I really need to get these stories finished so I can reunite the camps. Getting on top of it!

Georgie

The sunlight streamed across Georgie's face through a crack in the thread bare curtains. She opened her eyes and squinted at the window, rubbing her eyes. Suddenly, her sleep addled mind registered a pressure around her waist, a feeling of skin on skin. As her mind caught up with her, she realised who it was and turned her body to face him. Daryl, still asleep, automatically re-adjusted his arm around her body, his hand now touching the scars on her back, rather than the one on her stomach, the one his brother had given her.

It was the first time she'd let him touch her back.

There was a knock at the door. Georgie sat up and reached for some trousers and a vaguely clean shirt. Daryl stirred, but he still didn't wake and Georgie didn't want to disturb him. Creeping to the bedroom door, she opened it a crack to see T-Dog standing in the hall.

"Morning." She slipped through the door and joined him in the hallway. "You sleep well on the couch?"

"Yeap." T-Dog grinned and placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it for a brief moment. It was something they had all been doing: Craig, Matthew, T-Dog, Daryl, even Adele when she had regained consciousness. Frequently, almost unwittingly touching her, squeezing her hand, touching her face, hugs. It was like they needed to establish that she was a solid being, and not a figment of their imagination. "Your friends next door let me have some eggs, so I fixed breakfast for everyone. I make good eggs."

"Sounds good, I'll wake Daryl." She re-entered the bedroom and sat gently on the bed next to Daryl. She didn't want him to wake up suddenly, he had a nasty habit of going straight into defence mode. She put her hand on his shoulder and shook him gently. At first, his hand searched the bed for her body, and she supressed a smile. Then he rolled over and looked at her, sleepily.

"Thought it was another dream, but the bed was warm." He sat up and put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her close, so that their foreheads were touching. For a moment, he just looked at her, and she thought he was going to say something, but after a moment, he looked down and released her. He got out of the bed and started to dress.

"Ya gonna see that ol' lady today?" Georgie lay down across the bed and stared at the ceiling.

She lay there for a moment, replaying the previous days events in her head, trying to organise the memories in her head. They'd managed to get out of the city without attracting the attention of the walker hoard by going the long way round. T-Dog had been unable to stop talking, asking her questions about how she had survived, asking Zxander questions about the town they had come from, talking about what had happened at the town they were living in. Zxander had been listening, mostly concentrating on driving, but occasionally answering the less intrusive of T-Dogs questions. Daryl had been silent, but he hadn't let go of her hand once. Even when Zxander had stopped the car and insisted on the pair of them wearing blindfolds, Daryl hadn't complained, as long as Georgie kept hold of his hand.

When they had re entered the complex. Bella had launched herself at Zxander in a way that made Georgie realise with some guilt that they must have been presumed dead. A man who Georgie didn't recognise had started to march Daryl and T-Dog away from her, but all three of them had started to throw punches. Georgie found to her surprise that the thought of being separated from T-Dog was just a unbearable as being separated from Daryl. After actually physically forcing herself between Daryl, T-Dog and the unidentified drone, Herman and Iris, one of the only two female Seniors had appeared on the scene.

If Herman was intimidating, Iris-the ol' lady-was downright terrifying. Not so much in physical appearance, but in sheer aura. She was easily one of the oldest survivors Georgie had ever met, possibly older than Dale had been, her hair was entirely grey, and cropped short. Her eyes were blue and steely, and when they landed on Georgie, she instinctively fell silent and still. Everyone felt silent and still. For a moment, there was an uneasy lull, and then she spoke.

"What the bloody hell is going on here?" Georgie jumped. The voice was clipped. Articulated. British. When no body answered, she repeated herself. Even though her voice never rose to a shout, Georgie felt like everybody in the room had flinched. Finally, the guard started to explain that they were following the procedure for new arrivals into the town, but she cut him off.

"Oh for Gods sake." She stared at the man until he lowered his gaze. "These are the people we've been looking for since this woman got to the town. We've already decided that we want to set up a trading route and links with their town, start to expand on what we have. And you think the best start to that is to look them up in the cell?" She advanced on the man, who was now looking as if he would like to lock himself in the cell. She glowered at him until she seemed satisfied that she had made her point. Turning to Georgie, she looked her up and down in a way that made Georgie feel like an insect that was simultaneously revolting and fascinating at the same time. But instead of speaking to her, she spoke to Zxander.

"Take them to the hospital. The other three are there. Jack is attending to them. Then go to the town hall. Dayo is debriefing the others. I understand you lost Jacci." Zxander nodded. Irises face remained emotionless. "Well, I can't say I'm surprised. That girl was a walking disaster waiting to happen." Georgie felt a jolt of shock run through her. No matter what Jacci had done to her, she still felt some sadness at her death. She wanted to stare at Iris, but couldn't bring herself to meet her eyes.

"Put these two under house arrest. Georgina is in charge of them. They remain at her house today. And Georgina. You will come to the town hall tomorrow at midday. I trust you know where it is." Georgie nodded. "Then you won't be late." Iris glanced around at everyone. Seemingly satisfied with what she saw, she nodded curtly and walked out of the room, leaving everyone silent, and Georgie wondering what she could want.

"Well?" Daryls voice jerked her out of her musings. Georgie leaned up on her elbows and looked at him. He was watching her from the corner of the room. Georgie knew him well enough by now to know that corners of rooms were where Daryl stood when he felt unsure of something, or wanted to be out of the way. She sighed.

"I'm not sure I can NOT go." Daryl nodded.

"Yeah. She seemed like a tough ol' bitch." Georgie laughed.

"Please, please call her that to her face." Daryl didn't seem to find what he had said as amusing as she had. In fact, he looked more concerned than she had ever seen him. Before she could ask him what was wrong, T-Dog was knocking on the door, telling them to come and get their eggs before they went cold. She took Daryls hand and pulled him to the door. "I'm sure she just wants to talk about you and the others. They like their law and order here. Don't worry about it. Lets eat eggs." There was no point telling Daryl that the idea of standing before Iris filled her with dread.