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-Daryl-

His heart seized up as he watched her stumble to her knees. Afternoon sunlight streamed in through the windows that faced onto the courtyard, mercifully giving him a clear view of the walker clutching her ponytail. Exhaling methodically, he dispatched an arrow with expert precision killing it instantly, but his relief was short lived. the second she was released from the walker's death grip, Lexi fell forward, her head hitting the pavement of the cell floor with a meaningful thud. She was out of reach from the walkers, but things were far from fine.

He gazed at the wall of corpses surrounding her cell as he made quick work of the remaining walkers in the cell block. Even in his adrenaline fueled state his mind registered real awe, and something deeper- pride maybe?- at what she had accomplished in her weakened state. Nearly thirty walkers lay strewn in front of her cell. Had he not distracted her she might have been able to kill of the remaining twelve in an hour or so.

'If she'd fucking paced herself,' he thought to himself angrily as he stabbed one of the walkers in the eye and took out another one with a shot to the forehead. Eight to go.
He realized that rage was beginning to build in him, replacing the fear that had filled him from the minute Glenn told him she had disappeared.

Who the fuck did she think she was running off like that? What the hell was she doing? Didn't she realize what it would do to Carl, to Rick, to Caitlyn if she got killed? Didn't she realize what it'd do to him?

More frustrated than ever he threw a walker off the stairs bodily, it's head bursting with a satisfying splat on the pavement below, and took out the last two still hovering in front of the cell. He'd barred the only entrance when he came in and besides the walkers still trapped in locked cells the place was clear for now.

Carefully, he began moving the corpses away from the door, concerned a live one might be stuck beneath its fallen comrades. After what seemed like an eternity, he cleared all of the bodies in front of her cell and began to work on the gerry-rigged lock some poor dead fuck had invented to keep him IN prison. Even after all this time the irony was still not lost on him.

He could see her torso moving up and down as she breathed and the sight began to calm him raging temper. Watching her sleep was becoming quite the hobby for him. He let himself into the cell, and kneeling, gently turned her over.

Her eyes shot open and instinctively, her arms flew up to defend herself. Quick as lightening, Daryl pinned them above her head stretching himself over her as he did so.

"Calm down woman, 'M not gonna hurt ya," he ground out through gritted teeth. He hadn't thought his body positioning out well, and he was suddenly painfully aware of the mere inches hat separated her magnificent breasts, rising and falling with her ragged breathing, and his own chest.

'You're a fucking animal,' he chastised himself mentally as he felt his cock hardening in spite of himself. 'She was just unconscious for fuck's sake.'

"Daryl," she whispered, her body sagging with relief and recognition. She closed her eyes momentarily and leaned her head against her muscular forearm. he released her and sat back, scoping her into his arms as he went.

"God I'm sorry," she said under her breath. She nuzzled into him for a moment, savoring the safety of them then opened her eyes and peered directly into his.

"Nuthin' to be sorry for," he muttered softly while she reached up to stroke his cheek. The movement sent a surge of through her arm and she winced in spite of herself.

He'd been about to kiss her right then and there out of relief and fury, but her flinch reminded him of the dire state of her health. Now was not the time, or the place.

"Cummon, let's get you back, get that cut fixed up." he said, standing and lifting her into his arms.

"No, I can walk," she said struggling to get down. "plus if it's not all clear we'll need to be able to defend ourselves."

Annoyed, but able to admit that she had a point, he released her begrudgingly.

" 'S fine by me, just take it slow, ain't no need to-"

His words were drowned out by the sound of a gunshot and a heavy thud, and with that Lexi was off, streaking towards the courtyard door.