"Rick, have you got a minute?"

"Andrea, for you I have two," Rick answered with chuckle.

The blonde cocked her head and raised an eyebrow at the former sheriff. Since when did they develop a flirty rapport? Andrea had a thing for roughnecks, and she had always been a flirt, but usually the men were too pretty to get involved with.

Truthfully, Rick wasn't bad looking at all, especially when he smiled. But always standing next to Shane made it nearly impossible to notice his subtle appeal. Still, she was beginning to understand why Lori married Rick, and the stories she told about her man in the sack left little room for imagination. For now though, he was alone and cleaning guns at the picnic table.

"I have kind of a favor to ask," she said with a smile, tucking her hair behind one ear.

Rick gestured to the opposite bench and Andrea sat, watching how he handled the weapons.

"What's on your mind?" Rick asked.

"I'd like to have a surprise girl's night."

Rick crinkled his brow. "Come again?"

"I'd like a night off for the ladies before you fellas leave. Kind of like a sleepover. But, I'm not letting them in on it."

Rick smiled wide, his eyes on the rag he was using to clean a muzzle. "Well, far be it for me to interrupt pillow fights in your underwear! The men will be scaling the walls of Hershel's home like John Belushi in Animal House."

Andrea smacked his hand playfully and the two shared a laugh.

"And what do you suggest we manly men do without the pleasure of our women's company for the evening?" Rick asked in a mocking tone.

"Oh, I'm sure our fearless leader can think of something," Andrea said in an equally mocking tone. "Can we make it tomorrow night? I have some stuff I'd like to try and find, plus I need figure out where we could go."

"You know what, just stay in camp. I'll get the men to sleep elsewhere."

Andrea smiled.

"And I'm sorry, but I'm gonna put Dale on watch." Rick glanced up, almost challenging her to say otherwise.

Andrea kept it simple. "He'll be on for the whole night?"

"No, one of us will relieve him at some point."

"Ok," she said, nodding her head slightly.

Rick paused all of a sudden and looked up.

"Could you pick up a few things for me while you're in town?"

"No problem. When Shane gets back from patrol I'll ask him for a ride. He should be back soon." Andrea stood.

"You two be careful out there," Rick warned. "Remember what happened to Maggie," he said softly.

Andrea acknowledged Rick with a nod and walked quickly across camp towards Lori, a devilish grin on her face.

"Did he go for it?" she asked quietly.

"Hook, line and sinker," Andrea said gleefully.

"I'm glad you were the one to ask him, he would have seen right through me," Lori said chuckling. "No way would he have let me go off alone with just the girls. He was twitchy before I was pregnant."

"I should have been an actress," the blonde said wistfully.

"So, what's next?" Lori asked, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.

"I'm gonna corner Shane when he gets back and ask him to take me into town. Maggie says the place has a bar and a general store. I'll see what I can find."

"What should I do?"

"Round up the girls, tell them what is going on but don't let Carol know that we know, you know?"

"No," Lori said, confused.

"Don't tell her that we know about her and Daryl. I want all the juicy details when she's as drunk as a prom date."

"Sure…but what if she tries to tell me, or you?"

"Try to change the subject I guess," Andrea said, shrugging.


For a few more minutes, Rick sat in silence slowly putting the pieces of a weapon back together. He knew the reason Andrea was so bent on girl time. The hunter and the widow, kissing beyond the farmhouse this morning no doubt sparked this sudden need for privacy. Rick had seen them as he was starting his shift patrolling the grounds. The couple didn't really try to hide their new relationship, but didn't make it obvious either, and Rick had long since picked up on a few things.

He'd noticed how Daryl's eyes always found their way to Carol, whether she knew it or not. In turn, Carol silently longed for the hunter, but she was careful about keeping those feelings to herself. Rick often noticed her eyes change whenever Daryl was around. He was reminded of a love struck teenager, quietly pining for the captain of the football team.

He had seen Daryl sweep Carol off her feet last night. Rick had just come out of his tent looking for his boots when a rustling near the RV caught his attention. He recognized the two silhouettes against the faded light of the fire and watched as they kissed passionately and after a few whispered words, scurried away in the direction of Daryl's campsite.

And this morning, with Daryl so light on his feet and in an obvious good mood was proof of how his evening went.

Rick was happy for them, but cautiously happy. They were both so very damaged, the proof decorating Daryl's chest and the memory of Ed hanging over Carol. How could they go about trusting each other so easily? Weren't they afraid of being hurt, even if it wasn't their intentions? Can damaged people separate lust and love?

Maybe the girls weren't the only ones that could use a night off.


It was dusk as Daryl stomped through the woods with a bounce in his step. He'd caught six squirrels, two rabbits and he was pretty sure those were wild turkey tracks he had come across not half a mile back. Tomorrow's hunting trip would be a good one.

He came out from the trees next to his tent, tossing his kills down on the old tree stump stained with animal blood. Daryl sat and grabbed one of the rabbits. It was almost skinned clean when he heard soft footsteps approaching. Smiling, he spoke without looking.

"Better be wearing something you don't mind getting' ripped off ya," he called.

"Too bad, I kind of like this shirt," he heard Rick answer with a chuckle.

Daryl scrambled to his feet as Rick laughed. "I hope you were expecting someone else."

"What are you doin out 'ere?" Daryl grumbled, embarrassed. Rick was silent for a moment.

"Nice setup you got out here," Rick said looking around. "Nice and private," he said pointedly.

Daryl stared at him. What on earth was he driving at?

Rick smiled and put up his hands. "I just came out to ask a favor."

Daryl huffed and sat back down. He grabbed up the almost cleaned rabbit and began scraping off the last of its fur.

"What do you need boss?"

"I'd like to have the boys come out to your campsite tomorrow night."

Daryl crinkled his eyebrows and glanced up at their leader.

"What's that now?"

"The women are having themselves a little 'girls only' night tomorrow and I thought the men could use a night off as well. I'll have Dale on watch. I'd like you to join us."

"No thanks, not into the bonding thing," Daryl scoffed. "Use the campsite all you want, I'll keep watch with the old man."

"Suit yourself," Rick said turning on his heel. After a few paces, he smiled and stopped.

"There'll be scotch."

Daryl stiffened. He glanced up at Rick then back down at his work.

"You can have a bottle to yourself."

Daryl raised an eyebrow and with a grunt, relented.

"Fine, I'll stay. Bring the boys by at sundown, and bring yer own shit to eat, sit an' sleep on, I ain't no damn housewife." Suddenly he stood quickly and turned to face Rick.

"But I'm gonna tell ya right now. If the Chinaman brings that geetar o' his and starts singin' Kumbaya," he shouted gesturing wildly with his knife, "I'm gonna jam this buck knife into your thick skull!"

Rick laughed and began to walk away. "Fair enough," he called back.

"I mean it, Rick!" Daryl shouted at the man's retreating form.

Rick said nothing, but Daryl could see the man's shoulders shaking with laughter.

Daryl sat back down in a huff. He grabbed up the other rabbit and began cleaning it out. He was halfway through when he realized he was smiling.