Theme Song: "Gotta Be Somebody" - Nickelback

Upon coming back from my run with Daryl, Rick had been a little on edge to know of two random men out where they usually would hunt for squirrels. Daryl seemed to shrug it off as they were deranged and weren't part of a group. They were truly homeless.

I noticed Daryl kept quiet about my stunt, but Rick and Michonne had grilled me on my purpling bruise on my jaw. I advised them all I was okay and then had to do the same once again when Maggie and Glenn had seen my face. It was nice to know people cared about me in that way. It made me feel more like a member of the family. And then when Hershel came out and hugged me I felt even more at home with these people than I originally thought.

The plus side was having quite a bit of squirrel and Carol had been overjoyed when we brought back a nice haul. Daryl had grimly reminded all of us that night not to get too used to such a delicious meal.

Stuff like this was a delicacy and Rick really didn't like the group leaving too often if we had canned goods here. Carl and Lizzie seemed happy for a change in diet and had asked me to tell them stories of the circus and so I had. Judith couldn't have squirrel as she was still on some of the formula that I had seen in the kitchen area.

After finishing my meal I had excused myself to get ready to take a shower. I was still in the clothes I had been wearing on the run and they had a mild mildew smell from getting soaked in the creek when I fell. My body ached in places it shouldn't, but I brushed it off to my fall. I knew I was lucky I hadn't hit my head on anything harder than what I had.

Daryl had kept his distance from me since we had gotten back and I figured he was just being Daryl. He hadn't liked being saved, but he'd just have to deal with it. Though he had kept his distance, there was a grudging connection between us that I couldn't define.

He hadn't talked much with me, but he still seemed to gravitate to wherever I was at the prison and I'd always catch him watching me from afar. The ever-silent protector.

I'd been gathering my things to take into the showers and upon exiting my cell I ran into none other than Daryl. He was licking his fingers clean of remainder squirrel and I quirked a smile at him, realizing my eyes lingered on his fingers for a beat longer than a lady should be looking. I backed up slightly, muttering a small apology and looking away.

He took in my form with a very subtle once over and averted his blue eyes to my change of clothes and shower essentials. He side stepped me while saying gruffly, "Make sure ya' save some hot water for the rest of us." I chuckled lightly and turned to him as I noticed he had side stepped me, attempting to go around and down to his own cell.

"Well, you know what they say; we could conserve water and shower together." I saw a brief mischievous glint in those blue eyes, but he recovered so quickly it was as if it had never been there. He scoffed and shook his head at me, making a pfft noise, "Shut it, Red." I couldn't help but notice the small smile that graced his face, despite his tone.

Though he was a shy and more closed off man, he still had a sense of humor inside of him. I liked being able to make his usual scowl turn right side up. My laughing trailed down the hallway and I knew without even having to turn around that Daryl was watching me walk away with that steely gaze of his that annoyed to me no end.

Almost a week had gone by since we returned with the squirrel and it had been extremely quiet at the prison. As in, no big baddies. No deranged homeless men and no Daniel. I had still been caught nervously biting my nails or staring out on the quad by myself sometimes. It was a nervous habit as I was still finding it too good to be true that Daniel and his men had not found the prison. I had confided in Michonne a few times and each time she would assure me that we were just fine.

I had taken watch intermittently with the group and on more than one occasion had been paired with Maggie. We had really clicked and I figured at first it was maybe because of Glenn and how we both were close with him. However, I found we had more in common than I had initially thought.

It was easy to talk with Maggie and I found comfort in having her as a friend. I knew it was hard for Maggie and Hershel with Beth being gone. When she opened up about Beth and how it still made her sad, I was there for her to vent.

"I like to stay strong for my dad and for Glenn, but sometimes it's hard."

In those moments we would talk quietly about the ones we had lost and I would always give my shoulder for her to lean on. She liked to seem strong and in control in front of Glenn and Hershel. I understood that. Hell, I didn't like to appear weak in front of Daryl or Rick either.

I had also taken watch with Sasha a couple of times and though she was guarded I got her to open up a little bit without pressing too much. Sasha still hadn't been too thrilled that Daniel and his men were out there, but what could I do about that? As long as we all stayed hidden at the prison, well, everything would probably be okay.

I had just got done helping Carol with some of the clothes and had ended up outside on the picnic table near the watch tower. Hershel was sitting down there and I asked if I could sit and he waved his hand invitingly. Glenn and Maggie were now up top in the watch tower and they were leaning against each other, speaking silently and sometimes I could hear Maggie laugh.

He looked to me and pointed at my head, "Ya' doin' alright sweetheart?" I nodded truthfully and felt the cut. "I think I look worse than I feel. Especially the bruise." He chuckled, "Nonsense, you look just fine." I smiled at him, but knew the bruise around my jaw was still there. At least it was finally turning greenish yellow.

Hershel looked up to me as the mid-morning sun was just now highest in the sky and he squinted before mentioning, "Maggie seems to have taken a liking to you." He seemed happy about this notion. I smiled, "Yeah, the feeling is mutual. We can be a bit of trouble sometimes though..."

Hershel chuckled and shook his head, "So I've seen." His eyes crinkled when he smiled and I realized Hershel reminded me a bit of my father before my mom's untimely end. It made me look away momentarily as my throat felt like it had gotten a frog stuck inside of it. "It's good for her to have people like Glenn and yourself. After everything that has happened."

Hershel's tone took on a more somber one and I frowned until I heard laughter float from the watch tower. A few beats passed and Hershel mused lightly, "There was a time when I did not approve of that boy." I arched a brow and laughed lightly, "Glenn?" I was surprised because Glenn was such a sweetheart.

"Oh yes. I was blinded by a father's love. But, over time I saw what a good man Glenn truly was. And he makes my Maggie happy." He looked up to the watch tower before looking back at me, his cheeks slightly pink.

"I know Glenn is a good guy. He truly is. They seem very good for each other. I couldn't have been more excited to know he'd found someone in such a grim time." I spoke earnestly and smiled at Hershel as he asked, "If ya' don't mind me askin', did you have anyone before this happened?"

I shook my head, "No, I was still trying to just find myself. Boys were the last thing on my mind, really." Hershel chuckled and just then Rick, Daryl and Michonne had stepped out from cellblock and they looked to be discussing something important. Carol trailed behind and she had a notepad in her hand and while I couldn't hear what Carol was saying, I could tell she was trying to stress a point to Rick and the others.

It was almost as if Daryl knew my eyes were lingering upon him and almost instinctively he sought me out on the quad and I quickly looked away. Hershel had been watching the exchange with a coy smile beneath his beard, "You'd be surprised how unexpectedly love can creep up on ya'..even in the darkest of times."

I looked to Hershel with a surprised start and back over towards the group as they huddled together, my eyes lingering upon Daryl longer than they should have. He must have seen my eyes widen because he quickly shrugged with a deep chuckle, "Heck, what do I know..I'm just a veterinarian."

I laughed lightly, but my thoughts were a muddled mess. Had others seen the way I looked at Daryl and vice versa? And what way did I look at him? I mean, he was just a friend, a mentor, and really just one of the guys at the prison. That was it. It was nothing more and nothing less.

Hershel placed a comforting hand on my shoulder and patted it lightly. He was the glue and wisdom of the group and I didn't know what we would do without him. Before I could ponder his words any longer, Rick and the others stalked over towards where I sat with Hershel. Rick nodded his head towards the cell block and said tersely, "We need to have a meeting. I think we're going to have to go on another run."

Daryl whistled loudly and Glenn and Maggie both peaked their heads over the railing of the watch tower. He ushered them with his hands to come down and I hopped off the table and followed them into the cellblock.

Once inside everyone was hanging around and Rick put it pretty bluntly while Lizzie held a sleeping Judith, "Judith is about to run out of formula soon and I know that one store heading west has more stuff. We weren't able to get to it last time because of a small horde, but given no other survivors came by..it's in there. But, we need volunteers to go. The street has a few other places we can ransack while we are there, so it'll require more hands. Otherwise, I'd just be going with Daryl."

I looked around at everyone and I stepped up first. "I'll go." Rick nodded appreciatively and both Glenn and Maggie stepped up as well. "We'll go too." Glenn looked to Maggie and she nodded in confirmation.

Rick looked to Daryl, "You with me?" He asked, tilting his head, and Daryl nodded, "Hell ya', let's go." Rick looked to us, "We leave in a few if that's good with everyone?" We all nodded and Carol smiled at us appreciatively.

I wasted no time in sprinting up the stairs, two at a time and loading my gear up. I grabbed my small back pack Rick had given me and put a couple of protein bars in there just in case. Once I was done I quickly came back downstairs to see the group already heading out of the cellblock. I overheard Sasha telling Maggie to try and find a pharmacy or something and see what they had.

According to Sasha, the only stand-alone pharmacy she knew of was in the opposite direction of where Rick and us were headed, but that was a trip for another time. The rest of the group decided to stay and hold down the prison. Sasha, T-Dog and Victoria would rotate taking watch in the tower until we all got back.

I hadn't thought about a pharmacy since I got here, but it was a good idea foe a different day. Rick seemed to know exactly where he was going though, so I trusted him. I made my way to the van that Rick was loading up and I threw my own pack in the backaeat.

I watched as Michonne hesitated by Rick, with Judith in her arms now. Rick looked back towards the prison and then back at Michonne as he lightly touched Judith's cheeks. Michonne looked to Rick and they exchanged a few words I couldn't quite make out. I watched quietly as Michonne smirked from whatever Rick had said and Rick nudged her playfully.

The sound of a motorcycle starting broke me out of my reverie and I turned to see Daryl walking up to me. Oh, so now he wanted to come say something to me? It had been a week and he had tried his best to avoid. Even going so far as to skipping a few of our morning lessons.

I looked to his motorcycle and leaned against the door of the van as Glenn and Maggie hovered on the opposite side waiting for Rick. "Got everythin'?" Daryl asked. I nodded to him and watched as Michonne walked back with Judith and Rick started back towards the van.

Daryl shuffled awkwardly and chewed on the inside of his cheek before nodding towards my head where I'd hit it at the creek. "Feelin' any better?" He asked lowly and I nodded in response. "Yeah, the headaches come and go, but I'll be alright."

He nodded silently and looked like he was about to say something else until Rick spoke to everyone, "Let's get goin'. We can definitely make it back well before dark." I watched Daryl walk towards his bike and I realized there was always an interruption when Daryl went to say something that looked meaningful. Our timing was just never right.

Without another word he hopped on the bike and we loaded in the van before Rick took off. I turned around to see Michonne handing Judith to Carl as she locked up behind them.