Chapter One

Rick Grimes, former Deputy Sheriff of King County, Georgia and now elected leader of a ragtag group of survivors of the recent zombie apocalypse, leant out of the watch tower window to observe a ritual that occurred every time that Daryl Dixon took Carol Peletier out on a raid with him. First Daryl would check that Carol's machete holder was securely fastened to her waist and then he would take his time around her back to make sure that her light crossbow was strapped securely on.

Rick watched as Daryl's hand hovered slightly above Carol's shoulder, almost as if he couldn't decide whether to touch her or not, Rick sighed under his breath as Daryl moved his hand away without making that final contact.

"It's like a strange shadow dance performed without the music – does he even know how many times he does that? Watch how closely they follow each other's movements - they're even starting to walk like each other; pretty soon they'll be talking alike too." Glenn Rhee, Rick's partner on watch, came over to join him at the window.

"I know, Glenn. They do exactly the same thing every time they go out; I can't say that it's just a safety issue with Daryl as I've never seen him do the same thing when he goes out with Michonne, only with Carol."

"Could you imagine him doing that with Tyreese?" Rick chuckled at Glenn's musings and continued to watch the pair preparing for their outing below.

"Do you thing he's even aware that he's never more than an inch away from touching her all of the time? Look how long he hovered about her before he moved away, and that's a man that's none too fond of touching or being touched in return." The pair of them quickly drew their heads back in the window as the objects of their attention passed beneath the watchtower on their way through the complex to the main gate.

"I bet he's never even kissed her; she seems to shy away whenever he gets just that little bit too close…" Glenn watched carefully as Carol did exactly that, shying away when their fingers touched briefly as they walked along. Daryl leant in closer to Carol, pointing out something just outside of the fence. "Ooh look he's trying the classic 'leaning in' pose… she hasn't moved away so maybe she just hasn't noticed just how close he is getting."

"Oh yeah, he's got it bad for Carol alright and she doesn't even know it. I don't envy him, it's going to be a hard road ahead getting Carol to trust him with her heart." Rick shook his head at the thought of the shy, reserved Carol being with a brash redneck like Daryl.

"I think I'd have a tough time too, if I had gone through what she had to put up with from Ed." Glenn remarked having heard from Maggie some of the comments that Ed had directed at his wife when they had been living in a camp just outside of Atlanta. He also remembered the bruising that would appear on her upper arms and neck where Ed had given her a pounding for some insignificant comment she had made one night. After Ed had died and Sophia went missing, Carol seemed to retreat inside herself; feeling that she had nothing to contribute to the group. It had been Daryl that taught her how to take care of herself; giving her the boost she needed to become one of the best amongst the group when it came to hand to hand combat with a knife or machete. Daryl was also teaching her tracking and cross bow skills, which is where they were off to that morning.

"It's like a game of cat and mouse, one false move from him and she's likely to scamper off. What if we've got this all wrong though, and Carol just doesn't see him as more than a friend? I'd hate to think that it's completely one sided on Daryl's part." Rick slumped against the doorframe, suddenly worried that any interference from the group would move the couple further apart rather than becoming what they all were secretly hoping for.

"Rick, it's not your responsibility to make everyone happy – it's enough that you've kept us alive this far. Don't take all of our other baggage on as well. If they are meant to be they will find a way – just like Maggie and I did. It's not as if we can lock them in a cell together…." Glenn tried to reason with Rick, knowing that it was his ability to place responsibility for the protection for the group on his own shoulders that made him such a great leader; but it was probably one of his biggest faults as well as he often set himself impossible goals with no hope of ever achieving them. Rick nodded slowly in acceptance and then suddenly straightened from the doorframe to clasp the young Asian man by the shoulders.

"Glenn, you're a genius! I take back every rotten thing I've ever said about you…Take the rest of my watch for me, will ya? I've got to go and see Hershel about a little problem we're having over in D block…"Rick ran a hand thoughtfully across his chin, musing over the direction his thoughts had taken him in. Yes, it was sneaky and crafty; but it might just work.

"What problem? I haven't heard about any problems…Rick?" Glenn threw a puzzled look at the other man.

"That's because I haven't created one yet. Trust me though, once tonight comes around it's gonna feel mighty damp and chilly over there – might even need to double up in our own block to take in the overflow from D…purely to conserve body heat of course." Rick rubbed his hands together in glee, imaging the chaos that was about to ensue.

"Need any help?" Glenn offered eagerly; wanting to do all that he could to help.

"Nah, I think I'll let Carl take a hand; after all I want to be able to repair the 'problem' aa little later on and I've a feelin' if I let you 'help' we'll all be stuck in C for good!"

"Hey! I got the RV back up and running again, didn't I?" Glenn resented the implication that he was hopeless at anything mechanical. After Dale had been bitten, he and Andrea had managed to get the RV running long enough to help rescue a trapped Rick and Carl from a blazing barn fire at Hershel's farm. Unfortunately they had soon lost the RV and young Jimmy along with it.

"I'm thinking that Carl could arrange a little problem with the drainage over in D and Tyreese should be able to manufacture a fuel line blockage in the generator in our block. We'd have to accommodate everyone currently sleeping in D and it might get a tad cold without any heating tonight…"

"So everyone would need to share a cell, and maybe cosy up underneath a blanket as well. I like your thinking. But how are we gonna get Carol and Daryl to share a cell? She might decide to bunk up with Michonne or Beth instead."

"That's where I need everyone's co-operation. I need you all to give them no other choice BUT to share together. I'm gonna head over to D now and ask Carl to spread a little mischief and get Hershel to start organising the move so that it's all done by the time the two of them get back later." Rick turned around to head for the door and flicked a finger to his brow in salute. "Wish me luck, Glenn."

"Toes and fingers crossed." Glenn replied heartily, he watched Rick cross the courtyard with a little spring in his step. "Watch out Carol, Cupid's on the job now; and I've a feeling that he's not gonna give up easily."