I don't own anything to do with Rick or any character from the Walking Dead. I own the OC character, Ruby, however, and I adore her.
Summary: Shane's been killed by Rick and the group doesn't trust him anymore. So what does Rick do? Snap. He finds a girl in the woods and takes out his aggression.
Yes, I know if you've read my other stuff you know that I am a Shane girl, but Rick is awesome, too. So I decided to play with him a little.
Rate and comment if you like! Thanks, and please, no flames. They are... unhelpful.
*** Get ready folks, a BIG point of contention is going to be discussed. Hope you like how I resolved it. Much love!
**** The reviews have been OUTSTANDING! Thank you all so much for taking the time. I am so so sorry it's taken so long to update, hopefully this makes up for that in a small way. It's been nuts around here for me lately. Anyway, thank you again, and I appreciate your time and kind words.
"I was really starting to wonder if I'd ever see you again." Ruby said as Paul dropped his stuff on the floor of her room and came to sit next to her on the bed.
"You know better than that. I wasn't going to stop till I figured out what the hell happened." He said, pulling her into another big hug. "So, these people, you like them?"
"I do. Kept me safe, and they're actually sane." She said, flashing the whites of her eyes. "Sounds like you weren't as lucky."
He grimaced, letting her go after a moment. "That's putting it mildly. They wouldn't bug me alone, but get a group of them together and they'd give a group of walkers a run for their money. If you'd have gone there..." He trailed off and she put a hand on his arm.
"I didn't, so no worries. Come on, don't think about it."
He nodded, looking around the room. "You got a set up here, don't you? Never would have thought it, looking at the outside of this place."
"Rick's idea. He thought if we made the place look abandoned we'd be less likely to receive visitors."
"Good idea. If it weren't for the sign, I'd have just kept going. I'll have to thank, who was he? Daryl? Not the friendliest guy in the world, huh?"
"Outwardly, maybe not. But he's a good guy. He was showing he how to use that crossbow he's got, said I wasn't bad."
"Well, you picked the gun up pretty fast when I showed you. I'm not surprised. You always did catch on in a hurry." He said with a grin and she shrugged.
"Good teachers, that's all." She smiled back with a shake of her head. He noticed the vanity, the electric razor on the top and the pile of Rick's clothes on the floor, and he narrowed his eyes.
"Got a roommate, Starlet?" He asked in that overly protective, big brother way he did.
She chuckled. "I'm not actually sure. That's all Rick's stuff."
"Really?" He raised his eyebrows at her, waiting for her to go on.
"He found me, Paul. At first, I wasn't sure about him, but he'd actually... pretty great."
He gave her a flat look when she used the exact same phrase that Rick had used to describe her in the yard. "Pretty great, huh? He better be, if he's got eyes for you. I can break him apart."
"I know you can, but please refrain. He's working through some stuff here, wouldn't want to make it worse."
"What kind of stuff?" He asked grimly. He knew she always found exactly the most difficult situation to plant herself right in the middle of.
She shrugged. "His wife is upstairs, his son. It's a really long story, please don't cause a fuss."
"I think you better finish that sentence." He said dangerously and she quickly filled him in on the situation with Rick and Lori, and told him about everyone else in the house. He listened patiently, his anger ebbing as she finished. Finally he let out a long sigh and looked at her sideways. "So, you like him back?"
"A hell of a lot." She nodded and he shrugged.
"Ok, then. Whatever makes you happy, Starlet."
They emerged from the room when she led Paul to get cleaned up, and when she came back downstairs, she found T still on the couch, looking out into the front yard through the slats in the windows.
"Anything else out there?" She asked and he looked back at her, shaking his head.
"Nah. You get your boy settled in?" He asked, not really wanting to know if she was going to be sleeping in the same room. He'd thought about pushing Rick to let his emotions for the girl fly, and here this big guy was going to come in and kill any hope Rick had. The thought was less than fun.
"Well, I was hoping you had an extra cot." She said and he grinned.
"I don't think we do, but he can take the couch. If he'll fit. Boy's a little bigger than a wall, isn't he?"
"Yeah, he is." She laughed. "Nobody ever wanted to mess with him, it was good to have around."
"I'll bet."
"Where is everyone?"
"Backyard, mostly." He answered as Carol came back in the back door. They watched her through the door start dinner, and she smiled her thanks at him and went for the kitchen.
The sky had dimmed to dusk as Ruby talked to Paul, and a low orange light filled the sky when Rick saw her appear at the back door. He'd been sitting, thinking intently about Ruby in her room with her friend. He was so glad Paul was fine, for her sake if for nothing else, but the surprise appearance of the man had thrown him more than he'd realized it would. Daryl, too, from the looks of it. The redneck had disappeared into the trees around the house with his crowbar soon after the arrival, and hadn't returned. But Rick couldn't think about that, it was all Paul. The man's size for one, was enough to make anyone look twice. He was even bigger than Shane had been, and his rough expression, even when softened as he looked at Ruby, made him an imposing figure. Rick wasn't afraid of him in any way except when he thought of how they had greeted each other. Picking her up, hugging her so tightly. He tried to remember the time in the ice house, when he'd asked if Paul had been her boyfriend. Of course, she had said no, but to say she'd been under duress at the time was a giant understatement. He couldn't help but wonder if whatever he had started with her had stopped before it had even begun.
Carl was playing with Maggie and Glenn in the middle of the yard, Lori sitting on a stump nearby watching. No one else saw her, and she nodded to him to come over. He stood quickly, brushed himself off, and crossed the yard to her, trying to push the thoughts from his mind.
"Did you get Paul situated?" He asked, a lot more casually than he felt. He'd assumed the man would be staying in her room, and he wondered what it was going to be like not being able to go to her room tonight, have the little ritual he'd come to find so much comfort in, then be able to hold her as she slept. They may not have done more than kiss and cuddle at that point, but he'd give anything to know that was still his to have.
"He's getting a shower. He was so excited when I told him we had running water." She grinned and stepped back from the door and they walked back across the room together, through the dining room, and when she led him into her room and shut the door behind them, he steeled himself for the let down he assumed she was ready to give him. She turned to him and tilted her head, a little concern in her face. "Are you alright? I'm sorry I didn't ask if he could stay, I just assumed-"
He cut her off. "Of course, Ruby. We're welcoming him here, all of us. We're just happy you found him, and sorry about Sarah."
She bit her lip and looked at the floor. "I think she died because of me, Rick. I didn't say that to Paul, but he said she freaked out. You heard him."
"Anyone would have, Ruby. Don't think like that. You couldn't help what happened, getting separated like that." He took a step forward despite himself, putting a hand on her cheek, palm caressing her face.
"I just hate thinking of her like that. She went through so much just to have it end like that." He saw her eyes dampen, and he frowned down into her face.
"Stop. You have to stop it, and think about Paul. He went through a lot too, and he's here, safe. You got him back."
"Thank god. I still can't believe it. I know he's different, but I hope you all love him as much as I do. It would mean a lot."
"I'm sure we will, but does that mean you'll be staying with us? I wasn't sure if you would." He spoke slowly and deliberately, unable to stop the question from coming. She raised her eyebrows in confusion at him.
"I want to, if you're ok with having him here. You are, aren't you? I don't want to leave."
He felt his heart flutter. "Are you kidding? If you'd wanted to go, I was fully prepared to fight you on it." He grinned and she let out a relieved breath under his hand and smiled back. "Anyway, I can get my stuff out of here so Paul can have a place to put his things."
She frowned, shaking her head. "Is there not enough room for him to have a cot out there somewhere?"
It was Rick's turn to be surprised. "Sure there is. I just assumed he'd be staying in here. The way you two look, I thought..."
"That we were together? We're not, Rick. I thought I told you that." She reached out a took his hand, the one he'd had on her cheek that had since fallen to his side. "We never have been."
He felt his heart leap in his chest, almost painfully, and he stifled a huge smile. It would be inappropriate. "That's a relief. I thought we had a pretty good thing going."
"So do I. Actually, he noticed your stuff in here, asked about you. About us."
"He did? What did you say?" He searched her face with his eyes intently.
She gave a slight shrug. "That it's new, and different. I wasn't sure what to say really except that... well, that we were working something out. I don't think that's innacurate."
He smiled. "I can't think of a better way to put it."
She smiled back at him and he pulled her into a hug. "We're out of cots, but if I knew I had someplace to stay, I could let him have mine."
She chuckled. "I know I've been standoffish for a while, and I'm sorry about that. It's just, I really don't want to cause any trouble. But you already know you always have a place here."
He looked down into her face, and felt the warmth that was always in the pit of his stomach when she was around flare up, and flow out to his arms and legs. He leaned down and their lips brushed tenderly, his mouth opening slightly to take in her full lower lip between his. She responded, her tongue dancing with his slowly at first, then quicker, and he pulled her against him tightly, the fullness that was already growing in his jeans becoming strained and painful.
She pulled back after a moment and put her forehead against his lips, leaning into him fully. "Rick, what you've done for me has been more than I could have asked for, you know? Now, taking Paul in, too. I don't know what to think of you."
He closed his eyes, mumbling against her skin. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, Ruby. I would hope you'd have realized that by now."
"I have." She said back and the knock at the door startled them both. Ruby pulled back just as Paul stuck his head inside and saw them.
"Hey." He grinned. "I was done, needed my stuff."
"Yeah, come in." Rick nodded quickly, and Paul came all the way into the room. He'd dressed in a pair of fatigue pants and a darker green teeshirt, and looked every part of the soldier he was.
"Give me your clothes, Paul. I'll get them washed for you. How was the shower?" Ruby asked as he moved to his bag on the floor, dirty garments in his arms. He grinned back at her.
"Always taking care of me. She's awesome, isn't she, man?"
Rick put his arm around her and pulled her to his side, smiling down at her. "Yeah, I think so." She put her arm around his waist and smiled happily at the two men.
Rick put his arm around her and pulled her to his side, smiling down at her. "Yeah, I think so." She put her arm around his waist and smiled happily at the two men.
"This is so great. Having you here like this. Got a surprise for you, too. Rick is gonna give you the cot right out there in the dining room, but you can have the bed for a while to rest up. You have to be exhausted."
"Keep the bed, girl. That cot's gonna be great, thanks Rick. Been sleeping in the truck, I think I'm gonna be permanently bent over. You remember any of that stuff Rose used to teach you, 'cause I could sure use it."
"After dinner, I'll hook you up. I think Carol's gonna make something special." She smiled and he stood back up, stretching his tired muscles out.
"Sounds great. I'm starving." He said and she stepped forward, patting his shoulder.
"Well, let's go feed you then." She turned and led them out of the room. Paul looked to Rick as they walked.
"This is a good little setup you got here, man. She said it was your idea to dress down the front, gotta say it was damn good, too. I almost went right by."
"That's the idea. Glad you didn't though. Ruby's done nothing but watch for you."
Paul grinned at her back as they got to the living room. T nodded at them and turned from the window. "Daryl's out there somewhere. I saw him a few minutes ago."
Rick nodded. "Sounds good." He watched as Ruby led Paul to the kitchen to see Carol. "Thanks for keeping watch while they get settled in."
"I'm good for it. Are things...?" T asked tentatively and Rick grinned.
"Better." He said and T grinned at him as they went to join the growing group in the kitchen.
Dinner was a cheerful affair. Paul talked animatedly to the group as they ate, telling funny stories about his and Ruby's life before, and the all sat in a large circle on the floor as they ate, laughing and talking. Even Lori joined in, curious at the new arrival, and she laughed lightly every now and then at something he would say. The mood was light and Rick loved seeing Ruby's wide smile permanently across her face.
"How the hell did you get this food, man?" Paul asked, as Carol gave him another plateful of the fresh green beans and sliced tomatoes, a large scoop of mashed potatoes and a few more pieces of the deer Daryl had brought in the day before. Daryl came in just then and grabbed a plate Carol had made for him from the kitchen table, shoving the food in his mouth at the doorway he leaned in, watching the group.
"A garden, down the road. Probably need to make another run, actually. Can we do that tomorrow?" Ruby answered and Rick shrugged, his mouth full.
"Sure, I don't see why not."
Paul shook his head. "Man, I haven't eaten this good in forever. Carol, you're a great cook."
She gave him a shy smile. "Thank you, Paul."
He grinned. "Starlet, you should let her teach you. I've seen this girl burn water."
"Hush up, you." She said, faking a scowl in his direction.
"Why do you call her that?" Maggie asked, chuckling.
"What? Starlet?" He tilted his head at her and laughed softly. "The girls in the shows were all about the shoes and the clothes. It was Prada this, and Gucci that. She wasn't like that, though, you know? She liked the pretty stuff but she wouldn't pay more than a hundred bucks for something. It started out as a joke, I guess, it kinda stuck, though."
"He had nicknames for everybody." Ruby said, smiling wistfully. "Sarah was Songbird. Jenny was Pancake, because she loved them so much. What were some of the others?"
"Bonnie." He said and she laughed.
"Right. Bonnie was Hollywood."
"Hollywood? Why?" Glenn asked.
"Girl was obsessed with celebrities. She would meet somebody famous and lose her mind. I think they hired me partly to keep her from jumping people, not the other way around."
"So, you worked together for a long time? How did you do that, if you worked different jobs every time?" T-Dog asked.
"I was in a grocery store in Queens about six years ago. Guy in front of me got into a fight with the guy in front of him and I put it down. Her dad was watching and came up and asked if I wanted a job as a bodyguard. Been with the family ever since, every job she went on, I came with the package."
"You know you could have picked what you wanted, gone where you wanted to." Ruby said back to him with a raised eyebrow. "Paul had quite the reputation. People knew they could count on him, and his military experience made him a hot commodity."
"I wasn't going to leave you guys. Songbird and Hollywood, and you? Made life interesting." He balked at her. "Besides, Frank's a boss. Guy is one of a kind, I wasn't going anywhere."
He always referred to her father in the present tense, never saying 'was' when he talked about him. He'd refused from the beginning to think anything had happened to him, and she didn't know if that was for her, or just because he admired him so much. Whatever it was, it always made her smile.
"He's always adored you." She said and Rick gave her a reassuring nod. He wished he could have known her family the way Paul had. Known her before all of this. The man was lucky, that was for sure."
"I can't imagine your life, so exciting. Makes our life sound so dull in comparison." Carol said with a small smile.
"Still would give anything to have it back." Glenn said and was met with a round of appreciative nods.
"I hear that." T-Dog said and they all sat back thoughtfully silent for a moment.
"Well, I'm going to start cleaning up." Carol said and Ruby, Beth, and Maggie got up to help. Plates were gathered and Rick leaned back against the fireplace wall and watched the activity around him. The happy chatter from the girls in the kitchen coming back through the doorway.
"Glenn, are you and Maggie going back to the garden?" He asked and immediately cringed because Carl perked right up.
"I wanna go."
Lori shook her head. "Oh no. It's hard enough for me to let you play outside as it is."
"Your mom's right, Carl. I don't want you all the way out there. But when we get back we'll do something, ok?" Rick said.
"Maggie'll want to go, yeah."
"How about you, Paul?"
"You know it." Came the friendly answer and Rick nodded.
"We'll go early. Maybe be able to scrounge up a little more from that farmhouse. I don't know how long we'll be here."
"You think, you know, if things keeping going ok, we should stay here? We got running water, and I think the idea of a safe zone is pretty much over now." T-Dog got up and took a seat in one of the chairs, crossing his arms over his chest and looking at Rick.
"I don't think you should." Paul said, throwing Rick a look, and they turned their attention toward him. "I've been down the way, there's a group down there that was less than friendly. And they aren't that far away. I don't think they'll come back out here, but I wouldn't chance it. West, maybe? There's other places like this still out there."
"You want to get back on the road?" Lori asked from the couch, a tentative frown on her dark features.
"Not really, but Paul's got a point. We all knew this would be temporary." Rick answered.
"Winters a couple months away. Give us enough time to find someplace decent." Glenn said and T-Dog nodded.
"This group, they holed up or moving on?"
"Pretty well holed up." Paul answered and T-Dog frowned.
"And you said they're bad news?"
"Putting it mildly. They find you, and can guarantee not all of you are making it out alive." Paul answered and the frown deepened.
"Then we get out of here." T said flatly. "That's my take, anyway."
"Yeah, me too." Glenn said just as Maggie and Beth came back from the kitchen.
"Me too, what?" She asked lightly, gathering the last of the dishes.
"Paul said there's a group down the road a little way that's pretty dangerous. We were talking about picking up and heading west to find someplace safer than this." Glenn said and she paused.
"We're leaving?"
"We need to plan it out, but that's what we're thinking." Rick said and she frowned, but nodded. She quickly gathered the remaining plates and she and her sister returned to the kitchen.
"Rick said we're leaving." Maggie said when they got back to the kitchen and Carol turned on her quickly. Daryl was still in the doorway and looked at her with a set jaw. She returned his gaze questioningly and he took a deep breath.
"I think he's right. Man's led us good so far." He said and Ruby tightened her lips.
"So do I."
Carol sighed and nodded. "Alright, then. But when?"
"We got to have enough time to find a decent place before winter." He said and Ruby slipped away as they talked about it. She returned to the living room and sat down in an armchair to listen as Rick and Paul discussed it further. From what she heard, nothing definite was planned, but they would be leaving soon.