Chapter 31 – Lauren
By the time we had unloaded the box truck and SUV from our successful scavenging run, Daryl still hadn't returned. I knew he could take care of himself better than anyone else, but that didn't mean I wouldn't still worry when he was out there alone. Carol and I were unloading some of the cases of food into the pantry and stocking the shelves. I had suggested to Rick that maybe someone could go through the storage room my Mom had. It needed to be organized so the stuff we didn't need we could get rid of to make room for the cases of food that wouldn't fit in the pantry. He took it upon himself to do it with Carl. They also were looking for a crib for Judith that I though may be stored there.
"He'll be back soon you know, "Carol said reading my mind as she placed cans of baked beans on the shelf.
I turned and looked at her with surprise. "How do you do that? It's scary that you can read minds Carol."
She laughed at me. "It's not hard when I see that you are a bit sidetracked, quieter than normal and I know he isn't back yet. It's simple relationship math."
"Well your still scary, Carol," I laughed. I broke down the canned tuna box I had just emptied, before starting on a box of pasta.
"And don't you forget it," she replied with a straight face. For a moment the air in the room was serious then she burst out laughing and I joined in. The truth is Carol was the deadliest woman I knew.
Two hours later, we had unpacked what boxes we could. Rick had made good headway in the storage room, so we stored the rest there. Carl was triumphant in finding not one, but two Pack N Play cribs for Judith. This way Rick could keep one in his room and the other downstairs. Maggie and Michonne took care of the medical supplies getting them sorted and stashed in one of the kitchen cabinets.
Daryl still wasn't back yet. It was late afternoon and the sun was getting lower in the sky, and I had fully expected him back by now. Glenn had pulled some of the chairs we used on the front porch out of the storage shed, so I took a glass of water with me and sat down to wait for Daryl. I waited and I waited.
The front door opened and Rick sauntered out and sat down with me. He didn't say a word for a few minutes, he just sat back looking at the lake. "Think I'm gonna have Carl try some fishing tomorrow off the dock. Would be nice to have some fresh fish for a change."
"That it would," I answered quietly. "Fishing gear is in the shed."
"Yeah, I saw it earlier." He leaned back in the chair crossing his legs. "He'll be back, you know. Daryl can take care of himself better than anyone. If he shot a deer that may take him a while to get it back."
"I know…I just can't help worrying."
"I'm glad Daryl has someone to worry about him. He deserves it." Rick just stayed there with me as we waited together for Daryl to get back. There was a great comfort in his presence.
It was approaching dusk and the sky was full of pink and orange colors, when we heard a noise in the woods and we both turned towards the right side of the property. Rick stood up and immediately his hand reached for his gun. Damn, I didn't have mine with me. How had I gotten so careless?
The noise came closer, until finally Daryl popped out from the forest into the clearing. Rick and I both relaxed instantly. Daryl had a doe over his shoulders and he was weighted down with her heavy dead weight. Rick ran down the steps to give him a hand. Together they got the deer off Daryl's filthy shoulders. Between the blood from the deer and god knows what else, Daryl's shirt was a mess.
"Nice job," Rick said congratulating Daryl.
"Got 'er on my way back from scouting. The woods are full of deer. We shouldn't have a problem keeping up with fresh meat." Daryl looked around.
"What you do you need?" I asked him, finally speaking up.
He gave me a quick smile. "A place to store her. I field dressed her, but the butchering can wait till tomorrow. "
"The storage shed has beams we can hang it from, that should work, right?" I suggested.
"Yeah, that's good." The three of us walked over to the shed and I pulled open the doors so they could carry the deer in. Daryl quickly had it suspended in the air and the rope tied off. " Maybe a bucket under it to catch any excess blood dripping?" he suggested.
"I think you have most of it on you," I laughed.
Daryl looked at his shirt and sighed. "Shit, this was a new one too."
"Well you're not getting any from my stash," Rick smirks as he starts to walk out of the shed. "Talk to me later on what you found, okay?"
"Thanks, Bro… I'll remember that," Daryl growled at Rick's receding back. Rick just laughed.
Daryl turned to me. "Hey," he smiled at me.
"Hey." I was relieved that he was back safe and sound. "You were gone kinda long, have any problems out there?"
Daryl gave the rope a final tug. "It was good. I need to talk to you and Rick later on what I found." He looked down at his filthy shirt and then at me. "I want to kiss you so bad, but I am such a mess."
I leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss on his lips. "That will have to do until you get cleaned up and the sooner you get cleaned up…." I purposely left my sentence unfinished.
Daryl's blue eyes brightened immediately. "I'm on my way," he said steering me quickly out of the shed. I closed the door and secured the lock and followed him to the cabin. "Think you can steal me another shirt or two from Rick's room?"
"Of course. Now get that cute butt in the shower and I'll bring you some clean clothes."
We had made it up the staircase and stood outside of our room. I was about to knock on Rick's door to get some clothes for Daryl. "You know," Daryl said with a sexy smile. "You can always join me. I'm findin' out that I really like showerin' with you."
"Me too. How about you get rid of all of that whatever you have all over you and maybe…you'll get a surprise in the shower." I had so missed him today. It was the first time we had been apart since we got together. He made me feel like I was a teenager again. Daryl grabbed my hand and brought me to him. His kiss was hungry for me and I returned it eagerly. "Go!" I said laughing at him.
"I'm going…I'm going," and with a wink he disappeared behind our bedroom door. I sure did love that man.