Chapter 2: Run

The long trek to the Big Spot was a pleasant one for Michonne. Just a short time ago, she was roaming the area, only herself and Flame for miles around. The freedom of it was intoxicating. However, it didn't compare to a purposeful ride through the back roads on a powerful motorcycle with a man like Daryl in her arms. That they were riding to secure supplies to keep their growing community afloat was a secondary thought.

She decided to keep her hands to herself since she didn't want to distract Daryl from what she knew he'd been planning with Sasha for a while. The last time they'd been on his motorcycle together, it'd been just the two of them and she'd teased him all the entire time. It wasn't as satisfying as their animated, post-scavenge sex in a hatchback. But the occasional touch or kiss went a long way to reminding him of what else he could have between his legs if he played his cards right.

That's when he'd threatened to ban her from his bike. But he had practically carried her back to his cell and devoured her afterwards. It was a fair enough tradeoff.

When they arrived at the big box store, Michonne hopped off the motorcycle and immediately greeted Sasha and the others before getting filled in on the plan. They were happy enough getting the extra set of hands, especially when those hands were hers. She didn't need a lot of explanation or direction; she only needed to be told once what to do and she was on it.

After getting a layout description from Glenn, an unfamiliar figure rounded the car and approached her. Obviously, he was known to the group, only Michonne had never seen him before. He seemed skittish, nervous maybe, understandably so if this was one of his first runs. Whatever his deal, she wasn't particularly interested in a meet and greet, although it was not shaping up to be a choice.

The man smiled at her a little too brightly. "The name's Bob." He held out a hand for her to shake and Michonne stared at it, cautiously assessing the stranger.

"Daryl found him on his own last week and brought him back," Sasha explained, nudging her in the shoulder from behind. Michonne took the offered hand and briefly shook it with a firm grip. Sasha grabbed her gear and headed to the trunk area, taking the new guy's attention with her. "If you think I'm a tough sell, you might not want to rub elbows too hard with this one." Michonne glared at her but Sasha only laughed.

Bob on the other hand looked rather intrigued if his scrutiny of her was any indication. His smile widened, again sizing her up in a way that suggested he appreciated what he saw. She was an intimidating presence for sure but she'd learned over the years that some men were into that.

Michonne narrowed her eyes at him, not impressed by this newcomer at all, scrawny and presumptuous as he seemed to her.

Daryl chose that moment to approach the two of them with one of the newbies, Zach, trailing him with a shotgun. Passing Bob, he clapped him on the shoulder.

"Don't mind my girl, Michonne, over here. You gon' want her with ya if shit goes down; woman's got instincts for miles. People, walkers—she'll take out anybody faster 'an you can blink. And she's a real pussycat once ya get to know her," he drawled.

Michonne smirked in his direction, arms crossed. He chuckled at her annoyance, knowing full well she'd make him pay for that later—and enjoy it too.

"You don't say?" Bob was certainly looking more interested now, a saucy grin directed towards her.

But Daryl wasn't done with him yet. Before leaving Bob's side, he leaned over to give him one last piece of advice. "One more thing. I catch you tryin'a rub anything her way, hard or otherwise, and we 'gon have a problem. Comprende, brother?" Slapping his shoulder again, this time a little harder than necessary, he met up with Sasha at the trunk and pulled out some additional gear.

Bob's smile fell and his eyes widened. Panicked, he turned to the man who'd taken him in. "It's cool." He held his hands up defensively and retreated a few steps back as if to prove his point.

"Good," Daryl said, flashing Michonne a predatory glance.

Neither she nor Daryl were much for public displays, yet Michonne had to admit that his possessiveness was rather sexy. Not since those long ago rumors about her and Rick had she seen that side to him. Usually it was she playing the territorial card with how much certain women at the prison liked to eye him up, as if she wouldn't notice. It was rather amusing to see the shoe on the other foot.

Michonne smirked at Daryl and followed the rest of the group across the parking lot.

It was eerie to see this abandonment of this last line of defense against the undead. All these resources and it hadn't done a bit of good for the unlucky few that got left behind. And the more details she heard the more Michonne admired Sasha and Daryl's plan. They'd prepared well and hopefully they'd be able to stock the prison for months with the haul they were planning.

Finally reaching the entrance, Daryl banged on the front window, waiting for the stray walkers inside to congregate and cluster for easier dispatch. He perched himself on the windowsill, the young man Zach right on his tail. Michonne had noticed the kid keeping close to Daryl but she wasn't sure the significance of it. All she knew of him was that he and Beth were hooking up, or so Maggie had implied. Like many of the newcomers to the prison, she didn't know him well, although he seemed nice enough.

"Okay, I think I got it."

"Got what?" she asked, curious about the smirk that was growing on the young man's face. This ought to be entertaining.

"Oh, I've been trying to guess what Daryl did before The Turn."

Daryl shook his head. "Been tryin'a guess for like six weeks."

Now that he mentioned it, Michonne remembered hearing a similar conversation between them a few weeks ago. Now she was really interested to learn what the kid was up to.

Zach chuckled, confident. "I'm pacing myself, one shot a day."

"Alright, shoot." Daryl offered.

Zach then turned to her. "Wait, you must know the answer to this then. You got any hints for me?"

Daryl shot her a warning look to which she rolled her eyes. "I think I'll leave this to the two of you. Daryl doesn't tell me everything you know." Zach didn't look convinced.

"Alright then, if that's how you're gonna play it. You're next though." Returning his attention to Daryl, he scrutinized him for a moment more. "Well, the way you are at the prison? Yeah, your being on the council; you're able to track. You're helping people. But you're still being kinda … surly."

Michonne couldn't hide her amusement at Zach's description. She knew a whole other side to Daryl. It was funny to hear this other, more common and gallant impression of him.

"Big swing here," Zach said, excitement and anticipation pouring from him. "Homicide cop."

Unable to hold it in, Michonne burst into laughter. She wasn't privy to every detail of Daryl's life before. However, she was pretty sure of the things he wasn't up to and law enforcement was at the top of that list.

"What's so funny?" he asked, his coy smile not giving anything away to Zach.

Her chuckles died down and she leaned against the wall of the building to steady herself. "Nothin'. It makes perfect sense." The intensity of her mirth sparkled in her eyes and Daryl's grin reflected his notice and enjoyment of it.

Turning from the both of them, Daryl sobered himself. "Actually, the man's right. Undercover."

"Come on? Really?" Zach's face was lit to the hilt.

"Yep," Daryl confirmed. "I mean, I don't like to talk about it 'cause there's a lot of heavy shit, you know." He glanced over to Michonne, imploring her to play along.

The skepticism started to creep in for Zach, although the hope on his face made the situation that much funnier. "Dude, come on, really?" Looking over to Michonne for confirmation, she just smiled and deflected back to Daryl who simply stared at him intensely.

After a few moments of that, Zach's smile disappeared, resigned to his failed attempt. "Okay, I'll just keep guessing, I guess."

"Yeah, you keep doing that," Daryl suggested. Any further conversation was thwarted by the insistent banging of a walker at the window by Daryl's head.

Michonne propped herself up and grabbed for her katana. "We gon' do this, Detective," she said as he approached her.

Slapping her on the ass, he turned to Sasha and Tyreese and grabbed the last of his gear. "Let's do it." This wasn't their usual day at the prison. Things were raucous and lively, the opposite of where'd she'd come from this morning. But it was exciting too.

Michonne grinned and followed him to the entrance to wait for the signal from Sasha. She could get used to this kind of rush.

Together they all stormed the building.

TBC...