CHAPTER 4

– Daryl -

He was still standing there waiting for an explanation. She had burst out of the prison, blanket flapping around her like a cape. Her sudden appearance had sent a rush of adrenaline through him. Now she was standing here, her blonde hair glowing in the glare of his flashlight, chest rising and he still didn't know why.

"This is going to sound really ridiculous," She started, self consciously. "...but, especially after finding the prisoners, I'm really nervous about being out here by myself..."

Daryl eyed her suspiciously. Was she going to ask him to cover her shift too? After everything he had to do today, he was really looking forward to getting some sleep.

"I was wondering, I mean you mentioned yesterday you didn't want to sleep in a cage, so do you think you could sleep in here tonight while I do my watch out there?" She looked at him hopefully.

"I can do that," he said in his customary low growl. No expression on his face.

He was immediately rewarded with a beaming smile that did things to his insides. It was such a little thing she was asking for, but it obviously was a great relief to her. They stood there awkwardly for another second.

"Well, I better get back out there." He gestured to the outside with his head. "You stayin' in here to sleep or going back to the prison?"

"Do you mind some company?" She asked.

"Nope." He shut the trap door and walked out to the outer railing of the guard tower and she followed.

They stood quietly looking over the dark prison yard. She broke the silence first, as she often did.

"So, what happened today? With the prisoners?"

Daryl continued to look over the yard, keeping his eyes occupied.

"There were five of them. Been locked up in the cafeteria for 10 months. Guard stuck them in there with a gun when it all went down. One guy kind of put himself in charge. Kept talking all this shit about it being his prison and how we had to leave. He and Rick agreed that in exchange for half their food, we would help them clear out another block to live in."

"Makes me nervous." She piped in.

"Don't be." He said with force, looking into her eyes "Ain't going to let anything happen to you."

She smiled and that feeling burst through him again. It felt a lot like it did when he used to swing over the river in an old tire someone had hung when he was a kid. He looked quickly back at the dark prison yard.

"We start clearing the block and one of their guys, huge bastard, called him Tiny, he gets bit, or maybe just scratched, I don't know. They all start freaking out, demanding Rick do something and while Rick is trying to explain how it is, that prick with the gun goes up and beats Tiny to death with a crowbar."

Kate's eyes opened wide in surprise. "What?! His own guy?"

"Ya. Brutal. We kept on and this asshole is tryin' to kill Rick. Like for real, tryin' to make it look like an accident. Swingin' his weapon close to his head, throwin' a walker at him."

"What did you guys do?"

"Rick killed him. Had no choice. Another guy went runnin'. Rick chased him down and locked him outside with some walkers.

Kate was silent. Daryl continued.

"The other two, Axel and Oscar, they didn't give us any reason to not let them live. Left them to clean out their cell block. Rick warned them to stay away."

"Do you think they will?"

"Don't know. If they don't want Rick to kill them. But that's why it's even more important to keep watch." He looked back at the prison, almost like he had reminded himself they had to keep their eyes open.

"You said Hershel was in pain?"

"Ya. Maggie told me on my way out here."

"Maybe I can go on a run tomorrow. Take the bike, see if I can find a pharmacy."

"That's a good idea. Maggie and Beth would be so thankful."

"I'm going to head back in for a minute," Daryl gestured to the prison. "Gonna grab a mattress and a blanket. I ain't touchin' that bed in there."

Kate giggled. "Yeah, I'm sure they didn't mind the privacy up here."

He stilled and looked at her intensely and she quickly looked down at her feet.

"Better get going then." He threw his crossbow over his back. "If you can handle bein' by yourself out here for a few minutes."

She nodded and he headed into the shack.

Later that night Daryl stretched out on the bed he had made in the opposite corner of Maggie & Glenn's. He laid on his back, arm across his forehead, staring at the metal ceiling and trying his best to push the thought of her from his mind. It seemed inappropriate after today, a day where he witnessed the death of two men and someone he cared about have their leg axed off, but here he was with the thoughts of her making their way into his mind again. Just like they had been for so many nights since they left the farm. He wondered if he would have been so quick to agree to sleep up here if anyone else in the group had asked him or if it was just because it was her. He tried to convince himself he would have done it for anyone. That it had nothing to do with the feelings he had been telling himself he didn't, COULDN'T, have for her.

These days he found himself watching her a lot from across the room, sometimes she'd look over and catch his gaze and it was like a bolt of lightning. He didn't really know what to think of it and he had been trying his best to ignore it. It didn't help that she was currently only steps away. He wondered if she would've asked anyone else to sleep up here and then felt stupid that he even considered for a second that he was special to her. That she was asking him for any reason beyond her own fear. He knew there was no way a girl like Kate would be interested in a man like him. They certainly hadn't been before the turn and he thought it would take more than the dead walking to ever change that.

Still, he liked that he was helping her. Couldn't deny that. And the way she had looked at him when he said he would. It lit him up inside. Wasn't even a sacrifice for him anyway, he didn't mind sleeping out here. Might even prefer it. She could fulfill her watch duty and he would sleep in here as soundly as if he was inside.

Sleep came quickly after that and for the first time in a long time Daryl didn't wake when the sun came up. It was the big metal door of the prison banging against the cement as it was pushed open.

He saw Kate stand and go to the door, knocking softly.

"Come in." He called out, his voice raspier than normal. He sat up and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. She looked tired.

He heard T-Dog shout from below, "Kate, is Daryl up there?"

"I'm here." Daryl replied and then to her. "Better head down."

Daryl opened the trap door and motioned for Kate to lead the way and he climbed after her.

"Hershel doing ok this morning?" He heard her ask T-Dog.

"Yes, he's awake. No fever."

The three of them headed to the door of the prison, T-Dog opened the door and Kate went inside. As she walked through he gave Daryl a knowing smile.

"Don't even." Daryl growled, walking past the man and into the dark prison.

"I didn't say a word." T-Dog laughed, closing the door behind them.