AN: I'm going to have Rick let Dale have two days to convince everyone.

Reconnecting With Your In Hell

Chapter 26

Song - Short Change Hero - By The Heavy

I can't see where you comin' from
But I know just what you runnin' from:
And what matters ain't the "who's baddest" but
The ones who stop you fallin' from your ladder, baby

And you feel like you feelin' now
Doin' things just to please your crowd,
But I love you like the way I love you,
And I suffer, but I ain't gonna cut you cus

This ain't no place for no hero.
This ain't no place for no better man.
This ain't no place for no hero
To call "home."

After the terrifying nightmare, Daryl had about his girls being raped and Louis being killed, he decided to go have a little chat with Randall.

Daryl paced the barn like a caged tiger his steely blue eyes staring at Randall sitting on an old wooden chair beaten badly. Get information Rick had told Daryl and Daryl had agreed to the job no one threatens his family. Anger spewed out of Daryl and his fist made contact with Randall's face a sickening crack of bone was heard as Randall hit the floor. Daryl landed another punch and then another, this time harder.

Daryl felt his fists starting to hurt but he didn't care this boy was going to give up his secrets.

Randall spat out some blood on the dirty barn floor. "I told you."

Randall whimpered his eyes were swollen and his nose was spewing blood it felt like it'd been severely broken.

Daryl grabbed the boy and placed the seat back upright. "You told me shit!" Daryl yelled. Daryl turned away from Randall

"I hardly knew those guys I met em on the road." Randall gave the small piece of information hoping to appease Daryl.

Daryl turned his face to Randall his body still faced away. "How many in your group." Daryl shot back.

Randall sat panting and Daryl turned his whole body to Randall. Daryl knew he had to pick up the interrogation a notch. Daryl unsheathed his knife. "No no no no!" Randall muttered fearfully.

Daryl lunged towards Randall slamming the knife down by the boy's leg. "How many?" Daryl spat. Spittle hit Randall's face.

Randall panicked he didn't want to die. "Uh uh thirty...thirty guys."

"Where?" Daryl snarled.

"Uh uh." Randall spluttered but he was being too slow Daryl ripped the bandage off Randall's leg. Randall screamed in pain. "I don't know I swear we were never in one place more than a night." Randall was willing to give Daryl whatever he wanted.

Daryl placed his knife in Randall's wound and dug into it. "Scoutin?" Daryl asked. "Planin on stayin local?"

"I don't know they left me behind." Randall whined.

"Ever pulled off a scab?" Daryl growled.

"C'mon man I'm tryin to cooperate!" Randall pleaded.

"You start real slow at first." Daryl pushed his face close to Randall's looking menacingly into his eyes. "But sooner or later ya gotta rip it off!"

"Okay, okay." Randall had just cracked. "They have weapons heavy stuff automatics. But I didn't do anything."

Daryl was back in Randall's face. "Your boys shot at my boys! Tried to take this farm! And your bastard friend tried to take my daughters! You just went along for the ride, tryin to tell me you're innocent?" Daryl's spittle hit Randall's face again.

"Yes." Randall cried out. "These people took me in not just guys a whole group of them." Daryl got to his feet knowing that Randall was about to give away everything. "Men and women uh kids to just like you people." Daryl was now slowly pacing listening. "I thought I'd have a better chance with them you know." Randall gulped. "But we'd go out scavenge just the men." Randall licked his dry lips his breath quickened. Daryl turned his back to the boy. "One night we found this little camp site man and his two daughters. Teenagers they were young and real cute." Daryl turned slowly towards Randall not liking his tone of voice.

Daryl's eyes were full of hate for this vile young man. "Their daddy had to watch while they." Randall couldn't say the word but Daryl knew what he meant he knew what Randall had done. "And they didn't even kill em after just made him watch. His daughters just left them there." Daryl's body was overflowing with rage. Randall could see he was in trouble.

"But no, no I didn't touch them girls." Daryl knew Randall was lying.

"I swear...I swear." Randall tried to plead his innocence but it fell on deaf ears. Daryl landed a hard kick to Randall's chest followed by a heavy fisted punch.

Daryl felt fury rush through him, his nightmare had been a warning and he'd be damned if he let this son of a bitch anywhere near his family.

Rick was pacing the small porch that covered the front of the shed when he heard Randall cry out, followed by the sound of a scuffle, and the rattling of chains. He'd been listening to Daryl and the kid; he knew what had set Daryl off. He himself was sickened by it. He knew that there was no way that Randall didn't have any part in the gang rape that happened to those girls. He knew too much information about what had happened. Still he couldn't let his friend kill the kid, not like this. He jerked the door opened and pulled Daryl off of Randall and shoved him outside. He didn't bother checking on the kid he just chained the door shut. "You need a break." Rick said.

Daryl didn't say anything as he paced back and forth trying to get his temper under control. "I let that bastard near Naomi." He said after a few minutes.

"He couldn't touch her. She was safe," Rick said.

"I'm gonna to kill him." Daryl said.

"What's really going on?" he asked.

"What'ch you mean?" Daryl asked.

"This ain't like you." Rick said. "Did something happen with Naomi and the kids?"

"What makes you think it was Naomi and the kids?" he asked

"It's always a woman." Rick shrugged.

Daryl thought about it for a few minutes, he though about what Sophia had told him and Naomi how Ed had come into her room and Carol had tried to protect her beloved daughter. Still he didn't think he'd be able to hold this one in it was just too much, too big. "Walk with me." He said nodding at Rick to follow him into the woods. The last thing he wanted was this to be overheard by anyone. Once he was sure that they were alone he told him what had happened to Sophia, what she'd told him and Naomi the night before. By the time he'd finished Rick's face matched his own.

"And Carol tried to stop it?" he asked.

Daryl nodded his head, "Sophia said Carol would always be with her and that Sophia would never be on her own after it happened the first time. I think she tried to run away with Sophia but then this shit happened."

Rick nodded, "And you said that Sophia said he'd moved on to other girls in the neighbourhood?"

"Sophia didn't tell us much about it but yeah." He said. "I really wish that son of a bitch wasn't dead."

"Me too." Rick said. "Sophia she's a good kid she didn't deserve that. Not that anyone does."

"Makes it worse is that it nearly happened again yesterday in the woods when that asshole Avery tried to kidnap Eliza and Sophia."

"I'd be careful with Shane if I was you" Daryl warned the ex sheriff.

"You don't think much of him do you?" Rick asked.

"I think he's a spineless, asshole, prick bastard." Daryl shrugged.

Naomi had woken up to find Daryl gone and she figured that he had gone to talk to Rick and now she was helping Lori sort laundry so it could be done the next day while Beth and Jimmy played with the kids and Chester, her Labrador was getting big none of the group were scared of him aside from T-Dog. She was trying to keep her mind off of what was going on.

"What's the plan?" Lori asked. "We'd all feel better if we knew it."

"Is there are plan?" Andrea asked.

"Are we going to keep him here?" Glenn asked concerned.

"We'll know soon enough." Rick said as Daryl and Shane walked towards the group.

"Boy there's got a gang." Daryl said seriously. "30 Men. They have heavy artillery and they ain't looking to make friends. They roll through here, our boys are dead, and our women... they're gonna - they're gonna wish they were." He moved to stand next to Naomi and wrapped an arm around her.

"What did you do?" Dale asked.

"Had a little chat..." Daryl said showing his cut right knuckle.

"No one goes near this guy." Rick said seriously.

"Rick, what are you going to do?" Lori asked her husband worry in her voice.

"We have no choice, he's a threat... we have to eliminate the threat -"

"You're just going to kill him?" Dale asked appalled.

"It's settled." Rick said. "We'll do it today." He then walked away.

Naomi walked with Daryl and noticed that he looked pale and there were dark rings under his eyes, he looked like hell.

"What's wrong Daryl?" Naomi asked him softly.

Daryl looked at her then and swallowed "I had a dream last night, bad one, I was in the barn with Louis, Rick and Carl, Hershel, and Glenn and Jimmy and we let Randall go and Randall he lead his group back here and Randall's group they were all there and they killed Shane and Dale, and brought you and the others in ... And one of the men said "Randall since you lead us here you get to have first pick."

"And he picked you Ni and I was handcuffed along with the others to the wall and Randall, he raped you and there was nothing I could do Ni, I was yelling trying to get to ya, the kids were crying and after Randall finished one of the other guys picked Sophia and she cried daddy please hep me and there was fuck all I could do and Randall he picked Eliza, Louis he couldn't handle it and he said please kill me and they shot him in the head, our boy Ni our little boy and I just couldn't take it anymore and I told them to kill me" Daryl ended tears falling down his face.

Naomi didn't say anything for a moment and then noticed his bloodied right hand and sighed.

"Come on lets look at your hand Daryl" she said and lead him to their family tent so she could tend to his hand.

They made their way to the tent and Daryl sat down on their cot while Naomi pulled out a bucket from a cupboard and filled it with water from a bottle on the on the suitcase. She then grabbed a cloth and started to soak it.

Daryl came up beside her and she grabbed his hand, placing it over the bucket and drizzling water down over top of it. She dabbed the wounds on his knuckles with the cloth, but as the water started to wash the blood away she was relieved to see that most of it wasn't his at all.

"Nothing is going to happen to me or the kids Daryl ok, I promise" She assured him.

Daryl wrapped his strong arms around Naomi and stroked her soft high cheekbones.

"I love you Naomi and I love the kids and Chester" Daryl told her.

"I love you all too Daryl" Naomi told him softly.

Dale made his way towards Naomi and Lori who were sorting through clothes for the winter. "Can I talk to you ladies?" Dale asked hopefully and both women nodded. "It's about Randall." Dale continued.

"No!" Naomi snapped making Dale jump back slightly. "That boy deserves what he gets." Naomi's voice was rough and harsh. "He and his group are a threat to our group."

Dale's eyes flicked with emotion. "But he's just a boy." Dale protested pleadingly.

Lori snorted. "His group attacked our people." Lori's voice was filled with as much hate as Naomi's.

"He can't be held accountable for his group." Dale pleaded with the women. "Think of what example this is setting for the kids."

Naomi heard Daryl's footsteps behind her. "I'm thinking of my kids old man." Daryl angrily said. "That sick kid and his whole sorry assed group need to be killed." Daryl's fists were balled tightly at his side and his jaw was clenched tightly. Dale knew he wasn't going to win the argument.

"I'm sorry." Naomi looked at Dale's soulful blue eyes. "I need to protect my family." Dale shook his head and walked away briskly muttering under his breath.

Naomi and Lori and the rest of the women were in house entertaining the kids and Chester was playing with a chew toy, Carl and Louis had given him while the men had gone to see if any of Avery and Randall's group had been along the property.

Naomi was trimming Eliza's long black hair while Sophia chatted to them; everything was peaceful until they heard Andrea screaming at Lori upstairs.

"SHANE WONT EVEN LOOK AT ME YOU BITCH ALL HE EVER GOES ON ABOUT IS LORI THIS AND LORI THAT AND IS THE BABY MINE, I'M SICK TO FUCKING HELL OF HEARING MY BOYFRIEND TALKING ABOUT YOU!" Andrea screamed at a shocked Lori whose back was facing the steps.

"Andrea please calm down. " Lori tried to calm down the enraged blonde but it was too late, Andrea shoved Lori down the stairs, a look of absolute terror flashed across Lori's face as she flung out her arms towards her stomach to protect her unborn child.

A loud crash made them hurry to the main hallway and the sight that they saw made Naomi's stomach drop.

Lori had fallen face first down the stairs, her body lying limply on the floor, blood staining her jeans.

"Kids stay in the living room, Beth, Patricia get Lori upstairs" Naomi said quickly and the two women helped Lori up the stairs and Naomi turned to Maggie.

"Maggie radio Rick and tell him exactly what's happened, and stay with the kids while I go get the supplies" Naomi told her hoping that what had happened to her mother wouldn't happen to Lori.

Maggie grabbed her right arm "Naomi what's happening to Lori?" she asked fearfully.

Naomi looked at her with haunted dark brown eyes, "Lori's bleeding badly and from what I can tell, the baby probably got hurt if we don't get her the medical supplies, number one she could go into early labour or number two miscarry the baby" Naomi explained.

The kids then appeared "Mom we'll be fine and please be careful" Eliza said hugging her mom along with Sophia and Louis.

"I will be back as soon as I can guys" Naomi promised and she hurried outside her machete tapping against her thigh lightly from the leather sheath and she had her two guns strapped to her thighs in the holsters.

Naomi got into a black Volvo and drove down the road towards the town.

Daryl and the others had been in luck and had found warm, clothes and warm clothes for bed, and ammo and medical supplies, he had found a silver charm bracelet and had put on a arrow with the capitol D next to it and two flower charms next to Eliza and Sophia's first names and a guitar charm next to Louis's name and for Chester a, small dog charm and for the kids he had gotten them small butterfly knifes and ordinary toys for them, he had gotten two dolls for Eliza and Sophia and for Louis a small child's crossbow seeing as they wanted to know how to defend themselves and black rucksack each for them.

Daryl was brought out of his thoughts when he heard Maggie's voice on the radio.

"Hello Rick its Maggie listen Andrea pushed Lori down the stairs and Lori and the baby are in trouble and Naomi went into town to get supplies hurry" Maggie's voice cut off the transmission.

"Alright people lets go" Rick was trying to be calm but Daryl knew he wasn't and they hurried to the jeep.

Naomi drove down the deserted road thinking about Lori. She needed to get those medical supplies and quickly. Naomi glanced down at the passenger's seat momentarily looking at the map and as her eyes looked back up at the road Naomi let out a scream. A walker had stumbled into the middle of the road and Naomi's car hit the geek at full speed.

The walker went flying in the air and landed roughly on the floor Naomi's car went speeding off the road it flipped and spun through the air the only thing that stopped the car was a large tree. Naomi let out a small weak groan as she tasted blood and her world went black.

Daryl and the others got back to the farm as quick as they could and saw that Beth and Jimmy were waiting for them on the porch.

"Thank god you're all here Lori's in real bad shape and she won't stop bleeding, dad, Lori she thinks..." Beth sobbed for a moment "She thinks she's losing the baby and oh god, Andrea she's gone insane, Maggie's keeping her away from the kids while Patricia's trying to save the baby" Beth ended shakily.

Without even speaking Hershel, Rick and Shane hurried into the house while Daryl followed, the kids hurrying towards them, Chester guarding Andrea.

"We have to wait for Naomi to get the medical supplies we don't have them here" Daryl heard Hershel explain to Rick.

"Hold on dad, Beth and me found them in the truck" Maggie called out and she gave them to her father, without hesitating Hershel followed by Rick and Shane hurried up the stairs.

"Something was wrong Naomi should have been back hours ago" Maggie said worriedly while Daryl sat down and the kids were upstairs having given them their presents.

"Maybe Naomi got eaten by Walkers hopefully" Andrea's bitter voice sounded from the other side of the room where Chester watched the woman like a wolf, his black fur in hackles.

Hershel came down the stairs then along with Rick, "Lori and the baby are fine but it was a close call so she's resting" he told the group who let out sighs of relief.

Beth glanced at the grandfather clock then it was nearly midnight, "Guys, shouldn't have Naomi have been back now?" she asked worried and everyone aside from T-Dog, Shane and Andrea panicked.

Daryl's body was in panic mode Naomi had been gone too long he felt deep down in his gut that something wasn't right. Daryl looked at Rick. "I'm gonna find Naomi." Rick just gave a small nod and Daryl grabbed his crossbow and revolver.

Naomi woke her head hurt and her body ached. As Naomi opened her eyes she was met with a snarling walker trying to push its rotting face into the car. Naomi gasped and then grabbed her machete from beside her and burrowed it deep into the walkers head. Naomi used all her strength to pull herself from the wrecked Volvo and started walking down the road her movements were lopsided and jagged. Naomi heard a groan and a wheeze as another walker lurched at her.

The walker lunged and the movement threw Naomi off balance she fell to the ground. Naomi pulled her trusty sword up and as the walker lent down to bite Naomi the machete was rammed through its brain.

Naomi pulled herself up panting roughly. As Naomi started staggering down the road again as a familiar motorbike came speeding towards her.

Daryl slammed on the brakes he knew Naomi's outline but he knew that her movements were just like a walkers slow limp movements. Daryl jumped out of the car. "Naomi?" Daryl whispered his throat was tightening by the second.

Naomi stopped blinking at Daryl. "Daryl." She whispered breathlessly. Daryl breathed a sigh of relief and grabbed Naomi looking at her cut and bruised body.

"Ya alright Ni?" Daryl asked her seriously.

"I'm fine Daryl really, I need to go into town and get Lori the-"Daryl cut her off.

"Lori's fine and so is the baby all ok and Rick wants to have a group meeting about Andrea and Randall" he explained to her as she got on the back of his motorbike.

"Thank god Lori and the baby are ok" Naomi said gratefully as they drove back to the house.

In no time at all they were back at the farm, aside from having bruises and a cut lip Naomi was in the clear.

Right now they were having a meeting to discuss what to do about Andrea, the kids were all tucked in bed.

"She's becoming emotionally unstable for gods sake Rick" Naomi said worriedly.

"What do we do?" asked Glenn concerned.

"We make sure that Andrea is never left on her own and keep an eye on her" Daryl said firmly.

Rick nodded and glanced at Dale "You've got another day to persuade people to let Randall live Dale" he told the older man.

Everyone left after that and Daryl and Naomi made their way to their tent, the kids were playing checkers with Jimmy and Beth while Chester slept next to them his tail twitching slightly.

Daryl began to take off his dark blue shirt, wincing in pain, Naomi noticed though.

"Here" she said softly and pulled off his shirt leaving him shirtless, showing his scars from his father's hands, and belt.

"Thank you" Daryl said feeling content and that made Naomi smile.

Naomi started taking off her own shirt, when Daryl helped her pull it off leaving her in her black vest top and purple bra.

"So Rick's given Dale another day to persuade the group to let Randall live?" Naomi asked as she tossed off her boots and socks.

"Yeah seeing as what happened today, do you agree with killing him?" Daryl asked her seriously his wolfish blue eyes meeting Naomi's beautiful soulful dark brown eyes.

Naomi sighed as she sat behind him and spoke as she rubbed his back.

"I don't want Randall to die, believe me I don't, but sometimes we have to make the difficult choice and this is what I believe do what you have to do to protect our family Daryl even if it means killing him" Naomi told Daryl soothing his worries.

Daryl sighed "You know me so well Naomi" he told her kissing her forehead.

Naomi smiled "And you know me so well Daryl, being here with you and the kids and Chester makes me feel whole" she told him honestly.

"You and me both Naomi" he told her cupping her face as he kissed her.

Daryl wrapped his arms around her body he pushed his body tightly into hers. Naomi could feel Daryl's erection digging into her back and her body tingled all over. "I love you." Daryl gruffly whispered moving his hands to cup Naomi's breast Daryl kissed her neck and Naomi melted in Daryl's hands. Daryl spun Naomi to face him his eyes glowing with love and lust.

"I need you now." Daryl's raspy voice made Naomi feel like she was about to explode with a million emotions. Daryl walked Naomi backwards unbuckling her belt, as they moved Naomi's jeans fell to the ground and Daryl pushed her to the cot. As Daryl unbuckled his own jeans his eyes never left Naomi's body. Daryl moved his body on top of Naomi's and entered her both of them groaning and hissing in pleasure at the feeling of one another's bodies meeting.

"Oh, Daryl!" Naomi gasped as Daryl picked up his pace inside her every thrust pushed her closer to pleasure.

"Baby." Daryl grunted in Naomi's ear sweat ran down his strong muscular back, as he thrust harder and deeper.

Naomi threw her head back and let out a loud moan of pleasure as she climaxed. It wasn't long before Daryl's body gave in to the immense pleasure and he poured himself into Naomi. Daryl and Naomi lay together in the cot their bodies untwined together.

This ain't no place for no hero.
This ain't no place for no better man.
This ain't no place for no hero
To call "home."

Every time I close my eyes, I think,
I think about you inside,
And your mother, givin' up on askin' why -
Why you lie, and you cheat, and you try to make
A fool outta she...

I can't see where you comin' from,
But I know just what you're runnin' from.
And what matters ain't the "who's baddest," but the
Ones who stop you fallin' from your ladder, cos

This ain't no place for no hero.
This ain't no place for no better man.
This ain't no place for no hero
To call "home."