It was dark, and strangely quite. Carol was about to get in that car and leave. She didn't know where to go, but she couldn't stay. At that exact moment, she heard a noise coming from the other side of the car. As she turned around, she saw a walker pacing at her. She immediately took her knife out of her pants and stabbed it right to its brain. It had become an habit now, something she barely paid attention too anymore. Especially right now, as her eyes were filling up with tears and her head full of memories she wish she could erase. Another noise, coming from behind this time. She turned over, but didn't see anything. She was in a state of alert, when she eventually saw a shape coming out of the bushes. The moonlight lighted up Daryl's face. Carol sighed in relief, even though she'd rather he didn't find her here.

"Whatcha doin'?" he asked with that hoarse voice of his.

She stared at him, unable to hold the pain on her face back. "I don't know."

Her voice was empty, just as if she didn't know anything anymore, as if she didn't care about anything. Daryl lowered his eyes, trying his best not to show how worried he he was about her.

After a few seconds, he lifted his head back up and made a quick move with his head. "C'mon."

He started to go back from where he came, but she didn't move. She was trying so hard to hold back her tears.

"... I can't." She whispered.

Daryl stopped right away, and slowly turned to face her. He didn't know how to react, he felt so helpless.

"What d'ya mean you can't?" he eventually said, not really eager to hear what was coming.

Carol wiped a tear away with the back of her hand, gathering her strength up.

"I can't face them. I can't... face you. I know Rick, Tyreese and everyone else forgave me, but I just can't forgive myself." She paused to control her breath. "I don't deserve to be here. I don't deserve your attention... I just -"

He didn't let her finish. "We've all done things. Whatever happen'd durin' those days... Ya need to forget 'bout it all. Drivin' away ain't gonna make things any better!"

He had raised his voice, hoping that would somehow clear up her mind. She leaned backwards to the hood of the car, and buried her face in her hands. She couldn't choke back her tears any longer. Daryl's heart broke into pieces at the sound of her sobs. There were so many things he wish he had the courage to tell her. Whatever she had done wouldn't change anything about the way he was feeling about her.

He was slowly walking towards her when he heard the sound of a car passing right in front of them. He quickly ran to the street to be sure it really was what he thought it was. He saw the white cross at the back of the car and immediately ran back and hit the lights of their car with his crossbow. Carol lifted her head up in surprise.

"Wow! What are you doing?!" She stood up, going after Daryl.

He glanced at her. "They got Beth! C'mon, get in!"

Carol didn't question herself and hurried inside the car as Daryl was starting it up.
She hadn't had time to ask Daryl what had happened to him during the days they were apart. She quickly figured he must have been with Beth, and she somehow ended up being abducted by those guys they were chasing after. Daryl confirmed her thought.

"I was with Beth when we got attack'd by a bunch of those dam' walkers. I made her go outside, but when I came back she wasn' there no more." He paused, quicly looked at Carol, and then lowered his gaze. "That's on me."

Carol was staring at him, sympathy in her eyes. "None of what happened is your fault, Daryl... We'll get her back."