Chapter 9 - Jealous Minds Think Alike

'We have to go back and get them, Shane.' Rick was growing impatient with the man but the door to the outside looked so inviting.

After three flights of stairs, they were in the basement and the EXIT door was in front of them. Glenn hung his head - torn between the right thing to do and the sensible thing to do. The right thing being the most endearing. Shane was just so persuasive and Rick was losing faith in himself.

Glancing behind Rick sighed, 'what if they don't die? Hmm? Like Merle?' His face was serious, 'we still don't have any idea where he is.'

'You can't seriously be wishing they'll die.' Glenn spoke up.

'We aren't saying that,' Rick was quick to interject. Casting a look at Shane though, he sighed, 'we go back. Come on.'

Shane bowed his head and slammed his gun on the firedoor before following the two up the stairs. He thought it would be easy to convince them. Turns out, Rick's heart was just too damn big.

-(x)-

Daryl and Leah were walking slowly through the dark. Leah still had her backpack on her shoulder and Daryl took the lead. Groans were distant and they ventured onwards. They were originally going to follow the others to the firedoor, but neither of them wanted to face the traitors at the moment.

'Daryl?'

'Whut?' Daryl didn't turn to look, keeping his eyes on what was in front of him. Walkers may be loud but their unexpected presence always surprised him.

'Where are we going?'

'Out.' He answered dryly.

Leah sighed and he finally turned. Daryl studied the woman he was slowly becoming used to having around. She was annoying, idiotic and she thought she was too tough but he couldn't help but smile every time she cursed under her breath or spoke condescendingly to the walkers.

With their intent to kill her, he loved the way she reacted so calm when she had the upper hand.

Of course, when one would get too close, he'd shoot them down faster than Leah had time to scream. He didn't know why, but he technically promised something to her down there - he wouldn't let her die.

That was his promise.

'We're gonna get through it, alright?'

'Can we go back to the fire exit?'

Daryl considered it. If they wanted out, it was their best bet. They'd have to swallow their pride. Before he could say anything though, he heard someone approaching them. Their footsteps hurried and he cocked his bow.

At the last minute, he aimed and Leah gasped when she saw who was standing there. 'Glenn!'

'Mind not aiming that at me?' Glenn had his hands up in defence and stared at the weapon. Shane and Rick were behind him. Neither looked impressed.

'Leah, where'd you go?'

The woman shot the sheriff a look and rolled her eyes, 'you care now?'

Startled, he answered, 'of course-'

'Let's save it 'til we get back to camp,' Shane offered not bothered in the least if Leah had a problem with him. He had a problem with her. 'This way.'

Now, reunited, the group went back to fire door. Glenn, biting his tongue at the tension. If they hadn't overheard then they had some issues, however, if Leah and Daryl had overheard, it was trouble ahead. They'd heard their own teammates plan on leaving them here to die.

Scurrying down the steps, Leah and Daryl still hand in hand, they barged out the door without a second hesitation. Ignoring the random, slow walkers that staggered when they saw food, they ran.

Rick leading again and Shane close behind, the hunter and Leah took the rear and took out any geeks that came too close. 'Look at that one,' Leah was laughing uncontrollably and Daryl followed her eyesight.

Spotting a walker who was running headfirst into a glass pane that led to a butchers shop a few yards down the road. He stifled a laugh and pulled Leah along who was holding her chest.

'You know,' she panted as she ran, 'if someone told me the end of the world was to be overrun by zombies, I would've laughed then. I just thought they'd be aliens or technology sivvy psyho's, you know?'

'You'd rather it be aliens?' Glenn got involved in the conversation temporarily distracted by Leah's peculiar topic.

Leah nodded, 'wouldn't you rather be running from ET than these freaks?'

Daryl didn't wait for the Korean to answer and instead dragged the brunette carefully until they finally reached the truck.

Piling in without looking back, they headed back to camp where things would take a turn for the worst.

Lori was pacing.

She'd allowed Carl to be with Sophia and she was beginning to doubt her decision.

Wearing trenches into the field, Dale approached her. 'What's the matter?'

Lori didn't say anything, only shook her head.

'You don't want Carl to grow up?' His tone was friendly but Lori glared.

'Dale, we don't know who will die next. I don't want my sons attention on anything else except getting himself out alive.' She paused, 'or he will end up like his father - always protecting other people.'

The old man listened carefully and smiled shortly, 'I think Carl's smart. And ending up like Rick isn't bad. He's a sort of hero to us, you know?'

The woman swallowed her curse word and rolled her eyes, 'and it's the hero's who die first.'

And with that, she walked away leaving Dale dumbstruck. He'd heard that Lori was always on edge about letting Rick leave the camp especially after what happened last time but he didn't realize she thought about him dying. Of course, she had to deal with it before. She's gone through the grief of losing him and the happiness of finding him again.

Dale considered this about the fierce woman, if she already knew she could live without her husband, what else was there left to feel?

'They're back.' Andrea called to the group and one by one, the remaining campers came out of their tents. Watching intently as they bundled out, they all noticed a certain pair who looked a lot angrier than the others. Carol exchanged a look with Lori.

Rick ran to his family, preparing for that familiar reunion feeling to appear. It was as if his heart was complete every time he held his family. 'I'm back.'

'What's up with them?' T Dog asked Glenn who took off his trucker hat and let it fall to the floor beside the waning campfire. It was getting dark and the group shivered at the nightly ice began to settle.

Leah and Daryl weren't sure whether to confront Rick and Shane or not.

It would benefit them all if they didn't except of course, the two in question.

Leah sighed, maybe she should just keep quiet, she thought as she walked past the others, towards Carol. 'Here,' she tossed the medicine to her with a friendly smile.

'Are you alright?' The shaved woman asked.

'Yes,' Leah nodded curtly. Carol accepted her short answer and walked off to find Sophia. Was it so obvious she was angry?

'Yeah,' Daryl stepped behind her, 'yer always smiling, doll. Ya can tell when yer pissed.'

'Can you blame me?' She asked him, wanting his opinion on this matter. She felt it mattered even though his face was stoic - it was as if he hadn't heard the people he's been surviving with for weeks say they wanted to leave him in that mall to die.

'I'm not bothered, doll.' Daryl smirked when Leah frowned.

'How can you do that?'

'What?' He asked coyly.

'Read my mind.'

'You're predictable, babe.' Shane tossed to her placing his weapon on the ground next to the bags he'd loaded with possibly alcohol and more clothes.

Leah was okay to leave what happened in Pennsylvania Mall but his comments were too much. She hadn't grown close with Shane and she was glad she wouldn't be losing a friend when this was done.

'Who knew you'd turn out to be so selfish though?' She asked, loudly but at the moment, not many people were paying attention. Their minds elsewhere, consumed with the fact they had more food, clothes, sheets and medical equipment.

'Survival instincts areselfish, darling.' Shane said, his eyes were serious and Leah clenched her fists at her side.

Daryl hadn't said a word and wasn't planning to but he could literally feel Leah's anger coursing through her and he didn't like Angry Leah.

'You're unbelievable. I've been here for a couple of days and you hate me so much you want to leave me there to die?'

Silence filled the area and Rick hung his head as Lori stared at him. Carl looked up at his dad. 'What's she talking about?'

'Nothing,' he said quickly shooting a warning look at Shane who only shrugged. He continued his attack on the girl.

'We came back for ya.' Shane smirked and Leah saw red, 'shame though. I bet those walkers were dying to chew on you.'

It happened so fast that even Daryl who relied on instinct didn't see it coming. He couldn't get his arms around her quick enough when Leah lunged at the police officer.

Her fists still clenched but Shane was used to dealing with violent people.

He saw the blow coming and hit out first.

Gasps echoed the camp as Leah hit the floor with a thud. Her lip was busted as blood gushed from the wound.

'Oh My God!'

'Fuck!'

Leah saw stars in her vision and didn't actually realize she'd fell until Dale rushed to help her up. 'Are you okay?'

'Shane, what do you think you're doing, you-'

But Rick didn't have time to finish scolding his best friend before a blur in his vision made him pause. The sound of bones crunching was what he heard before he saw anything.

Daryl was on Shane, punching his face repeatedly.

'Daryl!' Rick and T Dog rushed over and managed to pull the hunter away from the beaten Shane who rolled on the floor. Leah who was stood with Carol and Lori watched and whimpered a little. Not from the pain in her lip but the look of vicious hostility on Daryl's face when he was pulled away. His knuckles were bloodied and it took everything in her not to run over to him.

He'd defended her.

'That's all Daryl is.' Leah turned to face the blonde who held a bottle of water in one hand and pointed her finger to the scene on the other side of the camp where Daryl was still struggling.

'Dangerous.' Andrea swept her eyes over to Leah who was breathing heavily, 'a killer.'

'Shane likes you.'

Lori's statement caused Leah to laugh out loud as Carol continued to press the cold cloth on her face.

'Yeah, sure he does.'

The older woman was stood and watched Rick and Shane argue with eachother. Shane hitting Leah was wrong but it was obvious - Shane was jealous.

'He's jealous.'

'Of what?' Leah asked genuinely flabberghasted at where this conversation was heading.

'You and Daryl.'

Sensing a confession, Leah didn't say a word when Carol stepped away from the pair, leaving them to it. Leah looked up at Lori, 'something you wanna tell me?'

Sighing, Lori sat down on the log opposite Leah, 'Shane told me Rick was dead once.'

The short haired brunette didn't say anything - her eyes held only patience for Lori to continue. Lori didn't come across as someone who did this sort of thing often. She was generally very independant and kept to herself but even Leah could tell there was something playing on her mind.

Not wanting to go into detail on her relationship with her husbands best friend, Lori kept it short, 'when he came back, I was angry - no, disgustedwith Shane. He hasn't been the same since.'

'Since you got angry?'

Lori shot her a look and Leah (call it woman nature) understood immediately. Lori meant, when she stopped sleeping with him.

'He'll probably be nicer if you showed him the same attention as Daryl.' She offered the young woman who snorted at this.

'I have no intent on shagging anyone in the group. I'm not going around whoring myself out so they'll be nice to me. If Shane doesn't want to bother with me because I don't want to sleep with him that's his problem. Not mine.'

Lori liked this girl. She told it how it was and respected her for that. But she couldn't deny the same distaste she had for Leah associating with Daryl. Besides, if Shane
had someone he could unleash his anger out on in the bedroom, it would make being around him a lot easier.

'Fair enough.' Lori bit her tongue and walked off.

Leah touched her lip gingerly and was happy to know it wasn't bleeding anymore but it was tender.

'You didn't have to do that back there.' She spoke to the air - the trees, the darkness that had unfolded around the camp. She knew he was lurking somewhere.

'Gave me an excuse fer somethin' I'd wanted ta do fer a long time.' Daryl Dixon stepped out and sat beside her, casting a curt look at her lip made him tense up but he was comforted by the bruises on his knuckles to show for the punishment Shane had taken for doing that to her.

'Apparently, he's jealous.' Leah was telling him this to gather a reaction from him. If Lori and Shane thought there might be something going on, did Daryl expect something from her too?

'Jealous o' whut?'

Leah smiled a little - that was enough for her to know he didn't expect anything. 'He thinks when I'm done with you, I'll move on to him - show him round the bedroom.'

Daryl wasn't used to being around a girl he wasn't later going to take back to his bedroom. But hearing Leah talk about it made him not want to treat her like that. She was classier than that.

'He wont touch ya again.' He said calmly and then stood up, disappearing into the darkness.

Author's Note: I really hated the beginning of this chapter and rewrote it three times before it was nearly impossible to correct it so I went with the first draft. I'm sorry if it's stupid - next chapter will be better.
I've taken some of your guys reviews into consideration - showdown with the group and Shane and Daryl fighting over Leah - I like them both and that's where I got the inspiration to carry out Lori's conversation with Leah.
Shane's jealous, becoming fairly more violent and psychotic it can only mean he's got a couple of screws loose.
Again, input always welcomed.

~ Ello Harley

NEXT UPDATE: Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday - haven't decided yet.
PREVIEW: The woman walker was dragging herself across the floor. Debris and blood was the trail it left behind as it clutched the the mud.
Daryl had his crossbow aimed, the men had their guns trained on it but nobody shot because Leah gasped. 'Oh my God!'
'What?' T Dog asked her, his eyes still on the walker.
'Polly?'

A/N: If you don't remember Polly, that's okay. I only mentioned her briefly - have a nose through Chapter 1 again.

Disclaimer: I don't own WD whatsoever. Only Leah and family/friends she mentions or encounters.