Carol was in the room waiting for Michonne to return so they could swap stories yet again. For 5 days in a row Negan had met with them every morning. It was always Carol first and then Michonne. The conversations Carol had with him were always the same. He tried to pry, asked endless questions and she either ignored him or gave simple evasive answers. When he realized he wasn't getting anywhere he would treat her to special things that were very hard to come by in the apocalypse. A full candy bar. A really nice pair of boots that fit her perfectly. A book of crossword puzzles and a pen. And the gift she'd received that morning was a three pack of lip balm.

Carol took them all. He couldn't buy her affection, but she figured she might as well take the stuff as long as he kept giving it. Why not? The first day Michonne had given her candy bar back, refusing to take it, but Carol convinced her that these things didn't mean they owed him a damn thing. He was going to go to their home and take half of their things - in reality he owed them far more than the few things he was giving them.

Michonne was gone a lot longer than usual. Just after noon there was a bang on the door and a woman and guard walked in with their lunch. The guard was always different, but the woman the same. She set the food down as usual and gave Carol a smile. She looked at the guard and then spoke. "I'm Sherry," she said extending a hand. Carol saw the man put a hand on his weapon as she stepped forward to shake hands. "Eventually you'll get out of here and maybe we can get to know each other better."

"Pleased to meet you," Carol said politely. "But I don't think I'll be out of here any time soon.

Sherry smiled again and started to leave. "Yeah, I said the same thing."

Carol rolled her eyes after the door closed. She would stay locked in that room until the day she died before she would give in to Negan. She sat down and started to nibble on her lunch while she waited for Michonne.

The second her friend returned Carol could tell something was wrong. "What happened?" Carol asked as soon as they were alone.

"I screwed up," Michonne said. "He played me. He called my bluff and I didn't know what to do. Oh God Carol, I'm so sorry." It was the first time Carol had seen Michonne cry.

She walked over and wrapped her in a hug. "It's okay. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out. Come, sit and tell me everything."

Michonne sat at the table and took a moment to compose herself. Carol pushed her tray away, knowing she wasn't going to be hungry once she heard what happened. "I told you he's been asking a lot about you the last couple of days," she started. "He did the same thing today and I ignored him mostly, but confirmed some of the things you said you told him." Michonne took a shaky breath. "But he wasn't satisfied. Said he knows you're not gay and wanted to know the name of the man you're in love with." Carol felt her chest tighten. "I stuck with your story, said it was a woman - but then he flipped out," Michonne shuddered. "It was like a switch flipped and he turned into a complete psychopath." She paused and put her face in her hands.

Carol wanted to urge her to continue but she waited. "He started making threats, terrible threats if I didn't tell him the truth. I tried, I stuck to the story while he ranted but -" she sighed. "He said if I didn't give him a name he would bring back every woman in Alexandria when he went for supplies." Carol's stomach turned. "Then he said he would find out who she was and kill her, but if he found out I was lying he would kill you instead and then he would torture someone until they admitted the truth and kill the man you love too." Michonne knew Carol was in love with Daryl even though the words had never actually been spoken out loud.

"Oh God," Carol whispered. "You didn't give in did you? Please - you didn't tell him did you?"

Tears rolled down Michonne's cheeks. "I did," she admitted. "Dammit, Carol, I'm so sorry. I didn't know what else to do. I didn't know - it was all on my shoulders - he was going crazy - yelling -"

Carol felt awful for her and felt bad for making it worse. "Okay, it's okay." She reached across the table and held Michonne's hand. "We will figure this out, we will. Maybe we can -" she wracked her brain. "Maybe we can befriend someone who is going - get a message to our people somehow -" It was a long shot, but she couldn't forget that look on Dwight's face that first day. If he was disgusted by Negan's actions maybe there were others too.

"It's too late," Michonne whispered. "They're going today. They've probably left already." Carol's heart sank and she stood up and walked to her bedside. She dropped to her knees and did the only thing she could think to do - she prayed.

DARYL DARYL DARYL DARYL DARYL DARYL DARYL DARYL DARYL DARYL

When about 30 men had showed up at the gate a few hours earlier Daryl had actually been relieved. The stuff they were taking didn't matter to him. It was stuff. Possessions. Yeah, they were taking food and ammunition, but they would find more somehow, they would survive.

What mattered to him was getting the women back and seeing Carol again. That's all he could think of the last 5 days. Thoughts of her consumed him and drove his every move. The fact that there was nothing to do but wait had him going crazy like a wild animal confined to a small space.

Denise was very sweet. They talked a few times and he'd brought her back 2 rabbits. She somehow kept the hope in him alive and he would be eternally grateful for that. He knew he was brooding and she called him on it that very morning, reminding him that he had to stay calm and smart to help Carol.

The men were almost done, taking the last load to their vehicles. Daryl could see so many emotions in the residents, watching these strangers take their stuff. Anger. Sadness. Fear. He understood them all. But none of them could possibly understand what he was going through. The one person who meant the most to him was with those strangers. Somewhere out there she was being held, against her will, and all he wanted was to have her back. The fact that Michonne was with her only compounded his desperation and pain. Michonne was one of his best friends and had been for a long time. They both needed to come home.

That's why Daryl couldn't help but feel relieved as he watched them pack the last of the stuff. When the vehicles were loaded the man that had seemed like the leader stepped up to Rick. Daryl was close enough to hear every word. "One last thing before we go. Where is Daryl?"

His heart started to pound as he stepped forward. "Right here," he announced.

"Oh good, you'll be coming with us," he said.

"Hold on just a minute," Rick said, stepping between them. "You are not taking anymore of our people."

The man sighed. "Carol asked for him."

Daryl jumped forward. Hearing her name felt incredible. "Carol? Is she safe? She wants me?"

He shrugged. "That's what Negan said. Either you come with us now or she dies."

Daryl looked at Rick and handed him his crossbow, gun and 2 knives. There was no decision to make. He was going - end of story. Rick didn't protest, he knew it was pointless.

"Let's go," Daryl said to the man. "Take me to her." They blindfolded him and shoved him into a vehicle. Daryl wasn't scared. He wasn't sad. All he could think about was that in a few moments he would see her and know she was still alive and safe. That's all that mattered. It was everything.