*Author's note and Disclaimer: Okay, first off this is a Walking Dead fan fiction involving slash between Rick, Daryl, and others in later chapters, so you've been warned. I got the idea after seeing an interview with Norman Reedus and Andrew Lincoln where they were pretending to flirt and Andy calls Norman "irritatingly attractive" (lol). Second of all, this story is obviously fiction since it involves fictional characters, but it is not meant to insinuate anything whatsoever about the sexualities of an of the actors who portray those characters. As I always state, it is just a product of my overactive, unclean mind. Later chapters also include spoilers from the show, but I'll always warn you if that's going to happen. This story takes place after Lori's death, so in Season 3 of the show. Let me set it up a little for you. I'm sure if you're anything like me, you were wondering in Season 3, Episode 6 why Rick was seen all bloody and dirty one minute, and the next minute he's all cleaned up. Well this story offers up my dirty mind's take on why. That same scene also features Daryl sitting there with a nervous look on his face for unexplained reasons, and that's also offered an explanation in my story. All that being said, I hope you enjoy!

A Friend in Need - The Walking Dead fan fiction

Chapter 1 - The First Time

By Robin Stradley (ReedusIsMyGod)

Glenn tried. He tried to bring Rick back from the brink of madness, but he failed. Now it was Daryl's turn. The group all knew if Daryl couldn't do it that it couldn't be done.

Daryl packed Rick a change of clothes in a backpack and made his way down the winding catacombs of the prison – crossbow drawn and ready to fire. He took note of the dozen or so walkers that Rick had taken down with his machete.

"I don't know about this," he thought to himself, "if Rick did all this then he obviously means business."

He took out two walkers on his way down to a small room where he thought Rick might have gone. Prying the door open with some difficulty, he saw Rick sitting amongst muck and mess by a telephone.

"Hey," he said quietly, his deep and raspy voice emanating through the silence, "you okay?"

"I got a call," Rick said with obvious effort, "I know it sounds crazy, Daryl, but I did. I talked to people. They have somewhere safe, away from all this. I'm trying to talk them into letting us join them."

"Are you sure that – ," Daryl began, but Rick cut him off.

"I know what I heard," he said.

"Okay," said Daryl definitively, taking Rick's word at all cost. He could tell Daryl the sky was orange and even against his better judgment Daryl would believe him.

"You look like hell," Daryl said, "let's get you cleaned up."

He helped Rick up to his feet.

"I have two hours before I have to be back here to catch another call," said Rick, "the girl I talked to is going to talk to her group to see if we can join them. If they say yes we need to be ready to move."

Daryl nodded to indicate that he understood as he led Rick to the shower room of the prison block they were on. He helped Rick out of his blood soaked pants and shirt and turned the water on, adjusting it to lukewarm.

"Here," said Daryl, "let's get this shit off you."

He led Rick, who was still in a daze, toward the running water.

"You wanna take these off?" asked Daryl, referencing Rick's boxer shorts. Rick said nothing, just continued staring into space. Daryl uncertainly grabbed a pinch of fabric on either side of Rick's underwear and quickly pulled them to the floor in one fluid motion. Looking away out of respect, he continued leading Rick to the running water by placing a hand on his shoulder while they walked at a painstaking pace. When they finally arrived at the shower, Rick leaned into the warm water and was surprised by how good it felt running down his body. Daryl stepped back to give Rick some space, but Rick was doing nothing to help himself bathe.

"Here's some soap," Daryl said, his back to Rick but holding out the white, rectangular bar toward him. Rick seemed to not hear him.

"You're gonna make me do this, ain't ya?" asked Daryl, turning around and facing Rick, who said nothing, "all right, fine. Have it yer way."

He walked up behind Rick and began washing his back and shoulders. Rick continued to zone out. Daryl made his way around Rick's front and quickly scrubbed his chest, arms, and hands, trying his best to get the dirt and grime from under Rick's fingernails. Daryl rubbed the soap in between his hands to get a good lather before running his fingers through Rick's hair to wash out the stuck on, splattered blood and flesh from the walkers. He ran his hands down Rick's face and scrubbed the blood off of his forehead and cheeks as the water rushed over Ricks face. All of a sudden, Rick abruptly reached up and grabbed Daryl's wrists and stared into his eyes. Daryl stared back at him, unsure of what Rick was going to do next. After a few intense, silent moments of staring at one another, Rick moved into a shaky and faltering, timid meeting of their lips. Daryl searched Rick's face for any sign of what might have been going through his mind, but found nothing in Rick's blank visage. Still holding onto Daryl's wrists, he moved in again, this time more sure and aggressive. Daryl didn't back up or shy away from the kiss, instead kissing back even though a feeling of confusion came over him and he felt like he was watching what was happening from above.

"I'm sorry, Daryl," said Rick, "it's just that since Lori…I just want to feel something…anything good...just for a moment."

"That's all right, Rick," Daryl said quietly, "I understand."

Rick let go of Daryl's wrists, but still kept a constant, penetrative stare into Daryl's irresolute eyes. Daryl stepped forward and removed his angel wing vest and sleeveless shirt, letting Rick know that he understood what he wanted and that it was okay. Rick could only watch as Daryl placed his hand behind Rick's head and pulled him closer. They fell into a deep and passionate kiss, the water beating down on their bodies that were inching ever near one another. Daryl found himself beginning to become aroused even though he'd always considered himself straight, even though he'd only been with two different girls his entire life because shyness always plagued him and was present in his every action. Rick had also never thought of another guy in a sexual manner, he was just so distraught after his wife's death he wasn't sure of anything anymore. The pair continued to fervently kiss as Rick slid his hands down Daryl's body and began to unfasten his belt. Daryl reciprocated the advance by helping Rick get the belt unfastened and unbuttoning and unzipping his own pants, dropping them and his boxer brief underwear to the cold tile of the prison room shower. Rick aggressively grabbed Daryl by the shoulders and pushed him face first against the cool cement wall behind the shower head. Daryl held his hands out to catch himself as he started to breathe heavier from sexual excitement and anticipation of what was to come. Rick wasted no time in attempting to enter Daryl, having some trouble since he was going in with no lubrication other than water. Daryl bit his bottom lip and resisted the urge to cry out in pain. Rick was finally able to penetrate Daryl, and he immediately began to thrust in and out of him as fast and hard as he could. Daryl winced as a mixture of pain and pleasure enveloped his every sense. Rick began to moan with pleasure as the scent of Daryl filled his nostrils; a pleasant and easy blend of perspiration and natural, intoxicating aroma. He leaned closer to Daryl as he continued to pump away, gently biting Daryl's shoulder and kissing his neck. Daryl pushed against Rick's lips, letting him know that he was okay and to keep going. Rick pressed into Daryl even farther as Daryl turned his head to meet Rick's lips in an avid and doubtless kiss. Daryl felt as though his body was on fire and he couldn't tell where he ended and Rick began. He tilted his head back and drank in the sight of the cold, gray ceiling – a stark contrast to the beautiful and terrible sensations rushing through his body in brilliant waves of color. Rick felt himself nearing the end and reached up to pin Daryl's wrists against the wall. They were both quietly grunting with every thrust and Rick released an explosive orgasm deep inside Daryl. He immediately withdrew himself and stepped back two steps as Daryl pulled up his pants and fastened them and his belt back, an erection still raging underneath them.

"Are you okay?" asked Rick.

"I'm fine," said Daryl defiantly as he looked for his shirt and vest and put them on, "are you?"

"Much better now," smiled Rick slightly; the first smile that had graced his ruggedly handsome face since the death of Lori.

Daryl composed himself and headed back to the group, allowing Rick a few minutes to dress and put himself together. He arrived back to them in time for lunch and waited for Rick's arrival. He looked around at the other group members, feeling like they could look at him and see what he just allowed Rick to do to him. Daryl now knew how important he was to Rick and the group, and decided that he would do anything for a friend in need.

THE END

*A/N: Thanks for reading! Be sure to comment with reviews, suggestions, etc., and feel free to check out my other stories involving Norman Reedus: "New Territory," "The Reunion," and "That Old Familiar Feeling."