"I ain't happy with it" two hours it had taken them to calm him down, and actually listen without hitting the wall or table. He still wasn't completely calm

"Daryl it's the best idea" he turned quickly getting up from his seat, in Dale's face before he could blink

"Ain't ya fucking partner and baby putting her life on the line"

"Calm down boy " there was no way his brother was going to go with this, if they didn't calm him down

"Fuck you Merle" Daryl got pushed against the wall, Merle in his face

"Get ya shit together here, otherwise ya fuck up and she dies ya got that Daryl?" he waited for him to answer, meeting his eyes with him he repeated his words

"I said ..."

"Heard ya the first time. Fine we do this but she gets harmed one hair on her head and I am taking it out on you" Merle walked back hands up in the air

"Boy if she gets hurt ya won't have to take anything out on me would already have done it myself"

"So now you two boys have finished playing at manning up are we doing this?" Carol watched him come back next to her, the sulky look he had on his face, made her want to just hug him.

"Love you, sweetheart, got you and Merle looking after me nothing can go wrong. I trust you both so much" she spoke for his ears only,his arm pulled her tight to his side, the fear leaving him, how could he doubt himself and Merle, things would be ok they had to be.

Dale watched them, he had never seen Daryl act like this with another person never mind a woman outside the family, the love he had for her, was wonderful to see. His heart warmed that both his boys were settling down, with one already expecting a junior Dixon.

"Right Carol, you are heading back with me to the farm, Daryl and Merle you follow in the truck but then head towards the north face. Andrea, you will be safe in the RV with Glenn and Maggie.

Rick and Michonne are hidden within the woods along the lane, and Shane is back up at the front of the property. Right we leave here in half an hour. Give you enough time son to tell your woman how to protect herself, even though you know full well you will be near" Daryl reddened as he nodded at the others before taking Carol's hand in his, pulling her up to his room. He had half and hour and he was going to use it.

"Daryl come on not now" he was on her the minute he shut the bedroom door, his lips on her neck his hands undoing her jeans

"Yes now! Need be inside ya, want to mark you so badly baby" with that his mouth sucked her neck his teeth biting, as he left his mark, should Beth get close enough to see it, she would flip, it was what he was counting on.

"Damn you Dixon" she couldn't resist him, undoing his jeans she pulled him out, within moments he was deep inside her, taking her against the door, it was quick and hard, as he released his seed not long head on her shoulders, his fingers inside her, helping her to climax, loving how she clinched around him. He finally let her feet hit the floor, as he helped her get dressed.

"When this is over you and I are spending some time here on our own, ain't taking no for an answer woman" he finished sorting his pants out then kissed her softly, her hands running through his hair, moving the bangs from his eyes

"I know you aren't happy with this Daryl but I trust you to get me out if she turns up"

"No if's , she WILL darling, once she knows you are on your own she will find you. I ain't to proud to say I'm scared, all it take is one bullet"

"Daryl all it takes is one arrow" they both held each other for the time they had.

Watching Dale drive her away was tough, he ached to take her back hide her away from it all until it all went away. Yeah he was getting soft, his pa would beat the shit out of him if he knew, who cares he was loved and that was all that mattered.

"She will be ok ya know mouse is strong"

"I know" he swung the truck towards the north face, heading down the old mountain track, it would take them around 3 hours to make the journey to Carol's on this route, to Daryl it was 3 hours too long.

Beth felt tired, her head swam with the madness running through it, all her thoughts coming at once, it was too much to take. She felt as if a door had been open to allow a flood of emotions to run through her. Falling to her knees, she scraped the hard dirt, trying to scratch the surface, the tiny stones getting under her finger nails, yet the pain was nothing to what was in her head. Had she really killed her sister? Ed? Glen? Who was this person?, no she was doing right they were in her way, yet did they deserve to die?. Throwing her head back she screamed like the wounded animal she was, looking at her bloodied hands, these now belonged to a murderer. Not the little girl who use to take hurt animals to her daddy begging him to fix them, make them well. What had she become?. It was Carol's fault! if she was gone, all these thoughts. Madness, insanity would leave and all would be good again.

Rising to her feet she headed back down to the lane, it had taken her hours to attempt to find Daryl's place, he had hidden it well, she gave him that. No way was she giving up, for tonight she would bunk down in the barn at Carol's farm, she knew who was there, when she left this morning. The evening was drawing in the sun setting, the dusk moving into darkness, she hid along the tree line, moving in to the small barn. Hearing a vehicle pull into the drive, she peered out of the small window, what was she doing here?. Looks like Carol had come to her, without her realising it, she saw Dale climb from the vehicle, he would be easy to get rid off. Then the object of all her anger, all her hate, would be on her own. But where was Daryl? Moving a little more to the open door, she bent down seeing if she could pick anything up

"Do you think they will find her?"

"Daryl is a good hunter and tracker, they will find Beth by morning, the footprints headed towards the north face" she heard the unlocking of the door, and the words fading as they headed into the farm-house. So Daryl was tracking her, stupid all of them, they had played right into her hands.

"Are you sure it was her?"

"Yes, caught a shadow at the door" Carol looked towards the barn then back at Dale, her hand moving to protect her child.

"I can't do this Dale"

"Honey you can, Daryl and Merle will be here in a few hours"

"What if we don't have a few hours?" Dale helped her to the sofa, trying to get her settled, knowing she would only do this if Daryl was here.

"He will be here, have faith Carol"

"I'm scared"

"I know honey, you are doing so well. Tell you what go have a hot bath relax and I will get you a tea. Daryl said the baby loves tea" Carol held her hand out a smile on her face

"How did you..." she shook her head "Daryl" she mouthed

"That boy is so excited about this little one, and he loves you so much Carol. He has a big heart, but with the Dixon's once they give their heart that is it, they love for life" she felt warm at his words,her hand rubbing her stomach

"You hear that lil asskicker daddy love us both"

"You're good for him Carol so good, I am glad he has found you, Now come on you go get that bath and I will do the tea" locating her bathroom he offered to help her run the bath, Carol declined she wanted time to think about Dale's words, and how things would be with her and Daryl once this was all over, she hoped it would be sooner than later, as she was missing him already.

Merle heard his phone go off, pulling it from the pocket he read the text, his blood running cold.

"Shit" he slammed his fist on the dashboard, without asking Daryl knew something had gone wrong

"What?" his heart in his mouth could he accept the answer to his question

"How long till we get to mouse?" Daryl looked at him wondering, then it clicked

"Fuck she's already there?" the nod confirmed the answer "too fucking long" hitting the pedal he pushed the car faster

Rick and Michonne had received the same text from Dale, it would take them 15 minutes at the most to reach the farm. Anything could happen in those minutes, especially if she still had the gun.

Carol felt cold, even though she had taken a hot bath, reaching for the large bath towel, she wrapped it around her. Heading into her room she quickly change into a vest top and yoga pants, an unsettling feeling ran over her, her skin prickled with awareness, things were not as they seemed. Her phone was flashing on the side where she had placed in earlier, flicking through the ten messages and voice mails, from Merle she knew it was all about to come to an end. Swallowing she moved to the hall not daring to call Dale afraid of the answer she would not get. Creeping down her stairs she walked down the hall towards the kitchen, hating that she felt unsafe in her own home. Beth and Ed had done this to her, made her feel scared, frightened and unsure within her safe haven as she called it. Walking into the kitchen she saw Dale sat in a chair his back to her, very softly she whispered his name, nothing. Her feet felt like she was walking in glue as she moved across the floor, her mind screaming for Daryl, for Merle for anyone, yet as she looked up towards Dale, she peered straight into the cold eyes of Beth. Carol knew they would not get to her in time. Daryl's words and fears came into her thoughts she should have listened to him.