Author's Note: So, this is a new story I'm starting. I had to put the other story on hiatus because I backed myself into a corner with it. I think I bit off more than I could chew starting a story with no idea where to take it. I was sad because I know a lot of people, including me, like the stories where Rick gets some love. But as luck would have it, I planned out a whole new story, and Rick will get what he's due. This story starts off as DarylxOC, but don't let that scare you off because it's only for, maximum, three chapters. After that it's all RICKxOC baby!(: Sorry this first chapter is so short, after this one they should be a bit longer. I hope you enjoy.
xoxo

ONE.

Rick stumbled into the door, pressing one hand firmly against it while the other fished for the key in his jeans pocket. He finally dug it out, and with a grunt turned the key in the door. He came into the apartment, slowly shutting the door behind him. In his drunken haze he was trying his best to be quiet so he wouldn't wake her up. He let out a stifled sigh when she came into the room, arms wrapped around herself for warmth.

"Rick...?" She whispered, an angel calling to him from across the room. He swiped a hand across his forehead, wishing he hadn't drank as much as he did.

"Yeah," he tried in vain to whisper as she had, but it came out in a slightly loud mumble. "Sorry." He heard her chuckle quietly. He followed her gaze to the bright green light flashing on the microwave in the open kitchen.

"Late night?" She asked, taking two small steps forward. He forced his heavy-feeling body off the door, his head spinning slightly at the motion. As she took the steps the moonlight hit her and revealed her entirely. Her chestnut hair fell around her shoulder in lazy curls, cascading down to the small white tank top that hugged her body closely. His eyes finished skating down to the small, barely-there boy shorts making his breathe hitch in his throat. Rick felt his drunken self on the brink of a confession, a confession he'd held in since he was old enough to know what love was.

"Brooke?" He continued to slowly make his way towards her, towards the love of his life that had always been just out of reach for his fear of telling her the truth.

"Yes?" She stood still, rubbing her arms up and down to bring even an ounce of warmth to her body that was starting to shake from the cold.

Rick had known Brooklyn since they were in diapers, neighbors until they went their separate ways for college. Brooklyn stayed in their hometown, only moving across it to a new apartment complex to study in the local college. Rick had moved to a whole new state, getting married and divorced all within a two-year span. He found himself back in Kings County, no home, no money, no more wife. He had been living in a hotel room, just getting a new job as the sheriff when he ran into her. Coincidentally he was bringing a stray cat in just to drop it off at the veterinary clinic when he saw her.

She had her long hair, so much longer than he'd remembered, tied back in a ponytail to let everyone see the beautiful face that he had come to love so long ago. She smiled warmly at him before she even recognized who it was. After a long chat at the coffee shop catching up on the new happenings in their lives, and reliving old memories, she had invited him to stay with her. She had a spare bedroom in her apartment and could see no reason why it would be a problem for her old best friend to live there. But there was a problem, he never saw her as a best friend, he always saw her as more than that, and he knew she never did.

"Brooklyn, I need to tell you something." His words were slightly slurred as the alcohol contorted his mind. But he knew he had to do it while he had the liquid courage. It was now or never "I think I lo-" his words were cut short when the bedroom door slammed, loud footsteps echoing through the apartment.

"Brooke... what the hell are you doing?" Daryl came out of the darkness and took turns glaring at her and then Rick. He stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders, and Rick felt his stomach twist in disgust.

"I... I need to go..." he ran into the bathroom and slammed the door shut, finding himself leaning against it and sliding down to the bottom, the image of his hands on her imprinted in his mind. The ungrateful bastard didn't deserve her.

"Your friend can't handle his liquor, clearly." Daryl said dryly before pulling on her hand to take her back into their bedroom. She sighed and started to let herself be dragged into the room. She stopped in the doorway, her feet planted firmly on the floor.

"I should probably get him some aspirin." She said quietly, knowing Daryl was not going to like her doing something nice for Rick. She knew Daryl and Rick didn't get along, she didn't know the reason, just that they hated each other. Brooklyn was too oblivious to know that Rick was in love with her and her boyfriend knew it. Rick couldn't stand the way Daryl treated her, like a piece of his property and yesterdays trash; that was why they had such a disdain for each other.

"Yeah," he snorted, "better go take care of your damn puppy." He slammed the bedroom door shut in her face before she could even protest or apologize. She didn't know why she felt compelled to say sorry, she knew she didn't need to, but she hated seeing him angry or upset with her.

"Rick?" She knocked softly on the bathroom door, letting it creak open when he mumbled something inaudible. She bit the inside of her cheek when she saw him sitting on the edge of the bathtub, his head in his hands. "Are you okay?"

"Sure." He moved his hands down to cover his face, wanting nothing more than to just leave, leave everything behind, Brooklyn especially. Seeing her, hearing her voice, everything just strained his heart more than he could bare. She shut the lid to the toilet and sat on it, their knees touching and his heart lurching. She nudged him lightly until he looked up, her bright face smiling with a glass of water and two aspirins in her hand.

"Take these." She prodded him, pushing the medicine into his hands.

"Shouldn't you go back to bed?" He asked quietly, looking at the sadness tinge her eyes at the question. "He's gonna be pissed..." he mumbled as he shoved the pills in his mouth and gently took the glass of water from her. He handed the glass back and she put it on the sink.

"He'll get over it." A frown tugged at her lips but he could tell she was trying to keep the smile on for his sake. "I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

"I'm fine," he hissed, standing up and using the wall as support when he felt his legs go numb. He didn't want her pity.

"You don't look fine, let me help," Brooklyn pleaded, positioning herself under him, his arm over her shoulder and their bodies pressed together. He shut his eyes and tried to ignore the feeling at the pit of his stomach, seeing her dressed like that, the heat of her body warming him up instantly. She helped him into his bedroom, letting him sit on the edge of his bed. He shook his head wishing everything was different at that moment.

"Why'd you drink so much?" She tucked a stray hair behind her ear, sitting on the bed beside him and giving an inquisitive look. She had gone out drinking plenty of times with him and he never drank to get more than a 'buzz' feeling. She'd never seen him wasted.

"There was... this girl..." she reminded me of you, "and she was trying to convince me to go with her, kissing me and touching." I couldn't stop thinking of you. "But I just met her and I didn't feel right doing stuff-"

"Always the gentleman." She shook her head and giggled, their whole life Rick was always the poster child for gentlemanly behavior. It was something that Brooklyn had always longed for in her relationships but always fell flat. She tried to deny it, but she knew Daryl was no different from any of the others. Rick was so good for her, but she refused to believe something as good as him would want someone as horrible as her. If she only knew.

"I couldn't do it," your face wouldn't go away, "so I just sat there and kept drinking, wishing things were different."

"What things?"

Me and you.

"I don't know, everything," he mused.

"Lori?" She asked, biting her lip at the mention of his ex-wife.

"Can you believe she left me for Shane?" He asked incredulously, still unable to believe it. He had been with Lori since their sophomore year of high school. He knew it wasn't right, it wasn't what he wanted, but he had never once cheated on her; even though he was incredibly unhappy the whole time. He was still shocked that she had slept with his best friend.

"No... she doesn't realize what she lost." Brooke set her hand on his shoulder gently, her small smile making him feel better.

"Yeah right," he scoffed, looking away from her when the urge to kiss her soft, pink lips was starting to overwhelm him. In a normal setting he could easily control his urges and actions, but with all the alcohol flowing through him, he wasn't sure what he was and wasn't capable of doing. "Thanks for everything Brooke, really. But you should go back to sleep... I'll be fine."

"You sure?" She hesitantly set her feet back on the floor, still not standing.

"Of course." He ran a hand through his hair, refusing to make eye contact with her. If he looked into those shimmering green eyes, he knew he'd never want to stop.

"BROOKE!" They both turned their heads at the sound of Daryl's shout.

"I guess... I guess I should go..." In a moment of weakness, Brooke felt tears welling up in her eyes. She was too emotionally tired of fighting with Daryl and dealing with his constant belittling of her. She sniffled and tried to wipe away the tears when Rick's hand stopped hers.

"I wish you knew," he started, letting his thumb graze her cheek to wipe the fallen tears away, "you are worth so much more than that." The corner of his mouth twitched up into a lopsided smile. He hadn't meant to say the words he was thinking, but she had always given him a case of word vomit.

She nodded slowly at his words, leaning into the palm of his hand as his thumb continued to caress her cheek. He felt the bravery of the Jack Daniels beginning to surge inside of him, his limbs starting to act on their own without his minds consent.

"Brooklyn?" She had her eyes closed and for a moment he thought she was enjoying the moment. Her green gems came into view as her eyelids fluttered open. Her heart was hammering in her chest as he leaned forward, his hand moved to the nape of her neck, stroking in slow circles. Their lips were inches apart and she felt her breathes quicken as her heart beat did.

"BROOKLYN. GET YOUR ASS IN HERE."

She pulled back, his heart shattering into a million pieces with the look of complete heartbreak on her own. She sighed and scooted back, giving him a weak smile.

"I wish things were different too, sometimes." She stood up and walked over to the doorway, standing in between in it for a brief moment. "I wish someone like you loved me." She breathed, before breezing out of the door. He counted her footsteps until he heard the door shut and the yelling ensue. He sat there, his fists clenched, silently wishing murder wasn't illegal. When the apartment went quiet he laid back on his bed, staring at where she had been standing moments ago. His mind wandered back to her words.

I wish someone like you loved me.

"If you only knew..."

A/N: So, what did you think? Let me know if I should try to continue this, loves!