Die For You

Previously…

Daryl stopped for a second to look at me before following the women, giving me a look that said we were going to have a conversation about this later. Oh, he had no idea, really, poor guy. I gave him a quick wink before kneeling down and knocking the hatch shut. I shut my eyes for a moment praying I'd get a chance to see his handsome face again.

"Let's move, ladies!" I shouted in a whisper, crawling out the escape tunnel. Rosita and Sasha fell into step behind me as we made a dash for the cover of the surrounding forest.

Chapter 16

After hot wiring a vehicle, our mini platoon arrived in the warehouse district across from the Sanctuary. Rosita and Sasha did a sweep of the lower floor and I went up the steps to the upper level by myself. The building was eerily clear. There wasn't even a cigarette butt to indicate someone had been on a security sweep. It made my hair stand on end, and my skin prickle. The arrogance of the Saviors never ceased to amaze me.

I took first watch, leaving Rosita and Sasha to have a moment to themselves. It was weird enough they'd both slept with Abraham, now they were teaming up to take down the man who'd murdered him.

Rosita began telling the story of how she got so tough and how she was with Abraham in the first place. I was immediately transported back to when Daryl and I had begun to grow closer together. We had begun gravitating towards each other. Yes, we shared sleeping quarters, but we were actually becoming friends.

West Georgia Correctional Facility

pre solo supply run (Story told to Negan in Chapter 4&5)

Beth was feeling a little under the weather so I'd assumed primary duties for baby Judith that day. I'd just gotten her asleep when Rick returned from watch.

"Hey, Roz." Rick drawled with an easy smile, watching me lay Judith down in her crib.

I nodded in response, communicating that the baby was asleep. I stepped away from the crib and traded places with Rick at the cell door. "Here's a bottle if she wakes up in the next couple of hours." I handed him a bottle I made up so he'd be set for a couple of hours sleep after his shift.

"Thank you." Rick nodded his thanks and took the bottle from me. "Daryl's already up in tower. He's got yer rifle."

I smirked. "Awesome." Daryl was always one step ahead of me, especially if I was taking care of little ass kicker. "Come get me if Lil' Ass Kicker gives you any trouble."

I stopped by the facilities to freshen up and prepare for the next few hours on watch. Maggie and Glenn would relieve us around midnight. I undid my braid, letting my hair fall loose around my shoulders. I knew Daryl liked my hair down. Carol told me she caught him staring at me during dinner one night when I'd left it down after a shower and he'd confessed. Well, he didn't correct her when she directly asked if he liked my hair that way.

"I caught him." Carol explained in a hushed voice. She'd cornered me in the pantry after dinner. "He was staring at you, and-"

"You're just seeing things, Carol." I scoffed, waving away her concern. Truth was, I had noticed. I'd caught him more than once staring at me during dinner.

"No!" She insisted. "He likes you." She barked a laugh, "Poor boy doesn't know what to do with it, but he has feelings for you, Roz."

I climbed the stairs and made my way out onto the wrap around observation deck. Daryl stood facing the west, holding a pair of binoculars to his eyes. "Hey, Ace." I murmured, "All clear?"

"Mmmhmm." Daryl answered, passing me the binoculars.

I took them, and did my own survey of the horizon. Nice and quiet. A welcome change from yesterday.

We'd gone on a supply run and found ourselves in some pretty cramped quarters while we waited for a small herd to pass by. Daryl shoved me inside a broom closet and put himself between me and the door, clicking the lock in place and leaning his weight against the door. Even with him leaning against the door, the space was so small, especially with his crossbow behind him, he was pinning me against the wall, face first.

"Well this is cozy." I quipped, pressing my ass back against his thighs so I didn't have a face full of wood paneling.

"Shhhh." Daryl instructed, his palm clamping down over my mouth, pulling me more securely against him, crossbow scraping against the door.

All kinds of bells and whistles went off in my brain that this was not the time to get all hot and bothered, but my body betrayed me. I whimpered at his forcefulness. My hand shot up and gripped his hip, fingernails digging into his shirt and skin. He immediately released my mouth, his hand settling on my bicep, still holding me against him.

Daryl's lips were suddenly at my ear, warm breath tickling the outer shell, "Ya hurt?"

My eyes squeezed shut, top teeth sinking into my bottom lip. He didn't understand my reaction. Apparently I had a thing for being manhandled and bossed around. I shook my head, afraid that if I was to speak he'd know immediately that I was aroused by our close quarters and his possessiveness.

"But, ya just-" Daryl suddenly stopped breathing. He must've figured out why I was acting so weird because his lips were back at my ear, "Ya like this?!" He asked quietly, his other hand flicking my braid forward, exposing my neck, fingertips ghosting over my flesh causing me to shiver.

It was now or never. I took a deep breath and nodded, readjusting the rifle I had slung across my body.

"Fuck," Daryl cursed, shifting his weight, futilely trying to put some distance between us. He scoffed, hands dropping off my body. "Yer teasin' me."

I shook my head furiously. "N-n-no." I stammered, grabbing one of his hands and sliding it up my body, careful not to scrape it against the wood panelling I was plastered against. I arched my back into his touch as I settled his right hand over my left breast.

"Red." Daryl protested, trying to move his hand away, but I held him firmly against me.

"Daryl." I moaned, trying to convey how much I was turned on by him. I turned my head and pressed a soft kiss to his bare bicep.

He jumped a little at the sudden contact. "Fuck." He cursed again, his other hand gripping my hip, pulling me closer, lips pressed to my temple. He dipped his head, lips ghosting over my neck, down to my shoulder. "Fuckin' tease." He murmured against my skin. He pressed a few opened mouth kisses to my exposed flesh, then he sunk his teeth into the juncture of my neck and shoulder and I lost it.

"Daryl." I panted, my head falling back against his chest. "Now who's the fuckin tease." I growled, wriggling, trying to turn around in the tight space.

After a few grunts and curses I was finally face to face with him, my rifle resting under my armpit so I could press my body against his. His palms rested against the wood paneling behind me, biceps by my ears. Daylight streamed into the closet through the crack between the door and the wall, breaking up the darkness a little. He stared down at me, eyes blown wide with lust. At least it didn't seem like I was taking advantage of him. I didn't want to make Daryl feel uncomfortable, but I was done ignoring the crackling attraction between us.

I turned my face up, gripping the front of his leather vest. My 5' 6" frame compared to his 5' 10" one afforded me a moment to savor the rush of being this close to him before closing the distance between us. One of my hands wound itself into his hair. I was surprised at how soft it was. I tugged a little, trying to communicate now would be a good time to kiss me.

Footsteps in the hallway caused Daryl's head to snap up and turn away as he listened as the person came closer. "Daryl! Roz!" Sasha shouted in a whisper. "Coast is clear!"

My cheeks burned with frustration. I took a quick breath, trying to maybe salvage the situation, but the door popped open and Daryl dumped us out into the hall.

"Cozy you two?" Sasha teased, cocking an eyebrow.

Daryl just grunted, brushing past her, adjusting his crossbow.

I scoffed, "You could say that, Sassy. You could definitely say that."

The run went off without a hitch after that. We were able to find some more formula for baby Judith and a shit ton of canned goods for everyone else. When we returned to the prison our watch was covered and I couldn't find Daryl anywhere. He'd apparently gone out to hunt. Figured.

He didn't come back to the guard-post until well after midnight. I didn't say anything as he stripped off his boots and got ready for sleep. I could tell he knew I was awake, but I didn't want to make things more awkward between us. It was bad enough that we practically had a heavy petting session and hadn't actually kissed, I didn't need to draw more attention to the tension between us.

He was gone in the morning when I woke up. Hunting. Again. Beth falling ill was actually a godsend. Having baby Judith to distract me was a blessing in disguise. The day was spent cuddling and kissing a sweet baby, allowing me to relax about my passionate encounter with the archer.

Now I had to spend the next few hours in close quarters with him. Thankfully not as close as the broom closet, but close enough to figure out what the hell was going on between us. I knew Daryl wasn't socially adept in the romance department. Carol had explained to me that Daryl grew up in an extremely abusive environment. I'd guessed something similar when I'd glimpsed the scars on his back when he thought I was asleep a few weeks ago. I also had drawn the conclusion that Daryl had never been in a romantic relationship or even witnessed a healthy one in his life.

Daryl went inside the tower, and I followed, settling next to him on the couch. Back before the turn, this tower was affectionately called the 'love shack.' The guys convinced our superior it was a good idea to have a couch up in the tower for 'cat naps.' I wasn't stupid. I knew that when the watch was coed what it was being used for. They even propped the damn thing up on a platform so at sitting height you could still see in the full 360 degrees.

Maggie and Glenn had christened the tower with a mattress, and all of us were well aware what it was used for. I was glad they were happy and had enough discretion to get away from the main population to have their fun. I was also a tad jealous. I had the literal man of my dreams three feet from me each and every night and I had to somehow keep my hands to myself. After our encounter yesterday, I knew that was going to change.

"How's Lil' Ass Kicker?" Daryl asked, lighting a cigarette. He offered me one. I accepted and leaned into him for a light.

I blew some smoke away. "Growing like a weed." I smirked. "Starting to babble a bit, so we might get a few words in a couple a' weeks."

He nodded, taking a long drag. "Beth ok?" He asked, releasing the smoke.

I nodded. "Yeah, just needed some rest."

We smoked in silence, the moans and groans of the walkers below the only sound. I leaned forward and snuffed out my cigarette, tossing it away. Daryl followed suit and he stood up to stand at the window.

"Build ups gettin' worse." Daryl drawled, motioning to the western fence.

I stood up to join him at the window. "Yeah, Carol was worried about it this morning." I bumped shoulders with him, "Guess we might have to take a day off from hunting and help with the brain brigade."

"Brain brigade?" Daryl scoffed, eyes sliding sideways to meet mine.

"Yeah." I shrugged with a grin, watching him watch me. I could tell he was nervous. So was I. I was nervous he would refuse me or find some excuse for us not to get closer.

We fell into silence for about an hour, taking turns with the binoculars.

I sat down next to Daryl on the couch, leaving my rifle at the windows. I rubbed at my neck, rolling my sore right shoulder.

"Ya a'right?" Daryl asked quietly, nodding to my shoulder.

"Mmmm." I groaned. "I'm fine." I sighed, "Someone shoved me in a broom closet yesterday and I took the butt of my rifle right smack in the shoulder." Daryl's face fell. Yeah, I went there. "Kinda liked it." I chuckled.

"Stop." Daryl shifted uncomfortably for a moment before reaching out to me. I could tell he felt responsible for my injury. "C'mere." He motioned for me to sit on the platform in front of him.

If he wanted to give me a back massage, I wasn't going to protest. So I settled on the platform between his legs. His hands settled on my shoulders, smoothing up to my neck. He started softly then gradually increased the pressure. I bit my lip to keep from moaning too loud, but I was unable to keep some of the pleasure sounds from escaping my lips, he was just that good.

"So, you shove all the girls you like into broom closets?" I asked.

"Stop." Daryl scoffed, hands stilling for a moment on my shoulders.

"Seriously?" I scoffed back. "We're just gonna pretend yesterday didn't happen?" Daryl just grunted and released my shoulders. "C'mon, Ace." I sighed, "Talk to me." I swiveled around to look at him. He just stared back at me, eyes unreadable. "You can talk to me, always got each other's backs, right?" I reminded him, sliding back up onto the couch next to him. He immediately stood up and went to the window.

"Done more fuckin' tha' kissin', Red." He murmured, glancing back at me, palming the back of his neck.

Ah. Well that explained why he was avoiding being near me. Maybe he thought I couldn't handle a good fuck. Jesus, what I wouldn't give for him to just throw me down on that mattress and-

"'Sides," He sighed, "Tad too old for ya." There it was, our age gap. Carol spoke of it once but I'd brushed it away. So what if he was a few years older than me? It wasn't like he was fifty and could be my Dad or something.

I scoffed, "I'm twenty eight years old, Ace." I smirked, "I think I can decide that for myself, eh?"

"Guess that makes it all okay, then." Daryl shook his head. "Just forget it."

I stood up from the couch and slid in next to him at the window, my back facing the glass. "And what if I can't?" I asked, "What if I don't want to, Ace?"

Daryl grunted. "Just gotta, Red." He shrugged, eyes flicking over to mine, then back to the horizon. "People won' understand-"

"The hell with 'em." I scoffed, my chin lifting. "I don't care what they think or what they say, Ace." I sighed, "I'm not gonna let people's fuckin' feelings dictate my life."

Daryl snorted. "Stubborn woman." He smirked a little.

"You like it." I quipped, sliding over so I was in front of him, gripping the front of his leather vest gently.

Daryl scoffed, "Playing with fire." His hand came up to brush a curl out of my face, settling at the back of my head.

It was my turn to snort. "Ain't scared, Ace." I leaned up on my toes a little, watching him lean closer to me.

"You should be." He murmured, lips mere inches from mine, chest heaving.

His other hand came off the glass to grip my hip, pulling me closer. The heady rush of his nearness crawled through my veins releasing a soft whimper from my lips as my breathing sped up. "Show me." I whispered, lips almost brushing his.

Show me he did. His lips met mine softly at first, increasing in pressure as the kiss lengthened. I slid my arms around his neck so we fit even closer together.

Footsteps on the stairs jerked us apart. We might have just crossed the line ourselves, but it didn't mean anyone else had to know quite yet.

"Hey guys." Rick greeted us when he arrived at the top, he was holding a very fussy baby girl. "Judith is really struggling for sleep and I don't want her to wake anyone else. Could you help me?"

I felt my shoulders slump a little. "Sure, Rick." I sighed, shooting Daryl an apologetic look. I stepped forward and took the baby from him. "Hey there Judy." I cooed, rocking her softly, bouncing a little. She rooted instinctively at my breast and I looked up to see both men watching us. Rick smiled awkwardly and Daryl looked quickly away, a faint blush staining his cheek bones. "Looks like someone's hungry." I looked over at Rick. "You give her that bottle I made?"

Rick shook his head. "She wouldn't take it."

"A'right." I nodded in understanding. Sometimes babies were just difficult, no reason really.

Abandoned Building Across from The Sanctuary

"See anything Roz?" Rosita asked, shaking me out of my reverie, getting up from her conversation with Sasha to stand at the bank of windows.

I shook my head. "Not yet-" I was cut off by a supply truck entering the gate. "Hold on. We've got an incoming."

Sasha raised her rifle and peered through the scope. "Arm's up ladies." She murmured, nodding to the window.

Rosita nodded, cocking her weapon and joining us at the bank of windows.

Simon was the first Savior to emerge from the building. Negan followed closely at his heels and I swallowed nervously. I took a deep breath and allowed Sasha to take aim. I might've had more experience than her, but I knew she needed to be the one to take him out.

"Dammit!" Sasha exclaimed in a whisper. "I can't get a clear shot."

Neither could I. Eugene was standing too close to Negan for me to pull off a clean shot. I briefly considered shooting through the traitor's shoulder, but I thought better of it. I still held the small hope that he was working some kind of angle.

Rosita scoffed, "Eugene is-"

"In the fucking way." I finished for her, lifting my eye away from the scope as Negan disappeared back into the Sanctuary. "Idiot."

The women chuckled. "Change of plans, eh?" Sasha offered, shouldering her weapon.

"Looks that way, yeah." I murmured, throwing my rifle over my shoulder.

Eugene's voice came over the walkie talkie Sasha had snagged from Jesus before leaving The Hilltop. He ordered that the fence line security be beefed up.

"Alright, let's do this." Sasha grinned.

We waited until darkness fell before making our way to the fence line.

Eugene appeared with a guard, surveying the fence line. I took out the guard with a silenced shot, Eugene hit the deck.

"Eugene!" Rosita exclaimed, "Get up, we're breaking you out!" Eugine continued to cower like a scaredy cat. "Eugene!" Rosita insisted impatiently.

"No." Eugene said softly, lowering his hands. "I'm not going with you."

"What?!" Rosita's mouth fell open.

"I didn't ask you to come, so go." Eugene clarified. He stood up and backed away slowly. "People gotta be enroute." Then he turned tail and headed back inside the building.

"That weak, lying sack of shit." Rosita spat. Suddenly the fence gave way. "This is it." She murmured. "I'm going in." She threw off her backpack to prepare to enter the compound.

"Hold on." Sasha insisted, sharing a look with me. "This is gonna take a second." She swallowed. "More could be coming back. Keep an eye out."

Rosita took the bait and held up her pistol in vigilance.

Sasha pushed the fence open and I slipped through just before she did. I made sure to slip through first, ensuring that I actually made it back inside the compound. I had a feeling Sasha wanted to do this run solo, but I wasn't going to let that happen. I knew this place inside and out, plus I had unfinished business with Negan.

"Just another second." Sasha murmured while she locked the fence behind us.

Just as the lock clicked into place, Rosita turned around and grasped the fence. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Go." Sasha whispered. "It's not your time." She grinned, "There's got to be a point to it, right?" Then she backed away from the fence and I followed her towards The Sanctuary, leaving a fuming Rosita on the wrong side of the fence.

Once we were inside the building, I took lead. That was my first mistake. The next one? I let Sasha get the drop of me. Suddenly she karate chopped my wrists causing me to drop my pistol. She hit me again to ensure my compliance and held my weapon against me.

"This isn't personal, Roz." Sasha murmured, adjusting her grip on my pistol, wrapping her fingers around my hair.

"The hell it is," I scoffed, holding my hands up by my ears in a surrender gesture. This must've been her plan all along. Use me to get to Negan. Well, two could play at that game.

As if on cue, two guards rounded the corner and immediately trained their weapons on us. Sasha yanked my braid back and pressed the barrel of my gun to my throat.

"Now I know Negan won't be too happy if I blow Rosalind's pretty little head off." She sneered in a deadly voice. "Take me to Negan." The guards hesitated, a look of bewilderment passing between them. "Now!"

Dearest Readers,

Dun, dun, dun! I love a good twist and what I've got coming next is really fun.

I've wanted to write about how Daryl and Roz first got together, but I didn't want to share it with Negan. I found it too personal for Roz to share with him directly, but I didn't want ot leave it out of the story.

On to the next! We'll spend some time at The Sanctuary and then it's back to Alexandria for the Season Finale!

xoxo

Lumora The White