As I approached Glenn and Daryl, I tipped my hat toward them. "You ready for this run, gentlemen?"

Glenn had asked me yesterday if I'd be willing to help Daryl and him on a run for more ammo. Eugene had found a National Guard armory attached to a high school in a rural area. So, they were hoping it was either untouched or there was ammo left behind. That was a resource we were in desperate need of.

I was confused about why they wanted me to come along because those two were more than capable of handling a job like that. Glenn told me they were afraid it was overrun and needed an extra pair of hands in case it was.

"You're early," Daryl said, crossing his arms.

"What's new?" I shrugged. "Besides, you two look like you're ready. Why not go now, save some daylight?"

"Uh, we're still waiting on someone," Glenn responded, slightly nervous.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "I thought it was just us three goin'?"

"Well-"

"Sasha's bringin' us that list of ammo we need," interrupted Daryl. "We'll head out in a few."

"Okay, well, which vehicle am I takin'?" I asked, moving on from the awkward energy.

Glenn patted the hood of the Honda Accord. "This baby right here."

I chuckled at his odd behavior. "I'm ready to go when you guys are."

I tossed my bag filled with an extra pair of clothes and basic supplies in the back seat. It was around a two-hour drive to the town and we didn't know what to expect. So we thought it was best to plan for an overnight run just in case.

The keys were already in the ignition as I hopped in the driver's seat. I started the car, leaned my seat back, and turned up the radio. The Marty Robbins album I had put in the CD player was still on rotation. I hummed along to "Big Iron" with my eyes closed.

As "Big Iron" drifted into "Cool Water," I heard the passenger door open and shut. The car shook while who I assumed was Glenn settled in his seat. My eyes fluttered open to see Rick staring back at me.

"What are you doin' here?" we both asked at the same time in the same surprised tone.

"Glenn asked me to come," I spoke first.

"Daryl asked me," added Rick.

I clicked my tongue against my teeth and tapped the steering wheel. "Maybe Glenn should ride with me. He said he would. I have some... things to talk about with him."

Rick pulled the door handle aggressively. "I wouldn't want to get in the way of those things."

I scoffed. "What's your problem?"

"I don't have one. I'm just givin' you what you want." He cocked his head to the side and watched me through squinted eyes.

Just as Rick got one foot on the concrete, Daryl pulled away. He gave us a two-finger wave out the window. Rick shut the door again with a huff.

I wanted to say some snarky comment to him, but I bit my tongue. After all, we were stuck in this moving box together for two hours. It was already bad enough that there was some tension between us after he saw the hickey and after our night on watch, I didn't need to add to it. Plus, there was the elephant in the room—or the car—that was our kiss.

The entirety of the Marty Robbins album played without either of us speaking. It started over again before Rick pulled out the CD organizer and flipped through the sleeves. He slid a disk out before putting it in the CD player.

"Can't Help Falling in Love" began playing over the speakers. My fingers immediately gripped the steering wheel and my body tensed. The lyrics pierced me deep into my soul. What I would give to tell the man sitting next to me that this is exactly how I felt. But I wouldn't, because I couldn't.

"What's wrong?" Rick asked, his deep voice slicing through the thick air.

I expelled the air from my lungs and released the wheel so my hands sat on it more comfortably. "Nothin'. I just like this song."

"Hm, okay."

The vehicle rumbled and jumped as I pulled onto a dirt road. Dust flew behind the tires of both cars, blocking some of my visibility. I could see enough to continue following Daryl.

"Can I ask you somethin', Jolene?" asked Rick.

Jolene. Whatever he wanted to ask me couldn't be good.

"What?" I questioned back as I glanced over at him. His jaw clenched while he gazed at the passing pines.

"Who gave that hickey you had the other day?"

At first, I was taken aback by the intrusion, but then my blood began to boil. "That's none of your goddamn business."

"I know it's not, but I need to know," he pressed.

"Why? Why does it matter to you?"

"Because—" he stopped abruptly. He broke the contact with me to look it's the windshield. The muscles in his jaw tightened.

My hands grabbed on the steering wheel once again. Even though I wanted him to be the one to talk to me about this, I didn't appreciate how avoidant he was being still. "Because what, Rick? Just say it."

"Because I need to know what he-" Rick's sentence was cut off by my foot slamming on the break.

A herd of deer darted out in front of us. It was filled with multiple large bucks and doe. They leaped and bound over the road, creating a flurry of hooves. I had never seen so many at once in a very long time.

"What the hell?" I breathed.

"What the hell is right," Rick said, stepping outside.

We both forgot about our previous conversation, or at least pretended like we did, as we walked toward the direction the herd came from. Glenn and Daryl's car reversed before they started doing the same.

"Maybe we should track 'em down," I suggested. "Bring a few back. We need the food too. Fresh food. Not all that processed can crap."

"Yeah," agreed Rick while turning and placing his hands on his hips. "Don't know when we'll see another herd like that again."

"I don't know, man. They were scared of somethin'," Daryl pointed out.

"For all of them to be running like that, it can't be good," said Glenn while he gripped his rifle. "We should get out of here."

I shook my head. "This could be our one opportunity to feed a lot of mouths. There's enough of them that we don't have to worry about losin' all our time. We know where they're goin'. If each of us take a shot at once we're bound to get a couple."

"No, Jo's right," concluded Rick. "We need food more than ammo right now. We can come back to the armory. Daryl-"

Just as Rick was getting ready to lay out the plan, a walker suddenly appeared on his back from behind a large tree trunk.

"Rick!" I shouted as I pulled out my revolver, turned off the safety, and squeezed the trigger. The walker's brains flew back onto even more of its kind.

All around us, walkers began stepping onto the gravel road from the trees. With each second, a new one stepped out in the open air. They spotted us, smelt our scent, and reached for our warm flesh. The woods buzzed with a chorus of growls and snarls.

"Shit! Shit!" shouted Glenn as he blasted the heads off a few close walkers. Their blood soaked into his flannel. Daryl, Rick, and I joined the man in firing at the enemy.

It was like we were trying to kill the hydra with no flame. With every walker we killed, another one appeared.

"Jo, 3 o'clock!" Rick yelled.

I didn't even need to look to know Rick was accurately describing my target. I extended my right arm to align with my shoulders and fired. All the while I was keeping my attention ahead of me.

"Come on, kid!" Daryl said. He gripped the collar of Glenn's shirt and pulled him toward their car.

I covered them while Rick covered us. The men were able to get inside the car with my help. Dozens of rotted hands banged and pried at the metal. Walkers rolled under the tires and over the hood as Daryl peeled away.

As I tried sending another bullet through a skull, my revolver clicked. "Dammit! I'm out!" I shouted as I pulled out my bowie knife.

"Can you make a path to the car?" asked Rick between gunshots.

I stabbed and stabbed again. "No!" I got a moment to observe my surroundings. "I can go northeast!"

"When you can, run. I'll be right behind you! Don't wait for me!"

I shook my head even though Rick couldn't see it. No way in hell was I leaving him behind. We'd been separated before, I wasn't about to let it happen again.

With all my strength, I pushed toward the sheriff. I elbowed, kicked, and shoved while I drew blood.

"What are you doin'?" Rick questioned, slipping his hatchet out from his belt.

"If you're goin' down, I'm comin' with you," I declared as slammed my knife down on a walker.

With that statement, it seemed a new fire had been lit under Rick. I followed his lead through the horde of walkers. Every other moment I noticed his eyes glance over to me, making sure I was still with him. He didn't need to worry about me, because together we were an unstoppable force that left piles of fallen bodies in our wake.

Rick sent his hatchet into a walker's forehead while I simultaneously stabbed my blade into its temple.

"Watch yourself, cowboy," I said.

A hint of a smile ran across the man's face. He then bulldozed into two walkers, causing them to fall onto one another. This created a clear path for us to get through.

"Now!" instructed Rick.

We sprinted into the path and past the herd of walkers.

We ran and ran until there wasn't a walker in sight. My legs burned, my lungs were tight, and my feet were sore.

Rick and collapsed into a bed of lush grass. Our chests heaved as our eyes fell closed. The leaves rustled and birds chirped above us.

A deep chuckle left my mouth which then turned into a full-fledged laugh. I didn't really know why I was laughing so hard. It could have been because we survived something that would have been impossible for anyone else to do. Or—the more likely reason—I had been so terrified, and having time to relax now made my mind shortcircuit.

It must have been contagious because Rick joined me in my fit of laughter. Our joy filled the forest.

"Oh, God" I sighed as I sat up and took in a deep breath.

Rick sat up as well. "Thanks," he began, "for havin' my back."

There was a gentleness in his expression that I matched. "Always." I slapped my knees and stood before holding out my hand for the man to take. His calloused palm rested in mine. I hesitated to pull him up because I didn't want to stop feeling his touch.

"We should head north toward the school. Daryl and Glenn are probably holdin' out there."

"Agreed."

___

After walking a few miles, Rick and I came upon a small lake with a rickety dock. The water was blue and crisp. The wind blew leaves onto the surface. They floated like boats setting sail on a distant journey.

I grinned. "Let's go for a swim," I suggested.

"The guys are waitn' for us," Rick protested with a furrow of his brow.

"Come on! It's sweltering out here. They can wait just a little bit longer."

"Jo-"

I didn't listen to the rest of his argument because I was already stripping off my shirt. "Live a little, Grimes!"

I threw my top onto some wildflowers. My gun belt dropped. I kicked off my boots and pants onto the shore. My hat haphazardly flew out of my hand as ran to the dock before leaping off.

The cool water engulfed my body from head to toe. It felt I was suspended in space. Like nothing in the world could touch or hurt me anymore.

Then, I was filled with warm air once again.

I wiped the water from my eyes and slicked back my red hair.

Rick stood on the dock with his hands on his hips. He had a toothless smile and was shaking his head amusingly.

"What?!" I shouted while treading water.

"I can't believe you," he responded.

"Get in!"

"No."

I splashed droplets at him. He recoiled. "I'm not askin'. Get in."

Rick let out a puff of air. He put his weight on one foot then the other. After a bit, he began unbuttoning his shirt. I bit my lip as his chest and stomach became exposed. My breath hitched in my throat when he took off his own gun belt and unbuttoned his pants. Rick unzipped his jeans slowly. He left them unzipped while he threw off his cowboy boots. It's like he knew what he was doing to me.

One leg after the other, Rick's pants came off. He was left in his tight, black underwear. I felt like I was basically foaming at the mouth. I splashed water in my own face. It wasn't needed though, because Rick dove into the lake.

When he popped up, we were laughing once again.

"Isn't it nice?" I asked, swimming closer to him.

"Yeah, it is," he admitted, also moving closer.

I pushed a wet curl out of his face. Rick grabbed my hand, similar to the he did while we were on watch. This time, I pulled away.

I dove underwater and swam a few feet away from him before I emerged and floated on my back, letting the sunshine wash over me. My mind suddenly became aware that my scars—the deep ones—were fully exposed. No one besides myself had seen them. Even that night with Spencer the lights were out and he was too drunk to pay attention. I quickly submerged myself.

"Spencer," I blurted. Rick spun toward me, confused.

My insecurities were overcome with my guilt.

"That's who gave me the hickey."

Rick looked away from me. He then swam to the dock and pulled himself on it. His feet dangled off the edge. I went and sat next to him. Water rolled off of our skin and hair and was absorbed into the wood.

"Wh-why Spencer?" he questioned.

The chill lake ran through my toes as kicked the liquid. I shrugged. "I don't know. He was there and willing." My mind wandered to our conversation in the car. "My question still stands, why does it matter to you?"

"It doesn't." Rick stood and picked up his shirt.

I quickly got up after him. I snatched the shirt from his hand and threw it to the ground. "Stop. Just stop."

"What are you doin', Jo?"

I ran my fingers through my hair and groaned in frustration. "Talk to me! Tell me what's goin' on in your head right now because I can't tell for the life of me."

"What do you want me to say?" urged Rick.

The floodgates were open and everything began spewing from my mouth. "I want you to tell me why you dropped my hand on watch," I said. "I want you to tell me why you fought for Jessie and not me. I want you to tell me why you kissed me when the walkers broke in when you were with her." I clenched my fists and paced on the dock. "I feel like I've been caught in a game of cat and mouse. One minute we're close and there's somethin' happening between us, then the next we're strangers. I just can't pretend anymore."

Rick's mouth fell open halfway through my rant. "I didn't think you wanted me," he answered. "You seemed happy with Tate. I saw you two kiss and I didn't want to ruin that for you. Jo, I thought about that kiss for so long it was drivin' me crazy. I fought for Jessie because she was there. She was interested. If I didn't pursue her I would have lost my mind. But the whole time I was still thinkin' about you."

I was speechless. All I could muster was, "Rick..."

"I dropped your hand because you looked away. I thought I was overstepping and made a mistake. And the kiss—the kiss was real. I broke it off with Jessie the day before." Rick grabbed my hands and stole my entire focus. "Jo, it's always been you. There's not a second of the day I don't think about you. When I saw that mark on your neck it drove me insane. I can't handle the thought of you with someone else. I want you to be mine. Only mine. Even now I want send a bullet right between Spencer's eyes."

"Tate and Spencer, they meant nothin' to me," I admitted, holding on to Rick for dear life to stop myself from shaking. My heart was close to beating out of my chest. "It took me so long to admit it to myself, but I've wanted you too. For so long."

He moved closer to me so there was only an inch between us. His hands snaked around my waist. "From the first moment I saw you at the prison, I knew you were somethin' special. You were the girl on the horse, savin' complete strangers who had just tied you up," he said. "From that day, before I even realized it, I was wrapped around your finger."

"Just kiss me already."

Our lips instantly met in a flurry of passion.

This kiss was even sweeter. He tasted like honey and mint toothpaste. His touch felt like seeing snowflakes fall from the sky for the first time.

My hands wandered up his chest before resting around his neck. His warm, bare skin pressed against mine. I needed him impossibly close.

Rick slipped his tongue into my mouth. I moaned, intertwining my fingers with his hair. That moan caused him to grip my back even harder. I smiled into his lips when I felt him against me through his briefs.

"Jo..." Rick breathed after we broke apart.

"I want you," I told the man, peering up at him through my eyelashes. "I'm all yours, Rick Grimes."

_________________________________

A/N:

Hello! I just wanted to pop in here and tell you how much I appreciate every single one of you.

It has been so much fun writing this fanfic. Your comments and votes make it all worth it! I love reading your reactions!

I can't wait to put more of Rick and Jo's journey out into the world and have all of you lovely people read it.

Again, thank you for all of the love and support! It means a lot!

<3