___
And she's in my dreams
Into the mist, into the clouds
Don't leave
I'll make a fist, I'll make it count
And there are places I will never ever go
And things that only Carolina will ever know
___
"Rick." Elaina says.
He doesn't respond.
"Rick." He turns around.
They're about fifty feet away from the rest of the group, who are setting up camp for the night.
"We're gonna find a place." She says softly.
He sighs.
"We are. It's just a matter of time."
He nods. She walks up to his side and the two look out into the trees.
After a moment she speaks. "I'm afraid."
He looks over at her. She looks at him and continues. "About how people are gonna react. When they find out I killed Shane."
He faces her completely now. He grabs her hand with his. "Elaina, no one would blame you. He was a threat. Everyone saw it."
She shakes her head. "It's just... too much."
He nods. "I'll handle it."
"It's my responsibility."
"I'll handle it." He repeats.
The two remain eye contact. Their hands still intertwined.
After a moment, Rick grabs something from his waistband. "I meant to give this back to you, but there wasn't time."
He holds it out to her, and she looks down.
"My gun." She says.
She gently takes it from his hand. "Thank you."
The tension builds even quicker. A breeze of wind hits them. Elaina lets go of his hand, reaching for her jacket.
"I should give this back."
He holds out his arm to stop her from taking it off. "No, you keep it. It looks better on you anyway."
His words bring a light blush onto her cheeks. He notices and quirks his lip into a smile.
"I'm gonna... I'm gonna go help set up." She says, breath shaky.
___
That night, the group sits around a fire that Daryl made.
Lori sits next to Carl, still shooting Elaina dirty looks for wearing Ricks jacket. She sits on the other side of the fire next to Glenn and Maggie.
Carol whispers quietly. "We aren't safe with him. Keeping something like that from us."
Elaina scoffs, looking over at her. "He's kept us safe this whole time. I sure as hell wouldn't have made it this far without him and neither would any of you. Just put some trust in him."
"We need a man of honor."
Hershel eyes her. "Rick has honor."
Carol shakes her head. "I think we should take our chances."
YOU ARE READING
Sheriff's Lover ||| Rick Grimes
Fanfiction"Are you trying to get me drunk, officer?" "What if I am?" Thirty-two-year-old office worker, Elaina Heart was all alone on the streets of Atlanta when a man in a sheriff's uniform trots down the road on a horse. She decides to join him on his miss...
