Chapter 1

Thunder enveloped the sky like an abrupt omen that something final was about to happen, he looked up angrily at the men who had captured him, "The Wolves" there so called name.
What kind of hell name is that?
Here he was strapped to a tree like a dam pussy; he'd only went on a run and had stumbled across these not so hospitable folk. Just his luck.
He assumed there plan was to use him as leverage to open the gates of Alexandria but they took the wrong person, showing up with him wasn't going make no difference.
He knew she would come looking for him but he'd never prayed so much that she wouldn't, well he shoulda prayed harder.

Carol had cleverly worked up a plan to save him, he'd known she would. Nothing got past that woman. He'd never had such mixed emotions seeing her step out beyond the forest line, gun firmly grasped in her hand, her eyes steely and calculating.
He'd been over joyed to see her as he usually was but filled with a sense of dread; she wasn't meant to be here, it was all wrong.
He fought desperately against his ties; his voice muffled due to the fabric held between gritted teeth, his body ached from the constant struggle.
She didn't look his direction but she didn't need to, he knew she only had one thing on her mind to get him out, not to lose anyone else. Her knife flew through the air at the flick of her wrist; in one big swoop it buried itself in one of the men's chest. The man's smug smile slowly disappeared as he collapsed on the ground. A shot rang out seconds after; another man hit the ground with thunderous force. He's never seen her look so dangerous and dominating; he couldn't help but swallow a bit of pride that welled in his chest.
She defiantly wasn't that broken woman who couldn't stand up to her beast of a husband; she was a complete and utter badass. That's my woman he thought proudly to himself.
She ran to his side, collapsing beside him, cleverly using her knife to break him out of his binds, her movements were urgent but still calm. He tugged his wrists free with a grunt.

Everything seemed to slow down as if it was taunting him, making him witness the horror he was incapable of changing in an endless minute. They hadn't heard the sickening crunching of leaves, he shoulda well heard it, he was meant to be a hunter. The final shot was sent into her back sending her hurtling towards him, blood trickled sadistically out her mouth and her head fell forward on his chest. The steps sped up behind them in anger, he swiftly looked around Carol, gun in his hand and biting back a cry of anguish he released two bullets cleanly into his chest and another delivered the final blow to his head, knocking him backwards.
"Carol." He choked ducking his head down so he could make her look at him.
She smiled weakly "Nearly had them."
Her body sagged, he could feel the life draining out of her, he put his rough callous hands on either side of her face "Stop." He all but cried.
She blinked tiredly but with her last bit of energy she lifted trembling fingers to his face, leaving one finger trail his face "It's okay Daryl. It was worth it, I can't stand by and watch the person I love die. Now can I?"
Her face was teasing, he couldn't understand how she could still joke at a time like this, he took a sharp breath and that was all it took for her to leave him.
He curled her delicate body on his lap; his breathing now ragged and collapsed his head on her body stifling sobs. Where was Rick he thought savagely?! Where was anyone?

He didn't know how long he sat there, stiff and cold but it felt like hours. He knew the unthinkable had to be done; he took the knife in his sweaty hand. He was so tired, he just wanted to drift away, he didn't want to be here no more. Merle's voice rang through his head "Derylna. Ye just going to pussy out. Ruining the Dixon name boy!"
"You got to cop out. Why I gotta stick around?"
His hands shook violently as he held the knife unwillingly at her head. She would want this. She forced his hand as he took the final blow in agony. He finally allowed violent sobs to be released, screw being a Dixon I ain't never going to be strong enough to survive this.
He heard the creeping of footsteps, yeah now ye hear it. He didn't care they could have him; they had taken everything from him.
"Daryl." Rick's shocked voice almost parted the trees and Michonne was obediently beside him, already crying as she took in Carol's still body.
He felt his body go rigid protectively as Rick placed a firm hand on his arm. "We've to go."
He held her tighter staring down Rick "She wouldn't want you to die, after all she did."
"You don't know nothing about what she did. Ye never did." He spat throwing his arm out to swat him away from them.
"Daryl." He said more forcefully.
"Where were ye?"
Rick looked taken a back he searched for an answer, his mouth opening and closing desperately, looking like a dam fool. "Why'd ye let her go on her own? Send her away again?"
Rick raised his hand in defence but instead of fighting back he lowered his head to the ground, he finally saw her and he fell to the ground. Rick placed one hand on her shoulder, the loss effecting him "You know what she's like. I tried to stop her…I tried. She was already gone; we were all going to go…I tried."
Daryl nodded biting back a sob; Rick placed a comforting hand on his arm "I'm sorry brother. We have to go, in case they come back."
"I can't leave her here."
"We can't carry her that far. I'm sorry."
He looked down at her one more time as if he the gaping hole in his chest would ease up but it consumed him and the loss hit him even harder. He felt himself being pulled away from her, he was dragged kicking and screaming. Her body was getting smaller and smaller lying beside the tree, like she was just another ordinary victim of the apocalypse. No walker could take her out.

He fell to the ground just before they reached the gates, whimpering "Daryl." Michonne and Rick said in unison.
"I never told her….I never…. She told me ….. Why am I such a dam fool?" he brokenly muttered.
Rick dropped to his knees, making him look at him nodding incessantly "She knew."
He absently ripped grass from the ground anger swelling in his chest, "I ain't got anything left. Just leave me out here."
Michonne trying to put up her walls put a hand to her face trying to hide tears; Daryl felt the presence of their people surrounding them. Maggie was already sobbing, clinging onto Glenn and it all became too real when Carl stepped in front of him. "Dad. Daryl. It's going to be okay." He said determinedly pulling his dad to his feet.
"I ain't gotta do this no more." He snapped pushing himself to his feet stumbling into the forest, back to how this all started.
Except then he had a very aggravated Merle stomping round scaring every little animal in the forest, he knew where he was headed. He couldn't walk through those gates unless he was holding her.

It was pitch black as he banged against the door demanding to be let in, Sasha exclaimed when she saw him staggering through carrying her. Everyone rushed out from their homes as he refused to put her body down he gruffly shouted across Alexandria, he never demanded nothing but he was doing it now. "Least ye can do is organise a dam funeral!"

He woke gasping for breath, he felt like he was having a panic attack. His body was aching in every possible way; it hurt to take one trembling breath. Where was he?
It looked like a damned hospital ain't one of them in Alexandria unless they done some improvements in the aftermath. How long he'd been out?
Did it matter? A nurse rushed to his side and he scoffed "Maggie I ain't fucking Glen no need to dress up as a nurse."
She looked at him in confusion "How do you know my name? How do you know my husband Glen?"
"Wha..? Must've hit my head pretty hard. Sure ye didn't hit your head?"
Her face turned dead serious "You've been a coma for six months okay? How are you feeling?"
"Confused."
He finally took in his surroundings, there was machines working beside him to keep him alive this was an actual hospital with electricity. "Where's Rick, Sasha, Michonne, did I miss Carol's funeral?" he breathed the last part painfully.
"Never heard of them. No one has been to see you since you got in here, your brother Mer…Merle Dixon dropped you off but he hasn't been back. You don't appear to have any family." Her voice was clinical and it was driving him clinically insane.
How the hell was Merle alive? She didn't know Rick or anyone or Carol. What was going on?
"Do ye know what a walker is?"
"Yes it's used for people who aren't able to walk in the hospital, I could get you one if you wa…"
His head spun, he groaned and muttered "Hell no." before he collapsed back to sleep thinking it couldn't of been a dream all of it. Carol.