Title: Up

Rated: M

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to The Walking Dead or its characters nor am I making any money from the writing of this story. Rated M for language and content in later chapters. Read at your own digression.

Summary: Starts when Daryl goes into the woods at the beginning of the episode "Them" (Season 5, Episode 10) Defeated by his grief over (SPOILERS) Beth's death he considers letting a walker have its way with him until he's saved by a stranger. This is their story. Daryl/OC

A/N: Please review!

xXxXxXx

Daryl pressed the cigarette deeper into his flesh - staring at the hole it left as tears blurred his vision. He had failed her. Sweet Beth who watched after Judith when she wasn't obligated to and gave their group hope in the darkest hours. A sob escaped his throat at the thought of her lifeless body laying in the open earth before Tyreese covered her in dirt. He was dead now too. They had lost so many now it was hard to remember the number. He wiped at the tears on his face and threw the cigarette to the ground.

Low moans and feet dragging through the dirt were at his back - possibly three feet away as the walker made it's way towards him in a desperate, ragged attempt. Just let the damn things come and take him from this world - what was the point of fighting anymore? Food and water were becoming impossible to find. Another week and they'd all be dead anyway. It wasn't in his nature to give up - had Merle been alive he would have kicked his ass good for him for even considering the easy way out.

What the fucks wrong with you, brother? Just gonna let these lame-brains have their way with you? Pussy. Grow a pair and get up and fight!

His brothers voice was always somewhere in the back of his head. Still trash talking him even in death but Merle didn't know what it was like to keep losing people, people that had his back when his own brother didn't. People he considered friends. Daryl stared at the smoking hole in his hand, focusing on the walkers shallow grunts and he wondered if it would hurt? He felt nothing - a complete shell of a man as the undead lunged closer to him with each uneasy step. Taking a breath he reach for his crossbow just as the walker grabbed at his arm and fell lifeless at his side - a knife in its skull.

Daryl turned his head in surprise and looked up at his company; someone wearing an over sized black hoodie and torn blue jeans reach their hand out for him to take - helping him to his feet quickly. It didn't happen often but Daryl was definitely caught off guard. He had been so focused on his own grief and the impending doom he hadn't noticed his company. The thought was unnerving. He stared at the newcomer warily as she lifted the hood from her head and shook a mane of dark hair around thin shoulders. She didn't speak just leaned over the walker and removed her knife from it's skull with a sickening twist.

Gray eye's met her lighter blue hues as she cleaned the blade against her boot before returning it to the holder on her belt. "I would have handled that. I was going to.." He pointed to the dead walker behind them as she moved on towards the barn. A low rumble of thunder echoed in the distance. "Do you have water? My group is on the street. They have a baby."

The girl stopped in her tracks; shoulders falling in defeat as she turned back to him and frowned. "A baby?" Daryl nodded. "Anything you could spare for her. I know Rick would be grateful." He watched as she pulled her backpack off her shoulders and rummaged through the contents; pulling a sealed bottle of spring water from within. She looked at the bottle longingly for a moment before throwing it to Daryl and finding her feet again. It was painfully obvious that was the last of her limited supply. "Go before I change my mind."

Daryl watched her for a moment longer before turning back to the street and towards the others - breaking the tree line quickly. The group looked as miserable as ever but at least their bellies were full; for now. "Hey." Rick looked up as Daryl moved towards them holding a bottle of water. "Where'd you get that?" Taking the offered bottle quickly.

"Girl in the woods. I was... distracted and she killed a walker. She might have saved my life."

Rick looked past Daryl as said girl stepped out of the tree line; placing her hand on the knife that had saved Daryl's life. She hadn't been expecting a group this size. Rick raised his hand to stop the others as they lifted their guns - waiting for an ambush from the trees. "It's just me." The girl assured, letting her hand fall from her weapon.

"Seals not broken." Daryl muttered about the water, nodding towards Judith who looked like she needed it most of all. "Thank you." Rick called to the girl - opening the bottle and placing it to Judith's mouth quickly.

The girl kept to the edge of the trees but nodded; sizing up the group. She'd out ran a group this size before but she hadn't been quite as tired or hungry. Plus they had guns. Lots of guns.

"I just came to make sure this guy wasn't a jerk and there really was a baby. You're welcome." She turned back to the tree's to take her leave only to have Rick call to her. "What's your name?"

She stopped again; mentally kicking herself. When would she learn to stop helping people? Baby or not the way the world was now you had to look out for yourself. Definitely not a pack of crazy looking people with a small armory. Kindness would get you killed. They were the first group she had encountered that had a baby though. Clutching the knife once again she turned back towards them - they looked tired and defeated. These people had known heartache.

"Kayla." She assured softly, meeting Daryl's gray eyes once again. She stood a few inches shorter than him and despite the dark hair reminded him of Beth. No matter how much of a bad ass she tried to be he could see the good in her. Even if she couldn't anymore. "Thank you, Kayla. Judith here is in your debt. I'm afraid we don't have anything to offer you in return but you can stay with us if you want. There's safety in numbers."

This guy was offering her a place in the armory? She could definitely use one of those guns. Her own gun was cold against her back but it only had one bullet left for a special occasion.

"I'm not good with people but looks like a storms headed in. Better get the little one down to that barn before the sky opens up."

Daryl nodded, silently assuring Rick there was indeed a small barn a few feet away from them in the woods. "You'll at least stay with us until morning?" Rick asked, relieved as the girl nodded and turned back into the woods without another word. He could at least offer his protection through the night to repay her for the water. Judith drank until she was quenched and then gave them all a little squeal as if to say thank you.