A/N: Hi, I'm very new to this. I'm an English Walking Dead fan and this is the first Walking Dead Fic I've written and in fact the first fic I've written in a very long time. Too long! This story just sort of came to me after episode 4.04 and I just had to write it. It's been quite difficult getting back into the swing so please bear with me, I like to think it gets better. I've already written 7 of 8 chapters so I'll upload as often as I can. Although I've not posted until now I've been hanging around quite a bit and there's some really great stories out there. I have to admit to mainly reading the Carol/Daryl centric fics so it's no surprise to find that mine is of the same subject. Like I said, I'm a Brit so I hope it reads well for those overseas. I'd love to know what you think. Thanks for taking the time to read. :)

Chapter One

Tyreese; "Somebody dragged them out here and set them on fire! They killed them and they set them on fire!"

She lingered a while at the door, hesitantly glancing around before taking a step inside. Cautiously she perched on the edge of the mattress and sighing heavily she exhaled a breath she wasn't even aware she'd been holding. The damage was done for better for worse, she'd done it. She wasn't sure it had been the right thing to do but it was too late for that now. She placed her head in her hands and sighed again. It was a sigh filled with frustration and exhaustion as she tried desperately to battle her own thoughts of doubt and confusion. She knew now she'd have to face the consequences but she had more important things to worry about, mainly, everyone else. There was no time to spend contemplating what might happen to her, it was futile to even try, and besides, she should be preoccupied making sure that everyone was safe. That was her job. The self-appointed role she'd fallen into ever since... well, she liked to think it had always been in her nature, but now more so since the outbreak. The only difference now was she actually knew she could protect them. She was stronger now, she wasn't anyone's burden, she could fight and she could lead. Somebody had to start thinking seriously about the future and the ways and means of protecting what they had. That's why she' didn't regret what she'd done. It was the right thing to do, she knew that, but she didn't like it.

She heard the faint noise of a woman's laughter in the distance and snapped out of her thoughts. She remembered where she was and quickly wiped away the lone tear she was ashamed to find had managed to break her defences and escape down her cheek. They'll be expecting lunch soon she thought absentmindedly. She'd go in a minute. They could wait a few more minutes longer, she was sure no one was heading out on a run and would need feeding sooner. Sod them, today they could wait.

She sat there in defiance for all of 30 seconds before the guilt got the better of her and she thought about getting up. She was too kind-hearted for her own good sometimes. One of these days she'd do something for herself for once. A frown appeared on her face clouding the nice thought she'd created. She knew things would be different soon. Consequences. That would have to be her word for the day and it sent butterflies swirling around her stomach, Her wave of nausea was short-lived, luckily interrupted by the sound of feet below. She ignore it and placing her head in her hands again she stayed as quiet as she could hoping to avoid whoever was coming to ask about their lunch. It didn't matter, they'd never look for her here and so she relaxed again, zoning out into her own little lost and confused world.

"Carol?"

She was snapped back with a start moments later. Her annoyance at being found was short-lived when she quickly identified the man in the doorway.

"Oh, Daryl", she replied somewhat apologetically. He leant against the doorframe and paused, unsure of how to proceed. A few moments passed in comfortable silence before Daryl concluded that he'd have to be the one to instigate conversation.

"Did you need somefin?" He asked as kindly as possible, detecting that something was obviously bothering her. It took a moment before he got his reply.

"Oh..." She started, "Um, no I'm good", she lied. It was easier and fairer on him; he wouldn't want to get involved in all of her problems.

"Ok" He nodded, plotting his next approach, "Then is there a reason you're sat on m'bed?" Carol looked up quickly just in time to catch the little smile that followed his question. Then she realised, she'd been sat in his cell for about an hour and had absolutely no explanation as to why. She blushed and looked at the floor in a feeble attempt to hide it.

"Oh... um yes, actually, I was about to start doing lunch and I wondered if you were going out and... wanted it before everyone else?" She cursed herself inwardly at the stupid question. He'd see right through it, but if he did he didn't say a word and placing his crossbow by the wall he replied.

"Nah, don't worry 'bout me."

"Wish I could", she muttered under her breath, pulling herself to her feet. "Sorry" she offered loud enough for him to hear. Avoiding his gaze she took the few steps to the doorway and turned, "Lunch'll be in about half an hour then." He nodded his reply. Pottering about his cell as he listened to her footsteps get quieter down the stairs until they were gone. He sat in the same spot on his bed and pondered for a moment what she was really doing there and how he could find out what was bothering her.