Title: The Red String of Fate

Author: YaoiGoddessNekoJin

Rating: M

Warnings: Language, Slash, Violence, Child Abuse, Mentions of Drug Use, Mentions of Under Age Non-Con

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own... =(

The Red String of Fate

Part IV

"That's the third time you pointed that thing at my head. You gonna pull the trigger or what?" Relief flooded Rick at Daryl's attitude. He looked like hell warmed over, but he was alive. He wasn't a walker. Rick lowered his gun and smiled at the man. A questioning look crossed Daryl's face. Not a second later, however, Rick felt his heart break into a thousand pieces. The sound of a rifle cracked through the air like a whip and Daryl immediately dropped as his head was hit. Spinning, Rick spotted Andrea on the roof of the Winnebago holding said gun.

"Nooooo!" Rick screamed. He fell to his knees beside the still form on the ground. With dread and hesitance, he felt for a pulse. Feeling a slight flutter against his fingers, Rick kicked himself into gear and yelled for Shane to help him carry the unconscious man back to the farmhouse.

~x~x~x~

Later that evening, Rick sat beside the bed that Daryl was currently occupying. After talking with Hershel, then the rest of the group, he had just gotten the chance to visit. It worried Rick that Daryl had yet to wake up, but Hershel reassured him that it was normal after such a trauma. Still, that didn't stop Rick from worrying. A sudden low moan grabbed Rick's attention. He leaned closer and heard another moan emit from Daryl. Quickly brushing brunette bangs from the other man's face, Rick began to speak in soft tones.

"Hey. Welcome back. You had us scared there for a bit." Daryl slowly opened his blue eyes and looked over at the shadowy form beside him.

"Rick?" he questioned, voice rough from lack of use.

"Yeah." he smiled, hand remaining tangled in Daryl's bangs. Taking advantage of the groggy state Daryl was still in, he approached a subject he should have long ago. "Hey, listen. I don't know if you remember this, but you and I met a long time ago, while I was still a detective." Daryl sighed and turned his head away.

"I know."

"You...wait, what?" Rick stuttered. This was unexpected.

"I remembered you as soon as I heard your name."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Nothin' to say." Not only was Rick taken aback at this new information, he was even more confused than before. At Rick's questioning look, Daryl continued. "You weren't there. You said you would be, but you weren't."

"What?"

"Hand me my vest." Rick obliged the request, unsure of what this had to do with the situation at hand. Daryl immediately fished around in the pocket and pulled out a decrepit, tattered piece of paper and handed it to Rick. Rick took the paper and unfolded it. It was his card. It was the card he had given to Daryl when the man had just been a child.

"You still have this." he stated in awe.

"You said any time and you weren't there." Daryl's voice began to rise in volume. "He was trying to kill me and you weren't there!"

"When?"

"A few months before this whole apocalypse shit started!" Suddenly, it dawned on Rick.

"I was in the hospital." he muttered to himself.

"What?" Rick looked up at Daryl.

"I was in the hospital. I was shot on the job. I lost a lot of blood and went into a coma." It took a moment for the full explanation to sink in, but, when it did, Daryl looked down at his hands, feeling ashamed. Rick was quick to comfort the man."Hey." he said gently. "It's okay. You didn't know. You had every right to be pissed at me." Rick reached out and put a finger under Daryl's chin. He gently turned the man's head so he was looking him straight in the eye. "It's okay." he whispered. Staring into Daryl's eyes felt right. So did leaning forward, inch by inch, until their faces were right next to each other. Not sure if he was about to violate the man in front of him, he stopped and waited to see if Daryl would close the distance. When he did move forward, Rick felt a rush of emotion. When their lips touched, sparks seemed to go off. The kiss was gentle and chaste at first, a sweet sensation that nearly brought tears to Rick's eyes. It wasn't long before the passion flared and the kiss became stronger and deeper. Rick grazed Daryl's lips with his tongue, requesting entrance. Daryl gladly permitted it and the battle for dominance commenced. Daryl gave himself over to Rick, who discovered that he loved the way Daryl tasted. The two were in their own, pleasure-filled, world and Rick slowly stood from his seat, lips never leaving Daryl's. As he began to climb over the other man, Daryl's entire body seized. Afraid he hurt him, Rick immediately jumped back. It was then that he noticed the glazed over look in Daryl's eyes and the way he was close to hyperventilating. Sudden realization dawned on Rick and he backed off and took his seat.

"Shh." he whispered as he ran his fingers gently through Daryl's sweat-soaked hair. "It's okay. He can't hurt you anymore. I'm here." Rick continued shushing the panicked man and felt Daryl's body relax into his touch. He noticed Daryl had begun to tremble and, before he could say or do anything, Daryl's meek voice spoke up.

"Stay with me?" he asked, pulling Rick toward the bed.

"Of course." Rick said as he climbed under the covers. Daryl shifted so that he was lying on his good side and pulled Rick's arm over himself. He clenched the man's hand and felt a squeeze in return before falling into the most restful night of sleep he had ever had.

~x~x~x~

TBC...

A/N: Well, what'd ya think?

Too rushed or just right? Please let me know. ^_^