CHAPTER 1

Noel was sitting on the RV with Dale watching everyone settle into his or her routine. She had reluctantly accepted Rick's request to help Shane with gun training that morning, his argument being, 'Well, most of them are yours anyways…' The group tested her patience but thankfully it was over quickly.

She glanced over at Dale who was being unusually quiet; she noticed an unusual scowl as well. She followed his line of sight: Shane. No surprise there.

"He's losing it isn't he," Noel said forcing Dale out of his trance. He looked at her and smiled solemnly.

"Am I that easy to read?" He asked. She smiled and nodded. "I'm afraid he is. He's just not the same anymore. Hasn't been since Rick came." Noel nodded. She understood, she noticed that change in him as well, how he was slowly unhinging.

"I've been keeping my eye on him." She said tapping her rifle. Dale raised his eyebrows.

"At Rick's request?" Noel considered this, Rick had told her to keep an eye on things, he always does, but lately his eyes linger on Shane while asking.

"More or less." Noel answered. Dale nodded at his eyes lingered on her.

"And what about Daryl?" He asked. Noel sighed, Ugh. She shook her head.

"What about Daryl?" She asked, using little effort to hide her annoyance.

"You two seem close. I thought maybe Rick put you up to that too." Noel raised her eyebrows slightly, she should have known Dale would be the one to say something, he always is. "It's just, Daryl Dixon doesn't seem like the type to have many friends."

Noel shrugged. "He's not." Dale looked confused. "He's only got one: me." Noel said with a slight smile pulling at her lush pink lips. She didn't mind Dale's inquiry, Noel knew Dale was probably genuinely concerned for her. Dale smiled in return, shaking his head at the young woman, dropping the subject.

Noel saw Hershel talking to Rick, as Rick pointed to the top of the RV then motioning for her. Noel gave a quick nod to Dale before shouldering her rifle and making her way to the two leaders. She nodded hello.

"Doc, Rick, what can I do for you?" Both men greeted her before Rick motion for Hershel to speak.

"That stubborn man of yours won't let me or anyone change is bandages. They need to be changed once a day with this heat. I don't want to risk an infection, you have medical training and well, Rick said he doesn't mind your company." Rick smiled pleadingly. Noel nodded, accepting the task. She didn't let her mind linger on the fact that Hershel just referred to Daryl as 'hers'.

"Stubborn bastard." She said with a small smile. Rick laughed and agreed. "Excuse my French," she added as she looked to Hershel, who then smiled and thanked her for her assistance.

As Noel made her way over to Daryl's tent she was surprised at how relaxed she felt. She hadn't spoken to him since the other night. She'd seen him; he'd just nod to her. At least he acknowledged my existence. She half expected him to act like it never happened.

Noel stepped into the tent without announcing her presence, knowing he had most definitely heard her approaching. He was on his cot reading a book. She smiled slightly and shook her head.

"You're one stubborn bastard," she mumbled. Noel could have sworn she saw the corner of his mouth twitch. Close enough, she thought with a shrug as she pulled up a crate to sit next to the cot.

"Maybe I was jus' tired of lookin' at that old man's ugly mug." Daryl countered, "Ya ever think o' that?" Noel smiled again and shook her head. She could see he was trying to hide his lack of comfort anticipating what she was going to do next.

"Relax," she said softly placing her hands on his shirt, pulling it open. He didn't listen. She motioned for him to turn on his side and he did. Noel worked quickly in the silence re-bandaging the wound on his side. She could feel how tense he was and ignored it. She placed the bandage on with delicate hands and pushed him down gently to lie on his back.

Daryl didn't flinch as her hands moved to his face but he pulled away slightly. Noel ignored this as well and quickly cleaned his head wound and placed a small bandage on it. She soothed his hair back and was encouraged to continue when he relaxed slightly. As she moved her hand lower Daryl's hand shot out grabbing her arm with such force she couldn't hold back the pained gasp that escaped her lips.

He shoved her quickly off the bed and he stood, making her stumble back. She struggled to read the look on his face but it was obvious she had crossed some sort of line. Noel quickly remembered his scars and the fact that he has probably never know a gentle or kind touch. She wondered if it was just as difficult to get accustomed to the kindness as it was to the brutality.

"The hell is wrong wit ya?" He practically screamed, "Why the hell would ya want me? Yer just fuckin' with me, aren't ya?" He was pacing back and forth, hands pulling at his hair. She could see the confusion and doubt on his face. "Ya don' want this. Ya don' want me." She shook her head.

"Yes. I do. I want to be with you." She placed a hand on his chest to stop his pacing. "Daryl." His eyes were on the floor; she placed her hands on his face pulling his eyes to meet hers.

"Ya don't. Ya don't wanna be wit someone like me." He mumbled as his arm gestured towards her newly bruised one. Daryl was calming himself down; taking large deep breaths, determined not to hurt her again. Noel couldn't see the insecurity on his face as he cast his eyes back to his feet. "I don't know how to do this… I can't. We can't," he concluded forcefully.

Noel pulled away and froze in place. She closed her eyes, shaking her head at his words. "No," she said with clear frustration. "You don't get to do that. I care now. You made me care." Noel was angry now, with both him and herself. She didn't dare look back at him as she stormed out of the tent.

What's wrong with me? What's wrong with him? She didn't even realize she hadn't moved moments later until she heard Daryl's familiar drawl in the tent less then a foot away.

"Fuuuuuuck." She pulled herself out of her head, calmed down and walked back in. "Girl…" he said quietly as she stood staring at him waiting for him to continue. He put his head in his hands as he sat on the cot. "I don't know how to do this," he repeated clearly distraught. He looked up at her; the only thing evident on her face was acceptance.

"Okay." Noel knew she'd lost her patience too easily. Sometimes she just wanted to slap the insecurities out of him; make him understand she wanted him despite them.

"Okay?" He looked dumbfounded. Noel walked over to him standing between his legs. She ignored his bewildered face as she straddled his lap taking his face in her hands. She could practically hear his heart slamming as his chest rose and fell at a quick steady pace.

"Okay," she confirmed. He pushed her hair away from her face with unsure hands as she leaned him to kiss him on the cheek. It was nothing like the surprise peck that Carol had given him a few nights before. Noel left him trembling and wide-eyed awaiting her next move.

Daryl settled his shaky hands at the small of her back, rubbing the ends of her long soft hair between his rough fingers. His eyes avoided hers, as if afraid to find rejection in them. Noel guided him down onto the cot and they lay side by side. "I'm not going anywhere." Her hands stroked his face and chest hoping to sooth his unease. "I'll figure it out. Just... let me."

Daryl's body was clearly tense, not used to the soft, loving touches, but the longer she touched him, the less tense he became until he was snoring softly next to her. She moved slowly and quietly as she curled up against him and drifted off to sleep.