Lizzie hadn't slept.
She'd tried to let herself go but every time she began to drift, she'd see a flash of movement by the cell door and Mark would be there. She'd jumped the first time, almost letting out a cry of fright until she realized that it was just her mind playing tricks on her- he wasn't really there.
Lyin' here restin' is almost as good as sleepin', she told herself eventually, reaching for her belt and wriggling her knife free, I'm still relaxin'… I guess…
She slid the knife beneath the somewhat poor excuse of a pillow-before reaching across the floor for her hoodie.
She pushed herself into a sitting position as she rolled it up, resting it on top of the pillow before wriggling back down on the bed, propping her head up so she could see the door.
She pulled the thin sheet up a little, covering her exposed stomach, and let out a sigh.
She lay there listening to the others as they moved into their separate cells. Some of them were talking; others just seemed content to find a bed and try to get a few hours sleep.
It hadn't been a long day- it was only a few hours ago, if that, that they'd cleared the yard out- but the weeks of moving around, only managing to settle for a few days at a time before they could move on… Evidently it had taken its toll.
The bustle had died down eventually, leaving Lizzie alone with the muffled sounds of everyone sleeping- if it wasn't heavy breathing or the occasionally muffled snore, it was the sound of the beds creaking as their occupants turned in their sleep.
Musta been a while since anybody slept in these things, she thought as she looked around the cell, trying to ignore the splash of blood on the wall that had had slowly run down to the floor, kinda creepy but also kinda nice.
She hadn't paid that much attention to the state of the cell she had chosen as her own, she'd just thrown her pack on the floor, kicking it under the bunk so she didn't fall over it, and taken her belt off, leaving that on the floor near the pillow so it was within reach.
She hadn't wanted to sleep with her machete or Dorothy- it was a novelty to not feel as though she needed to- and the knife had only been a second thought precaution after Mark had run through her mind.
She felt, somewhat surprisingly, safe for a change, and she wanted to relish the feeling.
Eventually, she must have dropped off into a light doze because she jolted awake, drawing in a gasping breath, as she heard something hit the metal bars of her cell.
It was darker in the cellblock, the light outside had faded to evening, but she could still see well enough to know that it was Daryl who had come to pay her a visit.
"Y'alright?" He asked at the sound of her gasp.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she whispered, not wanting to wake the others as she pushed herself into a sitting position, "jus' took me by surprise, that's all, what're you doin' in here?"
When he didn't answer, she maneuvered herself out of the bed, wincing a little as her bare feet touched the concrete and she padded towards him.
"Is there somethin' out there or is this a social call?" She asked as she looked up at him.
He reached for her then, his hands grabbing her shoulders and holding her steady as he pressed his lips against hers.
Lizzie closed her eyes and lifted her arms, shrugging his hands loose as she did so and feeling them slide down her back, pinning her against him.
She ran her hands through his hair, pulling him as close as possible as she eased his mouth open so she could taste him better.
He slid his hands underneath her top, grabbing at the hem as he lifted his arms, pulling it free.
They broke apart as she let him peel her top free; she reached behind her head and pulled the elastic band out of her hair, shaking her head as it fell loose.
Daryl instantly took a handful of her hair, pulling her in for another kiss, more frantic than their first, as she pushed his jacket from his shoulders and grabbed at the top he wore underneath, trying to remove it.
He pulled away from her, taking hold of his shirt himself, throwing it to one side as he pulled it off.
He took hold of her again, steering her backwards before he pushed her down on the bed, following her down almost instantly and finding her mouth once again.
He groaned as she dug her nails into his shoulders, raking them down his back as she wrapped her legs around him, feeling him press against her.
He moved his kisses downwards, running his lips along her jaw before biting her neck gently. When she drew a breath, he reached up and covered her mouth with his hand, not wanting her to moan and alert the others to what was going on.
He could feel her smiling against his palm and something about that drove him wild- he was biting her and she was somewhat gagged, in an improvised way at least… And she loved every second of it.
That's my girl, he thought, no more playin'.
He pushed himself away from her, scooting down the bed a little as he frantically tried to get her jeans undone. As soon as they were, he began tearing them down her legs.
"I got it." She breathed, bringing her knees up so she could reach the bunched up jeans at her ankles, easing them off a lot quicker and, what she hoped anyway, a lot sexier than Daryl was managing.
He seized the opportunity to push himself up and wriggle himself out of his own pants, pausing briefly to admire the view as Lizzie lay there, completely naked before him.
He fell on her, pushing himself into her, feeling her shiver at the sensation.
She arched her back as he began to move back and forth, both of them struggling to keep their voices low.
Their breathing was becoming more ragged and their movements more frantic when, suddenly, the bed let out an almighty creak that stopped them both in their tracks.
"D'ya think anyone heard?" Lizzie whispered, her chest heaving as Daryl pushed himself upright and looked over his shoulder, listening for any signs of life from the others.
After a few seconds, they hadn't heard any other sounds and Lizzie was itching to get back into the swing of things so the wave of disappointment she felt when Daryl slid off her and stood up was practically tidal.
"We don't have to stop," she said frantically as she pushed herself into a sitting position, "nobody heard, right? So we can carry on an'…"
She was cut short as Daryl turned and grabbed her arms, pulling her off the bed and into his arms, running his hands down her bare back.
He lifted her with ease and carried her towards the cell door.
"Sorry." He muttered between kisses.
"What're you…?" She began to ask, only stopping when he pressed her back against the bars, letting out a hiss, "Jesus Daryl, they're fuckin' cold!"
He smiled and slid inside her again, feeling her nails dig into his shoulders again.
"I can stop if you like?" He asked quietly, easing himself back and forth.
"No…" She breathed, whimpering a little, "Don't stop…"
He smiled wickedly, taking that as a signal and began to drive himself into with more force.
She took her hands from his shoulders, barely noticing the red marks that she'd left on his skin, and reached backwards, grabbing the bars behind her as she tilted her head back, her eyes closed, lost in the moment.
He buried his face against her neck, hoping it would help muffle his ragged breathing and keep the small grunts that were escaping his mouth away from the others.
He had known the minute he'd walked into her cell that it wasn't going to be a long night of making love- it was going to be a good, old fashioned fucking. Luckily, Lizzie didn't mind- he suspected that she wanted it, that she needed it, just as much as he did.
As he felt himself reaching his climax, Lizzie's body went stiff and began to quiver. As she opened her mouth, he reached up again and clamped his hand firmly over it, feeling her breath warm his palm as she let out a muffled cry.
he kept his hand in place for a few seconds, not wanting her to cry out loud and wake anyone, but she pulled it free, grabbing a handful of his hair again as she steered his lips towards hers.
"Come for me." She whispered breathlessly before she kissed him, and he obliged.
He tried his best to keep his groans to a minimum and Lizzie's mouth on his helped to keep them under control.
He pulled away from her, letting out a deep breath before he rested his head against her shoulder, feeling her pressing her face into his hair as the last aftershocks of their orgasm rippled through them.
"I love you." She whispered as she smiled, feeling a hell of a lot more satisfied than she had done in a long time.
"Love you more." He replied, looking up at her and smiling before he kissed her gently.
"Y'know what?" These bars? I'm thinkin' we might need to steal Rick's handcuffs again, y'know?" She grinned.
"As long as you don't forget the key this time…" He chuckled, watching as she flushed a little at the memory.
"Yeah, I'd like to save myself that embarrassment again." She said with a frown, shaking her head at her own stupidity.
Daryl laughed again and slid himself from her, lowering her steadily and catching her as she wobbled and almost fell.
"Jeez, feels like you've fucked the legs right offa me." She sighed, resting her forehead against his chest.
"Want me to help you back to bed?" He asked, kissing the top of her head.
"You goin' back out there?" She asked, looking up at him hopefully.
"Could stay a while, if you like?" He shrugged.
"That'd be good." She smiled, nodding in agreement.
He nodded in return and scooped her into his arms, hushing her as she let out a surprised giggle. They staggered back to the bed and he lay her down gently, tempted to just throw her onto the mattress but unsure of how much noise it would make.
She scooted over to the far side, pressing herself against the wall as she patted the space next to her, inviting him to join her.
A year ago, he wouldn't have even dreamed of it but now he slid into the bed next to her, tossing her hoodie aside and pulling the pillow down a little so he could rest his head on it comfortably.
Lizzie let out a content sigh as she felt Daryl's body pressed against hers, one arm thrown across her protectively and his fingers entwined with his.
Never in a million years would I have thought I'd find somethin' like this, she thought with a smile, even without the goddamn zombies!
She lay there for a few minutes, relishing the extra body heat and the feel of his breath tickling the back of her neck before she closed her eyes…
… And for the first time in what felt like forever, she slept…. And she didn't dream.