"Did Carol tell about you about our little expedition?" Lori asked when she saw Lizzie coming down the cellblock stairs, hair tied back as best she could and axe in hand.
"Yeah, we're gonna go look for a bathroom or somethin' right?" Lizzie asked, nodding as she approached her heavily pregnant friend, "Think they'll have showers?"
"Probably but I'm not sure if they'll work," Lori smiled, watching Lizzie wrinkle her nose in disappointment, "but if we can find a shower room then we could maybe rig something up after a little thought - Lord knows I feel like I need a good scrub."
"I haven't washed properly since that storm hit," Lizzie grinned as she remembered, "that was a damn good day…"
Lizzie's eyes snapped open and she tried to scramble to her feet as a deafening crash echoed around the barn.
"Hey, easy, easy," Daryl said softly as he took hold of her arm, shaking her a little as he pulled her towards him, stroking her face with his free hand, "it's jus' a storm."
"Jesus Christ," she sighed as she caught her bearings, looking around as the others began to stir, "I was dreamin' an' I…" She watched as Daryl's eyes narrowed a little at the mention of her dreaming and she cleared her throat, shaking her head, "I guess I got a lil' confused."
"What were you dreamin'?" He asked, noticing her immediate avoidance.
"Don't matter, I'm awake now," she shrugged, "how long's it been rainin'?"
"Last few hours," he replied, moving away from her and sitting down again, "s'only jus' started gettin' violent."
"Is it even mornin' yet?" She asked, rubbing her eyes as she yawned.
"It's early but it's light out." He nodded.
"How'd you know that it's early?" She asked, frowning a little.
"You're still yawnin'." He grinned.
She heard Lori groan a little as she woke and she touched Daryl's arm lightly before she pushed herself to her feet, stretching out her still stiff from sleep limbs and shaking her head, banishing the remnants of her dream from her mind before wandering over to where Lori was struggling to push herself upright.
"Here," Lizzie said as she offered her hand, "I'll get you sittin' then I'll sort your lil' nest out, okay?"
"I can do it myself if you just help me stand…" Lori began.
"Don't even try to argue," Lizzie shook her head, "y'ain't gonna win."
"Thank you." Lori said, gracefully losing her battle with Lizzie as she allowed the younger woman to help pull her into a sitting position.
Lizzie then set to work grabbing Lori's pack make sure it was within reaching distance and taking the one good pillow they had left, plumping it slightly and setting it against the side of one of the stalls, setting Lori's pack down next to it before she nodded.
"Shuffle yourself back, it'll be mostly comfy," she pointed to the blanket Lori had been using to warm herself against the chill of the night, "want me to fold this up so you can sit on it?"
"I'll be okay," Lori said, shuffling herself slightly before she stopped, "I think I might need to use the bathroom anyway."
"Want me to go commandeer a stable so you can…?" Lizzie asked.
"I'd rather go outside." Lori said flatly.
"It's rainin' up a storm out there, you'll get soaked through an' catch your death o' cold," Lizzie crouched down and rested her hand on Lori's bump, "an' I'm supposed be lookin' after you girls so…"
"Why a girl?" Lori asked, smiling.
"Coz you already bore the perfect specimen of a son so this baby couldn't begin to compete with him… Therefore it's obviously a lil' girl." She grinned.
"Well whatever it is, it's sitting right on my bladder, I gotta get outside." Lori said, taking hold of Lizzie's hands as she stepped back, pulling her to her feet.
"Lemme go check in with our friendly neighbourhood sherrif an' let him know…" She began, turning to where Rick was sitting, in hushed conversation with both Hershel and Glenn.
"Or you could just help me go out the back door where no one's gonna see." Lori said quickly, not wanting her husband disturbed… He didn't seem to care much for her nowadays, he'd vote for the 'Lori can pee in a bucket' motion, rather than the 'let's let Lori outside to pee' one.
"C'mon then." Lizzie nodded.
They made their way towards the back of the barn, heading towards the smaller door behind the last stable stall - they had stacked a few crates up in front of it to make sure nothing or no-one could get through so Lizzie began to push them aside. grabbing a towel from the top of them and handing it to Lori.
"You can use this to cover yourself a lil'," she said, "an' if it don't come back in, it ain't gonna be missed."
"You ladies okay?" T asked as he wandered across, glancing at the crates that Lizzie had moved.
"Got some lady business to attend to." Lizzie smiled - she knew full well that the words 'lady business' struck fear into the heart of all men, and T was no exception.
"Oh, um, okay," he stammered, not sure what to say, "well, uh, if you need anything then, um, jus' shout up, okay?"
"Will do." Lizzie smiled sweetly, lifting the latch on the door and tentatively pushing it open, hoping it wouldn't get caught in the wind that kept whooshing around them.
When it didn't catch the door and rip it from her grasp, she opened it a little wider and turned to Lori.
"Wait there, I'll go check it's safe." She warned, stepping outside quickly and pulling the door behind her.
She shut her eyes as she stepped outside, the bright morning light taking a moment to adjust to. She scowled as the rain suddenly whipped around her, pushed sideways by a gust of wind, sneaking its way between the beams that held the little awning upright, her cover momentarily ruined.
Lovely weather for ducks, she thought as she pulled the knife free from her waistband and stepped into the rain, exiting the small shelter so she could survey the scene properly.
She looked around the open field,, her eyes scanning beyond the fence and seeing no movement. When she was happy that the immediate vicinity was safe she began to move to the front side of the barn, keeping close to the wall just in case she was surprised.
She pressed her back against the wall as she craned her neck around the corner, looking for any sign of walkers or humans alike. She couldn't hear anything and she couldn't see anything so she stepped out, knife raised at the ready, just in case.
There was nothing around as far as she could see. She sauntered towards the main door and checked the lock that had been chained around the handles - it was still in place and it was still holding strong.
She took a little less caution as she moved around the next corner, feeling strangely secure and confident that even the walkers had given up shuffling around in the rain.
By the time she wandered around to the back of the barn, the knife was tucked safely back into her waistband - she didn't need it at all, the coast was completely clear.
Around the back was a shaded area, trees lining the fence-line, so she stepped towards it, touching the hilt of the knife again.
There were no walkers lurking in the trees and one of them had a swinging seat hanging from its branches. She smiled and walked over to it, giving it a little push and watching it as it rocked in the wind and rain, the chains that held it creaking a little.
Cute, she thought as she scanned the trees again before heading back to the little side door, considerably wetter and colder than she had been when she stepped outside.
"Hey," she said quietly as she opened the door, watching Lori jump a little, "coast's clear, c'mon."
She stepped back so Lori could make her way out and watched as she too flinched a little in the light, blinking repeatedly and raising her hand until her eyes had adjusted.
She looked around, holding her arm up to cover her face as the rain blew under the shelter again and she smiled at Lizzie.
"Thank you," she said, handing her the towel that she'd found inside, "I know it's not very glamorous but…"
"Don't mention it," Lizzie shrugged, opening the towel out and holding the corners, using it as a shield, "you'd do the same for me."
"I dunno if you wanna turn around or…" Lori began as she fumbled with the button of her jeans.
"I'll hold this, jus' in case there's any pryin' eyes," she nodded, raising her eyes heavenwards, "I won't look, don't worry."
"I'm not worried," she smiled, "ain't like there's nothin' you ain't seen before," Lori wriggled her way out of her jeans and shivered a little, "I'm still not used to seeing myself in this state," she admitted, crouching down, "y'know, so pregnant an' all."
"Is it hard to get used to?" Lizzie asked, looking over her shoulder for a moment to check the coast was still clear, "I mean coz you're quite the Skinny Minnie usually an' suddenly boom, there's a baby in there an' you jus' keep growin'..."
She looked down at Lori briefly and saw the look that she was giving her.
"Okay, so tact isn't my strong point," she said with a grin, looking away again as Lori began to stand, "but you know what I mean… Can't be easy."
"You'll see," Lori nodded, taking the towel from Lizzie's hands, "when you have kids…"
Lizzie couldn't help but snort a little at Lori's comment. She instantly regretted it when she saw the look that Lori flashed her and she shrugged apologetically, trying to justify her reaction.
"I dunno Lori, it ain't somethin' I've ever thought of," she admitted, "I mean I can jus' about handle takin' care of myself an' all but a baby? Well, I dunno but I don't think I'm momma material… An' Daryl?"
"What's wrong with Daryl?" Lori asked, straightening herself out as she reached for Lizzie's hand, helping her get herself back onto her feet.
"Nothin's wrong with him, I jus'... Well I don't look at him an' think Daddy, y'know?" Lizzie shrugged again, shaking her head apologetically.
"Maybe he'll surprise you one day." Lori smiled.
"Maybe a lotta things'll happen one day," Lizzie nodded, "jus' gotta make sure we're still around to see them."
"I don't know about you but I intend to be," Lori rested her hand on Lizzie's arm briefly, "and with someone like you watching out for me, I know I will be."
"Aww Lori, you're gonna make me blush," Lizzie grinned, motioning to the door, "let's get you back inside before you catch your death o' cold."
When they stepped back inside, T came over to them with a jacket and handed it to Lori.
"Figured you might get a lil' cold sitting out there," he said as she took it from him, thanking him, "don't want you getting ill or nothing," he looked at Lizzie, her wet clothes sticking to her slight frame, "I think you're gonna need a towel though Lizzie, you look like you've stepped into a damn shower!"
"If you track one down then lemme know," she said with a smile, replaying his words in her head until an idea hit her, "until then, I think I'm gonna step back outside for a spell."
She stepped past them quickly, heading back towards the spot on the floor where her pack was, crouching down as she rummaged through it.
"What the hell happened to you?" Daryl asked as he stepped beside her, looking down at her sodden form.
"It's kicking up a storm out there," she shrugged, "got a lil' wet when I scouted the perimeter."
"You actually walked around in this rain?" He asked, clearly shocked by her decision.
"Well gee Daryl, I had to make sure she could pee in peace," Lizzie replied, rolling her eyes as she stood, holding something in her hand, "I didn't want any walkers to catch her with her trousers down!"
"You coulda jus' used your damn eyes," he sighed, "you're gonna catch a damn cold an'..."
"Jesus Daryl, if I went out an' didn't look around I woulda been bein' reckless," she hissed, stepping closer to him so as not to alert the others to their disagreement, "so I go out an' look around an' I'm still bein' reckless?" she shook her head, "If I hafta walk around this damn barn fifty times to make sure my friends can pee safely without bein' bitten then Goddammit, I will do exactly that."
He knew there was no use arguing with her so he only stood there in silence, watching as she studied his face, trying to see if he was going to react to her sudden outburst.
"Well if you ain't got nothin' else to say then I'm going back out there an' havin' myself a damn wash." She huffed before she turned on her heel and stormed off again, heading back to the door and not stopping to look around before she sauntered straight outside, pulling the door closed behind her.
"Goddamn." Daryl sighed, shaking his head before he followed her out.
He stood there for a second in the rain, looking at the floor where her clothes had been left by the door. He couldn't see her anywhere but he knew she hadn't gone far, especially in whatever state of undress she was in.
He rolled his eyes, opting to head towards the back of the barn first, figuring that that was the general direction you'd head in if you wanted to get naked and not be seen.
He raised his arm, trying to shield himself from the worst of the rainfall and stepped into the open, the cold air whipping around him and making him grimace.
I don't believe I've followed her out here, he thought, shaking his head as he made his way towards the trees at the back of the barn, I must be almost as damn crazy as she is!
He stopped when he rounded the corner, staring in amazement at the scene before him.
Lizzie was standing near an old swing hooked up to the trees, with what looked like a bar of soap in her hand. She was frantically soaping herself down, working the suds into a lather as best she could under the circumstances.
She tipped her head back, a broad smile on her face, as she let the rain beat against her features, working the soap in her hands before setting it down on the swing and rubbing her hands through her hair, trying to get some the dirt and grime of the last few months out her locks.
"Lizzie!" He barked, watching as she turned towards him, still clad in her underwear but not leaving much to the imagination with the soaking it had taken, "What the hell're you doin'?"
"There were these things in the old world, these things called showers," she called back, turning her face away from him as she tried to work her hands through her hair, "an' I was real, real fond of them," she tipped her head upside down, raking her fingers through her hair, working out the knots, "now I don't recall the las' time I had a damn wash, never mind a shower, so I thought I'd sieze this wonderful opportunity an'..."
"You mean you came all the way out here to have a damn shower in the rain?" He asked, "Have you gone completely fuckin' crazy?"
"I dunno Daryl, have I gone completely fuckin' crazy?" She asked, standing up again, whipping her hair over her head as she did so and giving him a small, suggestive smile.
"Jesus woman," he shook his head, moving towards her and taking hold of her arm, "get back inside before you damn near drown."
"I'm fine," she said, yanking her arm free of his grasp, "an' I'm nearly done, I just wanna try to get the worst outta my hair an'..."
"Lizzie, this ain't no time to have a Goddamn wash," she snapped, feeling his own clothes beginning to stick to him, "it's fuckin' freezin, it's rainin' like the end of the world, get back inside!"
"Lil' bitta rain never killed no one Daryl," she shrugged, "an' if it does kill me then at least I'm gonna die clean," she saw his face then and she shut her mouth, looking away for a second before she continued, "I jus' miss bein' clean, y'know? I spend all my damn time runnin' around covered in dirt an' blood an' I jus' miss bein' clean."
"It jus' ain't a good idea comin' out here like this," Daryl sighed, "what if someone saw you? Or walkers caught your scent an' came over? Then what're you gonna do?"
"I bought my knife," she shrugged, "besides, there ain't no one around here, I ain't seen nothin' at all… It's perfectly safe, okay?"
"Areya gonna keep arguin' with me or are you gonna come back inside?" He asked.
"There ain't no one around for miles, everyone else is hidin' inside a barn an' I'm stood here in my underwear an' you still jus' wanna hurry on back inside?" She asked, smiling again.
"C'mon Lizzie, I'm gettin' wet…" He began, stopping when she stepped over to him.
"So am I…" She said quietly, running her hand towards his belt.
"Lizzie…" He said quietly, not wanting to let her win like this but feeling powerless against it.
She stood on her tip-toes and kissed him lightly.
"I'm still mad at you, y'know?" He said, leaning into her and kissing her, his arms encircling her waist and pulling her closer to him.
"I'll make it up to you somehow," she said, pulling him slightly so he followed her steps, "maybe I'll let you dirty me up again…"
She turned him slightly and pushed him down, setting him on the swing. It moved under his weight and for a second he wondered if the branches would hold but when nothing fell on him he realised that they had.
She seemed to be assessing the situation too and when she was happy that they wouldn't be crushed by any falling boughs she slid herself on top of him, testing the swing with her weight.
"Someone's gonna see…" He began, her mouth finding his to silence him.
"I don't care," she said between kisses, "let them watch."
Lizzie had squezed back into her wet clothes before going back into the barn. She had the knife back in her pocket and the soap back in it's wrapper.
Both her and Daryl were now soaked, their clothes clinging to them in a most unflattering way as they tried to reenter the barn as inconspicuously as possible.
"What happened?" Rick asked, collaring them as soon as they came back in, barely giving them enough chance to breathe the warmer air in.
"Went to check out the house across the way," Lizzie started, looking up at Daryl for confirmation, "figured we might as well make a move while there was nothin' out there."
"Did you find anything?" He asked.
"Few cans of food, bottles of water an' there's a truck in the garage over there," Daryl replied, setting his jacket on the floor and letting go of the corners, letting their loot spill out, "dunno if it works but might be able to siphon the gas off for ours."
"You had us worried," Rick said after a few seconds of admiring their collection, "you were gone for quite a while, I thought…"
"We were jus' bein' thorough," Lizzie shrugged, trying not to meet Daryl' eye as she lied, "didn't wanna miss anythin' good, y'know?"
Rick was satisfied by their explanation and called Carol over to ration out their findings, leaving them to head back towards the fire and root through their clean clothes, making sure they had something warm and dry to change into.
"Checkin' the house was a good idea," she muttered as the sat there, pulling a pair of jeans out of her pack, "got us off the hook too!"
"Figured we might as well do somethin' useful." Daryl shrugged, lifting his pack onto his shoulder, not wanting to make a scene and get changed in view of anyone.
"You might not think so but bein' out there with me? Well, that was hella useful too." She winked, standing up and kissing him on the cheek quickly.
"Shut up," he said, shaking his head, trying to hide his smile, "find somethin' dry an' get changed 'fore you catch cold or somethin' worse."
"Don'tcha wanna come help me undress?" She asked with a smirk.
"Not in front of everyone," he rolled his eyes before he smiled, "least not while they're all awake."
"Well now," she smiled, bundling her jeans and t-shirt up in her hoodie, "I think I'm lookin' forwards to tonight now."
Sadly for Lizzie, it turned out that Daryl was right about her catching a cold and that night was the first night of her restless sleep, the first night that her coughing kept almost everyone awake and the first night that her nightmares struck.
If she'd known then that those nightmare's would become her reality then she might've done things differently, she might've listened to him and stayed inside or even…
"Lizzie?" Lori said with a smile, pulling her out of her thoughts, "You still in there?"
"Yeah," Lizzie said quickly, forcing a smile, "yeah, sorry, I jus' got lost in my thoughts for a second…"
"Everything alright ladies?" Carol asked as she approached, followed closely by Daryl and the Greene sisters.
"Yeah, jus' waitin' for you guys," Lizzie nodded, watching as Daryl helped drop an armful of crockery on the side, "you sure you're not comin'?"
"You girls go have fun," Daryl shrugged, "jus' don't do anythin' stupid, okay?"
"Wouldn't dream of it." Lizzie said, flashing one of her prize-winning smiles at her man.
Carol lead the little troupe to the gate and stepped aside so Daryl could unlock the way for them.
As they filed out, he grabbed Lizzie's arm.
"I'm bein' serious, y'know?" He said quietly, pulling her towards him.
"So am I," she said as she stepped aside for Maggie and Beth to pass, "I'll be fine, I'll keep 'em safe an' we'll be back soon, okay?"
"You best be." He said sulkily, letting her go.
"Y'ain't gettin' ridda me that easy, Daryl Dixon." She smiled, pulling him towards her so their lips met.
"Get outta here," he said as they pulled themselves apart, "an' stay safe."
He watched as she nodded and turned on her heel, jogging slightly so she caught up with the others and throwing her arm around Beth's shoulders as they walked.
Before they turned the corner, she looked back at him and he was pretty sure that he saw her wink.