Authors Note - This chapter is pretty short, and not my best work but I still hope you enjoy and review!

Chapter 11

Sam awoke, expecting to feel Daryl's chest under her hand but she felt nothing. Sam got up, pulling the blanket up to her neck, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Dam you Dixon she thought to herself but was startled when she heard footsteps from outside the tent.
"its bout' time you woke up" Daryl said with his southern accent, making Sam's heart beat go down to normal. Daryl stood awkwardly as he passed Sam her clothes which she thanked him quietly, quickly throwing on an over sized light blue t shirt which just covered her butt. Sam looked up at him, making him look away.
Was he embarrassed? She scratched the side of her head, not knowing what to say
"Ermmm well..." was all that came out of her mouth. Daryl looked back at her, lightly smiling at her.
She laughed, shaking off the weirdness between them and walked over to him.
"Last night was unexpected" she said looking up into his eyes, trying to read his mind... wanting to know what the hell he was thinking. "Last night was the best night I've had since the world ended" He mumbled back at her.

Sam raised her eyebrow, with a cheeky grin "Only since the world ended?" Sam hit him playfully. Daryl caught her hand, pulling her body close to him so they were leaning against each other. Daryl said nothing as he pulled back some hair from Sams face then kissed her lightly. Their lips parted and Sam studied his face.
"Dam, you really know how to play the mystery card don't you?" Daryl half smirked and Sam rolled her eyes but couldn't help return the smile.

"Rick, ya not gettin' it are ya?"
Shane was arguing with Rick about having more people on watch because he was sure Dave and his men were going to come after them.
"They don't know where we are Shane..." Rick answered his best friend honestly.
Shane shook his head
"Fine! Then I'll go on watch by myself then! ...It seems as though I'm the only one who cares bout what happens with this group..." Shane said the last part under his breath as he picked up his shot gun, and made his way over to the RV. As he climbed to the roof of the RV, Shane saw Sam walk out from Daryl's tent...

Later on that evening, Sam was in the kitchen helping to get dinner ready when Shane snuck up behind and startled her.
"Geeze Shane, you scared the crap out of me..." Sam said holding her chest dramatically and turned back to gathering up the cutlery. Shane stood in silence for a few seconds, watching her curiously "Is there something I can help ya with?" Sam asked sarcastically, still with her back facing him.
"What is goin' on with you and Dixon?"
Sam nearly dropped the knives and forks she was holding, and gathered her composure before answering "It's really none of your business..." She replied in a hushed tone so nobody in the dining room could over hear. Shane suddenly grabbed her arm and pushed her back as she was about to walk away
"Why won't ya answer me?"
Sam looked up from his arm to his face and saw how enraged he had gotten "Because it is none of your business!" she repeated, struggling to get her arm free.

Shane let go and laughed "I guess that answers my question..." he said sarcastically as he moved in closer to her "He's a good for nothin' red neck... why are ya with him when you can be with me?" He said lightly touching a piece of her golden hair which fell over her shoulder.
"Why would I do that? You were happy to leave me behind with Dave whereas Daryl fought to save me... he's more a man than you'll ever be."
Shane dropped his hand to his side and breathed in slowly, trying to keep his anger in control when Daryl appeared, eyeing the two of them off.
"We'll continue this later..." Shane said to Sam before walking past Daryl into the dining room.

Sam sighed with relief and leant against the kitchen bench. Her heart was beating hard against her chest, having Shane so close to her like that just reminded her of Dave and what he had done to her... Sam thoughts were interrupted when Daryl stood in front of her
"What was that all bout?"
Sam wasn't going to tell Daryl how Shane had hit on her and called him a red neck, so she placed her hands around his neck and smiled.
"Shane just being his usual self" she responded.
Daryl didn't believe her and he removed her hands from his neck "What are ya doing? Are you embarrassed or something?" Sam half giggled as Daryl looked around to see if anyone was in the room. He cleared his throat and stared at the ground, Sam knew he was uncomfortable
"I'm just not used to this kind of thing..." He paused looking up into her eyes "Being all lovey dovey."
Sam laughed and nodded
"oohhhh okay! I get it... you just want this to be between us or something?"

Daryl was surprised that Sam hadn't had gotten offended, usually girls loved to show off their boyfriends and such, but she didn't seem to mind that he wanted to play things cool.
"We'll keep it PG rated in front of the kids..." She said jokingly as she looked into the distance where the rest of the group were getting ready to eat. Daryl lightly smiled, and grazed her hand with his but it fell as soon as their names had been called.

Sam watched as Daryl sat down across from her at the dining room table, and her heart sank a little bit as the realisation that he didn't want the group to know they were 'together' and that hand grazed was probably going to be the best thing to public affection she would get from him. Sam decided she would suck it up... if she wanted to keep Daryl she would do whatever she had to ... even if it meant pretending they didn't have feelings for each other. But at the back of her mind Shane kept popping up... he knew about them... and if told anyone... Daryl would not be happy.

Next time – Sam struggles to keep her relationship with Daryl on the down low. But when the group is left in jeopardy, all is out in the open... how will it go down?

P.S Dave and the others will be returning soon, I'm going to focus on the Sam/Daryl relationship for a bit though