Here's the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy! :)

Chapter Thirteen

The next morning, Daryl saw Merle off for his hunting trip just as Andrea had done with her friend, Michonne, only an hour before. Except Merle would be back, Michonne wouldn't. The blonde woman had tears in her eyes as she watched her friend leave, no doubt worried about her safety since she was on her own. Daryl, however, was not worried about his brother being outside of the walls. He knew he shouldn't be too confident about Merle's survival skills because things could go wrong. But only Merle could kill Merle. Well, that was what Daryl kept telling himself, anyway.

He wondered if Andrea had the same confidence in Michonne.

"Hopefully, I'll be back before dark," Merle said and latched a hand on Daryl's shoulder. "But there's no tellin' how elusive our prey will be today." Daryl wasn't sure what to make of the gleam in Merle's eye and the way his mouth quirked a bit at the corner.

"Be careful out there."

Merle scoffed and shoved him. "Only thing that can kill me is me. Don't I always tell you that, Darylina? Don't worry, I'll be fine." Without another word or glance at his younger brother, Merle joined the rest of his group and the four men walked out of Woodbury.

Carol almost stumbled to her knees when she finally reached cellblock C. All the strength seemed to leave her once she spotted the familiar row of cells. Sophia had taken her hand and led her back to the rest of her family, but was know nowhere in sight.

Carol felt tears prick her eyes as she mourned the loss of her daughter for a second time.

"Carol?"

She looked up from where she was leaning heavily against the concrete wall and spotted Beth, who had just walked out of a cell with a baby in her arms. Carol couldn't help the smile that spread across her face at the sight of the newborn with a head full of dark hair. Lori had given birth to a beautiful and healthy baby.

"Beth!" She cried, happy to see another familiar face and wished she could run to the girl, but couldn't find the strength to move her legs.

The young blonde noticed her weakened state and the bright smile on her face faded away as she approached. "You need to lie down, Carol," she instructed. "I'll get the rest of the group. We all thought you were dead." She turned to walk out of the cellblock and to the large room past the barred door. Carol felt herself slide to the floor. The cool concrete felt good on her flushed skin. Slowly, her eyes drifted shut. She'd let herself a few minutes rest and then, she would get up and get in a bed. Just a few minutes...

"Carol?" Someone was tapping her cheek, lightly, and the front of her shirt seemed damp. She cracked her eyes open and saw five sets of worried eyes looking down at her. Rick had been the one tapping her cheek and in his other hand, he held a tin cup of water.

"Carol? Come on, wake up."

She hadn't even known her eyes had drifted close once more. This time when she opened them, she vowed to keep them open.

"You're a bit dehydrated," Hershel said from behind everyone. "Rick tried to get some water in you, but it didn't work out so well. Do you think you could drink a bit, now?" Rick held out the cup and Carol took it, gratefully, realizing how parched she was.

"Drink it slow or you'll make yourself sick."

It was torture. She was so thirsty, but she did as Hershel instructed and took small sips of the cool water. When the cup was empty, Carl took it from her hand and walked off to refill it once more. Something seemed off about the boy, but Carol didn't have the strength to ask what was wrong.

"Can you stand?" Rick asked. He looked haunted too and Carol got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"I-I can try." She struggled to get to her feet and found that if she were to take a step, she would probably fall flat on her face.

"Okay, hold on. I got you." Rick braced an arm on her back and swept her legs up so that she was cradled in his arms. She felt as if she weighed nothing. Gently as he could, Rick walked into the nearest cell and placed Carol on the bottom bunk. The mattress was threadbare and she could feel the metal springs poking through, but she had never felt something so comfortable in her life.

"Here's some water," Carl murmured and held up the tin cup. Carol sat up slightly and reached for it.

"Thank you, Carl." The boy nodded and straightened up.

There was a small cry and Beth looked down at the bundle in her arms, a faint smile on her lips. "I think she's hungry."

"It's a she?" Carol asked. "Lori must be happy to finally have herself a daughter." At the mention of her friend, everyone's face fell and Rick and Carl refused to look at one another.

It didn't take long for Carol to decipher want those haunted looks meant. "No..." Tears, once again, gathered in Carol's eyes. First, T-Dog had died and now, her best friend.

"She...died giving birth to the baby," Rick said, quietly.

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed and reached for Rick's hand. The former police officer gripped it and squeezed.

"Judith looks just like her," Beth chimed in. Rick winced and let go of Carol's hand. Beth moved closer to Carol and showed off the little baby.

"She does." Carol tried to give the girl a small smile, but it wouldn't come. Instead, she looked over to Carl. His hat was covering his face, so she couldn't see his expression. Carol could only imagine what the boy must be going through now that his mother was gone. Hershel placed a hand on his shoulder.

That was when Carol noticed they were missing other familiar faces. "Where are Glenn and Maggie?" Please God, don't tell me they were killed, as well. She didn't think she could take any more loss in such a short time.

"They went out to find some more formula for the baby," Rick answered. "The day Lo-, the day you and T-Dog disappeared, Glenn went out and found some at a nearby daycare, but he wanted to go out and get some more. Maggie went with him. They left yesterday and should have been back by now."

"I'm worried about them," Beth said softly.

"Carl and I are going to keep a lookout for them in the tower. If they aren't back by tonight, I'm going out to look for them." The leader in Rick was speaking, but the grieving husband shone in his eyes. He wouldn't even look at the baby.

"How long was I gone?"

"Only two days," Hershel answered.

Just two days? It had felt like years.

"Beth," Hershel turned to his youngest. "Will you get Carol something to eat? I'm sure she's mighty hungry." Beth nodded and Carl stepped forward to take Judith in his arms. He still looked haunted, but when his baby sister was placed in his arms, he smiled.

"When Beth comes back and takes the baby, I want you to join me in the tower. All right, son?" Rick had yet to say the name of his daughter. Carl nodded and didn't look up from Judith's face. Carol knew he was going to take his job as big brother very seriously and she couldn't be prouder.

Rick looked at Carol. "I'm glad you're all right, Carol. We need you." He looked at Carl one last time with an unreadable expression and left the cell. It wasn't long after that when Beth returned with a few granola bars and another cup of water.

Beth took Judith and Carol began to eat slowly. "I'm sorry that there isn't more than that, Carol," Beth said and settled herself at the end of Carol's bed as she rocked Judith. "Glenn and...T-Dog were the ones who would try to hunt for food, but now..."

The two of them sat in silence for their fallen friend. Carol bowed her head and whispered a 'thanks' to T-Dog. If it weren't for him, she may have died in the tomb and no one would have ever known what had happened to her.

"I'm really worried about them, Carol," Beth's voice was so soft, she could barely hear it. "They were supposed to come back yesterday. I-I think something may have happened to them." Tears slid down the blonde's cheeks.

Carol sat up and reached for the girl. "I wish I could tell you that they will be fine, but no one knows that for sure. We just have to have faith that they'll come back to us." Beth nodded and smiled through her tears.

"You're right, Carol." She squeezed her hand and stood. "I'm going to go put Judy down for a nap. Did you need anything else?"

Carol was going to say no, but then she remembered something. "Maybe once you put Judith down, you could find me some paper and a pen?"

"When Rick and T-Dog cleared out the warden's office, they found some paper. It's in one of the cells. I'll get it for you."

"Thank you, honey."

Beth left the cell with Judith. Carol finished her meager meal and drank the last of the water, her throat feeling much better, before she lay down on the cot. Closing her eyes, sleep was finally allowed to come to her. When she woke up, she would have some letters to write.

When Merle returned, he was alone. Or so they thought...

Daryl had been waiting on top of the wall, along with the Governor, and had gnawed his nails down to the quick. Things had been tense, sitting with the Governor. The man had tried to engage Daryl in some small talk, but before the Turn Daryl hadn't been a great conversationalist and still wasn't a good one, now.

Blake noticed Daryl's habit and smiled. "You don't have to worry about your brother, son. If only one of those men come back, I would bet everything I had that it will be Merle."

"Merle's like a damn cockroach. Nothin' can kill him."

The Governor chuckled and went back to looking at the road. Daryl stopped chewing on his nails and began to fidget with his crossbow. It wasn't that he was nervous or anything, he just needed something to keep his hands busy.

Or that was what he kept telling himself.

At the same time, both their heads shot up when they heard the sound of an approaching vehicle. An old, red SUV came to a halt before the wall. Daryl stood and picked up his bow while Blake picked up a rifle that had been lying by his feet. They didn't know who was behind the wheel until Merle stuck his head out the window and waved.

"Hey, Phil! Come look at what I got!" From where Daryl stood, he could see there was dried blood on Merle's face. On the bridge of his nose was a cut and there was bruising under his eyes. Merle's nose was broken.

"You get what I want, Merle?" The Governor's voice was cool and with his tall frame, he looked frightening.

"No. It got away from me." The smile on Merle's face faded. "But I found some other things you might like. One of them is especially nice." Daryl wasn't sure if he liked the look on his brother's face, but moved to follow the Governor down the ladder so that they could properly greet Merle and see what he had brought back.

However, before Blake opened the door that would lead them out of Woodbury, he turned to Daryl. "Let me speak with your brother in private for a few moments, Daryl." He wasn't asking, he was telling.

"All right."

Blake walked through the door and made sure it was closed behind him. Daryl's suspicions only grew about the man. It was clear he was hiding something, something that involved his brother, but he didn't know what. Not yet, anyway.

Several minutes later, Merle poked his head through the door and saw Daryl. He smiled and made a motion with his arm. "Come on, baby brother. The Governor said I could let you in on this, too."

Daryl was even more confused as he followed his brother out. The Governor was leaning against the side of the SUV and looking at something that was inside. A smile was spread across his face and Daryl shuddered at the sight of it. The smile wasn't a kind one.

It wasn't something Blake was smiling at, it was someones. Daryl could make out the shape of two heads in the backseat. Daryl looked at his brother, brow furrowed.

"Found these two wonderin' the Georgia country side. Figured I would be kind enough to bring them to Woodbury!"

Daryl went up to one of the windows and cupped his hands on the glass so he could peer inside the vehicle. What he saw nearly had him jumping from the SUV in shock.

He had looked right into the wide, angry eyes of Glenn.

Thanks for reading!