Hello walking dead lovers. I wrote this story right after I saw 403, Isolation. This takes place before 404 and as if it never happened. There is slight violence which is why it is t- rated.

Michonne, Tyreese & Daryl are back from the run. They found the medicine. As Hershel starts to treat everyone Rick decided to talk to Daryl.

"I hope this works. We've already lost too many people to it." Rick stands next to Daryl once everybody else has left.

Daryl nods his head but remains silent.

"While you were gone I uh, became a sheriff again. I looked at the crime through the eyes of an officer of the law. I know who did it." Rick wanted to tell Daryl about Carol before anybody else knew.

Daryl turned to him, "And? Who was it?"

Rick hesitated before answering, "It was Carol."

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Daryl leaned against the door frame, watching Carol do laundry. He stood there for a while before she turned and saw him.

"Hey," Carol smiled at him, " The run went ok?" She asked as she continued to fold the clothes.

"Rick told me." Daryl said not moving from his spot.

Carol stopped what she was doing. Neither one needed to clarify what he was talking about.

"Why'd ya do it?" He asked trying to understand.

" I wanted to protect the group, The children." She went back to her work.

"By murdering people!" Daryl stood up straight and walked towards.

Carol brought her hand to her face trying to hold back the tears, " I know it was wrong but I got scared and I panicked. I can't lose another child." Her other hand was now holding her up to prevent her from crumbling on the floor.

The angry that built up in him was suddenly gone.

"I told myself the ends justify the means. That it would stop anymore people getting sick." Carol wiped the tears from her face standing straight. "Who all knows?"

"Just me an' Rick. Asked him not ta tell nobody else til I talked ta ya." Daryl watched her for a moment before walking across the room and sweeping her into his arms.

He wasn't OK with what she did, but she was his Carol and he was her Daryl. She was the first person who gave him a chance. She didn't treat him like redneck white trash piece of shit. What she did was wrong and she knew it. He wasn't going to abandon her now.

She didn't fall into him. She didn't start crying or begging for forgiveness. Instead she wrapped her arms tightly around him. Carol knew she had done something horrible, a unnecessary terrible deed. She knew that she had to go out and face the choir. There was no turning back now. But knowing Daryl had her back. That Daryl would be standing next her gave her the strength to go out there and admit what she had done.

Gathering as much strength from him as she could she slowly leaned out of the hug. "I should be the one to tell Tyreese."

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Rick and Daryl leaned against the door to the cell of Tyreese's cell. Everybody else was with their families. It would be a couple of days before they knew if the treatment would work but hopes where high. Rick looked over at the redneck. He had expecting him brewing with angry but he was oddly calm. Nervous as he chewed on the skin of his thumb, but otherwise calm.

Carol sat on the bunk across from Tyreese and reached out her hand to grab Tyreese's hand but then thought better of the idea crossing her fingers in front of her. "We know who killed Karen and David."

The man perked up at this, "Who was it?"

Carol looked him directly in the eye. "Me."

The air was dead silent before Tyreese spoke again, "Are you kidding me? Why are you lying? Who are you protecting!" He shouted as he stood up.

"No one. It was me, Tyreese. I was trying to protect everybody but I made a horrible mistake." Carol stood up with him.

Daryl shifted his position ready to jump in at any moments notice. Rick watched Carol and Tyreese as they stood with barely any gap between them. The air was tense and it made Rick nervous. It was too quiet.

It happened so fast that at first Rick had no idea what had happen. One minute Carol was standing and the next she was on the ground. Daryl grabbed Carol as Rick stepped to the black man trying to talk to him. When Tyreese hit him, it felt like his face exploded. Although Tyreese may be taller and bigger but Rick had been trained on how to handle these kinds of situations. With Daryl's help he was able to wrestle the man down to floor. They were still trying to calm him down when all three of them heard the click of a gun.

Carol stood in the doorway with a gun pointed at Tyreese's head. "Given the circumstances I'll allow this one to pass but if you ever hit me again you'll be joining Karen."

Rick could see the bruise blooming across her cheek. He was still surprised Ty had back-handed her. He was sure his face looked close to her's. She stood there making sure everybody knew her threat was real before letting go of the trigger, setting the gun on the bed and leaving the room.

Tyreese was on all fours screaming and crying. Daryl looked at Rick, Rick nodded his head. He could handle Tyreese on his own.

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Carol was in her room taking care of her bruise. He had hit her cheekbone. She was going to have a black eye, her skin had split under contact, bleeding underneath her eye. She also had some blood coming from inside her mouth where her teeth scraped against her cheek. The bruise was turning red, blue and purple all over the left side of her face.

"Here, let me." Daryl came in behind her. He took the cloth from her hand and lead her to the bed before cleaning her face. He started on what he hoped would be the least tender spot on her face, the blood from her lips. They didn't speak as he gently cleaned her up. He treated as though if he used to much pressure she would shatter.

"Stop" she tried to take the cloth from him, " I don't deserve you kindness."

Daryl grunted at her not allowing her to take the cloth and continued his mission.

Carol sighed and closed her eyes. A throbbing headache was building up behind her eyes and her right wrist hurt from falling on it. She couldn't stop the angry tears from leaking out. She knew Tyrese was upset and she knew he was well in his right, but she hated him. She hadn't been hit by a man for almost two years but now she felt small and pathetic just like all the times Ed had hit her. Telling her she was worthless and she deserved it. Maybe he was he was right.

"What he did- it ain't right." Daryl spoke almost as if he could read her mind. Carol looked up at him through blurry eyes.

"What ya did ain't right neither but that don't make what he did ok." Daryl set the wet cloth on the floor. He grabbed her face softly between his hands and slowly brought his face to her's. He blew on her cuts, drying them.

"If I was anybody else I would have been hog tied and tossed out to the walkers." Carol tried to control the shivers that went through her body with Daryl being this close.

"But yer Carol, and I know why ya did whatcha ya did. You never really dealt with her death and now ya two litl' ones to worry about again." Daryl leaned back, letting go of her face but didn't get up.

"If I had been stronger, I could of taught her to be strong. I should of been the one going out everyday looking for her. But instead I was weak and I taught Sophia to be weak. I let other people, you, risk lives for her while I hide in the RV." Carol clenched her fists as she thought about those weeks. Worrying about Sophia, crying over Sophia but never really doing anything. Then as the wonderful mother that she was she didn't even go to her funeral.

"Ya neve' got ta say to goodbye." Daryl wrapped his arm around her laying them on the bed. They fell asleep with her curled into him and his arms wrapped around her.

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So what did you think? This can stand on its own but I think i want to right a second part. Leave me a review & give me ur opinions.