OH LOOK! A new chapter already ready? I should hold off and wait to post it. BUT I HAVE NO WILLPOWER! MEANS YOU GET IT FASTER!

Give Me Reason
Chapter 4: Trap Door

Nearly a week with no word from Carol and he was getting desperate. The girl down the street called him after only an hour alone with Judy the day before. Judy had cried the whole time. And today, the sitter wouldn't answer his call. He didn't understand it. Judy was always so well behaved and happy around him. He understood strangers but... she'd liked Carol well enough. And adored Daryl from the moment she met him.

Daryl... it'd been a month since Rick blew him off with the work excuse. He thought it was for the best. He thought it would be easy. He hadn't know the man long. Just a few months. But Rick missed him something awful. Rick bit his lip and glanced down at this phone. He sighed, dialed the number before he rethink it, and pressed the phone to his ear.

"Yeah?" Came Daryl's rough answer.

Rick sighed. It was nice to hear the man's voice. Really nice. Like he could melt in those dulcet tones. "I'm sorry Daryl. I didn't know what to do."

"Rick?" Daryl sounded surprised. "What's wrong?"

"It's Judy."

"What happened?"

Rick caught the panic in the man's voice and smiled. "No." He said quickly. "She's fine. I just..." He paused and dipped his head slightly, feeling bed. He shouldn't have called. It wasn't fair. He rubbed at his eyes. Yeah. This was a dumb idea. "Never mind." He mumbled. "Sorry. I'll just..."

"What, Rick?"

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "My sitter up and disappeared last week. And for some crazy ass reason, Judy screams her head off at anyone else who comes through the door. I've used up all my sick leave and I really need to go in today and I don't know what to do."

There was a shuffling sound and Daryl let out a grunt. "Gimmie 10 minutes."

Rick blinked. "Really?"

Daryl huffed. "What I fucking said."

The line went dead. Rick pulled the phone from his ear and stared at it dumbly for a moment. He wasn't exactly sure what he was hoping when he dialed Daryl's number. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. No changing his mind now. Daryl was coming over. He quickly checked on Judy and then headed to his room to get changed.

Almost 10 minutes on the dot, Daryl walked through the front door. No knock, no warning. Just open door and walk in. "You haven't been ta work all week?" He snapped loudly.

Rick was walking down the stairs, dressed and ready for work. He had Judy in his arms and she was happily chewing on her skirt. Rick slowed on the stairs, looking over at Daryl. He blinked, surprised, and shrugged.

Daryl shook his head and held out his arms. "Gimmie little Asskicker."

Rick continued down the stairs and stepped around Daryl. He turned and held up his free hand. "Are you... Daryl are you sure?"

Daryl took her and tucked her under his arm. She let out a delighted squeal and grabbed his shirt.

Rick looked down at Judy. "Can you... I mean... do you know how to.. uh..."

Daryl rolled his eyes. "I can handle the kid. Go before yer ass gets fired."

Rick hesitated a moment longer. There was so much he wanted to say to Daryl. He wasn't sure how or where to start. He wanted to apologize, he wanted to explain, he wanted to ask about Jessi.

And then Daryl rolled his eyes again and pushed him towards the door. "I'll obviously be 'ere when ya get back. So go."

Rick turned and smiled down at Judy. " Behave. Please baby girl."

"Go." Daryl said again. "She's fine."

Rick nodded and finally slipped out the door.

Daryl let out a short and shook his head. "Yer dad's a fucking idiot." Judy giggled and pulled on his shirt, trying to get it in her mouth. "Don't do that." He shifted her slightly and pulled his cell out of his pocket. He dialed and put it to his ear.

"Curt's Garage."

"Hey Curt." He shifted Judy again. "It's Daryl."

"Daryl! Great!" The man sounded excited. "I was just..."

"Look man." Daryl interrupted. "I ain't gonna be in today."

There was a pause. "Goddamnit." The man snapped over the line. "Don't think just because you're the best I won't fire your ass. You better be on your death bed!"

"I uh..." Daryl glanced down at Judy. "Got my kid today. And the sitter bailed."

"Oh... you... you got a kid?" The man's voice immediately softened.

"Yeah. She's 7 months old. Hard to find someone that can handle her screaming her head off when I ain't around."

There was another pause. "Okay. Fine. Don't make it a habit."

The line went dead and Daryl pulled the phone from his ear. He hit the camera button and held the phone out. "Say cheese, Asskicker." He took a few quick pictures, proof he could casually show his boss. He really liked the garage. Curt was a good boss and the money was good.

"So." Daryl said, plopping the kid in her swing. "What the hell we gonna do today?" He dropped on the floor beside her and leaned forward. "Let's talk Rapunzel."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Rick's stomach was in knots most of the day. He'd gotten yelled at by his captain and threatened with demotion. But that wasn't really what was doing him in. He was worried about going home. He trusted Daryl with Judy. That wasn't the problem. He was scared of what he needed to say to Daryl. This not-dating thing was messing with his head. It really shouldn't have made a difference, he knew. Whatever this thing was called, it wouldn't change if he called it dating. He didn't want it to change. He wanted Daryl around. He wanted this Jessi chick gone.

He just wanted Daryl. And that was the most scary thing of all.

Rick opened the door and stepped inside, trying not to look as nervous as he felt. He fiddled with his hat as he stood just inside the doorway and looked at the floor.

"Rick?"

"Yeah." He called out.

"Hey." Daryl came strutting out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a dishrag. "It go okay?"

Rick glanced up and nodded. "Got an earful." He mumbled.

"Coulda fucken called me a week ago." Daryl tossed the rag on the coffee table as he walked past. He marched up to Rick and crossed his arms. "'Kay. Come on."

Rick tilted his head a bit, frowning. "What?"

"All yer hedging this mornin'. Ya got something ta say?"

Rick sighed and reached over to drop his hat on a chair. He pulled off his coat and tossed it with it. "Yeah. I do."

Daryl said nothing, just stared at him.

Rick ran a hand through his hair and turned slightly. Daryl wasn't gonna make this easy, he knew. "Fine. I'll just say it. I overheard a phone call you got where you said you were sleeping with some chick named Jessi and I started feeling jealous and honestly, it scared the shit out of me and I panicked." He said it all quickly in one breath.

Daryl stared at him for a moment longer. Confusion washed over his face. Then he dropped his arms and shook his head. "Judy's asleep and there's a roast in the oven. Stay out of the kitchen and I'll be right back."

Rick stepped aside as Daryl opened the door and stepped out. He walked over to the window and pulled the curtain back, watching as Daryl got on his motorcycle and pulled out of the driveway. Rick let out a sigh and shook his head. Well that was weird. Rick was curious. And terrified. He didn't know what to expect when Daryl came back. If he came back.

Daryl did come back. Rick had changed out of his uniform and gotten Judy up when she cried. They were in the living room, flipping through the channels on the TV when the door opened. Rick glanced up.

"This is Jessi." Daryl said, dragging something behind him. A dog. A young golden retriever, about two years old. She blinked her bright blue eyes and seeing a new person, her tail started wagging excitedly and she tried to run forward. Daryl pulled back on the leash. "She's a dog. Yer not like allergic or got some phobia right?"

Rick shook his head slowly, unable to summon any words yet to answer.

"Good." Daryl bent down and unclipped the leash from her collar. Jessi immediately ran across the room and jumped up on the couch beside Rick. She let out a bark and Judy let out a squeal.

"Jessi... is a dog." Rick repeated slowly, reaching out to pet the young dog who was trying to reach over him to lick Judy.

Daryl nodded. "It ain't yer fucking business but I ain't been hitting around since you called me pretty."

Rick shook his head. He couldn't believe the amount of jealousy he felt. Over a dog.

Daryl crossed the room and sat down on the chair opposite Rick. "Merle got her as a pup. Let her sleep in his bed with him. She gets real noisy and mopey when left alone. Spoiled as fucking shit."

"Merle's, huh?"

"He's fucking obsessed. She's his baby. He calls a couple times a week, asking about her. Accusing me of neglecting her. If I'm home when he calls, he asks to fucking talk to her. And oh! He wants me to show her a picture of him and say, daddy loves you."

Rick's eyes widened. "That's..."

"Fucking crazy." Daryl shook his head. "He tried to bribe the warden into letting me sneak her in."

Rick smiled. "With what?"

Daryl shrugged. "Fuck if I know. His ass, maybe."

Rick laughed and shook his head. "So all this time. All your plans."

"The dog." Daryl patted his knee and Jessi slipped off the couch and pranced over to him. "I don't do shit." He reached out to scratch her ears.

Rick watched him. "You never mentioned her."

Daryl shrugged. "It's a dog."

Rick sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry Daryl. I just... okay." Rick took a breath and breathed it out slowly. "I get it. You don't date. That's fine. But... I've never... not-dated." He pulled Judy into his lap. "Hell... I've never really dated. Lori and I dated in high school because I was supposed to date girls. And she got pregnant. So we got married. I don't know how to do casual without... feeling... and... I got a little freaked out when... I realized..."

"Stop." Daryl said quickly, shaking his head. He stood up and grabbed Judy from Rick. She let out a squeal and Jessi barked. Then he turned for the kitchen.

"Daryl..." Rick stood up to follow.

Daryl set Judy in her chair and she started smacking the table top. Jessi followed and tried to lick Judy's toes. Daryl turned to the cabinets and pulled out a bowl. He filled it halfway with water and set it on the floor. Jessi walked over and stuck her nose in it.

"Daryl." Rick repeated the man's name as he walked in.

Daryl kept his back to Rick. "Don't, Rick."

Rick frowned, confused. "Don't what?"

Daryl leaned forward on the counter. "I'm not worth all this." He said softly.

"Worth what?"

"Your... jealousy or whatever your fucking problem is." He pushed off the counter and turned around. "I don't deserve it."

"You don't deserve it..." Rick repeated, shaking his head. "What the fuck does that mean?"

Daryl shook his head and grabbed a baby bottle. He pushed past Rick and grabbed the baby formula. "Don't."

"You're not worth it? You don't deserve it?" Rick snapped. "What? You're so worthless you don't deserve love?"

Daryl spun around. He pointed angrily at Rick as his eyes narrowed into a glare. "Don't."

Rick felt the anger in that word. He held up his hands and took a step back. He'd glimpsed the man's volatile side under the surface before. But nothing like this. And never directed at him. Rick swallowed the forming lump in his throat and stepped farther back. "You know..." He said softly, trying to change the mood. "I have a big, fenced in back yard. You can bring her here with you."

Daryl's shoulders relaxed a bit, dropping slightly. "Could." He said, his voice still tense.

Rick took a deep breath and shook his head. "I'm sorry. I just have to ask."

Daryl was leaning back against the counter, gripping the edge. He tightened his grip and his knuckles turned white. "I will kick your ass. In front of your daughter."

Rick nodded. "Noted. But I'll ask anyways."

Daryl let out a sigh. "What?"

"This... no-dating thing we're doing where we're also not dating anyone else..." Rick said slowly. "Can it... still be... a thing?" He sounded like an idiot, he knew. But he had to ask.

Daryl rolled his eyes and turned around, moving towards the stove.

"Daryl!" Rick snapped. "You make things really hard sometimes."

Daryl ignored him and continued opening the oven to check the roast coking inside.

Rick crossed the kitchen quickly. He grabbed Daryl's arm and spun him around. "I just want to know if we are okay or did I fuck this all up? Because I really like... uh... hanging out with you... and the... other stuff."

"You know what your problem is?" Daryl asked after a moment. "You think too much." He said. "I don't stay. I. Don't. Stay." He repeated, punctuating the words.

Rick frowned for a moment. And then it dawned on him. The day after the first night. Rick fought back the urge to smile like a giant goof. "So... we're good?" Rick asked slowly.

"Yes. Now fuck off while I finish this."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"What about tomorrow?" Daryl asked an hour later.

Dinner was finished and eaten. Judy'd been fed and changed and fallen asleep. Jessi was laying on the floor sleeping. And Rick was half asleep, laying more on Daryl than the couch they were on. Rick opened his eyes. "What?"

"Tomorrow." Daryl repeated.

"Oh yeah." Rick closed his eyes. "I'll figure something about."

"Rick." Daryl poked him in the side.

Rick let out a sigh and sat up. He rubbed at his eyes. "I'm on 12's for the next 3 days. 8 to 8."

Daryl huffed. "That fucking sucks."

Rick nodded. "Captain's pissed."

Daryl glanced down at the sleeping dog. "Guess we're staying then."

Rick tried not to smile as he nodded. "If you want to."

Daryl looked at him sideways in grunted in answer. "I'm gonna run back to the house and grab Jessi's shit and some clothes."

It was the first time Daryl was staying without the premise of sex. The first time where sleeping wasn't an afterthought. Rick didn't want to just assume Daryl would sleep in his bed with him even though he'd done it before. Rick certainly didn't mind. It was actually comforting, feeling the weight on the mattress beside him. But Rick didn't want to assume. Daryl was... Rick had no real words to describe him. It might piss Daryl off if Rick just assumed. Or maybe not. He just didn't know.

"You can crash wherever you want." He said, trying to sound casual when Daryl'd gotten back. "My room, Carl's room... floor, garage, backyard. Whatever you squirrel roasting rednecks like."

Daryl turned towards him and stepped closer. And the look on his face... Rick thought he'd gone too far. And then Daryl smiled ever so slightly. "I'll take you."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Author's Notes: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Next up, Daryl and Carl meet for the first time. Wonder what the kid's gonna think... Oh wait... I already know. 8D