Chapter 44 - The Humbling River

There were many days after that first hunting trip that Tess wished they had decided to stay by the lake. It was difficult to not want to be with Daryl and even more so when he continued to sleep in the cell next to her. It was cruel to be so close, yet so out of reach.

They weren't completely without physical interaction however - the subtle brush of their hands against one another in passing, their feet under the table, the very rare and chaste embraces in private when either of them turned in from a particularly hard day. It was enough to keep any anxieties at bay and abate their restlessness until they could really be together again.

Daryl's gift to her proved to be perfectly timed. It served to make her a more useful hunter and it meant that they had been able to revisit the lake house again over the last thirty days. It was approximately two weeks later and Daryl had been nervous. He didn't want to assume that visiting the cabin meant sex, he didn't want to put that pressure on her, so he tried not to think about it.

Tess, on the other hand, couldn't stop thinking about it. Crossing the threshold into the cabin late one evening, it took all her self control not to begin tearing at his clothes already. It had been the first time the council had agreed that they could stay out overnight - Sasha and Maggie had given her a myriad of sly looks before they left and all she could do was roll her eyes and hope that she wasn't blushing.

They still didn't know, or at least she didn't think they did. Perhaps they suspected but they never said anything. They did continue to tease her whenever they caught her looking his way or vice versa, however. That much was to be expected. Tess always deflected whenever anyone pried, choosing not to lie by not addressing it at all.

As Tess watched Daryl open up the glass door at the back of the cabin, she wondered if he did the same. Actually, he probably didn't have to worry about people approaching him about it - he was excellent at exuding a 'don't talk to me' aura. She smiled to herself thinking about the way he was around her versus everyone else - there was a whole other side to him that he didn't let the others see.

He talked, for one. Daryl asked her questions and answered hers, albeit rarely at length. But she was okay with that. He was attentive and caring when he wanted to be. There was never a second where he wasn't on the lookout for her and he did all he could to keep her out of harm's way. Not because he thought of her as incapable but because the image of her bloody and bruised was still seared into his memory and he'd do whatever he could to never see that again.

Tess had never felt so cared for in her life. It was almost scary at times - Daryl was committed to her and she to him and that meant that they both were willing to risk themselves for the sake of the other. What a precarious position to be in. If it ever came down to it, Tess was certain she'd do something reckless if it meant saving him from harm or death. She loved him, even if she couldn't say it to him yet.

"I'm gonna get some wood." Daryl told her before leaving the cabin.

Tess watched him leave until he went out of sight and then carried their kills into the small kitchen, as Daryl had last time. Staring out the small window above the sink, she thought about what it would be like to live here; just the two of them. Domestic bliss might be a stretch but she could definitely see herself being happy and she hoped Daryl would too.

It made her wonder what kind of future was in store for them. Would they live out the rest of their lives at the prison, practically living on top of one another and hope that they could have some semblance of a life together? Or would they eventually call it quits on communal living and decide to go off on their own? Would they, would either of them, even make it far enough for them to have a future? That scared her the most.

Tess jumped at the sound of logs dropping on the floor and she clutched the edge of the sink with white knuckles, waiting for her heartbeat to return to normal. Whatever happened, however long they had, at least they would be doing it together. That was her peace; her comfort. Him. Them.

She returned to the living room just as Daryl had begun stoking a fire. He sat in front of it, patiently watching it grow until the flames consumed the wood and he closed the grate. Tess grabbed the blanket from over the back of the sofa and sat on the floor beside Daryl, silently watching the fire burn.

Daryl glanced over at her - the blanket snug across her lap and the flickering shadows from the flames dancing across her face in the waning light. He felt like the luckiest man alive and he knew it was odd to be grateful for the world ending but he was. It meant he was here, now, with her and they had done amazing things together. Not just of the sinful kind but everything they had been through.

From day one, she'd been on his side - been patient with him, tried, often in vain, to reason with him, listened to him and guided him. She'd been the only one to ever show any kind of concern or care for his brother. Even now, after everything, she did her best to acclimate Merle; even Daryl didn't have the patience for that. He appreciated her in more ways than he could count but most of all because she cared about his family.

"You and Merle seem to be getting along." He commented over the sound of the growing fire. Tess turned and grinned at him.

"He's not so bad if you just ignore everything he says and does." She replied humorously and Daryl chuckled quietly before quickly returning to his stoic facade.

"Thank you for helping him. Most people wouldn't think he deserves it. I don't know if he does either." Daryl muttered, wishing he had better control over aligning his words with what was in his head but resigned to the fact that this was the best he could do right now. Tess smiled at him fondly, filling him with a warmth that burned greater than the fire.

"You don't ever have to thank me." She assured him and it came without remonstrance. She never wanted anything in return, it wasn't an exchange. She did it because she wanted to, because it mattered to her.

It wasn't clear who made the first move but before long, Daryl's mouth was pressed against hers and their lips burned together like a fever. The ground rose to meet them, or they fell to meet it, Tess wasn't sure of which. She was completely submerged in the feeling of Daryl's hands gliding along her neck, chest, waist, hips, until he grasped the back of her knee and shifted her leg so that he could fit his own in between.

Her fingers tangled into the lengthening hair at the nape of his neck and she tugged experimentally. The surprise groan that erupted from Daryl's throat left her exhilarated and the dark, libidinous eyes that he pulled back to stare at her with, made her shiver with anticipation. A hand fell to her face and his thumb traced along her jaw until it found its way to her parted lips. Daryl brushed over them, engrossed in her wide, seeking eyes and the way her lips trembled - each shuddering breath feeling like a whisper against his skin.

Tess' shallow breathing picked up when his hand left her face and bunched up the hem of her shirt. She went to sit up, expecting him to remove it from her but his head fell to her waist and he began scoring her skin with slow, steady kisses. Her eyes fluttered closed as she sagged back to the floor, limp and beholden to desire. Heat trailed along her stomach with each torturous press of his lips and when he drew closer to the waistband of her jeans, a high pitched moan escaped her, which caught them both by surprise.

"That tickled." She explained between breaths. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair was mussed and her hands were shaky against him - Daryl took great pleasure in all of it. He smirked into her skin, attempting to elicit that same noise from her again but Tess threaded her fingers into his hair and tugged until he groaned and leveled with her.

Tess leaned in to brush her lips against his as Daryl glowered at her with feigned irritation. She remained just out of reach, taunting him and when he about gave in, Tess rolled them over and knelt boldly above him. Daryl's finger tips buried into her hips and his scowl disappeared when she rocked them in his hands. The same hands that quickly found their way under her shirt and against her back, holding her while Daryl launched himself up.

Tess teetered on her knees, falling back and then pitching forward as Daryl pushed and pulled her in an effort to remove her shirt. She found herself giggling when the fabric left her skin and her tousled hair fell in her face. Daryl could certainly be rapacious when he wanted to be, she was beginning to realize. Not that she minded, she enjoyed how excited he was and relished in the fact that it was because of her. He had the same effect on her after all, so it seemed only fair to enjoy it.

Daryl's calloused hands traced the curve of her waist, sending chills through her body that made her feel static. Warm and fuzzy and neither here nor there. Something transcendent, something… spiritual. He began tugging on her bra, a silent plea for it to be removed, but Tess wanted something in return. She grasped his shirt and pulled him in, muttering the words 'Fair's, fair' against his lips before giving him what he wanted.

Right now, Daryl would run off a cliff if she asked him to and he keenly followed suit, removing his shirt for her without concern. Tess arched into him when he reached for her again - his hands caressing the swell of her breasts, his face burying into her chest and leaving hot, open mouth kisses against her skin. A sigh shuddered free from her lips and she dragged her nails down his back when he teased her breast with his tongue.

He groaned into her chest and bared his teeth against her skin, shuddering beneath her raking hands. Between the heat of her legs, Tess felt him twitch and a terribly mischievous thought crossed her mind. Her hands slipped between them and found his belt buckle, pulling it and the button of his jeans loose. Daryl made no move to stop her and nor did the ever increasing drum in her chest. She splayed a hand flat against his chest and pushed him down to the ground, following him as he went.

She started with a kiss on his lips, then his jaw and neck - Daryl shuddered when she trailed her tongue in the hollow between his neck and shoulder. Moving further down, she placed fervid kisses across his chest and abdomen, all the while wrestling him free from the confines of his jeans. He helped shift them to his ankles, where he kicked them off and then she did something that surprised him.

Through all the blazing heat he felt coursing through his body, he immediately recognized when her hand slipped under the waistband of his briefs and she gripped him. Daryl inhaled sharply, his head tipping back on the floor and when his eyes opened again, she had freed him from them. Slowly, she stroked him and peered up from his chest, locking eyes with him as he watched on in a daze.

Tess worked him slowly in her hand and placed a final, chaste kiss on his chest before gliding down to his hips. In all his delirium- heart pounding, mind blank, breath escaping him, Daryl had an urge to stop her and he grabbed at her arm, causing her to halt. Tess stared up at him, expecting him to tell her no and if he wanted her to stop, she would, but he gazed down at her with a look that said 'Are you sure? You don't have to.' As if she hadn't made up her mind already.

She smiled at him, small and timid but certain. She wanted to do this. Without hesitation, she ducked her head and made a broad stroke of her tongue along his shaft before taking him in her mouth. Daryl's hand fell limply from her arm and a rumble came from his chest that she hadn't heard from him before. It made her ache and she clenched her stomach, trying to appease it anyway she could.

She worked slowly, mindfully, flicking her tongue along his length with every bob of her head. Her pace picked up and with it, so did Daryl's shallow breaths. Tess heard him curse under his breath and she peeked up at him. His face was contorted in pleasurable agony and when she slowed her ministrations his eyes opened to find her watching him. Daryl panted, trying to catch his breath. She felt him twitch against her lips at the sight of her and his hand knotted itself into her hair, desperately pulling until she pulled away.

With an encouraging tug, Daryl guided her up to meet him again and crashed her lips against his before flipping them over. When her back hit the floor, Daryl fell back onto his knees and tore her jeans from her legs. Tess was already removing her underwear from her waist as well when Daryl stood and rid himself of his briefs completely. Shamelessly, she gazed up at him, delighting in all his bare glory.

Tess lifted herself onto her elbows as Daryl crouched and positioned himself between her legs. Her hands reached for his face, coveting him as their breath intermingled once more. She rolled her hips against his and Daryl's forehead fell onto hers with an agonizing sigh. Tess did it once more, the burning need that controlled her entire being making it impossible to stop, and Daryl finally gave in to his base desire. He buried himself inside her and Tess' mouth fell open as she inhaled sharply.

He paused briefly before grinding his hips slowly, each gratifying thrust causing her lip to tremble. Daryl's gaze fell to it and he captured it with his own, driving himself into her with greater force as he did so. Tess keened beneath him and her back arched towards him, her breasts brushing his chest and her mouth leaving his. Daryl's hand glided up her back, holding her against him as his thrusts began to match their every racing breath.

It was like ecstasy. She had never known a feeling better than this. Their chests pressed together, she could feel his heart beat in time with hers. Rapid and merciless and leaving them desperate for air. Tess moaned when Daryl burrowed his head into her neck and his hand squeezed her thigh. She could hear his heavy breathing in her ear and in pure, unadulterated bliss, he groaned her name. It sounded like a prayer and a plea - the divine makings of a man in complete euphoria.

Daryl's palm slid down her leg, pulling it up until bended knee and he hooked his hand underneath. He rolled to the side, pulling her on top and Tess eagerly obliged. Her knees pressed into the hard ground either side of him and she raised herself up, grinding her hips to meet his thrusts. In the light of the fire, her disheveled hair looked like a burning halo and Daryl observed every inch of her with dazed wonder. She was blazing and glorious and he had no better word to describe her other than perfect.

Tess moved with increasing fervor, angling her hips at the precise angle to help her reach her end. Her eyes squeezed shut as she focused on the feeling of them moving as one and Daryl, his own climax nearing, took charge to make sure she got there. He rose to meet her, clutching her to his chest and she gasped when his other hand found her between them. His fingers stroked experimentally at first but when her breath hitched in her throat, her fingers stabbed into his shoulders and her moans started to sound more like sobs, he continued relentlessly until he felt her clench around him. Her head fell back and she arched into him as Daryl urgently thrust into her until he too met the same unequivocal and heavenly ending.

He continued to hold her to him, completely intoxicated by her warmth and the debilitating bliss of their union once again. Tess breathed him in, savoring the feeling of his arms around her and the heady wave of her ruin washing over her. When she finally regained some semblance of control, she peppered a few light kisses on Daryl's shoulder, bringing him back down to Earth. His hands languished on her skin and he pulled his head back from her neck to kiss her a final time. Tess sighed against his lips and a proud smile stretched across his.

When he finally released her completely and got to his feet she rolled onto her stomach and watched him walk over to and back from the bathroom.

"I take it all back," She complained petulantly, "We should just stay here."

Daryl chuckled contentedly. He knew she was joking but part of him was definitely inclined to agree. He put his briefs back on and sat beside her, admiring the shadows that were cast over her body. His hand trailed down her spine along the black artwork that had been inked into her skin - a phoenix born from smoke. It was twisted to fit the space between burn scars and he traced the outline of the bird with the pads of his fingers.

Tess knew what he was doing, she knew the shape of her own tattoo and she knew what the plane of her back looked like. His touch was slow and steady and soothing and before long, she fell asleep on the floor in front of the fire.

That had been a fortnight ago.

Today, after much consideration and careful preparation, they were going to hit the Big Spot. A few days earlier they'd sent a scouting party to assess the area. The building was cordoned off - tall metal fences encircled the parking lot and inside, a military outpost had been set up at the entrance of the store. Large, black Marine Corps trucks and forest green tents were left abandoned on the blacktop and in amongst it all, dozens of walkers roamed freely. Some had clearly been civilians but others had been part of the military encampment and wore the distinct OCP uniform.

They weren't going to risk it. They had the time and the means and there was no need to run head first into danger if they could avoid it. Two streets down, they had set up a boombox and used it to lure the walkers away. Now, three days later, they were on their way back - Tess, Daryl and Merle, Michonne, Sasha and Tyreese, Glenn, Zach, and Bob. It was the largest group they'd ever sent out on a run but it was also the largest location they'd ever tried to loot.

Bob wasn't originally part of the plan. Daryl and Glenn had found him in a small, nearby township a week ago and he'd been intent on earning his keep since his arrival, so they agreed to let him tag along. Tess hadn't had much of an opportunity to talk to him, only catching him in passing - enough to say hi and introduce herself but they'd never had much of a conversation. It was only through Sasha that she learnt he was ex-army too.

Merle was a last minute addition to the run as well. One that Glenn hadn't been too pleased about. While he vocalized his hatred for the older Dixon brother less nowadays, it still bubbled just below the surface. When Tess told him they were bringing Merle along, she almost thought he was going to lash out at her but he bit his tongue and accepted begrudgingly. It wasn't worth the energy it cost to complain and it definitely wasn't worth stewing over the likes of him, Glenn reckoned.

They split off into two vehicles - Michonne, Glenn, Sasha and Tyrese in one, Tess, Daryl, Merle, Zach and Bob in the other. Daryl drove and Tess sat in the passenger seat beside him. Zach was squished between Bob and Merle in the backseat much to his discomfort but Merle was the one kicking up the most fuss.

He continued to sigh loudly and shuffle about uncomfortably, expressing his displeasure at being relegated to the backseat. Tess caught glimpses of him out of the corner of her eye and noticed him glaring at them in the front of the car. She smirked to herself, trying not to appear too entertained by his misery.

"Everyone comfortable back there?" She called over her shoulder and smiled as Daryl looked over at her.

Zach and Bob didn't complain but, as expected, Merle huffed angrily.

"It should be your skinny ass back here, not me." He grumbled while trying to stretch his legs.

"Be thankful you're not in the middle. Maybe if you behave we can swap on the way back."

"Behave…" Merle hissed under his breath. "I'm Samaritan of the year."

"Mhmm," Tess grinned, "Or we could rock, paper, scissors it out but I think I'll have you beat."

Zach chuckled and Merle fixed him with a dangerous glare, warning him to think twice about laughing. The kid stopped but a cheeky smirk remained on his face, which he hid by looking in the opposite direction. Merle glowered out the window for the remainder of the drive, muttering to himself about how much he hated living with them all.

A hint of a smile crossed Daryl's face as he looked between his brother in the rearview and Tess beside him - he knew when Merle was angry, he let you know, and he could tell that he wasn't now. He mightn't have been too happy but he took Tess' ribbing on the chin and it showed how much she'd managed to get through to him in the short time she'd known him. She was surprisingly good at that. Somehow she'd managed to do it to them both and it made him happy to see her relentless efforts pay off.

They pulled up to the fences at the front of the Big Spot and Tess jumped out to access the trunk where they'd stowed their weapons for the drive over. She grabbed Daryl's crossbow and her bow that he had made her and joined him by the driver's door. She handed him his weapon with a sweet smile that made him consider becoming a fan of public affection.

"Thanks." He said instead and they walked over to join the others at the fence.

Tess hadn't been a part of the initial reconnaissance team but had been made aware of what to expect. That didn't stop the deja-vu though. Her skin was riddled with goosebumps as she followed her friends through the fence. While most of them wandered over to the store, Tess caught herself staring into the barracks, trapped in a time warp. It reminded her of the hospital and with it, every terrible thing that had happened there.

"Spooky, huh?" Bob remarked flippantly beside her and she frowned at him. "If they couldn't hold out, it really makes you wonder about the rest of us, don't it?"

Tess grit her teeth and her frown turned into a glare. The crooked smile on Bob's face fell away when he realized that she wasn't amused.

"You wanna repeat that?" She cautioned him and his eyes widened in fear.

"I didn't mean anything by it." He shook his head, unsure why his comment had upset her so.

"Sure you didn't. Where'd you train, Bob?"

"South Carolina and then San Antonio." He replied cautiously and she cocked her head to the side.

"JBSA, Fort Sam, right? Home of the Combat Medic?" Bob withered beneath her gaze as she stepped towards him. "I don't know what you were doing when the world ended but some of us were in the shit. Have a little respect."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know." He stammered and she backed down out of his face.

"Don't be sorry." She scolded him, "Just don't be an asshole."

She turned on her heel and walked away from Bob and the haunting memories, finding Daryl resting against the wall near the entrance; Merle lingering nearby. He watched her approach and raised an eyebrow at her in intrigue, having witnessed the tense interaction.

"You okay?" He asked, noticing the way she was chewing the inside of her cheek like she did when she was annoyed or distracted.

"Something about Bob rubs me the wrong way." She told him and sat along the wall beside him.

"Why?"

"I don't know. I don't know if I trust him." Tess shrugged and shook her head. "Maybe I'm just being dramatic."

Daryl looked down at her and then over at Bob. He had seemed trustworthy enough when he and Glenn had found him but he didn't know enough about the guy to say for certain. He trusted her though and her instincts, so if she felt like there was something off, then he was inclined to believe she was right. Daryl didn't say anything but he'd make sure to keep a watchful eye over their newest recruit.

While they waited for a few of the others to finish a sweep around the building, Zach approached them,

"Okay, I think I got it." He claimed boldly and Tess stopped chewing or her cheek to look at him strangely.

"Got what?" She asked, rising up from her slouch.

"I've been trying to guess what Daryl did before the turn. I'm pacing myself. One shot a day." Zach told her and she laughed, turning to look at Daryl who was unsurprised.

"All right," Daryl shrugged, "shoot."

"Well, the way you are at the prison, you being on the council, you're able to track, you're helping people, but you're still being kind of... surly." Zach paced thoughtfully and Tess bit her lip to stifle her laughter.

"Big swing here… Homicide cop."

Merle scoffed derisively and Tess grinned at Daryl and Zach. She had no clue what Daryl had done for work prior to the turn, it had never really occurred to her to ask, but she definitely didn't think he had been a homicide cop.

"What's so funny?" Zach asked her disappointedly.

"Nothing. Nothing at all." She assured him and hid her smile in her hand.

"Actually, the man's right." Daryl announced, "Undercover."

"Oh, really?" Tess smirked at him playfully.

"Yep. I don't like to talk about it 'cause it was a lot of heavy shit, you know?"

Daryl remained stoic, playing into the mysterious, surly cop role that Zach envisioned for him.

"Dude, come on, really?" The kid deliberated heavily, feeling like he was being led on. Daryl gave him a look as if to say 'what do you think?' and Zach sighed. "Okay. I'll just keep guessing, I guess."

"Yeah, you keep doing that." Daryl smirked and looked down at Tess who was trying her best not to laugh.

"So what did you do before all this?" Zach turned his attention to her and Tess cleared her throat to stifle any remaining laughter.

"Hold on, why don't you have to guess for me?" She asked.

"I'm only guessing for Daryl because he'll never tell me. You're nicer than him." He replied and then froze, "No offense." He added quickly, in fear of invoking some terrible wrath but Daryl only titled his head, unperturbed.

"That was me." Tess pointed toward the army tents and trucks. Zach looked unconvinced.

"You're lying to me too aren't you?"

"I swear on my life it's the truth." She affirmed and he looked over at Daryl for confirmation, to which he received a firm nod in reply.

"So you were in the army too then?" Zach surmised and Daryl raised an eyebrow at him.

"How'd you figure that?"

"Well the two of you met somewhere, right? Were you guys together before all this too?"

Together. Tess figured he meant more than just together in each other's company. She looked up at Daryl hesitantly, trying to gauge his reaction but he was as impassive as he was before.

"Uh, we-" Tess stuttered, unsure how to respond.

"No." Daryl interrupted her and whatever words she had planned to say faded into nothing as she waited for him to deny Zach's assumption. But all he said was 'no'. They hadn't been. But they were now.

She found herself gazing up at him in reverence - it was the first time either of them had ever acknowledged to anyone else that they were anything more than friends. It was the first time someone had outwardly confronted them about it too, which left her wondering how many people thought the same thing. Daryl glanced over at her and she smiled bashfully, keenly aware of all the people around them.

"Enough with the twenty questions," Merle grumbled dismally, "are we going in or what?"

Daryl cleared his throat and stepped away from the wall,

"All right, we go in, stay in formation for the sweep." He addressed them all, "After that, you all know what you're supposed to look for. Any questions?"

Nobody spoke up. They'd been over and over the plan many times and everyone knew what they had to do. They were to do an initial sweep of the store as a unit and then disband into their predetermined groups to gather what they were assigned to. Tess volunteered to be paired up with Merle and together they were tasked with the household essentials and personal care aisles. Michonne and Glenn were responsible for getting stuff for Judith and the kids, Tyrese and Sasha: medication and Daryl, Zach and Bob had groceries.

In their four groups, they'd be able to cover most of the store in less than a couple hours. All going well that is. Glenn, Sasha and Tyrese hadn't found anything of concern when scouting the perimeter, so they were confident that they would be in and out without issue. Tess gripped her bow tightly in hand and held the line between Glenn and Merle.

As planned, Tyrese began knocking on the wall by the front entrance, drawing out any walkers that were inside so that they could backtrack out of the building if there were too many. Only eight sprung from the aisles and Tess and Daryl took down as many as they could before they reached them. The new bow had taken some getting used to, it was harder to pull and balance, which meant she had even less time to hold her draw but she'd spent a lot of time practicing over the last month.

The sting of the bowstring digging into her fingers and the weight of it pulling against her arm all felt familiar. Each release of the string wearing calluses into her fingertips and each satisfying take down building her confidence. It felt good to have a bow again and it felt even better with the meaning behind it. Using it was a constant reminder of everything her and Daryl shared and that made her feel safer than anything.

Michonne decapitated the last two remaining walkers that drew near and when they finally hit the floor, it was silent inside the Big Spot. Daryl signaled for them to disband and Tess locked eyes with him for a final time, silently asking one another to be safe, and then continued deeper into the store with Merle.

Merle had his signature knife strapped to his right arm and pistol in a thigh holster on his left. He chose not to carry another weapon, claiming he really only needed his knife anyway but Tess insisted that he at least carry a gun just in case. Over his shoulder, he carried an empty duffle bag and while Tess picked up her arrows from the dead walkers, he continued to their designated aisle.

When she reached him, he was already kneeling beside the open bag and grabbing items from the shelves - cleaning supplies, soap and sanitizers, flashlights and batteries. Living in a world without electricity was nice at times; Tess thought back to the nights when they'd been living on the road and the night sky was so clear and unpolluted but that was about the only benefit she'd been able to find. Mostly, it was incredibly inconvenient and it meant batteries were more than worth their weight in gold. Merle cleared the entire shelf's worth of them into the bag.

Tess threw some boxes of laundry powder on top and Merle muttered in annoyance when he reshuffled the bag for them to fit. One surprising thing she'd learned about Merle was that he could be quite particular and he had a very ordered way of doing the most insignificant of things, such as packing the duffle bag in a manner that suited him. She made no comment about it though and just let him be. If anything, it was the most normal thing about him and she wasn't about to point fingers at it.

With the bag halfway full, he hauled it up over his shoulder again and they moved to the next aisle. Merle left her to deal with all the 'women crap' and continued grabbing toothpaste and toothbrushes, all the while grumbling about becoming domesticated. She rolled her eyes disdainfully, while she'd become accustomed to his complaining, it didn't make it any less annoying.

"You're about as domesticated as a jungle cat. Give it a break wou-" Tess was cut off by a loud bang, followed by a scream and the sound of glass smashing on the floor.

Frozen to the floor, she stared at Merle until another loud cry for help had her bolting towards the noise - towards the grocery aisles. In her panic, she wasn't able to discern whose voice it was but it was male and it was enough to make her fear the worst. She skidded to a halt when the roof above her head began to crumble and then, with a giant heaving sigh, it gave way. Plaster, mortar and asphalt crumbled overhead and Tess felt an arm loop around her shoulders and tug her back just as a ceiling panel came crashing down in front of her.

She staggered backward into Merle and he continued to drag her away from the collapsing roof. Walkers began falling through the hole - some smashed to the floor and others got trapped in the wiring but still clawed at them in vain. Tess' eyes widened in fright at what could have very nearly been a terrible ending for her. When she regained her footing, she tried to push Merle's arm away but his grip only tightened and he pulled her further away from the chaos.

"Let me go!" She screeched at him and tried to free herself from his grip, clawing at his arm desperately. Merle ignored her and continued to drag her away from the danger and her people. When they reached the entrance, he threw her out onto the pavement and marched away from the door.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" Tess bellowed, trying to get back inside but he thwarted her every attempt. "Get the hell out of my way, Merle!"

"No." He replied sternly and shoved her away from him.

"Our people are still in there! Daryl's still in there! I'm not just gonna stand here!"

"Yes you are."

Her hands were balled into fists so tightly that her bone could have nearly broken through her skin and her nails drew welts in the skin of her palms. She was furious and terrified - she still didn't know who had screamed or why and all she could think about was that Daryl was in danger and she was doing nothing to help. If Merle was choosing now to repay her for saving him, she really rather he wouldn't.

"You ain't going back in there." Merle instructed her, inspecting her clenched fists and violent expression. Tess stormed up to him and shoved at his chest, causing him to step back to steady himself but he was unwavering. "Go on, put me in the dirt."

Tess huffed impatiently and shoved him again. She seriously considered it. Really, seriously considered it. But she didn't want to fight Merle, she just wanted to make sure the people she loved were safe. Merle shoved her back and she stumbled away. The distress that was building in her chest was becoming crippling, as all she could do was wait and all she wanted to do was help.

"Fuck!" She shouted into the air and paced urgently, waiting for someone, anyone, to come out of the building.

They could hear gunshots and shouting and it all pierced her ears with sickening agony. She thought she might throw up or implode and she glared viciously at Merle because it was all she could do.

When she caught sight of four figures running to the entrance, she bolted to meet them, shoving Merle's arm away with force when he tried to stop her again. Glenn, Michonne, Tyrese and Sasha had made it out of the store but there was no sign of Daryl, Zach or Bob.

"Where's Daryl?" She panted fearfully, trying to look for answers in their eyes but they didn't know.

"He must be still in there." Glenn guessed, his shoulders heaving as he caught his breath.

"Don't even think about it." Merle warned her again and reached out to push her back once more but she stepped out of his reach before he could.

"Don't touch me!" Tess hissed dangerously and Merle huffed in exasperation.

"Give it a rest, Girl!" He snapped at her.

"Gi- Give it a rest?! That's your brother in there! You might be okay with skipping out on him but I'm not!"

Merle sucked in a deep breath and leveled her with a firm gaze.

"Watch it. I know you ain't tryna piss me off right now."

"You can't be this calm right now. What is your problem?!"

"My only problem right now is you." Merle glowered at her and she seethed, fully prepared for an argument.

"Tess is right," Glenn interjected, "We should go back and help them."

"If they ain't here in the next five minutes, I'll go get 'em ma'self." Merle replied.

"You're not the one making the calls here. It's not up to you." Argued Glenn.

"Like hell it ain't. He's my brother."

"And you're doing nothing to help him!" Tess cried out in frustration at the same time that Glenn said,

"It's not your choice, Merle!"

"Stop it!" Sasha demanded, "Are you trying to bring all the walkers down on us?"

The three of them fell silent, all individually wrathful for their own reasons but sensible enough to agree that it was risky to cause so much noise. It was hauntingly quiet and then, like a harbinger of death calling from above, there was a terrible inhuman groan from metal shifting on the roof.

"What was that?" Sasha spoke in a hushed voice and they all backed up to see onto the roof where a broken helicopter was picking up speed as it slid through the crumbling ceiling.

Inside, Daryl heard the same ominous groan. With Bob hobbling alongside him, they rushed for the exit just as the ceiling caved in and the helicopter plummeted to the floor with a deafening crash.

Tess saw Daryl running for the door, practically dragging Bob with him and throwing him into the daylight when the heli crashed. She raced over to him and threw herself into his arms that clung to her just as desperately as she needed them to. She inhaled a shuddering breath, the horrible fear that had possessed her giving way in the safety of his grasp.

"Are you okay?" He muttered when he pulled away, not letting go of her entirely.

"I'm fine. Merle dragged me out. I wanted to come find you." She told him with a sense of guilt. "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay." Daryl nodded and the assurance helped to slow her racing heart.

She wanted to kiss him. To hold him and not let go. Daryl very nearly did so too but her mention of Merle reminded him that they weren't alone and he still wasn't quite there yet. He looked over Tess' head at his brother and gave him a small, stoic nod; thanking him for doing what he did.

Merle nodded back without jest or falseness - he knew he'd done the right thing by his brother and it was a small step towards making up for all the shit he'd put him through. He'd never admit it but he was starting to care about the redhead that refused to leave him alone.

"Where's Zach?"

—

Daryl volunteered to be the one to break the news to Beth. Tess wasn't really sure how long her and Zach had been seeing one another but it had been long enough to mean something and Beth deserved to be informed directly. None of them really knew how she'd take it - Beth had become somewhat detached lately, she was less sociable and more cautious. Her father regularly checked with her to make sure everything was okay but all she'd ever say was 'It's just how things are now, Daddy'.

Maybe she was right too. It was hard to know who to trust nowadays and even harder to know how to. They'd come up with three questions. Three basic questions to test a person's trustworthiness: How many walkers have you killed? How many people have you killed? Why? Tess still wasn't sure if she knew what the right answers were. It definitely wasn't a foolproof system either. Anyone with the gall and enough incentive would surely lie. It all boiled down to who they felt like they could trust. So far, their instincts hadn't let them astray but who knew how long that would last. They were only human after all and humans make mistakes.

Tess had retreated to her cell when they returned to the prison but she'd been unable to sit still and she wanted to talk to Daryl, so she sat on the edge of his bed, waiting for him to return. Like most others now, Daryl also had a sheet draped across his cell door for privacy. She'd left it open and was trying really hard to focus on not tearing at her nails as she waited. That's how Daryl found her.

"Hey." She said with a sad grimace when he returned to his cell. "How'd she take it?"

Daryl breathed a heavy sigh and pulled the sheet closed behind him.

"She told me she doesn't cry anymore." He shrugged and took a seat beside her.

"She wasn't upset?"

"Hard to tell… Did you know she's been keepin' a tally?"

"A tally for what?" Tess asked nervously.

"Day's without an incident. It had been thirty days."

"That's depressing." She muttered, freeing her hands from under her thighs and resting them in her lap.

Daryl hummed in agreement and leaned back tiredly against the wall. Tess shuffled to face him, one foot off the floor and the other dangling from the bed. He looked exhausted and deflated. Daryl cared much more than he let on and each time they lost someone, she knew he took it to heart. Zach was no different. He appeared particularly distressed this time however and it was because he'd been responsible for keeping Zach safe; and Bob. Both of them had gotten into trouble today. It made him question himself - his competence, his capabilities and the amount of faith others put in him. Times like this, he didn't feel deserving of any of it.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Tess asked him quietly, sensing his affliction.

"Not really." Daryl murmured, his eyes closed and head thrown back to the wall.

"Do you want me to go?" She whispered and his brow furrowed into deep, well-practiced lines.

"No." He assured her and she shuffled to sit against the wall beside him.

That sat in silence for a short while, both coming to terms with the day that they'd had. Thirty days without an incident and this was how it had ended. They'd been so meticulous in their planning too and for it all to fail so disastrously felt like such a massive failure. They all knew the risks of course but none of them deserved to die today, least of all Zach. The selfish part of her made Tess feel grateful for the fact that it hadn't been Daryl though. It pained her just how grateful she was. The thought of losing him… she didn't know if she could bear it.

At some point her head dropped to his shoulder and her temple rested there like a weary traveler to a bed. He didn't shrug her off or shirk away, instead he allowed her to lean on him for as long as she needed; he needed it too.