Enjoy, please let me know what you think. Thanks.

xxxxx

Chapter 14

She wasn't ready to see Rick and the others from Terminus sitting on the ground alongside the cage. They were being held at gunpoint and watched her with anxious eyes. She saw Glenn looking helplessly at Maggie, his face cut and bruised. Carol was looking at her, eyes shining with unshed tears as the cuffs were removed and she was pushed into the cage. The man waiting for her was a lot bigger than the one from the night before. He was stronger and wanted to live. It was a hard, brutal fight and Tasha took several savage blows before she managed to pin the man and choke him. She didn't want to use the knife unless she had no choice. She knew they would work out where she had got it from.

Once the big man was down she faced the Major, breathing hard, clutching her ribs. The man had managed to get a few kicks in and he hadn't held back.

"That was much more entertaining" the Major stood, raising his hands to quieten his men, who had been cheering in appreciation of the fight.

"Now we move to the main event" He smiled coldly at Tasha. "I've been looking forward to this" he told her as two of his men came forward, bringing a struggling, cursing figure with them. Tasha had been expecting this so she wasn't surprised when Daryl was shoved into the cage with her. She knew by the gasps and sobs behind her that the others hadn't been prepared. They freed Daryl's hands and the two of them stared at each other.

The Major nodded to another man and a slight blonde figure was pushed forward. Daryl stared in shock at Beth. It was the first time he had seen her since the funeral home. He took in her haggard features and her now dull blue eyes. She had shadows under her eyes and looked like she had lost all hope. He rushed to the bars and she met him on the other side, her fingers brushing his.

"I looked for you" he told her "chased the car all night, couldn't track it at the crossroads . I'm sorry" His voice was quiet "I'm sorry I let you down"

Beth shook her head "You didn't let me down. The whole house thing was a set up, it was a trap. As soon as I stepped outside they grabbed me and forced me into the car. They said they'd been watching the place, just wanted me and they didn't need you. They said they had sent in enough walkers you'd never survive."

"However touching this reunion is it's time to get on" the Major interrupted, pulling Beth away. She tore her eyes from Daryl and found Maggie's tearstained face in the group of prisoners. She managed a sad smile at her sister before the Major pulled her down onto his lap.

"Must make sure you have the best seat in the house" he told her, dropping his hand to her thigh and stroking it absently.

He waved towards the cage "You know the rules now, he dies you and the brat live, you die so does the baby" Daryl faced her

"You fightin' for Judith as well as you?" She lowered her eyes and nodded

"Already killed two to keep her alive" she told him quietly. She looked up and met his eyes "Don't think I can do it again, not this time"

"You have to" he told her "You gotta keep her safe" She backed away from him

"I can't. Can't kill you"

"Enough talk, fight or all three of you will die" the Major was getting bored.

Daryl glared at Tasha.

"You don't wanna kill me 'cos of the other night?" he asked "You think it was somethin' special, that we're a couple now or some such crap" He saw a brief flash of anger cross her face. "Hell girl, you was available and up for it, weren't no big deal" she knew he was trying to make her angry enough to attack him, but she couldn't.

"It was okay when it lasted" he goaded "but didn't have to be you. Any other slut would have done me." She finally snapped, just like he knew she would, and lunged at him, landing a blow to his jaw. Going against every instinct in him not to hit a woman he swung back and caught her in the ribs. She knew he held the blow back but it still knocked her off her feet. She got a glimpse of Rick's anguished face as they fought, he knew his daughter's life depended on the death of one of his friends. As Daryl reached down to pull her up she hooked her leg behind his, sweeping his feet from under him. She rolled to her feet as he fell and planted a kick in his gut. They were trying not to hurt each other but knew it had to look good enough to convince the Major and his men. Daryl leapt up and grabbed her, pinning her to the bars, his arm across her throat, choking her. She tried to pull his arm away as she gasped for breath. The soldiers cheered her on, shouting at her to fight. In desperation she bought her knee up and Daryl folded in half with a grunt of pain. The soldiers groaned in sympathy. Tasha got behind him, locking her arm across his throat. She hesitated, knowing he was allowing her to keep hold of him.

"Do it" he hissed, leaning back toward her, making it even easier.

"I can't" she cried, sudden , unexpected tears coming to her eyes.

"You gotta to save Asskicker " he insisted. Blinded by tears, her body shaking with sobs she started to apply pressure. She felt him relax against her, offering no resistance.

Suddenly a huge explosion ripped through the night. A wave of hot air and debris flew over them, knocking several of the soldiers off their feet. Tasha let go of Daryl and stumbled backwards, ears ringing from the force of the blast. She saw him flash her a grin, not looking surprised.

The Major shoved Beth away from him and leapt to his feet.

"That was the armoury" he shouted. He indicated at two men "You two take the prisoners back to their quarters, the rest of you follow me" He headed toward the burning armoury, his men close behind.

"Sir, What about the two in the cage?" one of the men yelled. The Major stopped and looked back.

"Leave them, the one she killed will turn soon, let him finish them off" he ordered.

Daryl stared at Tasha, he could see the tear tracks on her face.

"Aint seen you cry before" he murmured.

"I'm not" she snapped "it's the heat and dust from the explosion" she turned away , flustered by him seeing what she considered a weakness.

"Did you know that was gonna happen?" she asked as she looked for a way out of the cage.

"Kinda hoped it was gonna happen in time" he told her. "Had to get caught to cause a distraction. Guessed I'd end up in the cage, didn't guess it would be against you though." He caught her arm and pulled her to face him.

"Didn't mean them things I said, just had to get you riled up enough to want to fight" he told her quietly.

"I know" she replied. A sudden noise made them both look round. The big man she had killed in her first fight was sitting up, his milky eyes seeking them out. She heard the two guards laugh, they had delayed taking the captives back to their quarters as they had wanted to watch what happened when the dead man reanimated. The man lurched to his feet and headed towards them, jaws snapping, arms outstretched. Daryl pushed her behind him and readied himself to protect her as best he could. Before he could do anything Tasha pushed him to one side and strode up to the fresh walker. She plunged a knife into its head and it fell to the ground. Daryl looked at her in disbelief.

"The hell you get that from?" he questioned, indicating the knife.

She gave him a smirk.

"Out my boot" she folded the blade up and tucked the weapon back. The two guards were furious at being cheated out of seeing the two of them torn apart and raised their weapons.

"Just kill him, let him come back and get the bitch" one of them suggested. The other shook his head.

"Can't, she's still got that knife she'll just kill him. We'll shoot them both then get this lot locked back up. Better see what's going on with the Major."

They raised their rifles, preparing to fire. Tasha saw Rick and Abraham exchange glances and knew they were planning to try and jump the guards. Before any of them could move both guards fell. One had a green and black bolt imbedded in the back of his skull and the other was missing his head completely.

Michonne strode forward, flicking the blood from her katana, behind her Daryl could see Beth. She was clutching his crossbow and he could see her shaking as she lowered it and let it drop to the ground. In seconds Maggie was at her side, wrapping her arms around her sister and holding her close.

"Thought we'd lost you." she sobbed as she stroked Beth's hair "Never thought I'd see you again" Slowly Beth returned the hug, her shoulders shaking as she began to cry. Carol went to them and embraced them both.

Rick was removing the weapons from the dead soldiers as Michonne approached the cage.

"Cut that a bit close didn't yer" Daryl quipped. "Thought you hadn't made it"

"You're still alive aren't you?" she replied as she turned away, smirking as he called for her to let them out. Rick told them to stand away from the door and shot the lock out. Once they were free they followed him back to the woman's quarters where he hoped to find Judith. The building was empty. In a rage he headed for the site of the explosion, determined to find the Major and find out where his daughter was. When they got to the burning outbuilding they found that Michonne hadn't just destroyed the armoury she had removed several of the weapons first and released the prisoners, handing out the guns. She had come over the fence the previous night, using the distraction of Daryl's capture. She had found a way into the armoury without being seen . The soldiers were outnumbered and those that had survived were now kneeling and being held at gunpoint. The Major was being kept to one side, two armed men watching over him.

As Rick stormed towards him, a young woman came forward. She was holding Judith and held her out to her relieved father.

"I kept her safe for you" she told him shyly, as he clutched the baby tightly.

"Thank you" he told her gratefully, as she smiled sweetly at him.

Daryl saw Beth, still holding tightly to Maggie's hand. She released it and approached him, holding out his crossbow.

"I remembered what you showed me" she told him softly as he took the weapon from her. He surprised everyone by pulling her into a hug.

"You did real good, saved us all" he told her "Knew you could do it" She rested her head on his shoulder and he could feel her trembling against him.

"I always knew you'd find me" she told him, her blue eyes tearful as she gazed at him. "It was what kept me going, the whole time I was here, every time I was with him." Her eyes found the Major and she flinched away from his arrogant stare.

"Don't tell me you didn't enjoy it" He called "I know better"

At the look on her face Daryl pushed her away, shoving her back to Maggie. He span and advanced on the Major.

"She was such an innocent" the man taunted "I taught her everything she knows" He seemed proud of himself. Tasha saw Rick and Abraham move towards him, looks of disgust on their faces but Daryl got there first.

He pulled the Major to his feet and laid into him, pounding his fists into the man's face and body over and over until he was motionless on the ground, a bleeding and battered mess. Daryl stepped back, hands bleeding, panting for breath. He rounded on the kneeling soldiers.

"Any of you other bastards touch our women?" he snarled. Several of them flinched back. Daryl looked at his group, eyes searching for each woman.

"Carol, any of them hurt you? Sasha, Maggie, what about you?" he saw Tara cowering against Rosita, her eyes wide.

"Any of them touch you?" he asked gently. She nodded slightly and pointed to one of the men.

"Him" she said quietly. Rosita's arms tightened around her as Daryl pulled the now terrified man from the group of soldiers. Before he could raise a hand, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I got this one" he turned to see Abraham, a cold, vicious look on his face. The big soldier had always had a soft spot for Tara, saw her as a daughter he would have been proud of. Daryl stepped back, allowing the bigger man access to the cowering soldier. It didn't take long for justice to be served.

It was decided that the remaining soldiers would be escorted out of the base. They would be left with no weapons or supplies and were told they would be shot if they showed their faces anywhere near the base. It wasn't long after the escort party returned that the first screams were heard.

No one felt any remorse.