Sorry for the delay of posting a new chapter. Been busy with real life and all. Not enough hours in a day sometimes.

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**WARNING: LANGUAGE & 2 CHARACTER DEATH's! You Are Warned**

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own any of The Walking Dead characters and I'm NOT making any money off of them! I only claim the characters I created for this story (Kim Monroe, Jim & Anna Gibson, Leslie Peters, Max & Seth, Clint Dixon).

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The sun was just starting to set when Carol finally emerged from the room that Kim had been placed in. Daryl and Leslie had been sitting on the floor just outside the room, waiting on word about her ever since they'd finished lunch. The young girl had eventually laid down, her head resting on his lap and had dosed off. He didn't have the heart to wake her just yet, not until he at least talked with Carol.

She came over to them, sitting down to the left of Daryl and sighed, "She's sleeping. Gave her a sedative so she'd rest and I got her on an IV for her dehydration."

Keeping his eyes down on Leslie as she slept, he whispered huskily, "How bad is she?"

Taking in a deep breath, Carol looked at him, "Pretty bad. None of her cuts needed stitches which is good, we cleaned them and point some antibiotic ointment on them. I also treated the rope burns and wrapped her wrists and ankles. She's severely bruised on the inside of her thighs and her breasts." Biting her lip, Carol looked down and then breathed out, "There was also evidence of anal rape too."

Daryl released a breath and clenched his jaw, fighting back the anger that coursed through him. If Leslie's head hadn't been laying in his lap he would have been on his feet pacing. But, all he could do was sit and fume, "Should've let the walkers tear the fuckers ass limb from limb while he was alive."

"Daryl, it wouldn't have changed anything. We have to deal with the hear and now. Kim's going to need you by her side with this...but, it's not going to be easy. There is a chance she could regress even more...or even not want anything to do with any man, yourself included. We don't know what her mental state will be like now." Releasing a breath, Carol placed her hand on his, giving it a squeeze, "What's important is that she's alive and safe here. You're gonna have to be patient with her until we know what's going on. She might snap back to herself even, it's hard to say. Just remember what I said though, be patient with her. Also, no sudden moves and don't baby her."

Taking in the information, Daryl nodded slightly, "I told her I love her this mornin'."

A small smile formed and Carol gave his hand a squeeze, "That's good that she knows, Daryl. I know that was something hard for you to tell her."

"It's true though...I do love her. I couldn't stop thinkin' 'bout her when I was out there. She was in my mind all the time," he said with a sad tone to his voice.

Raising her brow, Carol caught his eye, "That's what love is, Daryl. When all you want is to be with a person, respect them, treat them as an equal, protect them, make them happy. It's a wonderful feeling to love and be loved."

Nodding, he looked back up at her and then back down, his cheeks reddening some, "She said she loves me too."

Carol's smile grew at his shyness and she gave his hand a final squeeze before letting it go and standing up, "You two go sit with her. I'll come in later and check on her again, but...if she wakes up, I need to know. Send Les to find me, okay?"

"I will." Looking up at the woman, Daryl reached for her hand, "Thank you, Carol."

Closing the distance between them, Carol knelt down, and gave him a hug, "You're welcome. Now go take care of our girl in there."

Waiting until Carol had left them, Daryl then looked down at Leslie and gently shook her shoulder, "Les, time to wake up. Gotta go see your momma."

Leslie's eyes opened and she took in a deep breath. Lifting her head and looking confused for a moment, she then realized where she was and nodded at Daryl. He stood up and offered his hand and she took it, standing up and then dusting herself off. Following him to the door, she peered inside as he pushed it open and then went in. Hesitantly, she followed, her eyes going straight to Kim. Seeing her for the first time since she'd been brought back, tears began to prick her eyes and she went over, placing her hand onto Kim's. "Mom?"

Moving a chair over for Leslie to sit next to Kim, Daryl looked down at his woman, "Carol gave her somethin' to make her sleep, Les. But, I heard tell once, that even if someone is sleepin' like your momma is, they can still hear ya. She might not answer ya, but you...you talk to her. That way she knows you're here."

Looking up at Daryl as he gazed at Kim, Leslie then looked back down at her, "What are you gonna do?"

Looking around the room and seeing how bare it looked, he took in a deep breath and then shrugged, "Thought I'd go get your momma's stuff, bring it in here for her. When she wakes up she might want somethin'. You be okay here with her?"

Biting her lip, Leslie sat down, and moved the chair closer, "Yeah. Can I stay in here tonight too? I want to be here if she wakes up."

Placing his hand onto her shoulder, Daryl adverted his sights to her, "Yeah ya can. Think she'd like that. Ya want me to bring you anything?"

Shaking her head, she looked back up at him, "No, I'm good."

"'Kay. I'll be back in a little bit then. If your momma wakes up, Carol need ta know right away." Heading to the door, Daryl looked back at them, and then lowered his eyes. He hated seeing Leslie so sad and Kim messed up like she was. Opening the door, he headed out, giving the mother and daughter some privacy.

Leslie's eyes stayed on Kim, her eyes taking in the damage to her face and arms. She didn't have the heart to look under the blanket, not wanting to bring back her own demons. Leslie knew first hand what Kim had gone through and tears formed in her eyes. Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she sighed, "I was scared when Oscar and Max came back sayin' you were missin'. They said Daryl and Glenn went lookin' for ya. Rick wouldn't let me go help find ya, said it was too dangerous."

Releasing a breath, her tears spilled down her cheeks and she lowered her sights to their hands, "You never let me give up when I was brought here. You stayed with me, just like you promised. You didn't push me and still don't. I know what your goin' through though. I went through it too...and it's scary." Biting her lip, she looked back up at Kim's sleeping form, "But you got people here that love ya like I do. Carol, Rick...and Daryl loves you a lot. Like daddy did. I know it's hard to fight sometimes, but you need to now."

Wiping at her tears with her free hand, Leslie breathed out, "You need to fight all this, momma. You told me when I was so scared that I couldn't let that guy beat me...now I'm tellin' you the same. Don't let him beat you...you're stronger then that. I'll help you momma, I'll do like you did for me, okay?" Unable to hold back any longer, a sob left her lips and Leslie leaned over Kim, her head resting on her chest as she cried. "I love you...please don't leave me..."

Carol silently closed back the door, her own tears running down her cheeks. She hadn't meant to interrupt, she'd just came back to see if she'd left her sweater in the room when she overheard Leslie when she opened the door. Leaning against the wall, Carol looked up at the ceiling and closed her eyes, her right hand going to the cross necklace that adorned her neck, "Please...if you're listening, help them get through this. Give them the strength they're gonna need." Reopening her eyes, she looked back at the door and then released a breath as she turned, heading back towards the common's area.