Being up on two feet was a relief, but it was also painful and straining for her patient. Eva had reluctantly allowed Daryl to get out of bed to take a few steps, not bothering to hide her satisfaction when he was already done by the time he had made it to the lower end. Sweating and trembling he had reached not only the footboard, but also the very end of his own strength, so she had wordlessly pried away his fingers off the frame and helped him back onto the mattress.

It was the same spectacle for days. Eva was impressed by Daryl's willpower and improvement, watched him get up and on his feet, walking more or less steadily on his own. Leah had been clearly worried for him, fighting the urge to jump to his side whenever he faltered, so Eva had scheduled Daryl's training sessions to the times Leah had to do her camp duties. It was better for both of them – especially for Daryl, who was clearly uncomfortable being weak and vulnerable in front of Leah.

However, on his fourth day of trying Daryl managed to reach the infirmary's exit. He turned around to face her, completely out of breath and leaned with his back against the door. He gave her the most victorious grin before he almost passed out and slid down to the ground.

Eva was at his side in seconds, calling his name and checking him over, not happy about his racing heartbeat and clammy skin.

"See. Can do it", he whispered triumphantly before he let Eva help pull him up to his feet again.
"You have to shift down a gear, Daryl", she said softly, "You're still not well enough."
"We don't have time for this, and you know it", he rasped, "That Craig guy will be back any time soon and I need to be ready."
"For doing what exactly? You wanna take him on in a fist fight? I'm sorry, this is not going to happen."

The two of them reached Daryl's bed and he lowered himself slowly to sit on it, his bare feet still on the floor. "I won't let him touch Leah one more time."
Eva sat down next to him, grabbing his wrist and checking his pulse. "And again, how are you suppose to defend her? She has done well during the last years, she'll manage a few weeks more."
"Nu-uh, I'm not having this", Daryl protested, "Best case is we're outta here before he returns. Leah said he took the most of his men with him, so this is our chance."
"Don't underestimate this camp. Don't you think Leah has tried to get away before? It's a fortress. And everybody in here, even the kids, they are ... well. They're fighting for the cause."
"And what would that be?"
"Survival. Nobody gets in, nobody out. You think you can just walk away from here? There are sentinels outside this door, Daryl, and you're the reason. They won't let you go. They're having an eye on Leah because Craig knows that there's something going on between the two of you. They're keeping me under surveillance because I'm in charge of your medical condition 24/7. You might feel safe, but it's not how it is. And trust me, Leah's not the only one who failed getting out."

Daryl looked up at her through his straggly bangs. "How did you end up being here?"
Eva sighed. She let go of Daryl's wrist. "I've always been here. This was a military training camp before this whole zombie apocalypse thing happened. I worked here with a team of nurses and other doctors. We were safe here until one soldier came back with a bite he hid from us. He turned and ... well. You probably can imagine the rest."
"And Craig? Where did he come from?"
"He's been a sergeant at this camp. When the chaos broke out, he was the one who kept a cool head, solved the problem with the dead, made sure not everybody got killed. People remember that. That he always was a mean, cold and sexist asshole and has gotten even worse, they simply forgot."
"So they made him the king of this jungle here."
"Yes. And everybody who didn't agree with this, has been eliminated. Except for me."
"Because you're a doctor."
"Because I'm a doctor. I'm the most valuable person left on this godforsaken planet."
Daryl snorted. "True."
"That hasn't kept Craig from doing things to me. You can adapt the torture, so the person learns her lesson and can still do her job, you know. I'm pretty good in doing stitches with broken bones or eyes swollen-shut."

Daryl fell silent, but Eva noticed his jaw working. He seemed to be clearly disgusted by Craigs actions.
"I'm sorry this happened to you", he said.
Eva shook her head. "Not your fault, right? But it might help you get the picture what kind of psychopath runs this place. Leah is scared for you for a good reason. And to be honest, I am, too."
Daryl didn't reply. He chewed on his bottom lip. "I haven't thanked you yet", he said, inspecting the floor. "For saving me. For taking care of Leah. I know you did, she told me."
Eva just shrugged. "We were taking care of each other." She got up, patting the blanket, signaling Daryl to lay down. "And now I need you to rest. Don't argue."

Daryl did what he was told and Eva could tell that the claws of sleep were already reaching out to him. He blinked heavily the second his head touched the pillow and just moments later he succumbed to another restless slumber.

How long he slept, he couldn't tell. It could've been minutes or hours or even days. But when Daryl tore awake from an unpleasant dream, he instantly felt being watched. Slowly he rolled his head to one side to find a man sitting cross-legged on a chair in the corner, eyeing him with amused interest. At seeing Daryl awake, he grinned.

"Well, good morning, Daryl."

Daryl closed his eyes again and swore silently. They were too late.