After few a hours of walking through the woods, I felt that looking for my old camp wasn't such a good idea as it seemed at first. I knew that it would be hard because when I arrived here I was unconscious but I hoped that maybe I will somewhat find a familiar place. Well, it was stupid of me… Every tree looked the same. I couldn't track and there wasn't anything to track to begin with. Daryl brought me to the camp days ago, all tracks were lost. I didn't want to give up so easily though. I picked a direction I saw Daryl was coming to haunts and followed it. If he found me during his hunt, he used this path for sure.

During my walk I had plenty of time to think. I was glad that I'm away from the camp. I needed some time alone. After talk with Dale and Amy, and later that fight with Shane, Daryl seeing my weakness, I needed moment to collect my thoughts. I hated Shane now more than ever. I felt so helpless when he attacked me. He was a ticking bomb, I knew it but I never realized how easy it is to push him. I needed to pay more attention to him, be aware of him. I can't possibly fight him on even terms, so I need to be smart about it. No more one on one confrontation, no being alone with him. I must be careful.

And Daryl… I guess, I was wrong about him. He saved me. I was a little pissed that he saw me like this but he didn't make any snarky retorts or say anything about whole situation if I remember correctly. After that talk on RV I thought that he will look for more things to piss me off but he acted like he didn't care, he didn't ask, didn't apologize, didn't give me his compassion. I liked that. I didn't want pity.

It started to get dark quickly. I had to find a place for a night. I thought for a moment about climbing up a tree but it was stupid idea, I didn't have anything to pin myself safely to a tree and I didn't want to fell in the middle of a night. The smartest thing will be staying awake, I guess. I was standing deep in my thoughts when suddenly I heard:

'What are you doing here?' said a person with southern drawl. I quickly grabbed my gun and pointed at direction of a voice. It was Daryl with his crossbow on his back and some dead squirrels strapped to his belt. I didn't hear him coming at all. I stood there with my mouth slightly open. I lowered my gun to the ground and slowly put it back to my holster. He just smirked. What the fuck was he doing here? Is it possible that he followed me? No, it's stupid. I looked at the squirrels. Right, he's hunting. It's a coincidence. It has to be!

'Come' he sighed and went quickly straight ahead.

I stood still with confusion. He didn't wait for me though, he went quickly and didn't even look back. I shook my head and jogged after him. I saw no reason to ignore him. After all he had plenty of chances to hurt me. First of all he could left me in a forest when we met, he could do anything to me when I passed out but he helped me. So why I should question him now?

After some time I saw small wooden cabin. Memories came floating into my mind but I resisted them. It wasn't even much similar to that shed back then… Cabin looked abandoned. Daryl wasn't surprised at a sight so I thought that was his goal. He opened the door and came inside. I followed him.

We entered a room with a small kitchen area with lots of cupboards, no oven though, small table and four chairs. On the opposite direction was couch facing small fireplace. Not smart in wooden cottage, I thought. I saw open door in front of a couch leading to a small bedroom and glimpse of other door – probably to bathroom. Cozy and nice. Daryl didn't even bother to look at me. He sat on a chair and started to skin the squirrels. I looked around. The cabin was unused for some time, it was dirty inside. It was probably used by a hunters.

'What's this place?' I questioned Daryl with curiosity.

'Don't know. I found it with Merle some time ago. We're using it when we're too far from camp to come back before night.'

'So we're far from a camp?'

'Yeah, a few hours of walk.' He was watching me carefully.

'Good.' I said with a relief. 'I was afraid I just circled around like a fool.' I smiled. Maybe I was closer to that place. It was only logical that it was near Daryl's hunting grounds.

'You sure, you'll be alright on your own?' He sounded skeptical.

'Yes. I've been alright on my own for the last 10 years, so I'll be fine for a few days in a woods.' I said sharply.

'Few days? I thought you're leaving for good after that Shane business.'

'No way that asshole gonna scare me.' I said with anger.

He smirked. 'So, what do ya lookin' for?'

'My old camp.' I said with hesitation. 'I left there something.'

'Something or someone?' he was eyeing me carefully. I withstood his gaze and spoke.

'Something.'

The cabin felt silent. Daryl got back to skinning animals. I sat on a chair in front of him and took my cigarettes. I took one and offered the package to Daryl. I needed a moke after all that walk. He took one and put in his mouth. He smoked while skinning animals.

'Hey, listen.' I said. 'I know we didn't start on the right foot but I don't want to…' I sighed. 'What I mean is… Thank you.' He looked at me shocked. 'I guess I never really thanked you for saving me back then. I only said those foolish words that night but I'm grateful that you didn't left me there.'

He only nodded.

'Are you coming to camp tomorrow?' I asked when the silence started to bother me a little.

'Nah, I saw deer's prints, I think I'll look for it.' He stood up and went outside. I raised my brows but stayed on my chair. My legs hurt after all that walk. I wasn't used to it. I rarely went outside before shit went loose. I only went to shooting range or a bar. Although I wasn't out of shape. I found nice gym near my apartment that was open 24 hours and I used to visit it during night. I couldn't sleep so it was nice to preoccupy myself in something.

After few minutes Daryl was back with bunch of woods. He went to fireplace and put the brunches inside. After short time fire lit the cabin. I went and sat on a sofa. It was nice, almost cozy inside if you could ignore all that dirt. Daryl put meat from the animals he was skinning, squirrels I suppose or rabbits, not that it made some difference to the fireplace. It had already a grill inside. I guess he or Merle used it before.

'You can come with me.' Daryl said when we were waiting for a food.

'Huh?' I was speechless.

He sighed. 'You don't know your way around the woods and I remember the place where I met ya. My trail leads there anyway so you can come with me.'

'Yeah, okay. That's great.' I felt really relieved. After walking without purpose all day I was ready to come back to camp tomorrow. I knew that I have no skills to find my way around the woods and I didn't want to get lost. I was really surprised that Daryl offered to help me. He didn't look like a type who is willing to help anyone but himself, maybe Merle. But he was constantly helping me and I didn't even understand why. Maybe his look was deceiving? Maybe under that ruff behavior was someone who cared? I was awkward too when I was dealing with other people, I didn't trust them right away but that didn't mean I wished them wrong or that I hated them. Maybe he was similar?

'Here' Daryl gave me plate with a meat. It didn't look very appealing but I was so hungry that I didn't care how it looks. I started to eat. Daryl smirked.

'Wha?' I asked with mouth full of food.

'Nah, it's nothing' he said with amusement. I shrugged and ate my share. When I was full, I looked around for something to wipe my hands. When I didn't spot anything like that I just licked my fingers one by one. I was full, it was warm and nice inside. Suddenly I felt really tired and sleepy - something I haven't felt in years.

When I looked at Daryl he was avoiding my gaze. There was small flush on his cheeks. Well, that's something new. I think, I embarrassed Mr. Badass. It was my turn to smirk. Daryl wiped his hands on his trousers and finally looked at me.

'You can take the bedroom, I'll sleep on couch.'

'Oh my... such a gentlemen' he scowled at me and I laughed. I was in such a good mood after meal. I didn't even know why I was so happy that he agreed to help me. I never wanted to rely on someone in this world but Daryl didn't act like he was doing something special for me and it made it really easy to accept his help.

'Goodnight' I stood up and went to bedroom.

'Night' he laid on the couch.

Bedroom was small with only big bed in center of the room. Windows were covered. I felt safer. I sat on bed and couldn't stop the thought about last time I was inside similar cabin. I scowled. Suddenly I thought about doors and I shivered. I came back into main room.

Daryl was laying on couch with eyes closed. He didn't acknowledge my presence but I knew he wasn't asleep.

'Hey' I said and hesitated. 'Can I look the door?'

He clenched his jaw.

'Do what you have to' he said sharp.

I went to main door. There were no keys or lock. I looked around. Finally I took a chair and put it to lock the door' knob. Daryl opened eyes and looked at me surprised. I shrugged. I knew it was probably stupid but it made me feel safer.

'I'll feel safer that way' I heard my voice. I don't even know why I said that.

I went back to bedroom. There was only blanket. I laid on bed. Still, it was a wonderful feeling after so many days of sleeping on the ground. Bed.

'Aren't you going to lock bedroom door?' Daryl asked from other room. I couldn't see his face but I was sure he was smirking.

'What for?' I asked surprised. 'Are you going to attack me while I'm asleep?' I asked amused. Not that it didn't cross my mind but he wasn't the type to force himself on woman. I don't know how but I just knew that much.

'Nah, I like bigger tits' he said.

I looked down at my breasts. They weren't big but they weren't small either. Sporty B, I would call them.

'Hey, I could be the last woman on Earth so you better watch your mouth.'

'Are you going to repopulate entire planet?' he was definitely smirking. That son of a... was taking it too far.

'Don't be so full of yourself or when the time comes I'll pick Shane'

Daryl laughed quietly. 'Oh, I bet you will, smartass.'

'Asshole' I said under my nose.

'Heard that.'

I smiled and closed my eyes. He was different than I thought. Surprisingly I felt asleep almost right away. I felt good and safe for the first time in a very long time. I could sleep...


I woke up in a different cabin. Sam was asleep next to me.

'Sam? Sam?!' I was shocked and at the same time I felt so relieved. She was safe and next to me. I hugged her and cried. But when I touched her, I noticed she's cold like ice.

'Sam?' I whispered. Happiness was disappearing in its place I started to feel despair. Her cold body took away all my warm. I started to shake violently.

Then she moved her hand.

'Sam?!' I yelled. She turned her head in my direction. Her eyes were grey, cold and... dead. She moaned like all those walkers I encountered. She took my hand in iron grip. I was speechless for a moment and then I just started to scream.

Suddenly I felt strong arms wrapped around me, warmness came back to my body. Sam disappeared. I was safe. I felt that nothing bad will happen to me while I'm inside that strong grip on me.

'It's okay' I felt familiar voice. Whose voice is that?

'Matt?' I asked. Only he could ease my pain, only with him next to me I could sleep peacefully. I didn't hear answer. I only felt that I drifted back into deep sleep.