Taking a Chance

Chapter 8

Daryl opened the door to find a concerned Michonne. Even though he was dressed, his feet were bare, his hair was a disaster and his eyes were completely bloodshot. She pushed her way past him, with Rick following sheepishly behind.

"They were newlyweds. Shouldn't they still be in bed or something?" he thought to himself.

"Now's not a good time, Michonne, what is it?" Daryl asked. His head was still pounding and his mouth was bone dry. He walked over to the bottles of water on the desk and drained one without stopping.

"I can't find Gabby. She's not answering her phone and she didn't come home last night. I'm worried, did you see her?"

"She's fine Michonne," he told her. Well, she would be fine once she got over the hangover.

"Where is she Daryl?"

Daryl looked at Rick, who instantly got it. He didn't understand it, as he thought the two of them didn't like each other, but he got it. "Michonne, come on let's go get breakfast..."

Michonne turned to her new husband looking furious at him. "Rick, my best friend is missing and all you want to think about is eating? What is wrong with you?" She turned back to Daryl, ignoring Rick's answer. "When did you last see her, Daryl?"

"About ten minutes ago," came the response from Gabrielle. She stood at the end of the bed, still wrapped in the hotel's robe. It was completely evident where she had spent the night.

Michonne's brown eyes got huge. She looked at her friend then back at Daryl. "Oh...Oh, I'm so sorry," she started to say. "Umm...Do you want to meet us for a late breakfast?"

"Give us an hour," Daryl told her. His look had her grabbing Rick's arm as fast as she could and headed for the door.

"Damn it Rick!" she scolded.

"I tried to tell you, babe, but ...." the door slammed close blocking out anything else that they were saying.

"Do you mind if I wash my face before I go and do you have a brush?" Gabrielle asked him. He could hear the regret in her tone.

"Go right ahead. Ain't got a brush, but a comb's on the night stand," he told her.

Without a word of thanks, Gabrielle headed to the bathroom again, but not before scooping the comb up off the table. The door loudly slammed behind her.

"Great, the Princess is back," he thought. "Fuckin' great."

Daryl walked over to get another bottle of water, he was still thirsty. Drinking always did that to him. He'd figured he'd give one to Gabrielle too as she was probably as dehydrated as he was. When he finished chugging the second bottle some papers on the dresser that caught his eye and he went over to see what they were. He didn't remember leaving anything there.

He picked them up and glanced at the top sheet. His eyes got bigger and he read it again and again. Then he looked at the sheet below it. "No!" he said out loud to the room. "We couldn't have...no fuckin' way!" But the proof was in his shaking hand.

"I'm out of here," Gabrielle said with her clothing bundled in her arm. "Let's just forget this ever happened."

"That's kinda gonna be hard, Princess," he told her.

"No, it's not. You forget you know me and I'll forget I know you. It's as simple as that." The condescending attitude in her voice was like nails on a chalkboard.

"No. It. Ain't."

Gabrielle was completely embarrassed and pissed off at herself. She did the one thing she hadn't wanted to do, which was sleep with Daryl. Neither of them may remember it, but her hips didn't lie. They were sore, just like they always got when she had sex. Figures the one time she has sex in months, she can't even remember it.