"You guys head out, Barton and me'll grab the last boxes and load them up. We'll be behind ya in no more than twenty minutes," Lara told Red and Jane. They had everything on the lists and more to boot. They'd found the stock of winter clothes, even managed to find a few more weapons and some ammo, though not much. There was more food, baby supplies for Lori and some presents for the kids. It had been a huge success. And Daryl had been a pretty awesome partner.
She had been hesitant, usually she trained for longer with any partner that wasn't Candyman. They'd been together so long that it was second nature. But Barton and her had been almost in sync. She was impressed by him, he hadn't missed a single shot and hadn't faltered once. If their group stuck around she would be happy to have him partner her again on any run. Maybe even while clearing more of the prison.
"Ya sure?" Red asked, looking at the small mountain of boxes ready to go into the half full truck.
"Yeah, we got it, right Barton?" Lara asked, wanting to make sure the quiet man agreed. Plus she kind of wanted to see him lifting the boxes again. Now the real work was over she could actually admire him for a few minutes. As long as she didn't make it obvious anyway.
"Yeah, won't take long," he grunted before going to lift a box, one of the heavier ones she noticed. Either he was a bit of a gentleman or he didn't think she had the strength for it. She wasn't sure which one. He was closed off and despite their bonding the last couple of days she still hadn't got him figured out. She wanted to though.
"Well alright then, see ya soon," Red nodded before him and G.I. Jane got into the cab of the already full van. Their bags on their shoulders, full of supplies in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
Lara turned and started helping pile the boxes in the back of the van, it went quickly and every now and then she snuck glances at the hunter. Those muscles were something else.
She was still trying to work out if he had been flirting with her earlier or at least suggesting he might find her attractive when they slid the back of the van shut, all the boxes inside. Despite the cold air and the small amount of rain that had started to fall both of them had taken off their jackets, the work was hard and had her sweating. Her back ached and her arms burnt from the work but it was a satisfying ache. A smile touched her face as she went to pick up her jacket and her own bug out bag.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" A deep drawl asked, making Lara's heart jump and her blood turn to ice. Fuck!
She turned to see a group of five men approaching, all of them armed and lookin' like shit. They were dirty and ragged, none of them thin and all of them leering. Her heart stuttered again at the looks in their eyes.
She stepped back so she was besides Daryl. They were outmanned and outgunned but she would be damned if she didn't get him outta there.
"They get hold of me, shoot me and get yourself outta here. Headshot," Lara whispered, her heart thundering. She saw him look at her like she was insane, she wasn't doing that though. She couldn't. "Please."
"And who are you two? What ya doin' in our territory?" One of the men asked. He was clothed in light blue jeans, had a kickass moustache and dark hair, his eyes shone with malice and lust.
Lara put her hand against her leg and pushed into it.
Across the lot a car alarm went off, before it stopped. It went off again, this time for longer. She could see that all of the men were worried it would bring shitbrains. The alarm turned off and after a few more moments with nothing happening the men focused back on her and Daryl.
"Asked ya a question now. Who are you two?" The lead guy said impatiently.
"I'm Aurora, this is Clint," Lara told them. "We were just gonna get some clothes. That's all. We didn't know someone else was here. We just wanted to be warm!" With that she shivered.
"Ah, now there's better ways to warm up, ain't there?" One of the other men laughed maliciously. He had on layers, the top layer was a dirty Hawaiian shirt that wouldn't have looked out of place on the sundeck of a cruise ship. It wasn't exactly the type of attire suited for the end of the world though.
"We'll leave, we meant no harm!" Lara said, slightly in front of Barton, her hands wrapping around herself.
"Now, I don't think ya will. There's a price to pay for tresspassin'," the lead man leered again and Lara didn't have to act scared anymore. She hoped Barton did as she asked and just shot her in the head before anything could happen.
"We ain't got nothin'," Daryl said, his voice hard and fierce. He stepped in front of Lara, his shoulders back and his head up so he was his full height. She guessed he was about six foot, six foot something', he towered over her, despite her being an average height.
"That's not true. You got a girl like that. Worth more than gold nowadays," the lead guy actually licked his lips. They were coming closer, their guns pointed at both her and Daryl.
"Not happening!" Daryl barked.
"Ya see we seem to be the ones with the guns, meaning we call the shots. Don't worry, she'll be whole once we're done. Well mostly. She might not be much use to ya after though," the man laughed and Lara felt bile rising in her throat.
It happened quickly. Daryl lunged but was hit by the butt of a rifle, then he was forced to his knees. A gun pointed either side of his head. His eyes were wide and pained, his face angry.
Lara took a deep breath as the rain started falling harder, the drops hitting her like tiny cold bullets against her freezing skin. She was shivering more now, not just from the cold.
Lara fought, three men all armed, but she fought. Not caring about anything but getting her and Barton out of there. Preferably without her being touched.
She kicked, she punched, she caught one guy with her knife. A good one that made him moan and bleed. She hoped he bled out.
Despite her ferociousness she was forced down on her face on the loading dock. Her hair was gripped firmly by one of the men, her face pushed hard against the concrete.
Lara bit back a scream as a searing pain ran from the middle of her back down to her ass. She realised that the man on top of her was cutting her clothes off and getting her skin too. She started fighting harder. Bucking wildly with everything she had, not caring that the knife was cutting harder into her.
"No! Don't!" Daryl was yelling too. "You fuckers! I'm gonna gut every fucking one of you! I'm gonna kick your balls into your mouths!"
The man on top started pulling off her pants and Lara still fought.
A crack echoed around the back of the mall. A loud, distinct crack. Lara let out a breath as the man on top of her fell to the floor. A second shot rang out and one of the men holding Daryl fell. He wasted no time in disarming and shooting the other one as two more shots came out of seemingly nowhere and took care of the other men.
Lara saw Daryl raise his gun as she attempted to get up. Her hands shook, she felt sick. "No. Don't. It's Red and Jane," she gasped struggling to stand up.
"Shit, Goldilocks…" Daryl exclaimed.
Lara turned her head at the sound of multiple groans. "Go! Get out of here!" She yelled towards where the saving bullets had come from despite not being able to see Red or Jane. "Fuck. Get to the truck Barton!"
Lara pressed the battery operated key fob for the car across the lot again, gaining the attention of the shitbrains who were gunning for Red and Jane. She hurried to the passenger side of the truck ignoring the sharp pain flaring all down her back. She was gonna need patching up. Again. Goddammit, Candyman was not gonna let her live this one down.
As soon as the door slammed behind her Barton was gunning the engine. He went to follow the other white truck that was driving away but the herd got in their way.
"Fuck!" Lara yelled, struggling not to vomit and to contain her shakes. "We'll have to go around. Go to the safe house, we won't make it back before dark now. Motherfucking scummy asshole bastards!"
She took a deep breath as they made it to the street that led out to the opposite way they wanted to go. Shitbrains blocked them so they couldn't go backwards.
"You okay? They knocked ya a good one back there. Ya not got a concussion or anything?" Lara asked Barton, trying to look at his head to see if she could see anything. She saw a dim red mark but it didn't look too bad.
"Screw that. You… your back… how bad is it?" Barton bit out, his voice was barely restrained in anger. He looked like he was about to start screaming. He was so tense.
"It ain't good but I'll live," Lara said through gritted teeth. It stung like a bitch.
"I. I'm sorry. Shoulda done more-"
"Nah, it's good. That shit ever happens again though. Seriously shot to the head for me. I ain't going out like that," Lara said as the shakes came harder. She wrapped her arms around herself and raised her knees to her chest. The pain in her back was lessening which she wasn't so sure was a good thing.
"Are ya fucking kidding me?" Daryl spat, glancing away from the road to glare at her.
"Ya ever been raped by multiple people? Brutalised? Been damaged like that? No? Until ya have or until you can tell me wholeheartedly that you could live with the outcome it ain't your choice. I would rather die," Lara said firmly. She had the promise from others, she wanted the same from Barton if he was going to be watching her back again. She could live through and had lived through alot, she wasn't going through that though.
Silence echoed heavily through the cab as they drove. Shivers wracked her body and she couldn't stop them. Everything hurt through the cold. Her fingers and toes felt numb. They couldn't waste the gas on the heating though. Her head swam a little as they took a corner too fast.
"Almost there. Ya still with me Goldilocks?" Barton asked, she wasn't sure how much time had passed or if she had passed out during the ride. But they were closing in on safe house D.
"I'm still here. Take more than that to take me out," Lara said, attempting a smile and hearing her teeth chatter. Her hands were still clasped around her knees and she couldn't feel her back.
"Fix up that back o' yours first then we'll warm us up, yeah?" Daryl said, his eyes focused on the darkening road in front. She turned her head and saw he was shivering too. The temperature had been verging below freezing all day and it was getting colder now the sun was setting. They needed to heat up quickly and get out of their wet clothes otherwise they'd end up dying of hypothermia. Another way she refused to go out. And she sure as shit wasn't letting a Dixon bite it on her watch.
"We need to heat up first," Lara argued.
"Merle's right, ya are a stubborn woman! But I'm a stubborn son o' a bitch too and we're gonna fix ya back Goldilocks. Ya said the safe houses have medical supplies right? Otherwise we have some shit in the back of the van," Daryl said, his voice hard. She realised he was talking to keep her awake. Trying to rile her up. And considering she hated taking orders of any kind it was working.
"Your hands are shaking too much, if I need stitches you'll fuck 'em up," Lara countered as they turned down the street that would eventually lead them to the little culs-de-sac where the safe house was hidden.
"Ain't fuckin' nothin' up. I got this," Daryl insisted.
He made the turn expertly meaning he had memorised the maps she had given him. She bit her lip at that. Sometimes she was sure he hadn't been listening to her, hadn't wanted to be told what to do by a woman. Just like his brother to start with. This proved that he had though. Why did that make her feel so good?
They parked outside of the plain single story house. It was nothing special, which was why she had picked it. No one would look twice at the little house.
"I'll do a sweep, stay here," Barton said firmly and was gone before she could argue.
Unlocking her arms and legs she slowly bent down to grab her bag from the footwell. Tears leapt into her eyes at the pain and the accompanied shivering. She blinked them away. She couldn't afford to be weak or break down until they got back to the Pound. Then, in the privacy of her room, and only then could she break, could she let it out.
"We're clear, c'mon," Daryl said as he opened her door and extended a hand, his crossbow slung over his shoulder.
Hating the fact that she needed to, she accepted his hand and let him help her from the cab. Barton helped her into the house, one strong arm under her armpit, almost holding her up as her strength seemed to have left her. His hard muscles pushed against her made shivers wrack her body that had nothing to do with the cold.
The house was exactly as she had left it the last time she had been there, about three weeks ago roughly. The sheets still covered the meager furniture, there was a fire ready to go in the fireplace and the windows were covered with sheets. Four bags were stacked neatly next to one of the covered sofas, hidden from plain sight but obvious if you were looking. She hadn't wanted to get too clever with them. If someone was using a safe house it would probably be because they were up shit creek, meaning supplies would be desperately needed.
Daryl set Lara on the couch before he went to light the fire. The front door was locked, the key in the lock still. A huge carafe of water would be waiting for them in the only bathroom.
He then went over to the bags and opened the top one.
"Medical supplies are in the one with the red tag, b-blankets in the o-one with the g-green," Lara told him, the heat of the fire was spreading through the room slowly but not enough to help. It felt like her bones were chilled.
"You always been this organised? Like have OCD or somethin'?" Daryl asked, grabbing the bag with the red tag and unpacking it.
"Hell nah, that's t-trial and error. Before we found the Pound, Twink cut h-herself out in the woods. Bled s-so much and she was hollering out that she was gonna die. Couldn't find which b-bag had the bandages and crap in, since then I always p-put a red tag on 'em," Lara told him. She had been so scared that day. Listening to Twink's hysterical wails and not being quick enough, it had sent fear through her heart.
"Come here, let's see," Daryl said after he set out the medical supplies. He had laid them out neatly on the floor, everything he was likely to need was set closer to the fire. Working smart.
Lara bit her lip. She knew he was gonna have to see her back. And her ass. And probably the tops of her legs. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. She had to do this. She had no choice. And she wouldn't see the look of disgust in his eyes at least.
"I ain't gonna talk about 'em," she said firmly as she shakily got to her feet and almost collapsed in front of the fire. Her top and her pants were almost falling off her and it took great effort to keep them on.
"About what?" Daryl frowned at her.
Instead of answering she let her top fall off her while clutching her bra to her breasts. It was completely ruined, like the rest of the clothes she was using. Another shiver wracked her body.
"Shit girl, some of these are gonna need stitches," Daryl said as if nothing else was wrong with her. She felt her shoulders sag a little at that.
"Hope ya g-got ya first aid badge in s-scouts," Lara cracked as the first sting of the alcohol flared through her.
"Nah, was pretty good at woodshop though. Could whittle ya a couple of crutches," he joked back, though his voice was tight as he tended to her wounds.
She bit her lip as he dressed some cuts, her body wouldn't stop shaking from the cold and likely from the blood loss though. She realised that stitching her back together was not going to be pretty.
"Yer, er, ya gonna need ta lie on ya front and take off yer pants… and ya underwear," Daryl said awkwardly.
She took in another deep breath and once again bit back tears that she would not let fall yet.
"Still ain't t-talkin' about 'em," Lara said in a wavering voice as she carefully laid on her stomach and then wiggled out of her pants. Shaking hands then pulled down her plain black panties which were ripped at the back.
Silence reigned as Daryl stitched her up and tended to the wounds on her ass. Her fists remained clenched and her lip between her teeth the entire time. The only sound that escaped her was a hiss every now and then. She ignored the feeling of utter humiliation of her situation, couldn't be helped and would do no good dwelling on it.
When Daryl had finished he got out some blankets and passed her a thick fleecy one. She nodded gratefully at him before covering herself up and sitting in front of the fire. She ignored the tugging of her stitches.
"Ya gotta get outta ya wet clothes too. You're gonna get hypothermia too, if ya haven't already," Lara said quietly to the man.
Daryl gave her a look but then nodded once. "I ain't talkin' about 'em," he repeated her words before turning his back on her and deliberately taking off his shirt.
Lara felt herself relax a bit further even as her heart stung. He had scars. Worse than hers in some places. He had them too. He wasn't gonna judge her.
He looked over his shoulder and gave her the smallest smile and another nod. She nodded back, trying to smile too. Nothing needed to be said.
010101010
Merle was getting ready for his watch when the walkie talkie attached to his jeans burst into life.
"Red and Jane on the approach, white van. We're homeward bound Candyman," Red's voice came through with static but it was clearly him. His drawl distinctive.
"We'll be waitin' on ya Red," Merle said before leaving his room and heading for the main cell block. As he did he pulled another walkie talkie from the back of his jeans. He missed cell phones when there was a run happenin'. Never thought he'd miss those, used ta hate the things. Now he was carryin' round three different talkies, he missed the hell outta them. Almost as much as he missed a good whiskey, hell even a bad whiskey.
"White van on approach is friendly," Merle told Sasha who was on watch and had that particular match to the talkie he was using.
"Got it," Sasha replied bluntly. She was a hard ass bitch, he didn't know why the hell she was makin' eyes at the sum'bitch Bob. Bob was a pussy, a pussy that Merle didn' trust as far as Twink could throw him.
"Supplies are coming in kiddos! Let's go ya bunch of lazy ass pussies!" Merle yelled as he passed through the cell block to the outside. As predicted people got ready to help unload. To his surprise Glenn, Maggie and Beth followed to help. He noted T-Dog, Lori and Hershel stayed resolutely sitting down. He let out a sigh, this was not gonna work out the way the Princess wanted it to. He could feel it in his gut.
They waited at the gate for the white van that was back just before dark. Merle tried to ignore the slight worry he felt at just one of the two pairs coming back. He knew from experience how it could go. Didn' mean he fuckin' liked it any though.
The gate was opened and the van drove in, stopping just inside the gates to unload. Rosita and Abraham were covered in walker guts and blood but otherwise seemed unharmed. Merle didn't like the look that Red sent Jane though as she went to open up the back.
Red walked over to Merle with that serious look on his face and Merle clenched his fist.
"Where are they?" Merle got straight to the point. No damn reason to beat around the bush.
"We got separated by a herd," Red said, but that wasn't all, it couldn't be or he wouldn't have looked so damn stern.
"And?" Merle barked his teeth gritted.
"Princess sent us on ahead. Got about five minutes away and heard a car alarm," Red started saying quietly.
Merle felt his muscles locked as he tried to restrain his anger. A car alarm meant hostiles.
"When we got there five of them had Princess and Barton. Barton had guns pointed at his head and the men had cut off Lara's clothes. She was bleedin' pretty bad. Rosita and me took the motherfuckers out and Lara was conscious enough to stop ya brother blowin' our brains out and shout at us to get out," Abraham told him quickly as though getting it out faster might lessen the bad news.
"So where the fuck are they!" Merle snapped, the hold he had on his temper slippin'. His little brother and the kid he looked out for were out there, maybe hurt somewhere. Fuck.
"I'd guess safe house. Lara would need patchin' up and she won't drive in tha dark. Ya know that," Red replied, his jaw tense and his back straight.
"Did… how far d'they get?" Merle asked quietly.
"Not far. Dickweed was pulling off her pants when I splattered his brains across the floor," Red replied.
Merle nodded before going to walk away. He would need to study the map to figure out which safe house they were likely to have hit. If they weren't back by the afternoon the next day he'd send a huntin' party.
He was stopped though by a furious lookin' Officer Friendly.
"Daryl's still out there? Ya sent our best man out there and he's stuck out there somewhere with that girl!" Rick was pissed. Not as pissed as Merle though and this shit was just getting his hackles raised further.
"Back off Ranger Rick, I'll only tell ya once," Merle said, going to sidestep the man and noticin' they had an audience.
"No I won't back off. This is what you wanted all along wasn't it! Ta get your brother back no matter what! So what, he stays out there a while 'til you ask us to leave and then what? You got him back and we lose out!" Rick was screaming in his face and any thin sliver of reason Merle had left snapped.
With a roar Merle launched his meaty fist at Rick's face and felt nothing but satisfaction as it landed, knocking the good officer onto his back.
"Ya think I want my little brother out there! Ya think I want ta sit worrying if him or the kid are alright? I don't know what sick kind of shit goes on in your head officer but I sure as hell wouldn't have let any of what went down happen! And I don't need to make an elaborate plan ta get my brother back. He's already here! You talkin' 'bout him like he's some kinda commodity, well he ain't!" Merle yelled while kicking the man. Only once and in the leg where it wouldn't do more than leave a bruise. Fuckin' dick had better think himself lucky that the kids were watchin' or this situation would've ended up with his boot in Rick's face.
"Yeah! You sent him out with a barely competent little girl with a superiority compl-"
"That's enough!" Mitch's firm voice barked loudly. "Get the hell up and get to your cell! You want to be angry, worried? Be angry, be worried but you haven't the slightest idea about Lara. You haven't the slightest idea how Merle feels about his brother! Any more outbursts like that and I will lock your cell door!"
"He attacked me!" Rick yelled lookin' around for help. It wouldn't come from anyone from the Pound group. Hell, Bit looked ready to kick him herself.
"Well now officer, with that talk you about asked for it. Didn't ya? Not just Candyman here who's gone be butthurt about ya comments. You know shit all about the Princess and ya didn't see Barton in action today. You weren't there. Now I'd listen to Kill Bill if I were you," Red said, standing to his full height, his head slightly tilted back and his arms crossed over his chest. He looked like an intimidating motherfucker. Merle couldn't help but like the bastard.
"This isn't over," Officer Friendly spat in Merle's direction before stomping off towards the cells.
"You're damn right it ain't," Merle growled before heading to get the maps he needed.
02020202
Lara laid still, she was warm and comfortable and she did not want to move. For once she hadn't woken up with a pit in her stomach or woken herself up by screaming at her nightmares. She had slept. Really slept. So she wasn't moving or opening her eyes until one of the demanding people she lived with forced her to.
She could hear birds chirping in the haze of her groggy morning brain and the low, smouldering embers of a fire. It was cozy. She snuggled further into the bed with a happy sigh. Before she froze.
That was something she hadn't felt in three years almost. An almost naked body. That's what she was snuggling into. And the body seemed happy enough with that. Very happy. Jesus christ. What had she done? Whoever he was, he was well endowed but she couldn't remember…
Her eyes shot open, Daryl. The run. Body heat for exposure or hypothermia or whatever. It had been purely for survival but…
She moved away from him feeling her cheeks flush as a tingle started where it had no business being. He was a guy, they had that reaction in the morning. Nothing to do with her. He'd seen her scars, he would not have that reaction if he realised it was her he was spooning.
As she moved away his arm came around her and pulled her back. His large, rough, calloused hand on her breast. She bit her lip to hold in a moan. God it had been way too long. She couldn't enjoy it though. She was not taking advantage of him while he was passed out.
She tried moving again but he pulled her further against the hard plains of his muscles. Goddammit.
She was gonna have to wake him up. Goddammit.
"Barton," she whispered. She got no reaction except for him putting his head to the top of her hair. God why couldn't this be real? Three years and the first guy she had a crush on was spooning her.
"Barton," she said louder.
"Mmm… five minutes," he muttered as he squeezed her breast. Goddammit!
His hand froze just as he pulled his thumb down her nipple and she couldn't repress her gasp.
"Shit!" Daryl said practically shoving her away as though she had burnt him.
"Good morning," she said, turning to look at him just as he pulled the blankets over himself and off of her.
"Shit! I ain't lookin'!" He closed his eyes as his face turned a unflattering shade of red and he bunched the blankets in his lap.
"Not sure whether to be thankful you're a gentleman or upset that the first person I let see me naked in years doesn't want to look," Lara joked, getting up to get some clothes from her bug out bag. Of course he didn't want to look. He had seen enough the night before. No one but me will ever want you.
Lara tried to ignore the stupid voice in her head as she got dressed, ignoring the sharp pain in her back as she did. Lots of denial going on that morning.
"Stop," Daryl muttered in an embarrassed tone of voice.
"Sorry, I'm all decent now, I'll just go use the bathroom and let ya… erm. Yeah," Lara felt herself blushing. Why? She didn't blush. Except around this man.
She closed the bathroom door behind her and hit her head on the door. She was so stupid. And she'd overslept. Judging by the light filtering through the blankets tacked to the windows they should have left at least a couple of hours ago.
Lara took care of all those morning needs, and took a deep breath as she prepared for the awkwardness that was sure to be waiting beyond the door.
Sure enough as she walked back into the makeshift bedroom she saw his shoulders tense up. His broad shoulders, which were peeking out from under a black sleeveless shirt. She needed to stop. He was embarrassed enough without her adding her little crush to the equation.
"We should eat something and get on the road," Lara said, heading to the bag of food. "There's beans, spaghetti-o's, some pop tarts, the smores type which are my favourite. Erm… spam, soup, more beans…" she let her ramble trail off feeling even more ridiculous.
"M'sorry," Daryl replied in a quiet voice.
"Not your fault, I packed the damn bag. Should have put more appetizing things in," Lara joked while pulling out the pop tarts. She hadn't been kidding, they were her favourites.
"Shut up. Ya know what I'm talkin' 'bout," Daryl said with a bark in his voice.
It was the same tone Merle had used when she'd had to help him way back. One that he used to cover up embarrassment. Though Candyman's words were usually much harsher than 'shut up'. If it were Merle he'd have used multiple curses, questioned her parentage and insinuated that she took her clothes off for money. Still that bark hurt a little, even if he had been nicer than his brother.
"Look, ya copped a feel and saw all of what the Good Lord gave me. Not the end of the world. Huh, maybe that's a bad turn of phrase considering," Lara said. "Anyway, it's fine. Let's pretend there's no awkwardness because I don't deal well with that shit and just eat something. Yeah?"
She turned her head to look at Daryl who was looking a little shocked and the tips of his ears were red. Still he gave her a sharp nod.
"Best be okay with sharing those pop tarts Goldilocks," he said with a raised eyebrow and a tiny smirk, though his eyes weren't focused on her. His shoulders were still tense and he shifted his weight.
"I can share," Lara grinned back and chucked him one of the foil packets from the crumpled box.
They ate and shared a bottle of water though no words were spoken. After their delicious breakfast she pulled out her cigarettes and offered him one. He took it and nodded again. He was avoiding all eye contact with her. In fact he wasn't looking at her at all. She tried not to feel hurt by that.
"Well that was the best morning I've had in a while," Lara said, stretching her arms up and regretting it instantly. She clenched her fists against the pain, letting her nails dig into her palm to repress the groan she felt boiling inside her.
"What?" Barton asked, his eyebrows raised and his mouth slightly agape.
"Had my boobs played with, had my favourite pop tarts and a smoke. Plus no-one's tried to kill me," Lara said with a grin and a giggle that she couldn't help. She didn't know why she was bringing it up. They'd agreed to ignore it. But apparently she was going to ignore her own words instead. Which she did entirely too often.
"Yet," Barton mumbled while stuffing things into his bug out bag angrily. Lara closed her eyes. She really should think before she spoke sometimes. Or at least more often.
"I'll load the bags into the truck," Lara said as she finished her smoke and put the butt into the now dead fire.
"I got them. Ya backs messed up. Ya need antibiotics when we get back ta tha prison," Daryl argued with her, his voice still sharp with anger.
"The Pound, people get more antsy when ya call it a prison for some reason. I can help. Done more work than that with worse injuries," Lara said honestly. She had dislocated her shoulder before and had still managed to run with Twink for a couple of miles, while taking out shitbrains and forging a river. Well stream, but by the time she reached it, it had felt like a damn river.
"Just sit ya ass down woman. Goddamn stubborn bitch," Daryl muttered.
"Daryl, I'm pretty laid back. I can take a lot of shit and don't care too much, but I hate being called a bitch," she said icily. It always took her back places she would love to forget. It enraged her. Candyman was usually pretty cool about not calling her it but he forgot sometimes, it was so ingrained in him that that's what women were. She put up with it from him but no one else. Grouch had called her it twice. Once after she had told him not too. He had suffered for a couple of days after that gaffe.
He looked at her with a small frown and scoffed before picking up all of the bags in his hands. It made his muscles bulge more and he left the room while stomping his feet more than necessary. She had pissed him off it seemed. She couldn't find it in her to care.
The first half of the ride back was made in silence. Daryl was still tense and probably angry with her. She was tense and anxious, knowing what kind of reception they'd get when they got back to the Pound. The silence though was deafening and it was making her more anxious.
With a sigh she started going through the glove box of the van. She never searched these until on the way back, always hoping for a little, well done you're still alive, treat. She pulled out some CDs, older ones, some pretty good ones though. The best of Meatloaf she put into the player and smiled as the familiar voice flooded the cab. Humming along, Lara went back to her search and came across a tobacco tin. She had never chewed tobacco before and it wasn't something she wanted to do. Still she looked in the tin and her face widened into a large grin.
"Score!" Lara said excitedly.
"What?" Daryl asked, his voice harsh still.
"Weed!" She said happily, three rolled joints sat in the tobacco tin.
"Ya ever smoked?" Daryl asked her, his eyebrows quirked up.
"Obviously not, I'm a good girl. Responsible. Plus it was illegal, ya know when we had laws," Lara giggled debating whether she wanted a buzz for when they returned or if she wanted to save the buzz for the evening.
"Then how d'ya know it was weed," Daryl smirked at her.
"Because I'm a dirty liar. God I haven't been high in years. Did you ever partake?" Lara asked. She knew Merle had been heavily into drugs but Daryl didn't seem as worn around the edges as his older brother, suggesting he hadn't been a junkie. Just because he wasn't a habitual drug user though didn't mean he had never had weed. It wasn't even a drug really. No worse than alcohol.
"Me? Nah," Daryl replied with another smirk. She could hear the repressed laughter in his voice though.
"I don't have to share then," Lara countered with a smile, putting the lid back on the tin. She'd have one tonight while sitting on the roof watching the stars.
"Ya don't share them I ain't sharing the whiskey that I found," Daryl said with a tiny grin now even as he pulled his bottom lip into his mouth and chewed on it.
"Well now we have ourselves a party," Lara said happily. Weed and whiskey. "I'll snag us some munchies too. Though ya may wanna keep this between us Barton, I ain't sharin' with no one else."
Daryl scoffed his reply. She didn't quite get what it meant but she was taking it as his cooperation in the matter.
"Barton?" Lara said as they got closer to the Pound, her hands clammy.
"Mmm?"
"Can, er, ya not mention to anyone who doesn't know what went down. Don't want anyone worryin' unnecessarily. And don't want anyone thinking I can't handle myself," Lara said, feeling the burn of shame as she admitted that. Still she knew if people started looking at her like she was weak then at least a couple of the group may try to take advantage. She didn't for a second think that Candyman, or any of the board would let it slide, but she didn't want to give anyone the chance.
"I ain't tellin' anyone who don't know. None o' their business," Daryl said shortly. Lara let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding.
"Thanks," she whispered.
The Pound coming into view made her feel both like she was gonna have a full on panic attack and also like she was coming home at the same time. Her walkie talkie had been broken so she couldn't let anyone know she was coming back.
Daryl pulled the van in front of the gates which stayed resolutely closed.
"Ya have to get out and show it's us otherwise they'll come out in force," Lara said. She would get out but once she was out she didn't think her back would let her get back in, or that her now throbbing again ankle would thank her for the extra walking.
Daryl just leant out of the window, his torso hanging out as his hand remained on the steering wheel. "Hey, assholes, it's us! Let us in!"
"Or ya can do that," Lara shrugged and chuckled.
The gates rolled open and Daryl sat back down in his seat as he drove the van into the compound, passing Tommy Boy who was on watch apparently. Lara wanted to groan but refrained. Tommy Boy was basically harmless but he annoyed the crap outta her.
As they pulled in, the door to cell block D opened and out came a crowd. She winced. She knew it was going to happen, still part of her had hoped that it wouldn't.
In the lead of the group was Candyman, closely followed by Red, G.I. Jane and Kill Bill. Lara frowned before opening her door seeing Eastwood behind them. He had a nasty looking black eye that didn't bode well. One day away and things started falling apart at the seams.
She carefully climbed out of the cab and went around to the drivers side where Daryl stood with his arms crossed, looking as happy as she felt.
"What the fuck happened!" Candyman growled unhappily as he eyed them both, his gaze was calculating as he looked Barton up and down first followed by her.
"Guessing Red told ya. Had to hole up in a safe house overnight," Lara replied calmly, despite feeling like a kid being told off.
"Ya okay?" Merle asked Barton.
"Fine," Daryl grunted in reply before stomping off to the back of the van. Rick followed after him, not before shooting first Merle and then Lara a glare though. Dammit!
Lara went to help unload but was caught by Merle's large hand before she could.
"Ya okay?"
"I'll be fine," Lara replied, looking him in the eyes that were so similar to his brothers.
He gave her a once over then nodded, releasing her arm and letting her go to help.
"Ain't like that!" She heard Daryl's angry voice before she saw him.
"Merle's trying to get you to stay and he's gonna kick us out! He put you on that run with her, throwin' the two of you together all the damn time. You're smart Daryl, you have got to see you're being played," Rick said feverantly. Seemed the good officer was a mite paranoid.
"They ain't playin' me!" Daryl barked again.
"Yeah? Throw the pretty girl who needs rescuing at ya?"
"She don't need no rescuing," Daryl snorted and Lara tried not to shudder at just how wrong he had been on that front. She had needed rescuing. She was going to have to work harder with Merle making sure she didn't need to be in future. And it would help to practice while she was injured, to make sure she could fight through pain. Not that she thought he would ever go for that, but she had to try and get him to see the need for it.
"Thanks Barton," Lara said, going to the back of the van with them and ignoring the dirty looks both men threw at her. "Rick, whether you stay or go is not up to one person. At all. You are welcome to let your feelings and worries be known. In future though I'd appreciate it if ya wouldn't suggest that I was some type of prostitute."
With that she grabbed the bag holding the presents for the kids and pulled out what she had got for Carl.
"Here, some comics, a couple of board games and some candy for Carl," she said, putting the things in his hands before going searching for Bit and Twink.
"Well you handled that better than I thought," Kill Bill said from the side of the van.
"I'm not a monster," Lara replied dryly.
"Give the kids their treats then go to your room. I'll bring Bob by as soon as we get this stuff in," Kill Bill said, with a firm set of her mouth and a flash to her eyes that said she would drag Lara if needed.
"Sure," Lara said, in enough pain that she didn't want to argue that directive right then.
"And thanks, for all this," Kill Bill nodded to the van, Lara just smiled in return before setting out to find Twink and Sophia.