AN: so I'm Canadian with no legal background and no knowledge of the American system. This is fiction but I do apologize to anyone fluent in the legal system for mistakes...please suspend your disbelief :)

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 21

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Three weeks later

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Carol was so nervous she was going to throw up. She sat in the courtroom with Merle on one side, Shane and Karen on the other, watching as Daryl was lead into court to sit at a table with Andrea, Rick and Michonne.

Rick had gotten a grand jury to convene to introduce the new evidence and to hopefully get the conviction vacated. He was cautiously optimistic that this was the best route. At the moment though Carol was so nauseated she could barely keep herself focused on the proceedings.

Rick, Michonne and Andrea, presented the new evidence quickly and efficiently. Carol wanted to watch the faces on the jurors, to see what their reactions were but she couldn't take her eyes off him. Daryl.

He looked tired, worn down, resigned. Like he didn't believe in the good that could come from this hearing. Why would he? She'd spent the last three weeks living with Andrea and Merle, reading the diaries, learning about his life. Carol was mad, angry at god and whatever power out there that controlled faith. His whole life had been one hell after another. He deserved none of this. Carol swore to herself once this was older she'd spend the rest of her life ensuring he was happy.

Michonne was speaking now, she had large blown up sections of the diary. She was focusing on those sections that detailed Rick's Dad and the corruption that the man brought down on the town, even the fact that he was Daryl's biological father. DNA taken from Rick and Daryl confirmed the fact that they were half brothers. She saw Daryl's head turn suddenly to Rick in shock.

She called as a witness Karen, and Aunt Judith. Karen discussed the mob ties she had discovered, between Matthew Grimes and the mob, as well. Aunt Judith almost word for word told the jury what she had told the group. Ending with the statement that Matthew Grimes had wanted to get rid of his mistake. She saw Daryl's head bow down in shame and Merle's knuckles whiten beside her. Judith admitted under oath that she lied the night Daryl's parents had died. She had not seen anyone running from the Dixon house. Judith had also provided some new information. In a stroke of luck Judith was a bit of a hoarder and still had her telephone records from that night. She'd been on a long distance call with her cousin. Her telephone was in the kitchen. She couldn't see the Dixon house from her kitchen.

Then Hershel Greene testified, that he'd been ordered to falsely his autopsy findings, when he refused he was fired. Hershel had managed to photocopy a copy of his original autopsy report. The listed cause of death for the couple was murder suicide.

Andrea, presented the suicide letter, blown up for the world to see. It was dated the night of her death.

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Merle,

I'm so sorry, I really am, my only wish as I send Daryl off to the solace and comfort that the forest provides him is that I could also see you one last time before I go.

I'm ending it tonight Merle, I'm sending Daryl hunting, and I'm ending it. I'm sending that Monster your father has become to hell, and I'll follow him soon after. Then my boys will be free. I'm so sorry, please explain to Daryl if you can. I love you both.

Mama

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They broke for recess. Andrea joined them in the lobby and quietly asked Carol to go to the washroom with her. Curious Carol followed her they were standing in front of the stalls when Andrea stopped and started rummaging through her purse. Pulling out a box she handed it to Carol.

"Here."

Carol's brow quirked in confusion. "A pregnancy test?"

Andrea snorted "For a doctor your a bit slow. I've heard you puking your guts up every morning the past week. Take it." She said motioning to the stalls.

It all struck her at once. Carol gasped her hands shaking. The nausea had been mainly in the morning. She'd attributed it to worry, stress, never once did it cross her mind. Pregnant. She wanted it, so much. Taking a deep breathe she stepped into the stall.

Dddddddddddddddddddd

Daryl refused to believe, he refused to hope. Even when Hershel Greene finished testifying about the known corruption that was rampant in the police force fifteen years ago. Even when he spoke of Judge Phill Blake and how it was the elephant in the room that he was dirty.

Even when Dale Horvath the warden had testified on his behalf as a character witness. How he'd worried for so long that Daryl was wrongly convicted. Even with the warden's final statement after watching the video where Daryl risked his life after the bus crash to try to save his his officer. "Daryl is a good man." He'd said firmly.

The mama of those two girls he saved was up next. She cried, called him her angel, for saving her daughters Lizzie and Mika.

Carol was next. She looked tired, dark circles under eyes, there was a sparkle to her eyes. She was so close. He pressed his fingertips painfully into his thighs. He wanted to touch her so badly. The tingle in his fingers was overwhelming. He wanted so badly to hold her.

She made her time with him sound like an adventure, like a fun vacation in the mountains. How she only went with him initially to save his life, he smirked at how she brushed over the kidnapping how she could easily have gotten away from him, how she was well versed in self defence and kickboxing classes. He was drowning in her eyes when she looked directly at him.

"I stayed because he needed me and I'm a doctor. But I fell in love with him. It was impossible not too." She paused and bit her lip, then finished with a soft voice. "And I'm pregnant. With his baby."