Falling Down (Rick Grimes Romance)

Chapter 10

Don't look back in anger. Hang on to your humanity. If not your reduced to an animal. What a joke....to think that's what I actually worried about....my humanity. I wish I could tell you that I was evolving and that the world was not changing me but let's be honest. That would be a bold face lie.

The sound of light hearted laughter caught my attention drawing it to the tower just beyond my cell window. Maggie and Glenn were on duty. Laughing and chasing each other like school children. Caring on as if they didn't have a care in the world. I wont even try to deny my jealousy. I like many others envied their connection. Being a couple....having that bond like they did.....it was a thing of beauty in a world that had become so ugly.

Before I was accused of being peeping tom I pushed off my cell wall. Turning I found Rick leaning against my cell door. "Jesus is there no privacy anymore?"

"Says the person watching the tower," Rick murmured. I could help the flush that covered my skin at having been caught. "I just wanted to make sure there wasn't going to be any confusion as to what's going on like yesterday."

No man could push my buttons faster than Rick Grimes. Taking a deep breath I made sure my tone was smug. "There was no confusion yesterday. At least on my part."

Sitting down at my table I began to slowly brush my hair up into a pony. The fact that Rick was waiting on me was grinding my last nerve. I was not a child who needed to be babysat. "I'm sure I can find Daryl."

"I'm sure you can too," Ricks voice dripped with superiority. "He's waiting for you at the bottom of the stairs."

Loosing my temper I dropped my hairbrush and let my hair slip from my fingers. Standing I took two steps towards Rick before I stopped and pointed at him. "Is this how it's going to be Rick. You tailing my every step because this is bull shit."

Still leaning casually against the door frame a impatient smile played upon Ricks lips. "Until you start making better choices. You say you don't want to be treated like a child well don't act like one then."

"Until I make better choices? Are you actually trying to say you've never made a bad choice?" My words spilled forth in an angered rush. "There are no choices here Rick. The only choice is what you want."

Pushing off the wall Ricks eyes narrowed in anger as he walked closer, "What I want? I gave you a choice..."

"There was no choice, that much was clear." I hesitated. It no longer felt as if we were fighting about Daryl and what happens yesterday.

"Did the two of you plan on putting on a show for everyone to watch?" Daryl stepped just behind Rick. "Or are we ready to go?"

Pushing past the two men I stormed from my room, "Ya I'm ready to be anywhere but here."

Daryl as smug as he was had a point. The normal crowd which gathered in the morning had become hushed as they ease dropped on our spat. Fucking busy bodies I thought as they all pretended to be busy as they watched the three of us walk down the stairs. Without a word I went straight to the kitchen, poured a coffee and headed for the lab. Rounding the corner of the hallway to the lab Daryl was already waiting at the door.

Leaning against the wall Daryl rubbed one of his arrow back and forth in the palms of his hands. His hair outgrown hung in his face as he appeared to be deep in thought. Glancing up Daryl barley gave me a nod as he replaced the arrow in its slot slinging his crossbow over his left shoulder. Fantastic I thought to myself. A day of caveman grunting to look forward too.

Opening the door to the lab I grabbed both collection bags and tossed one in Daryl's direction. Scooping the backpack from the corner I put a small hand saw, a spade and a pair of clippers inside the pouch along with some specimen bags. Checking to make sure my gun was loaded I adjusted my belt. With nothing else to postpone the day's events I decided to get on with it.