* Please Review! I'm sorry I'm not updating quickly like I usually do. I'm having serious computer issues. Stupid viruses*

Rick and Daryl made their way back to the camp without speaking to each other. Daryl's childhood was flashing through his mind, pissing him off more and more. Rick was unsure of what to say. It didn't take long for the group members to see that Rick and Daryl were coming back alone. Lori frowned and walked over to Rick who was rubbing the back of his neck. Carol looked upset as she hurried to Daryl.

" What happen? Where's Ava?" Lori asked.

" She ran off." Rick said as he shook his head.

" What did you mean she ran off?" Carol asked quickly.

" Girl got pissed." Daryl muttered as he side stepped Carol. " She'll be back."

" How do you know?" Carol asked.

" She left her shit here, didn't she?" Daryl snapped.

" Where are you going? Are you going to look for her?" Carol asked.

" No. She's grown. She can do what she wants." Daryl snapped as he hurried into the woods.

But he was going to look for her. He didn't know why but he was looking for her. He waited until he was far enough from the camp then he turned and started back towards the direction of the river. He was mad. He was mad at her and mad at Merle. Why the hell did Merle have to keep beating up on people? Why the hell did he pick on Ava, a five foot nothing girl? Daryl knew the answer, because Merle thought she won't, or couldn't, fight back. That was why he had always picked on Daryl and when Daryl had gotten big enough to defend himself, he just hadn't. He had just let Merle continue to smack him around.

He moved around the river and through the woods for three hours before a splash sound pulled at his attention. He crouched down and slowed his steps with his cross bow up. He watched and waited as he grew closer to the shore. There were ripples across the surface so Daryl know that something had either fallen in or jumped in.

Ava's head popped up a second later. She sighed as the cold water washed the sweat and heat of the day off her skin. She started swimming towards the shore. The water felt good across her sore body and the bruises on her. With a sigh she stood up as soon as she could touch the bottom. She looked down at her bare legs and shook her head.

Daryl held his breath and squinted his eyes as he took her in. She was still wearing her white, thin, long sleeve shirt but she had taken her jeans off. Her nipples are tight from the cold water and showing straight through the shirt. Her panties were black and looked like tight shorts. He wanted growl at the sight before him. He was hard, again. Daryl's teeth smashed together as he watched her raise her arms up to gather her hair. His eyes went down her body as her shirt rode up and showed off her tummy...and the bruises on her legs. He narrowed his eyes and shook his head.

Ava sighed loudly and tilted her head up towards the sky. She closed her eyes and let the sounds of the woods over take her. It wasn't a safe move, and she knew it, but what did it matter anyway. She didn't have her bow and arrows. If a walker came on her now, she was as good as gone and she wasn't sure she cared anymore. Her shoulders fell at the same time her head did. She opened her eyes and pushed up the sleeves of her shirt. She looked over her arms and slowly shook her head. She looked down at herself and pulled up her shirt so only her breasts were covered.

Snap.

Ava's head snapped up at the same time she dropped her shirt. She snatched up her jeans and shoes, ready to take off running if it was a walker. Yeah, she didn't want to die but she knew that suddenly. If she really wanted to die, she wouldn't be defending herself against Merle, the Jailer. Ava held her breath as she watched and waited but what came out of the woods was not a walker.

" What, the fuck, are you doing?" Ava snapped at Daryl.

" Nothin. Lookin for you." He snapped. " Get the fuck dressed. Ain't safe to be swimmin around, half naked. What the hell is wrong with you?"

" Then turn around." Ava said. Daryl frowned but did as she said. " How long have you been hiding at there?" When he didn't answer, they both knew. They both knew just what he had seen. Ava blushed and hurried to slip on her jeans. Her bra was next.

" Hurry the hell up!" Daryl muttered as his eyes scanned the woods.

" Shut up!" Ava snapped. Merle would say someone needed to teach her how to use her mouth. Daryl felt his shoulders roll forward. He was sure Merle had already tried to teach her and failed. " You can turn around now." She said. When he did, he saw her she was sitting down, putting her shoes on and frowning at him.

" Why the hell you run off like that?" He snapped. Ava dropped her eyes but the scowl on her face remained.

" None of your business." She said. Daryl stared hard as she fumbled with her laces. What the hell was he supposed to say to her?

" Merle did all that to you." It was a statement. Her hands stilled but she didn't look up at him. He could see her staring at her shoe so he added quietly, " I recognize his work." Ava blinked then raised her head up to look at him. He was standing with his legs spread, his hands gripping his crossbow straps and a hard look on his face. He looked dominating, like he owned the woods behind him.

" You have seen him do this to someone else?" She asked. The look of pain on her face made it hard for him to breath.

" Yeah." Daryl said. His right hand opened but didn't move from his strap. His fingers drummed against his chest, making her eyes widen.

" But you're his brother." She said.

" Don't matter none to Merle." Daryl said. She nodded then went back to working on her laces. They were quiet for a few minutes. He watched her as she finished up then he moved to her side. To her surprise, Daryl sat down. He stretched his legs out and crossed them at his ankles. He leaned back with his palms supporting his weight. " Started when I was young." She couldn't look at him and that was fine by him. He wasn't looking at her.

" Why did he do it?" She asked.

" He was drunk. He was high. He was bored. My daddy and him used to take turns." Daryl said. Ava closed her eyes as he finally spared a quick glance at her. Her wet hair was clinging to her back and shoulders.

" No one has ever done anything like this to me before." She admitted. She shook her head and opened her eyes, forcing him to look away from her. " I mean, I had a boyfriend push me once but that was it. I broke up with him and it was over. I...I don't know how to handle this and I feel like it's my fault. Like I should be stronger and not let him do this to me."

" You fight back." Daryl commented.

" I did, every time he came for me. His group, the other men that are with him, they would stand around and watch. They would cheer like it was a game or a sport." Ava spit out. Daryl wasn't surprise. Merle liked others to see him fight. He felt it made him look like a bad ass.

" When did he start cuttin you?" Either one would look at the other.

" Not until this last time. I think he suspects that I found you. I kept telling him I didn't know where you were while we fought. He threw me against a door and that was when he cut my arm. At first I didn't feel the pain. I just felt the blood coming down my arm." And Angel had gone crazy, almost screaming and reaching for her. " Then the pain hit. I was distracted by it and that was when he cut my leg." She said.

Both fell silent for a few minutes. Daryl was thinking about some of the times Merle and their daddy had made him bleed. They never used knives on him, cords, belts, yes but never knives. He had been whipped and hit with whatever the men could get their hands on. Ava was thinking about her last fight. She had kicked Merle in the ribs with the men cheering. Merle had grabbed his side and gritted his teeth to her.

" I'm sorry." Daryl frowned and looked at her away.

" For what?" He asked. She sighed as she met his eyes.

" For telling you and your group to fuck off." She said. Daryl nodded and looked away again.

" Can't say I haven't wanted to say that myself a few times." He admitted, making her laugh. Her laugh was soft and, almost refreshing.

" So can I ask you something?" Ava asked.

" What?"

" Why don't you sleep with your girlfriend?" Daryl's scowl was hard while he shook his head.

" Ain't got a girlfriend." It was Ava's turn to frown.

" Carol isn't your girlfriend?"

" Hell no. I just look after her. Her little girl, well I went lookin for her when she went missin. We found her as a walker. She ain't got anyone else." Daryl said.

TWDTWDTWD

Ava walked beside Daryl as they made their way back to the camp. Neither one was talking. They had said enough between the two of them and they both knew it. They had opened up just enough to make each other feel more comfortable. He was getting a better look at who she was, she understood he knew what she was thinking and how she was feeling. He could connect to her through Merle and that connection, while a shitty one, made her feel better about joining them. If anyone could get her, it was Daryl. They might never talk about it again but it made her feel better that he knew what she went through.

As they walked into the camp, Rick quickly joined them but everyone was watching from their spots. Ava was nervous right away and took a step back. Daryl's elbow brushed against her shoulder, making her look up at him. She expected him to be staring down at her. He was a starer but he was squinting at Rick. Did he do that on purpose? Was he silently offering her comfort?

" I need to say I'm sorry to all of you." Ava said. She cleared her throat and tried to meet all their eyes, one by one. " I was rude and mean but that's not me. That's not the person I was before the outbreak and I'm sorry. I was raised better than that."

" It's fine. I think the outbreak has changed us all." Rick said. " Glad to have you back." Ava nodded and forced a small smile.