A/N: Happy Monday people! Big shout out to my ever-growing list of readers…you guys rock!

So this is probably the chapter most of you have been waiting for…Carol's returning back to the prison and Daryl's finally ready to confront her about all the stuff that's been going around in his head. It gets preeeetty intense While I want nothing more than to keep my fans happy, I also like to keep you on your toes, so I've done something a little evil. *chuckles ominously*

This is technically a two-part chapter, and it ends on something of a cliffhanger. That being said, I have a challenge for you. If I get, let's say…..ten reviews and/or messages in the next twenty-four hour period, I will release the second chapter the following day at the same time so that you don't have to wait in suspense for TOO long. I hope that's a reasonable request. Seeing as how I got at least that many from the last chapter alone, I don't see it being a problem, but DON'T SLACK! I want to know what you guys are thinking…good, bad, or indifferent. So far it's been nothing but love all around, so I truly appreciate that. I actually got scolded in class last week for laughing out loud at a comment someone sent me while I was supposed to be working on a project Thank god I get straight A's! LOL

Okay enough about me. It's Caryl time! Get ready, set, aaaaannnnddd…READ!

Disclaimer: I do not own the awesomeness that is The Walking Dead or any of its affiliates. I sadly wasn't that ingenious.

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Ch10.

The sun was rapidly disappearing into the sky when Carol finally saw the road leading back to the prison. A few minutes later, they spotted the large concrete building and she honked to get their attention. Glenn and Carl came running down to greet them and get the gate open. Carol thought she had never been so happy to see a gated structure in her whole life.

"Dad!"

Carl ran over smiling as Rick immediately opened the door and enveloped him in a hug. Carol missed those moments with Sophia the most. A hug from her daughter could make even the worst situations feel not so bad. She got a lump in her throat knowing that she'd never be able to have one of those moments again.

"You drive up." Rick gestured. "I'll walk back with Carl."

Carol nodded and headed up to the prison block with the rest. When she got there, she was surprised to see many of the people from both groups coming outside to greet them. They all seemed happy that they'd made it back in one piece. As happy as she was to see them, she noticed very quickly that there was one prominent person missing.

"Welcome back." Hershel said, moving back so Carol could open her door and get out. "You are a sight for sore eyes, my dear."

She smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I missed you too. It's good to be back."

"How did everything go?"

"We got a great stash this time." She said happily. "Lots of medical supplies. Even brought back some special things just for you."

"I'm sure it'll make me happier than a dog with a bone." He said heartily.

She scanned the crowd, but there was no sign of Daryl. Hershel picked up on it immediately.

"The man you're looking for…" He gestured towards the prison. "Is inside somewhere. Think I said something to him earlier that sorta ruffled his feathers. He disappeared after that, but I don't think he's gone back down to the tent either."

"Thanks." She nodded, excusing herself to go look for him. "Oh, ask some of the men to help unload, will you?"

"I'll get right on it."

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Carol ran for the door; her stomach churning nervously. Her mind always went to a very bad place when someone said the word 'disappeared'. This was a big prison, and there were any number of rooms he could be hiding in, but the same could be said for a walker. Daryl knew how to defend himself, but it didn't keep her from worrying.

She made her way over to the areas she'd assumed he might be in. She checked the boiler room, the pantry, and the maintenance station, all of which were empty. Maybe he'd started going through cells like Merle had, trying to find hidden objects. He didn't seem to have a preference for drugs, but an injured man could do desperate things.

She wound her way around until she was back at C block again and ran up to the first row of cells on the second level. Where could he be? He used to stay on the perch, but none of his things were there. How could anyone lose sight of him like this? Someone should have noticed pretty quickly on that he wasn't around. He wasn't exactly a mute when it came to being around a large crowd of people.

You need to calm down right now. You're overreacting. He's fine.

Suddenly it dawned on her. Maybe Rick was right. Maybe he had left. It might have been possible for him to sneak away when no one was looking, but why would he do that? After everything they'd been through together, would he just take off? Carol felt her heart break at the suddenly real possibility. She'd thought they'd actually been getting somewhere. Now there was a good chance that she'd never get to find out.

No, he wouldn't have done that. He's gotta be here somewhere.

Trying to pull herself back together, she walked back towards the perch to head down to the lower level. He wouldn't have left without his knife, and he sure as hell wouldn't have slunk away like a low life. As she walked down the slope where the rooms were, she heard a noise and stopped dead in her tracks. Something, or someone, was in her room. Hoping against hope, she poked her head inside, nearly in disbelief at what she was seeing.

Daryl was curled up on her bed, sleeping soundly.

Relief rushed through her as she walked over to him, taking it all in. He was snoring lightly and there was a book wedged between his arm and the pillow. Had he been sleeping in here since she left? The image of it filled her with unexpected happiness. She'd already forgotten the anxiety she'd been feeling not a moment before. Very slowly, she leaned over to brush his hair out of his face. His eyes popped open as soon as she touched him.

"Hey." She said softly, not wanting to spook him. "We just got back."

Daryl sat up sleepily. "How'd it go?"

"Good. We got the supplies." She smiled. "Tyreese's bet paid off."

"What's on your neck?"

Carol was thrown off by the look of alarm on his face. She reached up, realizing that when she'd changed her clothes, she forgotten to wipe off the blood spatter from the walker battle.

"Oh, it's just-"

"You got attacked didn't you?" He immediately jumped off the bed to examine her. "When?"

"We did a run earlier in the day at a shop and one grabbed me, but I-"

"You're covered in bruises." He said angrily, inspecting her arms and legs. "What the hell'd you do? Throw yourself at it?"

"No. It tripped me and I hit the floor."

"Tripped you?"

"It was underneath a rack." She pulled her arm away from him. "Daryl, I'm fine."

"Where was Rick?"

"What?"

He spoke slowly. "Where. Was. Rick."

"He and Michonne were handling things in the front while Tyreese and I-"

"He stayed with Michonne and left you to go off with that asshole?!" He was practically foaming at the mouth. "He and I are gonna have words."

"We were working together in teams!" She defended, blocking his path. "You know that there's always a risk no matter how many people are involved!"

"Tyreese didn't get attacked though, did he!?" Daryl scoffed. "Figures…"

"You know I just spent the last ten minutes searching this whole prison for you? No one knew where you were!"

"I don't need a damn bodyguard."

Carol scoffed at his double standard. "Oh, so you can go off by yourself and I shouldn't worry, but when I do it, that's somehow different!?"

"I can handle myself!"

"What do you think I was trying to do?!"

"Probably makin' eyes at your new boyfriend." He said acidly. "No doubt he ended up havin' to save your ass when I wasn't there to do it!"

"Actually…" They both turned; startled when they heard a deep voice by the door. It was Tyreese. "She was the one who saved both our lives."

Carol immediately realized that he had heard their whole conversation, and she was thoroughly embarrassed. "Tyreese, I'm so sorry-"

"No need to apologize." He acknowledged, looking back to Daryl. "You have one hell of a lady there. No need to worry that she doesn't know how to handle herself. If you'd seen her today, you'd have no doubts. You're a very lucky man."

Daryl looked like he was holding back one hell of a comment, but when he finally spoke; Carol was absolutely dumbfounded by what came out.

"I know."

Tyreese handed Carol's bag over to her and nodded to Daryl before walking away. She gaped at the now empty door frame for a moment before looking back at him. He wouldn't look up at her now. He knew he'd crossed a line.

"You should go apologize to him."

"For what?"

She crossed her arms. "For being a complete asshole for one thing…"

"Is it true?" He spoke so softly she could barely hear him.

"Is what true?"

Daryl looked up. "What he said. Is it true you saved him?"

She softened. "I guess."

"You guess?"

Carol sighed deeply. She hadn't been planning on filling him in on the grittier parts of the trip. "Do you really want to know?"

He leaned against the bunk. "Wouldn't be askin' if I didn't."

She braced herself. "We were in a store getting supplies and I got pulled under one of the racks by a walker. I kicked its head in and stabbed two others. Tyreese tried to grab me but another one was coming for us and I knocked it down and…it got impaled on the rack."

Daryl stared at her silently, taking in what she'd said. As tired as she was of arguing with him, she knew he wasn't going to stay silent on this one. A moment went by, and to her amazement, he didn't say anything at all. She was absolutely flabbergasted when a small grin crept up on his face. Was he actually pleased with the image of her having to defend herself?

"Too bad the walker got in the way." He said with a chuckle. "If you weren't busy, maybe you coulda knocked the stick out of Tyreese's ass."

If he wasn't careful, she was going to end up using her newly honed skills on him. "Real funny."

He huffed. "I know I overreacted. Just didn't expect to see you come back all covered in bruises."

"It's not like I've never had one before." She smiled. "I'll live, I promise."

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry." He mumbled; his focus suddenly on the floor. "Guess you proved yourself after all."

As relieved as Carol was to hear him say it, she was also questioning exactly what he was apologizing for. He seemed all right with how she'd handled things, but maybe in the heat of the moment, he'd said something he hadn't meant.

"Are you sorry for what you said to Tyreese?"

Daryl's head came up again, but this time it was in confusion. "What'd ya mean?"

"You told him that you knew you were lucky to have me. Are you sorry you said it now?"

He seemed disoriented by the question. "I don't know."

"It's okay if you don't really feel that way." She tried to assure him. "I figured you were just trying to get him to back off."

"You tell him we were together?"

"No."

"Then why'd he say it?"

She smirked, remembering their talk in the car. "Maybe he saw something we didn't."

Daryl was looking directly at her now, and she could've sworn she could see the gears in his head turning. There might as well just have been a cartoon angel on one shoulder, and a devil on the other. Maybe she had gone too far. She hadn't wanted to upset him. Was it really too much to ask that he just tell her what he felt? He didn't seem to have a problem doing it with anyone else but her.

As desperate as she was not to have him pull away, she suddenly realized where she stood. One way or another…good or bad…she needed to know. He must have sensed it, because his face began to change. While he had looked hopelessly perplexed a moment ago; he was now looking back with complete and utter determination.

"Come on. Let's get the hell outta here."

A/N: All right…let's see some reviews people! Make me happy!