Searching

When they had arrived at the farm, it had been a flurry of excitement,Rick running to grab take her weight from Daryl, to relieve him of his duties.

But surprisingly, Daryl didn't leave her side, he only continued covering nearby, even so much that he leaned against the corner of the bedroom that Hershel was using to examine Ellie's ankle. He chalked it up as just fulfilling his promise to the little girl, but truthfully, it was something about this girl that made him want to be in her presence.

She was chatty and chipper, always talking and a small smile always on her face.

Even as Hershel was examining her wounds, she managed to look over the old mans shoulder and give him a smile. Maybe it was meant for Gertrude,she had been standing next to him at that moment, it was right before she ran off back outside with the others. But he couldn't be sure.

It sent chills down his spine.

He needed to focus. So he forced himself out of the room, giving her a brief nod as he exited, and went to search for Sophia.

But the feeling of her big blue eyes on his back as he walked out didn't leave. It lingered like a soft breeze around him as headed toward the tree lining.

XxxXx

"I'm fine, really. My ankle is actually feeling a lot better with the brace." Ellie said, smiling as she struggled to stand up. The throbbing sensation returned almost instantly. But she wasn't going to show that it hurt. If she did, she'd be put on bed rest for god knows how long, and she was NOT going to be stuck in this bedroom all day.

Hershel gave her a skeptical look. "Are you sure? Do you remember what I said about taking care of yourself?"

Ellie's mouth was in a thin, tight line. She obviously forgot. She had risked her own life yet again out of bordem. She had almost died leaving Gertrude without anyone else in the world.

From now on, she affirmed to herself, Gertrude comes first.

"Now,about Maggie." The withered old veterinarian began again.

"HersheI am so so-"

"Thank you," he said, cutting her off, "If you hadn't thought quick on your feet, she would have died." His periwinkle eyes shown at her, a soft glean on water pulling up at his waterlines. "We are in debt to you."

Ellie didn't know what to say, so she just reached out, placing her hand on his shoulder for a quick second, before clearing her throat and withdrawing it. "Where is Maggie? I should go see how shes doing?"

Hershel stood up, clearing his throat and walking to the door. "She's upstairs, the first door on your left. She'll be glad to see 's been asking about you since the moment she returned."

And with that, they parted ways, Ellie much more slowly than Hershel.

It didn't take long for her to make her way up the the brunettes room,but it also wasn't the most pleasant trip up a flight of stairs she'd ever taken either.

When she had finally reached to room, she leaned in the open doorway,Maggie was laying on her bed, giving harsh whispers to Glenn.

Ellie couldn't make out much, just that it was about the barn.

She gave a soft cough to catch their attention, and the two whipped their heads in her direction faster than the speed of light.

"Ellie!Thank god you're okay!" Maggie said, giving her a small had made it out pretty unscathed. Her face had few cuts from the shards of glass, but it all looked superficial. The only real problem their seemed to be, was her leg. It was bound up in gauze where the glass and stabbed into.

Ellie's hand throbbed in its own bandage at the sight of the girls wound, remembering how she had tugged it out.

"Nothing can kill me, Miss Greene." Ellie laughed, walking over and sitting on the edge of Maggie's Bed.

The bed room they were in was clean and orderly, a book shelf against the wall, with sweet white lace curtains and decorative pillows sitting on the single chair pressed up next to the white dresser. The only clutter was a small pile of discarded college text books and notebooks atop the dresser. They were useless now, in this new world.

"How are you feeling?" The Asian asked, leaning back in his own chair,one he must have brought up from the kitchen table. Its dark colors clashed against all the light pastels and white in the room.

She shrugged. She felt like shit. Her head was pounding, her legs hurt,her hand hurt. Every muscle in her body was aching. "Atleast We're not dead."

The brunette nodded in confirmation. "Yes. Atleast we're not dead."

Ellie stayed with the two a while longer, chatting and laughing as if the events of the day before were months ago, until herself and the Asian were booted by Patricia, who came in to clean Maggie's wound and switch out her bandages.

Ellie and Glenn separated ways once outside, waving each other goodbye as he headed towards the RV to join Dale, and she headed towards the hunters tent.

But he wasn't there. All there was were clothes laying neatly atop an open duffle bag, discarded weapons and a half full bottle of Jack Daniels.

She wasn't really sure why she was here, other than the fact she wanted to thank him, but even then, she was sure of the knowledge that she could always do it latter. But still, she resolved to wait. So,walking into the tent, she laid down on his cot, stretching out to wait. And slowly, she drifted into sleep.

WDWDWDWDWDWD

It had been ended being a great day for Daryl. He had found found solid evidence that Sophia had been near by, he didn't want leave, that was how sure he was.

There had been recently opened food, and a small bundle of blankets at the bottom of the pantry, Sophia sized.

But it was getting dark, and he couldn't wait any longer or he would risk getting lost his self in the unforgiving woods. So, he headed back to the camp, resolving to go back and search some more tomorrow.

The first thing he did was inform Rick, and Rick nodded, promising a group to send out with him tomorrow.

He didn't bother telling Carol. She was calm for once, Gertrude and Carl sitting infront of her as she read to them. Daryl knew it was just a tactic to busy herself.

Tiredly,he made his way through the throng of tents and to his own.

He didn't expect to find the blonde laying curled up among his items,fast asleep, her shirt lifted to reveal the large bruises that had formed from yesterdays events.

A pang of guilt ran through him.

The look of her bruised was familiar, but he pushed away the memories,instead dropping his items on the ground, kicking off his boots, and laying down next to here.

"Only for a few more minutes," He growled to himself, "then i'm kicking your ass out, Standford."

But the days events had worn on him as well, because within moments, he too, was fast asleep.

And within an hour, she would shift, burying herself into the crook of his arm.

And by midnight, his own arm snaked around, pulling her closer, and slowly resting on her lower back where her shirt rode up. Warm skin touching warm skin.

Gertrude had wandered upon them, searching for her sister, but held in an eye roll and a snort seeing the two tangled up with each other.

"Could they be more cliche?" She snorted, walking back to her tent.