Thanks so much for the reviews guys :). You spoil me, you really do, and I love you all for it! And a big thanks to suggies for betaing this for me :).


Conflicted

Being with 'The Claimers' had been one of the most terrifying moments of Darcy's life. The first had to be the moment she felt her Daryl let go of her hand; the second had to be when she found out about the dead rising; the third had to have been when that guy attacked her back when she first met Daniels.

So unless she was forgetting something, being with 'The Claimers' had been the fourth most terrifying moment of her life, if you wanted to be specific.

Which is why she expected to feel more... relieved when they finally managed to escape the grasp of those sick, sick men. She expected to feel free, to want to celebrate; to want to dance, laugh and party like there was no tomorrow.

Instead she felt numb.

And it was in no way because she wanted to go back. Hell no, that wasn't the reason. She figured it was a mixture of what Joe wanted her and Daryl to do, and because of what she'd found in Daryl's bag.

To be honest, she wasn't quite sure how to describe her feelings – numb was probably the most accurate term but she still couldn't be sure. She just couldn't think. Couldn't made sense of anything.

Everything was so confusing. Her heart hurt along with her heart which hadn't stopped pounding since they left.

She'd spent so many nights dreaming of him, wanting him, longing for him. It had hurt and broken her heart until she had no choice but to try and push it all away; there was no point in dwelling on something she could never have.

But now? Now there was a chance he was right in front of her.

Just thinking about it brought tears to her eyes which she quickly attempted to rub away with her hand. God, she felt so emotionally drained. She wanted nothing more than to beg him to hold her – to let him know that it was her -but she knew she couldn't do anything without thinking clearly. What if it wasn't him? That would be embarrassing.

Although she knew the chances of it not being him were extremely slim. As if some guy with the same name, same business card and same bracelet just happened to exist.

Was she happy to have found him? That Daryl turned out to be her Daryl? The answer was pretty damn simple. Of-fucking-course she was! She wasn't even sure why the hell she was asking herself that.

She was just so tired. So tearful although she wasn't sure why.

Would he be happy to meet her? Did he remember her? He'd never shown a romantic interest in her like he had with phone-sex Darcy. Did he not like the 'real life' Darcy?

The thought of him rejecting her was enough to make her throat tighten painfully. She wouldn't blame him. Her ex's words echoed through her ears – like they had so many times since the breakup – reminding her how worthless she was. How no one would want someone as fat and ugly as her.

She wasn't ashamed to admit she really needed her Mom right now. Her cuddles always made everything okay.

The tip of her boot hit something solid, causing her to trip up and land straight onto her knees. Luckily, she managed to catch herself with her hands before her face met the forest floor.

And then she could no longer how it back and a small whimper escaped her lips as a tear fell down her cheek.

"Aw, dammit," Daryl growled before the tip of his boots were in front of her and he was crouching down, hands on her shoulders. "Ya alright, girl? Did ya hurt ya self?"

She shook her head, bringing a hand up to wipe the tear off of her cheek. "I'm okay," she managed to croak.

"Yeah? Well I don't believe ya," he told her bluntly as he pushed her chin up using his knuckles so she wasn't staring at the ground any more. Although they were face-to-face, she continued to avoid his gaze and it was pissin' him off to no end. "What? Won't even look at me now?"

Fuck, not that he could blame her. He practically mauled her back there like some animal. He wouldn't be surprised if she never spoke to him again. And he hated how much that affected him.

She knew what that tone of voice meant – he was blaming himself – and she quickly shook her head. "Not for the reason you think," she told him quietly, eyes staring at the strap of his bag on his shoulder. It was weird not seeing his crossbow there; the poor thing had gotten left back at the cabin. She was sure that they could find one back at the barracks for him though.

Daryl frowned. "T'hells that supposed to mean?"

God. There were so many things she could say to him in reply and each one of them brought more frustrated tears to her eyes.

Daryl, it's me. Darcy. Do you still remember me? Do you still love me? Did you miss me? Can you forgive me for being with Daniels? I never forgot about you. I love you so much. Just hold me please. I need you so much right now but I don't know if I should tell you.

Instead, she squeezed her eyes shut, willing her emotions away. "Nothing." she lied before taking a deep breath and opening her eyes once more. Without meaning to, she looked up at Daryl and met his gaze.

Which only caused more tears to form. He was so damn handsome. So much more than she could have hoped for. If it turned out to be him, the man from her past who she never forgot about, she would be more than happy.

But she also knew that he was way out of her league. Her bottle lip wobbled and she quickly clamped her teeth down on it.

Daryl was lost. He weren't good with women on the best of days, let alone a cryin' one he was pretty sure he was developin' feelin's for. Her eyes were red, cheeks flushed and bottom lip tremblin' like little ass-kickers did when she cried. He wanted to make it go away; to fix it but he weren't sure how.

There was never any comfort in his family. He had no choice but to man up and deal with the hand given to him. There weren't any tears, or sympathy, or help. So he had no idea how to help her.

He thought back to when he was a kid and his Ma was still alive. She used to give him the best hugs. Made him feel safe and at home. Maybe that's what Darcy needed right now.

So, cautiously, he moved his hands from her shoulders and wrapped them around her back before pulling her to his chest and holding her tightly like his Ma used to do to him.

Darcy's breath hitched from both the proximity and the attempt to hold back a sob. He was so warm. Smelt so damn good. She couldn't help but cling to him tightly. She also couldn't help but pretend that he knew exactly who she was and they were together. A proper couple. She pretended that the world hadn't ended and that they were on some camping trip in the forest. She pretended that Joe didn't exist and that Daryl held her like this every night.

She wanted to ask him if he really was her Daryl but now wasn't the right time. The Claimers could already be after them and they really needed to keep moving. She also didn't want to embarrass herself if he wasn't her Daryl, even if the chance was slim.

She would ask him questions, she decided. Ones that could give her more information about him so she could work out the similarities. Maybe even ask about any ex's he had. As soon as they were no longer in danger anyway.

So Darcy took a deep breath and pulled her head away from his shoulder before giving him a watery smile. "I'm okay now. Thank you."

He stared at her, knowing that she was far from okay but decided to leave it alone for now. They needed to get moving anyway. So he gave her a jerky nod in return before helping her up. "We keep going that way," he pointed in front of them once they were both standing. "Should come across a road. Then we stick to concrete. Won't be able to track us no more."

She sniffled wetly, her nose still feeling snotty from the crying session moments ago. "Sounds like a plan."


Darcy barely managed to pull herself together as they continued on their way. The woods and darkness seemed never ending and every movement or scurry along the leafy ground sent her adrenaline pumping.

She knew it was her body's way of prepare her for a possible attack, whether it was Walker or Claimer, but she wished she could stop feeling so on edge. Even Daryl making a sharp movement made her jump.

There was no conversation or words exchanged between them as Daryl concentrated on his mission of getting them out of the trees and impressionable mud. They didn't have much light other than what the moon offered when its glare wasn't blocked by passing clouds. Which meant seeing was chore on its own, but being a woodsmen, he knew how to rely on his other senses.

Darcy however had no such talent and kept her eyes on Daryl's back (from what she could see of it anyway). She trusted him. Knew he'd hear a Walker approaching or the Claimers sneaking up, but that didn't make trekking through a pitch black, possible Walker and pervert invested woods, any less terrifying.

She made do though and hummed her favourite tunes in her head, trying desperately to keep her mind away from her thoughts. There was so many of them, circling round and round, confusing and upsetting her- Daryl. Claimers. Insecurities. Past abuse resurfacing. Daniels. Anxiety. Heart hurts. Head hurts. Are we gonna get out of here? Will the Claimers find us? Will Daryl like who I am? Will he forgive-

Stop, she told herself tiredly, sick of hearing the same thoughts she'd tried hard to keep away. Just stop.

And then she was silently humming again, attempting to once more avoid her thoughts.

"A'ight," Daryl drew out the word, his voice full of approval while speaking quietly as he could.

"What?" Darcy questioned.

"Road," he answered simply as he came to a stop, looked at her and flicked his head over to the space in front of him.

She squinted her eyes but couldn't make out anything other than darkness and trees. Oh well, his word was good enough for her. "That's good," she said, feeling too drained to express exactly how relieved she was to be out of the woods – literally!

His hand found its way onto arm whether he meant to or not and then he was pulling her past the tree line and onto pavement.

Away from the trees, her sight was slightlybetter but it was still dark and hard to see which meant she would still have to rely on Daryl and his hunter senses. No matter – he'd got them this far so she was sure he'd get them where they needed to go.

"This way," he told her, turning them both so they were heading left down the road. He took his hand away from her arm. "Ain't safe yet but they're less likely ta find us now."

She gave a half-assed nod. "Where we heading?" she was pretty sure she knew the answer but thought she'd ask anyway. As much as she didn't really fancy talking, she really didn't want him thinking she was upset with him.

He shrugged one shoulder, the movement barely visible. "Your place still. Just goin' a longer route," he rubbed his hand over his chin. "If we can find a car or somethin', it'd be a whole lot easier."

"'or somethin''? You must have hit your head if you think I'm riding on the back of a bike," she told him firmly with just enough lightness to let him know she was joking with him... well, kinda. She reallydidn't want to get on the back of a bike but if it was that or walking, she'd probably pick the bike.

His reply was full of amusement. "You scared of a bike, girly?"

She made a 'pfft' noise, troubled thoughts quickly disappearing as they began their usual banter. "I ain't scared, big boy," she denied. "But there's only two things I ride; men and horses," she smiled almost smugly, proud of thinking that up all on her own but the look Daryl gave her quickly made her regret her words. "Ohmygosh. Gross. Not horses in that way. Je-sus. What is wrong with you? Urgh," she ranted with a gag at the end.

He held up his hands as he breathed a laugh. "I ain't said nothin', Darce. Not my fault if you took it the wrong way," Fuck this girl was fun to wind up. He didn't think he'd had so much fun with a member of the opposite sex before.

Well, he had with his Darcy, he remembered, the thought sendin' a strange, painful feelin' through his heart but he quickly pushed it away. Now wasn't the time.

Darcy could feel her cheeks going red and she suddenly regretted all the times she'd wound him up because he seemed determined to get his revenge on her. "I didn't take it the wrong way; you did!" she argued, feeling her cheeks get redder and redder.

"How?" he rubbed his thumb over his bottom lip, trying to hide his grin; not that she could see it with such little light anyway. "I ain't said anything," he reminded her.

"No," she agreed, feeling embarrassed, irritated yet happy for the distraction. "But you had that...look."

He snorted. "What look?"

"Oh. My. God." she exclaimed. "You're actually going to make me say it, aren't you?"

He didn't reply but she could still hear his breathy chuckle.

She bit her tongue before moving closer to him and lowering her voice. "You totally gave me a 'Hah, you just said you fuck horses look', asshole," she attempted to imitate voice but failed badly. "Stop laughing at me!"

He bit the skin on the tip of his thumb in an attempt to hide his laughter. "I ain't laughin' atcha," he tried to reassure her but the chuckle which escaped wasn't convincing anyone.

"Geez, you're mean," she huffed, not really meaning it as she crossed her arms over her chest before her lips broke apart into a wide grin. "For the record, I don't do...that with horses. My Grandaddy owned his own farm and I used to do horse riding whenever I got the chance."

"Ah'know," he told her amusedly, nudging her slightly on the head with his knuckle. "Am jus' messin' with ya, cowgirl."

Grinning, she couldn't help but step closer and wrap her arm around his waist. Butterflies danced in her belly from the contact and they grew even more wild at the thought of Daryl being her Daryl. They got on so well together; like a match made in heaven and it gave her hope that he might like her too.


"Joe!" Tony shouted up the stairs impatiently. The old fucker had been up there for hours, probably doin' something to the hot piece of ass they'd captured.

The thought made him grin for a moment before he frowned. He'd seen Joe in 'action' and it was no secret their leader was a, ah, minute man. So him being up there for hours with no word didn't make a lick of sense.

Come to think of it, he hadn't heard even a peep from 'em. No heavy breathin, struggling, begs for mercy, screaming... Fuck.

His boots pounded loudly against the steps as he rushed up them, his gut telling him something was wrong. By the time he'd reached the top of the stairs, his knife was in his grip and then he was barging down Joe's door, weapon raised.

The smell of Walker hit him first and soon followed the cold, dead hands of Joe himself. Well, not exactly himself.

The dead fingers gripped Tony's shoulders and his head stretched forward, mouth opening and closing in a desperate attempt to feed. Tendons, veins and other pieces of flesh were in clear view thanks to the gaping, open, bled out gash in Joe's throat – no doubt what had killed him.

"Goddammit Joe," Tony growled angrily, holding Joe back as he stared into the empty eyes of his friend. "Hope the bitch was worth it!" was his parting words before he brought the knife up and forced it through Joe's eye socket. The struggle quickly came to an end as the former Claimer fell onto the floor, completely lifeless.

In one last fit of frustration, Tony delivered a swift kick to Joe's ribs. In all honestly, Tony only felt a small loss for Joe's death. They only had one thing in common – hell they all did, really – the need to survive.

So no, Tony couldn't say he was sad for losing Joe but he was angry because he knew this would be the downfall of their group and in turn, his safe haven. Joe was the one who kept the peace. They knew what he was capable of and none of them wanted to get on his bad side. If it was school, he'd be the bully. If they were a family, he'd be the scary Dad. No one upset Joe in fear of what he would do.

And now he was gone which left the men uncontrolled like a pack of rouge wolves with no Alpha to answer to.

"Holy shit," Len's voice appeared behind him, sounding amused more than anything else. "What do we have here?"

And so it begins. Tony sighed and turned around to face him, rubbing a hand over his bandanna covered head. "They killed him and from the looks of it, they're long gone."

"Well then," Len started, running his tongue over his top teeth before grinning. "Guess we've got ourselves a chase."