A/N: Don't own (although I'd love to have my very own Norman Reedus :D) don't sue!

Lyrics are from 'Rain' by Patty Griffin

Rain

Hiatus Drabble 4

It's hard to listen to a hard, hard heart
Beatin' close to mine
Poundin' up against the stone and steel
Walls that I won't climb
Sometimes a hurt is so deep, deep, deep
You think that you're gonna drown
Sometimes all I can do is weep, weep, weep
With all this rain fallin' down
Strange, how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I'm holding on underneath this shroud
Rain
It's hard to know when to give up the fight
Some things you want will just never be right
It's never rained like it has tonight before
Now, I don't wanna beg you, baby
For something maybe you could never give
I'm not lookin' for the rest of your life
I just want another chance to live
Strange, how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I'm holdin' on underneath this shroud
Rain

Daryl and Rick were arguing again. Cassidy, sitting in the grass outside their tent rubbing lotion into Lochie's twisted angle, eyed them in amusement. Well they weren't really arguing, not in the explosive way Cassidy and Lochie argued; screaming and swearing and occasionally throwing things if they were at hand. Daryl was gesturing angrily and Rick was murmuring in that calming tone of his. She watched them out of the corner of her eye. She wondered what would happen if they ever used all that built up tension for something more interesting.

As if they'd heard her thoughts, Rick suddenly put one hand on the back of Daryl's head and yanked him forwards. Daryl was so stunned he didn't even react. He didn't even seem to realise that Rick had crushed his lips beneath his. The Sheriff's broad hands slid into Daryl's sweat-streaked hair, tangling in the fine strands and tugging him closer. Daryl's dirty hands caressed the stubble at Rick's jawline and throat, squeezing gently until Rick murmured something against his lips. When they drew apart there was a moment of hesitation as if Rick was worried Daryl might punch him, then he realised that Daryl had drawn back just far enough to get at the buttons on his shirt.

They were locked together again almost immediately, Daryl's nimble hands working at the shirt until he managed to push it off Rick's shoulders. His fingers dug into the sunburnt flesh where Rick's throat flowed into his broad shoulders. Rick had initiated this yet now he seemed to have lost complete control of the situation. His hands, however, had a mind of their own and they caressed Daryl's chest through his sleeveless shirt. Daryl kneaded and rubbed Rick's bare shoulders, moving down to his back and abdomen.

Rick unbuttoned Daryl's shirt surprisingly quickly, almost tearing it off his back in his hurry. Daryl's hands were tugging at Rick's belt-

"Hey! OW!"

Cassidy blinked when a sharp pain shot up her arm. She looked down at Lochie who was glaring at her.

"Are you even on this planet?" Lochie snapped, pointing at her ankle where Cassidy's fingers were digging in so hard they'd turned white.

"What?" Cassidy whipped her head back up but Daryl and Rick were standing there, fully dressed, staring at the two of them as if they've sprouted an extra head apiece.

"You totally spaced out, you stupid bint." Lochie giggled, apparently willing to forgive her now that she'd removed her grip. "You were just sitting there staring at them with your mouth open."

Cassidy flushed hotly and busied herself with Lochie's ankle. It wasn't sprained, she'd just yanked it in a tangle of roots. Her imagination had clearly gotten away with her. It must be the heat. It was very hot.

"What were you thinking about?" Lochie whispered. "You were staring at them for ages, your cheeks went all red and you kept licking your lips."

"Nothing. Just daydreaming."

Lochie gave her a sly grin. Whatever they'd been discussing seemed to have been resolved because Rick ran a hand through his hair and wandered off.

"I'll be fine."

Cassidy was still deeply immersed in her strange daydream, images of what it could have continued onto filling her head.

"Hmmm?"

She finally forced herself to look at Lochie who was sitting there grinning at her.

"Since you clearly want to go screw his brains out." Cassidy shoved Lochie's leg from her lap with slightly more force than was necessary but she took it in good grace. "And later I want to know what you were thinking about!" She called after her as Cassidy stalked across the camp towards Daryl.

She grabbed hold of the back of Daryl's shirt and yanked him straight into the trees. His startled cry was cut off abruptly as she clapped her hand over his mouth. Her eyes were flashing and her cheeks were burning, two bright spots of colour on her cheekbones. She planted herself against a wide tree out of sight of the camp and pulled him tightly against her. He submitted quite willingly when she kissed him. He'd been harsher with Rick than the Sheriff really deserved because he'd been distracted by the sight of her sprawled on the grass in miniscule dungarees and a bikini top in the suffocating heat, one of Lochie's long slim legs thrown over hers as she massaged her ankle…

She only broke the kiss when she realised she needed oxygen and her hands went immediately to his jeans. He was slightly surprised at the feverish hunger in her eyes. The brief thought that rubbing Lochie's ankle had done this to her flashed through his mind but then he remembered what Lochie had called after her. What on earth had she been thinking? He growled as she released him, his hands fumbling with the strange metal locks that held up her dungarees.

"I want you now." She gasped breathlessly in his ear, stroking him gently but insistently until it was all he could do to concentrate on what he was doing.

Her hands stroked faster and he gave up on the straps, cursing himself when he realised that it was a skirt. He pushed it up around her waist, none-too-gently, his fingers rubbing against her through the thin cotton panties. She was thoroughly wet and he hurriedly pushed the material aside. Her nails dug painfully into his shoulders as he lifted her up, planting her firmly against the tree. Both of his hands were clamped tightly on her buttocks and she felt the tree scraping painfully against her back as he adjusted her to the right height. She thought she might actually die if he wasn't inside her soon, she'd never been this aroused in her whole life. Well maybe die was an exaggeration, but she'd certainly implode.

"I think I busted my stitches."

Cassidy hooked one finger under his shirt and lifted it, peering at his wound. There was no blood on the bandages.

"Nope. Probably just yanked them around."

She dug a scavenged pack of cigarettes out of her pocket. They were ridiculously squashed but some were salvageable. She lit one and took a long drag. She really hadn't been a smoker before all this, the odd one after sex or a particularly difficult job. She blew a plume of smoke out and handed it to him. His fingers slid the length of hers briefly as he retrieved it. Something snapped behind them and she froze. After an interminably long pause the trees were still again and she relaxed a fraction.

"I've never done that before." She said thoughtfully as he handed her back the cigarette. "Did a number on my back." She shifted, her back sore and throbbing

"You're sayin' that a lot lately." He muttered, scratching one stubbled cheek absently.

"Must be corrupting me." She said in amusement, handing him back the cigarette.

He gave her a very long, surprisingly shrewd look and she frowned at him.

"What?"

For the first time since she'd met him he looked distinctly uncomfortable and she was sure that a flush was flaring beneath the sweat and grime staining his cheeks.

"You're not… well, you weren't…" He took a deep breath until his cheeks puffed out and then let it out in a long whistling breath. "You ain't a—a—"

He seemed to be casting around for any word except the one echoing in his head and she laughed.

"A virgin? Well if I was, I'm certainly not one anymore." She pointed out, brushing her dirty fingertips over the faint bruises already blossoming on her bronze thighs where he'd held her up. "No. I wasn't a virgin. You did not deflower me, Dixon." If it was possible, he turned even pinker. "Why would you think that?"

He shrugged, clearly embarrassed at the whole situation. Usually she revelled in discomfiting him but now she felt a flicker of unease burning at the base of her spine.

"No reason."

Feeling suddenly self-conscious and awkward, she scrambled to her feet. Seeing her less-than-graceful ascent, unusual in itself as nearly everything she did was tinged with the fluid grace of a dancer, he frowned up at her. He'd done something wrong, said something that had offended her. He tried to catch her hand as she moved past him but she slipped out of his grasp and vanished.

She'd been avoiding him. At first he hadn't been entirely sure, after all most of the camp avoided him, but that was the second time since yesterday she'd disappeared the instant he'd spotted her. He didn't know what he'd done, but he was surprised at the ache her coolness created. It was like having another wound, throbbing if he made a sudden unexpected movement. He tossed aside the map he'd been studying and marched across the campsite towards her tent.

She was laughing with Carl when he reached it and his stomach contorted with jealousy. She was standing there giggling with that kid and she wouldn't even look at him!

"Beat it, kid." He snapped.

The two of them stared at him in amazement, then Carl hurried away back the way Daryl had come. Cassidy folded her arms and glared at him.

"That was fucking rude." She snapped coolly.

"Rude? Wanna explain why you won't look me in the eye anymore, Red?"

She looked up at him defiantly, her green eyes blazing.

"I'm looking you in the eye. We're eyeball to eyeball right now."

He was dumbfounded. Women had never been his strong point, as far as he were concerned the whole gender were freaking insane but he'd been starting to think that maybe the two of them were on the same level.

"If I'm not a good enough lay for you, you could have just told me. I'm a big girl, I can handle it." She said suddenly, tilting her chin defiantly.

He had the feeling that most other men she'd turned those flashing emerald beacons on had cowered right before her eyes. He was completely at a loss. Where the hell had she got that from? His silence only seemed to prove whatever she'd been thinking because she gave him a last withering look and made to turn away from him. He lashed out instinctually, grabbing her by the arms and holding her firmly in place.

"What the hell are you talking about, lady?"

She'd tensed so tightly under his hands, her entire body completely rigid, that he was slightly concerned her muscles might snap.

"What you said." She said slowly and calmly. "I'm not putting myself out there just to be used and not even appreciated for it."

He goggled at her. He could see her pulse racing out of control in her throat, her cheeks were deathly white and her jaw was jutting stubbornly. He realised with a jolt that whatever she'd thought he meant had hurt her. He forced his brain back, searching through what he'd said.

"I asked if you were a virgin." He blurted and her lips tightened. "That what this is about?"

He felt the wild urge to laugh but some instinct made him realise that would not be a good idea. Besides, he was ninety per cent sure she could kill him with her bare hands if she put her mind to it.

"I've been insulted before but I've never had complaints in that department."

She'd tossed the comment out casually but he could sense the underlying tension, pulled as taught as a wire and ready to snap. Ignoring the flush of hot searing jealousy at the thought of her with other men, he wasn't quite prepared to delve that deep into his emotions yet, he shook his head.

"Not what I meant." He grunted roughly. "You come out with things like 'I've never done that before' and-"

"I'm twenty four! Before this shit happened I had a career. A dangerous career. I didn't exactly have time to go screwing in the fields!" She snapped but he felt some of the tension leaving her.

He decided to gamble and he drew her closer towards him. She resisted slightly but eventually moved forwards a few steps.

"I ain't got no complaints." He breathed. "Not a one."

She continued to glare at him but the coldness had gone from her eyes.

"Good." She finally said. "Because I haven't shown you half of what I can do yet."

He grinned but she slipped out from his grasp and stepped back. He wasn't surprised. There would be no passionate romantic make-up between them. She wasn't like that. She would retreat and mull things over by herself for a while. Maybe he was starting to figure her out after all. He was about to return to his own tent when her head emerged between the green flaps.

"Well, are you going to stand there all day?" Her mouth hitched into a grin that was starting to become familiar. Deliciously so. "Come on, redneck."

He shook his head, moving towards the tent. Nope. He still had absolutely no clue.

Dalonega Noquisi – that's about as close to mushy as I get lol I'm really not a romantic person at all

VileMalapert – thanks very much :) here's more for you

LadyLecter47 – I know, I couldn't cope without something until the show starts again

gurl3677 – absolutely, and the rest of him too :D