First off I want to say sorry for not updating this sooner. I've been going through a lot lately and just haven't had time to be online much.

This past week has been the worst –I've been super sick.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed my story so far, it really means a lot. It became apparent to me too; that my last chapter sucked. I got some negative reviews and PM's from some people on here and I will admit, I cried a little. I take my writing very serious; it's a coping mechanism for me –especially for everything I'm going through right now.

Let me explain myself; I only chose Carol to be the victim because out of all the women in that group –she's the one that appears to be the weakest. Now I don't write her to be that weak –but to an outsider she is. Besides that this a Caryl fanfiction and the drama and suspense of it all was needed I thought. I didn't take it as far as I've seen other stories –because I didn't want Carol to be raped or anything. But the fact that there are people out there like that and I can only imagine that if the world went to shit like it did in the Walking Dead then there would be a lot more sicko's like Axel. (not caring who they could take advantage of) Anyways –this is just how I see the characters, I try to stay IC as much as I can.

Just my opinion though; who am I?

Just another lousy writer I guess.

Chapter: 25

Liars and Walkers;

After Rick and the others explained what was going on, Daryl was even more pissed then before. Not just at the situation but at himself for not getting there sooner to save her. Even though she told him what happened –thankfully nothing too serious –it still didn't ease his mind that she was in the position she was in to get caught up in that mess. He held her for a long time once they got back to their room; he felt her shaking as she cried just like she was now.

Daryl was dirty from his hunting but he couldn't let her go, he felt like he needed to hold onto her for dear life. He was afraid if one arm slipped away from her body he would lose her –it was then that he realized he was shaking a little now too. He was scared something would happen to her even though she was safe in his arms. The hot water sprayed on their naked bodies as they stood under the shower together. His arms were wrapped protectively around her small frame as her hands were balled up against her chest and her head rested on his shoulder. He was careful where to touch her knowing that her back was a little tender from where Axel had pushed her against the brick.

All he did was hold her, it was all he wanted from her right now and he knew that was all she wanted in return. He wanted her to know how sorry he was for acting like such an asshole yesterday and even though he hadn't said he was sorry he knew she knew that he was.

He brought one of his hands up and stroked the back of her matted down hair before turning his lips to kiss her forehead softly. He felt her arms finally go around his waist as he relaxed a little now, knowing she wasn't catatonic or anything. He knew he didn't have to say he was sorry to her because she already knew he was –but he knew he owed her at least that.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly not getting a reaction from her right away. He sighed and closed his eyes squeezing her softly before he watched her head slowly lift from his shoulder. Her eyes were swollen and her face was flush from crying, he hated the feeling he was having right now because he felt like he wanted to cry along with her.

"I –I don't want to talk about it," she said softly letting him know she was over what happened yesterday. It didn't matter anyways, she was passed it and when he nodded to her she was happy he was willing to move on from it as well.

"Yer' sure yer' ok?" he asked once again with a doubtful look on his face. He watched her eyes close before she pressed her forehead to his with a soft breath. The soft touch of her hands cupped on the sides of his neck caused a shiver to sliver up his spine. "I don't know what –what I woulda' done if somethin' happened to you, Carol," he finally confessed with a shaky breath feeling her pull away a little to look at him. He wanted to tell her in that moment that he… he loved her, that he was in love with her.

Without a word she cupped his cheek swallowing hard watching his lips part slightly as though he was going to say something more. But she stopped him with a slow –soft kiss, when he responded and cupped the back of her head with one hand and ran the other to the small of her back she relaxed and melted into his arms.

She knew if Daryl was there he wouldn't let anything happen to her and she didn't blame him for what happened. All she knew was he was there with her now and that was all that mattered.

D/C/D/C/D/C

Daryl took the day off from hunting and from playing watchman for the rest of the group. After what happened to Carol last night he would be damned if he let her out of his sights for even a minute today. It was still in the early morning hours when Daryl caught Rick coming off his night shift watch. By the look on Rick's face he could tell the once upon a time Sheriff wasn't happy to see him. Daryl didn't give him a chance last night to really explain what the little plan he and Manuel had conjured up.

"How is she?" was the first thing out of Rick's mouth as he peaked behind Daryl seeing Carol curled into a ball sleeping.

"Fine," he said quickly moving into Rick's view of her. "Listen Rick," Daryl started with a harsh tone before Rick cut him off.

"I'm sorry that happened," he said seriously. "I had every intention on telling you about what Manny and I had talked about," he said seriously again seeing the look on Daryl's face remain; pissed.

"So…" he said gesturing his hands out in front of him for Rick to carry on.

Honestly Rick didn't know how to bring the subject up to Daryl, he knew the man would be against it right off rip and it was a plan and obviously failed but sounded good at the time. Daryl was his right hand man and he knew he owed it to him to let him in on these sorts of things but he hadn't as of late.

When Rick didn't speak up fast enough, Daryl carried on. "Ya didn't tell me 'cause you knew I'd be against it," he said more as a fact then a question. He saw Rick sigh and look down rubbing the back of his neck. "I aint in this group to make friends, but I thought you and I had in' understandin' about shit," he said putting his hands on his hips defensively now. Daryl wasn't jealous of Rick's new found friendship with the other cop; jealousy had nothing to do with it. It was the fact that what Carol had told him a few months back about being Rick's Henchmen, it was starting to sink in. Maybe that was all he was to the man and he never had intensions of really letting Daryl in.

He was just his fucking lackey that did all his dirty work.

Fuck that and fuck Rick for that matter if that was all it was.

"We do, Daryl," Rick finally said getting the hunters attention. "You and I have a better understanding here then anyone else in the group," he said quickly to let Daryl know he wasn't just saying it to shut him up but because he meant it. When he saw Daryl open his mouth to carry on, he spoke out again. "We have Axel locked up in a cell just north of the cafeteria," he said putting his hands up in defense when Daryl looked like he was going to protest, "it's better this way, we can all keep an eye on him without worrying he'll try something again."

Daryl swallowed hard and looked over his shoulder hearing the faint movements of Carol. He turned his attention back to Rick and sighed with a nod, "next time ya'll decide to make plans, and ya don't fill me in," he said with a quick pause. "Yer' gonna find yer'self without me… and Carol," he said quickly without hesitation. There was no way in hell he'd consider leaving the group unless some shit like this happened again and he definitely wouldn't leave without his woman.

With that Rick nodded to him, his hand jerked to extend it to him for truce but he was sure he was already on thin ice with him. He didn't want to push his luck so he spoke one last time before walking away. "Seriously, Daryl, if she needs anything let me know."

D/C/D/C/D/C

Carol was awake the moment Daryl left to speak with Rick just outside their bedroom door this morning. She heard the whole conversation and heard Daryl tell him that if anything like this were to happen again that he would take her and they would be gone. It scared her a little to think about it because she knew Daryl was serious. Not that she didn't think they couldn't survive together, because she knew they could –but it was always safest in numbers she thought. But she knew Daryl would protect her regardless and she was happy about that but she also knew that she needed to defend herself better. She knew when the moment came she would show him just how good she was on the crossbow. She had snuck a few practices in here and there when he was out hunting or on watch.

She wasn't used to just laying around all day –even when she was married she was always busy doing something. But Daryl informed her last night that they would be taking a break today and although she was secretly happy she still felt bad for making the others do all the work. She could tell Daryl was restless too –she knew for a fact he didn't like just sitting around doing nothing and that made her feel even worse. She kept her eyes closed for the most of the morning –even though she was awake. She was enjoying the feeling of his fingers running up and down her arm as he read his book. Hearing him sigh she finally opened her eyes and lifted her head from his lap to look up at him.

"How can ya read this shit?" he asked her closing the book with one hand tossing it on the table next to the bed.

She chuckled leaning up against him slowly, "well you read it for almost six chapters, it can't be all that bad?" she said looking over her shoulder at him as her back laid against his side. "Besides, there isn't much to choose from here at the prison library!" she cooed seeing him smirk slightly.

Daryl chuckled slightly pulling the blankets up around her more seeing the soft shiver of her body. He suspected she was awake this whole time but he didn't say anything just in case she was still asleep.

"I feel bad," she suddenly said looking down at his hand before taking her hand lacing her fingers over top of his.

"Hmm, 'bout what?" he said with a slight shrug.

"I feel like I should be helping out around here," she said softly looking at him over her shoulder.

He shook his head, "you… we both needed a day off," he said softly. "Don't go feelin' bad for nothin'!" That was his final word on the subject before he shifted a little feeling her raise up on the bed. He watched her with furrowed brows before he stood up seeing her walk over to the mirror that was now in the room. "Why the mirror?" he said softly watching her stand in front of it.

"Makes it homier… I guess?" she said with a shrug looking at him through the mirror as he stood a few feet from her. She could see the small bruise on her cheek where her face was grabbed and as she lifted her shirt she turned to her side seeing the forming bruise on her lower to middle back. She frowned and watched as he came up to stand behind her lifting the rest of her shirt up which caused her to flinch.

He was surprised when she flinched from his movements but he continued to lift the rest of her shirt to see the purple that ran up her back. He gently ran his fingers along the hot bruises and growled before moving her shirt down. The more he looked at them the more it pissed him off, "they have that som' bitch in one of the cell's by the cafeteria area," he said his gentle tone being left behind. "I don't want ya going anywhere near that end of the hall," he said firmly seeing her nod to him through the mirror before turning into his body. He carefully wrapped his arms around her thin frame and held her there for a few moments before there was a knock at the door.

Daryl brushed his lips across her forehead before releasing her to answer the door.

"We didn't see you guys at breakfast," Lori said leaning her head in to see Carol standing in the middle of the room hugging herself. She smiled weakly at her friend before handing Daryl a tray of food. "It's almost lunch time, there's not much here," she said softly trailing off.

"Thank you," Carol said softly walking up behind Daryl taking the tray from his hands. "If you guys need any of my help today, please let me know!" she continued hearing the disapproving noise that left Daryl's perfect lips.

Lori smiled and nodded looking at the two of them. She was happy that they were getting along so well –she gave Carol her props for sure. Daryl Dixon was not an easy person to get along with and she knew Carol's history with Ed so she figured it was just something Carol was used to having in her life. Although Lori never believed that Daryl would raise a hand to hit her –she just couldn't see him doing something like that to her or to any woman for that matter.

Once Lori nodded to them and walked away Daryl closed the door quickly and turned around to see her placing the tray on the desk across the room.

"Yer' not helpin' them today," he said firmly hearing her chuckle and look at him.

"I know, but I wanted her to know that I'm still here to help if they needed me," she said softly with a sigh.

Daryl opened his mouth to respond but seeing the distant look on her face he couldn't bring himself to scold her anymore. He noticed the last few months Carol had been doing everything she could to prove herself to the group. She wanted them know that she could do more then just cook and clean but she could more useful to the group. He appreciated that from her but on the same hand she did enough for the group. All the women did in their own way and he hoped she realized that was enough.

D/C/D/C/D/C

After picking up the book off the desk this afternoon, Carol realized Daryl was right –it wasn't all that interesting to her. She tried to read while he sat on the bed next to her just shaking his leg nervously looking around. She knew he was restless and that it wouldn't be long until he snapped in one way or another. She suggested they go to the library so she could pick out a few new books and when he didn't protest she knew then for sure that he was going stir crazy.

On their way down to the library they passed the lobby hall to hear a few of the group talking about. Glenn had asked Manny about the other side of the prison, none of them had really gone to the other side then Carol. That was by mistake anyhow and even then she didn't get too far.

It sounded like another plan was being cooked up and before he could be left out of the loop Daryl stood there with his arms crossed listening to Manuel explain to them about the other side of the prison.

"As I explained before, Tyreese and I were just here transporting inmates when the outbreak really started. The prison went on lock down the day it was announced, Tyreese and I stayed a few days and it was decided then that bringing our families here was the best thing." He explained looking around at the confused group, "I have no family here, Tyreese had a wife and daughter… but they…" he paused for a moment swallowing hard at the memory. Tyreese was his best friend; his family was like his own so he felt the knot in his throat as he carried on.

Carol frowned balling up the sleeves of her sweater in her hands crossing her arms leaning against the door frame much like Daryl was next to her. "S –so what happened to everyone else?" Carol asked softly as everyone looked up at her.

Daryl leaned up and looked at her over his shoulders, one thing about the woman she never had trouble speaking up. No matter the situation she had questions and Daryl sort of admired that about her –it was odd because he knew she wasn't aloud to do that with Ed. He was sure if she said anything to him she would get the shit kicked out of her so he was proud of her for learning to speak up for herself.

"A lot of the other cops and guards took off with their families, a lot of the inmates were let lose –and the others…" he bit his lips and sighed, "were turned," he said softly looking around the group. "We haven't encountered any others since the week before you all came here," he said quickly.

"Wait …" Glenn said shifting in his seat, "the ones that were turned are still here?"

Manuel swallowed hard not saying anything at first.

"Bes' answer the boy," Daryl said firmly.

"The south end the others were held up in was as far as we've gotten. Further down they were keeping a lot of the inmates that had been sick or bitten –we, we haven't traveled to that end of the prison."

Glenn and Maggie both jumped to their feet in reaction as Daryl growled slightly, "ya mean to tell me, we've been stayin' here with fuckin' Walkers on the other side?" Daryl finally belted out looking over to Rick who had his head down rubbing his forehead. Daryl turned his attention to Rick quickly, "you better not iv'," he started before Rick cut him off.

"I swear, I didn't know any of this," Rick said quickly and seriously shaking his head. "Why didn't you tell us, Manny?" he said with an almost hurt tone.

"We've been safe –no one's been hurt. Besides we don't really know if there are any over there!" Manny said quickly in defense.

"What about the pile up you guys had outside the prison when we first arrived? They were all inmates; did they escape from the other end?" Glenn asked quickly getting a reaction from Maggie and Carol.

Neither of the women knew about the piles of Walkers they had when the group first found the prison. Rick had requested they be burned for the sake of scaring the others.

"Walkers aint smart but they aint dumb either, they sniff us out, we're all dead!" Daryl spat out quickly seeing Carol flinch at his side from his tone. He wanted to feel bad for scaring her but this was an issue that needed to be taken care of now. He also wanted to feel bad for not telling her about the dead they had piled up outside the prison walls when they first found the place; but he knew that would come up sooner or later.

"He's right!" Rick and Glenn both managed to say at the same time.

"It's too much to risk by going over there!" Manuel said softly.

"It's a lot to risk if we don't either!" Maggie said seriously.

Manuel sighed and rubbed his forehead before motioning his hands for everyone to calm down, "alright," he said softly standing tall now. "I'll get Tyreese and we'll get the layout of the prison, we'll go in groups and check out the other end –but we have to do this rationally, carefully. I don't want anyone getting bit or scratched or hell even letting them things lose."

D/C/D/C/D/C

"So we've been lied to this whole time!" Carol said softly as she and Daryl made their way to the training room. They weren't heading over to the other side until the early morning, it gave them all time to decide the plan for when they got there. They couldn't go over there blind –they needed direction for the worse.

Daryl sighed and ignored her slightly, he knew she wasn't nagging but more or less making a statement. He was so angry right now he didn't want to blow up at her so he kept his mouth shut and let her talk for the time being.

"And what was Glenn talking about… there were Walkers when you guys first arrived?" she asked carefully feeling the tension radiate off of him in waves.

Daryl groaned faintly pulling a few arrows from the shelves and placing them in front of him to strap them onto his crossbow.

"Some of them inmates he was talkin' 'bout… they were all dead, piled up outside the prison. Rick asked 'em to burn them all," he said with a shrug. When he heard her gasp he finally looked up at her and sighed. He felt defeated and didn't want to argue with her so he decided apologizing now would be the best thing, "sorry I didn't tell ya," he said carefully seeing a faint smile on her face as she shook her head.

"I'm not mad if that's what your worried about," she said softy hugging herself. The look on his face was surprise and relief which she was grateful for, she didn't like arguing with him.

He wanted to smile but held back as he continued to set his crossbow up and gather more arrows. They had no idea what they were getting into and it was risky to go out there not really knowing what was in store for them. One whiff of their human scent and the Walkers would go crazy. That would be more to risk if they did; the whole group would be in danger then. A gaggle of them all together was powerful –much powerful then all the guns and arrows the group had put together. Daryl wasn't sure if he liked the plan or not but it was all they had right now so he would make sure it played out well for the rest of them.

"Daryl," Carol finally said pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Yeah?" he said holding her serious gaze.

"I want to go with you guys tomorrow to the other side of the prison."

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I enjoyed writing it very much. Reviews would be nice; but if their negative please keep them to yourselves.

I will be getting to my PM's and reviews on the stories I need to catch up on –forgive me for being so behind on everything. I honestly feel terrible for not being on here or Twitter or Facebook (places I keep in contact with a lot of you on).

I'll try to update this again soon; to make up for taking so long this time. Tuesday I have a doctors appointment –"the" appointment that will tell me what day my surgery is and what my cell count looks like. So prayers would be greatly appreciated again, they've helped me so far and I want you all to know how thankful I am for them.

Bless you all! Please let me know what you think! Reviews would be great to see. xox