Summary: Rick and his group have found a permanent home, and he loves the beautiful girl by his side. In the old world, that would have been it. He could live happy. But "happy" is an strange thing when the dead roam the earth and the people that are left want you dead.
Welcome to the third part of the Rick's Ruby series! To all you who have stuck with me on this craziness, I thank you for coming back for more. :) Please note, some itty bitty stuff and thangs (hee hee Noell!) have been honed slightly. For instance, the notes will be at the end of the chapters now, so make sure you keep an eye out for those. I will also try to make the change in POV a little more pointed, it was brought to my attention that it could be confusing. Please excuse small mistakes in spelling and stuff, I am having trouble with my spell check software. It shuts down the program when I run it so I have to do this on my own. Blah. You'll notice the rest as we go along, nothing too big. Anyway, I truly hope you enjoy this, and much thanks to you all for your reviews, your notes, critiques, and general all around beautiful selves. Much love!
Rick/OC, no slash, rated R for graphic lovin' and ass kickery.
*****This particular story is dedicated to Bnoell14, who has been my co-captain, sister in arms, and partner in crime in this endeavor. Could NOT have done this without you, girl.******************
********Ruby********
Ruby screamed in fear as she held Daryl fast. Unable to pull him free of the walkers holding his leg, the only thing saving him was that they could only hold him, if he was pulled through the fence they could bite him. But as it stood, they had pressed their snarling, snapping faces to the bars and dug their fingers into his jean clad leg, trying to pull him forward.
"Ruby!" Noell's alarmed shout seemed far away and Ruby saw the girl's legs next to her head as she stepped forward and began to fire into the walkers trying to get Daryl. Two of the fell, but were replaced quickly. She continued to fire, but Ruby felt one of Noell's hands on her shoulder, digging in and pulling the two of them back as much as she could manage.
The pain must have been intense, Daryl was growling and even let another yell out as the already wounded flesh was pulled and twisted. Suddenly Merle was beside them, his arms around Daryl's waist, helping her hold the hunter and not lose more ground. Ruby wrapped her arms around his shoulders and chest, being pulled to the ground as she dug her feet into the ground and struggled to pull him away from the threat. He held his gun in one hand, but wrapped his other arm around her awkwardly, she was behind him so it was difficult, but he held her tightly. Raising his gun, he fired into the mass in front of them, hitting the strongest walker between the eyes. It was enough to get the upper hand as it let go and flew back, knocking another walker out of the way. He was free then, and she was pinned flat as he scrambled back, running her over. Moaning in pain, he rolled to the side, off of her. Merle was on his other side, and she rolled over, facing them.
"We got ya, little brother." Merle gasped, a look of determination and worry in his eyes. That was clearly too close for comfort for him. For her too, her heart was racing so fast it was painful in her chest.
"Are you ok?" She gasped, terrified as she saw the look of pain on his face. Looking down, she saw the jeans he wore were thick with blood and goo from the walkers, and a finger was actually lodged in the fabric by one of it's sharp, jagged nails.
"Fuckin things..." He grimaced through clenched teeth. "Help 'em. I'm fine." Merle didn't need to be told twice. He stood up and in front of his brother, continuing to fire into the onslaught.
Ruby looked up, seeing that the herd hadn't stopped. The others were so concerned with more coming over the fence that they hadn't stopped firing. She squeezed Daryl's shoulder and he looked up at her, his brow furrowed. In response, he gave her a short nod and grabbed her chin with his free hand.
"Thank you, babe. Go." He said quickly and she blinked at him, so glad she had been able to help. Nodding, she took a deep breath and hopped up, grabbing her gun where it had dropped in the dirt and raising it, to help the others.
"Down the fence!" She heard Paul's voice and looked over after she'd popped a walker in the cheek a few feet away. They were falling fast, but piling up around the trench, on both sides. More had flanked them, and that was where Paul was now, Carl at his side as they fired into the crowd.
Abe was a good shot, and moved up beside Ruby. "He ok?" He asked loudly, over the sound of the shots they both were still letting loose.
"Yeah." She gave a curt nod and watched the old man drop a walked of once similar age on the other side of the trench. Noell remained by her side and they moved away from the group to the left, taking on a smaller flank on that side.
"I'm out." Ruby fired and the gun clicked soundlessly in her hand. She didn't have another clip, she hadn't been prepared for this.
"I got one." She heard Noell, and the girl pushed metal into her palm. Ruby snapped it into place and fired at a tall, one legged walker across the trench as it crawled forward. They had done a good job- the herd had been pushed back to the point where the only ones left were completely on the other side of the trench now. The ones that had come across and made it to the fence lay in piles of congealed blood, their heads nothing more than broken shells and pieces on the ground. Firing at several more and sending them flying back or crumpling into piles of limbs on the ground, she had the opportunity to take stock of the situation. A handful more were making their way across from the trees, but the majority of the things were truly dead now.
Gunshots became less frequent, before eventually stopping altogether. They would take care of any stragglers after they caught their breath and regrouped. Ruby turned and rushed back to Daryl on the ground, laying on his back, his hands on his stomach and his breath finally beginning to slow.
"Oh my god. Are you ok?" She skidded to a stop and fell to her knees beside him. Noell went to the other side and grabbed his pants leg, pulling it up to look at the old wound there.
"Fuckin fantastic." He groaned dryly. "What the fuck was that?" He sat up slowly, supporting himself with an arm. She wrapped her arm around his shoulders to help him, and Merle came up behind them and knelt down on one knee.
Ruby looked up as the rest of group slowed and began to drift closer. Concerned, Rick came around next next to her. "Rick, what happened? Why'd they come like that?" She asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"I don't know." He shook his head and looked at Daryl. "You weren't bit, were you?"
It didn't seem like Daryl really knew, and blinked at him a second before looking at Noell. "No, he wasn't. The jeans are torn, but they didn't get past the bandages. Why were you still wearing them, Daryl?" She asked.
"It felt better to." He answered. "Holds it tight, gives me a little support."
"Well thank god you did." Noell said softly. "Could have turned out a hell of a lot differently. Come on, let's get him inside so I can really check this out."
Merle and Rick knelt down and helped Daryl up, his arms over their shoulders. Paul grabbed Ruby's hand and pulled her up.
"I'll stay out here with Glenn and Jimmy, take care of the stragglers."
"Thank you." She gave him a grateful smile and followed Noell back to the men's house. Abe and Emma went with her, and Rick stayed by her side, his fingers twisted with hers lovingly, Carl on his other side. Maggie walked alone back to the main house to tell her sister what happened, and Eddie followed her back to Lola and a hopefully still sleeping Lilly.
The lights seemed too bright when they got to Daryl's room. Merle helped Daryl get undressed while Ruby, Rick and Noell waited in the hallway, the others in the living room. When the large man opened the door and stood back so they could come in, Noell went in first, right to Daryl's side. Ruby grabbed a nearby rag and dabbed at Daryl's forehead while Noell worked, cleaning off the dirt and sweat from Daryl's face. He was exhausted from fear and and exertion, and laid there with his eyes closed, the crook of his arm over his forehead. Noell must have touched something tender, because he jumped, wincing.
"Damn, woman!" He cursed loudly, looking down at her leaning over his leg.
She leaned back and looked at him apologetically, the old bandages he wore crumpled in her hand. "The skin isn't broken. You probably just tweaked it. I'll get you some medicine, but you should stay off it tonight and take it easy the next few days.
"Still tryin' to keep me in bed." He said softly, and she smiled at the teasing words. She left and, and he laid back again.
"Is that... what is that?" Rick stepped forward beside her and looked down at the rag in Ruby's hand. She looked down at it in confusion and saw there was a bright red blob of blood on the pale fabric. Daryl frowned and grabbed her hand, tossing the rag aside. When he did so, she saw a deep gash in her palm welling with blood.
"How did that happen?" She mused, pulling it back and inspecting it closely. Rick went to the side table and grabbed another clean rag left over from the bandaging supplies Noell had left weeks earlier, and wrapping it carefully around her hand.
"I landed right on top of ya, I probably caused it. I'm sorry, Rube." Daryl's eyes were slightly widened with worry, and she shook her head at him quickly.
"I doubt it. I can't even feel it, don't worry about it."
"Come on, sweetheart." Rick grabbed her waist, pulling her away. He took her down the hall and into the bathroom there. Turning the water on, he removed the rag he's wrapped around her hand and began to flush it out with cool water. "How's that?"
"It's fine, really." She said, looking at the gash again when he stopped. It was deeper than she'd thought, and blood began to well up again, dripping down her palm. He put the rag against it again, and held it there firmly.
"Rick! We need you!" Glenn's voice came from somewhere nearby, and Rick groaned softly.
"What now..."
"I got this, honey. Go." She nodded to him firmly, taking the rag and holding it in his place.
"I need to take care of this." He argued lightly, but she shook her head.
"I'll tell Noell. They need you, make sure everything is ok."
He frowned. "You sure?" She nodded, and leaned forward, kissing her lips. "Ok, I'll be back."
She smiled, and watched him go. Biting her lip, she stepped out of the bathroom and went back to Daryl's room.
"You ok?" Daryl asked from the bed when she came in.
"Sure. It's just bleeding a lot."
Daryl didn't look happy. "I'm really sorry."
"Why? You were gonna get eaten, so just be sorry you scared the hell out of me."
He grinned at that, but he was still obviously in a lot of pain. "If Doc ever gets back, she can look at it."
"I'm here, I'm here. Jesus, Mr. Impatient." Noell swept in, a kit of supplies in her hand. She'd gone through the med cabinet a couple weeks ago and made a doctor bag for herself. It was a good thought, she'd be able to move fast in the future. Merle had remained leaning against the wall on the far side of the room since they'd come in, but when Noell went around the bed and sat the kit on the foot, he stepped forward. She began to tend to Daryl, drawing up a shot for his pain, Merle approached Ruby.
"Come on." He said softly, and she looked up at him, frowning.
"What?"
"Come on." He opened his eyes wider and said the words like she was a two year old. "Doc's got Daryl, he'll be fine. Just come on."
Daryl looked confused, but when Ruby looked at him for backup, he gave her a short nod and winced when Noell plunged her needle into his bicep. She began to re bandage his leg, and Ruby licked her lips, taking a step back. Merle turned and left the room, and she gave Daryl a look.
"I'll be right back."
"Ok." He nodded, watching her go.
Merle was almost to the front door when she came out, and motioned for her to follow him. She glanced at Abe and Emma in the living room, but followed the elder hunter without stopping.
"Where are we going?" She asked as they went outside and he began to lead her across the yard silently.
"Gonna take care of your hand." He said simply, not looking back at her as he walked a few paces ahead of her.
"No, Noell can do it." She objected, frowning at him. This was not like him, and she was terribly confused.
He glanced back at her. "Girl, you keep givin me lip and I will slap you. Now, come on. I done patched Daryl up most 'a his life, and I done myself a hell of a lot more'n that. I am not useless in this department and I can help. She's busy anyway, so shut up and come on."
He was not being mean about it, just insistent. And truth be told, he actually sounded concerned, so she didn't test him by objecting further. They got to the main house, and he held the door open for her, allowing her to step in first.
"Where are those medical supplies you said are here?"
"Upstairs closet." She said warily. Showing him where the painkillers were was not high on her list of fun things to do at the moment, and she narrowed her eyes a little at him.
"Show me. And don't worry, I ain't aimin to use up all your morphine. But you don't know what I need, so show me."
She bit her lip, watching him closely. When she didn't move at first, he sighed, and she held up her unhurt hand. "Ok, ok."
Leading him up the stairs, she got to the closet and stepped in, turning the light on and stepping back. He went in and scanned the shelves for a moment. Grabbing a tube of rolled gauze and some antiseptic, he looked a moment longer and found a small box and a package with a needle inside. "Come on then." He stepped out and waited for her, then led her back downstairs and through the living room. The kitchen was deserted when they got there, and he pulled out a chair for her, not waiting for her to sit before sitting down in the one next to it.
She sat down and he grabbed her hand, pulling the rag free and inspecting the gash. "Got yerself good." He remarked, opening the packages and things he'd brought. He wet the gauze with the antiseptic and brought her hand close, cleaning it carefully. She hissed, but the burn faded quickly. Then, much to her shock, he began to numb the area with lidocaine and a cotton ball. The fact he only had one hand didn't seem to hinder him- he used the stump to hold her in place, his other hand to wield the needle and medical thread, and began to stitch it closed.
It hurt, but it was manageable. She watched with stunned eyes, wondering just what the hell was going on.
"No offense, but who are you and what have you done with Merle?" She asked, and he smirked, keeping his eyes on her palm as he worked.
"I would take offense to that but I can be a son of a bitch, so let's call it even." He grinned. "Does that hurt too bad. Need more numbin' shit?"
"No, I'm good. Where did you learn to do this?"
He glanced up at her. "You do realize I cut my own hand off, right? I think a stitch or two isn't the hardest thing to believe I can do."
"Good point." She watched as he neatly sewed the gash closed. "You're good at it."
"Sewed Daryl up a time or two. You're lucky we got this stuff, last time I just used sewin' thread. Probably ain't the cleanest shit in the world. Got an infection."
She nodded lightly, listening to him talk, hoping he'd tell her what she really wanted to know. Why the hell he even gave a fuck she was hurt much less do something about it. "Again, not trying to question you, but you never really paid much mind to one of us getting hurt-"
He cut her off. "You mean, why didn't I just let Doc so it? Why am I botherin'?"
"Yeah."
He stayed quiet for a moment, putting two more stitches in her palm. He worked fast, he was almost done. "I just watched my brother nearly get pulled apart by a herd, and you jumped right in there to save him. I didn't see it at first or I'd 'a been there, but you did. Wasn't for you, they might 'a got him too far in for me to do anything about it. Nobody else jumped in there, but you didn't care if they got you too."
"It was a scary time, everyone was busy takin' them down or they'd have done it."
"They didn't. You did. And it ain't the first time. He told me what happened when you two went huntin and he hit his head." He finished, pinned the thread down with his stump, and clipped the thread with a little paid of scissors. His eyes found her face again. "Thanks."
His eyes didn't leave hers, and she was suddenly overcome. He wasn't an emotional person, this was the closest to crying and hugging he was ever gonna be, but it was more than enough. "You don't have to thank me for anything. He's saved my life more than I can tell you."
"I don't think that's why you did it. I don't think that's why you sat out there at those graves every day till he snapped out of it, or why you did any of that shit you did for him before I got back. You actually give a fuck about him, not because he can do somethin' for ya. You gotta know he's never had that, don't ya?"
Tears welled up in her eyes. "He hasn't?"
"Hell no. Anybody that came around only cared about what he could do for them, so he stopped doing shit for people. Till he found ya'll here."
She looked down at her palm. It looked good. Clean. "You did a good job." She whispered, emotion overtaking her senses in a big way.
"Told ya I could do it." He stood up and stretched tiredly. "I did all the work, you clean it up."
She smiled softly. "Deal."
He nodded, turning to go. He looked back at her as he walked. "I mean it. Thanks, Ruby."
"Thank you, Merle. For this, and for saying that." He was almost to the door when she called out again. "Hey Merle?" He put a hand on the frame and looked at her expectantly. "You said he's never had someone care about him just because he's him before."
He nodded slowly. "That's right."
"Have you?"
He froze, narrowing his eyes and furrowing his brow at her question. She wondered if he was upset, but when he spoke it was even, even a little patient. "No. But I don't need it like he does."
He left, and she sat there a moment, thinking about what he said. She looked down at the now sewn up gash in her palm, her brain flush with thoughts and emotion. If Merle was to be believed, and if Daryl's own behavior was anything to go by, those two men had been through hell a long time before any of them were plunged into it. Picking up the roll of gauze, she quickly began to wrap her hand before cleaning up the mess Merle had made and going to find Rick.
*****Rick*******
"You're joking."
He'd asked that twice before it sunk in when Ruby told him what happened between her and Merle. He'd been in the front yard with the others when she'd come back out. More walkers had emerged from the forest on the side of the house, a different direction from the herd earlier, and they'd been afraid of another attack, but these were quickly put down and silence had settled again over the farm. Ruby'd waited till the others had begun pushing the heaps of bodies into the trench to be set on fire before pulling him aside and telling him what Merle had done.
"Well, guess there are still surprises left in this world, huh? How are you? Did you get hurt when Daryl fell on you? The baby?" He asked.
"I don't feel anything." She assured him. "Are we doing all these bodies tonight?"
He shook his head, his fists on his hips as he looked out over the dark fields. "Not till the sun comes up. We'll wait till morning."
"Then why are we doing this now?" She looked at Paul and Glenn as they shoved a couple more away from the fence and into the trench.
"Just the ones that can be climbed. Don't want the walkers coming over the fence." He raised his chin to shout to Jimmy, who was walking toward the barn now. "Get the lantern oil! Don't use anymore gas!"
"You got it." Jimmy called back as he walked away.
"You know he likes Disco, don't you? Like, a lot." She said, watching the boy.
"It scares me how you change topics like that." He said, amused.
She laughed softly. "We wants her here, Rick."
He raised an eyebrow. "You tryin' to bring the whole world here? You just got two new pets today."
"Oh, don't talk like that." She chastised him gently. "Pets. Listen to you."
"It may be a joke, but it's a valid point. How many people are we bringin here?"
"It's his house! This was his place a long time before we got here, and if it wasn't for him, we might not be here at all. If he wants her here, who are we to say no?"
"The people who keep it safe. And if we keep bringin people in, we're gonna run out of everything." He ran the back of his wrist over his face wearily. "We're gonna push ourselves right out of this place."
"She's a hundred pounds, soaking wet. I really don't think she's gonna take up a lot of room. And she'll stay in his room with him, so we don't even have to worry about that. Whit has her on patrol duty, I bet she's a good shot, and Jimmy deserves to be happy. What would you say if we couldn't be together?"
"It's a different situation, Ruby. I love you! We're meant to be together, and I can't live without you. They aren't like that."
"How do you know? They haven't exactly gotten the chance yet, you know."
He sighed and grabbed her hand, tracing the edge of the gauze with his fingertip. :Listen, I very nearly just had a heart attack, and you and Daryl are hurt. Would you mind terribly if I didn't have to form a complete thought right now? It would mean a lot."
She smiled, leaning up on her toes and kissing him. "Ok, ok. I get it. Fire bad, tree pretty."
He grinned. "That's pretty much accurate. Let's go back inside."
"You finish up here, I'll just go check on the others and I'll meet you back out here." She said and he nodded. He kissed her again and she walked back to the men's house while he finished up with the others outside.
"What do you think brought the herd?" Jimmy pitched a body away from the fence and into the trench, speaking when Rick climbed over the fence nearby.
"Who knows. They just drift until something catches their attention, we've seen in happen."
"But when caught their attention?" Jimmy looked around, seeing of they'd gotten the last of the corpses on their side of the trench. When he saw they had, he picked up the jug of lighter fluid he'd brought from the barn and sprinkled it into the trench below.
"I think it was more luck than anything. We weren't making any noise." Rick said, watching him. Paul was listening on the other side of the trench, kicking in nearby bodies that weren't too far away. Glenn and Maggie were doing the same down the line a little, where the second, much smaller group had come from.
"Luck. Right. Lucky us." Paul remarked, grinning at them.
"So more will come now. Storms always make it worse and one is coming. I saw the lightening over behind the houses." Jimmy said, pulling matches from his pocket.
"Yeah, well, if it storms the thunder will drown out the gunshots if you have to fire." Paul said.
"I never seen them climb before, either. Makes me nervous. They were comin' over the fence if we didn't stop em." Jimmy threw a couple matches down onto the walkers in the trench.
"Just where they could stand on the other bodies. It'll be ok, nothing for them to stand on now." Rick watched as the flames from the fire Jimmy started began to consume the old clothing on the bodies below. The smell was foul, and he climbed back over the fence and away. Paul took a running leap over it, following Rick back into the yard with Jimmy.
"I guess." Jimmy was unconvinced, but Rick didn't blame him.
"Look, we have the fence, and the trench, and somebody will keep watch all night. Don't worry."
"I'll go first. Nothin' will be getting by, I promise. Don't stress, man." Paul said encouragingly. Jimmy but his lip and thought about it, but eventually nodded. They said their goodnights to him and the boy turned and walked back toward the house, lighter fuel canister in hand. He placed the closed container on the ground near the house and went in.
"You know, Paul, I was thinking the same stuff he was. I'm a little worried myself." Rick sighed and put his hands on his hips.
"Me too. But it's gonna take them enough time to get over the trench and the fence, we'll see 'em comin' a mile away. Plus, we got the alarm, we'll hear it, and I'll be keepin watch. You really don't have to worry."
Rick nodded. "Thanks. But let's make sure the doors stay locked when we're not out here, ok? Just in case."
"No argument here. One of us isn't on watch, the doors are locked. No problem. I'm worried, too, man. It's been a long time since all this started, I just don't see why there are still herds that size runnin' around. Just don't seem like there were that many people on this planet that there are so many walkers."
"I know what you mean." Rick nodded, and he wasn't lying. In the old days, he knew there were a lot of people on this planet, but he'd personally seen thousands of walkers put down. There had to be a finite number of them, there had to be, but it just didn't seem like they ever stopped. He was struck with the horrifying thought that he'd never seen the day when walkers were a thing of the past, and he looked at Paul with fear in his heart. The two of them were getting ready to bring babies into this world. How cruel was that? Taking a deep shuddering breath, he fought to keep the idea from sending him into a panic attack.
*********Ruby***********
In the men's house, Ruby didn't see Merle, but Abe and Emma were in the living room with Noell when she got there.
"How's Daryl?" She asked Noell, who was crashed in an armchair wearily.
"Knocked him out. I think he tore a tendon, he's gonna be hurting tomorrow."
"Man," Ruby sighed, leaning against Noell's armchair. "That is seriously gonna piss him off."
"Yeah, tell me about it. I don't feel like listening to him complain again every time I touch him again."
"Keep him drugged." Ruby said and Noell chuckled, a yawn overcoming her, and she stretched her long legs out in front of her.
"Well, I'm beat. I'm hitting the sack. Let me know if the villagers try to storm the castle again." She yawned again and stood up. "Night, all."
"Night." They murmured and Noell left, tapping up the stairs till the sound faded away. Ruby looked at Abe and Emma with a soft, remorseful gaze.
"I really hope you know we haven't been attacked like that in...well... ever. That's never happened before."
"It's good to know they waited till we were here before anything happened." Emma said, obviously displeased. Abe gave her a sharp look before turning back to Ruby.
"I think it was handled well. The fact that you built such a trench around the property means you planned head for just such an attack. Personally, I feel quite safe."
"How can you say that? You saw what happened to that redneck, he nearly got bitten!" Emma retorted.
"Emma, if that had happened in town they would have gotten through. A lot of people there can't shoot to save their lives, they would have panicked and we probably wouldn't be here now. No, this is the best place to be."
She rolled her eyes and huffed. For a girl of about 25, she acted like a twelve year old, in Ruby's opinion. "Fine. I'm going to bed."
They watched as Emma, a look of irritation planted firmly on her face, passed Ruby without a word and went up stairs, her footfalls heavy on the wooden stairs. When they heard a door slam upstairs, muffled, Abe looked at Ruby regretfully. "She's scared. I'm sorry, she shouldn't have talked to you like that."
"I don't blame her. Are you ok? Really?"
He waved at her dismissively. "I may be old but I am hearty. I'm fine. Could use a good night's sleep."
Ruby nodded understandingly. "I hear that. Me too."
"It has to be hard, running around the way you do while you're expecting. I hope I am not forward in saying that."
"No, of course not." Ruby said quickly. "I just do what I have to. Is your room ok? Do you need anything?"
He shook his head. "You're given us clothes, and honestly, this is the nicest place we've ever stayed. Thank you again for bringing us in. The people in town were... less than enthusiastic. It feels good to talk to people again."
"Can I ask you... I mean, it just seems strange that they acted that way toward you. You seem fine to me." Ruby said. Except for wanting us to hang bodies in our front yard, that is, she thought silently.
"You're kind. I'm afraid I have a way of going about things that some people can find off putting. Add to that a high tension factor, and it can go badly, I'm afraid. Sometimes I speak before I think, I will try to watch that here."
"Don't worry, Abe. It'll be fine. I just want you to live. That's the whole point of all this, isn't it? To find a way to live?"
He gave her an intense look, and she got that feeling like he was reading her again. In the soft light, his blue eyes almost held a light of their own. "You're a special girl, Ruby."
"I don't know about that." She smiled, shy from the compliment. He didn't even know her.
"I do. I've seen you fight for other people more in one day than I saw most people in Buckley do the entire time I was there. I think you and I will be friends. I understand. I would do anything to make sure Emma was alright."
"You're lucky to still have each other. Most people can't say that." She stood up from the couch she was leaning against and looked toward the stairs. "I assume Merle has turned in too?"
"Went right to him room when he got back. How's your hand?"
She looked down at the bandage. "Merle stitched me up. It's good."
He looked surprised. "A man of talents. I never learned how to do that. You have quite the group here."
"Yes, we do." She said proudly. "And I'm really glad you're here. You and Emma."
He stood up and crossed the room, sticking out a hand. "After her behavior, I have to say I am impressed with your patience. Thank you, Ruby. Very glad to be here."
She shook it. His skin was cool to the touch, his eyes never leaving her face. He looked older up close, worn, but she couldn't get over how unfailingly calm he always was. Emma was a ball of nerves right now. Most people would need the night to get their heart to start beating normally again, and yet here he was, cool as a cucumber. It was actually a little intimidating. She liked him, true, but she could see how he would throw some people off. It was like he knew a secret and wasn't sharing it.
"Alright, well, goodnight Abe. Would you mind locking me out?"
He followed her to the door, and when she heard the latch click behind her, she turned and walked slowly down the stairs. Her muscles ached, and she realized just how exhausted she truly was.
"Everything good?" Rick met her in the yard. He and Paul were the only ones left outside, the rest must have gone inside because the farm lay quiet and deserted around them. A late summer storm was coming, she could feel it. The air was thick and heavy, rain was coming. In the distance, a flash of light from low lightening flashed within the low hanging clouds, the effect eerie and threatening.
"It's all good." She nodded, crossing her arms over her chest. "You ready to go in?"
"Bought all we can do tonight. Paul is going to keep first watch." He looked out toward the front gate a couple yards away, where Paul was looking out over the fields. In the distance, lightening flashed again and she could see the forms of two walkers just inside the trees. It startled her, even though the she knew they had to be there. Suddenly, she felt uneasy, and just wanted to be inside.
"It's going to storm, I don't like this." She frowned. "Hey Paul! The storm is coming, are you going to the barn? I don't want you to stay out here!"
A low rumble of thunder answered her, instead of Paul. He looked back at the fields on last time and jogged to get to them. "I'll watch from the loft if it makes you feel better."
"It will. If you need anything, you promise to come get us?"
"You know I will." He said, and they all began to walk back. Paul split from them a moment later and as she was getting to the porch with Rick, she saw Paul dart inside the barn. Fat raindrops began to splatter in the dusty dirt around them, and they skipped up the stairs to avoid them. Rick locked the front door behind them just as a curtain of rain swept over the house, pounding at the roof and windows.
"Wow." Rick breathed, looking out the living room window. When Paul had taken out all but one light bulb from ever room, it had made everything so dim it was easy to see outside, and gave the house an eerie look against the lightening. Beth was coming down the stairs, a look of concern on her face.
"Please tell me Paul isn't outside in this."
"Paul isn't outside in this." Ruby said with a nod. "He's in the barn."
"Oh lord." Beth sighed, going to the mudroom and coming out with a large yellow umbrella. "I'm going out with him."
"Don't bother locking it, you'll be able to see if anything comes close." Rick said, showing her out. He shut the door behind her, and turned back to Ruby. They turned off the lights in the empty living room and went up. He stopped to check on Carl and Jeb, opening the door softly. Ruby peeked around him and saw the two boys passed out in their beds. Jeb was face down, his skinny little leg hanging off the side, and Carl was curled into a fetal position, an invisible lump under the quilt. Rick shut the door gently and when he passed Sally's door, Ruby saw him also stop again. A lump jumped into her throat when she realized her love had almost checked on the girl.
She put a hand on his lower back and steered him toward the stairs much the way he usually did to her, the look on his face breaking her heart. Upstairs, she closed the door to their room behind them and went to her bureau. He showered while she changed into a soft tee shirt that fell to her thighs and went to the window, opening it slightly. The rain was blowing away from it and didn't come inside, so she felt comfortable leaving it open. The sounds of thunder and rain soothed her as she sat on the bed and brushed her long hair out. Settling back on the bed, she looked across to the wall of drawing's Sally had made. Should she keep them up, especially after what had just happened to Rick in front of the little girl's room? Getting up quickly, she carefully took them down, being sure not to tear them. She was finishing when the water in the bathroom stopped, and she rolled them up and wrapped a rubber band around it. Storing it in the corner of the closet, she shut the door and was back in bed when Rick came out. He saw the bare wall and didn't say anything, but Ruby was sure she saw the smallest hint of relief on his handsome face.
He climbed into bed with her, clicking the lamp off, and she snuggled back into him as he spooned her. The lightening outside lit the room up every so often, and they listened to the rain as he took a large, warm hand and traced circles on her belly. The tip of his nose ran across the side of her neck and kissed little places on her skin there. It was perfect, this feeling she got when he held her, especially after such a hard day.
"You did so well today." He whispered.
"With what?" She asked softly, curious.
"I might not be the happiest guy in the world that Abe and Emma are here, but who knows what would have happened to them if you hadn't brought them back. You might have saved their lives."
"I wouldn't go that far. Whit would have protected them."
"I speak from experience when I say there isn't always something you can do. And then with Daryl when that herd came through. I think you saved him too."
"And I think you give me too much credit."
"You are always the modest one. But it worries me when you put yourself into danger like that. I can't let anything happen to you, Ruby."
"I'll be careful." She promised, turning her head so she could kiss him. The kiss deepened from a chaste one into a passionate one, and he turned her so he was pinning her down into the bed. His tongue explored her mouth, tasting her deeply. Running a hand up her thigh, he felt across her stomach and up between her breasts. They were swollen slightly, and when he cupped one and pinched the nipple, she let out a soft 'oohh'. It felt divine, and she twisted her fingers into his curly dark hair, sucking on his bottom lip and running her tongue along it. He moved his body so he rubbed against her, his knee going between her legs, his thigh up her thigh. When he pulled the edge of her panties down, she lifted her hips so he could take them all the way down, kicking them off with the end of her foot. He'd only wrapped himself in a towel after his shower and that was gone down, his cut, muscular form free for her to explore with her hands and she did. Scraping along his ab muscles with her fingertips, he pushed her tee shirt up and over her head, kissing down her chest and sucking on one sensitive nipple. She moaned, thrusting her chest up and into his face. She knew responding to his like this made him crazy, and he let out a low, animal like growl as he positioned himself between her legs. Engorged, he was more than ready for her, a steel like strength between his thighs that slid up into her in one smooth, easy motion. She stretched around him, sighing contentedly as he began to thrust. The adrenaline so recently coursing through his body only fueled him to go harder and faster, but he struggled to hold back. He didn't want to hurt her, and there was something about knowing she was carrying his child that made him not want to ravage her like a beast but to make love to her with reverence, passion and respect.
His smooth, deep thrusts built her higher, and higher, and as she crested, she buried her face in his neck. He put a hand on the back of her head to hold her there, kissing the side of her forehead, but never stopping the thrusting. She came hard, crying into his flesh, but he didn't stop. She trembled beneath him, gasping for breath, and he felt it hit him like a tidal wave. Like the rain pounding outside in sheets. He filled her then, hot and deep, letting her have every ounce of his love for her in a wave. Stars filled the back of his eyelids, and he moaned as he shuddered one last time, collapsing on her in a worn out, satiated heap of happiness.
There it was. Peace, albeit for one swift. blissful moment. Tomorrow, he'd deal with more death and destruction, but right then, everything was right and nothing could touch him.
