Summary: When circumstances change, so do people. The group has grown closer, but when strangers threaten and bonds are broken. Will this group make or break?

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for my two characters :)

"C'mon!"

Daryl pulled the nearest body to him, even with the bag on his head, he recognised Glen's lean muscular frame. He gritted his teeth and pulled him along, not bothering to ease up on his rough grip or to even pay attention to corners. He prayed that Rick or Oscar had gotten Stone out of there before the other group starting shooting up the place.

His head whirled to the side when Rick sprinted past him, "Over here" Rick whispered, gesturing for the rest of the group to follow.

When the rescue group reached outside, all havoc had let loose. Civilians were out in the street causing a great distraction for the group to slip past and make their way into the nearest building. It was a small building, most of the windows were boarded up and it was clear that it was hardly used for anything but storage.

Daryl impatiently waited for Oscar to pull Stone's body in, they had hidden behind a bush with Michonne as the civilians ran past. His attention averted to Rick when he pulled the sack of Glen's head, a loud sharp intake of breath.

"Wha' tha hell they do ta ya?" Daryl asked, his body tensed when he wondered what they had done to Stone.

"Bet us up" Glen groaned, "We told them where the prison was, we couldn't hold out Rick"

"That's alright Glen" Rick assured.

Daryl felt slight sympathy for the young Asian man, his face was severely beaten and swollen. His handsome face bruised and cut open. It quickly vanished when he thought of Stone and Glen together, he mashed his teeth together and turned to face the door while Rick talked to him.

Just as Daryl was about to complain about them taking so long, Oscar and Michonne stumbled in with a body between them. Relief swarmed through Daryl as they placed Stone's body down against Glen.

"Stone.." Rick started, earning a deep groan.

The group exchanged worried looks and Daryl impatiently reached forward and pulled the head sack off.

"Wha' tha hell?"

#

Stone staggered to the side as she was pulled into someone, she was lifted easily and pulled over the shoulder of someone strong. Her eyes drooped lazily and she groaned at the fresh pressure applied to her bruised stomach. She struggled against the weight, earning a harder clamp on her waist and a yelp from her.

"Get off me" She spat, her legs kicked wildly in the air until it came into contact with something.

"Ow! Sonofabitch!" A southern voice shouted.

Stone felt slightly smug but then she was dropped roughly to the floor. She winced in pain and she rolled to the side, earning a swift kick to the abdomen. She was then lifted again and thrown back into a hard chair, the bandanna that was still around her face was lifted abruptly and she met Merle's.

Her eyebrows drew together and she clenched her jaw tightly.

"Now c'mon sweet'art dun be like that" Merle teased, his mouth grew wide with amusement but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

How could this man possibly be related to her Daryl? She scowled even harder, oh right Daryl wasn't hers.

Merle slapped her cheek lightly, the force of it still jolting Stone's head to the side. She gritted her teeth and restrained from biting at his finger that dangled temptingly in front of her. Wisely Merle removed his hand from her mouth distance and instead placed his amputee arm in front of her.

"Ah wouldn't git any ideas hon" He warned, waving it mockingly in her face.

"Now-now Merle" A gruff voice said from behind her.

Stone tensed at another stranger entering the room, she chewed her lip anxiously while Merle watched the other person over her head.

"Shotty yer back" He greeted warmly, now fully ignoring Stone. "When ya git back in?"

"Just before, good thing I did eh?" The strange voice replied.

"Well this liddol bitch 'n her damn group 'ave trespassed." Merle snapped.

"The same group that made you cut off your own hand?"

Merle nodded with resentment clear in his eyes, "Yup"

He stepped slightly closer to Stone and she took this opportunity to outstretch her leg quickly and kick Merle between the legs hard. Merle covered his groin as he groaned in pain, the full force of Stone's kick making him gag forcefully. Stone moved to get up, only to be pushed back down roughly by another hand. She struggled against the hold furiously.

"Lemme teach tha bitch a lesson" Merle shouted between painful winces.

"No Merle" The man said behind her, "I'll do it"

Merle's mouth stretched into a smile that could make the devil cry. Stone inwardly winced, what had she gotten herself into?

#

"Who tha hell is this?" Daryl bellowed.

The rescue group was faced with a scrawny man with long black hair and a silver toothed smile. It angered Daryl beyond belief, he lunged forward only to be pulled back and hushed quickly.

"Glen, what the hell?" Rick muttered, his eyes shifted to Glen's questionably.

Glen looked at the man and the back at the group, he was both perplexed and bewildered. "I-I dunno why he's got a bag on his head" He stuttered, "Stone just had a bandana"

Daryl cursed loudly and kicked at the wall, he was hushed again with the group furiously glaring at the redneck. Daryl pushed past Rick and gripped the strangers shirt tightly, "Where tha hell is tha girl?" He snapped angrily, his eyes showed no patience.

The man's lip trembled and he looked between Daryl and Rick, "T-they jus' stuck a bag on ma head. Ah dunno wha' happened ta tha girl" He admitted truthfully. "Thank she might be back thar still" He added. Rick sighed and rubbed his face tiredly, he could't believe they had messed up this big.

"Rick.." Daryl started.

"I know!" Rick interrupted, "We aren't leaving here without Stone. We need another plan though" He sighed. "Glen can you walk?"

Glen shifted on the floor as a test, he groaned but nodded his head with determination. "Yeah, but Daryl" Glen looked at Daryl with serious eyes. "Merle did this to us" He murmured.

Daryl felt his heart stop, his body tensed and his eyes grew wide. He was at complete lack of words, his brother? His big brother! The one he had lost and thought was dead. He looked at Glen seriously and cocked his head to the side, finally able to muster up a proper sentence.

"Is ma brudder tha Governor?" He asked quietly.

"No" Glen shook his head fiercely, "His henchman or something"

Daryl sighed deeply and stood up immediately, "Rick?"

"No Daryl!"

"He's ma brudder, maybe ah could talk ta him" Daryl pleaded softly.

"Have you forgotten that we're here for Glen and Stone?" Rick snapped, "If things turn to shit, I need you Daryl" Rick said fiercely.

Daryl sobered up quickly, Merle was his kin but then again, Stone was his altogether. He chewed his lip indecisively, a trait he had picked up from Stone. His eyes shifted to the man on the floor and he raised his crossbow, knocking the man's skull with the handle.

#

Stone ducked her head as the stranger rounded her slowly, his heavy footsteps creating a tense suspension in the room. She could feel his intense stare on her head as he stopped directly in front of her, she kept her eyes on his shoes, noting that they were thick black combat boots.

"Where is your group?" The voice asked harshly, no kindness in his voice whatsoever.

"I don't know" She answered truthfully.

"Look at me" The voice said.

Stone still didn't meet the man's gaze and she could sense his irritation.

"Look at me!" He ordered loudly.

Stone jumped in her seat and hesitantly raised her head to meet the man's face. She let out a gasp as she met an identical pair to hers.

"Oliver?" She whispered, her eyes drooped and her body sagged in exhaustion.

#

Rick and Oscar started packing immediately, having tucked the strange man in the back of the building. They had all decided, and reluctantly Daryl too, to transport Glen out of Woodbury so they could plan out of danger. They realised that they didn't have much time until the Governor would send his men out to the prison.

"Daryl!" Rick shouted, bringing Daryl out of his mind. "Take this" He snapped.

Daryl silently took a firearm from Rick's hand, he cocked it and rested it over his shoulder as Oscar and Rick shared Glen's weight between them. Michonne had disappeared after bringing back 'Stone's' body and Rick had cursed her and promised to kill her when they found her again.

Daryl followed after Rick and Oscar, making sure to guard them as they easily dragged Glen through the streets. The civilians were still roaming around outside, creating a safe wall between the guards and the rescue group. "We should of brought more people" Oscar muttered.

"No shit, captain heinz sight" Daryl hissed.

Oscar glared at him momentarily and Rick hushed them hurriedly. They ducked behind a large area of bushes as guards walked past slowly. Growing impatient, Rick tugged on three smoke bomb chains and threw them out into the streets. The three bombs erupted into a hazy cover for the group to drag Glen through and hide securely behind a building.

A rush of havoc took over the street, guns were being fired off at random and screams were echoing through the narrow area. The group took Glen near the sentry wall, unaware that their outlines could be seen through the smoke. A shot hit the wall behind them and they froze.

"Daryl-" Rick started.

"Got it" He finished. He crouched down and started firing shots, while Rick and Oscar lifted Glen over the wall. "Ya'll keep goin' I'll be righ' behind ya" Daryl reassured loudly, knowing that he was lying through his teeth. Rick hesitated, "Go!" Daryl spat.

Rick jumped over the wall, seconds before another shot was fired and Oscar dropped to the ground with howls of pain. Gritting his teeth, Daryl rushed over to the man and when he found no pulse, shot him directly between the eyes. He moved back to where he was and continuously fired off rounds into the hazy barrier.

#

"Get up"

Stone forced her eyes open, overwhelming pain swelled through her body as she was lifted from her chair and her arms slung over two separate broad shoulders.

"Oliver" She mumbled incoherently.

She was answered with silence and a bag was placed over her head, she tiredly protested against the barrier and kicked out. Her head was a hard piece of wood and she fell forward unconsciously.

#

"...terrorists!"

Stone jumped with fright as she awoke in a strange position. She was held between two strong men with her head still covered, her stomach dropped as she heard the voice she dreaded. She struggled against her captors arms and suddenly she was pushed forward roughly.

"Here's another one of the terrorists" The Governor's voice boomed loudly, sending trembles through Stone's body. She willed them away as her arm was taken roughly and she was shoved forward. The arm gripped her tighter and she was spun around slowly to be shown to what Stone assumed a crowd.

"They came in here, killed our people and terrorised them. It's only fair we do it back to them" The Governor shouted. Stone tensed as he threw her forward, she landed on her knees on gravel and she winced in pain. "What's worse is that these terrorists have the audacity to come within our walls" He crowed.

Her head sack was pulled off her and she squinted from the beam of lights. She tried to cover her eyes with her hands, but they had been bounded again behind her back. She was lifted again by one arm and a finger tucked under her chain to meet a pair of steely blue ones. Her heart froze when she met those eyes she was dreading.

The Governor repeatedly started stroking her hair, earning a reaction from the man directly across from them. Stone could feel a smile forming on the Governor's lips, "Ah now look at this folks" He started, directing the crowds attention to Daryl and Stone. "Maybe it isn't terrorism, but love" He laughed bitterly. The Governor pulled her hair and her head fell back, her neck was expose and he trailed a finger of her neck.

"I was wondering who these bites were from" He murmured, his mouth close to her ear.

She shuddered and pulled away, only to be dragged back roughly. She once again met Daryl's eyes as the Governor mockingly stroked her hair in front of him, she willed him to keep calm but he was already struggling against his bounds. He lunged forward only to be dragged back and punched in the face.

"No!" She hissed.

The Governor released her and pushed her forward, "What should we do with them? The terrorists and our traitor Merle?" The Governor asked the crowd. Stone hesitantly stepped closer to Daryl, aware that Merle was staring at her from behind her. Stone met Merle's eyes and she glowered at him.

"Proud of yourself Merle?" She hissed at him.

"Kill them!" The crowd shouted, drowning out his excuses. Stone turned and looked around the group, her eyes falling once again on identical ones. She studied the handsome face, his black eyebrows were pulled into a frown, his pink tongue darting out to lick his lips. A trait, Stone knew was one of planning. His black eyes stared back at her intensely, a swarm of emotions flashing through them quickly and disappearing as fast as they had come.

She looked over him again, she hadn't seen him in four years. Now, her only brother.

Sorry this chapter took so late, I've been having major problems with the internet lately. -.-
Anyway, I hope you like this chapter and I can't wait for the next part of season 3 to come out, OMG SO EXCITED.
I also get to meet Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon) next Tuesday night and we might possibly be getting a sneak peek or teaser of whats to come. So I might make a chapter out of that, or maybe a flash back? I don't want to leave this story and then never come back to it.

Thank you so much for the reviews, love that you all like it so much. Thanks again. X