A/N: Okaaay. So this is not my usual Caryl shipping. Instead I had this thread roaming around in my head about Rick and my original character Kahlan. I hope you like it. Let me know what you think.
BTW, thanks to all who are following/favoriting my Caryl fics or just me in general. You make me want to quit my day job so I can write, and write, and write … My husband wishes Hollywood would just hire me already. :D
Kahlan spotted Rick on the platform and sighed. He looked like death warmed over, so haggard and worn. He warily glanced at her as she approached.
"When was the last time you laid down or slept?" she asked, coming to his side, grasping the fence with one hand.
He shook his shaggy head.
"I don't remember," he answered as he stared at the walkers in the distance.
"Rick, it does the group no good for you to be as exhausted as you are," Kahlan chided him.
Someone had to be the voice of reason with the man who was as stubborn as a mule. It might as well be her since she was the newest to this ragtag bunch. He sure as hell wasn't listening to anyone else, not even Hershel.
"We can handle it. Go get some rest. Hell, sleep for two days," she told him.
Rick didn't budge.
"Can't," he said, hanging his head.
"Why the f*** not?" Kahlan asked. "Even your boy is more solid than you."
He finally looked at her.
"Because all I see is her," he said so softly she almost didn't hear him.
Kahlan knew to whom he was referring; the others had filled her in when she was adopted into the group.
Thing was, she completely understood the waking nightmares after losing someone close. Her twin brother had perished when they were deployed and she might as well have been a Walker at that point.
She was like the walking dead for weeks afterwards. A part of her had died that day. All she had wanted to do was crawl into the grave alongside him and be buried with him.
Pushing her own memories aside, Kahlan focused on Rick.
"There is nothing I can say to make it better. But you can't keep this up, lawman," Kahlan said, touching his arm. "Even if I have to knock you out, you are going to take a break, starting now."
Surprisingly, Rick didn't fight her. She shouldered his shotgun and led him inside.
As they made their way to the cell block, Kahlan subtly signaled to Daryl to ward off anyone from interfering. The hunter nodded and curbed Carl from following them.
She and Daryl had instantly bonded the moment they faced off in a neighborhood several miles from the prison during one of his runs. They had each other in their sights — his crossbow, her sniper rifle — and refused to back down since both had wanted the same supplies at that brick home.
By that time she had been roaming alone for a couple of weeks. They mutually agreed to split the rations but in the end Daryl's compassion got the best of him and he invited her to join the group.
It didn't take long for her to win the trust of the others and she found a sisterhood in Carol and Maggie. They saw her as a strong asset with her military background and leadership skills. Daryl was happy to have someone help carry the burden as Rick crumbled before their eyes.
Once they made it to his cell, Kahlan urged Rick to sit on his bunk while she deposited his shotgun in the corner and then tugged off his boots. He hardly responded he was so despondent. He remained hunched over until she gently pushed him.
"Lay down on your stomach," she instructed him. He did as he was told. He turned his head to one side, propped on his forearm, his eyes blank.
Straddling his waist, Kahlan began putting pressure into his shoulders, digging the heels of her hands in the blades. His muscles were so tight and tense; it was no wonder he wasn't resting.
"What are you doing?" Rick weakly protested.
"I'm trying to get you relaxed so you can sleep," Kahlan replied, her hands working magic on his back. "I used to do this for my dad after he had been out in the field too long. And you have definitely been in the field too long."
Rick's brain started getting mushy and he had a hard time staying awake or focusing on the fact a woman was sitting on his back.
Kahlan noticed as his breathing slowed and his eyes closed. She continued her ministrations even after he was asleep, working out every muscle in his upper and lower back.
She eventually sank to the floor and simply sat guard against the bed as day gave way to night.
Carol quietly arrived after dinner to bring her a plate, which she gratefully accepted. She silently munched on her meal as she stared at the wall.
The men in her unit had stood by her as she grieved for Kieran. They had protected her until they could return stateside and then came when her mother called to say she wouldn't eat or sleep.
Her sergeant in particular had done for her what she was now doing for Rick. Nate had been strong for her when she was weak, letting her be yet pulling her from the brink. He had been good to her.
Rick stirred and she turned her attention to him. He soon ceased movement, having obviously reacted to a dream, maybe a nightmare.
Two months after she had lost Kieran, Nate had coaxed her back to work. The others in her unit treated her the same as if she had never left. Over time she eventually got her groove back and then the apocalypse had happened.
Nate had turned, having gotten bit in the battle on base. It was the hardest thing she'd ever done in her life, putting him down, but it had been necessary.
She thanked God for the day Daryl had found her. This group gave her purpose again, a reason to live.
Kahlan dozed off and was startled awake when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She jumped into a fighting crouch, her eyes snapping open, before she realized it was Rick who had touched her.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you," he said as he slowly sat up and swung his feet to the floor.
"Are you hungry?" she asked, standing. "I can get you something to eat."
Her eyes adjusted to the dark and she saw him shake his head.
"Um, do you mind stepping out for a minute?" Rick asked, glad she couldn't see his face flush in embarrassment. Kahlan caught his drift and bit her lip from laughing as she edged to the cell doorway, her back to him.
The guys she'd served with had gotten so used to her they had taken pisses in front of her without a second thought.
When he'd finished, Rick sank back down on his bunk, still fatigued but not as much before. Her massage had undeniably helped.
At the sound of the bed creaking, Kahlan returned to his side. He caught her wrist to keep her from settling on the floor.
"You can sit here," he told her as he scooted over a bit.
Kahlan eyed him but mentally agreed the thin mattress was a softer alternative to the cold hard concrete floor. She perched on the edge, her backside parked next to his hip.
"You sure you're not hungry?" she asked again.
"Too tired," he sleepily replied.
She smirked. At least he was admitting it and staying put for once.
His breathing evened out once again and she carefully slid back to the floor so as not to wake him.
Kahlan felt a certain sense of satisfaction the next afternoon.
Rick had all but been unconscious nearly 30 hours and appeared somewhat more human when he emerged from the shower later.
Convinced he would be able to function fine without her hovering, Kahlan joined the group in the common area to eat dinner.
Rick soon wandered in and sat down beside Carl, Beth and Judith, all of whom were excited to see him.
Kahlan shared a smug look with Daryl at Rick's return and he gave her his trademark half-smile. He was relieved that someone had been able to convince their leader to take it easy.
Hershel patted Rick on the shoulder as he passed by.
"Glad to see you here," Hershel said. Rick nodded. He knew it had been a while since he had been part of the group.
"Glad to be back," Rick said, his eyes gliding from Hershel to Kahlan. "I had some help."