A/N: Okay, I know I'm a horrible person, and I'm sorry. Not to make excuses, but in my defense, my internet sucks and has not been working all week. Other than that it is just laziness and being so busy I've barely had time to breathe. I'm still sticking to my promise of one update a week though:) Only 35 days left of school, then it's writing central! You guys have been awesome and you have no idea how much I appreciate your support! You guys are the reason I write when I'm literally about to fall asleep sitting up because I haven't slept in 24 hours! I love you guys and I hope you enjoy the (short) chapter. Please read and review, all feedback is appreciated and transformed into energy to help me write;)

The next morning came with a heavy gray fog hanging in the air over our camp. I could feel the dampness in the air as soon as I woke up. I quickly got dressed and stepped outside my tent into the dense fog. I could see an orange flame breaking through the blanket and knew everyone must be eating breakfast.

I flopped down in the grass that was covered in dew droplets and pulled on my boots before heading over to them. I couldn't make out any individual faces until I was right on top of them. Shane was sitting right next to where I was standing and he barely looked up at my approach.

Carol was serving the powdered eggs just like every morning. I sighed when I realized Daryl wasn't there. I sat on the ground where I stood and gratefully took a plate from Carol. It was completely silent, no sound except for forks hitting plates.

There was movement in the mist and I tensed. I reached down instinctively to my side for my gun, which wasn't there. The figure kept coming and now everyone had noticed. It was Daryl. I could see him clearly now as he walked towards us briskly. I saw blood coating his knuckles and cringed at the implication.

"Boy there's got a gang, thirty men. They have heavy artillery and they a'int looking to make friends. They roll through here, our boys are dead. And our women, they're gonna-they're gonna wish they were," his flaming blue eyes were looking right at me when he said that last part, causing my heart to speed up a little.

"What did you do?" Carol asked, looking at his hands.

"We just had a chat," he said, averting his gaze and hiding his knuckles.

"No one go near this guy," Rick commanded, beginning to pace.

"What are we going to do?" Lori asked, looking to her husband for answers I felt sure he didn't have.

"We have no choice, he's a threat. We have to eliminate the threat," his face was set in a hard line and I was surprised by the passion in his voice when he spoke.

"You're just gonna kill him?" Dale asked, walking up to Rick and speaking in that disapproving tone of voice.

"It's settled. I'll do it today," he said firmly and walked off with Dale following closely behind him. They were arguing in the field and we all started to disperse. Shane was walking back towards the house and Daryl was heading towards the woods. I looked between them for a moment, unsure of which one to follow. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and started after Shane. He was walking fast so I had to jog to catch up to him.

"Shane!" I called to him and he stopped but didn't turn around.

"What Adeline?" He asked harshly. I stopped in my tracks but didn't pause in my speech.

"We need to talk. And I mean talk, not yell and accuse. Please. You promised me we would never walk away angry," I reminded him as the wind picked up and started blowing my hair so I had to use my hand to keep it from flying in my face.

"I have nothing to say to you," his voice was harsh and cold, he had never spoken to me like that.

"Well I have a hell of a lot to say to you so you can listen," I retorted angrily. He finally turned around and was looking at me with remoteness.

"Look, I don't know why you've been acting this way, and frankly I'm tired of asking. We've been going in circles for days and I'm tired of walking on eggshells around you because you may snap at some offhand comment. I'm tired of fighting about Daryl and letting Lori come between us. Please, Shane, you're my brother for God's sake. Stop acting like you hate me, you told me that you couldn't stand to loose me but you keep pushing me away. I don't want to loose you either okay?" I was rambling and fighting tears since his glare hadn't lessened any.

"You know what? Forget it, I'm done trying to help you. You won't talk to me so why should I bother?" I yelled and turned and walked away, and Shane didn't try and stop me.

…

I was lying by the pond in the afternoon sunlight, thinking about Shane and wondering if I should apologize. I heard footsteps in the brush but didn't bother sitting up. I knew those steps.

"What's this? A tanning salon?" Daryl's voice was teasing and I felt a grin stretch across my face despite the foul mood I'd been in all day.

"Maybe. A girl has to pamper herself, doesn't she?" I asked and sat up to look at him. I had to shield my eyes with my hand so I could see him clearly. He had that adorable half smile on his face and I felt my heart flutter. We hadn't spoken since the incident, but there was no awkwardness in our conversation and I was glad since I needed the reprieve he offered me.

He snorted and laid in the grass next to me so I stretched back out as well. "What's eating you princess?" He asked after I had been silently staring off into space for a few minutes. I wrinkled my nose at his new nickname.

"Nothing," I dismissed quickly but I knew he wouldn't let it drop. He arched his brow and I sighed. "It's Shane, he's being a real pain in the ass," I relented after a silent staring match. He didn't say anything and that was all the invitation I needed. "We had a…confrontation yesterday and he's just being stupid. He won't talk to me, I'm a little scared," I said before I could stop myself and I felt my face grow hot at the admission.

"Scared? Why?" Daryl asked.

"I don't know. Yesterday, I really thought he was going to hurt me. Plus, I'm scared of losing him, he's growing so cold and distant. That's why I was worried about you interrogation Randall. I can't lose you too," might as well get all this out now since I couldn't be any more embarrassed than now.

"Did he hurt you?" He asked and I heard the dangerous edge in his voice.

"No!" I exclaimed immediately. "He wouldn't, I was just…I don't know, it's stupid but I just feel like this isn't the same Shane I've known my whole life," I continued, saying out loud the thought that had been demanding to be spoken for days. "It feels like he's a stranger."

"People change. Especially in this world," his response was short but profound. This wasn't news of course, but Shane had kind of always been larger than life in my eyes, a hero who couldn't be shaken.

"I guess so, I just don't want him to feel like he can't talk to me. We've always told each other everything," I was whining now but he didn't mind.

"He knows you're here. He just doesn't want to talk now, maybe later," he shrugged, trying to help and I admired his effort. I smiled at him and stood up. He did the same and we were staring into each other's eyes again.

"Thanks," I whispered and kissed his cheek before walking back toward camp.