Ello guys! Well, I promised you I'd keep posting so here's the first chapter of the second book in my Daryl/OC series! I hope you enjoy it! :D

With love,

AnGeLs and DaEmOnS xx

Clary's POV

Winter. Before all this I used associate winter with ice-skating, or Christmas, or even New Years. Winter. Now all I associated it with was bad things. The cold weather, the barely sustainable rations, hiding in the shadows, sickness, praying you find somewhere safe to stay before nightfall…winter.

Thank goodness spring was approaching. It was probably early April. The weather would be warming up, and animals would be easier to hunt. But could we actually find a place that was safe enough to hole up for the long run? Even with spring approaching, there couldn't be that much hope for us, right?

I stumbled over a root as we trekked through the woods to this small house. I felt so weak, but I had to push through. We hadn't had proper food in a while and barely any sleep. We were at the end of our rope.

"Clary, you alright?" Carol asked, placing a hand on my arm.

I smiled at her concern. "Yeah. Just tired."

"We all are." She said sympathetically.

The guys had gone ahead and checked the place out, cleared out all the walkers. I entered the building after Lori, Jamie on my heels.

"It looks safe enough." I mumbled to no one in particular.

"Yeah, until it isn't." Jamie replied. Guess she'd heard me.

"Don't think like that. Remember, we've made it this far."

Jamie just shrugged and went to find Carl I assume.

I sighed. Even in a zombie apocalypse I had to deal with a teenager.

But hay, I couldn't complain. She was my family, and been through hell like I had.

After eating a small portion of owl that Daryl had killed and some hash that Carl found, I nearly drifted off to sleep on the patch of floor Jamie, Daryl, and I claimed. Jamie was over with Beth and Carl. Lori was having Hershel check the baby, and T-Dog was on watch duty. Everything was calm.

Until hell started to break lose.

"Shit. We got company guys!" T-Dog warned us, pointing outside.

About a dozen or more geeks were heading towards us. Shit.

"Go." Rick commanded.

We all knew what to do since we'd been running all winter. Herds were everywhere. Guess they were coming out of the city to find food.

I ran out, backing Maggie and Glenn up as we took down a few of the walkers who were blocking us from getting to the cars.

Blood and innards covered my hands and my baseball bat.

As soon as a path was cleared we ran. Rick, Lori, Hershel, Carl, and Jamie piled into Rick's Cherokee while Glenn, Maggie, Carol, T-Dog, and I climbed into the explorer. Daryl led us on his bike.

"We just can't catch a break can we?" I asked sardonically.

Carol touched my arm.

"Don't worry. Rick, Daryl, and my dad will find us some place safe." Maggie reassured me.

I half smiled and stared at the window while we rambled down the road.

Going by the sun, I guess we finally stopped for a regroup sometime after noon. I climbed out of the suffocating car and stretched my legs.

Rick, Daryl, and a few of the others gathered around the hood of the Cherokee, holding a map.

"It seems like we've been running in circles all winter." T-Dog voiced.

I'd been thinking the same thing too.

"I know. I know. But we gotta just keep pushing." Rick said, trying to keep calm.

I walked towards the vehicle. Daryl was loading his crossbow.

"Ya guys found a spot yet or you going in circles talking about it?" I asked, leaning against the grill.

"Not yet. We're working on it." Rick continued.

"Rick, you wanna go hunt? That owl didn't exactly hit the spot." Daryl asked.

"Yeah, let's go." Rick stated, grabbing his gun.

Daryl started ahead, but on impulse I grabbed Rick's arm.

"Keep him safe, please." I whispered.

"I'll look out for him, don't worry. But he's tough like that. He can handle himself."

"Thank you."

I watched Rick tail Daryl into the woods. I sent up a silent prayer that both of them would come back safe, possibly with food, and I went to help T-Dog gather water.

"Jamie, I'm helping T okay? Stay near the cars and I'll be back." I told her. She nodded and walked to where Glenn was. He seemed to be working on a vehicle.

Daryl's POV

Rick took a while to catch up with me. Dunno why though. We were wasting daylight!

"What took you so long?" I asked.

"Had a chat with your girlfriend. Wanted me to make sure you were safe."

I smirked. "She ain't my girlfriend."

"I think it's a little late to deny that. You've been together, what; six months?"

"Somethin' like that." I muttered. Blush started creeping into my cheeks.

"I see the way you look at her. And Jamie. It's the way I used to look at Lori and Carl." He said, his voice dropping to a mumble.

I kept silent for a while. I didn't like Rick trying to get in my head, and I really didn't like him labeling Clary and me. We were together and that was it. Other than that, I didn't even know what we were. I was still trying to figure this shit out.

Then I happened to remember finding Carl out on his own one night during the winter. He'd been trying to scout the area for possible sources of food and supplies. He didn't get very far, but he sure was determined. All he wanted was to make his old man proud.

"You remember that time I took Carl out hunting?" I asked. Guess I needed to bring this up. I knew what the kid was feeling.

"Yeah I remember."

"I didn't actually take him. I found him. He went out on his own. Wanted to help the group."

"You're telling me he just took off?" Rick asked, stopping. We'd been following some sort of train tracks for a while.

"Yep. Didn't care about the walkers or nothing. Just wanted to help the group."

Rick didn't speak.

"For the record, you're not a shitty dad. I can see you're trying to do all right by Carl. He wants to make you proud, but don't know how."

I guess Rick was thinking things over till we stopped again. I thought I'd spotted a rabbit in the brushes.

Rick was looking up and stared. I looked too and saw what he saw. A prison. Damn.

"That's a damn shame." We'd be lucky to catch anything with this damn place around. Walkers were everywhere.

"Let's head back."

Rick just continued staring. "It's perfect."

Huh?

Clary's POV

Rick came charging back to the road where we were. Daryl was hot on his heels. Shit did something bad happen? Did they find ANOTHER herd?

"Rick, what's wrong?" Glenn asked.

Everyone gathered around him. I helped T-Dog finish gathering the water. Daryl walked over to us.

I threw my arms around him; thankful he'd been safe. "What'd you guys find?"

He sighed. "Overrun prison. Rick thinks he can make it secure."

"You don't think so?" I asked.

"I trust Rick. He's done alright. I'll back him if he decides it's best for the group."

"Then I back both of you. Who knows, maybe for once we'll have a pot to piss in." I said, leaning my head on his shoulder as we stared at Rick, trying to convince the rest of the group that the prison would be the best place to make a stand.

The prison actually wasn't that far from the road. And it looked fairly strong. Fences were up and the actual building was solid concrete and steel. Maybe there was hope.

But there were obstacles.

We had to kill about two-dozen walkers in the yard, without alerting the walkers from inside the prison courtyard. If we could do this, we'd be safe; at least for now.

Jamie stood beside me at the fences as we stabbed, shot, and punctured the skulls of the undead fucks that ruined our lives. She was getting to be a well-trained survivor. I couldn't be prouder.

By the time we'd finished burning the bodies, it was close to nighttime. We gathered up our possessions and built a campfire. It felt really safe here, even if we were still outdoors.

Rick didn't eat dinner. Instead he kept circling the fence, trying to find a weak spot.

"Don't worry. He's been circling the fences three times. If there was a weak spot, he would have found it by now." Hershel said to me, as well as the rest of the group.

I then dismissed myself from the group to find Daryl. Last I heard he was helping Carol clear out the cellar.

And as I suspected, they were there.

"Hay guys, you want some food? There are a few leftovers." I asked.

"No, I'm good, but thanks Clary." Carol said as she climbed out of the cellar.

I then noticed her rubbing her shoulder in discomfort.

"What's wrong?" Daryl and I asked at the same time. I looked at him and blushed a bit.

"Kickback from the rifle. Not quite used to it yet." She said, trying to stretch it out.

"Daryl gives great massages. It'll help lessen the pain." I said. And it was true. On more than one occasion I had to enlist Daryl's hands to ease the pain in my back and shoulders from straining them too much.

"Come 'ere." He said as he tossed his crossbow over his shoulder. Carol went to him and he massaged her shoulder. I could tell it was helping.

"Thank you Daryl." Carol said as she went to leave. She then turned to me. "Night Clary."

"Night." I told her as I stepped toward Daryl.

"You wanna head back? It's getting late and you look exhausted."

"Sounds bout right." He said, taking my hand.

We walked in silence for the most part, and told everyone we were going to bed. I yawned and realized how tired I really was.

In the tent we'd set up, Daryl and I got changed. I dressed in a large flannel that was my dad's and some basketball shorts that were a friend of mine's. Daryl stuck to stripping down to his boxers.

Jamie had a smaller tent set up beside ours, and heard the rustling of the flap as she went in.

I grabbed my walkie talkie and used it.

"Night kid. I love you." I told her.

Within a few seconds, she responded.

"Love you too. Night Clary. Night Daryl."

I smiled and placed the device back in my bag.

Daryl was already lying in the sleeping bag when I crawled in and turned off the lantern.

"What do you think Rick wants to do tomorrow?" I randomly asked. Our leader had mentioned something about clearing the rest of the prison out, but…how?

"Dunno. Best bet would be to take out the walkers in the front part, then make our way inside."

"But the inside's overrun. We'd have to take out a WHOLE prison, wouldn't we?"

"Not if we can close off a cellblock from the rest of the place. Then we can pick 'em off one by one."

"I'll have your back." I whispered.

"Never doubted it."

"Night, Daryl." I sighed as I closed my eyes and prayed. I don't even know why I did it anymore. Ritual? Habit? True faith? Who knows?

"Night." He whispered, placing a quick kiss to my forehead before both of us drifted off to sleep.

The next morning I woke up early. I donned an old tank top and some faded jeans before throwing on my boots. My feet protested wearing them, but I had to. Today we were taking out the fucks inside the prison. Who knows what could happen. I needed to be prepared.

Quietly, I walked out and went in to Jamie's tent to check on her. She'd been fighting allergies and didn't feel too good. Poor thing just had to tough it out. I did and she could too.

"Be ready when we finish clearing the place out, okay? Don't want to attract any unwanted attention." I told her as she put her baseball cap on.

"Okay, but why can't I come? I'm a hell of a shot and you know it!"

"Because I can't lose you. When you've had a bit more experience I'll let you, okay? The next run I go on, I'll take you with me."

"Promise?" She asked, looking skeptical.

"Promise. Now come here." I said, opening my arms for a hug. "When did you start growing up so much?"

"Clary? You ready?" Daryl called from outside.

"Coming!" I answered.

Both Jamie and I climbed out of her tent, out into the already warm day.

"Rick ready?" I asked.

"Yep, just waiting on us."

He then turned to Jamie. "Be good kid. Look after the others, we're counting on ya."

I smiled. He was warming up to Jamie a lot. She loved him like a father almost.

"Stay in formation. Don't break ranks!" Rick commanded as he unlatched the lock he'd placed on the fence that led into the courtyard.

We all went in and started taking the dead out one by one. Shit this was cray!

"Maggie!" I screamed as she was nearly attacked. I ran after her, both of us broke ranks, but that didn't matter. I had to help her get back in formation.

We took out the some bitches and followed Rick inside.

It was quiet, but we knew better than to go shouting and screaming. Cautiously, we searched the cellblock, which I found out was named "C". If my knowledge of the justice system was correct, cellblock A-C only housed the general population. Cellblock D was where they held the worst criminals; rapists, child molesters, murderers etc. If there were any prisoners who were alive, then we'd know how bad they were based on which block they came from.

But we never found anyone alive. All was quiet. Too quiet. There weren't even that many walkers.

"Guess we can go get the others?" I asked Rick. "It looks clear."

"You, Maggie, Glenn and Carl help bring the others and the supplies in. The rest of us will clear out the bodies." Rick decided.

We all nodded and headed outside. Everyone was waiting for us.

Jamie pushed past Beth and Carol, running straight to me.

"Hay easy now, you'll knock me over." I teased.

She hugged me and walked back with us.

"Is it safe in there?" Carol asked.

"It is now. Cleared out a cellblock. Rick and the others are cleaning it up a bit." I amended. Didn't want them to know that there were rotting bodies in the places they were about to sleep.

"Baby go help Carl. I'm gonna help Lori." I told Jamie. She nodded and walked off.

"You gonna make it?" I asked the brunette. She chuckled a bit as she cradled her large stomach.

"We have to don't we?" She said, staring at the building.

I nodded. "You know the baby's gonna be okay, right? We have Hershel, and a safe place for you to deliver. Everything's gonna be okay."

"You believe that? So many things could go wrong, it's a good chance I could die."

"Yeah, but don't think about it. I know it is a possibility, and you should be prepared for the worst, but don't keep thinking so negatively about it. If you keep on, the bad situations you're expecting will happen, no questions asked. Just have faith and keep a PMA." I said, lugging our things inside.

Lori just looked at me, puzzled. "PMA?"

"Positive Mental Attitude. Something I had to learn as a kid." I trailed off, looking around the place.

I placed Lori's bag by the cell she chose.

"You're doing the best you can. You made shitty choices, but no one blames you."

"Rick does. And so does Carl."

"Nope. Why else would he be doing everything he can to keep you guys safe?" I asked.

She just stared at the wall of the cell as she sat down.

"Like I said, keep a PMA. I'll be around if you need something." I told her as I searched for a spot to claim.

I definitely didn't like the looks of the cells. "Rick, I'm taking a spot on the stairs."

He okayed it and grabbed my things. Daryl came up the stairs as well.

"What're ya doing?"

"Setting up camp. The cells creep me out." I said truthfully.

"Nonsense. You're coming with me. Got a spot on the perch. Much more comfortable than the stairs." He said, helping me pack my bag back.

I went along with him to a spot up another flight of stairs. It was off to the side and there was actually a full size mattress already on the ground. The floor had a thin layer of carpet, which would insulate the spot better, even if it was thin.

"Thank you." I said quietly as I pulled out my small blanket and pillow.

"Only the best for my girl." He smirked as he lay down.

I looked at him and smiled. Under all that tough, redneck-ness Daryl was one of the most caring people I knew.

"Where's Jamie?" He asked.

"Finding a cell. I told her she could if she wanted to. After all, she is fourteen. And we still have our walkies so if she needs us, she can reach us. I put fresh batteries in them the other day." I recalled.

He nodded.

Footsteps came up the stairs to our little settlement. Rick looked in on us.

"Settled in?" He asked.

"For the most part. Thank you Rick. If it weren't for you and Daryl finding this place, we all might be dead. You're giving us a real chance." I told our leader honestly. My gratitude spilled out and I was a bit embarrassed.

"Don't thank me yet. We're dangerously low on food, and medical supplies." He mumbled. Shit, this wasn't good.

"I'll get some of the guys, make run for some food. Maybe spot the infirmary while we're at it." Daryl stated, getting up and arming himself with his crossbow.

"I'm coming too." I chimed in, grabbing my baseball bat and knife. No way in hell was I letting Daryl risk his life AGAIN while I stayed back acting useless.

Surprisingly, they didn't fight my choice. This was great!

"I'll go tell the others." Rick said, leaving our presence.

After meeting with Rick our group was formed. It consisted of Rick, Glenn, Maggie, T-Dog, Hershel, Daryl, and myself.

Carl and Jamie were being the little guards of the camp while we went out. I hoped we'd all make it back alive and in one piece.

Before we set off, Daryl gave my hand a quick squeeze. I took a breath. We could do this. It was a simple run.

Little did I realize how wrong I was!

The journey started off smoothly. So far no walkers. Glenn made Maggie jump at one point but other than that, no surprises.

Daryl and Rick led us through the corridors, by the light of flashlights until we heard noises. Shit shit shit!

Daryl raised his light and we saw what was making all the racket—a shit-ton of walkers!

"Go back, go back!" Rick called out. We stumbled over ourselves, but were making progress…that was until we ran the wrong way and fumbled into another group of walkers!

And that's when hell broke lose! Maggie and Glenn got separated from us. They were farther down the hall, while we were trapped in a separate room.

"We have to go back for them!" I stated. I wasn't ready to give up on those two yet!

Rick understood and opened the door. Immediately, I shot forward. I thought I'd seen Maggie go through the door up ahead. I could have sworn I saw her.

I was so busy getting to the door that I didn't pay attention to the rotting corpse on the ground. I mean if it was going to come after me, it would have gotten up already, right?

As I slung open the door, revealing Maggie and Glenn hiding within a janitor's closet, screaming broke out. All three of us turned to see a horrific sight, Hershel getting his leg ripped open by the very walker I'd walked by…I'd ignored it…How stupid could I be! This was my fucking fault!

"No!" I screamed out. Maggie did the same, and shot forward to her injured father.

From there, I went numb. This was my fault. Rick stepped up and a few people helped him carry Hershel away from the approaching walkers. I couldn't feel anything anymore. As I stared at the walkers, the thought of trying to fight them off crossed my mind. It was a suicide mission, but that was okay. I felt like dying. It was my fault Hershel may die. I should've seen the walker on the ground. And now more people are gonna die because of me.

"Clary come on!" Daryl screamed as he aimed his crossbow on the approaching horde of undead.

His voice snapped me from my trance and suddenly I was sprinting with the group, my baseball bat swinging in my hand.

Rick and T led us to, what I guess was, a cafeteria. All the tables were flipped over and tossed to the side. Someone had obviously started a riot here.

They laid Hershel down on the ground and started examining his leg.

"It's gotta go, if he wants to live." Rick mumbled, grabbing a hatchet and going to town on the old guy's leg. I had to look away, it was so awful.

"Guys, duck." Daryl whispered. We all heard him and crouched low. Did he see walkers?

But he didn't shoot.

"Well, I'll be damn. They're alive." Some voice said.

I stood up straight, along with Glenn. Five guys were behind the bars of the serving area. It seemed they were holed up there, and they didn't seem to be starving.

Daryl menacingly called them out as Glenn ran back to grab a cart.

"Daryl! We gotta go! He's bleeding out!" Rick called out.

I simply stared at the men who'd been trapped here.

And my stare was met. The guy who seemed to lead this group stared back. He wasn't very tall but he was buff. His tan skin and black hair stood out. He had to be Mexican, or at least of Mexican descent.

He gave me the creeps.

"Guys! This door ain't holding forever!" T-Dog called out.

I immediately tore away from the Mexican's stare and ran to help T.

"Open them!" I screamed, readying my bat.

As soon as he did so, I started batting the bastards left and right, caving their skulls in. Rick and Glenn carted Hershel away, with T on their heels. I followed him, with Daryl bringing up the rear. He was walking backwards to prevent the prisoners from sneaking up on us. We didn't know them and more than likely they were an enemy.