Chapter Forty-Eight

(Fin's POV)

Daryl's in those slightly too large black jeans again and a clean shirt he snagged out of the dresser with some band name on it, shoving the rest of our clothes into a bag to take with us.

I pause in the middle of pulling on another clean tank top from the dresser when he pulls it on; the whole outfit throwing my brain for a loop. For a second I can picture him in the real world; not the one we live in; but the one we all lost. I can see him doing completely normal things like driving a car and going to work and listening to music…something other than struggling to survive day to day.

I should ask him sometime.

I pull the other oversized shirt over my head, it leaves a lot of my arms exposed; but at least it keeps my shoulder and the space above my elbow covered; not that I haven't been in a tank top for the last probably two weeks…if they haven't noticed my scars by now…at least no one's brought it up.

Still a few hours left of daylight, half a day at least by my guess.

"Think we could move today?"

He stares at me, puzzling it over. Nodding.

When we leave the room again, feeling on my part at least more human and definitely more relaxed Glenn and Maggie are on the couch. Maggie's legs tossed over Glenn's as they're both reading something.

Glenn looks up and sees us with a huge grin. "What's up guys?"

Real smooth Glenn…course we weren't all that quiet either.

Even Maggie is grinning.

Oh Good Lord, Like these people have never had sex.

"Think we could pack everything and get out of here this afternoon?"

Maggie's brow furrows. "Yeah, definitely, but are you sure that's necessary? We could wait another day…"

"Water's getting low anyway, and one day isn't going to make that much difference."

"I can make an injection to give to Mika; keep her asleep for the trip."

Daryl nods to me, starts helping Maggie and Glenn load up the few things we should take with us back to the warehouse. Carol joins them a short time later; then leaves them to finish helping me at the kitchen counter dissolving medications and steeping leaves.

"We put this in her IV and it will make sure she's stays asleep; that way if the road is really bumpy or we have to do some evasive driving," which God I hope not… "she shouldn't feel it."

Carol nods, glances over her shoulder at Daryl who's been standing behind us now for a few minutes watching us work.

"Almost ready to go?"

He nods his head, "Go give her that and I'll put your bag in the truck."

After I've given Mika the injection through her IV bag we wait a few minutes for it to start working, Maggie is going to ride in the back seat with her: keep an eye on her during the trip. Carol in going in the passenger seat; and Glenn driving.

Once everything is settled. Carol, Glenn and Daryl carefully carry her outside on the sleeping bag, lay her across the backseat of Carol's station wagon.

We're doing one last quick walk through of the house when Daryl steps up behind me, mouth sliding over my neck, I let my eyes slip shut at his touch. Feel his hands slip around my chest, over my waist…My eyes open when he grabs my arm oddly…

I look down to see him pressing a syringe into the IV still taped inside my elbow.

What the….

I try to jerk away from him just as Carol is coming down the hallway sees me struggling and steps towards us in obvious confusion. "Daryl!"

He keeps his arms around me 'til I twist and jerk again.

"Let her go Daryl before she hurts herself!" Carol is blocking the other side of the hallway…I suddenly feel strangely trapped between them.

I almost miss the expression that flashes over his face lightning quick.

My head is starting to feel really heavy…my whole body is actually…oh no.

"What did you give me?" I brace my hand against his chest when he steps up to me again, I can't push him away… my breathing coming faster in my distress even as he tries to sooth me, fingers smoothing back my hair from my face.

"It's okay, you're just going to rest for a while."

Realization dawns on me…he drugged me…just like I did to Mika…fuck.

"I'm….going to kick…your…ass…"

He would take my comments about the trip possibly hurting to heart…God Damnit…What if we run into walkers…what if there's a herd…I won't be awake to defend them…Oh God…

I try to shake my head only succeed in making the lazy spin worse. My knees start to buckle and he scoops me up pulling me into his chest. I punch him weakly in the shoulder; not nearly hard enough…he doesn't even have the decency to make a halfway satisfying sound at my assault…

"It's okay, just rest. I'll see you in a few hours." Guilt plays across his face as I stare up at him.

"No…" my head rolls against his chest and everything goes dark.

:: Walking Dead ::

Okay, working on 49 right now! Hopefully we have power tomorrow night; and I actually get to watch Sunday's episode, grrrr... xD You guys are the best, thanks for coming this far! Think Seraphim is going to kick Daryl's butt? :P