WARRIORS OF THE WALKING DEAD: SAVIORS OF MANKIND

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Katelyn walked across Deer Creek, smiling as she looked around. Since the power wasn't up yet, they had no outdoor lights, so everyone built firepits so people could see outside at night. There was a curfew that went into effect at dark and soldiers patrolled the area so if there was an emergency, they could get help. Each house was outfitted with a walkie talkie in case of emergencies and someone was always monitoring the channels at the longhouse where they set up their headquarters.

The dim glow of fire pits lined the walls, casting flickering shadows along the rail cars. Katelyn realized how quiet it was outside and looked around her. Suddenly, the wall seemed very far away. Goosebumps raced up her arms as she headed straight for the wall where Daryl was patrolling. Katelyn looked over her shoulder, sure that she heard something behind her, but there was nothing there. Katelyn began to hurry now, picking up her speed and glancing over her shoulder so much, she didn't notice when she slammed into someone.

Katelyn would have fallen to the ground if someone's hands hadn't grabbed her. Stabilized, she looked up into the face of Nate and she shuddered. In the moonlight, the shadows made him look frightening.

"Woah there. Where are you going?" Nate asked, his tone condescending and smug.

Katelyn didn't know that Nate had been put on patrol duty and felt terror race through her, but she and Daryl had practiced this kind of situation. Her hand slid down to her knife. Thankfully, it was dark so Nate couldn't see her slide the dagger out of her scabbard.

"Huh? Where ya going? You're not supposed to be out here." He continued, licking his lips nervously and looking from side to side to see if anyone was around.

"To the wall. I'm delivering coffee. Daryl's expecting me." Katelyn bluffed. In truth, she was going to surprise Daryl.

"Really? I don't think so, now why don't I walk you back to your house…to make sure you're safe." Nate offered, his eyes narrowing. Now he knew that Daryl wasn't in their house.

"No. I can manage." She felt her fear turn into anger and she squared her shoulders.

"That wasn't a question. You're a civilian and there's a curfew so I'm gonna have to escort you home." Nate said sharply. How dare this bitch argue with him!

"I don't think you understand, Corporal. I am going to the wall and if you don't get out of my way and stop harassing me, I'll report you to the Major." She said bravely, even though her hands were shaking badly and her heart was racing.

"You got about 2 seconds to back the fuck off or I'm gonna shoot your ass then cut off your balls." Katelyn nearly burst out crying with relief when she heard Daryl's voice. She'd been so focused on the possibility of having to stab him that she hadn't even seen Daryl come up behind him.

"Come here, honey." Daryl said, nodding at Katelyn to get behind him while he held the crossbow up at eye level, ready at any minute to shoot him if he so much as twitched.

Katelyn hurried past Nate and behind Daryl, sliding her knife into the scabbard at her waist. She was shaking so badly, she couldn't get it in. It took three tries to sheath it, meanwhile, Rick and Andrea had approached.

"I take it you're the asshole who Katelyn had to deck?" Daryl asked, his voice gruff with fury. Moving closer to him, he stepped around so he could look him in the eye.

"I was just trying to make sure she was safe. It's past curfew and I offered to escort her back to your house." Nate stated smoothly. He was good at manipulation but Daryl was immune to his "charms".

"You're so full a shit I can smell it from here." Daryl spat.

"You can even ask your girl here. What'd I say honey?" He was condescending and even Andrea snorted with irritation. This guy was a prick.

"You call her honey again and I'll slit your throat. The only thing keepin' you alive right now is the fact that Katelyn's standing here." Daryl threatened, his voice turning deadly. Kate had never heard him sound quite like that and she shivered.

"Listen…I was just patrolling and saw someone walking alone and came to provide a safe escort. You're totally overreacting." Nate tried another approach. This one didn't fly with Daryl either.

"You ain't on the list of soldiers who are spose ta be here. Let's walk over to the longhouse and call the Major and see if I'm right." Daryl stated, stepping back so Rick could cuff him.

"I don't need those for god's sake." Nate sighed in exasperation.

"Come on." Rick said, tugging on the cuffs to get him walking while Daryl stopped Katelyn for a moment.

"You okay?" He asked, looking her up and down. He could see that she was shaking, but she didn't seem to showing signs of a panic attack.

"Yeah." She said, trying to calm her trembling hands and reeling head.

"You're shaking. Here…" HE said, as he took off his coat and slung it over her shoulders.

As he wrapped the coat around her, she stepped into the warmth of him and put her arms around him, laying her head on his chest. He immediately wrapped his arms around her.

"You drew your knife." He stated, impressed that she had enough presence of mind to pull it.

She nodded into his chest.

"You did well. I heard voices from over here and came to investigate. That's when I saw you. I didn't know who the hell the guy was but I could see your face. I knew something was wrong." Daryl explained.

She squeezed him tighter in response.

"Come on. Let's go in the longhouse and figure out what the hell we're gonna do with this asshole." Daryl said, taking her hand and leading her into the building.

Nate was sitting in the chair next to the table where the radio was. Rick was on the walkie with the Major when they walked in.

"So he wasn't on the roster?" Rick confirmed. "Thank you, Major. We'll keep him locked up til your guys get here to pick him up."

Nate rolled his eyes.

Rage hit Daryl immediately as he realized how dangerous this guy actually.

By this time, a few other soldiers heard the commotion and entered the building to see if they could help. Rick looked over at Daryl and saw the look on his face and set the walkie down.

"Daryl. I got this one. You take Katelyn home. The MP's are coming to pick him up." Rick said, trying to head off the explosion he saw coming. Daryl's face was tense and his fists were clenched.

One of the soldiers that came into the building knew about the situation and when he saw Nate sitting there and Katelyn and Daryl just inside the door, he immediately went over to stand in front of Nate. He saw the look on Daryl's face and Katelyn was sheet white so he knew this wasn't good. Looking over at Rick, he nodded at him acknowledging that he'd watch him while Rick talked to Daryl.

"Daryl. Take Kate home. We've got it. In the morning, we'll go in and talk to Jackson about it. Okay?" Rick had his hands on Daryl's shoulders looking him in the eye.

"Please Daryl?" Katelyn asked, trying to calm him down. He seemed calm until they walked into the longhouse and he realized that he had snuck out to come here and hadn't even been posted by mistake. He knew it had been planned and he was ready to murder this guy.

Daryl looked at Kate's face which was drawn and tired looking now, her skin pale.

"Take her home." Rick emphasized again.

Daryl took one more look at him, threatening him with his eyes and walked out of the longhouse, Katelyn in tow.

He nearly kicked the door open when they got to the house. Stomping inside, he almost threw his crossbow across the counter but Katelyn grabbed it before it fell on the floor. With his hands on his hips he started pacing.

"Daryl." Katelyn said softly, trying to get him to look at her but he was livid.

"Honey?" Katelyn walked over to him and put her hand lightly on his arm.

Daryl paused, closing his eyes as he tried to get his anger under control.

"I'm gonna kill him. He's not coming anywhere near you again." Daryl said passionately, finally looking up at Kate.

Both of them turned their heads when they heard footsteps on the stairs coming down.

"What the hell is going on?" Merle asked gruffly, his voice rough from sleep.

Katelyn looked at Merle, her face obviously concerned, alerting Merle to the fact that something was wrong.

"Hey…little bro. What's up?" Merle asked, walking straight over to him, his body tense now.

"That fucking asshole that Kate decked…he's here. He snuck out of the school to come here. He…he approached Kate…waited til night and no one was around to mess with her." Daryl bit out angrily.

"Woah…what?" Merle was trying to understand. He looked at Katelyn with confusion.

"I was brining coffee out to Daryl on the wall and he came out of nowhere to try to…I don't even know what he wanted. He wanted to bring me back to the house. When I said 'no', he insisted." Katelyn said, trying to figure out what he'd been planning on doing as well.

"That doesn't make sense. If he wanted to get you alone, why would he bring you here?" Merle asked.

Katelyn shrugged.

"Cuz he didn't know you'd be there. He probably assumes you're living in the longhouses with the other single guys." Daryl stated, interlacing his hands and resting them on his head now.

Katelyn wrapped Daryl's coat tighter, suddenly chilled.

"He still here?" Merle asked casually.

"Yeah. He's in the main longhouse with Rick. Some MP's are comin' for him." Daryl said, looking over at Katelyn who had her arms wrapped around herself protectively. He could tell she was exhausted and scared and walked over to stand behind her. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he moved his hands on her arms to rub some warmth back into them.

"Why don't you go up and go to bed?" He whispered in her ear.

She shook her head. He knew she wasn't going to go to bed until he came with her so he tightened his grip on her so she rested her back against his chest.

"We'll talk in the morning." Merle said, noticing Katelyn's pale face and Daryl's concern at the moment.

Daryl nodded and took her hand to lead her upstairs. Pausing, he turned and quickly grabbed his crossbow off the counter.

"Good night Merle." Katelyn said, smiling at him.

"Don't you worry about anything. I'll make sure this asshole doesn't cause any more problems tonight." Merle said as the two of them went upstairs.

Oh yeah. Old Merle 'l make sure he doesn't cause problems ever again.