Rick's mind was racing, his foot hard against the accelerator, and his knuckles white on the steering wheel. At times like this the weight of his leadership seemed like more than he could bear. Three people had lost their lives that day, and the responsibility of that sat heavily on his shoulders. He went over it all in his mind - second guessing every move, questioning every decision. He wondered where they should go next, how he could possibly keep his people safe. How he could keep his children safe.

They had been standing outside the hospital; shell shocked and grieving; when Glen had pulled him aside to explain why their mission was abandoned. Basically Washington was a bust, and now they had no plan, and no place to go.

He hadn't had a chance to tell the others. He was still processing what Eugene's deceit would mean for the group when a guard on the roof had waved and screamed at them to get out. It was only seconds later that they heard the first moans.

Whether they were drawn by the fire truck rumbling through the city streets, the gunshots, or Maggie's loud wails, he didn't know. But either way, it seemed as though every walker in Atlanta was converging on the hospital. Edwards had appeared at the door and tossed Rick the keys to the old sedan in the car park before barricading the front entrance. He'd helped Carol into the passenger side and then slid himself behind the steering wheel. Daryl had climbed in the back with Beth, while the others had made a run for the firetruck. As soon as he heard the old truck roar to life Rick had pulled away, watching in his rear view mirror as the dead began to swarm through the gates.

The fire truck was a lot slower to manoeuvre through the city than the car, and out on the open road it was still slow, lumbering along in the distance behind them. Rick reduced his speed to let them catch up. Having that couple of miles of open highway between him and his children made him nervous.

His children. Judith, who was practically raised by Beth for the first months of her life, yet would never know her. And Carl, the young man who was really just a boy, would be crushed by Beth's death. If there was any saving grace it was that he wasn't there in that hallway to see it.

Losing a member of their group was always a huge blow, but loosing Beth he knew would leave them all a little more broken. She was Maggie's little sister, but in a way she had become like a little sister to them all. They had all watched her grow from the terrified teenager with the bandaged wrist, to the hopeful young woman with so much to offer. Beth was one of the things that made their little group a family, her hope and spirit the glue that held them together. But now she was gone. He couldn't save Hershel and he couldn't save his daughter either.

Rick looked out the windows as he drove, constantly on alert for possible danger. His mind raced as he tried to figure out their next move. The first priority would be to find somewhere they could be safe for just a little while. They desperately needed to take some time out, to bury Beth and recuperate.

He took a moment then to check on Carol. She was pale and a little dozy from pain killers but she was a survivor. Rick knew she'd had a lifetime of practice at pushing on through the pain. This morning she'd been in a coma, and just now she'd walked herself down five flights of stairs and back into the horror movie that was their lives. She needed time and a place to rest, but she'd be OK.

Rick glanced over his shoulder at Daryl, his brother and right hand man. He knew he was hurting; they all were; but he could see Daryl's pain was different.

Since that night by the road side when he'd turned up with Joe's group, Rick had noticed the changes in him. He was quieter, more balanced. He was still quick to action and fiercely protective of their group, but he didn't seem to carry the same simmering anger and resentment anymore.

After Merle had died and Daryl had been forced to put down his own brother, Rick had been the one to meet him at the prison gate. Then he'd been hurt and he'd been angry, but he'd kept it inside for the most part. There was nothing like the raw emotion he'd shown in the hospital. How he'd shot Dawn without a second thought, and then bent over Beth's body, sobbing. He had scooped her up from the floor in that hallway and hadn't let her go, holding her even now as he stared blankly out the window. Rick wondered then how much of the change he'd seen in his friend had to do with his time alone with Beth. He knew he couldn't rely on him for the moment. Maybe Glen could step up, to assume the unofficial role of second in command.

Rick chanced another quick look over his shoulder, at the youthful face covered in scars. A trickle of blood ran slowly crossed her forehead. He saw Daryl's hand entwined with her smaller one, his other hand stroking her hair.

And then he almost ran off the road as her eyes fluttered open.

Her eyes were open and her lips were moving, and Daryl's hand was just there, so close to her opening mouth. Beth was turning and he was too lost in his grief to notice. Rick panicked and braked hard, swerving across the road. He jumped out of the car, flung open the backdoor, and grabbed a handful of jeans to slide her across the seat. As he lowered her gently to the road Daryl scrambled across the seat after them.

"Rick, No!"

Rick turned, his hands rubbed his forehead as he paced a few meters away. He needed a moment to compose himself. The thought of what he was about to do made him sick to his stomach, but it was his responsibility. He drew his gun and took a deep steadying breath. He would do this, for Maggie and Daryl, and ultimately for Beth herself. When he turned back he saw Daryl knelt over her body, shoulders hunched, looking nothing like the strong man he knew.

Rick shifted his weight from one foot to the other "I have to do it Daryl."

He watched as Daryl leant forward and lifted her body up against his chest. Her face pressed into his leather vest just below his shoulder and he laid his head against her hair. Her arm was caught up between their bodies and her fingers clutched weakly at his shirt.

"No. Not her. Not yet."

"Daryl… you need to let her go." Rick took a step closer, raising his gun as he did so. He was nervous, with Daryl so close to danger and Beth so close to becoming what none of them ever wanted to be.

Daryl shook his head No.

"Maggie will be here in a minute, she shouldn't see this." Rick took another step closer, his gun aimed and ready to intervene if it became necessary.

Daryl pulled his own weapon then, he lifted his arm and his eyes towards Rick. His face was hard, his watery eyes blank as he aimed his gun at his friend.

"I. Said. No."

Thank you for reading! I know it's a bit dark but it goes get better I promise. In fact the end may be a little too sugary, but poor Daryl needs a happy ending, right!

Please review if you can, I'm knew to this and would love to improve my writting! Thanks again. X0