Come on now, pull yourself together Grimes. You're a Sheriff Deputy. Rick had told himself so many times. But he couldn't help being annoyed by the millionth time that this problem was tugging at his patience and sanity. There had to be something going on with Lori, otherwise she wouldn't be acting so strange ever since he'd come to the camp; he thought she would be happy. Hell, he was. What happened when he was gone? It just didn't come to him like so many others cases and problems had before. Ever since he got out of that coma he didn't feel the same, he missed the old Rick. Lori must have too; her fidgety eyes and her uneasy glances at him during group discussions made him wonder if his authority towards the group was too overpowering. With that thought running throughout his mind he grew more depressed. He needed to talk to someone...

But who? No one gave a damn about his problems, they all had their own. He used to be able to talk to Shane about everything, but now Shane was growing distant and careless, even a little cruel every time he tried talking to him. So that option was out the window as it stood. He could talk to himself, but that would be crazy. He laughed at himself from that idea; after all everyone was beginning to grow a little crazy after the disaster throughout the world, no one could blame him. But, being the leader of his group he had to remain strong and sane, it was only fair to them. He rubbed his eyes in exhaustion and leaned against the wall outside the abandoned building they'd taken cover in temporarily, folding his arms across his chest and lowering his head with a sigh. A part of him wanted to just sleep, taking away his stress for a few hours at least. Then he remembered his promise to the group; He would take watch tonight. Shane and Daryl needed a break for once. They were so helpful to the camp and here he is lulling off and worrying about himself. Ridiculous.

Suddenly he heard crunching noises to his left and he took out his gun, desperately staring out along the clearing and blinking. There it was again. He swerved around and pointed the gun at the source, stiffening and feeling his arm shake. "Walkers..." He gasped under his breath. The undead creature was too close to him for a clear shot and he stumbled back for a better aim. It snarled dryly and quickened its pace, staggering at him and baring it's yellowed teeth. He backed away at a faster speed and prayed in his mind. At that moment he felt his foot catch on something and he fell to the ground on his back harshly, a sharp pipe sticking out of the dried dirt stabbing into his shoulder. Blood ran down his arm and back and he cried out in pain, he couldn't help it. The thing was over him now, rasping and growling at him and swiping its hands his way to slice him open more. His eyes widened and he kicked it in the face, watching it fall back to the ground for what he knew would only be seconds as he himself sat up, pulling the rusted metal from his flesh and gritting his teeth, dragging himself along the dirt away from the thing.

Without a second thought he'd realized that he now had a chance to get this zombie and he smirked, bearing his pistol up with his good arm and getting ready to shoot. To his surprise he heard a swishing noise and an arrow flew securely into the disgusting thing's head, sending it to collapse to the ground dead. He looked back abruptly and saw Daryl still gazing at the thing with a twisted smile. After his clear glory in himself he peered at Rick with both a concerned and a frustrated expression. "What're you doing using a gun dumb ass? You're going to get us all killed." He grumbled, his southern dialect making the statement sound even harsher than intended. Rick opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He didn't know what to say to him. He felt so stupid for completely throwing aside the fact that those sounds attract more Walkers.

"Daryl I just wasn't-" He began, but Daryl pierced his gaze into Rick's and silenced him. He knew Daryl didn't like him that much because of their history before the apocalypse. Rick had arrested him who knows how many times for countless things. Assault, Robbery, Armed Robbery, Possession of illegal substances... He'd been going through a tough time. "I'm sorry." He said finally, putting his weapon back into its place and grimacing at the searing pain that tore through his shoulder. Daryl gave him a strange look.

"What happened? Pull a muscle holding up your gun?" He asked, his tone filled with sarcasm and a faint smile forming on his lips. Rick chuckled a little at that and shook his head.

"Don't worry about it." He muttered, taking his flashlight and shining it on the wounded area to inspect it himself. Once the thick, dark red fluid came into view he cursed to himself and put pressure against it. Daryl eyes the wound and laughs.

"It's not that bad compared to what I've seen." He said smugly. Rick rolled his eyes and took a dirty rag from his pocket, and motioning it to his recently injured shoulder, but Daryl grabbed his wrist and stopped him. "You really are a dumb ass." He muttered, ripping a large piece of fabric from Rick's clean shirt and pushing it against the wound directly. "You're going to infect it if you use that disgusting thing. We still need good people like you to be able to defend the ones who don't now how to do it themselves." He said. He raised an eyebrow in surprise but said nothing, nodding stiffly and putting pressure on the part of the fabric that Daryl wasn't already putting it on. Daryl kept his hand there a moment, as if he was thinking about something. Then pulled it away and looked at the dead Walker.

"What?" Rick murmured. He shrugged and walked over to it, smashing his foot on the zombie's skull and pulling the arrow out of its head, wiping it on the dirty rag he'd taken from Rick with a slight frown. He looked back at Rick and smirked, throwing it to him and chuckling when it hit his face.

"Got to make sure the damned things aren't still 'alive'." He said bluntly. Rick wiped his face clean of the substance that hit his face and went to stand at Daryl's side by the Walker. After a long silence he asked. "Do you think there are any others here?"

"Maybe. Not too close but in the area." Rick replied. With a nod of approval Daryl was about to walk off. "Wait a second." He called after him. Daryl looked back at him and stopped. "Thanks for saving my ass back there. I don't think I would've made the shot trembling like I was." He said respectfully, lowering his head slightly in thanks. Daryl smiled faintly and shrugged, throwing his crossbow over his shoulder with a grunt before saying.

"We need as many people as we can find. I wouldn't take it personally." He said humorously. "But it was a pleasure doing it. Now you owe me one." He added before walking away to inform everyone about the Walker's sighting. With that Rick grinned and mumbled under his breath:

"Yeah I guess I do."