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phoenixblack89 · 9 months

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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

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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.

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phoenixblack89 · 2 years

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Chapter 9 - Secrets and White Lies

Back after a good long while with another chapter. I do apologise for it not being weekly like some of the other incredible series writers out there like my dear @autocon23. But real life had been mega hectic and honestly I wasn't sure if this chapter was worth posting or not.

Been struggling with my worth as a writer lately especially at how slow I am and having issues with whether any idea of mine is actually good enough or different enough that I'm not gonna get told I'm copying someone else.

But nevermind.

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

Sorry if I forgot anyone. Just let me know if I have

Warnings - TWD gore, Shane being paranoid, a touch of smut, phoenix being her delightful self.

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Phoenix rubbed her eyes and looked out the window. Her neck ached something fierce from sleeping all night sat upright. Daryl had rolled off and she stood slowly. The first rays of dawn were just beginning to rise over the farm and she needed to get out as quickly as possible. Giving Daryl one last look she ran as quietly as she could through the house. Pausing as she caught a glimpse of a familiar looking photo on Hershel's fridge door.

Nah, it couldn't be.

Leaning closer there was no mistake - There in beautiful multicolour was a photo of her. Her and her boys with Greenly, smiling happily at McGinty's. Her heart gave an unpleasant lurch as she thought about him.

She had tried to save him.

She really had.

That damn man had shot him dead for no reason other than he was there. Thank God Noah had taken him out because she wasn't sure she'd have given him such a merciful death. It would have been drawn out and painful if she had done it.

"That's my nephew, David."

Phoenix spun as Hershell entered. She ducked her head as he came to stand beside her.

"And that's you... with the Saints."

Her head flipped up to look at him. His eyes held a kindness there that she had forgotten existed.

"You want me to leave, don't you?"

"David told me all about you and your friends. You're a good, honest, God-fearing woman. I'd like you to stay. That group needs someone with God's guidance. Even if they don't know it." He said calmly, reaching out and taking hold of the photo, pulling it from its spot on the door. He held it out to her and she took it carefully.

"Mr. Greene..."

"I know all about you Miss Black. Don't fret. I understand and support your reasonings for keeping things hidden. We all do, for good reasons. Just don't make me regret not telling Rick about who you truly are." His gaze was misty as he glanced out the window towards the barn. Her eyebrows knotted before she smiled lightly, remembering that he'd most likely lost someone in this end of the world bullshit too.

"Does anyone else know?"

She felt tears well in her eyes and brushed them away harshly, causing her damaged cheek to flare with pain.

"Everyone in this house except Bethie. And we all will keep you safe. We all support the Saints and their mission. As long as you keep it secret so shall we."

She nodded in thanks and turned to leave.

"Next time..."

She paused and looked over her shoulder.

"Just say you want to stay the night and not sneak in to your beau." He laughed lightly, shaking his head as she blushed and rushed away.

Daryl woke slowly. He was having the nicest dream. Phoenix had come to see him and was running her hand through his hair lightly. It had felt heavenly, if he was honest with himself. He had buried his head in her lap and knew he was forgiven. It was so nice. He could still almost feel a lingering warmth where she'd been sat but as his eyes opened the dream turned to reality.

He was alone.

And the spot on the bed where he'd dreamt of her being was cold and empty. He sighed and rolled to his back. He stood gingerly, dressed and made his way quietly and quickly out of the house, calling to Hershell his thanks and that he was going back to his own tent.

Daryl made his way down to his own tent, pausing briefly outside of Phoenix's. His eyes could see her laying there vaguely through the morning sun lighting up the inside but dunked his head and carried on walking. She didn't want to see him anyway.

Phoenix laid still, hearing the footsteps she knew were Daryl's pause outside her tent.

At least he's up and about, she thought, tears welling in her eyes once more as she realized he didn't actually want her there last night or he'd come to talk to her. It had all been because of the medication from Hershell.

Shane rubbed his hand over his head as he approached Daryl's tent, having seen Andrea leave moments before. This wasn't going to go well he knew but something needed to be done. He knocked on the plastic and ducked down to see inside. Daryl raised his eyebrow at the man in front of him, waving a hand in greeting.

"Ya come t' see the invalid?" Daryl growled out as Shane crouched down near him. Shane chuckled and patted Daryl on the leg kindly, ignoring the way the man flinched.

"Nah. I need ya help.”

"Can't do much good right now. Wha' ya need?"

Shane sighed, hand running over his head as he thought of the best way to put what he needed to say.

"I need ya to get Phoenix up to Hershell."

Daryl regarded the man thoughtfully. While they weren't exactly friends, they both held enough respect for each other to put aside their differences to help another member of the group, whether it be helping Carol when she needed someone's strong lifting or one of the kids or like now, when one of them was being a stubborn pain in the butt and needed sense dragged into them. They had both been there that awful day and had both grown fairly protective of the only Brit that they believed was left alive.

"Why? She can take herself up there right?" A sudden feeling of dread surged through Daryl's chest. "She can walk."

Was she more hurt than she looked? Had she hurt her ankle or something when she fell and not said anything?

"She’s barely been outta her tent, Daryl. She was out when we sorted the search... But other than that, she hasn't been out. Hershell offered to take a look at her face last night when she came up to the house but she ran off. She ain't gonna listen to any of us. We both know how stubborn she can be."

"She ain't had that looked at yet?" A burst of rage ran through him at her foolishness.

Damn girl is gonna get sick again! He thought, pushing himself to a sitting position.

Shane nodded quietly and helped Daryl to his feet. As soon as he stood, Daryl stormed out of the tent and over to Phoenix's. He pulled the door open and burst in. She sat up with wide fear filled eyes and stared at the tall man in front of her.

"Git up! Now!"

"Why?" Her tear-filled voice rasped, hugging her arms around herself. Daryl growled and reached for her. She flinched back away from him and he sighed. Kneeling down, ignoring the flare of pain from his injured side, he put out his hand slowly.

"Ya need that face looked at, I... I don't want ya getting sick... Cos of summit I did. I didn't mean to hurt ya... Or scare ya"

Tears came to Daryl's eyes as he glanced up at her. She nodded silently and took his hand and let him pull her to her feet. His hand felt warm and strong in her as he walked with her up to the house. She could feel the calluses of years of manual labor on his fingers, which twitched around her's. She blushed as she remembered suddenly how they'd felt spread across her bare skin.

Daryl breathed slowly and calmly, trying not to remember the feel of her skin against his. But he could and it made his heart sped up.

All too soon they were at the front door, he pulled it open and entered pulling her along with him. Maggie smirked at the pair, noticing their interlaced fingers as she turned to the kitchen and waved at them to follow her. Daryl pushed Phoenix into one of the chairs at the kitchen island as Hershel entered the room.

"Now young lady. Let us get that face fixed." He said kindly as Maggie and Beth started boiling water on the old wood shove. Daryl kept hold of her hand as Hershel cleaned, stitched and bandaged her cheek. "You're a lucky girl that hasn't started to get infected."

Phoenix nodded and squeezed Daryl's hand in thanks. She pulled her fingers from his, stood quietly and turned to leave.

"I think it's best you stay, young lady. Forgive me but you need a real shower to get that dirt off."

Phoenix turned and blushed. She did feel gross but that was what happens when you spend days in a dark world of decay and death.

"I'll grab ya clean clothes" Daryl muttered rushing off out the door as quick as his injuries allowed.

Maggie showed Phoenix to the shower and handed her a big fluffy towel.

"Went well last night?" Maggie teased as they reached the door, Phoenix gave Maggie a look and she leaned against the frame.

"He was asleep the entire time, Mags. Didn't exactly do anything or talk or nothing."

"He's sweet on you too. Even if he denies it like he does. Give it time. He'll come round."

"If ya say so. Thanks." She whispered, stepping into the bathroom and undressing quickly. Gently pulling the bandage off her cheek so it didn't get wet she glanced in the mirror.

The bags under her eyes were red and puffy, the skin around her wounds cleaner than the rest of her face. Her hair was starting to get longer again. She dreading washing it as she had no way of straightening it. The horrid family curls were the bane of her life. The triangular burn scar across her collar bone stood out in stark contrast against her pale skin, angry and dark pink. She sighed as steam began to fill the room. She climbed in the shower and shrieked a little at the heat of the water. Hot water was indeed a blessing she had taken for granted.

Then again, the boys' loft and her own didn't have the best history with heated water, nor did the farm back in Ireland either. She felt her stiff muscles slowly relax under the pressure and heat. She sighed happily as she washed and rinsed her hair. Not ten minutes later she climbed out and wrapped the towel around her and ran another over her wet hair.

A quiet knock came at the door and she called to come in. Daryl entered, blushing crazily and keeping his eyes down.

"Here's ya clothes. Got them from ya tent." He muttered, cheeks and the tips of his ears a beautiful shade of pink.

Don't look. Don't look. Don't look. He thought over and over. Merle's voice in his head saying the opposite. Phoenix let out a stifled giggle and brushed her hands over his as she took the pile from him, placing them gently on the vanity below the mirror. Daryl glanced up quickly as her back was turned and caught sight of the beautiful Japanese style phoenix tattoo on her left shoulder. The majority of it was hidden underneath the towel wrapped around her body. The towel hugged tightly to her curves and left little to the imagination. Daryl licked his lips as desire rose causing a reaction in his groin at the sight. A moan escaped Daryl's lips as she turned. The towel barely covered her chest and he stepped closer, looking down at her lustfully.

His hand reached for her cheek slowly as she bit her lip.

"I'm sorry I hurt ya." He whispered as he inched closer to her. He could feel the steam coming off her damp skin as he stood in front of her. His head fell forward to lean against hers as they stared into each other's eyes, their breaths mingling in the small space between their faces. "Please forgive me."

She nodded and he leaned closer, brushing his lips slowly over hers as his hands found her waist tugging her gently to him. He didn't care about the towel's dampness against his dry clothes and skin. He was lost in the feeling of her lips moving in tandem with his.

The freshly showered skin on her arms brushing against his as her hands found their way into his hair and around his neck. His lips trailed along her chin and down to the sweet spot on her neck he knew drove her heart rate racing. Sucking lightly and biting little nips against it he groaned, hard cock crushing her hips into the vanity behind her. She gasped as his hand slid between the edges of the towel at her side, fingers trailing roughly over the smooth skin he found.

Fingers dancing up her ribs to gently squeeze her breast as she panted in desire. He pulled his head up and roamed his eyes over her features. Her cheek oozed a little drop of blood from the injuries he'd caused. His heart clenched in guilt as he leaned forward, pressing gentle kisses to the stitches as his hand moved lower and lower beneath her towel. He paused at the apex of her hip and bit his lip, tilting his head to the side slightly.

"Say it? Say ya forgive me?"

"Daryl..." she sighed his fingers striking along her hip bone softly, thumb brushing against the curls between her thighs. "Of course, I forgive you. Do you forgive me? I shot first after all."

He chuckled low in his chest and pulled her in for another kiss as his fingers reached their desired location. She gasped into his mouth at the feeling of his thick broad fingers sliding along her folds. His lips returned to her neck, sucking and kissing as he slowly spread her folds, seeking out the moisture gathering there. He growled and ran a finger slowly through her slick, flicking it slowly up and down as his cock throbbed against his jeans. She gave a loud moan as he brushed over her sensitive bud and she felt him smile against her neck before he pushed her up onto the vanity and dropped to his knees, pulling his hand away from her core.

"Daryl?"

He put his finger to his lips and sucked on it before pushing her thighs open and putting them over his shoulders. A bright red blush spread across her face and chest at the sight of Daryl Dixon, redneck hunter extraordinaire on his knees, looking like he was going to devour her. He smiled up at her then kissed his way from her knee into her thighs and higher.

"Holy shit!"

Her chest heaved as his tongue plunged into her folds licking roughly up to her clit. His tongue flicked hard and fast against it as his lips sucked on it. Her legs shook as his skilled appendage worked her so well. Her hand found its way to his hair and tugged it. He let out a pained moan as his own stitches pulled sharply from her fingers.

He grazed his teeth along her clit in revenge. He glanced up at her as he slowly ran a finger around her slick hole. He raised an eyebrow in question and she nodded her head. He smiled around her clit and pushed in slowly.

Fuck she's tight! He thought as her walls gripped his finger like a vice. Pumping it in and out slowly he watched as her chest heaved. Her walls twitched against his knuckles and he pulled his finger out. Her moan of discontent sounded, as he sucked her clit, twirling his tongue around faster and faster, turned to a gasp of surprise as he plunged two fingers into her twisting, curling and pumping faster and faster.

"Oh God... Daryl... Oh fuck...." she moaned, every muscle in her body tensing as she climaxed on his fingers and tongue. Daryl smirked in satisfaction as he worked her through her orgasm.

Daryl opened his eyes, hand dripping with his own cum.

He never meant to do this especially in her tent, definitely not after his dream last night.

It tainted it somehow.

She'd been so sweet and caring in his dream.

But the sight of her lacy underwear had gotten him so hard it couldn't be ignored.

He knew nothing like that could ever happen.

Hell, he didn't know how to make a girl cum with his tongue. His only experiences had been quick fucks behind the bars with sluts begging for a quickie, faking their moans like porn stars, or his own hand. He didn't know how to truly please a woman. He knew how to get a quick fuck sure. But he didn't just want a quick fuck with Phoenix. He wanted to make her moan and cum over and over again before he did.

Fuck Darlene you turning into a sissy!? I told ya enough tricks to get a girl moaning! Merle's voice said as he cleaned his hand on the red rag hanging from his pocket. He put his dick back inside his jeans and gathered up the clothes he'd come originally to collect for her. Hopefully she was still in the shower and he could ask Maggie or Beth or Patricia to give her them.

Gotta stop fucking your hand to her he mussed she ain't even got a phoenix tattoo on her back. Where the fuck you think that up from?

You know exactly where that came from Daryl. That goddamn dream you've been having most of your life.

He sighed as he spotted Maggie walking up to Glenn in the space near the chicken coop and Beth hanging wet laundry with Carol.

Damn suck it up boy Merle laughed in his mind.

Phoenix peeked around the door and wrapped the towel tighter. Where was Daryl with her clothes?

"Maggie? Beth?" She called out, hoping one of the girls was nearby. She shook her head and closed the door, sitting on the closed lid of the toilet and sighed.

Dammit Dixon what's taking you so long!

She heard the groan of the stairs and stood up, opening the door a little and peeking out. She smiled as Daryl made his way towards her, fidgeting with the clothes in his arms and blushing slightly. She stuck her head out further causing Daryl to jump slightly.

"About time DD! Freezing my nips off here." She laughed, trying to ease the air of uncertainty around the two. Daryl held the pile out and she stepped out to get them. Towel securely wrapped covering every inch, she smiled lightly and turned.

Daryl's jaw dropped.

There in wonderful shades of orange, red, black and yellows was a giant phoenix tattoo on her shoulder blade disappearing under the towel.

Just like the one in his dreams and sexual fantasy....

Phoenix returned to her tent, feeling relaxed and refreshed. Even managing to smile at Rick and Carl as she passed them. She frowned as she entered. There was an unusual smell to her tent and as she knelt down, she noticed a few odd splatters on the floor of the tent. A creamy white liquid was spread across the spot where her stack of clean clothes had been. Her eyes widened as she realized what it was.

He wouldn't...

He didn't...

No.

He can't have.

She stifled a giggle and wiped up the semen and threw the cloth towards her dirty laundry pile.

Damn Daryl, if you got that turned on by just looking at my pants you should've come back sooner! She thought with a sad smile.

Why won't you make a move if you're that into me...

"What did Rick say?"

Phoenix paused as she slopped towards the group at Glenn's hissed words.

"You didn't tell him? Okay. But you have to! You're pregnant. You need vitamins, medicine, a nice pillow. You can have my share."

"Honey, I don't want your food, okay? Eat." Lori said quietly, pushing the jerky away that the man held out towards her.

"You need to eat. You're too skinny!" He pleaded as Phoenix nodded in agreement. "And if you're not gonna let Rick take care of you, then someone has to. Lori, you have a medical condition."

"Oh my fucking god, seriously Glenn? She’s pregnant, not ill." Phoenix snorted before shaking her head at Glenn and Lori's looks.

"I'll make another run into town. Just tell me what you need."

"I need you to be quiet about this. All right? Please... Both of you." Lori hissed. Phoenix motioned a zip across her mouth and smiled at the brunette.

"Hey! Peach man! Phoenix!"

The pair nodded at the sheriff’s wife before running off to join Rick, Jimmy and Shane.

"The creek flows south, past that farmhouse Daryl found. Maybe Sophia dropped the doll there, the current brought it downstream."

"So, what, you think she took this road here and then she went north?"

"Yeah. What's up that way?" The two former officers glanced at Jimmy in question.

"A housing development. It went in, maybe 10 years ago." Jimmy said, itching his head as he squinted slightly in the bright sunlight.

"Take a run up there after gun practice. I'll hold down the fort here, but take backup. After what went down with Daryl, I don't want anyone going out alone. We stay in pairs." Rick commanded.

"I'll take suggestions on a partner." Shane asked quietly, glancing at the red head opposite him. She was a tracker and a crack shot but knew she wouldn't be willing to leave so easily with Daryl injured.

"See how they do on the range, then take your pick."

"My binoculars." Shane said as Glenn gaped at them like a fish after handing them both a juicy, ripe peach and some jerky.

"Yeah yeah. Okay, bye." Glenn mumbled before hurrying off like his ass was on fire. Phoenix gave a small shake of her head at the nervousness of the man.

"We'd like to join you for gun training today." Beth stated as she and Patricia wandered towards the group.

"Hershel's been very clear. I can't involve any of you in what we do without his okay."

"He doesn't like it, but he consented." Beth said quietly.

"Otis was the only one who knew gun… Now that he's gone, we gotta learn to protect ourselves. Her father saw the sense in that." Patricia said tearfully, raising her chin as if to say try and stop me.

"No offense, but I'll ask Hershel myself." Rick stated harshly before striding away to seek out the land-owner.

"How the hell did this happen?!" Lori exclaimed, glancing around the small group in shock.

"Kid's curious, he can't help it. It's just the age he's at." Phoenix shrugged, winking at Carl and earning a scowl from the irate mother.

"Well, it's my fault. I let him into the RV. He said he wanted a walkie, that you sent him for one." Dale sighed, calmly gesturing towards his vehicle.

"So, on top of everything else, he lied. What's he thinking?" Lori huffed, hands on her hips.

"He wants to learn how to shoot. He asked me to teach him. Now it's none of my business, but I'm happy to do it. It's your call." Shane spoke with a low tone, knowing how voilite Lori's mothering instincts could be.

"I'm not comfortable with it. Oh, don't make me out to be the unreasonable one here. Rick?"

"I know. I have my concerns too, but..."

"There's no but. He was just shot! He's just back on his feet and he wants a gun?" Lori half yelled, facing her husband angrily.

"Better than him being afraid of 'em. There are guns in camp for a reason. He should learn to handle them safely."

"I don't want my kid walking around with a gun." Lori spat angrily. The very idea boiling her blood into a fury.

"But how can you defend that? You can't let him go around without protection."

"He'd be sitting meat, better learning now than in a life or death situation." Phoenix supplied, tilting her head.

"No, he's as safe as he'll ever be right here." Lori said firmly, Phoenix held her hands up in surrender at the pleading look from the boy's mother. "Look, everything you're saying makes perfect sense. It feels wrong. I mean I didn't feel good about him following you out into the woods. And I wish I'd said something. I should've gone with my gut."

"He's growing up, thank God. We've got to start treating him more like an adult." Rick whispered, glancing at his son.

"Then he needs to act like one. He's not mature enough to handle a gun."

"I'm not gonna play with it, mom. It's not a toy. I'm sorry I disappointed you, but I want to look for Sophia and I want to defend our camp. I can't do that without a gun." Carl reasoned, the earnestness and honesty in his face softening his mother's resolve.

"Shane's the best instructor I know. I've seen him teach kids younger than Carl."

Lori took a quick glance around before sighing and grabbing her son by his shoulder and looking him directly in the eye.

"You will take this seriously and you will behave responsibly. And if I hear from anyone in this camp that you're not living up to our expectations... " Lori warned sternly, giving her son a look that only mothers seemed to know.

"He won't let you down."

“Yeah.”

“Now if you're gonna do this, you listen to Shane.”

“Okay, dad.” Carl smiled as his dad nodded.

“All right? You be careful.”

"Hey, you fuck this up little man, I'll be making ya clean out the RV's toilet with ya toothbrush." Carl grimaced and shuddered at the thought, knowing almost 13 people including Merle had been using the toilet. "Come on, I'll help ya find summit for target practice." Phoenix smirked as the other adults laughed.

"Hey, come on, man. Don't give me that gangsta shit." T-Dog grumbled at Jimmy as the boy held his gun sideways. Phoenix snorted as she twirled her Berettas in her hands before raising them and hitting her targets one after another with ease. She raised her eyebrow as Shane paled slightly at her skill.

"Show off. Ain't helping the newbies either." He whispered, shaking his head as his mind filed the sight into his British oddities of the girl folder in his head.

Phoenix noticed Beth's timid hold on her gun and moved to help. Beth sighed and lowered the gun slightly.

"Hey. Relax. The more tense you are the harder it'll be." She said with a soft smile. Beth gave her a disbelieving look before huffing.

"It's easy for ya to say! Y'all make it look easy as making pie!" Beth whispered, tucking a strand of her blond hair behind her ear.

"Nah, takes time to learn how is all. Sure, it's easy now but back in Boston when I was learning... damn that was hard." The Brit laughed.

"Boston?"

"Oh yea, wasn't nearly as easy as out here. Tight little shooting gallery was jackshit compared to actually being in the fresh air with actual wind, its a totally different experience hun." Phoenix helped Beth get back into position and smiled. "Here and now is gonna help ya better in the long run than how I learnt. Go on, try again."

Beth took a deep breath and slowly squeezed the trigger, the bullet flying through the air and hitting the target. Shane glanced at the Brit as she was engulfed in a hug from the blond. Yet another odd fact the girl had come out with that made little sense.

Hadn't she said she'd come straight from England to Atlanta to study? When had she been in Boston? And why did she learn to shoot there?

He shook his head before focusing on Andrea and her shooting.

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