Walking Dead Wizard

Chapter 21

"Alternative medicine?" Maggie asked giving Harry a penetrating look.

"Yes," Harry answered her, "Um...this is a calming draught, it will help her, there's absolutely nothing harmful in it, it just calms you down, try it yourself," Harry said offering her the vial, she rose an eyebrow but nonetheless actually trusted him and sipped it.

"That tastes absolutely disgusting," Maggie exclaimed but oddly enough she felt her worries easing, it was real, it worked, how the hell did it work so quickly? She handed it back, hopeful that it would actually help her sister.

"Its herbs, herbs taste disgusting but they help," Harry said wryly, opening Beth's mouth he let some of the concoction ease its way past her lips. Easing her up, he poured the water in, rubbing at her delicate throat until she began swallowing, Harry didn't stop until she had swallowed every drop of the potion.

Maggie pressed her fingers to Beth's pulse point not even a few moments later, "It worked, her pulse it's stopped racing," she told him relived.

"Now she just needs to rest, her mind needs to process what happened," Harry replied, "Why didn't you listen to me and get her inside?" he then demanded.

"I couldn't get her away from Jimmy, then my dad..." Maggie admitted looking suddenly tired.

"I am sorry for what you went through," Harry told her quietly.

"You aren't apologizing for him?" Maggie blinked in surprise.

"Hell no, his actions have nothing to do with me, so I have nothing to apologise for" Harry stated sharply before adding, "...maybe except the...well I did put one bullet in...you know, I reacted...I didn't want Beth hurt." not quite able to say the word 'mother'.

"I know, thank you, I realised a few days ago that they weren't sick when I was attacked..." Maggie explained, "But Glenn saved me." Maggie literally lit up just mentioning him.

"He has a lot of experience dealing with them," Harry agreed, "He's a good man."

Maggie smiled at him as she tucked her sister in, feeling a lot better, but she'd feel complete once her father was back where he belonged. She could scarcely believe he'd gone for drinks at a time like this, especially when they needed him. They'd been gone too long, but she suspected it was her father just being stubborn, he got like that. If it was the case it would take Rick and Glenn ages to get her father to agree to come back home.

"I'll leave you alone," Harry said standing up and going to leave the room.

"Do you really believe the group is broken?" Maggie asked, staring pensively.

"Yes," Harry replied immediately, "Does it sound like a good group when they sent people down wells? Open barns full of walkers? Gun them down and risk bringing more walkers down upon us? Which will happen, this place is going to be flooded with walkers take my word for it. I'd make a suggestion of taking everything important to you and putting it into a bag ready to grab when all hell breaks loose...again."

"Then why are you staying?" Maggie asked, before quickly, "I didn't mean...I mean not like it sounded..." she stuttered.

Harry grinned, "It's a good question isn't it? I've never really fitted into the group, nether has Merle or Daryl, and our last location...we were there first before everyone else came to the quarry. We would have left...but I...I realized realistically to survive you need a big group, and they had kids, I stayed for them,"

"Even though you didn't know them?" Maggie felt deeply touched by that, he was putting their own survival above his own.

"Couldn't let them starve," Harry told her, "I know what it's like...you know what's ironic? Daryl, Merle and I made sure they were never hungry, but all the adults other than Carol? They never thanked us not even once, but the kids? They did, they thanked us. I can't continue to stay because of them...I can't."