* Please review! F.Y.I. what Winter says to Rick is what I actually want to say to him after he lost his mind on everyone.*
At the camp fire, Daryl was sitting on one of the logs he had dragged over for them. Winter was sitting in between his legs, on the ground. Her arms were around his legs and her hands were holding onto his ankles. Daryl was leaning forward so he was completely against her back. His arms were holding her to him. He was rubbing his cheek against the side of her head. No one was talking. Everyone was lost in their thoughts.
" You warm enough, Girl?" He whispered. He had taken one of their blankets and had it draped over her legs. Winter nodded but didn't speak. " Walkers must have been through here at some point. Animals took off so that's why I didn't find much for us to eat." She heard the apology in his voice so she turned her head so they could look at each other.
" It was fine. Don't worry about it." She said.
" Just wish I could have got you more." He whispered. Winter gave him a small smile.
" Don't worry about me so much." She said.
" That ain't gonna happen." He said. They stared at each other for a few minutes while other members of their group finally started to talk.
" You found me." Winter whispered. He nodded.
" Told you I would." Daryl said.
" And you did." She said. She closed her eyes and tilted her head forward. She brought her forehead to his mouth. He put one of his hands on the back of her head. " I meant what I said." Daryl closed his eyes.
" You sure bout that?" He whispered. She nodded, rubbing her head against him. He smiled then kissed her forehead. " Meant it too." She swallowed hard but pulled away to look at him.
" I love you." She said, staring directly into his eyes.
" I love you." He answered. Winter smiled then turned back to the fire. She tucked herself up into him. She laid her head down so it was resting against his inner thigh. She sighed and he squeezed her.
" Can I talk to you two?" Carol whispered, moving over to them.
" What's the matter?" Daryl asked.
" Are you really comfortable with us being out here in the open like this?" Winter lifted her head up to look at Carol. " You trust that Rick can keep us safe out here?"
" There is nothing else we can do, Carol." Winter said.
" Rick's done right by us." Daryl said.
" Has he? He's turning Daryl into his henchman." Carol hissed. Daryl tighten his mouth and brought his eyebrows together.
" That's not true, Carol, and you know it. Daryl is no one's henchman. " Winter defended.
" Do we have a problem here?" Rick snapped, making the three of them look up at him.
The flood gates opened and Rick exploded. Winter slipped her fingers under Daryl's pants so she could touch his skin while she stared up at Rick. Daryl pulled her into him more. Silent tears were starting down Winter's face again. She understood what Rick was saying. She trusted him, had trusted him since he joined the group and it broke her heart to see him melting down like he was. When he was done ranting, Lori and Carl were tugged up into each other and crying. Carol had retreated away, Hershel was nodding in agreement, Glenn and Maggie looked scared, Beth was crying again, and T-Dog was staring into the fire. Rick turned away and walked to the edge of their little camp. The group sat in silence for a long time.
After a while Daryl nudged her forward so he could slip down on the ground. He let his back come to rest against the log and he pulled Winter closer to him again. He brought his legs in tight around hers to help keep her warm. He readjusted the blanket so her whole body was covered. Lori, Carl, and Carol went to Rick's car for the night. Glenn, Maggie and Beth went to Maggie's car, leaving Rick, T-Dog, Hershel, Daryl, and Winter.
" I'm going to get Rick a blanket. I'll be back." She whispered after a while.
" I'll make you a bed in the back of the truck. You should get some sleep." Daryl said.
The couple stood up together and moved to T-Dog's truck. Everyone had taken their blankets and bags and placed them in the other cars so there was enough room for two people to sleep in bed of the truck. Winter grabbed three blankets as Daryl climbed in. Winter walked to T-Dog and tossed him a blanket then moved to Hershel. He smiled and muttered a thank you when she handed him a blanket. Winter patted his shoulder as she passed him.
" Rick." Winter said softly when she was close to him. She unfolded a blanket and walked around to the front of him. Rick had his arms crossed over his chest. When he didn't answer or look at her, Winter draped the blanket over his shoulders. His jaw tighten and his eyes squinted.
" You aren't mad at me like the rest of them?" He snapped. Winter shook her head.
" No." Finally he looked at her. " I trust you. I believe in you and everything you have done."
" Even killing Shane?" He asked. Rick's eyes were pained filled. Winter nodded.
" Even killing Shane. He was dangerous. It was you or him and I'd rather it be you." She said.
" You aren't upset that I didn't tell you what Jenner said?" Rick asked.
" No. It would have just made everyone panic. It doesn't really matter if we have it or not. It's not effecting us right now. It seems to only become active after death so why worry about it right now." Rick looked away but took a hold of the blanket as he sighed.
" I wish Lori felt the way you did." He said. " Everything I have done as been to protect the group."
" And she will see that. Everyone is just in shock. Look, whatever you want to do, where ever you want to go, Daryl and I are with you. I trust your judgment, you need to trust it too. Don't lose faith in yourself, please. Understand that you aren't carrying this group on your own. When you feel like the weight is too much, lean on us. Let us be your support system." Rick nodded slowly.
" Look, T-Dog and I will take the first watch. Go and get some rest with Daryl. Tell him I'll wake him up when it's his turn." He said.
" Okay. Be careful, Officer Grimes." She said before she walked past him to head back to the truck.
Daryl was waiting for her behind the truck. He had spread out the blankets and set up their pillows. He had also taken out a few of his long sleeve, flannel shirts for her to put on. The night was getting chilly and he didn't want her cold. The last thing they needed was for any members of the group to get sick. Winter offered him up a small smile as she reached him.
" So Rick and T-Dog are taking first watch. He's going to come and get you when it's your turn." She said. Daryl nodded and handed over one of his shirts.
" Put this on." He said.
" I'll be fine. We have enough blankets plus I'll have you beside me. You throw off a lot of heat." Winter said as she took his shirt. She slipped it on and started working on the top buttons while he started at the bottom ones.
" Don't matter, Girl. Gonna be cold tonight." He said. When they had it buttoned up, he handed her another one. Winter moved to push it away but stopped. She just smiled and slipped it on. " Come on, you're tired, I can see it."
Once they were settled into their bed, Daryl pulled her close to him. He tucked all the blankets around her then put his left arm under her neck and his right arm around her waist. His left hand came to rest against her cheek as they stared at each other, both realizing how close they had actually came to losing one another.
" I don't think I can sleep." She whispered. " I'm tensed up." She brought her left leg up and over his legs. His right hand slipped from her waist.
" If you can be quiet bout shit, I can help you relax." He whispered, surprised by his own boldness.
" How's that?" Winter asked a second before she felt his hand slip across her stomach. The button on her jeans flicked opened. " What are you doing?" She whispered quickly.
" Just be quiet and no one will know." He said. He pushed her zipper down then slipped his hand into her panties. Winter's eyes went shut and she brought her face into his chest. Daryl's arm went around her neck. He scooped his finger down to her opening to gather some of her wetness. She was hot and already ready for him. He brought his index finger up to the top of her and started making slow, light circles against her. Winter shuddered and he felt her bite down on his vest. He brought his mouth to her ear. " You be quiet now, Girl. You took care me in a lot of ways before we got together so you let me take care of you right now." He whispered.
Her hands came up to grab fist fulls of his vest as she strained against him. His left arm went around her shoulders so his fingers could start to stroke to her neck. She let go of his vest and wrapped her arms around his neck as she rode out the sensations he was giving her. He picked up his pace, adding his middle finger to it . Then he started rubbing her back and forth so that Winter's breath increased. He clamped his left hand over her mouth to remind her to stay quiet.
" Shhhh." He whispered. Her hips started to rock slowly against him and he knew she was getting closer. " You make me feel good plenty so you let your man handle this for you."
His breath slipped down her as hers came up fast and short. Her fingers went into his hair and pulled it. The moment she came against him, she started to tremble. Her hot core contradicted and trembled, her breath stopped as she held it and she whimpered just low enough that Daryl knew only he had heard it. He rubbed against her, slipping and sliding over her spot until he felt the orgasm leave her. Her entire body relaxed and she sighed. He took his hand from her mouth and her panties. Quietly he adjusted her pants, closing them up, and pulled her back against him.
" That was a little dirty." She whispered against his neck.
" Should be good and relaxed enough to sleep now." Daryl said. He shifted his hips around to readjust his erection.
" What about you?" Winter whispered.
" Went to sleep hard before, I'll do it again. Besides, the other night, when I needed to relax, you didn't think twice about suckin me off and takin nothin for yourself. Kind of owed you an orgasm, don't you think?" Daryl whispered. Winter laughed softly and hugged him.