Crossbow and Knives

A friend.

Nicole has seen tornadoes before... from the safety of a car driving the other way. This was heading for them. She turned, about to yell and warn everyone but then Daryl was pressing his back against the doors of the barn. The doors pushing against him strength to open. The tornado wasn't that close. Unless there was another. No matter. Knives reaction was to rejoin Crossbow and help him out again. She ran over, the feelings in her legs, gone. Her back pressing to the doors with his. She heard the whistle of the approaching tornado and growls of the walking dead.

It wasn't long before Maggie and Sasha noticed and joined in. Then the rest of the group noticed. Hands and backs against the doors. Holding the forces of nature and the dead back. Daryl moved his hand over Nicole's. He wanted to feel her. Know that she is still there for him. Crossbow and Knives' hands were joined together through what seemed like a few hours of keeping the doors closed. The feeling went both ways. When everything calmed, everyone slept. Knives sleeping on the ground next to the wake Crossbow.

Morning came and Nicole heard the redneck next to her tinker with a music box. It was just enough noise to make her stay awake. Her head lifted from the ground and her brown hues glared in tiredness, over the others before looking at the redneck.

"Sleep well?" He asked.

Nicole's reply was in a nod. Not ready to speak yet.

Daryl's gaze staying in a constant place on his hand.

Which confused Nicole at first then she saw the mark on his hand. The small circular burn. "Daryl, what happened?" She asked, sitting up to look at the burn.

"I did it..." He mumbled at first. "When I said I wen' out fer water. I found this barn... smoked... press'd it to m' skin." He opened up to her. Which he rarely did for anyone.

Gently Knives took his hand in hers for a moment. Catching him off guard for her to then let go and wrap her arms around his neck.

The others were begining to wake up. Confused to see Crossbow and Knives hugging. Nicole told the group that the two of them were going out to check the mess. Not mentioning mostly to watch the sunrise.

The two went outside and looked at the path of the tornado.

"If it was any closer, we'd be in worse shape..." Nicole stated. Fallen trees and torn remains of the dead indicated the path. If it had been any closer, those doors would have been sucked open. The roof would have been gone. How were they so lucky?

Karma that's what it was. At least in Nicole's thoughts. Karma. The bitch. It had taken Bob, Tyreese and Beth from them. Now it was repaying with life. But karma is a bitch and kept the pain.

"Lets watch the sunrise... help get our heads clear." Knives said, walking over some of the fallen trees and over towards a spot that looked onto a field. Crossbow followed behind her. When she sat on the ground he sat next to her. Their hands subconciously joining. They just stared out at the rising sun. Her stomach lightly growled with hunger. Hearing anyone's stomach growl in the group became normal. They all got hungry. With her open right hand she reached into her shirt and at her bra pulling out the one granola bar she had left from the ones she found.

Daryl looked at her and frowned, "Where'd ya' get tha'?"

"I uh-" She can't exactly say she found it in some random mini backpack in the woods. Before she could even fumble up a lie, there was a shuffling noise to Nicole's side.

The two stood. A crossbow raised and a knife was drawn. It wasn't the dead. That was obvious. Even with the faint noises of the dead stuck in the path of the tornado. There was no new sound of the dead. It could just be a wild animal looking for food. No matter the two were ready for anything.

A man with his hands up walked out from the brush. Crossbow's eyes narrowed but Knives didn't. She saw it. The backpack with the granolas and water on the man. She lowered her knife and put it back in it's place on her belt.

"I'm a friend." The male said.