Jumping, I turn around. "Oh my gosh!" I cry, trying to cover myself up. "Daryl!" I am ridiculously embarrassed and self-conscious, and my face shows it, flushing furiously red.

"Damn." Daryl repeats, his voice weak and rough. He licks his lips and then shakes his head. "I-I'm sorry." he mumbles, quickly leaving.

I quickly pull the tank top on and run after him. I immediately regret it. "Daryl," I call out, wincing as my head rushes and I start to feel dizzy. "Daryl, it's-it's okay!" I stutter out, both from embarrassment and pain.

Daryl's in the hall, sitting on the floor. He's leaning his head back against the wall, and his eyes are closed. "No, it ain't." he says, shaking his head some more. "I shouldn't've never seen you like that." Opening his eyes, he says with an earnest look on his face, "I didn't realize you was changin'. I ain't've never- I ain't- Never-" He's stuttering and tripping over his words. It's more adorable than it should be.

"It's okay," I repeat gently. I can't quite bring myself to look him directly in the eye. "I know you didn't do it on purpose." I'm still blushing, as I lower myself to the floor, sitting across from Daryl. "Man, you must be some ninja," I say, forcing a laugh out, trying to make light of the situation. "I never even heard you coming."

"I thought you was maybe sleepin'." Daryl mumbles. "Didn' wanna disturb ya." Daryl looks like he's about to withdraw from me, falling into a stupor or something.

"I didn't realize my bare back was so traumatizing." I say, mostly joking, but also a little hurt.

Daryl looks up at me as if I'm crazy. He opens his mouth and licks his lips, getting ready to say something, but then shakes his head and closes his mouth again.

Nodding, I decide to change the subject. "So what's going on out there?" I ask, remembering why Daryl had left earlier. I'm ashamed to admit that I hadn't thought much about Tyreese and Judith all day. It's all this isolation, I think. I'm forgetting what it's like to love and care for others. There's more to the world than just Daryl, and I'd do well to remember that. I make a note not to be so self-centred. "Is Tyreese okay? Judith?"

Daryl nods, and slowly comes back to reality. "Ya, they're alright." he says gruffly.

I wait a few seconds for him to elaborate. He doesn't. "So what did you do today? What did you see?"

Daryl looks at me contemplatively before nodding and continuing. "Not much, honestly." he says. " I went out into them woods, and found their trailer again. They still got their watchdogs all over the place. No less than two guys standin' there, makin' sures no one gettin' near. At one point, they had three." Daryl shook his head. "I couldn't get near 'nuff to really see if it were Tyreese still in there." he confesses, pressing his lips together, looking angry and bitter. "But with all that bangin' and hollerin', I reckon it could only be him."

I bite my lip. I know there was nothing Daryl could do to get closer, especially not by himself, but still. I worry about Tyreese. We don't know for sure he's still in there. And even if he is, who else is with him? Or was with him but was then taken to be…?

I voice my concerns to Daryl, who shrugs. "Ain't nothin' we can do." he says, picking at his boots. He tries to act nonchalant, like none of this matters, but I can tell by the way his fingers are shaking and the way he's twitching that he's just as concerned as I am, restless and dying to take action. "I ain't 'bout to storm in there by myself, and you ain't fit to even stand watch." He lets out a big breath. "I can tell you that there baby is fine. Camp's takin' good care of it and it smilin' and shit." Again, he tries to play it off like he doesn't care, but I can see the sparkle in his eye. "If it's Lil Ass-Kicker, she'll be ready for a fight in no time." he says, with a hint of pride in his voice.

I smile, remembering how surprisingly good he'd been with Judith. When we get her back, I think they'll do each other some good. It'd be nice to see Daryl and smile and take care of something, instead of always being surly and fighting with everything in his path. Together, we could take care of her, and turn her into a survivor like us. 'Our own little survival family', I think happily. I then shake my head, realizing that I'm being selfish again. Tyreese and who knows who else will be part of our family too. It won't just be me and Daryl anymore.

While I want to find everyone, Maggie and Glenn especially, and I hope above all that no matter where everyone is they're at least safe, I can't help but think how different things would be if someone else had escaped with me and Daryl. And how different things will be when it's no longer just the two of us.

Shaking my head, I try to push those thoughts out. Instead, I focus on the matter at hand: "So what's the plan to get them out?" I ask Daryl, figuring some action is needed for the both of us.

Daryl closes his eyes and leans back against the wall again. "I dunno." he mumbles. Opening his eyes, he sees me looking at him all inquisitively. "What?" he growls, getting all defensive. "Ain't nothin' we can do!" he repeats.

I sigh. "Daryl, I'm not asking you to storm the camp and save them by yourself." I say gently, putting my hand on his arm. "I'm just surprised you haven't thought of any options." Smiling at him, I add, "What with your big brain for hunting and strategizing."

Daryl smiles begrudgingly. "Don't think I don't know what yer doin'." he says. "Tryin' to sweet talk me into action."

My mouth drops open in surprise. "I am trying to do no such thing!" I protest. It's true. Kinda. I mean, I am trying to flirt with him, but I also really did think he'd have some ideas planned out.

Daryl grins. "Just givin' ya a hard time."

I punch him lightly in the shoulder. Still not lightly enough though. My head spins with the sudden movement and impact that my arm makes. It's pathetic. I had been doing so well! I'd been getting stronger and becoming more capable. Now I'm just a weak little girl again. I grit my teeth and wait for the pain to pass.

Daryl notices and quickly puts his arm around me, trying to steady me. His face is full of concern. "Oh man," he grumbles. "I'm such a jerk. I ain't even ask how ya doin'."

I take a deep breath and try to steady my voice. "I'm doing alright." I say as brightly as I can. "Really!"

Daryl eyes me suspiciously. "You ain't seem alright." he says.

"Really," I say earnestly. "I just can't make any sudden movements." Brightening up, I deflect by saying, "Hey, I cleaned up downstairs earlier! Would I have been able to do that if I wasn't feeling alright?"

Daryl's eyes widened. "Ya went downstairs?" he asked, sounding disapproving. "What if something gone an' happened to ya?"

"Daryl," I say firmly, "I couldn't just stay upstairs doing nothing all day." Daryl nods, but still frowns. "I was careful," I continue. "I had my knife, and before I even climbed over that barricade, I listened hard. There were no sounds coming from anywhere in the house. I knew I was alone." Smiling, I finish with, "Walkers aren't anywhere near as stealthy as you."

That gets a small smile out of Daryl. "I ain't stop by downstairs." he says, sounding a little more normal again. He then looks a little sheepish. "I was wantin' to check on ya first."

I beam. "Well, let's go check out my handiwork then!" I say. My stomach rumbles. Embarrassed, I add, "I don't suppose you have any dinner for us?"

Daryl chuckles. "I might've stopped by the corner store on my way home." he grins. He hops up from the floor with an easy grace. I on the other hand struggle to even rise. Daryl leans forward and holds out his hand to help me up. Smiling, I grab it, only to have him then swing his arm out and sweep me off my feet, picking me up. I realize he's carrying me the way a man would carry his bride. I start to flush, but suddenly my head catches up to the momentum and pulses again. I find myself clinging to Daryl's shirt, trying to steady myself. "Sorry," Daryl mumbles in my ear. "Fergot 'bout yer head." He stands still for a minute as the pulsing in my head passes. Looking down at me, he waits for me to signal that I'm okay, before continuing.

He carries me down the stairs, and I see that he's gotten rid of the barricade. Bringing me into the kitchen, he sets me down on a chair and then leaves momentarily. Within a few minutes, he's back, with cooked squirrel and some nuts. "Found a tree," he explained, dividing them up between us. That, plus a can of mixed vegetables, and our dinner is complete.

As we eat, Daryl nods approvingly. "Good job cleanin' up." he says.

I beam. "You didn't do too badly yourself." I reply.

We enjoy our dinner in amicable silence. I don't find myself filling the void with chatter. For a brief moment, all is calm and well. I start to let my thoughts drift as I slowly eat my food; I don't want to risk my stomach rejecting it after all. I think back on what I know about Hutch and his group, and everything Daryl told me today. Something just isn't adding up.

"Sup?" Daryl asks, interrupting my thoughts.

"Hmm?" I reply, still busy thinking and eating.

"You've got like, thinkin' face." he says, gesturing toward me. "Somethin' on yer mind."

"Oh," I say, snapping out of it. "No, it's nothing." I continue lamely, not wanting to ruin the mood.

Daryl rolls his eyes at me. "'s not nothin'" he counters. "Ain't stupid. You was frownin' and shit." He smirks at me, "Y'always sayin' how's we ain't keepin' secrets from each other, cuz we gotta trust and shit. Survival and what not. So out wit' it girl."

He's got a point. "Well," I say slowly, waiting for my thoughts to coalesce into something more coherent. "You said you believe Tyreese is still okay, right? But that you also believe that they're…" I grimace, not wanting to say the next part, "eating the people they've captured, right?" I watch as Daryl nods and encourages me to continue. "So, if they're doing that," I continue, drawing circles on the table with my finger. "why is Tyreese still alive? I mean, last time we saw him, he was healthy, right? Large, healthy man… When you hunt, do you go after the weak mealy game, or are you a big game hunter?"

Daryl nods, following my train of thought. Frowning, he doesn't say anything right away. Finally, he responds, "If the thing I'm huntin's too big, I don' waste my time. I go fer somethin' smaller."

I guess that makes sense. "So you think they're waiting for Tyreese to get weak?"

Daryl shrugs. "I dunno. No tellin' what they're thinkin'." Daryl stretches, his arms reaching high above him, his shirt rising just a little bit, showing me a glimpse of his stomach. I notice it and quickly look away, blushing. As I do so, I yawn, tired despite the fact that I didn't really do much today. Daryl notices. "Alright princess," he says, getting up. "Time fer bed."

I get up from my chair and start to walk away when Daryl grabs me and picks me up. "Nuh-uh. I ain't havin' you go strainin' yerself and hurtin' yerself none." Ignoring my protests, he carries me back upstairs.

Daryl gently lowers me to the bed. He's about to turn away and leave when I stop him. "Daryl?" I ask, looking up at him. "I'm not quite sleepy yet. Stay with me a bit?"

Daryl looks as if he's going to say no, but then reluctantly nods. I scoot over, and he climbs on top of the bed, settling in next to me. We're not touching. I scoot back over, and lean into him. At my touch, Daryl tenses. I wait, and for a moment he's still, very still, as if not even daring to breathe. Then he relaxes, and I cuddle up into his side, but do no more. This is enough for now.

We lie like that, side-by-side, til eventually, I fall asleep.