Désirée set in the passenger seat watching Daryl ahead of them as they made their way towards the prison. The sun was setting fast and her nerves were up not wanting to delay getting back to the prison. She had been quiet most of the ride back and her father hadn't pushed her to talk. She knew he wouldn't, he wasn't much of a talker most of the time.

She grimaced again noticing that Daryl's shirt didn't billow and move in the wind like it normally did when he was on the bike. The dried and tacky blood had it glued to him like a second skin, it was going to be fun seeing him strip that off.

"How quick he make it back?"

Arvin's voice startled her from her thoughts causing her to jump slightly. Cutting her eyes to she seen him drumming his fingers against the steering wheel with his arms cocked up on the door, much like he done when she was younger and they went places.

His eyes came to her quickly before going back to the road, "You gonna answer me or set there like a damned mute?"

"He got back a bit before sun down."

Arvin nodded, "I figured as much."

She looked at him, "Y'all hunt on opposite sides of the ridge...what made you think he was out of there quicker."

Arvin smiled shaking his head, "Anyone can hunt darlin'. But some people are just naturals. Your man up there is like that."

Her face heated up but she didn't comment on his assessment of them. He wasn't wrong about it but it was weird hearing it coming from her father. He had never like a man she was with and made a point to let them know he personally didn't like them. But since the day Daryl and Merle had come across them her father had taken to Daryl quickly. Something that was a strange and had given her pause on many of occasions.

"Is that why you like him?"

Arvin snorted shifting in his seat jerking at the seat belt as it attempted to lay across his throat. "Cause he's a hunter or is there a question in there I aint hearing girl. Say what ya mean."

"You hate men that have been around me, you just plain hate most people." Désirée looked out to Daryl watching him for a minute before looking back to her father. "What's different about him?"

Nodding his head along with her words but not offering anything up she growled at him. He shot her a look and gave a broad smile before looking out at the road, "You remember the day they came up on us? Merle was in front and he was standing slightly off to the side scanning the woods. I originally thought he was looking for more people. I watched him, watched his eyes." He broke off shifting gears to keep up with the man in question. "He was tracking game but he was very much aware of the situation at hand."

Désirée snorted remembering her father snapping to attention hearing someone laugh out in the woods. It had been Merle they heard and he was giving Daryl shit about something he still goes on about causing Daryl to lash out. Her father made her get up in a tree and stay there when they realized the men were heading their way. Her heart had thundered out of control in her chest thinking that something could happen.

They hadn't met to many friendly people since the fall and the one they had met were violent. More than a few had tried something against her causing serious fights and sometimes them slipping away in the night. She seen them first and her eyes widened at the blade that adorned one of their hands, what the fuck was that shit.

"Come on baby brotha cheer the fuck up." Merle laughed loudly again.

She seen the one he was walking with shoot him a look before stopping suddenly grabbing the other man and halting him. Both men were at attention scanning the area but it was the other one that had his eyes in the direction of camp.

The other went to speak but was silenced, "Shut the fuck up Merle." A husky voice drawled.

"Fuck you Darylina, if their this close to us we need to check it out." Merle growled out.

She held her breath as they walked up on her father and she shot him a look signaling just two men. He nodded and his cool calm composure slammed into place. Her father stood as soon as they stepped into their little camp and looked at them calmly but with a challenge in his body.

Both men stopped regarding him silently before the bladed one stepped forward talking to her father. Her eyes went to the one that was partly blocked to her father by the other man. He was scanning the area and keeping a lookout behind them silently guarding the area. His eyes flicked to hers and she sucked in a breath not sure how he had known she was there.

"What do you think brother?"

The other man stepped up and around him looking at her father before addressing the other man, "You ask him?"

"He sounds good to me."

Turning back to her father, "We have women and children in our group try anything and you swiftly be dealt with." his voice was hard.

"I get that."

"You gonna tell her to come down now?"

At his words she swung down from where she had perched and landed lightly on her feet. Her father was watching both men closely and let out a breath after a few minutes. Her dad had a slight smile on his face as he looked at the younger man. "Never can be to careful."

Merle laughed slapping Daryl on the back and nodded to them both, "We're head that way get'cha shit if your comin'." Turning around and walking off a distance she watched him as he dropped to his knee searching through his pack while the older man walked to him. "What the fuck you doin Daryl?"

Daryl hadn't so much as looked at her when she had came down from her hiding spot but instead had kept his impassive face on her father. She had the sense that she was missing something that was going on right before her eyes.

Désirée looked back over at her father waiting on him to go on with his story. "And?"

"When he told me that there were women and children at the prison the threat was clear in his voice if I harmed one of them. You can tell more about a man by what he don't say than what he does." Arvin spoke slowly.

"He says a whole hell of a lot then." Désirée laughed.

Her father looked at her again, "You gonna admit it to me or should I pretend that you aint with him still?"

Désirée looked at him, "It wasn't about admitting anything to you. There isn't any privacy about anything anymore, I just wanted something that was mine."

Arvin unhooked his seat belt and jerked his head forward, "We're here."

Désirée let out a breath as they pulled back through the yard and grinned when she seen Merle walking straight for Daryl. His eyes were running all over him and his pace picked up to a job with Rick joining in. Both men looked panicked causing her to look at Daryl to see if he was okay.

He was stepping off his bike rolling his shoulders not bothering to look at either man as he made his way towards the truck. Désirée grabbed her handle to get out when her father grabbed her arm stopping her.

"I understand keeping shit private but you need to take a good look around and consider what other women think about him." He released her arm and was out the door. Turning back to her, "When I asked him about it awhile back...well." shrugging, "The people who matter already know but your leaving you and him both open to bullshit."

Désirée clambered out just as Merle and Rick got to Daryl. Merle grabbed ahold of him spinning him around, "What the fuck happened to you?"

Daryl jerked away from him, "What the fuck are you on about?" he snapped.

Rick stepped forward, "You soaked in blood Daryl."

Daryl looked down his body and Désirée had to fight not laughing at the facial expression on his face. He shrugged, "Got another buck, didn't have to bleed him was losin' light."

Merle visibly relaxed as did Rick as they started unloading the truck. She watched her father as he walked closer to Daryl speaking only to him and she focused on them both trying to hear what they were saying. Daryl cut his eyes to hers as her father spoke to him and he shook his head and looked back at the man.

Désirée walked closer and stopped next to them both crossing her arms over her chest. "If you're gonna talk about me at least have the courtesy to tell me or go where I can't see you."

Daryl growled and walked off not saying anything to her snatching up his pack and crossbow walking straight for the prison. She watched him walk away seeing the tension and anger returning to his body. She was right, she already mourned the loss of the way he was in the woods. Merle quickly caught up to him and she watched him not taking her eyes off the blood soaked shirt.

"Is there reason your being a bitch?" Arvin challenged. Désirée looked at him but choosing not to say anything to him at the moment. "I was thankin' his fuckin' ass for helpin' me so what the fuck was that display about? I tell you to get your shit together cause other woman have been after him and instead you run your mouth? Fix your shit girl." He snapped shoving her in the direction of the prison.

Désirée sighed grabbing her pack up and taking off for him. She could see him in the courtyard but not who he was talking to. She quickened her pace not wanting to give him a chance to lose her. Coming up on them she clenched her teeth seeing the exact women who thought she was a lesbian talking at him.

Merle had a grip on his arm and she could see both men straining against the other, "I'm fine."

Merle chuckled shooting her a look and looking at his brother. She grimaced knowing she was getting blamed for his mood already. She started closer to him and Daryl stiffened jerking away from Merle and walking past everyone. Merle watched him as she neared and he looked at her, "What the fuck is going on between the two of you?"

She seen the women looking at her and Merle still close to them from their attempt at talking to Daryl. "I spoke before I thought." Désirée simplified.

"You're a woman shit like that is expected." Merle prodded before taking off again.

Désirée was left behind by his powerful stride as he went after his brother again. No doubt to make the situation worse and get him riled up. She liked Merle but he liked to stir the pot with his brother but he'd be goddamned if anyone else was going to. She had no doubt that if she didn't get shit fixed with Daryl she would be at the top of his list of people he hated and quickly.

Rounding the corner she walked up on the both of them. "I'm just saying brother it's words to live by. Suck it, fuck it, or don't touch it. Just let her ass know she's the woman."

Daryl snorted shaking off his brother as he walked towards the cell block, "Fuck off somewhere that isn't around me."

Merle grinned seeing her as he stopped at the bottom of the steps and she slapped him in the back of the head, "Touch that you fuck."

Désirée walked to his cell stopping in the door as he tossed his shit down and grabbed up clean clothes. She knew he was aware she was there and if she had to she would wait him out. He'd have to physically move her if he wanted to avoid her. When he made no move to acknowledge her she sighed slipping into the room.

Désirée pulled herself up on the top bunk, "Does it bother you that I don't say anything to the others about us? We're both private..I just assumed it wasn't a big deal."

Daryl looked at her, "I don't rightly give a fuck Des. Aint a goddamn one of them has any bearing on what I do."

She nodded just happy that he spoke to her. "When did he ask you about us?"

"Weeks back."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

Daryl looked at her, "He wanted you to tell him on your own."

Désirée jumped down, "Let me get my clothes and I'll go with you."

Daryl didn't say anything but followed her out of the cell as she made her way to hers. She looked back and he was leaning on the rails looking down over the cell block. Going through her stuff her fathers words ran through her mind over and over. He was right about leaving her to deal with bullshit by not making some type of claim on him. It was evident that a few of the women here were interested in him with just his surly attitude keeping them at bay, but even that was starting to fail.