Chapter Three:

Driving back towards the camp Rick looks around at everyone to make sure everyone's accounted for and okay. "Still can't believe you nearly handcuffed me to a roof" Merle says breaking the silence. "You were being an asshole again" Merle then looks at Rick with an offended look.

"He should have done and thrown away the key" T-Dog mutters causing women to snicker.

"Okay guys that's enough we're all stuck in this van together and I really don't want to have to break up another fight" Rick quickly interrupts seeing Merle open his open to reply to T-Dog. "You're only bringin me back cause ya know you won be gettin any tonight if ya don't" Merle mutters.

"Wait are you two like together…." T-Dog says confused and slightly disgusted. "WHAT….no!" Rick says suddenly choking on air while Merle just laughs. "Like we said earlier dumb ass we're brothers, remember" Merle replies still laughing. "Choke up friendly" he says thumping Ricks back who is still chocking and looking horrified. "It wouldn't be that bad would it" he adds causing Rick to choke all over again. "Shut up" he manages to wheeze out. Merle just laughs even more, Rick just wonders what the hell he thought he was thinking deciding bringing Merle back. Should of just left the bloody asshole on the roof he thinks, Daryl better be happy to see him. "Come on Rick breath, no use dying before you've seen all a them, no one will believe if I tell em I found ya alive otherwise"

…

After pulling up at the camp Rick suddenly froze unable to move as panic coursed through his body, What if Merle had lied and Daryl, Carl and Lori weren't here and it was all some horrible joke. Rick just sat and stared out the car window his heart trying to beat out of his chest.

"The new guy, got us out" Rick heard Glenn say and then a call from Morales "Hey helicopter guy, come say hello" pulling Rick out of his thoughts. Rick let out a shaky breath and stepped out round the side of the car. As he did he heard a gasp and a shout of "Uncle Rick" and looked up just in time to see Carl tackle him into a hug. Rick gripped Carl unable to believe it was really then and before he knew he was crying into his shoulder, overcome with relief. "Knew you were alive" he heard Carl mutter "Knew Shane had lied, was the only one that believed you were still alive" Rick couldn't believe what he heard, they thought he was dead? No wonder Merle looked so shocked to see him. Rick stood up and saw Lori silently crying and pulled her into the hug. "Thank god I found you" Rick said quietly not wanting to let go of them.

"Aww family hug, does that mean I can join to?" Merle exclaimed. Rick then heard a thump and a mutter of "leave them alone asshole" which sounded very much like Shane. Rick couldn't help but wonder were Daryl was, surely if he was here then he would have come to see what all the noise was about. Rick gripped Carl and Lori even more trying to find comfort in the hug.

…..

"Disorientated, guess that come's closest, fear and confusion, all those things" Rick tells the group about his horrible first few moments of waking up from his coma. "Felt like I had been ripped out of my life; and put somewhere else. For a while I thought I was trapped inside some coma dream, something I might never get out of" his voice drifting off as he gets stuck in the memories.

"Mum said you died" Carl said looking up at him from where he was lying in Ricks lap. Rick looks down at him and starts stroking his hair "and she had every right ta believe so, don't you ever doubt it" knowing how guilty Lori must be feeling, so he pulls Lori into a tighter hug trying to give her some comfort, showing her that he didn't blame her.

Lori then starts explaining what happened to the hospital the days before the world really started to fall to pieces. Rick starts feeling bad for them thinking about how horrible that must have been for them, knowing how confused he was when he woke up. He then thinks about Daryl knowing he had been on a hunting trip with Merle the day he got shot. How long after did he find out what had happened to Rick? Daryl never bothers bringing his phone with him on those trips considering they never get signal.

"Where's Daryl, Merle said he was with you" Rick whispers to Lori, almost scared to hear the answer, worrying something had happened to him as he had yet to see him. "Hunting trip, don't worry he's safe, you know how well he copes in the woods, practically his second home" Lori reassures him as if knowing what Rick was thinking. "He should be back in the morning" Lori adds seeing the relief his eyes. "Good, that's good" not knowing what else to say, all he could think about was how glad he was that Daryl was safe. "You should get some sleep" Lori says softly seeing how fidgety he had got in anticipation. "Don't wanna be half asleep when you get reacquainted with each other tomorrow do you" Lori says with smirk. A slight blush creeps over Ricks face along with a smile knowing that by this time tomorrow he could be snuggled up in bed with his man right beside him.

"Right I'm off to bed" Rick says to the group, while ruffling Carl's hair much to Carl's annoyance, and heads off towards his tent, knowing Lori had a huge grin on her face. Looking around he saw Merle was smirking as well; nosey bugger must have been listening in.

…..

Despite heading off to bed early that night Rick had hardly gotten any sleep that night, his mind keeping him awake with thoughts of Daryl and how he was due back today. He couldn't wait, however he also couldn't help thinking about how Daryl would respond, he had never been good with lies or sudden changes and finding out someone you thought was dead is actually alive is a pretty big change. His childhood had been rough and ever since he kept himself closed off, the only people allowed in was Rick and Merle, he hoped this didn't change anything. He didn't know what he would do if Daryl closed himself off to him.

Rick pottered around the site helping out Shane with car and other bits and pieces trying to keep his mind off Daryl when he suddenly a high pitched scream, and Carl calling out to Lori. Rick raced off towards the woods, grabbing a bat on his way, and found out that Sophia and Carl had found a walker. They found the walker crouched down eating a deer that had been shot down by two arrows, Rick immediately thought of Daryl. Knowing this wasn't the time to be thinking those thoughts Rick distracted himself by whacking the walker round the head with a baseball bat repeatedly. When the walkers head finally fell off he stopped. Hearing a noise he rose his bat again ready to attack the possible walker. Rick nearly dropped his bat when he found the source of the noise, Daryl.

Rick however soon realised that Daryl had yet to notice him as he started kicking the crap out the walker complaining about how they had stolen his dinner, typical Daryl. He almost laughed when he heard Daryl say "Come on people what the hell it's gotta be the brain, don't yall know anything" and shot the walker in the brain shutting it up.

"I do now" Rick couldn't help but say, a smile on his face. Daryl's head shot straight up and he knew he had finally got Daryl to notice him. "Rick" Daryl said a disbelieving look on his face. Rick slowly inched forward giving Daryl time to process what he was saying, there was nothing worse than a spooked Daryl.

Daryl stayed frozen on the spot watching Rick inch closer towards him "yeah it's me" Rick says softly making hard for anyone else to hear but Daryl. He then slowly lifts a hand towards Daryl's face giving Daryl time to process Rick's movement so that he doesn't scare him. Daryl could still get spooked at sudden contact even after all these years. Rick cups Daryl's face "I'm here" he whispers. That was all it took for Daryl to drop the squirrels he had slung over his shoulder and pull Rick into the tightest hug ever. "Don't you ever do that to me again you sumofabitch" he mutters into Rick's neck. "Don't plan on it love" Rick replies with a slight chuckle. Daryl finally let's go of him just enough to stare at Rick in the face. "You're an asshole ya dat right, worryin me like, lettin me think I was never gonna see you again" Rick chuckled again "I'm your asshole though" Daryl stared him "damn right" he replied and gripped Rick behind the neck and pulled him into a fierce kiss, pouring all his emotions into the kiss reassuring himself that Rick was really here, that he was back, that he was safe.

"Come on guys shows over" he hears Merle say and reluctantly pulls away for some air, looking over Rick shoulder he sees Merle shooing everyone away. His eyes catch Merle's and he gives Daryl a wink and walks away giving them some privacy. Daryl feels Rick try and pull away from his hold "I ain't finished with you yet" Daryl says pulling Rick into another heated kiss.

When Rick feels Daryl's hands creeping down towards his belt buckle Rick pulls away, as much as he would love to give into those hands of his. "Daryl we can't, not here, not when there's a mauled deer and walker right behind us" Rick says reluctantly. "Fine, but ya aint getting away from me for to long, you owe me" Daryl mutters. "Wouldn't have it any other way" Rick replies with one last kiss to Daryl's lips.

Daryl gathers up the squirrels and follows Rick towards the camp. "Give these squirrels to Merle to skin, know how he loves skinning the damn things" walking up towards the camp he spots Merle "Hey Merle skin these for us will ya I have somewhere else to be" Merle gives him a smirk "Don't do anythin I wouldn't" he calls. Daryl loops his arm around Ricks waist and pulls him in the direction of his tent and mutters "that coming from Merle means were safe to do just bout anythin" whilst his hand played with the end of Ricks shirt, fingers creeping under the shirt causing Rick to shudder in anticipation.

Note: So they are finally reunited, couldn't hold it off any longer. Just as a warning I'm not a big fan of Shane so even though Shane's not cheating on Rick with Lori, he's still not going to be a particularly nice guy. Thought I should give you heads up. Anyway let me know what you think.