Fourteen

I nodded off, my head rolling around on Daryl's shoulder. We sat on the front porch, all of us, waiting for the return of Shane with Lori… or Rick and Glenn with Hershel. Everyone was running around the countryside, chasing someone. Daryl stood and pulled me up with him, "Let's go to bed," he said, holding me close and walking towards our tent. I more than willingly crawled onto my inviting makeshift bed and waited for Daryl. A moment later, he slid in next to me, shirtless. I squirmed a bit, getting comfortable under the covers and next to Daryl; my seemingly favorite spot.

"Don't wander off tonight," I mumbled through sleep, "No more people wandering off."

"Shush up and sleep," Daryl sighed, his arm around me.

The sound of Lori's and Shane's yelling voices woke Daryl and I up with a start. We stumbled out of the tent, Daryl still shirtless and my hair in a mess, "What's going on," I asked, innocently.

Lori turned to me, "Shane told me Rick was back! Told me he was here and safe!"

I looked at Shane with a did you really have to do that look. He pursed his lips and his face became red, "I was only doing it to protect you and the baby!" He shouted and then stormed off. Camp was silent. So silent. Not a bug moved on the ground, not a cicada buzzed on the tree, no one dared breath. Lori's eyes were wide. Carl stood in front of her, staring with an open mouth.

Daryl's hand gently pulled mine, "C'mon girl, let's get outta here for a bit," he eyed Lori and Carl and then led me away.

We walked out into the pasture, hand in hand, Daryl's crossbow swung over his shoulder. The cows around us munched happily, unknowing of the dangerous world around them. I sighed, "It'd be nice to be a cow, I think. Just eat all day not really worried about walkers."

Daryl smirked, "Well, I'm glad you're not a cow Jo May."

"Are we," I cleared my throat, "Ya know… are we, a thing?"

"A what?"

I cleared my throat again, "A thing… a pair… Facebook official?"

Daryl chewed on his dumb nail for a moment, I panicked and then he looked over to me, "I s'pose so."

I smiled but otherwise stayed silent. A car came flying up the drive; Rick, Hershel and Glenn, "Great," Daryl said, "Looks like we're in for it now."

We headed back to the house, the group was awkwardly silent. Rick, Hershel and Glenn stepped out of the car, dark circles of exhaustion under their eyes, "Someone else is with them," Daryl nodded to the blindfolded person in the back seat.

"Did this just turn into a "who's the daddy-hostage" situation," I asked, Daryl quietly laughed as we approached. I couldn't believe this. The kid was tied up, a blindfold covered most of his face and he had an iPod blasting music in his ears. Rick pulled him out of the car and he moaned in pain.

"This is Randall," Rick said, tossing him on the ground.

There was something about the way the kid, not much older than me, grunted when he hit the ground. It made my stomach twist up in knots, fear pounded along with my heart. I dropped my hand from Daryl's, "You okay," he asked, sounding far away as Rick pulled the blindfold off of Randall's face.

"Oh my God," I whispered. I felt like I was stuck in cement as I turned and made for the barn, the fields… anywhere but seeing that face. Again.

Shane watched Daryl take off after Jo May, she ran her hands through her hair and he could see her sobbing. He looked back at Randall and then over at Jo May, realizing that there was only one reason that a stranger could illicit such a reaction. He followed Daryl, feeling his anger boiling over.

Daryl and Shane reached the barn at the same time, "What's goin' on," Daryl asked, wary of Jo May's sudden change of mood.

She held her palms on her temples and desperately tried to control her sobbing. Shane stood a ways behind Daryl and quietly asked, "Was he one of them?"

Jo May stopped dead in her tracks and slowly turned back to the two of them and nodded. Daryl looked back from Shane to Jo May, "One of who?"

Shane lowered his head and looked up at Jo May, "I think it's time to tell, sweetie."

Daryl was becoming agitated quickly, "Tell me what, Jo May?"

Shane stood silently, listening as Jo May told the same story to Daryl as she had to him. Daryl stood nearly statuesque until Jo May had finished, her arms folded, she stared at the ground. Daryl slammed his hand on the wall and she jumped. He walked over to her and she shied away, he caught her by the elbow. Daryl surprised Shane with the most sincere, softest voice he had ever heard a man use, "You're my girl, Jo May. And I will never let anything happen to you. Ever. You got that? You're my girl and I'ma keep you safe."