Chapter 5:Glass Girl

Blurb: Hello! I just wanted to say a big, beautiful THANK YOU to VampWolf92 for your wonderful reviews! You have no idea how much those twelve words mean to me! :)) ~This chapter is named after Glass Girl by Connor Maynard.~

Happy Reading, guys.

Maggie stormed up the front porch steps in a fury. She had just returned from a pharmacy run with Glenn. Ellen heard the front door slam shut as soon as Maggie entered the house. Abandoning the books he had been reading (a camping book Glenn had picked up in town last week), Ellen scrambled to follow Maggie up the stairs to her bedroom.

Once outside, she knocked on the door lightly. Maggie grumbled faintly but replied, "Ughhh, what is it?"

"Hey, Maggs? You okay?"

Maggie turned to look at her friend and frowned visibly. Then, she reached one limp arm out for Ellen, silently asking for a hug. Ellen went to Maggie immediately and embraced her friend, "What happened, Maggie?"

Maggie mumbled into Ellen's arm, "Walker…"

"A walker?" Ellen had never heard her friend call the creatures that before.

Maggie nodded, "It attacked me in the pharmacy. Glenn saved me, but I…. it almost got me, Ellen!"

Ellen looked down at Maggie, who was sitting bellow her, to observe her expression then, "How are you feeling?"

Maggie shrugged, "Angry…. Not with Glenn exactly. Maybe just at the entire situation. We've been safe here for so long, I never realized just how dangerous the walkers were. They've never been a threat to me before today… It's confusing. We have a WHOLE BARN full of them, Ellen. I don't know what to think anymore. I know that they're family. But if they can hurt people… others like them… Maybe Glenn is right."

Ellen protested, "No, Maggie! Glenn can't tell! Not while Hershel still disagrees. He'll kick the whole group off the property! It's not a smart move right now, no matter how right it might be."

Maggie nodded, "I don't want to cause more pain for Dad or Beth."

Ellen squeezed Maggie's shoulder, "It would hurt you too."

Maggie gave Ellen a sad smile, "You understand me so well."

Ellen laughed lightly the two friends sat comfortably in amiable silence for a few moments before finally coming to a decision, "We have to keep the peace as long as possible, Ellen."

"I'll see what I can do."

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Ellen finished pouring the water she'd just boiled into a large mug, adding a tea bag to the mix. With the mug resting warmly in her hands, she set out to leave the safety of the kitchen in search for Daryl. He'd appreciate the hot tea with the cold of night coming on. At least she thought Daryl would appreciate it. Daryl rarely shared his true feelings about anything with her. The best she could do was make an educated guess.

Even if Daryl didn't appreciate the tea at all, it would make for a good excuse to talk to him. She had to settle a few things.

Ellen stomped down the wooden porch steps into the grass. Her boots kicked up clods of dirt and foliage as she made her way across the field to the group's campsite.

It wasn't hard to find Daryl. She found him sitting in one of the fold out chairs near the center of camp. The map Rick had been using to grid out the area in search of Sophia was spread out clumsily over Daryl's legs. He held the map up like a newspaper, studying it carefully.

Ellen was happy to see he hadn't given up on the missing girl, even after the beating he'd received with Nervous Nelly. She walked up to Daryl without hesitation, "I brought you something hot."

Daryl's brow furrowed at her words and he frowned, "Don't go round sayin' shit like that, Peaches."

Ellen raised her eyebrows as if to say 'you're kidding right?', but chose to ignore him. She held the tea out towards him, "It's Green Ginger."

Daryl grunted and folded the map up briskly so he could take the mug from her, "Thanks."

Daryl's rough hands slid across Ellen's as he retrieved the mug. "Careful, it really is hot."

Daryl ignored her warning, silently bidding her to hold the mug at its handle where it would be coolest. Daryl placed his own calloused hands on the hottest portions of the mug's body, saving her hands the shock of its heat. Daryl didn't seem bothered by the drastic change of temperature on his skin when he allowed her to release the mug to him.

Ellen was a bit unnerved by their silent exchange with the mug. They had certainly communicated without words before. It had been necessary during their hunt for Sophia. But this was different. It seemed far more… intimate… Was that even the right word? Could Daryl BE intimate? Ellen didn't really have a clear answer for that. But he had basically just protected her hands from pain- however minimal that pain would have been. It had definitely been sweet. Ellen smiled at the idea.

Daryl made himself comfortable in the fold out camping chair, indicating for her to sit in a similar chair near him. Ellen walked over to the chair and easily dragged it closer to Daryl's. He looked up at her curiously when he heard her dragging the chair across the gravel, but said nothing. Ellen sat down quietly, unsure how to begin asking what she wanted to ask… without actually asking it. The barn was a sensitive topic.

Daryl eyed her tense posture warily, "Somethin' on yer mind?"

Ellen took a deep breath, probably deeper than necessary, but she needed to gather her courage. "Daryl, you don't want to… leave here, do you?"

Daryl's eyebrows slowly rose up into his hairline, suspicion clear in his features, "Ain't found nowhere safer than here."

Ellen nodded, "Right. But what if… it suddenly… wasn't as safe as you thought."

Daryl looked as if he'd just been smacked in the face by a raw fish, and the smell hung in air around his nostrils. His face had contorted into the picture of confusion and disgust, "Whatchu mean, Peaches?"

Ellen was walking a dangerous line. Daryl would likely tell the entire camp if she let the truth slip. She couldn't let that happen. It was clear to her now that Daryl was very protective of the group, however prickly he pretended to be. His reaction had made that clear. The last thing she wanted to do was let this conversation blow up in her face. She had to let his reaction roll off her shoulders.

Ellen shrugged nonchalantly, "It's just something that's been bothering me. I've never been sure what your group thought about staying here- what you thought about staying here. It makes me nervous to think you might leave if things get worse. Then what will we do?"

Daryl seemed to relax, letting her words sink in. He was silent for a moment before he answered her in a quiet, husky tone, "I ain't gonna leave ya, Ellen. Already promised you that."

Ellen looked up at him then, watching as Daryl shifted his weight in the chair- uncomfortable under her gaze. He avoided eye contact wit her, choosing instead to stare at the mug of Green Ginger Tea she had brought him.

Ellen hadn't expected the conversation to take this turn, but she was glad. She'd gotten her answer, and more.

The pair didn't say much more of consequence after that. Daryl enjoyed sitting with Ellen, watching as she took the map from him to discuss areas unexplored areas. He nursed the tea in his lap, relishing in the warmth the liquid provided as it slid down his throat.

Ellen and Daryl were interrupted by the sound of the Green Hyundai driving up towards the camp. It stopped near the edge of the RV, and Shane stepped out of the drives side. He looked overly confident and masculine- more so than usual. His head was held high, chest out, shoulders back, and he moved in slow, calculated movements. Ellen noticed Andrea exit the Hyundai from the passenger side next. The blonde looked uneasy, almost like she was trying to keep calm after being overly flustered. The two met Dale outside the RV, and they began discussing the run the pair had just gone out on.

Ellen watched as Andrea's hands brushed together, then traveled through her hair one too many times. It hit her then. Ellen was witnessing sexual tension, plain as day. She had to look away. As soon as it became obvious to her, she couldn't look at them without feeling uncomfortable.

Daryl seemed to notice Ellen's change in demeanor. She had gone from a state of quiet observation to being completely guarded. He watched the trio that had been Ellen's previous subject of attention: Andrea, Dale, and Shane. It only took a minute for Daryl to figure it out. Shane and Andrea had gotten it on.

Daryl had always been observant. He felt an overwhelming sense of pride to know that Ellen shared this trait with him. But the fact that she was suddenly guarded after learning about Shane and Andrea… Why would she feel threatened by that?

Daryl continued to watch Ellen as the trio separated. Andrea brushed Dale off, insisting something about him 'not having a say in her actions'. Shane passed by Ellen and Daryl on the way to his tent, giving a small nod and hello to each of them as he went. Daryl didn't take his eyes off Ellen when Shane said her name, "Hey, Daryl… Ellen."

Ellen tensed at the sound of her name, not daring to look up at him. She didn't reply. Daryl registered this quickly and grunted back at Shane in reply. It made sense to him now. Ellen was afraid of Shane. He intimidated her.

Daryl felt a pang of anger swell in his chest at the idea. There was no way he would let Shane near her. Not while he was still living and breathing.

Ellen seemed to have noticed Daryl's now empty mug. She reached her hand out to take it from his grasp. The sudden contact between their fingers shook him from his thoughts. He silently released the mug into her small hands.

Ellen stood up, mug in tow, "I'll take this back to the house."

Daryl grunted in acknowledgement as she made ready to leave. But, realizing Ellen would have to walk past Shane's tent in order to make it to the house, Daryl decided he better get off his ass. He stood up after her, "I'm comin' too."

Ellen looked at him with a confused expression. Daryl just shrugged, "Ain't got nothin' ta do out here. They won't let me help." He indicated the abdominal wound he'd received from the arrow not long ago.

Ellen seemed to accept his answer. She nodded and waited to see that Daryl could stand without trouble. He made to take a step and Ellen immediately came towards him, "Woah, are you going to be ok?"

"I ain't even moved yet, woman."

Ellen hesitated when he shrugged her off. He grumbled something about having been on his feet all day already, and made to step past her. Before she knew it, Daryl was leading the way to the house.

He was so stubborn, Ellen realized. She didn't know why he'd been so adamant about joining her in the house. He'd never liked it inside much before. But his presence was a comfort she wouldn't shrug away.

Daryl called out to her from over his shoulder with amusement, "I'm gonna leave ya in the dust, Peaches!"