Thea walked into the kitchen and put the tea kettle on the stove. She was just making some instant oatmeal before heading up to bed. She had to abandon those plans momentarily, because she saw Daryl walk up her steps and then walk right back down. She walked as quickly as she could to try and catch him, to try and make him stop.

This was the second time in less than twelve hours that Daryl Dixon had walked towards her and then walked away. It was because of this, that Thea thought he probably had something to say.

She asked him in, and once in the kitchen, he sat at the marble island and just watched her pull down another small bowl and open another packet of instant oatmeal. Thea kept working on the food and asked, "So, I guess Rick told you I can't run."

Daryl nodded, his hair in his eyes, "Yeah. Why's that, anyway?"

Thea didn't like to talk about it. She had kept it close to the chest for so long that she thought that maybe this new world and way of life would allow her to keep to herself more. But now, things had changed in Alexandria, and evidently she wasn't invisible any more.

She couldn't run, because she was beaten within an inch of her life after leaving the bookstore one night almost five years before. Thea used to be a bit more talkative back then, especially excitable about books and would engage customers in conversation. One gentleman in particular would come in and chat, and asked her out one night. She declined, nicely.

But he had a history of violence.

Mostly against women.

When she had locked up the shop, he followed her to her car and slammed her on the ground, breaking her back. He kicked her continually, breaking her pelvis and leg. After calling her a "stuck up bitch," he punched her in the face, breaking her nose.

Her store manager found her the next morning.

What followed was years of surgeries, rehab and testifying against her assailant. He went to jail, presumably for a long time...but he was more than likely dead now.

After all of that, one would think Thea wouldn't trust anyone, let alone men ever again. Instead, it made her a better barometer at bad and good. She became very observant. Some people's true selves came through crystal clear, others were bullshit facades or people who had experiences that scarred them and they became guarded.

This is how Daryl Dixon came across. Something had happened to him at some point in his life that made him guarded...just like her. He also had this tough exterior and hints of a gentle...maybe even innocent quality...which alternately confused and compelled her.

She had never pursued Aiden...because she sensed something not quite right. So she never allowed herself to be too close or too friendly.

And so far, Rick Grimes, seemed to be a good man struggling with having to do bad things to survive with his children.

Thea broke from her reverie and shrugged, "Got banged up pretty bad."

Daryl looked like he was going to ask her more, but he didn't...for which she was thankful. The teakettle whistled and she turned to get it as she changed the subject, "I read quite a bit of one of the books you brought me."


Once he knew about her inability to run, Daryl noticed all the little things about her movements that were just slightly off. How she turned carefully, the little hitch in her step, how straight her posture was. They weren't obvious, but now they could not be unseen.

Thea had taken her sweet time answering him about what happened for it only to end in a shrug and that she got banged up.

But how?

He knew about secrets, he had a few of his own...and he had yet to talk to anybody about them. So, Daryl decided not to push and she decided to change the subject to the books he had brought her.

Thea slid one of the bowls of oatmeal across the counter to him, "Want some coffee?"

He nodded and she retrieved two coffee mugs and started the coffee maker. Daryl fiddled with his spoon and decided to speak, "I tried to look for the biggest ones...books I mean."

She didn't laugh at him, she just nodded and stirred her oatmeal, "I have always liked long stories. The ones with a lot of detail. I didn't have a lot of stability growing up. But I had a library card and an escape. I guess it's a comfort thing."

Daryl understood that...and suddenly wished he'd went to the library more.

He also felt the need to tell her the truth, "I, uh, I saw yer tape...we are tryin' to figure everythin' out...so I went to Deanna's. I watched everybody's. Even my own."

Thea stood up straight, a stoic look on her face, and looked him directly in the eye, "Well, I guess you know now. Why come and ask me?"

Daryl shrugged, "'Cause I...I don't know. I didn't have a lotta stability either."

He saw her stormy eyes soften a bit, "Yeah. I can tell."

"I think ya should go with me on a run sometime. We won't get outta the car. Just see what ya can do."

The coffee maker went off and she filled their mugs. When she reached to hand him one, their fingers grazed and she froze. The same way she had when he saw Rick take her hand. When he had a firm grip on the mug, Thea took back her hand quickly, but with a fleeting smile.

Daryl knew that look. He knew what it meant being scared to be touched...it meant someone had hurt Thea really badly.

Immediately, he wondered if she had any scars.


Rick sat on the couch at his house, Judith asleep against his chest as he watched a few of the tapes, beginning with the people that he had known the least about.

Althea Graham was the last of that group.

He learned a little more about her. Rick was surprised about her upbringing. Sure she was introverted and kept to herself...but you wouldn't think she had been shuffled back and forth as a ward of the state.

Mostly though, he couldn't stop looking at her profile and posture. She looked regal, like a lady in one of the novels she liked to read. Even though Thea was wearing an old oversized sweatshirt and beat up jeans...she had a stately air.

Rick wondered if her ten months alone had given her thoughts and habits just like when he, Carl and Michonne had encountered Morgan just after he had lost his son and before he had found his way to Alexandria?

When the tape ended with Thea refusing to be on the supply runs, Rick sat up gently with Judith and tried not to wake her. His head was swimming with Carl getting ready to come home, the dangerous men that Daryl had encountered on the road home, getting the town back in order...and finally the enigmatic Thea...who he had not paid that much attention to until the day before.

Rick and his group had been out too long before they came to Alexandria, and had gone without food or water for long stretches before Aaron found them. They were like feral animals. The transition to Alexandria was jarring; running water, Deanna's parties...beds and kitchens and everything they hadn't been able to use daily for almost two years.

And then there was Jessie.

He still carried a lot of guilt about that. He had been so wrapped up in her...that it was like he had morphed into his former friend Shane; except Rick had been successful in killing Jessie's husband...and later would make the decision that would kill her and both of her sons.

Thea didn't have a husband or family, but he didn't want to pressure and put her in a situation that she couldn't escape from. But that was the thing, it was an all hands on deck situation, everyone was needed. She had survived when everyone else hadn't and all the odds were stacked against her. She was a testament that brains were just as important as brawn.

Rick wasn't going to lie to himself, he found Thea intriguing. It was too soon after Jessie...even though that never really launched.

For some reason, he was afraid to feel anything for her; because his life had changed drastically from being the sherriff's deputy from sleepy King County. His life was dangerous, unforgiving...brutal.

It was just a bad idea.

That little knowing smile of Thea's stirred something inside of him. Rick wasn't sure what it was...he wanted to know what made her tick; but he had remembered her rule she had that he had seen on the video...don't go anywhere you can't get out of.

Rick sighed and picked Judith up carefully and put her in her bed, so he could try to get a hour in his own.


Thea fell into bed after an extremely awkward...almost charged goodbye with Daryl. He hadn't had a lot of stability either. She knew that already. She could recognize her own kind at one hundred paces.

But she had a feeling that he didn't tell a lot of people that.

They had decided to go out and make a plan for a future run the next day. Thea only had a bit of anxiety over the idea. She had not been outside the walls of Alexandria in over a year...what if she had grown complacent and somehow had become less quick than she already was?

Part of her was worried she would get them both killed. Alexandria could live without Thea, but not Daryl. If the world were like a game of chess; she was a lowly pawn...but he was a rook.

She managed to sleep, finally and woke up to Denise shaking her gently. Thea sat up bleary-eyed and said, "I'm up. I'm up."

Denise smiled gently and sat on the edge of her bed, "Got some good news, clinic hours are back to as needed. I sent Carl home today. So unless something, God forbid, catastrophic happens...you don't need to come in.

Thea nodded, she was happy for Rick and Carl...but now she will be a night owl with nothing left to do at night.

She was going to need more books.

"That is good news."

Denise looked contemplative and shrugged, "I, um, I think I am going to invite Tara over tonight. Would that be okay?"

Tara had become a regular fixture at their home and at the clinic, stopping by to see Denise whenever she had the time. Thea thought that it probably wouldn't be long before Tara moved in. The time moved differently these days with romantic relationships, it seemed.

"Sure. I'll make myself scarce."

Denise cracked a wry smile, "You don't have to do that, but thanks for offering. If you ever want to have someone over...like Rick...just let me know."

Thea felt like she had been hit by a bus. Rick? She shook her head, "Why would you think...I would have Rick over?"

"Rosita mentioned he walked you home...and Rick has asked me some questions so I just thought..."

"What questions?"

Denise went pink-cheeked and shrugged, "Just little stuff here and there...how old you are, if you and I were close...stuff like that."

Thea rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and yawned, "I think he's trying to get to know everyone a little bit more. He's wanting to find out everyone's strong suit so we can be assets. I think I might be planning runs with Daryl. They know about my...issues...for the most part."

Denise nodded, "I think you'd be good at it. You've always been a strategist. Able to see the whole game board. Just be careful. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know about the clinic. I will let you know if anything changes."

She thanked Denise and got up out of bed and went for a shower. Thea thought about her name on Rick's lips and the strange understanding that she and Daryl seemed to have.

Thea's world had changed drastically over the past few days...if she was good at seeing the whole game board...she had no idea what was coming next.

After eating a quick dinner of cold casserole and applesauce, Thea made her way across town to the gazebo that most of Reg's meetings took place in. He said it helped to clear his mind, set his foot on the right path. She did not want to be in Denise's way when Tara was over, so she thought she would go and read until sunset, and then maybe visit Rosita at her house.

The days were getting shorter, a sure sign that autumn would be coming. Soon, cold would be setting in and the fireplace at their home would get a lot of use.

After about an hour of reading, she heard footsteps coming and looked up from her book to see Rick coming her way. He must have been on patrol. He used to do it almost nightly and now that Carl was home it seemed like he was back to his old habits.

"Hey Thea."

She looked up and gave him a small smile, "Hey."

Rick walked into the gazebo and sat beside her, "I guess you're not going to the clinic tonight?"

Thea shook her head and smiled,"Nope. And I bet you're happy Carl's back home."

"I am. Thank you for staying all night while he was there."

"Of course."

She marked her place in her book and he watched intently and asked, "So why are you out here?"

Thea shrugged, "Denise was having Tara over, I didn't want to be in the way...let them have some alone time."

Rick nodded and they sat in silence for a few moments. Thea studied him; he reeked of masculinity and she admitted to her self that she thought he was pretty handsome...even though he still scared the shit out of her.

"So...what is that book about?"

Thea looked down and touched the cover gently, "Uh, it's about the building of a Cathedral in 12th century England. It's historical fiction, but it talks a lot about Gothic architecture. I find it pretty interesting."

Rick smiled and shook his head, "I can see why you Reg got along so well."

Thea nodded, "He was a good man. A good mentor."

After another long moment of silence, Rick turned toward her and looked serious, "Daryl tells me you are going on a practice run tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Maybe try and see if I have any sort of...insight."

Rick took her hand in his and once again she froze and was worried she was going to start trembling. He sighed, "I don't want to make you feel pressured. I don't want to put you in a position you couldn't get out of."

Thea recognized a version of her own rule and knew then that Rick had also watched the tape from Deanna's, "I know...Daryl and I aren't going to get out of the car. Just watch. Take notes."

"Are you good with a gun?"

She shrugged...proficient perhaps. Thea wouldn't call herself good by any stretch of the imagination, "I can use a gun. Yes."

Thea looked up and Rick held her gaze for a moment, and squeezed her hand, "If you're not comfortable...we can find you another job."

She didn't want him to worry about her. She didn't think she was worth worrying about...Daryl on the other hand...he was worth worrying about.

"We'll be okay, Rick. We won't go that far out."

For some reason, she had to fight the urge to reach out and touch his face to comfort him. He smiled, and nodded.

He let go of her hand and she found herself wishing he hadn't, she forgot how a gentle touch could feel. It had made her feel a little less lonely. Cared about.

As he stood up, he smiled at her, "Let's talk tomorrow. When you all get back. We will go from there."

Thea nodded and bid him a good night and watched him walk away. Rick Grimes literally walked off into the pink and orange sunset.

Her heart bottomed out into her stomach; a feeling she hadn't had in quite some time.

Butterflies.


A/N: you guys are amazing! Thank you for all of the love! I'm completely overwhelmed :). So this chapter, you found out what she was hiding. Next chapter; lots of Thea and Daryl. Please let me know how I'm doing ;)

Super Duper Shout Outs to: Natalie Laukas, CLTex, LiasionFan2, Inkaholic4U, PsychoBeachGirl88, Angelicedg, Dawn, Jemstone6259, enchantmentanjel, ViolentChick2011 and gillyflower34! Thank you all for your reviews! Please keep them coming :)

I should be back Wednesday or Thursday with this story. Will be updating "Simple Twists" tomorrow and then "The Country Singer."

Thanks and Love!

Leah P

xoxo