Two days had passed since his dinner with Carol. Daryl knew he was feeling something for her, but he didn't really know what to do next.
"You should take her to yer tent an' bang the shit outta her," Merle's voice said in his head and Daryl sighed.
"No. I ain't gonna do that," Daryl whispered.
He asked Hershel if he could borrow a horse so he could go do something hunting as he headed for the stable and he held onto the crossbow strap.
"Hey," Rick said as he half-ran to him, but Daryl kept walking. "Daryl, where are you going?"
"Gonna do some huntin'," Daryl said.
Rick walked beside him as they entered the stable and Jimmy smiled at them.
"Hey, guys," Jimmy said. "Can I help you with something?"
"Need a horse," Daryl said.
"Why?"
"Wanna do some huntin'."
"Did you ask Hershel?"
"Yeah. He said it's ok."
"What about you?" Jimmy asked, looking at Rick.
"I'm going with him," Rick said and Daryl glared at him.
"Let me go saddle up some horses."
Jimmy walked off while Daryl looked at Rick then Daryl leaned against the wall.
"Why do you wanna go with me?" Daryl asked, crossing his arms over his chest. "You afraid I ain't comin' back?"
"No, I know you're coming back," Rick said.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Carol and Sophia are here."
Daryl squinted at him as he tried to look angry and Rick went to stand next to him. Rick crossed one ankle over the other as they looked at the opposite wall and Daryl sighed.
"You don't mind me an' Carol bein' together?" Daryl asked.
"Nope," Rick said with a shake of his head.
"Everyone else does."
"Lori doesn't."
"Yeah."
"Has anyone else been bothering you about it?"
"No."
"Then why do you think they don't like the idea of you and Carol getting together?"
"Just a feelin'."
"Wanna know something? There were people who thought Lori wasn't good enough for me."
Daryl arched his eyebrows up as his eyes slightly widened and Jimmy walked over with two horses.
"Here you go," Jimmy said. Daryl noticed one of the horses was Nellie as Daryl walked closer and he got onto the saddle. Rick got onto the saddle of the other horse and they headed out of the stable.
"Which way?" Rick asked.
"This way," Daryl said and they headed for the woods. They rode in silence while Daryl lightly nudged Nellie to go faster and the horse made a soft whickering sound.
"I'm not kidding when I said there were people who didn't think Lori was good enough for me," Rick said as he continued their conversation.
"What did you do when people got on yer ass about it?" Daryl asked.
"I told them to fuck off."
They rode in silence as Daryl glanced at Rick and Rick knew he wanted to say something, but wasn't going to push him.
"Merle would've been tellin' me I ain't good enough fer Carol. He's right. I ain't good enough," Daryl said after they rode by some trees and Rick frowned.
"Bullshit," Rick said.
"No, it ain't."
"Let me ask you this. Do you think Ed would've done half the things you've done for her and Sophia?"
"He was an asshole."
"Yeah, but would he have done anything?"
"He didn't do shit. And I ain't just talkin' about fer Carol an' Sophia. Said he couldn't do much 'cause he had a bad back or some shit."
They rode on as they became quiet and Rick slightly smiled.
"I saw the flower," Rick said.
"You did?"
"Yep. Can't remember the last time I brought flowers for Lori."
He could just see the blush on Daryl's cheeks as Daryl cleared his throat and Rick nudged the horse forward.
"Is Carol the first woman you've been interested in?" Rick asked.
"I ain't no virgin," Daryl said.
"That's not what I meant."
"No. She's just the first one who's still interested in me. Most of 'em fuck off."
Rick felt sorry for Daryl as they rode in silence and Daryl glanced at him.
"So, did you enjoy your date with Carol the other night?" Rick asked with a small grin.
"Yeah," Daryl said with a nod. "Just don't know what to do next. It ain't like I can take her out somewhere fer a second date."
"You mean like take her to a movie?"
"Yeah. An' there ain't nowhere where we can go if we wanna be alone."
"What do you mean? We live on a farm."
"Been tryin' to find a place where we can go talk in private. Get to know each other. But, every time we find a place, someone shows up."
"You could always go off into the woods."
"Walkers. Or people will get the wrong idea as to why we're goin' out into the woods."
"Like with Shane and Lori," Rick said and Daryl nodded.
They rode in silence when Rick thought of something and Daryl wondered what he was thinking.
"From now on, you and Carol are going out on runs. If anyone asks, I'll just tell them she needs the experience," Rick said.
"Sounds good. Thanks," Daryl said.
Nodding, Rick nudged the horse to go a little faster and the horses headed down the trail.
The Greene Farm
Lori and Carol headed for the RV when they noticed Dale was sitting on the lawn chair on the roof of the RV and he smiled down at them.
"Hey," Dale said.
"Dale, have you seen Rick or Daryl?" Lori asked.
"Why?"
"Rick was supposed to help Shane with the milking and Daryl was going to help me with the laundry," Carol said.
"Last time I saw them, they were heading toward the woods. Looks like they might have been going hunting."
"Did they leave on foot?" Lori asked.
"No. They were on horseback."
"Thanks," Carol said.
Nodding, he watched them walking away the he raised the binoculars and looked at the tree line.
Later that day
The horses headed down the trail while Daryl and Rick looked straight ahead and the wind moved through their hair. A few strings with rabbit carcasses dangling from the ends were tied to the saddle horn of the horse Rick was riding and Daryl was scanning their surroundings with his eyes.
Suddenly, the horses started whickering as Rick hushed his horse, but Nellie was starting to buck.
"Easy," Daryl said in a soft voice, patting Nellie's neck.
"What do you think got them spooked?" Rick asked when a snake shot out of the tall grass then moved quickly across the trail and the horses rose up onto their hind legs. Rick held on, but Daryl sailed off the saddle and Daryl rolled down the side of the cliff. "Daryl!"
Daryl rolled end over end as his head and nose hit something and a branch cut into his chest. He finally ended up in the stream as he sank under water and something pierced his left side. He broke the surface of the water when he looked down and he saw he had become impaled with one of the crossbow bolts.
"Shit," he whispered, looking at the water for any sign of his crossbow.
"Daryl!?" Rick called out after he had gotten off the horse and the horses had run off. He stood at the end of the cliff while he looked down at the stream and he saw Daryl in the stream. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah!" Daryl called out.
"Stay there!"
"Where else can I go?" Daryl whispered as he tried to fight through the pain. He reached into the water as he tried to find his crossbow and he pulled out one half of it. He tossed the piece onto the shore when he searched for the other piece and the pain moving up his left side nearly caused him to pass out. He found the other piece as he tossed it to the shore and the piece landed near the first piece.
Up on the cliff, Rick slowly made his way down as he tried not to fall and he felt his hands being cut by the tree bark and dirt. He finally got to the bottom of the cliff while he saw Daryl slowly heading for shore and Rick could see the pain on Daryl's face.
Daryl reached down for the pieces of the crossbow, but the pain nearly blinded him and he growled. He saw Rick running toward him when Rick picked up the pieces of the crossbow then he saw the crossbow bolt sticking out of Daryl's left side.
"Shit," Rick whispered. He handed the pieces of the crossbow to him as he watched Daryl removing his belt then Daryl used the belt to put the two pieces of the crossbow together. He handed the crossbow to Rick as he walked to the cliff and Rick noticed Daryl was stumbling side-to-side. "Daryl. Stop for a second."
"Can't," Daryl grumbled. He wiped the blood out of his nose and out of his right eye as he kept walking and Rick followed him.
"Daryl, you really need to…"
"Leave me be," he growled and he pulled on the roots sticking out of the ground. He planted his feet when he pulled himself up, but the pain caused him to softly cry out. Rick watched Daryl sliding down the cliffside, but Daryl shook his head and he started pulling up again. He started falling while Rick went to catch him and both of them slid to the ground. Rick saw Daryl's eyes were closed and he checked to see if Daryl was still breathing. He then looked up at the cliff as he tried to figure out how to get them up the cliff and Daryl's head rested on his lap.
The Greene Farm
Carol stood near the paddock fence as she looked out at the cows and Lori walked up to her.
"Have Rick and Daryl come back yet?" Carol asked.
"Not yet," Lori said, looking at her. "Um… Carol, there's something I need to tell you."
"If it's about me and Daryl, I don't want to hear it."
"It's not. Though I am a little concerned."
"I said I don't want to hear it."
They watched the cows grazing when Carol sighed and she lowered her head.
"Sorry," Carol said.
"No, it's ok," Lori said.
"What did you want to tell me?"
"I'm pregnant."
Carol's eyes widened as she made a tiny squeal and they hugged. Carol moved back when she saw the worry in Lori's eyes and Carol frowned.
"It's not Rick's baby, is it?" Carol asked. Carol had heard rumors in the camp about Lori and Shane and the shame in Lori's eyes proved those rumors to be true.
"I don't know. It might be Rick's or it might be Shane's."
"Did you tell Rick about who the father might be?"
"Yeah. The odd thing is he didn't get upset. Nothing new. He's really good at keeping his anger in check."
"What about Shane? Did you tell him about the baby?"
"Not yet."
They became quiet as Lori looked at the cows grazing and Carol looked toward the woods.
The stream
Daryl didn't know how long he was out as his eyes slowly opened and he looked at the fuzzy world. He blinked his eyes a few times when his heart jumped in his chest from seeing Merle kneeling down next to him and Merle smiled.
"Well, about time you woke up," Merle said. Daryl looked him over with his eyes when he noticed Merle had both hands and Daryl blinked.
"You ain't real," Daryl grumbled.
"Figured that out, hunh?"
Daryl felt tired and his head and his left side hurt as he snorted a breath of air and Merle smiled at him.
"Are you gonna get off yer ass or are you gonna end up like that?" Merle asked and Daryl raised his head.
"Shit!" Daryl said, sitting up and the pain nearly knocked him back down. A Walker was chewing on his right boot. Daryl kicked the Walker in the face as the Walker moved back and Daryl got to his feet. He found his crossbow on the ground to his left as he picked up the crossbow and he smashed the crossbow into the Walker's head.
"Daryl! Stay down!" Rick called out after he killed a Walker, but Daryl shook his head.
Daryl knew what he had to do as he placed one of the crossbow bolts between his teeth, got onto his knees and he tore a hole in his shirt. He placed his hands on the crossbow bolt sticking out of his left side when he bit down hard onto the crossbow bolt then he snapped off the back end of the crossbow bolt. With a low growl, he pulled the crossbow bolt out when he loaded the crossbow with the crossbow bolt that he had between his teeth and he fired the crossbow at the third Walker. The crossbow bolt hit the Walker in the head and the Walker fell to the ground.
"Shit," Daryl grumbled, dropping the crossbow to the ground. He removed his shirt then he wrapped the shirt around his waist with hope to stop the bleeding and he felt like he was going to pass out. Daryl slid down next to the body as Rick ran to him and Rick helped Daryl to his feet. "Leave me be,"
"No," Rick said as he picked up the crossbow, placing the crossbow across his back, then he carefully took hold of Daryl's right side. They headed for the cliff as Rick looked up, tried to figure out how to get Daryl up the cliff and he frowned.
Daryl looked up when he grabbed hold of the roots then he planted his feet. He started climbing while Rick followed him and Daryl grunted. Daryl started slipping and sliding down the cliff while Rick helped him move upward and they slowly inched up the cliff. Rick let Daryl rest a few times as they kept going and Daryl saw Merle standing at the top of the cliff.
"That's it. Come on, Little Brother. Move yer ass," Merle said with a grin.
"Shut up," Daryl whispered, reached for some roots.
"Awww… Got a run in yer panty hose, Darylina?! Move!"
Daryl growled as he kept climbing and Rick started wondering who Daryl was talking to.
"Daryl, you need to rest," Rick said, but Daryl shook his head. They kept going as Daryl looked at Merle and Merle reached out his right hand.
"You gonna get up here or are you gonna be Sheriff Friendly's bitch and stop?" Merle asked.
"I ain't nobody's bitch," Daryl whispered.
'Then take my hand," Merle said and Daryl watched Merle's right hand vanish.
"Shit."
They reached the top while Rick helped Daryl to his feet and Daryl was breathing hard and fast through his nose. Rick noticed how much Daryl was sweating and he held onto Daryl's right side.
"Do you want to rest?" Rick asked and Daryl nodded. He helped Daryl lean against a tree as they rested then Rick looked down the trail. He knew Daryl could possibly walk all the way back to the farm, but he wasn't sure if Daryl could make it to the farmhouse. He looked at Daryl as Daryl glanced at him and Rick sighed. "Do you want me to carry you back?"
"No," Daryl said with a shake of his head. "I can make it."
"Are you sure?"
Nodding, he let Rick lead the way as they headed down the trail and Daryl fought through the pain. They walked by the trees when he looked at Rick and Rick saw the worry in Daryl's eyes.
"Do me a favor. If… If I don't make it, put me down before I change," Daryl said. Rick heard the seriousness in his voice as Rick nodded and they headed down the trail.
The Greene Farm
Lori ran toward Shane as he, Glenn and T-Dog noticed the worry on her face and she stopped in front of them.
"What's wrong?" Shane asked.
"Jimmy just told me that the horses Rick and Daryl borrowed to go hunting just came back without them," Lori said with worry in her voice. For a split second, she saw what could appear as joy in Shane's eyes as Glenn frowned and he scratched the back of his head.
"Should we go look for them?" Glenn asked.
"No!" "Yes!" Shane and Lori said at the same time and Lori glared at him.
"Which way did they go?"
Lori pointed toward the woods as Glenn, T-Dog and Shane headed for the woods and Andrea looked down at them from the roof of the RV.
"Where are you going?" Andrea asked.
"Rick and Daryl are missing," T-Dog said.
"Where did they go?"
"They went hunting in the woods," Glenn said,
She watched them walking away as she reached for the binoculars and she scanned the tree line.
In the woods, Rick held onto Daryl when Rick saw the farm and he smiled.
"You still with me?" Rick asked, looking at Daryl. He had seen Daryl close his eyes a few times and he was grateful to feel Daryl's chest rising and fall as they walked.
"Yeah," Daryl grumbled.
"We're almost home."
They kept walking when Daryl nearly fell and Rick tighten his grip on him. He placed Daryl against the side of the tree as he held on Daryl's shoulders and Daryl looked at him.
"Stay right here. I'll got get Hershel," Rick said. Nodding, Daryl watched him head out of the woods while Shane, Glenn and T-Dog walked closer and Glenn saw the worry on Rick's face.
"Are you ok?" Glenn asked.
"I'm fine, but Daryl's been hurt," Rick said, looking back at the wood.
Back at the RV, Andrea has seen Rick exit the woods as she scanned the tree line, but the sunlight blinded her. She wasn't sure, but she saw something walking out of the tree line and she reached for the rifle.
"Is that Daryl?" Glenn asked after he had seen Daryl stumbling out of the tree line. Turning, Rick ran to him as Daryl stopped walking and Rick held his hands out.
"I told you to stay put," Rick said. Daryl looked at Shane, Glenn and T-Dog as he swayed back and forth and Daryl sighed.
"I can make it," Daryl said.
"You can barely stand up."
Back at the RV, Andrea looked through the rifle scope, but the sunlight blinded her and she could only see what looked like a Walker from the waist down.
"Walker!" she called out as she took aim and her finger wrapped around the trigger.
"What happened to him?" T-Dog asked. Rick quickly explained as Daryl started leaning to the right when the sound of rifle fire filled the air and Daryl's body jerked to the left.
"No!" Rick shouted, placing the crossbow on the ground. He ran to Daryl when Rick knelt down next to Daryl's right side and he placed his right hand on Daryl's chest. Daryl was breathing hard and fast as Rick lightly shook him and Daryl barely opened his eyes. "Help me get him up!"
Shane ran to them as he helped get Daryl to his feet and they headed for the farm. T-Dog picked up the crossbow as he and Glenn went to follow Rick, Shane and Daryl and Daryl moaned.
"Shit! Is he alive!?" Andrea asked as she and Dale ran toward them and Rick looked at her.
"Yes! Who was on watch!?" Rick asked.
"I was."
"Why the hell did you shoot him?!"
"I thought he was a Walker!"
"Glenn, go get Hershel," Rick said and Glenn ran off.
"I'm…," Andrea said then became quiet after Rick glared at her and they arrived at the farmhouse.
"Bring him inside," Hershel said after he, Carol, Lori, Maggie, Beth and Patricia walked outside and Rick saw the worried look on Carol's face.
"Rick, what happened!?" Carol asked.
"I'll tell you later," Rick said. She watched them go inside when Carol looked at Andrea and Carol tilted her head to one side. She knew who was on watch when the gunfire sounded and Carol glared at her. Carol walked in the house as she fought back the tears and she saw Rick and Hershel heading down the hallway with Daryl between them. Patricia, Maggie and Beth were behind them and Carol started praying for Daryl to be alright.
"Maggie, Beth, take care of Rick," Hershel said after they had gone into the room and Rick helped get Daryl onto the bed,
"I'm staying," Rick said, looking at the scratches on his arms and hands. He also knew he looked bloody from fighting with the Walkers, but he wanted to stay with Daryl.
"I can't deal with both of you."
"He's right," Patricia said.
Sighing, Rick nodded as he left the room with Maggie and Beth and he flexed his fingers in and out.
A short time later, Carol and Sophia sat on the couch as they watched Rick pacing and Carol held Sophia to her side. She looked at the bandages around Rick's lower arms and hands then she looked at Andrea and Carol saw the guilty look growing on Andrea's face.
"Rick," Hershel said as he walked into the room and everyone looked at him.
"How's Daryl?" Rick asked, walking to him.
"He's stable," Hershel said and Rick released the breath of air he was holding.
"How bad is he?" Carol asked.
"He has a large scratch on his chest…"
"That must have happened while he was falling down the cliff," Rick said. He had explained to the others what happened and Hershel told him about Nellie have a nervous disposition.
"The scratch didn't need stiches, but I am concerned with the dirt I had to clean out of it."
"What about the wounds to his left side?" Rick asked.
"They weren't serious. Only needed a few stitches."
"What about his head?"
"The wound to the right side of his head isn't serious. The wound to the left side of his head was just a graze. If whoever shot him aimed a little more to the right, he'd be dead."
Andrea flinched at the glare Rick was giving her and she lowered her head.
"Is he awake?" Sophia asked.
"No," Hershel said as he looked at Rick. "I want to put him on painkillers and antibiotics, but I don't have any."
"Great," Rick sighed.
"Do you know where we can get any?" Dale asked.
"I thought Daryl gave you some pain killers and antibiotics," Glenn said.
"I used them on T-Dog."
"There is a high school not far from here. I think they might have some," Otis said.
"Let's go," Rick said as he headed for the door and he looked at Shane. "Shane, come on."
Reluctantly, Shane got up as he, Rick and Otis left the house and Carol walked to Hershel.
"Is it alright if I go sit with him?' Carol asked. Hershel saw the sadness in her eyes as he nodded and he led her down the hallway. He opened the door as Carol walked to the bed and she looked down at Daryl.
Daryl was lying on his right side with the blankets covering his waist and she saw they had washed him. She looked at the bandages covering the wound to the back of his left side, but it was the other scars crisscrossing his back which caught her attention.
"Who did that to you?" she thought. She looked at the bandage wrapped around his head as she gently touched his hair and she sighed. She walked around to the other side of the bed as she carefully sat on the bed and she saw his eyes were closed. Pain was etched on his face and she tried hard not to cry.
Hershel watched her take hold of Daryl's left hand as she wrapped their fingers then Hershel headed down the hallway.