First off thank you to everyone that has added this story as a favorite and is now following it, it makes me keep writing, that and I work nights so it keeps me away on my down time at work.

Anyway I own nothing except Annie, now on with chapter two, enjoy and please let me know what you think.

The mid afternoon sun in Georgia could make you feel like you were roasting in hell. With her share of chores done Annie grabbed the book that was currently entertaining her from her tent and headed down to the quarry hoping being near the water would cool her down some.

Unfortunately while climbing out of the tent with book in hand she ran smack into Merle, the older of the two Dixon brothers. Merle's attitude and crude manner could rub anyone in camp the wrong way, but not Annie, she was used to dealing with it as a nurse. Most of the time she laughed at him which seemed to irritate him and just try to get her riled up even more, with it backfiring on him every time.

"Howdy there sweetheart where ya off to this afternoon?" he asked with a leer in his eyes as they racked over her body.

Annie sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Just down to the quarry Merle." She moved to brush past him.

Merle slung his arm around her and pulled her tight to his side. Her 5"2 height making her just level under his chest.

"Well how about you let a gentleman escort you, not safe to go by yourself." His close proximity was starting to irritate her; it was too damn hot to be near anyone especially when you're close to their armpit.

"Yea sure if you find me a gentleman, ugh Merle get off me it's too damn hot and you need deodorant for fucksake." She said while pushing at his side.

"Well I know darlin' that's the point, get you all hot then down to the water to strip down for old Merle." There was that leer of his again.

"Ugh in your dreams buddy." And with that Annie slammed her elbow into his side and her foot down on to his nice and hard.

The quick pain and suddenness made Merle drop his arm and step away from the young woman and watch in disbelief as she made her way down to the water, like assaulting him was a normal part of her day.

"Bitch." He muttered under his breath and turned away to go lick his wounded pride till next time.

Annie had just settled down under a tree in the shade to open her when a shadow loomed over her. Looking up she expected to see Lori or Shane ready to chastise her like a child. Instead she came face to face with Daryl. Neither said anything just stated at one another daring the other to break the silence.

"Ok I give what you want?" with a sigh she closed the book in her lap.

Daryl shrugged his shoulders and sat next to her, cross bow in his lap. "nothin' didn't feel like listening to my brother bitch and moan about the elbow you threw at him." He mumbled as he started on cleaning his blots.

"Yea sorry about that, didn't feel like him following me down here, thought slight violence would get my point across." She opened her book to her marked page and focused on the words.

"Nah don't be Merle's an ass, I should know grew up with him and all." His focus on still on his bolts as he spoke.

"Most big brothers are mine tried to keep me under lock and key most of the time."

When he didn't respond Annie just kept talking. Her eyes never leaving the pages. Normally she wasn't much of a talker, that's why her and Daryl got along but lately Rick had been crossing her mind and she needed to get her thoughts out.

"It was just us most of the time, our mom died when I was ten, dad worked all the time. So Rick looked out for me, made me carry a walkie-talkie when I went out to ride my bike even. Didn't last long since I threw it in the river after a few days. Tried like hell to keep me away from boys too. Once when I was seventeen I had snuck out of the house to go driving with a boy from my class. When I climbed back through my bedroom window almost had a heart attack when he turned my lamp on. We had it out, didn't speak to him for a week." Annie felt something trickle down her face and brought her hand up almost surprised to see wetness from a lone tear.

Daryl just looked at her, a little surprised that she actually shared something about her brother. Normally they had an understanding silence with each other. It made him a little uncomfortable, he wasn't sure if she was expecting him to share something of his past with her. But looking over he saw she was focused back on her book.

"That's what big brothers are supposed to do." the sound of his voice startled him, he hadn't meant to say that out loud.

But it seemed to bring what could pass for a small smile to her face, and he liked it on her.

"Yea I guess they are."

Ok there you go chapter two, I'd love to hear from you guys on what you thought.