I do not own the Walking Dead.

Previously:

Faye simply stood watching, numb to what was going on around her. There were no tears as she stared at the shaking figure on the ground. People around her were breaking down while she stood watching the scene in silence.

This was all wrong. Dale shouldn't have to die! He's the good guy in all this, he's just, he's just-

"Sorry, brother."

A shot rang out.

The nightmares returned that night.

Not that they had ever left in the first place. It was like Dale's death had just poured more fuel onto the fire.

Despite all this, the ending never changed. She would die, it didn't matter how. Her neck would be snapped in a fall, she'd be eaten alive, a bullet would puncture her chest. Then she came back. Every time.

The funeral had been held in the morning, Rick saying how they were going to do things 'Dale's Way' now. Faye wasn't sure how she felt about that. Killing Randall was the smart thing to do, but wasn't the right thing. It was hard to find a balance nowadays.

Faye wasn't completely sure on the details, but as far as she knew, Rick and Daryl were going to take Randall out further and leave him with a few supplies. The girl disliked this for several reasons. Although it was probably good that Shane wasn't going on the trip, it was bad that the rest of the group had to deal with him.

(It also didn't help that Faye simply did not like Shane. He was scary when he was angry and she got a strong feeling that she wasn't his favourite person as well.)

However, Daryl was going out there, and the other three were barely able to come back the last time they left the farm. Not that she doubted his capabilities - no, Faye still thought he and the crossbow were a bad-ass duo - but she also didn't doubt a herd of walkers abilities.

Either way, though, she couldn't stop him. Why would Daryl listen to a kid, anyway? As grown up as she thought she was, Faye could tell her argument wouldn't have much sway.

They hadn't left yet, Rick and Hershel were arranging for the group to move into the house.

When Carol had woken the girl up in the morning, Faye was told to pack up her things and help take down the tent. She didn't have much work to do, most of her remaining possessions could fit into her backpack. She had a few other things, mainly some clothes given to her by Carol, but they were easy to carry to the house.

Currently, Faye was helping T-Dog and Lori shift boxes into the house. In a surprisingly good mood, Faye jogged around the man, who shook his head at her, and hopped down the front stairs two at a time. The girl grinned at him as they both went to pick up a box from the truck, Hershel and Lori stood by the vehicle.

"Nice job, you beat me, what's the prize?"

Hershel turned around and smiled at her. "I think your prize can be sleeping on the couch, that sound alright?"

Wait, there really was a prize? Awesome! She hadn't even started a race, Faye just wanted to overtake him. "Really?"

"Wait, if there was an actual prize, I might'a tried harder!" T-Dog complained.

Hershel seemed to ignore the other man's comment. "It's our home now, and I wouldn't be happy if a child slept on the floor while I was cushioned."

Faye didn't want to say no, the floor was unappealing to say the least, but Dad said if someone was giving you something, you had to be polite. "Are you sure?" When she received a nod, the grin returned. "Thank you!"

He smiled again. "Your very welcome."

The older man walked back up to the house and reached into the truck to pull out a basket. Inside it was a baseball bat and a few other items. Once again, she ran up the steps and over took T-Dog. "Couch is mine!" She called as she opened the door.

"It's gonna get real cosy, real fast in here."

Faye was outside picking up the last few items left in the truck when Daryl finally arrived.

"Hey, Daryl, come on!" She walked forward to meet him. "You've gotta come inside and pick a spot. All the good ones are nearly taken and I got the couch!" Faye gave a triumphant smirk at her small victory.

Daryl shook his head. "Nah, kid, am stayin' at my own camp. Less crowded than with all a ya. Gotta see Rick."

Faye's face fell. He was still going to stay out there? The whole point of moving into the house was that the whole group was safe and together. If anything happened out there, they wouldn't be able to help!

Apparently, Daryl noticed the girl's disheartened expression. Rubbing the back of his head awkwardly, he quickly thought of something else to add. "'Sides, if I move in 'ere, I can't make ya run everyday."

Faye gave a little smile at that. "I'm getting faster, aren't I?"

"Keep practicin'" When the two reached the top of the stairs, the man gave her a little push in the direction of the house.

Faye and Carl were still ignoring each other.

But, Faye had to admit, chores were more boring when you were doing them by yourself. Although, she supposed, the same could be said for any task.

She wouldn't admit it, but being alone scared her. It wasn't as if she was afraid now, she knew other people were present in the house. It was the times when she was truly alone that bothered her. Those few days she had spent by herself had been terrifying. Faye had been taught things about survival, but putting them into practice was a whole different matter. Not to mention that she had had no sense of direction back then; Without a map, she'd just been wandering around. It was a miracle that she'd stumbled across Daryl in the first place.

Faye stopped her train of thought with a vigorous shake of her head. There was no time to be thinking of the past. She had found Daryl and that was what mattered.

Thinking of Daryl, he'd probably be leaving soon. Faye paused what she was doing to sit on the sofa. She made a mental note to put a sheet on the couch. A smug expression crossed her face as she thought. Her couch, now. It was the little things like this that amused her, just like when she really did hear the horse in the forest.

She would be silently smug about it.

Except maybe to T-Dog. After all, she did beat him in the not-a-race. Winning was not something she forgot.

Faye stood up and got back to work when she heard footsteps coming from behind her. They stopped and Faye waited for something to be said, maybe Carol had another job for her to help with. However, when the silence persisted, the girl turned to see who it was.

Faye was surprised to see Carl stood at the doorway, a determined look on his face. "Can I talk to you?"

Well, at least it was a change from whiney Carl. "'Kay."

The boy turned and walked out the room and Faye took that as her que to follow him. When he stopped, they were outside, away from the adults. Faye couldn't help but notice the bump that must've been a gun at Carl's side. Not starting the conversation, Faye crossed her arms and waited for him to speak.

"So," Carl began. "The walker that killed Dale was the one I left in the forest."

Faye blinked at his bluntness.

The girl stared at him for a minute, confused, not realising he was expecting an immediate answer. "I get it, you hate me, you think its my-"

"What? No! You just... surprised me. Leading up to that might'a helped. Instead of, you know, just, like, saying it." She said awkwardly, scratching the back of her head.

"So, you don't blame me?" Carl looked slightly confused himself. "You're not mad?"

Faye thought for a moment more before replying. She would miss Dale, he was nice. But it was as if death didn't have the same impact anymore. "No. People die, that's just the way it is now. Mad? Yeah. You were still an idiot."

Carl's voice was firm when he continued. He sounded like he meant it. "I'm sorry. It was immature. It can't be like that anymore. No more kid stuff, right?"

"Alright." Faye nodded. She didn't particularly want to apologise to the boy, it went against her stubborn nature, but since he said it first... "I'm sorry I yelled at you. It was mean."

"It's okay."

The two stared at each other for a minute, before a grin broke out on Faye's face. "That means I win! I'm on a streak today, this is great."

"What? How did you win?"

Faye crossed her arms and smirked smugly. "You said it first. I win!"

Carl frowned childishly at her. "Whatever."

"You know you care!" When she got no reply, Faye questioned the gun. "So, what, you're allowed to keep a gun now?"

"I think so. Dad made me take it." They began to walk back to the house. "People are gonna die and we've gotta stay one step ahead."

"Does that mean I can keep mine?" When the boy replied with 'probably', she continued. "Good. I don't know why I didn't keep it anyway. Rick's your dad, not mine. My Dad let me keep it, should've kept it on me."

Carl seemed uncomfortable when he spoke again. "What about what Dale said, 'Can't teach one and not the other'? It wouldn't be fair if you got one and I didn't."

She shrugged. "Guess so."

When they got back inside, Carl went off on his own again.

(Not without Faye threatening playfully that if he did anything else stupid, she'd push him down the stairs.)

Walking into the living room, Faye found Andrea unloading something she must've brought from the RV. "I thought you two kids were having a little argument?"

"We were." Faye went to the couch and picked up her backpack. "But he said sorry first."

The blonde woman gave her a smirk. "Good. Show him who's boss. Never apologise first for something he did."

"Huh?" Faye frowned. "Like girl power?"

Andrea grinned. "Exactly. Girls know best."

"Okay." Faye still looked slightly confused.

"What, your Mom never teach you that?"

The girl shook her head, brushing the side fringe back behind her ear afterwards. "No. Never had a Mom. It's just my Dad and brother. It was just my Dad and brother." She corrected herself.

The older woman gave her a sad look for a moment, but must've decided against saying 'sorry'. It was a good change, Faye didn't want people to pity her anymore. Getting over it was more important. A confident expression returned to Andrea's face.

"Well, I'm going to teach you something that you should've been taught a long time are just as good as men, and they sometimes forget it. Never give a man a woman's job and you shouldn't let them push you around. But the most important thing is that women are always right!"

The grin on Andrea's face was contagious. "Really?"

"Really." The blonde seemed to be enjoying herself when T-Dog walked in with a few bed sheets.

"Need any a these?"

"I do!" Faye put the bag back down and took one from the man. "For my couch!"

T-Dog shook his head. "You won that by cheating."

"I won fair and square! Girl's are better than boys, I would've beaten you anyway!" Faye's smile widened as she got an approving look from Andrea.

The woman nodded as she spoke. "Fast learner, I like it."

Faye hopped down the stairs to say bye to Daryl, still in a good mood.

T-Dog was walking away as she approached. "I'll go get the package."

"Thanks." Rick replied.

Walking over, Faye leaned against the blue truck. "You're going now?"

It was Rick who replied. "The sooner we get Randall out of here, the better."

"Alright." The girl nodded. "It won't take as long as before, will it?"

"We don't plan on it." The man said.

Daryl was stood by the door. "You carrying that 'round now?"

His eyes were on her hip, where the gun was. Faye couldn't tell from his voice whether he was angry about it or not. "Well, Carl has one now, so I figured I could have mine with me?"

Apparently, he wasn't annoyed, and simply nodded in approval. Rick didn't comment.

The girl was about to excuse herself to get Carl for his Dad, when there was a shout from T-Dog.

"Guys! Randall's gone!"

Everyone gathered around the shed where Randall was supposed to be. Only, he wasn't there. He was running somewhere, hiding somewhere, but whatever it was, it wasn't here.

"Cuffs are still hooked, he must've slipped 'em." Rick said, looking at the shed.

"Is that possible?" Carol asked.

Andrea joined them outside. "It is if you've got nothing to lose."

"Door was secured from the outside." Hershel added, shutting and re-opening the door.

The adults continued to discuss what could've happened until there was an angry shout. "Rick! Rick!"

It was Shane, storming towards the group with blood covering his face. Lori called to him. "What happened?"

"He's armed! He's got my gun!"

How the hell did that happen?

"Are you okay?" It was Carl next.

"I'm fine. Little bastard just snuck up on me, clocked me in the face!"

Clocked him in the face? That couldn't be right, could it? Randall had had barely anything to eat and Shane was big and strong - partly one of the reasons the man kind of scared her. She didn't like admitting that he was scary anymore, even if it was just to herself.

"Alright, Hershel, T-Dog, get everyone back in the house. Glenn, Daryl, come with us." Rick turned away and Faye looked to Daryl while Carol was pleading with Rick.

He loaded an arrow into the crossbow. When he saw the girl looking at him, he waved her away. "Go on, stick with the others. I'll be fine, back in no time."

Deciding she just had to trust him, Faye ran back to the farmhouse with the rest of the group.

Faye wasn't sure what to do with herself once they stayed inside. Hershel and Maggie were putting the sheet over the couch again as she'd done a terrible job of it.

She had stayed with Carl for a while, sharing his worry, but he spent most of his time watching the treeline through the window, binoculars at the ready. This just made her worry more. So eventually, she stayed and sat with the rest of the adults.

Andrea stood up. "I'm going after them."

Yes. Please go after them, then Faye wouldn't have to bite her nails thinking about what could go wrong.

"Don't. They could be anywhere. If Randall comes back, we're gonna need you."

Oh. Never mind. Forget that plan, then.

Suddenly, the door opened and Daryl and Glenn walked in.

Faye sighed quietly. They were back, they were okay. "Rick and Shane ain't back?"

"No."

"We heard a shot." Daryl said.

"Maybe they found Randall?"

Daryl dismissed the idea. "We found him."

"Is he back in the shed?"

"He's a walker."

Woah. That was... unexpected.

"Did you find the walker that bit him?" Hershel asked.

Glenn replied to the old man. "The weird thing is, he wasn't bit."

Wait, what's weird about that?

"His neck was broke."

See, that's the weird thing, who broke his neck? Not that he was a walker, that was just what happened. Maybe that's what Glenn meant. Surely!

They had to know, didn't they? They knew to aim for the head, that was how you killed a walker, they had to know!

She really hoped they knew, Faye didn't want to be the one to tell them.

Daryl continued to talk until Lori spoke to him about finding Rick and Shane.

"You got it." He replied, and was about to walk off when Faye finally spoke up.

"Wait, wait, just stop a minute."

Lori frowned when she looked at the girl. "What's wrong?"

"I just need to check that you know."

Daryl turned back to look at her. "Know what?"

"That, you know, Randall turning isn't weird. Of course he turned!"

"What?"

Oh God, they didn't know. She'd have to be the one that told them. She'd have to be the one to tell them that they're all going to turn eventually.

Faye took a breath in and out. "You don't have to get bit. When you die, you turn."

"How do you know that?" Patricia asked.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Lori demanded.

This was bad, they were angry. "I-I thought you knew! You know, 'cause, 'cause you know about aiming for the head!"

"Look, calm down, how do ya know all this?" Daryl raised a hand at Lori to stop the woman speaking.

Faye ran a hand up and down her arm uncomfortably, shifting on her feet as she was scrutinized by the group. "Well, back at the other camp, these guys... uh... got shot."

Michael shot them when he was having a really crazy day. Lauren and Frank Peterson, the couple that used to live down Faye's street, and Jeff, who owned the barber's shop. They didn't even do anything, Michael just turned around and shot them one day, he'd been talking to himself again and they'd wanted some guns to go on a run.

"It wasn't in the head. We were about to bury them, and then they, you know, turned. The first after an hour, then the other two somewhere between three and four. There's no way they ever got bit."

Faye hated remembering all this. She'd been trying to push these memories to the back of her mind, only to appear every now and then in her nightmares.

The group was silent as they continued to listen.

"It wasn't just one time. Someone took loads of pills, we found her the next morning."

That was Kaylee Martins. She was only nineteen, and her family had all been killed in the first few days.

"After a while, it wasn't hard, the adults worked it out. Doesn't matter how you die. Gotta be the brain. I don't know what it is about the bite, I don't really get it at all, but, you know. It's not like I know for fact, but everyone was pretty sure back then."

There was silence as the group took in the information.

"Oh, God." Andrea muttered.

Daryl frowned. "Let's just get Rick n' Shane back, then we can figure it out better."

Once some of the adults left to walk outside and Lori went upstairs to fetch Carl, Faye sat back on the couch and took a minute to collect herself.

The camp was all in the past, she needed to forget it. Those memories weren't helpful, all she needed to do was push them to the back of her head. Yes, that usually worked.

Beth was sat near her and when Faye looked up, she received a small smile. She was pretty sure a conversation would have started if Lori didn't come rushing down the stairs.

"Faye, when was the last time you saw Carl?"

What? Was he lost? "Erm, I dunno, he was upstairs with the binoculars. It can't have been that long ago."

The woman walked out again and, with a mixture of concern and curiosity, Faye followed.

She found the group outside, staring out into the distance.

To Faye's horror, the distance was covered with walkers.

Author's Notes:

One more chapter to go before Season 3! I'm off school for holidays now, so I've been writing all day. Hope you enjoy. There was also the little scene between Faye and Andrea that had been suggested, I think Faye benefited well from it.

Only got one review last chapter, don't disappear on me now, it's just getting good!

Saw the latest episode of Season 4 this morning, so glad to see Baby Judith alive. Lizzie always creeps the hell out of me though, but she was suffocating a baby!

On a happier note, the next update will be Thursday. See you then!

Please review, I love to hear your thoughts and advice.

Thanks.

Cobalt Flame.