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Jo

I sagged in relief. If Abraham and Sasha was here, he was here. They were all safe and they were here. He was here. I swallowed back the bone crushing relief and focused on the task hand. Emotions had no place here, not right now. I could be relieved to see him later. Right now they needed me to be focused and strong.

Abraham started laughing and firing at the walkers who were closing in on us while Sasha cut me a path towards the gate. I jogged over, jerked open the gate and a gas truck rolled through. Abraham and Sasha were standing on top of it, which left one person behind the wheel. My brain tripped over where in the hell they could have gotten a frick'in gas truck. As it rolled in I reached out and knocked on tank. It didn't sound empty but then again I was no expert.

The truck stopped halfway through the gate near the platform and Sasha and Abraham helped Enid and Maggie climb on top of the truck with them. I exhaled, some of the tension leaving me. Maggie was safe and no longer my sole responsibility.

Glenn ran around and climbed into the cab. I stood at the gate, waiting for Daryl to roll the truck through. I stood there, staring out at the open road, debating whether or not to close it. The last thing we needed was more Walkers drawn to the noise inside the walls and I somehow doubted any would walk out on their own.

The truck rolled forward ten feet and I pulled the gate closed and latched it. I trotted around the side of the truck and Daryl was leaning out the drivers window, looking back at me.

I met his gaze and exhaled again. An unknown knot loosening in my chest. Suddenly things like breathing and thinking seemed so much easier.

"What the hell happened?" Daryl snarled loud enough to be heard over the engine. His blue eyes were hard as his looked me up and down, checking for injuries.

"The wall went down," I called back, pulling myself up onto the ladder on the side of the tank.

Daryl raised his eyebrows at me in disbelief and I nodded. His gaze hesitated over the bare skin of my arms. I rolled my eyes but couldn't deny I would have done the same if our situations were reversed.

"Maggie," I called, leaning back on the ladder to look at those up too.

Maggie's head appeared and she looked at me expectantly.

"Toss me my jacket."

She dropped it down and switching arms I slid it back on. The gore on my forearms made the lining stick to my skin uncomfortably, but it wouldn't matter soon.

I turned back to Daryl and lifted my eyebrows as if to ask if he was happy.

He smirked.

I shook my head. "We gotta figure out how to get them out of here!" I hollered up to him.

Abraham and Sasha were leaning over the side of the truck listening to us come up with a plan.

Maggie leaned over the edge. Now that Glenn was back that air of hopelessness was gone. And in its place was an iron will determined to fight. "They're scattered throughout the compound, we could try and draw them together..." Maggie dragged off, frowning .

I looked around. The streets were still filled with walkers. Too many to count meant too many to fight.

"Naw," Daryl shook his head. "We get 'em all together. Won't have to lead them away."

I frowned at his cryptic words but he disappeared back into the truck

He pounded on the door with his hand to let those on the roof know we were moving. I rode, holding only the ladder with my kukri in one hand, just in case. I wasn't sure what Daryl's plan was. He drove towards the pond. Once we were close he parked it and jumped out.

"Y'all get in the truck," he hollered pointing at the group on top. The moved over to the ladder. I turned to climb down and felt a warm hand on the small of my back. I jumped the rest of the way, landing lightly in front of him. He stared down at me, his eyes saying hundreds of things he would never say out loud. I pressed my lips into a grim line and nodded. I wanted him to know I understood. I had been worried and missed him too. I loved him too.

He nodded in response and I knew he understood.

The others were on the ground now and walkers were starting to notice. "Abraham back up the truck to the pond. I'll open the valve, and use your new toy to light it up."

Abraham started chuckling and I felt like I was missing something.

"I want the girls in the truck," he said pointing to Maggie and Enid. "We'll need some breath'in room to get this done. Glenn on the left, Sasha at the front and Jo on the right."

Guess I didn't count as one of the girls. I pulled the hunting knife out of the spine sheath and twirled it through my fingers. Good. This was just the way I liked it. Sasha looked equally pleased.

Everyone moved to their assignments without question. As Abraham backed the tanker up to the pond the herd started to close in. I killed any that approached my side. I used the least amount of energy possible, placing the kills in the same spot, trying to form a sort of barricade of bodies to make it difficult for the herd to get to us.

Somewhere else in the compound I could hear yelling and the sounds of fighting. It kept most of the walkers from focusing too much on what we were doing. I allowed myself a brief moment to hope the others were okay.

But Daryl was moving around the back of the truck with no weapons in hand and he was depending on me to keep his right side covered. Taking a deep breath, I pushed all worry out of my mind and turned my back to him so I could focus entirely on keeping him safe.

I slashed and fought as he opened the valve at the back of the truck. The walkers on my side were thinning out in favor of easier pray. I had amassed quiet the barricade of bodies. Twenty-five deep at least. A new record for me.

I rolled my shoulders and stepped up over his shoulder to get a look at what he was doing.

"Not very environmentally sound," I said glibly as the sharp odor of gasoline burned my nose.

Daryl chuckled darkly. "Never was much of a treehugger."

I snorted. No kidding.

Snarls drew my attention. Another herd was surging up the street towards us. "Heads up!" I called loud enough for Glenn on the other side and Sasha to hear me. I trotted back over to my barricade brandishing my gore covered blades for round two.

Daryl reached into the truck and then swung himself up the ladder and on top. I stayed on the ground. Glenn was on the other side, keeping the walkers back as best we could while Abraham pulled the truck forward. Daryl pounded on the roof. "All right, that's it!" he called.

I looked up at him, not sure what he was doing. I hadn't got a very good look at what he pulled out of the truck. It looked like a large rifle. In the dim light I saw him raise it to his shoulder. He turned to the pond and fired. In the sudden flash of light I saw it was a rocket launcher. The pond flared up in a blazing inferno.

I looked up at Daryl and he was standing on top of the tanker, his stance wide, the launcher over his shoulder in the flickering light. I didn't think I had ever seen him look so sexy. I pressed my lips together as a possessive sort of pride surged through me. He was mine.

There were snarls behind me and I whirled, chastising myself for allowing myself to become distracted. All around us the herd came, drawn in like moths to a flame.

Daryl came down and took his place beside me, a single knife in his hand. I frowned at him but didn't see his crossbow anywhere. I shoved my hunting knife into his other hand despite him fighting me on it. I just shook my head, drew another knife and stepped forward to face the next Walker.

I could hear the others, but they didn't matter. Nothing mattered but killing every single last one of the walkers who had invaded our home.

We fought together side by side all night. We watched each other's backs, some times moving together, and sometimes defending the other when they stumbled.

For the very first time I lost count of the walkers I killed, though it certainly was a record. It might have surpassed my total combined since the beginning. But I would never know. It didn't matter. I wasn't focused on them, they didn't matter as they fell beneath my blades. My entire focus was on Daryl beside me. When my muscles trembled and I didn't know if I could go on, I could hear him fighting beside me. And when he tires and faltered I was there, still fighting beside him.

We fought until there was nothing left. When the last one fell, the first hints of light was glowing in the eastern sky.

I sagged forward, resting my hands on my knees. Sweat was trickling down my face and I could feel the blood and gore covering my hands. I looked to my right and saw Daryl. He was rocked back on one leg panting as he took in the damage around us.

Without hesitating, without thinking, I dropped my knives. I heard them hit the pavement with a clatter but I was already launching myself at Daryl.

He caught me and pulled me against him. I smashed my lips against his, tasting the salty tang of sweat and him.

We were alive. Somehow we had survived.

One or both of us were shaking, I couldn't tell which one. I grabbed the back of his head and deepened the kiss, nipping demandingly at his lower lip until he opened his mouth for me. His hands were almost rough on my arms as he pulled me closer to him.

Behind me I heard a chuckle. I pulled back and glanced over my shoulder in annoyance to see Abraham standing there grinning away. He clapped a hand on Sasha's shoulder and gave it an affectionate squeeze. She turned to him with a smile and they stood like that for a moment. They seemed to have grown closer in their time together.

Daryl cleared his throat behind me and I turned to face him. It felt so sureal that we were here, that we were standing here together after all that had happened.

"We should check on the others," Sasha said, jerking her chin in the direction I could hear voices.

I glanced back at Daryl, and bit my lip, indecision warring with the need to do what was right. I wanted to take him back to the house right now.

"You still need to get stitched up," Sasha said jerking her chin towards Daryl.

I swung around to face him, frowning. He didn't look injured. Had he been fighting injured the whole time and I hadn't noticed? I thought back, trying to discern if any of his movement had seemed labored.

"Hey," he said, catching my chin gently in his fingers. He seems to understand that my exhausted mind was tripping over itself as it struggled to process information. "It ain't nothing," he rasped reassuringly.

I scowled and he chuckled affectionately. He turned around and showed me his shoulder. I stepped up and gently pushed aside his vest and shirt.

"This is a stab wound," I said in a quiet, measured voice. The reason for his delayed return was starting to take shape in my mind. Before I realized it my other hand had fisted in his vest.

He nodded, gently pulling away so he could face me. "Ran into some unfriendly types while we were out there."

I nodded, but fully intended to get the full story from him later. For now, we needed to check on the others. See who else was left. "Let's get you to the infirmary," I said firmly, hoping it still existed and Denise was still alive to treat him.

"Yes ma'am," he replied with a smirk.

I tucked my knives away, knowing I would need to clean them and the sheaths later. I was missing a few but I couldn't remember when or where I had lost them.

I reached down and wound my fingers through Daryl's. Even though I was still wearing the fingerless gloves, the warmth of his skin radiated through me like an electric current. I didn't think I would ever take moments like this with him for granted again.

I hadn't realized until that moment how certain I had been that we would not make it through this. That this was going to finally be it. The odds had been stacked so immeasurably against us. And yet here we were, despite it all.

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Daryl

We made our way towards the house that was the doctors office. My shoulder was burning but I didn't say nothing. I didn't want Jo to worry any more than she already was. She stood strong and confident beside me but there was something in her eyes. She wasn't as okay as she was making it look.

"Jo! Daryl!" Maggie's voice called and I turned to see Maggie jogging up the street towards us. She snatched Jo up in a hug before Jo could react.

I bit back a smile as Jo stiffened and awkwardly patted the taller woman's back.

Maggie pulled away from her. "Thank you," she said firmly.

Jo frowned, looking just as confused as I was.

Maggie glanced back over her shoulder at Glenn who looked a little worse for wear. He nodded to me. "You saved him," Maggie said with certainty. "If you hadn't jumped off that platform-"

"Whoa, ya did what?" I snapped. My temper firing a little slower than normal with how tired I was.

Jo shook her head and leveled a glare at Maggie. "It wasn't like that," she promised.

I looked up at Glenn and he nodded, rubbing at the back of his neck uncomfortably. Maggie looked from me to Jo and just shook her head, a smile breaking across her face a second before she hugged Jo again. I don't think I had ever seen Jo so uncomfortable. Maggie released her and stepped back and Glenn pulled her into a hug as well. Jo finally managed to free herself and came back to tuck herself against my side. I looked down at her and arched a brow. My eyes making it clear we were going to discuss that later.

She rolled her eyes. "We need to get Daryl to the infirmary," she said firmly and she took my arm and pulled me in that direction.

Maggie and Glenn followed talking brightly with Abraham and Sasha behind us. When we came to the house I slowed. Everyone was here. All the people of Alexandria were sitting and standing around the porch looking anxious. I was surprised to see how many of them had actually fought. Every one of them had a grim look on there face. Something wasn't right.

Jo slowed beside me and I could feel her tense. Then her eyes traveled over the people who were out here. Rosita appeared and ran to Abraham, pulling him down into a hug. Sasha watched them, shifting her weight uncomfortably. 

We left them outside. As soon as we stepped inside I spotted Michonne, standing off to the side, hugging little ass kicker to her chest. Carol stepped out of a room down and the hall. When she saw Jo and I standing there tension leeched out of her body. She walked over to Jo and I and pulled us both into a hug. For once Jo didn't tense. She hugged Carol back and when we stepped back Carol's eyes had tears in them. 

I frowned at her. 

She shook her head and jerked her chin back towards the room she had come from. "Carl was shot," she said in a low voice. 

"What?" Jo asked in surprise. 

Carol nodded. "It was a graze but...he'll lose his eye."

Jo sucked in a breath beside me. 

"We're still waiting for him to wake up," she said grimly. 

We both nodded. 

Carol's eyes traveled over Jo. "Are you hurt?" she asked. 

Jo shook her head, though I could see why Carol would think that. She was covered in blood and gore. Jo looked down at herself and her eyes widened. "It's all from the walkers," she said quietly. 

I bumped her shoulder lightly. "Might be time to get you a weapon with some reach," I said, trying to tease her. 

She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "Like a golf club?" she joked. 

I nodded. 

"He needs to be stitched up," Jo said jerking her chin towards me. 

Carol nodded and Denise stepped up behind us. "I can do that now," she said, motioning towards her exam table. I nodded and jumped up. "Can you take off your shirt?" she asked in a low voice so we wouldn't disturb any other patients. 

I pressed my lips into a hard line. "I'd rather now."

She didn't seem rattled by that, just nodded and grabbed the things she would need. 

Rick stepped out of the room. He looked tired and stressed. "He's gonna be okay," he said so everyone could hear. The whole roomed seemed to take a breath. Rick nodded and sighed himself then turned to look at us all. The front door was open, so those waiting on the porch could hear as well. 

"We need to get a few people on shifts watching the break in the fence," Rick said, running a hand over his eyes. 

Jo stepped forward, licking her lips to volunteer but I caught her arm, pulling her back. I could see how exhausted she was. Rick looked at her and gave her a gentle smile. 

"I'll take first watch," Sasha offered stepping forward, her rifle held across her body.

"I'll go with her," Tara said. 

Rick nodded. "Thank you," and the two women headed out the door. 

Denise turned her attention back to my shoulder. 

Rick came over to Jo and I. "You okay?" he asked me. 

I nodded. "Just a small-"

"Stab wound." Jo interrupted arching a eye brow. 

I chuckled once and nodded. "Yep, just a small stab wound." 

Rick looked concerned. 

"I'll tell you about it later," I promised. Rick was too tired to have to worry about what else was going on outside of our walls today. 

I glanced over at Jo who looked dead on her feet. "Why don't ya head home and get cleaned up," I suggested gently. 

Jo looked up at me in surprise. 

"This won't take long, I'll be right behind you." 

Jo glanced at Denise as though to confirm the cut was fatal. Denise my have nodded, though I couldn't see her. 

"Okay," she said, giving my hand a squeeze. "See you soon." 

Rick and I watched her walk out of the house. 

"Is she okay?" Rick asked once she was gone. 

I nodded slowly, chewing on my lip. "Yeah, I think so." I grunted when Denise stabbed the needle through my skin. I fought the urge to flinch away from the pain in my back. 

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," Denise was chanting under her breath over my shoulder. Her hands were shaking as she stitched me up and I forced myself to hold perfectly still so she wouldn't feel any worse. 

Rick stepped closer. "They did it," he said looking out at the people gathered on the porch. "They fought for their home. I didn't think they could."

I nodded. "Yeah," I agreed. "And we won." 

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Jo 

I stood under the hot spray of the shower, closing my eyes as the hot water washed away everything but the memory of last night. I scrubbed at my skin and hair. Now that it was done I couldn't believe how tired I was. My arms and shoulders were sore and my body ached. There was a strange hollow feeling in my chest, that I wasn't sure would ever go away. Last night had been a sharp reminder that nothing was ever safe in this world. Not our home, not me, not Daryl. No matter how high we built our walls, no matter how many weapons we amassed, we were always just one mistake away from disaster. I leaned my forehead against the wall, letting the water run down my back, easing my sore muscles. 

I don't know how long I stood there, but it must have been longer than I thought. The bathroom door clicked open and shut. I didn't hear any movement, which reassured me. Only Daryl could be that quiet. I heard his belt his the ground and the shower curtain opened, letting in a puff of cool air. I shivered and moved so I was entirely under the spray once more. 

He stepped up behind me, his body was a hard warm line against my back. He stood in the spray and held me against his chest. I leaned my head back, so it rested against his shoulder. He slid his hands up around my waist. He leaned down and nipped at the skin just below ear. I shivered and leaned further back into him. Relishing the feel of his smooth skin and the warm spray. In here, it felt like we were the only two people in the world. 

This was what I needed. I needed to forget all the death and just feel alive. I turned around in his arms to face him. He was holding himself back, I could see it in his face. He was being so careful to make sure I was all right. But his eyes were hooded and filled with desire. He needed this just as much as I did. 

I pulled him towards me desperately trying to get closer. I smashed my lips against his, showing him he didn't need to be careful with me. He growled low in his throat and his hands pulled me tight against his body. I shoved my tongue into his mouth and moaned in the back of my throat when he met me. I grabbed him, my hands too rough, pulling him closer. I needed to feel him. He chuckled in a dark way, a way that made me tremble. He grabbed me by my sides, his fingers digging in. He was being more gentle than I was, more careful, but that wasn't what I wanted. 

"Dare," I said in a soft, husky voice. I didn't know what I wanted to say to him but I didn't need to. 

He pulled back for only a second and looked down at my face. A slow, confident smirk crossed his face. It was a smirk that promised me everything I wanted. 

He brushed his lips quickly against mine. "Hold on Darl'in," he said and he stepped into the spray and quickly scrubbed the blood and grime off of his body. 

He turned back to me. "Are you done?" he asked. 

I frowned up at him, my brain still foggy. "No," I said in disbelief. 

He chuckled. "I meant with the shower." 

"Oh," I said and I looked away blushing. "Yeah." 

He turned off the spray and I shivered as the cold air touched my skin. He reached down and cupped my face in his large hands, lifting my chin to meet his gaze. His eyes were so so blue and in them I could see that I meant every bit as much to him as he did to me. 

He kissed me. This one was slow and languid as though he had all the time in the world to taste me. I trembled under his light touch. His hands felt hot compared to my cool, wet skin. He reached out and took a towel off the rack. His hands were slow and thorough as he dried my over-sensitive skin. 

I was desperate to touch him and be touched by him but he was moving maddeningly slow. I stared down at the water beaded up on the smooth planes of his chest. I reached out to touch him but he pulled back, a smile twisting his lips. His hands were still moving slow and deliberate. 

"Not yet Darl'in," he whispered his voice raspy. He dropped the towel at our feet. His breath was hot against my neck. I shivered under his hands as they slid down the outside of my arms. He glided his fingers over my own and moved down to the outside of my hips. 

"Dare-" I started to say, but then his hand dipped down and I moaned. He kissed me roughly, his tongue running along my own. I was gasping for breath and trembling. I was the one to pull back this time. I grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the bedroom. I was't going to wait any longer. 

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