I don't own anything except from Charlie and Dennis and later OC's.

Dennis swiftly walked inside the grocery hoping to find some foods along with Charlie. Their supplies were good for a few more days but it was better if they were prepared and it's not everyday they have a chance to dropped by into a place to collect foods, drinks and clothes where there's not much walker surrounding the place. The store was dark and the wirings were hanging on the ceilings but the broken windows brought enough light in the store. They could both consider it one of the lucky days if they both get out alive without getting bit. Dennis moved like a shadow behind Charlie's back, carrying his own gun with a silencer on it inside his bag. He was trying to back Charlie up if everything went wrong, Charlie might be older than him but Charlie isn't invincible and the boy knew that. No matter how Charlie tried. Charlie thought it would be easier to protect Dennis if they both come together since after an incident where Dennis almost got bitten by a walker when he was left in the car. What's the worst thing that could happen to Charlie wasn't getting bitten by a walker but if Dennis got bitten. Even though their relationship as siblings weren't that great before the dead started to walk, it had been developed through their journey.

"Do you think they still have some mallows?" Dennis asked.

"Yes, I guess. The dudes don't eat marshmallow." Charlie grinned, looking down at Dennis who was smirking. Charlie looked around at the store, for the labels and thinking of the supplies that they might need through their journey. Charlie's eye scanned the floor, looking if there's any walker walking around. There had been a few in the parking lot but it wasn't enough to bother them. The two heard something moved not far from the place they stood. It wasn't long until they saw a dude, walking. They were sure that it's a walker not just by the walks but the low moaning sound it made.

"There's the marshmallow, Dennis. I don't see any dudes walking around here except that one but if you hear-"

"Anything, I should run to your direction but if the dudes were busy with you, I should run to the exit and wait in the car for you. I get it. You kill the dude, I'm twelve, I can handle myself." Dennis sighed.

"You're only eleven, brother, the world is coming to an end but I'm sure as hell, it's not even December yet."Charlie smirked, ruffling Denise's hair and turned to kill the walker. He could have done the same thing to his sibling's hair but Charlie was wearing a cap. Dennis tried to fix his hair and not to argue, knowing his sibling is right. He wasn't twelve yet but he felt he is one already. Before the dead started to walk, Dennis was a straight A student, the kind of kid that parents are proud to have. As he saw Charlie hit the walker with a frying pan and gave him a thumbs up, Dennis walked towards the section where the marshmallow can be found, opening his bag where he could put as many as he can. His whole body jerked when he heard a moaning sound behind him, his bag fell on the floor. He looked around, panic taking over him. He can't see Charlie and he knew that yelling would attract attention to the other walkers if there were others. He ran towards the staircase, since the three walkers were blocking his way to Charlie and the exit.

"Run!"He heard Charlie yell at him. As he reached the staircase, the moaning behind him stop. He turned expecting to see Charlie behind him but it wasn't Charlie. It was a man holding a crossbow.

"Are ya' alright?"The man asked kid. Dennis just looked at him, he hadn't seen any people who wasn't infected for a while. It has been him and Charlie and seeing another living person was still a surprise.

"Charlie! Charlie someone is-"Dennis yelled, his voice conquered the place. He had been careful to strangers even when there weren't any walkers around. He didn't manage to continue his words as he saw a few more walkers looking at him, hungrily. The walkers quickly ran towards them but the man shot them but a few more of the walkers came. There are a few more walkers but the man wasn't able to pull out the arrows then they heard someone whistle followed by a honking sound. The man looked to the source of the sound seeing a figure of a man, thinner and probably not taller than him, wearing a cap, holding an air honk. The walkers seemed to take more interest to the 'man' than them.

"Charlie," The boy whispered.

The man with a crossbow and Dennis could see Charlie nodding towards the staircase as if saying 'they should go upstairs'. Without any hesitation, the man dragged Dennis to the stairs, knowing that it'll be better if they run away while the walkers were occupied. While they were running to the stairs, they could hear the honking noise that Charlie made. The walkers seemed to forget about them and went towards Charlie. As they reached the second floor, they found a room and the man locked it. Both of them look at the window to see Charlie riding a motorcycle with a couple of walkers chasing the motorcycle. Dennis was about to yell but the man covered his mouth.

XXXXXX

Still riding a motorcycle, Charlie could feel the walkers catching up.

"Come on!" Charlie groaned after looking on the rear mirror. There were at least a dozen of walkers behind the motorcycle. The roaring sound of the engine attracted more walkers. Charlie knew that but Dennis was far more important. If that is what it takes to save Dennis then there's no other option but to do it. A few more minutes passed when the motorcycle started to slow down before it completely stopped. "Oh shit" Charlie cursed.

XXXXXXX

It was almost twilight after Daryl and Shane returned back at the camp. Both of them went out and grabbed the supplies putting it near the RV. It wasn't long until the other survivors saw a boy sitting in the truck.

"Anotha' mouth ta' feed, eh?"Merle Dixon muttered as he saw a boy in Shane's truck and went next to his brother. Shane saw the reaction of everyone specially Lori, who gave him a questioning look.

"Daryl found him in a store with some guy. Walkers attacked, the guy uses himself as a bait to lure the walkers out." Shane sighed, feeling pity to the boy. Dennis didn't speak a word after they left the store. Daryl tried to ask who the 'man' was but the boy kept his mouth shut. He could feel several pair of eyes watching him but that doesn't matter.

XXXXXX

Dennis waited for dawn, making sure that everyone was asleep. Everyone in the camp was nice to him except from Merle. He spent the night with Glen who was still asleep. Even if his body wanted to rest, Dennis couldn't think of anything but what happened to Charlie. The survivors were nice towards him except Merle. Merle and Daryl seemed to be an outcast in the group for Dennis. It seemed to him like they have their own world. He zipped open the tent slowly and saw a guy sitting on the RV which is located beside the tent. He doesn't know how exactly he could get back in the store without any walkers around but he could feel Charlie's alive. He crept out in the tent trying not to make a sound. He crouched towards the trees which would make it more difficult for anyone to see him. He ran as fast as he could down the hill to escape after he reached the trees. He was about to continue running when he heard something twitch not far from him. It made him remember from his encounter from a walker yesterday. Fear consumed him which disabled him to move.

"What are ya' doin here?" A voice behind him said. Dennis turned around to see Daryl, lowering his crossbow.

"I-I'm going to look for Charlie" He answered.

"Tha' guy at the store?" Daryl eyed the boy. He sure have some guts for a boy, he thought. Denise nodded.

"Charlie's alive and waiting for me there." The boy sounded so sure as if this Charlie escaped all the walkers.

"Ya' goin 'lone out there? Ya' nuts?" Daryl scoffed. The boy nodded, his eyes staring directly at Daryl's.

"Ya'll gonna be food for them." Daryl laughed without any humor.

"What ya' got there?" Merle walked towards them. Daryl just shrugged, looking at the boy.

"Look Mr. We…Have um..Foods..Medicine…Guns and…New clothes in our van. I'm going to let you all have those if we only come back." Dennis couldn't think of anything that would make the other survivors come back with him. Bargaining was the first thing he could ever think of. Charlie always assures they have more than what they need, making their supplies last for weeks. Daryl doesn't have any interest about foods, new clothes and guns. He can hunt, his clothes were just fine and he can hunt animals but he thought of others. The other survivors weren't like him and Merle. They needed the stuff that the kid offered to him.

"Ya' sure?"He asked the boy. He didn't know if the boy was just tricking him or if he's just telling the truth. The boy seemed to be desperate to find Charlie.

"Ya' got all those things?" Merle asked. If there were guns, he's up for it. There's a shortage of ammo and guns that he could use.

"Yes! I'm sure. We have a white van near the store. "Dennis ignored the man who just came in.

"' Tell the others 'bout that 'n come back." Daryl headed towards the camp followed by Dennis while his brother just looked at him surprised before following the two. When they came back, everyone seemed to be up.

"I just woke up, Shane and he's gone."The Korean explained to Shane.

"There he is." Glen pointed Dennis before Shane could say anything.

"Where have you been?"Shane asked the boy, ignoring the Dixon brothers.

"I want to look for Charlie."

"Your brother? He can't be back there."Shane stated. By the way Daryl told how Charlie lured the walkers out, there's only a small chance that Charlie is alive.

"Charlie's a survivor. I just want to be there to check and I can give you food, guns and even medicines if you come back."

"What?"
"We had a van near the store that's full of things that you might need."

Xxxx

It probably took them a few minutes to reach the store where they first saw Dennis. There's no walkers roaming around which seemed to be an advantage. It was only Glen and Daryl who went back with the boy. Dennis was just following Glen around the store while Daryl went on the road, to check for Charlie. Glen and Dennis looked around at every room in the store, hoping to see Charlie but failed.

"Hey."Glen smiled weakly at Dennis as he saw the kid frowned.

"Let's get going."Glen let Dennis go out of the store before him. They went to the van and took everything useful into the truck, waiting for Daryl. No word is needed to be said, to see how worried Dennis is. Glen patted the kid's back trying to cheer him up.

"Look" Glen said as Daryl came into view but there's no one with him. As Daryl reached them, he gave a dark rinse jacket stained with blood. It was the very same jacket Daryl and Dennis saw Charlie wearing.

"Found it in tha' streets near tha' bike."

Thanks for reading and I hope you like it! Reviews are highly appreciated.

Kat –The answer is no. I wouldn't pair Daryl to a twelve year old boy. The one that I'll pair up with Daryl will be in the next chapter and thank you for correcting me.

Leyshla - Daryl is paired up with a girl.