Hi guys! Once again apologies for my late update! Life always seems to have different plans than I do! However, here it comes.

I had only three chapters planned for this story, however I kept writing and writing and ended up with 6,000 words… So there will be four chapters all together, but I swear I will not keep you waiting this time – the story is already complete, I just need to review the last part and will upload it tonight or tomorrow the latest. Please review, every single review makes my day! Hope you will enjoy!

Please note that this chapter contains some violence against Carol as she is in the Governor's hands now (no rape involved!), so if you don't like it, please don't read it.

Daryl' vision was blurred and he hissed in satisfaction when his fist collided with Jonah's jaw. His burning fear for Carol's life was fluently transformed into blind fury, which he needed to carry out on somebody. And Jonah was the closest and he was guilty.

Daryl hardly managed to deliver third devastating blow when something landed on his back, tiny arms sneaked around his neck and tightened. Daryl stiffened when tiny fingers pinched his neck. Bewildered he reached behind with his free hand and held in the air screaming and kicking little boy.

"Mikey don't! Mikey calm down, I'm all right!" Jonah yelled from the floor, where Daryl still had him pinned with his other hand.

"Leave my daddy! Don't hurt him!" little boy was doing his best to kick Daryl but the man was holding him too far for his short legs to reach.

Unexpected and unwelcomed deja vu sent a shiver down Daryl's spine. He stared into the boy's face and put him down carefully. As soon as Mikey's feet touched the ground, he ran directly against Daryl and kicked his calf with all strength his little body could possess. Daryl didn't move an inch to stop the little fighter. Jonah already scrambled to his feet and hugged his son tightly, preventing him from another attack.

Daryl got up and stumbled back. He shook his head, desperately trying to push back the haunting memories. He looked at his bloody knuckles and then at Jonah, who was whispering to his son. Daryl ran a hand across his tired face. He was no better than his old man. The only difference was that the bloody mess on the floor had been usually his mother and he'd been the one trying to protect her from his father. Regularly he'd ended up beaten next to her but at least he'd tried. As Mikey did.

The loss of Carol and his memories were too much form him. Daryl ran outside, not looking back.

Rick was watching the whole scene but before he could react, Daryl dashed out.

"Lock Jonah up, I'll question him later," Rick said to Glenn and Tyreese, who were standing close to him, "and try to calm down the situation, I've got Daryl."

Rick turned to Carl and motioned him to follow him, what Carl reluctantly did. When they got out of earshot, Rick turned to his son and grabbed his shoulder.

"Carl, why didn't you say anything earlier?"

"I saw Jonah talking to Carol inside and then Jonah was coming back from the woods alone. I didn't put it together until he started yelling. I guess I'm not such an excellent sheriff as you are," Carl replied in biting tone.

"Carl...," Rick sighed, "you know nobody is supposed go behind the fence unless me or Daryl knows about it. When you saw him, you were supposed to check with the guys in the watchtower and if they didn't know about it, you should have come right after me. You know the drill Carl!"

Rick raised his voice, irritated by his son's recklessness. Carl's cheeks turned red and he shook off his father's hand.

"I don't know the damn drill! You took in so many new people you don't know and now they are your responsibility! Only yours! If Carol dies it'll be only your fault again!"

Rick was taken aback when his son yelled at him. He knew that Carl hadn't been himself lately but he had no idea it was getting out of hand like this. Carl turned his back on him and ran away.

"Carl stop! I haven't finished!" Rick called after him but his son didn't pay any attention.

Rick sighed heavily and went outside to search for Daryl.

He found him leaning against the shed, smoking a cigarette. Rick raised his eyebrow and Daryl shrugged.

"Last pack, I was savin' it for special occasion," Daryl snorted ironically, eyes fixed on the tree line in the distance, "is the kid OK?"

"Yeah, you just scared him, he'll be OK."

Daryl nodded. "Did the fucker tell ya anythin'?"

"I haven't questioned him yet, but I don't think he knows anything. The Governor is insane but smart. He just used him."

Rick watched Daryl clench and unclench his fists.

"When are we goin'?"

"Daryl, you know that this is a trap and he's planning on using Carol like a live bait...", Rick started slowly.

Daryl finally turned to him and Rick almost shivered under the hard look the hunter gave him.

"Sure I fuckin' know it! But it was you who said we ain't leavin' our people behind! And we ain't! We are gonna get Carol back and finish that son of a bitch once and for all!"

Rick raised his hand in calming gesture.

"Of course we are going to get Carol! All I am saying is that we need to think it through and make a proper plan. He's obviously waiting for us and will be prepared, we can't just bust in and hope it will work out."

"We ain't got the fuckin' time!" Daryl was fuming.

Rick just opened his mouth to answer, when strict voice behind him interrupted him.

"Daryl's right. If you want Carol alive, we don't have the time to waste. The man is a psychopath, I've seen the things he did...He knows we are coming and he has really no reason to keep her alive. We need to be quick."

Rick jumped when Michonne sneaked up on him unnoticed.

Daryl's stomach turned at her words but he nodded his head towards her in silent thank you. Rick pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked ten years older than the man who had arrived at the quarry three years ago.

"OK, I'll question Jonah. Meet me in the dining area in an hour. Bring Glenn, Maggie, Tyreese, Sasha and Hershel. Try not to disturb anybody else, we had enough excitement for one day."

Daryl slammed his fist on the table. He tried really hard to control himself but Hershel's and Rick's comments were riling him up. When Daryl's fist hit the table top, Sasha jumped and looked at her brother uncertainly. She'd always trusted her brother with his judgments and if he trusted Rick and Daryl, so did she.

But it didn't help her to feel more comfortable around Daryl. She'd known Merle only for a short period of time, but she knew he'd been violent and unscrupulous man, who'd carried out Governor's every order. Daryl's features were softer than Merle's and he seemed to be more integrated in the group, than his older brother had ever been in Woodbury, but she still wasn't too comfortable around him.

"We know fuckin' nothin', there's no point in ramblin' 'bout it! We have enough people and guns now, we just need to gatecrash the fuckin' place, get Carol out and finish that son of a bitch! "

"Daryl, we have no idea how many people they've got right now…we can't just….," Rick tried to calm down the heated discussion.

"He's still weak…if we had enough men, he'd attack the prison again and wouldn't waste his time with Jonah and kidnapping peple," Michonne cut in calmly.

Daryl suddenly felt guilty for doubting her at the beginning. He didn't know if it was because Michonne was the last one who had seen his brother alive and felt uneasy about it; but since she'd joined the prison, Michonne had never failed to support his decision.

He was surprised to realize how much they were alike. They were good with their untypical weapons, didn't socialize easily and Daryl knew she liked Carol, because Carol had been the only one who'd talked to her and openly shared her grief over Andrea's death.

"Let's hope you are right. But I will let go only volunteers, we can't willingly put the lives of Woodbury people in danger," Rick said slowly.

"We risk our asses for them every single day!" Daryl hissed, irritated by Rick's cautious approach.

They were talking about Carol, about woman who together with Hershel basically ran the prison, when they were on the runs, and who would have risked anything if any of them had been in danger. They were talking about his Carol, his woman.

Rick looked into Daryl's eyes firmly.

"I'll go Daryl and I'll do whatever it takes to get Carol back safe, but I can't force anybody."

Glenn didn't even look at Maggie and they both nodded.

"We're in."

Tyreese, Sasha and Michonne just nodded.

"OK, Daryl will track them down tomorrow morning and we will go at night. Out best chance is to distract them long enough for somebody to find Carol and get her out."

Daryl leaned against the railing of the watchtower. The time was passing by with torturing slowness but he took extra night watch, knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep anyway.

He wondered how the hell things could have gone so wrong. He'd pushed Carol away to be able to protect her better and still she'd been kidnapped by lunatic who was planning to use her as the live bait. He'd failed her in every possible way and just the thought of Carol getting hurt from the Governor's hands almost made him bend over and empty his stomach right there.

He hoped that the time would numb the pain of his rejection, which he now knew had been impetuous, but if anything, he felt worse. She'd become withdrawn and cold and he missed old Carol like hell. But he was Dixon and he had no freaking idea how to fix it. He wished he could just grab her and show her what she meant to him like he'd done the first time. But he knew for sure that without proper explanation and apology, she would kick his sorry ass before she'd let him do that, afraid of getting hurt again. But before he could have at least tried to explain, the shit hit the fan and now she'd been somewhere alone, probably hurting and feeling completely abandoned.

"Just stay strong woman. Stay alive," he whispered into the wind.

Carol was certain her head would split in two. When she opened her eyes and didn't see anything, she panicked. It took her a while to get her breathing under control and she realized she was blindfolded and her arms were firmly tied behind her back.

She was confused; the last thing she remembered was Jonah asking her to go outside to help his son. He must have knocked her out. But why and where was she now? Suddenly she heard the door creak and she knew she would get her answer soon.

"Finally…welcome," rich baritone filled the room and Carol's blood turned into ice. She had never met the Governor in person but she knew it was him. She just knew. In the next moment, he took her blindfold off and Carol blinked into the sharp light before she fixed her eyes on the man standing in front of her.

She could suddenly understand why Andrea had fallen for the Governor. He was tall, well-built and quite handsome man, who could certainly put on his charm if he wanted to. But when Carol looked into his eyes, the cold jolt of fear ran down her spine. She knew violence and madness when she saw it.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Carol," she replied, willing her voice not to tremble.

"Well Carol, we have some free time on our hands before your friends arrive," he said with a small smile, valuating his captive. Was she good enough for Rick and his group to come and try to rescue her?

"And it's in your best interest that they arrive quickly," the Governor continued, watching the tiny woman carefully.

"Why?" Carol managed to get out from her tightened throat, trying to find out if talking or silence would take her further.

"Why they should arrive quickly or why am I doing this?" the Governor seemed to be amused now.

"Both," Carol replied. It seemed that the talking won.

"Well, let me put it this way…I don't like being bored and when it happens, I am very creative. And you seem to be my greatest interest right now. And secondly, I am doing this because I have some unfinished business with your Sherriff, Merle's brother and that black bitch with katana. And I will not stop until they pay. Until you all pay."

Daryl, he wants to kill Daryl too, Carol's heart started to race ad her head was spinning. He was going to use her against her friends, against her family.

"They won't come," she blurted out, biting her tongue immediately, but it was too late.

The blow came out of nowhere and her head bounced against the wall she was leaning against. She groaned, feeling the copper taste of blood from her split lip. She licked it and looked up, anger she couldn't control radiating from her eyes.

The Governor suddenly laughed.

"Well, look at you lady. I thought you would be boring, but you can always tell a person who can take the pain well. It's not the first blow you have taken, am I right?"

Carol was surprised by the fierce hatred she suddenly felt towards her torturer. She knew she was going to die, she would never see Daryl again; she wouldn't see Judith growing up, Glenn and Maggie raising their own children. The son of bitch in front of her was going to take it all from her just because he was 'bored'. And she would do anything in her power to take him to hell with her.

She spat out some blood and although the Governor's wicked smile was scaring her to death, she looked into his eyes firmly.

"Don't worry miss. I have some really good things in store for you…did you know that when you get bit, you can save the person by cutting the limb off? Should we let some walkers try how tasty you are?"

The Governor smirked when he saw the horror in Carol's face.

"Not so brave anymore? It's a pity! Let's see what I can think of," the Governor laughed, got up and left the room.

Carol tried to take a deep breath but couldn't fight her rumbling stomach as she turned on her side and emptied the contents of her stomach on the floor.

When the door opened again, she shut her eyes tightly. Whatever was coming, she prayed it would be over quickly. With her arms tied behind her back, she had no fighting chance. If the Governor really meant to throw the walker in, she would be destined to become just a quick chew. But the footsteps were too regular and too confident for a walker. She opened her eyes and looked up to the Governor's face again.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you Carol. Don't take it personally, but I don't believe you've got the stamina to survive the biter's attack and I don't want the entertainment to be over too soon. But don't worry, there is one walker waiting especially for you, there is a right time for everything."

He reached for her and yanked her up.

"Let's see what we've got in here," he smiled and Carol felt another wave of nausea, when his face stopped just inches from hers. She closed her eyes again and forced her body to stop shaking.

"I actually remember Andrea talking about you. Silly bitch could be still alive if she minded her own business. I actually quite liked her," he murmured as he ran finger along her chin with discomposing slowness.

"You are not as run down as I would have expected. Not bad body for an older lady and you've got pretty face too," he continued assessing her, making Carol feel like a piece of cattle on the farm market.

When his hand travelled down and cupped her breast, she couldn't help it and gave out a little shriek of fear.

The Governor chuckled and pinned her against the wall.

'Please don't', Carol's thoughts were racing, while she was desperately trying to find a happy place in her mind, the same method she'd been using with Ed. She would just stay there and shut herself down until everything was over.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find it now, memories of their last argument with Daryl clouding every beautiful moment they'd shared together.

When the Governor lowered his head to her chest, the disgust she felt toward the man culminated and she kicked out her leg fiercely, her knee colliding with Governor's nose with satisfying crunch.

She instinctively bobbed down when his roar shook the walls of the room. This time she saw the blow coming but didn't have time to brace herself and moaned when she fell to her knees. Her head was spinning as intensive pain started climbing up to her heated cheek immediately, making her right ear ring.

Before Carol could realize what was happening, the Governor was dragging her out of the room harshly. It was getting dark but she could hear the unmistakable sound of running water. It didn't take long and they stopped at the bank of small river. The Governor pushed her down roughly and as soon as Carol's knees hit the soft soil under their feet, he grabbed her by her neck and shoved her head under the water.

Carol panicked when the freezing water surrounded her and paralyzed her senses. Her hands started jerking involuntary as she was struggling for air but the steel grip on her neck didn't loosen.

Carol just started coming to the terms with her own death, when the grip loosened and she used the last bit of strength to break the water surface and took sharp shaky breath. She started coughing violently but before she could fill her lungs with all air she needed, the Governor grabbed her and put her head under the water again.

"It will teach you bitch!"

This time he held her longer under the water and she gave up a fighting, last bits of strength leaving her body with last gulps of air.