Contagion Chapter Sixteen
Zac sighed as he sat in the room where Beth was at. There had still been no change in her and he hated it. He hated seeing her looking so not there. She was just a shell of the Beth he remembered taking out to shot a gun. A shell of the Beth that he had overheard singing. A shell of the Beth who had kissed him.
"Why are you here?" Jimmy asked as he stood in the entry way of the room where his girlfriend was. "Why are you at my girlfriend's side for? You have a wife."
Looking up at Jimmy, Zac glared slightly, "Beth's a friend? Am I not supposed to be concerned about a friend?"
"No, you can be," Jimmy stated as he walked into the room. "But you seem more concerned about your friend than your own wife."
"My wife isn't in danger at the moment," Zac said through gritted teeth not liking the way Jimmy was acting and maybe partly he felt this way because of a guilty conscience. He knew he was more concerned about Beth at the moment and he knew how that had to look but a part of him wasn't sure he cared..even if he did love his wife and he did love Kate..but Beth..there was just something and it had been there since she kissed him, maybe before when he had felt that spark when they touched or even when he heard her singing. Beth had a magnetic pull on him.
"And what about if she was?" Jimmy asked as he sat on the other side of Beth. "Would you be this concerned over her? Heck would you save her if it came down to her or Beth? Or what if she went missing? Would you grieve her or just try to move on with my girlfriend...your friend."
At Jimmy's questions Zac glared again but went silent because he wasn't exactly sure how he'd answer some of them.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Avery who was following behind Carol as the woman went back to Daryl's camp again hid behind a tree once Carol had gotten close enough and was looking around. Daryl was nowhere in sight but she really didn't want to be spotted by Carol either so she figured it best she hide now and well from here she could also hear if Daryl did show up and talked to Carol or if Carol had words with Daryl she could also hear those too.
"What are you doing?" Daryl asked as he came up on Carol who was just walking around his campsite.
"Keeping an eye on you," Carol admitted her voice staying soft. She couldn't help but want to keep an eye on him, especially after everything he had done for Sophia.
Daryl just rolled his eyes slightly and moved around Carol some, "Ain't you a peach?" he muttered not liking her doing that.
"I'm not gonna let you pull away," Carol spoke standing her ground. "You've earned your place."
"If you spent half your time minding your daughter's business instead of sticking your nose in everybody else's, she'd still be alive!" Daryl said as he leaned into Carol some and raised his hand back slightly.
Carol who watched as Daryl raised his hand back just stood there expecting him to hit her and she'd take it if he was going too. She had gotten worse from Ed. "Go ahead," she told him knowing if he was going to he should just get it over with.
"Go ahead and what?" Daryl asked but finally he realized what she meant. "I mean just go! I don't want you here! You're a real piece of work, lady. What, are you gonna make this about my daddy or some crap like that? Pfft! Man, you don't know Jack. You're afraid. You're afraid 'cause you're all alone. You got no husband, no daughter. You don't know what to do with yourself. You ain't my problem! Sophia wasn't mine! All you had to do was keep an eye on her!"
Avery who was watching the confrontation take place felt her breath catch as again Daryl lunged for Carol and again the woman just stood there but Daryl didn't do anything he just watched as Carol walked away. Not going after Carol, Avery moved from the tree she was hiding behind once she watched Daryl walk away and head into his tent.
Going into the tent she looked down at him when he looked up at her and glared, "Glare at me all you want," she told him before sitting down so she was at his level. "What you said to Carol was cruel..hell what you said to Lori was cruel too. You can't just go around being an asshole because you feel like it."
"You can't tell me what I can do," Daryl responded as he kept his glare. "I don't want you here either. You should have left when Carol did," he said knowing he had seen her behind the tree.
"I didn't want too," Avery told him knowing even though he kept his glare she wasn't going to leave. "I can't tell you what to do, you have that right but I can do this," she muttered before she leaned over to kiss him much like she had done earlier today before the massacre at the barn, before Sophia coming out had ruined the man she was getting to open up.
Feeling Avery kiss him again Daryl froze and he pushed her away after letting himself respond to the kiss for longer than he would have liked, "Stop," he sighed before locking eyes with her. "I..I don't..I can't."
"Why can't you?" Avery asked as she raised an eyebrow. "What's stopping you?" she asked him a second question. A question that was met with silence and upon that silence she again leaned over and kissed him. This time the kiss was more gentle than the first one and again he responded back briefly before pulling away.
When he pulled away she just sighed, "If you want me to go I'll go," she told him before looking away from him. "But you can't go around shutting people down forever or acting like a baby."
Not getting a response still Avery just sighed and turned to leave only stopping when she felt Daryl's hand on her wrist and the moment she turned to face him she was surprised when he was the one who kissed her but she wasn't going to ruin the moment by pulling away and asking him about it. Instead she kissed him back and as the kisses grew rougher and more feverish she pushed him back onto the top of the sleeping bag in his tent and that was when she began to undress him as well as herself which caused him to finally pull away and look at her.
Daryl looked up at Avery as he tried to catch his breath, not sure why he had let things progress this far. He was clad only in his boxers and an unbuttoned shirt while Avery laid above him completely naked. It sure as hell wasn't the first time he had seen a naked woman but it was the first time a naked woman had actually been on top of him.
"I'm...I've..never," he stuttered out unable to meet her gaze as he confessed the fact that he was a virgin. He was a virgin in his forties. Merle had always gave him shit for it but Daryl usually ignored him knowing he had never found a woman he had wanted to let in that close, not to mention the scars on his back that he didn't want anyone to see.
Avery just looked down at Daryl as she took in his words and she blushed some, "I..do you want too?" she asked him wanting to make sure that he was okay with this.
Daryl just nodded his head giving Avery permission and it seemed that was all she needed before kissing him again and as they kissed he felt her slid his boxers off finally freeing his aching cock which had been hard for far too long since this had started tonight.
Kissing Daryl harder, Avery reached between them once his boxers were off and she grabbed his cock softly giving it a few tugs which made him moan and she just smirked on his lips. She liked knowing she could give him this kind of satisfaction. That she was the only one who had given him this before. She had never been anyone's first except maybe Jeremy but even him she wasn't sure about but Daryl's confession seemed genuine and she had no reason to doubt it.
After giving him a few strokes Avery moved down on him and closed her eyes briefly as she felt a moan come out and she parted from the kiss. Looking down at him she began to move on him starting off slow at first though when he began to move awkwardly with her she picked up her pace on him.
"Fuck...Daryl," Avery groaned out as she leaned in to kiss him again before slowly pulling him up into a sitting position. "I'm so close," she muttered into his mouth as her breathing began to get faster and let herself move on him even faster, her arms sliding around his neck as she did so.
Holding him tighter to her Avery felt her walls clench around him as her orgasm hit and the moment it did she began to moan his name out over and over into his mouth and she was sure that sometime during her own orgasm she felt him release inside of her.
Daryl who kept moving with her even through her own orgasm closed his eyes as he felt himself reach his own eventual end inside of her which cause him to moan out her name as he felt his cheeks get hotter than they already were. He wasn't sure what this meant for them and he wasn't sure if he even loved her but he did know that he liked having sex with her even if half the time he hadn't really known what he was doing.
It had also been nice to hear her say his name much like she had during that time with Shane at the CDC, except this time she had actually been intending to say his name.
"C..can I sleep in here tonight?" Avery asked as she rested her head on Daryl's shoulder her lips going to kiss his neck softly. "Please."
Nodding his head slightly Daryl sighed knowing that in this instant he'd give her everything she wanted from him. It was almost like she had fucking broken him and for the time being he wasn't complaining though maybe he'd complain tomorrow.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Kate who had eventually left her tent and went outside looked up when she heard a car coming back and along with everyone else who had been gathered around outside she watched as Shane and Lori both got out of the car once it was parked though Lori was holding her head.
"Oh my god, are you alright?" Kate asked once she was a little closer. "What happened?"
"I was in an accident," Lori stated hearing Shane saying she was attacked. "I'm fine. I really am," she nodded feeling Kate put her arm on her comforting her. "Where's Rick?" she asked as she looked around at the people knowing Shane had told her that the men had came back.
As Shane just walked away from her with his back towards her it was then that Lori knew she had been lied too, "They're not back?" she asked her voice coming out angry. "Where are they?" she asked as she turned to look at Shane.
"Look, I had to get you back here," Shane explained as he turned to face Lori.
"You asshole," Lori stated as she went towards Shane who just said her name in an attempt to stop her. "He's my husband!" she stated as she pushed him slightly.
"Lori, I will go after him. I will find him," Shane said trying to find a way to calm her. "Hey! Now look, first things first... I gotta... I gotta look after you. I gotta make sure the baby's all right, okay?"
Kate who heard Shane's revelation swallowed hard and put her hand on her own stomach. Now the group was having two babies and it was after that, she zoned out though she was still almost faintly aware of Carl saying something about the baby, he hadn't known and then Lori ushered him inside and Kate still stood frozen in her spot for what felt like forever.
When she finally snapped out of it though she headed for her tent where she sat down on the cot and swallowed hard. Two babies in one group was just asking for danger, "Maybe I should have gotten rid of you when I had a chance."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Zac who had been sitting in Beth's room sighed as he stood to leave the room and when he did he passed Maggie who came in and he gave a nod to a few of the others who just looked out of it or like they had been dealt some news though of course he didn't question it until he went outside and saw Mac sitting on the porch.
"So why does everyone look so doom and gloom?" Zac asked as he raised an eyebrow from curiosity.
"Probably cause Lori is pregnant," Mac stated as he looked at his brother. "You would have known had you been out here with everyone else instead of making oogly eyes at Beth who is the picture of a damsel by being in a catatonic state."
Zac listened to Mac, "You accusing me of liking Beth too?" he asked remembering Jimmy's words from earlier.
"Not accusing just stating what seems to be the case," Mac said as he eyed his brother. "Did you know Kate got upset because you were by Beth's side instead of being with her. Kate's your wife and the mother of your kid Zac...Beth's just a girl."
At Mac's words Zac swallowed hard because he knew his brother was right and before he could say more he watched as Mac walked away. "But what if I don't want her to be just a girl?" he whispered to himself sadly before walking off the porch to go find Kate.
The question was simple but it was also one he knew he could never find out the answer too. As much as he was finding himself attracted to Beth, Kate was his wife and she hadn't done anything wrong. He'd just have to push his feelings aside and make his marriage work.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The next morning Jessica walked into the Greene house and stopped at the room where Beth was. She figured she might as well check on the girl. It would keep her from worrying about the guys still being gone...of Glenn being gone before she could tell him she loved him.
"How is she?" Jessica asked as she looked at Maggie who was sitting at the foot of the bed and Patricia who was hovering over Beth checking her vitals.
"Dehydrated," Patricia answered as she looked at Jessica before back down at Beth. "I'll set up an I.V.," she smiled sadly as she patted Beth's hands slightly. "Best I can do without Hershel," she added in before leaving the room to go get what she needed to set up an I.V.
When Patricia exited out of one door Jessica went into the room through the door where she was standing and sat on the end of the bed when Maggie moved towards the front to be closer to Beth. "Can I get you anything?" she asked Maggie feeling sorry for the girl. In a way Beth reminded her of Zoe and it made her miss her baby sister.
Maggie shook her her head, "Nah, I just wish my dad was here," she said honestly as she turned to look at Jessica.
"She'll be okay," Jessica nodded knowing that the girl would be fine. "You just need to be strong for her."
"I was just reminding her about..." Maggie started but stopped not sure if Jessica would want to hear. "Never mind."
Jessica smiled at Maggie and shook her head, "No..No. I'd love to hear," she told Maggie being honest. Maybe she could relieve times with Zoe if she heard this story.
"My dad would die if he heard this," Maggie grinned as she looked down at Beth. "My first summer back from college, I drove home, dumped my stuff off, went straight out to the stable for a ride. My family comes back from church and Beth grabs my things and starts unpacking my stuff upstairs."
"That's sweet," Jessica stated knowing the gesture was sweet.
"Yeah, until this one here starts rifling through my backpack. She finds this little plastic container with these pink and green candies inside. She didn't even know I was on the pill. She was so freaked out by the idea of me, and boys and sex, she runs outside and chucks them in the duck pond. And I ride up, I see this, I'm screaming. She's crying and Shawn runs outside, thinks one of us is drowning. Soon as he figures out what's going on, the jerk busts out laughing so loud that my horse rears up and gets mud all over the three of us. 'My dad comes out, what the heck's goin' on out here?!' And she turns around, bats her eyelids and says, 'we're just swimming, daddy.' In her Sunday dress, all covered in snot and mud," Maggie finished a frown on her lips and tears starting to form in her eyes.
Feeling a lump forming in her throat as memories flooded her of her own sisters in times before Jessica heaved a sigh, "Rick,Taylor, and Glenn will get your dad back."
"Taylor's a good guy," Maggie stated knowing that Taylor was also Jessica's brother.
"Yeah," Jessica said not being able to help the grin on her face. "He is."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Avery stood around the cars the next morning watching as Daryl helped to get things ready to go out looking for the men who hadn't returned. She had left his tent this morning before he woke up because she was afraid of dealing with an awkward confrontation with him.
Being brought of her thoughts though when she heard a car coming down the road she watched as it turned at the farm and eventually came down the driveway, parking in front of the house.
As she walked towards where the car was parked she watched as Rick got out with Carl running toward him to hug him and Avery also couldn't help but watch the same scenario with Maggie though instead of running to Hershel she went for Taylor instead though Taylor quickly brushed her off.
Shaking her head she looked around to see if Jessica was here and sure enough she found her sister holding tight to Glenn. A sight that warmed her heart some.
"Patricia, prepare the shed for surgery," Hershel stated as he walked closer to the woman who had came outside.
"Are you hurt?" Lori asked as she pulled away from her embrace with Rick.
"No but what happened to you?" Rick asked seeing the cut on her face.
"I was in a car accident," Lori told her husband trying to brush it off.
Rick felt his eyes widen at his wife's words, "Accident? How?"
"I went looking for you," Lori answered as she looked away from Rick's gaze.
"Snuck out on her own. Brought her back," Shane added in as he overhead their conversation.
"Are you crazy? You could've...." Rick started only to get cut off by T-Dog.
T-Dog who had been standing there looked towards the car finally noticed someone in the back, "Who the hell is that?" he exclaimed knowing he wasn't one of their people.
"That's Randall," Glenn answered as he pulled away from his hug with Jessica. It seemed her curiosity in seeing who was in the car was enough for her to finally let him go.
Avery moved some to look in the car and she raised an eyebrow seeing what looked like a teenaged boy blindfolded and either fast asleep or knocked out in the backseat.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"We couldn't just leave him behind," Rick stated as he looked at his group who were now all gathered in the dining room. "He would've bled out, if he lived that long."
"It's gotten bad in town," Glenn added in knowing the walker situation had gotten worse then the last time he and Jessica had went to town.
After a few moments of silence Andrea sighed, "What do we do with him?"
"I repaired his calf muscle as best I can," Hershel stated as he walked into the kitchen. "But he'll probably have nerve damage. Won't be on his feet for at least a week."
"When he is, we give him a canteen, take him out to the main road, send him on his way," Rick said knowing that was the best plan he had.
"Isn't that the same as leaving him for the walkers?" Kate asked as she raised an eyebrow.
After Kate's question Avery looked up from where she was sitting at the table when she heard the front door open. Seeing Daryl come in and give her a slight but subtle head nod she grinned at him, glad to see that he was at least participating in group things again now it seemed. Maybe them having sex had been all it took to make him come around again.
"He'll have a fighting chance," Rick spoke in response to Kate's words.
"Just gonna let him go?" Shane questioned now as he looked at Rick. "He knows where we are."
Rick looked back at Shane, "He was blindfolded the whole way here. He's not a threat."
"Not a threat. How many of them were there?" Shane questioned again not sure he trusted Rick's judgment anymore. "You killed three of their men, you took one of them hostage, but they just ain't gonna come looking?"
"They left him for dead," Rick defended. "No one is looking."
"We should still post a guard," Zac piped up knowing he'd feel better that way.
Hershel who had been listening to the conversation spoke up after Zac did, "He's out cold right now, will be for hours."
"You know what? I'm gonna go get him some flowers and candy," Shane stated sarcastically as he walked towards the front door. " Look at this, folks... We're back in fantasy land."
Watching Shane walk away Hershel moved some once the man had walked past him on his way towards the door, "You know, we haven't even dealt with what you did at my barn yet," he started seeing Shane turn to look at him. "Let me make this perfectly clear, once and for all... This is my farm. Now I wanted you gone. Rick talked me out of it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So do us both a favor... Keep your mouth shut."
After Hershel talked to him Shane just stood there for a bit before turning his back as he heaved a sigh and exited the house.
"We're not gonna do anything about it today," Rick told the others after Shane left. "Let's just cool off."
Once Rick had said that everyone started to leave the kitchen and go their separate ways. Walking towards where Daryl was still standing near the front door Avery stopped in front of him to say something but just watched as he gave her a look before exiting the house quickly and in a huff.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Maggie who watched as Taylor started to leave walked behind him, grabbing his wrist lightly to stop him, "Can I talk to you?" she asked before heading into the kitchen hearing Taylor's foot steps behind her. "What's going on with you?" she asked as she came to a stop and turned to face him.
"Your dad saved my life today," Taylor stated as he leaned against an entry way. "And Rick saved all of us. And I...I froze."
"Well, you were being shot at," Maggie said understanding that anyone could have froze in that moment. When he started to speak again but stopped she walked a bit closer to him. "You don't have anything to prove."
Taylor just looked at her and shook his head, "All I've done, then this... okay," he told her as he looked down. "It's because of what you said."
"That I love you?" Maggie asked confusion in her voice as she tried to grasp what that had to do with things.
"Yeah," Taylor nodded. "A bullet hit the wall behind me and I... I thought of you... Losing me, hurting. And I couldn't take it, so I hid to stay alive."
Smiling at Taylor's words Maggie moved towards him only to have him reach out for her hands to stop her.
"You don't get it," Taylor told her trying to get her to keep her distance. "Rick..your dad..Glenn. They were counting on me and I..I only thought of myself," he told her before letting go of her hands and walking away finally.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jessica looked at Glenn as they sat outside under a tree, "I was afraid you wouldn't come back," she said honestly as she felt tears forming in her eyes. "I can't lose you Glenn."
Looking over at Jessica, Glenn raised an eyebrow, "You won't lose me," he said before pulling her closer to him. "I'm here now and I'm safe. I'm safe."
"You have to stay safe," Jessica told him as she locked eyes with him. "You have to stay safe because I love you Glenn. I'm in love with you and it took worrying about you last night for me to realize that and I can't lose another guy that I love. I lost Joe and I'm not going to lose you either."
Hearing Jessica say she loved him he smiled before moving closer to her, "Can you say the I love you part again?" he asked her teasingly as he watched her give him a glare and he finally shook his head. "I'm here Jess and I won't leave you. Not anytime soon if I can help it," he reassured her before pulling her into a hug. "I'm going to be with you until you get sick of me."
"But what if I never get sick of you?" Jessica asked with a laugh.
"Then I guess you are just stuck with me," Glenn told her as he smiled again. He was glad that it seemed he had finally got the girl. Jessica was his and she loved him and things were working out.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Avery walked towards Daryl's campsite and the minute she got close enough to it she watched as the man came out of his tent, "You going to ignore me all day?" she asked as he came to a stop in front of her.
"Funny, I thought you were the one ignoring me," Daryl spoke as he shook his head. "Isn't that why you left before I woke up this morning?"
Shaking her head Avery ran a hand through her hair, "I left to avoid awkward conversations or you just yelling at me."
"I wouldn't have yelled at you little girl," Daryl muttered as he looked at her. "Things may have been awkward yeah but I wouldn't have yelled."
"How was I to know?" Avery asked him as she raised an eyebrow. "You're always yelling or pissed about something and sometimes you take it out on me or whoever's there at the moment. I didn't want that not after last night. I like you and I didn't want whatever last night was to get ruined."
"Who says last night has to be anything?" Daryl asked her as he made a face. "We had sex. It was what it was, you like me and I like you but who says it has to be a thing? Can't it just be?"
Avery took in his words surprised he could be so deep, "I..is this your way of saying you want to date me Dixon?" she asked as she chewed her lip hard.
"I'm saying it is what it is," Daryl shrugged as he shook his head. "It doesn't need labels. It just is."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"I..I'll stay away from Beth," Zac spoke as he looked at Kate as she changed clothes in their tent. "Mac told me you got upset and I'll stay away from her. You're my wife and I haven't been treating you like it."
Turning to face Zac as she lifted her shirt off Kate reached down to adjust her jeans which were starting to get tight or maybe she was just crazy. "Y..you really mean that?"
"I really mean that," Zac stated as he stood up and walked towards Kate. "You're the woman I married. The woman I love and I need to treat you like that again," he smiled as he cupped her cheeks in his hands. "I'm sorry about everything that has happened and I'm sorry I was with Beth most of the night last night."
Smiling at Zac's words Kate wanted to believe them, she really did, "You're forgiven," she told him as she leaned in and pecked his lips. "I just..I want to know what you'd do if that were me in there on that bed? Would you be by my side like you were with Beth?"
At Kate's question Zac just gave her a look, "You know I would be," he answered though he actually wasn't sure if it was the lie or the truth and that made him sad to realize.
Kate just nodded and she smiled kissing Zac again, "I love you," she whispered into his mouth hoping that their love would always be enough but she had this nagging feeling that one day it wouldn't be.
Zac sighed as he sat in the room where Beth was at. There had still been no change in her and he hated it. He hated seeing her looking so not there. She was just a shell of the Beth he remembered taking out to shot a gun. A shell of the Beth that he had overheard singing. A shell of the Beth who had kissed him.
"Why are you here?" Jimmy asked as he stood in the entry way of the room where his girlfriend was. "Why are you at my girlfriend's side for? You have a wife."
Looking up at Jimmy, Zac glared slightly, "Beth's a friend? Am I not supposed to be concerned about a friend?"
"No, you can be," Jimmy stated as he walked into the room. "But you seem more concerned about your friend than your own wife."
"My wife isn't in danger at the moment," Zac said through gritted teeth not liking the way Jimmy was acting and maybe partly he felt this way because of a guilty conscience. He knew he was more concerned about Beth at the moment and he knew how that had to look but a part of him wasn't sure he cared..even if he did love his wife and he did love Kate..but Beth..there was just something and it had been there since she kissed him, maybe before when he had felt that spark when they touched or even when he heard her singing. Beth had a magnetic pull on him.
"And what about if she was?" Jimmy asked as he sat on the other side of Beth. "Would you be this concerned over her? Heck would you save her if it came down to her or Beth? Or what if she went missing? Would you grieve her or just try to move on with my girlfriend...your friend."
At Jimmy's questions Zac glared again but went silent because he wasn't exactly sure how he'd answer some of them.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Avery who was following behind Carol as the woman went back to Daryl's camp again hid behind a tree once Carol had gotten close enough and was looking around. Daryl was nowhere in sight but she really didn't want to be spotted by Carol either so she figured it best she hide now and well from here she could also hear if Daryl did show up and talked to Carol or if Carol had words with Daryl she could also hear those too.
"What are you doing?" Daryl asked as he came up on Carol who was just walking around his campsite.
"Keeping an eye on you," Carol admitted her voice staying soft. She couldn't help but want to keep an eye on him, especially after everything he had done for Sophia.
Daryl just rolled his eyes slightly and moved around Carol some, "Ain't you a peach?" he muttered not liking her doing that.
"I'm not gonna let you pull away," Carol spoke standing her ground. "You've earned your place."
"If you spent half your time minding your daughter's business instead of sticking your nose in everybody else's, she'd still be alive!" Daryl said as he leaned into Carol some and raised his hand back slightly.
Carol who watched as Daryl raised his hand back just stood there expecting him to hit her and she'd take it if he was going too. She had gotten worse from Ed. "Go ahead," she told him knowing if he was going to he should just get it over with.
"Go ahead and what?" Daryl asked but finally he realized what she meant. "I mean just go! I don't want you here! You're a real piece of work, lady. What, are you gonna make this about my daddy or some crap like that? Pfft! Man, you don't know Jack. You're afraid. You're afraid 'cause you're all alone. You got no husband, no daughter. You don't know what to do with yourself. You ain't my problem! Sophia wasn't mine! All you had to do was keep an eye on her!"
Avery who was watching the confrontation take place felt her breath catch as again Daryl lunged for Carol and again the woman just stood there but Daryl didn't do anything he just watched as Carol walked away. Not going after Carol, Avery moved from the tree she was hiding behind once she watched Daryl walk away and head into his tent.
Going into the tent she looked down at him when he looked up at her and glared, "Glare at me all you want," she told him before sitting down so she was at his level. "What you said to Carol was cruel..hell what you said to Lori was cruel too. You can't just go around being an asshole because you feel like it."
"You can't tell me what I can do," Daryl responded as he kept his glare. "I don't want you here either. You should have left when Carol did," he said knowing he had seen her behind the tree.
"I didn't want too," Avery told him knowing even though he kept his glare she wasn't going to leave. "I can't tell you what to do, you have that right but I can do this," she muttered before she leaned over to kiss him much like she had done earlier today before the massacre at the barn, before Sophia coming out had ruined the man she was getting to open up.
Feeling Avery kiss him again Daryl froze and he pushed her away after letting himself respond to the kiss for longer than he would have liked, "Stop," he sighed before locking eyes with her. "I..I don't..I can't."
"Why can't you?" Avery asked as she raised an eyebrow. "What's stopping you?" she asked him a second question. A question that was met with silence and upon that silence she again leaned over and kissed him. This time the kiss was more gentle than the first one and again he responded back briefly before pulling away.
When he pulled away she just sighed, "If you want me to go I'll go," she told him before looking away from him. "But you can't go around shutting people down forever or acting like a baby."
Not getting a response still Avery just sighed and turned to leave only stopping when she felt Daryl's hand on her wrist and the moment she turned to face him she was surprised when he was the one who kissed her but she wasn't going to ruin the moment by pulling away and asking him about it. Instead she kissed him back and as the kisses grew rougher and more feverish she pushed him back onto the top of the sleeping bag in his tent and that was when she began to undress him as well as herself which caused him to finally pull away and look at her.
Daryl looked up at Avery as he tried to catch his breath, not sure why he had let things progress this far. He was clad only in his boxers and an unbuttoned shirt while Avery laid above him completely naked. It sure as hell wasn't the first time he had seen a naked woman but it was the first time a naked woman had actually been on top of him.
"I'm...I've..never," he stuttered out unable to meet her gaze as he confessed the fact that he was a virgin. He was a virgin in his forties. Merle had always gave him shit for it but Daryl usually ignored him knowing he had never found a woman he had wanted to let in that close, not to mention the scars on his back that he didn't want anyone to see.
Avery just looked down at Daryl as she took in his words and she blushed some, "I..do you want too?" she asked him wanting to make sure that he was okay with this.
Daryl just nodded his head giving Avery permission and it seemed that was all she needed before kissing him again and as they kissed he felt her slid his boxers off finally freeing his aching cock which had been hard for far too long since this had started tonight.
Kissing Daryl harder, Avery reached between them once his boxers were off and she grabbed his cock softly giving it a few tugs which made him moan and she just smirked on his lips. She liked knowing she could give him this kind of satisfaction. That she was the only one who had given him this before. She had never been anyone's first except maybe Jeremy but even him she wasn't sure about but Daryl's confession seemed genuine and she had no reason to doubt it.
After giving him a few strokes Avery moved down on him and closed her eyes briefly as she felt a moan come out and she parted from the kiss. Looking down at him she began to move on him starting off slow at first though when he began to move awkwardly with her she picked up her pace on him.
"Fuck...Daryl," Avery groaned out as she leaned in to kiss him again before slowly pulling him up into a sitting position. "I'm so close," she muttered into his mouth as her breathing began to get faster and let herself move on him even faster, her arms sliding around his neck as she did so.
Holding him tighter to her Avery felt her walls clench around him as her orgasm hit and the moment it did she began to moan his name out over and over into his mouth and she was sure that sometime during her own orgasm she felt him release inside of her.
Daryl who kept moving with her even through her own orgasm closed his eyes as he felt himself reach his own eventual end inside of her which cause him to moan out her name as he felt his cheeks get hotter than they already were. He wasn't sure what this meant for them and he wasn't sure if he even loved her but he did know that he liked having sex with her even if half the time he hadn't really known what he was doing.
It had also been nice to hear her say his name much like she had during that time with Shane at the CDC, except this time she had actually been intending to say his name.
"C..can I sleep in here tonight?" Avery asked as she rested her head on Daryl's shoulder her lips going to kiss his neck softly. "Please."
Nodding his head slightly Daryl sighed knowing that in this instant he'd give her everything she wanted from him. It was almost like she had fucking broken him and for the time being he wasn't complaining though maybe he'd complain tomorrow.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Kate who had eventually left her tent and went outside looked up when she heard a car coming back and along with everyone else who had been gathered around outside she watched as Shane and Lori both got out of the car once it was parked though Lori was holding her head.
"Oh my god, are you alright?" Kate asked once she was a little closer. "What happened?"
"I was in an accident," Lori stated hearing Shane saying she was attacked. "I'm fine. I really am," she nodded feeling Kate put her arm on her comforting her. "Where's Rick?" she asked as she looked around at the people knowing Shane had told her that the men had came back.
As Shane just walked away from her with his back towards her it was then that Lori knew she had been lied too, "They're not back?" she asked her voice coming out angry. "Where are they?" she asked as she turned to look at Shane.
"Look, I had to get you back here," Shane explained as he turned to face Lori.
"You asshole," Lori stated as she went towards Shane who just said her name in an attempt to stop her. "He's my husband!" she stated as she pushed him slightly.
"Lori, I will go after him. I will find him," Shane said trying to find a way to calm her. "Hey! Now look, first things first... I gotta... I gotta look after you. I gotta make sure the baby's all right, okay?"
Kate who heard Shane's revelation swallowed hard and put her hand on her own stomach. Now the group was having two babies and it was after that, she zoned out though she was still almost faintly aware of Carl saying something about the baby, he hadn't known and then Lori ushered him inside and Kate still stood frozen in her spot for what felt like forever.
When she finally snapped out of it though she headed for her tent where she sat down on the cot and swallowed hard. Two babies in one group was just asking for danger, "Maybe I should have gotten rid of you when I had a chance."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Zac who had been sitting in Beth's room sighed as he stood to leave the room and when he did he passed Maggie who came in and he gave a nod to a few of the others who just looked out of it or like they had been dealt some news though of course he didn't question it until he went outside and saw Mac sitting on the porch.
"So why does everyone look so doom and gloom?" Zac asked as he raised an eyebrow from curiosity.
"Probably cause Lori is pregnant," Mac stated as he looked at his brother. "You would have known had you been out here with everyone else instead of making oogly eyes at Beth who is the picture of a damsel by being in a catatonic state."
Zac listened to Mac, "You accusing me of liking Beth too?" he asked remembering Jimmy's words from earlier.
"Not accusing just stating what seems to be the case," Mac said as he eyed his brother. "Did you know Kate got upset because you were by Beth's side instead of being with her. Kate's your wife and the mother of your kid Zac...Beth's just a girl."
At Mac's words Zac swallowed hard because he knew his brother was right and before he could say more he watched as Mac walked away. "But what if I don't want her to be just a girl?" he whispered to himself sadly before walking off the porch to go find Kate.
The question was simple but it was also one he knew he could never find out the answer too. As much as he was finding himself attracted to Beth, Kate was his wife and she hadn't done anything wrong. He'd just have to push his feelings aside and make his marriage work.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The next morning Jessica walked into the Greene house and stopped at the room where Beth was. She figured she might as well check on the girl. It would keep her from worrying about the guys still being gone...of Glenn being gone before she could tell him she loved him.
"How is she?" Jessica asked as she looked at Maggie who was sitting at the foot of the bed and Patricia who was hovering over Beth checking her vitals.
"Dehydrated," Patricia answered as she looked at Jessica before back down at Beth. "I'll set up an I.V.," she smiled sadly as she patted Beth's hands slightly. "Best I can do without Hershel," she added in before leaving the room to go get what she needed to set up an I.V.
When Patricia exited out of one door Jessica went into the room through the door where she was standing and sat on the end of the bed when Maggie moved towards the front to be closer to Beth. "Can I get you anything?" she asked Maggie feeling sorry for the girl. In a way Beth reminded her of Zoe and it made her miss her baby sister.
Maggie shook her her head, "Nah, I just wish my dad was here," she said honestly as she turned to look at Jessica.
"She'll be okay," Jessica nodded knowing that the girl would be fine. "You just need to be strong for her."
"I was just reminding her about..." Maggie started but stopped not sure if Jessica would want to hear. "Never mind."
Jessica smiled at Maggie and shook her head, "No..No. I'd love to hear," she told Maggie being honest. Maybe she could relieve times with Zoe if she heard this story.
"My dad would die if he heard this," Maggie grinned as she looked down at Beth. "My first summer back from college, I drove home, dumped my stuff off, went straight out to the stable for a ride. My family comes back from church and Beth grabs my things and starts unpacking my stuff upstairs."
"That's sweet," Jessica stated knowing the gesture was sweet.
"Yeah, until this one here starts rifling through my backpack. She finds this little plastic container with these pink and green candies inside. She didn't even know I was on the pill. She was so freaked out by the idea of me, and boys and sex, she runs outside and chucks them in the duck pond. And I ride up, I see this, I'm screaming. She's crying and Shawn runs outside, thinks one of us is drowning. Soon as he figures out what's going on, the jerk busts out laughing so loud that my horse rears up and gets mud all over the three of us. 'My dad comes out, what the heck's goin' on out here?!' And she turns around, bats her eyelids and says, 'we're just swimming, daddy.' In her Sunday dress, all covered in snot and mud," Maggie finished a frown on her lips and tears starting to form in her eyes.
Feeling a lump forming in her throat as memories flooded her of her own sisters in times before Jessica heaved a sigh, "Rick,Taylor, and Glenn will get your dad back."
"Taylor's a good guy," Maggie stated knowing that Taylor was also Jessica's brother.
"Yeah," Jessica said not being able to help the grin on her face. "He is."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Avery stood around the cars the next morning watching as Daryl helped to get things ready to go out looking for the men who hadn't returned. She had left his tent this morning before he woke up because she was afraid of dealing with an awkward confrontation with him.
Being brought of her thoughts though when she heard a car coming down the road she watched as it turned at the farm and eventually came down the driveway, parking in front of the house.
As she walked towards where the car was parked she watched as Rick got out with Carl running toward him to hug him and Avery also couldn't help but watch the same scenario with Maggie though instead of running to Hershel she went for Taylor instead though Taylor quickly brushed her off.
Shaking her head she looked around to see if Jessica was here and sure enough she found her sister holding tight to Glenn. A sight that warmed her heart some.
"Patricia, prepare the shed for surgery," Hershel stated as he walked closer to the woman who had came outside.
"Are you hurt?" Lori asked as she pulled away from her embrace with Rick.
"No but what happened to you?" Rick asked seeing the cut on her face.
"I was in a car accident," Lori told her husband trying to brush it off.
Rick felt his eyes widen at his wife's words, "Accident? How?"
"I went looking for you," Lori answered as she looked away from Rick's gaze.
"Snuck out on her own. Brought her back," Shane added in as he overhead their conversation.
"Are you crazy? You could've...." Rick started only to get cut off by T-Dog.
T-Dog who had been standing there looked towards the car finally noticed someone in the back, "Who the hell is that?" he exclaimed knowing he wasn't one of their people.
"That's Randall," Glenn answered as he pulled away from his hug with Jessica. It seemed her curiosity in seeing who was in the car was enough for her to finally let him go.
Avery moved some to look in the car and she raised an eyebrow seeing what looked like a teenaged boy blindfolded and either fast asleep or knocked out in the backseat.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"We couldn't just leave him behind," Rick stated as he looked at his group who were now all gathered in the dining room. "He would've bled out, if he lived that long."
"It's gotten bad in town," Glenn added in knowing the walker situation had gotten worse then the last time he and Jessica had went to town.
After a few moments of silence Andrea sighed, "What do we do with him?"
"I repaired his calf muscle as best I can," Hershel stated as he walked into the kitchen. "But he'll probably have nerve damage. Won't be on his feet for at least a week."
"When he is, we give him a canteen, take him out to the main road, send him on his way," Rick said knowing that was the best plan he had.
"Isn't that the same as leaving him for the walkers?" Kate asked as she raised an eyebrow.
After Kate's question Avery looked up from where she was sitting at the table when she heard the front door open. Seeing Daryl come in and give her a slight but subtle head nod she grinned at him, glad to see that he was at least participating in group things again now it seemed. Maybe them having sex had been all it took to make him come around again.
"He'll have a fighting chance," Rick spoke in response to Kate's words.
"Just gonna let him go?" Shane questioned now as he looked at Rick. "He knows where we are."
Rick looked back at Shane, "He was blindfolded the whole way here. He's not a threat."
"Not a threat. How many of them were there?" Shane questioned again not sure he trusted Rick's judgment anymore. "You killed three of their men, you took one of them hostage, but they just ain't gonna come looking?"
"They left him for dead," Rick defended. "No one is looking."
"We should still post a guard," Zac piped up knowing he'd feel better that way.
Hershel who had been listening to the conversation spoke up after Zac did, "He's out cold right now, will be for hours."
"You know what? I'm gonna go get him some flowers and candy," Shane stated sarcastically as he walked towards the front door. " Look at this, folks... We're back in fantasy land."
Watching Shane walk away Hershel moved some once the man had walked past him on his way towards the door, "You know, we haven't even dealt with what you did at my barn yet," he started seeing Shane turn to look at him. "Let me make this perfectly clear, once and for all... This is my farm. Now I wanted you gone. Rick talked me out of it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So do us both a favor... Keep your mouth shut."
After Hershel talked to him Shane just stood there for a bit before turning his back as he heaved a sigh and exited the house.
"We're not gonna do anything about it today," Rick told the others after Shane left. "Let's just cool off."
Once Rick had said that everyone started to leave the kitchen and go their separate ways. Walking towards where Daryl was still standing near the front door Avery stopped in front of him to say something but just watched as he gave her a look before exiting the house quickly and in a huff.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Maggie who watched as Taylor started to leave walked behind him, grabbing his wrist lightly to stop him, "Can I talk to you?" she asked before heading into the kitchen hearing Taylor's foot steps behind her. "What's going on with you?" she asked as she came to a stop and turned to face him.
"Your dad saved my life today," Taylor stated as he leaned against an entry way. "And Rick saved all of us. And I...I froze."
"Well, you were being shot at," Maggie said understanding that anyone could have froze in that moment. When he started to speak again but stopped she walked a bit closer to him. "You don't have anything to prove."
Taylor just looked at her and shook his head, "All I've done, then this... okay," he told her as he looked down. "It's because of what you said."
"That I love you?" Maggie asked confusion in her voice as she tried to grasp what that had to do with things.
"Yeah," Taylor nodded. "A bullet hit the wall behind me and I... I thought of you... Losing me, hurting. And I couldn't take it, so I hid to stay alive."
Smiling at Taylor's words Maggie moved towards him only to have him reach out for her hands to stop her.
"You don't get it," Taylor told her trying to get her to keep her distance. "Rick..your dad..Glenn. They were counting on me and I..I only thought of myself," he told her before letting go of her hands and walking away finally.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jessica looked at Glenn as they sat outside under a tree, "I was afraid you wouldn't come back," she said honestly as she felt tears forming in her eyes. "I can't lose you Glenn."
Looking over at Jessica, Glenn raised an eyebrow, "You won't lose me," he said before pulling her closer to him. "I'm here now and I'm safe. I'm safe."
"You have to stay safe," Jessica told him as she locked eyes with him. "You have to stay safe because I love you Glenn. I'm in love with you and it took worrying about you last night for me to realize that and I can't lose another guy that I love. I lost Joe and I'm not going to lose you either."
Hearing Jessica say she loved him he smiled before moving closer to her, "Can you say the I love you part again?" he asked her teasingly as he watched her give him a glare and he finally shook his head. "I'm here Jess and I won't leave you. Not anytime soon if I can help it," he reassured her before pulling her into a hug. "I'm going to be with you until you get sick of me."
"But what if I never get sick of you?" Jessica asked with a laugh.
"Then I guess you are just stuck with me," Glenn told her as he smiled again. He was glad that it seemed he had finally got the girl. Jessica was his and she loved him and things were working out.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Avery walked towards Daryl's campsite and the minute she got close enough to it she watched as the man came out of his tent, "You going to ignore me all day?" she asked as he came to a stop in front of her.
"Funny, I thought you were the one ignoring me," Daryl spoke as he shook his head. "Isn't that why you left before I woke up this morning?"
Shaking her head Avery ran a hand through her hair, "I left to avoid awkward conversations or you just yelling at me."
"I wouldn't have yelled at you little girl," Daryl muttered as he looked at her. "Things may have been awkward yeah but I wouldn't have yelled."
"How was I to know?" Avery asked him as she raised an eyebrow. "You're always yelling or pissed about something and sometimes you take it out on me or whoever's there at the moment. I didn't want that not after last night. I like you and I didn't want whatever last night was to get ruined."
"Who says last night has to be anything?" Daryl asked her as he made a face. "We had sex. It was what it was, you like me and I like you but who says it has to be a thing? Can't it just be?"
Avery took in his words surprised he could be so deep, "I..is this your way of saying you want to date me Dixon?" she asked as she chewed her lip hard.
"I'm saying it is what it is," Daryl shrugged as he shook his head. "It doesn't need labels. It just is."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"I..I'll stay away from Beth," Zac spoke as he looked at Kate as she changed clothes in their tent. "Mac told me you got upset and I'll stay away from her. You're my wife and I haven't been treating you like it."
Turning to face Zac as she lifted her shirt off Kate reached down to adjust her jeans which were starting to get tight or maybe she was just crazy. "Y..you really mean that?"
"I really mean that," Zac stated as he stood up and walked towards Kate. "You're the woman I married. The woman I love and I need to treat you like that again," he smiled as he cupped her cheeks in his hands. "I'm sorry about everything that has happened and I'm sorry I was with Beth most of the night last night."
Smiling at Zac's words Kate wanted to believe them, she really did, "You're forgiven," she told him as she leaned in and pecked his lips. "I just..I want to know what you'd do if that were me in there on that bed? Would you be by my side like you were with Beth?"
At Kate's question Zac just gave her a look, "You know I would be," he answered though he actually wasn't sure if it was the lie or the truth and that made him sad to realize.
Kate just nodded and she smiled kissing Zac again, "I love you," she whispered into his mouth hoping that their love would always be enough but she had this nagging feeling that one day it wouldn't be.