A/N Sorry the chapters vary in length so much. When I started this I never planned to download it so there were no chapter breaks. I've had to go through and add them afterwards where it felt right.

Please r & r, I love knowing what you think.

xxxx

Chapter 16

She hung around in the kitchen as long as she thought she could get away with it, giving Hershel time to leave the room. She'd grown very fond of the old man and didn't like him looking as if he was disappointed in her. She finally returned holding a tray with two plates of food and two bottles of water on it. Carol had insisted on giving her extra, saying they both needed to start building their strength up again. Rick was still in there, keeping Daryl company and filling him in on what he'd missed over the last 10 days. He stopped talking and they both looked at her as she entered.

"What?" she was aware of their gaze and felt uncomfortable.

"That's a whole lot of food there. Carol trying to fatten you up again?" Rick laughed. Eleanor set the tray down on the edge of the bed.

"There's far too much for me here, share with me" she invited Rick, as she handed the other plate to Daryl. He started to tuck in, realising how hungry he was.

Rick shook his head "I can't take your meal, Carol will never forgive me for one thing, and you need it"

"Can't eat this much, it will only go to waste" She held the plate towards him and after a slight hesitation he took some of the meat. She then bullied him into eating some of the vegetables telling him that as he'd grown them he should eat them. Once both plates were empty Rick stood and took the tray.

"I'll get these back to Carol, then it's my turn on watch. I'll catch up with you later." He left the two of them alone.

"You did well getting' him to eat something'" Daryl commented "He's always givin' his share to Carl or the other kids"

"I know, and it's making him ill. That's why I did it" Eleanor pushed his legs to one side and tucked herself on the bed next to him, sitting with her back against the wall.

They sat quietly for a while, neither feeling the need to speak, and then Daryl broke the silence.

"Rick told me how we got out, what you had to do. You did good, they got what they deserved" he said quietly.

She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs,

"I know they were bad but it don't make it any easier to know I killed so many people. I let a man fall into a fire, I burned him alive." She closed her eyes and shivered at the memory of his screams as he burned.

Painfully Daryl pulled himself onto his side, resting on one arm, his face level with hers. Awkwardly he put his hand over hers as they rested on her legs, giving her what he hoped was a comforting squeeze.

"If you hadn't done it, we'd both be dead and so would them two boys out there, and anyone they found after us. You did the right thing, stop beatin' yourself up about it." She returned his grip with a small smile.

"I know. I'll be okay"

He let go off her hand and gave her a grin "What I really wanna know is how in the hell did you manage to track and catch a deer? You're crap at trackin'" She laughed and launched into a farfetched tale about following the animal for miles and fighting off dozens of walkers, before carrying the carcass for hours. Some of it was actually true.

After a couple of hours and several other visitors, Eleanor could see he was getting tired so she decided it was time to let him rest. She stood up and stretched her arms above her head.

"I'm gonna turn in, I'm tired and got early watch tomorrow. You need anything?"

He shook his head "nah I'm good. Since I got your room, where're you been sleeping?" he hoped she hadn't had to go back to the cell with the old lady that snored.

"I've been sleeping in that pit you call a bed, up on the perch. Had to ask Carol to wash the blankets, got her to use some real nice smellin' soap. Smells like strawberries up there now." She chuckled as she saw the look of disgust cross his face. Before leaving the room she gave him a quick peck on the cheek "Get some sleep, see yer tomorrow"