AN: We have many versions of inside Daryl's mind when it comes to the Terminus hug and reunion with the Grimes and Sasha/Tyreese. This was originally a one shot, but I will work a few chapters into this fic about Carol and Daryl and why I think they were lovers well before the prison fell. More details on that in the next chapter. This is a 3 or 4 part story, setting in the 5 season. I think I will set this to T ratings for now, I may end up moving it to M for sexual content.

Blood! It courses through her veins pushing her on knowing that she was still alive. It fuels her fire, sending her on a mission and only one outcome would need to be. She sends off warning shots directly into the propane tank. Diversions for the walkers, a one chance deal because she knew timing was everything to execute this plan. She hadn't expected the explosion to reverberate through her soul. Carol's ears still heard the ringing from the explosion an hour after she had found out what Terminus really was. No Sanctuary. No salvation. No return and no way out.

She knew the idea of finding her friends, and family alive were slim to none. Yet, she had to try. She didn't get the answers out of that woman who was now consumed by the Walkers. She didn't feel conflicted for her actions on people who murders others just for – for what, she could smell it, thick, blood in the air as she finds another room and stops fully at the sight before her. Human remains were in bins and she covers her mouth now with the horrors seen by her own eyes. "Either you're the butcher or you're the cattle."

She shoots down anyone or Walkers as she pushes through the throng of people. Screaming rang though her ears and she stabilizes and regains her balance, hoping that the ringing will subside soon.

Her lungs burn from the lack of oxygen as the black smoke fills the air causing her to take it slower as she rounded the corner heading towards the fenced treeline. That's when she had a little ray of hope as she catches Rick with an unfamiliar redheaded male toe the line as they disappear beyond the fallen fence as the herd swarms in after them.

She moves on finding a break in the line of the Herd as she heads to the fence, and tosses first the crossbow, then her guns and nimbly climbs over the fence about a hundred feet from where the others were, or hoped to find them.

Muscles spasms crippling her as every part of her body burns in pain. With her lungs heaving heavy she pushes on tracking her own footsteps back to the place where she slayed the gray dead walker guts and brain matter littered the ground. She slips off her poncho caked in walker guts and blood, then cleans herself up best she could still the stench permeates her senses.

Her timid steps were barely heard over the voices of the group arguing over going back or fleeing. With a nervous eye she scans them; Daryl, stood there, his back turned, leaning on a tree biting his bottom lip keeping silent. He knows those steps he's heard them a thousand times, her gait, how silent she could actually be. A broken man turns lips quivering holding back tears.

Her trepidation dissipates the very moment he broke into a run and pulling her into a hug that nearly knocks them over. His arms in cases her body fully, pulling her into him harder and lifting her off the ground. Her ear hears his trembling voice as he sobs out three small words that mean the world to her. "Oh my God." her arms in cases him fully even though she could feel the muscles scream in pain. He was home, in her arms, pulling her into him once again before she releases him. His face said it all, sorrow, exhaustion, humility, and love as he falls into her shoulder weeping her fingers pulls him by his head, holding just a bit longer, as she rubs her face with her fingers not wanting to kiss, but felt the very need to touch as he finally backs away that's when she notices Rick for the first time.

She reaches for Rick after he asks in a hoarse voice. "Did you do that?" she nods with a quivering smile and he pulls her head into his holding her tightly against him. Rick thanks her embracing her a little bit more until she felt the need to pull back.

Her eye follows the treeline counting faces, most familiar, and a few new ones and her eyes crinkle at the sight faces that weren't there noticing no Beth or Hershel, her heart sank knowing they were gone.

Finding her voice it was rough and dry from the fire and smoke. "You need to follow me."

The group spread out, walking and silence spoke for them. Daryl does pull Carol aside she couldn't look at him but hands his crossbow over he takes it their fingers connect crossing over holding on. No words were needed as he looks at her still unable to understand how she knew.

Her voice sounded different to her, "Rick, over the hill, there's a single cabin."
The smell of rotten corpses burning, thick black smoke billows up into the cloudless sky. Terminus behind them but not forgotten as they kept their wits about them.

Daryl's gaze kept on Carol the whole time they walk in silence allowing Rick to see his daughter in the arms of Tyreese. Another family reunion; Carl and Rick run towards Judith, as Sasha runs and connects with her brother. She didn't save them, they saved her. Carol held back tears, mainly of joy, yet sorrow hung there like a noose around her throat, she gulps it down watching standing beside Michonne.

Her ears, they rang still. Echoes of the screams fill her head not able to shake the uneasiness inside of her.

Her hands trembled. Her face stayed somber. She glances at the new faces but they all remain silent. Glenn does try to introduce but steps back once he saw her sidestep away.

He knows her, knows that look, hunted and defeated. With a hand he takes her, and she does follow him away from the rest of the group.
"You ok?" Daryl eyes stays on hers.

Nods, but answers him verbally, "Ringing in my ears. I think I damaged them."
"It will get better." He reassured her.

"I hope so." She agrees.

He pulls her into a warm embrace his lips against her ear. "It will."

She felt him try, and she smiles for the first time deep down that girl he knew back on Hershel's farm was still there.

They do agree to move on.

Teams were made to collect water, food and rotating watch.

Secrets and lies the whole team had them. Something was off. He saw it in Carol's eyes. Eyes were glassy, and wide, full of sorrow and grief. He stares at her until finally she feels him burning a hole in the back of her head.

She said it, "I don't want to talk about it." That was all she needed to say. He knew her. He would wait. And she knew him he wouldn't press into that week alone in the woods.

Then she spoke up again saying it just once. "Rick owes it all to me."
End of part 1