Note: I've been sitting on this story for a while and even though it's not finished and I have to study this week, I wanted to post it...I've taken it in one direction already but depending on what you all think, it might go somewhere completely different...so let me know what you think...Enjoy! (p.s. I'm not good at writing an accent like Daryl's so there isn't much of that, plus it's a bit easier to read when it's not all redneck-y...)

Note2: Dedicated to chasezx3 since it explains what she wanted to know...


The others were quick to stare at the man while he stepped closer.

"Do I know ya?" he asked.

"It's been about 10years but the last time I saw you was the night before I moved and you gave me the most thorough fucking in the back of your truck. Remember now, Dix?"

"Ya were the only one I'd let to call me Dix. I would beat down anyone else who tried," he said as he stepped closer, dropping his Horton to his side.

"Daryl," a man with the air of being leader said.

"Rick, meet Anna Jane."

"It's just AJ," I interrupted. "I'm glad to see you're alright, Dix, but I should find somewhere to rest up."

I smiled at him and turned to walk away.

"Wait. You can rest here but on the condition you hand over your weapons. At least until we can learn to trust you," Rick said.

"I'll give you everything except for one small knife. It's never left my possession since I got it."

Rick holstered his Python and stepped closer to the fence. I unslung my bow and laid it carefully on the ground. Beside it I left my Bowie and machete. I dug out several other knives from my waistband or pockets. I unstrapped another Bowie from my ankle and went about removing my backpack. That too I left with my cache of weapons. The last weapon I removed was the Smith and Wesson which remained in its holster. I lowered the leather and stepped back.

"That's all except for my one knife."

"What's in the backpack that you needed to remove it?" a young Asian asked from Dix's right.

"More weapons, ammo, C4, flash-bangs, other explosives and a couple protein bars."

"Damn, girl. Did ya raid an armoury?" Dix asked.

"My group did and this is what's left."

They unwound the wire that had been holding the fence closed and Dix was the first through. He eyed the weapons but approached me. I could feel his eyes as he checked me over and I did the same. It hadn't looked like he had changed much. He seemed stronger but also constantly on edge.

"Ya bleeding," he said, pointing at my left side.

"One of my group tried to take some walkers out as he was being eaten and a bullet caught me instead," I replied, grabbing my side to stem the bleeding.

"How long ago?" the woman asked as I watched the others collect my things.

"A week. I haven't been able to find a safe place to hole up to dig the fucking bullet out. Last two nights, I've slept up in the trees but I didn't need to worry about falling out of the tree if I passed out after I get it out."

"Come on. The others are probably wondering what's going on."

As cautious as they were, I knew I needed to be out front. Dix was walking beside me with the others behind us. My hand kept slipping from my side since it was coated in blood. I had been able to stop the bleeding after I got away and the past week had been easy in relation to the walkers but the small attack must have torn open the wound. My sight was narrowing and darkening. I staggered and grabbed onto the fence. I heard a couple of guns being cocked.

"AJ! Anna Jane, ya stay awake, ya fuckin' bitch."

"I always thought I'd die by walker, not a fucking bullet. Was the best night of my life, Dix. Sorry about..," I sighed as my body gave up.

(* * *)

My eyes opened to the bottom of a bunk and not the pure white room I expected from being dead. I blinked a few times but still saw the bottom of the bunk.

"Must be in Hell."

"Not Hell, just prison."

I slowly turned my head and spotted Dix leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. My eyes raked over his body, focusing on the small patch of skin that showed between the bottom of his shirt and the top of his pants.

"If my side didn't fucking hurt so much, I'd let you pin me against that wall and have your wicked way with me," I smirked.

"Still the same AJ."

"Of course. Not like you ever complained, that is until I had to move," I replied.

He pushed off of the wall and knelt down beside the bed.

"Why would I ever complain with what ya could do with your tongue?"

Dix crashed his lips onto mine and I wrapped my arms around his neck. My tongue darted out and pushed its way into his mouth. Now wasn't the time to be innocent and slow. As soon as I was healed enough, I knew Dix would have me up against the wall with my legs wrapped around his waist, teasing me to the brink of ecstasy and then denying me. He used to do it all the time before finally taking me and making me submit to the rough, hard thrusts.

Someone cleared their throat and we broke apart. An older man with white hair and beard stared down at us from the cell door. He had an amused look on his face.

"Heard talking so I thought I'd check on her."

"Dix thought I might need some mouth to mouth. You know because I couldn't breathe because of how hot he is."

The man chuckled and it drew the attention of others. Dix backed up slowly and I reached up to the edge of the bunk above me.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm getting up. What does it look like I'm doing? Tap dancing?"

"You've been out for three days. You shouldn't move much in case you reopen that wound," the man said.

"Look, Pops. I haven't wet the bed since I was 2 and I'm not going to start now," I said, pulling myself up.

Dix was quick to help me into a sitting position. I moved my legs to the floor and with one arm across my stomach to hold onto the wound, I stood. My legs did shake but Dix was there in case I fell.

"Let me pee and then you can check the wound. I'm sure whatever you did should be good enough."

Dix escorted me to a cell at the end of the block which they had converted into toilets. Since the actual toilets wouldn't refill with water, they had removed the porcelain and placed a bucket with a hole in the bottom over the whole.

"Ah, the joys of an indoor outhouse," I mused.

There was even a basin of water and a sliver of soap to wash your hands. Dix helped me back and rather go lie down, he helped me over to the stairs. I sat on one and leaned back until I felt comfortable. Sitting upright pulled on the wound.

"Did you have to stitch it, Pops?"

"It's Hershel and yes, I did. You were lucky that the bullet missed anything vital and hadn't broken up."

"When I was shot, the bullet broke into pieces and Hershel had to find them all. One piece was really close to my heart," a boy offered as he stepped closer to look at the wound.

"Maybe we should start a 'Being Shot but Survived' club. Does anyone else qualify? If not, I think you can be President."

"My dad was shot before this all started," he said, pointing at Rick.

"Still think you're President material though, kid. So do I keep coming up with names for all of you or are you going to tell me your names?"

Introductions were quick and in that time, I could pick out the hierarchy of the group. Rick was boss with Dix, Glenn, and T-Dog his muscle. While everyone could defend themselves, those four were the group's protectors. Lori would have held the same place as Maggie, Carol and Carl if she wasn't as pregnant as she was. Hershel could hold his own but his age would slow him down. Beth seemed hesitant but would defend herself if needed.

"Have you cleared out the entire prison or just this section?"

"We've done outside and this cell block. We're going to do a sweep of the rest of the prison tomorrow. We might find food or more weapons."

"What about other people? Prison staff or prisoners? What you gonna do with them?"

"Why so curious? Know someone here you can team up with and try to take our group out?" Rick asked.

"Why the fuck would I try to take the group out? You helped me with those walkers and my wound. I get that you don't trust me even if Dix knows me. I'm just trying to point out that there may be others here and see if you're willing to kill them before they can stab you in the back. I'd never do that."

"You say that now. Maybe to get us to trust you and then once you get your weapons back, wham! You betray us."

"Jesus Fucking Christ. Someone's really done a number on you. You were the one to invite me in but I'm not sticking around if you can't even let me ask a few questions. Sun's gone down but at first light, I'm leaving."

I heaved myself up and pushed through the group to leave. Rick grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him.

"You seem to already trust us. Why is that?"

"Because Dix hasn't killed you yet. When I knew him, he didn't trust a lot of people except for his brother. You must have done something to earn that trust and respect from him. If he trusts you, so do I."

"Why do you put so much into what Daryl thinks?" T-Dog asked.

I looked over to Dix as I pulled my arm free of Rick's grip.

"That's personal and doesn't play into what's happening now. I'm going to rest and come morning, I'm gone. I thank you for all that you've done but I'm not putting up with this shit any longer."

I stormed over to the cell I had been in earlier and laid down. Since I couldn't lie on my side, I turned my head away from the door and stared at the wall. I clenched and loosened my hands several times trying to calm down. A shadow fell over me before I heard his voice.

"Why do ya trust me so much, AJ?"

"Even though I'm 7years younger than you, you allowed me to play with you. You and Merle, to some extent, didn't brush me off and tell me to go play with Barbies."

"Ya were the only girl who could keep up with us in the woods. Ya old man raised you like we were raised when Pops wasn't drunk. The fact ya were a girl didn't matter until ya were older."

"You mean when I grew tits. You were my friend, my lover, the man I loved, still love actually. I trust you inexplicitly because of that and what you gave me. If you trust and respect these people, then so do I even if Rick's being an asshole."

"It's been 10years, AJ. I'm not the same guy I was back then."

"And I'm not the same AJ. I had to grow up in those 10years but there was never a day that I didn't think about you. I wrote you letters at first but never got anything back. I flew back on my 18th birthday to see you but you had left town. I never forgot about you," I explained as I sat up.

Dix sat down on the bed beside me and looked into my blue eyes.

"Why? I am just some fuckin' redneck who ya played with and then fucked around with. What's so special about me?"

"Because you were the only one and you gave me something to cherish," I whispered so my voice wouldn't crack in anguish.

"What do ya mean, AJ?"

I ran my hand through my brown hair only to get tangled. I stood and stared to pace the small cell as I pulled my fingers free. He was going to hate me once he found out but did deserve to know. I still couldn't find the right words when I felt Dix's hands on my shoulders, pushing me against the wall.

"What the fuck do ya mean, AJ?" he partially yelled at my face.

"You gave me my son! I still love you because every day I would look into his eyes and remember you and everything we did together. All I had to do was look at him and it warmed me to the core. Moving away from you was the second hardest thing I've ever done but when I learned I had some piece of you growing inside me, I knew I would be alright. My life has always been about you, Daryl Dixon, and then our son."