Soooo excited about the new episode tonight! Will be doing a blogpost on favorite scenes and quotes from season two, and also a couple of rants if anyone is interested. Will let you know when its up. Reviews welcome and thanks for reading, lovelies. Sorry this chapter is shorter than most. More coming soon.
"Can I get anything for you?"
Rose looked at Shane, confusion apparent on her face. She felt too sick to have any type of guard up and wondered if she should be worried, even wondered if she should call for someone.
"I'm not gonna hurt you, girl", he said as if reading her mind. She thought about the way his voice sounded when he said "girl". Daryl called her that sometimes but when he says it, it sounds altogether different. It made her apprehensive when Shane said it-usually he spat it-but even when he didn't…there was something dishonest about his tone.
Still, she said nothing. Shane held a hand out and felt her cheeks, her forehead. His touch was gentle and it sent her mind reeling. At one point she couldn't rule out that she was imagining the whole thing.
"Uh…um. Some water would be nice." Her voice was soft and weak.
"Okay, Rose. I'll be right back."
It was the first time he'd ever said her name.
Maggie, Daryl, and Rick made it to the pharmacy without incident. They encountered a few walkers on the way and took them down with ease.
The building was wide open, as the door had been removed. They all feared the pharmacy would be completely cleared out by now.
Daryl went behind the counter and grabbed several bottles of random pain killers. Maggie went for the antibiotics, taking whatever they had left-to their surprise the shelves were far from empty. Rick picked up some things that could be of use in any number of situations. Their first aid kit had been nearly non-existent for some time. He was disappointed in himself that it took someone getting sick to restock. How foolish and fatal that could be.
Maggie was throwing Z-Paks in her bag when she sensed something fly past her head. She spun around and gasped. Daryl's arrow had hit its target-a female walker that was particularly gruesome. Its flesh had been ripped away from the corner of her mouth to her ear on the right side of her face. Rotting teeth glistened with blood and tissue. The arrow landed right between her soulless eyes.
Maggie panted slightly and looked to Daryl. "How did I not know it was there?" She asked, shuddering.
"It happens", Daryl replied. "I got your back."
Shane returned as promised with a big cup of water and a cool wash cloth. Rose didn't know how to respond or what to think about Shane's abrupt change in behavior.
She lifted her head and took a long drink from the cup, downing over half of it. The cool water was soothing going down her sore throat.
"Thanks", she said softly, looking at his face for any sign of intent.
He folded the rag and laid it across her forehead. It felt so nice she closed her eyes and sighed. Shane chuckled-not vehemently this time but genuinely, and it made her open her eyes and look at him again.
"Shane, what is this? I mean….we all know you-"
"Hey, look. I'm sorry. Okay?" He rewet the rag and pressed it to her cheeks, her neck, her collarbone. The gesture felt oddly intimate and his eyes lingered on her delicate skin. She felt her face get hotter and was thankful then for the cover that fever provided her.
She was angry with herself, of course, for having such a reaction to a harsh, uncaring man. She wanted Daryl and she wanted him now, but she wondered about Shane's stability and thought it best she didn't inquire.
"Your skin is so hot…". He replaced the cloth with his hand, pressing it lightly against her chest. She shivered and tried to mask it.
"Probably shouldn't be so close to me", she cautioned. "As you can see, I'm pretty sick."
"You don't want me to touch you?" He looked directly into her eyes and knew he had her right where he wanted her.
She scoffed. "I..I..this isn't…no. You can't just-"
"I can't just...?" He leaned in and kissed her cheek and quickly moved to her neck, trailing his hand down her chest.
Eyes closed, Rose scowled at herself. Her breath caught in her throat. She didn't know what it was…sure Shane was good looking and strong…but he was half the man Daryl was. There was no connection between her and Shane. He didn't have the heart, the selflessness, the humor that Daryl possessed…
Her voice sounded hushed, stuck at first. "Don't…"
His hand found her hip and he moved his lips to hers.
"Stop", she said into his mouth. She put a hand on his chest and pushed.
"Are you serious?" He glared at her.
"I don't understand why you think I wouldn't be, Shane".
He stared at her for a long moment before getting to his feet.
"You've got some nerve, bitch", he spat, and left the tent.
Not soon after his departure, Lori came to check on her, concern on her face.
"I saw Shane leaving the tent. What was that about?"
