Chapter 18 - Temptation

Greene Farm

The following day felt promising. Daryl was back on his feet and raring to go (but after a stern word from Carol, was pushed out of the stables and back to his tent to rest) and even Carl was up and out of bed. The young boy looked happy and healthy and it brought joy to everyone seeing him so lively. The only downside, that few of them knew, was that Hershel would likely be expecting them to be on their way now.

Tess was ecstatic to see Carl up and about and gave him a firm but gentle hug when he skipped over to her happily. He seemed to be back to his old self, like the gunshot had never happened but exclaimed happily that he was now more like his old man than ever. He'd taken to wearing his fathers sheriff's hat but it was far too big for him and constantly dropped down over his eyes. Not that he seemed to mind at all.

She handed him one of the chocolate bars that she had taken for him, feigning secrecy and his already huge smile widened further. Don't go telling anyone, she warned him, letting him know that she didn't have enough for everybody and that it was a priceless commodity nowadays. His chocolate covered mouth instantly gave him away to his mother though, but Lori just smiled, simply happy that her son was alive and well.

Glenn had been acting strangely all morning and refused to talk to Tess when she tried to make conversation. She assumed something must have happened between him and Maggie and he didn't want to spill the beans, so she respected their privacy enough not to pry. Although, she'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious.

It was decided today that those that were interested, would be properly trained in how to handle a gun. Even Beth Greene and Patricia asked to be included, saying that Otis had been the only member of the farm capable of handling a firearm. Somehow, Carl had also managed to convince both his parents to allow him to be trained as well, and so now ten of them drove away from the farm to an open field where they could learn.

Tess steered herself well clear of both Shane and Andrea and lingered by Carol, Beth, Patricia and Jimmy. After first showing them which parts of the gun did what and how to eject the magazine and remove the safety, she demonstrated how to stand and aim. Jimmy didn't need much direction and took to it relatively naturally but for the three women, it took a bit more coaching.

"Is this right?" Beth asked her, anxiously. Tess looked her over, assessing her form.

"Stance is good. Is the safety on?" She asked gently.

"Uh, yes?"

"You'll want it off."

"Oh… Okay, now it's off." Beth told her after fumbling with the release for a moment.

"Great. Now, when you're ready, line up your target." Beth's shoulders raised and fell quickly as she sucked in nervous breaths. Her aim was unsteady and Tess felt concerned that maybe she wasn't quite ready.

"Do you need a second?"

"I don't think I can do this." She admitted lamely and her arms dropped to her sides. Tess quickly stepped forward and grabbed the pistol from her hand.

"It's alright, if you're not ready, you're not ready. Take a minute." Without a thought, Tess had turned the safety back on and placed the gun down on the makeshift bench in front of them.

"I'm sorry. I'm wasting your time." The younger girl apologized, pulling at her hair nervously.

"You're so not wasting my time, don't worry about it." Tess smiled down at her encouragingly. "What about it makes you nervous?"

Beth shrugged, uncertainly. Maybe it was the fear that the recoil might hurt or that it was something new and she was afraid to fail or that maybe one day she may have to use the gun to kill something. Safe to say, it was probably the latter.

"It scares me." She whispered, feeling embarrassed in front of Tess but was surprised by her response.

"I'd say that's a good thing. Seeing as you've never shot one before, I'd be more concerned if you felt like you knew what you were doing. It's arrogance that gets people hurt. Fear, well yes, sometimes. But it's when your fear becomes inaction. That's when things go wrong." She told her, realizing it sounded very much like a dig at Andrea.

"I can't tell you that you won't always be afraid because when it comes down to it and you actually have to use it, you will be more afraid than ever. But that's why we're here. To learn how to overcome that fear."

"Maggie told me you were in the army… Do you still get afraid?" Tess thought about it for a moment and tried to think about how she felt every time she drew her gun.

"Yes. But I fear not doing anything more." Beth nodded slowly and seemed to come to some sort of realization.

"Okay, I want to try again."

Beth walked up to the bench, more confidently now and grabbed the handgun. It took her only a few moments to remove the safety and resume position. Her hands still trembled nervously but her breathing was less haggard and Tess watched on expectantly. Composed, Beth squeezed the trigger and a spray of splintered wood blew out below the can she had been aiming for.

"That was brilliant, Beth! You were so close!" Tess praised her, smiling broadly and Beth jumped around excitedly.

"Jimmy! Patricia! Did you see that?!" She chirped excitedly with her newfound sense of confidence.

It was a nice feeling seeing the way Beth reacted so positively to her teachings. Tess felt a quiet sense of pride that was reminiscent of her days as corporal. It was a nice sense of familiarity that made her feel grateful and emboldened.

As Beth became more and more confident and required less and less of her assistance, she focused more on Carol, who was quietly working her way through the chamber of her pistol. She was aiming for an old rusty, water pail that had been propped up onto one of the fence posts. It looked like there was one of two bullet holes in it already.

"How's it going, Carol?" She asked when the older woman finally ran out of bullets.

"Good, I think."

"Looks like you landed a few shots, good work. Natural!"

"My daddy used to own a rifle when I was growing up. He tried to show me a few times but I was too small. Landed me on my ass every time." She chuckled genially and Tess smiled with her, imagining Carol as a young girl.

"You wanna give a rifle a go today?" Tess asked, eyeing the bolt action leaning up against the Jeep.

"Oh! Uh, are you sure?" Carol asked, hesitantly.

"Yeah, why not? I'll show you what to do." Tess retrieved the rifle and some ammunition. She laid it down on the bench and ushered Carol to join her.

"Okay, so, you've got your butt, which is where you'll want to rest your shoulder. There'll be quite a bit of kickback, so you wanna try not to tense up too much. This entire bit here is the stock." Tess pointed to the tail end of the rifle. "You'll brace this against you to help steady the weight of the gun. You've got your trigger guard and, of course, your trigger. The safety is up here behind the bolt handle. It's a three-position safety, so you can place it in the middle allowing you to open the bolt but it's still on safe." Tess pulled the bolt handle back, exposing the bolt. "This magazine holds four cartridges."

One by one, Tess pulled bullets from the box and loaded them into the rifle before pressing down on the rounds with her finger tips and shifting the bolt back.

"Right now, we've got nothing in the chamber. You can load a fifth cartridge if you want, and when you close the bolt, that top round will go up into the chamber." Tess pulled back the bolt handle and a cartridge automatically loaded into the chamber.

"Forestock, use your non-trigger hand to hold it up like this." Tess picked up the rifle and demonstrated the correct form for Carol who watched on attentively. "Look down the barrel to your sight and line up your shot. Easy as that."

"Easy as that." Carol repeated, not so convinced. Tess breathed a laugh, knowing it was a lot to take in.

"Want me to demonstrate?"

"Please." She all but begged, feeling rather overwhelmed by all the information.

It had been a while since Tess had fired a bolt action rifle but the weight of it felt familiar and she eased back into it quickly. With steady hands and gentle breaths, she lined the bucket up in her sight. As she gently exhaled, she pressed down on the trigger, firing. The loud crack drew everyone's attention and the pail flew off the fence from the force of the impact. In quick succession, Tess released the bolt and the spent cartridge flew out as it was replaced with a fresh one. Still got it, she thought to herself humorously, knowing it was an incredibly easy target to hit for her.

"Bet you another chocolate bar, you can't hit that!" Carl's voice called out from her right and Tess turned to see everyone looking at her. Carl was pointing to a faded stop sign about fifty yards away and Tess smiled at his suggestion. She scanned the area in front of her, wanting to give the kid a worthwhile bet, the sign being far too easy for her.

"What about that?" She asked instead, pointing to a piece of colored glass that hung from a tree, maybe another 20 yards past the stop sign. It twinkled as the light caught it, the gentle breeze causing it to spin.

"You're going down." Carl told her confidently and Tess chuckled, knowing it would be a challenge but willing to take the bet.

Tess watched the glass spin for a moment, assessing the way it looked when its face spun around and caught the sun. She brought the rifle up against her shoulder and exhaled, holding her breath all together this time. There was minimal margin for error and she couldn't allow for any movement. The glass spun, once, twice and on the third turn, she pulled the trigger.

The gun cracked loudly and glass shattered causing a couple people to leap in fright. There was no longer any twinkling in the distance.

"You cheated!" Carl cried out in surprise, causing everyone, but Andrea and Shane, to laugh.

"How did I cheat?" Laughed Tess.

"I don't know."

—

They spent a few more hours at their improvised firing range before calling it a day. Most were keen to head back to camp but Shane and Andrea stayed for further, more advanced training. Shane had offered for Tess to join them as well but she was quick to turn him down, much to Andrea's relief. She didn't want one on one time with either of them any time soon.

Back at the farm, Tess helped Rick to clean some of the weapons that were starting to jam and everyone else went about their own business. They briefly talked about how the day had gone and how impressive the shot was that she made. Tess humbly told him it was mostly luck and good conditions but had to admit it felt good to be recognized.

As they quietly cleaned different rifles and handguns, Tess considered whether to bring up last night's events. She'd only just started debating it when she saw Lori, red faced and angry, eyes set dead-square on her husband, storming towards them.

"Looks like you're in trouble." She stated, getting to her feet. "I'm out." Rick whirled around to face the oncoming storm and withered under his wife's gaze. "Good luck." She whispered to him and gave hurricane Lori a wide berth.

Tess picked up some lunch from Carol and sat quietly in the empty camp, appreciating the sunny day and peace and quiet. Today's lunch was mixed beans and elbow pasta. Dry but filling. She washed it down with some water and checked with Carol whether Daryl had eaten at all. She figured he'd be too busy pouting and hiding in his tent after being scolded by Carol. Just as she imagined, he hadn't come out and she got a new, full plate for him. She stopped by her tent to pick up her bow and then wandered over to Daryl's.

Daryl lay in his tent, bored. He'd flicked through the book Andrea had given him this morning as an olive branch but grew tired of it after about ten pages. 'The Case of the Missing Man' hadn't really piqued his interest. He'd thought about trying to tag along with the rest of the group at target practice, even just to watch but he didn't want to seem needy. So, instead he'd spent his day fiddling with his crossbow and bolts, staring at the ceiling and trying to sleep.

He was starting to grow hungry now, estimating it was early afternoon and started to think that he'd have to swallow his pride and face Carol after she told him off this morning. He told himself he was angry at her but he wasn't really. Deep down, he knew she was right but he still wasn't used to people fussing over him, especially women.

His mind wandered to the other woman that had been making a mark on his life lately, recalling the disappointment he'd secretly felt when Tess hadn't been the one to bring him his dinner last night. Not that she had said she would but her failed appearance had irked him nonetheless. Daryl fidgeted uncomfortably, unsettled by his thoughts that sounded desperate to him, feeling pathetic and, as Merle would say, a pussy.

"Hey, Daryl, you in there?" A gentle voice called out to him from beyond the walls of the tent and he froze. For a moment, he thought he had somehow summoned her from sheer will but shook his head vigorously at the stupid thought. Realizing he hadn't replied, he cleared his throat and answered,

"Uh, yeah." The flap of the tent was drawn aside and Tess poked her head in, a warm smile on her face.

"I got you lunch, come on out." As quickly as she appeared, she ducked back out and in a daze, Daryl wondered if he was daydreaming. He waited a few moments without moving, waiting for a sign that confirmed whether he had lost his mind or not. He looked around the tent, half expecting to see a Cheshire cat or pipe-smoking caterpillar.

"You coming or what?" Tess shouted to him and Daryl got to his feet as quickly as he could.

Outside the tent, Tess waited expectantly, wondering if maybe she should have offered him a hand up. He'd probably have turned her down anyway but knew he must have still been experiencing some pain and discomfort. Finally, Daryl pushed his way out of the tent and stood up to his full height. Tess took his appearance in, he was wearing a sleeveless vest and his regular dirty, dark pants that he refused to let Carol wash.

She couldn't judge though, knowing her last shower was back at the CDC and she had been wearing the same pants since the quarry. Daryl's vest bulged where the bandages on his torso lay and the one around his head had been removed. She wondered if Hershel had allowed him to go without one or if Daryl had torn it off in frustration. His hair was starting to get some length to it and fell over the wound so she wasn't able to get a good look at it.

"Good to see you back on your feet." She smiled at him again and turned away, leading him away from the camp.

"I thought you were bringing me lunch?" Daryl grumbled, eyeing the plate of food in her left hand Tess stifled a laugh.

"I was. Am. But I've already eaten so I'd rather do something while you eat." She told him and led him to the tree with the weathered looking bullseye. It was then that Daryl noticed she was carrying a compound bow in her other hand.

"Where'd you get that from?" He asked in surprise.

"I found it in town the other day when you were off being the Lone Ranger. Sit, eat and I'll try not to embarrass myself." She handed him the plate of food and Daryl took a seat on the edge of an empty water trough.

He ate quietly and watched on as she missed multiple shots with unwavering determination. A few of the arrows hit the outside of the bullseye but only one actually hit one of the rings.

"You're not very good." He said bluntly and then realized that was harsh. Tess just shrugged, almost as though she agreed with him.

"I'm better at other things." She quipped and gave him a mock glare. Daryl swallowed thickly, he wasn't sure whether that was an innuendo or not but it had certainly made him nervous. Tess realized what she said had sounded rather suggestive and she blushed, not at all having intended it like that. Daryl cleared his throat and got to his feet.

"Your draw length is too long."

Daryl gestured for her to hand over the bow and she did so, watching as he made some adjustments. She didn't really know what he was doing but he seemed to make quick work of it and was suddenly handing her the bow back.

"That's it?" She asked, thinking that had been far too easy. Daryl just shrugged and stepped back. Tess took that as a yes and resumed her earlier position.

The draw felt only marginally shorter but she had to admit, it was more comfortable. She felt less strain in her shoulder and could spend longer lining up her shot, which made it easier to hit the target. She still didn't manage to hit dead-on but she got a lot closer than she had previously.

"Well shit… Thank you."

"No good you missin' all the time." Daryl told her offhandedly.

"Did you bow hunt?" She asked him, intrigued by his knowledge.

"Long time ago. The crossbow's less work though."

"Pity I didn't find one of those then." She laughed and turned back to the target, lining up another shot.

Daryl watched on from the side and considered going to get his crossbow for her to try out but he didn't like the idea of being seen as generous or attentive and kept quiet.

"How're the wounds by the way?" She asked him without looking over.

"Fine." He lied.

"Mhmm…" She hummed back, not convinced.

"Well I ain't dead." Daryl snapped at her and she frowned.

"Damn near close though." Tess expressed firmly, now looking at him.

"Don't know why you're all so damn concerned about it?" He griped, his hackles starting to rise and automatically becoming defensive.

"Well, probably because we care about you? I know that's probably a foreign concept to you but we actually genuinely give a shit."

Daryl was stumped by her response, still not used to people talking back to him which was something she continued to do again and again. Instead, he just glared at her, causing her to sigh.

"Look, whatever it is you think you're not deserving of, friendship, family, whatever, you are. No ones out to get you, I'm certainly not. But I can't keep trying to be your friend if you're just gonna block me out every time."

She scolded him, tired of his defensive behavior. She didn't think she'd pried too much and was fed up trying to understand why, when he wouldn't even let her ask the most basic of questions.

Tess marched over to the tree to pick up her arrows, forgetting about the one in the grass, and went back to camp.

—

Tess found Maggie sitting on the porch swing with a foul look on her face. She hadn't spoken to her much since she arrived but she liked the woman. She admired her confidence and ability to go after what she wanted.

"Mind if I join you?" Tess asked her as she walked up the timber stairs.

"Sure." Maggie plastered a quick smile on her face and scooted over. As Tess sat, Maggie's scowl instantly returned and Tess realized that she was focusing on Glenn.

"Boy trouble?" She asked, a little smile tugging at her lips.

"Something like that." Maggie replied, hedging around the question.

"Wanna talk about it?" She asked her, even though her dating advice was limited at best.

"Are you sure?" Maggie smiled, sensing the way Tess seemed uncertain in her offer.

"Yeah, of course. Us gals gotta stick together, right?" Tess told her, repeating what Maggie had said to her a few days prior. Maggie's smile grew more genuine and she nodded.

"I guess I'm not really angry at Glenn…" She began, "We went into town again today, Lori wanted us to pick some things up from the pharmacy for her, and we… there was a walker there and it got so close I thought… Glenn killed it." Maggie sounded nervous and still a bit shaken by today's events.

"Are you okay?" Tess asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Not bites or scratches. It was a close call though." Tess nodded in recognition, knowing it must've given her a good scare. "I hate the way people treat him like an errand boy. Like he's disposable." Maggie continued and Tess' brow furrowed. There had to be more that she wasn't telling her.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"The other day, when you went into town, we had an issue with one of our wells. A walker had fallen in and somehow Glenn was nominated to be the one to pull it out." Maggie told her and Tess' jaw dropped at the ridiculous predicament.

"Seriously? Who the hell thought that was a good idea? Could have gotten Glenn killed."

"Exactly my point! But he just does it and I don't know why."

"You care about him a lot, huh?" Tess smiled softly.

"I haven't really known him that long… But yeah, I do." Maggie shyly admitted, a faint bush coloring her cheeks.

"Nowadays, I'd say that's a good thing. No point wasting your time with should I's when you don't know what tomorrow could bring. And if anyone's going to get him to learn to stand up for himself, it'll be you." Tess told her and encouragingly and the two women shared a smile.

"Thank you, Tess."

"Don't worry about it. Glad I could provide you with somewhat helpful relationship advice. Even if I am seriously lacking in that department." She chuckled dryly.

"But you seem happy?" Maggie inquired, confused.

"Huh?" Tess replied, now also confused.

"With Daryl?" Clarified Maggie and Tess nearly choked.

"Daryl and I aren't… No. There's nothing going on there." She corrected her, caught off guard.

"Oh. Sorry."

"No, it's fine. Daryl and I are just friends. Sometimes… I think?"

"Had me fooled." Maggie quipped with a cheeky look on her face.

Tess thought back to all her interactions with Daryl and tried to determine where Maggie had gotten such an idea. Did others think the same? Well, Andrea thought she was sleeping with Shane, so who knew. Is it me? Sure, she stayed at Daryl's bedside all night after he'd been hurt but that was because she felt guilty. Right? Had she not gone off that day, maybe he wouldn't have gotten hurt. That was on her.

"No, I mean, I like Daryl, don't get me wrong. But I also like the rest of the guys too. Well, not Shane."

"He gives me the creeps." Maggie agreed.

Tess' mind was in a whirlwind now. She hadn't thought she'd been treating Daryl any differently than the likes of Glenn or Rick or T-Dog. But perhaps she had been; subconsciously? But why? She looked out across the farm to the campsite where the group was milling about, trying to find Daryl.

Maybe just setting her eyes on him would set her mind at ease and reassure her that she was just getting worked up over nothing but he was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she spotted Lori in the distance. It looked as though she were hiding behind a tree, vomiting.

"What did Lori want you to get from town?" Tess suddenly asked, recalling what Maggie had told her previously.

"Huh?"

"You said Lori sent you to get something from the pharmacy, what was it?" She asked, concerned that Lori might be sick. Maggie hesitated, looking unsure but finally blurted out something unexpected.

"Lori's pregnant."