I crashed on the wicker couch on the front porch that night, not wanting much to do with the inside of the house for the rest of the evening. I was awoken by a series of light shakes. Startled I sat up quickly, warranting a headache.

"Shit." I cursed lightly bringing my hand to my head. I looked up at the person who woke me up to find T-Dog standing over me, a smile on his face. I grinned up at him, wrapping my arms around his mid section.

"I didn't mean to scare you." He said, taking a step back. I shook my head at him, standing and stretching.

"Its okay, I shouldn't be sleeping outside anyways." It was barely dawn outside, but Hershel and his family were already crossing the field to the woods with a wheel barrow. "Why is it so early?" I questioned with a yawn. T-Dog gave me a dumb look.

"We're on a farm. Of course its early." I felt my cheeks flush red.

"It's good to see you're feeling alright enough to give me shit." I said, glancing down at his arm. He followed my gaze, looking at the piece of gauze and shrugging.

"Thanks to the combined efforts of two very talented nurses." T-Dog glanced over his shoulders, watching the others collect wood. "Breakfast is in the kitchen, I saved a plate for you." Hesitantly T-Dog stepped off the porch. He looked back at me, smiling again, before walking off to join the others.

The smell of breakfast hit me as soon as I stepped inside and I grinned from ear to ear. On the table sat a bowl of oatmeal and a plate of bacon, the breakfast that T-Dog said he saved for me. My stomach growled uncontrollably as I neared the food and quickly I sat down, digging into my plate.

Oatmeal was never my favorite breakfast food, but anything beat the bread and beans that we'd been having for the past few days. I shoveled the food in my mouth, suddenly glad that no one was there to watch me eat, and groaned as I dropped a spoonful of oatmeal onto the front of my shirt.

Grabbing a napkin I quickly set to work on cleaning it off when a loud rumbling caught my ears. I narrowed my eyes, looking around curiously and crossed to the window. Down the road I could see dust being kicked up, a very faint figured coming into view. Behind it drove the RV and I felt my heart flutter.

I left the paper towel on the sink, not caring whether I managed to get all of the oatmeal off of my shirt and bolted for the door, throwing it open and jumping down the steps. I took off in a sprint to the driveway, Glenn and T-Dog following my lead. My steps were loud as they crunched over the rocks, but I didn't care.

Daryl dismounted his bike, kicking down his kickstand as he did. He looked amongst the group before his eyes finally settled on me, stopping me in my tracks. I was suddenly afraid that he was still angry with me. I waited patiently for him to close the distance between us. I was happy to find that I didn't have to wait long. In three long strides he was in front of me, staring down at me.

He said nothing, only looked at me with his blue eyes, searching my face for something. I began to shy away but he stopped me, taking both of my hands in his..

"Sorry I didn't say goodbye or nothin'." He seemed truly sorry and he pulled me into him, holding me tightly.

The door of the farm house creaked open and Lori, Rick and Hershel walked out onto the porch, ready to greet the rest of our group. Dale was the first to speak.

"How is he?" The old man asked, now that he'd joined the rest of the group. He was talking about Carl and I turned around to look at Hershel. He nodded at me with a tight smile.

"He'll pull through." Lori said happily. "Thanks to Hershel and his people, and Beau." Lori looked over at me, her eyes tearing up again. Daryl glanced at me from the corner of his eyes and I felt my cheeks flush. He watched me, the hint of a smile forming on his face.

"And Shane." Rick interjected. The group looked over to the deputy and I noticed he'd changed his clothes. I also noticed his hair was gone, which was definitely different than when I saw him last night. I raised an eyebrow at him, but I stood silently, not saying anything. Daryl watched my reaction and he to grew suspicious. "We'd have lost Carl if not for him."

The group proceeded to hug each other, Dale being the first to initiate it. I noticed that it was just Carol, Dale, Andrea and Daryl and I frowned at the thought. Daryl caught my frown and I looked up at him. Silently he shook his head. They still hadn't found Sophia.

"My Family and I have been making a memorial mound for Otis all morning, I'd be much obliged if ya'll would join us for a reading from the book of God, just to celebrate his life, acknowledge his passing." Hershel spoke up, his voice wavering. Patricia whimpered from beside him and he placed a gentle arm around her shoulder. Instinctively I drew closer to Daryl, though I don't think he noticed. Rick nodded, and the others joined in, though the people who were new to the farm seemed to be confused.

On the way up the hill, Rick informed everyone of who Otis was, of what he did for Rick and Lori and of his sacrifice for Shane. I glanced over at the deputy again and he fidgeted, scratching behind his ear. Something felt off about the whole Shane/Otis thing, but it could have also been my imagination and the paranoia that the apocalypse breeds.

"Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, praise be to him, for the gift of our brother Otis. For his span of years, for his abundance of character." One by one I watched as he family walked of to the pile, placing a rock down for their fallen kin. Daryl stood silently next to me, his head bowed low, listening intently to Hershel as he spoke. "Otis, who gave his life to save a child's, now more than ever, our most precious asset. We thank you, God, for the peace he enjoys in your embrace." Again I looked to Shane. He seemed far away and distant, haunted almost. He blinked a few times before turning to look at me. We locked eyes and his gaze hardened, turning into an icey glare. "He died as he lived, in grace. Shane, will you speak for Otis." Hershel's words seemed to startle him, and the eyes of the many turned on Shane, watching him expectantly.

"I'm not good at it… I'm sorry." Shane's words were quiet, barely louder than a whisper.

"You were the last one with him." Patricia sobbed, not taking her eyes off of the man. "You shared his final moments. Please? I need to hear, I need to know his death had meaning." Shane could no longer argue with the woman and he nodded his head in acceptance. Daryl shifted next to me and I glanced up at him, his eye strained on the deputy.

"We were about done, almost out of ammo. We were down to pistols by then. I was limping, it was bad, ankle all swole up." Shane looked down at his leg, unable to maintain the grieving widow's eye contact. "We gotta save the boy. That's what he said." Shane paused, taking a deep breath. "He gave me his backpack, he shoved me ahead. Run. He said, He said I'll take the rear, I'll cover you. And when I looked back…." Shane trailed off. Patricia whimpered and I looked at the ground, shaking my head lightly. Slowly Shane made his way to the mound. "If not for Otis, I'd have never made it out alive." Shane picked up a rock, looking at the memorial quietly. "And that goes for Carl too. It was Otis, he saved us both. If any death ever had meaning, it was his." He placed the rock down on top of the mound, looking once more over everyone present. His eyes settled on me and I raised my chin defiantly. As much as I wanted to believe him I found that I couldn't. Deep down Shane could tell that I didn't buy his story, and he quickly looked away, returning to his spot next to Rick.

SUCH DRAMA. also i promise more daryl now that he's at the farm. i love this season, it's one of my favorites and i'm having so much fun writing it :D.

Reviews are always appreciated!

stay beautiful.