CHAPTER 4

Noel was surprised to find the bed empty when she woke up. It felt like so long ago that she revealed her biggest secret right in these sheets. Apparently hostages take precedence over relationships in the post-apocalyptic world. Noel made her way to camp only to find Daryl missing from the survivors.

As she sat with the group her mind wondered to the conversation Daryl and Rick had when he'd returned last night, hostage still in custody. When she asked Daryl about it he said it was nothing, not yet anyway, so she dropped it. But now as she sat watching as Daryl made his way towards the group she immediately knew the topic of conversation.

She wasn't surprised that after talking Daryl retreated to the tent, he had shot her a look like he expected her to follow. And she was until an angry Carol stormed up to her.

"Did you see his hands? You know what he did to that boy?" Noel sighed and shook her head, not understanding Carol's fixation on Daryl.

"Yeah I saw them and I have a pretty good idea as to what he did." Carol didn't budge but Noel stopped her before she could speak again, "I don't know why you're so worried about him, but he's fine, he can take care of himself." Carol crossed her arms, then uncrossed them and sighed, looking defeated.

"I'm gonna go check on him, okay?" Carol seemed satisfied so Noel turned and headed towards the tent.

Noel could see Daryl was sitting outside the tent waiting for her as she approached. His head shot up to her as soon as he heard her and watched, anticipating her next move. She wondered if he thought she'd be mad. He did torture the kid and she wasn't ecstatic about that but she wasn't mad.

Noel walked directly into the tent disappearing for a few moments then returning with her medical bag. She could tell by the look on his face that he was readily awaiting her opinion. She sat directly in front of him, taking his hands in hers, studying them. He couldn't hold it in any longer.

"You mad?" he asked, almost defensively. She shook her head and began cleaning his wounds. He seemed satisfied with that, noticeably relaxing despite the twitches caused by the alcohol burning his wounds. She kissed the palms of his hands once she finished and held his in hers.

Daryl stood and quickly pulled her into an embrace that made her laugh. Noel could tell that he was smiling as well so she pulled away quickly to relish it. He just shook his head and pulled her back into him. He did this the past few days, on busy days, when they knew their time together was short.

"What are you doing?" She whispered through the smile, holding him as tightly as he held her. He kissed her neck a while before answering.

"Just getting' as much of you as I can…" He answered before she could ask why, "'Cause one of these days you gon' realize I ain't as good of a man as ya think."

He was getting better as this, saying exactly what he was thinking, like she had a habit of doing. They both heard the nearing footsteps; she squeezed him tighter before he could push her away.

Noel shook her head and pressed her lips to his ear, "I never said you were a good man… I just said that I love you." She kissed him quickly and retreated back to camp as Dale made his way towards Daryl.

By the time both Noel and Daryl made it back to the tent, the night had taken a horrifying turn. Dale was dead, bitten and then shot by Daryl. She wasn't sure how he would react to this so she kept her distance without actually leaving his side. In the tent she stood watching his sitting form on the cot, his head in his hands.

"What do you wanna do?" Noel asked quietly, hoping it involved her staying. He looked up at her slowly before returning his head to his hands; he looked tired.

"Sleep." She was right; he was tired. Noel was about to make her exit when Daryl held out his hand. She all but ran to him, sitting on his lap and kissing him hard. He accepted the embrace and kissed her back, just as hard.

He undressed them until they were comfortable enough to sleep. Noel's head rested on Daryl's chest, her fingers moving through the hairs on his chest and kissing whatever skin was closest. One of his hands rested on her hip moving slowly from time to time, while the other rested on her thigh that was draped over his own.

"You know… you are a good man." She said softly, sleep apparent in her voice. He kissed the top of her head and waited for what he wanted to hear before drifting off to sleep. "And I love you."