Chapter 6:Think Twice

Blurb: Hey there. Thank you so much for sticking with me! I really appreciate all of your follows/favorites and ESPECIALLY reviews. I'm on fire! Somebody take this keyboard out from beneath my fingertips. I can't stop! ~This chapter is named after Think Twice by Eve 6.~ Hope you like this chapter!

Ellen had just dressed in boots and a tank top in her room when she heard raised voices outside. Peering out her window, she could see most of the group from Atlanta huddled outside the barn entrance. Panic overwhelmed her and she immediately grabbed her pocketknife. Scrambling to make it down the stairs and out the front door, Ellen nearly tripped on the wood of the porch before making it onto the field.

The group didn't take notice of Ellen jogging towards them. They continued to argue- shifting between hushed murmurs and growled yells. Ellen could barely make out what they were saying, but she heard something like 'You KNEW?' 'How long?'. This only served to push her into a more urgent sprint.

Finally closing the distance between herself and the barn, she watched as a few of the group members turned to face her. Ellen stopped to catch her breath, unable to plead Hershel's case without the needed oxygen. Daryl beat her to it, "You know 'bout this, Ellen?"

With her chest heaving and her breathing labored, Ellen forced out the words, "Yes."

Daryl looked stricken- almost like she had just slapped him in the face with the force of her small knuckles. He didn't reply.

Shane set off on her, barreling towards her with his full height, "How DARE you keep this from us! We have a right to know there are walkers here!"

Ellen flinched when Shane approached and barked in her face. She backed away, but didn't take her eyes off him. The sudden confrontation sent an adrenaline rush through Daryl, urging him to move forward to come between Shane and Ellen. Daryl didn't ignore his reflex to protect her. He strode over to the pair quickly and met Shane in his path, blocking Ellen from his predatory gaze.

"MOVE, Dixon," Shane bellowed.

"She ain't done nothin' to deserve this from you!"

Shane blew a strong, frustrated breath- making his nostrils flare. He yelled out again, "There'll be hell to pay for this! I don't give a damn if this is Hershel's farm. It's not HIS LIFE he's risking."

Ellen was torn, "I'm sorry. I couldn't tell anyone. Hershel would have kicked you off the property."

"Let him try!"

At Shane's final outburst, the barn doors began to move back and forth ominously. They creaked and banged as the walkers inside fought for freedom from their cage.

A few of the women in the group took defensive steps away from the entrance of the barn, afraid the walkers might break free. Ellen stayed rooted to her spot, confident Daryl would lead her away if he believed the situation to be too dangerous.

Ellen spoke up over the clatter of the barn, "Can't you find a way to work around this? Just- compromise?"

Rick met her pleading eyes then, and he nodded in agreement, "I'll talk to Hershel. Until we get the full story I want the perimeter of the barn checked. Make sure it's secure. We'll set up watches and rotate monitoring the barn. Have to keep the camp safe…"

Ellen was satisfied with this. It was a step in the right direction. She hoped Hershel would comply and with some of Rick's requests.

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The next day, Ellen was walking in the upstairs hall of the house- clad in cotton pajamas- on her way back from the bathroom when she passed Maggie. Maggie pulled Ellen by the arm down the hall and into her room suddenly, jolting a sleepy Ellen out of her daze.

"What's going on?" Ellen wiped at her eyes wearily.

Maggie gripped Ellen's shoulders, "Listen to me. Are you awake enough? Never mind… It's about the barn."

Ellen had already filled Maggie in on the Atlanta group's discovery of the barn. She had thought they were both on the same page. Apparently, there was more to know.

"The barn?" Ellen prompted with sleepy enthusiasm.

"Look, Rick talked to Pa about it yesterday. I didn't have time to tell you because we were both off doing other things and it would have been suspicious to grab you aside. But, anyway, Pa expects them to leave here…. Regardless of what they choose to do about the walkers."

"What? I don't understand! Why would he do that? Where would they go? He can't force them to leave." Ellen's head was spinning.

"I tried to convince Pa it was wrong, but I'm not sure he took it to heart."

Ellen paused before asking, "What will you tell Glenn?"

Maggie shrugged, "The truth."

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Ellen stalked out to the camp, determined to find Daryl. When she didn't find him anywhere, she turned to ask Dale. He brushed his fingers over his chin, "Daryl should be down by the stables."

"What? Why?"

"I think he was interested in getting back out on the trail today."

Now Ellen was furious. She huffed a 'thank you' to Dale and stomped away from the RV. As she approached the stables, she saw a figure emerge from the entrance. Ellen knew it was Daryl immediately and she met him head on.

"What the hell are you doing?" Ellen demanded.

Daryl already looked livid with rage, but not because of her. Something else had upset him. He certainly wasn't of a mind to be arguing with her now. "Ain't none of yer business, woman!"

"Yes it is! You promised you wouldn't leave without me!"

Daryl looked as if he could breathe fire, "Do I look gone ta ya?"

Ellen's brow furrowed and her mouth formed a frown. But her voice softened as it trailed off, "No…"

"Then leave me be!" Daryl continued to stalk away from her with aggressive strides.

Ellen almost didn't follow Daryl. However, she found the will to pick up her courage and walk after him swiftly.

Daryl noticed her light footfalls in his wake, but he did not slow down. He continued barreling toward the camp, using his long legs to his advantage in leaving Ellen somewhat behind. She called after him, "You're doing it now!"

Daryl didn't stop moving, but he did answer her curiously, "Doin' what?"

"Leaving me behind!" Ellen bellowed.

Daryl stopped in his tracks. He was breathing heavily, the brisk walk allowing him to blow off some of the steam from his earlier argument with Carol in the stables. Ellen hadn't been part of that. She didn't really deserve this right now. And remembering his promise to Ellen, that he wouldn't leave her behind…. Well, she was certainly taking it a bit to seriously.

Ellen caught up in no time. She walked around Daryl's form to face him. His respirations were more normalized now, but he didn't look up to make eye contact with her. Then, she made the simplest statement, "You're upset."

Daryl looked up at her then, making eye contact the way he couldn't before. His reply was a deep, throaty grumble, "It ain't you, Peaches."

Ellen nodded, satisfied that she had not caused his emotional rampage- and that he was calm now. "Why were you in the stables?"

Daryl sighed, taking in a deep breath to calm his overly active body, "I was getting the horses prepped. 'Want to take 'em out sometime soon."

Ellen gave him a questioning look, "And I get to go too?"

Daryl nodded, "Yup."

Satisfied, Ellen smiled up at him. Then her expression grew more serious, "Daryl… Thank you for keeping your promise."

Daryl shifted his weight uncomfortably from one foot to the next, "It's nothin'."

Ellen watched him before continuing, "If you do leave here, the promise still stands."

Realizing the gravity of what Ellen was implying, Daryl's brows furrowed seriously, "Ya sure you want ta leave here, Ellen?"

Ellen set her jaw, "I won't die on this land…. Defenseless and alone."

Daryl's lips set into a thin line as he let her words sink in. No, he wouldn't leave her behind. She deserved the fighting chance she was asking for, and he was willing to give it to her. That and much more…

He nodded in acceptance, "I won't leave without ya, Ellen. THAT, ya can believe."