Here is another little chapter for y'all. Hope you enjoy it...cause shit's getting ready to hit the fan in the next chapter! LOL! ALSO, TY to those of you that nominated myself and my stories for the CARYL Fanfic awards. Voting has started, so please, if you like my stories, please go vote for them. You can vote at www dot thecaryldaily dot tumblr dot com/voting.

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Several hours had passed and so far the fences were holding. Sunset was quickly approaching and the herd was still moving slowly along the road. It was one of the biggest herds they had seen since leaving Georgia and even before that, only one super herd about the same size had been seen there. It was almost as if they were migrating, moving on an unknown path in the quest for flesh and blood.

Daryl had taken to pacing the loft, every once in a while glancing out the large window towards the road and then scanning what part of the treeline they could see. Bags were packed and waiting for those that would be going out looking for Rick, Beth and Judith once the herd was gone. Merle, Tyreese, Chad, Glenn, Michonne and Bob sat in a circle on the floor with a map in the middle of them, marking the places to look that would be close by. Being that the herd would still be close, they had decided it was best to stick together instead of splitting up into pairs. It would be slower going, but safer for those involved.

Azha got up on her knees behind Merle, looking at the map the others were using. Seeing the place they were talking about, she reached across Merle's shoulder, pointing out an area, "This way might be safer and quicker. It runs along the marsh, but it'll keep you out of sight of that herd and bring you in just behind the house."

Eyeing her, Merle smirked and whispered in her ear, "Get ya nice ass 'round here, darlin', and show us."

Azha crawled around Merle and let out a little yelp when he pulled her into his lap. Her cheeks reddened and she gave him a look of annoyance before focusing back on the map, "Here..." she pointed to the area she was talking about. "If you go along this way you'll have the marsh and inlet on the one side and the woods hiding you as well."

"But if that herd has spread out we'd be trapped," Michonne said looking up at the woman.

Azha shook her head, "No. If you want, I can troll the inlet in that boat we brought back, that way if there is a problem y'all ain't cut off. You'd just have to cross over the marsh and with it being low tide right now, it'll be a little easier to navigate too."

"Could work," Chad said. Looking over at Merle, he raised his brow, "I can go with her, cover y'all if'n I got ta. Those walkers get out there in that puff mud they'll get themselves stuck. Just need ta make sure y'all's asses don't get stuck too though."

Chewing his bottom lip, Glenn nodded, "It can work, guys. That place as a dock too, so as long as Azha and Chad stick around it with the boat, we could make a run for that if we have to."

Michonne nodded and then asked, "And if Rick and Beth aren't at that house? We still have to check the others. A few we can't get too until the road is clear."

"These two have docks," Glenn said pointing to the map. "This one, it doesn't, but Maggie and I found a road through to this property here." He showed them on the map and then looked around at everyone, "It'll keep us off the main road at least."

"Think we got a plan y'all," Merle drawled out and then looked over at Daryl. He hated seeing his brother so tense and upset and then looked back at the others, "Get' ya shit together. I'll get Daryl on board with this. But we need ta get our asses out there before somethin' happens ta that baby."

Azha moved from Merle's lap and he got up, going over to his brother. Coming in front of him and blocking the path he'd worn in the hay, he eyed him, "Get ya shit together. Got us a plan."

Daryl could see Merle was serious about this and nodded, going over to his pack. Slipping it on, he then got his quiver and crossbow. His brother stood next to him, doing the same and slipping a handgun into the front of his pants, "Whatever happens out there, Rick's mine."

Merle checked the blade on his prosthetic and smirked, "Wouldn't have it any other way, baby brother. Fucker needs ta pay for pullin' this shit." Seeing Carol get up, Merle whispered, "Need ta make ya peace with ya woman too...just incase."

Daryl looked up as Carol walked over to him and Merle moved away, going to Azha. Waiting as she came up to him, his hands went to her waist, bringing her in closer and not caring who saw. Looking into her pretty blue eyes, he released a breath and pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her. Holding her close, he closed his eyes, his lips near her ear whispering, "You and the kids stay safe, ya here? Don't ya go down that ladder until Ty, Carl and Bob check ta make sure it's clear."

"'Kay," she whispered back. "Stay safe...and come back to us."

"I will," he mumbled and then kissed the side of her head. When she pulled back and looked up at him, he nodded and then lowered his lips to her's in a soft kiss. Cupping her cheek, he then looked into her eyes, seeing both fear and sadness in them. Raising his brow he breathed out, "I'll be back...so will Asskicker. Got my word."

Carol nodded, knowing in this world anything could happen. Letting him go, she held onto his hand, "I love you."

"Love ya too," he said and then looked over as his brother whistled to him. Giving her hand a squeeze, he then released it, heading over to the ladder and going down. He didn't look back at her, his heart already hurting enough at the thought of Judith being out there amongst the herd.

The group slipped out the barn, sticking close to it until they darted back towards the woods. Azha and Chad split off from them, heading towards the dock they had been using to get the boat into position. They had at least two hours before they would loose light and need to hold up for the night. Michonne led the way, her sword drawn and moving both silently and swiftly. Daryl followed at her heels, his crossbow armed and a the ready. Glenn and Merle trailed just behind them, both men occasionally checking behind them to make sure no walker's had slipped in behind them.

They encountered only a small handful of walkers as they came up to the treeline behind the first house they would be checking. Once they were taken care of, the four ducked down, watching as the herd continued to move. There was enough tree debris in the yard to be able to hide them from view, but they still needed to be careful. Daryl had a good view of the side of the house where the car had been that Chad had told them about. It was gone, but with the rain the night before the ground was soft and he could barely make out from their position the direction the vehicle had gone.

"Ain't gonna find 'em here. Car's gone. Took off that way," he said pointing in the direction of one of the fields.

Glenn shook his head, "How the hell are we supposed to catch up with them then? If they drove out of here, they could be long gone by now."

"Fence is down on that pasture," Merle said, squinting and then looking at his brother, "He could have cut across to the next farm, be hold up there. House is brick, be safer then this place."

"The dock," Glenn said hurriedly, his eyes going over each other them. "Azha and the boat, she can get us there. That's the other place I was saying had a dock."

Merle nodded, raising his brow, "Also go a couple out buildings we can hide out in too. Best get movin' before it get's dark on us. Ain't got much light left, 'sides, need ta get Azha and Chad off the water before it gets to dark."

Everyone began to move back into the cover of the woods, heading for the dock. Daryl's chest tightened as he thought of what they might have to do to get Judith back. Rick had been his friend, his brother, for a long time until the fall of the prison. Even when Rick had abandoned his kids, Daryl had held back. There would be no more holding back now though. He was done with Rick's bullshit and putting everyone Daryl loved and cared for in harms way. Rick would learn the meaning of true family one way or another.

Sitting on the floor of the closet with Judith in her lap, Beth flipped on the flashlight and pulled out a bottle from the diaper bag. They had been held up for hours in the house, Rick making them stay in the closet until the herd passed. They would leave out, making their way west, and finding themselves a new home where they could be safe, happy, and live as a family. The door opened and Beth looked up, giving Rick a small tight smile as she gave Judith her bottle.

She could see how tired the man was, how he seemed withdrawn. Adjusting Judith so she was more comfortable, she finally broke the silence, "Are they still out there?"

Rick crouched down, his eyes staying on the floor and barely nodding. He was still shaken up from their escape from the farm with Judith. The herd had been the perfect distraction they had been waiting for, but Rick still felt regret in his heart. He had once again left his son behind.

Rubbing his face with his hand he breathed out softly, "We'll stay here for the night, then try to head out in the mornin'. Got enough gas in that car to get us out of South Carolina at least if we're lucky."

Beth smiled, putting Judith down on the blanket they had found and put in there for her. Moving over to Rick, she cupped his face with her hands, making him look at her, "We have each other, Rick...that's all we need...we have Judith too. We can be a family now like we've talked about."

Rick eyed her for a moment before placing his hands over her and lowering them from his face. Frowning, he shook his head, "Carl was supposed to come with us though."

"Carl made his decision. He chose them people over his own father. Yeah, I chose you over my family, but that's because I love you, Rick. It was time for me to get out from under daddy's wings. I'm almost nineteen now, not some nine year old little girl." Leaning in, she kissed him lightly and smiled, "Rick, you have me and Judy...we both love you. You'll always have us."

Rick gazed into her eyes and then nodded before slipping his arms around her and bringing her close to his body. Kissing the top of her head and then laying his cheek against her soft strands, he closed his eyes, whispering, "I can't loose either of you, Beth. I...I just can't...I won't make it if I loose you two also."

Both the sound of the walkers outside and the stench that seemed to follow them wafted into the house through the vents. They had almost gotten used to the smell, but sometimes it still made their stomach's turn. Pulling a old rag from his pocket Rick gave it to Beth, "I'll see if I can find one for Judy too. Stay here. I need to check the rooms anyways." Handing her his knife, he then gave her a faint smile, "I love you."

"I love you too," Beth replied softly and moved back into the closet and sat beside Judith.

Closing the door back, Rick stood up, taking in a deep breath. He had taken off his boots being the house had hardwood floors and the noise would attract the walkers. Looking out one of the boarded up window's, Rick watched as the herd moved slowly through the yard, the number of walkers like nothing he'd seen before, not even in Atlanta. At the pace the corpses were moving it would be a day or two before they would be able to leave the house and get away safely. But it would also give the others time to organize a search party for them as well.

Pulling the gun from the back of his pants, Rick checked the clip, finding it fully loaded and slapped it back into place. Looking back down to hallway to the closet where Beth and Judith were, his heart rate increased as did his breathing. He wouldn't let anyone take them from him. They were his and he would protect them, even if it meant killing those that they had once been family with.

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