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FanFicGirl10: Shit definitely does go down ;) In that case, I hoped you're pleased with this chapter. Enjoy!

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Saviour

The red sun broke free of the early morning clouds and it was already starting to get warm. Not a good sign. Red sky in the morning, sailors warning. Grace sat around the fire and waited for breakfast. Carol pushed the food around in the frying pan as it sat over the open fire. Grace was starving. She sat next to Daryl on a fold out chair, waiting for food. Andrea sharpened her knife on a cheese grater a few metres in front of them, just on the other side of the flames. She was completely focused, probably why she didn't notice Grace staring at her. Everyone was silent aside from Lori, who gently spoke to Rick. He just ended up looking at her vaguely and muttering something, which made her look uneasy. Carol came over with food, which took Grace's attention momentarily. She smiled and nodded her thanks to Carol.

Her eyes floated to Glenn, who had his head turned towards Maggie. Grace chewed slowly; Maggie shook her head. Ah, the Walkers-in-the-barn problem. She frowned, swallowed and suddenly lost her appetite, looking at the food in her lap. The hunting and drinking from the night before distracted her better than she hoped it would and she'd all but forgotten about it until that moment. She looked up at Glenn, who was now looking at Dale. Dale was nodding. Glenn's eyes met with Grace's – all she did was raise one thin eyebrow. He nodded; a look on his face that read I know what I have to do, and rose from where he was seated. He awkwardly walked over to the front of the black and grey tent. Dale and Grace watched him the whole time. No one even suspected anything until he spoke, "Uhmm... Guys?" He rubbed his face. Everyone looked up, still eating or cooking, "Sooo..." He clasped his hands together, nervous. Grace clenched her jaw and gave him the raised-eyebrow look again, "The barn's full of Walkers."

Now everyone had his full attention. Carol turned her head to him and frowned, scared and confused. T-Dog looked at him over his mug. Daryl didn't look like he believed it. Andrea's straightened and looked at him with concern. Shane just looked like Shane: pissed off. Carl, Lori and Rick all had serious expressions on their faces, but Grace could see Rick's jaw visibly clench.

Everyone was up and made their way over to have a look, but no one grabbed their weapons. Grace always had her knives on her. She thought momentarily that they were all stupid. Shane looked through the small crack between the double doors. He strode past Rick, fuming. "You cannot tell me you're alright with this."

"No I am not, but we're guests here, this isn't our land."

"This is our lives, man!"

"Lower your voice." Glenn hissed.

"We can't just sweep this under the rug." Andrea stated with a matter-of-fact tone. Grace wanted to slap her.

"It ain't right, not remotely." T said.

"We either gotta go in there, we gotta make things right, or we've just gotta go. Now we've been talking 'bout Fort Benning for a long time now."

"We can't go."

"Why, Rick, why?"

"Because my daughter's still out there," Carol took a step forward.

"Okay," Shane let out a little laugh and ran his hands down his face, "Alright I think it's time that we all just start to just... consider the other possibilities and–"

"Shane! We are not leaving Sophia behind." Rick stated. Grace admired the leader of the group. He wasn't about to give up for Sophia, which she respected in him. But she agreed with Shane – much to her chagrin – she doubted that the little girl would still be alive. Rick was either persistent or stupid. Grace waited to find out.

"I'm close to finding this girl," Daryl explained, walking in front of Carol, "I just found her damn doll three days ago."

"And I'm going to help him look for her," Grace said from next to Carol. The mother looked at her with sad eyes, but Shane laughed at the hunters, which made her frown.

"You found her doll, Daryl, that's what you did. You found a doll."

There was a short silence.

"You don't know what the hell you're talkin' 'bout." Daryl exclaimed as Rick put an arm out in front of the angered hunter. Grace took a step forward, clenching her fists, but Daryl stood back. The huntress glared at Shane.

"I'm just saying what needs to be said!"

"Well maybe you should just shut your goddamn mouth," Grace snarled. Only Daryl heard.

"You get a good lead within the first forty-eight hours and–" Rick was trying to calm his 'brother' down, but failed miserably. Daryl took a few steps forward and Grace followed suit. The two hunters were fuming. "No let me tell you somethin' else, man. If she was alive out there, saw you comin' all Methed out with your Buck knife 'n' Geek Ears 'round your neck, she would run. In the other. Direction."

Daryl threw himself forward at Shane, but Rick got in the way. Grace moved around Rick and almost got a fist to Shane's face as he focused on Daryl, but Glenn grabbed her and pushed her back. She growled but remained there. There was a lot of yelling, Shane and Daryl would have killed each other if Rick wasn't in the way. Grace would have helped Daryl do it. Everyone got in the way, three or more people forcing themselves between Daryl and Shane. Daryl stood down, taking a few steps back, ending up next to a glaring Grace. Shane kept coming, trying to force his way through everyone to get to Daryl. With one push and some help from his wife, Rick managed to get Shane back.

"Keep your hands off me," Shane aimed that at Lori, pointing right in her face. Grace took a few deep breaths and ran a hand through her messy hair. Shane skulked off.

"Just let me talk to Hershel; let me figure it out."

"What are you gonna figure out?" Shane screamed. Lori stood in front of him, placing a strong hand on his chest.

"Enough!" The mother managed to hold him back. Grace was impressed.

"If we can just say, we're gonna clear this barn. I have to talk him into it. This is his land!"

"Hershel sees those things in there as people," Dale stated, approaching the leader, "Sick people; his wife, his step-son."

"You knew?"

"Yesterday, I talked to Hershel."

"And you waited the night?" Shane spat.

"I thought we could survive one more night," Dale spat back, "We did. I was waiting till this morning to say something but Glenn wanted to be the one."

"The man is crazy, Rick, if he thinks those things are alive then–"

Shane's shouting was cut off by the Walkers in the barn, pushing against the chained and locked doors, trying desperately to get out. Some people walked off, Grace didn't see who. She was more concerned with the fight-or-flight battle going on in her stomach. No one knew how many were in there and she didn't want to risk being caught trying to check. She felt her jaw clench and shot a sideways glance at Daryl, who was staring at the doors. He looked tense, ready to do something if they managed to break out. She found herself in a defensive stance, her fists clenched and her body centred. She wouldn't run. She wasn't a quitter before all of this and she wouldn't let it change her now. Nor would she let Shane give up searching for Sophia just because he had deemed her dead with no proof. She was going to find her and she was going to prove him wrong so he'd shut his big, ugly, goddamn mouth.

The group split and Grace went back to the tent. She tight her long hair up and out of the way. The high ponytail whipped at her back as she changed into her gear, the same outfit she'd worn when she went out hunting and found Daryl. She laced up her boots tight and grabbed the two crossbows, the rest of Daryl's gear and a bottle of pain killers. She noticed Carol walking to the stables when she emerged from her tent, so she followed quickly, hoping to ask if she knew where Daryl was.

Daryl carried a saddle into the stable, the pain in his abdomen sending ripping pain up his side. He used up a lot of energy and almost threw it to get it onto a stand. He keeled over slightly, breathing heavily through the pain as he held his side.

"You can't."

Daryl looked up and saw a concerned Carol walking over to him. He guessed she saw that whole thing and he scowled. "I'm fine." He growled, grabbing a pair of reins that were hanging from the wall.

"Hershel said you need to heal."

"Yeah," He avoided looking at Carol, annoyed that she was trying to tell him what to do, "I don't care."

"Well I do," she said softly. She followed behind Daryl as he opened the door and started setting up the horse.

"I ain't gonna sit around and do nothin'."

"So you're gonna go out there and get yourself hurt even more?"

"It's alright, Carol," Grace walked up next to her, she'd jumped slightly, not expecting anyone else to come here, "I'll keep him safe for you." She gave a sweet smile.

"The hell you will..." she heard him mutter. She made a face to the back of his head.

"We don't know if we're even gunna find her." She said to the two hunters. Grace's lips twitched; her eyes at her feet. Daryl turned slowly, giving her a hard look. "We don't. I don't..." She was absolutely defeated, emotionally exhausted.

Daryl took a few steps towards her, "What?"

It was almost as if Grace wasn't there. She could feel her fists clench, her jaw tighten. "I can't lose you too," Carol almost whispered. Grace's breath hitched and she swallowed. Daryl's expression was pained, confused. How was he meant to feel about that? No one had ever said anything like that to him before.

Grace shot Carol a look from under her lashes, "You're not going to lose anyone, Carol. We've got each other's backs; we're going to find her."

"How do you know?" Carol shot at Grace, a tear slithered down her withered skin.

She almost pushed past Carol, handing Daryl his gear and putting the crossbows down. He tied it around his waist and accepted the two pain killers she held out to him. He'd been holding his wound without realising but Grace had seen it. Carol made a comment about drugs and resting, but neither hunter paid much attention as they readied the horse. The mother walked off crying when she realised that they weren't going to listen. Daryl was glad that Grace was equally as stubborn, maybe more, than he was. If she was determined to find her, then he was absolutely sure that they would. Even if it took them the rest of the week. They wouldn't stop.

Grace led the horse out to the open and past the camp; Daryl followed with the crossbows. They passed by Lori and Carl, who were doing work, but she overheard him saying that he won't leave until they find Sophia. Lori looked up at Grace, who was smiling and ruffled the kid's hair. "Don't you worry, Carl. Daryl and I are gonna find her and bring her back safe and sound." Lori gave her a stern look before she led the horse to out through the fields.

They stopped before the trees and Grace threw herself on the horse; Daryl noticed a sort of elegance to it. Maybe she'd done it a lot before. She nodded to the back of the horse and he shot her a dirty look. "Dixon, get on the fucking horse," She ordered, knowing he'd complain about not being in control. It would do well with the two of them; Grace barely weighed a thing. He would never admit it, but he sort of liked how she didn't take shit from anyone. She held her arm out and he took it, her grip on his wrist tighter than he expected. He got on the horse easily, the pain killers worked nicely. He looked down at her waist and contemplated holding it. Would that be weird? That was exactly why he didn't want to ride on the ass of it. He was fine with her holding him for support but where was he supposed to hold? He couldn't go too high or too low. He settled for just below her ribs. Hopefully that was not too high and not too low.

They started off slowly, quietly, looking around and surveying the area. He had to lean back slightly because every time Grace turned her head, her hair flicked his face or tickled his stubble. He knew riding on the ass end would be trouble – especially with a woman taking front. He shook his focus and remembered why they were out there. There was nothing for a good long while, not a peep from any animals or any sign of Walkers. Daryl didn't know whether to feel relieved or not. If they came across another herd, he knew they'd have to get out of there, but he didn't know if it would be able to take it. They followed the trail about mile before Grace's head straightened – like a dog that heard the dinner bell – and steered off course. "What are you doing? I've been down this way. Just an old abandoned house. Go back to the trail!"

Grace didn't answer him; before he knew it they were flying so he leant forward to avoid the wind. They came into a clearing where the familiar, dirty, cream-coloured house with a dirty red roof came into view. It was the exact same as how he'd left it, but there was a Ute out the front. He frowned, knowing all too well that it hadn't been there before. Grace made a comment about hearing a door slam shut and that he was deaf, but he didn't care. They got off the horse. Grace hitched it to the trees nearby just before the clearing and Daryl handed her crossbow to her. Grace went to the car, and checked inside it. Someone was conveniently careless. She smiled and opened the door quietly, pocketing the keys. Worst comes to worst, they had an effective means of escape. She left the door open slightly, not wanting to risk it being loud. It creaked slightly and she pulled a face. She hurried over to Daryl, who had made his way past the shrubs and small trees to the front of the house. He'd noticed the tracks before Grace did, if she did at all. Three sets, two were solid and larger, the other was struggled. He took cover at the corner, peering around it. He could see that the front door was open. He silently moved to the side of the door, Grace took the other side. He hadn't seen or heard her coming, but he was glad she was there and she knew what she was doing. She held her crossbow down at the wooden veranda, away from her feet. She didn't lean her body against the wall, just her head to peer around the corner, which was good – if something appeared suddenly she wouldn't stumble. He noticed the look of concentration on her face and the way her lips parted. He wasn't going to lie, he liked it. She looked like a badass.

"Look, girl, squirmin' is gon do nothin'," a thick Spanish accent broke the silence and Daryl's attention snapped back, "So just be a good girl and lay still." Grace heard a small scream cut short by a slap.

"Shut the fuck up," An American accent demanded and the girl sobbed.

Grace looked at Daryl and motioned to the room closest to them with two fingers up. He nodded, knowing they were in there since the first man spoke. She quickly moved to the inside, her feet silent against the floorboards. Daryl followed suit, hanging behind her. She peered through the door slowly, before moving to the other side. Daryl took her spot and peered through.

It was only the two of them, both facing away from the door. Idiots. One of them, a fat one, was standing very close to the door. He could barely see the other guy, but he could see his head. That's all he needed. Grace slung her crossbow over her shoulder and drew her carving knife, taking a deep breath. Her eyes met with Daryl's and he noticed a fire in her eyes. She smiled and raised an eyebrow, biting her lip. One, Grace mouthed the words, two...

The hunters moved through the door. Grace got her knife in front of the fat guy's throat and pressed lightly, holding his shoulder with her free hand. "Move suddenly and I'll slit your fucking throat, you fat piece of shit." The fat one put his hands up and Grace grabbed the shotgun. She slung it over her shoulder but didn't move the knife away. Daryl moved a few meters away from Grace, his aim carefully trained on the other guy. He looked at the two hunters with wide eyes, his hands slowly rising in defence. That's when he saw her. Little Sophia, her pale skin now tainted with bruises and dirt. Her clothes covered in blood, dirt and grime. Her hair was a mess. It looked like she hadn't showered for days. Daryl snarled and she looked at him. Her tired, hurt eyes grew wide with shock and relief. She cried out to him and tried to get up. "Don't you move, Sophia. You stay right there, girl, we've got you."

Sophia. They did it. They found her. Grace felt like kicking herself for ever doubting it. The chances were slim, but they defied the odds. Fuck you, Apocalypse.

"You know her?" The Hispanic man asked, pointing at Sophia. "We found her out in the woods a while ago. What are you doin' lettin' a lil girl wander off by herself?"

"You're not in a position to ask questions," Grace snapped, "What are you doing here?"

"First of all," The Hispanic rose from the ground, making a point of putting his revolver on the ground, "I'm Dave and that's Tony."

"Well, Dave," Grace said, peering over Tony's shoulder with a sweet smile which he returned confidently, "Shut the fuck up. We're here for a few answers, then the little girl. So save your tongue, or I'll cut it out."

Wow. Daryl smirked as Dave's smile disappeared.

"What are you doing here?"

"Looking for supplies."

"And you decided to take a little girl with you?"

"Yeah, never know when you'll need a small set of hands to fit into tight spaces." A wicked smile broke on his lips and Grace felt Tony vibrate with silent laughter. She pushed the knife harder into his throat which made him stop immediately.

"Why's she covered in bruises and blood?"

"That's how we found her."

Grace let out a small breath of laughter. "Dave, Dave, Dave," she smiled at him and shook her head. She became dangerously serious, making Daryl's spine tingle in anticipation, "I'm not a fucking idiot. The bruises are fresh, you sick son of a bitch. Don't look, sweetheart." Sophia covered her eyes. Daryl knew what Grace was going to do. She slit Tony's throat, bright red blood splattered all over her hand and all over Dave and pushed him away from the door as Daryl shot him in the head.

It was over as quickly as it happened. Sophia scrambled up from the floor as Daryl slung his crossbow over his shoulder and knelt down to her with his arms open. She slipped on Tony's blood but he caught her. They clung to each other, Daryl stroked her hair and muttered into her ear as Grace stabbed Tony in the head before drawing the arrow from Dave's head and wiping it on her pants. She took Dave's gun and tucked it into the back of her pants. She attached the arrow to Daryl's crossbow as he held Sophia while she sobbed. Grace liked seeing this side to Daryl. She wondered if he had a wife or girlfriend and any kids before all of this shit happened. It warmed her heart.

"Daryl," Grace touched his shoulder blade gently, "We gotta go. Take the car with Sophia when she's calmed down. I'll go now and ride back, give everyone the news."

He nodded and awkwardly held the little girl as he took the keys. She turned, jogging out of the house to the horse. She had a spring in her step the whole way. She didn't think they would find her, let alone the first time she went looking, let alone alive. Grace felt her eyes stinging as she got to the horse. She didn't take her time. As soon as she untied the horse, she threw herself on and they were quickly making their way back towards the camp. She had a weird feeling in her stomach. Excitement. She had found the little girl she was so sure was lost forever, dead, a Walker. Grace tried to disregard the bruises and blood and thought the worst. She could have been raped, beaten, tortured. The poor girl. She would probably never be the same again. Quietly, she didn't care about if the girl would be different than normal. She was just glad that everyone would stop stressing over it and finally have some hope. Finding her was the miracle they needed.

Gunshots rang out. Grace pulled on the reins and slowed the horse to a stop, listening carefully. She prayed it didn't come from the abandoned house. More shots rang out from the direction of the camp.

Grace saw all of the bodies. People crying on the ground, people crying in the arms of their loved ones, those in the group who had a gun were at the front of everyone else, lowering or putting away their guns. Shit. She got off the horse after she passed the gate and ran over to the group.

She stopped next to Dale, who had only just walked up himself, "What happened?"

"Shane open-fired on the barn."

Grace ran her hand through the loose bits of her fringe that had fallen from her ponytail during the ride. She cursed. "So much for wanting to bring good news."

Dale turned to Grace, confused, "Good news?" She nodded, a beautiful glint in her eye. Dale's eyes lit up and they both walked to Carol, who was looking at the dead Walkers with a sad expression. She around to face Grace and Dale, giving them a small smile and looking back to the Walkers. Grace shook her head with a laugh, not understanding how she could look so defeated.

"Carol," Grace said firmly, placing her hands on the older woman's shoulders so she wouldn't turn away again, "We found her."

Lori shot a look at Grace, her eyes wide, "What?"

Most of the group turned at that point, confused. New girl was creating quite a stir. What did she want?

"We found her," Grace said again, louder, "Daryl and I, we found Sophia."

Carol and Carl were the only ones who seemed to be happy about the news.