CHAPTER 15

Noel was in the RV, helping Lori with the dishes when she heard yelling. Her and Lori looked and each other and hastily exited the vehicle. Noel squinted to see what the men were running towards, a walker? As Andrea prepared to take the shot Noel screamed.

"No!" but it was already too late; he went down. Noel ran as fast as she could, her heart in her throat. She stopped in front of the men as they heaved Daryl off the ground. Andrea asked before she could find the words,

"Is he dead?" her voice was distraught. Noel let out a breath of relief when Rick answered. She walked with the men, inspecting his wounds as they went.

"What the hell happened out there?" Glenn asked frantically. "Why does he have ears around his neck?" Rick quickly ripped the 'necklace' off and tossed it to Noel.

"Lets just get him inside." Rick said quickly and then turned to Noel, "I want you to help Hershel on this, keep an eye on him." He said the last part quietly. Noel nodded, accepting the task.

Daryl was in and out of consciousness as they stitched him up. At one point he woke up suddenly and freaked. He pushed Hershel away from him and pulled the sheets up to his chin. Noel grabbed his face.

"Daryl, relax." She said gently. She could see the anger and confusion in his eyes. "We need to stitch you up. Now go back to sleep." She could see him try to fight it but his eyes eventually closed and he drifted out of consciousness. Noel worked through lunch re-sewing the stitches he'd just torn. When she was finished she left him with Rick as she left to find something to eat.

When she returned he was awake and telling Rick and Shane where he'd found Sophia's doll. He wouldn't look at her, or acknowledge her presence. The two other men nodded to her as she took a seat in the far corner, pretending to rest her eyes as she listened to his accounts of that day.

After Rick and Shane left, Carol came in with two plate of food. Daryl looked confused at the excess. Carol motioned to Noel still sitting in the same chair, pretending to sleep.

"She's been here all day." Carol explained quietly, "I don't think she's eaten anything." Daryl nodded, feeling guilty as he turned away from the woman. Noel sat quietly as they finished their conversation. It wasn't until Carol left that Daryl spoke.

"Ya can get outta here now, we both know ya ain't sleepin'." He drawled. Noel sighed as she pushed herself up from the chair stretching.

Guess he's still mad. Daryl didn't look up as she moved. She pulled her boots off, followed by her jeans and bra. She crawled onto the bed.

"What the hell you doin' girl? I said get outta here." He rolled onto his back and pushed at her. But she didn't leave; she pulled the sheets away from him, down his legs revealing his torso and boxer-clad legs. "The fuck girl? I said get out!" He raised his voice this time, the anger still prominent.

Noel didn't stop there though; she straddled his hips and pushed down on his chest with her hands. He flinched when her lips touched the largest scar that marked his firm chest. She continued with open-mouthed kisses on every scar on his torso trailing down through the hair on his belly. He pulled her up, breathless but still angry.

"Do I have your attention?" She asked seriously. He didn't speak or move; he just stared at her, still gripping her wrists firmly. "Good," she said with a nod. "Because I need you to listen now." She continued, "You didn't let me finish earlier. I didn't mean that your scars disgusted me…" she spoke softly while running her hands up and down his chest, "I meant that I was disgusted that someone did that to you." She tried to keep her voice strong but she could feel the tears threatening to fall, "You must have been so young… who would… I mean how could they?" Her voice was shaking now, along with the rest of her body.

Daryl moved his hands to her thighs, trying to hold her steady as her body trembled above his. "I don't care if you're still mad or if you don't want me here because I'm staying." She stared at him tears falling down her face, "Because, now… I …I need you too." Daryl's eyes widened but instead of getting angry and pushing her away he wiped her tears and just looked at her, trying to see if she was lying or just making it all up.

But after a few moments he decided he believed her and sat up pulling her against his chest. He flinched as pain shot threw his side as he moved. Noel gently pushed him back down against the bed and rested her head against his chest. Daryl didn't speak, but Noel didn't mind, she trusted his eyes to tell her everything she needed to know. And just like that, her head on his chest and his hand rubbing the smooth skin of her back, they fell asleep.