Jo

My heart pounded in my ears as I stared down the barrel of my rifle. Not out of fear, but anger. I had just risen out of my crouch. Had I stayed crouching I could have easily drawn a knife and taken care of this problem before Daryl came through the door. It was sloppy of me.

I heard the door move behind me. Daryl was about to step into the same trap I had just fallen into. 

"Daryl don't!" I called trying to warn him without making him panic. If Daryl thought I was really in trouble he would come  though that door regardless of what was on the other side.

"Shut up!" the young man holding my gun snapped. His shoulders were tight and his movements jerky. He handled my rifle like someone who only knew how to hold a gun from watching movies.

I risked a glance over my shoulder. Daryl was frozen halfway through the door. My warning had come too late. His shoulders were tense but he didn't look overly concerned. I clenched my teeth as I turned my eyes back to the man in front of me.

When Daryl didn't look appropriately intimidated the man pointed the rifle at me with more authority and arched a brow. Daryl looked from the rifle to me and back again. Then he slowly crawled through.

"Hands up, both of you," the guy with my gun commanded. His voice cracked over the words and I wondered how he had managed to work up the courage to trap us. He looked absolutely terrified.

Daryl climbed slowly to his feet, his eyes were deadly. He still held his crossbow, but it was down and in one hand. Daryl was fast, but not faster than this kid if he decided to shoot us.

"Put your crossbow down," The kid ordered.

Daryl shook his head and shifted his weight menacingly. I rolled my shoulders down in an effort to make myself seem smaller and weaker. It was a trick we had used many times before. Daryl all puffed up was imposing and he would draw the attention away from me. It worked. The kid swung the rifle to face Daryl. My jacket was half zipped but I would be able to draw a throwing knife if I could get my hand up without him noticing.

"You got some sack on you," Daryl growled at the kid.

The kids eyes grew wide and panicky. Not a good combination for someone who was holding a gun. "L-Look nobody has to get hurt. I just need weapons that's it," he stammered out the words and I would have felt sorry for him if he weren't pointing a gun at me. 

Daryl stared at the kid a beat longer, defiance in his eyes. I slowly lifted my hand to my waist. I rested it against my hip as though I were frustrated. It felt awkward, but I knew it would look natural to someone who didn't know me. This kid wasn't watching body language and I could lie with mine better than most.

When Daryl didn't comply the kid swung the gun back to me. He took a step towards me to show how serious he was about shooting me. I sucked in a breath, and focused. One step closer and I would be able to reach the barrel of the rifle. He had eyes only for Daryl. I tensed my muscles. I could knock the barrel straight up with my left forearm, draw one of my small knives with my right while stepping into his space. I would have to be sure I got too close for him to bring the rifle back down. If i moved fast I would be able to slam my knife into his throat before he had a chance to kill me or get the rifle pointed back at Daryl.

He arched a brow again, shifting the rifle while he waited for Daryl to make up his mind.

I wasn't afraid. Daryl and I had both been in positions worse than this. If either one of us could get a hand on that kid it would be game over. He was thin, probably didn't weight much more than I did and didn't carry much muscle. His only saving grace in this world was being fast, but I was fast too.

Daryl let out a sigh before he shifted his grip on the crossbow and set it down. I could see how much he hated to do it, but I also knew Daryl would never risk my life like that. Just like I wouldn't with him.

The kid nodded. "Now back up," he commanded. Daryl and I glanced at each other. Further away was more dangerous. Now I was going to have to throw a knife. Out of this batch of knives there was only one I could throw with near perfect accuracy. I hadn't had a chance to get comfortable with the others and none of them were real throwing knives. Hell I had never used a real throwing knife, I wasn't sure I would even be able to throw one if I ever found one.

I kept my expression calm and neutral as we backed up. I didn't have a plan to get us out of here and Daryl's shuttered face made me believe he didn't either. The kid would have to turn eventually, if he was close enough Daryl could tackle him and it would give me an opening to go for a knife.

"Back up!" he yelled again. "Against the doors!"

We both took another shuffling step back until our backs were pressed against the doors. The kid bent down and scooped up the crossbow, swinging it over his shoulder. I saw Daryl tense out of the corner of my eye. I knew how much he hated it when someone touched his baby.

I rocked up on the balls of my feet so I would be ready to move if Daryl attacked.

The kid backed away from us quickly. "I'm sorry about this," he said finally and while I truly believed he meant it, I found I didn't care. I was going for him first chance I got.

"You look tough," his eyes were on Daryl. "You'll take care of her," he said jerking his chin towards me. Then he turned to face me. "You'll be all right," this he said in a patronizingly reassuring way that made me clench my teeth.

As he backed away he pulled his knife from his waist and slashed open both tents as he passed them. The walkers inside snarled in excitement. Once the walkers were loose he fled.

Daryl grunted beside me and pulled his knife, leaping forward to kill the first one to move towards us. I pulled the knife and moved to land the blade into the kids back.

Daryl jumped towards me. His shoulder slammed into me and he knocked my hand down. I flinched, staggering away from him. When I regained my balance I looked back at him in shock.

Then the growls of the other walkers brought my attention back. There were five. I threw the knife at the closest one and moved to engage the next. I ran at it, drawing another blade as I moved. I twisted to the side at the last minute and rammed the knife up through the base of its skull from behind. Daryl had already killed two of the remaining three and was moving towards the last one. I snatched up the knife I threw and tore off after the kid. I ran towards the door to the parking garage but it didn't open like I expected and I rebounded off it. I heard chains rattle.

"Son of a bitch!" I yelled and I kicked the door as hard as I could near the handle. When the door didn't give a sharp pain reverberated all the way up to my hip.

He had really planned this out. I wondered how long he had been watching us. Had he been watching us at the halfway house? For some reason that thought made me mad.

Daryl came behind me and slammed his shoulder against the door, but it didn't budge. He kicked it a few times but the chains held.

"Come on," he finally said in angry defeat. We turned back to the stairwell. We were going to have to find another way through. Daryl led, the anger radiating off of him.

I wasn't sure if he was mad at me or the situation. His shoulders were tight and he was completely closed off. I followed behind him quietly.

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Daryl

I was pissed. That damn kid got the drop on us and then I let him get away. I was was so sure we could catch him but then he chained the damn door. I wanted to question him but it all back fired. And then I scared Jo. She would never admit it, but I felt her flinch away from me. He pointed a gun at her and I let him leave. Now he could be anywhere and I had only a knife. 

I led the way through a floor that had been under construction. It was open and bright with no extra walls. It would be a good place to stay if we got stuck here another night. I ground my teeth at that thought. I couldn't keep Jo in this damn city another night.

Her voice came softly from behind me. "We're in the middle of a city and he was stealing our weapons..." It pissed me off even more to hear her voice so soft and meek, like she was scared of me.

I glanced back over my shoulder scowling. I hated that she felt like she needed to justify her decision to sink a knife in that kids back. I had stopped her, thinking we could spare the kid, catch him and question him. I was wrong and now we were vulnerable. It was stupid. She had been right. I should have let her throw that knife. 

"He was stealing our weapons!" Jo suddenly yelled at me. I jerked in surprise. I don't think Jo had ever yelled at me before. At least not that I could remember. I didn't look at her, I couldn't. She was pissed at me and I deserved it. I made a bad call that got us into a shit situation and on top of that I scared her.

The door to the next stairwell was just ahead and we needed to keep moving. "He was just a damn kid and he mighta known something," my voice growled out more angry than I meant. I was feeling raw and defensive. I knew I did something dumb, I didn't need her yelling at me about it anymore. 

When I tried to knob on the door it didn't budge. Even knowing it wouldn't do any good I kicked the door. It felt good to vent some frustration. I swung my bag around and dug through it to see what I had to break open the door. When I couldn't find anything I finally pulled my knife and slammed it into the door jam harder than necessary. It was going to frustrate Jo even more to see me use my knife like this, but my temper was up and she was still raging at my back.

"Without weapons we could die!" She yelled angrily as though I were too stupid to realize my mistake. Could she honestly think I didn't know that? If I could go back and kill that kid I would. Her next words came out low and breathy and pushed me to a whole new level of pissed off. "Beth could die."

I whirled on her my eyes hard and angry. She said it like that was all that mattered. Like that's all I cared about. Like I didn't care about her. She immediately recoiled, taking half a step back. "We'll find more weapons." I motioned to her body, letting my eyes run over her in a way I rarely let myself. "Hell, you're carrying a damn arsenal."

She took that step back, moving up into my space aggressively. I could see how angry she was. Her eyes were narrowed and her shoulders were set. It shocked me when I realized I wanted to kiss her now more than I ever had before. She licked her lips and I forced myself to look away and turn back to the door before I did something that got me slapped.

"I don't want you to die," she still snapped out the words but she wasn't yelling anymore. "I don't want Beth to die, but..."

I glanced back at her just as she turned to stomp off. I turned to follow her. "You shouldn't be here." 

"What?!" she practically shrieked and whipped back around, her eyes snapping. 

I let out a tired breath. I didn't want to fight with her anymore. "You just...shouldn't." I shook my head in defeat. "I never should have brought you," I turned away from her to go back to the door. 

I felt a jerk from behind me and turned as she tried to jerk me back by the strap of my bag. I stopped but the bag pulled free and everything inside spilled at our feet. Jo looked at my face, shock etched in her features. Then her eyes dropped back to the floor where the book from the halfway house lay between us. I bent down to snatch it up, but she moved at the same time and our heads smashed together. We both landed on our butts facing one another. 

I moved quickly, climbing to my knees even though my forehead ached. I snatched up the book and shoved it into my bag as shame burned through me. She knew about my childhood now, but I still didn't want her to know about the damn book. I wanted to get over the past so badly. Now I regretted taking it. 

I turned back to her once I had my stuff picked up. She was still sitting on the ground rubbing her head and scowling at me. 

"I'm sorry," she said climbing to her feet roughly. "I'm sorry I screwed up or whatever it is you are mad at me about," she stomped over to the door, shouldering past me angrily. I watched her dumb founded. She thought I was the one who was mad? I was the one who screwed up. 

She pulled her kukri and jammed it into the lock and slammed her shoulder against the door. It popped open. "But you're stuck with me now. So let's finish up and get out of here."

I sighed and followed Jo. I wondered if that damn book had a chapter about communication.  

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Jo

A group of walkers trailed behind us as we crossed the bridge. It was daylight and I wasn't sure how good of an idea it was for us to be out in the open like this. But Daryl was pissed and I didn't want to make him any more mad by questioning him. I didn't know what to say to him to make things better. We had been silent the whole way to the bridge. Daryl still seemed mad at me, but I had already apologized so now it was up to him to let it go. I was through fighting with him. I stood by my decision to kill that kid. It hurt that he told me he didn't want me at his back, but that was his decision.

Daryl reached the van first. The van had smashed through the guard rail and the whole front quarter hung off the bridge. Daryl glanced back at me and I turned to watch our backs while he pulled the door open. "Alright, let's get this done," he moved to jump up but I put a hand on his arm to stop him.

"It's not stable and I'm lighter," I said, slipping my knife back into my belt so I could climb in. 

He shook his head, "no way," he said. "It's not safe," and he climbed up anyway. 

Daryl had to be the most maddening man I had ever met. One minute he was yelling at me and the next protecting me. One moment I wanted to shake him and the next I wanted to kiss him. I let out a soul weary sigh. 

The whole van shifted under his weight, creaking ominously. I closed my eyes and climbed into the back behind him. I sat on the rear edge, hoping my weight would somehow help to counterbalance his. He probably out weighed me by fifty pounds. I glanced out the door and swallowed. The herd had quadrupled in size in just the short time we had been here. 

I looked over my shoulder at Daryl. "There are more coming, we gotta go. We're already going to have to fight our way through."

Daryl glanced out the window. "Yeah, I see 'em," he grumbled. I could hear him moving towards the back but the herd was already on us. 

I jumped out of the van, landing light on my feet and drew my knives. With both of the rear doors open I was able to fight without being flanked. The doors acted as almost a funnel, bringing the Walkers straight at me. I fought with my kukri in one and one of the knives from Terminus with the other. It was lighter than Daryl's old hunting knife but after I killed the first five that came near me it didn't matter any more. My body moved to compensate and I kicked and stabbed and fought to keep us safe. I focused only on each target as it came close. There were more coming closer, more than I had ever faced, even with help but I pushed those thoughts away and focused. 

I killed another four. Each kill was tightly controlled and efficient. With this many I couldn't afford to waste any energy. I struck forward and stepped back, struck forward and stepped back. I couldn't let myself get too far from the van doors or I would be quickly overwhelmed. 

"G-M-H, what's that mean!?" Daryl yelled from the back of the van.

His words startled me out of my focus and as I tried to access different information I faltered. A walker came closer than I thought and I missed the forehead when I stabbed. My blade sank down into it's collarbone and lodged there. I tried to jerk it back but it snapped it's teeth too close to my face. I brought the kukri up beneath it's chin and it dropped at my feet. I pulled another knife knowing I was letting that one go. 

"I don't know Grady Memorial Hospital?" I called back loudly so I could be heard above the growling of the herd.

"Could be where they are keeping her!" he yelled, he came around the side of van and killed a walker that had managed to come around the side. It was closer than I realized and had Daryl not been there it would have taken me from behind. I flinched away, shocked a Walker had broke through my guard and my focus was suddenly shot. The herd was building up and there was no escape now. 

"Daryl!" I yelled as more swarmed towards us. The herd had formed a solid wall and there was no where to run.

"Go!" he yelled. 

I turned back to the van and leapt up into the back. It swayed again. I threw two blades to protect him, knowing I would never get them back. I was down to only two knives.  Daryl backed up and pulled himself up beside me. He grabbed the top and swung forward, kicking back any walkers blocking the doors. I leaned forward and we each slammed one of the doors behind us. We collapsed back together into the dark of the van panting. I was half laying across his lap, and he wrapped an arm around my chest pulling me back against him. I let myself fall back into him, my heart thudding in my chest seemed to match his. I felt him press his lips against the top of my head. 

The walkers slammed against the rear doors and side windows rocking the van. I shuddered. I didn't know how we were going to get out of this one. The sound of cracking glass had us both scrambling back to our feet. 

"Anything we can use?" I asked, spinning around in the small space. "I'm down to only two knives." It wasn't nearly enough.

Daryl dug through the van in disgust. "Nothing but what we got."

The glass cracked against and the rear window shattered. Daryl shoved past me and climbed into the drivers seat. My eyes widened as I realized what he was going to do. We were going over. I followed quickly, climbing into the passengers seat with shaking hands. 

"Alright, buckle up," he ordered, fastening his own seat belt.

The van swayed as more walkers pressed against it. Daryl braced his hands against the dash. I reached out and covered his hand with mine. His skin was warm beneath mine and the contact reassured me. He laced his fingers with mine, squeezing them gently. "You hold on," he ordered, looking me in the eyes. I nodded, holding his gaze as the van started to slip. He stared into my eyes with such intensity. There was so much emotion behind his blue eyes, so much he never let me see. 

"Dar-" I started to say but then the van shifted and finally let go and we were airborne.

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