Crossbow Lovers

Not Again

Tegan groaned as she pulled the covers over her head in a desperate attempt to get back to the dream state she was in. She wanted to feel Daryl's rough hands traveling her body. His hot breath on her neck.

"Tegan," came a familiar deep voice.

"Coming!" She chirped hoping out of bed to open the door. Rick stood there, arms crossed. "What's up?"

"Is Daryl in here?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"No! Why would he be?" She was horrified at this question. Her secret crush on Daryl must not yet be known.

"I thought I heard you saying his name. Anyway, that's not why I'm here," his raspy voice spoke clearly. "The Wolves are back. One of the scouts saw them on their walk this morning. Do you happen to remember where you first saw them?"  The girls heart started to thump harder bringing her back to the time she was alone.

"Uh, yeah. I can take you there. I'll be ready in 10 minutes," she said, closing the door and not waiting for a response. It's been almost a month since they last saw the Wolves. Why were they back now?

Tegan threw on the outfit that she wore in her dream and sighed. If only she could feel Daryl's hands like that on her body.

She grabbed her bow and made her way to meet Rick. Standing at the car was Rick, Daryl, and Tara, waiting for Tegan.

Daryl saw her first, jogging towards them. His eyes hung onto hers as long as they could before he was spoken too.

"Daryl, you take your bike and go down the highway. That way if we need you, you'll be close," Rick said patting Daryl's shoulder.

"Hey guys," Tegan said, joining in between Tara and Daryl.

"You, Tara, and I will go to the spot you first met the Wolves. Daryl will take his bike and stay out of the woods. That's where they seem to be hiding," Rick discussed the plan.

"Gotcha!" Tegan exclaimed. Rick and Tara hoped in the front seats, but before Tegan could get in the back Daryl grabbed her hand.

"Be careful," he murmured, squeezing her hand slightly.

"You too," she whispered before slipping into the car. Tara had caught the little exchange between the two and smiled to herself. As Rick started driving away, Daryls motorcycle turned on. He flew past them and went down a different road than they did. Tegan would've preferred he stayed with them, but she understood why he didn't.

"Sooo, T," Tara started with a shit eating grin on her face.

"Sooo Tara," the redhead countered.

"What's going on between you and Mr. Dixon?" She questioned, turning to face the young woman in the back. Tegan's cheeks heated up and flushed red. Rick glanced at her in the rearview mirror with a smirk on his face.

"Nothing," Tegan said shaking her head, trying to make the redness dissapear.

"Seems like more than just nothing," Tara winked. Tegan rolled her eyes as they made the 20 minute drive to the location.

"Rick, stop!" Tegan yelled as the pulled up onto a startling scene a few moments before they hit their destination. There in the middle of the road, on his knees was Daryl. The Wolves surrounded him, disgusting smiles on their faces.

"Stay," Rick snarled at the girls. Tegan didn't listen of course. Seeing the black eye on Daryl's face just fueled her fire.

"So, we meet again," the lead wolf said.

"Let him go," Tegan growled, aiming her crossbow at the man's forehead. Daryl didn't say a word, he didn't flinch, he didn't even look scared.

"Normally we would've killed him by now. Sliced his throat open, cut out his insides, things of that nature, but we know you all care so deeply about each other. We needed to show you that you don't all get to live," the man taunted. Tegan narrowed her eyes.

"We are survivors. We prevail. We will not fall," Rick said staring the man down.

"You'll see. You'll all see," he laughed. Rick was standing next to Tegan, gun out and pointed at the wolves.

"You kill him or us and you will die. Our group will come looking. That's a promise," Rick said, doing his signature head tilt.

"We'll see about that. Grab them," he order his men.

"Don't touch her!" Daryl yelled as he jumped up and head butted the man next to him. His hands were tied behind his back and struggled to get out.

Tegan raised her bow shooting the arrow right through the leaders head. Rick raised his gun and started firing off rounds at the people coming towards them.

"Daryl!" Tara yelled, waving him over to her so she could cut the ropes. He allowed her to help and grabbed a machine gun out of the back seat. By the time he joined in there were only 5 left. They didn't have guns, so it was easy work.

"You alright?" Tegan asked Daryl, searching his face.

"I'm fine," he mumbled. She wrapped her arms around his waist and was happy to feel him hug back.

"Come on guys," Rick said hopping back in the car.

"I'm going to get my bike," Daryl said making his way towards the woods.

"I'll go with you!" Tegan offered, afraid to let him out on his own again.

"No. Go home. I won't be long," he promised squeezing her hand gently. Tegan waited to get into the car until Daryl was out of sight. She slumped herself in the back seat staring out the window.

"You were dreaming about him this morning, weren't you?" Rick asked not removing his eyes from the road. Tegan didn't answer, but her silence was all Rick needed. He knew the outcome of this relationship wouldn't be good. Not for Daryl. He loved too hard whether he liked to admit it or not. If something ever happened to Tegan, Rick didn't know how Daryl would move on. He wasn't going to stop his friend though, but try to at least lead him in a different direction.