Disclaimer: I do not own anything that you recognize. Although I would love to have my own personal Daryl Dixon. Short and sweet.

AN: So I have decided that since this weekend is super special because Sunday is not only Easter but also the date for the final episode of The Walking Dead Season 3, that I will post 2 chapters this weekend. They are not overly long, in fact I think this chapter is kinda short, but it's better than nothing. Also, even though it is Friday night, this is technically Saturday's chapter but I will be away from my laptop most of the day so I am posting it now. Chapter 10 will not be posted until Sunday afternoon or evening sometime. So plz, read, review, and enjoy.

Chapter 9

Daryl had tracked Sophia's movements and found that she had done as she was told as far as heading back to the highway before she took off in the wrong direction for some unknown reason.

Rick had sent Shane and Glenn back to the highway while Rick, Daryl, and Adrian stayed on the trail until they had just enough light to make it back to the highway. "So, Adrian. You're pretty handy in the woods yourself. Why call for Daryl to come along?" Rick asked after Shane and Glenn split. Daryl was also curious about that.

"Daryl is better at this than I am. He's been doin' this practically his whole life, I'm sure. I've only been doing this about ten years in total." she answered.

"You're good enough to track my ass without me knowin'. What makes you think you couldn't track her?" Daryl asked lookig back at her.

"Hunting a full grown man and hunting a small girl is two completely different things. Besides, I've never been lost in the woods on accident before. I wouldn't know how to think like a child would in this kind of situation." she said answering his question.

'Damn it, man! Is there anything about me that this chick didn't find out?' Daryl thought looking back at the trail.

A little while later they happened upon a single walker. Adrian hid behind a tree while Rick got it's attention so Daryl could shoot it.

Rick put on a pair of gloves and started fishing around in the walkers mouth. Then the decision was made to cut the bitch open to make sure he hadn't been around Sophia. Adrian only half paid attention to Daryl cutting the walker open.

The other half of her focus was watching the muscles in Daryl's arms work as he was sawing at the walkers stomach.

It had been quite a while since Adrian had gotten laid but she wasn't going to blame that on her current fascination with the hunters arms. And his shoulders. And his ass.

Well, not ALL the blame anyway.

Oh no, that was entirely on him. Adrian had never thought of herself as liking a certain type of man, but she did have a short list that she liked to go by and he fit the bill.

Sure he was a little rash in some of his decisions and had a problem holding onto his temper and, was more often than not, filthy as hell covered in dirt, sweat, and a number of other things but underneath she could tell he was a nice guy who cared about the other people in the group.

Maybe not her and Kale, but still, he cared or else he wouldn't be out here with her and Rick looking for Sophia.

Daryl had tossed the stomach which Rick cut open. "What in the hell is that?" Adrian asked pointing at the small skull on the tip of Daryl's knife. "Woodchuck. Bastard just ate a woodchuck." Daryl answered tossing the skull off his knife.

"It'll be dark soon. We should head back." Adrian said looking up sky through the trees.

"Yeah. Pick it back up tomorrow." Daryl said resheathing his knife and picking up his crossbow. "We'll get everybody out here tomorrow. Daryl will take point." Rick said as they headed back to the highway.

It was a full moon out that night and the sky looked like black velvet covered in white sparkling diamonds. Dale was on watch on top of the RV with his binoculars and a rifle and it was well past midnight but Adrian was still wide awake.

Adrian assumed that everyone was well and asleep by this time of night. Adrian was about a hundred and fifty yards away from the RV, reclining on the windshield of an abandoned, newer model Ford truck looking at the night sky.

Adrian got lost in her thoughts of the day but not so lost that she missed the sound of shuffling footsteps. She quickly sat up and pulled her game knife out and at the ready. A few seconds later, Kale came into view.

"Kale." Adrian said sighing in relief. "What are you doing out here. You need to be sleeping." she said to the teen as she resheathed her knife.

"So should you." he said to her. "Thinking about him again? About that night?" Kale whispered taking in her profile in the bright moonlight.

Rarely had he ever seen his red headed companion really and truly relaxed, not even in sleep. He supposed that no one these days could really ever truly relax, but Adrian always seemed to have every muscle coiled in tension, always prepared for a fight.

And tonight was no different. If anything, it was worse than most nights due to the fact that the little girl was missing.

"If I have to be honest about it, I never really stop thinking about it. I always seem to be thinking about him in one way or another." Adrian whispered back, starring off into space, which was rare in of itself.

"Are you ever gonna tell them? The truth I mean?" Kale asked, still keeping his voice decently low. Adrian thought hard on that question.

"Maybe. But for right now, it's none of their business." she finally answered.

"Now go and get some sleep. Tomorrow's gonna be a long day for all of us." Adrian said turning to look at Kale, giving him a small smile they both knew was just for his benefit.

Kale turned to leave, but what neither one of them seen was the shadow hiding in the dark just a few feet away.