A.N: Thank you so much for the reviews Zaii and Kate. It means a lot to me. I hope this story will continue to satisfy you.

Also there will be a few chapters here and there from Daryl POV I hope I will get him right.

Well enjoy!

Steffy

Chapter 4:

The next morning, Glenn took me to the boiler room in the basement. I almost cried in happiness when I realized I would be able to repair both the boilers and the generator if I was lucky enough to get all the parts I needed. If it was fixed we would have light and hot shower tonight making this place probably as good as the Hilton in this day and age.

"Don't tell anyone, but I think I can fix these."

"You want me to lie? No," he shook his head. "You are choosing the wrong group member. I suck at lying! I am so bad I can't even play poker with kids!"

"I am not asking you to lie, I am just asking you not to tell anyone...at least until it's fixed."

When I got back up, my foot caught on the stair, but Glenn wrapped his arms around my waist to stop me from falling.

We both started to laugh at the awkwardness of the position but our laughter died when we saw Daryl and Maggie standing in front of us.

"See yer boyfriend is doin' jest fine." Daryl pointed at Glenn. "The girl was worried. "

Glenn was dating Maggie? When I saw the hurt in her face, I knew it was true.

"I just missed a step" I reassured Maggie. "You know Glenn and I go way back."

"Yea, he told me yesterday." She replied, still looking at Glenn and me, assessing the situation.

"He is a good kid." I added pressing on the word 'kid' as to make sure she understood the kiss of death.

I saw her relax . "He is the best."

"You know what? Just point me to the medical office, I need to see what medication you have. I can take it from here."

Maggie shook her head. "No it's okay Glenn can go with you. I will see him later."

"I'll take her. Ya go do what ya have to do." Daryl turned to me. "This way."

I followed him silently. The medical wing was not bad and once we could have electricity we would be able to do some good here.

I was going through the medicine when Daryl talked. "Yer a doc?"

I nodded. "Uh huh. What about you?"

"What d'ya mean?"

"Before the outbreak...what were you doing?"

"Some small shit...construction, ya know, jest gettin'nough money for booze and stuff."

Part of me was sure he was just trying to push my buttons, but I wouldn't let him get to me. I reached for a notepad on the desk.

"What ya'doin'?"

"Making note of the medication we need...And don't worry I was not about to ask you to get them."

"I ain't said anythin'." I turned to look at him, and met his blue eyes full of exasperation. "Yer don't like me very much."

"Likewise good sir." I replied concentrating on my task again.

Daryl didn't try to talk to me again, and we parted way as soon as we reached the kitchen.

Rick came to me. "Hey, how are you?"

"Fine! I checked on Judith again this morning she is fine, but I need to go to town for a few things. Could you point me in the right direction of the closest one?"

Rick shook his head. "No this is too dangerous for you to go there alone...Daryl will go with you."

Daryl looked up, and walked toward where we were standing.

"No its ok, I can go with..." I looked around but the number of men was very limited. "I..."

"You want me to come with you?"

"No its okay, Daryl is fine. Would you mind going now?" I turned to him before he could say something stupid that would change my mind.

"I'm drivin'" He simply said, taking the direction of a rusty truck and the look on his face didn't leave any room for discussion. "What yer problem wit'me?" He asked as soon as we left the prison.

"Are you seriously asking?"

"Nah...i jest..." He sighed. "Yer brother is one smart weasel ya'know."

"I am indeed well aware of the fact thank you."

"Why ya'talkin' shit like that to me? Heard ya talk with the other y'all talkin' normal."

It was true I was using big words and I was condescending and that wasn't fair of me...That wasn't me, he was just so good at bringing out the worst part of me. "I am sorry, I haven't been nice to you. "

His head jerked up in surprise, I was pretty positive he didn't expect these words to come out of my mouth.

"You have every right to dislike me. I almost stole your catch, I invaded your group and you are right, my brothers and I are a couple more weight you guys will have to carry. You think practical." I shrugged. "I shouldn't blame you for this."

"Woman listen..."

I raised my hand to stop him as the town came to view. "Let's drop it okay, your opinion of me is acknowledged and accepted let's move on. So how do you want to do this? Should we split to get the things faster?"

"Nah where do ya need to go?"

"Pharmacy and some plumbing or electrical store."

"What for?"

"Medication for the baby, antibiotics, stuff like that."

He gave me an exasperated look knowing i was dodging his question but dropped it. That guy was smarter than I gave him credit for.

"Pharmacy first, stay behind. " He said, walking in front of him.

The pharmacy was surprisingly packed for being abandoned for years.

"Could you please take care of that while I go look at the back for medication?" I said, extending him a list.

"I ain't lettin' ya go there without checkin' first..." he went and checked. "Ya get goin', I'll get that. Be fast"

I found a lot of medications...some were close to expiry but it was better than nothing. They had so many choices and a few suture kits too. I took some surgical gloves and masks just in case.

"Hey what tampax for?" Daryl called from the front.

I smiled. "Go to the woman hygiene section...it's a blue box." After a few seconds, I heard a box fall on the floor and couldn't contain my laughter anymore.

"I ain't pickin' up this shit! I'm no woman!" He sounded so angry, I couldn't help but laugh even harder. "You stop laughin' now it ain't funny! Yer..."

"I am what?" I asked, turning around to tease him more but I came face-to-face with one of the T's, he was so close I could smell the decay of his breath and at this instant instead of having my survival instinct kick into action , I froze on the spot already imagining the bite.

The T's didn't get a chance to take a bite, Daryl appeared out of nowhere and stabbed the T in the neck,so hard that when he pull his knife out he severed the head.

The T fell on the floor and I looked down at his body as the blood ran on my boots.

I could hear a voice far away, but I couldn't register.

I felt two strong hands on my cheeks as Daryl pulled me out of my stupor. There was nothing but concern and fear in his eyes, it was a nice change.

"Hey? Hey? Elena? Ya hear me? Come back woman for fuck sakes!"

"Daryl?"

He sighed, closing his eyes for a second. "Ya okay? He touched ya?"

I shook my head. "He was so close" I whispered..."he smelled like death and decay and..." Nausea hit me and Daryl let go of my face.

"It's yer first close up with on SOB?"

I nodded again and then it hit me...No matter how much he disliked me, Daryl just saved my life!

I looked up to him. "Thank you."

He shrugged. "Ain't important."

"Yes it is. Thank you!" I said again, and I pulled him into a hug. He went rigid and didn't hug me back but it didn't matter, he had saved my life and for that I would be forever grateful.

"I ain't leavin' ya out of my sight again" he grumbled, once we walked into the store for parts. "But seriously what d'ya need here?" He asked as I crouched down, looking for some burners.

I decided to cut him some slacks, the guy just saved my life. "I think I can repair the generator and the boilers... Not 100% sure, but I think it's worth the shot and if I am right it means power and hot water, all in one."

When he didn't say anything, I looked up and noticed he was looking at me like I had two heads.

"Why are you looking at me like that for?"

"Like what?"

"Like you are expecting for a monkey to get out of my butt any second... What did I say?"

"Nothin' I jest didn think ya knew how to repair stuff...How did ya learn?"

"Not sure I can fix it, but I'll try."

"Well, I'll be a monkey uncle... Would be darn good."

"It doens't fit your prissy princess image does it?" I asked, and I wanted to kick myself when I saw him close up again...Why did I always have to let my smart mouth run?

Daryl looked around. "hurry k? We ain't have all day. I need to go huntin we're gettin' low on protein."

"Why did you say my brother was smart?" I asked when we were back on the road.

"Why he ain't?"

"Yes he is I just...Why are you so difficult? I am just trying to do the conversation here."

"Ya? Why ya ain't answerin' my questions? Ya always rough talk to me. Ya think I'm stupid but I see things and you ain't answerin' personal question."

"And are you? I don't see you opening up on your life either."

He glared at me and I knew I had a point. Me one, mister badass zero. "I said yer bro is smart cuz he help' with my arrows this mornin'. He watched and then he made some..." he shrugged. "Not many, maybe 10 but it's more than any other did for me."

"He loves to learn. He is a real sponge."

"Ain't a bad thing to love. "

When we made it to the prison, Daryl reached for the bags.

"Wait!" I said reaching for his forearm. As soon as my hand connected I felt him stiffen...Did I rebut him that much?

He turned slowly "what?"

"I...just wanted to thank you again." I bit my bottom lip. "Believe me or not but all the things I told you in the cabin I didn't think any of that. I was just hurt and..."

"It don't matter."

"Yes, yes it does. I need you to know that."

"And what I said—" he started

"Hey you are back!" Said Rick, jogging toward us. "Did you find everything you needed? Let me take that from you" he added taking the big duffle bag from my hand.

"I did. I just need to take care of Judith for a while. Do you know where Glenn is?"

"He is on watch duty...You need him? Anything I can help you with?" Asked Rick.

Daryl snorted for some reason.

I smiled. "No thanks. I need Glenn he is helping me with a project."

"Okay, sure. I'll send him down to Judith's cell. "

"Thank you." I reached for Rick's hand, and squeezed it.

I managed to repair the generator and boiler. I had to admit that, seeing the joy on the faces of the group at the idea of a hot shower, hot food and light made my day. We had a little celebration party that night and we even had music. I never was much of a dancer but it was good to blow up some steam, I danced with Rick, Glenn, Carl and Tommy...Well every man in the group except for Hershel for evident reasons and Daryl who was apparently engrossed into the cleanup of his crossbow.

I didn't even notice I was staring at him, when Carol came to stand beside me.

"He is complicated. " She said, nudging her head toward Daryl.

"I just...I'm trying to figure him out."

She laughed. "Well if you do, please send us a manual because none of us managed that and we have been together for quite some time."

"Are you like together 'together'?" I asked, trying to sound detached but I couldn't help the flutter of my heart and a lump that settled in my stomach. Where did that come from?

"What?" She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion.

I blushed clearing my throat.

"Oh, oh!" She finally got it. She laughed. "Oh dear lord no! Not that he is a bad guy, if he tried a little bit I am sure that any woman would be at his feet, me included." She shook her head. "No he doesn't seem interested. He jokes, flirts a bit but it never goes further."

I nodded. Joking? Flirting? That was certainly not something he was doing with me and it bothered me for some reason.