Chapter 7
-Daryl-
'Crazy bitch is going to get me killed,' he thought to himself as they sprinted across the dark street.
She ripped open the door to a two story townhouse and pulled him inside shutting the door behind him. She leaned with her back against the door for a moment breathing heavily, although he was sure it was more fear than from exertion. Looking at her lithe body in the moonlight he knew she, at least, would not slow him down on the trek back to the prison.
The thought reminded him suddenly that he had not actually agreed to take her yet, though he'd been planning their escape together since they gathered supplies in the general store. Unwilling to lose face her straightened and stepped towards her once more.
"Wanna see that proof now." he growled down at her.
Sighing heavily, she looked up at him through her dark lashes, and reluctantly pushed her self away from the door and walked into the next room. He followed cautiously, his eyes darting back and forth surveying everything. It was a small but cozy living room, a few books lay scattered on the coffee table next to what appeared to be half way finished scarf and a ball of yarn. He smirked at the idea of this girl knitting... Somehow it didn't seem remotely possible.
She waved a hand at the couch and whispered "Wait here," but when Daryl made no move to sit but shot her a contemptuous look instead, she rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Fine, stay standing, but stay here, I've got to get my photo album and I don't want you in my bedroom."
Her statement made him blush angrily, but he just muttered "whatever," and stayed where he was. 'Never asked to go in her bedroom anyway,' he thought, annoyed with himself for the shadow of disappointment he felt at her implied rejection.
A minute later she emerged, hugging a worn leather photo album to her chest. The thing looked like it'd been to hell and back, and thinking back on the months since the outbreak, Daryl reckoned it probably had. He smirked remembering something Rick had said once, "Only a woman would think to grab photos during an apocalypse," thinking to himself how true it was. Not that there'd been any photo albums in the Dixon house anyway.
She flipped it open unceremoniously and held it out for his inspection.
His eyes locked on the biggest picture on the page. Just as she'd promised, at the center stood Rick and Laurie beaming happily, decked out in wedding attire. He knew Laurie had been pregnant with Carl at the time, but apart from looking slightly less twiggy than usual, it was impossible for him to tell. To her right stood a teenage girl with auburn hair and freckles, smiling almost as brightly as the happy couple. Although Rick had never talked about having one, he knew instantly that this was Rick's sister- her eyes were the same unmistakable shade of blue.
To Ricks left stood Shane, grinning with genuine happiness. Daryl had never imagined a time when Shane could seem tender, but there he was, eternally frozen in film, with his arms wrapped protectively around the pretty preteen flower girl with thick dark curls and wild green eyes.
'Oh Fuck.' he thought, looking up from the picture to meet the same green eyes, now staring at him impatiently.