The low rumbling of Daryl's cycle was but a quiet hum in the back of Jenna's mind as she sorted through the events of the night before. Her arms tightened around his waist at the memory of James's terror filled eyes when he was taken by the roamers. Trees and wrecked cars passed by in a blur and a sudden lurch of the bike shook her from her thoughts. She lifted her head from Daryl's back to get a better look at their surroundings. Lacing her fingers together to keep a better grip on him, she moved her lips to his ear.
"Where are we goin'?" she asked nervously, keeping an eye out for any nearby roamers. She felt him shrug.
"Dunno" he shouted over the rumbling motorcycle, "Been lookin' for the rest of the group for the last couple of hours, but ain't seen 'em anywhere."
Jenna felt the bike slow to a halt and slowly detached herself from Daryl when she saw him motion for her to get off. His eyes wandered over the scenery before him before coming to rest on Jenna who was waiting patiently for him to speak.
"So, what are we gonna do now?" she asked a little impatiently. Daryl acted as if he hadn't heard her and kept looking around for any sign of a familiar car, but found nothing. He let out a gruff sigh and turned to look at Jenna again. She could see his internal struggle and it was clear that, like her, he had never really had to make a big decision by himself.
"Guess we can ride around some more" he finally replied with a slight shrug, "See if we can find 'em anywhere. They're probably stickin' to the highway to see if we can regroup. We should be good 'til tomorrow. After shit hittin the fan like it did last night, they can't expect us to get back together right away."
"What if they leave us?"
"They won't."
"But, what if they do?"
"Then I guess we'll be on our own."
Jenna bit her lip nervously and nodded in agreement before looking around. The air was still and there was no sign of life around them; the quiet made her nervous. She felt a tap on her arm and looked to see Daryl mounting the bike again. He held it steady as Jenna situated herself behind him and locked her arms securely around his waist.
"You ain't gotta monkey-back me the whole time." He muttered kicking the engine to life. Jenna shrugged and rested her cheek against his back.
"If I fall off, you're comin' with me."
Hours passed and sun was sinking low in the distance and there was still no sign of the rest of the group. With the sound of Daryl's bike echoing through the air, Jenna began to worry that they would draw unwanted attention to themselves, especially since the roamers were most active at night. She tapped lightly on his shoulder and felt them slow to a halt.
"I think we should stop for the night" she whispered calmly, "Don't think we're gonna find anyone tonight."
Daryl nodded and pointed toward a nearby delivery van.
"I'll see if it's clear and we'll stay in it for the night. It's gonna get cold; don't wanna be outside." He mumbled as he killed the bike engine. Jenna climbed off after him and watched nervously as he peered through the van's windows and tapped on its sides. She let out a sigh of relief when he gestured for her to join him in the back of the van.
It was roomier than she thought it would be. The previous owner must have only brought the bare essentials and dumped the van when the highway was overrun. Daryl sat in the corner opposite of her and looked out of the window as if keeping an eye out for any danger. Jenna stared at him admiring the way his eyes glistened in the moonlight. When he turned to look at her, she quickly moved her gaze to her lap and twiddled her thumbs. She heard him let out a gruff breath and looked at him again.
"You don't have to look away from me every time I look at ya" he mumbled picking at a loose thread in his jeans. Jenna scoffed and played with her hair nervously.
"I dunno what you're talkin' about."
"Like hell you don't."
Jenna pursed her lips and looked away for a moment. What did she have to lose? James was gone and even if she scared Daryl away by confessing her feelings for him, she wouldn't be any more alone than she was in that moment. The only difference there would be is that she wouldn't have to walk on eggshells around a man who might or might not care about her at all. She brought her eyes back to his and shrugged slightly.
"I might like you a little." She murmured causing him to narrow his eyes.
"No ya don't."
"Don't try tellin' me what I do or don't feel, Daryl Dixon." Jenna snapped back, "Too many people have done that in the past and I'll be damned if you start."
Daryl grimaced and looked out of the window again seemingly deep in thought. Then he looked at her again, his blue eyes somehow more intense even in the darkness.
"Fine," he grumbled, "ya shouldn't."
"Why?"
"I don't want ya to."
"Now that's a bold faced lie."
She moved a little closer to him and rested her hand on his, but he quickly pulled it away. For a moment, she just stared down where his hand used to be before slowly moving her gaze to meet his.
"Why're you so scared of me?" she asked gently making his face scrunch.
"I ain't scared of you."
"Fine," she spat, "you just sit there and act like I don't matter. I'm goin' to sleep now."
She turned her back to him and laid down staring at the wall of the van. Daryl seemed to be situating himself to sleep as well and she began to pick at the rust on the wall. What happened next made her mind to cloudy with happiness that she almost couldn't see straight. She felt a strong arm snake around her and the warmth of Daryl's body against her back. Smiling a little, she placed her hand over his and laced their fingers together. Not a word was spoken and she fell into the best night's sleep she had had since the world went to Hell.