Disclaimer: I do not own any of the AMC The Walking Dead Characters.

A Rose in the Apocalypse

CHAPTER TWO - Familiar Face

I began to think on my life as I watched this man hold his rifle to my head, staring down the barrel of his gun wasn't the way I'd imagined to die... But if that's what my fate is, then so be it, what can I do now? Several people with rifles at my head, removed my guns and crossbow from me, my knifes too... I was unarmed by these strangers, and they were now leading me down the street, telling me to put my hands behind my had and to stay quiet. If I tried anything funny, they'll shoot to kill. After 10 minutes of walking, we came to this large and rather impressive manor, a fine house to own back in the day, it's garden is beautiful and clean, not a walker for miles to see... Okay, I lied there, I could see maybe a small handful dotted about which sentries would take out with silenced guns or knife work. It seems peaceful here.

I heard people in the house as we got closer and closer to the main door and a bag was put over my head and my hands bound behind my back with wire and duct tape. I could no longer see where I was going, they lead me what felt like upstairs. The people here went quiet and I could feel their eyes on me, soft whispers and murmers rose, worry? Fear? Were these people afraid of a bound wanderer? I didn't care.

Finally we stopped after what felt like ages, and I was forced to sit on a chair and the bag on my head removed. Infront of me were my weapons on a work desk and a elderly man sitting behind said desk, he looked... Friendly. But after the Govorner incident, my trust towards people was low... very low. Much lower than it was the first time I met Rick. The man stared at me as if waiting for me to speak, but he spoke first "so, a lone man, on a bike, only his weapons with low ammo... You remind me as the type to come off as a BANDIT... and we certainly don't want that kind of trouble here, but I am a patient man and I will listen to your side of the story. Why are you out here?" his voice was deep and sounded... heavy, the voice of an aging man once strong and bold, now a slowly weakening body but easily capable of running this... Place. I stared at him as he stared back at me, I didn't reply. "I see, the strong silent type, well... maybe I can help you. Boys untie him" the man ordered. The young men who brought me here hesitated but did as told without complaint, and I simply placed my hands on my lap gently "Alright, I'll talk. I'm looking for someone" I said, not breaking eye contact with the elderly bloke, I could tell he was silently judging every word I was saying...

The older man eyed Daryl closely, but not in a menacing way, more of a worried way. He was most likely afraid of me being here, afraid I'll take over his... People... "What kind of person, who are they? We have met... Many upon many survivers here that have come and go over the years, we might now of this person you are searching for" he replied to me. I stared him in the eyes for a god part of maybe 5 long minutes, just solid staring between me and him "I'm looking for a friend of mine, her name is Carol Peletier. I've been searching for a full year now and I found leads on her. A scagged piece of cloth from her sweater and dry blood on one of the barbed wires at the entrance of your... Town. I thought maybe she'd be here somewhere, if she isn't... Give me my weapons and I'll be on my way, no fuss... No trouble, no casualties." I spoke as honestly as I could, I felt uneazed here. I didn't want to be in this room, I wanted to be outside searching... I saw the mans eyes fill with knowing of her name and I sat up more almost instantly, as if in hope she was, or still is, here somewhere. The elderly man looked at one of the lads who brought me here, and told him to bring the woman to this room, but I was told to remain seated for any quick or sudden move or dash for it could cause a problem for me. These people... they were... uneasy...

The boy left the room, he wouldn't be back for a small while. I returned my stare to the older man behind the desk who was examaning my weapons and gear "You young man, you are a tracker? This is not normal equipments for a simple traveler or wanderer. Your bow is of high standard material and your arrows are just as good, and these guns... Battered and well used, same goes for your knives. You know how to survive out there, that is... Impressive. Most people like you we've met turned up here either bit, infected or... On deaths door. What is your name, boy?" the man asked, he seemed very amazed by my weapons, even more so amazed I made it this far. I was a long way away from Rick and the others... A very long way away. "My name is Daryl Dixon, I come from a small settlement some many weeks walk from here, maybe a week away by vehicle. I left them to look for Carol, to bring her to a safe place. Our old fort was brought down, everyone seperated" okay, not the full truth. I never wanted to even mention that she was kicked out... I did not want that kind of trouble for her. Hell, everyone who lived here probably didn't even know.

He stared at me and finally relaxed to a more calmer state of posture and gaze "So Daryl, say this Carol we have here is your Carol, what will your plans be? We don't have any room for any more... We'd take you in if we did but... Sadly we don't, we could use a man like you, extra muscle never hurt, and if you decide to go back, say... Carol doesn't want to, if she is the Carol you speak of? What will you do then Daryl?" he asked me questions as if it were to probe into my mind, my throughts, my feelings... I didn't want to leave without Carol once I find her... "Well, if she is the Carol I'm looking for... Then her choice will be final in my eyes... Either she'll come back with me, or she doesn't... That way I'll be happy enough just knowing she's safe." I replied with great honesty.

I remember the days where I wasnt much of a friend to anyone... Would normally just give the cold shouler half the time. I guess I always had a sort of fondness for Carol, I never liked the way her husband beat on her... That day he hit her right infront of us all... And when Sophia went missing, and turned up in that barn as the undead... I was torn to see her go into such depression, a woman like her never deserved such harshness, even in this infected ridden world in which we live in now. Many occasions I had thought she had died that night the Govorner and the infected got into the prison, and truth be told... I paniced. I thought I had lost her... And when I found her huddled up in that little room, dehydrated and weak, barely even able to stay awake, I had felt so much relief... I was so happy, knowing that she was alive. What I felt that 2 days, is what I'm feeling now... I never show my emotions easily, we all know this, I'd keep a blank face on, and make people think that I'm not suffering or so on, but this man... His eyes drilled into mine, he wasn't easily fooled, he could see right through me. We spoke with eachother for 10 minutes, maybe more, our conversation cut short as the boy came back and a worried woman came in with him, she thought something bad had happened, all she was told is, there was a man looking for her.

My eyes lits up some, my face no longer blank but... Shocked. Shocked at the familiar face I thought I'd never see again... Ever. Her own face lit up and she stood there staring at me as I stood slowly and watched her, only then did she throw herself at her to hug me tightly screaming out my name in such joy. She cried... But not tears of sadness, tears of joy. Instintively I stiffened all over from the touch, I hugged her back awkwardly with one arm before wrapping both around her firmly, but as soon as it started... That nice warm embrace had ended as the elderly man spoke "I see you 2 crazy kids found each other eheheh. Well. Daryl, seems this is the Carol you're looking for, but as a man of kindness, I will allow you for only one full day here with us, you may use the guest room tonight and tomorrow night, it's small, but it has a soft bed and a window. You have one full day now to decide your choices with her. Now, both of you leave this room" he said, shooing both me and Carol from the room after he had handed my weapons to me.

Carol took my hand firmly and lead me to the others slowly, oh how I missed that smile... I felt my own lips break into a tiny smile, not much but, she always knew how to get me. She hugged up to one of my arms as we walked, talking about what's been happening. I told her about the group, the losses... It wasn't easy seeing her cry like that... It never was... but she had to are her family too, and they always will be, even Rick wanted her back despite what he said, and he was greatly sorry for what he had done too. Carol smiled knowing Rick wanted to apologize and accept her back in, and she would gladly take that offer but... Then she took me to her room where a crib was and a 2 year old baby girl inside "Say hello to Judith, Daryl... Lil Asskicker" she said, and then it struck me... THE BABY IS ALIVE. Rick will have much relief, so much weight off his mind. Everyone would. I demanded, gently, not sternly, that she told me how she got the baby and she explained "On the day Governor attacked, I had heard the explosions of the tank and the gunshots. By the time I got there, it was the heat of the fight, everyone running to escape, I manged to sneak my way in without them knowing and just in time too, the baby was on her own in the carrier and a walker about to grab her before I shot it in the head. I grabbed her and just... Ran... I didn't look back, I just knew that... she had to b saved at all costs..." her lip started to trembled and she put the back of her hand to her mouth. Oh no... Please... Dont cry again.

I gingerly wiped her tears away with my thumbs and cupped her face tenderly and she burried her face into my chest, it was painful for her to speak of this, and I couldn't let her say anymore, I feared that she'd become severely depressed again... I looked at the 2 year old Judith looking at me curiously, as if she remembered me somehow from when she was only a little newborn wrapped in her blanket as I fed her formula, the memory brought a little smile to my face and I gave a short chuckle, which startled Carol into staring up at me confusedly "Nothing, just remembering how small she was when I fed her for the first time" that did it, that was Carol smiling and giggling some, playfullyhitting me on the chest and parting from the hug "You and your little ways, always makes me smile in the saddest of moments" she said that with such affection, oh how I have missed her company, her voice, her touch... Everything about her. I joined her at the crib side and as if she instantly remembered, Judith reached out for me giggling, so I picked her up and craddled her, poking her nose gently which cause more giggles "hey there lil' asskicker, long time no see 'ey?" I turned to look at Carol and my smile fades, so does hers, wondering what's wrong, giving me that worried look "You're alive... So is Judith... Rick... Rick thinks you're both dead... I told him I won't return untill I found you and I have. But it's nice hhere, safe... and I can see you like it. Carol... Please... Think of what you're going to do... I don't want to go back without either of you, but if I have to, I will..." She could heard it in my voice almost instantly. The softness I have formed for her was coming back fast, and she could tell It'd be hard for me to just walk away when I had spent so long trying to find her, I put Judith back in her crib gently and she started playing with her toys in enjoyment.

I was now watching Carol closely, waiting for a reply from her, or some form of response... Anything. I was more worried this leader they have here would refuse them leaving... And it'll turn the way it did with the slimeball govorner. Carol sighs and paces some "I can't just stay here, knowing everyone's alive, and knowing that they miss me and want me back... Hell, that boy said you've been on the road for a while just looking for ME..." she started to get nervous and she started to fidget, thinking this through hard. She nibbled her bottom lip slightly "The leader here is a kind man and very understanding... People here can come and go as they please, no Restrictions other than don't get bit. He would kindly give us supplies... A spare car even with a full tank, baby food, clothes, essentials, ammo... All I need to do is say so and ask... It's decided, I'm coming back with you Daryl, me AND Judith!" she said outgoingly, being assertive in her stance, man had she changed since the last time I saw her... and just then I did something that shock her, even me... I hugged hr, firmly, but not too firm... I was afraid I'd snap the poor woman in half due to her being so much more smaller built than me, but she returned the hug gladly, needingly. Probably something she had needed for a very long time. We both sat on the bed and slumped to out sides like this, and we stayed there for maybe 2 hours, before the door was knocked. I quickly got up and out of her arms which made her giggle, she always found that amusing...

She answered the bedroom door to a young woman, maybe 16 years old "oh hey so this is the new guy, he kinda cute aint he!?" well... At least someone of the young people still had high levels of energy, but me...? Cute...? What...? I stared at the girl and Carol giggling at eachother and me untill Carol spoke "well better look elsewhere sweetheart he's too old for you" oh thank god, she may have saved me a lot of embarassment there. The young 16 year old only smiled and said 'okay' and said nothing more about my appeal, just looking between me and Carol "soooo, is this man the friend you kept speaking about, the one that saved you?" I looked at Carol at what the girl said and the woman only smiled her beautiful smile, I backed off and leaned on a wall acting like it weren't nothing and watched them "yes, this is Daryl, Daisy" the girl balled on her heels in excitement, I simply ignored the levels of energy she was showing "say, Daryl, you should look about the town in the morning! Get some of ya stocks up and such, I heard you and Carol talkin', shame you're gunna go Carol but, I wish you both the best on returning to your friends! Toodles!" and with that, the girl called Daisy skipped away and Daryl gave Carol a questioning look. She gave me such a beautiful smile, I knew there was nothing to worry about. I had finally found her, and I felt... Happy again.

END OF CHAPTER 2

Okay so, a nice reunion with a little bit of touch in there, I hope you all like that even if it wasn't exactly all... Fluffy. Chapter 3 on it's way!