Daryl walked out of his tent cross bow in hand ready for his late night on watch. Taking a quick look around he noticed someone still sitting at the fire. Rolling his shoulders back the hunter strolled over to find Evy curled up on the chair. She looked so carefree, the hair over her mouth hovering slightly, and her chest rising and falling slowly. Swinging the cross bow over his shoulder, Daryl considered the woman in front of him. She looked less starved now that some time had passed. Evy face was fuller, and her ribs were no longer showing. Noticing her pants, Daryl realized they were Jim's old mechanic trousers. The pants seemed a bit too big and long for her, since she was so short and Jim was so tall.
It wasn't long ago that the group had left Jim up against that tree on the side of the road. Seeing him suffer and turn right in front of them was a lot for the group. For many of them it was the first time they saw the fever take someone. The hunter's first instinct of course was to kill Jim by driving his already used and bloody pick axe through the bitten man's head. That's the way Daryl would have wanted to go, dying a slow, painful, and miserable death. No fucking thank you.
Lost in thought Daryl almost didn't notice that Evy had begun to mumble and move in her sleep. The man took a few steps closer to try and understand what she was saying.
"Let…let me out. Bill. Run."
Evy's face was now coated in sweat. Her knuckles white as she balled up her fists. Not quite sure what to do, Daryl leaned down closer. The hunter extended his hand to roughly shake the woman awake.
Once his hand grabbed her shoulder Evy's eyes flew open, immediately recoiling out of his grip Evy glanced up at Daryl. Evy straightened herself, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"Daryl? What're you doing?"
The redneck hastily retreated back towards the fire.
"On watch, the hell are you doing?"
Daryl extended his arms wide gesturing to the open area around them. Evy ruffled up her hair looking around.
"Huh must have dozed off…"
Yeah sure doze off in the wide and open with dead walking around eating people. When there is a perfectly good RV right there.
"Whatever, just go inside so I can finish my damn watch. Don't need the old man keeling over if he finds you out here alone."
Daryl walked away expecting Evy to do the same. But instead the small woman settled back her lawn chair, curling up in her coat, and toyed with her neck lace.
"I'm not tired I'll just sit…here."
Agitated at not being listened to Daryl stalked back.
"What's wrong with being in there with the old man and Chinaman?"
"Korean."
"What?"
"Glen, he's Korean."
"Whatever, he's a dumb ass."
Evy turned to look at the redneck, eye brows raised in defense of her friend.
"Look whose talk 'in"
Daryl glared down at the seated woman.
"Watch it Shortstop."
The two carried on like this for the rest of the night. Walking around the camp they took jabs at each other and challenged one another. Daryl with his never ending supply of nicknames and Evy's ability to deflect whatever he threw her way. This became a nightly ritual that slid its way into the day. Neither of them took their bickering seriously but saw it as a way to let off steam.
Standing outside Daryl's tent the two were carrying fire wood and ranting about Shortround and Glen.
"He looks exactly like him!" Daryl threw down the pile in his arms rashly.
"Daryl, do you understand how childish you sound?"
Even though she was yelling right back at him, Daryl saw an amused glint in her eye.
Standing a ways back Dale, Glen and T-dog were watching the show. Munching on some Ritz Glen yelled.
"Yeah you tell him Evy!"
Daryl glared at the Korean with his piercing blue eyes which made Glen take a step behind T-Dog. Chuckling Dale motioned for T-Dog and Glen to take a seat at the fire next to Andrea, Lori and Carol.
"Everyone have your bets?" Dale looked at Andrea who but down a bag of M&Ms, T-Dog put down a bag of Red vines. Even Lori and Carol put down some bets.
Looking around confused Glen placed down his Ritz.
"What are we betting on?"
Dale gathered up all the bets and put them on a spare chair.
"How long it takes them."
"To do what?"
Lori smiled and patted Glen's knee.
"How long it takes for them to become a couple sweetie."
Glen choked on one of his Ritz. Hitting his chest and eyes watering the kid tried to compose himself.
"What? You're crazy, they fight all the time!"
Leaning back in his chair Dale smiled sadly at his watch as he played with it.
"My wife and I used to be the same way."
"Well I say a week, at the most,"
To show his confidence T-Dog put in another bag.
Hearing a crack of thunder off in the distance Dale peered up at the sky. Glaring at the dark purple and gray clouds forming above he gathered the group to head inside.
"Alright everyone, we can continue this later."
T-Dog and Andrea darted into the RV while Lori and Carol scurried off to their tents to join their families.
"Should we warn them?"
Glen motioned towards Daryl and Evy who seemed oblivious to the dark ominous clouds above them.
"No, maybe the storm will cool them off."
Dale winked at Glen before leading him into the RV and shutting the door.
"Whatever."
Rolling his eyes Daryl glanced to where the rest of the group had been. Following his eyes Evy took a glance.
"Where did th-"
Before she could finish a clap of thunder rang out through the camp and rain started to pour down on them.
"Shit!"
"Fuck!"
Daryl rushed into his tent, out of instinct Evy followed, zipping up the door after herself.
"The hell do you think you're doin?"
"Huh?"
"In my tent."
Settling down across from the hunter Evy shrugged.
"This was the closest."
"Yeah? How 'bout you leave me be for once and go into the RV."
Wondering how uncomfortable she could get him Evy leaned in.
"What? You afraid I'll try something?"
The young woman smirked at the redneck who glared at her in return.
"You're a real piece of wor-"
Cutting himself off Daryl turned for a second and then ran out of the tent leaving Evy and his crossbow alone.
"Shit!"
Startled at the sudden outburst, it took Evy a couple moments to realize what happened.
"Daryl!"
Reaching over and grabbing the crossbow where it lay neglected, Evy started towards the opening of the tent. Opening the flap Evy peered outside to see Daryl trying to pull a tarp over his motorcycle in the middle of the storm. Deciding to help the poor guy, Evy ventured into the storm. Taking only a few steps out of the tent Evy saw a figure coming up behind Daryl. A flash of light lit the approaching figure. As it limbered forward Evy saw its open wounds showing blackened bones and the flesh still dangling from its teeth.
"DARYL! WALKER!"
Evy's warning was drowned out by the crack of thunder, and the walker was now only a couple feet away from Daryl.
"Shit!"
Evy raised the crossbow, thankful there was already a bolt in it and took aim. Pulling the trigger the bolt flew into the walker's neck, and not being the best shot; it didn't kill the walker but caused it to stumble. The loud THUNK alerted Daryl of the walker behind him and in one swift movement whirled around to drive his knife into the walker's skull. His knife still lodged in the walker, Daryl was weaponless when another walker stumbled out of the trees almost running towards him.
"Daryl! Catch!"
Evy tossed the crossbow to Daryl just in time for him use it to smash the walker's head. Causing it to collapse on the ground.
"You've got to be kidding me."
A third walker was rushing towards the red head, arms out stretched ready to pull her in to meet its teeth. Looking back the hunter freed his knife and wordlessly tossed it to Evy. Catching it Evy waited for the walker to pounce before spinning around to its back and jumping on it, causing the walker to fall to the ground. Pinned under her knees the walker struggled, trying to bite her. Evy quickly guided the knife where the back of the neck meets the back of the skull, killing the walker immediately. Jumping off, Evy looked around wildly trying to see if there were any more surprises. Daryl completely soaked stood by his now covered bike with a strange look on his face.
"What?"
Before the hunter could answer Rick and Shane came running up guns in their hands. Stopping in front of Evy, the two glanced at the walker at her feet and then to the two bodies lying next to Daryl.
"You two good?"
Shane lowered his shotgun waiting for an answer.
"Oh just fine, just the casual you know walker slaying."
Rick stepped closer so he could be heard over the storm.
"Where are Lori and Carl?"
Daryl pointed toward their tent and Rick ran over in that direction.
"What were you two doing?"
Shane shifted his wait to his other foot as he looked around.
"Patrolling."
Daryl snorted and stepped beside Evy.
"Some job you were doin'."
"Hey lay off man you try seeing in this storm!"
Daryl gave Evy a sideways glance.
"Some of us did."
Shane scoffed and started to walk off.
"Yeah man whatever."
Evy heard a door slam behind them violently. Evy sighed raising her face to the rain. Realizing the knife was still in her hand Evy turned and handed it to Daryl.
"Thanks."
The hunter nodded and sheathed his knife. Giving him a smile Evy walked towards the RV trying to prepare for the only thing worse then walkers.
"Shortstop."
The small woman turned to see Daryl had taken a great interest in the sky and his shoes.
"Go in."
Daryl nodded towards his tent.
"What? Why?"
"Since every one decided sleeping was more important than keeping the camp safe, I'll be -."
The hunter raised his crossbow and gestured around the camp.
"You sure? I could-"
"No. Its fine."
Daryl mumbled something under his breath about needing to think before leaving Evy alone in the middle of camp.
"Alrighty then."