Another chapter yay! A super long one as I go back to school tomorrow and because I love you all Also whenever I type in italics its generally a characters thoughts, so just so you don't get confused over who's thoughts it is it's usually right after that character has just spoken.
As Daryl gave Rick the signal from the other side of the street Rick quickly ran across before anything could see him.
"Did you get it?" asked Daryl in a hurry.
"Yep" Rick said as he showed him the baby formula and a few boxes of bullets.
Rick and Daryl walked back to the car and talked on the way.
"Rick were you ever thinking of….um"
"Thinking of what?"
"Moving"
Rick smiled and tilted his head to the side.
"I don't think this is that kind of situation Daryl"
"The walkers are pushing down the fence Rick; there are more of them every day"
"I've been thinking about that as well, but where else can we go? The prison is the safest place we've found in a long time Daryl"
Daryl looked into Rick's eyes, he was frightened, not just for himself but mainly for everyone else.
"How about when we get back we get a few more people on the fence, you know to take more of them down, letting them pile up is a bad idea"
"That's true"
When they were back at the prison Rick informed everyone of what was going to happen with the fences.
"I want at least four people on the fence at all times, only during the day of course as there is much more opportunity for error at night"
Everyone nodded and the people selected for the task made their way out into the yard. They began penetrating the walkers one by one with their knives, swords, sharp pieces of wood, whatever it was they could find. Rick was comforted by the fact that by the end of the day, there was a significant decrease of walkers surrounding the prison.
Rick turned as a hand was placed on his shoulder.
"Oh hey Matt"
"Hey Rick I was wondering if I could join you for an outing tomorrow, or more you join me"
Rick frowned, he didn't know what he meant by trip. I'm meant to be manning the fences with Daryl tomorrow. I'm sure he won't mind.
"Where to?"
"I went on a run the other day and found a house, it has tons of supplies, very secluded and I thought you would like to see"
"Why didn't you take some supplies while you were there?"
"I thought you might like to choose what we really needed, I hid all of it somewhere so you don't need to worry about someone coming along and taking it"
Rick became annoyed, though why he wasn't sure.
"How long will it take to get there by car?"
"Thirty minutes, maybe twenty if the traffic isn't so bad" He said grinning. The comforting joke turned Rick's suspicions away and he made his decision.
"Yeah sure, sounds interesting"
Matt smiled and made his way back inside before Rick stopped him.
"Hey have you spoken to Daryl lately?"
Matt rubbed the back of his neck.
"I tend to avoid him to be honest" As Rick's facial expression became confused Matt quickly cut in.
"No he's a lovely guy don't get me wrong, he just doesn't seem to like me is all"
"I've never noticed him to have any hostility towards you"
"Maybe you should take more notice"
There was a pause where Rick was deep in thought.
"He seems to be very protective over your friendship"
Rick stepped forward, generally interested at this point.
"What do you mean?"
"There have been times when he has questioned me about my motives"
"Motives about what?"
"Well I suppose motives towards everything but specifically you, he uses everything else as an excuse"
"I'm still not sure what trying to say Matt"
"He's jealous of me"
Rick's eyes widened.
"Yeah I don't get it either"
Matt walked back inside.
Why is Daryl jealous of Matt, he's my best friend, have I not been giving him enough attention lately? Maybe I shouldn't go on this trip with Matt tomorrow…on the other hand if I do go it would clearly point out if he is jealous or not. I never thought about any of this before, wow I must really not be paying attention.
The next day Rick and Matt walked out of the prison getting their things ready in the car. Daryl walked over when he saw what was happening.
"What's this?" He questioned Rick.
"I thought we were cleaning out the walkers on the other side of the fence today"
Matt was already in the car whilst Rick was finishing up the conversation.
"I'm sorry Daryl" He said as he shut the boot of the car.
"I'm going on a run with Matt, I'll be back soon though don't worry"
Daryl's facial expression went from annoyed and slightly hurt to normal, he added a grin to cover up, this didn't work of course as he rarely grinned.
"Oh nah, I'm not worried, was just confused" Daryl stepped back.
Rick looked at him for a moment.
"It's okay Daryl, I don't care, and I'm flattered that you worry about me sometime-
"I'm not!" He said firmly.
He paused before speaking again.
"Have a good trip" he walked quickly towards the fences on the left side of the prison, far away from Matt and Rick.
"Daryl!" but he was already far way and he clearly didn't want to be spoken to.
Rick got in the driver's seat, closing the door confused.
Matt spoke first.
"Told you"
"Why do you think he's like that?"
"Beats me, come on let's go"
Rick did as he was told and drove on, but he kept thinking about Daryl while Matt recounted some childhood story. Rick only paid attention when instructions for where to go were delivered.
"We're here"
"Rick?"
"Oh sorry"
"Did you even hear what I said?"
"No sorry"
"Ugh, never mind we're here"
Rick looked forward and saw the house Matt was talking about, it looked reasonably well kept and it was indeed secluded as Matt told him. Rick got out of the vehicle interested, Matt led him towards the house.
Rick got his gun out of his weapon belt but as he did so Matt stopped him. Rick gave him an angry stare, what the hell is his problem?
"You won't need it"
Rick continued to stare.
"I've already cleared it"
"So? More walkers could have easily gotten in since you were here last"
Matt didn't say anything, instead he walked inside.
Rick was instantly suspicious; he however placed his gun back inside the weapon pocket.
The usual creak of unkempt floorboard didn't stir Rick's concentration as he remained aware that nowhere is one hundred percent safe.
Rick looked around, he didn't know what place Matt would have been able to hide the goods he said were supposedly worth driving here for.
Rick didn't have enough time to react when he heard the familiar crack, he spun around and cried out as a bullet was lodged into his shoulder and flew out the other end.
"I told you not to shoot him!" Matt yelled.
Rick was on the floor leaning again the door, his vision was blurry, his head was spinning and all he could see were figures, one was Matt who was the other?
….
"Daryl have you seen my dad?" Carl was panting; he had obviously run to get here, what was so god dam important?
"Nah" Daryl practically spat as he stabbed yet another walker as it approached the fence gurgling at him.
"What's your problem?" Carl quickly shook his head.
"Never mind, so where is he?"
"He went with that Matt dude somewhere….I dunno where they went"
"Daryl I think he's in trouble"
Daryl turned fully around to face Carl this time, panic covering his rugged features.
"What do you mean trouble?"
"Well Matt wasn't lying when he said that he was taking dad somewhere he had been a few weeks before, when he visited the first time, well when he got back…I dunno he had this look almost frightened, I tried to talk to him about it but he wouldn't give me any answers"
"So how do you know anything's going to happen to your dad?"
"Well that night I heard him muttering in his sleep and something he said was their going to kill me, he kept mumbling nonsense until he said unless I bring him"
Daryl walked straight past Carl towards his motorbike.
"Daryl waits! Where are you going?"
"Where do you think? I'm going to save your dad's stupid ass"
"He's not stupid!"
"He is for hanging around that creep for the past three weeks"
"Have you thought he was a creep this whole time?"
"I suppose what it is to you?"
"Nothing…I guess, thanks for being so concerned is all"
Daryl made sure his crossbow and arrows were secured against him tightly and he decided to bring a few knives as well.
Carl's face became flushed as he next spoke.
"I see the way you….um…look at him" Holy shit this is uncomfortable
Daryl become seriously uncomfortable, the fact that this was Carl made it worse. Daryl decided to turn his sarcasm on as it made anything he had to speak about way easier.
"Look Carl I'm super happy you suddenly decided to get in touch with your inner woman and become touchy feely and all that….but that's not the way I roll, also your father may be dying right now so I should go"
Carl simply nodded.
"Do you want to continue this conversation later or...?"
"No" Daryl said firmly as he started the engine.
A second later the motorbike sped off and Carl was left standing. Carl smiled to himself before shrugging and walking back inside.
"Why aren't Rick and Matt back yet Carl?"
Carl panicked, what was he supposed to tell them?
"Um, the place they were at was a dead end but they came back a few minutes ago just to let me know that they found another place and that they would be back in about an hour, Daryl's gone with them just in case they need his crossbow…and stuff"
Carl held his breathe for a moment.
Glenn looked at Carl suspiciously, Carl only spoke in a childish manner if he was at a loss for words, he hoped he wasn't making this up, but he decided to give the benefit of the doubt and let it slide.
"Okay"
Carl did his best not to exhale to quickly with relief as he made his way back to his cell.
…
"There are you happy now Matt?" The older man had just finished bandaging Rick's wound so he wouldn't bleed out. Matt nodded looking frightened. There were two large looking men standing with the arms folded on the other side of the room, they didn't look very friendly.
"Matt…" Rick panted.
A bead of sweat rolled across his forehead, pain was flowing through the top of his chest. He was incredibly thankful for the exit wound.
"What, the hell….is going on"
"I'm sorry Rick I-
"SHUTUP!" yelled the older man. He slapped Matt across the fact, Matt backed up to the other corner becoming frightened.
"I don't give a shit about what you have to say, you were supposed to bring him here two days ago!"
Matt started shaking; Rick was beginning to understand what was going on but he had no idea how in the hell he was meant to get out of this.
"What…do you…want?" Rick groaned.
The older man was clearer to Rick now; he had a shortly trimmed beard and shoulder length dark brown hair. The man pointed his gun at Rick's head so it was almost touching it; Rick winced at the closeness of the object.
"Matt here tells me you've got a pretty good set up where you're at right now, that true?"
Rick glared angrily at Matt who seemed at a loss for words.
"Rick I had no choice… they tried to kill me"
"So I'll take that as a yes then?" The older man said.
"Right well here's what's going to happen, me and my men are going to follow you back to your camp, you're going to be taking us there, that surround alright with you?" The man looked insane; Rick didn't think he had another choice.
Daryl overheard the conversation through one of the windows; everyone was so distracted by the man with the gun that nobody saw him.
Shit Rick! Oh man, he's hurt real bad, if he dies….no he won't because I won't let them kill him, those bastards! And Matt! You know what I'm going to save his ass as well, because I'm a nice guy, but I won't be once we get back to the prison.
Daryl tapped on the window softly, the window closest to Matt, Matt jumped when he saw him. Daryl pointed to the ground, Matt became confused until he noticed a medium sized hole in the wall…he was still confused. Daryl passed him a pocket knife through it, gesturing to one of the two men. Matt panicked and shook his head frantically, tears in his eyes. Daryl became irritated and gestured to his crossbow, now he got it. If Matt killed one Daryl would kill the other, although this would obviously alert their leader who had a chance of killing Rick, but Daryl knew he was smart enough as well as close enough to the door to figure out that he could easily drag himself a couple of feet to get outside.
Matt was shaking as he quietly approached the smaller of the men with the knife, Daryl was scared that he wouldn't have the guts to do it, or that he wouldn't do it properly but after taking a deep breath Matt plunged the dagger through the back of the man's neck. The man gasped in agony but he was cut off mid gasp as his throat was filling with blood and he was choking on it.
Rick's eyes widened.
What the hell?
Rick did his best to pull himself towards the door, the man with the beard, although distracted by Matt's idiotic actions ready to strike, noticed Rick and stomped on his leg, hard. Rick yelled in pain. At this point the other man lunged towards Matt ready to kill him but Daryl was already around the other side with his crossbow, he shot it expertly through his head, there was a thump and the man was dead. The leader was about to shoot Rick in the head when Matt bravely pushed him aside.
"You little shit!" The man yelled, he was already on his feet, his weapon ready when Daryl came crashing through the window and aimed at the man's head, the man panicked which gave Matt time to grab his gun, without losing a second more Daryl shot him dead.
"Ugh" Rick groaned in pain, Daryl rushed to his side, inspecting his wound.
"Hey Rick"
"Hey" Rick closed his eyes and smiled, happy to be saved but happier to see his best friend. Matt was simply standing, not knowing how to react.
"Matt, you alright?" spoke Daryl sounding actually concerned.
Matt slowly nodded.
"Come on, up you get"
Rick put his arm around Daryl's shoulders for support as he got up.
Daryl let go when he thought he was fine but Rick started to fall with a gasp, Daryl quickly caught him.
"Whoa, you right? I know your shoulder must hurt like a bitch, did something happen to your leg too?"
Rick slowly lifted one of the legs of his pants; Daryl gasped and then slightly growled when he saw the large dark bruise forming.
"I'll help you get back to the car, hey Matt can you drive?"
"I don't think I can remember my way back in the dark?"
"It's alright, just follow me"
Once Rick was safely in the passenger seat Daryl started to go back to his bike when Rick grabbed the front of his vest and pulled him close. Um what?
Daryl was thankful for the darkness as he felt himself blush.
"Thank you" Rick whispered.
Daryl almost felt hopeful of Rick's affections for him until Rick patted his back twice and pulled away. It was definitely a manly pat on the back, the first part not as much but Daryl had honestly let that out of his mind for now, it was clouded with disappointment instead.
Daryl smiled down at the delirious Rick and quickly hopped on his motorbike as he saw some walkers in the distance, probably lured by all the noise.
They returned to the prison in half an hour, Glenn was waiting by the gate, ready to let them in.
Carol was there too and she ran up and hugged Daryl as soon as he got off his bike, he quickly pushed her away.
"Later, got to help Rick"
She nodded in understanding when she saw the state he was in.
Carl watched as Daryl helped his father inside, looking at him with such worry and concern, he believed that Daryl cared for his father more than he would let on, he didn't mind, he was good for him.
Some of the others tried to go after them but Carl and Carol stopped them.
"They've obviously been through hell, let's let them relax tonight and they can explain everything when they want"
Daryl took Rick to his cell and helped him onto his bed.
Rick winced.
"Sorry"
"It's okay"
There was a minute of silence, Daryl knew he should leave, but he didn't want to.
"Daryl?"
"Yeah"
"Are you jealous of Matt?"
Daryl scoffed and Rick smiled, Daryl hated being called out like that, he never handled it well.
"What's there to be jealous of?"
Rick thought for a moment.
"You're my best friend Daryl, I like Matt, he's a nice…guy" He had trouble finishing the sentence once the previous events of the night entered his mind.
"I care about you"
Daryl loved the sincerity in Rick's eyes as he spoke those words, he was so lost in them that he didn't notice himself leaning forward until it was too late.
Rick's eyes widened at the sudden contact of Daryl's lips, but the warmth, contact and general comfort and attention given to him by another human being, that human being, being Daryl caused the shock to quickly pass and he closed his eyes to enjoy the feeling.
I think I love you….oh shit!
Daryl pulled away very quickly and backed up until his back was touching the wall. He began hyperventilating.
Rick sat up.
"Daryl" He began
"I'm sorry Rick" Daryl quickly whispered before rushing outside.
Rick sat at the side of his bed and raked his hand through his hair, exhaling quickly.
"I think I…..shit" Rick laid himself back on his bed and fell asleep quickly, the sensation of Daryl's lips on his being the last thing he thought of before sleep took him.
WHOOO SUPER LONG AMAZING CHAPTER! I hope you guys liked it! Please leave me a review and let me know what you think of the story so far, it doesn't take long and I do love to hear from you guys I got pretty emotional whilst writing this chapter. *gets tissues.
