The Woman at The End of The World. (Daryl Dixon)

fifteen.

(Trigger warning - ptsd.)

"We're not leaving." Rick announces to us as we all crowd back inside our cellblock. Charlee, Kelly, and I are at the bottom of the steps. I'm using the railing for support. Inwardly groaning, I shouldn't have gone out to fight, but I couldn't let them do it alone - this is my family. My arms are draped over my chest, listening. Kelly is invading my personal space; worried about the shape I find myself in. I could feel the weight of Daryl's stare without looking up.

"We can't stay here." Hershel parries. He's seated not far from us, taking position on the stairs. I glance over at him. I respect both he and Rick; but I'm on Rick's side with this. I want to get my hands on the dirty fucker.

"I'm with Rick. We stand and fight." I shrug under Hershel's sight. "I want his head on my nightstand."

"What if there's another sniper? A wood pallet won't stop one of those rounds." Maggie shakes her head, clearly disagreeing with Rick's order.

"We can't even go outside." Charlee steps up, taking in every face around her. I peer over at her. She was never scared to put in her two cents, regardless of who is around. I admire that about her. Go best friend!

"Not in the daylight." Carol concurs, worried. Her eyes meet Charlee. I smile at her; I haven't had the chance to talk to her, yet.

Glenn stalks to the center of the cellblock, "Rick says we're not running, we're not running. I agree with Vanessa. We fight for our home."

From the adjacent room, Merle laughs, "No, better to live like rats." His voice makes my skin crawl. For a second, I'm back in the room with him and the Governor. I try to shake the thoughts, feeling myself begin to sway. Kelly reaches for me; trying to bring me back to reality. My hand seeks out his, grounding myself.

Kelly and Charlee know my tells when it comes to slipping into an episode. I have to face one of the men who brought this onto me. I can feel reality and the memories begin to blur together. Kelly had enough practice after Owen. He knows how handle it and bring me back to the here and now. Their timing couldn't have been better. I squeeze his hand to let him know I'm struggling.

"You got a better idea?" Rick whirls around, facing Merle.

"Yeah, we should have slid out of here last night and lived to fight another day. But we lost that window, didn't we? I'm sure he's got scouts on every road out of this place by now."

Daryl's voice comes from on top of the perch, "we ain't scared of that prick." My stomach drops at the sound of his voice. The bile raises to my throat.

"Y'all should be. That truck through the fence thing, that's just him ringing the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind, but he's got the guns and the numbers. And if he takes the high ground around this place, shoot, he could just starve us out if he wanted to." Merle continues.

Letting Kelly's hand go, I limp over next to Maggie. "I'm going to regret this and can't believe I'm actually saying this, but the inbred does have insight of this man. Better than any of us. Maybe we should actually listen to what he has to say." I express my peace and thoughts; not without sending a glare to Merle.

"Vanessa Rae. Play nice." Kelly warns, clearly not liking the words I chose to describe our new friend. I roll my eyes. Inwardly cursing him for putting my full name on display.

"Not a chance." He smirks at my words, unsurprised.

"Let's put him in the other cell block." Maggie gestures to Merle, rolling her eyes. Oh, she really is a woman after my own heart.