#twd x bds fanfiction

[phoenixblack89]

Chapter 10 - The Secrets We Keep

Well its certainly been a hot minute since I posted a chapter. If ya follow me ten ya know that a unexpected, but otherwise welcome, pregnancy has taken up much of the past year. That whole shebang was very stressful which could b a whole episode of some soap opera with how certain members of my family went on about how I'd end up with post natal depression again and wouldn't cope with 2 kids etc. this person basically can go to hell...

Anyway that's taken up a lot of my energy and as ya can imagine i haven't had time to write or even read anything but I am finally in a place where I have the time, creativity and energy to write again and am already working on the next chapter of this so please keep ya eyes peeled.

As always - page breaker is by the awesome @firefly-graphics

TAG LIST: @lilythemadqueen @autocon23 @archerangel @littlegodzilla @pandora-writes-stuff @boondoctorwho @browneyes528 @darylsgirl @purple-serenity @fandomsaremykryponite

WARNINGS: Shane being a gaint tit, typical TWD gore, character death, foul language

Main Masterlist

SERIES MASTERLIST

PREVIOUS CHAPTER

Phoenix made her way to the camp fire as her stomach growled loudly. She knitted her eyebrows together in confusion as she saw Maggie shaking her head at Glenn from the porch of the farmhouse. She turned quickly to look his face as he received a nod from Dale. Glenn stood and walked to the centre of camp before he cleared his throat as everyone sat, gaining their attention. 

"Erm.. Guys. So... Barn's full of walkers." His voice quivered out.

"Ya know how to fucking ruin the day before it's begun don't ya Glenn." She scoffed as everyone slowly stared at the Asian man in shock, as he shuffled nervously from foot to foot. 

The group rushed towards the barn where Glenn said the walkers were. Growls and snarls could be faintly heard as the group gathered around the barn. Shane being curious, peered through the gaps in the slats into the dark building then startled back as one growled and lunged towards the smell of fresh meat. The walkers crashed against the door, making the chain rattle as the group took a step back in fright.

"You cannot tell me you're all right with this." He stated, shaking his head and pointing at the barn. 

"No, I'm not, but we're guests here. This isn't our land." Rick counted in his soft southern tones. 

"This is our lives!" Shane spat at his friend in anger. 

"Lower your voice." Glenn hissed as the doors gave another shake. 

"We can't just sweep this under the rug." Andrea sighed with a disappointing tone to her voice. 

"I would hate to agree with blondie but... We can't stay with walkers under 100 feet away." Phoenix huffed, pointing at the barn before shrugging. 

"It ain't right. Not remotely." T-Dog input quietly. 

"Okay, we've either got to go in there, we've got to make things right or we've just got to go. Now we have been talking about Fort Benning for a long time."

"We can't go." Rick snapped at his friend. 

"Why, Rick? Why?" 

"Because my daughter is still out there." Carol said breathily, giving Shane a look of disgust at such a suggestion. 

"Okay. Okay, I think it's time that we all start to just consider the other possibility." Shane laughed a little with a strange look in his eyes as he stared down the smaller woman. 

"We're not leaving Sophia behind!"

"I'm close to finding this girl. I just found her damn doll two days ago!" Daryl growled out, getting angrier by the second as the loud mouth former police man spoke. 

"You found her doll, Daryl. That's what you did. You found a doll." The man scoffed. 

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about."

"I'm just saying what needs to be said. You get a good lead, it's in the first 48 hours." He half whispered to his former colleague, making sure that everyone else could still hear him. 

"Shane, stop."

"Ye being a dickhead Walsh." Phoenix growled, her hand going to her knife in anger. 

"Let me tell you something else, man. If she was alive out there and saw you coming all methed out with your buck knife and geek ears around your neck, she would run in the other direction!" Shane snarled into Daryl's face with a look of sheer disgust on his face. Daryl shoved at Shane as his anger got the better of him, causing the group to begin to yell at each other.

"Back off!"

"Keep your hands off me."  Shane hissed at Lori.

"Now just let me talk to Hershell. Let me figure it out." Rick yelled, trying to defuse the situation before it became a fist fight. 

"What are you gonna figure out?!" Shane spat, gesturing to the barn in question. 

"If we're gonna stay, if we're gonna clear this barn, I have to talk him into it. This is his land."

"Hershell sees those things in there as people... Sick people... His wife, his stepson." Dale spoke quietly, trying to get everyone to calm down. 

"You knew?" Rick gasped at the eldest group member.

"Yesterday I talked to Hershell." Dale said calmly, glancing at the group.

"And you waited the night?"

"I thought we could survive one more night. We did. I was waiting till this morning to say something. But Glenn wanted to be the one." The older man reasoned quietly as Shane glared at him in shocked anger. 

"The man is crazy, Rick, if Hershell thinks those things are alive or no -"

Phoenix scoffed at the noisy group before she walked around the side of the barn and looked up at the ladder. 

A Hayloft?

She glanced back at the rest of the arguing group and made her mind up and picked the torch lying in the grass up before her feet and hands pulled her quickly upwards. The smell made her gag slightly as she nearer the edge of the loft and looked downwards. The groaning mass turned their attention to her, broken and bloodied hands reaching upwards. She flicked on the torch she had grabbed and spun it over the creatures. 

"Oh shit." She gulped as she tried to do a head count. There was more than she expected there to be. How had they all gotten in here without people noticing?

Suddenly the beam of light landed on a smaller figure and her heart stopped.

"God no..." 

She turned and scrambled out of the hayloft and away from the barn as quickly as she could. As she reached camp, she leaned against a tree with her good hand and threw up all she'd eaten the last few hours. Her stomach feeling twisted and her heart completely shattered. 

It had to be her eyes playing tricks. It couldn't be her! It couldn't! Daryl had just found her doll two days ago! She wasn't in the fucking barn! She was simply lost out in the woods. 

No one noticed her throwing up or the tears streaming down her face. She fell to her knees gripping her hair tightly as she sobbed. Her rosaries fell from her shirt and she clutched them tightly in her fist. 

T-Dog was the first to notice the girl, who seemed to be in some distress. He nodded to Daryl and pointed to her. Daryl frowned and shrugged, he still felt guilty and was avoiding her. The most contact between them being when he had dragged her to Hershell. He shook his head at T-Dog and made his way to the house. 

Carl stood and frowned in confusion at Phoenix as she slowly stood. 

"What's wrong with you?" He asked curiously. She glanced down at him and walked away. Her hands itched, she needed to end the poor child's suffering for her mother's sake and the group's. It would destroy Hershell's trust in the group but to hell with that. Living with walkers less than 100 feet of them.

That wasn't going to fly. 

"Maggie. Hey, Maggie, just talk to me. Hey. Maggie." Glenn panted as he rushed after the girl, who finally paused and turned towards him. 

"Give me your hat." She held her hand out to him. "You said talk to you, I'm talking to you - Give me your hat." Maggie said quietly as Glenn handed her his hat before taking one of the eggs in the basket and placing it into the hat. Glenn looked puzzled for a moment before Maggie forcibly pushed the egg filled hat onto his ebony locks, the broken egg running down his face. 

"Why would you waste an egg like that?" He gasped flicking egg off his forehead. 

"I think it was rotten." Maggie snapped as she walked away. 

"Egg is good for ya hair Glenn. At least you'll have the best hair around here for a while." Phoenix chuckled as she glanced over her shoulder, continuing her way towards the farmhouse before spotting Carol sneaking around near the stables and heading, out of sheer curiosity, in that direction instead. 

"You can't!"  Phoenix heard Carol call out as she peered round the stable door.

"I'm fine." Daryl puffed out as he lifted a saddle down off the rack. 

"Hershell said you need to heal." 

"Yeah, I don't care." 

"Well, I do. Phoenix does too." Daryl's eyes flicked to the red head at the stable door before focusing back on the saddle. "Rick's going out later to follow the trail."

"Yeah well, I ain't gonna sit around and do nothing. Besides Rick can't track for shit." 

"Seriously Dixon?! You that pig headed that ye can't see ye need t' heal!? Ye really think I'd let Rick go out without me?" Phoenix snapped, her accent changing to a slight Irish lilt, as she entered fully, standing behind Carol and giving him a look. 

"Now ya talkin' t'me? Huh?" He spat in her direction before scoffing. "Mind ya own fucking business!" 

"No, you're gonna go out there and get yourself hurt even worse! We don't know if we're gonna find her, Daryl." Daryl paused and glanced at the grey-haired woman in shock. He couldn't believe he was hearing this from her mouth. "We don't. I don't."

"What?" 

"Carol....." Phoenix breathed in disbelief before glancing at Daryl. 

"Can't lose you too." 

Daryl threw the saddle in anger before clutching his side groaning. Carol rushed to his side and reached out to help but was brushed off.  "Are you all right?" 

"Just leave me be. Stupid bitch." He growled harshly as he limped away. Phoenix wrapped her arm around Carol's shoulders and smiled weakly. 

"He's just sore and upset Carol like a bear with a hangover. Just ignore him." 

"I know. Just wish he understood...." Carol said quietly, slipping out of the embrace and leaving the Brit to stand in the empty stable with her thoughts. 

"Come on in."

"A little light reading for lunch?" Rick asked, glancing at the bible beside the vet's plate. 

"Been working so hard lately I get my study in where I can." Hershell sighed, placing a bookmark into the holy book before gently setting it down on the table beside his plate.

"You know we can help you out with your work." 

"It's my field to tend." Hershell said quietly.

"We found the barn."

"Leave it be." Hershell said, his eyes not leaving the page. 

"Well, I'd like to talk about it, but either way... your barn, your farm, your say." 

"I don't want to talk about the barn. I don't want to debate." The man said finally looking up at Rick. 

"Not a debate, a discussion." Rick reasoned quietly. 

"I need you and your group gone by the end of the week."

Rick sighed heavily. 

"I talked to Dale. You and I have our differences with the way we look at the walkers. Those people, they may be dead, they may be alive. But my people, us, we are alive right now, right here, right in front of you. You send us out there and that could change."

"I've given you safe harbor. My conscience is clear."

"This farm..." Rick pleaded as he sat down. "This farm is special. You've been shielded from what's been going on out there. Dale said you saw everything happen on the news. Well, it's been... It's been a long time since the cameras stopped rolling." Hershell stood and walked away and Rick rushed after him to continue his plea. 

"The first time I saw a walker it was just half a body snapping at me from the ground. My inclination wasn't to kill it. But what the world is out there isn't what you saw on TV. It is much much worse and it changes you. Either into one of them or something a lot less than the person you were. Please do not... do not send us out there again."

"My wife's pregnant."

Hershell turned away from the window to look at Rick in shock. "That's either a gift here or a death sentence out there. If we were to stay we could help you with the work, with securing this place. We can survive together." 

"Rick, I'm telling you we can't."

"You think about what you're doing."

"I've thought about it." Hershell yelled. 

"Think about it."

"I've thought about it."

"Think about it again. We can't go out there." Rick said as he left the building. Hershell glanced up at Maggie, who turned away from her father. 

"He's right ya know." Phoenix sighed, stepping round the doorframe. 

"Miss Black. What do I owe the pleasure?" Hershell said quietly, standing and entering the kitchen. Phoenix followed slowly and looked at the old vet in quiet confusion.  "Ah... The same as Rick no doubt."

"There's a great deal of shit I've done in the past. You and I both know it. But this...." She scoffed, following as the man left the building. "Why keep it secret? Ya could've told us from the get go" 

"We all keep secrets do we not? You have yours.... You have them to keep you safe... From your group... from Rick and Shane...  I did the same."

"Mr Greene we ain't gonna go in there guns akimbo! This is your land and we'd of respected your decision." She spoke quietly, figuring that yelling would do no good. 

"Not all of you..." The girl nodded and sighed. "You are a woman of faith. I believe those people are sick and that God will deliver them into health again. Have you lost your faith? Do you not have any hope left at seeing the men you wish again?" 

"Faith is a fragile thing these days..."

"My offer still stands, regardless of whether your group finds out your secret. This isn't up for discussion anymore. This is my land. Its been in my family for generations."

"Mr Greene.... There are dead men walking in your barn. And one way or another...  This fucking shit is gonna end real badly."

"The same will happen if your group find out your secret. I'm asking you not to act so I don't have to Amelia..." Hershell said quietly, raising himself to his full height and staring the girl down. 

"If that is a threat, think about your decision sir. Some things need to stay in the dark..." She said quietly before turning away. 

"And some find glory in the light." Hershell said after her, returning to his work. Phoenix bowed her head and walked off slowly towards camp.

Neither noticed a figure step out of the shadows and fold their arms, shocked and a little confused about what they had just heard. 

"You're a complete bastard ya know that right?" 

Daryl glanced up at the feisty girl in front of him and scoffed. "Don't ignore me arsehole. I'll put ya on ya back and beat some sense into ya." 

"Yea, like to see ya try. Better yet, fuck off away from me." He growled deeply, his eyes daring her to even lay a single finger on him.

"Dixon.... What you said to Carol was outta line! When someone is loosing hope like that... You're supposed to make them find it again. Not blow up at them and hurt yaself!" 

"She's given up... Ain't nothin' gonna change her mind now." He sighed defeatedly. Phoenix crouched down in front of him and lifted his chin to look at her, ignoring his flinch. She smiled sadly at him before nodding slightly. 

"Then maybe... Its up to you to find something to give her that hope again. Anything to give her that little glimmer of light in the dark." Her eyes flicked down at the dried flower near his feet before patting his knee and walking away.

Daryl stood and sighed, watching as she walked towards Beth, who nodded eagerly at her. 

"Go get your cap. I'll wash it for you, okay?" Maggie said as she pulled dales hat off his head. 

"Do you know what's going on?" T-Dog asked as he walked up to the porch. 

"Where is everyone?" Andrea questioned as she walked beside T-Dog. 

"You haven't seen Rick?" Glenn asked the pair. 

"He went off with Hershel. We were supposed to leave a couple hours ago." Andrea replied softly. 

"Yeah you were. What the hell?" Daryl said as he and Carol joined the group around the farm house stoop.

"Rick told us he was going out." Carol puffed quietly, slightly out of breath from trying to keep up with Daryl's long strides. 

"Dammit. Ain't anybody taking this seriously? We got us a damn trail." Daryl snapped, waving his arm in the direction of where he'd found the doll a few days ago. "Oh, here we go."

Daryl walked up to Shane as the man walked towards the collective members of the group with the gun bat slung over his right shoulder. "What's all this?" 

"You with me, man?" Shane asked, holding out a shot gun to the redneck. "Phoenix?" 

"Yeah." Daryl replied, glancing at the Brit as she takes a gun out from the waistband of her pants and twirling it around her finger, as he took the offered shotgun. Shane nodded before turning to the rest of the group. 

"Ya had that all this time?" Daryl asked, cocking his head at the girl, who smirks in reply. 

"Time to grow up. You already got yours?" Shane said to Andrea over his shoulder as he passed by her. 

"Yeah." She said back quickly "Where's Dale?"

"He's on his way." 

"Thought we couldn't carry." T-Dog said confused as a handgun was placed into his palm. 

"We can and we have to. Look, it was one thing sitting around here picking daisies when we thought this place was supposed to be safe. But now we know it ain't." Shane said pacing in front of the stunned group before turning to Glenn. "How about you, man? You gonna protect yours?" Glenn glanced at Maggie before taking the shotgun from Shane.

"That's it. Can you shoot?" Shane questioned the elder farmer's daughter. 

"Can you stop? You do this, you hand out these gun, my dad will make you leave tonight." Maggie snapped, glaring at the angry man. 

"We have to stay, Shane." Carl spoke up as he walked towards his angry uncle. 

"What is this?" Lori queried as she exited the house and stomped towards the group. 

"We ain't going anywhere, okay? Now look, Hershell, he's just gotta understand. Okay? He... Well, he's gonna have to. Now we need to find Sophia. Am I right?" Shane whispered as he kneeled down in front of Carl.

"Huh? Now I want you to take this. You take it, Carl, and you keep your mother safe. You do whatever it takes. You know how. Go on, take the gun and do it." 

Lori pushed Carl behind her quickly and snarled down at the man for daring to drag her son into the madness. 

"Rick said no guns. This is not your call. This is not your decision to make."

"Oh shit." T-Dog exclaimed, his gaze drawn to the edge of the forest and the sight of Jimmy taunting a walker being controlled by a leash. The group all turned and gasped. 

"What is that? What is that?" Shane panted as he took off running towards the trio with walkers on poles got closer to the barn. 

"Shane!" Lori yelled after him as she and the rest of the group followed him. 

"What the hell are you doing?" He yelled bursting though the rusted gate. 

"Shane, just back off." Rick yelled as he corralled the walker he was controlling away from Jimmy. 

"Why do your people have guns?" Hershell snapped, his glare going to the Brit, who lowered her guns and slipped them back into their place. 

"Are you kidding me? You see? You see what they're holding onto?" Shane gestured towards the walkers in disgust. 

"I see who I'm holding onto." Hershell stated, his face a stony mask.

"No, man, you don't." Shane growled angrily, dodging the walkers outreaching fingers as Jimmy ducked away from the others. 

"Shane, just let us do this and then we can talk." 

"What you want to talk about, Rick? These things ain't sick! They're not people! They're dead! Ain't gonna feel nothing for them 'cause all they do, they kill! These things right here, they're the things that killed Amy. They killed Otis! They're gonna kill all of us!"

"Shane, shut up!" Rick yelled over the growls and hisses. 

"Hey, Hershell man, let me ask you something." He asked as he pulled his gun from his waistband and checked the chamber. "Could a living breathing person, could they walk away from this?" Shane hissed before shooting the walker in the stomach. Phoenix flinched at the noise and glanced at the rattling chain as Shane pumped 3 shots into the chest of the walker. 

"No! Stop it!" Rick snapped as he grit his teeth. 

"That's three rounds in the chest! Could someone who's alive, could they just take that?! Why is it still coming?" The angry man shot again and again.

"That's its heart, its lungs. Why is it still coming?" Shane shot another round from his clip into the walker. 

"Shane, enough."

"Yeah, you're right, man. That is enough." Shane took the final shot and ended the walker, Hershell dropped the leash and paled. "Enough risking our lives for a little girl who's gone!" Phoenix glanced away from the barn at Shane's words, causing T-Dog to give her a questioning look.

"Enough living next to a barn full of things that are trying to kill us!" 

"Enough!" Rick snarled, his grip on the catch pole sliding slightly. 

"Rick, it ain't like it was before! Now if y'all want to live, if you want to survive, you got to fight for it! I'm talking about fighting right here, right now." 

Shane smashed open the barn doors and backed off quickly as a group of the undead stumbled out. 

"Take the snare pole. Hershell, take the snare pole. Hershell, listen to me, man, please. Take it now. Hershell! Take it!"  Rick pleaded as Hershell stared at the guns pointed towards his friends and family. 

"No, Shane. Do not do this, brother."

"Wait! Don't do it!"  Glenn yelled. 

"Rick!" Lori shrieked. 

"Please!" 

Shane ignored everyone's yelling and broke the lock on the doors with a pick axe before throwing them open.

"Come on. Come on, we're out here." Shane taunted, backing away slowly from the barn doors. 

"This is not the way!" 

"Please!" Beth cried out as Patricia wrapped her arms around the girl. 

"Get behind me." Lori whispered, shoving Carl behind her and trying to shield him. 

"Come on." 

The walkers scrambled and growled towards the group.  Phoenix bowed her head as Daryl gave her a glance before raising his gun and taking aim. Tears fell silently down her cheeks as she knew what was about to happen.

Something she could have warned the group about. 

"Maggie." Glenn whispered to the young woman, who was clutching her stunned father as tears flowed down her face too. 

"It's okay."  Maggie whispered and nodded  at Glenn who raised his own shotgun. 

"Stay back!" Rick yelled over the shots as Lori pulled Carl to the ground and hugged him tightly.  

The group panted as the barn doors slowly creaked and a lone figure appeared, blinking at the sudden change in lighting. 

"Sophia?" Carol sobbed, rushing towards the barn to her daughter before Daryl grabbed hold of her around the waist as she collapsed to the ground. "Sophia! Oh no. Sophia. Sophia. No!" 

Lori grabbed onto Carl and pulled him tighter against her as her heart broke for the other mother of the group. Carl sobbed as he stared at his friend's corpse stumbled towards the group. Rick pulled his gun out slowly and aimed at the little girl's head. Silence over took the land as a single shit was heard. 

"Don't watch." Daryl whispered to Carol as she sobbed. 

"Sophia!" Carol wailed as Phoenix turned and ran before her body had even hit the ground. 

[taystrash]

Tay // 22 // Trying this writing thing again

If you’re interested, you can find me here

Previous Blogs:

IOAMB (kpop: bts, monsta x, got7, skz…)

Imagination-of-a-thirsty-weeb (anime: hxh, haiikyuu)

Imagination-of-a-fandom-slut (tv shows: teen wolf, tvd, twd…)

Masterlists, if you would like to see what’s in store:

BTS

Got7

MonstaX

How it started:

I started writing when I was 10, One direction had just debuted and I was in love. They’re how I discovered fanfiction. I never actually wrote for them myself, seeing no shortage of content for members x reader, or members x members, so I looked elsewhere. I started to get into Viners, YouTubers, and Magcon boys and I started writing for them instead. People loved it, I made au gif sets, and I honestly loved the interactions with the fics and between I and my readers. I would write day and night, hurting my shoulders, changing positions, at school thinking of writing, scribbling ideas down here and there. I abandoned that blog for another and that for another and that one to stop writing all together. All my blogs are still up and running, I’d take Teen Wolf requests on one, SKZ on another but I want THIS blog to be a truly multi-fandom blog. I tried to categorize everything, anime into one, kpop into another, I want access to everything all in one. So bear with me! I’m working to get it together! I’m excited to see what the future brings and even more excited to finally get to write again.

REQUESTS

They are open!

I currently am only going to pick back up a few fandoms, SKZ, HxH, and Teen Wolf. I will be writing for new shows such as JJK, AOT, BSD and Demon Slayer.

DISCLAIMER (not to be rude, mean, or mistaken)

I am a smut writer. I like rough, nasty, demeaning, aggressive sex and I will write about it! Please, be warned! Please, do not lecture me about it, you can find fluff, angst, and softer smut elsewhere, OR you can request it and I’ll write that for you and your tastes. I’m not here to judge and I hope no one judges me. I know it can’t be helped but I’m a nasty bitch and I want to be with other nasty bitches :((

Character List:

JJK

Sukuna

Gojo

Geto

Nanami

Shoko

Mei Mei

Toji

Choso

Mohito

Todo

Demon slayer

Giyuu

Rengoku

Muzan

Akaza

Obanai

Gyomei

Sanemi

Tengen

Kokushibo

Doma

Hantengu’s four demons

HxH

Hisoka

Illumi

Razor

The Phantom Troupe

Silva

BDS

Dazai

Fyodor

Akutagawa

Atsushi

Fukuzawa

Ranpo

Poe

Kunikida

Chuuya

Oda

Ango

Francis Scott

Tachihara

Juno

Sigma

Nikolai (clowns are sexy I swear)

Fukuchi

AOT

Eren

Armin

Connie

Jean

Floch

Levi

Erwin

Hange (will be written as they/them, you can decide whether it’s amab or afab.)

Sasha

Mikasa

Reiner

Teen wolf

Stiles

Scott

Parrish

Sheriff Stilinski

Melissa

Liam

Theo

Brett

Derek

Peter

I’ll write for every member of Stray Kids!!

Smut Games:

Feel free to pick a prompt or two to pair with a character/member

Smut Game 1 ( can be found as a link on previous stories but is no longer accessible)

Smut Game 2

Smut Game 3

Smut Game 4

Smut game 5

Happy Slutting <3

[hornsbeforehalos]

Whiskey, Sweetheart: Part 2

Pairing: Norman Reedus x OFC, Past JDM x OFC Warnings: RPF, Language, Breif Violence, Jealousy, Angsty.

Series Masterlist

Summary: After Jeffrey’s neglect pushed her away and into the arms of his best friend, Norman and Ky have to figure out if their new relationship can withstand not only the aftermath of the unspeakable crime they commited to keep her safe, but the backlash that comes from being co-workers with a very betrayed Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

A/n: This is the Sequel to Anytime, Sweetheart and The Conquests of Norman Reedus. You’ll probably be a bit confused if you haven’t read Conquests yet, though, or at least the Finale, but you could probably figure it out on your own if you don’t want to. But I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to, lol.

A-S Tags, (please let me know if you want to be untagged for this series.)

@elinyaes   @jml509  @jesbakescookies @daddy-kink-confirmed @aquivercactus   @xagateophobiax @sorenmarie87@missghoul18 @jdmfanfiction @jeffreydeanneganstrash @through-thesilver-lining @beffyblueeyes @docharleythegeekqueen @make-things-beautiful2 @srj1990  @dragongirl420  @reedusteinrambles  @youandyourstupidrope @addiction-survivor25 @fireheartart @redm81 foreveror-never @zombeeemomeee @blacklightguidesnic @jackybehappy @jodiereedus22

“You mind filling me in on what the fuck is going on?” Vicky demanded through her end of the phone, earning her an eye roll from me. “Uh, shit happens?” I replied, cringing at her tone as I continued to pack up my things into my suitcase. “Kylin.” She said, a motherly tone to her voice as if she as speaking to one of her kids. “Victoria.” I answered simply, pretending like I didn’t know any better. “Was it good?” “Of course it was, you think he would be bad?” I snorted in reply. “I haven’t ever thought about it.” She said matter-of-factually. “Lyin’s a sin, Vic.” My eyebrow quirked in amusement. “Yeah and so is sex before marriage, but here we are.” She deadpanned. “I worry about you sometimes.” “So, how big is it?” “How big is what?” I retorted innocently. “The dick” “Who’s dick?” “Who’s dick have you been fucking? Jesus!” “Jesus Christ. It’s big okay?” “Bigger than Jeff’s?” “I’m not disclosing that information.” “Fuck you, I’ll find out, one way or another.” “Any fucking way, you’re still picking me up from the airport, right?” “Yes ‘mam, even though I really don’t know why you’re coming back here when you’re going back next week and then having to come all the way back here for the con.” “Because I like jet lag, I guess. I don’t know, seemed like the thing to do at the time.” “Kinda like Norman?” “I’m gonna kill you.” I chuckled, shaking my head as I zipped the the bag closed. “No you’re not.” “I’m hanging up the phone now.” “So what happened?”

“Drama, Vic, fucking drama.” I sighed as I went into the tale of Jeffrey missing my birthday and Norman being there to pick up the pieces. I let the tears flow as she comforted me in true Vicky fashion, promising me that the next time she’d see Jeff she was gonna pop him in the back of the head. “What a dick, dude. I mean, obviously you’re gonna need him to be by your side while you cope with what happened, I mean, I wouldn’t be able to be as calm about shit as you are.” Vicky griped. The fact that I had actually murdered someone stayed a secret between our small group. It was kept from Josh and our parents, not wanting anymore people to be involved than needed. “That’s what I’m saying, Vic, he wouldn’t even talk to me. He’d call me and it’d be quick little ‘Love you, byes’ and I’m supposed to be okay with that? After everything that that psycho did to me? It’s like something switched inside of him or something.” “Maybe he feels like he failed you.” “He did! He kept telling me that he was handling it but never did, and then he can’t even be there for me afterwards? That’s not how it’s supposed to work!” “And Norm’s been there?” “Yes, girl, yes. He’s called me almost every single day to check on me since it happened. He cancelled shit to be there for my birthday.” “He’s always had a crush on you.” “Everyone keeps telling me that, but I never seen it.” “You have a tattoo for him, of course he likes you.” “It’s not just for him, Vic,” I rolled my eyes. “Oh yeah, him and his other incredibly hawwwwwt co-star” “You’re married, Vic” “To your brother’s incredibly hawwwwt boy toy, yes, I’ve been informed.” “Jesus Christ-” “Had nothing to do with it. Now, what are you two doing about this situation?” “Playing it cool, I guess, until shit calms down.” I shrugged, not really sure myself. “You really think Jeff is gonna let that happen?” “Fuck no. I know him better'n that.” Another snort left my lips as I collapsed on my childhood bed. “Exactly. How are you going to deal with San Diego?” “Stay as close as possible to Misha as I possibly can.” I replied like it was the easiest thing in the world. “Like that’s gonna work.” I sighed, my lips flapping together with the motion, “I don’t know, dude, it’s not like I’m going to be able to avoid him all weekend if I want even a moment to spend with Norm, but…I don’t really know. This is all so fuckin’ messy.” “That’s what happens when you get yourself into a love triangle.”

“I didn’t ask for this, you know.” “No, but you didn’t want to be with Jeffrey anymore, and you drunkenly slept with his best friend and co-worker and now if you want to continue sleeping with said best friend and co-worker you’ve gotta figure your shit out. It’s gonna be ‘messy,’ Ky. It’s gonna get fucking nasty, I’d put money on it. He’s not gonna let this be a easy thing for you.” “I knowwww.” I groaned. “Well, bite the bullet and figure it out.

“The Walking Dead star Norman Reedus was arrested yesterday in Manhattan after an altercation with a paparazzi photographer for the New York Times. A police officer witness the assault and immediately placed Reedus into custody. No charges have been pressed and Mr. Reedus was released early this morning.” Happy Fucking Thanksgiving to me.

“Real good job at pickin’ boyfriends, sis” Jensen rolled his eyes as our father flicked off the TV screen before returning to his duty of cutting the Turkey “Fuck youuuu, brother,” I sang back with my eyes rolling, “Dude was prolly an ass or something.” “I thought you were with Jeffrey, sweetheart?” My dad questioned, brows furrowed as he sliced through the meat of the bird. “Shut the hell up, Alan.” My mother hissed and swatted at him with a dish towel, shaking her head at him before turning to me, “Ignore the ignorant men, baby,” “I always do.” I snorted in return, helping myself to the mashed potatoes Dani had past me.

“Wonder what happened,” She said curiously, passing her plate to me so Dad could load it full of Turkey. “Who the hell knows man, everywhere he goes he’s swarmed.” I shrugged, waiting patienly as the plates made their rounds before everyone settled down for Grace. The rest of the dinner was quiet and simple, conversation drifting to Jensen and the show until the meal was done and the men retired to the living room for the rest of the afternoon to be filled with football and beer. I feigned tiredness and made my own way up to my old bedroom, collapsing in the messy sheets to throw my arm over my eyes at the same time my phone started to buzz. “Hello?” I groaned as pressed the phone to my face, not even looking to see who it was. “Well hello to you too, jeeze” Norman chuckled through the speaker. “How you doin’, Jailbird?” I teased, smirk playing on my lips. “Heard about that, did ya?” He chuckled back. “You were on the news.” “Offff course I was.” “Sooo….what did you do?” “Punch a guy in his face for talking shit.” He answered simply, probably shrugging his shoulders. “About?” “You.” “Norman!” “What?” “You can’t just go around punching people!” “The dude was a dick, I’m not even gonna repeat what he said about you.” “It doesn’t matter what he said about me, babe! I don’t care! People have been saying shit about me since I started going to conventions again.” “You shouldn’t have to put up with that shit.” “I’m an easy target, I guess, I don’t fuckin’ know. It’s the price you pay to be dating a celebrity. People are gonna talk shit, especially with once people figure out about us. It’s just going to get worse.” “I won’t let it.” “It’s not gonna be a thing anyone lets happen, Normie.” He sighed, giving up because he knew I was right. I smiled into the phone at the sound of him huffing, giggle coming past my lips at the thought that he was trying to be sweet. “You’re cute, you know that?” I snorted at him. “Whatever,” He quirked back, and I envisioned him blushing on the other side of the phone. “You excited about the convention?” “I’m excited about seeing you.” “See, look at you, being all cute.” “Stop.” “Never.” “Whatever,” He chucked, “Do I get to kiss you when I see you?” “Is that even a question?” “Well?” “If you don’t then I’ll be severely disappointed.” “That’s my girl.” “Mmmm,” I hummed as the smile on my face widened at the use of the term 'his.’ It felt good, right, sweet. I genuinely  missed him, even if it had only been a week apart. Jeff and I had become accustomed to being apart from each other so the yearning eventually got easier to deal with, but this was new and fresh and my heart almost literally ached at the sound of his voice. “I miss you.” He rasped lowly, almost whispering, “Can’t wait to see you.” “I miss you too,” I mimicked back, rolling over into my bed to lay on my stomach, “So much.” “It’s not gonna be easy to keep myself composed 'round you, you know that?” He breathed, enticing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end. “You’re just gonna have to figure it out,” I giggled, smug smirk playing up my tone of voice. “You’ll have to figure it out with me, love, might need some assistance.” He purred, voice rough and gravely as he pressed his lips closer to the speaker, “If you know what I mean.” “Mr. Reedus, you are not very nice.” I whined. “Never said I was.” He growled, voice dropping even lower as the cuteness I’d been talking about moments before disappeared. “Fucking Christ.” “Awhh, am I getting to you sweetheart?” “Fuck you,” “That’s the plan, hun.” he chuckled darkly. “Are you meeting me at the airport in San Diego?” “That’s also the plan. Our planes land at basically the same time.” “Manuevering through that mess will probably be fun.” “Oh, I’m sure it will be.” He gave another laugh. I giggled in response to him as my door opened and Dani appeared, quietly stepping in and closing it behind her before crawling into bed with me. I rolled my eyes at her as she looked at me knowingly, just waiting on me to get off the phone so she could drill me with questions. “Hey, babe, I gotta go. Best friend walked in and she’s got that look in her eye.” “Ooooh what kinda look? Am I missing out on some sister-in-law fun?” “You’re disgusting.” “You love it. I’ll talk to you later, Whiskey.” “Bye, babe.” I rolled over to face Danneel as she propped herself up on her fists, elbows burried in the covers. “Sooooo, spill, bitch.” “I don’t understand that reference.” I deadpanned with a smirk. “How are y'all gonna deal with Jeff this weekend?” “Avoid, avoid, avoid.” “All weekend? Norman’s gotta pannel with him, doesn’t he?” “Pretty sure. That should be interesting. “What are you gonna do if Jeff says anything about it?” “I honestly have no idea, and I’m nervous as fuck about it. I know he’s gonna start some shit, Dan, I just don’t know how or when.” “Maybe he won’t.” I cocked an eyebrow at her sarcastically, she shrugged in reply. “Are you and Norm going public about eveyrhting yet?” “Not until we figure out what Jeff is gonna do. We’re gonna attempt to keep as low key as possible but…” “Yeah, we’ll see how that goes.” “That’s what I keep saying,” I sighed, running my fingers through my hair with annoyance, It’s gonna get worse before it gets better I guess.“ "Do you think it’s even really worth it?” I exhaled deeply again, crawling out of my bed slowly and cracking the window to my room. I dug around in my purse and found my cigarettes and sat on the window seal and lit one.

“You do.” She smiled.

“I do.” I let the plume of smoke filter out of my mouth as I looked at her, her eyes wide for a moment before she curled her lips into a smile and got up to prance towards me. “If he makes you happy, I’m all for it. Just be sure you’re 100 percent done with Jeff before anything gets serious with him. Don’t wanna lose more friends then you need to, you know? Be careful and take care of yourself” She cupped my cheek and moved her thumb over my cheekbone as she stole the cigarette from my fingers to take a drag, returning it to me on her exhale. “I’ve tried to be careful this entire time. All it got me was a fucked up relationship again and another broken heart. I loved Jeffrey with all of me. Fuck, I know I wasn’t perfect, but damn, it’s like he just stopped caring.” “I know, Ky. I know. After everything with Anthony… I just don’t think he was ready to deal with that.” I nodded in understanding, “I get it, I really do, but he should have been honest with me.” “Of course he should, but then again, you shouldn’t have fucked his best friend.” she said, watchign me as I inhaled the nicotene again “I just happened, dude. And I care about Norm, and he cares about me. We’re seeing what happens, and if we figure out it ain’t worth it, well, at least we tried.” “How romantic,” She rolled her eyes at me and stole another drag. “Shut up,” I giggled, tossing the cigarette out of the window and wrapping my arms around her, “Thanks bestfriend.” “Anytime, Sister.”

The flight to San Diego was nerve-wracking, to say the least. Paired with my already uneasiness to fly, my brother insisted sitting directly beside me and talking my ear off, then there was so much turbulence I was positive that the giant metal contraption was going to fall out of the fucking sky at any given moment. The entire time Jensen was hounding me about how Norman and I were going to act, reminding me to expect the worst from Jeff and just generally fueling my already plaguing anxiety. It wasn’t until we were off the plane and out of the terminal and I saw him waiting for me where he said he’d be that all the rest of the world drifted away. I did my best to keep myself composed in front of the waiting, watching eyes and cameras pointed in our general direction as he wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head, his fingers digging in greedily where they rested on my hips. My nails dug into his worn band shirt at his hips as I clung to him, Jensen slapping him on the shoulder in greeting before making his way past us. “Jensen! Are you excited about Comic Con?” the reporter asked, her microphone tilted in my brother’s direction. I didn’t have a chance to hear his answer because another mic was forced into my face as someone shouted, “Kylin! Where’s Jeffrey? Is he not picking you up?” I ignored it, Norman tucking me in closer to his side as we attempted to make our way through, but the shouts kept coming, “Does Jeffrey mind you cuddling with Norman?” “Kylin, are you having an affair with Norman?” “Did you and Jeffrey break up?” “Kylin!” “Norman!” “Jensen! What do you think about your sisters friendship with Norman?” “Jensen!” “BACK THE FUCK UP!” Jensen suddenly roared, backtracking to put himself between me and the group of frozen paparazzi, “HAVE SOME GOD DAMNED RESPECT, JESUS!” Jensen turned back on his heels and wrapped his arm around the other side of my shoulder as Norman did the same, both men escorting me through the doors of the exit to the waiting car that had made it’s way around to the pick up area. “Jesus fucking Christ.” Jensen cursed as he crawled into the passanger side. Cliff was in the driver’s seat, a concern look on his face as he looked in the rear view as Norman closed the door after I climbed in. 

“That was fucking stupid,” Norman grumbled, arm throwing itself back around me as he took his glasses off with his other hand and shook his head, “I hate that shit.” “Ya’ll okay?” Cliff asked “Yeah, just stupid paps and their stupid assumptions,” Jensen explained bitchily before turning to look back at me, “I told you some shit like that would happen.” “I know, brother.” I rolled my eyes as I crossed my arms infront of me, “Didn’t expect it to happen within the fuckin’ week, though.” “Jeff might have already said something to someone, sis, you know how he is when he’s pissed.” “PFftchyeah, we all know.” Norman rasped, propping his chin up with his elbow on his knee, “This is gonna be a fun weekend.”

Norman and I weren’t actually booked at the same hotel, but the company has booked his room directly across the hall from Jeffrey’s, and he didn’t feel like dealing with that, so he piled all his stuff in mine for the time being until he could see about getting it changed. “Hope you don’t mind,” he grinned, throwing himself down on the mattress as he kicked his shoes off. “Make your self comfy, why don’t ya?” I giggled back, shaking my head at him as I looked down from the edge of the bed. “Come’re” He growled lowly, his hand stretching out to grab my wrist as he stared at me behind his fringe. He pulled me down on top of him with a thud, a huff of a laugh barking out of me as he attached his limbs to mine and sealed me against his chest, “Missed you.” “I missed you, too.” I breathed, inhaling his cologne and smoky scent as I nuzzled my nose against him. 

He lightened his grip around me to pull my face up to his, planting a chaste kiss to my lips that quickly ignited as I adjusted my hips around his to hold myself up. His mouth parted as his tongue snaked its way past my teeth, enticing my own into a provocative dance that lead his hands to find their ways into my hair and across my back underneath my shirt. He moaned into the kiss, his teeth grazing my lower lip as his grip tightened at the nape of my neck. His hips bucked upward as I sucked at his mouth, my own grinding down against the denim separating us. “Need you, Ky,” He rasped as he rolled us over, holding himself up with his hands on either side of my head, shaggy hair dripping into his face as he hovered over me. “Need you too, Norm” I mumbled as I leaned up, my lips finding his neck and fingertips seeking out the hem of his shirt to pull it over his broad shoulders. He helped me dispose of it, pulling away for a second before caging me in his arms again to sink his teeth into the tender flesh of my shoulder. “Fuck, Norman!” I hissed at the sensation, my legs instinctively wrapping themselves around his waist to pull him closer to me. My hands scrambled down his bare chest to his belt, fumbling with the buckle before it finally was pried open with his button and fly. He leaned up again to work at my own jeans, and I lifted my hips for him to pull them off at the same time as I rid myself of my own shirt and bra. “Fucking hell, girl,” He grunted as he hiked my leg up around his shoulder, his body sliding down the mattress as his face became eye-level with my wetness, “So fuckin’ hot.” His cold tips of his index and middle fingers spread my aching lips apart slowly, his head cocking to the side as his tongue darted out to tease at my exposed clit. “Yaaaaaah! Norman!” I gasped, body instantly tensing at the sensation, earning me a chuckle from the man between my thighs. “Mmmm, so fuckin’ pretty.” He mumbled before reattaching his lips to my flesh, this tongue circling over the stimulated bundle of nerves again and again, his fingers moving down to gently tease my entrance but never go past the first thick knuckle. “Fuck, fuck, fuck” I panted, breathing ragged and labored as my mind shot off firecrackers behind my eyelids as I bit my lip, trying to hold back the throat ripping scream that loitered on the other side of my vocal chords. “Mmmmm” He hummed into me, the vibrations combined with the slick rolling of his tongue over me and the gentle pressure of his fingers triggered my release, the string of tension finally snapping and my mind clouding with blissful pleasure. 

“That’s it, girl, come for me,” He panted as he lifted his head, his fingers still working me over as he watched and felt my tenderness convulse, “Mmm, lookit you.” “Fuuh-uh-uhhhk” My voice shook as the shock waves continued to roll over me, the stimulation finally too much to handle, my hand shoving him away from the sensitivity and pulling his face up to mine. His kiss was deep, and rough, and I could taste my fluid seeping from his goatee, pulling a groan out of me as his tongue fought towards the back of my throat. His knees spread to push mine apart, his thick cock rutting against my sopping folds before sinking into me with one deep penetrating thrust. “Fuhk!” I gasped as the blunt head pushed itself all the way into my cervix, the painfully erotic explosion triggering a second orgasm almost immediately. “Oh, yeah?” He chuckled with a groan as he felt my walls flex and flutter around him, “Fuck, I love that.” “Yess! Norman!” I keened as he pulled out of me almost all the way and dived back into me, setting a controlled pace of not too hard and not too slow, causing my eyes to roll into the back of my head and him to burry his face into the crook of my neck. “Fuckin’ amazing,” He mumbled into my skin, biting and sucking at my neck and surely leaving bruises. My thighs wrapped tighter around him as he raised up onto his knees, pulling my ass into his lap by my hips and digging into me as deep as he could. “Look at you, take it…so…fucking…good,” He praised as he thrusted, his large hands splaying across my tiny stomach as he pistoned his hips in and out of me, my constant wails and keens spurring him on until another wave of ecstasy thrashed through me. Upon feeling the constriction, he pried my legs off of his waist and over his head, closing them and positioning them on his shoulder together before bending me in half to bring his lips to mine again. The new angle thrust his throbbing head into another deepness that sparked another orgasm before the last one even ended, a hoarse scream emanating from my lungs as he plunged into me with a quickening pace. “Fuck, gonna-” He started, and I instantly used the strength of my thighs to push him off and out of me before scurrying my body around to attach my face to his abdomen, his dick sliding down my throat with ease as the thick ropes of come spilled into my mouth. “Holy fuck, shit yeah!” He barked out with a huff of a laugh, his hand pushing my hair back from my face as he watched me drink all he had to offer me, “That’s the fuckin’ sight right there.” I grinned around his still hard cock at the same time as the door beeped and the sound of Misha’s voice flooded through the entry way “Kylin, I brought you your- Oh, hello there.” Misha was greeted with the sight of me with Norman’s dick still in my mouth, my eyes widening as I popped him out of my lips and he snatched the sheet from the bed to conceal himself. “Fuck, man, knock!” Norman snapped as I burst out laughing at the sight of Misha’s shocked face. I took the pillow that was nearest to me and sat in my lap, effectively covering as much as I could, not really caring since Misha had seen me naked countless of times before. “Where the fun would that be?” Misha chuckled as he shook his head, walking the rest of the way into the room and tossing a bag into my open hands with a smirk, “I found this with all my shit, looks like your warpaint.” “It is.” I confirmed, opening it slightly to see my makeup, “Thanks, Mish.” “No, thank you” He winked, still giggling, “Gonna have to add that one to the spank bank.” “Hey man, fuck you.” Norman grunted, his brows furrowing. “Oh, Normie, if you only knew the things I’ve seen that girl do.” he teased with another wink. “Shut the hell up, Misha.” I barked back, standing up to escort him towards the door. “You need a shower, you smell like sex and your breath reeks of dick,” Misha continued to torment as he walked backwards towards the exit, one of my palms planted firmly on his chest as I held the pillow to me with my other hand. I blew a breath of air in his face in reply, his head recoiling back as he opened the door to let himself out. “Good bye, Mishka, see you in a little bit!” I sang  as I poked my head out the hall at him before reentering the room and closing the door. “That was…does he do that a lot?” “What? Try to make people uncomfortable with how comfortable he is with nudity and sex? Yes. It’s partially my fault he walked in, I should have known to lock the deadbolt.” “Have you two…?” Norman asked quietly, looking up through his bangs as he made his way into the large bathroom. “What?” I questioned with my own quirked brow as I followed him, “Have we fucked?” He shrugged as he started the water to the large shower stall. “No, Norman, we haven’t. I did fuck his wife though.” I said matter-of-factly. Norman’s eyes widened as he straightened himself, a look of pure shock on his face. “Look, Misha has been one of my best friends since I was 17. We’ve been through hell and back together just about as much as you and I have.” I smiled at him, my hands reaching for his as the steam started to rise from the stall. “So he gets to see you naked? I don’t like that shit, girl. If your gonna be mine, you’re gonna be mine.” He drawled, eyes hardening slightly as he rubbed the tops of my hands with this thumb. “If I’m yours, then you need to trust me. I’m not losing my family over a relationship again.” Norman stared at me through his fringe for another moment before nodding his head gently. I nodded once as well before guiding him into the shower with me to wash off the stench of airplanes and sex, our hands soaping each other up and rinsing each other off before drying off and going on about our usual routines of getting ready. I had blow dried my hair and was applying my thick eyeliner to my lids when he returned into the bathroom to comb his hair and brush his teeth, his eyes never leaving my reflection as I globbed on the thick black goop. “What are you staring at?” I said without looking at him, adjusting the fallout under my lids before tracing my lips with liner as well. “Still tryna figure that one out.” He joked back, earning him a snort from me. “I say the same thing every time I look at you, Reedus.” I finished applying the dark red lipstick to my face before pressing a kiss to the man’s cheek, a bright mark appearing on his skin. He made no move to wipe it off as he assessed it in the mirror, an amused smirk playing on his face as he shook his head slightly. “Markin’ your territory or something?” “Or something,” I snarked back, hopping down from the counter and returning to the room to get dressed in a pair of jeans and Metallica shirt with a over sized flannel covering it. I tied my converse as Norman reappeared from the room, the blood-colored mark removed but a tinge of red still staining his cheek. “You coming to the cast panel this evening?” Norman asked as he stuffed his feet into his own shoes while holding his phone in front of him. “Yeah, figured I might as well see what I should expect tomorrow for him and Jensen’s,” I sighed as I flopped down onto the bed one more time, looking up at him from my hair that threw itself over my eyes. He smiled down at me fondly, his hand extending out for me to take hold of so he could heave me up. “Come'n, Whiskey, let’s go see what the wolves have in store for us, yeah?” He said, a small smile on his face as he wrapped his arms around me. I stood up on my tip-toes as he leaned down to give me a kiss. I sighed up at him as he squeezed me before stepping away to put on his hat and glasses. “And here…we…go…”

[phoenixblack89]

Chapter 7 - The Search Begins

Hallo wonderful peoples! 

I’m back again with another chapter for you lovely lot! 

I have tweaked the timeline a little, added another day to how long Sophia was missing but that’s cos I’m a donut and can’t do math when writing. Ya know when ya just get into a nice flow and only realise later that something you wrote doesn’t fit in the actual canon timeline? Yea that’s me hahaha

NOTE --- BOLD ITALICS are Daryl’s thoughts, Italics are Phoenix’s thoughts or another lady’s, BOLD are other males members of the group. It’ll make sense trust me

The awesome page breaker was made by @firefly-graphics​ (stupid Tumblr and their 10 image rule ruining my layout grrr)

WARNINGS: typical TWD gore, violence, slight depressive & suicidal thoughts, mentions of SEX, one angry redneck, one idiotic blond

TAG LIST: @lilythemadqueen @autocon23 @boondoctorwho @browneyes528 @writingdeadangel @darylsgirl @purple-serenity @fandomsaremykryponite @ @pandora-writes-stuff @littlegodzilla

MAIN MASTERLIST

SERIES MASTER LIST

FIRST - PREVIOUS - NEXT

Phoenix yawned and stretched as she sat up from the sofa, where she'd fallen asleep the night before after ensuring Carl and his parents were safely asleep. The pink tint streaming through the glass behind her told her it was shortly after dawn. The loud clanking from the kitchen echoed as she ran a hand over her head before standing up, her brightly dyed hair sticking up in all directions. Beth gave her a small smile as she skipped down the stairs towards the kitchen. The luscious scent of fresh coffee and bread wafted outwards and Phoenix felt her stomach crunch hungrily.

"Well good morning."

"Morning..." The red head yawned, slumping down into a chair at the breakfast nook, her head falling onto her arms with a dull thud. Patricia stifled a laugh and placed a large cup of black coffee, a small pitcher of milk and a bowl of sugar in front of her. Phoenix nodded her thanks and began preparing her coffee how she liked it.

Her neck had a kink in it from the harsh stiffness of the sofa's arm as she climbed onto the railing of the porch, the shower Hershell had kindly let her take had no effect in easing it away. Hours had passed since she woke and her nerves were getting to her again.

Sure she trusted Lori and Rick but her suspicions of Shane's story made her on edge.

The rest of the group paused in gathering stones to look up as a loud growling motor sounded in the distance. She sighed and glanced up the drive as the roaring, snarling of the others arriving began to break the peace of the farm.

"How is he?” Dale asked, his eyes glancing at the Grimes in hope.

"He'll pull through, thanks to Hershell and his people - " Lori began.

"And Shane. We'd have lost Carl if not for him." Rick quickly interrupted his wife and smiled weakly. Lori smiled as she accepted a hug from Carol. The whole group let out a collective sigh of relief at the good news.

"Thank God. We were so worried." Carol whispered as she let go of Lori. 

"How'd it happen?" Dale questioned as he approached, worry etched into the lines of his face.

"Hunting accident. That's all... Just a stupid accident." Rick explained, his hands on his hips as he glanced around the gathered group. "Hershell says we can set up camp over there, while Carl recovers. Let's get it started, then we can pay our respects to Otis." Rick sighed quietly, pointing over at a copse of trees near the field. The group nodded and set off on their vehicles.

"You still pissed at me, Firebug?" Phoenix lifted her head towards the filthy hunter and narrowed her eyes, running them up and down his figure. Daryl pulled himself to his full height waiting for her to say anything. She scoffed, shaking her head before following after the rest of the group. 

"Fine! Be that way!" Daryl called after her, her response being to give him the middle finger salute. He sighed deeply, slumping his shoulders once more before climbing back onto his bike and driving down towards the, quickly forming, camp.

"Blessed be God, father of our lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to him for the gift of our brother Otis, for his span of years, for his abundance of character; Otis, who gave his life to save a child's, now more than ever, our most precious asset. We thank you, God, for the peace he enjoys in your embrace. He died as he lived, in Grace. Shane, will you speak for Otis?" Hershell said, turning towards the man; his borrowed overalls hanging loosely around his frame as he bowed his head.

"I'm not good at it. I'm sorry."

"You were the last one with him. You shared his final moments. Please. I need to hear. I need to know his death had meaning." Patricia tearfully pleaded, her eyes ringed with red.

"Okay. We were about done. Almost out of ammo. We were down to pistols by then. I was limping. It was bad. Ankle all swollen up. 'We've got to save the boy.' See, that's what he said... He gave me his backpack. He shoved me ahead... 'Run,' he said. He said, 'I'll take the rear. I'll cover you.' And when I looked back..." Shane hobbled towards the mound of stones, placing his own on top before turning back to the new widow. "If not for Otis, I'd have never made it out alive. And that goes for Carl too. It was Otis. He saved us both. If any death ever had meaning, it was his." Shane rushed out, his voice shaking slightly. Daryl glanced at Phoenix, who raised an eyebrow and nodded.

At least someone else don't buy Shane's bullshit.

Phoenix sat in the tree overlooking the fire pit dug in the middle of their camp. The off white farmhouse looked slightly hazy in the heat of the day. She was shaded and hidden, safely ensconced in the large tree. Secretly keeping a second watch over the land.

The search for Sophia halted temporarily for a few hours so they could settle in, make camp and get to know the lay of the land better.

Daryl had gone off into the woods to hunt as well as track Sophia earlier that morning and Phoenix could see him now making his way over to the camp. A string of squirrels and rabbits slung around his bicep, his trusty crossbow over his shoulder. Phoenix had the perfect spot to appreciate the fine lines of his muscles as they moved under his shirt. She felt a tingle of desire run through her as the others looked up as Daryl came to a stop.

"Hey Daryl. Where's your shadow?" 

"My shadow? What the hell ya yappin' about?" He snarled, unloading his wares onto the nearby camping chair ready to skin. Shane ducked his head and smirked at Glenn; T-Dog let out a bark of a laugh.

"Come on Daryl, you know..." Lori giggled as he raised his eyebrow. "She's 5'7 without those ridiculous boots, short dark red hair, blond at the roots, looks like one smile from you would make her pass out..." Lori joked at the man, happy that they were safe and could take the time for some gentle ribbing and jokes, Daryl's face flushed slightly and glanced around the group. Everyone wore a similar expression of light hearted amusement. Daryl felt his anger rise up in his veins.

Was it that obvious he liked her?

He had tried to be careful and push her away. For her sake as well as his own. She was way, way too young for him as well as the fallout from the trauma she'd faced since the world went to shit.

"She ain't my shadow." He hissed out, straightening to his full height. The girls around him giggled.

"Gotta admit, she does seem to follow you around a lot." Dale said quietly from atop the RV. "Think she might have a little crush on you son." 

"Shut it old man! It ain't like that." He snarled up at him. "We hunt together. That's it."

"Be serious Daryl... Even you has to have noticed the way she looks at you!" Andrea stated, gesturing with her hand. "You tell her to jump and she would. Girl has it bad for you Dixon."

Phoenix's heart was in her throat. She didn't think anyone had seen her glances and longing looks towards the rough mannered man. She gulped quietly as Daryl scoffed in disbelief. He turned his back to the group and Phoenix sighed.

Maybe he was gonna walk away.

"Ain't my fault girl can't take a hint." Daryl said pointing off in the direction of the house, where her bike was parked. "I know how she looks a' me. Hell, I ain't blind! I ain't interested neither!"

Liar liar pants on fire Merle's voice said in his head you been lookin' at that sweet girl every chance you get. Hell, you even think o' her when you have a lil alone time baby brother. Oh yea, you like lookin at her fine ass body. 'membering her under ya at the CDC.

Phoenix felt her face blush again, but this time in anger.

Not take a hint!? Wasn't that a day or so ago when you had me pinned under you, you fucking dick! Or when you nearly kissed me before that herd rolled by! She thought as she glared down at him.

"Ooo whoo" T-Dog laughed as Daryl got angrier and angrier. "So ya told her, did ya Dixon?"

"Yea I did! I ain't interested in a fat, ugly bitch like her! Prefer a girl who ain't gonna crush me!" He snapped, running his eyes over Andrea to emphasise his statement. That was the last straw for Phoenix, who quickly and quietly climbed around the tree base to a branch behind the redneck as fury and memories surged through her mind.

She leaped down and landed silently before storming off towards her bike parked in front of the farm house; Shane and Rick looking up and watching her with a silent glance of concern between them. She picked her bow up and nocked an arrow as Daryl put one hand against the trunk of the tree, his fingers splayed to bare his weight. She raised the bow up to her eyeline and took aim. Right between his thumb and forefinger. 

Perfect spot.

Shane glanced up and saw her just as she released the arrow, standing in a panic and leaping towards the hunter to tackle him out of the way.

 "Girl is annoyin' as hell, followin' me like a lost -" Daryl let out a yelp as the arrow hit her target mid-sentence. He had been still bad mouthing the girl while she walked away. He leapt away from the tree and Shane, who landed on the floor, hissing at his jolted ankle as Daryl spun towards her.

"HEY DIXON! NEXT TIME, YA START SAYING SHIT ABOUT SOMEONE, MAKE SURE THEY CAN'T HEAR YOU!" She yelled, glaring at the man in anger. Daryl's face contoured into a vicious snarl and Phoenix paled, taking a step back in fear. The murderous look in Daryl's eyes was uncannily similar to another with the same face.

"YOU FUCKIN' BITCH!" He yelled and began to run in her direction. 

Phoenix dropped her compound bow and ran around the edge of the house towards the woods, Daryl chasing after her with his crossbow. She quickly dodged around Hershell, who yelled after her to be more careful and leapt over the short wooden fence at the edge of the property and took off into the woods. Daryl shouting at her to get back there as he ran after her. She ran deeper into the woods, forgetting to keep her steps light, leaving clear imprints of her boots in her wake. She paused and hid behind a tree to catch her breath. Tears began to well in her dark blue eyes as she thought of the horrid things Daryl had been saying.

Was it only because she had been there when he was drunk and wanted a quick fuck? Did that kiss mean fuck all? Did it mean nothing to him? If it did then why did he seem to want to kiss her again on the interstate?

A twig snapped under foot as Daryl grew closer, following the deep boot impressions in the ground. Phoenix peeked around the bark of the tree and hissed in pain as a bolt flew across her cheek, gashing it open. Blood flowed like a river from the wound down her cheek, neck and onto her chest.

"Daryl! Stop! She was angry! Just put the crossbow down and come back to camp! A bit of space and time to cool your heads..." Rick's voice said quietly from where the bolt had come from. Phoenix gingerly touched her cheek to the wound and winced. Dammit Dixon.

"Nah... little bitch needs t' learn not t' shoot a' folk." Daryl growled, his footsteps getting closer to her hiding spot. Taking a chance she darted off again into the trees. "Get back here woman!" He yelled once more, letting loose a bolt - which hit her face a little below the previous wound, and more blood gushed down her cheek as she stumbled and fell. Daryl dropped his crossbow and grabbed her, turning her onto her back as she struggled with his out reaching hands. "Stay still woman!"

"Get off me Dixon!"

"God dammit!" He yelled as he pinned her arms above her head and straddled her waist, trapping her legs with his own, his belt digging into her hip as he pushed his full weight onto her. She tried to free herself but couldn't.

Damn he's strong.. and heavy!

"What you playin' at huh? Firin' at me like that?! Huh?! Stop wigglin'!" Daryl breathed heavily as she wiggled underneath him, unknowing brushing her hips against his crotch over and over. His dick started to react to the sensation and he growled low in his chest.

God, he wanted to kiss her right then.

Phoenix suddenly stopped; eyes wide as she felt something hard and firm against her pelvic bone. Something she knew wasn't Daryl's knife, which was hanging on his right thigh. Her chest heaved as she stared up into Daryl's blue eyes and felt frozen with fear, his own showing anger and a spark of lust. Deep down she knew he wouldn't do that to her but that fear was ingrained deeply. Tears began to flow down her cheeks into her hair and cuts, making them sting and burn with the salty liquid.

"Let me go... please." She whispered, screwing her eyes tightly shut and turning her head. "Daryl... please... Let me go." She choked out, voice croaky from barely held back fear. Daryl realising what was wrong, quickly let go, scooped up his crossbow and stormed off into the woods. Shane and Rick approached her slowly where she lay crying silently.

"Hey." Rick said crouched beside her. He reached his hand out to her shoulder and she flinched before jumping up and running back to camp. Shane nodded after Daryl and began to follow the more volatile member of the group, knowing the girl needed some space.

She reached camp and grabbed her bike and bow, mindless of the injuries she had, blood splattering down her shirt and to the ground in a steady stream as Maggie and Andrea ran up to her.

"Oh my god! What happened to you!?" 

"Phoenix? Talk to us! What happened to your face?" Andrea said, grabbing for her arm, which she dodged. Phoenix growled and snarled at the blond woman as she placed her bow around her back. She kicked her bike into life and sped off towards the little church the group had found, to seek solace in God's embrace.

Daryl stomped through the woods. Anger at himself consuming his mind. Daryl stomped through the woods. Anger at himself consuming his mind.

Idiot his mind told him you know what she's been through and how she reacts to shit like that and still ya made her scared! She ain't never gonna forgive ya. You blew it! She ain't never gonna kiss ya ever again. What were ya thinkin'!? Gettin' turn on with her lyin' under ya when she was pinned? Damn fucked up!

"Daryl! Daryl! Wait!" 

Daryl turned slowly towards the two former police officers as they ran (or in Shane's case, limped) up to him.

"Why? So ya can yell at me!?" He spat, more and more angry with himself. "I didn't mean t' hit her! I wanted t' spook her is all, like she did me" he said ducking his head. "Ain't never hurt a woman before."

Rick looked to Shane for a moment then placed his hand on Daryl's shoulder and squeezed lightly.

"We know man. She didn't want to hurt you either... She has really good aim, could've hurt ya if she wanted but didn't. You know that right?"

"Yea I know... Best shot I've seen" he nodded and looked at Shane. "She's scareda me now, after pinnin' her down like tha'. Ain't gonna wanna be near me... Ya know why..."

Shane nodded sadly as Rick looked confused. Shane nodded in a way to silently tell Rick he'd tell him later. "She's always gonna be jumpy man, going through shit like that. You get that right?" Shane said quietly as the trio headed towards camp slowly. Daryl nodded as the trees thinned and the house came into view. "You can fix this man. I know ya can. Hell, that girl will forgive you even if ya were the devil himself. Just give her that Dixon grin she likes." Shane laughed, reminding Daryl of what started the whole thing in the first place.

"You like her don't ya, Daryl?"

Daryl paused and considered what he should say.

"Dunno what the fuck ya on about." He scoffed at the dark-haired man. Rick snorted quietly; Daryl flipped his head towards the sheriff with narrowed eyes.

"The way you were going on... Can only mean you do. Don't worry, we ain't gonna judge. She's a grown woman... sorta. She can date or whatever with whoever." Rick said, tapping him on the shoulder lightly, climbing the fence into Hershell's land. "Talk to her Daryl. She might surprise you."

Daryl stood there a few minutes longer before shouts of the women reached his ears. Daryl ran towards the group as they all started yelling at Rick and Shane at once. He came to a stop and flinched as Andrea jabbed his chest with her finger.

"YOU! It's all your fault! Isn't it? You hurt her and now she's gone! Like we don't already have a missing girl to find!" Andrea yelled, wincing as Carol glared at her.

"What ya talkin' about woman?!" Shane sighed, running his hand over his bald head.

"Phoenix! She came out those woods all bloodied up! She got her bow and jumped on the bike! She left! And it's all his fault!"

Daryl's face paled and he began pacing, his hands running through his hair as he thought about what he had done.

Of course, she'd run. She didn't feel safe anymore.

Daryl had always said he'd never hurt her. And he'd done it twice and then reminded her of...

Nah. I'm gonna find her, he thought, swinging around and heading to his own bike and throwing his legs over it.

"I'm gonna go find her." He stated as he drove off with only a vague idea where she might have gone. He just hoped she was there and not somewhere else.

The church was silent and thankfully free of walkers when she parked her bike up outside the door. She pulled her rosaries out from under the collar of her shirt as she entered. The dead walkers had attracted flies but she paid them no mind as she slowly made her way down the aisle towards the statue of Christ. She knelt and bowed her head as tears finally fell freely from her face. She screwed her eyes and began to pray. 

"Forgive me father. I've strayed from our holy mission." She whispered to herself in Latin. "I can't do this. I'm not made for this. My heart aches every day for the fallen. And my boys... I don't know where they are! I'm looking, I swear but I can't just leave this group. Daryl... he looks so much like Murph... Is this some sort of test lord? Did you make Daryl look like that to test my resolve to my mission? Or is this a new one? My heart screams out every second for my boys. You know this. Yet... I find myself growing closer towards him. I feel stronger for him every day. You put lustful thoughts into my mind about him. How can I do this when I'm sworn to another!?"

She fingered the sapphire ring around the top of her rosary gently and sobbed, her head in her hands as she cried. Her breaths came in short bursts as her anger rose.

Anger at Daryl.

Anger at the boys.

Anger at herself.

Anger at the world.

And anger at God.

"How can you do this to us?! You, who claims to love all! Yet you drown the world in disease! You leave us blind and lost! And scared witless! This is the last time I'll ever pray to you! Everything I've been through! It's your fault!" She raged as she began to pace, her hands clutching her hair tightly.

"I HATE YOU! I did your work with the twins and this is your thanks!? A plague?! People dying all the time in the most horrid fucking way?! Children being ripped to shreds like paper!? Me being attacked like that?! Being... You aren't the god I was led to believe in... I... I... I can't.... " 

Snarls reached her ears and she spun, seeing a group of walkers stumbling into the church. Dripping gore and blood along the floor. She spun and reached over her shoulder, quickly pulling her bow and reaching for an arrow.

Shit

She paled as her hand brushed the empty space her quiver usually resided. She had forgotten her quiver. Her knife was there but she couldn't take on a group of walkers with her knife alone. Her axe was back at the farm too as well as the guns.

"Fuck my life honestly." She grunted, shuffling and backing away towards the rear of the church. "This is cos I said I hated you ain't it?" She glanced at the statue and sighed. "Sorry JC. Need to use ya..." She stood behind the statue and waited until the first three walkers stood on the other side of it to align just right then pushed with all her might. The statue tilted and fell slowly. Landing with an echoing clang on top of the walkers, trapping them.

The others snarled and drew closer. She leapt over the altar and dived the blade into the walkers' heads over and over. Panting and sweating she sighed. The four remaining walkers had fallen to her anger fairly quickly. She sat against the end of a pew as the three trapped, snarled and reached out towards her. She wiped her face and clanged her head back. Legs stretched out in front of her. The fingers of the nearest walker just wiping over her steel toed boots weakly.

"Ya know. I feel a heck of a lot better for that" she snickered. "Gratuitous violence indeed." 

She smiled, remembering Murphy saying that once while on a mission. She dug deep into her pocket and pulled out a crumpled packet of cigarettes.

"Hope ya don't mind big guy. But I need this bad." She pulled one out and put it to her lips, rolling across slowly as the noise of a car and a bike came closer and closer. She took a deep drag as the engine stopped and doors slammed outside the church, watching the smoke curl in the air silently. From her position she couldn't be seen and was thankful for that.

She heard whispers before steps were heard lightly on the steps. She blew out the smoke and closed her eyes.

"Phoenix?" Andrea said quietly in the doorway. Andrea gasped as she saw the state of the church, knowing the statue had been previously standing the last time the group was inside the building. "Rick. Shane. In here." Rick and Shane, alongside Andrea, entered the church fully. Phoenix sighed.

Of course they'd come after you, she thought, pulling herself to her feet. They see you as a kid remember. If only they knew you were closer to their age than they thought.

The trio let out a sigh and lowered their weapons.

"Come on, back to camp. We got to get those cuts fixed up." Rick said holding a hand out to her as she stepped around the out reaching hands of the walkers. "You best not have got walker blood in there…" 

Phoenix laughed at that and shook her head. Walking past the trio and climbing back onto her bike, ignoring Daryl, who sat on his own outside the church on guard. She started the bike and raced off back to the farm as fast as she dared. Daryl sped alongside her and looked over at her. His heart, heavy with guilt as he saw clearly how he'd cut up her face. He had sworn at a young age never to leave a mark on a woman by his hand or by a weapon and here she was, proof of his failure.

His damning mistake.

He hung his head in shame as she sped up and over took him. Phoenix pulled down the driveway at an alarming speed. The gravel flew up around her with the spinning of the tires. She saw Lori and Glenn waving at her as she approached. She turned onto the grass and leaned sideways on the bike, her left elbow brushing over the grass by mere inches. She skidded to a halt right by her tent and pulled the bike upright; and kicked the stand down before lifting herself from the saddle.

Daryl sped up the drive behind her as did the car with Rick, Shane and Andrea. Phoenix scoffed and flipped the bird towards Daryl as he came closer. Making it clear he was not welcome near her at the moment. Daryl to his credit hung his head and slunk off towards the RV.

Phoenix ducked into her small tent and zipped the door shut before laying down on her sleeping bag and blankets. She threw her clothes off quickly and tossed them into the corner to be washed later, before opening the bottle of water she had, wetting a rag and giving herself a quick and rather useless once over to rid her skin of the worst of the blood.

She pulled on a loose shirt and pants before flopping down once again. She curled up on her side and felt her chest hitch. Her tears came so quickly she wasn't sure where they had come from. She felt fine in the church after taking out the walkers and now here she was a sobbing mess. She cried softly into her pillow and slowly pulled herself together again.

She could feel her cheek burning. It needed some real medical care but she couldn't bring herself to move. No one had bothered to check on her. Footsteps she knew were Daryl's sometimes stopped nearby but never came too close. Content to leave her alone.

Perhaps they thought her dead and didn't want to look.

She didn't care.

She wanted to go to sleep and not wake up.

At same time the idea scared her. It wasn't in her nature. Not really. She had to find her boys and she couldn't do that if she was dead...

Unless they were waiting for her up there…

If she was going up there…

No. Don't think like that she thought, gritting her teeth and standing.

She wasn't a weak pathetic woman. She'd faced down bullets from the baddest men in Boston. She could handle one arsehole redneck. She had handled Murphy MacManus for years after all and she knew very well that he wasn't the most friendliest man when they first met. She sighed and wiped at her face. Her right cheek burned and was feeling even more swollen than her eye had felt when that was first damaged, the swelling from that had only just gone down. The bruises remained, faded to yellows, sickly greens and purples.

Tap tap

She threw her head up towards the tent door and waited.

Tap tap

"What?" She ground out quietly. She heard the shifting of footsteps outside the door and a hushed whispered conversation. Carl glanced up at Daryl, who nodded at the tent.

"Just make sure she's alright." Daryl whispered to the boy.

"Why don't you just ask yourself?" Daryl's eyes shifted away guilty as he bit his lip.

"Just do it kid."

"It's Carl. Can I come in?"

"Who else is with ya?" She questioned, sitting up and pulling on her hoody, using the hood to hide her face. More hushed whispers followed by footsteps walking away. Daryl? Carol?

The footsteps were too light for her to make out who it was exactly.

"Just me. I swear."

"Come on in then. Shouldn't you still be in bed?" The boy unzipped the door and crawled in and closed it behind him.

"Well… yea…" His eyes widened slightly as the hoodie shifted and he saw her face for the first time. "Sorry about your face. Looks sore."

"Hmm" She gave the boy a once over, his face still too pale for her liking. "Your mother is gonna have a fit if she sees you up and about. Does Hershell know?"

"No. I snuck out." He pouted adorably. "But everyone's worried about you. Shane said he was gonna drag you out and to Hershell if you don't come out. Dad said... Nevermind'' he cut himself off at the narrowing of her eyes.

"What did he say?"

"Erm... That if Shane touched you.. That Daryl was gonna make him regret it." The boy said quietly with a chuckle and a blush, looking down at his fingers.

"Huh.... Do me a favour Carl?" She asked, knowing the boy was nowhere near ready to be running about and Lori would definitely try and blame her if she found out he'd been with her and not in bed recovering.

"Sure! Anything to help!" He brightly smiled and she nodded at the pile of laundry in the corner.

"Can you ask your mom and Carol if they'd mind giving those a scrub? I can never get the blood out completely."

That'd probably be a good way to let Lori know her injured kid is running around without telling outright, yea? 

The boy nodded and scooped her clothes up and scrambled out the tent. She huffed and laid back down harshly on her blanket. Throwing an arm over her eyes she took a deep breath, willing the ache in her face and chest away.

Best get out there missus. Don't want Shane and Daryl going at it again. Shane don't play fair you know this she thought sitting slowly and pulling on her biker boots. She crouched through the door and stood fully. She stretched her back, popping it in several places and walked slowly towards the fire in the middle of camp. Her head down, hood hiding her face and the injuries.

Carol and Lori smiled at her as she passed and grabbed a cup of water. She turned and sat on the other side of the tree away from the group, drinking slowly. Lori, Carol and Andrea exchanged looks as the two mothers made up plates for the hungry members of the group.

Lori glared at Daryl, nodding in Phoenix's direction. He shrugged and wandered away towards the stables. Lori put her hands on her hips and pursed her lips in annoyance.

Damn stubborn man she thought approaching Phoenix with a plate quietly. Silly stubborn girl. They need their heads banging together. 

Phoenix had her head leaned back against the rough bark and was enjoying the sun on her face.

"Here sweetie."

Phoenix opened one eye and took the plate from the woman, nodding in thanks. Lori opened her mouth then thought better of it and walked away. She ate quickly before walking over to Shane and Rick.

"How long has this girl been lost?" Hershell questioned, glancing around at the gathered group and frowning at the injuries on the former Saint's face.

"This'll be day four."

"County survey map. Shows terrain and elevations." Maggie said quietly, placing the documents down onto the hood of the car.

"This is perfect. We can finally get this thing organised. We'll grid the whole area, start searching in teams."

"Not you. Not today. You gave three units of blood. You wouldn't be hiking five minutes in this heat before passing out. And your ankle... Push it now, you'll be laid up a month, no good to anybody. You shouldn't of been running around as it is!" Hershell commanded, pointing at the two former lawmen in turn, his expression leaving no room for arguing.

"Guess it's just me. I'm gonna head back to the creek, work my way from there." Daryl mumbled, his eyes glancing towards Phoenix; who glared at him in anger, still pissed at the hunter for the harsh words two days before and shooting at her. Her cheek was smarting with pain again but she refused to allow anyone close enough to take care of it.

"I can still be useful. I'll drive up to the interstate, see if Sophia wandered back." Shane coincided, his eyes going between the two hunters whose tension could be physically felt.

"All right, tomorrow then. We'll start doing this right."

"That means we can't have our people out there with just knives. They need the gun training we've been promising them." Shane pointed out.

"I'd prefer you not carrying guns on my property. We've managed so far without turning this into an armed camp." Hershell's voice held a hint of worry.

"All due respect, you get a crowd of those things wandering in here..." "Look, we're guests here. This is your property and we will respect that. First things first: Set camp fully, get the lay of the land, find Sophia." Rick said quietly, ever the peacemaker.

"I hate to be the one to ask, but somebody's got to... What happens if we find her and she's bit?" Shane said, his eyes darting to Carol and Lori, who were setting up the tents.

"I agree with Shane. If Sophia has been bitten..." The blond said grimly. 

"Andrea, I swear to god woman if you don't stop that negative fuckin' attitude..." Phoenix growled through her teeth, giving the blond her best death glare. Andrea folded her arms and raised her head, almost as if in challenge. Phoenix took half a step towards her before Shane put his hand on her shoulder, she glanced at him before shrugging him off and folding her arms across her chest. Daryl smirked slightly at the attitude the younger hunter was showing.

"I think we should all be clear on how we handle that."

"You do what has to be done." Rick softly muttered as Hershell and Maggie exchanged a look.

"And her mother? What do you tell her?" Maggie questioned, her eyes going to her father.

"The truth." Andrea said quietly.

"I'll gather and secure all the weapons. Make sure no one's carrying 'til we're at a practice range off site." Shane volunteered, nodding to Rick. "I do request one rifleman on lookout. Dale's got experience."

"Our people would feel safer, less inclined to carry a gun." Rick glanced with Hershell, who nodded. "Thank you."

"That stuff you brought, got more antibiotics, bandages, anything like that?" The farmer's daughter asked, his eyes pointedly looking in Phoenix's direction.

"Just what you've seen." Rick replied as he, too, glanced at Phoenix's blood splattered face.

"We're running short already. I should make a run into town." Maggie volunteered, smiling at the group.

"Not the place Shane went?"

"No, there's a pharmacy just a mile down the road. I've done it before." She smiled, shading her eyes with her hand as the sun burst through the clouds.

"See our man there in the baseball cap? That's Glenn, our go-to-town expert. I'd ask him along just to be cautious."

"Give up our guns?"

"You heard Rick. We're guests here." Shane said as he plopped the sheriff's bag down onto the car hood with a clang.

"And you're okay with it?" Andrea questioned, watching as Phoenix stomped over to them, several of the group's guns in her hands.

"I don't recall being asked. Now lay down your weapon." Shane ordered as Phoenix smirked as she lay the gathered guns into the bag. Her own, found, gun amongst them.

"You may like rolling over, I don't." "And I, for one, definitely ain't giving up my axe or bow." Phoenix muttered as Shane held his hands out for her weapons. "My gun's already in the pile dude."

Like shite will I hand over my true guns. My berettas or the boys' magnums. It's just asking for fucking trouble.

"Look, I have to strip and clean them anyway. You still want to learn?" The man asked, his eyes going between the two women. Phoenix scoffed and waved a hand, shaking her head.

"I learnt in the 90's how to clean a gun and properly at that. Don't need you to teach me sweet fuck all." Phoenix stated, walking away with her bow bouncing lightly on her back as she swung her axe in lazy circles. Shane's eyes narrowed at the girl as he tried to do the maths on whether she was telling the truth.

The 90s? She ain't old enough....

"Go on. All right." Shane snapped out of his thoughts and nodded to the pretty blond in front of him. Shaking his head as he took a seat across from her.

"Sit down. Unload your weapon. Hey... hey... Check the chamber. Pull it back. Push that lever out. It'll slide off. You're halfway there." He instructed as his mind tried to do the maths on the red head's age in the 90s.

Rick sat on the porch steps, twirling his hat in his hands as his eyes flicked around the farm at his group. He stood quickly as Daryl walked by and called out to the man.

"Daryl. You okay on your own?"

"I'm better on my own. I'll be back before dark." He growled as he glanced pointedly towards Phoenix, who was laughing with the farmer's younger daughter as they hung some laundry.

"Hey. We got a base. We can get this search properly organized now." Rick drawled as he approached.

"You got a point or are we just chatting?" He asked, walking back to the leader with a frown.

"My point is, it lets you off the hook. You don't owe us anything."

"My other plans fell through." He grumbled, striding away as his eyes once again went towards the redhead girl, who was beginning to fiddle with her bike.

"We could give you more space. Set up over by the barn."

"No, no need for that. Better you stay close to the house. I don't say this easily, Rick. We don't normally take in strangers. I can't have your people thinking this is permanent. Once you find this girl and your boy's fit for travel, I expect you'll move on. We need to be clear on that." Hershell stated, fear lancing through him at the mention of the barn before waking away. Rick glanced back at the barn, his eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"Hello, farmer's daughter." Glenn whispered, watching after Maggie through the binoculars as she rode her horse, leading one towards the group. Glenn dropped the binoculars as Lori's face appeared, blocking his view of Maggie.

"Hi. Here's your list. And, um, there's one other item. I wrote it down separately. It's personal. If we could be real discreet about that, okay?" Lori fidgeted, handing the Asian man her short list, her eyes flicking to the Brit near them.

"Sure."

"Thank you." Lori breathed a sigh of relief. Lori began to walk away as Glenn read her second list.

"Uh, what is it?"

"Kind of missing the point of the whole discreet thing, Glenn." The tall brunette sighed, turning back to the young man.

"Oh, right. Um... I just need to know where to find it."

"Try the feminine hygiene section." Lori smiled as she walked away. Phoenix sniggered as she walked by, seeing Glenn's bright scarlet face; thinking Lori must be having her monthly.

"Oh. Enough said. Consider it done."

"I'm not weak and I'm not a coward." T-Dog panted quietly as he leaned over the wheelbarrow.

"I never said you were." Dale replied as he sterilised the pump with alcohol.

"No, what I said on the highway... I don't know what that was, where it came from. That wasn't me. If it's okay, I'd rather you never told anybody about that stuff I said." "What stuff? I couldn't get a word out of you all day." Dale smiled at the larger man, his eyes looking over the peaceful silence of the farm land.

"Say, man, you think there's a snowball's chance we'll actually find that little girl?"

"For the first time in my life I'm betting on the snowball." Dale frowned in confusion as he looked at the well covering, a large hole in the centre as if something had fallen through.

"Yeah. Me too."

Dale wandered over to the well. He peered downwards into the well, his face paling at the sight.

"Do whatever we have to. I don't care if I have to comb the woods like Rambo or fetch a pail of water. Everyone kicks in, does their part. Am I right? Do your part, don't complain. That's what I always..." the man said panting as he scooped some water into the ladle. Dale pushed the ladle of water out of T-Dog's hand quickly.

"I wouldn't drink that if I were you." Dale explained.

The group approached the well slowly, peering down into its depths as Dale shone a flashlight into it. The bloated, water logged walker snarling and reaching upwards.

"Looks like we've got us a swimmer." Dale quipped.

"How long you think it has been down there?" Glenn questioned, glancing around at the farmer's daughter.

"Long enough to grow gills. And we can't leave it in there. God knows what it's doing to the water." Lori complained, her stomach feeling queasy as she stared down at the slimy looking walker.

"We got to get it out."

"Easy."

"Put a bullet in its head." T-Dog whispered. "I'll get a rope."

"Whoa whoa, guys. No." Maggie argued.

"Why not?" Andrea questioned, her eyes glancing back at the walker.

"It's a good plan." Glenn counted, looking around the group for support. "It's a stupid plan."

"If that thing hasn't contaminated the water yet, blowing its brains out will finish the job." Andrea stated with a grim look crossing her angular features.

"She's right. Can't risk it." Shane reasoned.

"So it has to come out alive?" T-Dog sighed.

"Personally, I'd just say this well was well and truly fucked in the arse with this thing's shit, blood and whatever else and seal it up. Do walkers piss and shit? It's been in there too long already... Oozing guts and pus into it." Phoenix stated, taking a mild satisfaction in Lori and Maggie's faces paling at the red head's descriptive choice of words and turned to Dale with concern across their faces. "But if ya wanna try and get the bastard out, be my guest. I ain't helping though..."

"Always a pleasure having your input Phoenix." Andrea spat, giving the girl a sarcastic smile. Phoenix tilted her head and gave the blond a glare, Dale raising his hand towards her as her fists balled.

"You wanna go blondie? You keep sprouting ya mouth and I'll shut it for ya." Phoenix whispered to herself, glancing down once more at the walker.

"How do we do that?" Glenn questioned finally after a moment of silence. The group flinched as one as an arrow sprang between them and hit the tree, a squirrel implanted onto the steelhead.

"Same way you hunt... Set the trap with summit they find delicious." Phoenix smirked, turning away from the group and striding off towards her kill. Maggie and Lori grimaced as the squirrel splashed blood and soaked the bark of the tree.

"He's not going for it." Dale said as he and Shane guided the chunk of canned meat towards the walker. "Maybe 'cause a canned ham don't kick and scream when you try to eat it." T-Dog whispered, his eyes on the walker.

"He's right. There's a reason the dead didn't come back to life and start raiding our cupboards." Lori stated, crouching at the well's edge.

"It needs to scent the blood pumping most likely. Fresh is always better." Phoenix mumbled, pacing with her bow, her fingers twitching around the leather grip as the group glanced at her.

"We need live bait." Andrea stated, glancing at Glenn. The man's face paled as everyone looked at him. 

"Have I mentioned that I really like your new haircut? You have a nice shaped head." Glenn stammered as Shane tied the rope around him. 

"Don't worry about it, bud. We're gonna get you out of here in one piece." The former deputy said, patting him on the shoulder.

Phoenix laughed lightly at the balls on the Korean as he swung his legs over the side of the well. Glenn was being incredibly brave but his face betrayed his nerves.

"Living piece! That living part is important." Glenn let out a deep breath and nodded quickly. "Nice and slow, please."

"We got you."

"Oh, you people are crazy." Maggie said in disbelief.

"You want to get it out of your well or not?" Shane snapped.

"Give us an eye there, Maggie." Dale asked, grabbing a hold of the rope with the others. Phoenix scoffed as Lori nodded at the rope, questioning whether the girl was really not going to help. Her reply was a set of folded arms and a turning away. Lori shook her head and grabbed the rope. 

"Doing okay?" Maggie questioned as Glenn disappeared into the well. 

"Yup, doing great. Living the dream -" 

"Little lower. Little more." Glenn suddenly let out a shriek as he plummeted quickly closer to the walker as the water spout broke free of its base and began rattling across the ground.

"Get it! Get it! Grab it! Grab it!" T-Dog and Phoenix leapt at it and grabbed it, slowing its halt. T-Dog groaned as he hauled himself backwards, his feet bracing deep into the dirt.

"Get me out of here! Get it off. Get off. Get off! Get me out!" Glenn screamed, batting the walker's snapping teeth away from him.

"Oh my God. Oh my God." Maggie repeated, clutching the edge of the well.

"Guys, get me out!" Glenn shrieked in fright, his voice cracking as he screamed.

"Come on, you guys." Shane panted, pulling on T-Dog's shoulders as the man braced his feet against the edge of the well and held on tightly to the water pump. The group tugged the rope and the man backwards away from the well.

"Get me out! Oh God. Oh God. Oh my God! Get me out of here!"

"Pull! Pull! Pull! Pull! Pull!" Shane hissed as the group pulled the rope. "Let's go, pull."

"Get me out. Get me out."

"Come on. Come on."

"Glenn! Pull him up! Pull him up! Pull him up!"

"Get me out of here!"

"Pull him up. Pull him up. Are you okay?" Lori panted as they all rested on the ground.

"Back to the drawing board." Dale muttered defeatedly. Glenn smirked up at the old man and laughed slightly.

"Says you." Glenn laughed, lifting the rope to show it had tension on it. The rope gave a lurch and Dale quickly grabbed it to stop it falling into the well. The group gathered round the well and clapped the man on the back. He'd successfully snared the bloated walker.

"Come on, guys, pull." T-Dog panted, his arms straining as he tugged. 

"Fuck's sake! Pull!" Phoenix yelled, her boots digging into the ground and leaving deep furrows in their wake.

"Come on, y'all." Shane panted as he pulled. The rope burning into everyone's bare hands.

"Almost there. Come on, pull, s. -" Shane panted, his ankle jarring with pain as his arms strained.

"Come on. Pull!"

"Come on, y'all. Together."

"Almost there. Come on, pull. Keep it coming. Come on, pull." Shane hissed.

"Watch out, dawg. Nice and easy." T-Dog leapt out the way as the head of the walker breached the top of the well.

"Just a little more." Phoenix hissed, her hand beginning to ache again. "Come on, almost there."

"You got to pull it, man." "We are pulling asswipe!" Phoenix growled, her gloves starting to heat up as the rope burned into them.

"It's stuck!" T-Dog yelled panicked as the walker flailed around on the lip of the well wall.

"Come on."

"Come on, pull!"

"Pull!" Andrea hissed, giving it her all at front of the line. Everyone paled as the walker split clear in two and heard the lower half splash back into the water as its torso began trying to crawl towards them. Phoenix gagged as it left a trail of congealing blood in its wake.

"We should seal off this well." Dale nodded, turning away from the well and the half walker on the ground. 

"Yeah, might be a good idea." Shane sighed.

"So what do we do about..." Andrea began before T-Dog viciously took out the walker, working off his anger at the situation.

"Good thing we didn't do anything stupid like shoot it." T-Dog replied sarcastically as he straightened and walked away, Maggie had lowered her head with a grimace of shock on her face.

"We'll come again tomorrow."

"You know there's always the chance..." Carol held her hand up and shook her head lightly.

"Don't. I really don't need to hear it anymore, Andrea. Save the thoughts and prayers." Carol tearfully said. "You never know, Carol." Shane whispered. Carol held up her hand, her eyes misty as she gazed down at the painted sign on the windscreen. "We can hang targets along that fence line there. That rise, it gives a natural backstop."

"I agree. It's a fair place to practice. Trees will shade us as well." Phoenix smiled at the pair, her eyes jumping around for danger.

"It's a good idea."

"Thanks."

"So how long before I can carry?" Andrea asked, her eagerness admirale. Shane chuckled lowly and shook his head.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." He replied.

"I'm not in a very patient frame of mind these days, Shane. You might have noticed that."

"No shit. Look, I ain't worried about you offing yourself, even though you got old Dale pissing his pants lately." Shane laughed lowly, his footsteps faulting in the uneven grass.

"Yeah, I noticed that too. He did come within a minute or so of being blown to hell because of me, to be fair."

"Look, I see you have the desire for gun work and desire will take you a long way. But something you need to know, so file this carefully."

"I'm listening." The blond stated. Phoenix paused at the fence and took aim with her bow, trying to judge the distance better.

"Paper targets is one thing. Easy to hit what ain't moving. But taking down an assailant, one that's trying to kill you, it's different. They say in that kind of situation things slow down. That's crap. They speed up. Adrenalin, ha. It'll cripple you if you let it. You need to use your instinct. You got to rule it out. Because somebody is going to die and you'd better hope that you're the one who's making that decision."

"It's same as hunting. Can't be a pussy about shooting a cute ickle bunny. Or ya don't eat." Phoenix muttered, giving the woman a glance as she strode off along the fence line. "How? I mean, how do you do that? Turn off a switch."

"The switch. The one that makes you scared or angry, sympathetic, whatever. You don't think. You just... you act. 'Cause odds are somebody else is counting on you. That's your partner. That's your friend. There ain't nothing easy about taking a man's life no matter how little value it may have. But when you get it done, you have to forget it."

"I guess I haven't quite got that last part down yet." Andrea whispered. "Speak for yaself. It's kill or be killed. Self defence. Survival. Plain and simple." Phoenix grimly groaned, skipping back to Carol who'd fallen behind slightly.

"But you're getting there?"

"I hope so."

"It's a good spot. It'll do." Shane finally states as he takes a final look around. His mind worked at 100 miles an hour on the puzzle that was the Brit.

"How come you ain't in England?" Phoenix glanced up from her blade at the scraggly teenagers in front of her. Jimmy and Beth stood before her with questioning looks on their faces. Curious as only teenagers and children could be.

"Came over here to study. Was working on an art degree at an Atlanta uni. Wanted to be a special effects artist. Making weapons for films and TV shows, ya know. Even went and studied with a blacksmith" She said quickly. That was her cover story and like hell could she let slip the real reason. No one could know.

"That why ya axe is so flashy? It can't be easy to clean or keep sharp?" Beth asked, pointing to the weapon leaning against her bike. It's quadruple heads glinting slightly in the sun, highlighting the black glass inlays in the blade. Phoenix chuckled and picked it up. Beth and Jimmy took a step back as she swirled it in an arch over her head. She bought it down and split the handle in two, making two shorter dual headed axes.

"Yup... It can be a righ’ fuckin' bitch to clean. But I made this at college, I can take this apart back to the main components and clean it. The blade is simple steel and glass. It's the same as any blade. Can be sharpened just like a buck knife or a regular axe." She explained to the teenagers. Jimmy held his hand out after she'd put it back together into one. She dropped the axe into his hand and barked out a laugh as his arms failed to lift its full weight, Beth biting her lip to not laugh at her boyfriend. "You need to work out more. Fuckin' hell, even Carol can lift that." She said quietly. 

Jimmy's eyes flew to Carol, who smiled their way, not knowing that they were talking about her. Phoenix nodded as she accepted her axe back and walked away as the teenagers began whispering to themselves.

"You need any help, Carol?"

"I'd like that."

Daryl climbed the steps of the RV slowly, his hand behind his back. He paused as he looked around the, now, spotless kitchenette.

"I cleaned up. Wanted it to be nice for her." Carol replied as she sewed a hole in T-Dog's shirt. Phoenix smiled lightly beside her, her own needle speeding through her jacket sleeve.

"For a second I thought I was in the wrong place." He cleared his throat and reached out to put a single white bloom in a brown beer bottle on the side.

"A flower?" Carol questioned, stopping her hands to give the rough man her full attention.

"It's a Cherokee rose. The story is that when American soldiers were moving Indians off their land on the trail of tears the Cherokee mothers were grieving and crying so much 'cause they were losing their little ones along the way from exposure and disease and starvation. A lot of them just disappeared. So the elders, they said a prayer; asked for a sign to uplift the mothers' spirits, give them strength and hope. The next day this rose started to grow right where the mothers' tears fell." He glanced at the flower before looking back at the grey haired woman.

"I'm not fool enough to think there's any flowers blooming for my brother... But I believe this one, it bloomed for your little girl."

Carol smiled tearfully, her head ducking slightly. Phoenix glanced up at Daryl and gave him a subtle nod of thanks.

"She's gonna really like it in here." He said quietly before leaving.

"He's a good man at heart." Carol whispered to her, swiping away her tears.

"I know." Phoenix breathed, her eyes following Daryl's movements out of the window, feeling a surge of affection towards him. His head turned over his shoulder towards them as Phoenix had to swallow down the lump in her throat.

________________________________________________________________

Phoenix's eyes narrowed as she watched from the treetop as Lori glanced around her before squatting just outside the fence. The woman's actions confusing the girl, Phoenix shuffled forward before her eyebrows shot up recognising the small white stick Lori had in her hands.

No fuckin' way! That ain't…

She jumped out the tree and slowly meandered over to the sobbing brunette.

"You okay?" Lori quickly scrambled to her feet, shoving the stick into the back pocket of her jeans before nodding and walking away.

"I'm here if ya need to talk Lori!" Phoenix called after her as the sun began to go down. Lori turned and stomped up to her, an angry look across her face.

"Do me a favour and mind your own business! You're lucky I haven't told Rick about you encouraging Carl to run about today. He's still recovering! Stay away from my family!" She snapped, glaring at the younger woman.

"I sent him straight t' ya after he came t' me!" Phoenix's voice, taking on a slight Irish lilt in her anger. "I know he's still hurting. I also know you don't mean that. Everything that happened the last few days... You need an outlet for all that hurt." Phoenix said calmly. Her hands gripping her thighs through her jeans pockets, trying to not react at the outburst. Lori ducked her head and nodded.

"I didn't mean it... I'm sorry, I shouldn't be taking it out on you."

"It's okay Lori. I get it. Go on. Carl needs his momma. Go get some rest with ya hubby and kid." Lori smiled weakly and turned. Phoenix's eyes widened as she spotted a familiar blue cap sticking out of the woman's back pocket.

Fuck. A baby is really not what we need right now

[phoenixblack89]

Chapter 4 - Lost In The Woods

Hey guys! 

Brand spanking new chapter for you guys! I know its been a while but its here! whoop whoop! The longest chapter I’ve wrote to date at 6710 words!

No warnings this time except usual TWD gore and maybe a bit of bitchy behaviour lol

TAG LIST - @lilythemadqueen @autocon23 @darylsgirl @boondoctorwho @purple-serenity @browneyes528 @writingdeadangel @pandora-writes-stuff  @fandomsaremykryponite @littlegodzilla

MASTERLIST 

"You sure you're okay to ride?"

It was a question she'd been asked by four different people already and she was seriously peeved.

The night before had been a bust. The Vatos had been wiped out, executed, same as the old people they were trying so very hard to protect during what would of most likely been their last weeks or months of life. The group had stayed over night in the relative safety of the old home but one thing had Phoenix rattled more and more the longer she thought of it - Where were the guns Rick had so kindly gifted them? Who had done such a cruel and callous thing?

But for now, the more annoying thing that was bothering her, was the group questioning her ability to ride her damn bike.

Yes, her hand was a hindrance but she had over a decade of riding experience. She'd be fine. She really wished they would stop treating her as a child.

"You wanna stop fuckin' questionin' me? It's seriously fuckin' annoying! I can ride fine. Fucking hell, I could probably out ride Daryl if I so chose to!" She snapped at the older man who raised his hands and backed away. She didn't noticed Daryl's gaze on her as she finished securing her bags on the back of the bike and slipping into the saddle, all the while muttering to herself about how annoyed she was. The group had decided to split the remaining fuel between Carol's Cherokee, the RV, Daryl's truck and the two motorbikes. The bikers were to take the lead as they had more mobility to quickly turn and warn the others of incoming walkers so the group could get away safely and without loosing anyone, well that was the hope anyway.

Rick was stood a few yards away, talking on the walkie talkie to the man who'd saved him when he'd first woken up. Phoenix didn't see the point in it. He was most likely dead but she wasn't about to argue with their leader. She nodded to Daryl and began to move to the front of the column of vehicles, leading the convoy out of Atlanta and hopefully to a thriving, surviving Fort Benning.

*

The rumble of the Triumph and her own Suzuki RM-Z450 blocked out all noise coming towards them as they rode closer to the traffic jam in the distance. They had been expecting clearer roads but you never knew what you were going to get at the end of the world as shown by the huge amount of broken down or abandoned vehicles in front of them on I-85. Daryl slowed his bike and began weaving his way through the cars slowly, before turning back and having a short conversation with Dale. Phoenix paused on her bike keeping an eye out for trouble as the RV made slow progress before coughing to a stop with steam erupting from the engine. With a shake of her head she dismounted and slowly gazed around, eyes flicking quickly through the grimy windows of the cars for danger. Her eyes were drawn towards the corpses stuck in the cars incase they weren't as deceased as they appeared, as Dale opened the RV door and threw his hands up.

"I said it. Didn't I say it? A thousand times! Dead in the water." The man said, opening the engine as stream burst through the grill. He leaned back to avoid a face full of red hot steam as the group gathered round to see what was wrong.

"Problem Dale?" Shane asked, despite it being obvious there was.

"Just a small matter of being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no hope -" He paused as Daryl opened a nearby car and began to rummage through the trunk. "Okay, that was dumb."

Phoenix smirked as Daryl tossed her a look over his shoulder. Her eyes found themselves wandering down his broad shoulders and back to his butt as her head tilted to the side in appreciation.

Well hello Mr Dixon, what a mighty fine backside you have.

"There's a whole buncha stuff we can find." Daryl said straightening up and ignoring the blush on the huntress beside Shane. He was sure she was ogling him but couldn't prove it.

"Can siphon more fuel from these cars for a start." T-Dog said quietly, heading away towards the nearest car with Daryl closely following.

"Maybe some water."

"Or food" Carol said quietly, glancing at Rick pleadingly.

"This is a graveyard." Everyone turned to Lori as she spoke, Daryl and T-Dog pausing their actions. Phoenix scoffed and shook her head. "I don't know how I feel about this."

"Like they're gonna be arsed woman!" The Brit sniped, earning a glare from Lori. "Look... This is the way of the world now. You need shit, ya do things ya wouldn't before!" She gestured around with her hands before pointing towards the children. "Better than it going to waste, rotting and not doing jack shit for anyone! Think about the kids! They need the food to grow... We don't, well, not as much as they do! Fucking hell it's not like we're gonna end up in fucking prison!"

Rick sighed and shook his head at the young woman, who slapped her hands against her hips in a huff before walking back to her bike, shaking her left hand occasionally as the slap had irritated her wound. The glare that followed her from Lori could have quelled even the most sturdy of people into submission.

"Alright. Alright. Here we go."

"Come on y'all! Just look around, gather what ya can!" T-Dog rallied, cheerfully, trying to motivate the group.

*

Phoenix wiped the sweat off her forehead for the fifth time as the heat burned into her back, the droplets making her clothes cling to her skin and irritating her. Running quickly to her bike, she pulled her studded bracers off her forearms and shrugged out of her leather jacket, shoving them into her duffel bag before anyone could see its contents. The last thing she needed was Shane or Rick seeing the Berettas, Dessert Eagles and men's clothing she had hidden in there. That would be too long a conversation that would end up with her kicked out of the group and she knew as capable as she was, there was more safety in numbers than by herself.

She hoisted her bow and quiver onto her back and wandered over to the treeline.

"Rick? Think I should go hunt? See if I can rustle up some meat for us?" She asked as Rick paced, keeping guard as the survivors scavenged.

"No. Can't take that risk, we need all our fighters here. Can't afford to leave anyone behind by accident." He replied in his slow drawl, pacing away towards the RV where Dale was on top as lookout. She sighed and wandered over to Shane and Glenn, the pair trying to take apart the engine of a truck for spare parts. She laughed as Shane doused himself in the face with the gallon of water he'd found in the truck in front of him and turned as a whistle pierced the air. Daryl waved her over to him and T-Dog, smirking slightly.

"Go put this in the truck and grab me another can" T-Dog asked handing her the full can as she stopped in front of him.

"Nah. You go get it. Girl ain't ya lackey!" Daryl growled at the man, who quietly surrendered and ran off quickly. Daryl eyed the quiet girl as she began to hoist herself into the back of the van near him. His hands flexed at the sight of her round, plump thighs straining the tight dark green denim coating them. He shook his head and got angry at himself.

"You wanna talk about that kiss?" Her voice was hushed and quiet but she knew he'd heard her. He scoffed and walked away. "Or not... You do realise that I'm not upset about it... Or the fact you walked away before anythin' could happen, right?"

"Pfft. Nothin' to talk about. Nothin' happened."

"If you say so. Must of been dreaming of you pressing me against the truck seats when the CDC went up in flames." She sighed. "It was a very, very good dream. Haven't had a kiss like that in fucking years... Made me all tingly." She shuddered, her whole frame shaking slightly with a dreamy dazed look on her face as she bit her lip.

"Tingly? What the hell?" Daryl paused and stared at her as she looked at him over her shoulder, smiling at him as she bit her lip between her teeth. He shifted his weight from foot to foot as his face grew red.

"I wouldn't mind doing it again even if it was just a dream..." She breathed as he slowly moved towards her as she fully turned, seating herself on the lip of the trunk and biting her lip once again, leaning back on the arms to raise her chest invitingly. Daryl gulped as he eased himself between her thighs and leaned over her. His chest bumped against her's as he leaned in closer, his lips seconds from touching her's...

"Walkers!"

Daryl pulled away and ran off before he could give into temptation, leaving the girl there as he rushed off to help the rest of the group. Phoenix climbed to her feet and her face paled as the sight of the herd came into view.

Too many to out run.

Too many to kill.

All she could do was hide.

She threw herself into the nearby trunk of a car and eased the door closed, holding on tightly to it so it would stay shut. She squeezed her eyes closed and prayed for help. The car shook as it was bumped by walkers but she still kept her eyes tightly shut and her breathing shallow. It seemed like forever before the groans and stench of the dead began to lessen.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she heard a commotion outside. She really hoped that none of the group had been caught. She clutched at the rosaries around her neck and opened her eyes slowly, lifting the trunk open an inch and peering out. She couldn't see anyone or any walkers.

"Phoenix!? Phoenix?! Where are ya?" Daryl's hissed-voice called from nearby, she couldn't see him. She eased herself into the open air and landed with a bump. Her still healing hand giving a jolt of pain as it hit the rough tarmac. She hissed and clutched it to her chest as footsteps came closer. The squeak of rubber was familiar and she sucked in a breath, trying to breathe through the pain.

"What did you do now woman?!" Daryl snapped, grabbing her arm and pulling her closer to him. He gently prodded at her hand and looked at her from under his eyebrows. "Ya okay?"

"Yea. Just had a rough landing. Hid in the trunk." She added at his confused look. "Kiss it better?"

"Pfft. Never... Ain't gonna kiss ya. Ever!" He stated, hoping to end whatever attraction the pair felt towards each other before it began even if it made his chest hurt before roughly letting go of her arm and striding away. Her heart clenched at the statement and followed, trying not to let her upset show on her face.

Her eyebrows knotted as she neared the group, Carol was crying while being held by Lori. She quickly learned that Sophia had been chased into the woods by walkers and Rick had gone after her. Hopefully the pair would return soon.

*

When Rick returned, he was alone. Carol heartbrokenly ran into the RV crying and inconsolable. Luckily Daryl and Phoenix were great trackers and were currently inspecting the soft earth where Rick had lead them in a search and rescue attempt.

"Sure this is the spot?" Daryl said, peering into the shallow, root covered cliff.

"I left her right here. I drew the walkers way off in that direction up the creek." Rick explained as Daryl and Phoenix gazed down at the imprints.

"Without a paddle - Seems where we've landed."

"She was gone by the time I got back here. I figured she just took off and ran back to the group. I told her to go that way and keep the sun on her left shoulder." Rick pointed in the direction they had come and paced slightly. Daryl and Phoenix peered at the soft wet earth edging the banks of the stream carefully, their sharp eyes scanning for any mark the girl could have left.

"Hey, short round! Why don't ya step off to one side? You're mucking up the trail." Daryl barked at Glenn, who sheepishly stepped backwards.

"Assuming she knows her left from her right."

"She's 12, of course she knows!" Phoenix snapped, easing herself down the bank where Daryl was looking at the ground.

"Shane, she understood me fine!"

"Kid's tired and scared man. She had a close call with two walkers. Got to wonder how much of what you said stuck." Shane said quietly.

"Got clear prints right here. She did like you said, headed back to the highway. Let's spread out, make our way back." Daryl stated, hopping back up onto the bank and leading the way.

"She couldn't have gone far."

"Hey, we'll find her. She'll just be tuckered out somewhere under a bush or summit." Phoenix said softly, clasping Rick on the shoulder before rushing forward to catch up with Daryl. She paused as Daryl did. The prints on the ground suddenly veering off away from the highway.

"She was doing just fine till right here... All she had to do was keep going."

"Think I might go grab my bike. Be faster with me searching on that. I can easily out ride any walkers too. Grab the girl and ride off with her if I have to. Circle round and meet ya back up at the highway." Phoenix reasoned, glancing at the men around her.

"Let's stay on foot for now. Less chance of missing her in the haste." Shane answered as the girl straightened to her feet. She nodded grimly and glanced around her, the herd had put her on edge and she expected that walkers could sneak up on them at any moment.

"Plus the noise might attract more walkers. Dunno how far away that herd went. Can't bring 'em back down on us." Daryl grumbled, straightening his crossbow across his back, Phoenix glanced at him and smiled weakly, which was ignored. "She veered off thata way."

"Why would she do that?" Glenn questioned, looking in the direction Daryl pointed as Phoenix skipped over and kept her eyes trained to the ground, her eyes skimming over the tracks.

"Maybe she saw something that spooked her, made her run off."

"A walker?" Glenn whispered, glancing around him anxiously as if expecting one to appear suddenly.

"I don't see any other footprints. Just her's."

"So what do we do? All of us press on?" Glenn asked as Daryl stood back up and glanced all around him. Phoenix skipped a little ahead and glanced at the ground, she couldn't see any indication of anyone other than Sophia either.

"No. Better if you and Shane get back up the highway." Rick reasoned, turning to Shane and dropping his voice to a whisper. "People are gonna start panicking. Let them know we're on her trail, doing everything we can. But most of all, keep everyone calm."

Shane straightened to his full height and nodded. "I'll keep 'em busy, scavenging cars. Think up a few other chores. I'll keep 'em occupied."

*

The trio made slow progress through the trees. Rick's heavy footsteps, in stark contrast compared to the silent hunters, made the leaves under foot crackle and hiss. Phoenix gave Rick a sidelong glance and internally sighed, the man was as heavy footed as an elephant.

"Tracks are gone."

"Nah, they're faint, but they ain't gone. She came through here." Daryl whispered as his sharp eyes ran over the ground.

"How can you tell? I don't see anything. Dirt, grass, leaves..." Rick questioned quietly, trying and failing to see what Daryl and Phoenix could. Daryl turned and raised his eyebrow at the Deputy.

"You want a lesson in tracking or you want to find that girl and get our ass off that interstate?" He snapped roughly before spinning as leaves rustled behind him down the hill. The trio ducked as one to the ground, kneeling and glancing around. A lone walker wandered by, groaning and hissing to itself as it shuffled on dragging legs. Phoenix crouched towards a tree as Rick and Daryl got into a position to take it out quietly. Daryl whistled loudly causing the walker to roar at him as it turned. A quick arrow to the head took it out permanently. Rick swiftly ran to the fallen corpse and lifted its hand peering at the nails intently.

"Sophia!" Daryl yelled, spinning in a circle before turning back to Rick. "What you looking for?"

"Skin under the fingernails. It fed recently. There's flesh caught in its teeth." Rick grimaced as Daryl knelt beside him and peered at the walkers face closely.

"Yeah, but what kinda flesh?"

"Hopefully not little blond girl's flesh." Phoenix whispered under her breath, trying to spot the girl's tracks once more.

"Only one way to know for sure." He grimaced, pulling out his knife. Daryl pushed Rick's hand down slowly.

"Here, I'll do it. How many kills you skin and gut in ya life? Anyway, mine is sharper." Daryl states, pulling on his gloves. Daryl grunts over and over again as he stabs into the walker then drags the blade down through the muscles of the walker's torso. Rick's face twisted as the foul decomposition scents are released from the dead. Phoenix's gut twisted as well, and she was used to field dressing kills and had worked in a meat packing plant before. Rick covered his nose and mouth with his wrist and glanced away for a moment as Daryl reaches into the open cavity. "Yeah, Hoss had a big meal not long ago. I can feel it in there." Daryl pants as he tugs the stomach, intestines and other digestive organs from the walker, flicking his wrist as he grunts at the effort.

"I got this." Rick whispers as he rips open the gut bag. Daryl digs around and pulls out the skull of a small mammal. Peering at it then letting out a breath of relief. Phoenix narrowed her eyes and shook her head in disbelief.

"This gross bastard had himself a woodchuck for lunch." Daryl flicked the skull off of his knife and rose.

"At least we know."

"At least we know." Daryl agreed, following after Rick and Phoenix as they began walking away.

*

"Oh god, they're back!" Glenn called out, rushing to the guardrail where the trio were clambering back onto the interstate. Carol and the others running to them too. Carol looked around wildly, hopefully before the hope in her eyes dulled once she saw they were alone.

"You didn't find her?" She breathed in grief. Phoenix shook her head slowly and leaned down on the barrier with her head hung low.

"Trail went cold. We'll pick it up at first light." Rick said quietly, the weight of his failure baring down on his shoulders, which slumped low.

"You can't leave my daughter out there on her own to spend the night alone in the woods!" Carol cried, tears building in her eyes.

"Out in the dark's no good. We'd just be tripping over ourselves. More people get lost." Daryl tried to placate the upset woman with his logic, it did not work however.

"But she's 12! She can't be out on her own!" She gasped, her panic and maternal instincts in over drive. "You didn't find anything? Any sign?"

"I know this is hard." Rick said lowly, using all his police training to try and gain back control of the situation without causing more panic. "We know she was out there."

"And we tracked her for a while." Daryl added, as Phoenix nodded smiling weakly at the grey haired woman. She could not imagine what Carol was feeling, but had a vague idea of how her heart was breaking every second she was away from someone she loved with her very soul.

"We have to make this is an organised effort. Daryl and Phoenix know these woods better than anyone. I've asked them to oversee this." Rick explained,  his hands gesturing as he spoke.

"Is that blood?" Carol gasped, noticing the gore covering Rick's uniform shirt. She began panting as fear flooded her heart.

"We took down a walker." Rick calmly whispered.

"Walker? Oh my god!"

"There was no sign it was ever near Sophia."

"How can you know that?" Andrea asked, her arms folded across her chest as she gazed at the group. Phoenix growled in her chest at the lack of tact the woman showed, Daryl bristled as well and rested his hand on her shoulder to calm her.

"We cut the son of a bitch open. Made sure."

"Oh god!" Carol gasped and finally gave into the tears and shook her head. "How could you just leave her out there to begin with?! How could you just leave her!?" Carol's voice raising as her anger towards Rick did.

"Those two walkers were on us, I had to draw them off.  It was her best chance!" Rick stammered, trying to prove it was not a malicious act.

"Sounds like he didn't have a choice Carol." Shane calmly stated, trying to back up his partner's decision. Carol sent him a glare as she turned to the trees.

"How was she supposed to find her way back? She's just a child! She's just a child!" Lori wrapped her arms around her and glanced at Rick.

"It was my only option. The only choice I could make!" Rick could feel the blame Carol sent his way beginning to hurt his soul. He hated that he had failed to protect the girl. That it was his fault she was lost in the woods.

"I'm sure nobody doubts that."

"My little girl got left in the woods." Carol sobbed as Lori ran her hands soothingly down her back. Rick stood and glanced around before striding away further into the traffic snarl, his head hung low as guilt threatened to overwhelm him and cause him to break down.  He had to be the strong, calm leader but that did not stop him from wanting to cry alongside Carol. Phoenix sighed and eyed the woods, silently praying that the sweet little girl had found a hole to hide in.

The sky steadily darkened around the group as Lori and Dale whipped up a meal of sorts from the scavenged supplies, which was silently eaten as Carol's cries of agony choked out from inside the RV. Phoenix glanced at the woods and sighed deeply.

"Rick."

"Yea?" The man looked up at the huntress, his sorrow at what he saw as his failure clear in his posture as Carl sat against his knee.

"I'm taking my bike into those woods tomorrow. Don't try and talk me out of it. I'm fast on it and I can track while riding."

"You'll attract walkers!" Lori snapped, standing up and folding her arms.

"I'll attract Sophia! Girl knows the sound of my bike. If she hears it, she'll pop up from her hideyhole! I'll nab her and bring her back. Hell..." Phoenix tugged her hair as she began to feel anger towards the woman. She realised quickly that Lori was simply scared that someone would die the next time they ran into walkers. "Look, I get it. I know you're all worried, but I can do this." She sighed and ran her hand through her spiky hair, smoothing it back down slightly before glancing at Dale.

"I need to take one of those guardrails down, before I can get the bike into the woods. You got the tools?"

"Phoenix. I know ya wanna help but I don't think it's a good idea." Rick mummered. "Best to stay on foot."

"Rick. You and Daryl take a group out in the morning. I'll stay here, get that rail down. If you haven't found her by the time it's done then I am taking my bike out. Whether you or anyone else thinks it's a good idea or not." She stormed off to her bike, her anger at being treated like an idiot getting the better of her as she slumped down beside it. She didn't notice the subtle gaze of the other hunter on her.

*

Phoenix glared at the group as she pulled on her thick leather gloves and cracked her neck loudly. The group was being given melee weapons by Shane and Daryl nearby and she shook her head.

Knives, machetes, mini axes. Useless in the woods. She thought, picking her way through Dale's tool bag, hoping to find a socket big enough to loosen the rivets on the guardrails.

Someone's gonna get one stuck in a tree trunk and they'll be goners. Stupid fuckin' idiots don't know anything about surviving in the woods. Can't blame me if summit goes wrong! Idiots.

She finally found a socket that fit and began twisting and turning the nuts holding the steel to the posts. It was hard work and her shoulders burned with the effort and strain of the activity. A lance of pain shot through her collarbone as the first of the nuts began to loosen slightly.

The sooner this is done, the sooner I can find the kid was the mantra running through her head as she grunted. Phoenix paused and raised her arms above her head to work out the kink she felt beginning to form.

Gone soft since leaving Ireland woman. Ya need to get back to real hard work she chastised herself, noticing the group making their way into the woods. Daryl glanced back at her one last time before he disappeared into the woods.

*

"Yus! Finally!" Phoenix whooped as, after hours of hard labour, the steel barrier crashed to the tarmac with a loud echoing clang. Dale and T-Dog raised their heads in her direction as she threw herself onto the bike and tore into the woods. Following the group's clear trail she took off faster before turning to the other side of their path. Her eyes scanning the forest floor for any sign of life. Faint footsteps has her slowing and stopping.

"God dammit."

The grooves in the mud were much too large and deep to have come from the weight of the slender child.

DONG! DONG! DONG!

Phoenix's head whipped up as the ringing of church bells echoed through the trees. She quickly guessed where they were coming from and hopped back on the bike and sped towards the sound. Slowly the white façade of the church came to light from the tree line. She burst out of the woods into a graveyard, weaving her way around tombstones to stop at the church steps.

"Phoenix!"

She nodded as the group appeared in front of her. Daryl up-nodded slightly at her and she shook her head at the silent question before turning to the building before her. Something was bugging her about it but she couldn't figure out what.

"That can't be it. Got no steeple, no bells. Rick." Shane argued, pacing quickly to Rick as he approached the doors.

"He's right Rick. Trust me I know churches." Phoenix agreed, finally figuring out what had bugged her about the place. Rick, Daryl, Shane and Phoenix pushed open the door.

Inside, walkers sat in the pews, looking from behind like a regular congregation waiting on a sermon. They rose and growled at the possibility of fresh meat. Each survivor taking out one of the walkers silently. Phoenix raised an eyebrow in amusement as Daryl flinched backwards away from the female walker he'd just taken care of as if he was scared of a bit of gore.

"Shut up." He hissed as a smirk came to her lips. She patted his shoulder as his ears turned pink before facing the alter, a large statue of Christ on the cross was haloed with the sun streaming through the stained glass window. She stood frozen to the spot, feeling like the weight of her sins suddenly increase tenfold.

"Yo, JC. You takin' requests?" Daryl snarked up at the statue as Rick opened all the doors, calling out for Sophia. Phoenix snapped out of her daze and lightly slapped Daryl's arm with a disapproving look at his lack of respect and faith. He shook his head, smirking at the girl's outraged gaze.

"I'm telling you, it's the wrong church! It's got no steeple, Rick! No steeple!" Shane breathlessly said as Rick turned to him as he panted.

The bells began to sound again, the group rushing outside and searching for the source of the noise.

The group rounded the building, the bells growing louder until they spotted a box on the wall and a speaker attached high up on the wall. Glenn pulled open he box and flicked at the inside, killing the bells instantly.

"A timer. It's on a timer." Daryl panted, clearly frustrated as he stomped past. Phoenix sighed and crossed herself. The mood turned sombre as they all realised the missing girl wasn't the one ringing out a call for them to follow.

"I'm gonna go back in for a bit." Carol tearfully whispered, fleeing silently back into the church. Phoenix met Daryl's eyes before ducking her head and joining Carol at the alter. Phoenix pulled her rosaries out from under her shirt and fell with a thump to her knees, head low over her clasped hands.

God, please. Give us a sign. Something to give us hope. Something to give us a clue to where Sophia is. She's only a girl! She hasn't lived her life yet. Please. Please! Anything. I beg you! I've never strayed from the path you gave us. Never asked for anything. Give me this small mercy... Even if it's just.... Just to put her to rest. To know for sure she's gone to your grace. Please.

Phoenix prayed, fingers twisting the beads between her fingers rhythmically. Her eyes glanced to her left, to Carol who was praying aloud to the same god.

God please. Carol's been through the ring enough with her husband. Give her some hope at least. And if you can't.... Then... Give me a sign of the twins. Of Romeo... Let me know they're out there. I know it's selfish... But please... Give us a sign of the girl. We need to find her. Amen.

She rose to her feet slowly, crossing herself and leaning forward to kiss the feet of the statue, as was her and the twins custom, before turning and walking to the rear of the church. Daryl's eyes narrowed at her as she leaned heavily against the wall beside him.

"Ya okay?"

"Yea... Just worried DD. I'll be okay though." She smiled weakly at him as she turned her head towards him. "Come on, we're losing the daylight." She patted his arm and walked out into the sun to Shane and Rick arguing quietly.

"She could be a lotta things!"

"I can't go back. Her being out here is my fault!"

"That's great." Shane sarcastically replied. "Now they got you doubting yourself huh?" Shane glanced at Phoenix and the rest of the group. Phoenix stuck her tongue out at the dark haired man childishly.

"What about you? You doubt me?" Rick accused, tilting his head.

"Hey, we can assign all kinda blame." Shane backtracked, trying to sooth Rick's rapidly fraying nerves. He didn't want the man's explosive temper frightening his son. Shane knew Rick had a rage bubbling under the surface that had mellowed to embers over the years and didn't want to reignite that blaze.

"This means something, finding her." Rick passionately declared, his hands going to his hips as he stood.

"Oh man..."

"It would be the miracle we need. We can't give up." He sighed, running a hand over his stubbled face. Shane nodded slowly, clasping his rifle tighter to his shoulder turning to the group.

"Hmm ahem. Y'all gonna follow the creek bed back okay? Me and Rick, we're just gonna hang back, search this area another hour or so. Just be thorough. Phoenix, you get on that bike and do your best to find that girl. Go ahead of Daryl and the rest."

"You're splitting us up. You sure?" The redneck questioned, his hand gripped his crossbow strap higher on his broad shoulder.

"Yea, we'll catch up to you." Shane replied as Carl and Lori wandered over to the small gathering.

"I want to stay too! I'm her friend!" Carl stated, pulling himself to his full, albeit short, height. Rick and Lori shared a look before Lori nodded, running her hand over Carl's head.

"Just be careful, okay?" She said quietly, gaining the boys attention.

"I will."

"When did you start growing up?" She questioned, pulling him into a hug.

"I'll be along soon enough." Rick reasoned, pulling out his python and holding it out to her. "Here, take this. Remember how to use it?"

Lori quickly held her hands up and backed away, shaking her head. "I'm not taking your gun and leaving you unarmed!"

"Here, got a spare. Take it." Daryl said quickly as he pulled the gun he'd found in the tent out from the backside of his jeans, and holding it out to the long haired woman. Lori took it and nodded, stowing it away in her waistband. Daryl turned and glanced at Phoenix as she released her bike's brakes before beginning to push it towards the Highway's direction into the woods.

*

The group walked silently for a few minutes with Daryl and Phoenix, pushing her bike, leading the way. Daryl side eyed the young woman beside him once more as she puffed out another heavy breath as the bike wheel snagged over another exposed root.

"So this is it? This is the whole plan?" Carol asked, the group paused as she slowly brought up the rear.

"I guess the plan is to whittle us down into smaller and smaller groups." Daryl shrugged.

"Carrying knives and pointy sticks. I see you have a gun." Andrea snapped, gesturing to Lori as they sat for a short break on some logs. Phoenix raised her eyebrow as Lori stood, pulling the gun out and holding it out to the annoying blond.

"Why, you want it? Here, take it. I'm sick of the looks you're giving me!" Lori growled, thrusting the gun towards the blond who took it. "All of you."

"Hey! I ain't giving ya no looks woman!" Phoenix snarled, swinging her leg over her bike to perch on it. Lori gave her a weak smile before turning to Carol.

"Honey, I can't imagine what you're going through. And I would do anything to stop it." Lori knelt down in front of the tearful woman. The two mothers feeling the sorrow a missing child, whether gone or lost, caused. "But you have got to stop blaming Rick. It's in your face every time you look at him! When Sophia ran, he didn't hesitate, did he? Not for a second. I don't know if any of us would have gone after her the way he did -"

"Would've if I wasn't trapped in that damn trunk." Phoenix muttered under her breath, folding her arms across her chest as Lori glared at her.

"Or made the hard decisions that he had to make or that anyone could have done it differently. Anybody? Y'all look to him and then blame him when he's not perfect." Carol turned her head away in self shame as Lori stood and looked around the group. "If you think you can do this without him, go right ahead. Nobody is stopping you."

Andrea slowly held the gun out to Lori, accepting she was acting like a spoilt bratty prat.

"We should keep moving." The blond nodded to the brunette as she tucked the gun back into her pants after taking it back from the former defence attorney.

"Ya should get on that."

"What?" Phoenix asked as they began walking up a slope, turning her head in the redneck's direction. The bike's wheels digging into the leaf coated ground and sliding slightly.

"Get on the bike. Be easier than pushin' it." He reasoned quietly in his gruff voice, looking back at the others to make sure they weren't loosing any more people in the trees.

"Nah. Need the fuel to last, besides, I can always come out earlier tomorrow. Pick up the trail quicker."

"Pfft... Sure ya can." Daryl snorted. Phoenix paused and kicked the stand down before pushing into his personal space, he glanced down at the shorter woman with a smirk gracing his lips. "Ya ain't scaring me if that's what ya tryin'?"

"Nah, just remembering how pretty you are before I hit you into ugliness..." She smirked back, her heart leaping at the flirty mischief in his eyes.

So similar yet different to Murphy she thought, pushing down the painful memories associated with when Murphy looked at her the same way.

"Besides, we both know I'm the better tracker!"

"Hmmm..... We'll see woman." Daryl mused, nudging her side with his elbow. "Go on, get ya butt on that bike."

"Oh! Oh! So you've been a lookin' at my butt?" She questioned in a sing song voice, her tongue peeking out between her teeth as she grinned. "Ya wanna see how I handle summit big and powerful between my thighs Daryl?" She purred, just as he took a gulp from his water bottle causing him to splutter and choke as his cheeks glowed red. She brushed against his arms, making sure her breasts crushed against him as she leaned in to whisper in his ear.

"I'm used to something hot, hard and full of power tight up against me, making me all hot and wet. Making me feel more alive than ever before. Grinding right where I need it the most. But... I would need to be with someone who could make my blood race as much as speeding on my bike does... who can go for hours, hard and fast.... Making me squeal and moan in absolute delight. You think you'd be able to keep up Daryl?"

She pulled back slightly, his eyes darkened with lust as they breathed in each other's scents heavily. Her breasts heaved against his chest as he pulled her closer by her hips, their lips slowly closing the gap between them. Daryl's eyes bore into hers as they began to flutter closed as Daryl's hand gripping her hip tightened in anticipation...

BANG!

They jumped apart as the last echoes of gunshot made the group spin around towards the sound.

"Carl... Rick...." Lori gasped, her eyes scanning the trees around them; hoping to see the dark heads of her boys coming towards them. "Phoenix... Please." Lori turned to the girl, who nodded. "Find them."

Phoenix threw herself back onto the bike and revved it to life.

"Whoa! Ya ain't gonna go chase echoes woman!" Daryl said, stepping into her path. "Not a chance!"

"DD, I'll ride back to the church. Find them, lead them back. One of us should've stayed with 'em in the first place." She reasoned, putting her hand over his as he gripped the handles in a white knuckled grasp. "Don't need to have more panicking right?"

"Be safe." Glenn said quietly as Daryl, finally released her bike and stepped out the way. Daryl's eyes never leaving the woman as she sped off through the trees back towards where the gunshot had sounded.

Don't let that shot be one of them dying. Please. Please god. We can't lose anyone else. Daryl thought before hardening his face and turning to lead the rest of the group back to the Highway.

PREVIOUS - NEXT 

[phoenixblack89]

Fera Ingris

Chapter 3: Whiskey Kisses

Here we go again peeps!

And its a SMUTTY one!!!

@lilythemadqueen @autocon23 @darylsgirl @boondoctorwho @browneyes528 @writingdeadangel @pandoratriestowritestuff

The group quickly ran into the building, the bright lights harsh on their eyes after the darkness of outside. Phoenix and Daryl were the last to enter, shooting off arrows and bolts into the approaching undead, until finally they ran out and ducked into the building pulling the doors closed behind them. The group looked around as a man near the control panel spoke.

"Anyone bit?"

Rick stepped forward as Phoenix sagged slightly, her energy drained and her left hand giving sharp jolts of pain. Daryl held her waist lightly to support her as the pair half listened to the doctor. Nodding along to the blood test when given a look from Rick.

"Forgive me but she doesn't look in the best shape... You are absolutely sure she's not infected?" Dr. Jenner questioned as he led them to the elevator, after the men had done a very quick retrieval of their bags from the vehicles. Daryl glanced at Rick and gave a slight nod at him.

"She got hurt. Her hand needs treated properly. We tried but we're ain't doctors." The crossbowman growled, pulling the girl closer as he felt her shaking slightly. "It's infected, I think."

The doctor gave a grimace as the elevator began to move slowly downwards.

"I'll take a look, we have antibiotics so she should be right as rain in no time."

                                                     ********

Everyone was stood around as Dr. Jenner took blood from them, Phoenix paced just outside the room nervously. She didn't want to have to give blood. But she knew she couldn't refuse and risk being thrown back outside. The anxiety was getting the better of her, she knew it was only a little blood then she could relax and enjoy their new found safety.

But the idea of being touched by some she didn't know, a man no less, didn't exactly sooth her.

Daryl leaned against the doorway and watched her. He could feel the pain and worry coming off the girl like the heat of the Georgian sun in August. He slowly walked over and took hold of her and spun her to face him. His eyes burrowing into hers as he slowly pulled her into his chest, offering what little comfort he could. The simple and thoughtful act breaking the dam on her tears. 

She cried quietly into his chest as he rubbed at her back awkwardly. A moment later she pulled back, wiping her eyes and giving him a tiny nod as she stepped out of his space. Daryl, like her, didn't like to be touched and she respected that.

Phoenix pulled herself to her full height, back straight and face blank as she turned and pulled off her long, leather coat and her arm braces. She passed her coat to Shane as she passed him, pulling the purple ribbon that held the wrist of her sleeves together loose to pull it up her arm. Tattoos she had hidden from the group slowly coming to light for the first time in months as she sat down in front of the doctor - a vast expanse of multicoloured stars gracing along her left forearm to her elbow and a twisted almost burnt looking scar around her wrist. 

Eyes blank, lips pulled into a thin line as he wrapped the pressure cuff over the injured hand and up her arm. She hissed as the cuff tightened and she felt the man's hand wiping at the crook of her elbow with antiseptic. Her knee bouncing up and down rapidly as the doctor gently tapped her arm, Daryl moving to her eyeline and glaring at the doctor's back. He knew she would need his reassuring presence once this was over. Her eyes met his as she grew more and more rigid as the man continued to touch her skin. She let out a sharp yelp as the needle pierced her skin and closed her eyes, breathing heavily as her blood was taken.

"There all done. I'll take a look at your hand in a little while. Whose next?"

Phoenix shot out of the seat and to Daryl's side, hiding slightly behind him. He looked over his shoulder at her as Andrea sat down, the pair moving to lean against the wall on the other side of the room. The silent pair watched as the blond woman almost fell after the process, Jacqui quickly catching her and explaining they hadn't eaten in days.

Jenner smiled and lead the group to a large canteen, telling them to help themselves. Daryl and Phoenix helped themselves and retreated a little way away from the main group, the girl feeling better for having her sleeve fastened tight with the studded leather cuff and coat on once more. Almost as if she was wearing armour and no one could hurt her if she had it on. Daryl nudged her shoulder lightly, nodding at her plate to get her to eat. She gave him a tight lipped smile and pushed a piece of food into her mouth.

The food was stale MREs but it was food and tasted delicious on her tongue after so long of not eating. She soon had finished her plate and grabbed a second and a 3rd before she stopped. Daryl smiled as wine began to be poured for the group and grabbed a bottle and settled into the spare chair at the table, Phoenix sinking down beside him. The group laughed and enjoyed themselves at Carl's antics and Daryl saying Glenn was to continue drinking until his face was red (which was achieved in a rather short time).

Phoenix glanced at their silent host and he raised his head in question. She pointed at her hand and stood up, Daryl looking over his shoulder as the doctor followed her out of the room. He led her to a lab and gestured for her to take a seat with her hand on the table. He busied himself with putting on gloves and pulling out some medical equipment.

"So... How did this happen exactly?" he questioned, eyes flickering to the door way where Shane, Rick and Daryl stood; as grateful as they were for the shelter they didn't trust the man alone with the young woman. Phoenix swallowed as she pulled off her brown leather fingerless glove, hissing slightly through her teeth at the stabbing pain shooting up her fingers to her arm. The doctor looked at her expectantly.

"Hunting accident. Fell down a hill carrying a buck. Landed on the twat's antlers... My own fault. Snapped the antler free from its head and went back to camp." She shrugged as if it was a everyday occupation for her to be injured in such a way. "Pulled the bastarding antler out and passed out. Next thing I know is a burning pain in my hand. The others burnt it shut." Jenner grimaced at the description of the group's rather drastic options. 

"Only thing they could do." She growls out as he pokes and prods at the sealed wound, pus oozing out of one of the edges slowly. The doctor gathers up some of the pus with a cotton swap and spreads it onto a slide before taking it to a microscope and peering at it.

"Any allergies to medications?" He questions without looking up. She shuffles in her seat and nods.

"Penicillin. Amoxicillin. Anything ending with Cillian."

"Good job I have access to other options then. I'm gonna to give you an injection of long lasting antibiotic. And some oral ones too. Take them for the next two weeks. Should be okay and gone by then." 

He smiles at her, preparing a syringe of clear liquid before reaching out for her arm. She reluctantly pulls her sleeve up as far as it can go and winces as the needle picks her skin. The cold sensation of the liquid entering her arm makes her shudder as he rubs at her skin. He smiled sadly and settled down on the chair opposite her with the  surgical tools beside him. 

"Let's get this clean up properly then we can re-join your friends."

The next ten minutes are painful to say the least, Jenner squeezes as much of the infection out of her hand through a small cut he places on her wound before flushing it with sterilised water and alcohol before bandaging it up tightly. Her hand throbs and burns slightly, making her shake it almost constantly to stop her itching it like a dog with mange. She raises from the chair and follows the trio at the door back to the rest of the group.

Daryl gives her a half smile as he hands her a shot of whiskey he'd found. The wine being passed around happily between everyone. 

Then Dale ruins the moment asking about where all the rest of the doctors and workers are. 

The group growing solemn and dire as Jenner explains the ones who hadn't left the building had opted out of life before leading them down to where they'd be sleeping. Glenn and everyone's mood lifting once the announcement of hot running water was heard. Phoenix and Daryl paused at a door and entered slowly. Daryl dropped on to the sofa and patted the seat next to him.

"Ya okay girl?" He asked as she slowly rubbed over the clean white bandage on her hand as she sank into the comfortable plush cushions. She nodded slightly and gave him a smile.

"Feel better now I've got a full stomach. Whiskey's probably helping a tad too." She gave him a side long look as he raised the bottle to his lips and she found herself watching his Adam's apple bopping as he swallowed. Her heart suddenly sounded louder than ever in her ears as her heart started to quicken. "The meds are kicking in probably too."

"Good. Wouldn't... Wouldn't... Erm... You're the only one I trust. Apart from Merle." He stuttered, cheeks reddening with embarrassment and the alcohol. His hand found its way to her thigh and his thumb ran gently and hesitantly up and down. His eyes followed its movement as her eyes found his, her lips suddenly feeling very dry as she ran her tongue over them. Daryl shifted his weight closer to her and smiled slightly.

"You really okay?"

She swallowed thickly, the air beginning to grow hotter around them as she reached for the whiskey. She gulped down a mouthful, a drop of the liquor slipping down past her lips to roll down her chin, neck and dip below her shirt. Daryl's eyes following the droplet on its journey, his heart pounding in his chest and his jeans growing slightly tighter at the sight, noticing her nipples showing just slightly against the fabric. His blue orbs slowly trailed down her body to her chest, which heaved against her tight form fitting shirt. Every breath tightening the fabric more snuggly against the large breasts underneath.

He eyed how her nipples grew harder and more prominent and licked his lips. His hand gripped her thigh tighter as his and her breathing sped up unconsciously, he moved closer and his other hand took the bottle placing it on the floor beside them before reaching out slowly to take her face gently into his hold.

"Daryl..." she whispered as they both leaned closer to each other, their gaze fixed on each other's eyes as they shifted slightly. His body eased over her's as she laid the length of the sofa. Her legs falling open to allow him inside her thighs, their faces within inches of each other but still not touching. Daryl lowered himself completely over her, his weight held up by his arm, muscles tense as their hips brushed against each other lightly. 

A small gasp released from her lips as she felt his aroused member brush her core. Daryl smirked and closed the distance between them to kiss her plump lips.

The kiss started hesitantly for the both of them, Daryl softly grinding his hip into hers. 

The girl slowly moving hers back to take his slow and torturous thrusts. Daryl pulled back and gazed down at her as he sped his thrusts slightly and increasing his weight against her core to apply more pressure, watching as her eyes fluttered and a moan escaped her lips.

Phoenix opened her eyes, pupils blown wide with desire and growled. Her hand grabbed harshly at Daryl's neck to pull him into a passionate kiss, which caused him to buck even hard against her. His hand reaching up her shirt to manhandle her chest. He growled at the tight fabric and began to pull at the hem in anger. She pushed him up slightly and unclipped her under-bust corset and threw it to the ground, reaching behind her for the shirt zipper with one hand and shrugging her jacket off with the other. Soon enough she was shirtless underneath the man, his eyes hazy with alcohol and lust. 

Daryl ground his hip into her harder and faster, her quiet moans turning him on even more as he began to assault her chest with his hands and mouth. The squeals of the children's laughter growing louder outside the room as they ran up and down the corridor outside the room.

Phoenix ached her back as Daryl grazed her nipple through her bra with his teeth. His hand slowly stroked down her ribs to her mound, to rub hard against the denim. Her breaths coming faster and faster as the coil in her gut tightened. She looked at him as he raised his head in question, his thumb playing nervously with her button. She nodded slightly as his thumb dipped below her waistband, gently and slowly moved south. She pulled him into a passion kiss as his hand sheathed itself inside her jeans, his fingers spread deliciously over her panties feeling how wet they'd grown over his actions.

She moaned into his lips as their tongues battled against each other. Daryl groaning as he worked up the courage to actually touch her under her panties and explore her body more fully. His cock strained against his jeans, his hand already damp with her desire.

BANG!

The door buckled as it was hit forcefully by something. The noise causing the pair to break apart.

The moment between the two completely ruined and broken.

Daryl ducked his head and quickly backed away from the girl, his fingertips tingling slightly with the echo of her wet panties lingering on them. He sat up and left the room quickly. Phoenix gulped down air and rose to a sitting position slowly. Her lips and chest felt raw from Daryl's kiss and her clit ached in a pleasant throb as her desire slowly ebbed away. She ran her hand through her short spiky hair as tears slowly graced her cheeks.

"Fuck my life!" She whispered, pulling a t-shirt out of her bag and throwing it over her body. She sobbed silently as her heart slowed and she remembered the feel of Daryl touching her.

                                                       *******

Daryl stomped into the canteen, grabbing another bottle of whiskey and intended to drown himself in the strong liquor and forget his worries and self loathing for at least the night. His cock still hard and aching in his jeans as he tried to push the memory of Phoenix's taste from his lips. He walked quickly to the shower and stripped and climbed inside. The warm water ran down his scared back in ripples, the sensation almost feeling like the girl's fingers as he had thrust himself against her. His hand slowly trailed down his chest and stomach, despite the water he could still feel the lingering dampness of her arousal coating them. He threw back his head against the tiles with a dull thud as his palm wrapped around his hard thick cock. He sighed loudly as he began to pump himself slowly up and down, his mind picturing the beautiful curves of the girl he'd ran from.

He felt her smooth skin under his hands as he felt down her stomach to her jeans, popping her button and unzipping them as his tongue swirled around her nipple. Her nails digging into his biceps and hair as her moans grew louder. His hand cupped her body and ran his tongue down her neck, discovering a spot that had her gasping as he slowly pushed his fingers into her wet hot pussy. His thumb grazing her clit making her legs quiver against his arm.

His fist moved faster and faster over the head of his cock, precum leaking and his chest heaving letting his imagination take hold fully -

Phoenix pulled his head up and crashed their lips together as she began to cum all over his fingers, her walls tightening and pulsing over and over as wave after wave of pleasure rippled through her body. His name falling between their lips as she dragged her fingernails down his back over his shirt. He groaned and reached for his jeans pulling his thick dripping cock out and lining up with her slick hole, glancing at the woman below him questioningly. She gave a tiny nod and pulled him back to her lips as he slowly pushed inside her. His hand gripped her hip hard as she moaned. The heat, tightness and pleasure coating his cock was too much and his, somewhat, inexperienced body couldn't hold back. Thrusting deep and fast, the couple were soon moaning in tandem. Their body crying out for orgasmic bliss, nails dragging along skin and hands pulling on each others hair. Lips crashing against each other over and over until finally Phoenix milked his cock for everything he had.

Daryl came over his hand with a muffled groan as sweat slicked his hair to his face. His chest heaved underneath the now lukewarm water and he squeezed his eyes shut. Feeling woozy and relaxed for the first time in a long while before a surge of guilt ruined his mood. She was his friend and here he was using her image for his own sick pleasure. Sure they had kissed and she seemed to enjoy it but it was surely only the alcohol and drugs making her feel that way. Daryl snorted in disgust at himself and looked down at his scared chest.

Like any girl would wanna be touched by a monster like you he thought rinsing his hand under the spray and grabbing the soap before quickly scrubbing himself clean as he could.

                                                   *********

Phoenix wiped her tears and picked her bag up to head to the showers. She reached the door and jumped back as it opened before her. Daryl shifted his weight as he opened the door to the showers, not noticing straight away that there was someone in front of him. When he looked up, his face grew red in embarrassment then shame. He could see clearly the tear track along Phoenix's cheeks and how red and puffy her eyes had become. He felt like a complete arsehole for making her cry.

"Ain't a lot of hot water left." He muttered, head down as he passed her. His head was beginning to clear from the alcohol buzz and he headed off to find another bottle to drown his sorrows in as the girl stepped inside. He heard her sob as the door swung closed and felt his heart breaking, wishing he could just turn around and do what he wanted to and take her in his arms and kiss her again.

But he couldn't

He shouldn't!

He wouldn't!

But he knew, deep down inside, that he most certainly would. 

                                                 ****************

Phoenix groaned and stretched her back, it clicked and popped several times as she awoke. Her head hurt. Her neck felt itchy as did her chest then she remembered why.

Her and Daryl.

Whisky.

Kisses against her skin.

The way he'd rushed out after the bang to the door. 

Fresh tears welled in her eyes as she slowly sighed. Her mouth tasted like shit and she was dying for a smoke. She pulled on her boots as her vision swayed in front of her eyes. The world seemingly to tilt to one side.

"Fuck it." She muttered, finishing dressing and shoving her belongings back into the small duffel. Her hands brushed the rosaries on the top of the pile and she pulled them both over her head, under her shirt where they rested against her stomach next to her own silver rosary. She zipped the bag and placed it on the sofa before venturing in search of the rest of her group, throwing two of the pills Jenner had given her into her mouth and swallowing them dry.

She reached the canteen and stifled a laugh at the sight of Glenn, clearly nursing a massive hangover. She nodded to T-Dog as he handed her a plate of eggs and sunk into a chair, crossing her right leg over her left to balance her plate on and tucked into the food hungrily. A short yelp and a curse was heard from the hallway as Daryl stumbled into the room. He'd been successful in his mission last night to drown his sorrows and was now paying the cost.

His face paled as his eyes grazed over the girl's form. Her eyebrow raised in question as he too wolfed down a plate of eggs. She whistled lowly and Daryl's head flew upwards, the hunting signal they'd come up with questioning him without asking out right

You okay?

He let a small whispered whistle come out in reply

Yea. You?

The girl smiled sadly and nodded. Daryl shrugged and ducked his head again. Guilt twirling deep in his gut making his headache worsen. He finished his eggs as Dale began questioning Jenner about the count down clock. Jenner lead them all to the main console room and explained that the virus was unstoppable and in order to protect the world that once the countdown reached zero the whole building would implode, an explosion that set fire to the very air itself.

Daryl glanced at Phoenix as she shook with unshed tears, his hands on his head and he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist letting her head fall into his chest.

"I'll get ya out. I fuckin' promise." He whispered so only she could hear. Shane and Rick walked over and he followed them, reluctant to let the girl be by herself but followed them down to the generators. They returned and the fight broke out. Shane telling everyone to grab their stuff and that they were leaving. Phoenix ran to her room and threw her bow and quiver around her shoulders, grateful she'd chosen to leave her axe and second duffel in Daryl's truck.

Daryl paused outside her door and waited for her to hurry up as she shoved a blanket into her duffel. She stood up and paused in her actions and swallowed thickly. Daryl took a step closer to her and grabbed her hand pulling her back to the main room. His crossbow bouncing off his back at his quick pace.

Rick was trying to reason with Jenner to open the door. Shane started shooting at the monitors and the kids cried loudly.

Phoenix had had enough.

She reached into the inside of her jacket, pulling the Berretta out and marched up to Jenner. She pushed him back against the console and pushed the silencer into his forehead.

"You open those goddamn doors! Suicide, what this is! Is a great big whooping sin mate and I ain't gonna go down South cos of you!" She snarled, pulling her rosaries out and making sure the man caught a glimpse of the deadly look in her eyes. Her lips curling back as she snarled like a wild animal in his face. Daryl and Rick gently pulled her arm back and away from the scared man and she allowed it. Holstering the weapon again and joining him at taking an axe to the door.

"Let us out. We got to take that chance." Rick stated.

"I can't." He whispered. "Those doors are made to withstand a rocket launcher." he said looking over at Daryl, who had been bashing at the doors with a fire axe. Daryl saw the look of defeat on Phoenix's face for a second before charging at Jenner, axe raised.

"But your head ain't!" He snarled as Shane and T-Dog intercepted him. He stormed back to the door and started smashing the axe into it more forcefully. Phoenix slumped down at the bottom of the ramp and tears ran down her face once again, her mind wishing her boys were with her but not at the same time. She just wanted to hear their voices, feel them wrapping their arms around her again, making her feel safe and welcomed and loved. But she wouldn't wish this fate on them. Not in a million years.

Rick was talking to Jenner and the man finally relented and the metal doors slid open. Daryl grabbed her arm and yelled to the rest of the group. They charged up the stairs two at a time and exited into the building's main lobby.

The doors wouldn't open and Rick, Shane, T-Dog, Phoenix and Daryl all beat against the doors with their axes or guns. Shane shooting off a few rounds at the glass only to duck as the bullets bounced all around them.

Carol slowly approached Rick, digging into her handbag and pulled out a grenade, explaining she'd found it in his pocket when she washed his clothes that first day of camp. Everyone scrambled for cover.

Phoenix stood behind a pillar with her back pressed tightly against it, Daryl running to stand against her. His weight shielding her and forcing the pair to be almost in the exact same position as the previous night. She ducked her head into Daryl's neck, feeling him gulp and shiver slightly.

Down boy he thought, willing his cock, which twitched in excitement, not to embarrass him in this moment. The window shattered, the noise echoing loudly in the empty lobby. He glanced down at Phoenix's grey-blue eyes and felt his mouth go dry.

Later his brain told him, once more grabbing her hand and pulling her after him and out of the building. Swinging his axes at the walkers coming closer. Phoenix ducking the blade when it swung back towards her. The pale blue Ford truck grew closer and closer.

Daryl threw open the door and Phoenix climbed in, Daryl throwing himself on top of her in his haste. She grunted at the unexpected weight on top of her and glared up at him. He smirked back and leaned onto his elbows to take his weight off her as his cock decided once again to twitch at her closeness.

God dammit Daryl! Get a grip of yaself! He thought, noticing how his beard had caused a slight rash on her neck and the underside of her chin.

"You're staring." She whispered at him as he glanced out the window. He nodded and ducked his head down towards her's. She swallowed and their eyes met. "Daryl..."

"Fuck it. Might die in a second." Daryl said, more to himself than her. His hand wove into her hair and he pushed their lips together roughly.

It was a desperate, soul crushing kiss of two people who thought they were about to die.

She sighed as her hands rushed to his hair and tugged it, pulling him impossibly closer.

It was nothing like the previous kiss that were tender and full of longing.

The truck rocked as the CDC imploded, the pair barely noticing as their tongues began to battle once more.

A moan escaped between their lips as Daryl unknowingly pushed his throbbing, hard cock right up against the girl's clit. He pulled back as he realised what he'd done and glanced through the window at the building. Hearing Rick honked his horn to signal to ride out. He cleared his throat and sat fully in the driver's seat, allowing Phoenix to pull her legs up from under him to seat herself on the bench further away. She refused to look at the man and glared out the window, willing her tears away.

Her heart still pounding and knowing Daryl was still hard and waiting to be pleased next to her.

PREVIOUS - NEXT

[phoenixblack89]

@lilythemadqueen is peeved at me cos I gave her a sneak peek hahahaha ha

[phoenixblack89]

Sneak Peek

As you lovely people can probably imagine it's been a tad hectic the last month since last update so here's a special teeny tiny sneak peek of the next chapter of Fera.

@lilythemadqueen @fandomsaremykryponite @writingdeadangel

Phoenix skidded to a halt as Shane and a large unknown man ran in front of her.

"Shane!"

The man turned and pointed in front of him, running once more while pushing the man in front of him. She started up the bike once more and raced off ahead of the pair. Her eyes noticing the fresh blood splatters across the forest floor. She sped up even more and burs through the edge of the trees and her heart stopped. Rick was running across the open field towards the beautiful white farm house in the distance, the limp figure of Carl in his arms. Phoenix gulped and stopped, tears coming to her eyes. She pulled out her gun as twigs snapped behind her. Shane and the man he was pushing came from between them. Rick yelled back, asking how much further and the fat man huffed back his reply, bending double as he panted and wheezed.

"Carl's been shot. This fucking asshole shot him!" Shane snarled, roughly gripping the larger man's collar and giving him a shove in front of him.

"I... I didn't see him! I was aiming for the deer!" The man stuttered as Shane didn't stop making their way towards the house.

"Holy shit." She whispered, sending a quick prayer up to God for the boy's health before following the pair across the field towards the house. She rounded the fence as she nearer the edge to find an opening, quickly spotting one near the barn where a horse was sticking it's auburn head out the door whickering slightly. She pulled up outside the porch and hopped off and ran her hand through her hair as a young blond girl eyed her distrustfully from behind the screen door. Shane and the unknown man joined her moments later.

"Otis!"

The unknown man panted heavily as he leaned against the porch railing, waving his hand at the girl. The door opened and a sweaty, blood soaked Rick stepped out. Rick swept his hand across his face then flinched as Shane stepped forward to wipe it off. Phoenix parked her bike and swung herself off it as Shane tried to calm Rick, whose face crumpled as he turned to go back into the white farmhouse. Phoenix followed behind as Otis began stammering and stuttering to a small, older blond woman.

And that's ya lot cos I'm a evil lady whahahahah

[phoenixblack89]

Fera Ingris

Chapter 2: Fuck My Life

So I skipped Vatos. Couldn't get it to work at all the way I wanted it to but did get this finished. Next chapter will probably be out in 2 weeks. It's done but needs editing.

Anyhooo. Enjoy. If ya wanna be tagged so ya don't miss please message me or comment on this! Also up on a03.

Tags: @lilythemadqueen @writingdeadangel @boondoctorwho @fandomsaremykryponite @browneyes528 @darylsgirl

Daryl was pissed. Beyond pissed. The whole rescue Merle plan was nothing but a shit show from the start. First finding Merle's hand and no body attached to it. And no meds for the girl. Then Glenn being nabbed. Then the Vatos and that whole carry on. He was not in the best mood when they discovered the van had been stolen and they had to run back to camp. 

"Stupid Merle. Why didn't ya wait asshole?" Daryl grumbled to himself, panting as he followed the three in front of him and hoped he got back before something else bad happened as the sky began to darken. 

*

The walkers had somehow snuck into camp. Shrieks from the children, cries of pain and the vicious sounds of heads being bashed in or blowed out by bullets was all she could hear as she tore through the woods to help. She had gone out to check the snares she and Daryl had left further out in the woods early this afternoon and had found a fair few with small rabbits or birds in them, which she had slung from a rope hanging from her shoulder. Each step causing the critters to bash against her ribs, her two headed axe bashing painfully into her back. The screams and noise grew as she got closer. 

She shoved her bow over her shoulder and whipped out her axe and slowed her running. She came to a dead stop as the growls of eight walkers echoed loudly around her. She'd run straight into a group of the undead bastards without realising. 

"Fuck my life" She muttered as she started swinging her axe at the nearest walker, swirling it over her head. 

*

"Come on! Hurry!" Rick yelled from in front of Daryl, their ears being assaulted by the sounds of the camp being attacked. Daryl shouldered his crossbow and accepted the rifle from Glenn as they ran up the hill. The chaos in front of him made his blood race as he started shooting at everything in camp, taking care not to hit any one living. His eyes scanning continously for the young woman he had begun to enjoy spending time with, hunting and not. 

In what seemed to Daryl as hours, but was only 15 minutes, the camp had been cleared. 

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as Rick thanked Shane for protecting his family as others grieved the loss of theirs. Daryl walked around camp quickly, eyes lingering on every corpse, his heart pounding his ribs in fear as he realised Phoenix was no where to be seen. 

"Shane!? Dale?! Where's Phoenix?! Ya see her anywhere!?" He demanded, storming up to the former police officer having checked every bloody body on the ground. Shane ran his hand over his head and shrugged his shoulders. 

"Nah man, last I saw her was this mornin' when I took over watch." Shane said quietly, his heart now worriedly gripped by fear for the Brit too. 

Jacqui slowly made her way over, hands shaking in shock still. 

"I saw her this afternoon, not long after we had to stop Jim. She said something about checking some snares or something. I wasn't paying much attention, I was busy. Maybe she's still out checking?" She said, grabbing hold of her crucifix around her neck in worry. 

Daryl grunted and began scanning the tree lines for his, possibly only, friend. He turned to speak to Rick about going to find her when a scream came from the woods. He glanced at Rick and took off in the direction of the woods. Rick, Shane, T-Dog and Glenn followed after him. 

*

5 down, 3 to go...

Phoenix thought her breath coming in short sharp gasps as she pivoted to face the next walker. Her axe gracefully span around the top of her head as she threw all her remaining strength into her swing. The sharp curve of the double blade head making cutting through flesh and bone like butter. She grunted as the head splattered into a waterfall of crimson and black. Her arms ached, her head was lightly throbbing with adrenaline and her energy was fading quicker and quicker. She span on her heels as growls grew around her once more. Another walker fell to her axe and sheer brutal anger. 

The last walker was formerly a large male, his stomach as wide as he was tall, making T-Dog and Shane look short; she tugged at the axe still inside the previous walker's skull but it wouldn't come. 

"Oh shit." She muttered, her fingers fumbling with the latch to separate her axe into 2 shorter and one handed weapons, the wound on her hand began to throb and pulse painfully. The walker got closer and she dropped her axe and slid to her knees, kicking out to knock the walker down. Unfortunately the beast's size worked against her and it fell onto her. She screamed as this was the first time in a long while she had been so close to one and without a weapon in her hand. 

Her hands quickly and harshly shoved the gnarled face and life ending teeth away from her body. Her arms felt like jelly holding the enormous weight off her. 

"You ugly fucker." She growled, arms already wobbling and shaking with effort. She needed to somehow roll the creature off her and get a hand free to pull her buck knife, her knife being painfully trapped between her thigh and the walker's massive stomach. She pulled one of her legs free and wrapped it around the waist of the heavy weight man and tried to flip them. It was no good. It was just too heavy for her slightly smaller frame to do. 

"Fuckkk" 

Her hands had begun to slip, her injured one burning fiercely and getting weaker faster, the wound beginning to ooze blood slowly. Her whole arm was burning, almost as if the flames were still licking along her skin, her chest ached from the weight, she could almost feel her ribs starting to crack as she struggled to breathe. She sighed and pushed with all her might. The teeth slowly getting closer and closer to her face as her vision started to swim towards the inky blackness. She turned her head and screwed her eyes up so she didn't have to see the disgusting pieces of rotten flesh trapped between its teeth, praying to a god she wasn't sure she still believed in that come the opening of her eyes she'd be reunited with her boys. 

A whoosh zipped through the air and the next second the full weight of the walker crashed down onto her far smaller and warmer body, pushing all the air out of her in a big gasp. She waited on baited breath for the feel of teeth taking a chunk out of her and it never came. She slowly opened one eye and realised the body on top of her had gone completely still. Footsteps near her had her twisting against the dead walker to face them, dark red-brown boots slowly came into sight as they walked closer and knelt down near her head. 

"Wha'd I tell ya 'bout comin' out 'ere on ya own?!" Daryl snarled down at her, before a half smile raised the corner of his lip with a small chuckle. She gave a short sharp laugh of her own before glaring at him.

"Ya cozy down there? Do ya need a moment alone wit' ya new beau?" 

"Screw you Dixon and get this fat fucker offer me!" 

Daryl smirked and stood up, using his foot to roll the walker off her. She slowly sat up, and took a huge gulp of air. Shane and Rick held their hands out to help her stand, she waved them away and stood. Her head throbbed and she swayed slightly to one side. Daryl put his hand on her arm to steady her and quietly regarded her. 

"You alright?" Glenn asked, his face pale as he looked around at the mess her frenzy had caused, blood splattered the trees and the ground, brain matter and bone fell in chunks on the tree trunks and the dry soil. She nodded at Glenn, giving Daryl a look and grabbing hold of her axe to tug it free. 

It refused to budge. 

Glenn, T-Dog and Shane began to make their way back towards camp. 

"Come on you sucker." She growled, grabbing the shaft of her axe with two hands and pulling. It finally flew free and she landed hard on her butt. Daryl barked out a laugh and shook his head. "Shut it Dixon!" She huffed and stormed ahead back to camp as the sun began to slowly rise over the treetop. 

"She's a fire ball that one. Might wanna watch yourself Daryl." Rick chuckled as the pair began to follow, Daryl gave him a look and raised his eyebrow in question. Rick shrugged and smiled slightly. "Just saying! Get too close to fire and you get burnt." 

Daryl ducked his head and smiled slightly to himself.

I wouldn't mind getting burnt by her, not at all he thought to himself, watching the girl's rear as she stormed in front of him. 

*

Phoenix stopped suddenly as camp came into her line of sight. 

So much blood and destruction. 

Carol, Sophia and Andrea were sobbing and clinging to their fallen loved ones. Tents were ablaze and being snuffed out by others. The Morales children clung to their mother and father as did Carl to Lori. Dale stood atop the RV on guard. 

"Oh fuck." 

Shane and the other members of camp were busy doing a headcount or putting the tents that were on fire out. She felt relieved Daryl had saved her once again but at what cost? How many more did they have to loose before everything stopped? Before the dead were actually dead and stayed that way? Until society and law and natural order was restored. Why would her god, a supposedly loving, kind god allow such a thing? Her heart felt heavy enough, this was such sheer cruelty and brutality. 

A hand clamped down on her shoulder and she jumped, her buck knife quickly leaving its sheath. Another grabbed the blade before it hit home and a grunt sounded behind her. 

"Stop tryin' t' gut me girl." Daryl hissed as he removed his hands from her. "Come on, we got grunt work t' do." He gave her a little nod and walked away. 

*

They'd worked through the morning to get some sort of order back into what was their safe little haven from the plague gripping the world. Sweat, blood and tears were falling to the ground with every step of every man and woman able to help with the clear up. Andrea laid her head bent low on her poor deceased sister's chest. Carol and Lori had settled the children down to sleep in the Grimes tent, Carol's being covered floor to roof in Ed's blood and other gory remains. 

What was left was being carried to the pile where Daryl and Phoenix were making sure they stayed dead, Daryl with a pick axe and Phoenix using her own custom made axe. Carol approaches the pair silently and almost immediately the pair stop their actions and watch her come to a slow halt. 

"I'll do it. He was my husband" her voice weak with the tremble of unshed tears, despite being an arse hole and abusive, Carol had loved Ed. 

The evidence of that being the little girl who slept soundly inside the Grimes tent despite the trauma of the night before. Daryl shares a quick glance at Phoenix, who watches almost cautiously and she gives a tiny almost unseen tilt of her head. Daryl handed Carol the axe he had been using and stands slightly back, closer to the other hunter and watches as Carol heaves the heavy weapon to her shoulders and with a cry throws it down into Ed's remains over and over again. 

The gore splattered around the former's head is almost a therapy for the small grey haired woman who had suffered so much at his hand. Carol is heaving in air as she stops and stands straight, wiping tears from her face as she silently hands Daryl the ax, as quickly as she came she leaves. 

Phoenix smiled bitterly and reached for the feet of Ed as Daryl took the ruined face under his arm, holding him by the shoulders. They carry him towards the fire where T-Dog and Glenn are burning the walkers bodies. Glenn looks up as they approach and stands. 

"No." He says quietly. Daryl and Phoenix drop Ed's body with matching grunts and wipe their arms across their faces.

"What?"

"We bury our dead." The Asian man says defiantly, pointing at Ed. Daryl raises his eyebrow and glares. 

"Don't matter. He ain't gonna feel it." Daryl huffs. 

"He's dead, don't matter what we do to the body. He's already burnin' in Hell, his fucking useless carcass should burn as well. Fucker deserves it!" Phoenix hisses, she agrees with Daryl. Who knows how long the virus or whatever it is that makes the dead rise would survive without a host. Last thing the world needs is it sitting in the ground and poisoning the land itself. 

"NO! We bury them. They're not monsters! We are people. People bury their dead. To honor them. If we don't... We might as well give up our humanity."  Glenn exclaims passionately, glancing around at the group, who had fallen silent and were watching the exchange. Phoenix glares down at the ground and walks away. Her head spinning and her hand throbbing again. 

Damn Merle, couldn't even get me some meds she thinks, her vision starting to grow blurrier by the second. She walks to her bike and sits down, leaning lightly against its dark green frame. Daryl joins her soon after. 

"Hey" 

She shields her eyes with her arm as the sun gives the older man a halo of light. "Hello angel" She smirks up at him and nods. 

"You okay?" He asked, shuffling from one foot to the other. A nervous habit she found quite funny as her mind thought of another she knew with the same habit. She sighed and ran her hand through her hair, it felt filthy and coated in grime and god knows what else. "Rick says we're gonna head t' the CDC."

"Hmm"

"I know we ain't the most... We ain't friends or anythin'" 

"Oh DD! Here's me thinking we were!" She laughed lightly, as he sat down on his haunches beside her. He gave a slight chuckle at her as she nudges his leg and he lands on his backside beside her. She gives him a small side smile and gets one in return.

"Yea maybe." He shuffles around anxious about what he's about to say next. "I ain't sure but thought... Maybe... If ya... If ya want... Ya could ride wit' me, in the truck." He chews his lip and waits for the rejection he's sure is coming. "'s okay if ya don't." 

"Actually, I think it might be for the best Dixon." His eyebrows shoot off into his hair at the quiet mummer he hears. "I ain't feeling too hot." She says as her head feels heavier and her eyes grow dimmer despite the bright light in front of her. She turns her head to the man beside her and he becomes a blur of shapes as she loses consciousness. Daryl quickly grabbing her before her head made contact with the ground and laying it across his lap, worried beyond anything, his fingers running over her arm gently as he chewed his lip to bleeding point. 

*

Groans fill the cab of the faded blue truck as she begins to stir. An arm is around her waist and is pulling her into the cab. 

"Wah?!" 

"Shh girlie. Let me get ya settled." Daryl says quietly, sitting her on the bench seat and putting the seat belt over her shoulder. "Ya passed out."

"Huh." She replies, feeling sleep call her backwards once again. "My bike... Tent..." 

"I got it."

She mumbles something that Daryl is sure sounded an awful lot like Murph before gently closing the door. He sighs and walks over to T-Dog. The large man looks up as he nears and nods. 

"She okay man?" Daryl nods, eyes darting to the RV where Jim lays dying from the bite wound. "Her hand is getting worse ain't it?" 

"Merle was gettin' 'er some meds. Didn't see any when y'all came back." 

"Don't worry man. We're gonna be at CDC soon. They'll have something they can give her."

"I ain't worried. She's a fighter. She faced worse and got through it." 

Both men are quiet for a while, Daryl remembering that awful day that earned the girl the huge cut along her eye and the fear she felt around everyone. "Gimme a hand wit' her stuff will ya?"

"Course man." 

The pair quickly gather the bags strapped to the back of her dirt bike and throw them into the rear of the cab along side her bow and axe. Daryl wonders why she kept the large duffel bags on the bike all the time and why it weighed so much but it wasn't his place to go through it so he ignored it and returned to her tent. He felt a touch guilty about being in her safe space while she wasn't with him, especially knowing he was about to touch her belongings. He grabbed the open duffel and began to pack it with the pile of clean clothes beside her bed roll. He blushed as some of it fell and a lacy purple bra and panties set fell onto the ground near his feet. 

Damn, ain't gonna be able t' look at her t' same, not that ya ain't been lookin' already he thought as he stared at the delicate items. He felt his cock twitch the longer he stared and quickly grabbed them and stuffed them into the bag. His cheeks still slightly red as T-Dog opened the flap. 

"You got another chain on your truck?" 

"Yea, let me just finish in here. Then we'll get her bike up beside Merle's" he ducked his head more to hide his embarrassed and slightly turned on face from the man, grabbing the lantern and boots from around him. Shoving them into the bag quickly, T-Dog entered and began to roll the blankets and sleeping bag up. The pair made quick work of packing Phoenix's tent up, even taking it down and rolling it up. It and her bags thrown into the back of the cab next to Daryl's own scant belongings. The bike proved to be easier moved than the pair thought, it sat perfectly in the small gap between the two walls of the truck bed and Merle's monstrous Triumph, secured down with a long metal chain that also held Merle's down. Daryl quickly checked nothing of his or the sleeping girl's had been left scattered about before turning to his own tent.

*

The group gathered near to the RV as they neared readiness to leave. Phoenix sat in Daryl's truck, quiet and dizzy, her head was hurting something awful and she could barely stay awake. She could see the group talking and saying goodbye to the Morales family but couldn't hear them. After a few minutes Daryl stormed up to the truck, climbed into the bed and russled around near Merle's bike before climbing in beside her. He put a hand gently on her shoulder holding out a bottle of water. She gave him a sleepy smile in return, her hand shaking as she took it. He held it steady as she took a sip. 

"Here."

He fished an orange prescription bottle in her direction, his face starting to heat up. She took the pills from him and balanced the water between her knees. Quickly reading the label she smiled. Painkillers. She struggled with the child proof lock on the cap for a few minutes before Daryl reached over and helped her. He slid 2 pills out and dropped them in her hand. 

"Don't tell the others about those. Don't want 'em comin' t' me asking fer meds fer a paper cut." He growled harshly. She nodded and swallowed the meds with a mouthful of water. Daryl looked on as she closed the bottle of water and her eyes. The truck moved slowly out of the quarry with the rest of the convoy, horns calling out as the Morales family went a different way.

*

That night, the convoy pulled into the side of a quiet wooded road and made plans. Phoenix dozed in the truck while others stood watch. Jim's moans coming quietly from inside the RV put everyone on edge. No one complained of their hunger but they all felt it. The children especially. Daryl stood in the truck bed, crossbow raised as his eyes scanned around. Occasionally kneeling down to peer through the rear window at the pale girl in his truck. He and Merle had both decided she was a Dixon, not by blood or marriage but by deed. She had the Dixon spirit and like hell was he gonna let her go. 

She's a fighter, baby brother but she needs us. She's our baby sis now, got it? We gotta protect 'er. Merle's voice said in his head as he turned to look at her once again. 

She's more to you than a sister Daryl, just admit it t' yaself he thought a small smile on his face as she hugged his winged vest closer to her chest. He'd given it to her as the late summer wind began to chill the inside of the truck. He sighed and stood once more, knowing even if he admitted his feelings he couldn't be with her. He wasn't good enough and she didn't see him that way. Even if she did, the scars would disgust her the second she saw them. She deserves someone who could be everything he wasn't. He was worthless and she was worth so much more. 

Don't mean ya can't look, baby brother. 

Daryl chuckled at that and looked once again to the girl, nodding to himself. 

Ain't no harm in lookin' he mused, looking forward to the girl waking up properly. 

*

The horn of the RV honked loudly in front of Daryl's truck and Phoenix raised her eyebrow in question. She felt slightly better after the sleep but still weak, she hopped out of the truck and felt her knees almost give out. She held on to the side of the truck slowly making her way to the rest of the group. Jim was laid against a tree a little bit up a bank at the side of the road and seemed to want to be left behind. His face was pale and sweaty, under his eyes darkened with sickness. 

Daryl came to her side and wrapped an arm around her waist and helped her up the bank to say goodbye. She sank to her knees and placed her hand on top of Jim's. 

"Hey. I can... If you want... I got a silencer. It'll be quick. I'll sent you on your way with my family prayer." She whispered to him, Daryl waiting at the bottom of the bank with Rick and Shane. Jim smiled tightly as another cramp ripped through him, he coughed up a little blood and Phoenix grimaced. 

"No. It's your corrupt we claim, remember?" He laughed, taking her hand in his as Phoenix's face dropped. 

How did he know? 

"How - ?" 

"I saw you. I was in Boston that day, he'd killed my cousin." He smiled slightly, gripping her hand. "I know why you didn't say anything... I'm glad you did it... And don't give up on this group, protect them, they need you. That's your new mission." He burst into a coughing fit and tears dropped down her face as she shuffled away.

She stood slowly and wobbled over to Daryl, he reached an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his chest. The only comfort he could offer. He felt awkward and uncomfortable but he was trying. He felt angry at Jim for causing her tears for a guilt inducing moment but he knew it was natural to seeing someone die. Rick offered Jim a gun which he declined and Jim met Daryl's eyes, Daryl nodded with a grim smile and lead the girl back to his truck. He helped her climb in and secured the seat belt around her as she silently cried. He gave her shoulder a squeeze before getting into the driver's seat and following after the RV. The girl passing out soon after. 

*

Phoenix was thankful when her head started to clear and her energy returned as the huge Atlanta skyline began to grow closer and closer. Daryl chewed his thumb, another nervous habit it seemed he shared with the man she'd once known. He glanced at her as the sky began to darken. 

"Feel better?" 

 "Yea, sorry for going dark on you back there." She whispered, sitting up straighter to glance through the rear window at her bike. "Thanks for taking care of my stuff. Appreciate it." 

She smiled at him as the RV started slowing in front of them. The cars all slowed down and stopped beside a road. In front of them was the CDC, its huge glass exterior mostly undamaged except for the expected gore. The barricades and army trucks had been coated with bodies of the fallen soldiers. 

She raised herself to her knees and leaned over the seat, grabbing her bow and quiver and throwing them over her shoulder. She climbed out and glanced around as the group began to move towards the building. Rick reached the door and shook it.

Daryl and Phoenix stood side by side, glancing at the shadows that darkened with every minute as the sun began to go down. She pointed towards the barricade as walkers began to approach. She nocked an arrow and let it fly, killing the walker with ease. Her blood pounding as adrenaline kicked it. She blocked the noise of the group out and focused on protecting them. Daryl also shooting at the walkers as the group got louder and louder. Three more walkers fell to her arrows when she felt Daryl tug her arm and try to pull her away. 

She spun suddenly as Rick yelled. 

"You're killing us! You're killing us!" 

Shane began pulling Rick away as a groan of the shutters sounded loudly in the dead city. A blinding light causing the whole group to stop and stare.

PREVIOUS CHAPTER *** NEXT

[phoenixblack89]

6 more pages to type up and that's fera chapter 4 all typed up ready to edit and then post!

Whoop whoop.

[phoenixblack89]

Chapter 8 - Demons With Familiar Faces

I'm back again with a brand new chapter and its one of my very favourite TWD episodes! Whoop Whoop.

BE prepared for some heart break and a fair amount of angst.

Smut incoming in the next chapter eheheheehe

The awesome page breaker was made by @firefly-graphics​ (stupid Tumblr and their 10 image rule ruining my layout grrr)

TAG LIST: @lilythemadqueen @autocon23 @boondoctorwho @browneyes528 @writingdeadangel @darylsgirl @purple-serenity @fandomsaremykryponite @ @pandora-writes-stuff @littlegodzilla

WARNINGS: Graphic injury talk, ANGST, Typical canon violence, Merle being a racist dickhead.

Phoenix weaved her way through the trucks and cars on the highway leading into Atlanta. She was due to meet up with someone who sympathised with their cause, someone who could tell her exactly the location of the twins and Romeo.

She grit her teeth in frustration as she slowed to a stop beside a pale blue Ford truck and killed the engine. Her hands tugged her helmet off and she cracked her neck loudly. A sharp whistle had her head snapping to the side. A bald man was smiling widely at her from the driver's window. His eyes ran up and down her frame slowly as he licked his lips. 

"Well now... That's a mighty fine sight... Don't ya agree Daryl?" the man said turning to another man in the cab, who leaned forward and looked at her before scoffing and turning back to gaze out his ow​n window. 

Phoenix felt her heart stop for a moment, like time had stopped. The man, Daryl, was the spitting image of Murphy. Even had the same small mole above his lip except his hair was a few shades lighter. 

"You know darlin' I could give ya a ride better than that ole dirt bike could. Give ya a taste of summit real powerful between those thighs."

"Shut up Merle. Leave the kid alone." Her eyes met the intense blue of the Murphy clone as he spoke. 

"No thanks. I prefer something that ain't gonna die half way through." She smirked, the Murphy clone sniggering lightly into his hand at the other man's shocked spluttering. 

"I ain't ever tended an English rose before... How 'bout it girlie? You wanna me t' trim those thorns?" 

"I would... But I prefer an Irish whiskey to Moonshine." She replied, smirking at the man's rapidly reddening face. It was clear as day he wasn't used to facing such rejection. 

"She ain't interested, leave her be." The clone said quietly around his thumb. 

"Now she just needs to give in to old Merle's charm. A fine ass like that must need a strong man to keep that body warm at night." Merle licked his lips, his eyes centring in on the space between her legs lustfully. 

"Pfft... Like you'd know how to have a girl seein' stars and shaking in intense bliss." She snapped with a laugh at the lecherous man. His eyes darkened and he raised his chin, anger flaring in his blue eyes. 

"Ya ain't from around here are ya princess so let me give ya some advice -" 

The man was cut off as explosions rocked the dark night sky. All eyes being drawn to the city skyline as huge orange and red flames began to light up the outlines of the sky scrapers. 

Phoenix felt a tug on her heart as tears welled in her eyes. There goes her chance at finding the boys easily.

"Morning." Lori whispered to Dale as she pulled her boots on before walking over to Carol and Phoenix, who were hanging laundry on a make shift line between two trees. 

"I can't believe I slept in." Lori sighed, grabbing some freshly cleaned clothes and tossing them over her shoulder. 

"You must have needed it. Feeling all right?" Carol replied quietly. 

"Next time wake me, all right? Especially on laundry day." Lori stated, beginning to hang shirts. 

"I can manage, I have Phoenix to help. I had an idea I wanted to run by you." Carol said, glancing at the woman. 

"Well, come on Carol! Don't leave us in suspense? Is it hog tying Dixon and finally getting him all clean for once? Never see a man so filthy! Wonder if he's as tanned all over..." Phoenix joked, wiggling her eyebrows at the women. Lori and Carol let out a laugh and glanced towards the archer. Daryl raised his head at their stares and knitted his brows in confusion when they turned and stifled more giggles with their hands. "I got some good strong rope we can use to tie him to the tree."

Now there's a fun idea.... Wait... No. Ya mad at him remember. Focus girl. 

"You are terrible! What's that idea?" Lori gasped between giggles clutching at a stitch in her side from her laughter.

"That big kitchen of theirs got me thinking." Carol smiled lightly. 

"I wouldn't mind cooking in a real kitchen again." Lori sighed wistfully; her eyes drawn to the house. 

"Maybe we all pitch in and cook dinner for Hershell and his family tonight." Phoenix and Lori tilted their heads in question at the grey-haired woman. She smiled weakly at the pair as she shrugged. "Kind of looking for things to keep my mind occupied. After everything they've done for us, seems like the least we could do. You mind extending the invitation? Would just feel more right coming from you." 

"How so?" 

"You're Rick's wife. It sort of makes you our unofficial first lady." Carol blushed, ducking her head slightly.

"Oh, my lady!" Phoenix laughed, bowing towards Lori playfully. "How may I be of service? I cannot allow the first lady to sully her dainty hands with such work!" 

The women laughed at the girl as she playfully tugged Lori into a chair. 

"Stop it!" Lori laughed shaking her long-haired head. Phoenix bowed once more before skipping off towards her tent. "She seems in a better mood."

"She does. It's nice to see her smile for once." Carol replied, her eyes watching the girl too. 

"Morning, guys. Let's get going. We've got a lot of ground to cover." Rick said quietly as the group gathered around the car. "All right, everyone's getting new search grids today. If she made it as far as the farmhouse Daryl found, she might have gone further east than we've been so far."

"I'd like to help. I know the area pretty well and stuff." Jimmy stated, joining the small gathering with hopeful eyes. 

"Hershell's okay with this?" Rick questioned the boy, who had a sheepish look on his face. 

 "Yeah yeah. He said I should ask you." 

 "All right then. Thanks." 

"Nothing about what Daryl found screams Sophia to me. Anyone could have been holed up in that farmhouse." Shane said quietly, his hands placing the bag of weapons onto the car hood.

"Anybody includes her, right?" 

"Yea she's a smart kid. Hide, wait for rescue. Makes sense to me." Phoenix smirked; the man glared at her in return. 

"Whoever slept in that cupboard was no bigger than yay-high." Daryl motioned to his chest at roughly the height of the girl. 

"It's a good lead."

"Maybe we'll pick up her trail again." 

"No maybe about it. I'm gonna borrow a horse, head up to this ridge right here, take a bird's-eye view of the whole grid. If she's up there, I'll spot her." Daryl stated, pulling a shirt on over his vest and slinging the crossbow back over his shoulder. He glanced at Phoenix in question and grit his teeth as she pointedly turned her head away. 

"Good idea."

"Maybe you'll see your Chupacabra up there too." T-Dog laughed lightly. 

"Chupacabra?" Rick's face a confused amused look as he turned to the man. 

"You never heard this? Our first night in camp, Daryl tells us that the whole thing reminds him of a time when he went squirrel hunting and he saw a Chupacabra." Dale said calmly, filling the group into the story. Jimmy laughs at the man and abruptly quietens as Daryl's head snapped to him. 

"What are you braying at, jackass?"

"You believe in a blood-sucking dog?" The boy questioned. 

"Do you believe dead people walking around?" The archer snapped back, his eyes holding pure annoyance at the teenager. 

Phoenix glanced between the pair, a smirk fighting its way onto her face. As mad as she was at the archer, she couldn't help but be amused by his ire at the young man. 

"Hey hey. Ever fire one before?" Shane snaps as Jimmy reached out towards the guns laid on the bonnet of the car. 

"Well, if I'm going out, I want one." Jimmy replied, glancing at the group. 

"Yeah, and people in hell want slurpees." Daryl said sarcastically as he walked away. Smiling to himself as he heard Phoenix struggling not to laugh at his joke. 

"Why don't you come train tomorrow? If you're serious, I'm a certified instructor." Shane said calmly. 

"For now, he can come with us." Andrea said calmly, smiling lightly at the kid. 

"He's yours to babysit then." 

"I'm gonna help Hershell. I know a fair bit about farming and shit, might buy us some brownie points with the old man." Phoenix said, wandering away with a pointed glance at Rick. Rick nodded with a slight confusion gracing his face. 

"All right, Andrea, T-Dog, I want you guys... "

Dammit Dixon! Focus! 

Damn girl. Got me all twisted in knots. Shouldn't like her the way I do. She's a damn kid 

Daryl thought as he rode the ginger mare through the woods, his eyes scanning along the ridge line for any sign of Sophia. He pulled the trigger on his crossbow and nailed a squirrel to the tree, grabbing it quickly as he rode by.

Daryl slowed the horse as his eyes caught sight of the doll at the bottom and made his slow way down the slope to the river bed. The doll grimy and dirt covered as he held it up. He recognised it from the camp, Sophia never let the thing out of her sight. 

"Sophia!" He yelled, standing and turning. He sighed, shouldering his crossbow and tucking the doll into the waistband of his jeans before climbing the slope and getting back onto the ginger horse. He rode forward a few feet before the horse began to falter and stomp. Something had spooked the horse. 

"Whoa. Easy, easy." He said firmly, trying to calm the horse as a flock of ravens flew in front of them. The horse walked forward another foot before a snake slithered away under the hoofs as they stamped. The horse threw the man from its back and ran away. Daryl tumbled head over heels down the rocky bank and hit the water. 

"Whoa whoa whoa! Son of a bitch." Daryl muttered to himself as he stopped falling and tumbling down the steep slope towards the water. He glanced downwards at his side and groaned. A bolt from his crossbow was sticking through his side. 

Daryl wadded through the water and stopped as he reached the other side. He paused long enough to cut his sleeves from his shirt and tie them around the bolt embedded in his torso. He picked up a stick to help him and used it to feel along the bottom of the river bed for his crossbow. He held it aloft once he found it and began panting his slow ascent up the trees lined slope. 

Phoenix threw herself down onto her sleeping bag and sighed, her face itched something awful but she didn't find that she cared if it hurt. It reminded her that she was alive and had a mission to complete. 

Murphy.... Connor....

Tears sprang to her eyes as she pulled out one of Connor's shirts from her bag and buried her face into the fabric. Her sobs being drowned out by the softly fading scent of the elder brother.

Daryl threw down his stick as it snapped in half, panting in pain. 

"Oh, come on. You've done half. Stop being such a pussy.  Come on!" Daryl groaned to himself as he reached for a branch. The branch snapped under his weight and he grunted as his body hit the hard, rocks on the way back down the slope. Darkness took hold of him as he landed in a heap in the shallow edge of the stream.

"Why don't you pull that arrow out, dummy? You could bind your wound better."

Daryl blinked as the fuzziness in his head smacked into him full force. He was having difficulty in regaining control of his full senses. 

"Merle." Daryl groaned smiling lightly, his eye sight fuzzy and slowly becoming clearer. His head was hurting something fierce. Merle's smiling face leaned over him as he kneeled down. 

"What's going on here? You taking a siesta or something?" 

"A shitty day, bro." He wiggled his fingers slowly as he replied. His mind still cloudy from the blow to his head.

"Like me to get your pillow? Maybe rub your feet?" Merle joked, prodding him lightly with his hand.

"Screw you." He whispered, fighting against the darkness calling to him. 

"Huh-uh. You're the one screwed from the looks of it. All them years I spent trying to make a man of you, this is what I get? Look at you. Lying in the dirt like a used rubber. You're gonna die out here, brother. And for what?"

"A girl. They lost a little girl." Daryl groaned, his mission coming back to him at a lightning speed. 

"So... you got a thing for little girls now? Thought you had a thing for Firebug? Damn boy... Gonna break her little heart." Merle laughed down at him. 

"Shut up." Daryl whispered.

"'Cause I noticed you ain't out looking for old Merle no more." 

"Tried like hell to find you, bro." He hissed, raising his eyebrows slightly.

"Like hell you did! You split, man. Lit out first chance you got."

"You lit out. All you had to do was wait. We went back for you. Rick and I, we did right by you." Daryl defended himself against his older brother. 

"This the same Rick that cuffed me to the rooftop in the first place? Forced me to cut off my own hand?" Daryl's blurry vision took in the sight of Merle's hand, the one he had cut off, that was still attached to his wrist. "This him we're talking about here? You his bitch now?" 

"I ain't nobody's bitch." Daryl growled. 

"You're a joke is what you are, playing errand boy to a bunch of pansy-asses, niggers and democrats. You're nothing but a freak to them. Redneck trash. That's all you are. They're laughing at you behind your back. You know that, don't you? I got a little news for you, son. One day they gonna scrape you off their heels like you was dogshit." Merle gave him a tap against the thigh as his head swam once more. 

"Hey. They ain't your kin, your blood. Hell, you had any damn nuts in that sack of yours, you'd go back there and shot your pal Rick in the face for me. And claim that fiery little redhead before someone else did! Bet she'd feel mighty fine under ya..." Merle trailed off, humming with a lecherous lick of his lips. "Now you listen to me. Ain't nobody ever gonna care about you except me, little brother. Nobody ever will. Come on, get up on your feet before I have to kick your teeth in." Merle said, tugging and slapping at his legs. 

Suddenly Daryl's eyes suddenly snapped back into focus at the walker attempting to chew at his boot and scrambled backwards away from it. He quickly bashed its head in with a stick before, panting, laid back onto his back. 

He paled as the shambling corpse of another walker headed towards him. He reached for his crossbow but there was no bolts anywhere in sight. He hissed as he pulled the arrow loose from his body and pulled on the crossbow wire to load it, he shot the bolt into the walker. 

That damn fucking horse Daryl thought as his mind began to clear. His side was killing him as he tied the shirt sleeves around the wound then began eating the squirrel raw, blood smearing around his mouth as he chewed the plump little liver, his mind wandering to a certain Brit's butchery skills. Merle's taunting began echoing in his ears. 

"You fucked ya only chance with her baby brother. That sweet girl ain't gonna want ya dirty hands on her soft skin. She ain't gonna cry none if you don't go back. None of them will!" Merle laughed at him, Daryl steeled his eyes and hung the ears off a lace around his neck. 

No. I'm gonna fix it. I need to. He thought as he chewed the squirrel raw. I hurt her but I can make it better. I gotta. She's my friend. I can make it right again. I gotta. She's only one I can stand here. I'ma make it right. 

Daryl set his face and began to climb up the ridge and make his way back to camp. Each step painful and energy draining. His focus on the red-haired woman fuelling him as well as the doll hanging from his belt. 

"Let's go. Son of a bitch was right." He groaned as he tightened the sleeves before beginning to climb once more. He paused near to where he had fallen before, and panted. 

"Please, don't feed the birds. What's the matter, Darylina? That all you got in you? Throw away that purse and climb." 

Daryl glanced upwards as Merle appeared at the top of the climb and looked down at him. 

"I liked it better when you was missing." Daryl huffed out as he clung to the tree branch, his eyes darting to the best possible way to continue his climb. 

"Come on, don't be like that. I'm on your side." Merle cooed down at him, a huge shit eating grin plastered across his cheeks. 

"Yeah? Since when?" 

"Hell, since the day you were born, baby brother. Somebody had to look after your worthless ass." 

"You never took care of me. You talk a big game but you was never there! Hell, you ain't here now. Guess some things never change." Daryl growled, swinging himself further up the hill. 

"Well, I'll tell you what - I'm as real as your Chupacabra." Merle kneeled down and tilted his head at his younger brother, smirking wildly.

"I know what I saw."

"And I'm sure them mushrooms you ate had nothin' to do with it, right?" His older brother laughed at him. 

"You'd best shut the hell up." He growled angrily, the anger fuelling his climb.

"Or what?" Merle growled back. "You're gonna come up here and shut my mouth for me? Well, come on and do it then, if you think you're man enough. Hey, kick off them damn high heels and climb, son. You know what? If I were you I'd take a pause for the cause, brother. 'Cause I just don't think you're gonna make it to the top. Come on. Come on, little brother. Grab your friend Rick's hand." Merle taunted holding out his hand as Daryl was almost towards the top. Daryl climbed over the edge and stood slowly. He glanced around as he panted. 

"Yeah, you'd better run." Daryl yelled as he stood at the top of the slope, his side burning as he hissed in pain and began to slink his way back to the farm. 

Phoenix wiped her eyes as sleep began to call to her, her emotional outburst had drained her of her good mood and energy. She had just closed her eyes when she sat up quickly.

"Walker! Walker!" Andrea yelled panickily.

She paused and strained her ears as the voices of the others joined Andrea's. As no one was shrieking and there was no sudden call for her to run, she lay back down.

Then the gunshot went off. 

She sat bolt up and listened. When no more yells or gunshots went off, she laid back down. She'd find out about it later. Obviously, no harm had come from it. Sleep called her again. 

Daryl slowly shuffled his way towards the men approaching him and paused as the men raised their weapons. 

"Is that Daryl?" Glenn questioned as the men approached the shuffling man  

"That's the third time you've pointed that thing at my head." Daryl growled out as he stumbled a little, the weight of dragging the crossbow making his side flare with pain. "You gonna pull the trigger or what?" 

Daryl jerked backwards suddenly ad a loud shot rang out. He landed in a heap on the floor and groaned. 

"No! No! No!" Rick shouted, turning back towards the origin of the bullet. 

"Rick!" Lori shrieked rushing outside

"What on earth's going on out here?" Hershell yelled furiously as he and Lori ran from the farmhouse. 

"I was kidding." Daryl whispered as Shane and Rick pulled him to his feet, letting his arms dangle over their shoulders before giving into the light-headedness and passing out. 

"Come on." Shane grunted, Daryl was a lot heavier than he looked.

"Oh my God. Oh my God, is he dead?" Andrea gasped as she ran to them. 

"Unconscious. You just grazed him." 

"But look at him. What the hell happened? He's wearing ears." Glenn panted as he lugged Daryl's crossbow awkwardly after the men. 

"Let's keep that to ourselves." Rick hissed quietly, pulling Daryl's homemade necklace from around his neck and shoving it into his shirt pocket. 

"Guys, isn't this Sophia's?" T-Dog questioned, holding up the blood soaked doll for the others to see. 

"I found it washed up on the creek bed right there. She must have dropped it crossing there somewhere." Daryl explained, pointing at a creek on the map laid beside him with one hand as the other held the compress against his head. he hissed and jolted as Hershell poked his side.

"Cuts the grid almost in half." Rick breathed out in relief.

"Yeah, you're welcome." Daryl snapped sarcastically, groaning as Hershell prodded him a little harder.

"How's he looking?" Rick asked the old vet as he stood and rolled up his sleeves.

"I had no idea we'd be going through the antibiotics so quickly. Any idea what happened to my horse?" Hershell asked as he finished examining the wound in the man's side.

"Yeah, the one who almost killed me? If it's smart, it left the country." Daryl moaned out as he eased himself to lean more onto his injured side.

"We call that one Nelly, as in nervous Nelly. I could have told you she'd throw you if you'd bothered to ask. It's a wonder you people have survived this long." Hershell explained as he washed his hands, pulling out the needle to finish the stitches.

"How's he doing?" Andrea asked quietly as Dale joined her on the porch.

"He'll be fine. What about you?" Dale smiled, slowly seating himself beside her despite his aching knee. 

"I shot Daryl." Andrea deadpanned.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. We've all wanted to shoot Daryl." Dale laughed, causing Andrea to give a small huff of a laugh in return. Neither noticing the small dark haired shadow sneaking out the other door to their left and off into the setting sun.

LINEBREAK COS TUMBLR WON'T LET ME PUT MY PHOTO ONE IN

The silence of the room was broken only by the sound of cutlery hitting the fine porcelain tableware. The tension in the room was high. Glenn smiled to Maggie as she passed him a note before turning in his seat.

"Does anybody know how to play guitar? Dale found a cool one. Somebody's got to know how to play." Glenn asked innocently, trying to ease the room into conversation hopefully.

"Otis did." Patricia said breathily, her heart clenching at the reminder of her late husband.

"Yes, and he was very good too." Hershell replied, his face a blank mask as he placed his napkin down.  The group glanced at Shane, feeling guilty that he had survived while Otis hadn't. 

"Phoenix!?" A hand shook her shoulder. Darkness has fallen sometime while she slept. She groaned and turned to the hand touching her. Squinting at the pale faced boy in front of her. 

"Phoenix! Wake up!" 

"Carl? What? What's going on?" She whispered, ears pricking in case of walkers attacking. Carl looked scared and rubbed his hands together before ducking his head. A habit he seemed to have picked up from Daryl. "Carl? Are you in trouble?" 

"No. There's been an accident." 

Phoenix sat up, throwing the blanket off her legs and pulling his chin up to look him in the eyes. 

"Who?" 

"Daryl is hurt real bad, blood everywhere. It's bad Phoenix. He was out cold when Dad and Shane took him in the house! Hershel won't let him leave the bed!" 

Her heart stopped. It had to have given how her chest hurt. 

"He fell off a horse, down a cliff or summit. Stabbed himself with one of his bolts. Then he got attacked by walkers and pulled the bolt out! He killed the walkers. Climbed back up and walked back here. Andrea shot him! She thought he was a walker!"

The boy flinched back from the icy look in the older girl's eyes. If looks could kill the boy would be stone cold dead. She stormed out her tent, her turning madly looking for the dumb blond who couldn't tell the difference between walker and not. Carl followed her as she stormed about the camp. 

"They're up at the house. That dinner thing for the Greenes?" 

Phoenix nodded and fury powered her stride as she walked up to the house. Each step pounding the grass under her boots into the ground. Carl sped past her into the house, no doubt to warn them of hurricane Phoenix coming. She could hear Carl inside, yelling. 

"Andrea! Run! Phoenix looks like she's gonna kill you!" 

She stood on the porch and took a deep breath. 

This wasn't her house. She had no right to just march in and call someone out. Maybe punch the smug bitch in her perfect teeth a few times. Tell her what happens to people who attack others. Bring her a taste of the old Boston Saint spirit down on her arse. 

She let her breath out and pulled herself to her full height and closed her eyes, raising her hand and knocking on the glass behind the screen door. She waited for a few minutes before steps were heard on the other side. Hershel smiled and cocked his eyebrow as he opened the door. 

"Good evening young lady." 

"Evening Mr. Greene. Heard there was a gathering tonight. May I come in?" She said glancing at her feet. Manners cost nothing after all. 

"I've been meaning to see you about that face anyway. Come on in. We'll eat then I'll clean that up." He held the door open and she ducked inside, pulling her hood down and smiling slightly. "Daryl is awake if you want to see him, I know you two are close, maybe see if he's hungry? You could maybe give him a smile, might aid his healing, raise his spirits." He whispered to her, pointing her in the direction of the room Daryl was in. 

She nodded and headed off to see him. She reached the door and took a breath. They hadn't exactly been on the best of terms lately. 

Would he want to see her? Probably not. He probably hated her for shooting at him. For running away when Sophia had done the same and still not been found. Probably hated that she hadn't been out looking like he had. 

She turned and tears ran down her cheeks as she fled the house. She threw herself back into her tent. Chest tight and heart breaking. 

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Daryl turned as he heard footsteps outside his room, he pulled the blanket up further hiding his back and chest scars for when the door opened but it never did. He frowned as hurried steps grew further away. He shrugged and let a lone tear fall down his face. He wished Phoenix had come to see him. Maybe she'd make him laugh like she did when they were hunting or taking watch together. Everyone else had been to see him. 

Then he remembered. 

Y'all hurt her pretty bad baby brother. She ain't yours no more. Not that she ever was. You gone fucked that up perfectly. Daryl couldn't help but agree as more tears fell and his heart screamed in loss and pain at the thought. 

Daryl chewed his thumb thoughtfully as he racked his brains for a way to make Phoenix forgive him as a soft knock sounded at the door. He quickly turned and made sure he was covered as Carol walking in, carrying a tray with a plate of food and a glass of water.

"How are you feeling?" 

"As good as I look." He mumbled, shifting his weight off the wound on his back slightly.

"I brought you some dinner. You must be starving." She said quietly, placing down the tray beside him before leaning over and placing a gentle kiss against his forehead. Daryl flinched at the closeness of the woman. Carol smiled weakly and decided to ignore the automatic reaction to her actions. 

"Watch out, I got stitches." Daryl said quietly, trying and failing to explain his reaction. Carol smiled at him and walked towards the door, pausing in the doorway and turning to him once more.

"You need to know something. You did more for my little girl today than her own daddy ever did in his whole life." She whispered, tears coming to her eyes slightly. Daryl's eyes drifted downwards in discomfort.

"I didn't do anything Rick or Shane wouldn't have done."

"I know. You're every bit as good as them. Every bit." She said tearfully, ducking her head and leaving Daryl's heart feeling lighter than it had. 

Everyone had returned from the house after the meal slowly in pairs or by themselves. Phoenix sat in, what she had come to consider, her tree. The darkness of her clothes and the night making her completely unseen or so she thought. Rick and Lori soon left, Carl being carried by his father, his face buried in his shoulder, sound asleep. 

That boy could sleep through anything she thought, waiting for the married couple to get in their tent. She hopped down out of the tree and landed lightly on her feet. A quick glance at the RV to check who was up there, and whether they were looking this way and she slowly crouched her way up to the house. Hidden safely in the shadows, she crept along the edge of the porch and peered upwards. The last light in the house had only just gone out. She snuck carefully along to the back door and stood fully. No one could see her from camp here and she let out a breath. The slow creak of the back door sounded and she jumped. 

"Phoenix?" A hissed whisper asked.

"Maggie?" 

Maggie shuffled on her bare feet for a moment, looking nervous. Phoenix raised an eyebrow and smiled. 

"I won't tell if you don't." The short haired farmer's daughter said. 

"Tell what? I'm just grabbing that plate of dinner from you. I don't know what happened after." She smiled, patting the girl's arm slowly as she stepped up beside her on the short porch in front of the back door. "It's in the fridge, right?" 

"Yea it is." Phoenix smiled as Maggie blushed. Phoenix slowly opened the door and Maggie grabbed her arm. "Thank you. He's asleep by the way. I checked on him a few minutes ago. Just be out before Daddy wakes up. He wouldn't like it." 

"I know Mags. Have fun with Glenn." She laughed, sneaking into the house and closing the door. 

She grabbed a fork and her plate out of the fridge, the plate feeling slightly warm to her before making her way to the room Daryl was laid up in. She slowly pushed the door open, thankful it wasn't creaking and slipped into the room. 

Daryl lay on his uninjured side facing away from the door, snoring softly. She smiled sadly and made her way around the bed after closing the door slightly behind her. The soft glow of the lamp beside the bed lighting up the room softly. She sighed and sank into the chair beside his temporary bed. She reached out and barely touching, brushed some of his hair out of his eyes. Silently giving him a once over before lifting the foil off her plate. 

Sure, would've tasted nicer hot but she was hungry and it was truly a nice gesture of the group to cook for the Greenes. She speared a carrot and stuck it in her mouth.

It was still piping hot... 

Maggie you clever, sneaky mare she thought. The woman had clearly heated it a short time ago before she had followed her to the rear of the house. Phoenix sent a silent thanks out to the woman for her thoughtfulness and began to eat. It was truly nice to eat a full and proper meal, made with more than just squirrels and awful tinned vegetables. The mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables hitting a spot in her stomach she had almost forgotten existed. She hummed in delight at the flavours hitting her tongue and enjoyed it with her eyes closed, not noticing one of Daryl's eyes opening to look at her. He smiled and snuggled back into the pillow. 

Finally come t' see me then he thought as he drifted off again, feeling content that he hadn't screwed up as badly as he had thought as she relaxed into the chair. Gotta say sorry in morning... Maybe give her summit nice too, maybe she likes flowers... or a nice knife... 

Phoenix carefully placed the now empty plate on the bedside table and felt for the first time, in God knows how long, full and safe. She leaned forward on her elbows before slowly rising. 

Not wanting to tempt fate but needing to, she sat beside the sleeping hunter and ran her hand through his hair and over his head, being extra careful around his stitches. A small noise of pleasure came from him and she smiled, easing herself onto the bed fully to lay beside him, her fingers never ceasing their movement. As she lay her back against the headboard, his arm reached out and he shifted his head into her lap, his arm thrown lightly around her hips pinning her to her place. He nuzzled her thigh and she sighed, remembering how her missing friend would often do the same when he was sick and she was taking care of him. 

She glanced down at Daryl and smiled. 

Maybe it's time to move on and let them go... 

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Glenn slowly climbing the ladder to the hayloft, smiling to himself as he made sure not to drop the blanket tucked under his arm. He was excited as he stepped into the hayloft. His face contorting as strange sounds reached his ears. He stepped closer to the edge, hoping that he wasn't about to see someone he knew in the same situation he himself had been coming here to engage in. His face paled as the sight revealed itself. It wasn't someone getting their rocks off. It was walkers.

A lot of walkers.

He quickly turned, ready to rush back to camp and get the others so they could take care of the issue. He paused as he almost ran face first into Maggie. Her face an angry scowl.

"You weren't supposed to see this"

PREVIOUS FIRST NEXT

[phoenixblack89]

Fera Ingris Masterlist

All my chapters in one place to mainly save space on my main masterlist. I've used the readmore thing cos I know this is gonna be a long list haha

The chapters are linked in the actual chapters so ya can click next but if ya wanna see them seperately then here ya go

Main Masterlist

Dealing With The Dixons

Fuck My Life

Whiskey Kisses

Lost In The Woods

A Test of Faith

Blood of The Innocent

The Search Begins

Demons With Familiar Faces

Secrets and White Lies

The Secrets We Keep

[phoenixblack89]

After almost over a month. I finally finished painting my Fera oc Phoenix.

This is, of course, later in the fic. Roughly around series 5 or 6.

[phoenixblack89]

SNEAK PEEK SUNDAY!

Special thanks to @writingdeadangel for helping me decide what to post

My lovely tag squad - @fandomsaremykryponite @lilythemadqueen @browneyes528 @darylsgirl @boondoctorwho

SPOILER WARNING FOR VERY MUCH LATER CHAPTERS!

Phoenix wandered around, as per the King's instructions to enjoy the Kingdom before the negotiations could begin. She spotted a small church and wandered over, looking up at the stained glass windows she sighed.

Her faith had been lost a long time ago. Gone.

The same as the brothers who meant everything to her. She pulled the rosary from under her shirt and ran her fingers over it. Her own had been lost when the prison fell and all she found of her boys was this single rosary. She traced the initials craved into the bottom - MM. It made her heart ache to think that Connor's had been lost to her, just like the man himself. Tears came to her eyes as she stood there, not noticing the men approaching her.

"Why do you cry so, my lady?"

Her head flew up and she gave an awkward curtsy to the king, who smiled at her miserable attempt. His eyes drawn to the rosary on her chest. Shiva padded over and sniffed at her belly, her head nudging against the wooden item lightly purring.

"I... I lost someone very dear to me... I haven't set foot in a church for a very long time." She whispered as the tiger returned to the dreadlocked man's side. His lips curved at the corner and whispered into Jerry's ear.

"Faith is something we all must cling to in these dark times. Perhaps you need to talk to someone whose faith has yet to be shaken? Jerry will fetch them for you."

Jerry nodded and rushed off, taking Shiva with him. The king stood beside her in companionable silent. His eyes roving over her figure.

Is this her? The one they insist is alive and well? Perhaps four hearts will be mended today.

He sighed and watched the girl play with the rosary.

"Yer majesty!"

The pair turned towards the yell as Phoenix's breath caught in her throat.

Striding towards her, metal arm shining in the sun was a ghost.

As he got closer he began to run, his arms thrown wide as she rushed past the King and threw herself at him. Merle's booming laugh echoing around her as he lifted her and spun her in happiness.

"Girl! You are one sorry sight for this ol' man!" He said setting her back on her feet, holding her at arms length to look at her. "My baby brother wit' ya?"

"Yea Daryl's here. And Rick and Michonne. And...." her body shook with tears as she caught a glimpse of silver beads around his neck. He glanced down and pulled it out - her rosary. He slowly raised it above his head and slipped it over hers.

"Looks better on ya than me" he smiled, wrinkles crinkling the corner of his eyes. She gave a sob and clutched his shirt, burying her head into his neck. "Aww come now. No tears fer ol' Merle."

He nodded to the king as he passed, patting the man on the shoulder lightly. Merle shushed the girl as she cried against him, rocking gently side to side. Loud footsteps of multiple people approached and Merle smirked as they came to a sudden stop. A loud sob came from the blond man in front of him.

"Firebug, lookie" he said pulling her out of his arms and spinning her. Her heart hitched in her chest, eyes disbelieving as her lower lip wobbled.

Connor walked slowly to her, his hands running over her arms and face as tears fell from the both of them.

"Ye alive!" He whispered, as his twin approached the three. Daryl running up and grabbing his brother into his arms tightly, laughing through his own tears, Merle teasingly calling him a big softie and pushing him away. Phoenix nodded and gazed up at the twins as they engulfed her into their arms. Their lips brushing against her hair as they sunk to their knees in relief and pure joy.

She clung to them for what seemed hours but could of been mere minutes. She turned to Murphy and slipped his rosary over her head and back to the man's chest, where it truly belonged.

"I missed you! So much." She whispered as Connor pulled her back into his arms. He smiled down at her and cupped her cheek.

"Can I kiss ye beautiful wife?" He whispered in her ear, stroking his thumb across her scarred cheek. She gave her answer in the form of throwing herself against him, her lips meeting his in a frantic clash. The joyful spark she had always felt rushed through her veins as they kissed passionately, Connor letting a soft moan float into her mouth as his tongue was granted access to hers.

A loud clearing of the throat made the pair part, both faces red and chests heaving in desire.

"Well I am jealous missy! Ain't greeted ol' Merle that way." Daryl cuffed him around the head as he laughed. "I'm only joking Darlena! I know she's married"

Damn leprechaun was stealing her away again he thought, watching as the blond grasped her waist lustfully.

"Aye my pretty little wife." Connor said, smiling down at her, before claiming her mouth once more. Her eyes closed and he glanced through half lidded eyes at Daryl, making it clear she was his and his alone. Daryl bristled and clenched his jaw as she pulled away, smiling widely. "Shall we go refamilarise ourselves pet?"

She let out a giggle and allowed him to pull her away from her family and friends. She shot a look over her shoulder at Daryl and smiled sadly at him as he nodded his head in reply.