Daryl sat on the couch with Kit lying across is lap, rubbing a damp cloth on her face in an attempt to clean the blood off. He had just given her a unit of blood, which appeared to be yielding positive results as the color began to return to Kit's face.

Patricia looked on sympathetically. "Normally I would say to let her rest, but if she has a concussion we need to wake her up every couple hours."

He nodded, gently shaking the small woman awake. "Dex, you okay?"

"Feel like shit," she responded quietly. "Never let Lori drive again…worst driver ever."

"I promise ya will never get in a car with her again. What's your head like?"

"Hurts. I can't focus. Vision's blurry." Daryl could see that Kit was pretty well out of it but he felt so relieved that she was okay that he didn't give a damn. Hell, he had had concussions before and he always popped right back. Kit would be the exact same.

"Well, I took yer glasses off."

"Even when I had them on."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Ya scared the shit outta me, Dex."

"Payback, Griz," she joked. Daryl looked up and saw that Shane had reentered the living room from his 'talk' with Lori. "I heard people talking earlier. It was about Lori being pregnant. Did I hear right?" asked Kit.

"Yer ears are good, Dex. S'pose it's a shock."

She snorted. "Are you kidding? I knew before Rick."

Shane's eyes shot to Kit in surprise. "Why would Lori yell you?"

"Glenn wasn't being helpful. She wanted to talk it over with a woman. Men are stupid." Daryl couldn't help but get a kick out of the look on Shane's face. Apparently he took offense to the fact that Olive Oyl had told Kit before him.

Daryl woke Kit up every two hours that night and by the next morning it was clear she would eventually be fine. She would have to take the next couple of days pretty easy given the blood loss and the concussion, but Daryl would take real good care of her.

He had asked about the damn cat that always perked Kit up, but apparently the fur demon hadn't left Beth's side since she went into shock. It made a brief visit to Kit after she had begun to recover but went right back to its vigil over Beth. Hell if Daryl cared – he would just perk her up without the help of the pint-sized monster.

She sat on the couch now and Daryl wanted nothing more than to stay with her but Rick and the others still hadn't come back which meant he was on rescue duty. Fortunate for him, they came back on their own.

"What happened to you?" Rick asked, noticing the small cuts on Lori's face.

"I was in a car accident," she explained, not wanting to discuss it.

"Yeah, and she nearly got Kit killed," Daryl snapped. "I still ain't happy 'bout that." Daryl's day only became more frustrating when Randall's presence was pointed out. If it wasn't one damn thing it was another.

Daryl waited outside for a few minutes while the group debated, having his own internal debate. Both Kit and Carol had told him he shouldn't pull himself away from the group and instead be a part of it. He didn't know about Carol, but he did trust Kit's judgment. And he sure as hell wasn't going to leave her alone to fend against Shane's special brand of fucked up. He stepped into the dining room.

"Look, he was with a group of assholes who tried to kill you guys, so I don't want him on this farm. I say we do what Rick says and send him on his merry way once he's healed up. Sending him out alone may as well be a death sentence anyway." Kit was finally becoming coherent.

"Ya'll don't think his group is gonna come looking for us?" Shane asked scornfully.

"They left him for dead," Rick replied coldly.

"We should still post a guard," said T-Dog.

"As far as his group coming back, I wouldn't count on it," Kit drawled, "Unless they're stupider than the average dumbass. First of all, they wouldn't know the first place to start looking. Second of all, Rick, Herschel and Glenn kicked their asses, so I don't think they'll be eager for a rematch. Then there's also the fact that they don't know how many people are in our group, or how well armed we are. The unknown is some scary shit so I'm not too concerned about them looking."

"Let's all listen to the girl with a concussion," Shane replied sarcastically. "Someone who ain't thinking straight ought to be the first person we turn to for advice. You know what? I think I'll just get him some flowers and candy!"

"Shut the fuck up, Shane. Give me two days and I will kick your ass into next Tuesday."

"You know, little girl, you keep making those threats but I never see you come through on them." He looked around and it was clear nobody was going to back him up on his opinions concerning Randall and Kit. "Hell, we're back in fantasyland."

Daryl was surprised to see Herschel put Shane in his place. Maybe the old man had some balls after all. Didn't matter, though, his main concern was Kit. She beamed at him and he approached her in her chair. "I'm glad you came," she whispered.

He turned to Herschel. "It okay if I take her to our tent?" he asked. He wanted some goddamn privacy with his woman.

Herschel nodded. "I don't think I could convince you otherwise, anyway. Just make sure she doesn't strain herself too much. Tomorrow she could maybe try walking, but for today I don't want her moving much or trying to concentrate on anything."

"Ain't gonna hear a word of complaint from me 'bout that." He picked up Kit and began walking back to the camp he had set up the previous day for them. Once they had arrived there, his entire focus was on her, placing her on the sleeping pads they shared. "So Olive Oyl's ta blame fer gettin' ya into this mess?"

"I'm slowing getting memories from the crash back. She hit a walker and then, like an idiot, swerved into a ditch. God, that woman can be stupid sometimes."

"I figured that much. Gettin' pregnant ain't too smart durin' the apocalypse."

"It's one thing if it's a total accident, but I don't think she was using protection – which is just asking for trouble. Plus, she claims she doesn't know who the father is."

"That's gotta be hard."

"Well, I've done the math," Kit admitted. "It isn't Rick's. Lori took the test maybe a little over a week after Rick had come back from the dead. No way it's Rick's."

"Hell, then. No wonder Shane's actin' like she's his woman and all concerned 'bout the baby."

"I think she's made it pretty clear to him that he isn't allowed to be involved."

Daryl's eyebrows rose in mild interest. "I ain't one ta agree with Shane on anythin'. But, hell, if that was ma kid, I would be pissed at her, too. I'd be fightin' her all the way."

Kit was surprised. She hadn't thought about having children with Daryl until Lori had brought it up in the car and up until now she assumed he would never be interested. She, for her part, didn't think kids would be a good idea. "Never knew you liked kids."

"Don't got nothin' 'gainst them." He got a panicked look in his eyes. "Don't tell me I'm gonna be gettin' any surprises."

Kit rolled her eyes. "Unlike Lori, I'm pretty careful."

"Good. Jus' 'cause I ain't got nothin' 'gainst them don't mean I'm eager for 'em – especially now."

"Honestly, I was always scared of babies and little kids."

"Scared?" he laughed. "Why the hell would ya be scared of babies and little kids?"

"Well, babies are just so tiny and fragile I just feel like I would break one somehow. Little kids scare me for the same reasons and because I just don't know what to do with them."

"I thought you had sisters?"

Kit nodded. "Three younger sisters, but I never had to take care of them when they were really little. Callie was eight years younger than me, but I was terrified of babies even then. I didn't want to drop her."

Daryl was laughing with disbelief now. "I guess it's good ta know ya ain't gonna be plannin' on getting' pregnant, but that has got ta be the saddest think I's ever heard!" Kit flipped him off in response. "I can't believe a tough bitch like you's scared of a baby."

Kit allowed Daryl to finish laughing at her before lacing her hand into Daryl's, tracing patterns on is arm as she spoke. "I know I must have scared you and I'm sorry."

"Ain't nothin' to apologize for. You was just tryin' ta do tha right thing. 'Sides, you's the strongest woman here. Hell, I ain't even scared if you take on Shane 'cause he's got a helluva fight ta look forward to."

"That was easier than I imagined; I thought you might be angry."

"I was," he admitted. "More at Lori than you, but still mad. Only thing is, you are a difficult woman ta be fuming with, so I was only mad for about three seconds. Anyways, one yer back on yer feet, I'm taking ya to the woods ta teach you a few thangs."

"I really hope the things you intend to teach me involve multiple orgasms."

He laughed. "I thought ya was supposed ta be hurt. Nah, I'm gonna teach ya a few more things 'bout trackin' and huntin', maybe let ya try out ma crossbow."

Her eyebrows knitted together. Daryl had never even wanted her to touch his crossbow and he knew that she didn't like the idea of hunting, though she acknowledged it was necessary for their survival. "Why the sudden interest in survival lessons?"

"I jus' want ya prepared fer anythin' an' since we got time here, I ain't planning on wastin' it. We can try yer suggestion while we're at it, too."

"I suppose that's a fair trade," she sighed.

"Just so's I know, fer future reference, what's yer blood type. I'd rather not have another incident with guesswork."

"AB positive," she replied with a smirk. "The universal recipient. That means that I can take just about anyone's blood while you poor bastards have to search for matches."

"Good ta know just 'bout anyone'll do." Daryl didn't want to leave her there alone, but there was work to be done and being short one person did not help matters. "Can I trust ya here alone?"

"Leave me a knife and I'll be just fine."

He nodded before heading back towards the house.

There were apparently some type of repair needed on the roof and, unsurprisingly, that job was assigned to Daryl. Of course they would send him to a rooftop. While he was working, he saw that Lori kept looking at him funny. "What do ya want, Olive Oyl?" he asked. "Ya keep starin' at me so ya must want somethin'."

"I just want to know if Kit's going to be okay."

"How'd she look to ya this mornin' when she and Shane were barking at each other?" he asked irritably.

"Well, she seemed okay. A little out of it, but okay," Lori said hopefully, as if she wanted Kit to be okay more for her own sake than the other woman's.

"You have yer answer, then." He was not in the mood for a conversation with the skinny bitch, especially because she was distracting him from his work.

"I don't know what you want from me, Daryl." There she had to go get upset and make it about her. His assessment may have been a little harsh, but all he saw when he looked at Lori was the person who had nearly got Kit killed.

"What do I want?" he asked harshly. "Well, an apology would be a start. Not fer me, but fer Kit. Shit happens an' I get that, but you ain't said one word 'bout Kit since we found you two on the road. I got shot by Andrea, but at least she's got the balls ta admit she screwed up."

"Are you saying I screwed up, then?"

Did he have to spell it out for her? "Yeah. Ya did. Ya hit a walker when you was supposed ta be drivin' and payin' attention ta the empty, fucking road. Then you panic after you hit the damn thing. I think that means ya screwed up. Christ, it ain't like I'm askin' ya ta find a cure fer the fever. Just have some fucking human decency."

Lori walked off, clearly upset by what Daryl had said, but he wasn't at all sorry for it. Lori needed to be informed that she was in the wrong. Nobody else was telling her that, so it may as well be him. She had damn near taken away one of the few people he gave a shit about anymore. Without Kit, he had very few reasons to stay with the group; the only real reason he planning on staying with them at all was because she liked the Glenn and Dale so much. It also looked like she had taken a liking to the Greenes, at least Herschel, anyway.

After he finished the roof he grabbed some food from the campsite and was about to leave them be when Dale walked up to him. "Why don't you join us for lunch, Daryl?"

"Gotta get some food ta Kit," he muttered, looking for an excuse to make his exit.

"I'm sure she won't mind the wait," Dale insisted. God damn it! Both Kit and the old man were trying to make him be 'part of the group' and neither were giving him much of a choice. "How is Kit, by the way?"

"Fine," Daryl mumbled. "She's a tough little bitch."

"She certainly is," Dale agreed. "I'm glad that you two are working out so well," he added, with a knowing smile.

"Don't ya got better things ta do than think 'bout that?"

"I'm an old man who brought very bad books for the apocaplyse; no, I'm afraid I don't have much better things to do. Besides, I'm glad that you're both happy – you're both changed people since the start of this."

Daryl knew that he was different when Kit was around, but he hadn't thought that she was the same way with him. "Yeah, I think we're happy." Daryl didn't know what else to say so he opted instead to shove some food in his mouth to avoid conversation, which didn't seem to perturb Dale.

"We've all got to enjoy the little pleasures of life now that they're so scarce."

Now the old man was just getting rambly, which was Daryl's cue to leave. It wasn't as if anyone else at the camp wanted him there, anyway – especially since Lori probably informed them all about their conversation earlier that day.

Kit had been right: she only needed two days to recover. Herschel wanted her to take things more slowly but she was far too bored to listen to him, even though he was probably right. "Don't make no difference, anyway," Daryl mused. "She didn't even take his advice when she weren't supposed ta try an' concentrate on anythin'. I caught her jotting things in a notebook more'n once."

"I still don't like the idea," Hershel muttered.

"Don't worry, Doc. I'll leave the more dangerous stuff for tomorrow."

Daryl's comment only made Herschel more anxious but Daryl knew Kit was bound to be running around with or without him, so he thought it best if she had him to back her up if something happened. She was waiting for him on the edge of the property, practically bouncing, anxious to finally be able to do something again.

"Alright, Dex, I think it's time fer a tracking lesson."

"You got it, Griz."

Apart from the first time they met, Daryl hadn't really had a chance to see Kit while she was in the woods; they had always been split up, or he had other things to concentrate on, or some other type of distraction. Now, he saw that she moved fluidly through the trees, ducking under the few branches she was taller than with ease. What he liked even more was how quiet she managed to be – not as quiet as him, but well on her way. Most of the others in the group stomped through the woods, making so much noise it was a wonder the walkers didn't hear them. They certainly wouldn't be very good at hunting.

He scanned the forest floor and found what he was looking for. "Looks like we've got ourselves a trail."

Kit listened attentively to the lesson, though he knew she wouldn't want to use these skills for hunting. After a few hours, she was really beginning to get the hang of it when they happened upon the deer that had made the trail for them. Kit froze and glanced up at him, wide eyed. She didn't want to shoot the deer.

He put his crossbow around his back to show her she didn't have to complete the lesson just yet. That is, before he and Kit heard moaning coming from what seemed like all around them.

Five walkers. No problem.

After a few minutes both he and Kit were wiping the necrotic blood off onto the now motionless bodies. "I think that's about it fer the day. We been out here fer hours, now. The others'll be wonderin'."

"Kit and Daryl out in the woods together?" she replied. "I don't think they'll be too worried unless we're not there tomorrow morning."

"I don't got much else ta teach ya fer trackin'. Ya jus' need practice."

"Let's just walk," she suggested. "And just so you know, there is one lesson that I would be very eager for you to give me: I want to learn how to throw knives. It would be convenient to take out walkers from a distance."

"Well, we ain't got any knives too good fer throwin' but if we find some I'll be sure ta teach ya a thing or two. Fer now, try out a crossbow."

The lessons and 'other activities' made Daryl and Kit a little late for dinner, but mostly what they received were knowing glances from the other members of the group.

Kit thought that she could get used to the farm. Like it, even.