Chapter 2: Assumptions

Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead

A/N: Our weary travellers have been forced to leave the shelter of the house and are now on foot trying to find somewhere to rest a while. Thank you all for the reviews and encouragement. Enjoy!

Present day

Legs aching from the walk and all too aware that the sun was fast dropping, the three companions pressed on in their journey through the woods. It had become unsafe in the house where they were staying after unwelcome visitors had arrived. Rick, still shaken from the events that had unfolded at the prison, decided it was best that they find shelter somewhere else; away from the towns where people would not be able to just happen upon them. Some place they could rest and not worry about having to defend themselves; somewhere they could regain their strength. The afternoon was cool and the surrounding forest was eerily still and quiet, save for the occasional song of a lone bird. Michonne had spotted it first, what appeared to be a small cabin of sorts atop a steel tower about 100 yards away. She stopped and gestured toward it as the others finally noticed.

"What is it?" she asked, unsure of what the structure was.

Rick placed his hands on his hips and squinted in that way that he does.

"It's a fire lookout tower, I think." He said, a barely visible smirk on his face. "The Forest Service Rangers used to use them to keep an eye out for forest fires. There could be some supplies up there."

Carl began to walk toward the tower, "I'll check it out." He said as he picked up the pace.

"Wait up!" Michonne called after him. "I'm coming too. I've never seen one before."

The woman and boy climbed up the ladder of the tower and stepped on to the platform that surrounded the cabin, while Rick covered them from the ground. Carl pressed his face to the window to see what was inside. It appeared to be empty, Carl banged on the window a few times; if there was someone or something inside, they might respond to the noise that he was making. Bang, bang, bang! Nothing…wait, there it was…the hideous scratching and moaning. A walker, dressed in a dirty Ranger's uniform placed its hands up to the window where Carl was peering in and began to scratch at it. Michonne noticed that its wrists had been sliced. Poor bastard, didn't realise that he would come back as one of those things, he just wanted out of this nightmare. Michonne tried the door, but it was locked. She leaned against the railings as she brought her right foot up and forcefully kicked the door in. The walker rushed toward the sound and moved to exit the open door. Michonne quickly took it out with a deft strike of her katana to the front of its head.

"Heads up!" She called down to Rick as the body of the walker fell to the ground with a thud; blood staining the forest floor.

Michonne entered the small room, did a quick sweep and popped her head outside of the door.

"Clear!" She called to Carl, who then whistled to Rick who hurried up the ladder to join them.

5 months ago

Rick knew Michonne didn't need him. He felt relief at this, knowing she could look after herself, but also a pang of sadness. A sadness because she would never need to come to him again. Like when he had saved her life the first day they'd met. How he carried her in his arms to safety. How soft her skin felt at his touch. That would never happen again. It annoyed him how much he wanted to be able to feel her skin again. "Get it together, Rick!" He would tell himself as he stole looks at Michonne through the binoculars while he manned the watch tower; or when she did perimeter check while he tended the garden; or while she walked and talked with his young son; or when everyone gathered at meal time and she sat quietly listening to the others chatting away. It was something that he longed for, some human contact, and if he was being completely honest with himself, he wanted it from Michonne.

"Check it out y'all!" Daryl exclaimed as he and Michonne jumped out of the pick-up. In the tray was a buck that Daryl had brought down. The group would be well fed tonight.

The light from the fire illuminated the faces of the people who sat around it; stomachs full from the feast that they had devoured. An occasional waft of smoke would sting their eyes and offend their lungs before dissipating in the cool night air. Rick sat with Hershel and picked the meat from his teeth as he took in the happy looks on the faces of those around him. A faint smile gracing his lips. They were safe for the moment, the group was growing and people were feeling settled into their new lives. They could let down their guard a little and enjoy each other's company. There was scope to form bonds and friendships...and other types of relationships. Safety meant a level of intimacy between the survivors could flourish; whichever way you chose to become closer to a fellow survivor was now possible. Rick was unsure of how this realization had made him feel.

Laughter and smoke drifted through the air as stories from the day were retold and remembered. Daryl had to be telling the story of how he brought the buck down again. Some newcomers to the group, mainly young men and women, were stuck on his every word as he sat on the tabletop using his hand gestures to accompany the words that Rick couldn't hear as he watched amusedly. Just then, Michonne approached Daryl and placed herself next to him as he continued his story. Rick sat up a little straighter. She looks happy, he thought as his attention grew more focussed now that a certain dark-skinned woman joined the scene. There it is, he thought to himself as Michonne's face and eyes lit up as she smiled and laughed at Daryl's story. She really did have the most amazing smile. It was as if her whole being came to life when she smiled and she drew you in closer when she shared it with the world; it was positively contagious. Rick watched on in silence, secretly wishing he could make her smile like that. Wishing that they could be less reserved around each other. Knowing that he might like to make her smile like that for as long as she would let him. Then it happened; Michonne, laughing, used her forearm to nudge Daryl's shoulder in a playful manner. Daryl proceeded to wrap his arm around her shoulders, pull her into a hug while using his other hand to point at her. Obviously exclaiming excitedly about something she had done while they were on the hunt. Rick felt his heart sink. The smile dropped from his face as he looked down to the ground. Feeling deflated and disappointed. Why didn't he see it earlier? Of course Michonne would be interested in Daryl. He treated her kindly all the time; went on runs with her when Rick advised better of it. He was good-looking, closer to Michonne's age and didn't have all of the emotional baggage that Rick had. Of course Daryl would be interested in Michonne; she was the most stunning and exotic creature Rick had laid his eyes on. She could have been a fashion model in another life. She stood out from all of the other female survivors and unknowingly commanded attention and stares. While some of the other women were nice looking and pretty, Michonne was beautiful and sexy. You noticed her, you would have to be blind not to notice her. Rick had heard some of the other men talking about women, as men sometimes did, and they all had noticed Michonne. Deep down, he had hoped that something would blossom from their growing bond. They had so much in common; loss and loneliness and an acceptance. She accepted him and his melancholy. He wanted to be able to touch her so freely in front of everyone; to make her face light up. He'd been too slow, too afraid of his feelings. Fuck! Why am I getting so upset? Rick thought as he glanced back over to the two of them still laughing and embracing. Something akin to jealousy rose from the pit of his stomach. He could not watch this display any longer. Rick rose to his feet, kissed Carl on top of his head while still staring at Michonne. She looked to him and her smile faded and her eyes narrowed as she took in the hurt look on his handsome face. Rick held her gaze a few moments longer, patted Hershel on the shoulder then walked toward the watchtower. He didn't notice Michonne stand nor did he feel her brown eyes follow him as he left.

"Yeah right, Dixon!" Michonne said as she nudged Daryl with her forearm. "Quick fronting and tell 'em the truth."

"Damn girl!" Daryl replied happily, "Why you gotta rain on my parade for, uh?"

He hugged Michonne as he finally told the small group of attentive listeners what really happened. Pointing to Michonne with his free hand he said proudly, "I can't claim it. 'Chonne's the one who dropped that buck." Michonne smiled proudly and said, "You taught me well, Daryl".

"Y'all know it!" was the young man's reply. Michonne noticed Rick stand from across the fire. She always noticed Rick. Couldn't help it. He was a fixture that was always in the back of her mind or in her periphery. When she took note of the look on his face, a look of confusion, realization and hurt. She searched his cool blue eyes for some kind of understanding. It was too late. Rick walked away before she could stand and rush over to him.

The next day, Rick felt tired and irritable. He took Judith to Beth to watch for a while, skipped breakfast, washed up and went out to the yard. The morning sun already felt warm on his skin as it chipped away at his lethargy.

Michonne awoke and the first thing she thought about was Rick Grimes. This was not an unusual occurrence for her. Lately, he was the last person she thought of before she slept and the first when she woke up. He was a nice distraction from the horrors of the life that they lived now. The man had saved her from herself. He had opened up his home and welcomed her. She did not know if he still fully trusted her because she would catch his eyes following her from time to time. He never voiced any concerns, but she knew he did not feel completely comfortable with her coming and going frequently from the prison. He said nothing, but his eyes betrayed him and the worry swam in his blue pools like a fish trapped in a small, glass bowl.

Michonne had made up her mind that she would talk to Rick today about his worries last night. Was he seeing things again? Did something happen while she and Daryl were gone? Michonne was determined to find out, and she also needed to tell Rick something important.