Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead.

Her Angel, His Strength

1 Days Gone Bye

The sudden light forced her to close her eyes. Not again, she thought. Normally they would leave her alone until nighttime. She curled into herself as a wave of wind swept into the room.

"Shit, she's alive." A voice sounded. It was not one of the voices she got used to hearing; it had a thick accent from Georgia. Opening her eyes again, she tried to see who it was, but all she could see was the silhouette of a man. A man. Shivers ran down her spine at the thought of that. Maybe it was an angel, finally coming to free her, maybe he would leave her there for her captors, or maybe, a voice in her head sounded, he'd do worse and kill her afterwards. The thought brought a smile on her face. Death would be a welcome for her.

"Bet she wishes she wasn't." A new voice sounded behind the first man who had come a few steps into the room and was quickly scanning her with his eyes. "There's a bag there in the corner. I'll see if I can fin' somethin' useful around."

The first man got a few of her clothes and dressed her. She could make his features now; he was at least in his thirties, dirty blond hair and a mole in the corner of his mouth. No one had ever looked so beautiful to her. Daryl was also looking at her, though he did not think her beautiful. She was skin and bones, thin hair, pale as a ghost. Bruises and dry blood marked all of her body. Especially in between her thighs. One eye could not open fully, and there was a long scar on the side of her torso.

After finishing dressing her, he got her bag, the first aid kit and its contents that were laying on the floor and carefully picked her up. A whimper escaped her lips at the pain that irradiated through her whole body forcing Daryl to look at her. Her left hand came to rest on his cheeks, gently caressing it.

"Angel." She said, barely a whisper. A voice that was not used in a long time for words just screams. A tear slid down her face and a ghost of a smile traced her lips. He did not answer, though his features turned dark.

"Ya take care of it?" He asked to the man who was checking a bow on the other room of the cabin.

"Yep, ya have fun explainin' that." Daryl muttered something under his breath, turned around and walked out into the forest. Her eyes remained fixed on his face until sleep came over.

Her eyes flicked open and it took her a while to gather her bearings. She was in some kind of car, apparently, with bandages on her hands and a cover upon her body. When she turned her head, he was there. Her angel. Her memories came fast after that. She tried siting up but her ribs protested against the movement, Daryl gently pushed her shoulders down again.

"Ya're safe now. Stop movin'." His voice was commanding, of someone who did not take no easily. She opened her mouth to thank him though the dryness of her throat made her cough. "Here." He handled a glass of what she assumed was water to her mouth and helped her up a little. When she first swallowed, though, she could taste the saltiness and turned her head to her side. "It's some shit ya gotta drink. They don't think ya can eat stuff yet."

She nodded and tried to drink a little more, ignoring the taste. While locked in that room, she usually got a glass of water with a chunk of meat every other day, so she was thirstier than she ever had been before.

"Thank you." She said, after drinking her fill. He nodded, though she did not see it, as her eyes were already closing again.

The next time she woke up, her angel was nowhere to be seen, but a blond woman was tending to her wounds. When she noticed, she stopped her work and smiled.

"Hey. I'm Andrea." When she did not reply, Andrea pressed on. "We are just outside Atlanta now; Daryl brought you into our camp two days ago." Two days ago? Had she slept two entire days? She tried getting up, but much like Daryl, Andrea gently pushed her back into the bed. "Is there something you need? I can get it for you."

"Toilet." She said, and like the other times when she tried to speak, her voice came raspy, just above a whisper. Andrea nodded, and helped her get up and into the bathroom.

Once back into the bed, Andrea handed her a pack of crackers and a bottle of water saying she needed to start eating lightly first. She nodded and thanked the woman before she left.

"No problem. Rest up for now." Andrea smiled gently, exiting the RV.

She met Andrea's sister Amy, Jacqui and Glenn. They were nice, with Amy telling her all about their camp and most of their stories. She told her how everyone was surprised when Daryl came back with her. Apparently, Daryl was not one to do nice things for others.

"I suppose he's better than his brother, though you should try to stay away from them." She blinked, but didn't respond. Amy was used to that though, and went on talking. Daryl had not come see her again, but she knew he wasn't a bad person. He was the one that saved her, she owned him her life.

Jacqui was sweet, never trying to make her talk. She was usually the one who would bring her something to eat, check her wounds and temperature. Glenn was fun, bringing her books and sometimes talking about his life before. Even though Amy was nice, it was with Glenn that she talked more, telling him a bit about herself. He was a good listener and never made her feel uncomfortable.

A few days later, Andrea asked her if she would like to take a bath, so bracing herself against the blond sisters, she exited for the first time the security of the RV. She could feel eyes on her all the way down to the pond, though she never looked up from the ground. Andrea stood guard while Amy helped her bath. The water was freezing against her skin, however the feeling was so good she relished every minute of it.

After finished, Andrea and Amy helped her sit against a tree. She would prefer getting back in the car, but she knew she couldn't hide forever. Glenn came over to keep her company until lunchtime and she was glad for it, for it seemed to keep others away. She was grateful for them, but she was not ready to look at the pity in their eyes, or answer the questions they were bound to make.

For the first time she ate with them, never lifting her eyes from her plate. Daryl was sitting away from her with his brother, Merle, the other man who had been in the cabin with them when he found her. She wanted to ask what he did to Mark and Leon, her captures, but she could not bring herself to ask in from of every one.

"What is your name?" A child's voice asked her. The hand holding her fork in front of her mouth trembled so she brought it back to the plate.

"Stop pestering her, Carl. Let the girl eat in peace." A woman said. From what Amy had told her, this was Carl's mother, Lori, or Lora, she could not remember. Focusing on Carl, she answered:

"My name is Lily."

It seemed everyone was shocked at her answer. She tried not to make eye contact with anyone. She did not know why everyone was so surprised. She always answered all the questions Amy, Andrea or Glenn made her. They just never asked for her name and she never saw reason to tell.

"It's a beautiful name." A man with a hat said with a gentle smile on his face. She knew him to be the owner of the RV where she was staying, but could not remember his name. She smiled and finished eating, asking silently for Glenn, who had also finished his plate, to help her back to her bed, where she stayed for the rest of the day. Amy brought her diner, asking if she wanted to come outside with the rest of them, but she could not face them again so soon.

The next day, she walked out of the car and made her way towards what she thought to be Daryl and Merle's tent. Getting closer she saw her bow and arrows sitting against a fallen tree and her eyes widened. Forgetting about talking to them, she made a beeline towards it. She thought for sure it was gone now.

Picking it up with the most careful hands, she studied it for a few seconds, making sure it was still in good conditions. While she knew how to make another one, it certainly would not be as decent as this one.

"Is it yours?"

Startled, she turned her head at the voice so quickly her neck hurtled. Upon seeing Daryl, her heart beat calmed and she forced her breaths back to normal.

"Yes." He nodded and sat down by her side, starting to gut a few squirrels. After a few minutes of silence, he looked at her again, seeing the saddest expression on her face as she watched him clean up their next meal. With a snort, he waved her away.

"Don't ya have nothin' ta do?" So apparently, she was not wanted around. Trying to mask the hurt on her face, she nodded, grabbing her bow and quiver, and stood to leave.

The next day she woke up earlier than ever before in this camp. Felling almost back to normal, she decided it was time to help cooperate around camp to earn her keep. Lily left the RV silently, with her bow and quiver on her back, and made her way to the border where the perimeter was set.

She had not walked two steps when someone whistled sharply. Turning around she came to face with an amused Merle and a pissed off Daryl.

"The hell ya think ya goin'?" The latter of the two snarled at her. Surprised at seeing them awake and at the anger in his voice, she hesitated to answer. "Git back ta camp."

"I was… Going to check on the plants." She finally said. The anger was replaced by confusion and then annoyance, though at her or at his brother, who left out a bark of laugher, she did not know.

"Look the girlie is fine enough now ta miss her lil' flowers." Merle said looking at her in a way that would have send her running, had she not know he helped Daryl save her.

"Git back ta camp." Daryl said again. She chose to ignore him and continue her way. They followed her after a colourful curse words from the younger brother. "The hell ya wanna with plants?"

"I know some to be useful for food, or medicines, even soaps… Some's that also can make you-" Lily stopped abruptly realising what she was about to say. A blush crept into her face as she turned away from them. It did not escape Merle's eyes as he whistled amused.

"Some shroom for us, hum? Ya deceived ol' Merle here for a moment, sweetcheeks." Her face felt even hotter than before, but she did not make to reply. "Do ya even know how ta work that bow of yours?"

She nodded, and seeing the doubtful expression on both of their faces, she brought her bow to her hand, grabbed an arrow and stood in position, looking for something to shoot. Finding it, she released the arrow and watched it pin a tree. Merle went over to retrieve it, saying with a sarcastic voice:

"Dontcha worry, sweetcheeks, it's not that…" His voice trailed off when he saw the three leaves attached to the end of the tip of the arrow. Raising his eyebrows, he eyed her up with an amused smile on his face. "Well, ya can do ya flower thing while baby brother and I go catch us a thumper or two."

Apparently, they had a system. Merle would go left, Daryl right, circle back and meet up later to go back to camp. Lily was just going straight ahead when Daryl huffed and grabbed her arm for her to follow him. She did so silently, and the two went on without words spoken. That did not mean she could not feel his anger towards her. She was confused about it; did he think her incapable of being alone in the woods? Of course, he had his reasons for thinking like that, she thought ruefully, with the way the two first met.

Daryl would always stop and wait for her when she found something that she thought useful, and, when she asked for a knife, he gave her his without questioning it.

"Keep it." He said when she returned it to him. Lily titled her head in confusion, but did not ask. She figured him to be the dark, silent type. They did not meet with Merle on the way back, though it seemed Daryl was not concerned.

Back at camp, they came across him sitting on the log cleaning up his catches. When Merle looked up at them, he smirked at the amount of plants on her arms.

"Found us some good, sweetcheeks?" Lily blushed again and bit her lip, walking away without answering him to the front of the RV to start working on her findings. It would take a day in the very least for a few homemade medications and soaps to be done, but she figured it was a good start.

After dinner that night, she made her way silently towards the Dixon's tent. Both of them were sitting in front of their fire, their talking coming to an abruptly end when they noticed her presence. She made no comment about it, and thrusted her closed fist towards Merle. With an arched eyebrow, he started to say something when she opened her hand.

For the first time since the dead started walking, Lily laughed. The mushrooms she found induced it, but it was such a nice feeling she could not bring herself to care. Even Daryl was laughing about something Merle had said.

She talked more than she did when lucid, but she could not seem to stop. It was different than talking with Glenn, perhaps because, even though today was the first day she had seen them after they rescued her, she knew she was safe with the brothers. Lily knew the rest of their group had a dislike for them, but to her, it was completely misplaced.

Merle stories were terrible, generally with different random women, but she thought him funny. Daryl, although still quiet and opting to listen more than talk, also told her a few of his stories while hunting back at his hometown.

She told them about her family, how she did not know where they could be, she told them what she used to do before, and how she was a completely different person then. Merle found it hard to believe when she said she used to be a people person.

"I swear I was fun!" Daryl snorted at this, nonetheless she smiled at him. She didn't remember falling asleep, but a few hours later, she could feel Daryl spooning her on his sleeping bag. Shifting, she tried to get out and go back to the RV, but his grip on her tightened slightly.

"Stop ya squirmin'." Therefore, she complied and fell back asleep with a smile.

The next day she woke up alone in the tent. Luckily, no one appeared to notice where she slept that night, though Dale asked her if she had trouble sleeping seeing he woke up and she wasn't in her usual place, on the passenger sit of his car.

After finishing her soaps and a few pastes of natural antibiotics, she started to distribute them to the people in camp. Most were surprised of her hidden abilities, though no one asked more about it, knowing she did not like to talk all that much. Glenn asked, but she was okay with him and explained how her grandmother used to teach her a lot about how the nature could take care of her if there was ever a time she would need.

Shane interrupted their conversation announcing to the whole camp about their need to make a trip to Atlanta for resources. She was surprised when Merle volunteered, and by his expression, so was Daryl. They agreed to leave the next day.

After lunch, Merle approached her and asked her to follow him towards their tent. His serious expression made her nervous about what he wanted.

"Baby brother n I were talkin' abou' leavin' this camp when I come back." Her surprised expression made him smirk towards her. "Whatcha think, sweetcheeks? Ya comin' with us?"

"But, why? Where'd we go?"

"The animals are startin' ta come more n more towards camp. Why do ya think it's?" He didn't let her answer. "These people are thinkin' it's safe now, but ya more smart than that, aren't ya? So, ya comin'?" She knew she would. She really cared about Glenn, she liked Amy, Andrea and Jacqui, and even Dale, but she felt safer with the Dixons. When she acquiesced, Merle smirked even wider, and eyed her up and down. "If ya wanna come with us, ya better learn ta watch yaself. Throw me a punch."

Lily blinked, completely torn.

"What?"

"C'me on girly, let me see watcha can do."

"I will not punch you, Merle!"

"Why not?"

"What if I hurt you?" At that, Merle threw his head back and laughed, attracting the attentions of others who looked on in curiosity.

"Ya couldn't hurt me if ya wanted." Frowning, she gave him a blow in his stomach. Merle gasped and bent over, covering his belly with both hands.

"Oh no, Merle? Are you ok? I'm so sorry, let me see." Daryl, who had come back from the pound where he was cleaning his bolts, looked with a puzzled expression at the two who were now the centre of the attention of the camp.

"That was the girliest punch I have ever seen! There's a lot ta work on ya sweetcheeks!" Merle said while straightening himself and laughing aloud at her face. Lily scowled and stomped back towards Glenn who was watching in amazement.

"What was that about?"

"Merle being Merle."

The next morning, she gave Glenn a hug, with the request of him coming back safe and walked over to Andrea and Jacqui.

"Could you… Hm… I need some…"

"Don't worry, if we find any, we'll bring back." Jacqui said while Andrea had an amused smile on her face.

"Thanks." Lily said.

She saw Daryl and Merle saying their goodbyes, and walked over. When Merle saw her coming, he smirked and said in a hushed voice:

"Ya should be ready ta go when I come back, sweetcheeks." She nodded biting her lip. She would miss Glenn the most. "Any request?"

"Just come back safe." She said and saw the surprise wash his face. He laughed her off, saying only a Dixon could kill a Dixon, and walked towards the van where the others were waiting.

"Ya seem close." Daryl voice sounded so close she jumped, startled.

"Merle is a nice guy if you give him a chance." She answered with a smile. Daryl frowned at her, and stalked back towards the woods. Confused, she hurried after him, stopping at the RV to grab her bow and quiver. "Hey, wait up!"

He slowed down when he noticed her following, though his frown never left his face. Together, they made their way towards the trail of a buck.

This is my first The Walking Dead fic, it's unfinished, meaning sometimes it'll take longer for me to post a new chapter, and you'll notice that the chapters follow the ones of the show. It'll follow its storyline, focusing on Lily' and Daryl's relationship.

The stories I write is mostly to myself, but I've decided to post this one for feedback, which means I will not continue if there's no reviews, as I see no reason to if there's no one reading.

English is not my mother tongue, so there will be mistakes, if you find one, please let me know. That said, obviously I have no idea how to write the characters accents, though from the fanfics I've read, Daryl and Merle are the ones with the most different one. I tried, but please excuse me if it was done wrong. You can always feedback me and I'll try to correct it.

Thank you,

Mel.