Yeah, I couldn't help myself. I have no idea how long this fic will be. Could be 5 chapters or 50 depending on your interest and mine. Please review to let me know your level of interest in TWD's latest dynamic duo. Hope you enjoy this and God bless!

Chapter 1: Going With You

It was just past midnight but Connie couldn't sleep. Her friends had been drinking heavily, celebrating Luke's safe return. They were all passed out in the trailer they now called home. The generous swigs of moonshine should have put her to bed too but they didn't. She had too much on her mind.

She sat at the picnic table drawing in her notepad and trying to remember the landmarks outside the gates of The Hilltop. Her group hadn't been there for long but she keenly drew out the different places she had already seen. She knew which direction Michonne had lead them from. Alexandria. She remembered where she had gone the day before looking for Luke. She saw the direction where the masked monsters had lead the girl away. She felt sure of where she needed to look.

Connie's eyes shot up when she saw Daryl Dixon walk passed her and towards the front gate. He walked with his head upright and with purpose, his crossbow slung over his muscular shoulders. She quickly rose from the picnic table and ran after him. She needed to know where he was going.

Daryl heard the footsteps swiftly moving closer towards him. He stopped and turned around. It was the deaf girl. The one from the cornfield. He thought her name was Connie but couldn't say for sure. If he was completely honest, it didn't matter. She was an outsider and not someone in his inner circle. She was at the Hilltop but that was just geography. He didn't know her from most of the others there and just being inside the gates didn't mean much to him. Although he had come to her rescue and saved her life earlier that day, she was still just a stranger.

Connie ran in front of the rough and rugged archer and turned to face him. She held the notepad directly in front of his face and Daryl read her neat penmanship.

Where are you going?

Daryl pulled a paper from the pocket of his shirt. He unfolded it and held it in front of her.

Couldn't live with it.

Went to find Lydia.

The boy went to look for Lydia. Connie could tell that things wouldn't end neatly when they just handed the girl over to her mother. She could see it in that boy's eyes. He cared for her. He wanted to protect her but he couldn't. They all did what was necessary. Daryl made the call to trade Lydia for Luke and Aldan. Connie was more than relieved to get her friend back but she felt a heavy sense of guilt at what she was sure they had sent the girl back to.

If that grotesque woman would leave a helpless baby for the dead, what would she do to her daughter. She didn't even embrace her when she got her back safely. Her hand met the girl's face with a powerful slap.

Connie scribbled on her notepad and showed it to Daryl.

I'm going with you.

Daryl looked into her face. "No," he stated bluntly and dismissively as he walked passed her.

Connie grabbed his arm and walked in front of him again. She stood her ground as she pointed to the same note and looked him straight in the eyes.

I'm going with you.

"Why?" Daryl asked. He watched her as she frantically wrote on the paper again. His eyes watched her hands as she wrote. He watched her curiously like she was a foreigner from another world that he'd never seen before.

Connie held another note up for him to read.

I can't live with it either.

Daryl's eyes finally left hers as he continued towards the gate. He heard her footsteps behind his as he walked followed by Dog's lively stride.

Connie was coming with him and he wasn't going to spend any more time arguing with her. She looked strong enough, like she could probably take care of herself. Anyone still alive ten years into this fallen world had to be strong. It only took one mistake to be on the wrong side of ground and even the luckiest person's luck ran out eventually. Daryl did wonder how a deaf woman had managed to survive this long though. He knew how important every single one of the body's senses were to survival. No matter though. If she needed to come with him, who was he to stop her?

The gatekeeper opened the large doors and Daryl, Connie and Dog left to find Henry and Lydia.

They would have to be careful. They left in the middle of the night and the waxing crescent moon gave little light to the overgrown path they were walking on.

Daryl had a small flashlight that he used to illuminate the path occasionally. He was careful with the flashlight not wanting to make their presence known to anyone dead or alive.

Connie could barely make out the silhouette of his frame but she kept her eyes focused on it. She moved at his pace keeping in stride with his movements as she walked behind him. She was well aware that she wasn't exactly welcome on this impromptu mission and she wanted to avoid doing anything that would make him regret allowing her to tag along.

It wasn't long before Daryl stopped the trek completely. He found some large rocks and shone his flashlight quickly across them to make sure there was no danger lurking within the shelter they provided. He stood inside them and Dog sat at his feet.

Connie sighed not knowing what to expect next. It wasn't easy to tell where she stood with her traveling companion. Daryl's enigmatic demeanor was near impossible to read, especially in the dark. She hated the dark. Most people did these days but not for the same reasons as her. Of course she was well accustomed to being deaf and mute and never saw it as a significant disadvantage. How could not using something you've never had really be a disadvantage? But the darkness was different. The darkness did make her feel handicapped. She had no way of communicating with Daryl and she wondered if it was a mistake coming with him.

Connie leaned up against a large boulder, waiting for whatever his next move would be. She flinched slightly when she felt his hand tap her arm. She looked over in Daryl's direction and saw his flashlight turn on to it's dimmest setting. He shown the light onto her chest, at the pocket of her shirt. He pointed at the notepad and pen inside her pocket and motioned for her to hand it to him. She did. She watched him attentively as he put the flashlight in his mouth. He shown it down onto the notepad as he wrote in heavy strokes. He handed her the notepad back and illuminated his note with the flashlight.

too dark

sleep

i'll keep watch

Connie shook her head. She didn't want to sleep and she certainly didn't want to be someone he had to watch over.

Daryl pointed to the note again and Connie looked up into his eyes. She was trying to read his expression in the dim light but his poker face didn't give her much to work with.

Daryl put the flashlight back in his mouth and scribbled onto the notepad again. He watched her as he put it in front of her to read.

its ok

you'll be safe

promise

sleep

Connie held his gaze with her own. She finally nodded, conceding to his request. She sunk down to the ground and closed her eyes.