It took almost ten minutes for 'er to calm down, and just like last time, her hands are still shakin' even though she seems ok now.
At least 'er eyes aren't flickerin' like a light switch no more. She doesn't sound like she's choking neither.
She finally let go of my hand — pretty sure that's gonna bruise — and pushed her hair outta 'er face.
I hesitated but if this could happen again, I need to know. "What happened?"
"Nothin' just… " Eve motioned to her head, winding her finger in a crazy motion. "me, stuff."
I stared, waiting and watched her shift. I can almost countdown to when she'll crack and tell me, now.
As predicted, ten seconds later she sighed biting her lip. "I... Lori & Hershel were talking and it —wasn't their fault— but they said something. A word… that doesn't exactly bring a warm fuzzy feeling."
Warm fuzzy feeling?
I wracked my brain cannot for the life of a me, think of a word that has that but all I can focus on his the fact she just had a panic attack cause of a word. Can that really happen just cause of a word — apparently cause it just did.
"What..." I trailed off, rethinking mid-sentence about askin' what word it was. "Nevermind, it don't matter. You good?"
She hesitated but nodding, getting firmer towards the end. Her eyes caught over my wrist and a grimace pulled across 'er face. "Sorry"
I glanced at it, seeing the red hand shaped bruise already forming around 5 small crescent shaped marks. I waved her off, "Ya don't gotta be, it's alright. Come on," I jerked my head, picking up the planks again.
Eve stacked a couple in her arms and followed.
Eve's POV
I set the boards down and walked around the shed looking for the ladder that should be over here somewhere, I've seen it before. It'll get real annoying if we have to boost each other up and down.
How did Carl even get up there? Monkey child. Maybe he doesn't need me to teach him how to climb trees after all. Heck, he could probably teach me a thing or two.
I found it on the backside and picked up the wooden ladder, is this thing safe? It doesn't look rotten or rickety or anything.
I stood it up and put my foot on the bottom step, stomping hard. Not even a shift. I think it's ok. We'll just be cautious. Falling off a ladder nowadays — even from just a few feet — could be a death sentence, if you get unlucky.
Given our streak as of late, I'm not sure we've got a whole lot of that left.
I pushed the wood plank as high up as I can reach, Daryl crouching on the edge of the slight overhang to take it before nailing it over the others.
I looked around the property at all the trees started to turn yellow, a few dots of orange here and there.
Today is like the definition of fall. I don't know if it's October yet, but that tingly sense I always get around Halloween is starting to creep up.
It's amazing how conditioned your body will get to something when you buy shit tons of sweets on a particular day every year and then proceed to eat them until you're sick.
I have a frickin' biological countdown to 'chow day' now.
"Alright" Daryl sighed, shaking the wood one more time before dusting his hands off. "That should do it."
He passed the hammer & nails to me, and I put them back in the box while he climbed down and took down the ladder.
With that done we headed back up to the house to help out with anything else that's gotta be done. I like battening down the hatches. Menial but important tasks make for good distractions right now.
"Take him out to Senoia — hour there, hour back, give or take." Rick pointed on the map and Daryl leaned over it next to him.
I sat on the porch just behind them where they stood leaning over the railing, softly strumming Glenn's guitar while they discuss their plan to cut Randall loose. I don't technically need to be here for this but just in case something goes wrong — which with our track record, it will — and we need to go find them, I'll know what their plan was and I'm confident enough in my ability to understand how both of these men think that if they do get in trouble or divert from their plan at any point along the way, I can probably figure out where and how should I need to.
"We may lose the light, but we'll be halfway home by then." Rick glanced at the sky.
"This little pain in the ass will be a distant memory." Daryl pushed off the rail, walking around for a second. I wanna say pacing but he does it too often for that to be the case. It's more like alleviating restlessness.
"Good riddance." he sat on the rail where he was previously leaning, glancing at my strumming. I'm not really playing anything, I don't wanna distract them — or myself. It's just a few chords that sound good together.
"Carol's puttin' together some provisions for 'im. Enough to last a few days." Rick looked out across the farm. This place is so much bigger than it feels, I forget that sometimes but from right here, you can really see it. Acres of land in a complete radius around the house before it meets the forest. Which I'm not sure if any of it is apart of the Greene's land but I've always assumed their land ends at the 'trespass it's your ass' signs on the far fences which we (I) keep hopping.
"Eve," Rick turned and I paused my playing to give my full attention, resting my arms over the guitar.
"While we do this, I want you to go check the creek. I wanna know how dry it is and if there are any walkers that need to be taken care of but be cautious. Quick and quiet, no fuss. If there are walkers that need taking care of, don't do it alone. Come back and take T, Glenn, or Andrea out there with you." Yes chef.
An engine drew all three of our attention to the dirt track leading up to the house where Shane in the pastel metallic green sedan is driving back from building a lookout post in the windmill, per Rick's instructions.
"I'm leavin' you, and Shane in charge. If anything happens," Rick glanced at Shane and I nodded as soon as he looked back, before he could continue.
Keep Shane in check, is what I'm hearing.
Rick returned the gesture before looking back out at the fields and watching the car approaching on the dirt path.
I should check the creek before they leave in a few minutes. Hershel can probably handle things for a little while just after they take off while I check the creek, but I don't wanna leave Shane in charge for too long. The longer Rick's gone, the more he'll feel comfortable taking control and acting up, and the more likely it is the group will listen to him over someone else but not if I'm present.
I brought this group together, I've saved the lives of everyone here more times than Shane or Rick combined. They can argue about who's in charge all they want, when it comes down to it in a life or death — or any threatening — situation no one will second guess me, or wonder if it's really the best course of action or if someone "in charge" is gonna disagree and berate them for it later.
"That thing you did last night," Rick looked at Daryl, tapping the railing with the tip of the map.
"Ain't no reason you should have to do all the heavy liftin'." Daryl squinted at him in the light, even though the porch is shaded, from his place sat on the porch railing.
Shane pulled up a distance from the house, the green car coming to a stop a lot faster than necessary.
"So you good with all this?" Rick waved the map, not taking his eyes off his partner who is just out of earshot.
"I don't see you and I tradin' haymakers on the side a the road. Nobody'd win that fight." That's probably true.
Daryl took the map, going to look over it again but he glanced at me when I stiffened because Shane got out and started walking this way.
Daryl glanced over his shoulder and dropped the map in front of Rick again. "I'mma take a piss"
I jabbed my thumb over my shoulder, raising the guitar and both of us got lost as fast as we could.
Both of us slipped inside and I returned the guitar to Glenn, but just looking around these rooms, packed with the whole group and so many people moving about… I swallowed.
I really hope this doesn't feel as claustrophobic as it's looking because if so, it's gonna be a rough winter.
I checked my gear and made my way out the back door of the house.
Daryl and T-Dog glanced up from the short steps, and I'd be lying if I said I'm not a little surprised. It's kinda rare to see these two alone together, or maybe that's just because I'm usually accompanying Daryl in the first place.
"You leavin'?" Daryl glanced at my gear as I adjusted the strap on my thigh sheath; It's a been getting a little tighter every few weeks since this started and I know it's not because I've been eating well. Running builds an awful lot of muscle definition in the area right where this strap is. It'd be awesome if someday I could crush a watermelon between my thighs.
"Where?" T looked between us, confused.
"She's goin' to check the creek." Daryl answered and after a second of confusion T-Dog nodded, getting why this is kinda important.
It's probably a good thing these two are standing back here. I would've forgotten to let T — or anyone else aside from maybe Daryl — know I'm leaving like we're supposed to from now on.
I slipped past them and started off but not a second later Daryl called, "Don't fall in a hole!"
I turned, tempted to flip him the bird but ugh…mmm I can't because it happened. He could stop rubbing it in though.
I settled on a two fingered salute before actually getting gone to go finish up this task, asap.
If I'm fast, I can probably get it done inside of 10-20 minutes. 30 at most, if there are things to take care of — but for the love of gingersnap cookies, I am watching my goram step.