So after watching 4x03 i was gutted and shocked, i find it so hard to believe that Carol killed Karen and David and i really think she is covering for someone, to protect them. This is my take let me know what you think.

Chapter one.

Silent escape.

Carol sat there; calm and clear, hands in her lap as she sat on the bunk waiting. She had seen it coming, them locking her up in a cell. Just until they sorted this all out, Rick had said, it was for her own safety. She supposed he was right she had heard Tyreese yelling, demanding her head when Rick had informed the group that she had admitted to killing Karen and David. Tyreese had flown at her but he had been held back as Rick grabbed her arm and lead her down into the solitary cells. She couldn't blame him, not really, she would feel the same if it was Daryl that had been killed and set on fire, she loved him although she could never tell him.

Daryl...

She wondered what he would think about all of this, when he found out what she had confessed to doing. Would he hate her? Would he still protect her like he always had? Sighing, she stood pacing slowly all she knew is that she wouldn't be able to stand the look of hatred and disgust in his eyes. She just hoped he could understand but she knew they never would. They couldn't unless they knew the truth and she would never tell.

*Flashback*

Carol couldn't seem to find Lizzie and Mika anywhere. She had told them to stay with the other kids but they had wandered off. Moving down towards where Karen and David were being kept she lifted her bandana to cover her face just to be safe. Rounding the corner she saw Mika sitting on the floor, knees pulled up to her chest rocking back and forth sobbing. Moving fast, Carol dropped down onto her knees.

"Are you okay? What happened Mika?" she asked checking the girl over for wounds.

"I tried to stop her but she wouldn't listen she said she had to keep me safe, to keep us all safe," the small child cried.

"What are you talking about?" Carol whispered feeling her blood run cold.

"It's not her fault really, she's sick, before the walkers Lizzie had problems she saw things, heard things, the doctors they had her on special medication but after the Governor turned on us dad had no way of getting anymore and he was worried that if you knew the truth about Lizzie you would send us away."

"Stay here," Carol whispered standing, everything seemed to go in slow motion, moving down the hall she stepped into the room where Karen and David were being kept. "Oh my god," she gasped at the sight in front of her.

"I had to," Lizzie said turning around bloody knife still in hand. "They were a danger to us, he was already dead when I got here and she was seconds from dying too."

"Lizzie what have you done?"

"I saved us all, this sickness it will kill us all and I won't lose my sister."

"We had isolated them to keep it from spreading, we were safe," Carol argued.

"You're angry with me?" Lizzie whispered tears slipping from her eyes. "They told me I had to, that I had to keep everyone safe."

"Who told you?"

"The voices, they said they would kill us all if I didn't do this." It became clear then. Lizzie was a very sick girl before the world had gone to hell she had it under control with the right combination of medication but now it was out of control.

"Okay, it's going to be okay," Carol nodded trying to pull herself together. "I want you to wash up and take your sister out of here, meet me back at my cell, you understand?" Lizzie nodded washing up before fleeing the cell.

Carol knew she needed to move fast. One at a time she dragged David and Karen from the cell outside. Pouring petrol over their bodies, she took a deep breath trying to keep it together before lighting a match and setting them on fire. She fought back the urge the throw up before moving back inside the prison before anyone could see her there.

Right after Carol had returned to her cell grabbing Lizzie and Mika she had headed straight down to see Hershel. Mika had explained her sister's condition as best she could and tried to describe what the medication had looked like. As best as Hershel and Carol could figure Lizzie suffered with a form of schizophrenia and Hershel believed with the right medication he could get it under control. Hershel had asked her how she realized the child was trouble and she had just made mention to the girl's weird obsession with the walker "Nick" and the fact that Mika let it slip. She couldn't tell anyone the truth; Lizzie was a scared, confused, sick child and Carol knew she had to protect her.

Now she sat here waiting, they were voting on how to "deal" with her. Rick had always said that everyone had to have equal say in all matters, so it wasn't just the core group voting but the people from Woodbury too and Carol knew that meant bad news for her. She turned to face the cell door when she heard Rick clear his throat.

"So, what's the verdict?" she sighed.

"They're still voting but it's not looking good Carol... Ty... Tyreese is seeking the death penalty."

"Yeah I figured he would," she nodded.

"I'm not going to let it happen Carol, you're like a sister to me," Rick informed her.

"Wasn't it you that said in your speech when they all first came here that every voice would be heard and counted, that every one would be treated the same, no special treatment for anyone."

"I know but it's different."

"Why? Because it's me?"

"You have been with us from the start Carol, I'm not going to let them string you up."

"You can't go against their vote either, it will cause a lot of trouble." Rick nodded knowing she was right.

"I know, which is why you're going to knock me out." Carol's head shot up at this.

"What?"

"Everyone that isn't sick or on a run is in the library voting right now, I have packed you a bag with some food, medical supplies, water, weapons, everything you will need to get by for a few days," he whispered as she moved closer to the bars. "Michonne is waiting for you at the back entrance with a fully fueled car and to open the gates for you."

"You want me to run?"

"If you don't they're going to kill you, I may not agree with what you did but we all make mistakes. God I know I have, but you shouldn't have to die for them." She nodded smiling softly at him.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Just don't go too far from us; I want to be able to contact you, maybe leave clues so we can find you."

"Okay but I need you to give Daryl this," she said handing Rick a note she had written earlier. She figured they would either banish her or kill her so she had written a note for both.

"I promise," he smiled, unclipping the cell keys and handing them to her. "Now you got to hit me, make it look real," he smirked waiting for her to open the cell door but instead she placed her hands on his arms.

"I will," she smiled, her grip tightened suddenly jerking him forward his face slammed into the cell bars and he slumped to the floor. Unlocking the door she slipped outside of the cell kneeling beside him.

"Thank you Rick, for everything, I'll miss you," she whispered placing a soft kiss on his forehead and dumping the keys beside him. She knew she may never see him again, she may never see any of them again. She would miss them all terribly expecially Daryl but she knew she would carry him with her, close to her heart. Casting one last look at Rick, she turned and quickly fled to the back of the prison where Michonne was waiting to help her escape silently.