A/N: Thank you again to all the wonderful people who are reading, commenting and favouriting this story. It means a lot to me and you're all amazing. :D

Now, after all that closeness for Daryl and Carol in the last chapter, I felt like I needed to open this fic out a bit if I wanted to continue it. I wanted to include the rest of the group so it doesn't feel too claustrophobic with only Daryl and Carol interacting. Of course, there will be plenty of that, but it's always good to step away from that, so it makes it nice to step back... if that makes sense?

Anyways, this chapter is about opening things up a bit more. I actually had 3 ideas for TWD fanfics, but now I'm thinking they'll all work if I combine them all into this story. I hope I can keep you all interested long enough to hang around for them. :)

Okay, let's go with the chapter, curious to know how you think I did with all of the interactions...

Chapter Six

Carol smiled down at Judith as she waved her arms and legs around on the rug on the ground. The little girl made pleased gurgling noises as she enjoyed being outdoors. "You having fun, honey?" she asked the baby. Judith turned her head at the sound of Carol's voice, short-sightedly peering in her direction. Carol gave a little laugh and went back to hanging out the washing. They'd set up a few lines in an internal courtyard, away from the eyes of people passing by. It wouldn't do to advertise that there were people holed up in the prison. That was just inviting trouble and they had enough of that already. Although, things had been surprisingly quiet the last couple of weeks. Carol tried not to think of it as the lull before the storm. She looked up as Rick walked out from the building, a gun in his holster and a rifle slung over his back. "You heading on out?"

Rick nodded and crouched down by Judith, tickling her toes. "Yeah, we've got to find that breach in the gate today."

Carol shook out a shirt of Hershel's before hanging it on the line. "It mustn't be that big of a breach if you're having this much trouble finding it."

"Walkers are still getting through," he sighed. "Carl and me found another six or so in the south corridor yesterday. We've looked all over those walls and haven't found squat."

"Maybe they're coming in a different way and congregating on the south wing?" reasoned Carol.

"Maybe," agreed Rick. "As long as they haven't figured out how to climb. That's my real worry."

"We haven't seen any evidence of them getting any smarter." Carol turned one of Carl's t-shirts right way out.

Rick nodded, still playing with his daughter. "I guess." He tickled Judith's belly. "You like it out here, don't you?"

"It's not good for a baby to be inside all the time," said Carol. "Their bones need the Vitamin D from the sun."

"Well, that we can give you, little one," said Rick. His face saddened. "Even if there ain't much else your daddy can give you."

"Don't you be talking like that," Carol chastised him gently. "Judith is surrounded by people who adore her and would protect her with their lives. Plus we have enough food for her for a good while now. That's all a baby needs."

Rick gave her an appreciative smile. "Thank you, Carol, for takin' such good care of my little girl," he said warmly.

"You know it's no kind of hardship," said Carol softly. "So I don't need any thanks. You just bring yourself home safe and sound. That's what Judith really needs."

Rick nodded. "Plannin' on it."

Carl walked out into the courtyard now, all set to go on the patrol with his father, with his gun in his holster and his father's hat on his head. "Daryl wants to know what we're waiting for," he relayed the message to his father. Carl bent down and tugged on Judith's toes. "Hey, smelly butt."

"People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," noted Carol as she walked by the three of them to get the next basket of clothes.

Carl looked confused. "What?"

Rick gave a little chuckle. "I think Carol is meanin' you don't exactly smell like a flower either, Carl."

"I had a bath yesterday," Carl protested.

"It's that hat," observed Carol as she started to hang out the next load of washing. "It really needs a good clean." Nearly a year's worth of sweat, blood , dirt and bits of Walker had taken its toll on the item of clothing. She glanced over at the boy. "Why don't you leave it here with me today and I'll see what I can do about getting the worst of the stink out of it?"

Carl put a protective hand to his hat. "I ain't leavin' my hat."

"Aren't," Rick corrected him on reflex.

"You and Daryl say ain't," shot back Carl.

"Don't mean it's right," drawled his father.

Carl looked over at Carol. "Can you clean it when I get back?"

"Of course," said Carol easily. She knew that Deputy's hat was important to Carl. It was like as soon as his father had given it to him, Carl had begun to see himself differently. Like, if he had the hat, then he was man enough to do what needed to be done in this harsh new world. Carl looked happy at their compromise.

"I'm takin' Daryl, Carl and Axel out to find this hole," Rick informed her. "Oscar's on lookout."

Carol kept hanging up clothes. "Okay."

"Carl can stay if you think you need him."

"I want to go with you," protested Carl.

Rick ignored him and was looking at Carol with vague concern. She shook her head at him. "Hershel, Beth and I will be fine," said Carol calmly. "We can look after ourselves."

Rick smiled. "I know."

"So, I'm going?" asked Carl.

"Yeah, you're going," agreed Rick.

Carl grinned and straightened up. He walked over to the other side of the courtyard while Rick and Carol continued talking.

"I'll relieve Oscar at midday," she told Rick. "He'll need a break by then." Carol eyed Rick. "You okay with him being around Judith?"

"I guess I have to be," sighed Rick. He half-smiled at Carol from where he was still crouched by Judith. "Someone told me that if Oscar and Axel are going to stick around, then they have to be a proper part of the group."

"Sounds like a smart someone," noted Carol, straight-faced.

"I reckon so." Rick's attention was caught by Carl. His son had his back up against the far wall, arms outstretched from his side as far as they could go. Carl turned his head back and forth between his two hands. Rick sent Carol a confused look.

Carol smiled and answered his silent question. "Daryl told Carl that when he could touch those two white bricks with either hand at the same time, his arms would be long enough for Daryl to start teaching him to use his crossbow. Carl comes out every day and measures himself between those two bricks, just to see if he's grown enough yet."

Rick's lips quirked. "I guess it's good he has something to look forward to." He pulled a face. "I kinda wish it wasn't something death-related for a change. I don't know, like having a crush on a girl, but I guess that is pretty hard these days." Rick noticed the way Carol was looking at him. "What?"

She arched an eyebrow. "I'm just wondering if you should be shooting those guns with that poor eyesight of yours?"

"What do you mean?" asked Rick in confusion.

Carol went back to hanging out the wash. "I mean your son has himself a very big crush on Beth."

Rick made a surprised face. "He does?"

Carol's lips twitched. "It's pretty obvious. He lights up around her."

Rick scowled. "How can I not have noticed something like that?"

"You have a lot to think about, Rick," Carol said gently.

"But he's my son," said Rick in agitation. "A father should pay more attention."

Carol could see how upset Rick was over this. She cupped his face and smiled warmly up at him. "You're doing the best you can to keep us all safe and together. The fact that your son has time and any kind of hope to have his first crush is down to you, Rick. Don't you forget that."

Rick covered her hand with his, looking suddenly emotional.

Carol leaned in a little closer to him, wanting Rick to know the truth. "We're a family, Rick, and that means we take care of our own. You may not always be able to be with Carl, but one of us always will. There will always be people looking out for him."

"You-" Rick's voice cracked a little and he looked away briefly before managing to continue. "You don't know what it means to me to hear that."

"Yes, I do," said Carol simply, remembering what it had felt like to know everyone in the group had been so intent on finding Sophia. The feeling she wasn't alone in it all had meant everything to her.

"What is this?" demanded a loud voice. "Some kinda lady's tea party or what?"

Carol dropped her hand from Rick's face as he quickly looked away and blinked the tears from his eyes. She looked over at Daryl, crossbow resting on his shoulder, other hand stretched out in front of him in an expression of exasperation.

"Rick was just saying goodbye to Judith," she chastised him teasingly, "hold your horses."

"Ass-kicker can't talk, how long is that gonna take?" Daryl's made a noise of feigned annoyance. "A man's likely to die waitin' at this rate."

Carl had hurried over to Daryl. "I'm ready."

"Guess we're just waitin' on your daddy then."

"I'm ready," said Rick bending down and kissing Judith goodbye before sending Carol a quick look. "Thank you."

Carol wasn't sure if Rick was thanking her for their little talk or looking after Judith, but either way she just smiled. "You're welcome."

Daryl walked over to Judith and looked down at her, a bit of smile on his lips. He looked back at Carol, a quiet instruction in his gaze. Stay safe. Carol half-smiled, acknowledging the silent instruction. "I know." She watched them leave, that same pit in the bottom of her stomach she always felt when the group separated for whatever reason. There was nothing to be done about it though, it was just how things were. Carol looked back down at Judith who'd just discovered her feet. She grabbed hold of her foot with one pudgy hand, making noises of amazement. Looking at Judith gave her so much hope for the future, that Jenner had been wrong, that this wasn't how it ended. Carol smiled, letting herself just enjoy the little girl for a few moments and not think about just surviving for a change.

ooooOOOOooo

"Axel, watch what you're doin'!" snapped Rick, as he jerked his hand way just in time to miss Axel taking a finger off with the wire cutters.

"I'm sorry," whined Axel defensively as he glanced over at Daryl, "but he's makin' me nervous."

"Am I makin' you stupid too?" shot back Daryl, unrepentant. They'd finally found what they thought was the breach in the fence. The wire hadn't looked to be broken, but when you pressed on it, a part of the wire link had come away from the main fence frame. Rick and Axel had set about wiring it back up, while he and Carl kept guard for Walkers outside the fence. The occasional one would wander over and they'd let it get close before dispatching the hapless creature with a lead pipe or knife.

"I can't concentrate because he's always watchin' me," complained Axel from where he was squatted down on the ground, holding the fence closed, as Rick moved in to finish tying off the wire.

"You can't concentrate because you fried your brains with too much weed," said Daryl in annoyance. "And I gotta watch you or you're likely to kill one of us."

"I wouldn't do that," protested Axel. "I'm on your side."

Daryl still found the presence of Axel to be particularly annoying, not having forgiven him for what he did to Carol, or his generally irritating personality. "Just as well you said so, it's a bit hard to tell when you're always trying to kill us."

"I ain't hurt no one in the group 'cept for Carol."

Daryl's expression darkened at the reminder and how Axel seemed to figure her not important enough to worry about.

Axel must have realised his mistake because he quickly tried to backtrack. "Not that hurtin' her was alright. I keep sayin', it was an accident and if Carol wouldn't keep puttin' her hand in the way of-"

Daryl made a violent move towards Axel for daring to blame Carol for what happened and Axel quickly stood up to get out of his way. In his haste to escape, Axel didn't look for where Rick was, and cracked the top of his head up under Rick's jaw. There was an audible click as Rick's mouth snapped shut from the blow.

Rick staggered back, hand flying to his mouth and shaking his head. "Shit!"

"Dad!" said Carl anxiously. "You okay?"

Rick licked at his bloody lip and shot Axel a glare. "I'm fine, Carl, just bit my lip. It's nothing."

Daryl shook his head in disgust at Axel. "You know what I think? I reckon shit for brains her is a double agent. He's workin' for the Walkers, tryin' to take us down from the inside, body part by body part."

Carl giggled and Daryl sent the boy a conspiratorial wink at appreciating his humour.

"I ain't workin' for the Walkers," said Axel unevenly, clearly not sure if they were joking or not.

"You ain't workin' at all, boy," complained Daryl. "This'd be done now if you weren't fixed on being such a dumb ass all the live long day."

Axel pouted at Daryl. "You know, sometimes I reckon you're mean just for the sake of bein' mean."

Daryl sent him a warning look. "You think this is mean? Boy, you don't know how mean I can get when I put my mind to it."

"Okay, enough, you two," said Rick, distractedly dabbing at his lip. "Axel, help me finish up this fence with no more bloodshed and Daryl, just keep watch, okay? I'd like to get back to the cellblock before lunch, if I can."

Axel jerked a finger at Daryl. "Make him stop watching me."

Rick sighed. "Daryl."

Daryl shrugged. "It's your life, just don't come cryin' to me if dumb ass here ends up tyin' your nads to the fence." With that, Daryl wandered off a little ways up the fence line. He glanced over his shoulder to see Carl dispatch another Walker who'd caught wind of Rick's injury. It probably shouldn't have been, but it was impressive to see the kid ram his knife through the Walker's forehead without batting an eyelid. Daryl turned his attention back to the ground in front of him. He crouched down for a closer look at the marks on the ground. "Looks like a whole mess of Walkers got through," he called back to the others. "There are a lot of footprints here." This wasn't good news. The prints looked fresh.

"You sure there aren't just a couple that stood over the same spot?" Rick queried him as he and Axel finished off the fence.

"No." Daryl's practice eye read the story the marks were telling him. "At least ten or so different ones, maybe more." He grimaced. "Probably more." Daryl straightened up and tracked the prints for a few more feet. "They're heading towards the south entrance."

"Carol guessed as much," said Rick, tying off the last piece of wire. "She thought they were getting in one place and ending up on the south side."

"How long ago did they pass through, Daryl?" asked Carl, still keeping an eye on the Walkers outside the fence.

Daryl frowned. "These are pretty fresh. No more than twelve hours old."

Axel was wiping his hands on his prison greys. "Does that mean we've got a whole gang of Walkers inside the prison?" he asked nervously.

"Herd," Carl corrected him. "We call them herds."

"Okay, herds. Is there a herd of Walkers inside the prison?"

"Looks like," said Daryl unhappily.

"I think they're heading towards the south entrance because of the noise the generator makes," suggested Rick. "They're drawn to the noise."

"But we sealed off that area yesterday," Carl prompted him. "Remember, Dad, we locked it up."

Axel pulled on his moustache. "So, what, they'd be heading back this way?"

Rick and Daryl exchanged glances, knowing there was another option.

Daryl's expression didn't change. "I reckon we should be gettin' back to the cellblock," he said calmly.

"I reckon you're right," said Rick grimly. The group quickly packed up and started to head back towards the cellblock, everyone picking up the pace a little without having to be told. They were still a fair distance away when they heard the first shot.

Daryl tensed, recognising the sound of Hershel's shotgun. The old man didn't have much manoeuvrability these days. If he was letting off rounds, it was near the cellblock. Daryl just reacted. He broke into a run, Rick doing the same behind him. Axel was a little slower to react, but soon all three men were running as fast as they could towards the cellblock, with Carl doing his best to keep up. Daryl's heart was pounding in his chest as he barrelled through the gate leading to the cellblock. More shots were being fired, fast and close together, like there was panic going on. They ran into the cellblock to find the place overrun with Walkers. Beth and Hershel were holed up in the sleeping quarters, trying to hold about ten Walkers at bay. Beth was struggling to close the door between them and the Walkers as they pressed against it. Daryl and Rick exploded into the bay which led into the sleeping quarters. Daryl quickly dispatched a Walker with his crossbow and then went to work on the rest with his knife. Rick was by his side, slashing and cutting his way through their rotting flesh and even Axel was managing to add to the body count. Carl had caught them up now and shot a bullet into a Walker about to lunge at Daryl who was busy taking the head off another one.

"Beth, Hershel!" Rick yelled out as he fought. "You alright?!"

"Yes!" Hershel called back as he was now by Beth's side, helping her close the gate between them.

"Where's Carol and Judith?" asked Rick, trying to look into the sleeping area while he fought off Walkers. "They with you?"

"No," gasped Beth, stabbing at Walkers through the bars. "I think they're still in the courtyard. I'm not sure. We looked up and Walkers were everywhere."

"Holy shit!" Oscar had joined the fray now, having heard the shots as well and come running from his lookout. A Walker swung round and leapt at him, forcing Oscar to kick his way clear and then cave its head in with the butt of his rifle.

"I'm goin' for Carol and Judith," yelled Daryl to Rick. He was closest to the door, it made sense, but he would have gone even if it didn't.

"We're right behind you," said Rick urgently as only a few Walkers remained. "Hurry."

Daryl didn't need to be told. He was wracking his brain trying to remember if he'd seen any kind of weapon on Carol that morning, before they'd left. It was rare for any of them to do anything without at least a knife to their name. Daryl was trying not to panic as he couldn't remember Carol having anything to defend herself with. It would have been just her and a helpless baby if the rest of the Walker pack had found its way out to her. He tore down the stairs which led to the outdoor courtyard, jumping the last four in one bound as a growing terror over what he might find all but consumed him. Daryl reached the door and raised his crossbow, bracing himself as he kicked open the door. He looked through the sight of the crossbow, sweeping from left to right as he looked for her. "Carol!" he called out. "Carol!" Daryl's ears strained to hear a reply. He edged into the courtyard, taking in the over turned basket laundry and the fact that one of the lines of clothes had been pulled down. Judith's blanket was screwed up and Daryl quickly moved over to it. Looking down he saw drops of dark blood on it, Walker blood. "Fuck!" he growled, trying not to fear the worst. Daryl looked over at the only other door out of the courtyard, knowing Carol must have fled with Judith through there. He was running towards it as Rick and Axel appeared.

"Did you find them?" asked Rick anxiously.

"This way," called out Daryl, not even looking back as he ran back into the prison. The corridors were tight with plenty of areas to be boxed in. Plenty of places to get yourself dead. A lump was in Daryl's throat as he raced towards the unknown, Rick hot on his heels as they chased down the Walkers with Carol and Judith in their sights...

A/N: I mentioned my cliff hanger fetish, right? ;) Oh and in case folks are worried, this fic isn't always going to be a 'Carol in danger, Daryl to the rescue' kinda fic. I mean, the whole group ends up saving each other on a regular basis, so it won't always be one way. Just sayin'.