She felt her blood run cold and was sure her heart skipped a beat as Jimmy's words sunk in. She grabbed his shoulder, squeezing tightly.
"What happened?" She demanded, practically shouting at him, "Where is he?"
"It was an accident; Hershel's taken him inside to patch him up…" The words had barely left his mouth before Lizzie ran. He watched her go, not even stopping to climb the fence, vaulting over it instead, dropping her axe as she did so. She didn't even stop.
He started to follow, slower this time, making sure that he bent and retrieved her lost weapon- he was sure that she'd need it again soon.

Lizzie was running faster than she'd even ran before, her breathing was heavy and ragged and her thoughts were all over the place. She didn't know what had happened, who had shot him or how bad it was, she only knew that she had to get back to the house and see Daryl.
He'll be fine, she thought as she ran, he has to be fine- you haven't even gotten to try him out yet, he can't be gone, not before you…
She let out a choked sob, almost surprising herself enough to stop. She knew that she'd got feelings for Daryl but she hadn't realized the intensity of them.
Pull it together, she scolded herself, don't you dare fall apart!

As she leapt the second fence, landing on the farmhouses lawn, she saw Beth waving to her from the porch. She slowed her pace, stopping at the bottom of the steps, desperately trying to catch her breath so she could speak.
"Dad took him into the guest room, downstairs," Beth explained, moving closer, "there was a lot of blood but I think he was still alive."
Lizzie looked at her and nodded, straightening up and running- nowhere near as fast as she had run across the fields lest she burst through a wall –in the direction of the guest room.
The door was closed but she could hear the telltale signs of a commotion behind it.

She burst through the door, making the small group gathered in the room jump as it slammed against the wall, and her eyes searched for Daryl. She saw him sprawled on the bed, Rick standing next to him and Hershel leaning over him, and she rushed over, pushing the men out of the way.
There was blood on the sheets, on his face and soaking through his shirt and jeans. She gasped, putting her hands on his shoulders and leaning over him, trying to find a sign of life in his face.
"Daryl?" She whispered, shaking him gently. When he didn't respond she shook harder, raising her voice, "Daryl, c'mon, wake up!"

His eyelids fluttered open and he looked up at her, taking a moment to focus on her face above him.
"Fuck are you yellin' at girl?" He asked groggily as he looked up at her. She let out a sigh of relief, dropping her head to his chest as she silently thanked God, "where're you goin'?"
"I'm not goin' nowhere," she answered, smiling tearfully as she bought her head back up, "fuck have I told you about goin' out alone?"
"I don't need babysittin'." He repeated, lifting his arm and placing his hand over hers.
"Sure doesn't look like it." She said, entwining her fingers in his and squeezing. He frowned up at her.
"You're cryin' again," he said, looking confused, "I don't like it when you cry."
"It's a good cry," she said, raising her free hand and wiping her eyes before any tears fell, "I was worried about you."

"You don't hafta worry about me, I'm fuckin' tough," he smiled at her when she laughed, "I don't feel too good though."
"There's an injury on his side and the bullet grazed his temple," Hershel spoke up, not sure what to make of this strangely intimate scene unfolding before him, "both wounds need cleaning and dressing."
"I can do that," she said, turning to look at Hershel, not letting go of Daryl's hand, "havin' tattoos taught me all about disinfecting and dressin'," she looked up at Rick, "if you could help me get him to the bathroom, I'll get the tub filled."
"I'll fill it for you, that way you won't have to leave him." Carol walked through the adjoining bathroom door. Lizzie wasn't sure but she thought she detected a hint of bitterness in her tone.

"You gonna bath me?" Daryl asked from the bed, drawing her attention back to him, "Do I get to see yours too?"
"I was plannin' on lettin' Rick undress you," she smirked, "no homo."
"I'll leave the medical supplies on the other bed," Hershel said, "if you need any help, just call."
"Thanks," Lizzie smiled, watching him as he left, she turned to Rick, "mind helpin' me get him into the bathroom?"
"No problem." Rick nodded as he stepped forwards, ready to lift Daryl off the bed.
"Okay boy," she said quietly, squeezing Daryl's hand before letting it go, "let's getcha sorted."

She moved aside as Rick nodded to her, ducking down and taking Daryl's arms, pulling him up into a sitting position. Lizzie took his legs and slid them off the bed so he was sitting properly.
"Think you can walk?" Rick asked, sliding one of Daryl's arms over his shoulder, getting ready to lift him to his feet.
"We'll find out." Daryl smirked, resting his feet on the floor, testing how they took weight.
Rick nodded at Lizzie, standing up and lifting Daryl. He stood for a second then wobbled, so she positioned herself under his other arm, wrapping her hand around his waist to hold them together for support. He winced as she pressed against his wounded side. She sensed him tense and moved away slightly, reaching for his hand above her- when her fingers found his, he squeezed them.
"You'll do anythin' for a cuddle, huh?" He asked quietly.
"You know me too well." Rick answered with a smile, making Lizzie chuckle.

They made slow progress across the room, not having to carry or drag Daryl as much as Lizzie had expected- he was trying his best to keep upright and she admired his bravery.
"The bath's nearly ready; I waited for the water to warm up." Carol said as they entered, she looked fondly at Daryl, evidently grateful for what he was trying do for her daughter.
"Hang on a sec," Lizzie said, realizing they'd probably need somewhere to rest him while his clothes were removed. She squeezed his hand again, making him look down at her, "don't fall over, okay? I'll be right back."
She rushed back to the kitchen, finding Patricia and Beth in there.

"How is he?" Patricia asked- Beth had obviously told her what had happened.
"He's okay," Lizzie answered with a relieved smile, "we're gonna get him washed and sort the wounds out now."
"You're bathing him?" Beth asked, her eyebrows raised and a cheeky smile on her lips.
"Girl, I'll fetch that damn hay bale from the stable if you carry on," Lizzie grinned, she motioned to one of the empty chairs, "mind if I borrow one of these?"
"You go ahead," Patricia nodded, watching as Lizzie spun the chair around and lifted it, "the women from the other group are gonna cook us dinner tonight, I'll come and find you when it's ready."
"Thanks," Lizzie smiled, "I'll let you know how it goes."

She went back to the bathroom and saw that Carol had hastily replaced her under Daryl's arm. She hoped her slightly distasteful look didn't show too badly on her face as she dropped the chair to the floor.
"Rick, are you okay to…" She motioned to Daryl's clothing, feeling her face flush a little at the thought of undressing him.
"I'm sure you can handle it." Daryl said, catching her eye, making her blush deepen.
Rick and Carol moved him to the chair, sitting him down. Carol knelt beside him, keeping her hand on him to steady him as Rick leant him forwards, starting to lift the shirt from him.
"I'll get his shoes," Carol offered, leaning down his legs, "I'm sure you've got other things that you need to…"
"I got it," Lizzie interrupted, dropping to her knees at his feet, drawing a smirk from him- no doubt something else was running through his head, "anyways, I heard you ladies were gonna be cookin' up a storm in the kitchen?"
They stared at each other, sizing one another up for a second before Carol nodded, standing slowly.
"If you need me, just call." She said to Daryl, squeezing his shoulder before she left.
"Jealous?" Daryl asked Lizzie as he saw her watch Carol leaving the room.
"Shut up and lift your feet." She snapped having already untied both his boots.

He did as he was told and she managed to slip them and his socks- nice and holey! –off his feet, leaving them in a pile on the floor. She looked up at Rick.
"How're we gonna do his pants?" She asked, feeling her face redden again.
"I'll hold him up and you can undo them," Rick pulled a face, "not sure how comfortable I feel taking another man's pants off."
Lizzie laughed, nodding, understanding his reluctance- it was quite an intimate gesture really and even though she herself felt a little awkward about it, she realized it would be much easier for her to do it.

When Rick pulled him out of the chair, instructing him to use the back of the seat as extra support while Lizzie was busy, she scooted forwards on her knees a little, careful not to look up and catch the eye of either of her male companions, and reached up towards his belt.
"I'm commando." He said quickly, his face flushing a little this time.
"How the fuck do you ride a horse commando?" She asked, her hand falling back to her knees.
"With difficulty," he shrugged, shuffling his feet a little, "I don't think you wanna be down there in case I…"
"Oh," she said suddenly, scrabbling to her feet, "yeah, sounds good," she looked up at Rick- he was trying to hide a smile, "d'ya think you can handle it from here?"
"I'll get him into the tub," Rick nodded, watching her as she smiled thankfully and turned to leave, he caught Daryl's eye for a second and he gave him a look that he fully understood, "but I'll need you to undo his pants first."

Lizzie spun around, narrowing her eyes at both of them- they were both trying to hide their grins and she knew something had passed between them.
"Are you bein' serious?" She asked, her gaze moving from one to the other.
"My hands are kinda full, if I lean over, I might drop him." Rick tried to say it with such earnest that Lizzie couldn't refuse.

She walked forwards, grabbing hold of Daryl's belt and beginning to undo it. She didn't take her eyes off his, watching him as he smirked down at her. She pulled his belt free, throwing it over her shoulder, hoping it landed with his shoes, before starting on the button and zip.
She undid the button easily and hesitated a second before she began to slide the zip down, still looking intently at Daryl. Once it had reached the bottom of its descent, she let go, making sure to move her hands back as his pants dropped to the floor.
"Can you handle it from here?" She asked, turning her head so she was looking at Rick, desperately trying to tell herself not to look down.
"Yes ma'am, I'll let you know when he's in." Rick was trying not to laugh.
Lizzie nodded, looking back to Daryl before she turned away and walked out the room, not looking back.

She pressed herself against the wall in the bedroom, letting out a deep breath and feeling her heart pounding. She'd done well- she was pleased that she hadn't sneaked a peek –but she wasn't sure how she was going to cope with him naked in a bath tub.
Easy tiger, she thought with a smile, sure there'll be plenty of dick to go around!