Warning: Evil Rick, and some Daryl/Carol action.
Also, to be honest I'm considering giving up on this story. It just doesn't seem to be making it -_- lol

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Snuff - Chapter Nine - I Promise

Rick couldn't deny the skip in his step with the very thought of Kira being gone for good. Sure Daryl and Carol would have a hard time dealing, or believing his story of the 'hunting accident' but they would learn to deal with it. He didn't want to lose Daryl, who had become a very important part of the team but if it happened, it happened. He didn't really have a reason for hating Kira. The poor kid had done nothing wrong except show up at the wrong time, but still that was enough to rub him wrong. But those issues were long gone. As far as everyone was concerned poor little Kira was dead and gone, in a better place now. She died not reacting fast enough to a walker attack, and there was nothing Rick could do once the girl had been bit. At least, that was the story he was going with.

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Back at the prison

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Daryl's eyes fluttered open to see Carol leaning over him. Her sweet smile bringing a tug to the edge of his own lips. He grunted a bit, reaching for his aching head but retracting when the pain in his arm stung worse. "Damn slant shot me" he grumbled. Carol giggled only from relief of hearing him sound like himself. Her smiled faded though when he looked around and let out the dreaded question. "Where's Kira?"

Carol sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. "She went hunting with Rick and Carl..." She replied as calmly as she could, not at all surprised when he sat up quickly ready to rush out of the room. "Daryl calm down!" She tried to calm him, even push him back down to the bed but he was already up and ready to go.

"Don't tell me to calm down!" Daryl yelled, ignoring the pain running through his body. "Why'd you let her go?! I swear if he's hurt her I'll bury his ass" He yelled marching out of the room stopped by Carl who was standing in the doorway. Daryl stopped, and looked him over. "The hell you still doin' 'ere?"

"Dad told me to stay behind and clean.. Said he wanted to give Kira a chance..." Carl shrugged, seeing no harm in it. Still holding on to the innocence of his father being an honorable man.

Daryl looked towards Carol who quickly grabbed his unhurt arm "Daryl give him a chance! He wouldn't hurt her now. He knows we need people. Anyway you're in no condition to be going out there! Give it time." She begged.

Daryl grunted, not wanting to listen to her. "You tell me the second your daddy get's back!" Daryl ordered Carl, who didn't dare question the tone in the older man's voice. He went back outside to wait for his father and Kira to return. While Carol stayed behind and tried to plead with Daryl to stay. After a while though, she followed Carl out, with hopes of seeing the two return.

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Getting back to camp Rick was met with Carol who immediately looked horrified at the fact he was alone. Rick even tried to put a little limp in his step to sell the story, but it didn't ease her expression of pure panic. "Where is she?!" The woman demanded upon Rick entering the gate. "You said Carl was going with you, Rick what have you done!?" Carol was becoming frantic, and he knew that was a bad start.

"Shh calm down.. Look... I'll explain everything, just.." He tried to act hurt, broken, even sad. But she wasn't buying it.

Carl heard the noise and had come to see what was going on. "Dad? What happened where's Kira? I heard a gunshot."

Now with both of them on him he sold the pain a bit more. "I'll explain inside... Everyone needs to hear this.." He said as sadly as he could manage.

Carol stared out a bit more, waiting, hoping to see Kira in the distance, but she saw nothing. She followed Rick inside, her heart feeling as if it couldn't sink any lower.

Rick was feeling fine, he was secure in his story and ready to tell it well. That was until he got inside and saw Daryl, wide awake and sitting upright at the table they'd set up. His eyes met Rick's and flashed anger immediately. It didn't take long for Daryl to register Rick was alone, and he shot up from the seat. He wobbled a little, his head still fuzzy, but he recovered enough to rush Rick. He was only stopped by Carol and Glenn. "WHAT DID YOU DO?!'

"Daryl please! You're going to wake the baby!" Carol pleaded, hoping that would calm him at least a little.

Rick held his side, still trying to sell the 'accident'. "I'm sorry... I tried to stop them but they rushed us and.. Kira wasn't skilled enough.. She got bit.."

The words had barely left his mouth before Daryl was on top of him, pounding him with fists, not caring where they landed or who was screaming for him to stop. He couldn't see anything but red. Till finally he was dragged off by Glenn and Carl both screaming for peace.

"YOU FUCKIN' LIAR! WHAT DID YOU DO TO 'ER!" Daryl shouted kicking and screaming till he got away from them only to pounce on Rick again. Rick didn't fight back though, still selling his story. Daryl was only drug off this time from his own injuries. Carol stood between them, wrapping herself around Daryl, crying quietly as she did.

"I'm so sorry" Rick replied, allowing Carl to help him to his cell.

"FUCK!" Daryl yelled pushing Carol away and rushing outside, where the yelling continued. Carol was the only one brave enough to follow him. She waited for his outbursts to stop before she tried to comfort him.

"What if Rick is telling the truth?" She offered, hoping it would help, but it didn't.

"Either way she's dead right?" He replied. She could have sworn she heard a sniffle but would never mention or admit to it. The woman sighed and tried to put a comforting hand on him, but he shoved it away before walking off towards his gear. He began to pack it as quickly as his arm would allow.

"Daryl, you can't go out there. You'll be killed!" She pleaded not wanting to lose anyone else.

"I'm gonna find her. I told her she'd be safe here." He ignored the pain in her voice and kept packing for his own personal rescue mission.

Carol tried to hold in her pain but it showed in every word she said. "Daryl please. I want to believe she's out there too but... You're not well, I can't lose you."

Daryl heard every word, and felt it. "You're not gonna lose me. I don't go away that easy darlin'.." He said before stopping himself. No, pet names weren't safe. But she'd heard it, and instead of making it easier it made things harder on her. He turned to see her crying, and couldn't hide the fact it bothered him. He gently took her face in his hands and pressed his forehead to hers. "I have to try. Either way, I'm comin' back to ya'... I promise" and before he could think he pressed his lips to hers so tenderly it shocked even himself. As he pulled away he couldn't tell if it was the bump on the head or the kiss that was making him dizzy. But he snapped back to Daryl and made his way out.