A State Of Peace And Misery

Chapter 1: Little Moments

It had been a week since the folks of Woodbury moved into the prison with Rick's group, and by then everyone's nerves were shot, Rick and Daryl's especially. Daryl had been on edge from the moment Rick had announced the idea; he already wasn't comfortable around the small group of people he'd known for a year, and the large influx of people that had just swept in made his teeth rattle and his bones feel about as solid as jelly. Daryl frequently wandered around the woods on the outskirts of the building, living in his element of nature and solidarity for a few hours each day. He came in and out of areas where he knew he would not be pestered by the Woodburians, and took on extra watches in the remaining guard tower just to get more alone time.

Rick and Daryl had been making such progress before the Governor's attack; they weren't quite a couple, or at least they wouldn't call themselves that, but they were closer than anyone besides Glenn and Maggie. They would often share a cell at night, or take a watch together; they had even kissed on occasion. Rick had felt like Daryl was really starting to open up to him, to trust him, maybe even to love him, but then he had gone and brought back those Woodburians and Daryl had receded right back into his shell. Rick longed to go to the hunter and talk to him like he used to, but he knew that Daryl needed time to adjust, and figured that it would be best to just leave the guy alone, no matter how lonely his bed got at night.

Rick's footsteps were heavy as he made his way up the few stairs to the tower, a mixture of exhaustion and wanting to alert Daryl to his presence. The door was closed, a not uncommon occurrence lately, so he knocked rather than barging in; with Daryl it was always best to be respectful, especially if you wanted to get him to talk to you.

"S'open." Daryl's gruff voice called softly from the other side.

Hearing his voice without the annoyance and threat it usually bore with the Woodbury people had Rick's heart skipping beats, and he eagerly pushed the door open.

Daryl was seated on a counter area that had been built into the wall, one foot resting flat on its surface, his knee cocked so that he could rest his arm on it, the other dangling toward the floor. He didn't look up at Rick, merely kept his eyes on the yard below them, focusing lazily on the walkers milling about.

"Your shift's done; I came up to take over for you." Rick took a seat on the counter directly across from Daryl, trying to meet the other man's eyes; the hunter still didn't look up at him.

"Don't mind stayin' up here a while longer. Why don' ya go spend some time with Carl? Think one'a the Woodbury folk brought a ball with 'em. Maybe y'could get the kid to play a game'a basketball with ya."

Rick made no move to leave. He continued to stare at Daryl, and Daryl continued to stare at the walkers, and the silence between them was uncomfortable and awkward.

Finally, Daryl rolled his eyes in the sheriff's direction. "What d'ya want, Rick?"

The blue globes that were Daryl's eyes were hard as ice, frozen over with the practiced mask he'd been putting in place since he were just a boy, and it made Rick's heart clench painfully to have such a look turned on him.

"Look, Daryl, I know you need time to get used to those people. I don't blame you fer that. I just miss talkin' to you, and spending time with you, like we used to. So I figure even a few stolen moments here in the guard tower, waitin' fer one of us to leave the other in solitude, is better than nothing." Rick's eyes met Daryl's now, and the compassion in them softened the other man's expression.

Daryl nodded slowly, looking down at his boot, then swiftly reached out and took hold of Rick's hand. It was casual, an almost impersonal gesture, like a pat on the back of a teammate, but the warmth and electricity that burned through Rick's palm told him that Daryl meant it in a very personal manner.

Rick squeezed Daryl's fingers gently, a small smile curving his lips upward. Daryl's lips twitched just slightly in response, and he curled his hand tighter around the sheriff's. Rick was officially forgiven for bringing the others to the prison, and he wouldn't dare take the gesture for granted.

"I'll come visit you later, at your cell." Rick said as he rose to leave. He would wait until everyone was sleeping, and then he would slip to Daryl's perch, just like old times.

Daryl nodded, returning his gaze to the viewing window of the tower.

They weren't a couple, not even close, but in those little moments Rick knew that Daryl cared for him just as much as he cared for Daryl.