Author's note: okay so, I know how this is going to sound, but this fic literally came to me in a dream. I guess I've just been so deprived of Darryl's reaction to Carol being gone that it's effecting my dreams now. So here it goes! My first fic! Feedback is encouraged.

Hershel saw the truck come onto the ground…hell- everyone saw the truck come onto the grounds. Hershel started walking towards the courtyard to greet them, he knew Tyreese would want to know immediately how Sasha was doing and Rick may need some help when he told Darryl about… The thought made him sick to his stomach. He didn't agree with Rick making this decision on his own- there was a council now, a council that he personally was a part of! But if he was really honest, Hershel was almost glad that Rick made the decision himself.

Carol had been more then just a fellow makeshift family member in this apocalyptic world- she had been his friend. She had been given such a horrible hand in this life, even before the walkers, but she still had so much care and concern for everyone around her. His mother always said that's why god made some lives harder then others, so the compassionate can be born, and he saw that in Carol. At least that's what he used to believe. Hershel really wasn't sure what he believed in anymore, he always tried to look to his bible and see the hope in things, but now with this sickness…after everything started to feel somewhat normal (well at least as normal as it could be), after losing Carol and possibly losing Glenn- he just wasn't sure anymore, maybe there was no god, maybe he had just been a fool this whole time.

Hershel waited in the courtyard as he saw the truck come closer, he started to feel more panicked. Darryl was incredibly sensitive to the way people acted- if something was up he could sniff it out almost immediately. Hell, he was a natural born tracker in more ways the one. No matter how much more level-headed Darryl had become, anybody with half a brain knew that taking Carol away from him was not a good idea- who knows how he would act. The last thing they needed right now was a blow out between Darryl and Rick.

Hershel wasn't sure if Carol and Darryl were romantic or not, they were defiantly the talk around camp, and he seemed to not be the only one left in the dark. Darryl had become more popular in camp, in more ways then one. Hershel couldn't help but notice Carol staring a little to intensely when yet another woman in camp tried flirting with Darryl. Hershel remembered how Glenn had speculated up in the cage over-looking the courtyard one day that whatever those two shared was one-sided. It had been a particularly slow day after the people of Woodbury had started to settle in more. Hershel had come to read and Maggie found him soon enough and of course Glenn came trailing along not too long afterward. The subject came up when Maggie said something along the lines of Darryl and Carol 'coming out with it already'. Sparking the debate over 'were they or weren't they' romantic. Hershel couldn't help but go back to that day…

"I don't know Glenn" Maggie said as the three of them looked at Carol and Darryl going off together as usual, Carol playfully pushing his arm and Darryl laughing as she did, "Darryl just doesn't seem to act with anyone else the way he acts with Carol. He seems so much less…I dunno…guarded with her…"

The three stared at them a little longer before Glenn said, "I know Mags, I know, I thought there was something between them too. I mean they're always together, and they even slept in the same tent for christ's sake," Glenn shifted and looked at Hershel, "uh- sorry Hershel, I didn't mean to take the lord's name in vain…" Hershel just smiled and nodded, Glenn looked back to Maggie, "I mean the way they were during the winter months, sharing a tent, I always just assumed, we all assumed, they were..ya' know. But that time when Merle came and Darryl just left with him. You were there Mags, he didn't even think to say goodbye to her or anything, didn't even consider her til I brought her up, and even then all he said was "She'll understand", that's when I knew. I would never be able to leave you behind like that, would you?"

Maggie looked back at the couple before looking at Glenn again, "…no, never. I see where you're coming from but—" "Look Maggie," Glenn interrupted, "You don't understand, before Carol, Darryl was kind of a loner. He didn't like any of us, and honestly we didn't like him. I think Carol is special to him because she was the first to really care about him and make him feel like part of the group, and then he helped her with Sophia- they just really relied on each other. But he left her so easily, that's when I realized he didn't love her like that. She's totally into him though." he took a sip of the cup of water he had brought up with him.

Maggie looked down at Darryl and Carol. Darryl was pointing to something beyond the fence and she was just looking at him smiling, "Yeah," she said quietly," she definitely loves him" Maggie looked at Glenn, then looked back down at them, speaking up more she added, "I just always thought it was mutual, poor thang." Glenn nodded his head and looked down at them "I know it sucks, but trust me Maggie, I'm a guy, I know these things." He laughed and threw an arm around her. Hershel just sat quiet the whole time taking in their opinions. He wasn't sure if he agreed with Glenn, Hershel was a quiet observer and had heard many a hushed conversation between Darryl and Carol in the dead of night on C-Block. But then again, who knows, maybe Glenn was right. He watched Darryl and Carol walk out of sight from the three nosy people looking at them, laughing in their own world.

Hershel shook his head, the memory made him sad for a thousand different reasons. Nothing was the same anymore. Nothing would ever be the same anymore. The Truck was almost to the courtyard and he looked around him, Rick was nowhere to be seen. He understood Rick feeling nervous about confronting Darryl, but if he wanted to be the one to make decisions, then he had to be the one to take responsibility for them! He couldn't help but feel annoyed towards Rick. Before he realized it the truck was pulling up. Well to hell with Rick, someone had to greet them. Hershel walked up to the truck, Tyreese and Darryl both jumped out. Hershel kept himself focused on Tyreese, he was nervous about tipping Darryl off in any way.

"How's Glenn doing?" Tyreese asked, obviously concerned. "He made it through the night," Hershel answered trying not to replay things in his head, "he's breathing on his own now. Maggie and Bob are wit him…he seemed stable enough for me to get some air." Hershel had seen Tyreese's eyes glaze over once he knew Glenn was alright- he knew he was more concerned to see how Sasha was. Tyreese gave Hershel a nod and walked off. "He's a tough sonobitch" Darryl said, Hershel finally looked towards him since he came out of the car, "…he is" Hershel said in agreement. Darryl pointed to him and said "you're a tough sonobitch" Hershel looked at Darryl, his heart felt so heavy. He couldn't bear to look at him anymore, "...I am" he said in agreement as he started to walk on- this was Rick's to deal with, Darryl deserved to know. "What about Carol?" Hershel turned around- this was exactly the question he didn't want to be asked. Darryl squinted at the sun, "She up in A-block with Lizzy?" Hershel waited a beat then took a sharp breath in. He tried to be as emotionless as possible, "No…talk to Rick about it" Darryl shielded his eyes from the sun with his hand, panic obviously crossing his face, Hershel felt a stab to his heart and couldn't help but comfort him at that moment, if only slightly. "She's ok- just talk to him" He gave Darryl a nod and turned away from him to walk on. He heard Daryl drop his things and turned back only slightly just to see Darryl running towards the yard. He wondered what Glenn would think if he saw Darryl's face just now. He may have left with Merle that time, but the panic on Darryl's face- that was real fear. He didn't know if they were romantic, but he knew for sure that fear on his face and the way he ran to the yard just now- that was love. Hershel looked at Darryl for a couple more seconds then looked up at the sky.

"Heaven help us what have we done."