Chapter 37

As we walked inside Rick had called everyone for a group meeting. Apparently as they were leaving town yesterday a man had jumped them. His name was Randall and he was only a little older then myself.

"He has a group. We'll do what we have to…." Rick started.

"You mean kill him?" Dale said.

Rick didn't answer. So basically that was a yes.

"You can't be serious?! He is a human being! Just like you and me." Dale said.

"His group raped a bunch of teenage girls! You want that to happen to Elena, Andrea and the others?!" Rick said.

I looked up. Dale looked at me.

"That doesn't mean we have to kill him! Just blindfold him or something and take him far away so he can't get back!" Dale said.

Daryl came over and put his arm around me. I leaned into him and Dale looked at Hershel.

"Hershel you can't agree with this!"

"I'll trust what Rick thinks. If this is what he thinks is best…"

Dale looked down. As he walked out he looked at Daryl.

"You're right. This group is broken."

I looked at Daryl.

"What is he talking about?" I asked.

"I was pissed off after Sophia….I didn't mean it." He said.

I looked around at everyone. Rick held my gaze.

"Elena you know this is the only way."

I looked at Alex and Beth, and Maggie and Glenn. I looked back at Rick and shook my head.

"No. No! Dale is right! He is a living, breathing person! If we kill him we may as well be the monsters we call walkers!" I said.

After I had said my piece I left. I walked outside to the RV and found Carol and Dale. They looked up at me as I walked inside.

"Elena….I never said how happy I am for you and Daryl." Carol said.

"Thank you Carol." I said.

I sat down on the counter and Dale looked at me.

"Please tell me you don't agree with them." He said.

I shook my head.

"No Dale I don't. I don't feel anything for that man but it doesn't mean that it's right. We may as well be walkers if we kill him. I'm not saying Rick isn't thinking about the safety of the group but there is a better way." I said.

Dale smiled at me. He had become as a sort of grandfather to me. I could trust him. However what Carol said next shocked me.

"I heard what his group did. They are the walkers." She said.

I looked at Carol in disbelief. She got up and walked out. I tried to go after her but Dale grabbed me and shook his head.

"Let her go. She is still upset."

I nodded and then walked out. I saw Daryl, Shane, and Rick go to the shed where they were keeping Randall. I ran after them and as I approached I heard angry voices. I stood outside and listened.

"My guys don't take kidnapping lightly!"

This had to be Randall. He didn't sound very threatening.

"Ye jumped us dipshit! Ain't considered kidnapping if ye started it." Daryl said.

I smirked.

"How many people are in your group?" Shane asked.

I didn't stick around to listen. I walked across the field and found Carol by the graves. She was standing there staring at Carl's retreating figure. I ran over to her.

"Carol are you alright?" I asked.

She didn't answer. She turned and walked away. She was pulling away from the group and there was nothing I could do. I sighed and looked at Sophia's grave. I was glad she wasn't here to see her mother fall apart. As I walked away I thought about what life was like before all of this. How I became the woman I was and still am. The Lone Hunter although now….I wasn't so alone. I had Daryl and my brother and this group. But at what cost? The world was gone. Even with Daryl and the others…I couldn't let go of all I had lost, all the friends I knew to be dead. I heard laughter behind me. I turned and looked at Alex and T-dog teasing Glenn about the mark on his neck. They looked happy, like nothing had happened. I smiled and walked over to them, Halfway there I was distracted by Rick, Shane and Daryl coming out of the shed. There was blood on Daryl's hands. I ran forward and looked at his hand. Then I went to the entrance of the shed and saw Randall. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Elena?"

I held up my hand to stop him.

"Don't! Just don't!" I said.

Daryl's POV

She was sexy when she was mad. Ain't gonna lie. She looked at me with those blue eyes and they were filled with disappointment and anger. She walked off and I followed her into the woods.

"Elena stop!"

She turned and glared at me.

"What!? You want to explain why you beat the shit out of him?!"

I winced a bit. Woman could shout.

"I only wanted to protect ya. And yer brother. He threatened all our safety until we started hitten' em! Ye think I'll risk yer safety fer' one man?!" I yelled.

"There was no reason to be him that much!" "Look who's talking! Coming from the woman who once backhanded me for threatening her little bro!"

Elena's POV

He had a point. I had done that. And that was only for my brother. Daryl had beat that man for the whole group. I put my hands on either side of his face and kissed him. When I pulled away he pulled me right back. Pushing me up against a tree and kissing me harder.

"I love you Daryl. I love you so much and I don't want this group to lose it's humanity. Especially you and Alex. You're the only family I have." I said.

He looked at me and held my face in his hands. He rested his forehead against mine and his hands dropped to my shoulders. I put one hand on his face and stroked his cheek.

"I know you did what you did to protect me and Alex and this group…..but next time you do…..don't become one of those monsters. Listen with your heart. I know you have one."

He laughed and kissed me again.

"Next time try not to look so damn sexy when yer mad. Hard to keep my hands of ya." He said.

I laughed and smacked his arm.

"Ya wanna play rough?!" He said.

I smiled and ran full speed towards the others. I almost made it before Daryl grabbed me and we fell to the ground. I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard.

"Ye can't outrun me darlin'." He said.

"If I wanted to I would have." I said.

He smiled and kissed me.

"Yo! Get a room!"

We looked over at T-dog. I smirked and sat up. Daryl looked at me seriously.

"Rick's made a decision." He said.

I knew what it was. I knew Rick was going to kill Randall. I lay back on the ground and closed my eyes. It wasn't right….but if it was for the safety of the group, then I didn't know how to argue.

"If yer gonna get mad again I won't do it. I won't go with them." He said.

I opened my eyes and looked at him. He wasn't looking at me. I sat up and put my arms around him.

"You do what you know is right. I will support you. Even if I do not agree with it. Listen with your heart. I love you." I whispered.

"I love you." He said.