Without A Voice

Chapter 25: A New Face

~word count: 1358~

~ Authors POV ~

Glenn took a bite of the cooked squirrel, "Mm, just like Mom used to make."

Jane let a smirk form on her face before nudging his knee with hers. Things were finally looking up.

"Tomorrow we'll pull all the bodies together. Want to keep them away from that water." T-Dog continued. "Now, if we can dig a canal under the fence, we'll have plenty of fresh water."

Hershel smiled, "And this soil is good. We could plant some seeds, grow some tomatoes, cucumbers, soybeans."

We all watched as Rick walk the perimeter, "That's his third time around. If there was any part of it compromised, he'd have found it by now." Hershel added.

Beth reassured the clearly stressed Lori, "This'll be a good place to have the baby. Safe."

Jane noticed someone was missing. Daryl. She caught him sitting alone on top of an overturned bus. Looking down at her plate, she stood up. He was the one who caught it so he deserved it. She walked over with the plate in her hand and looked up at him.

"I brought you something."

He shook his head, "Keep it. You practically ran a mile today."

"I already ate." She lied, "Are you gonna help me up?"

Daryl took the plate from her and set it next to him. He held out his hand, firmly gripping hers, and pulling her up onto the bus. She knelt next to him and crawled to the edge. They weren't that high up but it was still a lovely view. Especially for a prison yard.

She turned back around and sat next to him, "It's not much, but if I don't bring you something, you won't eat at all."

He took a bite and gestured over to the group, "I guess Little Shane over there has got quite the appetite."

"Don't be mean." Jane nudged his arm with her elbow, "Rick's gotten us far. Shane could never have done that."

She shifted before settling again, letting out a slight groan. Her back was sore from keeping watch the past couple of nights.

"What's wrong?" He noticed her rolling her shoulders.

She shrugged, "It's just my back. I feel like an old man."

Daryl licked his fingers clean, "Come here," and gestured for her to turn around.

She backed up until she was only a couple inches away. He moved her dark hair to the side and used his thumbs to work on her back. His fingers hit the sore spot just below her shoulder blade. She didn't even know she let out a slight moan. She had no idea what she was doing to him. He stopped himself before he did something risky.

"Better get back." He signed with an awkward smile.

Jane loved making him nervous, "Wanna screw around?" She joked.

"Oh my gosh." He mumbled as they prepared to get off the bus, "I'll go down first. Help you get off."

She let out a slight giggle, "Even better."

Daryl shook his head with a smirk, "Stop."

When they got back to the fire, Beth and Maggie were singing. Jane couldn't help but look around at the faces enjoying the music. Hershel looked so proud. She was jealous. Music was something she hadn't heard since before the apocalypse. She unconsciously touched her ear, hoping that one of these days she would be able to hear again. It was impossible of course since she was born deaf. But it was a wish she had nonetheless.