Carol looked up and towards Daryl again, she couldn't help herself it seemed to be all she was able to do lately. As she saw him move she quickly looked away towards Sophie, a smile appeared on her face as she watched her sweet beautiful daughter. Sophia smiled back and they went to check some cars, see if there's anything they could use. She was just looking at some clothes keeping an eye on Sophia and talking with Lori when Rick came ordering them to get under the cars. Carol wanted to go to Sophia, be with her little girl but Lori pulled her under a car with her. It was terrifying, watching her Sophia all alone under a car while a hoard of walkers was passing, she tried not to cry but she was scared, scared for what might happen. As the legs disappeared from the view and it all seemed calm she was ready to let out a breath of relief but then she saw Sophia moving from under the car and would let out a scream if it wasn't for Lori holding a hand over her mouth. As she watched the walker going under the car after Sophia and heard Sophia's scream nothing was left but to go save her daughter. She pushed Lori away and scrambled from under the car running toward one of the walkers, she had nothing to kill him with but she didn't care, she ran into him and pushed him on the floor then she jumped over the fence and ran after her daughter, she couldn't let anything happen to her. Lori was shocked screaming at Carol to stop but she didn't seem to hear. Rick ran after them. Lori stood there holding Carl close to her crying and explaining what happened to everyone that got to them.
Carol got to Sophia from the other side and hugged her. She took a deep breath as she made a plan.
"Sophia honey, listen to me very clearly okay?" she asked offering her scared daughter a smile.
Sophia nodded and Carol smiled looking intently around, "Now I need you to run straight up honey, don't go any side just forward and you will be with the group right away, okay?"
"But mommy…" started Sophia not ready to leave her mother but Carol stopped her kissing her cheek, "Honey do as I say, please."
Sophia nodded tears falling down her cheeks; she turned around and ran as fast as she could, she had to listen to her mommy. The last thing she heard was I love you Sophia. She didn't turn she just kept running and in no time she saw Lori and Carl and many others standing at the fence.
"Sophia?!" yelled Lori running towards her and helping her through the fence. "Where's Carol, Rick?"
Sophia looked back at the forest and whispered: "Mommy saved me, told me to run."
Right then Daryl joined the group looking around confused, "What happened here?"
"Apparently walkers got to Sophia so she ran into the forest, then Carol ran after her and Rick after them." stated Andrea looking at him. "Sophia just got back, said Carol helped her."
Daryl's heart gave a skip at the name; the only person he ever cared about was named the same. She is probably one of these walkers now he thought to himself and looked at the girl in Lori's arms. He didn't know why but he was always pulled towards her and her mother, there was something about them that he didn't understand. He stepped forward towards her, "Sophia where did you see your mother?"
Sophia looked at him her eyes full of fear, "Just down there, she told me to run straight but she stayed there."
Daryl nodded and walked down decided to find her. He walked directly into Rick who looked torn.
"What happened?" asked Daryl looking at him.
Rick looked around and saw Sophia there, "I saw Sophia running and went after her, did Car…?"
He was interrupted by Daryl who shook his head and walked into the forest Rick following. They searched through the forest Daryl searching for her footsteps.
"Here." he said pointing at the ground and leaded on. "She was followed by a walker."
Rick shook his head, "She must have done it to lead him away from Sophia, I should have known."
Daryl just followed the footsteps till they got to a lake where the trace disappeared, he cursed and looked around, "Carol!"
There was no answer and it was getting dark so they decided to go back hoping that somehow she found her way back.
As they got back to the road Daryl saw Sophia run towards them, "Where's mommy?"
Rick kneeled in front of her while Daryl just watched not knowing who the girl reminded him off and why he felt so bad about it all, "We lost the trace and it will be night time soon, we will continue the search tomorrow."
"You can't leave her out there!" yelled Sophia at him stomping her little foot on the ground tears falling down her cheeks.
"Sophia sweetie…" started Lori but got pushed away by Sophia.
Daryl got involved and pulled Sophia in a hug, "We'll find her you'll see."
Sophia tried to fight back but then gave in and slumped against him crying in his shirt, "I need my mommy please."
Daryl picked her up like a small child and held her petting her hair until she fell asleep in his arms. He knew that the girl won't be in a good shape if she lost her mother and he knew that he won't be either even if he didn't understand it quite that well yet. He carried Sophia to the RV and then walked out to talk with Rick and others to talk about the plans for tomorrow. No one questioned his decision to take care of Sophia and he was happy about it. He walked into the RV and found Sophia sitting on the bed a book in her lap and tears falling down her tears.
"Sophia…" he started slowly but stopped as he sat down next to her and saw that she was holding a photo album.
"I wanted to see mommy." said Sophia quietly and opened it on the first page. Daryl looked at the photos and froze staring at a photo of a young woman.
Sophia ran her fingers over the face on the photo tears falling down her cheeks.
"Sophia..." said Daryl but stopped to gulp. "Who's that?"
Sophia looked at him: "Mommy."
Daryl sucked in a deep breath and just wanted to start talking when Sophia went on, "She was so happy here."
"This is Carol?" asked Daryl slowly his voice breaking.
Sophia nodded and turned the page, "She wasn't as happy here anymore." as she pointed to a photo.
Daryl looked at the woman and saw pain in her eyes but there was still a small smile on her lips. She looked beautiful and he couldn't believe it, couldn't believe that he didn't recognise her, his only love. "Will you please find her Mister Daryl?" said Sophia looking at him her eyes swimming with tears.
Daryl nodded his eyes getting wet and let the tears fall as the little girl wrapped her thin arms around his middle holding him tightly thanking him, he pulled her closer and leaned down on the bed thinking of what he lost and what an idiot he'd been. As the girl fell asleep he tucked her in bed and stepped out of the RV needing to clear his head. He nodded at Dale and let him know that he will be back soon.
