Nola lay in her bed, head throbbing from her hangover. She looked around the room - she was alone. A mattress pulled from the bed in the next room lay on the floor beside her with a blanket lying tangled at its foot. Daryl must have slept there.
Rubbing her eyes, Nola rolled out of her bed, pulling on the jeans she'd just cleaned in at the CDC's facilities. As she was finishing getting dressed, Daryl barrelled into the room.
"Um, do you knock?" Nola said, still annoyed at being rejected last night.
"Get your stuff together - this shit's blowing up!" Daryl said hurriedly as he ran to the adjacent room to collect his things.
Nola stood motionless, her mouth agape.
Daryl reappeared in what seemed like seconds to Nola's muddled brain, his pack slung over one shoulder.
"What the fuck are you doin' woman? Get your shit together!"
In moments, Nola had shoved her few things back into her bag. Daryl shouted, "C'mon!" and they ran together up to the top side. Everyone else must have already gotten out; one of the windows had been blown out.
Daryl and Nola ran through the window and out across the CDC lawn, maneuvering around the rotting corpses and fallen barricades.
A small explosion boomed from the CDC as Daryl and Nola were half way to the cars.
"Get down!" Daryl shouted has he tackled Nola, landing on top of her. As the weight of Daryl's body nearly crushed Nola, a second massive explosion caused the ground to shudder. Flames exploded out of the CDC, blowing out the remaining windows and collapsing the building. Debris rained down but Daryl's broad shoulders protected Nola from most of the fallout.
It was all over after a few moments. Daryl rolled off of Nola and she gasped for breath. Nola got to her feet shakily as Daryl swung the butt of his cross-bow at a walker staggering toward them.
"You O.K.?" Daryl said, eyeing her up and down from the corner of his eye.
"Yeah - I guess we need to get out of here before more walkers show up because of the noise," Nola said quietly. She felt a sharp pain as she inhaled. Ignoring the pain, she clutched her side as she followed Daryl to his bike.
Daryl slowed his pace to match Nola's - she had said she was fine, but she didn't look it. As she moved ahead of him, Daryl noticed a piece of something caught in her hair from the explosion. He reached out neatly catching it between his fingers.
Nola felt a slight tug on her hair, and turned to see Daryl holding something he'd apparently pulled out.
"This uh . . . I found it in uh . . . " Daryl trailed off, his cheeks rosy with embarrassment.
"Thanks," Nola smiled weakly.
Daryl was thankful when he heard the low growl of another walker, quickly turning his attention toward the creature, allowing him to avoid Nola's gaze.
The group set off again. It was early in the day, and they were able to stop in scavenge gas and food from abandoned cars along the way. Their day of travel proceeded uneventfully. The alternative plan was to try to make it to Fort Benning - if there was anything left of it.
As dusk began to fall they decided to camp on the road among all the dead cars. The plan was to rotate shifts for a watch every two hours. Dale was taking first watch, followed by Daryl, then Rick, and finally Shane. Rick, Lori, Carl, and Dale took the camper. Carol and Sophia took the back of the group's station wagon while Shane, Glenn, Andrea and T-Dog had found an empty Hostess Snack Cake transport truck to camp out in.
Nola found an old delivery truck with a ladder to the roof. She spread out her sleeping bag and laid on top of it, allowing the warm air of the Georgia night to kiss her skin.
Daryl knew everyone had chosen where they would be sleeping for the night. He certainly had quite a few options in the snarled mess of cars and trucks. He had watched as Nola had clambered up to the top of a truck. She was moving slower than usual, and with a bit of difficulty.
For a while Daryl sat on the hood of the car staring at the truck Nola was sleeping on top of. I should probably check on her, Daryl thought to himself. But would she even want that? Now that she isn't drunk and scared she probably doesn't want anything to do me. Daryl turned away, looking for a suitable sleeping spot. A sound caught his ear - an approaching walker? Daryl listened more closely. He shook his head realizing it just the sound of a raccoon shuffling through the underbrush by the road. Why am I thinking about this so much? Fuck it, ain't no sense in anyone sleeping alone.
Daryl strode toward the back of Nola's truck and climbed swiftly up the ladder to the roof.
"Got room?" Daryl half-whispered to Nola, wondering if she was still awake. She was lying on her back with her eyes to the stars. Moonlight bathed her features, making her even more beautiful than he remembered.
"Mmhm," Nola shrugged, without even raising her head. She was still annoyed from her earlier rejection.
Daryl swung his ever-present cross-bow and pack off his back and laid it neatly by his side. He sat cross-legged in front of Nola and waited for her to say something. To say anything.
Giving up, Daryl stretched himself out and laid down opposite Nola. He hadn't thought to bring anything to sleep on, but he had to get up in a couple of hours for his shift on watch anyways.
"You want something to lie on?" Nola asked nonchalantly.
"S'fine," Daryl mumbled as Nola was already sitting up to shift the open sleeping bag toward him.
"Mmmph," the movement caused Nola to gasp and clutch her side.
"But you ain't fine," Daryl frowned.
"It's nothing, and I am fine," Nola said with far too much emphasis on the word "fine" for it to be believable.
"Well let me see it then," Daryl ordered.
Nola let out an exasperated sigh and lifted her shirt to expose her aching rib cage.
Daryl furrowed his brow, trying to concentrate on Nola's injuries instead of the gentle curve of her waist as it met her hip. He saw a large bruise on her rib cage. It was big, nasty and purple. But as far as he could see in the moonlight it was already turning yellow along the edges. He reached out his hand tentatively.
"You mind?" Daryl questioned.
"Whatever," Nola responded with disinterest.
Daryl gently touched her soft skin. He felt Nola wince as he laid his palm over the bruise. It was only slightly warm to the touch - a good sign. Daryl reluctantly pulled his hands away from Nola.
"I think I cracked your rib back at the CDC," Daryl muttered. "It'll heal by itself in a few weeks."
"Thanks," Nola responded dryly. She didn't show it, but she was relieved to know she didn't have a pierced lung or internal bleeding or something else awful.
"Sorry," Daryl said tersely.
"Better a cracked rib than getting shrapnel'd," Nola replied.
Daryl fumbled in his pack and produced a small handful of pills. "I still got Merle's stash - there's some T3's here, or some oxys if you really wanna party," Daryl offered.
"I'll take the T3s," Nola said grabbing them from his outstretched hand. "Thanks," she said a hint of sweetness back in her voice.
Nola threw back the pills as she moved to her knees and spread the opened sleeping bag over the top of the truck.
Daryl lay down on the furthest edge of the blanket, resting his hands behind his head as a pillow. Nola laid down comfortably on her back.
"So you wanna make out now?" Nola said suddenly. Even though the words were sarcastic, the fact that she had been bold enough to say them surprised even her.
Daryl didn't know how to respond.
"Stop," he said huskily.
"Seriously, do you have a girlfriend I don't know about? A boyfriend?" Nola questioned boldly.
"What do you want from me, woman?" Daryl demanded angrily. "You think I'm just some dumb hick that will take advantage when you're drunk?"
"I thought I made my feelings clear when we were hunting in the woods at the quarry," Nola retorted.
"Yeah, well every time you're interested in me you're either scared or drunk," Daryl snapped.
"Daryl, there are dead people walking around trying to eat us - everyone is scared all of the time," Nola stated in a matter of fact tone.
"You know what I mean," Daryl said waving his hand dismissively. "So you're just sittin' over there, waiting for me to make a move?" Daryl sputtered.
"Yeah, I am," Nola said, taunting him.
"Fine," Daryl sat up.
He moved himself closer so that he was beside Nola. Daryl moved on to his side propping his head up on his hand, his eyes fixed on a the small patch of blanket separating them.
Nola stared at him with a cool gaze - she had no intention of making this easy.
Daryl had no idea what to do with his hands. He knew he wanted them on Nola, but he couldn't decide how to get them there. He could feel Nola's eyes staring at him. Exhaling resolutely, he lifted his eyes to meet hers.
Nola had never really looked into Daryl Dixon's eyes. They were heavily lidded and dark - giving them a smokey depth. She'd seen his eyes on his frequent visits to her diner, but she couldn't remember a time when he'd fully met her gaze in the years she'd known him. The intensity of his stare broke Nola's confidence. She blushed and looked down.
Daryl's confidence rose as he saw Nola's wane. He smiled crookedly at her, "Ain't this what you wanted?"
"Yes," Nola murmured.
Daryl moved face next to Nola so that his lips were close to her ear.
"Then why you shakin'?" Daryl whispered in a gravely voice.
"Uh . . ." Nola stammered. The feeling of his warm breath on her neck was sending shivers down her spine. Her nose was filled with a smell she'd come to love - that distinct mixture of pine, gas, cigarettes and musk.
Daryl tilted his head to kiss Nola's cheek. At the same time Nola moved her head toward Daryl, meeting his lips with hers. Daryl froze for an instant, but quickly regained his momentum. He shifted himself closer to Nola so that his body pressed against hers.
At first Daryl's lips were stiff and unyielding. His body was tense against hers. Has he never done this before? Nola wondered to herself. Nola started moving her lips slowly, gradually loosening Daryl's lips.
Daryl groaned in a low and guttural tone - the sound was barely audible; Nola felt the rumble of the groan as Daryl's body pressed against her more than she heard it.
Daryl lifted himself on top of Nola. He placed his forearms on either side of her head, resting most of his weight on them. As he deepened their kiss he grabbed a fistful of her hair, drawing her closer still.
Nola reached both her hands toward Daryl's hips. His usual plaid shirt and leather vest hung loose, making it easy to slip her hands under his shirt. Nola gingerly touched the skin just above his jeans with her fingertips. As she ran her fingers lightly over his hips Daryl let more of his weight fall on her.
Nola felt a tinge of pain in her side, but she didn't want to stop. Daryl's lips had loosened, making his mouth more available. Nola began testing his lips with her tongue. In response Daryl started rhythmically thrusting his hips against Nola's. He must really like this, Nola thought triumphantly.
The only thing that Daryl could think was: Fuck.
Daryl moved his free hand to Nola's hip. As she felt his calloused hand meet her skin she shivered with excitement. Daryl was slowly sliding his hand along Nola's side until she suddenly cried out in pain.
Daryl rolled off her, a look of horror on his face.
"No! It's just my rib," Nola said breathlessly.
"Sorry. Guess I got carried away," Daryl swallowed hard, trying to compose himself.
"Hey Daryl!" Rick's voice called softly. "Your turn for watch."
Rick's head popped up at the back of truck. He raised an eyebrow as he surveyed the situation: Nola, hair messy, hand clutched to her side, and Daryl sitting on his knees.
"I wouldn't mind taking care of your watch Daryl, if you're busy or-" Rick offered with a knowing smile.
"S'fine," Daryl said, already swinging his cross-bow on to his back and striding toward the back of the truck to climb down.
"Those T3s should be kickin' in soon," Daryl nodded toward Nola.
"Thanks - I think they've already started," Nola said in a voice that was a little too dreamy.
As Daryl and Rick retreated, Nola laid back, her head swimming. The fuzziness in her head wasn't from the painkillers - at least not totally.
Hey dudes! Hope you like . . . this is the most detailed I've gotten when it comes to romance. Let me know if you liked it!