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Jo

Twenty minutes later I was tossing our packs into the back of Daryl's truck. Rick had already helped move Nick into the RV where he could sit at the table and keep his leg elevated. I had given him the last dose of pills to help keep him quiet on the trip and he had instantly fallen asleep.

Shane had room in his jeep but Rick seemed to think that wasn't the best idea. I didn't argue. I didn't much like the idea of riding with the surly man. Daryl and I had at least seemed to come to an understanding of sorts.

Rick took Kate in his car with his family. I tried to protest, not wanting to be separated from her, but the only other option was to have her ride on the bench seat of Daryl's truck with us and she wouldn't get much rest doing that.

I was just hefting the second pack when Daryl stepped around the back and took the last from my feet, moving to toss it in the back.

"Wait," I said. "Not that one."

He gave me a quizzical look, then looked down at the backpack in his hands. It was a worn, grey hiking pack. One I had had since I was a teenager and started backpacking. My golf club was tucked into the loops normally reserved for trekking poles.

"That one stays with me," I said resisting the urge to snatch it from his grasp.

He nodded and handed it back to me. "Won't be much leg room," he observed scratching at the stubble on his cheeks.

I snorted and looked down at my legs. "Don't need much. Anyway, that bag doesn't leave my side."

"Suit yourself," He grunted and made his way back around to his side of the truck.

I tossed my pack in the space at my feet and pulled myself up into the cab. I buckled myself in, glancing down at Daryl's crossbow that sat in the middle between us.

I had no idea if this was the right thing to do. I didn't know if it was right to trust these people. I didn't know if it was right to go into Atlanta. Nick had been insistent that we avoid the city and here I was, blatantly disregarding his wishes. But Nick wasn't in charge anymore, he was out of commission. Daryl had had my back in the forest, but I still was on edge.

Daryl and I rode in comfortable silence for almost an hour before he cleared his throat.

I glanced over at him. He looked at me, then back to the road. "I'm not gonna attack you or whatever it is ya think is gonna happen so ya can let go of yer knife."

I looked down, surprised to realize I had in fact been resting my hand on the grip the whole time. "Sorry." I muttered, embarrassed. I flexed my fingers just now noticing they had cramped up. I rolled my shoulders, trying to let go of the tension. "We haven't had the best of luck with strangers...so..." I dragged off, sighing. I had been terrible at small talk before the apocalypse, and the months since had done nothing to sharpen my skills. "How long have you been with the group?"

Daryl's hand flexed on the wheel, tightening all the muscles up his bare arm. Nice to know I wasn't the only one who was tense. "'Bout a month." He drawled. His accent was thicker than most people's in this part of the state and I wondered where he came from.

I nodded at his answer and continued to stare out the windshield at Rick's vehicle in front of us. Kate's head was still resting to the side against the pillow Lori had given her when we had settled her there.

"Yer sister is fine." Daryl said. "Rick ain't gonna let nothin' happen to her."

"Yeah," I agree sitting back against the seat. I let my head rest against the bench behind me and immediately tried to stifle a yawn.

Daryl glanced at me then back to the road. "Why don't you try to get some shut eye. Be a few hours 'fore we arrive and who knows what then."

I shook my head. "I'm fine." But my traitorous body yawned again. My eyes were getting bleary from staring at the road.

Daryl snorted. "Yeah." He agreed wryly. "Ya look it."

I managed another ten minutes before I started to feel foolish. I couldn't seem to keep my eyes open and I was yawning constantly. Finally giving in, I curled myself against the door pillowing my head with my hands. I glanced at Daryl once, wondering if I was making a fatal mistake letting my guard down. But he never took his eyes off the road. Sighing, I closed my eyes and drifted off almost instantly.

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Daryl

I worked my grip on the steering wheel flexing and unflexing my fist. It still didn't feel right, leaving the camp which was the only place my brother knew to look for me. But what the hell was I supposed to do? Just sit around and wait for his ass on my own? At least this way I had someone to watch my back. He's the one who left, not me, and I had to look out for myself. For all I knew he was already dead. It would serve him right.

I cracked my neck, working my shoulders trying to ease the stiff muscles. I glanced at the woman sleeping on the other side of the cab. She had been snoring softly nearly an hour now. To be honest I was surprised she had fallen asleep so fast. She had been so wary when she climbed into the truck. Riding for almost an hour with her fist wrapped around her knife like I was going to suddenly leap across the seat and attack her.

She shivered in her sleep, folding in on herself as though she were cold. She wrapped her arms around herself, stirring. Not wanting her to wake, I reached beneath the seat and came up with my extra flannel shirt. Bracing the wheel with my knee to keep the truck straight I tossed the shirt over her. She was so tiny, curled up in a ball, it covered her completely.

Even in sleep her brow was knitted, as though she still had the weight of the world on her shoulders. I remembered how fierce she looked crouched over her family. She reminded me of a fox I came across hunting one time. Little tiny thing, barely ten pounds, stood in front of her den snarling and spitting at me as though she were a damn grizzly bear. That's exactly how Jo looked. Her head lowered, eyes intense and holding that damn golf club. I was pretty sure had it only been one of us she would not have hesitated to attack.

I hadn't killed that fox that day though it's pelt was worth some money. There was a fierce kind of beauty in wild things, and I respected the little foxes strength and her determination to defend what was hers.

I wasn't a fan of picking up strays. Rick hadn't realized it yet, he was too much of a boy scout, but it wasn't the damn Walkers we needed to worry about. In this world the survivors were far more dangerous. Like that other group Jo had mentioned, the one that had scared the skinny teenager so bad even half dead and sick she came awake fighting. I shook my head, must be genetic. Jo had said she was her younger sister and it was easy to see the fire they both shared. They were survivors. I wasn't surprised at all they made it as far as they did. Made me wonder how the man fit into their group. Jo hadn't seemed overly affectionate with him, but from what I had seen I doubted she would have been dumb enough to pick up a stranger. Not with how cautious she was with us.

I didn't mind giving them a ride, it was obvious they weren't looking to take advantage and Jo had more than paid their way with the three full cans of gas she had provided when we emptied out their broken down SUV. Not to mention, no matter how capable they had been, they were in real trouble now. Jo had fought those Walkers off, but if I hadn't been there she would have been in real trouble. She was hardly in fighting shape. She was too damn skinny and exhausted to boot. The teenager was knocking at death's door and if the man didn't get help soon for that leg he was likely to follow. I felt bad for them. It was easy to see how quickly things could turn south.

Brake lights shone ahead. I cursed under my breath. At this rate we were never going to reach Atlanta before dark. I would be damned if I was going to wander around that city after night fall just so Rick could save another kitten in a tree. I would go out on my own before that.

I slowed the truck and put it in park. I looked over at Jo but she didn't stir. She had snuggled deeper into my shirt, pulling it up around her face. I looked ahead to the cars in front of us, the group was starting to pile out of the vehicles. I swore softly and grabbed my crossbow, heading towards where they were all congregating. I wanted to slam the door to the truck, but one glance at the sleeping woman and I closed it as softly as possible.

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Jo

The closing of the truck door startled me awake. I sat up completely groggy, swiping at the drool I could feel on my chin. I couldn't remember the last time I had slept so soundly. I hadn't even dreamed.

Through the windshield I could see Daryl swaggering over to where the rest of the group stood a few cars up beside the RV. Something must be wrong. Daryl had his crossbow at the ready, his head swiveling left and right as he walked. I looked down and realized I was wrapped up in a worn but clean flannel shirt. I set it aside and climbed out of the truck, pulling my golf club with me.

I passed Rick's car where I could see Kate sleeping peacefully in the back. As I approached the group I heard a man's voice. "Told you I wouldn't get far on that hose. I said I needed the one from the cube van."

Rick was standing next to him, peering beneath the hood of the RV. "Can't you Jerry-rig it?"

The grey haired man shook his head solemnly, "That's all it's been so far. It's more duct tape than hose and I'm out of duct tape."

I had duct tape in my pack, but kept that to myself. These people were not my responsibility. I moved away from their conversation to where the rest of the group was standing. I was zero help with mechanical stuff. They continued to chat but I turned my attention to the others. I stopped a few feet away from Daryl whose eyes were on the trees. His gripped his crossbow, it was pointed at the ground, but the tension in his muscles said he was ready to use it.

A skinny Asian boy approached me. I put his age somewhere between twelve and thirty-five. Since I had turned thirty last year I really had trouble guessing people's ages. "I'm Glenn," he introduced himself. I recognized him from earlier but we hadn't spoken.

I nodded in greeting. "Jo," I replied.

Daryl was making me uneasy and I found myself studying the way the trees were moving as well. Everyone was talking so I wouldn't be able to hear if one of Them were approaching and it was making me antsy. I shifted my weight from foot to foot as I shook off the last vestiges of sleep.

He nodded. "So Jo...where you from? Can't imagine Daryl asked. He's not much of a talker." He said in a confiding tone, as though I would not have already figured that out.

I looked up at him warily. I was not by nature a chatty person. I could be chatty if the situation called for it, I found it made people more relaxed and it had me wondering if I seemed tense and he was trying to get me to relax...or maybe I was just over thinking things and he was just trying to be nice.

"Uh, I was living up in Athens, near the university," I replied.

Glenn's eyes widened. "Athens huh? Long way from home-"

He left the statement open, inviting me to share and get to know him, but I simply shrugged. I was too tired and too wired to make polite chit chat. This was not a safe position. This quiet country road, surrounded by overhanging trees made us sitting ducks if a group of Them came through. I shifted my weight uncomfortably as I fiddled with the grip on my golf club.

Glenn seemed deflated and I silently cursed myself for hurting his feelings. He was just trying to make me comfortable and feel better being surrounded by strangers. I reached up and rubbed my eyebrow. "I was at the University of Georgia." I supplied. "How's Nick doing?"

Glenn smiled at my question. "Hasn't moved a muscle. Those must have been some pain pills you picked up."

I returned the smile, though it made my face feel weird. I couldn't remember the last time I had smiled on purpose and the muscles felt wrong. "Raided some rich ladies medicine cabinet."

Glenn laughed out loud at that and nodded. "So what were you doing at the U?"

I sighed. "I was working on my dissertation." and before he could ask the next obligatory question I continued. "Getting my PhD in Wildlife biology."

Glenn whistled. "Sounds intense."

I nodded, keeping my eyes on the forest. When I didn't continue he turned and went to help Rick and the owner of the RV, Dale I think his name was but I couldn't be sure. I had too many names thrown at me in too short a time.

Just as he was stepping passed the door a slim black woman stepped out her eyes wide. "Y'all Jim- it's bad." She gasped. "I don't think he can take anymore."

I stepped away to give them privacy. I didn't know the man, and I certainly wasn't someone who should be involved in a discussion like this. Daryl had stepped closer to the group to weigh in so I took his position. He nodded to me as we passed. I walked down the line of our little caravan keeping my eyes on the trees and my ears open.

Shane and the man they called T-Dog walked back from the group and climbed into Shane's jeep. They drove off without saying a word. Made me wonder if there was some kind of dissent in the group.

That was always the problem with groups like this. Someone had to be in charge and everyone always had an opinion. From the very beginning it had been my husband who kept our family safe. I trusted him, and more importantly I was willing to follow him. I reached up and touched the ring hanging from the chain around my neck. Once he was gone, Nick had stepped up. I trusted Nick, but I had never felt comfortable following him. My grip tightened on my golf club, now it was up to me. Both he and Kate were depending on me.

I walked over to Rick's SUV and pulled opened the door. Kate blinked awake.

"Hey you," I said reaching out and touching her forehead. She was still burning with fever. She leaned forward and coughed heavily. "Where's your water?"

She held up her empty bottle.

I nodded and took it from her. "There's a creek about a hundred yards back. I'll fill us up okay?"

Kate let her eyes droop but nodded to show she understood. I closed the door and looked back to the group. They were all still standing and debating something that had to do with the bitten man in the RV.

Shaking my head I headed back to Daryl's truck. I grabbed my pack off the floor and swung it over one shoulder, slamming the door behind me. I turned and started walking towards the creek.

The creek was only two feet across and came through a culvert that ran beneath the road. It ran quickly though and looked fairly clean. I cautiously lowered myself down the bank. I had dumped myself into more creek beds doing this than I cared to think about. I was almost to the stream when I heard the quiet tread of feet on the road. I spun, hoisting my golf club.

Daryl appeared, casting a shadow over me as he looked down the bank. "Ya run'in off?" he asked sharply.

I snorted. "And leave Kate and Nick behind?" I turned around and continued to pick my way down the steep slope.

"Thought maybe you decided to cut your losses and make a run for it."

I just shook my head at the ridiculous thought. I couldn't imagine being alone, I honestly wasn't sure what would happen if I ended up the last one standing. I finally reached the bottom. I set my golf club down within reach and opened my pack. I pulled out three stainless steel bottles, including Kate's and my water purifier.

"Damn," Daryl muttered. "Is that what I think it is? Where the hell ya get that?"

I put the end in the creek and started the painstaking process of slowly pumping the water through the hydration system.

I glanced back at him. "I did a lot of backpacking before the...well before." I said simply.

"While ya were out studying wildlife?" He asked arching a brow. I looked up at him and he looked away, shaking his head. He hoisted his crossbow up over his shoulder and scowled. "Risky doing it without backup."

I nodded but didn't feel the need to respond. When you had a group of ten to fifteen people you could afford to wait for backup. With just the three of us, you learned to take your chances when they were reasonable and presented themselves.

"What's going on back there?" I asked after a few minutes of silence. The handle creaked quietly every time I pulled it back out. It had me a little worried, it was something that had developed in the last few weeks and if this purifier died I didn't think I would find another one. Either that or I would have to resort to boiling it which was costly, time consuming and dangerous. Fire attracted Them.

"Jim chose to be left behind." Daryl wasn't watching me anymore. Now his eyes were staring into the trees behind me, his brows pulled down. "Ya should-" he started to say something and when he didn't finish I looked up at him. "Walker!" He snapped, lifting his crossbow.

I whirled around dropping the water bottle and pump. My hands scrambling for my golf club. Before my hands could even close around the grip I heard a thwack and it dropped ten feet from me an arrow through it's eye socket. I glanced at Daryl, refusing to let him see I was impressed. I scooped up my golf club and fought my way through the tall grass until I could pull the arrow out. I tucked it beneath my arm and headed back towards him.

I stopped and finished filling the bottles, then tucked everything in my pack. I swung it onto my back and began to fight my way back up the steep embankment. The grass was still damp and slippery which made it a short but difficult climb. Daryl reached down with one hand and pulled me the rest of the way up. I stopped to catch my breath, surprised by how out of breath I was. I reached back and pulled the arrow out of the strap on my pack, handing it back to him.

"Thanks for that." I said a little breathlessly. "Nice to see you actually know how to use that thing." Oh god, was I teasing him? I bit down hard on the inside of my lip to keep from speaking again.

He nodded, his eyes still on the trees. "Don't go wander'in off again." his raspy voice growled.

His words set me on edge. I had been surviving just fine with my family on our own. I didn't need him telling me what I could and could not do. I narrowed my eyes. "I would have handled it," I snapped. "I'm a big girl. Been looking out for myself for a long time."

He snorted in disgust and shook his head. "Not my job to look out for ya." He snapped and stalked back towards the group.

I felt like I had whiplash from his mood swing. I waited a few seconds before I walked back to my sister. The group was gathered around a large tree. Daryl approached them but watched from the road. I tried not to think about the poor man I had never met who was dying in the trees.

I opened the door and handed Kate back her water bottle. She smiled weakly and took a sip. She went to set it down but I stopped her. "You need to drink more."

Kate shook her head, mild annoyance in her eyes. "Yes mom," she mocked. She coughed once and then drank.

Once satisfied, I straightened and turned back to the group. Everyone was making their way back to their vehicles except Daryl who was facing the man in the trees. He gave him a single solemn nod before he turned and headed back my way. Not wanting to be caught watching them all, I spun on my heel and returned to Daryl's truck. I tossed my bag in and pulled myself up after it.

Daryl didn't say a word as he climbed in and set his crossbow on the seat between us. His movements were sharp and jerky making me think he was upset about more than just 'saving me'. I wondered how close he was to the man they had left behind. I turned to look for him in the trees as we passed. Daryl kept his eyes glued to the road, his fist gripping the wheel so tightly his knuckles were white. We rode the rest of the way to the CDC in silence.

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