Hey guys and welcome to chapter two of Against the Wind. I'm super excited about this chapter, because not only do I think I did a pretty damn good job on it, but I also think you guys are going to enjoy it as well. Its got humor, action, Daryl/Tessa fluff, friendship and most exciting of all - some little bitty plot twists! Enjoy! :)

HaloHunter89: I knew you would be coming back but still, I'm happy to see your still here :). And yeah, I knew you would form the official Sam Hate Club right off the bat and I love it because even though I'm going to enjoy writing him, I already have a pretty decent plot-line mapped out for him that includes general awkwardness around Tessa and Ethan and yes - apprehension around Daryl. But then again, think about it: Sam was a highschool science teacher and Daryl is . . . Daryl is a badass redneck with a crossbow and some serious anger issues if you fuck with Tessa. Yeah, how do you think that would go? ;)

NanamiYatsumaki: Nice to see you again - hopefully you'll love this chapter, cause I did throw some wrenches into it :)

Katara Melody Cullen: Thanks for reading; hope you continue to enjoy :)

scoobydoo0811: Four words: WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! Ha ha, just kidding - glad your back! :)


They arrived at the Big Spot a little around half an hour later, only to find the entire front of the store closed off by a chain-link fence and littered with military issued tents and vehicles. "Military came and put up tha fence – made it a sanctuary for tha people. When we came by last week to scope this place out, there was a bunch of walkers behind tha chain-link, keeping people out like a bunch of guard dogs." Daryl explained to Tessa and one of the newer men, a former army medic by the name of Bob Stookey, walked up to them, his assault rifle in his hands.

"So ya'll just left?" He asked and Sasha nodded towards the encampment.

"Give a listen."

They quieted down then and sure enough, they heard the sound of patriotic music coming in from a radio somewhere within the camp before their eyes were drawn to the human-sized - somewhat bloody - hole cut into the metal chain-link. Sasha smiled with pride as Michonne turned her eyes onto her.

"You drew 'em out?" She spoke and Sasha nodded.

"Put a boombox out there three days ago."

"And hooked it up to three car batteries." Glenn added as Daryl made his slow way to the hole in the fence, keeping his eyes peeled for any wayward walkers still within. When he was sure he didn't see any, he glanced over his shoulder at Ethan and nodded, a nod that Ethan quickly returned as he hastened to move in behind him.

"Okay, let's make a sweep and make sure it's safe. Grab what ya can - we'll come back tomorrow with more people."

Everyone nodded as they filed inside behind them, their eyes constantly scanning the broad space around them for the telltale signs and noises of walkers. When they were sure that none were lingering around the space, they made their way to the front, where Daryl elbowed the glass window three times before taking a seat on the brick windowsill. He gave a shrug as Tessa furrowed her eyebrows in slight confusion. "Lures tha walkers this way and makes it easier for us to get rid of 'em; jus' give 'em a second." He told her and she nodded as Ethan, Michonne and Beth's boyfriend, Zach, joined them as the others continued to sweep and sift through the rest of the encampment for anything they might need. Ethan took a seat on Daryl's left, whereas Zach took a seat on his right. He grinned at him.

"Okay, I think I got it . . ." He spoke up and Ethan rolled his eyes, already knowing where this was going. Tess;a's eyebrows, however, remained furrowed in both confusion and curiosity.

"Got what?" She asked, and Zach shot her a grin before turning his eyes back onto Daryl and gesturing to him.

"What your man did before the whole world went to shit; I've been trying to guess." He told her and Tessa grinned and let out a laugh as she nodded.

"Oh – of course you are!"

Daryl shot her an indulgent look. "He's been tryin' to guess for 'bout three weeks now." He told her and she shook her head as she moved over to him, where she wrapped her arm around his neck. His arm reflexively moved to wrap around her waist, where he pulled her closer to him and down until she was sitting on his knee. Ethan moved from his place on the wall, to stand between them and Michonne in order to pay better and Tessa shared a look with him that made him grin. Only Tessa and Ethan knew what Daryl did before the apocalypse begun and it probably wasn't something that would immediately pop into someone's head . . . not anymore, anyway.

"Sorry Zach, honey, but I doubt your ever gonna get it." She told him as a good-natured grin appeared on her face and Zach shook his head.

"No, no, no, I have this time – I know I do! And besides, you said I get one shot a day and this is my shot for the day!" He replied, pointing at him, and Daryl grinned and shook his head as he turned his head to face him, shifting slightly as he did so in order to make Tessa more comfortable. His hands clasped as his arms looped and moved to hang loosely around Tessa's waist.

"Alright, well shoot. What did I do before all this shit began?"

Zach nodded and stayed silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts, before he turned his eyes back onto Daryl, a slightly amused, slightly smug gleam appearing in his eyes. Tessa balked slightly but a look of amusement still lingered in her eyes, nonetheless. By God, the kid really thought he had it!

"Okay, well the way you are at the prison – being on the council, being able to track – helping people. But, you still can be . . ." He trailed off then, thinking for the word he wanted before rolling his eyes and continuing: "Surly."

Tessa and Michonne immediately gave a laugh at that and Daryl cocked a half grin as he turned his eyes onto Tessa. "What's so funny?" He asked and Tessa shook her head and waved her hand dismissively through the air.

"Nothing – nothing!" She told him before locking gazes with Michonne again, where the two women let out additional snorts of amusement. "Just . . . I would never have called you surly, that's all." She told him with a half-smile and he shook his head, not knowing if she was being sarcastic or cute or what, as he turned back to Zach, who hurried to explain himself.

"It all makes sense, though! You, my friend, used to be a homicide cop."

The laughter that fell forth from Michonne and Tessa's lips then at his answer, only made Zach immediately turn an obliviously shocked look onto them. "What?" He asked and Tessa and Michonne shook their heads. Ethan simply grinned and shook his head as well, as Daryl turned an expressionless gaze onto Tessa.

"What's so funny, babydoll?" He asked and Tessa shook her head, unable to stop laughing as Michonne managed to quiet down somewhat to speak.

"Nothin'. We're just shocked that Zach actually got it!" She grinned and Tessa nodded and choked down her laughter long enough to wrap her other arm around his neck, where she turned a determinedly serious look onto him.

"Exactly! I'm just . . ." She heaved a sigh then and looked away briefly before turning her eyes back onto him, her face fighting to remain serious. "Would you just mind explaining to me, though, Detective Dixon, why you haven't brought out the handcuffs yet?"

Ethan covered his mouth as he let out a laugh and turned around, only to walk off a little ways as Michonne broke out into another fit of laughter. Zach still had a slightly confused look on his face as Daryl sent her a sarcastic look that practically screamed: 'Oh-I'll-Show-You-Handcuffs'!

He nodded then. "Actually, the man's right," He spoke up and Tessa couldn't help but continue to grin as he turned his eyes back onto Zach, his face remarkably expressionless. "I was undercover when this shit went down."

A look of skepticism immediately appeared on Zach's face then as he took in Daryl's expressionless face before moving onto Tessa and Michonne's grinning ones and back again. "Oh come on, really?" He asked and Daryl nodded as sincerely as he could.

"Yup. I mean, I don' like to talk 'bout it 'cause there was a lot of heavy shit back in tha day, but, ya know . . . it put food on tha table," He trailed off then and glanced at Tessa. "And tha only reason I haven' brought out the handcuffs yet is because there's no place on our bed to snap 'em, duh!" He answered her with a wink and she rolled her eyes, although the grin remained on her face as Zach's look of skepticism grew.

"Oh come on man, your jerkin' my chain - you gotta be!"

Daryl gave him an amused look then, complete with its own little half-smile, and he rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh. "Okay . . . I'll just keep guessin', I guess." He spoke and Daryl nodded and grinned.

"Yeah, ya keep doin' tha'." He told him and Zach opened his mouth to retort but they were interrupted by a walker slamming himself into the glass window behind them. Tessa jumped in fright and Daryl's arms immediately moved to tighten around her waist so that she wouldn't fall from her perch on his knee to the hard pavement below. Daryl and Zach glanced behind them at him before Daryl heaved a sigh and patted her on the ass. "Okay, babydoll, ya gotta get up – it's show time." He told her and Tessa obediently did as he was told, promptly getting to her feet and stepping away so that he could too. He whistled for the others to join them.

"You go do this, Detective!" Tessa grinned with a slap on his ass and he shot her a grin as well as he moved over to the doors, the others falling in line behind him as a grinning Michonne joined her.

"So, just as a point of curiosity - what did he do before this whole thing began?" She asked her and Tessa gave a laugh.

"When he was with me throughout highschool and after highschool, he was a mechanic – a damn good one too."

"What about when you left?" She asked, one of her eyebrows rising, and Tessa rolled her eyes, although a grin still remained on her face, nonetheless.

"What do you think with a druggie brother like Merle? He was a fuckin' drug dealer. Damn good one too, from what I understand. Knew exactly where to get the primo shit and everything!" Michonne gave her a look.

"Are you fucking with me too?" She asked and Tessa gave a shrug.

"I'm telling you Michonne - Daryl was a drug dealer when I left! If there is a chance that he wasn't though, then I'll guess you'll never know."


"Ethan, go get me this while I help Michonne -, it should be in a couple of aisles over. And please, for the love of God, get the right brand this time!" She told him and Michonne grinned as Ethan nodded and bounded off to go get what Tessa needed as the two women continued on with their buggies.

"You ever thought you'd go grocery shopping with me one day?" Michonne asked and Tessa let out a laugh.

"Hell, I never thought I would go grocery shopping ever again!" She told her with a snort of laughter before gesturing down one of the side aisles. "Let's go down this way, I gotta check to see if they have sheets – we're starting to run out." Michonne silently nodded as she followed behind her but stopped and grinned when she saw something cast forgotten on one of the shelves.

"Hey, Tess, look at this!"

Tess stopped and turned around, where she saw a playfully grinning Michonne holding up a lacy red nightie. "When is Daryl's birthday again?" She asked in curiosity, and Tessa immediately let out a laugh as she rolled her eyes and placed one of her hands on her hip.

"Oh my God Michonne, do you honestly -!"

"Yah, there is no way ya bringin' tha' back! Good Lord, Tess, ya tits wouldn' even begin to fit in tha'!"

Tessa's eyes grew wide and she let out a sound of indignation as she spun around and slapped Daryl on the chest when his words reached her ears. He grinned and gave a shrug as he deposited some items into the buggy and she saw Zach grinning as well behind him. "What? It's true and ya know it!" He told her and she shook her head.

"Yeah, but you don't have to encourage her!" She reprimanded him and he rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, sure – I was encouraging' her!" He shook his head good-naturedly. "Anyway, we gotta go look for some car parts – running low on motor oil and shit like tha'. Be right back okay?" His eyebrows furrowed in slight concern. "Where's Ethan?"

"I sent him off in search of something for me; he should be back in a few." Daryl nodded and bent down to kiss her, but not before murmuring something in her ear that immediately had Tessa laughing. She slapped him on the arm again. "You're so bad!" She told him and he nodded in grinning agreement as him and Zach turned around, where they began walking in the direction they had come from. Michonne turned a curious gaze onto her.

"What did he say?"

Tessa shot her a grin over her shoulder. "He said maybe you should buy it for Rick . . ." She winked and she could have sworn she saw blush burning across her friend's face as she hastily replaced the nightie on the shelf from whence she had picked it up.

"I don't . . . maybe not, I mean, it's not like we haven't . . ."

Michonne took in the amused look Tessa was sending her and rolled her eyes. Her voice lowered substantially as she leaned forward. "You know that wouldn't fit me, Tess! And besides, it wouldn't be on me long enough for him to appreciate it!" She hissed and they heard a bark of a laugh come from the next aisle over before Daryl smugly called:

"Didn't I call it, Tess?"

"Oh shut up, Daryl! And yes, yes you did!" She called back to him and Michonne rolled her eyes as she hastened to catch up to her then.

"By the way, if I would have known that you'd be coming on this trip, I wouldn't have gotten that thing for you." She told her and Tessa shook her head.

"If you had known, I would have still made you get it. That's not exactly something I want Daryl to know I have – not unless he absolutely needs to, you know?"

"When are you going to take it?" She asked and Tessa glanced at her.

"Right when we get home and have everything unpacked. And don't let me forget, too! I don't exactly want to put it off and the sooner I know, the sooner I can get some sleep for once!"


"TESSA!"

"Daryl . . .?"

"Tessa, where are ya!"

"I'm right here baby, with Michonne and Ethan – we're fine! Now get down from that stack of beer, you're not Rambo!" She shouted up at him as Ethan stabbed his knife through a walker lumbering its way over to them. Blood shot out when he pulled the knife free and the walker fell to the floor as the ceiling above Daryl started creaking and groaning. Tessa's eyes immediately flitted up to it as more and more walkers started moving towards them, where they widened in horror.

Not long after they heard a massive crash and the sounds of many breaking bottles (and Tyrese calling that they were in the wine and beer section helping a trapped Bob out from underneath two collapsed shelves) all Hell broke loose and in a way they had not anticipated.

Tessa, Ethan and Michonne made their way over to Daryl, Zach and Tyrese grouped around the trapped Bob, as fast as they could. They reached them, right when the first walker crashed through the ceiling, only to hang by his guts from a broken beam of the ceiling.

"Oh, isn't that yummy looking?" Ethan muttered with a look of disgust and slight pain on his face and they all nodded in agreement as Tessa placed a hand to her stomach. Just looking at the walker made her stomach hurt!

"Yeah, uh, we should get going now!" Glenn had spoken and Daryl nodded as he gestured to Bob.

"Bob's still trapped under here, though – let's hurry and get him out."

"I'll get the other side, deddy -!"

That was when it started raining walkers.

Walker after walker after walker fell through the roof then, some slamming to the ground and splitting open like rotted pumpkins and watermelons, although a fair amount simply heaved themselves up and started walking or dragging themselves towards them. Tessa and Daryl were briefly separated due to Michonne and Ethan pushing her down various aisles, trying to loop back around to him and not draw so many walkers. Fighting through the ones who rained down and had not broken apart, they finally found him standing on a mountain of beer cases as walkers flanked him from all sides and while a crashed military helicopter dangled precariously through the roof over him.

"Deddy!"

"Holy shit – Daryl!"

They quickly fought their way through the walkers to get to him then, Tessa forgoing the gun in exchange for her knife. Plunging the knife through walker heads left and right, she was the first to reach him as Ethan and Michonne covered her back and sides. The ceiling groaned then as the helicopter slipped down a little more and Tessa latched onto his hand and pulled him roughly downwards.

"Daryl, get the fuck down -!" She roared, her voice eventually drowned out as the helicopter finally crashed through the roof. Daryl looped an arm around her waist and carried her backwards, Michonne and Ethan hot on their heels as the helicopter smashed into the boxes of beer that he had been standing on seconds earlier.

It was then, when the walker herd was starting to thin, that they turned their attention back onto Bob. Daryl dragged the walker who had been trying to take a chunk out of him, away from him and brought his boot roughly down onto his head as Tessa and Zach made their way over to the shelf. They lifted it up as Daryl drug him out from underneath it. Ethan's eyes grew wide with fear and horror and he quickly reached out and yanked his mother away from the shelf, right when a walker reached out from underneath the shelf, grabbed ahold of Zach and then took a bite out of his calf.

Tessa stumbled into Daryl's arms as they turned around and watched as Zach, screaming in pain, hit the floor and was quickly climbed by the walker, who sunk his teeth into his neck as Glenn roared out his name. Tessa's eyes widened in horror as he grip on Daryl's jacket tightened. Her eyes connected with her son's and she saw him swallow hard, his eyes still wide. If he hadn't seen the walker and made the split second decision to yank her away from him, that might be Tessa screaming on the floor in Zach's place.

Daryl shook his head as his arms tightened around Tessa and he quickly herded them towards the exit. "Leave him – leave him – go - go!" He yelled over the creaking and groaning and crashing of the building as it fell down around them and nobody wasted time after that. They all made a beeline for the entrance, only a few casting lingering, apologetic looks over their shoulders at the still screaming Zach being made into walker chow.

They ran out of the building right when it collapsed in on itself behind them and when they came to a stop, their breaths heaving as they fought to collect their bearings, Tessa threw herself out of Daryl's arms and pulled Ethan into a tight bear hug. "Momma . . . momma, I can't breathe -!"

"Oh Ethan, thank God you saw! Thank God!" She cried and Daryl turned a shocked gaze onto them.

"Saw what?"

Ethan swallowed hard as he gently pushed his mother away and turned his eyes onto Daryl. "I saw the walker underneath the shelf when Zach and momma were lifting it up." He shook his head. "The walker was going for momma, deddy, but I pulled her away before he could and that was when he grabbed onto Zach." He swallowed hard. "I'm sorry I didn't save the both of them but I had to choose and I chose -!"

He was suddenly interrupted by Daryl pulling both him and Tessa into a hug, his body trembling as he held them close. Did he honestly just come a hair's breadth to losing Tessa?

Ethan felt Daryl shake his head as he hugged them to him as tight as he could. "Ya always pick ya family, Ethan, ya understand me? If given tha' choice again, ya always pick ya family!" He shook his head as he pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Atta boy . . . atta boy!"