A quick reminder about these chapters: unless stated otherwise before each story, these stories are all unconnected. There are a few exceptions (the Reckless-verse, Fallen and Risen, etc) but for the most part, these are individual oneshots. Thanks for reading, and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not mine!

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter Thirty Eight: Firestorm

Firestorm.

That was the only word Daryl could think of to adequately describe the situation. The governor hadn't waited for revenge after Daryl and Merle escaped from Woodbury. They had barely been at the prison for twenty-four hours when the governor's people showed up and all hell broke loose. The first screams came from Beth and Axel, who were out in the open prison yard. There was gunfire, and all Daryl could think of was getting to Judith and Carol.

Bursting through the doors and into the sunlight, Daryl quickly scanned the yard. He saw Beth kneeling over Axel with the baby in her arms. Swearing, he raced across the grass to them. Beth saw him coming and didn't fight when he took baby Judith from her arms. He spun around, gunfire filling his ears. Before he could reach the prison gate, a bullet hit his back and he went down. His body instinctively turned, keeping Judith from being crushed beneath his weight. He heard her cry before darkness claimed him, and he prayed someone would find her in time.

Then he knew no more.

"Daryl, just hang on."

Pain exploded in his back, and he groaned and thrashed. Familiar arms gently held him close, and his face was pressed into soft breasts.

The pain worsened, spreading all over his back, and his groggy mind slowly realized someone was digging into his back.

"Carol…" The word escaped his lips like a prayer.

"I'm right here, Daryl."

There was another wave of pain, and he twisted in her arms, crying out again. Then unconsciousness swept over him again, taking away the pain.

Tears rolled down Carol's cheeks as Daryl slipped back into unconsciousness. Across from her, Hershel was digging into the younger man's back to retrieve the bullets left in his body. They had found Daryl and Judith alive, a complete miracle considering they had lost Axel and most of Tyreese's group in the process. Their group had been largely spared, with Daryl's injuries being the worst. When they had found him, there had been no time to stop and assess the situation. Merle and Rick had grabbed the younger Dixon and carried him to the nearest car, with Carol following closely behind and Beth carrying the baby. Most of the shooters had been taken out, but they couldn't stay, not now. So they gathered what supplies they could while Carol stayed with Daryl in the car to monitor his condition.

Once they had left the prison and were a safe distance away, they parked the cars and called Hershel to the car where Carol was holding Daryl. Since there were no tables to lay the wounded Dixon on, Carol had held him against her, allowing Hershel access to Daryl's back. She heard him when he said there were two entrance wounds and no exit wounds, which probably saved his life.

"Got it," Hershel announced, pulling the second bullet out of Daryl's back.

"Hey, we gotta go," Rick said, his mouth drawn in a worried frown.

Grumbling, Hershel stitched the wounds closed as quickly as he safely could. "Carol, do you think you can hold him just like that for a while?"

They both knew there was no way of knowing for how long, but she nodded. She suspected Hershel had underlying motives. There was no promise Daryl would live through this.

Nodding, Hershel slid out of the backseat and moved to the front seat to sit beside Rick.

The car started, and Carol held Daryl tightly as they continued down the road.

"Carol!"

Daryl gasped as his eyes shot open. He didn't know where he was, and the floor he was lying on was suspiciously soft. It took a moment for him to realize he was lying in a bed. His back hurt and his entire body was stiff. He flexed his hand slowly and took in his surroundings. He was in a bedroom, and the bed he was in was large and comfortable, complete with clean sheets. His filthy clothes were gone, but he could tell he was wearing a pair of sweatpants.

The door opened and he instinctively reached for a weapon that was nowhere near him. Maggie poked her head in, and her eyes grew large and round. "You're up!" She lit up and let out a loud whistle. "Carol! He's awake!"

Just a few moments later, he heard footsteps racing toward the bedroom. Maggie disappeared, allowing Carol to step into the room. Daryl gawked at her. She was wearing a white sundress and her face was scrubbed free of any dirt and grime.

"Daryl… Thank God." She moved to the bed, smiling in a way he had never seen her smile before.

"Wha' happened?" he croaked.

There was a glass of water by the bed, and she picked it up, holding it up to his lips. "Drink," she gently commanded.

He obliged, taking a few sips before waving it off.

"You were shot at the prison. We weren't sure you were going to make it." She sat down on the edge of the bed with him. "Hershel was able to remove the bullets and stitch you up."

"Where are we?"

Her smile widened. "We found a farmhouse. It looks like the owners took off when everything went down. There was even a generator, clothes, and some cows wandering around in a pen outside."

He was shocked. "Ya sure I'm still alive?"

"I'm sure," she chuckled. But she sobered quickly. "You've been unconscious for a week." Her hand reached out and gently touched his arm, and he didn't pull away. "I thought… I thought I was going to lose you."

"Well, ya didn'," he muttered gruffly.

"I didn't. And I'm glad."

His eyes closed briefly, and he was stunned when she brushed her lips gently against his forehead. "The hell was that for?"

"I'm just thankful you're alive." The bed creaked as she slid off of it. "Rest." Her hand feathered lightly through his hair.

For once, he welcomed the touch.

Two days after Daryl regained consciousness, Maggie and Glenn were out in the yard in front of the farmhouse, discussing a run into town. Beth and Merle had disappeared, and Glenn was beginning to have his suspicions about the two. He glanced over his shoulder and a smile spread across his face. "Maggie, look." He nudged his girlfriend's shoulder.

On the porch, Carol was helping Daryl through the front door. Her arm was wrapped around his middle and he was leaning heavily on her, but he was standing on his own.

Grinning, Glenn called out, "Come on, Daryl!" He wasn't surprised when Daryl flipped him off. He just laughed.

It was good to laugh again.