Guccileopard: wow! I was a bit unsure on if I were keeping Rick in character, but you really helped me believe I was doing a good job! Thanks and don't be shy on submitting!

Chlexfan10: I hope to see some walker action soon :3

Doctorkaitlyn: :D thankies, glad to see their chemistry is developing well :D

Padme4000: it's fine don't worry about it glad you're submitting a character, need to decide what I'll do with her but I'll let you know :)

Leyshla Gisel: thanks for your review, sorry I didn't put this earlier! My bad! forgive me c:

Everyone else: thanks for reading! Don't know where I'd be without my wonderful readers :)


The guest house wasn't too bad for…well a guest house. I almost forgot we were in an apocalypse for a second, the place looked pretty comfortable. Part of me wanted to just wait the whole thing out here with Rick, but he has his family to look for and I have mine, that is, if they even stay in the same place.

Anyways, back to the guest house. Tiny, but comfortable. It has a small bedroom with one bed (of course, how cliché), a bathroom and even a small kitchenette, guess that means that we won't have to go to the main house to cook or eat, what a relief. Don't want to go back there after what happened last time, I nearly shuddered at the thought.

The water was still running, not for long though, only long enough for both us to take a shower. Not together, freak. I was happy to take a shower again in the same day, after a couple of hours being in the Georgia heat you start to feel disgusting and everything sticks to you. I know, I know, I should be used to this kind of heat since I grew up in the LA area…but here! It's humid! Over there it's dry and hot, everything here is just way too sticky.

I set my bag at the foot of the bed and then jumped on it to stretch my body out, god I really needed that. I lazily reached my arm into my bag to pull out my dog tags and sling them around my neck. I made sure to keep them off during the day in case a walker would get close and try to pull me into them. I would put them on at night though because it was like my safety blanket.

The small jingling caused Rick to turn his head and raise his eyebrow, "You're in the army?" He asked, and I remembered that I freaked out before instead of answering his question about my background, pretty professional, right?

"Yep. Well, I only made it through basic and then the shitpocalypse happened…" I mumbled and sat up to make eye contact with him, "Sorry for not bringing it up earlier." I continued to look at him and he looked lost for words and I didn't know whether to laugh or be offended, "You look surprised." I said while trying to hold back the smile creeping up on my face.

"You just…I didn't expect that."

I raised an eyebrow and sat up straighter, "Is that a bad thing?"

He shook his head, like he was worried he offended me, it was cute how someone like me could make him get so fidgety, "No, course not. What branch?"

"Army, duh," I rolled my eyes and scoffed playfully, "other branches can't handle me."

He chuckled to himself, "What were you gonna be?"

"Thirty-one bravo, military police, MP. Whatever you wanna call it, most of the other cool ones are closed off to women and I wanted the closest thing to combat, so I chose MP. I joined after I got my masters because I figured the things I'd learn would help me out in the long run."

Rick sat on the chair in the corner of the room, clearly showing he was interested in hearing more about me, which excited me because usually people fall asleep by now. "What'd you go to school for?"

I propped myself on my elbow to become more comfortable and be able to face him while talking, "Got a masters in physics and math," I let out a small laugh, "feels pretty useless now but hey, it's an education. At least I can figure out which walker will eat me first if x is running at me from ten miles and y is walking at me from five miles…" I trailed off to think about where this conversation would be heading soon, not that I minded talking to him, just I was hoping he wouldn't ask too much about my time in Georgia with Jane and everything. Not because I was still sensitive on the subject, it's because I still don't remember some of it.

We spent about another hour or so in the room, just us sitting and talking about ourselves and our past. He shared some things about his family and growing up in Georgia, among some other memories, like becoming a sheriff's deputy. I told him how my dad was a police officer too, my mom's a doctor and how my brother is in the army like me, except he's special forces and that's the reason he thinks he's so much better than me. I tried not to delve too far into my past since I find myself to be pretty boring, but regardless, we went back and forth, sharing several laughs and taking advantage of the little moments of peace we'd have before having to set foot back into hell.

When night time arrived, we both decided to stay outside to stay on watch together until about midnight or so. Since it was going to be our only night there, we decided to just have one stay up for five hours and then switch off so we'd both get enough sleep to leave early tomorrow, sounded like a decent plan to me, anything to get some sleep. I never could get that much at that horrible convenient store since I was constantly being plagued by those god damn nightmares.

I sat next to Rick, taking in the cool air and relaxing with one leg propped on the bench we were on and the other dangling lazily. Sleep was starting to overcome me, but I wanted to stay out here as long as I could, the thought of leaving him out here by himself kind of bothered me, and what bothered me ever more was that I was actually starting to care about him too. I felt like a teenager again, but I couldn't help it. He was the one kind enough to let me stay with him, making me the hassle. Also, he's caring, a good listener, attractive, more than what a girl could want.

But honestly, the last thing I want is my childish thoughts ruining what we have here, I can't afford for things to be awkward since this whole thing is a matter of life or death, y'know, since we're living in an undead world. We can't afford to let emotions get in the way, as tempting as it is.

On the other hand though, it could bring us closer…wait, nah. It's probably a little school girl crush, nothing more, just a random attraction to a random man, it'll end sooner or later and I'm just overthinking this and I think my brain is going to fry and I don't even know anymore and what if I do say something about liking him, wait who said something about liking him?

Breathe, Isabelle!

I can't believe I just had a run on sentence in my own thoughts.

God damn it, I can't live like this. I can't be in a constant battle with my thoughts, or else he'll start to think I'm a schizophrenic or just plain crazy or something equally bad.

There I go again!

Damn it, Isabelle! Hold yourself together! You can't let such a sexy- I mean average man get to you like this! What's wrong with you?

I need to say something to him, at least an apology for being bitchy or maybe even try to flirt with him. No, no, flirting won't work. I'd probably end up saying something stupid or humiliating…

"Rick," I began, needing to interrupt my stupid, distracting thoughts, he turned his head in response and looked at me with those beautiful baby blue ey- agh shut up, brain! I turned my head to look in front of me to not get distracted and continued saying what I was going to say, "Uhh- I just wanted to tell you that…" I paused for a second to recollect my thoughts and rubbed my warm and sweaty palms together to try to keep my nerves together, "I know you probably got this hint earlier, but I just wanted to say it. I want to help you find your family." I said slowly to make sure I wouldn't somehow stumble over my words like a dumbass.

He sat up straighter, "What about yours?" he replied softly.

I shrugged and gave him a half smile in response, "I know where they're at, so I'm fine. 'Sides you know my brother's SF so he'll be fine."

He gave me a small smile in return, which made me damn near melt, and said, "Thanks, Isabelle, I really appreciate it."

"No problem, I just…wanted you to know that you're not alone in this." I turned to him and mustered up the courage to place my hand over his on the bench, "I'm here for you, Rick." I said softly, eagerly awaiting his response while at the same time hoping he wouldn't pull back and be like "eww!", but that doesn't seem too likely.

He didn't say anything, or even flinch away from my touch, surprisingly. He softly took my hand and held it for a moment as if he were thinking of a way to respond.

"I'm here for you too, Isabelle." He finally responded, while still holding on to my hand as I sat there in silence, preventing myself from doing backflips by rubbing his palm with my thumb, a sweet gesture, right? Not that creepy.

His hand twitched slightly and he removed it from mine, I tried my best to not show that it hurt a little so I gave him a small smile. He turned away and rubbed his head with his other hand, and so I scooted closer to him, "Are you okay?" I asked with my hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Rick is a bad liar, and I'm sure he's aware of that as well but usually he tries better than that, "Come on, something's up."

"It's just a little headache." He insisted.

Clearly just a headache, "Rick, you suck at lying. And you know I'll keep nagging you."

He kept rubbing his forehead, ah I see, it's a tension headache. I slid off the bench and kneeled in front of him, "It's a tension headache, I get them all the time."

I motioned him to lean forward and was about to give I guess what you could call a "forehead massage" but I told him first, "Don't worry, my hands are clean!" I wiggled my fingers to emphasize my point of maintaining good hygiene even in the apocalypse.

I leaned forward and placed my hands on his forehead, rubbing the muscle, "Yeah, it happens when you're stressed or you start to squint a lot, like this," I squinted my eyes and made a Donald Trump face to try to make him feel a little better.

He responded with a small laugh, I could tell what I was doing with my hands was helping and I kept talking so it wouldn't be awkwardly silent, "So basically…your muscles constrict…which is where the pain comes from, so you gotta rub it to loosen the muscles or it'll keep hurting..." I sincerely hope I'm not sounding too sexual.

"Does that feel better?" My hands were still in the same spot, on his face and I slid them down to his cheeks, enjoying the feeling of his clean shaven skin against my palms.

"Yeah a lot actually, thanks." He mumbled while taking a quick peek at my hands and then returning his glance to me, I could barely feel my breath hitch in my throat.

This is awkward. We're thisclose and I'm not sure what to do.

We looked at each other for a moment longer, and I patted both cheeks and stood back up quickly to go to bed, "Well good. I-er goodnight. Wake me up when…we have to..y'know switch shifts." I quickly slammed the door and made my way to the bed.

What the hell just happened?


September 10, 2010

Can't sleep. It's sort of because of a bad nightmare I had, which I've gotten used to, but I also feel like ass. It's probably slight dehydration since I haven't been drinking as much water I should've been. Damn, so Rick was right, I am sick.

God damn this room for being so stuffy. I kept turning in the bed, hoping that I'd be able to find a comfortable position to fall asleep but the feeling like shit part and the stickiness weren't helping at all.

I need fresh air.

I dragged myself out of the bed and squinted to try to see the time on the clock, it was hard to tell due to my terrible night vision, but I assumed it was probably 2 or 3 in the morning since Rick hadn't woken me up yet.

I would open the window by the bed, but due to my intense fear of the dark and hours up of playing both Amnesia and Dead Space, there's absolutely no fucking way I'm looking out that window.

Which, of course, leave me the option of going outside with Rick. Why am I so shitty at making decisions?

I got over it anyways, and crossed my fingers that he quickly forgot our awkward little moment as quickly as I wish I had.

The door creaked slightly when I applied a little pressure, and I opened it more and enjoyed the fresh cool breeze of the night. I stepped out and saw that Rick wasn't even there, and I swear I could feel my heart jump out of my chest.

I rushed back into the guest house to get my gun and went back outside again, keeping my gun gripped in my hand tightly and praying that there wasn't anything out here.

"Rick?" I whispered aloud while assuring myself that he wouldn't just leave me here alone because he knows I'd be a bigger threat than the walkers themselves.

Maybe he went to go take a piss? I circled around the guest house a couple of times and he wasn't anywhere.

He could also be at the main house…

But there's no fucking way I'm going there.

I placed both hands on my gun and tried to stop my arm from shaking as I made my way towards the main house, in case any walker decided to jump out and pounce me.

I yelped as I felt something grip my waist tightly and shove me into the wall, it was a tall shadow that I could barely make out, "Isabelle! What are you doing out here?" I recognized the voice immediately and I almost wanted to slap him for scaring the shit out of me like that.

"Where the hell were you?" I retorted angrily, "I looked everywhere and you were playing fuckin' hide and seek with me!"

"Isabelle, please keep it down." He let go of my waist and I holstered my gun while slowing my breath down, "I heard something from the main house and I wanted to make sure everything was in check over there."

"You could have just woken me up! You can't just leave me there alone without saying anything!" I exclaimed despite his previous request of staying quiet, I wasn't going to keep it down! He left me there and if a walker attacked I would've been on my own!

He sighed, "Look, I'm sorry, Isabelle," He placed both his hands on my shoulders to rub them tenderly, "I promise I wouldn't let anything happen to you." He assured me, but I still stared at the ground.

"I couldn't sleep." I began softly, "I had a bad nightmare and I felt like shit so I came out here, b-but you weren't there and I got worried and-"

We both turned our heads as we were interrupted by not only the sound of a wooden door being broken through, but by the several recognizable moans and grunts of walkers…


Let's see what happens next chapter! Sorry for the lazy/bad chapter guys, I'm not good at the sappy shit. :D Don't forget to leave some feedback my loves!

Totally random embarrassing moment: I was checking the wikia to see what Rick's official job title was and I read that he lived in KY and I'm like "oh shit" and freaked out so I hope you guys don't mind that I "messed" that up because in the comics he's from KY and in the show he's from GA, and so I'll be going with the tv canon. Wow, sorry for the run on sentence!