Disclaimer Not mine, sadness!

Notes: One quick chapter this morning, I'm trying to wrangle Fin and Daryl into cooperating in the next one but they're not having it, might end up being a drabble post later... :P

Chapter Forty-Five

(Fin's POV)

When I open my eyes again he's back in the room, not holding my hand this time…just leaning against the mattresses edge back to me. His head bent forward over something he's looking at maybe…or possibly asleep again…

I barely hurt...which is magnificent…and also perplexing.

I lift my hand, let my fingers slide through his hair briefly then fall back to the bed. He jumps at my touch; turns immediately, not asleep obviously—or not heavily at least.

"What did you give me?" It's pretty obvious I've got something else in my system what with the being able to sit up without the white hot knife of agony stabbing me in the chest.

"Percocet and morphine."

Well that would do it.

"Where?"

"Clinic, Carol found it before…they made a another run for some things; IV bags, medication it was a pretty small place so they didn't have a lot; but almost all of it was overlooked; probably because it was in the middle of nowhere."

"Antibiotics?"

"In the IV bag already; and Mika's."

"How is she?"

I need to check her again…

"She's alright, she's got Carol looking after her day and night. She had a slight fever two days ago but it broke after the antibiotics, no sign of infection I checked her myself with Carol this morning."

Part of what he says tugs at my foggy brain…two days…?

"How long have I been out?"

He looks like he doesn't want to answer that. "Almost two weeks."

Holy Shit. No wonder he looks so tired.

"When was the last time you got a decent amount of sleep?" He can't be getting good rest if he's falling asleep sitting up all the time…

"I'm fine." He looks away.

I frown at him; that's my line. I reach out and let my hand encircle his arm, tugging him towards me; I'd scoot over but without the use of my other arm that's pretty impossible right now.

"What are you doing?" I keep my fingers around his wrist, tug him closer.

He follows my soft pull one knee coming up onto the bed by my hip, hand bracing his weight near my head.

"You don't have to sleep on the floor."

"I don't want to hurt you, what if I move in my sleep?"

"Don't care,"

He stares down at me, face unreadable in the dark shadows with his back to the small amount of light coming through the window. He gets over whatever internal struggle he's having, shake his head.

"Fine," he relents, "but I'll stay on top…" He takes in my grin halfway through his sentence blushes furious and fast even in the dark, "…of the covers" he finishes a little more clipped. His eyes looking away from me. "Stop."

I can't help the snicker that slips out…probably the drugs…

He moves over me, lies down stretched out next to the wall, his breath huffs out against my neck…tickling my skin when my soft laughter continues.

"Calm down or I'll go."

I wrap my fingers around his forearm draped gently over my waist.

"No you won't." I twist to face him very carefully but it doesn't hurt all that much with the drugs. He pulls back; leans away just enough that when I'm lying on my side no part of us is touching.

He doesn't look away…I keep expecting it…his features are so serious.

He doesn't reply either his eyes slide from mine down to my lips but he doesn't move until I do. When I lean towards him, good arm raising to grip his shirt his lips brush mine ever so soft, a barely there caress.

If his hands were wrapped around me right now, touching any part of me I'd probably be ready to rip his clothes off already; life threatening injuries and drugs be damned.

He pulls back before I can deepen the kiss, nose almost touching mine. His eyes a deep dark cobalt in the low light, small flecks of brightened blue swirling around his iris visible as my eyes adjust to the darkness more and more.

My stomach flips and my heartbeat picks up, just from the brush of his lips; from lying close to him. The maddening desire to tell him I love him suddenly wells up in my chest. I almost open my mouth before I catch myself…stupid drugs.

I settle for something safer, his own words: "Stay, Please."

His eyes slip shut when I whisper it, his lips sliding back over mine impossibly more gentle then they were the first time his palm sliding over my cheek, the tips of his fingers feather light against my neck, thumb tracing my cheekbone. His breath warm against my lips when he pulls away again, much too soon.

I groan in disapproval at his absence.

"We have to stop; before we do something stupid."

"Like tear each other's clothes off and fuck like bunnies?"

He snorts, actually looks amused for a moment, "Yeah like that."

Oh, yeah…said that out loud.

Must be some great drugs.

"Either sleep or I'm getting up."

"Oh Really?!"

He curses softly; tells me to 'quit it' again.

It's not my fault everything he says sounds dirty

I'm all loopy on fantastically strong drugs…

"Seraphim; go to sleep."

I sigh. Just enough functioning brain-power left to know nothing is going to happen tonight…or for a while probably with my injuries.

"What about Rick and the others?"

"whadda mean?" He frowns.

"It's been two weeks…"

Longer even since we left to find Glenn and the others.

"Maggie must be losing her mind."

I can't imagine not knowing where Daryl is for two weeks, just thinking it makes my chest ache…

"It's taken care of; we're not that far from home now. Glenn and Tyreese made a run to the Warehouse a few days ago; let them know where we are and what happened. Michonne and Maggie both wanted to come back with them; help us move everyone. But Carol and I think it's safer for you and Mika to wait a little longer. Sasha is back at the warehouse with Molly, and Tyreese. Glenn brought Maggie back with him, though I think that was more because she wouldn't let him out of her sight again…"

It could take weeks for Mika to be back on her feet…every time they go out to get food; medicine they're risking their lives.

I shake my head.

"We need to move, it's safer there; we can't stay here for weeks through the winter." His family needs to be together again, and we've got to be running low on water and gas supplies if they're going on runs...

"I'll bring it up with everyone tomorrow; we can probably move Mika if we're very careful; I was already thinking we couldn't wait another week before we made the move; too exposed out here, and I don't like having the group in two places. If we lay her out in the back of the station wagon by herself; or with just Maggie…"

He actually yawns.

When the fuck did he last sleep; really sleep?

"You look exhausted."

"I've been worried half to death about your ass, what did you expect?"

I stare at him in shock…not that he was worried; that's a completely different emotion...mostly guilt…no; more that he would admit it out loud.

Maybe it's the darkness hiding us that makes him brave enough to say it…

Or maybe it's almost losing me yet again that's gotten to him…I tamp down that thought and the knots it brings with it.

His arm tucks around my back, pulls me closer to him 'til I'm tucked up against his chest, my good arm sliding over his side, slipping under the back of his shirt to feel warm skin under my fingertips.

His voice slips over me, telling me to sleep again.

My eyelids are significantly heavier than they were a minute ago…must be the drugs.

:: Walking Dead ::