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Notes: Big thanks to the readers and reviewers!

And massive super big thanks to Angelinaa for beta and comments! You lady, are so awesome I'm secretly planning your kidnapping...shhhh don't tell anyone! Muhahaha!

Chapter Fifty-Six

(Fin's POV)

"What the Hell you doing up here again?"

I don't look over my shoulder at him.

"It's Glenn's watch."

"Yeah, I know." It's the second day since the smoke signal. My chest feels tighter with each passing hour. I could barely eat this morning thinking about where he might be, if it's really him…not getting more than a few hours of sleep last night still all tangled up in knots after our stupid fight doesn't help much either.

Thinking about his words still stings. I'm running on fumes, between exhaustion and raw nerves I haven't much patience for his gruff tone.

"Look," His voice drops to almost a whisper. "Feels like your avoid'n me."

I turn at that.

Catch his guilty look for a split second before his eyes dive to his feet, arms crossing tight over his chest while his jaw clenches and unclenches repeatedly; like he's chewing on his next words. Tasting them before he lets them out in the air. Judging by his pinched sour expression he finds whatever combination he's considering to be lacking. I consider smacking him in the back of the head while he just keep standing there,

Glenn has stepped off quite a ways obviously eager to stay out of this.

All he has to do is say he's sorry, I mean Jesus, how hard is that?

I don't get to find out.

"Car!"

I whirl back around to face the lot. It's not a car. It's an olive green jeep pulling into view, the kind with a hard top and big block letters across the windscreen, letters I can make out clearly as it comes closer.

Words I know.

My heart leaps into my throat.

I shove away from the wall almost slamming into Daryl as I pass him. He leaps back, follows on my heels with a quick sprint but hesitates when I sprint towards the ladder leading to the lot instead of the one leading into the warehouse's interior floors.

I hear him as he makes his decision, starts shouting for Rick and the others behind me down the hole. I'm already over the roofline, hands grabbing the rails of the ladder, climbing down with quick jerking movements.

No need to be cautious; no one else could read that code.

I almost slip I'm in such a hurry, my feet echo through the empty shipping container under my boots like drum beats as I race to the second ladder, practically leap down its entire length to the pavement below jolting my calves with sharp pain when I land.

Then I'm running down the long side of the warehouse as fast as I can, arms swinging, feet pounding on the hard pavement with enough force to jar my legs, sting the soles of my feet through my boots with each slapping footfall. I barely register any of it rounding the corner.

I can see the jeep, parked in the wide empty lot half turned to make a getaway attempt if necessary. It won't be.

He's climbing out of the driver's side. Looks up and sees me when I shout his name, face breaking into a stupid grin I have seen to many times not to have memorized. He runs the last few steps to greet me leaving the door open in his wake.

I don't stop; don't even try. I slam right into him, leaping up my arms wrapped around his shoulders the impact jars my teeth, sends the wind whooshing hard enough from my lungs that I can't get another breath in to replace it for a few spinning, dizzy seconds. Our collision sends him sprawling backwards almost into the hood of the jeep trying to keep his balance; arms wrapped around my back.

His laughter surrounds me like a warm blanket, rich and sweet he spins around like some stupid movie and I'd laugh if I had any air left in my lungs, instead I just wrap my arms tighter around his neck. If I'm choking him he doesn't complain just spins me faster whooping and laughing until we're both doing it like idiots. I finally draw in enough air around my laughter to speak, still can't believe it's true even as the words tumble out.

"You're alive! Oh my god, You're Alive!" I press my face to his shirt. Reel back as far as his arms will let me smacking him with the flat of my hand.

"Dear God! And you Stink!" I'm shrieking, still smacking him.

He laughs so hard I think he might fall over.

Instead he just spins me around again while I smack him repeatedly.

"Put me down Luke! You smell like road kill!" I twist and protest and it's like I never left; like it's Spring Break or the start of a long summer and we're about to go running through the woods with Eric and Joe. Spend all hours of the day and night hiking and camping and racing ATV's and diving off cliffs and shooting each other with paintballs until we're more purple and green then not...

"Never!"

"She's right, But seeing as your barely fitting to be classified above road kill in our current condition it's kind of appropriate."

I twist, I know that voice too. I get an eyeful of the passenger traveling with him.

"No way! Chris?!"

Luke sets my feet down finally. I'm so happy to see them both alive I actually hug him too. He wraps his arms around me a little too tight.

"Do I get to spin you around too?"

"Like Hell." I try to pull back, he finally lets me a few seconds later.

I practically skip back to Luke's side, he slings his arm over my shoulders. My nose wrinkles instantly.

"Ughn! It's like that summer on Arrow Mountain, your arm pits smell like death!" I mime gaging until he puts me in a headlock. Then I'm too busy punching him in the kidney.

"Hands off her!"

Luke freezes arm still around my neck. "Finny, Your friends look like they need introductions." He still doesn't let me out of the headlock, I can't see anything but the pavement and our boots.

AssHat.

I jerk my left leg forward knocking his knee out from under him; twisting out of his arm as his balance falters but maintaining my grip on his wrist. He sits on the asphalt grinning up at me like he doesn't have an arrow and two rifles pointed at his head. "Nice."

"Relax Daryl." I don't bother with the others, they lower their weapons when he does; he was the most likely to shoot Luke anyway… still looks like he's considering it from the set of his jaw, the glare he levels at him.

"This is Luke Chance. My idiot cousin."

Daryl's jaw clenches tight again.

"Hey if I'm an idiot, what's that make Chris?"

"Gee thanks buddy."

"He your cousin too?" Daryl's eyes flick from Luke to Chris, expression tense.

"Whoa, don't lump me in with those rednecks!"

I snort. "Chris grew up with Luke, Eric and Joe, same school and all that."

"Chris Church, nice to meet you." Chris steps forward brushing past me, I'm very careful not to react under Daryl's watchful eye; he might still shoot someone.

Chris extends his hand to Daryl and the rest of the group. It hangs in the air for a moment longer then polite until Rick steps forward.

"Rick Grimes."

I glance down at Luke in time to see him quirk his brow at me in question.

I drop his hand suddenly not sure where to stand, by Luke or Daryl?

I settle for stepping away from both of them ignoring the way they both look at me before waving my hand to each member of both groups I name.

"Luke, Chris; this is Daryl, Glenn, Tyreese, Michonne and Maggie, everyone else is still inside." They must have been worried about their arrival to all come down to the lot.

No wonder Daryl is glaring at me.

Luke picks himself up off the pavement. Feints a move to grab me again. I glare at him; he's got to be doing it on purpose, got to see the way Daryl is watching him. What the hell is he thinking?

I duck under his arm easily stepping back towards Daryl and Rick. Daryl steps closer to me.

Luke ignores Daryl's posture completely, stepping closer; I can practically feel Daryl's teeth grinding behind me…at this rate one of them is going to get shot.

I kick out at Luke's leg almost sweeping him back to the ground.

"Maybe you should stay down there Smelly, I could go get a hose…"

"Be happy you didn't have to drive with him. He locked the damn windows closed a few miles back; Masochistic bastard."

"Where you guys coming from?" Rick isn't holding his weapon but he doesn't look the least bit relaxed between his straight backed posture and tense expression.

"North, and we're just passing through, we're not staying." Luke glances at me again. Daryl shifts behind me.

"How long are you staying?"

"Rick, it's okay. They're family."

"I'm touched!"

"Keep it up Chris and you'll sleep tied to a tree."

"Kinky."

I glare at him, he just grins back. After a moment I shake my head, turn to Luke. "Seriously, how have you not shot him yet?"

Luke shrugs. "He makes a mean deer chili."

Rick steps closer to me, keeping his eyes on Luke. "You willing to vouch for them?"

I don't hesitate, nod to Rick immediately holding his gaze. Daryl shifts crossing his arms when I speak; I can feel his eyes on me like a physical weight. "Yes. They act up I'll kick their asses myself."

Luke snorts grinning at me. "That'd be the day."

"Bring it Nerd."

"That's rich coming from a skinny ginger!"

"When was the last time I punched you in the face?"

"Not since grade school Finny." Luke smirks.

"Keep it up and that's going to change."

"I'll hold him down for you." Chris throws in.

When I turn back to move to the warehouse ladder Daryl walks closer to me then he has in days.

:: Walking Dead ::