed it to me.

"Safety on, safety off. Point and shoot." He showed me quickly.

"Think you got that?" He looked down at me from underneath the Sheriff's hat. Well when you're looking at me like that I can't say no.

"Possibly," I offered.

"Good enough." He patted my shoulder and followed the rest of the group up the ladder.

"If we live long enough I'll teach you to shoot!" He shouted back.

"Come on Pol," Glenn beckoned and I followed him into the drainage tunnel.

We crawled for a while through the disgusting shit and piss filled tunnel with blood plastered on the walls.

"How is this not bothering you?" I scrunched my nose.

"It is," Glenn said shakily and vomited on the side.

"You okay there?" I patted his lower back.

"Yeah," he said as we kept moving. We reached the sewers and stood up wading through the water.

"Can you just imagine all the shit down here?" Glenn wondered.

"I'd rather not." Suddenly we heard low voices coming from the tunnel and we pressed ourselves against the wall. I turned the safety off like Rick showed and pointed it in the direction of the torchlight my hands shaky. I walked slowly ahead of Glenn and turned a corner until we came to a grate.

"Ah this is a good sign. Think we could cut through this?" I asked Glenn handing him the gun.

"I doubt hacksaw could get through this. Maybe if we had half a day and a blowtorch." He said studying the metal bars.

"That'll be a no then." We tried to see if any of the metal bars would budge so we could find an opening.

"So what did you do before this?" Glenn asked me and I let out a dry chuckle.

"Sorry buddy I don't do backstory."

"Come on I'm not asking you to tell me your entire life. Just one thing, if we're stuck with each other." He suggested looking at me hopefully.

"Well, I was training to be a teacher." I lied. He doesn't need to know.

"Ohh," Glenn said looking interested.

"Here or in London?" I narrowed my eyes at him before answering.

"I went back to London after college here but I guess I wanted a fresh start." I shrugged. He doesn't need to know everything yet, I don't even know if I can fully trust him. Well he did save my life.

"What about you?" I posed the question back to him hoping he wouldn't pry anymore.

"I was a pizza delivery boy." He said sheepishly.

"No shame Glenn." I patted him on the back and he grinned.

"How old are you?" I asked the young man next to me, he has to be younger than me.

"I'm 23." He said.

"You?"

"Oh I'm 25." I said pulling on the bar.

"Okay this is not happening," I pulled back easily standing up in the narrow sewage passage.

"Let's go back to the others." A Walker smashed up against the metal bars and reached out it's decaying hands making Glenn and I jump back. I pulled out my knife and thrusted it into the hear making a sickening crunch.

—

"Did you find anything down there?" Rick asked us eyeing the glass on the main shop floor.

"Not a way out." I piped in panting.

"We need to move," Andrea said as the double doors broke and the Walkers broke through. We made a run for the roof climbing up the unstable ladder as fast as we could. Rick barricaded the door with a large metal box.

"Hey that construction site. The keys are usually in the truck," Rick said looking back at me with a glint in his eyes. I smiled getting his hint and looked over the roof.

"But the Walkers?" I asked him and his face fell for a moment.

"We just need a distraction. You did get me out of the tank," Rick said to Glenn.

"Well Walkers are drawn by sound and smell." I explained.

"They can tell us by smell?" Rick put his hands on his hips. Andrea, Jacqui and Morales joined us wiping sweat from their foreheads.

"Uh yeah, it's pretty distinct." She said her striking features scrunching up in the heat. We made our way back down to the stairs to the basement level of the store where I first met the group.

"This would take the Olympic gold for bad ideas." Glenn gulped as Rick through him a jacket.

"You should think about this," Morales eyed him as Rick handed him sheets and protective clothing.

"Look that glass wont hold forever. And when it breaks, we need to get out." Rick handed me a white jacket and sheets to put over me.

"You know I can't tell," I looked up at Rick who turned his attention towards me.

"You're either a genius. Or really stupid." I quirked as he let out a dry chuckle.

The dead Walker was dragged in by Morales and Rick.

"Is T-Dog gonna be able to manage Merle?" I leaned over to Jacqui and Andrea.

"Let's hope so." Jacqui said holding her nose.

"Fucking hell." I pinched my nose trying to take deep breaths.

"Oh. Oh god." Glenn turned away when Rick started to hack into the zombie with the axe.

"Rick," I warned taking a step back.

"Madre is Dios." Morales said backing off.

"Keep chopping," He passed the axe to me.

"That's cute Grimes." I glared at him putting the protective eye gear on. I swung the heavy axe into the body seeing the blood and guts splattered onto my clothes and the goggles.

"Don't let it get on your skin or in your eyes." He warned as I hacked into the Walker. I stood up heaving and threw up in the corner.

"Your fault," I glared at Ricks who patted my arm reassuringly.

"Are you sure you wanna go out with us?" I bet that southern accent of his got him all the girls.

"Sure, the more the better." He nodded as the others starting rubbing the guts into our clothes. Oh god. I smell like something just died. Haha.

"What are you grinning about?" Glenn said grumpily seeing my smile. I ducked my head not replying.

"Sure you got enough there?" I mockingly asked Andrea who dropped part of the intestines around my neck.

"Oh thank you for that." I glared at her and she smirked.

"This is really bad." Glenn said choking.

"Think about puppies and kittens. Dead puppies and kittens." Rick shuddered.

"That's shitty advice." I said pointedly to him trying not to gag.

"Do we smell like them?" Rick asked the group who were standing a good few feet away from us. I unsheathed the knife from my belt and held it out to the side.

"Be ready." Rick said to the group when Andrea passed her gun over to Glenn.

"Good luck." Jacqui said to us as Rick led to the way opening the door. We walked on either side of him covered in guts with weapons out just in case. Hundreds of walkers surrounded us, the smell of decomposing flesh filling my nose making me feel light headed and slightly uneasy.

I felt a hand steady my shoulder and I saw Rick staring at me. I nodded to him and we kept moving slowly. The heat was unbearable and I was sweating like crazy.

"It's working." Glenn whispered happily. Clouds rolled above us blocking out the sun. Oh thank God. I smiled looking up thankful that someone was watching out for us. And then the heavens opened. It's raining! Oh no. It's raining.

I whipped my head around to Rick worriedly as some of the blood began washing off our clothes, the Walkers moved in closer sensing the smell.

"The smells washing off." I whispered harshly to him.

"No it's not. Well maybe." He said uneasily as we walked a bit faster. I raised my knife getting ready for a fight.

Surrounded by Walkers, covered in Walker guts, this is definitely not how I wanted to die. We ran through the walking dead bodies slashing and knocking them over as we went until we finally reached the construction site. Glenn and Rick threw their weapons over the metal fence and jumped over. I started to climb when suddenly the wound in my stomach opened.

"Shit," I swore seeing the Walkers move closer.

"Oh I'm gonna die." I moaned."Oh I'm gonna die." I clutched my stomach in pain. The shirt was stained with my blood too.

"Polaris!" Rick shouted on the other side of the fence.

"You guys go! I'll hold them off!" I said back to him seeing the approaching horde of the dead.

"Are you crazy?" He shouted back.

"Just hurry. I'll figure something out." I yanked out the knife from my belt and spun it around. Here they come..

I stabbed the knife into a Walker's head and fell to the floor with the Walker lying on top of me to mask my scent. I don't know how long I spent lying under all the dead but I was trying so hard not to cry and vomit all at the same time. It worked! I smiled hearing a truck speed away. The Walkers began chasing after the truck and most of them had passed over.

"Shit they probably think I'm dead." I muttered. I pushed the walker's body off me and hacked into it, smearing more guts on my clothes.

"Here it comes again." I groaned doubling over to the empty the contents of my stomach. Need to find a car, so I can catch up to them. My stomach was bleeding out. I tore off a piece of cloth from my jacket and wrapped it around my midsection tightly. That should do for now. I followed the direction of the truck walking well behind where the Walkers were.

The rain clouds cleared and the sun was back harshly against the back of my neck. My hair was covered in sweat and grime and blood. Great. I don't know how long I walked for but I finally reached a street and I could hear a car alarm. Maybe that's them! I saw a red sports car race down the intersection with Walkers following it. The tarmac was being painted with blood behind me.

"What the-"

Oh. My blood. Not good, I should've sucked it up and just stitched it up to begin with. Now I'm alone. Probably the last time I'll get to see Mr. blue eyes.

I hobbled over to an old store and sat inside against the wall. I shrugged off the dirty gut covered sheets and opened my pack. Great my water bottle's empty. My eyes starting drifting shut.

"These idiots have left me to die." I moaned as I felt myself passing out.

Hey," I heard a voice calling out from above me but I didn't have the strength to open my eyes.

"Pol," It coaxed. Hey I know that voice.

"Polaris," I was shaken and I opened my eyes suddenly gasping.

"Hey woah woah! It's just me." I looked into the blue eyes of Rick Grimes who had both hands on my upper arms trying to calm me down.

"You came back," I smiled my vision uneasy.

"Asshole, you guys left me." I moaned feeling my stomach in pain.

"Easy," Rick coaxed.

"You've lost a lot of blood. And I'm sorry, we were always gonna come back for you." He said honestly.

"It's okay. I forgive you because you have such a nice, attractive face." I sighed, patting his cheek and he smirked.

"Damn you are one ugly skank." I heard a new voice with a southern accent drawl and the twang of an arrow. Another man came into view with short brown hair and a beard. He looks strangely familiar.

"Who's this?" He pointed the crossbow towards me.

"Ease up Daryl." I saw T-Dog lower his arm.

"She helped us escape." Rick turned to the man Daryl who lowered his crossbow.

"Need to get you stitched up." He turned back to me.

"May I?" He asked tentatively holding the end of my shirt as I nodded.

He lifted my shirt gently seeing the blood soaked through. He pulled out a needle and thread.

"This is gonna hurt." He looked at me apologetically.

"Here." Glenn came by next to me and gave me his hand to hold.

"Heyyy Glenn." I slurred feeling like I was going to slip into unconsciousness. I groaned in pain when a few minutes later Rick finished pulling my shirt back down.

"What are you guys doing back here?" I asked as Rick and Glenn helped me up so I could get steady on my feet.

"We came back for that duffle bag. It has guns, rifles and ammo. Plenty to defend the whole camp." Rick explained.

"Oh so you found the camp?"

"Yeah, and my family." Rick said slowly eyeing me.

"Oh I'm so happy for you!" I smiled brightly at him. I was honestly glad he found them, he could be with his wife now. Just embarrassed I threw myself at him a minute ago.

"Don't forget the main reason we came here was to find my brother." Daryl spat.

"Your brother?" I asked him.

"Merle," Glenn said uneasily.

"You came to rescue that piece of shit?" I asked incredulously at the group as Daryl came charging towards me. I put my fists up not wanting to back down from his attack. I'll fight him if I have to.

"Woah, woah!" Rick shouted coming between us.

"Let's work together to get those guns, get Merle and get to the camp. So we can get some painkillers in you." He directed the last statement to me.

"You good to walk?" He asked and I nodded.

"Who's letting her come back to camp?" Daryl pointed towards me and I glared.

"I could say the same for your prick brother." I shot back.

"Polaris is coming back with us because we wouldn't be here if she hadn't held off the walkers and let us escape with the truck." Rick said and I looked at him gratefully. Daryl looked at me with an unreadable expression but gave Rick a quick nod.

I followed the men, Rick, Glenn and T-Dog walking ahead as Daryl walked just to the side of me.

"Sorry for what I said earlier." I apologised awkwardly to Daryl. If he's part of their group I don't want to get off to the wrong start. Honestly Merle didn't deserve my apology but I didn't want there to be tensions between us. He seems like an important asset.

"Your brother just said some things to me. Things I wasn't gonna take, so I Uh gave him a right hook." I said glancing to him quickly. He looked at me intently but said nothing just giving me a grunt.

"What did you do that for?" He said harshly.

"He doesn't have the greatest respect for women." I defended and Daryl said nothing.

"You're a real chatterbox." I smile slyly at him from the corner of my eye. Suddenly a Walker came out of nowhere before I had time to get out my knife. I was pushed behind someone and the Walker fell down to the ground with a crunch and an arrow embedded in his head.

"Thanks," my mouth hung open as I looked at Daryl.

"Don't mention it." He said gruffly and walked ahead. We finally reached the building of the department store and walked up the stairs. Glenn with the bolt cutters cut the padlock off and we all piled onto the roof. But no Merle.

"Merle! Merle! No." Daryl started crying and went on his knees looking at something on the floor.

It was a human hand, dripping with blood and a hacksaw next to it.

—

Daryl quickly stuffed the hand into Glenn's backpack and closed the zip.

"That's morbid." I stated resisting the urge to gag.

"Blood trail." I bent down on the floor with Rick beside me.

"Daryl might not want to accept it but he might be dead." I whispered to him as he thought for a moment.

He stood up and started to follow the blood trail the rest of us behind him. We went down the ladder on the side of the building to another block of buildings where there were offices. There were two dead Walkers lying on the floor.

"Had enough in him to take out these two sonabitches." Daryl scoffed scouting the areas. I gave Rick an uneasy look which he returned.

"Any man can pass out from blood loss. No matter how tough he is." We found a kitchen in the building and saw the fire was still burning.

"He cauterised the wound." Rick states seeing the belt on the table top.

"Told you He was tough." Daryl said slightly proudly. To one side there was a smashed window but no sign of Merle.

"I need to go get him." He started marching off towards the window before Rick shoved him back.

"Look I know he's your family. I went through hell tryin' to find mine. I know how you feel but we need to keep a level head, we could check a few blocks but we need those guns." He stared intensely at Daryl.

"I could do that." He nodded. We left the building and reached a couple of streets over to where the tank was completely surrounded by Walkers but the duffle bag was still intact.

"This is a shitty plan Glenn." I scowled seeing no way round.

"You can't do this alone." Rick said lowly making sure no Walker's were heading towards us.

"Me by myself means I can move fast and I won't draw attention. Look Daryl, Polaris and me will be in that alley I first met you in. You and T-Dog will be in the alley two blocks down." Glenn explained.

"Why?" Rick drawled.

"I might not be able to come back the same way. This way I'm covered and afterwards we'll meet back here." He said.

"Are you sure you want me as Daryl's back up?" I asked him uneasily seeing as I could barely stand up straight.

"Your knife and his crossbow are quiet which gives you a sound advantage." Glenn said. Everyone knew the plan and we split up. Glenn, Daryl and me climbed down the ladder and I jumped to the ground with a thud feeling pain jolt in my midsection I held it.

"You good?" Daryl checked. Was that concern I saw?

"Yeah," we waited behind the dumpster as Glenn ran down the alleyway towards the tank.

"Ah shit," I groaned closing my eyes.

"Rick would make a shitty tailor." I lifted the shirt gently seeing some of the stitches open.

"Hey don't you pass out on me." Daryl demanded clicking his fingers in front of me as I fell faint. He sat me down against the dumpster and gave me a gun.

"Cover me from behind." He ordered as I struggled to keep my eyes open. He looked towards the front seeing Glenn grabbing the bag of guns and running back towards us, a horde of corpses aggressively snapping their jaws at him. I stood up quickly and began shooting into the Walkers trying not to hit Glenn.

"Let's go!" Daryl shouted at him helping me to the ladder as we made our way up. Glenn passed the bag to Daryl as we stood on the roof and to the alleyway where T-Dog and Rick were.

"Got it." Glenn grinned at Rick. He smiled and looked at me heavily leaning on Daryl.

"What happened?" His face turned serious seeing the blood leak from my shirt.

"You're a shitty doctor." I grimaced spitting out blood feeling my head spin.

"We need to get back quickly." Glenn took my other arm and draped it around his shoulder with Daryl on the other side as we half ran back to the van they came in. They sat me at the back of the van with Rick and T-Dog as Glenn and Daryl up front sped away back towards their camp.

"Here got some painkillers for you." He rattled the small container with pills. He opened the jar and gave me two to swallow along with some water. A good 10 minutes later I was feeling the effects of it.

"Don't suppose you got spare clothes?" I offered Rick who shook his head with a smile.

"No ma'am." We finally stopped the car as he helped me out of the van it was nearing sundown and we heard gunshots.

"Oh God." Rick said his face looking terrified.

"Go!" Glenn shouted as we followed him back to the camp. I pulled out my knife not knowing what we were about to walk into. We ran through the trees and bushes in the mountains until we came to a clearing and saw the remains of a camp which were overrun by Walkers. Rick, Glenn and T-Dog began shooting them down and Daryl used his crossbow staying close by my side. I stabbed my knife in a few heads and saw Andrea holding a young blonde girl in her hands.

"Andrea?" I asked tentatively as she looked up at me with tear filled eyes.

"You," She said.

"Polaris." I told her as she nodded.

"Keep pressure on that wound." I instructed as she took off her outer shirt and wrapped it around the girl's neck.

"Please help her. My sister." She sobbed uncontrollably.

"Keep it together Andrea." I looked up seeing the other occupied with the Walkers and more people over by an RV.

I lifted the cloth off of the girls neck and sure enough saw a bite wound. I sighed looking at Andrea and pulled out knife.

"No no what are you doing?" She cried gasping in shock. I gently twisted the knife in the base of her neck until she was no longer moving.

"Amy! No!" Andrea said pushing me away.

"I'm sorry. But she was gonna turn." I explained feeling guilty. It's less painful this way, she wouldn't have been able to handle it. I saw the rest of the group had joined me along with a brown haired woman holding Rick's hand and a young boy in front of them. So this must be his family. Morales and his family were there along with a new older woman and a young girl. Another man walked up beside Rick and looked at me intently.

"You killed her!" Andrea accused pointing at me. Before I could defend myself my eyes rolled back and I hit the floor with a thud.

—-

"Oh this is becoming a habit." I groaned waking up inside what seemed to be the RV.

"Let's hope we can break it now." I heard a chuckle seeing the same brown haired woman from the night before stitching up my stomach wound properly.

"Well you seem like you're doing a better job than Rick." I said dryly holding my tongue as I felt the needle go into my skin.

"Sorry I'm almost there." She concentrated before tying it off and wrapping fresh linens around it.

"Thanks Uh?" I prompted her.

"Oh Lori," She smiled.

"My husband told me about you. You saved his life and that's a debt I won't be able to repay. Thank you." She squeezed my hands.

"Well he saved mine first." I chuckled.

"But your welcome. I'm glad he found his family."

"He's trying to convince the rest of the group to let you stay." Lori said uneasily.

"Stay?" I gulped.

"Yeah, after that stunt with Andrea last night, some people aren't feeling safe." She said not meeting my eyes.

"Oh," I said my face falling. That girl got bit, it was the only thing to do in that situation. Why don't they understand? There are some things you need to do, to survive.

"How's it looking?" I asked her hopefully.

"Rick, me, Glenn and Morales want you to stay."

"Hell you even got Dixon on your side." She chuckled and I thought of Daryl who saved my life after I insulted his brother.

"Carol and Sophia are unsure about you. You'll meet them when we go outside." Lori explained taking my dirty clothes and handing me new ones.

"Shane, Andrea and Dale are against you staying."

"That girl Amy you killed, that was Andrea's sister." Lori said slowly like she was talking to a child.

"Oh shit." My fave morphed in horror. I shouldn't have acted so fast, it was just a survival instinct.

"Well I don't want to cause fights in your group." I said taking the clean clothes and getting my backpack.

"Woah hold on there. Polaris is it? You're nowhere near fit to travel by yourself." She steadied me as I stood up.

"So for now you got no choice." She said firmly.

"I'll let you wash up." She said leaving the van. She is surprisingly nice. Well I didn't expect her to be a bitch or anything but I thought I'd hate her, I think I'm just jealous that she has a man like Rick for a husband. Men like that are hard to come by.

I changed into the clothes and brushed my hair, pulling it up into a ponytail and stepped out of the RV into the hot sun.

I looked across the fire in the middle seeing Andrea over the body of her dead sister crying and holding her face. I felt a pang of guilt across my chest.

"Andrea I'm so sorry, she's gone. You gotta let us take her." Lori came over putting a hand on her shoulder. I look over seeing Daryl and Glenn through the dead bodies of Walkers and people into a fire. Rick comes over to Lori who are talking quietly to one another.

"So you're awake," I looked to my side seeing another southern man with thick black hair and hands on his hips studying me.

"Yeah," I said crossing my arms over my chest not liking his tone.

"That was a shitty thing you did." He said following my gaze to look at Andrea.

"What right do you have to judge me?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"I'm not judging you darlin' you're dangerous for our group and we need to survive. And there's no way the likes of you is gonna stay here, specially not around the kids." He threatened.

"I just did what had to be done. I'm not proud of it, but that girl was going to turn and you wouldn't have liked the results of that." I held his gaze looking up to see him properly for the first time.

"You've grown comfortable in your camp with your group. You haven't had to survive out there by yourself, scavenging for food hoping you won't be somebody's next meal. Don't you dare talk to me about surviving, you don't know the first thing." I spat out at him walking off towards Glenn just across the camp.

"You ok?" He asked throwing the Walkers into the fire. I looked back at the man I just talked to.

"Oh Just brilliant." I said sarcastically.

"He's a twat." I pointed to the man standing with Rick and Lori.

"Ah you met Shane," Glenn stated.

"He's kinda the leader of the camp."

"Oh great so I not only killed someone's sister but I also insulted the leader. I might as well put a bullet in my head now." I sighed sitting down on the log. Glenn patted my shoulder comfortingly before walking off.

"You were right to do it you know," I heard a gruff voice coming from next to me seeing Daryl clean out his crossbow.

"Sorry?"

"Killin' Amy, she was gunna turn. Somebody needed to do it." I grunted in response.

"You're looking okay," Daryl pointed to my stomach.

"I thought you hated me." I posed the statement to him raising an eyebrow.

"I never said that." He defended.

"What I said about your brother,"

"Merle can be a prick sometimes, don't worry about it, he probably deserved what you did to him. But he didn't deserve to be left on the rooftop by himself." He shrugged.

"I know, I'm sorry we didn't find him." I said apologetically.

"Don't worry, toughest bastard I ever met." He said assuring himself.

"Shane can be a prick too." He finished walking off leaving me to grin. I looked over to Andrea who was still holding her sisters body. I felt an overwhelming feeling of guilt, maybe I acted too rashly, I should've waited. I stood up to go talk to her before I felt a gentle arm pull me back. I looked up to the owner and was pulled in once again by those blue eyes.

"Maybe not now." He said stopping me.

"I just feel so guilty right now. Like I acted too quickly but It was the only thing I could think to do." I said looking at my feet shuffling together.

"I know," He said emphasising his point.

"But not now." He said making sure I understood. I looked over to where Lori and Shane were talking and Lori looked at me curiously. I lifted Ricks hand off of my arm and took a step back.

"Your wife fixed me up pretty good. I think I should just get out of your hair when my stomach's better." I said walking off.

"You're wrong." I turned around as Rick took his hat off and smoothed down those curly locks of his.

"You saved my life. And you have every right to be here, you're one of us now." I smiled looking at the ground.

"That's sweet. But try convincing the others of that. I acted pretty recklessly according to Shane, he doesn't seem to think I'm safe to be around." I shrugged.

"You gotta understand," He said in a low voice.

"We don't kill people, there's a distinction between us and the dead."

"You don't think I know that?" I whispered harshly.

"I've seen what happens and it's not pretty, it's not nice. It just breaks your heart. You may not understand why I did what I did but I had my reasons. And I do feel sorry about it."

A little upset that Rick didn't understand but he hadn't been out there as long as I had. He'd soon see. I thought to myself walking away from Rick.

I walked a little past the camp until I got to the lake by the rock quarry and sat down looking at the sky blue water. Taking my boots off I dipped my toes in the cool water and sat there remembering.

"Come on Pol, you came here to find a cure. Dr Jenner's working on that." Raul said opposite me leading me down the corridors.

"Does Dr Jenner also know that I'm part of the team that caused the outbreak?" I said incredulously. I had just flown in from Washington to Atlanta as it was the closest functioning CDC facility.

"Uh I thought I'd leave that up to you." He grinned nervously.

"Look Pol it wasn't your fault directly, but you're the most senior research scientist I could contact. Everyone else is.." he trailed off.

"We thought we had developed a new treatment for HIV. We used an aggressive viral strain to combat it. You know fight fire with fire." I explained.

"But Jones got contaminated. And, well you know the rest." I said feeling overwhelmed. The D.C facility shut down and Atlanta was already being evacuated due an unknown virus which was causing 'human rabies'. This morning on the news a Russian Airline was taken down and the word zombie was being thrown around.

"Please evacuate the building. Zone 5 is being shut down I repeat Zone 5 is being shut down." The automated voice said over the speaker and I looked at Raul.

"Isn't That where Dr Jenner is?" I asked horrified. He nodded wordlessly as everyone started sprinting for the exit of the building

I snapped out of my thoughts. That was 6 months ago. The outbreak of the virus, all my fault, if I tell the others that they'll kick me out for sure. No. They don't need to know.

"Hey," I heard a gruff voice and looked up behind me seeing Shane stand there with sunglasses on.

"What do you want?" I sighed.

"Rick wanted me to come get you." He said reluctantly hands on his hips. I took my feet out of the water and put socks back on them lacing my boots up.

"Why?" I asked him shielding my eyes from the sun.

"We're going to the CDC." Shane watched me trying to see a reaction and I tried not to gulp.

"Rick thinks that it's our best chance, since the military were on the front lines of this thing when it happened."

"But you don't agree?"

"There's a lot of things Rick says I don't agree with." Shane said walking off as I followed him. We walked up the quarry and saw Rick begin to dig graves for the fallen members of the camp. Shane and I each picked up a shovel and started to help.

"Say it." I looked at Rick who was talking to Shane.

"Okay. I'm thinking if you'd of stayed here, if you'd have looked after your own… Instead you went off. You took half our manpower with you. I'm thinking maybe our losses wouldn't have been so bad." Shane explained pushing the shovel and swinging the dirt over his head. I bit my lip, it's not my place to say.

"If we hadn't gone off and brought those guns back when we did, I think our losses would have been a lot worse. Maybe the entire camp." Rick grunted digging further into the ground.

"I think we need to take a moment to think about what we're doing instead of jumping to conclusions guns blazing." Shane said eyeing me with caution. I felt rage build up inside. That's a dig at me, I have to stay calm.

"What's happened has happened. It's in the past and we need to move on if we're gonna survive." Rick looked between us as I gripped the shovel hard.

"I still think we should burn the bodies. There needs to be some rules." Daryl jumped off a truck with his crossbow and came towards us.

"There are no rules." Rick stated as I moved over to his side to dig the grave deeper. I looked at my knuckles which were red and my stomach started hurting.

"Well that's a problem. We need time to bury our people and mourn our dead." A new voice came up over the hill and I watched as Lori stood with her hands on her hips.

"And you," she narrowed her eyes at me.

"What are you doing with that shovel? I just stitched you up! No labour until it's healed." She ordered. I opened my mouth and wordlessly looked at Rick who smirked.

"You heard her." He smiled and I dropped the shovel walking with Lori back to camp.

"You don't have to do this you know." I said sighing looking up at her.

"Pretending to like me for Rick's sake."

"Oh honey," Lori said stopping to look down at me.

"I'm not pretending for my husband. I think you've been on your own for so long you forgot what it was like for people to care about you." She pushed a strand of hair out of my eyes and walked off.

"Damn it." I muttered. It's really hard to hate her, especially when I think I'm starting to like Rick. But she's been so good to me.

Everyone started heading over to the quarry down by the lake and began holding a funeral for the girl Amy. I stood away, I don't think Andrea would want me to be there. I watched from a far as she sobbed lowering her sister down into the ground. Then as soon as it begun, it was over and they started heading back. An older man stopped in front of me and began talking.

"So you must be Polaris. I'm Dale."He said extending his hand.

"Pol will do just fine." I shook his hand and retracted it back resting against the ground. He took a seat next to me as we watched Andrea standing over the grave which Rick and Shane starting filling.

"So you think I'm too dangerous too huh?" I said dryly eyeing Dale. He looked slightly taken aback before chuckling.

"No, I just think you're too reckless."

"Is That why you want me to leave?" I turned to face him.

"I love Andrea like a daughter. Her sister Amy was like a daughter to me and then she got bit. She was gonna die, but don't you think Andrea had the right to do that?" He reasoned with me.

"If you're here to make me feel guilty I've already had enough talks today." I started to get up. More judgemental people in this group but I don't think I'm getting them to like me.

"No please. I'm sorry, sit." I patted the seat next to him and I sat down with a huff.

"Despite that, I know why you did what you did." I looked up at him in shock, he actually understood.

"And I gave it some thought. I think you'd be a valuable asset to the group. I saw the way you handled those Walker's last night and we need more of it." He got up and gave me a wry smile leaving me in shock.

I headed back to the camp where Lori and Rick were talking closely and a young boy. So this must be their son. Rick and Lori went off holding hands into a tent and the young boy ran off playing with the girl.

"Here are your clothes," I looked up seeing an older woman putting a pile of clothes into my arms without looking into my eyes.

"Thanks," I said as she was walking off.

"Hey I'm Polaris." I smiled at her hopefully trying to get more people on my side. I gently pulled her arm back So she'd look at me.

"Look I know, that you might think I'm dangerous but I've only done the things I've done until now to survive." I explained.

"I heard your husband died. I'm sorry." I said sympathetically.

"I'm not. I'm Carol." She gave the briefest of smiles before walking off. I walked into the RV seeing the man Jim the one who was not writhing on the floor. Carol was beside him and I ran towards her trying to calm him down.

"Is he okay?" I said after he had calmed down. I bent down on the other side whilst Carol checked his forehead.

"His fever's worse." She said.

"You need anything?" I turned around at Lori's question seeing Rick and Shane standing behind her.

"Uh could use some water." He said clearing his throat.

Lori and Carol left the RV leaving Rick to take her place on the other side of the or Jim. I dipped a flannel in water and began wiping his forehead gently.

"Thank you," He said to me. I smiled in response.

"You save a grave for me yet?" He asked Rick who looked down.

"No one wants that. What I want is to get you some help." Rick explained his eyes boring into Jim's.

"I've got a pretty british girl taking care of me. I got all the help I need." Jim winked at me and I blushed laughing. Rick cracked a wide smile looking at me intensely before I turned away. Jim started groaning and I sat him up leaning him forward. Rick got some water from Lori and brought it to Jim.

"Sit tight." He patted his arm and walked off. I kissed Jim on the forehead and flashed him a smile following Rick outside the RV.

"So what's the plan man? Are we leaving or not?" Shane asked him as we stood in a group.

"We can't stay here." Rick argued.

"I was just tellin' Shane here we should trust your gut." She nodded firmly at him.

"What do you think?" Rick turned to me.

"Why are you asking her what she thinks man? It's about us." Shane defended.

"Whether you like it or not, she's becoming part of our group and her opinion is going to matter." Rick defended.

"I agree, what do you think Pol?" Lori asked staring intently.

I can't go back to the CDC. Not after what happened last time, this whole thing, I was responsible for it. They're not gonna want me in their group if they find out about it, but I have to think about what's best.

"I think the CDC is your best shot. Our best shot. They might also have supplies we need, maybe even some answers. But it will be dangerous." I said decisively.

"Dangerous? More people will die." Shane scoffed.

"Come on let's do our forest sweep." Shane gestured to Rick and both of them walked off each with rifles in hand.

"What a twat is he always like that?" I complained to Lori who laughed.

"I think that's the most British thing I've ever hear someone say." She smiled.

"Yes he's like that most of the time. Shane's not quick to trust but underneath that he's got a good heart." She said thoughtfully. Was there something between them?

I've been uh, thinking about Ricks plan." Shane began as we gathered around the truck.

"Now I've known this man a long time. I trust his instincts. The most important think we need to do is stay together. The CDC may be our best hope. So those of you that agree, we'll leave first think tomorrow morning." Shane said looking at all of us. The group dispersed and started heading back to their own tents as the sun was going down.

"Hey," Rick gently touched my upper arm. I looked up at him as he came to stand next to me.

"We pitched a tent for you. It's there near mine, Lori's and Carl, my son." I looked over to his line of sight and sure enough was a blue tent all ready to be slept in. I smiled at him taking in his blue eyes and how thoughtful he was.

"Thank you. Lori's a lucky woman." I said before I could stop myself. An awkward silence came over us and I backed away.

"I'm gonna get to bed early." I gave him an uneasy smile as we looked at me with an unreadable expression.

"I'll see you Grimes." I turned around holding my hand up towards him. I entered my tent and saw a rolled up blanket with my clothes and boots on one side and a couple of bottles of water. My backpack was also in here. Thank God. I opened it seeing the brown leather journal I had and wrote another quote inside I remembered:

"Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

The famous words by Dylan Thomas are what I'm going to use to carry on and survive. I clutched the journal against my chest, it's like a small escape. A safe haven.

—

Rudely woken up by Lori at the crack of dawn. I tried combing my hair with my fingers and pushed it up into a bun so it would stay out of my face. I laced up my boots and stuffed the clothes into my backpack. I attached the knife to my belt and wrapped up my blanket whilst also taking down the tent. I saw the others were doing the same and about an hour later we had all eaten and were ready to go.

"Alright everyone. Keep the on channel 40 and keep the chatter down. Those without C.B, if you got a problem just honk your horn once and the caravan will stop. Questions?" Shane asked the group.

"We're uh not going. We have family in Birmingham and we wanna be with our people. I gotta do what's best for my family." Morales said. I was shocked, he was leaving us? I thought it would be safer if we stayed in the group.

"You sure?" Rick asked putting the hat on his head.

"We're sure." He said firmly. Rick and Shane handed him gun and a box of ammo to last them on their journey. The other members of the group said their goodbyes to his wife and children and they got in another car and left. The group was getting smaller and smaller and it started when I got here. I gulped.

There were 4 cars and the RV when we set out from the quarry carrying all of our belongings with us. Dale, Glenn, Jim and Jacqui in the RV ahead of us. Shane in his own car. Daryl, Carol and her daughter Sophia in another car. Andrea and Jacqui were with T-Dog. And I was sitting comfortably in the backseat of the car with Carl beside me and Lori and Rick in front. I watched as Lori held Ricks hand and both looked at each other and smiled, I looked back down feeling I interrupted a private moment. I pulled out my headphones and CD player from my backpack.

"What's that?" The boy asked from next to me.

"This kid, is a CD player. It plays music." I opened it showing it to him.

"Oh so you can listen to anything?"

"Sure if I have the CD for it." I explained, Just about to put the headphones on my ears when Carl spoke again.

"Is it true you're named after a star?" He looked up at me.

"My mom told me your name is Polaris." I glanced up at Lori in the front seat curiously who held my gaze and smiled.

"Well yes. My name is actually the North Star. No matter where you are in the world it stays in the exact same place, it's what travellers used to find their direction." I said and he thought for a moment.

"That's pretty cool. I wish my name was like that!" He said excitedly.

"Oh no I think Carl sounds way better." I said giving him a wry smile.

"You're not supposed to lie." Carl sighed looking out of the window.

"You heard the man." I glanced at Rick through the mirror who gave me a mischievous smirk.

"You know what is cool though?" I asked leaning over to get his attention.

"What?" Carl turned around to face me with a frustrated look on his face.

"Led Zeppelin." I grinned.

—

"And that one is called Stairway to Heaven."

"Super famous song." I said.

"I like it." Carl decided nodding.

"At least you have good taste in music." Lori piped in at the front.

"Not like Rick here who only listens to country." Lori teased him playing with his hair.

"There is absolutely nothin wrong with liking that genre of music." He defended but smiled all the same.

"It's good I didn't marry you for your music taste." Lori grinned at Rick who laughed. I felt my heart ache hearing him laugh at her joke. I was happy for him but it was upsetting knowing I'd never truly have that. Not with Rick or anyone else.

"Uh we got a problem," Dales voice came over the radio. The RV a good distance in front of us came to a stop and so did the car.

"Hey d'you mind keepin' an eye on Carl?" Rick turned around looking at me as I took one headphone out.

"Uh sure," Lori smiled gratefully and they both got out of the car to head towards the RV. Dale got out and was talking to Rick as they opened the front of the caravan which seemed to be held together by duct tape. Rick went inside the RV and a few minutes later Jim was carried out.

"Oh," I whispered silently.

"Come on Carl." I helped him out of the car and we walked towards the RV where now everyone was standing. Him was sat against a tree holding his stomach and his eyes rolling back.

"It's what he said he wants." Rick said hands on his hips. I caught gaze before I understand nodding.

"And he's lucid?" Carol asked.

"Seems to be." Rick replied looking back at Jim against the tree.

"We just leave him here? I'm not sure I could live with that." Shane shook his head.

"It's none of your choices. Either of you." I looked up from the ground between Rick and Shane who's attention was turned to me.

"If this is what he wants…" I trailed off.

We all stood around Jim who was sitting down looking incredibly peaceful. Jacqui leaned forward and gave him a quick hug.

"Jim do you want this?" Rick asked holding the gun.

"No you'll need it. I'm okay." He gave a weak smile then looked over to me.

"Hey new girl." Jim said as I leaned down in front of him.

"Hey Jim." I smiled.

"How you feeling?"

"Pretty good considering." Jim said before clutching his stomach slightly. I gave him a kiss on the cheek and pulled back slightly.

"Take care of them." He whispered. I looked into his eyes and nodded squeezing his hand. I got up and followed the group back wiping the tears that formed in my eyes.

"You okay?" Rick was walking beside me.

"Oh yeah," I chuckled.

"I'm fine. He just reminds me of someone." I smiled at the thought.

"What did he say to you?"

"To take care of you lot." I punched him gently on the shoulder.

"We'll take care of you too. I'll make sure of it." Rick said intensely and I nodded not being able to meet his gaze. Damn that man and his intense stares. I could just get sucked into those blue eyes. Lori was sitting comfortably in the backseat with Carl and gestured for me to sit upfront with Rick. Both of them soon fell asleep and we got to know each other a bit more.

"What's your favourite colour?"

"What are we in nursery?" I scoffed making fun of him.

"Don't tease," he glanced at me smirking.

"Blue". I stated.

"Blue like the colour of the sky?" More like the colour of your eyes.

"Yeah the colour of the sky." I gulped.

"What about you?"

"Oh forest green."

"Ah that's a nice colour. What did you want to be when you grew up?"

"I actually ended up being what I wanted to be. A police officer." He said looking out onto the road.

"I wanted to be an astronaut. Don't laugh I'm serious." I warned him seeing his face.

"Yeah I can actually imagine you up in space." He broke out in a wide smile.

"Oh yeah?"

"Definitely," I smiled back at him before clearing my throat when he stared a little too long.

"We're here." He said as we pulled up to a building which was littered with bodies around it. This was the CDC alright.

"You alright? You look like you've seen a ghost." I looked in the mirror and saw I had gone all pale.

"Fine." I gave a tight smile. We turned around to the backseat and saw mother and son sleeping comfortably. Rick and I looked at each other and smiled.

"Lor," he shook her knee gently.

"Hey Carl, buddy wake up," I shook his knee and ice blue eyes looked back at me.

"We're here." We all got out of the cars and the RV, everyone had weapons in hand and Rick handed me a gun which I took hesitantly. I held the fun up in position and Rick wrapped his hand over min standing by my side.

"Safety on. Safety off. Trigger." His hand hovered over mine and I could feel his breath next to me ear.

"You got this." He reassured before walking ahead. We were quick and quiet, weapons out to head towards the building.

"Keep moving stay together." Shane and Rick were at the front with their guns out scouting the area. Lori, Carl, Carol and Sophia were in between along with Andrea and I stayed close by them with my gun out scanning the area. Jacqui, Dale, Daryl and Glenn were at the rear covering our backs.

"It's okay Carol." I reassured the nervous woman next to me who clutched Sophia and was visibly trembling.

"Oh God." Glenn muttered from underneath his breath.

"We're almost there baby." Lori stroked Carl's hair as we finally reached the front door which had a security camera.

"Anything?" Shane asked as I pounded on the door. I shook my head at him.

"If there's no one here why are these shutters down?" Rick started pacing around the front nervously and continued banging on the door.

"Walkers!" Daryl called out and began shooting at them.

Glenn and Dale helped him fend off the Walkers as I kept Lori and Carl close by me.

"You led us into a graveyard! It was the wrong damn call." Daryl spat out at Rick as he continued shooting the Walkers.

"Rick this is a dead end!" Shane shouted trying to talk some sense into him. Its getting dark and we can't be this close to the city.

"Fort Benning's still an option." Shane suggested.

"That's over 100 miles from here!" I snapped at him.

"We gotta get out. Come on Rick." Shane put his hand on his shoulder. Just as we were turning away I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. The security camera was faced in a different direction. I looked at Rick who saw the same thing.

"Did you?" I asked him and he nodded slowly.

"The camera it moved." Rick pointed to show Shane.

"You imagined it man."

"No he's right I saw it too. There's someone in there." I said looking at the doors hoping they would open.

"Rick it's dead man. Automated movement." Shane tried to convince.

"Asshole! It moved okay!" I shouted at him getting Shane's attention and the rest of the group who looked at me suddenly.

"Now stop pretending like I'm not here and try and help figure this out." I turned around and suddenly was shoved by Shane.

"Hey!" I turned around pushing him off me.

"What's your problem man?" Rick said annoyed.

"She's my problem." He pointed to me.

"You just let her into the group not knowing who she is or what she did. She killed Amy! Let's not beat around the bush here, and more of our people could die around her. You really wanna keep Lori and Carl around her man?" He looked at Rick.

"Yes I do. She saved my life. Now look," Rick spoke to the rest of the group.

"Polaris is a part of our group now. She is a valuable member of this team and can help keep us safe. She's said herself she's made mistakes and she's sorry but she deserves the chance to redeem herself at least. Is everyone clear?" There were some nods around the group. I looked up at Rick and could not express the gratitude I felt towards him. He made me feel part of the group and like I could stay and survive with them. Tears welled up in my eyes, I had never felt this way before, that someone was willing to fight for me.

"Please I know you're in there we got nowhere else to to!" Rick said desperately.

"We've got women and children! No food or gas. Please." He said his voice breaking. Lori took his hand off the door gently and we were just about to leave when we heard the metal creaking of the door opening and we were suddenly covered in a bright light.

—

"Daryl make sure there's no Walkers." Shane commanded him as we all entered the building. The door came down quickly behind us.

"Hello?" I called out into the building.

"Hello? Anyone infected?" The voice called out over the speaker.

"One of our group was. He didn't make it." Rick looked down and took a deep breath.

"Why are you here? What do you want?" The man called over.

"A chance." Rick said looking up.

"You all need to submit to a blood test. That's the price of admission." He said lying down the terms of his condition.

"We can do that." Rick agreed looking at all of us who nodded enthusiastically. I fucking hate blood tests. I always faint and the thought of a needle going into my skin. I shuddered. But I'll take it over having to survive out there any day.

"You got stuff to bring in, you do it now." The man said before we heard the speaker close. The second set of doors opened and in stood a man I never thought I would see, I thought he had died. I tried to stop my shock from showing on my face but Shane saw my change in expression and narrowed his eyes at me. Shit.

"Rick Grimes." Rick introduced himself and us.

"Dr. Edwin Jenner." The tall blonde haired man said looking at us. We took the elevator down to a basement level the Dr Jenner ordered the computer to activate the room. It lit up and was surrounded by tables with computers, lab workbenches and chemicals stocked across endless shelves. This is the place I was heading to meet him.

"Where is everybody? The doctors the staff?" Shane asked him.

"I'm it. I'm all that's left. Sorry." He shrugged. In front of one computer desk were a couple of bottles of vodka and an empty dirty plate.

"So," Jenner said preparing a syringe.

"Who wants to go first?"

Turn by turn he took our blood and names and labelled them in samples not the workbench.

"You alright? You're looking a bit pale there?" Jenner tried to get my attention but I kept my gaze down.

"Mhm hm, just make it fast." I turned away and felt the prick as my blood was taken up into the syringe.

"Hey," Glenn was sitting next to me and I squeezed his hand keeping my eyes shut.

"All done." Jenner said and he put a bandage around it. I stood up feeling a little dizzy and Glenn steadied me.

"Thanks," I smiled.

"You survived for 6 months on your own killing Walker's but you can't handle a blood test." Shane scoffed smirking.

"Shane," I turned to him and smiled sweetly.

"I will personally take my knife and ram it into your skull if you don't shut up." I finished glaring at him. Rick laughed trying to cover it up with a cough and Lori had an undetectable smile on his face.

"So how long have you two been sleeping together?" Jenner asked looking between Shane and me. The others in the group started laughing whilst I went red.

"I'd sooner sleep with a Walker Dr Jenner." I huffed putting my hands across my chest.

An hour later we were sitting around this big table with Jenner serving us food. He was pouring wine in everyone's glasses.

"Uh not mine thanks." I stopped him.

"Suit yourself," he shrugged and moved to the next person.

"You don't drink?" Carol asked.

"Uh no."

"Why?"

"Just a personal choice." I felt uncomfortable with the amount of eyes on me so Jenner thankfully changed the subject.

"Woah none for Carl." Lori let out a dry chuckle.

"What's it gonna hurt? Come on." Dale argued.

"Eww," Carl said next to me taking a sip as his face contorted.

"I hear you buddy," I patted him on the back as we all laughed.

"That's my boy. That's my boy." Rick giggled looking tipsy. The whole group had a little too much to drink and were falling in fits of giggle and laughter.

"Here's to you doc! Booyah!" T-Dog raised his glass in a toast.

"So when are you gonna tell us what the hell happened here doc?" Shane changed the subject taking a long sip of the wine. Maybe he's not as drunk as I thought.

"All the other doctors that were supposed to be figuring out what happened, where are they?" He asked looking directly at Dr Jenner who looked uncomfortable.

"We're celebrating we don't need to do this now." Rick slurred slightly.

"Well, when things got bad, people left to be with their families. Then it got worse, the military was overrun so a lot of people bolted." he explained scratching his head.

"All of them?" Shane asked drinking more wine.

"Many of them.. Uh opted out. It was a bad time." He trailed off going into thought.

"Dude, you're such a buzzkill." T-Dog complained looking at Shane. And the others murmured in agreement.

"There are couches for you guys to sleep on. Rec room down the hall for kids to enjoy and if you shower go easy on the hot water." Jenner pointed at us leaving the table.

"Hot water?" Lori said excitedly.

"That's what the man said." Rick grinned. We all retired to the rooms with the couches in. Carol, Sophia and Carl were playing in the rec room. Lori and Rick were in one room, Shane and Glenn took the couches in another room. Dale and Andrea were in the room next to me. I opened the door to the empty room and saw two couches facing each other. I dumped my bag on the floor and sat down. Sighing I shrugged the boots off getting ready to jump in the shower before I heard vomiting from the next room. I walked off trudging my tired feet behind me and knocked tentatively on the door. Pushed it open and saw the bathroom door open in the room with Andrea over the toilet seat.

"Andrea?" I called out. I walked over to her and she was crying.

"That's it. Get it all out." Dale was behind her rubbing her back and holding her hair.

"There's nothing left Dale. Nothing. And this isn't the wine talking." She had tears streaming down her face. It changed to anger upon looking at me.

"What are you doing in here?" She narrowed her eyes and stumbled standing up.

"I just wanted to see, if you were alright." I said quietly.

"Well I'm fine. I don't need you here." She spat our venomously. I held my hands up in surrender and began backing out of the room.

"I'm sorry Andrea. I truly am." I said solemnly before closing the door behind me. I leaned against the door and sighed.

"Hey," a voice called out and Rick was standing there freshly showered. He walked towards me with a smile on his face.

"You can't possibly still be drunk?" I fought the urge to smile at him.

He held up the bottle of wine and grinned taking a swig of it he stumbled forwards slightly.

"Woah there Officer Grimes," I chuckled putting my hands on his chest to steady him

"Take it easy." I looked up at him and I saw his eyes darken. We were so close and I didn't want to pull away. His T-shirt was a size too small and showed off his biceps beautifully. My breath hitched in my throat as he brought his hands up to rest on my arms. I took my hands off his chest still staying close, wondering what could happen.

But it's not right. It's not right to Lori. I took a step back from him before I acted on a whim and did something I would regret. And if he knew the truth about what I did. He would never speak to me again.

"I need to go take a shower," I smiled.

"And you should sleep." I pointed at him.

"It's not my bed time yet," Rick thought for a moment and complained.

"Where you going then?" I said opening the handle of my door.

"For a walk." He called out and began walking off.

"Stay safe!" I shouted. He held the bottle up in the air in response with his back to me and stumbled along the hallway. I opened the door and closed it seeing Daryl standing in the room.

"Oh, Daryl!" I said looking at him as he stood unpacking his backpack.

"Oh I thought this room was empty, I'll go." He began picking his stuff up to leave.

"Wait a minute, where you going?" I asked.

"This is the last room with the couches."

"I'll just sleep out in the hallway or sumthin'" he shrugged.

"Don't be silly," I chuckled.

"Take the other couch." I gestured to the empty one which he was originally sitting on.

"Please Daryl I insist. We don't know how long it'll be until we get another nice place like this." He grunted in response and put his pack down. He took his boots off and laid down on the couch cleaning out his crossbow.

"You showered yet?" I asked him.

"No. You?"

"I'm about to."

"I'll go after." He said. I took the spare clothes and jumped in the shower letting the hot water rub all the grime and dirt off my body. My black hair was still short after the chop I gave it with the knife a month ago but it was growing out a little. After what seemed like forever I got out of the shower and put on clothes drying my hair as I came out.

"All yours," I said to Daryl who was reading a book.

"I'm sorry if I took a bit long." I grimaced.

"It's fine." He got up and went into the bathroom locking it shut. I'm gonna get that one to warm up to me. I smiled, Daryl Dixon was a low-key sweetheart.

After a while I decided to go to the rec room and see Carl and Sophia to make sure they were alright. I reached the outside of the room and heard what sounded like struggles.

"No no no no." I heard a desperate voice. That sounds like Lori.

"I love you, shh shh." Rick?

"No, no you're drunk." She continued. Maybe it was something private, I should leave them alone. I put my ear to the door and heard the table hit the wall. Okay. That's gross.

"I love you. I know there were some things but say you love me too." Shane?! Were Lori and Shane…?

"Shane. Shane! Just stop!" She sounds in trouble. I swung the door open causing them both to look my way. Shane was in the middle of unbuckling his trousers and was standing between Lori's legs who didn't seem to be wearing any trousers. I marched over to the other side of the room throwing Shane off Lori.

"She said no." I stood in front of her glaring at him angrily as he fell to the floor bottle in his hand. He looked up at me and rage filled his eyes as he stood up coming towards me.

"Why are you getting involved? This is none of your goddamn business!" Shane shouted pushing me but I resisted.

"Lori," I turned around seeing the scared woman behind me.

"Lori sweetie, go to your and Rick's room. It'll be okay." I squeezed her hand and she wordlessly left the room.

"You're trying to rape a woman and it's none of my business?!" I raised my voice at him.

"Look you don't know anything." Shane backed up slightly drinking from the bottle.

"Lori and me. We love each other okay. She just feels guilty. We were happy. Happy until you brought Rick back." Oh. So they were sleeping together.

"That gives you no right, apocalypse or not to make advances on her without her consent you piece of shit." I spat out at him.

"And I've seen you." Shane started pointed the bottle at me. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"You've been making eyes at Rick. Don't try and deny it. Tryin' to seduce him with your british charm." I shook my head.

"These are ridiculous accusations and you have no proof. No proof. I don't know what the hell you're talking about." I crossed my hands over my chest not liking what he was getting it.

"And that doctor. You knew him. I saw your face when he introduced himself. You're hiding somethin' and I'm gunna find out what. Then rick won't want you in this group no more." Shane nodded his head vigorously.

"You've had a bit too much to drink Shane. I think you need to sleep." I walked up to him and gave him a right cross to his face. He fell down on the floor and knocked right out. I threw the blanket over his body and stepped over it leaving the room. I held my hand which started aching. My fist was slightly bloody and completely red.

"Well shit." I sighed trudging back to my room. Daryl had already made himself comfortable on the other couch and had two hands behind his head. He opened his eyes seeing me come in the room holding my fist. He sat up as I sat on the couch opposite him.

"You okay?" He looked at me.

"Uh yeah." Should I tell him? No maybe I'll take it up with Rick tomorrow, he needs to know what Shane really is.

"Did he deserve it?" Daryl asked pointing to my fist.

"Who?" I challenged him to guess.

"Whoever." He shrugged.

"Most definitely." I said smirking.

"Want me to wrap it?" Daryl asked holding linens in his hand. I smiled genuinely at him but shook my head taking the clothes.

"I used to box. I've got this part covered. Thanks though." He nodded and laid back on the sofa hands behind his head.

"Light off or on?"

"Off."