Hollow Heroes [Open to all]

Still oblivious to the happenings of the kitchen, excitement spread across Carl's face when the guy confirmed that Michonne was in the infirmary. Perhaps he should have been guarded, but how many people, especially in this dying world, had that name? It had to be her! Life couldn't always me mean to them, there had to be good parts, too....



"Yeah, I need to see her..." And he pushed past Robbin, heading in the direction of the infirmary....

Robbin was about to lead Carl, but it seemed the kid had a handle on things so he followed behind instead.

Back in the infirmary, Michonne was finally warm enough to stop from shivering. Now warm and slowly getting fluids in her body, she was starting to feel hungry. No doubt this place had food. Hopefully something hot. Maybe coffee even. She would kill for a cup of coffee and hot pancakes.

Looking around the room, it didn't seem like much was going on. No other doctors, from where she was she didn't even see other patents. That Robbin guy seemed nice, but everyone seems nice at first...Well, not everyone.

The kiss was returned, Lexi was not expecting that. And despite the immense pain, heartache and the suffocating feeling that she would die, she allowed it to linger, even as she choked on her own blood. The insult and being moved to a different location didn't matter, nor the fact that she was being chained like an animal and left in the snow...



Her naked form shivered uncontrollably as she struggled to remain conscious, trying her best to curl into a ball for warmth before losing consciousness once again...

Nearly sprinting to the infirmary, once inside, it didn't take long for Carl's half-gaze to fixate on her. A huge, almost child-like smile stretched across his lips as he rushed towards her bed...


"Michonne!!" And in an instant, his arms were thrown around her and he hugged her tightly....

Laz could hear most of what was going on outside. He couldn't see what was happening from his small house, but he heard the screams of a woman and the jeers of the men. He could only imagine what was going on out there. Pacing his floor, Laz tried to come up with some plan to go out there and stop Negan from torturing the woman. He would be out numbered. He was a skilled fighter, but they had guns. He didn't have any weapons. It would be suicide.

Then silence.

Laz peeked out his window. Across the road from him was a lot with dog houses. He didn't know what they were for, he never seen any dogs. But he watched Negan chain a naked woman to the ground then leave her. Was he going to leave her there all night? Most likely. He had to do something. there was no fucking way he was going to stay in his house while she died just across the street.

He pulled on a shirt, and sweater then grabbed a long heavy coat that he found when he moved in. it would be enough to cover the her.

After slipping his shoes on and grabbing an extra pair of socks he sprinted outside and across the street to the woman.

Once there. He kneeled beside her and begain to wrap her in the large coat, making sure she was totally covered, then slipping the socks on her feet.

Violently shivering, Lexi could feel her for being touched as the man covered her, then slipped even more warmth over her frozen feet. It took everything she had, but her bloodshot eyes fluttered open and the motion released tears down her bruised and bloodied cheeks.


She choked on the mouth full of blood that she did not have the energy to spit out. But her gaze fixated on him... someone too handsome for the cruelty of this world....


It could only mean one thing. A small, shaky grin hinted at her bloodied lips....



"Are... you an Angel? You come... to take me away from... this world?"

Laz offered her a smile and pulled her against him while he worked on getting the chain off her neck. He used the sleeve of his sweater to clean some of the blood of her face. Being careful to not hurt her further.

An angel? Nah. But I am going to get you out of here. I promise. Try to stay awake for me ok. What's your name?

Michonne was again finding herself trying to fight off sleep when she was startled awake by the sound of someone yelling out her name. her half closed eyes opened up and watched a very welcomed face run to her. Soon Carl's arms were around her and she quickly threw her arms around him returning the tight hug.

I am so relieved you are safe and alive. She told him. Though her voice was muffled due to her face being buried in Carl's shoulder. She did not want to let the boy go. But she had to know who, if anyone else was there.

Finally pulling enough to look at him with a large smile of her own, she pulled him down so that he was sitting on her bed with her.

I am...So happy that you're here. I have missed the hell out of you. Who else is here?

Carl could have cried, but somehow he managed to keep the tears suppressed as he released just enough to look at her, but it was certainly obvious that he was close to happy tears.  "I missed you, too. But I knew you made it... never had a doubt." He squeezed her gently, taking a seat on the bed.

At her question, he was silent for a moment. Of course the first thing he wanted to tell her was that his father was... gone. He knew that she could comfort him in a way that no one else could. They always had that special connection. She had been a mother figure to him, and the person he could share his deepest darkest secrets with.  But this... he wasn't ready. Wasn't prepared to deal with the emotions of the loss all over again. Unprepared to see her cry.




"Daryl's here. And Glenn and Maggie..." He told her.

Michonne never let go of Carl's hand, needing to keep that contact fearing if she let go he would fade away. When he informed her that Daryl, Glenn and Maggie were also in the building Michonne's smile brighten, tears fell from her eyes and she laughed to herself. To anyone watching she may have looked like she had lost it. But hearing that Glenn and Maggie were alive after being certain they were dead for so long.

Gathering herself she stat up and pulled the IV out of her arm.

Guess I should say 'Hello'. She said and pulled Carl in for another tight hug.

She of course already knew about Rick. She didn't know that Carl knew. But, if Glenn was there...Maybe he did. Still, she wasn't ready to bring that up just yet, not to Carl anyway. No way would she ruin this happy moment. They got so few moments like this.

She slipped out of the bed just as Robbin came in to see why the IV machine was beeping. He would have protested, but was starting to learn that this group of people was going to do what they wanted no matter what. Michonne gave the man a nod of thanks and readied herself to follow Carl to the others.

It was obvious by Michonne's tear-filled reaction that she was relieved and happy that some of their group had made it. And then she expressed her need to see them. Carl knew that she should take it easy, but... he understood. She wouldn't be able to rest until she was reunited with the group.


"If she still needs that, she can continue in Glenn and Maggie's room.." He told Robbin, referring to the IV. She would certainly be staying the night in the same room with the group until everyone decided on the living arrangements. But, he remembered how it had been at Alexandria. Even though they had all been given their own houses, the group chose to stay together for weeks.. until they felt 'comfortable'.


He helped Michonne along, wrapping his good arm around her waist. "Did... you see anyone else from our group while you were out there?" He asked, hopeful.

Michonne had no issues with continuing the IV if she needed it later in the room.

Wrapping an arm around Carl they headed out together towards the group's room. She gave the boy a tight squeeze at his question. There was Rick. But not only did she not want to talk about that scene, she didn't want Carl to know, if he didn't already.

But, He had a right to know. And it was something everyone would have to come to terms with.

I was...I seen...Rick. She left it at that for now as they continued to the room.

The cold had made her skin numb to the touch, but she did realize that he was trying to free her, and trying to clean away the blood. A small smile still held on her quivering lips an she tried to pull the jacket tighter around her.


"Then.. you are an Angel..." She managed quietly. "Lexi.." She managed to reply as heavy eyelids fluttered, but struggled to stay awake. "What... what's yours?" ... She would have feared being raped again. Why else would a man 'help' her? But she was still under the delusion that he had come down from Heaven to help her out of this hell....

Carl noted that hesitation and was also quiet for a moment. He wanted to know.. without asking her directly. Though, there was that hint of sadness in her tone...



"Then, you saw Glenn. You...saw what Negan did..." And his words were surprisingly even for the storm he felt inside, holding a hint of that heartbreak...

Lazarus. He told her as he finally freed her of the chain. Lexi. that's a pretty name. we need to get you someplace warm, fast. He wasn't sure how he was going to do that though. And as if on cue, one of those freaky looking horses walked up to him and nudged his arm.

Laz looked up at the creature and then around the area. He could see other men in the distance, but it didn't seem like anyone was bothered with the area they were in. The horse creature again gave Laz a nudge and finally he scooped Lexi up and stood up.

I think our ride found us.

Beth left her room when she heard the sounds of Kai screaming in the living room. She hurried to him and picked him up in an attempted to comfort the child. She then heard the sounds outside and peeking out the window witness the mother of the child being beat and worse.

Beth hurried out the back door. She wanted to flee the town, but she couldn't leave the baby, and she wasn't sure she could take care of him on her own.

So she sat hidden with little Kai. Both of them bundled up tightly. It seemed like hours passed before everything was quiet again. Beth waited. She didn't hear Negan calling for her, or the child. He must have just went to bed. Or maybe grabbed one of the other women.

Slipping from her hiding place she ran away from the house to make her way to the barn. If she could make her way to a horse, maybe she could find another shelter. She had over heard something about a mall somewhere the thought. Maybe.

On her way to the barn she spotted a man and that same woman. as she got closer it was obvious he was helping her. A sense of hope filled Beth, something she hadn't felt in so long. She took off in a sprint as the man was helping the woman on the strange horse. when she got to the couple she gasped for air trying to talk.

Please. Please....Take us with you. Please.

michonne nodded her head. It sounded like Carl already knew what had happen. She once again gave him a tight squeeze.

Yeah. When they took Glenn away...after, I ran intending on getting help, some back up. but. I never made it to anyone until now, and I was convinced that Glenn and Maggie hadn't made it.

"That.... suits ... you..." Lexi managed, fighting to keep her eyes open. Lazarus. That was a biblical name, right? And it was perfect. But if he was an angel, it meant she had died. Her pain would be over, but her son would be left to a cruel existence.



She took no note of the odd looking horses or the young woman that approached them, but she did notice the bundle in her arms. Quiet tears gathered in her eyes and rolled down bruised cheeks. "Kai?" She called hoarsely and reached a shaky and bloodied hand towards him, needing to at least touch him, knowing her arms would not support him. They had been reunited, in this world or the next.....she had her baby with her. This mother's fractured soul could finally rest....

Erica wrote:

Erica was gently lower in Judith after all that snuggling into the bed with a last smooch goodnight to her forehead, Stitch was there.

"Night LilAssKicker, night Stitch -" she backs leaving Judith to Stitch and waves at Lilo, Daryl , Glenn and Maggie, another look at Carl, "lemme know when's you plan on going, gonna go to my room, clean up and rest for a bit." gathering her bag, " night "


Backpack on she gathers up her bow and arrows putting the arrows away on the way out a wink at Leo, " catch everything?"

Leo was still leaning against the doorway when Erica came out and he smiled at her, nodding at her question. "I did. Thank you." He knew from what Daryl said, he could have reentered the room, but he chose not to. Thanks to Erica, he caught nearly every word without setting foot into the room. He pushed himself away from the wall and headed over to Erica.

"You didn't have to do that, but I appreciate it just the same."

Laz smiled at Lexi just as a new girl came running over. he didn't really give the new comer an answer and didn't notice Lexi reaching for the child. Instead he placed both girls on the horse then hopped on himself. He had Beth facing them, Lexi in the middle and Laz holding them both.

When on top of the horse, Beth noticed that Lexi was reaching for the child and smiled at her. She placed the child under the coat, letting Kai rest against Lexi's chest. She then covered the baby up with the coat.

Seeing that everyone was ready, Laz gave a little kick to the side of the horse and off they went. Soon leaving the town behind them.

Love was still sitting by the turtle's door. But she wasn't waiting for anyone anymore. Her mind was back at Negan's town, the horse that Laz was on she was controlling and bringing to the mall. Now that there was others coming to the mall she figured she may as well tell someone. After she was off to have some fun of her own.

She left the hall and headed back to the maggie and Glenn's room. Of course she still couldn't go inside, but she would be able to tell them what was going on from outside the room. On the way however she ran into Carl and another woman.

Carl! Love called out and ran to him. Is Lilo still in the room? There's more people coming. Lazarus, Lexi; who is really hurt. Her baby, And a girl named Beth who is also hurt. So they'll need some medical attention. They should be here any moment.

Hearing Lois' voice Diana gave a smile and hurried to her bedside. Hey! Long time no see. Though as horrible as she felt about it, Diana was a bit upset that Lois was still in the picture as Clark's woman. Such was life, she and Clark simply were not meant to be.

Diana sat on the edge of the bed sensing that Lois wasn't feeling well.

How are you?

A slow grin moved over her lips and she shrugs. "Look s far as I can see Bruce was just being a dick because he had not got his way before. Guy is too full of himself. And fuck him - I fought for this place and so did you and your brothers, we so do get a say in how things are run now that there are more people to worry about and some lunatic out there." she sighs and shrugs a little, "Your welcome - so... ummm want to walk a snap happy archer to her room?" a change of subject.

The big guy was certainly a calming presence to be around and already - or maybe because they had shared a little about themselves o the way to the room she was at ease with him, the tension in her shoulders easing and the hunger was there, her belly groooooowled loudly. But the head ache from it and her fury was easing.

Fearing that Maggie may hit the floor once again, Daryl quickly scooped her up.... "If she has somethin' safe, I'll bring it to ya.." And he remembered that Lilo had placed some meds in front of her earlier when she had been sleeping. Glenn had put them in his pocket for safe keeping. Though, there were a lot of meds that pregnant women weren't supposed to take, but Lilo was a doctor, she would know the safe ones....




Without further hesitation, Daryl carried Maggie back to bed, tucking her under the blankets. "You need anything?" He offered, knowing that Glenn wouldn't be far behind.




`*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*



Once the fruit and vegetables were deemed safe, Glenn plopped down on the floor in midst of the mess, not trusting his balance to bend, and began placing everything back in the bag. Still holding to the pear that had been plucked from Maggie's hand, deciding now it would be safe to give it back to her. He wedged the piece of fruit between his teeth so he could use both hands to pick up the food, wanting to hurry this along so he could get back to Maggie.


He was grateful for Stitch's assistance in examining the food, though, deep down he wanted no part of it, due to where it had come from. Still, rations were becoming scarce and it would be some time before he would be able to go out scavenging, and stumbling across fresh produce rarely happened. It was a valuable commodity they couldn't afford to waste.

Carl really wanted to ask Michonne what had happened to her. Who had hurt her, but he knew there would be plenty of time to catch up. Right now, he just wanted to get her into the room so she could see everyone, and then she could rest....


"Maggie was already here when we got here. She's pretty sick.." And he hesitated, not wanting to tell her about the pregnancy if she didn't already know. That should be good news that Maggie could share.  "And Daryl found Glenn when he went back out looking for my Dad. He got away from Negan's place. Got shot. Nearly froze to death before Daryl found him. And, Negan managed to get a blow in before my Dad...." And he trailed off, not wanting to feel those emotions right now...


"And he got bit. But not by a Walker. Some crazy woman. But, he's got nine lives.. he's okay.." Before he could say more, Love approached, informing him that new arrivals were on the way. It seemed like nothing special since he had no idea that Lexi was the one that saved Glenn, but then she said a familiar name that often caused his heart to ache...


"Beth??" He asked, feeling his heart beat a little faster, but still trying not to get his hopes up. Beth was a pretty common name, after all....


"What does she look like??" And he failed to acknowledge her question about Lilo, to overwhelmed by the fact that his friend was still alive....