Danger

ReedusLover3

Theme song for this chapter: All I want, by A Day to Remember

When we went to get ready to sleep, I set up my sleeping bag and wool blanket near Lori's. She suggested this so we could all keep warm with our body heat. As we sat around the fire, Lori held Carl close and he was chattering about he shooting attempts with my bow and arrow.

"Mom, you should of seen it! I almost hit the fruit!" He grinned, and I couldn't help but smile. What I would give to have a kid like Carl. I wanted kids, I was going to have one with Knox but then this infection happened and it shattered. That was another story.

"He is a real good shot." I added to Carl's rambles on his skill. "I can go get a bow for him if he is really serious 'bout keeping it up." I told his mother.

"Are you serious?!" Carl exclaimed and had a glassy look in his brown eyes.

"Yeah, I will go on a run when we settle the next time and see if there is a huntin' store around."

"Sweet! Thank you!" Lori gave a forced smiled to her son.

"Why don't you see what you're daddy is up to." Carl nodded and ran off to his father who stood by the road. Lori looked at me sternly. "You heard what Rick said, no one goes out alone. Carl doesn't need a bow, he is perfectly safe without one." She told me and I stared at her wide eyed.

"He needs to know how to protect himself with any kind of weapon, Lori."

"No, he doesn't." She insisted. "His father can protect him, and us. Carl doesn't need a gun or a bow."

"Rick doesn't control me. I don't care if he said that we have no choice but to listen to him, I am not some submissive bitch to him." I hissed and saw some hurt in her eyes. "I'm sorry, I am just on edge lately." I muttered.

"No, no, you're fine." Lori touched my shoulder and I saw Daryl watching us from far away, a concerned look on his face. I gave a small smile and watched him nod before pacing back and forth along the forest line. "I have been too, what with this baby." She put a hand on slightly rounded stomach. You could barely tell, but if you looked close it was there.

"Rick must be excited to have another kid, even with the circumstances." I motioned around the makeshift campsite. Lori gave a tight smile and nodded.

"Yeah, he's excited." She muttered, making me frown.

"Lori, what's wrong?"

"N-nothing.."

"Lori." I gave a look that showed her that she could tell me anything. "Please, if something is wrong, tell me."

"Well.." She trailed off and took a deep breath. "The baby, there's a possibility t-that it's Shane's." My eyes went wide.

"Did he rape you? At the farm you told me he tried and I assumed he never touched you.." I blurted out and then went red. "Sorry."

"No, it wasn't rape."

"You... You allowed him to have s-" I stopped talking immediately and stood up. "I'm gonna go take a walk." I saw the dejected look on her face.

"Let me explain-" She tried to talk but I held a hand up.

"Later, I just some fresh air. This smoke is giving me a headache." I left before she could say anymore and walked around the perimeter of the camp, thinking. Before she was so disgusted with Shane because he tried to rape her and me, but she willingly had sex with him? That confused me. Now here she was with possibly Shane's baby in her womb, did Rick know? I couldn't tell anyone, even if Lori annoyed me, I was still her friend and I did not want to risk our frienship. I saw Carl trailing back to his mother, so I made my way to Rick.

"Hey, Elizabeth." Rick nodded and I gave a tight smile. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I was just wondering if there was any way I could go out with maybe Daryl or Glenn to get something." I asked.

"Something?" Rick asked, making a gesture for me to elaborate.

"A present for Carl." I told him quietly. "He really wants a bow and some arrows, and I've been teachin' him the basics. Maybe after travel I can go into town and see if a hunting store has few left over." I watched as Rick had a range of emotions cross his face and I knew he would say no.

"Alright. An hour, in and out." I let out a breath of relief. "Do not risk getting something for Carl if there is a hoard. I don't want another dead. Daryl can go with you."

"Thank you. We will check for ammo too." I added and then happily walked off back to the fire, smiling. Lori looked up at me, her eyes hoping I wasn't angry. I gave a small smile before laying on my sleeping bag and staring at the starry sky. Soon I fell asleep.

When I woke up I was cuddled up against Daryl's chest, his arms wrapped around me. Smiling I looked up to see him staring at me with a smirk. Rolling my eyes I leaned my head against his chest again and I felt a slight pressure on my temple from him kissing it.

"When are we heading out?" I asked quietly.

"Soon, everyone is up 'cept us." I nodded and tightened my arms around him.

"I don't want to move." I whined and felt the vibration of his chest as he laughed.

"Come on, darling." Daryl moved me slightly, which made me groan from my grogginess. "I know, you're tired." Sitting up and wiping my eyes, I stared at the group that was already dousing the fire and packing everything up. I stood up, folded our blankets up and then followed Daryl to his bike. "Maybe you should ride with Lori and Rick? You see really tired." Daryl asked worried.

"I'll be fine." I told him, trying to fight back my weeping eyes.

"Go with Lori, you can catch some more sleep." I finally gave in and took a blanket with me. As I left I felt his eyes on me and I knew that usually Daryl was always right, no matter what.

"May I ride with ya'll?" I asked tiredly and I saw Carl give a wide grin.

"Sure, Elizabeth, hop on in." Rick told me, and took my shoulder leading me to the backseat. Rick noticed Carl's fidgetting and happy grin. "Now Carl, you leave Elizabeth alone. She needs sleep, she'll talk to you 'bout shooting later." I gave Rick a relieved smile before climbing in and slipping the blanket over me. As the drive began, I fell asleep quickly.

"Elizabeth?" I heard Lori call out to me. Moving around, I rubbed my eyes to stare at the woman who was watching me. "You need to use the restroom? We are stopped for a few."

"Yes, thank you." I smiled and quickly climbed out towards the abandoned gas station. Everyone was milling around and grabbing stuff they neeeded. I made my way to the bathroom, and gave a sigh of relief at the toilet paper and somewhat clean toilet. After doing my business, I washed my face and pulled my hair up into a curly pony-tail. Pushing the door to the bathroom I let out a loud scream as a walker stumbled into me, hands grabbing at me. Falling to the ground I began kicking as it landed on me with it's mouth too close for comfort. Letting out another scream I grabbed what was close to me- a plunger and slammed the wooden part across it's head. The walker stumbled to the side which gave me enough time to beat it's head into the ground. Letting out a quiet sob, my back hit the wall and I stared at the blood everywhere.

"Elizabeth!" I heard someone yell. "BETH!" I knew it was Daryl when he said my nickname he only called me. "Are you okay?" I didn't respond, I just stared at the walker and then at my bloody hands. "Hey, Beth." His hand slid unde my chin, making me look up. "Are you okay? Were you bit?"

"N-no." I whispered and walked to the sink to wash my hands.

"Elizabeth!" I looked up to see Lori trying to weave her way through the aisles to me. "What happened?"

"Walker tackled me. Killed it." I simply stated and she eyed the bloody plunger and the smashed walker head.

"Thank god you are alright." Lori gave a small smile and the nodded at Daryl, who was standing behind me. "I'll go wait in the car." She left quickly and I dried my hands. Daryl wrapped his arms around my waist and leaned into my body, making me feel safe.

"Are you sure you're alright?" He whispered into my ear, making me shiver.

"Yeah, just shaken." I answered back and smiled, loving the feeling of our closeness. I felt his lips kiss my neck softly, and then he trailed them up to my jaw and temple. His hands stroked my stomach and I shivered. Images crossed my mind of me being pregnant and Daryl holding my swollen stomach. I quickly shoved those away. I would never bring a child into this world, and even if I did I could see Daryl not wanting to risk it's life by bringing it into this world.

"You alright?" I heard him ask. "You're tense." He commented.

"Nothing to worry about." I smiled and turned around to capture his lips with mine. We made out for awhile before we had to go back to the group to leave. I rode with the Grimes again, letting Daryl have some time alone while I talked to Carl. The ride was long and tedious, but Carl and I chatted about hunting and shooting a bow. After awhile Carl grew tired and decided on messing with his knife he recieved sometime when we lived on the farm. I looked out the rearview mirror to see Daryl riding his motorcycle right behind us, he caught my eyes and gave a small smirk. Shaking my head I turned around to see Carl dozing off. "When are we stopping?" I asked Rick.

"I want to go all night and then stop at a place to rest for the day." I nodded at his words. Today was going to be a long day.

As the day dragged on, we stopped once more and I decided on going with Daryl this time since Carl's parents seemed annoyed with his nonstop chatter to me. Daryl waited on his motorcycle as I stretched, watching me. Blushing slightly, I walked up to him and slid on behind him. My arms wrapped around his waist, and my head laid on his back. I felt his hand grab my knee and give it a squeeze before we were off. I liked the feeling of being near Daryl, it gave me a safe feeling. It made me feel happy, wanted. I have only felt that once, and that was with Knox. Knox was my highschool sweetheart, somewhat of a juvenile deliquent at times but that's what made him even more desireable. That's what Daryl had, a bad-ass personality and he didn't take shit from anyone which is what I liked. I grew tired of sitting and waiting for us to stop so I fidgetted a little bit on the motorcycle. Daryl understood what that meant so he waved his hand up for everyone to stop.

"Something wrong?" Rick called out from the car.

"Need some leg room." Daryl called back and ushered me off of his bike before he got off. "We're gonna take a quick walk." Daryl grabbed my hand and led me to the forest, ducking us under the low hanging branches. We walked along the edge of the woods, holding hands and not talking.

"Do you think we'll be safe?" I asked Daryl, not looking up at him.

"We will be, we just gotta find a good place." Daryl answered me, his hand tightening around mine.

"Soon?"

"Soon." He promised me, then leaned down and kissed me softly. I wrapped my arms aorund his neck and smiled into the kiss. When we returned, the group was already ready to leave so we got back on the road quickly. It was dark out, and our vehicles made a lot of noise due to the silence which worried Rick. The road we were on got deeper into teh forest and before we knew it we were parked outside an abandoned home with a newer looking car parked on the side.

"Do you think someone is in there?" I asked no one in particular.

"Who knows, we'll have to find out." I heard T-Dog mutter to me. Daryl and Rick were at the front of the group with Glenn, Maggie and I behind them. Our weapons were ready and Daryl gave us the cue to move forward and then quietly opened the door. We all filed in, watching each other's back. The house was in nice condition, the living room was cleaned up and the kitchen didn't have a spot on it. We all glanced at each other, wondering if anyone was actually safe living this deep into the forest. The bottom floor was clear so we climbed the steps and cleared the four bedrooms up there. Relaxing, we all made our way outside to tell everyone the coast was clear when a smooth, feminine voice halted us.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I felt something hard and cold hit the back of my head.