I'm slightly traumatized by what just happened. Not the almost being blown up bit but the part where we are once again out here, in danger, sleeping with one eye open all the time. Andrea wanted to stay behind, can't say I blame her. I would have too if I lost the last of my family if Nessa or Andy… no, I don't even want to think about it. I still have them… and Daryl. If I lost them I would not know what to do and being out here, exposed. One wrong move would determine the difference between life and death. Uhhh, I don't know any more.

We only drive for a little while when we stop just outside Atlanta and decide our next move. Shane jumps right in there and says we are going to Fort Benning and that is that and frankly, I don't have the energy to argue. It's the only shot we have. Speaking of energy, I pull the pills out of my pocket and take one dry, I hate pills but needs must, I have to be alert, especially now.

"Gwen, what do you think?" Rick asks, his voice pierces through my thoughts. I had turned my back to them while I took my pill.

I turn back around while stuffing the pill bottle in my pocket as if it was something to be ashamed of. "Sorry, what?" I ask

"Fort Benning?" He says staring at me like 'please make this decision'.

"It's the only idea we have, we can't just wander around and hope for the best anymore" I reply.

Shane grins at me and I don't want to know what he is thinking. I turn to look at the convoy, too many cars.

"We need to get rid of a couple of these vehicles." I state. "It's a long journey and we need the fuel"

Shane steps forward "you're right, T-Dog can lose the van and him and Andrea can ride in the RV with Dale and Glenn. Rick, Lori, Carl, Sophia and Carol have got a full car so that stays. Andrew and Nessa can keep their car. Daryl can dump his truck and use his bike, and you can ride with me." Shane states.

I give him a look of disbelief and Daryl wraps his arm around my waist protectively. I shake my head. "No that is still too many vehicles. You can dump your car too and ride in the RV. I'll ride with Daryl on the back of his bike."

Shane opens his mouth to protest when Rick steps in first "That's a good plan, we'll drain the vehicles we're leaving for the gas and move out"

Everyone sets about doing what they need to do. Glenn runs into Atlanta quickly and grabs some food for the journey. Others drain cars and move their things. As everyone is doing this Shane grabs my arm and turns me to look at him.

"You are not actually goin' to get on that bike?" He asks harshly.

I pull my arm away "Yeah I am. I wish I was the one driving it. Don't judge a book by its cover Shane, I'm not the damsel in distress you think I am and I do not need your protection."

I storm away from him and help Andy tune up my Honda. After that I move over to Daryl and help him with his bike, mostly I just stand and admire it. "I like it. It's a modified Triumph right? I'm more of a Harley girl."

Daryl looks at me in shock as he kicks the stand up on the bike so it can stand on its own and half sits on it "You like bikes? That's hot"

I grin back "Of course, one thing my daddy made sure I got into and that was cars and bikes. I was supposed to be a boy you know"

Daryl wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me between his legs "Well I'm sure glad ya came out the way ya did. There ain' a manly thin' about ya" He stares pointedly at my breasts as he says this.

I slap his arm lightly "Shut up" I lean in and kiss him lightly before pulling back and putting my forehead on his with a giggle. I pull away from him completely and turn to the rest of the group. I catch Shane's eye first and notice the death glare he is throwing at Daryl and I glare back before addressing the group.

"Okay guys lets get going lets get as much distance between us and the city as we can before nightfall." I shout loud enough for everyone to hear and they get moving instantly.

Daryl gets on his bike properly and kicks the rest back up and starts he engine. I climb on behind him and wrap my arms around his waist. He uses both his feet and the engine to move to the front of the convoy because he's leading it this time since the bike is the fastest and can scout ahead if needs be. He gets ahead and lifts his feet up in front of him where his foot rests are and takes off. I kiss the back of his neck and lean my head against his back to block the wind that is obscuring my vision.

A couple of hours later I notice a bunch of cars coming into view not to far ahead "Fuck" I sigh looking at the graveyard of cars completely blocking the road then back to the RV, the bike will fit but the RV's not got a bat in hells chance and neither does the Cherokee. Daryl slows down and groans and turns the bike and goes to the RV.

"Do you see a way through?" Dale asks.

Daryl shrugs and does a round trip around the RV and marks out a path wide enough to fit the RV. We make our way through slowly until I hear that awful strangled sound the RV makes when the hose goes. I tap Daryl on the shoulder and he stops. I sigh and climb off the bike and head over the RV. I motion to Dale if I can look under the grill and he nods. I do so and step back slightly as fuck loads of smoke hits me in the face.

I stare at the busted hose with very little hope for it. Dale comes out the RV and says "I said it, didn't I say it? A thousand times, dead in the water"

"Problem, Dale?" Shane asks standing behind me.

"Just a small matter of being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no hope of…" Dale looks around himself realising where we actually are. I close the hood and shake my head with a small smile.

"Okay that was dumb" He states watching Daryl raid a car in front of the RV.

"If you can't find a radiator hose here... There's a whole bunch of stuff we can find." Daryl states going through bags.

"I can siphon more fuel from these cars for a start" T-Dog states.

"Maybe some water" Carol states.

"Or food" Glenn says.

"This is a graveyard" Lori states and we all pause and look at each other awkwardly. "I don't know how I feel about this" She finishes.

"Come on, y'all. Just look around, gather what you can." Shane states completely ignoring Lori's comment.

I move away and start going through cars, targeting those that don't have dead people in them. I ignore the baby seats and the bottles and the clothes. It just reminds me of my three year old niece and I do not want to think about that baby right now. I will never discover if she is alive or not, or her mother, my oldest sister, for that matter. I find some rotten food which is useless, honestly who carries perishables? Then some cans of food, these will be useful. I find some ibuprofen, luxury goods like chocolate and candy the kids might like these, and the chocolates are for us women when we need it. I smile slightly at myself before opening suitcases for clothes for Nessa and I and look for some clothes that Andy and Daryl might wear. My boys need more than one shirt too; especially if I'm going to be sleeping with the older man. I blush heavily at the idea of me and Daryl getting to that point, which I hope is sooner rather than later.

"Hey Andy, Do you like these trousers?" I pull out a pair of awful golf trousers from a suitcase in a minivan and Andy who is searching the car behind me cringes. I laugh and look over at Nessa who is also laughing one car down from me.

I'm searching away when I hear Rick whisper "Gwen! Get under a car!" I look at him questionably when I notice a whole bunch of walkers in the distance.

"Oh, Jesus!" I grab Andy and pull him down and gesture for Nessa to do the same. I push Andy under the minivan and follow after him.

I strain my neck to see Nessa doing the same with the car behind us. I look around the cars around me and I can't see Daryl anywhere. I can see everyone else but not Daryl or T-Dog. My fear escalates as I hear the walkers grunting then two seconds later they are shuffling past the minivan. Andy and I press into each other more to keep as far under the car as we both can. I want to close my eyes but I can't bring myself to do so. I keep them wide open out of fear, pure fear. If one of them trips and notices us, we're fucked! I feel like I'm under here for hours as the hundred of walkers shuffle by, thankfully unaware of our existence so far. I haven't heard a scream or a yell to tell me otherwise. My heart is still pounding like a jackhammer because I can't see Daryl. Where is he?

Finally, the shuffling stops. Andy tries to move out but I grab him and shake my head and hold up two fingers. He nods and I strain my neck to look at Nessa and do the same. She nods too. A minute or so later I hear a small scream and look up and Sophia is disappearing under the bar on the highway followed by two walkers. Rick is soon to follow. I roll out from under the minivan and head in the same direction only to be stopped by two solid arms wrapping around my waist and holding me back.

I twist in the arms and see Daryl. I let out an unintentional, strangled cry of relief and collapse into him. I feel horrible being so relieved but I'm so glad he is alive, he stinks but he's alive. He holds me into him tightly and strokes my hair.

I push away from him lightly. "I should help Rick" I whisper, barely audible. But Daryl heard me.

"No ya won't! You'll wait till he gets back wi' the girl" He snaps tightening his grip again. I surrender.