As was his wont, Daryl let Rick end the eye contact without comment or any particular change in his expression. He trusted that whatever the concern might be, it didn't have anything to do with their guest; where others would find an unreadable mask, all the finer nuances of emotion that might cross Rick's face were usually as blatant as spoken words to Daryl, and that hadn't been a look of warning.
Ellis had said he and his companion with the saber-tooth tiger wounds were on their own, which could only mean the first-aid supplies they'd handed over would be used for Nick. It did help putting a face to their mystery beneficiary, especially when it turned out to be someone Daryl didn't resent helping. Good first impressions could go a long way.
"Sounds like I just caught 'im at a good moment," he replied, and his uncertain caution practically echoed Rick's question to Ellis. It was only to be expected that he and Rick would find themselves on the exact same page, wondering what it was Nick had been getting up to that might warrant Ellis's overly apologetic reaction on his behalf. At the same time, he couldn't help but be reminded of how he'd defended Merle on occasion — as a younger sibling preemptively trying to smooth things over because it was inevitable that his older brother would royally fuck up, and usually sooner rather than later.
This wasn't exactly a point in Nick's favour. If he was anything like Merle, trouble was goddamn guaranteed, and Daryl didn't want his family or himself anywhere near it when it happened.
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Ellis had said he and his companion with the saber-tooth tiger wounds were on their own, which could only mean the first-aid supplies they'd handed over would be used for Nick. It did help putting a face to their mystery beneficiary, especially when it turned out to be someone Daryl didn't resent helping. Good first impressions could go a long way.
"Sounds like I just caught 'im at a good moment," he replied, and his uncertain caution practically echoed Rick's question to Ellis. It was only to be expected that he and Rick would find themselves on the exact same page, wondering what it was Nick had been getting up to that might warrant Ellis's overly apologetic reaction on his behalf. At the same time, he couldn't help but be reminded of how he'd defended Merle on occasion — as a younger sibling preemptively trying to smooth things over because it was inevitable that his older brother would royally fuck up, and usually sooner rather than later.
This wasn't exactly a point in Nick's favour. If he was anything like Merle, trouble was goddamn guaranteed, and Daryl didn't want his family or himself anywhere near it when it happened.