RATINGS WARNING! Rated M for violence and a bit of smut.

Thanks to all of you who have been commenting, alerting and favorite-ing (is that even a word? Well, it is now!) I so appreciate it. Your kind words of encouragement have kept me writing and it means so very, very much!

Chapter 15

Hallie leaned against the kitchen counter and took a long drink of Jack Daniels. Merle tromped into the kitchen, looking at her, his lips curled into an evil smile, eyes narrowed. She stopped, swallowed with a wince, and took another long drink before handing him the bottle.

"What all do you want me to pack?"

"Food. Supplies. Weapons. Ya' got any weapons, Sugar?" he growled, the bourbon making his throat scratchy. He looked down, between her legs.

"A .410, a 9 mm. and fairly sharp broadsword. That's about it."

Merle looked back up at her and set the bottle down on the counter. ""Scuse me?"

"That's it, that's all I have. Sorry, I wasn't expecting the world to fuckin' go to hell in an handbasket overnight. "

" Fuck, no, tha' other. You gotta' WHUT?" he said, rubbing his temple.

"A .410 and a Glock 19. I don't want you messing with my basket-hilt. It's an antique."

"Well, that shotgun of yer's ain't good fer' much but squirrels 'n rabbits, but what tha' fuck r' ya' doin' with a Glock? Ya' even know how ta' load it?"

"Fuck you, Cracker." she hissed. "Want me to show you how it's loaded?"

"I bet ya' don't even know how ta' take it outta' tha' holster."

"What fuckin' holster?" she said, her eyes narrowed. "It stays under my pillow. Just remember that."

"Show me." he grinned a lecherous grin. "Lemme' see it under yer' pillow in yer' big fluffy bed there. Lemme see it." his voice oozing the filth he was thinking.

"Go to hell."

"You ain't got one. Yer' lyin."

"Merle, I don't have to prove anything to you. You remember that, too." she said, grabbing the bottle and downing another gulp. "You may be Daryl's brother, but you try anything and I won't hesitate. Do...not...test...me."

Merle leaned towards Hallie with a look that made her uncomfortable as hell. It was menacing, his blue eyes dark, lips pursed. "An' just you remember this, bitch." he said, his finger now pointing in her face. "Ya' may be fuckin' mah' lil' brother, but yer' just another slit ta' me. Anything happens ta' him an' I'll do what I fuckin' want wi' ya'." He looked her up and down and licked his lips. "An' ya' won't be able ta' pull out yer' 9 mil'meter fast 'nough neither."

Hallie looked at him and willed herself not to flinch or blink. ""Goes both ways, Merle. Anything happens to Daryl, you won't get a shot off... or anything else. Count on it."

XXXXX

Daryl stomped his foot down on the gas pedal and peeled off the two-lane highway, his heart racing. There was nothing but city streets between him and her. City streets and people milling around, looking like death warmed over. He slowed down at the first intersection for a woman standing in the middle of the road in a pair of over-stretched stretch pants and a long button-up floral-printed shirt. She had a bouffant, obviously-dyed hairdo but when she turned around, half of the side of her hair was hanging down, flopping around a gaping wound on her neck, blood soaking her hair and clothing. Daryl tried to maneuver the truck around her, but she waddled fast towards his open window and reached out her bloody hands to him, barely missing his arm that was laying on the frame. "Fuck off, Maxine Fortenberry." he said as he opened the door quickly and pushed her to the pavement, rolling her twice. He had always wanted to do that. Now that he'd had the chance, it wasn't much fun, he thought to himself. 'Specially if she's already dead. He supposed she was already dead. He ASSUMED she was already dead. Truth is, nobody at this point in the epidemic knew much of anything, except that this was not the flu as the government was insisting.

Daryl rounded a corner and came upon a woman and a small toddler. The toddler was bloody, laying on the grassy boulevard, the woman's face twisted, hovering over the child. "Please help me." she said as he slowed down. "We've both been bitten. My husband. My husband's gone mad." she pleaded. Daryl closed his eyes and gunned the truck, knowing there was no help for them.

He drove for a couple more blocks, when a flash from the side caught his eye. Daryl turned in time to see a red Volvo careening from the cross-street, not stopping at the sign, crashing into his rear quarter panel. Daryl was thrown sideways and hit the door with his left hip and shoulder, his neck jerking to the right as the two vehicles collided with a loud bang. The man in the other car was slumped over the steering wheel, blood pouring from his forehead where he'd hit upon impact.

Daryl opened the door and hesitated. Grabbing an axe he kept behind the seat, he cautiously climbed down and walked around the truck to the other side. The radiator of the car was steaming and the man in the front seat was very much dead. The passenger, however, was not. It was a teenage boy, taller than Daryl. Rather, it had been a teenage boy. Now, it was a tangle of gawky limbs, arms and legs, coming at him at almost a run, its mouth making a chomping motion, a horrible, inhuman cry coming from within.

"What tha' FUCK?" Daryl shouted as the creature continued to run to him. As it was almost upon him, Daryl took two steps to the side and turned, lifting the axe. "Sorry, buddy. Not gonna' be yer' breakfast today." he said as he brought the axe down on the boy's neck, almost severing the head. "Fuck shit." Daryl said, turning away as it dropped to the ground. He put his hands on his knees and bent over, trying not to wretch. "What tha' hell 's goin' ON 'round here?" he said out loud.

Daryl climbed back in the truck and tried to pull away. The two vehicles shuddered and moaned a chorus of scraping, metallic noises and after a few feet, the Volvo disengaged. Daryl separated the two and sped up.

"Beam me up, Scottie." he said to himself as he gunned the engine and turned another corner, that much closer to Hallie.

XXXXX

Merle and Hallie glared at each other until the deafening silence between them was broken by a loud horn and the sound of tires. They both ran to the door to find Daryl's truck in the drive and him running up on the porch. He flung the door open and grabbed Hallie, pulling her to him like a madman. He squeezed her arms up and down and ran his hands up and down her back. "Are you ok?" he said, pushing her to arm's length to inspect her. "Are you hurt? Did you get bit? " he said breathlessly.

"I'm ok." she barely got out before he pressed his lips hard on hers, a kiss that conveyed not only his sheer terror that they had been apart but his utter relief to find her here, safe and unharmed.

"JEE-zus Christ, she's fine." Merle spat, as he turned back to the kitchen and the bottle of Jack. "Jes' go fuck her 'n get it over with so's we'n get tha' hell outta' here."

Hallie and Daryl didn't hear him. They were locked together, her legs now wrapped around his waist, his arms holding her tightly around her back. Hallie was almost crying, their foreheads pressed against each other. She closed her eyes and fought back the tears of joy. Daryl's eyes were closed as well, as he ran one hand through her hair, the other holding her against him. They stood that way for a few minutes until Hallie opened her eyes and looked at Daryl.

"Baby. Merle says we're going to the cabin. "

"Yeah. We need ta' get outta' here. Ain't safe no more. Think' it's only gonna' get worse. I been seein' more an' more people sick. Doin' crazy stuff. Eatin' each other. I ain't never seen nothin' like it. Merle's right. We gotta' get out while we can."

"The three of us?"

Daryl knew what she was getting at.

"It'll be ok. 'S not permanent. Just 'til this all blows over. I promise, ya'll be fine. I'll be there."

"Ok. Daryl, I know he's your brother but if he pulls any shit..." she warned.

"He won't. I'll make sure of it. If he does, I'll deal with it."

XXXXX

Hallie and Daryl worked for a couple hours, going through the house for food, clothing, camping equipment, tools, anything that might be useful. They loaded the back of Daryl's truck and covered everything with a tarp, securing it.

"I need a shower." Hallie said. "I stink like a pig."

"Oughta' take one now. May not get a hot one fer' a few days." Daryl said. "Besides. Bacon's Merle's favorite thing ta' eat." He made little grunting, oinking noises at her and grinned. "Mine too."

"Well in that case, let me wash this stink off quick as I can." she rolled her eyes.

XXXXX

Hallie gathered up a change of clothes and walked into the bathroom, locking the doors behind her. She wouldn't have bothered even closing the door had Merle not been there. Now she made sure that they were both securely locked.

She turned on the hot water and let it run until it was steamy. Stepping in, she stood, head down, under the spray and let her thoughts go to the last few hours. She replayed the events of the day before - Phil, Chrissie, the drive, the walk, everything. It seemed like a bad Sci-Fi channel movie, unrealistic and unbelievable. Hallie let the water soak her, running down her face, her cheeks and nose like a river. She didn't hear the click of the bathroom door lock being popped with a pocketknife. She wasn't aware of the bathroom door opening slowly or the rush of cool air as he stepped inside. She was deep in thought, trying to process what she'd witnessed in the last 24 hours. Trying make sense of it all.

XXXXX

Daryl slipped out of his clothes as quietly as he could and pulled the shower curtain aside slowly, gently, until he could see her. Through the steam and spray he could see Hallie, her back to him, water running over her small frame, straightening her hair down her back to the crack of her ass. Her skin was pale, creamy and the water made her hair a dark brown-black. His eyes wandered down her back to her ass, small, curvy, perfect for holding on to. He'd never had her in the shower before. He'd never had anyone in a shower before.

He whispered "Hal." as he pulled the curtain back further and stepped into the shower, hoping not to startle her. His hands moved unconsciously to her ass. She turned her head to look at him and smiled.

"I knew you were there. I could feel you looking at me." she purred.

"I like looking at ya'." he said, his hands moving from her ass around the front and up, circling her waist, pulling her back against him. "'Specially when yer' naked."

Hallie turned around in his arms and faced him, her mouth kissing his chest, the water running between them in rivers. "Mmmm." she said softly. "I like when you're naked too. Makes things less...complicated." She dropped her hand to his thigh and began to rub, moving slowly inwards.

Daryl put his hand to the back of her neck and pulled her head backwards, his lips on her neck, kissing, nibbling. He ran his tongue from Hallie's earlobe to the base of her neck, the water tasting warm, clean, mixing with her scent. He stopped briefly and sucked in air when she touched him. He was hard already before she began stroking him softly, cupping him, her fingers dancing lightly on his hot skin. "Damn, woman. Don' do that. 'Bout ready as it is."

"Then what are you waiting for?" she whispered into the side of his head, as his kisses moved slowly down her neck to her breasts, slick with water. He cupped one, massaging it with the palm of his hand while he planted his mouth over the other, his tongue flicking over her nipple, darting, teasing, nipping lightly, drawing it out between his teeth gently the returning over and over as her breathing quickened each time he began again.

His hand moved between her legs and parted the soft flesh. Even with the water from the shower, as Daryl moved his fingers slowly, carefully circling, then slipping inside, he could tell she was ready for him. He withdrew his fingers as she whined in protest and moved both hands to hold her hips. Daryl lifted Hallie up and pushed her against the tile wall as she put both hands around his neck and locked her ankles behind his hips. She closed her eyes and turned her head away from the spray of water. His fingers now pressed into her, bruising her soft flesh, entering her slowly, lingeringly, as she clung to him, moaning softly as he inched his way inside.

"I was so worried about you." she whispered into his neck, her eyes closed. "I thought I'd lost you. I was so scared."

"Look at me." he said, his voice deep, commanding. "Hallie look at me."

She opened her eyes and looked into his, the blue now deep, electric. He was staring into her dark green eyes with a determined look. Unyielding, unwavering.

"Never." he said in a rough voice, his breaths raspy. He had stopped moving and had her pinned to the wall. "You will...never...lose me." he said between breaths. He started moving again, slowly, grinding his hips as he pushed into her as far as he could go. "I'm...gonna'...do...this...forever." he said, his thrusts coming quicker.

Hallie was making a small whining sound as she clenched her knees and raised her hips rhythmically to meet him, the force of their motion driving her into the tile wall, making a slapping sound. Daryl put on of his hands behind her to muffle the sound and drove faster, harder. He held his breath as he felt his orgasm drawing near and suddenly became motionless has he felt Hallie tighten around him. She was as ready as he was. He withdrew almost all the way and then pressed deep once more, feeling her spasm hard. Again he withdrew and entered again, fast and hard. Hallie's head rolled back as she shrieked his name as she shuddered and bucked against him.

""I love you. Hallie I love you." Daryl said as he reached the edge.

"I love you too." Hallie said, panting, their foreheads together once more. "I've loved you since the night we met."

Daryl exploded inside her, still thrusting, his movements becoming more jerky and less controlled. His knees were so weak they almost buckled. When he was finally able to stop, he slid down the wall, sitting down on the floor of the shower stall with Hallie still in his lap. They stayed that way until the water started to become cool, holding each other, rocking gently, whispering. Hallie and Daryl both knew that once they left their safe, wet haven things would be different. The world would be dramatically different. Dangerous. Yet despite the now-chilly water, neither of them were willing to move, neither wanted this moment to end.

XXXXX

A /N That's all for now. But you know it won't be the end of Daryl and Hallie.