That's When I Knew

Summary: The group returns to the prison with Rick's body. Takes place after "Made To Suffer" (season 3 episode 8) Rick/Daryl, AU, Angst, Slash, Drug Use.

Despite the groups protests Daryl brought Rick's body all the way back to the prison with them. He couldn't leave his best friend to rot by that awful place. To turn and become one of those things. A walker who's only ambition would be to search for food and turn god knows who else into another one just like it. He held Rick's body in the backseat of the Hyundai. Rocking him back and forth as Michonne sat next to them and looked on. She had returned to their group before they left Woodbury, her face covered in blood. Daryl didn't even want to know what happened. All he could think about right now was Rick.

As the group returns to the prison Hershel, Beth, Carol and Carl run out to the Hyundai to greet them. Hershel's eyes fill with shock and horror as he sees Daryl carrying Rick. Rick's lifeless body is slumped like a rag doll as Daryl holds it up, Rick's arm over his shoulder. Hershel walks over to Daryl, "I'm sorry son." He says sorrowfully. He reaches out and presses his fingers into the side of Rick's neck. He holds them there for a moment. "He's alive!" He suddenly screams out. A sense of urgency abruptly grips everyone "Oh god" Daryl cries out. Carol immediately puts Rick's free arm over her shoulder and together they quickly drag Rick into the prison. "His pulse is weak but he's not dead!" Hershel exclaims as he hobbles alongside. They lay his body down on one of the cell beds. "We gotta act fast if we're gonna save him. Carol, I need my kit, painkillers, coagulates, all the clean bandages you can find and whatever alcohol is left from the infirmary." Carol immediately goes into action. "Daryl I'm gonna do everything I can. Trust me. Beth can you bring me a chair?" Beth leaves the cell quickly to fetch a chair. "Glen, are you alright?" Hershel calls out as he suddenly notices Glen's wounds.

"I'll be alright, just work on Rick first." Glen says with determination, his mouth clenched tight.

Time seems to pass by so slowly waiting to find out if Rick makes it. Daryl sits calmly at a table in the Prison's cafeteria. His head down, his hands clasped together, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Carl comes into the dimly lit room and slowly walks up to Daryl. "Daryl, don't worry." Daryl lifts his head and Carl sees his bloodshot eyes full of tears. Daryl turns to face Carl, "Hershel saved my life once. My Dad's gonna be okay. I know he is." Daryl reaches out and hugs Carl tightly and sobs into his shoulder. Daryl knows in the back of his mind that if Rick doesn't make it he will continue to raise his friend's boy with all the love that Rick had. Daryl always felt he and Carl had a lot in common. Carl like an adult-child and Daryl, a child-like adult. Daryl just holds on tightly to Carl, his emotions raw. No further words were spoken.

"He's gonna make it." Hershel says to Daryl as he comes into the cafeteria, "The bullet went clean through his shoulder. It did not puncture his lung."

Daryl stands up and smiles the biggest smile. "It looks good. It looks real good," Hershel says happily, "You can go in and see him now, he's awake." Daryl feels the life coming back into him and a sense of happiness he hasn't felt in years. He hugs Hershel and runs in to see Rick. He crouches by Rick's bedside. Rick lays in the bed shirtless; a bandage covers his entire left shoulder from his neck down to his pectoral. Daryl holds Rick's hand "Hey how you doing buddy?" He says softly. Rick groggily sits up. "I've seen better days but I'll live I guess." He half laughs. He looks into Daryl's eyes. He can see the worry in them. "Daryl, it's okay I'm gonna be alright. How are Glenn and Maggie?"

"They're fine, Rick, Jesus you gave us a scare."

Rick reaches out and cups his hand to the side of Daryl's cheek. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry man. I was just worried is all. Shit we thought you were dead. Maggie even wanted to leave you."

"She did? Well, hell I woulda left me there too." He says laughing as a pain fills his shoulder. He can tell he's gonna be sore for a while. "Daryl, I saw Shane" he says suddenly confessing.

"You what?"

"I saw Shane. It was like I imagined him, the guy who shot me. He looked like Shane. Daryl, am I losing my mind?"

Daryl looks at his friend and tries to reassure him the best he can. "No Rick, you're not losing your mind. That was just the effects of those damn pills. I knew I should never have given them to you. It was my fault."

"Daryl don't blame yourself for that, I'm the one who took them, no one held a gun to my head. I'm just worried I'm losing my marbles. What's gonna happen to me Daryl?"

"Shhh," Daryl reaches out and runs his hand through Rick's hair comforting him. "It's okay now Rick, you're safe with me. Everything's gonna be alright." He rubs Rick's head like a child. "You know, you remember that time I fell off nervous Nellie and got an arrow though me, back at the farm?"

"Yeah."

"I saw my brother then, well, I imagined him"

"No way" Rick says, an amused look on his face.

"It's true. I never told anyone about it before."

"Did he talk to you?"

"He sure did, he talked about you. He was pissed and blamed you for leavin' him on that roof. I told him we went back for him. Said you did right by him"

Rick cocks his head and looks at his friend lovingly. Enjoying the feeling of his best friend stroking his head softly. "Rick, I gotta tell you, that's when I knew."

"Knew what?"

"That I loved you."

Rick scoots over in the bed as far as he can to the wall, "Come here," He says as he gestures for Daryl to join him in the small bed. Daryl immediately gets into the bed beside Rick with his back to him. Rick reaches his arm around his friend and the two men spoon quietly. Not caring if anyone sees them. Rick reaches up and starts to stroke Daryl's hair like Daryl was just doing to him. "I love you too, Daryl" He says softly into Daryl's ear as the two men fall asleep.