AN: hey another chapter for you :)

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead.

Chapter 7

"Do you want to come inside?"

She seemed momentarily surprised to hear his voice. The wind had picked and he saw a slight shiver go through her frame.

If he could have taken her in his arms and held her in that moment, he would have. He always ran warm, putting off enough body heat for two. He never wanted her to be cold again.

"The Sheriff.." She trailed off unsure what to say.

"I can drive you back to your motel when we are done,... if you want." Daryl said.

"How did you know, I was staying at a motel?". She asked curiously.

She hadn't been able to go back to her apartment. It had been a sanctuary to her. The first time in a long time that she felt proud of herself, the first time she had felt safe, and in control. The asshole had taken that from her. She was beating herself up about not being strong enough to go back. She was terrified about losing her job as she had her arm in a sling. One of Ed's stab wounds had injured a muscle. It would need time to heal, her boss was understanding but also needed staff to work.

But she wasn't scared of him, and she didn't know why.

He simply shrugged staring at her intensely.

"You know I would never hurt you." He whispered.

Her eyes seemed to dilate and she nodded, going back to the car and told Rick to leave.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

She looked like she belonged, sitting on his couch, that practically dwarfed her. He deposited her on the couch, with a blanket across her lap, and lit a fire in the fireplace. Then went out to get her something to drink.

Hot chocolate he thought, knowing that was what she would like.

She smiled taking the cup from him with one hand.

"Careful...it's hot." He murmured watching her manage the cup singlehanded. It was instinct, he wanted to protect her.

She took a sip, then set it on the side table by the couch. She stared into the fire, she was unsure where to start, what to say.

"How did you know?" She asked hoarsely.

"I...see things," it was more difficult than he thought to admit it. "Sometimes I know when things are going to happen."

He was waiting for disbelief, for her to mock the idea. He was momentarily stunned when her small hand slipped on to his lap and grasped his own.

He'd always in the past hated being touched. Repelled from it, anything that reminded him of the past, or brought those memories back. Her touch was comforting. He threaded his fingers through hers, marvelling at the feel of her soft skin against his. It felt right, it felt good.

"Are you...psychic?" She asked in a small voice.

"Guess if you wanna call it somethin...I don't tell any fortunes though." He said and grinned when she unexpectedly snorted out a chuckle. She sobered thought when he felt her next question enter her head.

"Why me? Why did you see me?" She whispered so low he almost didn't hear her.

He squeezed her hand hoping this, wouldn't be to much.

"When I was little, I started dreaming of a girl. When things went to shit, she made me happy, when her life got bad, I tried to comfort her." He turned, staring into her eyes. "It was you...I've seen you all my life. Fate or whatever the hell is in my brain was showing you to me more and more as we got older...i ..." He paused interrupting her.

"I dreamed of you too, but like you are now. You were always telling me to hold on, that things would be okay, that they would get better, and not to give up. I don't see the future though...I just...I just see your face." She reached up to touch a shaky hand to his cheek. He sighed nuzzling his face slightly into her palm. Revelling in her touch. "I've always seen your face." She said again in a whisper.