Over night, we got about 10 inches of snow here so I had a snow day today, which gave me the perfect opportunity to work on some writing (though, I really should be working on some hw. Oh well.). I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter Ten

Up ahead, Glenn could see a clearing. The dense trees were thinning out more. Something was up ahead. "Do you think it's Terminus?" He asked his girlfriend, Maggie, who had walked alongside him the whole time since they had left Rick and the rest of the group.

"Could be," she responded. "If it's a depot, then the tracks will lead right to it."

"If that's what is really up there, we'll see first and then, head into the woods to check it out or something." They couldn't just walk up to the front and walk in. Especially if the place wasn't safe and they were killed. Who else would warn the rest of their family about the place, then?

Just as the trees were cleared, they saw a large building. Several different tracks lead into and it was surrounded by a chain link fence. Only a few walkers milled around and in the windows of the building, written in white paint, the word 'Terminus' was spelled out.

"There's our destination," Maggie sighed in relief.

"I don't see anyone, though. Besides walkers." Glenn shielded his eyes from the sun to get a better view. "Let's head into the woods. It looks like they may come out somewhere near the back." He pointed to where he saw the tops of trees.

"Good idea." Maggie smiled and kissed Glenn on the cheek before heading toward the trees.

"Sometimes I have those, you know!" He called after her and followed.

"Some of us should have gone with," Andrea said as she paced the small apartment. Seven people were stuffed into the small space and Michonne had opened a window earlier to get some air circulating in the room, to everyone's relief.

"I agree," T-Dog responded from where he sat on the couch by Hershel. "I don't think Rick and Daryl were thinking very rationally, honestly. If they're going to Atlanta, they're going to need more backup than just the four of them. And who knows how dependable Merle will be with a weapon with having only one hand."

"If anyone is capable of having a gun with no hands, it would be Merle," Andrea said wryly and leaned against the top of the couch, her arms crossed over her chest.

"It's a little late to be thinking about this, now, isn't? it?" Michonne asked from where she stood by the window. One eyebrow raised.

"I suppose. But we had just gotten back from looking for Terminus and were exhausted. Daryl and Rick have to be running on pure adrenaline," T-Dog added. "I'm getting tired just thinking about what they'll have to deal with in Atlanta." He leaned his head on the back of the couch and closed his eyes.

"And you're not worried about them?" Andrea looked down at him.

"Not really. The four of them are more than capable and if things get too rough, they'll turn around and head back until things settled down." He turned and clapped Hershel on the shoulder. "And you don't have to worry, old man," he said teasingly. "They'll get your daughter back. Especially if she's with Lori. There isn't anything in the world that will stop Rick from getting his wife back."

Daryl and Carol trekked quietly through the woods. Carol knew that Daryl was hunting and didn't say anything, knowing that any noise could scare any game away. Not talking to Daryl was okay. It wasn't like their relationship was the kind where every minute had to be filled with some form of chatter. They knew each other so well, sometimes words weren't needed.

Daryl whistled lowly and jerked his head to the right. Carol stopped and gasped when she saw a doe about a hundred feet away. Daryl walked silently up to her, pressing his chest into her shoulder. "I ain't goin' to kill her," he whispered into Carol's ear. "She's too big for just the four of us and I ain't goin' to waste meat."

Carol was glad that the deer wouldn't be killed, though she did enjoy venison. The doe looked peaceful standing there, ears twitching as it looked in the opposite direction of where they stood.

"Now, if you see any squirrel or rabbit," Daryl continued to whisper. "I'll get them." He took a step back and they watched the doe for a few more minutes before they started to walk once more. They walked along in silence for a little longer before Daryl, without a word, lifted his bow and let a bolt fly. Carol whipped her head to see what he had gotten and saw that it was a nice fat rabbit.

"That should be good for now," he said, walking up to the dead animal to pull the bolt from its body. Carol, though used to gore and guts, turned from the sight as blood started to trickle down the rabbit's white fur.

"Gettin' squeamish on me, already?" Daryl asked and kissed her on the cheek before tying the dead rabbit on his belt. Thankfully, it was on the other side of the his body. The side away from her.

"No," she quipped. "I just felt sorry for poor Thumper!"

"Thumper?"

"You know, from Bambi?"

Daryl gave her a look that said he still didn't know what the hell she was talking about. Carol rolled her eyes. "It was one of Sophia's favorite movies when she was little. Honestly, I'm surprised she hasn't had a fit every time you've killed a deer."

"The girl's smart. Without Bambi, everyone would starve."

"That she is," Carols aid proudly. For being almost thirteen, Sophia was mature for her age and especially now, with the world ended and walkers milling around, Carol was grateful for that.

They continued to walk through the woods. This time their goal was to see if they came across any houses or cabins to loot from. Though Carol didn't know what exactly would be out in the middle of the woods. At least she got some alone time with Daryl. The next few days were probably going to be crazy. Especially if they got Lori and Beth back and headed straight for Terminus.

A growl coming from behind them had Daryl and Carol whipping around. Carol went for her knife and Daryl already had his bow in her hand. Instead of a walker, though, it was a dog. Carol looked at Daryl, eyebrow raised remembering the first time this had happened to them. "Should I find you a long stick?" She asked, not even bothering to keep her voice down.

"Maybe this time, you can be the one to save me." He smirked. The dog was probably rabid and they were joking around. Carol knew that if it tried to attack them, Daryl would put a bolt through its eyes, so there really was no cause to panic.

"Oh, all right." Carol rolled her eyes playfully and looked around for a long stick to wield. However, a loud crashing through the woods sent the dog running and a walker appeared in its place. It's original goal had been the dog, but when it saw Daryl and Carol standing there, he went for them. Daryl brought his bow up, but Carol stopped him.

"I got it." Pushing down her nerves, Carol approached the walker with her knife and before it could lunge at her, she stabbed it through the eye. It fell to the forest floor with a thump. Carol turned to Daryl. "I just saved you. So, where's my kiss?"

Lori didn't return to their hospital room until it was almost dark. Dawn had lead her to the laundry room and had her fold a few baskets of clothes. Lori wondered if it was because Dawn wanted to appease Gorman if they were to meet again that day. Not that Lori minded. Folding the towels and scrubs kept her hands and mind busy.

"When you're finished with that last basked, you can head back to your room." Dawn appeared in the doorway.

Lori looked at the woman over her shoulder. "I don't know my way back."

"That'll be remedied soon enough."

No, it won't Lori turned back to her work and thought. I won't be hear long enough to know my way around. In her heart, she knew that Rick was coming to get her and very near by.

"How is my daughter?" Lori asked, still sensing Dawn behind her as she finished folding. She hadn't seen Beth since that morning and was worried about the girl.

"Her and Noah mopped most of the halls on the level and earned themselves some supper." Lori wondered if she had earned supper as well. She didn't want to ask, though, just in case she hadn't. Standing, she winced as her back protested from being bent over for a long period of time.

"Finished?" Dawn asked.

"Yes. Well, with everything you told me to do anyways." There were still other baskets full of clothes waiting to be folded. The washer and dryers in the room didn't look like they were used much and Lori wondered if they did all the washing by hand. It reminded her of when they had been back on the farm.

"Good. Follow me." Lori wondered if it every got exhausting to be so rigid all of the time. The world had ended. There was no need for police officers, anymore. Though, Rick was the leader of the group and a former police officer, he didn't wave the badge around.

Lori followed Dawn through numerous hallways and they passed many other people in scrubs just like her. None of them met her eye and some of them looked down right miserable. Besides having to work for their food and Gorman, Lori didn't see anything wrong with the hospital. That was, until screaming down the hall caught everyone's attention.

Two officers were dragging a deranged woman into another room. Her hair was wild and eyes even wilder. Another officer ran up to Dawn. "Caught her trying to leave, again. This time, we'll put her in restraints."

Dawn looked at Lori over her shoulder for a brief second, face unreadable. "Good," she turned back to the other woman in front of her. "I'll be checking up on her later."

"We'll have her subdued by then." The female officer turned from Dawn and entered the room they dragged the woman into. Panic settled into Lori's chest. Did that mean that no one was allowed to leave? If they tried, they would be brought back here to be tied up?

If that was the case, what would happen if someone tried to break someone out?

Daryl and Carol search for a cabin or a house came up nothing. They could have searched deeper into the woods but knew that Rick had probably paced a hole in the road already waiting for them. At least, they got something quick to cook before they made it to Atlanta. Carol knew they would be needed all the energy and strength they had to get into the overrun capital.

"When we get to Atlanta, stick close to me, you hear?"

"I was just about to say the same thing to you," Carol replied and nudged him in the ribs.

"I'm serious, Carol. When I came back to the apartments to find you gone, I-I...it scared the shit out of me, okay? I thought something had happened to you while I was gone and I can't have that happen again. So, stay close. It ain't because I don't think you can handle yourself. I definitely know you can. I just..."

Carol stopped and placed a hand on his chest. "I get it, Daryl, and I'll stay close. Promise."

"Good."

"But if you start treating me like I can't take care of myself, then I may just have to leave you." She winked, letting him know that she was only kidding...about the leaving part. He knew that if he started to baby her, she would not be too happy with him.

"So, how much do you want to bet that Rick will already been in the car, waiting, when we get back?" Carol asked once they started moving once more.

"He'd probably insist we eat the rabbit raw to save time," Daryl chuckled and Carol made a face at that.

"I'd rather not eat, then."

"If I was really hungry, I'd eat it raw."

Carol crinkled her nose and looked up at him in disgust. "I hope you'd brush your teeth afterwards. Especially if you plan on kissing me."

"Naw. I just won't tell you." He winked, knowing it would rile her up.

"You're so gross, Daryl!" She cried and shoved him a little. Daryl chuckled and shrugged.

Afterwards, they continued walking. Five minutes later, they broke through the trees and saw the highway. Merle was standing against one of the vehicles, arms crossed over his chest and mind somewhere else. Rick stood in front of his car, bent over the nap. In his mouth, he had a sharpie and Daryl figured he had been marking the route they would be taking in Atlanta, which was very smart.

"Why don't you get started on a fire and I'll skin this," Daryl leaned close to Carol and said. The scene they had happened upon had been quiet. Too quiet. Daryl had expected arguing and shouting when he got back. Pleasantly surprised he was to find that his brother had actually kept to himself or at least didn't take any of the bait Merle had thrown his way.

Rick finally looked up as Daryl approached. Taking the sharpie out of his mouth, he spoke, "I've mapped out a route for us to take once we're ready to go." He followed the thick black line with his finger. Daryl examined the map and saw no problems with Rick's plan. It seemed to avoid the once heavily populated areas of Atlanta and kept them at the outskirts until they reached the hospital.

Daryl placed the rabbit on the hood of the car and started to skin. Rick didn't even bat an eye. "Have you given any thought of what we'll do once we make it to the hospital?" He asked. "The men had guns and we'll be outnumbered." There was no way he was going to have Carol go into a situation where they were outnumbered and could easily be picked off.

"Honestly, I was hoping that maybe we could negotiate. What would those people want with a pregnant woman and a teenager?"

Daryl shrugged, eyes never leaving the animal in front of him. "Don't know. I mean, they're hold up in a hospital. Maybe they want to help people. Those men probably saw Lori and Beth and thought they were on their own."

"Whatever they are, I'm getting my wife back." Rick rolled up the map and finally, looked at gutted animal only inches from him and made a face. "How long do you think that will take to cook?"

"If Carol gets a good fire going, I'd say maybe in a hour or so."

"All right. Anything I can do?"

"Don't think so." Rick moved to walk away, but Daryl stopped him. Lowering his voice, he glanced at Merle before looking back at Rick. "Thanks for not killin' my brother while we were gone."

"It was like he wasn't even here," Rick said. "He kept to his car and didn't say a word. I was surprised." Daryl was surprised at hearing that, as well. Also, maybe even a little...proud. He'd never mention that, though.

Once the animal was skinned and gutted, he brought it over to Carol, who had a decent fire going and together, they started to prepare the meal. Rick dozed off in his car and Merle was sitting on the hood of his, watching the tree line. A gun rested by his hand. Rick had deemed him trustworthy for one...at the moment.

An hour later, the meat was cooked and they were eating it as they drove to Atlanta.

Oh, on my last chapter I got a guest review from a Phantom telling me to stop with the Beth hate. Personally, I don't think I'm hating on Beth at all in this story. I'm making her act like a typical teenager, so maybe that's what makes you so angry. I don't know. I've seen you've left other reviews on other writers stories, two of which didn't even have Beth in it! So, if you want someone to treat Beth 'nice' (I'm assuming your definition of nice is having Daryl fall in love with her or something equally disgusting) then fucking go somewhere else. Until I see you review stories where Carol is being bashed and you speak up about it, then I have no respect for you.

Also, if I were you, I wouldn't have reviewed a story that had Beth in the same place she was canonically killed off in the show. Just saying.

Sorry about that, everyone. I've been dying to say something to that person. Especially when I saw that she demanded one writer to write Beth in her stories.

Thanks for reading!