Nora stepped out of the RV with a cooking pot full of bloody phlegm. It smelled terrible, and made Jim gag every time he coughed it up. Part of her just wanted to hurl the whole thing into the woods, but she knew it would be stupid to waste a perfectly good pot.

"I've got it, honey."

Lori took it from her, speaking in an overly calm tone. Normally she wouldn't have liked the way she spoke but she found she didn't mind it now. Nora went to the fire pit and dug around for a fresh pot. She saw movement in the corner of her eye; Daryl stood by his tent, shirtless and stuffing a bar of soap into a plastic bag. When he bent over to grab a fresh shirt, she saw the tattoo on his back in its entirety. Winged something; angels, or demons? She wasn't sure. Heat spread across her cheeks when she realized she was ogling Daryl Dixon; she let her hair fall across her face as she returned to the RV.

–––

"Everybody listen up. Those of you with C.B.s, we're going to be on channel 40. Let's keep the chatter down, okay? Now, you got a problem, don't have a C.B., can't get a signal or anything at all, you're gonna hit your horn one time. That'll stop the caravan. Any questions?"

No. Daryl thought in irritation. He gnawed on his thumb nail.

So what if the stupid Mexican family didn't want to come with? They weren't anyone's concern but their own. And if anyone was going to make any kind of good time today, they all needed to hike up their shorts and get moving. He dropped the hand from his mouth in disbelief when Shane offered them a gun and a box of bullets.

"Box is half full."

Unbelievable.

The wife placed a hand on Nora's cheek; she gave a small smile, waved to the kids. Everyone had washed up before setting out. Her skin was pale and clean once more, and he was sure she had put on more sunscreen. Her hair was in a braid again; the same curl hung loose. For one fleeting second, Daryl wondered which car she planned to ride in.

The damn Winnebago, obviously. With Saint Jim the Sufferer.

Merle's bike was loaded into the bed of his truck along with his gear. A small bag of personal belongings sat on the passenger seat. When he slammed the driver's door shut, a cloud of dust floated into the air. Wasn't room for anyone else in here anyway.

–––

Kandi was the prettiest girl Daryl had ever seen. She drove a bright red convertible that matched her lips and had hair that was both red and yellow at the same time. He couldn't help but to watch her mouth as she chewed a piece of bubble gum and leaned against her car.

"Could ya' give me ten dollars a' regular?"

He nodded, his limbs feeling awkward as he popped fuel door open. She blew a bubble that smacked. He saw she was wearing shiny high heels.

"Yer Roy Dixon's son, ain't ya'?"

He nodded.

"Not Merle, the other one," she grinned, "the baby brother."

Daryl felt his face go red.

"I ain't no baby."

"Yeah? How old are ya'?"

He chewed his lip defiantly.

"Eighteen."

Kandi laughed out loud.

"Sugar, you ain't a day older'n sixteen! Any one could see that!"

He was fourteen, but he wasn't about to tell her that.

"So?"

She popped another bubble.

"So what?"

"So I still ain't a baby."

The way she smiled made his lip sweat.

"Hmm. I guess not."

The gas pump clicked. She came forward, her tits brushing against his chest.

"Thanks for the gas, darlin'."

Slamming the door, she flashed him another smile.

"Maybe I'll see ya' around."

He walked home later in the dark when his shift ended. The porch light was on; he heard the TV crackling in the den. When he opened the door, he saw Merle sprawled out on the couch, his legs entangled with another pair that wore shiny high heels. His brother looked over casually.

"Evenin' little brother. Enjoying the view?"

Daryl heard a giggle as Kandi peered over Merle's shoulder.

"Hey there."

"Why don' you make yerself useful and go pick us up somethin' to drink. Whatchu want, baby? Ya wanna Zima or somethin'?"

She giggled again.

"Sure."

"Ya heard the lady! Now scoot!"

Daryl had turned silently and done as he was told. His face burned the whole was to the convenience store. When he came back, Merle and Kandi were gone; he heard the bed frame creaking. He decided to sleep on the porch.

The next morning, Kandi walked by him like he wasn't even there.

–––

Steam poured out of the front of the RV. The group stood around the vehicle, discussing the options. Daryl paced, crossbow in hand. He didn't like being out in the open like this; he felt exposed. Someone clambered down the steps behind him.

"Y'all, Jim... Its bad."

Jacqui's voice shook as she spoke; he hesitated, then climbed into the RV. Jim gasped and heaved on the bunk, sounding like he couldn't breath. Nora sat at the table with her hands flat on the surface. It took her a moment to look up when he entered. Her face was blank, but he felt he had seen this particular kind of blank before. He knew she was hurting. Jim made a particular painful sound and she shut her eyes.

Daryl hopped to the ground as Rick moved to go inside; he didn't expect her to follow him, taking a deep breath as she leaned against the side of the RV. She didn't say anything, didn't look at him, but somehow he understood that she didn't want to be alone.

–––

She had spent all of her allowance on the poster. When she had seen it in the shop window, she knew she wanted it more than anything. The man in the picture was the star of a big movie that had just come out, and she thought he was the handsomest man she had ever seen. She'd seen the room of girls her age on TV; their walls were covered in pictures and posters and other cool, colorful things. With the utmost care she had placed thumb tacks in all four corners.

When she opened her door, it was gone. Her wonderful poster was gone. Mother stood behind her.

"Eleanor, I'd like to speak with you for a moment."

She was sat down on her bed. Mother folded her hands in her lap.

"I want to explain something to you," she said, "because I'm sure you're very confused. There comes a time in young woman's life when she wants to start expressing her interests or her hobbies, and that is completely natural. You have a very promising life before you. Your father and I have worked very hard to make sure that your hobbies and interests are befitting a young lady like you."

Her fingers clenched at the way Mother punctuated the word 'lady'.

"So, I'm sure you can see how important it is to make sure that you do not deviate from the path we have set before you. You would like to be respected as a lady, wouldn't you Eleanor?"

All Mother needed was a clipboard and a pen and she could be talking to one of her patients. She gave a stiff nod, eyes staring rigidly forward.

"Eleanor. I would like for you to look at me and say yes."

For a fleeting second, she thought that she would lose control. Summoning an inner strength she didn't know she had, she fought against every wild emotion her fourteen year old mind could muster. Somewhere deep down she found a dark place, filled with anger and tears and small voices calling in fear; she shoved her feelings into the darkness and locked the door. What was left was a kind of colorless, weightless sensation of nothing.

Her face was perfectly blank as she said, "Yes Mother."

–––

Jim leaned against the tree, face upturned towards the cool breeze. Each member of the group took a turn to pay their respects. Daryl was last save for Nora; Jim met his eyes. The two men regarded one another, neither the type to mince words. Jim's clouded eyes bore into his; moving ever so slightly in Nora's direction they came back to settle on his.

Take care of her.

Daryl understood the message perfectly. He stepped forward, nodded once. Jim seemed to grasp his answer, and relaxed against the bark as he walked down the hill and left Nora alone.

She came back to the road a few minutes later, face blank. Daryl saw the tears welling in her empty eyes as she retreated into the RV without a word.