Hey!

Here it is! Little late, sorry again, I'll be on time one day lol :P

Anyway, thanks for all the love, reviews, follows and favourites. I enjoy hearing what you got to say :) ❤️

She noticed it.

His face betrayed him when she made him laugh, his eyes brighter when she found herself smiling at him. He caught the little things she said with interest, more now than ever. He played along with her questions, dedicated his ears to her stories and never missed a beat, a plot twist, a side note in her mundane recollections of the past.

Then there was the way he looked at her. It was the unidentfied no man's land of looks. There was something sentimental about it, every glance a quiet admission of fondness. He didn't let it slip easy, the few occasions he dared let her see it a crack on his emotional wall. She once said his eyes were mirrors, that they were both one and the same. This time the mirrors spoke, they showed her who he was thinking about.

How deep his thoughts for her went.

It was also, in a way, unintentionally explicit. She caught him take her body in and covet it in his thoughts. That he didn't let slip as often, the times were few. Even then, the few times he did do it she wouldn't class it as leering. There was affection in the brief perversion, and she had to admit he didn't look at her in ways that made her feel disrespected. Objectified momentarily, but she also saw the repulsion, the shame, the instant regret his eyes would scream after he let himself look at her that way.

It scared her the first time she saw it. She was sat with Judith playing peek-a-boo, he was sharpening his knife. She saw his head look up in her peripheral vision, and she looked at him. It was the darkest she had ever seen his eyes. Lust, small fragmental embers of it flickered in them, but they weren't crude. Opposite if anything.

His eyes desired her, but they also adored the sight of her.

It made her chest swell. Made her loins traitorous, a tiny surge of arousal bloomed between her thighs. It horrified her to no end, him wanting her, her body liking it, her heart liking it too.

She noticed it.

She didn't know what to do.

She didn't want anything past platonic with anyone.

Not again.

*But* she liked how he wanted her. She liked how he made her feel. Hell, if she was being honest, there was no denying she liked him.

He was a good man. Stubborn as all hell, but he understood her wave length. He saw the world in the in betweens of black and white. Even when confrontational he was level headed, even when emotional he remained rational. He admitted when he was wrong, wasn't afraid to fight her when he was right and, best of all, he was humble about it. He was a perfect combination of opposites.

And he cared for her.

She felt conflicted as she thought it over. She didn't want anything like she had before, but that wasn't on Daryl's account. Most of it was her own fault, her own inability to let herself trust as carelessly as before.

She knew Daryl respected her. If he didn't, he wouldn't act so ashamed about wanting her like he did. It made her understand just how badly he was treated before, how much he second guessed his own self worth when he thought he jeporidized her intergrety. That he was, for whatever circumstance, just as scarred emotionally as he was physically.

Still the idea of being closer to him panicked her. She didn't dare think of anything sexual. Besides, there wouldn't be much point in that if she couldn't let herself trust him all the way.

So she opted for waiting it out. She gathered it was just a faze. People were social, sexual beings. It was normal to feel things like that.

As was not jumping the boat and just giving into said urges. Without control, they were no better than animals.

Trouble was, she was starting to give those looks too.

She didn't know if she let any of them slip before either.

She also didn't know if she made up the entire thing because she felt things for him. That was as real a probability as any of her other theories. She could've been reading all this wrong and got herself worked up for nothing.

It wouldn't be the end of the world. She could handle disappointment. She couldn't handle shame.

He caught her thinking about it when they reached the boarder of Maryland. He had said something to her and too engrossed in her thoughts she hadn't heard him.

"Brooke?"

She blinked, "Sorry," she turned her attention on him, "What did you say?"

"Said we're in Maryland."

A soft resolution of triumph swelled inside her. It had taken them a hell of a lot longer than it should have, the snow set them back way more than she liked, but they were here. They were in Maryland.

She smiled, "Wow, I can't believe we made it."

He frowned, his hand on Judith's head. She was strapped on Brooke today.

"Y'alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. You?"

He nodded. He went ahead of her, "Let's get goin'."

The snow was less here. She trekked behind him through the forest, the ins and outs of dead branches and foliage a manoeuvrable maze. As they made their way Daryl raised an arm in warning.

He had heard something. Arms poised, he had the posture of a ballroom dancer as he held his crossbow high. She brought her knife out, her own steps silent as she stalked with him.

The ground below Daryl's feet crumbled.

All at once his arms were high, a free hand grasped at the earth for stability. Brooke heard the walker at the bottom of the hidden ditch spring from the snow. She grabbed at Daryl's hand, body squared and pulling him with all her strength. The man kicked at the monster by his feet, his hits bone crushing in force.

The force of the kick was enough to topple the walker. It was not enough to kill it. When Daryl's boot meet with the undead bastard's face it thrusted him forward, Brooke's grip on his arm slipping out of his hand, her own balance compromised.

She felt the pain of the fall before she understood that she tumbled down the ditch. She had no time check if Judith was okay. No sooner was she on the ground, a mouth full of dirt and snow soiling her taste buds, did she feel a body on top of her.

This was all instinct now. She pushed the walker's head as far away from her as possible with one hand. She dropped her knife in the fall, her other hand patting around the snow distress for it.

She heard Judith screaming.

This thing couldn't take Judith.

Not Judith.

Then, faced with the face of death itself, she saw the impact of the arrowhead penetrate the walker's skull. Blood sprayed onto her face, covering her hair, her clothes, Judith. She held up the walker for a second more, stared at it's disfigured head and pushed it away.

Daryl slid down the ditch. She got up and reached for her knife. Another one came from behind him, one she didn't know he saw.

She got up, her side burning, and in one precise gesture she stabbed at the walker's head. Daryl shot another arrow, and another. He turned to her, crossbow at the ready, waiting for more.

None came.

They did not move.

None came.

Eyes met with eyes, both certain that for now they were safe. Brooke jerked Judith free from the sling and checked her over. Poor girl was silent, she didn't know if that was good or bad.

Daryl checked her body for bites. She was clean. He then checked Judith for any swelling or bruises. Nothing. Brooke had managed to cushion her from the fall.

She was covered in blood. Brooke turned to Daryl.

"Can you wipe her face?"

He nodded, reaching the pack. He wiped the child's face quick and tossed the dirty thing on the ground. Brooke grabbed one and wiped her face too. He looked at her, hands turning her as he looked for bites.

"It didn't get me."

"Ya fell off a ditch." His voice was rough, "Goddamn near broke ya fuckin' neck."

She felt tender, she was sure the side of her face was swollen with various degrees of purples and blue bruises. They were out in the open, now was not the time to sort her out.

"Daryl, we can't do this here. It's not safe."

He shook his head, "Ya fell off a ditch, Brooke." He repeated, "Just give yaself a minute."

She sighed, looking Judith over again. Her body was in pain, a lot of it. He was right, but truth be told she didn't want to give herself a minute. It hurt enough to bring tears to her eyes and she didn't want to admit to them. Denying the pain for now was easier than succumbing to it.

"I'm fine Daryl. Let's just go. We need to find someplace safe, please."

She stuck Judith back on the sling and walked forward. She winced. The weight of everything was agony for her right now. The man pulled her arm around his neck and supported her.

"Find a cave or somethin'. Need t' take a look at ya." He said, "Don' be a wise ass or nothin' 'bout it."

She nodded, "Okay."

They walked together. Her legs worked, a good sign, but they were numb from the fall. The same could be said about her arm and back. They moved quiet and slow, looking for a way out of the ditch that didn't involve climbing.

It seemed that they were on in a small frozen creak, so small that she wouldn't have noticed it if it wasn't for the rocks. They were going to admit defeat after a near hour, but sheltered between thick tree roots was a hollowed out indent within the earthy slope.

The concave was not deep. It was tricky to get between the dead roots, but that just made it feel safer. As they settled themselves they decided against making a fire and used the torch for light instead.

Brooke took Judith off the sling, Daryl holding her as she checked on her injury. She slipped her jacket off, rolled her sleeves up and looked at her arm. It was covered in scrapes, large portions of skin ripped off as the friction between her and the dirt impacted each other. It was worse on her side, her body burnt from her hip to her upper waist. She'd have to take her jeans off to check the extent of her leg, but she'd wait until Daryl and Judith were asleep.

She grabbed the medical kit from the pack, unscrewed the rubbing alcohol and splashed a reasonable amount onto some cotton pads. She dabbed it on her arm and recoiled. It stung like a motherfucker.

Daryl cleared his throat. She looked at him. His features were gentle, stoic as per, but there was an element of concern in his eyes that weighed heavy on her.

He was trying hard not to show how much she worried him. His body feigned calmness whilst his eyes stated the opposite. It was more apparent in the way he spoke, the way his voice stressed on specific words and the fluctuating pitch of his tone. As if he was saying one thing by saying another.

"Ya want me t' do it?"

Please let me do it.

"Be easier on ya."

I want to take care of you.

The swelling feeling, the one in her chest, the one she got often when she was with him, smoked within her. She didn't want him helping her, but in that moment she just couldn't find it in herself to tell him no. It wouldn't have been a surprise to have shook her head or shrugged or told him she was fine to do it, but she didn't.

Instead she nodded, a singular brisk nod.

"I can hold Judith." She said.

Her voice was soft. Tired and strained. She didn't like feeling so out of control, so required to be nursed. It made her feel inferior, made her feel like she did back at the Base.

Daryl handed Judith to her. She plopped her on her lap, the child's chatter quiet as she played with her book. Daryl sat by her side and she handed him the kit and cotton.

Her breath hitched as the ethanol ate any bacteria on the scrapes on her arm. His touch was gentle, thin hands worked on the battered angry flesh fast. He worked in silence, they both did, until he finished the few scrapes on her arm.

"Ya want me," he paused, throat audibly dry, "Should I do ya side?"

She tilted her head to him. His face was still unreadable, yet she felt the same weight again. The way he asked her was timid, too timid for Daryl. She nodded, lifting her shirt, the cruelest of the cuts unveiled. His hand ghosted above it, eyes set in their focus as he cleaned the skin.

This one was painful. She couldn't hide that on her face. Her eyes closed as she inhaled another sharp breath and furrowed her brows. She felt a thumb soothe her waist as his other hand worked.

A second after, she heard him.

"Ya lucky ya didn' break nothin'."

She didn't open her eyes. Her words came through gritted teeth.

"I'll try harder next time."

His thumb was still rubbing circles on her starved waist, his hand absentmindedly placed next to her hip. She forced her eyes to open and looked at him. He looked up, his head titled. Before she could talk herself out of it, she took his hand with her free one and held it.

"Sorry." She said. Her voice was soft, "It hurts."

It wasn't exactly untrue. It did hurt. She wanted to hold onto something whilst he cleaned her up, so that in itself wasn't a lie.

She also wanted to tell him that holding her hand was okay. To tell herself that holding his hand was okay. He was someone who cared for her, and had watched her fall off a steep ledge. She wasn't the only one who needed the comfort.

And, more than anything, she just wanted to hold his hand.

She sure hoped those feelings of hers, whatever those messy feelings were, were mutual. If she got this wrong, got her theory on his opinion of her wrong, she didn't think she'd handle it well. She didn't think she was strong enough to accept it.

He let her hold his hand though. It was sweaty, limp. It was so clammy she almost thought he'd never held hands with another person before.

He let go a few seconds after. She felt her stomach sink. She then saw him soak another cotton bud in the rubbing alcohol before settling his hand ontop of hers. Fingers looped between hers in response, squeezing her palm in reassurance as the more sensitive areas were tended.

Again they were limp, sweaty. Again it just enforced the idea that he once lived deprived, deficient almost, of physical contact. His actions were shy, his thumb raised from both their hands for several seconds before stroking her palm.

She didn't want to scare him with the intimacy, she knew it was a big deal. Instead of dwelling on the moment, on how just doing this made her glow, she kindled their conversation.

"Is it bad?"

He didn't look up, "How'dya mean?"

"The cuts?" She asked, "What's the damage Dr. Dixon?"

His lips tugged briefly, eyes darted on hers for a second, "Scrapes and bruises. Looks lot worse than it is. Won' scar."

She nodded, her free hand playing with Judith's curls. He spoke again.

"Still got that muscle relaxant. If ya want it?"

She mused it over, "Might be a good idea."

"Goin' bandage this so it stays clean. Ain't too deep, but 's big enough to catch a nasty infection."

"That's the last thing we need." She said, "Daryl?"

He looked up,"Yeah?"

"At least we're in Maryland."

He rolled his eyes, a small grunt escaping him, "At least we're in fuckin' Maryland."

She smiled at him. He unlaced his fingers from her hands and reached over for the muscle relaxant. She watched him lather a decent amount of the clear gel on his palm and then rub it on her skin. It was cold, a sharp contrast from the alcoholic burns coming from the cuts.

A minute passed. She closed her eyes. Judith wriggled restless on her lap.

She looked down, "You okay Judy?"

The baby looked up at her. She was unamused with sitting still. Brooke turned her round to face her, her hand caressing the child's cheek.

"You're bored aren't you sweety?"

"Buk, buk?"

She held the item in question with her chubby hands. Brooke took it from her, all the while Daryl massaged the gel into her skin. He didn't give her a chance to give in to the child's demand.

"Brooke's tired, Judy."

Judith looked at Daryl. She ignored the comment. Brooke loved watching the baby defy him, about as much as she loved Daryl take it.

He was wrapped around the girl's little finger. Brooke knew if Judith asked Daryl for the sun one day, he'd give her that and then some.

"A couple of pages wouldn't hurt," she told him, "Aren't I right, Judy?"

He started bandaging the cut, "Any point in me tellin' ya not to?"

"You could always read to her."

He shrugged, "She wants ya t'. She likes it from ya."

She shook her head, "I don't think she cares much." She said, "Besides, I like it listening to you read."

She felt him pause from his work, hands lingering as he chewed the information over, "Ya do huh?"

"Yeah.," she said, "It's calming."

"Calming?"

She nodded, "I've wired it in my brain that if you have a moment to read to her it must be safe enough to listen."

"Damn think I'm invincible, dontcha?"

He finished. She turned to look at his work before answering him.

"I know you're not invincible Daryl. Did nearly kill you myself, after all."

She saw his eyes twinkle before he rolled them. She grinned, toothy and lazy. She was sore, she was starved, she was cold but with them she always felt that much safer.

He didn't bother packing anything. Instead he turned himself so he was sat next to her, taking the book from her hands. She smiled, a small smile, at the victory, her arms settled around Judith ready to listen to the story.

He opened to a random tale, not one of Judith's favourites, but she doubted he cared. He began to read, she could hear the waver in his voice. It wasn't custom for him, for his voice to tremor, even as small and slight as it did then, but she knew why it had. He was now aware that she paid attention to that insignificant detail about him. One that now, no matter how much he wouldn't want it to be, would never be insignificant.

She wondered if there were things about her that he regarded just as close. Wondered if she'd act as cautious. She repressed a snort when she remembered how he took to her sleeping, how much she hated that he noticed that about her. It was a different comparison, but if that was how she handled that then they weren't dissimilar in reaction.

He was reading Judith, 'The Princess and the Pea'. She paid little attention. After a while she leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Her back ached from the heavy packs, her one side from the fall, stomach from the hunger. They didn't sleep as well when outside, the lack of a conducive shelter always put her on edge. She wouldn't sleep well tonight, neither would he, but at the moment she could pretend she would.

He finished the story. Much to Judith's dismay he refused to tell it twice. He put her on his lap and fed her, Brooke peeled herself away and opened up a can of tuna for the both of them.

She passed him a spoon. On their way out of the grocery store he picked up a dozen of plastic ones. He was so crabby when he did it she had laughed at him.

Judith was still on his lap as he ate his share of dinner. She put a small half spoon in her mouth, savouring it best she could.

She looked at him, her face cradled a grin.

"Want to hear something funny?"

He didn't reply. He didn't bother nodding either. The look he gave was affirmation enough.

"Before all this happened, I was a vegetarian."

He snorted, "Now ya just fuckin' round."

"I'm not lying Daryl, true as can be. I was an animal hugging, fur hating, meat loathing vegitarian." She gave him a look of pride for the fact. One that could be confused for jesting.

"Girl I saw ya tear into a whole squirrel once." He said, "No way you're a veggie."

She rolled her eyes, "Well obviously not anymore," she said chewing up the tuna, "It's the end of the world, screw the animals. It's all or nothing now."

He shook his head, "First Bieber, now this? Hell, ya ain't allowed to spend anymore time with Judith. Don' want her thinkin' she don' have t' eat no animals or any o' that hippie bullshit."

"I swear I found killing my first walker better than my first spoonful of spam."

He shrugged, "Yeah well, spam's shit."

She continued eating. He spooned another morsel into his mouth.

"How long was ya a veggie for?"

"Seven years."

"Fuck that."

"Hey, I might not have a choice, but I still stand by it." She said, "If any form of order befalls the world again, and oh I don't know, we somehow mange to have a choice in what we eat, I'm going back to it."

He shook his head, smirk on his lips, "Na y'ain't. You'll miss it."

"Nu-uh."

"Ya'll go tellin' everyone ya won' touch nothing with no beatin' heart, but you'll come to me on the sly." He said, "Can see it now, 'Hey Daryl, can finish that steak 'f ya want. Won' eat it o'course, nope, just make sure ya never see it again."

"You sir, have it all wrong."

"Got it played out and ya know it."

"Think your so smart, do you."

"No," he smiled then, "I just know you."

His eyes were on her. The gaze lingered a few seconds longer than expected. Instead of looking away she smiled.

"Guess the real question is, would you give me the steak?"

He snorted, "No way in hell. One thing worse than a vegitarian's a lyin' vegetarian. Got an example to set with my kid."

His kid. When they first met he didn't call Judith that. It was so natural he didn't notice the slip, and she couldn't help herself but like that he didn't.

They continued eating. Judith played with the cuffs of Daryl's shirt. She watched her entertain herself in awe.

"I hope we find it."

He nodded, "Close now. Be a day an a half by car t' Washington."

"I hope we find it." She repeated, "You two deserve some security."

It went quiet. He picked around with the fish as she reached over to take another bite.

"Thought 'bout whatcha doin'?" He asked, "When we get there?"

It was a loaded question. They never discussed what would happen after they found the place. She chewed her food slow in contemplation before swallowing.

"If they let us in, guess I'll see if I want to stay."

"And if not?"

He was doing that thing again. Saying one thing but really saying another. Except this time she didn't know what it was he wanted to know.

"I'll go. You were right Daryl, about me not being prepared before. I think I'd have a better shot at it now." She said, "I've got a better sense of it."

"So why leave?"

Her heart rate rose. The subjected stirred her inner anxiety.

"Because there's no point in staying if I don't feel right being there."

He wanted to say something, she knew it. He was going to say something too, but it wouldn't be what he wanted to say. He gave her the rest of the tuna.

"Eat it, don' want it."

She held the can and spooned more food.

He spoke, "If ya think ya can't stay there, won' stay there."

She frowned, "What you and Judith? You insane?"

He wasn't insane. On the contrary, he was dead serious.

"Got no chance on ya own."

"Daryl, cut me a break." She said, "I'm not helpless."

"Ain't that." He said, "People ain't built t' be alone. Ya need us."

She didn't want to swallow that truth. She didn't know what frustrated her, the fact or how easy it was for him to lay it on her.

"I don't need anyone, Daryl."

"Bullshit." he said, "Don' take it so personal. 'S not like I'm sayin' we don' need ya either."

She raised a brow, "You need me?"

If it weren't for the flashlight she wouldn't have seen the tint of rouge on his cheeks. It was just a shade darker than his skin, but it was enough to spot.

He tried to be casual about it, "We're a team. We go were you go."

She blinked, "Really?" She asked, "Hell and high water?"

"Within reason girl. Ain't havin' ya push me 'round." He shuffled, "'spect the same for ya, but woudln' put it past ya and ya double standards."

She gave a small smile, "Takes one to know one."

He gave her a look. They threw that back at each other too often. She thought that it was about time they kept score.

She looked at him, expression one of soft concern and muted seriousness.

"You'd really come with me instead of stay in a place that kept Judith safe?"

He thought about it, "Need t' see first. If it's safe as ya say might have to stay for her. It's Judith. But," he looked her in the eye now, "Got good sense in ya. Ya don' think it's worth stayin' must be a reason."

"You shouldn't give everything up on a case of speculation."

"Ya should start followin' ya own damn advice," He said, "but since when ya ever been the type t' do as ya told?"

She smirked, "Never."

The look he gave said likewise. She finished the can. They spoke no more on the matter. After dinner he offered to looked at her leg, which though pained had nothing of note to tend. They spent the night as they always did, bodies pressed together as the cold bit into them.

The night passed. Sleep was fickle, attained after hours of shivering in Daryl's arms, her hands rubbing his body in an attempt to hand him warmth.

What woke her was not the daylight, it was a scuffle. Daryl woke too, hand on his crossbow, but Brooke hushed him. She grabbed her knife and went out, telling him to look after Judith.

She slipped between the tree roots, body against it for cover. Her vision caught glimpses of Daryl armed and watching her. There a figure stood in front of them. She watched, gun at the ready, prepared.

The figure, a woman, turned and saw her. Brooke stepped out and pointed the gun at her before she could.

The woman did not hold her hands in the air. She did not move. Her face was wrinkled, her features maintained a mix of cool surprise. There was no fear in them, if anything there was understanding. She was like Brooke in that respect, not ignorant in how these affairs were dealt with.

She did not speak. Brooke held the gun to her, aimed to kill. She did not waver when she spoke to her.

She vowed never to handle anything like that night with the couple.

"Make your way. There's no need for trouble."

The stranger looked her in the eye. Calculated, her mind processed, her thoughts-

The stranger's face lit in true surprise. Brooke frowned. She titled her head, just enough to see behind her.

It was Daryl. His crossbow lowered. His eyes just as wide.

"Carol?"