Declarations

Part 11: Irreplaceable

The one good thing about family road trips now, Rick reasoned, was that the open road really was open. No lousy asshole hogged the passing lane for miles without speeding up or getting over. No crazy erratic driver wove in and out in the right lane either. On this afternoon, just the flat road lay before them and a small caravan followed behind.

He glanced at Michonne. A tiny smile hinted at her mouth. She had been quiet since they climbed into the Tahoe and left the brief reprieve at the bank. Carl sat in the backseat. The sound of paper flapping as he adjusted the map was loud, but the noise wasn't unpleasant. Their gazes met in the rearview mirror. His son grimaced.

"It won't stay flat," Carl complained.

"Do the best you can," Rick advised.

Michonne shifted in the passenger seat to look at Carl. "Want me to navigate?"

"I got it," Carl said. "Gimme a sec."

"Okay." She looked at Rick and they shared a smile.

The Harley's engine purred from the passing lane. Rick slowed for Daryl and Sasha to pass, but Daryl kept the motorcycle steady with the Tahoe. The couple wore peaceful expressions and Rick wondered if they knew how well they fit together. He liked that his brother was letting his guard down and letting someone in.

"Anything good in the glove compartment?" Rick asked.

Michonne shook her head. "Nothing. Where did you get the air fresheners? They smell...fresh."

He laughed. "Guess."

Michonne flicked the little cardboard tree that dangled from the rearview mirror. "The back of their Explorer must look like a mini-Costco."

They both chuckled.

"Nik says they did research on this kind of thing," he said. "At least Dawn did, and he and Dominik tagged along."

"Research on walkers?" she asked.

"No, living in a world like this," Rick explained. "After everything we're used to is gone."

"I can't imagine preparing for this beforehand. You always think you're prepared for anything, but you're not ever really prepared, you know?"

He nodded. "I know exactly what you mean."

The need for more words was unnecessary. They had a way of understanding each other that made speaking just an added bonus. He loved the melodic tones of her voice. The softness gave him a sense of peace. Sometimes, he instigated conversation just to hear her speak but in many instances, he didn't need to hear the words to know her thoughts. However, there were those rare occasions where clarification was necessary. He thought back to the night before and how the conversation about her past revealed so much about the woman he cared about. It took him back to the first time he saw her and the way she clutched the fence and the haunting look in her dark eyes. He recognized her pain instantly and it was that something else that drew him in instantly.

They rode at least another thirty miles before Carl requested a rest stop. At a former food stand, Rick pulled over. The others followed. Carl ran for the bushes and Dominik did, too.

"I'll stand watch," Lorenzo offered, going after them.

Soon, everyone took a minute to duck into the bushes with a roll of toilet paper. Once they were done, they crowded at the hood of the Tahoe where Carl had the map spread.

"We're 18 miles from Terminus," Carl said. "Looks like the wildlife preserve office is only 2 or 3 miles from there."

"Could be a good place to set up camp," Daryl said.

Rick peered over Carl's shoulder to see where his son had circled a capital "T." The trek from the preserve to Terminus could be tricky, but they had survived worse. He hoped the preserve was in good shape.

"Doesn't look that bad. Could be a incline here," Rick said, pointing with his finger. "That's a slight vantage point, visual wise."

"Let's check it out," Nik said. "The light's still good. If there's an office building, we can set up there. Maybe even leave for Terminus before nightfall."

"Maybe," Rick agreed.

"No sign of stragglers so far," Daryl said. "You seen any?"

Lorenzo, who had the rear, shook his head. "Nothing, but it doesn't mean we're alone."

"Gee, thanks," Dawn said.

Nik squeezed her shoulder. "None of us have seen anything."

"Can we get off the main road?" Sasha asked.

Dominik and Carl hunched over the map again. In unison, they said, "Look!"

Rick nudged his son to move over and Nik did the same. The two fathers nodded as they viewed the map.

"Yeah, there's a detour about two miles from here," Rick said. "After a few curves, it should take us right to the preserve admin office."

"Me and Sasha'll take point." Daryl straddled the Harley and Sasha joined him.

The rest returned to their vehicles. Michonne offered to drive, but Rick enjoyed being behind the wheel. Besides, he needed something to occupy his mind. If he was in the passenger seat, his thoughts would scatter to Terminus and he wasn't ready for that. He wanted to enjoy the moment of having the people he cared about the most under his protection in the most basic way. In a short while, he would venture out in hopes of finding a safe space for them and maybe reconnecting with the rest of their family, but for now, he needed to appreciate the car ride.

Far too quickly, Rick found himself parking beside Daryl's bike near the entrance to the former wildlife preserve. The three of them exited the Tahoe and joined Daryl and Sasha at the chained gate.

"Need some bolt cutters," Daryl said, tugging on the chains.

"I'll see if Nik has some," Carl volunteered.

"Probably," Sasha said with a faint smile.

"We could climb over," Daryl said.

Rick nodded.

"Or we could wait," Michonne said.

Rick tilted his head toward her. "We'll wait."

He used the time to assess the space. A small parking lot rested on the other side of the chain-linked fence. Weeds sprouted from the broken asphalt. A couple of dusty trucks sat in the otherwise vacant lot. The lonesome vehicles suggested that either walkers or bodies could be close by. The preserve administrative office building didn't appear worse for wear. At least not from the outside. They had passed a larger parking lot with signs toward the pavilion and zoo before they reached the admin area.

"At least the lot isn't full," Sasha commented. "They must have shut down early."

Carl and Dominik returned with the bolt cutters with the rest of the Cassidys on their trail. Daryl snapped the chain with a little effort before handing the cutters back to Nik. The group readied their weapons and stepped inside.

As the vehicles suggested, only a few people remained inside. Two had opted out and the final one roamed the halls as a walker. Daryl's arrow ended that misery. He and Lorenzo removed the bodies and took them off to burn them. Meanwhile, the others began fortifying the office building. After the bank, they knew how to work together.

Rick engaged his son's assistance to set a few traps and gather wood. Without any distractions clouding their conversation, Rick decided this would be the best time for them to talk.

"I should be going with you," Carl said. "I can handle it."

"I know you can—"

"You think Michonne needs to babysit me," Carl said, arms crossed and scowl set on his young face. "She doesn't."

"That's not why she's staying."

"I know she's staying because you asked her to," his son accused.

"That part's right," Rick said, "but part of your reasoning is off. I want both of you safe. Out of harm's way if I can help it. We don't know anything about this place or those people. I need you and Michonne away from that until I know for sure."

"It's because of what happened," Carl said quietly. "What happened with those men."

"No, not exactly." Rick placed his hand on his son's shoulder. "I know you can handle yourself. I wouldn't leave you if I didn't know that. I know that Michonne can, too."

"We're good back up."

"You are." Rick squeezed gently until Carl looked at him. "The thing is... I care about Michonne. I want her to be safe just like I want you to be safe, too. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

The boy glanced away, his expression unreadable.

"Carl?" Rick sighed.

Carl moved and kept his back to his father. Rick followed.

"Say something," Rick said.

"Of course, you want her safe," Carl said slowly.

Rick ran a hand over his beard. He thought the changes had been clear and his son had picked up the subtle differences. After everything they'd gone through, it was easy to forget how young Carl was and how limited his experiences were. Romantic relationships were complicated prior to the turn. Living in this changing world had not made things easier.

"It's more than that," Rick said. He touched his son's shoulder until the boy turned around. "I care about her. I like her."

Carl stared. "You like like her?"

"Yeah," Rick nodded, "I do."

"She likes you back?" the boy asked. "Like with Maggie and Glenn? Is it like that?"

Rick frowned as he thought about it. Then, he smiled faintly at the comparison. "It's not quite what they have, but yeah, she likes me back."

"For how long?" Carl asked. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't Michonne tell me? Is that why you stayed in the room together? You should have told me."

"I'm telling you now."

Carl continued to stare at his father. "Did it just happen?" The boy shook his head. "No, it didn't just happen."

Rick nodded. "No."

"You didn't tell me 'cause you thought I'd be mad...because of Mom."

"I don't know," Rick said. "Maybe. Things weren't good in the end between us and that wasn't fair to you. I'm sorry, but we don't get do-overs. And I can't change the way I feel about Michonne. I wouldn't if I could."

"Things weren't good with me and Mom either."

"Your mom loved you," Rick said. "No matter what, she always loved you. What's happening with me and Michonne is not about trying to replace your mom..."

"I know. Michonne isn't like Mom. They're different." Carl met his father's stare. "I'm not mad about Michonne. She's family. We're family. I'll keep her safe."

$%^&

"You have to relax a bit," Daryl said. "Your shoulders are too tight."

Dominik drew in a deep breath and exhaled. His shoulders lost some of the tension and his hold on the crossbow became less rigid. Daryl nodded at him.

"That's better. Set your sights and release."

The bolt hit the tree unlike three out of the five previous attempts. Considering this was the first lesson, Daryl wasn't displeased with the boy's progress. The crossbow the kid had found wasn't in the best shape, but it worked. Daryl figured that Dominik should get the hang of that one first and then Daryl would let the boy practice on the larger one that Daryl used.

"Hit the tree a few more times and we'll see about huntin' a real target," Daryl said.

"Walkers?" Dominik asked.

"Squirrels," Daryl replied. "I don't want yo' mama mad at me. Besides, knowing how to hunt for your next meal is a good skill. I know ya can handle walkers."

"Who told you?"

"Carl and Rick."

"Uncle and me use tire irons because they're quiet," Dominik confided, "but I know how to shoot, too."

Daryl nodded. "Hit the tree."

As it had become their way lately, Daryl sensed Sasha before he saw her. Hands on her hip, she stepped into his line of vision. "Hey," she said.

"It ain't like that's necessary," he said, teasing.

"How's he doing?"

"He's a natural," Daryl said. "More practice and a better crossbow, he'll get the hang of it. Ya finished with that ammo?"

"Just about," she said. "I needed a break."

"So ya came over to be nosy."

"No," she said slowly.

"Right," Daryl said with a faint chuckle.

She stepped closer to him. He felt her heat although her body was an inch or two from his. The urge to move back was strong, but he fought against it. He shoved his hands into his pants pockets and darted his gaze between her and the boy.

"What do I have to do to get a lesson?" she asked.

He frowned and shook his head. "Sasha..."

Her suggestive tone unnerved him. After riding with her all day, he was keyed up. His body wanted things that the rest of him wasn't ready to handle. He knew that. But the knowing and the expressing that knowledge were two different things.

He mumbled, "Nothin'."

Then he sidestepped and went to Dominik. "Let's get those squirrels. "

"I gotta tell my dad," Dominik said. "I'll be right back."

Daryl nodded. In the boy's absence, Daryl picked up the discarded bolts. Dominik's crossbow had a small bag, but the few arrows fit inside. Daryl shouldered his crossbow, careful not to look in Sasha's direction. A few more minutes passed while he waited for Dom. When Daryl finally summoned the courage to look, Sasha was gone. Then Dominik reappeared, eager for their hunt. Daryl knew he would have to make that moment up to her, but he decided that he would rather deal with that later. Hunting squirrel was something he knew and understood. He could handle that.

$%^&

After clearing and fortifying the building, they parked the vehicles inside the fence. Lorenzo found more chains and a set of padlocks. When Michonne stepped outside for air, she saw him, working methodically and alone at the entrance. To her surprise, Carl joined him and the two went through the task together. She couldn't hear their conversation, but she noted from their body language and Carl's easy manner that the two were getting along.

"Did you ask him to do that?" Rick asked. His appearance was expected as he had been watching when she grabbed the keys to the Tahoe and came outside.

She shook her head.

"Hmm..."

"It's not as spacious as the bank," she said, "but it will do."

"At least the water's working and there were a good number of tranquilizer guns left," he said. He nodded toward the keys in her hands. "Going somewhere?"

She smiled. "Nope." She unlocked the rear and lifted the hatch. After she sat, she indicated for him to do the same.

"This is nice." He glanced around. "So far, it's quiet. Out of the way."

"Still no sign of anyone tailing us?"

He shook his head. "Not that I've seen. Are you tired?"

"Not really. Not any more than usual. Not that I can feel it."

He smiled, nodding. "Same here."

"I have something for you."

"Yeah?" A slight frown wrinkled his forehead as he tilted his head. "Me too. I have something for you, too."

"Really?" She had moved to retrieve his gift from under the sleeping bag where she had hidden it. At the mention of her gift, she paused. "What is it?"

Rick grinned. "No, ladies first."

The light in his blue eyes was rare as was the easiness of his disposition. She rarely tried to imagine the man he had been before. In the end, his past didn't matter. All they had was today, that moment. It was the present that made them who they were and what they were willing to do for each other. But sometimes, when he let his guard down and he truly relaxed, she felt she caught a glimpse of the old Rick and she had a strong feeling that she would have liked him, too.

"Okay," she said, "because you insist."

She had wrapped her surprise in some tarp that Nik loaned her. She handed everything to him and waited. For a moment, she wondered if the gift was too little or too much, but then she brushed her misgivings aside. She knew Rick and she knew that he would understand.

He tested the weight with his hands and his gaze held hers. A faint smile hid behind the thickness of his beard. "Feels promising," he murmured in his lazy Southern drawl.

"Wait till you open it."

"Was that a hint?" he asked.

She shrugged.

"Are you one of those people who gets antsy when the gift isn't opened immediately?" he teased.

Michonne folded her arms across her chest and waited.

He laughed. "Yeah, I think you are."

"Rick."

"Okay, okay." He carefully and too slowly for her patience unfolded the tarp. The soft gasp was barely audible, but the approval in his eyes was everything she needed. "Where did you find it?"

"The hardware store," she said. "Across from the bank."

Rick lifted the red-handled machete from the tarp and angled it so that the blade gleamed in the sunlight. He squeezed the handle several times, getting a feel for it. "It has a good weight. Looks sharp."

"It is."

He rose from the Tahoe and issued a few practice swings. "Yeah, the weight is good, Michonne. Real good." His eyes danced with renewed admiration as he looked at her. "I don't know what to say. This is perfect."

"Most people say thanks," she said, softly.

"Thanks." He placed the machete on the ground and bent forward to kiss her. "I'm not sure how my gift compares."

"Let me see." She extended her hand, palm up.

"It's not wrapped." He frowned. "If you give me a minute..."

"I don't care about that."

"Hold on." He headed to the back seat where he opened the door. Upon his return, he had his bag. His expression was serious and worried. In that moment, as he fumbled with the flaps of the opening, he reminded her of Carl and she had to bite back a smile.

"Will you hand it over today, or...?"

He laughed softly. "I just saw it and thought of you. I don't know why..." He coughed once. "Sounds like I'm twelve. Here. You'll see."

She accepted the bag and tried to contain her curiosity, but her hands didn't get the memo. Within seconds, she jerked the flaps loose and was investigating the treasures inside.

First, she pulled out three medium-sized gray t-shirts with a stick figure cat face drawn in the center.

"One's for you," he murmured. "The other two are for Sasha and Dawn."

"Okay." She pulled out one and set it aside. The others she left inside.

"There's more," he said, sliding toward her. "Keep goin'."

She handed him the other shirts and was stunned to see a full package of Big Cat candy bars waiting for her. "Chocolate!"

"Yeah." He smiled. A faint blush colored his ruddy cheeks. "The plastic's intact so maybe it's still fresh."

"Carl will like this, too."

Rick nodded, still smiling. "There's one more thing."

She removed the candy and the tiny booklet fell over. "A book?" she murmured. As he nodded, she took the book from the bag. The image of Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night" graced the cover. No matter how commercialized the famed artist's work was, this piece never ceased to amaze her. Her fingers traced the blaze of stars and she sighed.

"Okay?"

"Yeah," she said quietly. The title promised that more images of his work were in the pages of the tiny tome. She hugged the book to her chest. "Thanks, Rick."

"You sure?"

She nodded. "Did Carl tell you?"

"Of course I know you love chocolate," he said with a faint grin. "The shirt looked like it would fit. The book was a whim. I just saw it... I wasn't sure, but it felt right."

"Good call. I like van Gogh." She took Rick's hand and squeezed.

"I've been thinking," Rick said, looking down at their joined hands. "Going to Terminus. Do you want to go?"

"I know I said I'd stay," she answered, "but I'd go only to watch your back. Splitting the group to check out Terminus feels like the best plan, and someone should stay with Carl."

"I talked to him about us," he said. "He didn't know. In some ways, he's more mature than I'd ever want him to have to be at this age, but when I explained us, I realized he's still a boy. He hadn't seen what we thought he had, or if he did see it, he didn't understand, the way we thought he had."

Michonne rose from the Tahoe so that she could see Carl. He was still hard at work with Lorenzo. From this distance, he appeared so young, but also so eager to help and to please. She would never forgive herself if she caused him pain.

"He's okay about it," Rick said, as if he read her thoughts. "His feelings for you haven't changed. Truth is, I think he's still processing it. He wondered if we were like Glenn and Maggie."

Michonne released a faint laugh. "Not exactly."

"I told him that." He placed his hand on her waist but he made no other move to hold her. "He cares about you. A lot. I do, too. It's okay, Michonne. We're okay."

She nodded, her hand resting on his forearm. "I'm staying here with Carl. You'll come back and get us if it's legit."

"And you'll come and get me if it's not."

$%^&

Nik liked the cement block structure of the building. Aesthetically, the architecture had little appeal, but for security purposes against the living and the dead, the concrete was good enough to keep his family safe in his absence. The space was smaller than the bank. There were restrooms for both sexes, a small kitchenette, a storage/locker room, several small offices, and the main office/lobby. Nine of them wouldn't last more than a couple of days, but an overnight stay before they headed to Terminus wouldn't kill them.

He heard Dawn checking the kitchen cabinets, so he went outside to get their ready bag from the Explorer. In case of a quick exit, they kept their essentials in one backpack. So far, they hadn't needed it, but if they ever had to run, it was Dominik's job to grab the bag so that they wouldn't have to start over completely empty-handed.

When he returned, he dropped the backpack near their stuff and headed to the kitchen. "Anything?"

"Granola bars mostly." She pointed to shriveled balls. "Dried fruit?"

"No thanks. I'll toss it."

She shook her head. "It doesn't smell. We can use it for fuel maybe. Help with the fire. Think it will stink then?"

"I don't want to chance it," he said. "I talked to Lorenzo. He's staying with you and the boys. I think Michonne is, too."

"We can handle it." She stacked the granola bars on the counter. "Stop worrying."

"I'm not. I just want you to know what's going on."

"Lorenzo doesn't have to stay," Dawn said.

"Yes, he does," Nik muttered. "He's staying. Anyway, Sasha separated the ammo. We're not taking everything. We're leaving about half here."

"Good." She pointed to the bottom cabinet. "There's apple juice, but I'm not sure about it."

"I'll check it out."

She grabbed the bars and returned to the main room. They had pushed the larger desk against the wall. A small set up of water and food was available. Dawn added the granola bars to the offering.

Nik sat on the floor and opened the ready bag. Whenever he left for scavenger runs, he checked it. He needed to know that his family would be okay in his absence. If he did not return, he had to know that they would survive without him.

The nylon backpack contained two back-up automatic pistols and three bowie knives. Several rounds of ammo. Packages of jerky. A box of tampons and a box of condoms. Clothing and blankets. Two small notebooks and pens. A bottle of water. Aspirin. Nuts. Toothpaste. A First-Aid ki—

"I can't find it," Dawn said, agitated. "Nikky, I don't...I don't have it. Do you have the phone?"

They never kept the smartphone in the ready bag. He set backpack aside and stood. "No," he said, patting his jeans pocket. "I don't."

"We have to find it!" She reached for their sleeping bag and started shaking it. Her movements bordered on frantic.

"Dawn, wait!" He grabbed her shoulders. "Hold on!"

"No! What if we left it at the bank?" She rubbed her forehead. "I don't think so, but if I leave now—"

"Stop!" He cupped her face. "It's probably in the car."

Tears made her eyes brown eyes glisten. "What if it's not?"

"I'll look." He caressed the soft swell of her cheek. "Just calm down. Okay. I'll find it."

"I'll help—"

"No," he said, leading her to a chair. "Sit for a minute. Breathe. I'll be right back. I'll find it."

Rick and Michonne lingered near the Tahoe. From their faces, Nik knew they had overheard. He decided to ignore them and search the SUV. Before he unlocked the door, he saw the charger cord and the phone attached at the other end. He detached the charger from the vehicle and clutched it and the iPhone in his hand.

"She okay?" Rick asked. "We weren't trying, but we overheard..."

"It'd be hard not to." Nik looked past the parked vehicles. He saw his brother chatting with Carl, and Sasha sitting alone. "Dominik and Daryl not back yet?"

"No," Michonne said. "Daryl's a good hunter. He'll bring your boy back."

"I know. Dominik is a good listener," Nik said. "We wouldn't let him go otherwise."

"Are you sure she's okay?" Rick asked again. "If you need to stay... We got this."

"That wasn't about..." Nik rubbed a hand over his face. "It's hard to believe a couple would get upset about a phone now. But it is the phone." He glanced down at the palm-sized rectangular object. "It's not just a phone, though. It has pictures. Videos. Irreplaceable stuff. She's okay." He met the worried stares of Rick and Michonne and didn't look away. "Believe me, my wife is strong. If she wants to have a moment because we forgot the phone in the car, she can. She's fine."

He didn't wait for a response, but strode back into the office building. Dawn had left the chair and was kneeling beside the ready bag. She was putting everything back inside. Her face was tight, but he could tell that she had made her peace with whether or not he returned with the missing object.

He sat on the floor facing her and offered her the phone and charger. "Told ya I'd find it."

"My hero," she said with a faint smile. "I'm sorry."

"Why?"

She took the phone and charger and slid everything into her jeans pocket. "Did they hear?"

"Yeah." He patted his lap. "C'mere."

She sat and rested her head on his shoulder. "One day, we're gonna lose the phone. I have to prepare myself for that."

Nik hugged her to him. "I think you already have. That's what you're afraid of. I know you don't want to hear this, but I promise we'll find her." He kissed Dawn's forehead. "I know our daughter's alive and I know we'll find her."

"Noelle was always a daddy's girl," she said, a smile in her voice.

"No, she's both of ours."

$%^&

No matter how far away Sasha sat, the smell of roasting squirrel reached her. The sad attempt at flirting with Daryl had left her raw and reminded her of things she wanted to forget. She used the familiarity of physical activity to divert her mind. Sharpen the knife and clean the rifle. Keep her hands occupied and focus on the task at hand. Don't let anything else in. Don't falter.

Footsteps caused her to tense. But just as quickly, she recognized that they weren't his. This gait was softer, cautious.

"Mind if I use your sharpener?" Michonne asked.

Sasha handed it to her. "No."

There was plenty of room on the fallen log so Michonne just sat beside her. The companionable silence was pleasant. The preserve was mostly quiet except for the occasional hammering or the boys chattering in low tones. Lorenzo had finished with the fence. He, Rick, and Dawn were walking the perimeter. Sasha couldn't see Nik, so he was either inside the building or helping with the squirrel roast. She wasn't of a mind to ask.

"I'm staying behind," Michonne said. "Lorenzo is, too."

Sasha nodded. She had heard bits and pieces of conversation throughout the afternoon. Four were headed to Terminus and five left behind. The odds would be in their favor if shit hit the fan. Not that she was a gambling woman. She liked that they had a backup plan in place, though. It made her feel somewhat better about the excursion.

"I hope Terminus is legit," Michonne said, "but my gut isn't sure. It would be nice to stop. To have a place, you know."

"I'm not sure what to think about Terminus anymore," Sasha confided. "Maggie and Bob were headed that way because Maggie was sure that's where Glenn would be."

Michonne set down the sharpener and her katana and asked, "Did you leave the prison with them?"

Sasha nodded.

"Maggie's a good fighter," Michonne said. "Bob's not so bad. I guess..."

"They're not dead," Sasha said. "At least, they weren't the last time I saw them."

"I got out alone," Michonne confided, "but tracks led me to Rick and Carl."

Still smarting from his rebuff, Sasha could only mumble that she found Daryl on train tracks. He had lost Beth. She doubted if Bob and Maggie were as sad about losing her as he was about being separated from Beth.

"I wouldn't say that," Michonne offered in form of consolation.

Tight-lipped, Sasha said, "I didn't mean it. Forget I said anything. Um, put the sharpener in my bag when you're done. It's inside the building by the door."

"I know where it is," Michonne said.

Sasha slipped her knife into its sheath on her belt and slipped her rifle over her shoulder. She put the rest of her cleaning supplies in her bag and walked away. Her legs tingled from being in the one position for too long. The movement felt good. It was something else to get her mind off things. A small bird's nest caught her attention and she paused. Thank goodness the nest was too high for walkers to touch was her first thought and her second was what if walkers had already killed the inhabitants. The thought crushed her and she leaned against a tree and stared.

Twigs crunched, the familiar scent drifted in the breeze, and she knew a couple of seconds before he spoke that he had joined her.

"You were wrong about Bob and Maggie," Daryl said.

"I want to be alone."

"I don't care," he said. He reached for her hand. When she tried to pull free, he wouldn't let go. "I know I messed up. I didn't mean to."

Sasha stared straight ahead. "Whatever, Daryl. Just let me be."

"No," he said. "You can't get rid of me that easy. I got ya a knife."

She gave a half smile in spite of herself. "What do you want?" she asked.

"I can't take it back," he said. "I told ya I'm not good at this."

"It doesn't matter."

"Liar," he said.

She shook her head.

"I'm gonna tell ya somethin'."

"Fine. What?" she asked.

"Maggie and Bob wouldn't just leave ya. They looked for ya. I know they did. When we find them, they'll be glad to see ya again."

She shook her head.

"You think I'm lyin'?" he asked.

"You're just saying that," she murmured.

"Why would I?" he asked, insistent. His fingers squeezed hers. "Tell me."

"I don't know." She remembered what he said to her the night before. The words threatened to lodge in her chest, but she pushed them out anyway. If she said them aloud, maybe the hurt would lessen. Neither of them was good at relationships, but he was trying. So could she. "Maybe you'd say it 'cause I'm your girlfriend."

He kissed her hand. His facial hairs pricked her flesh, but the sensation was nice. "Yeah, but I wouldn't lie to ya," he said. "I'm tellin' the truth."

Sasha pushed from the tree and turned to face him. His expression mirrored the similar hurt of the past couple of hours that had plagued her. Nothing had ever been easy for her. Not before the turn and definitely not since. But Daryl had come to her to try and that was something.

She kicked at his feet until he parted his legs. He smirked as he shuffled to accommodate her. Then she moved to stand close to him. His hesitation was barely noticeable. She held her breath in anticipation. He nodded his head once and stepped forward with opened arms. Before she knew how it happened, she was flush against him and he continued to hold her close. It was the best feeling.