AN: new chapter. Not sure how many more chapters but this is almost ended. Let me know what you think.

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 20

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The sight of the police cars, filling the parking lot of the garage was surreal. The glow of the lights surrounded Daryl, as he raced towards the garage, past anyone who tried to stop him. Leaving Jerry and Zeke, calling after him. Panic, and pure fear, was racing through his blood.

The FBI raid on the docs had started well. The FBI had enough evidence Dwight had told him, to arrest everyone, right there on the docks. No need to let them send the ship, and rescue the women on board, in the open water. They had them, it was going to end tonight. Dwight, Daryl had learned had been busy the past week. Risking his neck, planting bugs, getting recordings. They had everything they needed to end this tonight.

The MC had watched as the FBI had moved in, from a distance. Daryl wanted to be damn sure that after tonight, it would be over.

The firefight that had erupted, was a cover they'd realized. The loyal bastards of Saviours were laying down cover so Negan could disappear. Son of a bitch it was like this asshole was running a cult or something.

The dust had settled, most of the Saviours were arrested, the rest dead, and Neagan was gone. That was when Dwight had hauled a terrified Eugene right past Daryl, towards a waiting vehicle.

Daryl had seen red. Grabbing Eugene he'd pushed him against the building. Asking him how long he'd been a rat, not even giving him a chance to answer as he fired off accesations and questions , but then Eugene had confessed. Confessed how he'd told Neagan about Carol.

Daryl's blood had run cold, especially when Dwight told him how Neagan seemed to blame Daryl...for all of this.

His heart had practically pounded out of his chest as he raced back to the garage on his bike, Zeke and Jerry following close behind him.

Police tape was up around the entrance. Rick was standing next to a group of Paramedics that were helping Merle to his feet.

"I told you, I'm fucking fine! Goddamn it!" Merle crabbed at the paramedics. Then looked up as he saw Daryl standing there.

Rick turned then, saw him standing at the doorway eyes frantically darting around the room. Rick put his hand up to touch his shoulder in reassurance, but it only made his unease worse. "She's ok .." Rick started to say.

"Where the fuck is she?" He all but growled, barely managing to hold a grip on his sanity.

"She's in your office...the chief is questioning her...she...she killed Neagan." Rick said cautiously, Daryl was sure he was scared of his reaction.

Daryl swivelled, heading towards his office, as he yelled to Merle to call Andrea.

Flinging the door open, he saw her sitting there, Neagan's god damn body still on the floor covered by a sheet. Her face was as white as that very sheet. The chief and the ADA he recognized talking to her, but she wasn't answering. She was so pale, her eyes staring at the body under the sheet. Wringing her hands. "Ms Miller..we only want to know what happened here..." the ADA turned as he steeped into the office. "Mr. Dixon.." she started to say but stopped as Daryl leaned down, picked Carol up out of her chair, and inhaled a lung full of her scent. Only then did he realize that he'd been shaking since the feeling of dread had stricken him on the docks. His arms wrapped around her as a feeling of calm, settled into his soul. Calming him.. He turned heading out of the office, carrying her with him. "Mr. Dixon wait.." the chief called.

Daryl turned, still holding her in his arms. " We will meet you at the station, in two hours, with our attorney Andrea Harrison." Then he turned and walked away from them as she buried her face in his neck.

Striding towards his truck, he yelled at Jerry to grab her chair. Opening the door he set her down, she seemed to be in a trance staring at the lights. He buckled her up, pulled out of the parking lot and made his way to her house.

She was so goddamn quiet, it was scary. He wanted her to talk, to make a smart ass remark, ...anything.

Picking her up again, he made his way into her house, set her on couch. Then he couldn't hold it back anymore. He sank down onto his knees, in between her legs, tears, trickled down his face.

"I'm sorry." The words were difficult to speak. He was a selfish bastard. He put her in this position. He did this to her, any choice other than him, would have been better for ger. But he couldn't let her go. He would never let her go.

She lifted up his chin, her fingers cupping his cheeks. "I'm good" she murmured. "Just...shocked...I killed him." She whispered.

"I know..." he started to say but she stopped him.

"And I'm not sorry. He was going to kill Merle. He was going to hurt me." She said softly and the rage in his gut threatened to overflow. "He was going to sell me, he said people would pay money for me, because I'm helpless."

Daryl wanted to be sick, he wanted to run to the bathroom and empty his stomach, but he held it back.

"He underestimated me...I'm not helpless. I had to do it. There was no other choice. Will I go to jail? " she looked up at him, with a thread of apprehension in her eyes, like she was waiting for him to judge her.

He put his hands on her face, holding her gaze. "You did what you had to do. Nothing is going to happen to you. I'll make sure of it." If he had to get Zeke to pay off every town official he would. Hell if he had to he'd take Carol and run he'd do it, no hesitation , he smiled softly and added. "I love you... I can't loose you too."