A/N: Hey guys! So, this is a shorter chapter, but I felt like it needed to be. You finally get a glimpse into how Claire feels about Rick in this chapter and I am planning to build on that from here. It will still be a while before any real romance takes place though.
Also, happy birthday to julesjumper! Hopefully a little Rick/Claire fluff will be a good present. :P
Thanks so very much for the reviews guys! They seriously mean so much to me and they always make me smile.
CHAPTER NINE
Sean was sleeping now and the rest of the prison group had wandered off to manage their daily chores, so Claire didn't have much to do other than sit and worry. She had offered to pitch in, but there wasn't enough work left to do for her assistance to be needed.
She just wanted Rick and the others to get back. She wanted to know what had happened and if everything was going to be okay or not. She didn't have much hope, but she figured a miracle could happen and the other camp might have decided to back off.
She fiddled with the playing cards, trying to occupy her mind as she tapped her foot on the concrete. That was one problem with the apocalypse—too much damn time to think. She never liked thinking; it always led to things that made her sad or worried.
The thought kept creeping into her mind that they weren't going to make it back—that confronting this man was going to mean being executed just like that couple.
But then she heard footsteps heading toward the cell block and a familiar voice that made her stomach do a pleasant little flip. She got to her feet and stared at the entrance as Rick, Glenn, and Maggie filed into the room.
"How did it go?" Claire asked, heading for Rick. "Are they going to back off?"
When he frowned, his eyes falling to the ground, she knew what he was going to say before he said it. "Nah…he's set on this place. We've got two choices...either go back and put a bullet in him and his men before they come or leave."
"I'll help you take them out," Claire volunteered. "You got a look at the layout right? We could sneak in, snipe the guards, and go for his tent."
"I was thinking that, too, but it's going to be tricky…we don't know how many guards are out at night or where they're going to be posted," he reminded her, heading for the table and sitting down. "We're goin' to have to be quick and smart about this."
"We need Daryl to get in on this," Glenn suggested. "His hunting skills could help a lot."
"We need you, too, Glenn," Rick told him. "Claire…I hate to ask it, but I am going to need you and Sean to hold down the fort, because I need my strongest people on this."
Claire resisted her urge to protest, because she knew what he was saying. He was telling her she was one of his strongest, but someone had to be here to look after the others. It was that acceptance of her and her brother that kept her mouth shut.
"Okay. We can do that," she agreed, sitting across from him. "You know I'm here for you guys."
She reached across the table and rested her hand on his, causing him to glance up at her with a small smile on her lips. She could see tension in his body and the stress in his eyes. This was weighing on him—as it should—and she would do whatever she could to ease that weight for him even just a little.
"Thank you, Claire," he said softly. "We're lucky you found us."
In that moment Claire knew that if she did this she would not have to leave. If she proved herself this last time, Rick would welcome her into the group. It was there in the warm smile he gave her and the way he didn't pull away from her touch.
"I'm the lucky one," she replied, pulling back her hand.
"It's my shift, go get some sleep," Claire told Rick as she walked out onto the guard tower balcony. He looked exhausted and she didn't think he'd gotten much for sleep in a long time. There were bags under his eyes and his body slouched as if it was too much to even stand.
"I can stay out here a while if you don't wanna be alone," he offered.
"You look like you're about to fall on your face, Rick. Go to bed."
He nodded slowly and pushed away from the wall. He handed her his rifle and turned to leave, but he stopped in front of the door and said, "It won't do me any good."
"What?" Claire eyed him uncertainly, not sure if she had heard his words right.
"Going to bed; it won't do me any good. I won't sleep."
"I think you'll find you're wrong on that one. I'm pretty sure you'll pass out whether you want to or not the way you're looking."
Rick shook his head and turned around, his eyes sad and dark. "You're right, I will pass out, but then I'll wake up…nightmares…"
Claire frowned at that and stepped a little closer to him, meeting his gaze. "Well…I mean, don't think I'm hitting on you or somethin', but maybe it's just that you aren't used to sleeping alone. You could lie down out here and…"
She trailed off and realized she would sound ridiculous if she went on with her suggestion. She sighed and sat down, holding the rifle and staring out at the field as she leaned against the wall.
"And what?" Rick wondered, looking down at her curiously.
Claire nibbled at her lip and extended the arm closest to him, gesturing for him to come to her.
"And lay with me," she muttered, somewhat embarrassed by her suggestion. It was a platonic suggestion, but that didn't mean her attraction to him didn't have a part in it. "I just thought maybe having someone next to you might help you sleep."
He seemed hesitant as he watched her, silently debating, and Claire added, "Like I said, not hitting on you. Just helping you out."
"Right…well, it's worth a shot I guess," he decided, moving to sit next to her. Once he did, he leaned into her and rested his head and back against her. Luckily she was fairly tall, otherwise it would be a horribly awkward fit. But he fit rather nicely next to her and her arm easily settled around his shoulder and trailed down his chest.
"Now, get some rest," she said quietly.
"What if you've gotta use that rifle?" he mumbled, already growing sleepy as he closed his eyes.
"Then I'll wake you up. But let's hope for your sake and everyone else's that I don't have to."
"Okay…you comfortable?"
"I'm fine. Now shush." She smiled down at him, even though she knew he couldn't see it, and chuckled softly. She knew that he was torn between the comfort of human contact that was lulling him to sleep and the part of him that felt strange in the arms of anyone but his wife. No matter how platonic their position may be, it was even a bit odd for her being this close to someone after so long.
Despite his uncertainty, it was only a couple of minutes before he drifted off to sleep. Claire stared out at the field and listened to the quiet sound of his steady breaths. She was easily growing used to the warmth of him against her and she was actually quite thankful for it. It was a bit a chilly night and his body heat was a life saver.
Time passed slowly, the moon moving across the sky, and Rick didn't move from his position for a long time. Claire imagined it had been at least three hours before he suddenly jolted against her, a low, distressed groan emitting from deep in his chest.
He started to toss his head back and forth against her and he muttered simply, "Lori…Lori…"
Claire sat him up slightly and reached her free hand over to brush through his hair softly. "Rick…Rick, shhhh….it's just a dream."
She couldn't see his face well enough to tell if she was making a difference, and so she gently moved his head to her lap. He was still writhing slightly and his wife's name was becoming a mantra now, but some of the tension was leaving him.
She just stroked his hair and whispered to him, watching as the writhing stopped and as his mouth slowed. After about thirty seconds he grew still and silent once again, his body relaxing fully.
Claire continued to watch him, her hand still passing through his wavy hair slowly, and she sighed. Poor Rick. This man couldn't catch a break. The world continued to crumble around him while he tried to piece it all back together for the people he loved. And now his troubles haunted him even during the one escape most human's relied on. He couldn't even sleep…
But he was sleeping now, quite peacefully actually. His chest rose and fell steadily and his lips were parted slightly, the moon casting a faint glow across his face.
Rick was even more handsome when he was at peace. It was a sight Claire had never seen until now. The walls he constantly put up and the tension he always felt was gone now and there was almost a vulnerability about him.
Claire smiled and finally looked away from him, resting her head back against the wall. Whatever it was about Rick that had pulled her towards him since they had met, it was stronger now. She wanted to know him and she wanted to help him. The only problem was she wasn't sure if he would let her.
It was still very early in the morning when Daryl came to relieve Claire, but he simply eyed her curiously and didn't speak when he saw that Rick was passed out with his head on her lap.
"He was having trouble sleeping," she whispered. "I thought this might help…having someone with him."
"Right, well…you go 'head and pass out, I'll keep watch," Daryl insisted.
"You're judging me," she said with a light smile. "I can tell."
"I ain't judgin'. You're helpin' a friend—nothin' wrong with that."
"Mhmm. You're judging."
He chuckled and smirked at her. "Maybe a little. It's jus'…I see how ya look at him."
"And how's that?" She honestly didn't know. It was no secret to her that she was attracted to Rick, but she didn't think it had shown.
"I dunno, jus'…like you're into him." He shrugged, like it was self-explanatory. "You are, ain't ya?"
Claire blushed and looked away from Daryl. She really didn't know it was that obvious. "Kinda, yea…but it's not like it means anything. I'm half his age and…"
And he had just lost his wife. He still dreamed about her every night to the point that he couldn't sleep.
"Yea…well, I ain't sayin' anythin' one way or another, but…the old rules don't apply anymore. Not in this world."
Claire smiled at him, but she didn't say anything. She liked Rick, yes, but she also barely knew him.
Either way all she wanted in that moment was to sleep. That's how she lived now, after all. She lived moment to moment and day to day. The only thing that seemed to really matter anymore was surviving.
Rick was woken by the morning sun as it crept over his face and into his eyes. He scrunched up his face and put his hands over his eyes as they opened slowly. It took him a moment to remember that he had gone to sleep out on the watch tower and another moment to realize that he must have slept the whole night.
"Mornin', sunshine," Claire greeted, smirking down at him as he looked up at her. His head was in her lap and his body was slightly kinked in spots from the position he was in, but he felt more rested than he had in months.
He sat up slowly, stretching and yawning groggily as he replied, "Good mornin'. I guess you were right—haven't slept like that in a very long time."
"Daryl seemed a little confused when he came out for his post earlier this morning," Claire chuckled. "I explained it to him though."
"Well, thank you," he said gratefully, turning to smile at her. "If I would've known it was that simple, I would've been cuddlin' with Herschel."
Claire laughed at that and got to her feet slowly, groaning a bit at the way her body cracked as she moved. "What would you say to a walk around the perimeter? I need to move."
"We gotta get inside and get the plans for tonight figured out," he reminded her. "But after that we can take a walk if you want."
He really wouldn't mind some quality time with her where he wasn't passed out. It seemed like she had a pretty good idea what was going on inside his head and he had to admit a little therapy couldn't hurt.
They headed inside and gathered the group, Rick wanting everyone to know what was happening. He left Maggie and Glenn out on two of the watch posts, since they were already well informed.
"These people are not good people," Rick told is family grimly. "They are planning on taking this prison no matter what it takes. We told them we have children, but they don't care. They want us out. So, the only choice we have is to strike first."
"What does that mean?" Beth asked, fear in her voice. "You're going into their camp?"
"Yes. Four of us. Me, Glenn, Daryl, and Maggie," Rick told them. "If we're quick and quiet, we should be able to take out the guards and get to their leader without too much trouble. We know where his tent is."
"But what if they've already thought about this?" Herschel pointed out. "What if they've figured out you probably plan on striking tonight and they come early?"
Rick had thought about that and he'd been trying to decide what to do about it. He knew they wouldn't send the whole guard, not when they had people to look after, but he still didn't think his people would have a chance if that happened.
"If we can find a place for you guys to lay low until we get back, maybe we could evacuate the prison for until early morning."
"It's a short enough drive to one of the warehouses in Griffin," Daryl suggested. "I could ride out and check it out—see if it's safe."
"Why don't you go do that right now?" Rick suggested. "Then if it is, ya'll can drive out there when we leave tonight and hunker down. I'll send Daryl over once we get back and check the prison."
Daryl was already out of the cell block by the time Rick finished speaking and the group was nodding their approval.
"Sounds like the best plan we've got," Carol said, smiling at Rick in encouragement. "We'll get through this, just like we do everything else."
Rick nodded in agreement and smiled back. He hoped with everything he was that Carol was right. That was all there was left to drive him in this world—keeping this group safe. If he failed, he didn't know if he could keep going. And now there was Claire and Sean to add to his list of people he felt compelled to protect.
"Okay…everyone start getting things around for tonight. Pack up everything and take it to the warehouse," Rick insisted. "If they come, we don't want them taking out stuff as well as our home."
Everyone quickly got to their feet and went to start on packing up what they had. There was a tension in the air—a fear—and it was almost tangible, but there was a silver lining of hope as well. If they made it through this night unscathed, everything could settle back into the pattern they had grown accustomed to. At least for a while.
