After a week of rest, Jess was out by the barn, shooting practice arrows into the hay bales to warm up her shoulder. The cowgirl had worked her strength back up and her injuries were well on the mend. Her ankle was still a little weak but it was well enough for her to start riding again, her shoulder was in the same shape but the pain was gone and she'd been working hard to get back to about eighty percent. Also, her side was still causing her pain on occasion but the doctor said since the nerves had been damaged there that she could have phantom pains the rest of her life. Jess was okay with that, she knew how to work through the pain and her threshold was quite high these days.
Over the course of the week Jess had been under house arrest and she'd had a lot of time to think and had come to the conclusion that this was her new home. Not just the prison, but these people had become her new family. Not that she'd forgotten her quest to find her parents, because it had been her sister's dying wish, but she knew she didn't want to be alone anymore. Jess felt as if a huge weight was lifted from her shoulders at her choice to stay and went to give Michonne the news. Jess told her new friend of her choice and that she wanted to go out with the swordswoman to help her with her search of the Governor while she continued the search for her parents, effectively killing two birds with one stone and they talked for hours about each other. Even though Michonne wasn't a replacement for Erin, the swordswoman and her sister were so much alike it made Jess feel as if her decision was right. Michonne even said that this is what her sister would have wanted.
When the doctor gave Jess the all clear to return to her normal activities, she'd found Michonne, who was visiting with Herschel then, to see her friend could give her some ideas on places to search. When she'd told them that she would go alone they'd both voiced their displeasure at the idea but Jess knew she had to do this alone. She actually would have preferred that someone go with her but there was only one horse left and riding tandem like she'd done with Daryl was only in dire circumstances because it put too much strain on Argo. She'd gone after loose horses all the time back in Texas and it shouldn't require too much effort on her part. After she assured them she would be fine, she pulled out a map and both Michonne and Herschel pointed out a few places they thought were likely spots to find a horse.
After talking with them, she decided to get some practice in with her bow and that's when Daryl sought her out.
After their passionate kiss a week ago, they hadn't really seen much of each other. Ever since Rick stepped down from decision-making for the group to focus more on his family this meant that Daryl had to take on Rick's share of the hard, physical work and he was always busy protecting the community so she understood why she hadn't seen him much. However, they still ran into each other on occasion and he'd acknowledged her but didn't hang around long enough to talk past a greeting. That was the part she didn't understand. After the hunting fiasco, she thought that they'd taken a step in a new direction and she'd been excited, yet nervous, and looked forward to spending more time with him. Yet his avoidance lead her to the conclusion that he'd changed his mind.
Jess's mind always made assumptions and jumped to conclusions that weren't always true and it could get her in trouble, and she knew that's what this could be. However, she was still new to the camp and hadn't known Daryl for long enough to be able to tell if he'd strung her along or not. She was still very raw from being alone that she didn't know what was normal for a relationship anymore. Even though it did occur to her that she could be overreacting, there was no way for her to tell anymore because after being alone for so long it was easier for her to be hurt over silly things like being avoided.
She drew her brows together in frustration as the object of her thoughts cleared his throat behind her for her attention. He'd stopped several feet away, able to tell she was mad by how the metal arrowheads had passed all the way through the bales to ping loudly against the metal side of the stable meaning she was using more force than necessary to kill the hay. He knew better than to startle her when she had that bow in her hands. She was still dangerous.
Jess pulled out another arrow from her quiver and notched it.
"Whatcha want, Dixon," she sneered angrily as she pulled the string back and loosed another arrow through the hay bales. She knew she was being a little melodramatic about the situation but she was frustrated, emotionally and physically. That and she hadn't been out in a while by herself and she was a little antsy.
Daryl chewed his lip as he took a few more steps toward her.
"Michonne said you're goin' out on your own today," he answered quietly as he watched her shoot her last arrow into a bale.
"Yeah, goin' outta find 'er a horse," she quipped while walking forward to pull the arrows easily out of the bales and shove them back into her quiver. He watched as she stepped over the gate into the pen with Argo to prepare for her ride.
Daryl followed her, knowing that she was just trying to end the conversation by walking away but he wasn't going to let her. Argo nickered at him mockingly from the corner of the pen as he stepped inside the gate and he glared at the horse as Jess walked into the stable. That horse couldn't be that smart.
"Doc say it was okay," he questioned as he stepped just inside the stable to lean his hip against one of the support posts.
Jess fiercely packed her saddlebag with the things she would need as she answered him. She really didn't want his worry after he'd practically ignored her for a week.
"Don' matter, I cain't just sit here 'n' soak up this safety anymore without really startin' ta pitch in," she ground out forcefully when she really meant she couldn't stand sitting around letting this Daryl wound fester any longer or she'd go mad because she thought that he might have just strung her along or never really cared in the first place. In her mind, he couldn't come out here now and start caring again suddenly and she just be fine with it. She'd been hurt too much in the past to just let it go.
He let out an almost defeated sigh. He knew she was so headstrong that she'd do whatever she wanted, him or the doctor be damned, and he knew better than to try to stop her. Besides, if her angry bow practice was any indication, she was almost back to one hundred percent.
"I know," he defended roughly, shocking the woman into freezing in the middle of putting an extra harness in her bag as she was expecting him to talk her out of leaving. She stayed that way as he continued to speak in what was almost a whisper, "you coming back?"
Jess knew he wasn't acting like an ignorant two-year old that didn't understand the risks of the outside world and how easily she could be killed out there, no matter how much her angry mind wanted her to think that. He was talking about her intentions, about whether she would go out for a horse and not just ride off and try the world again on her own. She didn't blame him. He knew her story and that she was focused on finding her parents and he maybe even thought that she didn't have a reason to stay anymore. Would he really think that after all they'd been through even if she was mad at him?
She shoved the harness into the saddlebag, threw it over her shoulder, and stood to walk out and started to saddle Argo, fully intending to ignore his question. However, she didn't make it past the entrance as Daryl suddenly filled up the doorway, blocking her from leaving.
"Damn it, Jess-" he began before he felt her fist collide with his gut and he doubled over with a string of curses as she stood over him.
"Ya don' get ta ask me questions or reason with me after pushin' me to care then just leave me to stew," she hissed at him.
"Jesus, woman. I wasn't tryin ta lead ya on or nutin," he sputtered as he stood back up to his full height, holding his stomach gingerly as he realised she was mad about his avoidance of her, "I just didn't want ya to think all I wanted was a good fuck," he paused as his eyes darkened and looked down at her, "I want all of ya but I wanna take my time," he looked away from her and shuffled his feet nervously, "everything else in this fucked up world is fast and harsh and I want ya to come back so we can take this slow."
Jess carefully kept her expression blank as she regarded him. Other than when he talked about his brother, this was the most she'd heard out of him. He also wasn't one to speak his mind in front of the others so she was blindsided by his confession and she didn't know how to react.
Daryl began to back away nervously after several seconds of silence, expecting her to continue to be angry, and intended to leave before she placed her hand over his on his abdomen in apology.
"I didn't figure ya fer a gentleman, you big galoot," she purred in her quiet Texas drawl as she looked up at him. "I just thought ya changed yer mind," she confessed.
"I ain't changing my mind even though I didn't figure ya fer a refined lady neither," he retorted as he slid his thumbs through the belt loop of her jeans at her hips and pulled her to him.
"Screw ya, peach," she grumbled as she let the saddlebag hit the floor and wrapped her hand around the back of his neck to rest her fingers in his dark locks.
He smirked seductively as he leaned down to her.
"Maybe later," he teased before he gently pressed his lips to hers.
He felt her smile into the kiss as she wrapped her other arm around him and pressed herself flush against him. He was careful not to move his hands so she didn't get any ideas about where this could head and just took his time lazily exploring her mouth as she clung to him. After a several seconds, Daryl broke the kiss and looked down and smiled smugly at her flushed cheeks and heavy breathing.
"Don't smile at me like that ya braggart," she murmured with a slight pull of his hair.
"Cain't help it," he rumbled in a deeper than normal voice that had Jess squirming against him.
"Well ya do make me feel like I done been rode hard 'n' put up wet 'n' we ain't even done nothin' yet," she purred in her own deep, seductive drawl.
"Think you can handle me, Davis?" He asked as he reluctantly released her to let her continue her routine so she could leave.
"I know I can, Dixon. I'm more worried 'bout you bein' able ta handle me," she taunted with a wink as she unwillingly let him go to pick up her saddlebag, still flushed from the kiss but glad that they were back to the usual teasing.
He let her think she won that one and watched her sling the bag over her shoulder again and walk around him to saddle Argo but not before giving her a slap on her ass as she walked by him. She just turned to look at him with a shocked expression before walking away from him to get ready to leave. She'd get him back for that soon.
He decided to hang around and watch her work and was impressed with the way she did so. She was efficient and quick with no wasted movements and wondered if she would handle him the same way and the thoughts had him shifting uncomfortably as he leaned against the stable wall.
When she was finished with Argo she walked past him to gather her weapons and switch the target arrows for her fancy broad tipped ones that had dwindled in numbers since their last ride. He continued to silently watch her as she geared up and went back to her horse, looking like some warrior goddess with her bow and long braid. She took the reins and Daryl went to open the gate for her and Argo. She waited for him to shut it behind her and the three of them walked to the front gate together.
"So you comin' back or not," Daryl asked watching her out of the corner of his eye even though he knew the answer.
"Come hell or high water, peach, I'll be back," she vowed as she returned the ass slap from earlier and vaulted up onto her horse before he could retaliate. He growled at her as Glenn came down from the watch tower to help open the gates.
"Damn Texan's," he growled as he walked to the ropes to open the metal gates.
Jess waited for Glenn to open the chain link gate to send Argo trotting through it as the metal gates open and yelled over her shoulder as they closed behind her. She had to have the last word, knowing it would piss him off.
"Least I ain't no redneck!"
"Bitch," he cursed as he watched horse and rider disappear down the gravel road. He then noticed Glenn giving him a strange look and the hunter glared at him.
"What?" He snapped defensively.
"You two seem to get along well," he observed trying to hide his teasing smirk.
"Shut up, Glenn," Daryl threatened as he stomped off back to the prison.
Now that she was gone, he could be angry that she left. He hated that she was out there, barely healed and alone even though he knew she could handle herself. She would resent him if he'd done what he wanted and told her she couldn't go anywhere alone anymore. He wouldn't let their relationship be like that; he wouldn't hover over her like a mother and tell her what she could and couldn't do. They each had their responsibilities and his was to the safety of everyone at the prison. As much as he hated it, he would have to put their well-being before hers and trust her to take care of herself now. Besides, he could just lock her in a cell if he thought she was being reckless. Just because he didn't want to be like a mother didn't mean he wouldn't act like her lover. He paused in his walk at the thought of her being his lover. They really weren't to that point yet but he knew they would be.
His anger died down after a few hours and, being unable to sit around worrying about Jess, he decided to make a trip out to the forest around the prison to set up traps for small game like rabbits and squirrels as a distraction. He'd found some extra barbed wire in the prison and tied it through the trees to keep the walkers from going after any animals that would get in the traps. After the fifth trap, the sky began to darken and it was time to head back to wait for Jess.
As soon as Maggie had opened the gates for him he'd gone straight to the barn to see if she had returned and he was greeted with an empty pen and stable. He cursed as he went to take the few squirrels he'd shot to be cleaned for dinner. A few of the Woodbury residents sat at one of the tables along with Beth and Carol and fawned over Judith when he tossed the squirrels on one of the other tables. The older woman, who held the bubbly baby, noticed his frustration and handed her bundle carefully over to Beth to go check on her friend.
Daryl was already turning to go take watch from Maggie when Carol caught up to walk with him.
"She'll be back," Carol assured softly from beside him, taking two to every one of his steps.
He gave her an odd look and wondered how she would know about the two of them but then realised she was an observant mother type. Instead of denial, he told her how he really felt.
"But she ain't yet," he snarled in a very quiet, angry voice.
"She sure got to you quick, didn't she?" Carol queried with a smile, still a little surprised at how fast the two had become close.
Daryl stopped a few feet from the guard tower in realization. He hadn't even known the Texan for a month and he already worried over her like those idiots in cheesy chick flicks or how Glenn fawned over Maggie. Carol picked up on his epiphany.
"She is certainly a special kind of woman," Carol lowered her voice and placed an innocent kiss on his cheek as if she gave her blessing, "just the kind of woman you need." Carol turned her back and headed back up to the awning with their friends but not before throwing back a confident smile, "she'll be back."
Daryl watched Carol walk away, glad that she had his back.
Maggie was a little surprised to see him and he'd been surprised to find that Glenn was there too and had made a pallet on the floor out of blankets, intending to spend the night out there with her. He actually felt a little perturbed that they were getting time together while he and Jess were separated but he carefully hid that behind a demand.
"You two lovebirds get out of here. I'm taking watch," he gruffed holding open the hatch door leading down the tower.
"You sure," Glenn asked from the comfort of his new bed.
"Yeah, now get," he grumbled motioning to the stairs with his bow.
"Thanks," Glenn said as he descended the ladder that had replaced the blown up stairs.
Maggie just smiled knowingly up at the hunter before she followed her lover out of the tower.
Daryl watched them walk together back up the hill before turning his eyes back out to the field just beyond the fences, setting his crossbow down against the partially blown out wall. He let his mind wander back to what Carol had said as he scanned the treeline and kept a close count of the walkers.
Being with a woman before now had always been so cut and dry and his relationships never lasted long because most women didn't hang around long enough to get to know him. They'd get a good lay out of him and find out he was broke and think a good lay was all he was good for. That and he never let any of them get to know him because he knew most of the ones he'd been with were shallow and wouldn't be worth more than a good romp.
But Jess was different. She was strong and smart and saw him more than just the muscle or hunter. She talked to him as if he was important and not some dumb redneck that couldn't understand anything. Most of their conversations were one-sided, which was fine by him as he wasn't much for conversation, and he loved to listen to her tell him about her experiences and stories. Because she was more than just some woman he wanted to bed, he would try to take things slow and easy even though the threat of death loomed over them every day. They may not have long together but he was going to make every minute of it count for something.
When the moon hit it's peak in the night sky, Daryl finally let his worry get the best of him and began to pace the tower like a caged tiger.
"Where the hell is she."
When dawn broke the next day, he'd already gone over all the horrible things that could have happened and cursed himself for not going with her. When he heard Rick rolling open the fence between the yard and prison he spared a glance over at the ex-cop before setting his eyes back on watch. They narrowed when he heard the hatch open behind him and Rick came to stand beside him.
"She back yet?" He asked carefully.
Daryl just shook his head as he rested his palms over the edge of the wall where the windows had been, eyes watching the walkers.
"She will be," the farmer said confidently.
Daryl finally lost it and turned bitter about the situation.
"Jesus Christ, the next person that says that to me I swear I'm gonna shoot 'em. She's just some damn woman we picked up on a run a few weeks ago. Not like I'm married to her or nothin'," he ranted, breathing heavily. His mind had fallen back on saying whatever it would take for it not to hurt so much if she didn't come back.
Rick had to hide a smile by turning away from the angry hunter.
"You're fussing just means you do care," he concluded while his eyes scanned the treeline before his expression turned serious. "If she's not back by noon we can send someone to look for her."
Daryl shook his head.
"Naw, ain't worth riskin' nobody. I'll-"
He was cut off by a high-pitched whistle followed by the sound of two sets of hooves on gravel in a slow trot. He was down the ladder and at the gate before she even broke the treeline and when she did he felt relief. She'd found another horse that looked eerily familiar to Nahar but was much thinner and had an odd gait and she had a guitar slung across her back. She looked like she'd been through the ringer: her braid was full of branches and leaves and there were thin scratches over her hands and face from riding through the trees and she was covered in dirt. Plus Argo and the new horse were sweaty like they'd been running for a long time.
Daryl pulled hard on the ropes just as she approached the metal doors and Rick rolled the inner fence open and the rider and two horses trotted right through. Jess smiled down at Daryl before she noticed the hard set of his jaw and had Argo walk straight to the pen for a rub down. She didn't have to guess to know what he was mad about.
As much as the hunter wanted to go after Jess, he was still on watch so he watched her until she disappeared behind the stable with the horses and ambled back up to the tower. She didn't look hurt and she had even smiled so he was able to resist leaving his post to check on her. Rick's voice gave him pause just inside the entrance.
"You not gonna go say hi?"
Daryl shrugged and disappeared into the building as Rick went to go talk to Jess and help her take care of the horses.
The Dixon kept one sharp ear towards the stable as he watched the fences while he waited for someone to come take over watch. He could hear Rick and Jess talk but he couldn't quite make out the words. After a few minutes, Herschel came ambling down the hill to take a look at their new addition. He relaxed when he heard her laugh and the horses make happy noises at being washed and cooled off. He was more than relieved to hear her voice and glad that she was well enough to laugh.
By the time Sasha had appeared to take over, Rick had gone about his farming with Carl, who had also stopped to say hi to Jess and see the new horse, Herschel had gone back up to the prison, and Jess was still out at the stable. The minute Sasha stepped through the hatch he was headed down without a word and it really offended the newer member of the group.
"Good morning to you too," she yelled after him.
As he approached the stable he heard the sound of a guitar being tuned and when he heard the first chord of a song he decided to wait outside and listen, not sure if he was surprised she knew how to play or not considering her background. The last time he'd heard her sing was when he'd found her on the floor at the grocery store with a bullet in her side. Her voice this time was less haunted and more country as the first line of the song talked about leaving tears on a Jukebox and he smiled. Definitely a country song. He listened to the lyrics carefully as she continued to sing about wanting to fall apart together with someone. After she finished the chorus for the second time, he decided to make his presence known and came around to the low gate to the stable, giving Argo a pat on the neck as he passed.
When he looked in he saw her eyes fall on him as she continued to sing the chorus from her hay bed on the ground.
He stepped into the barn and leaned against the wall to listen to her and saw the dark circles under her eyes in the dim light and how she slumped over the guitar. When the song was over, she slipped the strap over her head and leaned it up against the wall next to her and fell back into the blankets with a sigh.
He watched her stare up at the roof over her head for several minutes before she cut her eyes over at him.
"Ain't polite ta stare, peach," she observed wearily.
"Couldn't help it, that whiney song was annoying," he taunted from his spot a few feet away from her.
Jess sat up on her elbows and glared at him.
"Ya ain't sayin' that about tha King a Country," she threatened.
He shrugged at her without a word and his eyes roamed over her dirty state. Jess took notice and it surprised him because he didn't figure her for a self-conscious woman.
"I look that bad?" She asked picking up her braid to pull out twigs and leaves. She never really had been self-conscious but the way he looked at her made her very aware of her appearance.
"No," he answered seriously before his curiosity got the best of him, "what happened?"
Jess scoffed as she fell back into the blankets for a second time to glare at the ceiling.
"Horse stuff. Went through three horses 'fore I found one sound enough ta bring back. Even this'n gave me more fight than I's expectin' fer her age. She's gonna take a while ta break back in but she's tha most sound horse I found," she explained.
Daryl's expression hardened as he walked to stand over her because he knew she didn't tell the whole story. Unless that horse drug her through the trees and underbrush on her face, there was more to her current stated than she had yet to admit.
"Anything else?" He asked angrily.
She looked up at him wearily with a few blinks and he couldn't help but noticed how, for the first time, adorable she could be when she knew she was about to get scolded.
"On my way back yesterday I may or may not've run amiss a herd," she admitted as she rubbed her eyes on her tired, scratched face, "had ta lead 'em away," she finished with a yawn to try to play the cute card and felt like she was failing.
"Shit, Jessica," he cursed as he sat down on the ground beside her blanket in disbelief, "how'd you do that?"
As much as she loved the sound of her whole name coming from him for the first time, his distress made her feel terrible that she told him. She should have just kept her mouth shut and let him think what he wanted instead of having to see the current look on his face.
She sat up to start pulling off her riding chaps without much luck so she didn't have to look into his eyes as she answered. She was on the last of her energy and something as simple as pulling off pants had become difficult. If she didn't have safe place to return to she never would have made it out there another night with as hard as she pushed herself.
"Ain't no hill for a stepper on a horse, ya make a lot a noise, run-a-ways in tha direction away from 'ere, 'n' repeat that fer a few hours then ya jus' outrun 'em 'n' go 'round," she explained while she struggled with the leathers.
He finally got tired of her pathetic attempts to relieve herself of the protective gear and leaned over her to help and she watched him with an amused expression.
"I thought we were takin' things slow, Dixon," she chortled.
"Shut up," he barked as he unbuckled them and slid them down her legs, helping her lift her hips so he could pull them off of her. Just as he was about to toss them he noticed a new set of teeth marks indented into the leather and had to stop and just stare at it in disbelief. She'd been in a situation where she was almost bitten again and that scared him more than he cared to admit. The weary woman took notice.
"Those thangs have saved my life more times'n I care ta count," she confessed seriously, watching his reaction carefully.
He just shook his head and tossed them towards her bag in the corner. He wanted to yell at her but he knew it wouldn't do any good. All that mattered now was that she was here, completely drained and half asleep, but she was alive. The hunter went ahead and pulled her boots off while he was on a roll and tossed them with the chaps and sat back down.
"I dunno what ta thank a this new, nicer peach," she teased as she turned to lay on her side to look at him and rub absently at her hip over her scar. It was throbbing but she wasn't about to say so.
"Don't get used to it," he mumbled quietly as he slung his crossbow off his shoulder to lean it against the wall.
She closed her eyes, and just enjoyed the silence with him and he watched over her. It was a relief to be back here with him because she felt safe again and knew that he would look out for her. After several minutes Daryl thought she had finally drifted to sleep but her voice surprised him even though it was barely a whisper.
"Sorry I made ya worry, Daryl," she apologized, her accent stretching out her words. She really was tired and just wanted to catch some sleep but she also felt bad about he worried for her.
"I just gotta get used to it, is all," he admitted just as quiet, "I know you can take care of yourself."
She opened her eyes just enough to see him to ask her next question.
"Ya stayin'?"
"If you want," he shrugged as if it didn't matter to him either way even though he wanted nothing more than to stay with her.
Her only response was to make room for him on the blanket and he took that as an invitation. He crawled onto the blanket to lean over her. When she looked up at him, she saw all kinds of emotion burning through his eyes into hers. Without a word she reached her hand up behind his neck and pulled him to her so she could press their lips together. Once she'd started it, Daryl took over and made it everything he couldn't say to her: that he'd worried for her but was relieved she'd returned unharmed. When Jess's fingers gripped the hair at the nap of his neck, he broke away to look into her eyes a few moments to see if she'd understood what he'd shown to her. Her doe eyes watched him in acceptance and apology until he moved away from her to lay on his back next to her. Jess turned on her side and curled up, not quite touching him but close enough he could feel her body heat and closed her eyes.
The moment had been more than Jess expected but it didn't scare her, in fact, she reveled in it. She loved how even though Daryl was a man of few words, he was able to express how he felt through his actions. Jess knew Daryl was defined by how he handled himself around the others but it was the little moments with her that he truly showed himself and she smiled at the thought as she felt her exhaustion catching up with her.
When he heard her breathing even out, he allowed himself to watch her. After a few minutes, he saw her reach out and felt her fingertips brush his arm. In her sleep she looked for him to make sure he was still there and he heard her sigh when she felt him, her body relaxed completely. After a few more minutes he allowed himself to relax enough to finally drift off to her soft breathing beside him.