Chapter 13

Sometime deep into the night, Charlotte's eye fluttered open, and a moment of panic set in as she couldn't recall where she was. She jolted half way upright in bed and immediately regretted it, her entire body was so sore that her very muscles felt like they were full of large splinters.

She smiled into the darkness as she felt Gavin's cold nose push under her arm, it was like he sensed that it hurt her to move, because he nudged his head under her hand and licked her arm, so it was easier for her to stroke his soft, plush fur.

"Ahhh shit!" She hissed as she gritted her teeth, she was no stranger to pain, but as she lay there, discovering that it even hurt to breathe she found herself wishing she had something stronger than over the counter pain relievers.

"Gotta get to the bathroom … think you could help me?" Charlotte asked the large dog through gritted teeth. She steeled herself against the pain and hooked her fingers through Gavin's collar. He slowly backed up and pulled her into a sitting position.

"Okay … okay …" she hissed as she sat on the edge of the bed, composing herself against the pain that was shooting through her body like electricity. It wasn't even her broken ankle that hurt the most, it was the soft tissue injuries and the two ribs she was sure she had fractured.

"Let's go." She said as she stood, her hand in a death grip around Gavin's collar. He leaned against her leg to support her as they made the slow trip to the bathroom.

"Okay, I think I got it from here." She said as she hobbled inside. Luckily there was a sink to the left of the toilet, and she used that to brace against as she eased herself down onto the seat.

When she was finished, she opened the door and there Gavin stood, waiting for her. She was amazed at Gavin's patience as she leaned heavily on him, she knew she had to be hurting him, but he never complained as they went along at a snails pace, back to bed.

Suddenly, the door to the bedroom swung open so forcefully that it bounced off the wall with a heavy thud.

Unable to see well in the darkness and thinking the worst, Charlotte drew her machete, ever present at her side as Gavin gave a low, menacing growl.

"what are ya doin' outta bed, pirate girl?" Daryl's deep, gruff voice floated from somewhere in the darkness.

"Well, I can't go to the bathroom in bed, can I? Now are you just gonna stand there or help me back to bed? Since you decided to barge in here, you might as well make yourself useful." She said, he looked at her sharply to find the ghost of a grin playing about her mouth.

He gently slipped a strong arm around her slender waist. "You shoulda asked for help, we're right outside the door." He said as he helped her into bed.

"I … I don't like people seeing me this way, all weak and shit." Charlotte said, her words coming out through gritted teeth as she lay back heavily against the pillow, the short trip was exhausting to her and she could feel her eyelids getting heavy.

He stroked her lengthening spiked hair with a rough hand with surprising gentility. "We're a family, pirate girl, you don' need to hide anything from us." He said as he pressed his warm lips against hers in a short, but sensual kiss. despite her broken state, Charlotte could feel bolts of desire and need shooting through her.

"You know I would fuck your brains out right now if I wasn't so fucked up." She said, chuckling painfully, he laughed in spite of himself.

"Plenty of time for that." He said with a wink, his tone not hinting to the desire she saw burning deep within his bright blue eyes. When she had first met Daryl, she never would have guessed that he would be as passionate as he was. Their relationship was not an outwardly affectionate one, like Glenn and Maggie's, but when they were alone? There was so much heat and passion between them, that she was surprised that the bed never caught on fire.

And now it has been weeks since they had been together and she knew as much built up sexual tension she had, his was multiplied tenfold. But, as much as she hated to admit it, the spirit was willing, but the body was NOT … at least not yet.

"Daryl you say you have a solid lead on where that car might have been headed?" Rick said as they gathered for a meeting the next morning. Daryl nodded wordlessly. "Good, you, Glenn and Maggie go and see what you can find out." The three of them nodded as they exited without a word.

"The rest of us are going to hang tight here until they get back, we can't risk losing any more people. If Daryl, Glenn, and Maggie don't come back, then we'll go from there." He said to the rest of the group, his voice had that familiar finality to it that they all knew better than to argue with by now.

"You said you had an idea where they might have taken Kaela?" Glenn asked as they drove down the deserted city roads.

"Yeah, Arlington … or what used to be it's south a' here. There's military bases, lot's a places to get ammo round' there. If they're anywhere, I'm bettin' its there."

Daryl said, his eyes not leaving the road. Glenn stole a nervous glance at Maggie, he just prayed that Daryl wouldn't do anything stupid once they got there.

Notes: Wow, I am sorry for not updating this in so long ... I didnt realize that I had two chapters almost completed and ready to go, I have been working so much on my other stories that I forgot. My bad.