Chapter 17

After a week of forced bed rest Daryl was going crazy, at one point Hershel had actually locked the door to stop him from trying to get out. They had to make sure they kept the younger children away from that area, to stop them picking up the bad language that came through the door. Finally Bob and Hershel decided he could leave the room as long as he took it easy, no hunting or going on runs. They wouldn't even allow him to go on watch as they felt climbing the ladder to the watch tower would put too much strain on his injured back.

Eleanor was on night watch and wasn't surprised when the trapdoor opened and Daryl climbed into the tower.

She rolled her eyes at him "Hershel'l lock you in the room again if you don't behave." She smiled, glad to see him, night watch was boring and she was glad of some company. They walked out onto the walkway and stood side by side, looking across the open space into the surrounding forest.

"Do you think that madman will come back?" she asked. Eleanor had heard all about The Governor and his attack on the prison, she also knew he was responsible for the death of Daryl's brother Merle. Daryl and Michonne had spent weeks trying to find him, so make him pay for what he had done, but the trail had gone cold and they had given up. Many people had died in his failed attempt to take the prison. He had turned on his own troops and gunned them down when they had fled the battle. Rick and the others had chased after him, thinking he had returned to Woodbury, the town he had run but there had been no sign of him. They had returned with the young and the old of the town as well as Tyreese and his sister Sasha, who had refused to take part in the attack. They had also found Karen, hiding among the bodies the Governor had shot down and allowed her to return and become part of the group.

Daryl shrugged "I dunno, maybe. This time we'll be ready for him. Rick and Michonne got a whole load of weapons from that last run they did. We got more people keeping watch. He won't catch us out next time"

She nodded "Yeah, we won't let him take this place, worked too hard to make it home" She walked around the walkway, her rifle in her hands, her eyes alert.

He watched her as she paced, it was a hot, bright night and she was wearing a loose fitting, strap top and her jeans. In the moonlight he could see the scars on her back, where her top didn't cover them. He walked quietly up behind her as she stopped and leant over the railings. Cautiously he reached a hand out and traced one of the scars lightly with his finger.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked as he felt her body tense at his touch.

She turned, breaking the contact "not really, skin feels a bit tight still sometimes. What about you?"

She looked into his face and he lowered his eyes.

"Still hurts a bit" he mumbled, still not looking at her.

"What's the matter?" she sensed there was more to this visit than an enquiry into her health.

He shook his head, saying nothing. She waited knowing he wanted to say something, but knowing he wouldn't be rushed.

"Should of protected you better" he suddenly blurted out "Should of fought them harder, not let them take you"

She grabbed his face and made him look at her "We've already been through this, you got nothing to feel bad about. We were outnumbered, no way we could of got away. They had guns and an asshole with a whip. You gotta let this go. We got away and we saved those two kids, it all worked out in the end." She stared straight into his eyes. Suddenly, unexpectedly he dug his fingers into her hair and pulled her into him, kissing her. She was so surprised she didn't respond and he quickly released her, stepping back, embarrassed.

"sorry, dunno why I did that" he mumbled as he backed away and headed for the trapdoor.

"Wait" Eleanor called as he disappeared down the ladder. She swore under her breath, she wanted to tell him she had liked it, he'd just caught her off guard. She wanted to tell him she wanted more, but she knew she'd just messed it all up. He found showing his feelings so hard she'd probably just hurt him badly and ruined any chance they may have had.

Daryl couldn't believe he'd been so dumb. He wanted to show Ellie that he liked her, cared for her but instead he'd grabbed her like she was a cheap slut. No wonder she hadn't kissed him back, he'd just blown any chance with her and probably ruined their friendship as well. He stormed into the cell block and collided with Carol, almost knocking her to the ground. He managed to grab her arms in time to stop her falling.

"Someone's in a hurry. Where's the fire?" she joked as he released her arms. He just growled at her and pushed by, heading back to his room. Carol looked after him, a puzzled expression on her face.

"I think he had a fight with Miss Eleanor" a little voice informed Carol; she turned and found Lizzie, one of the children from Woodbury standing behind her.

"What makes you say that?" She asked, taking the little girls hand to return her to her cell, she had a habit of wandering around the prison on her own.

"He just came out the watch tower door and Miss Eleanor was looking over the side looking sad" Lizzie reported as Carol tucked her back into bed.

Eleanor was pacing around the walkway, running her fingers through her hair, clearly agitated when Carol arrived in the tower.

"Thought you might need this" she handed a plastic cup over. Eleanor took it and sniffed.

"Is that Southern Comfort?" she asked, Carol nodded and held up her own cup.

"Figured it would help calm you down" she explained, smiling at Eleanor's horrified look.

"Did you see what happened?" she asked, cringing

"No, but Lizzie told me you and Daryl had a fight and you looked sad. I saw him and he just looked angry" Carol was intrigued but didn't want to pry.

Eleanor took a sip of her drink. "I just screwed up so bad and now I don't know what to do" she looked so sad Carol went and hugged her "We were talking and he just grabbed me and kissed me. It was real nice but I was so surprised I didn't return it and he just ran before I had a chance to say anything. I think I've probably really hurt him and I don't know how to make it right." She didn't see Carol smile as she spoke. They were as bad as each other, they were the only ones who couldn't see what was right in front of them. Even the children could see it. One of the kids she taught had showed her a drawing he'd done. It was of a motorbike with the figures of a man and woman on it.

"It's Mr Daryl and Miss Eleanor" the child had told her "They're holding hands 'cos they love each other" he'd explained innocently. She'd shown it to Rick that night and he'd laughed

"Shame everyone can see it 'cept those two" he'd commented.

Carol decided that they needed a shove in the right direction. She let go of Eleanor and held her at arm's length.

"Go" she said firmly "I'll finish your watch, it's almost over anyway. You go and talk to him. It's about time you two sorted this out" Eleanor looked at her with big eyes.

"Are you sure?" she looked scared

Carol pushed her towards the trapdoor.

"Go now" she smiled "make it right"

Eleanor scurried through the door and down the ladder. It was just starting to get light as she hurried to the cell block. She passed Hershel and Michonne on her way in.

"We're just heading out to get rid of some walker bodies" Michonne explained "See you later"

She waved them off then headed to her room. She hesitated as her hand reached for the door handle. Squaring her shoulders and taking a deep breath she pushed the door open and barged in.

Daryl turned to face her as she stormed in, before she could change her mind she grabbed him and kissed him hard. She felt him tense, then his arms wrapped around her waist and he returned the kiss, pulling her close.

"I'm sorry" she stammered when they parted "Caught me by surprise, wasn't expecting it. I didn't know what to do"

"Caught me by surprise too" he admitted "Wasn't planning it, just kinda happened"

They looked at each other, Daryl's arms were still round her waist and she was resting her arms against his chest. Neither was sure what to do next.

"There's probably 14 year olds know what there're doin' better than us" she joked. "I aint been serious about someone before. Don't really know what I'm doin'"

He looked at her, astonished, "Can't believe you never had someone serious before. Thought a girl like you would be fighting men off all the time. Seen how they look at you here."

"I guess I'm just picky." She replied "had plenty of offers, just never found anyone interesting enough."

"How 'bout all them racing drivers you were beating, none of them interesting?" he teased, referring to the stories she had told Patrick and Carl.

"Hell, some of them were hot, but they didn't like being beaten by a woman." She smiled at him as he rolled his eyes in disbelief.

"I really did race cars for my Daddy, and I won a lot of races, but they was just little local stock car tracks. If you won $500 it was a fancy race."" He still wasn't sure how much to believe, but went along with it.

"I guess you could kiss me again, if you wanted" she gazed at him, shyly. He raised his hand to the back of her neck and pulled her in towards him.

A/N At last. Hope I've kept it in character and I've tried to show how awkward the two of them are socially. Let me know please.

xxx