Chapter 26-Taken

It was only a few hours after the group had left the farm. The sun was setting as they went down the road. Daryl drove the truck with the cargo trailer they found in Fayetteville. Alicia was in the passenger seat with Charlie, Lizzie, and Dean in the back. "Where are we going?" Lizzie asks.

"Shane said that there was a truck stop of route 16 near Griffin. I'm hoping we can find a semi there and then go into Griffin," Daryl says.

"Who's gonna drive the semi?" Dean asks.

"T-dog, Jim should be able to drive the bus by now," Daryl says as Merle pulls onto the side of the road. They all pull over and turn off the truck. Daryl gets out of the truck and walks up to his brother.

"It'll be dark before we get anywhere," Merle says. Daryl nods. The group starts to come out of the cars. "Let's get the cars around us," Daryl says to the group. Some of them get back in the car and drive them in a circle around everybody. Daryl looks around.

"Let's have four people on watch at all times. Carol, Morgan, Sam, and Andrea will take the first watch," Shane says. The four people nod as they walk around the car to the outside of the barricade they made. Daryl looks at the sun.

"I would say we have about an hour until dark," Daryl says. Merle nods, agreeing with him. "I'm gonna go on a hunt. I won't be too far," Daryl says. Merle nods as Daryl walks past the cars and goes into the woods. Daryl walks through the woods and stops when he sees a track on the ground. He starts to follow the tracks. He follows them for about ten minutes. He stops when he sees the deer he was tracking being eaten by a walker. He sighs as he raises his crossbow and shoots the walker in the back of the head. He walks up the walker and pulls out of the bolt as a twig breaks behind him. He gets ready to turn.

"I wouldn't do that," The man behind him says. "Drop the bow," The man says. Daryl throws his bow to the ground. "Now the knife and gun," The man says. Daryl pulls out his knife and gun and throws them on the ground. "Hatchet," He says. Daryl throws it.

"Happy now, asshole?" Daryl asks.

"On your knees and put your hands behind your head," The man says. Daryl gets on his knees and does as the man says. The man comes up behind him, and zip ties his hands together. He makes Daryl stand up. He grabs Daryl's weapons, puts them in his bag, and then puts the crossbow around his back. He presses the gun up to Daryl's back. "Walk," He says. Daryl walks forward as the man directs him through the woods. They walk for about ten minutes when he sees a small cabin. He sees an Rv by the side as the man leads him up the steps. "Open the door," The man says. He waits a few moments when a younger man opens the door and lets them in. The man sits Daryl down on a chair. There were three men and one woman. "His group has a convoy just outside the woods. There were a lot of them. At least over 30," The man says.

"Damn," The woman says. Daryl looks at them.

"Name," The man who took him says. Daryl just watches him.

"Untie me, I'm not gonna run, and you have my weapons," Daryl says. The man in front of Daryl looks at the other man, who nods. The man unties Daryl.

"I'll start. I'm Derek Morgan," Derek says. He had a bald head and black eyes. "Your turn," He says.

"Daryl Dixon," Daryl says.

"I'm Aaron Hotchner, the younger man here is Spencer Reid, and she is JJ or Jennifer," Hotch says.

"I don't assume you'll give me my weapons," Daryl says.

"That would be right," JJ says.

"Then why the hell did you take me?" Daryl asks.

"There was a lot of you, and you and the other man seemed to be the leaders. Where are you heading?" Derek asks.

"Up towards Tennessee, Howard Lake," Daryl says.

"What is in Howard lake?" Reid asks.

"A house remote. We're going to turn it into a community," Daryl says.

"We'll talk more, you're people won't search for you in the dark, but they will in the morning," Hotch says. Daryl nods as he sits back, knowing that trying anything right now would be suicide.

With the group

The sun had set by now as the group sat around a fire. "Daryl still isn't back," T-dog says.

"We know, but there is no point in searching for him in the dark. We'll just be tripping over each other," Rick says.

"He'll find somewhere safe to ride out the night, and we'll find him tomorrow," Shane says.

"What if a walker got him?" Beth asks.

"Then we do what we have to," Glenn says. They nod

"I'll take watch," Shane says as he stands up. He walks to the other side of the cars and over to Sam and Andrea.

"I'll take over," Shane says. They nod as they head back inside. Shane leans his back against the truck and pulls out his gun as he watches the woods. "You better not be dead," Shane says as he watches the woods.

The cabin

Daryl sat there as they made food. "The Rv," Daryl says. Reid looks at him. "Does that Rv work?" Daryl asks.

"Yeah, that's what we drove here," Hotch says.

"Nice to have that when all this is done," Daryl says.

"What makes you think that?" JJ asks.

"This goes two ways. One you join us or tomorrow, my group finds me and kills you. There are four of you, and 37 of us give or take a few kids," Daryl says.

"And if I kill you right now and leave?" Derek asks.

"I would hope they would continue to Howard Lake, but my brothers have some bad temper," Daryl says.

"Brothers?" JJ asks.

"One in blood. The rest are still family," Daryl says.

"Sounds like you're close," JJ says.

"Most of us have been together since the beginning," Daryl says. "I would like to see them, so let's not do anything stupid," He says.

"You said one of our choices is to join you. We kidnapped you," Derek says.

"You were making sure we weren't a treat. I can't blame you for that. I would do the same thing," Daryl says.

"How do we know this offer is real? Your group could shoot us the second we step into your camp," Hotch says.

"We don't kill people who don't deserve it. We killed a group earlier today. They almost raped two girls, and they killed her father," Daryl says.

"I agree with you. Those men deserved to die. How many people have guns in your camp?" Derek asks.

"All of us. Even the kids, we wouldn't risk a gunfight one of our own is pregnant," Daryl says.

"She's bringing a baby into all this?" Reid asks.

"What's the point in surviving if after you don't live?" Daryl asks. "We want a life," He says.

"Give us some time to talk," Hotch says. Daryl nods as they grab plates and puts the beans on them. Reid holds one out to Daryl, who grabs it.

"Thank you," Daryl says as he starts to eat.

"How much food do you have?" JJ asks.

"Enough to last this group a few months. We just came from a farm. We have horses and chickens," Daryl says. "After we get to the lake, we hope to find cows and pigs. The man we found his name is Hershel. He was a farmer, so we plan on growing our own food as well," Daryl says.

"Do you just pick up anybody you know across?" Reid asks.

"So far, nobody who has wanted to join us was crazy," Daryl says.

"How do you know we aren't?" Derek asks.

"I'm not dead, and Reid gave me food. Nobody who is crazy or has lost who they were would have done that. I have to believe there are good people left in this world," Daryl says.

"So do we," JJ says. Derek looks at them and pulls out Daryl's knife. He holds it out to Daryl, who grabs it.

"You'll get your other weapons when we leave," Hotch says. Daryl nods as he holsters his knife.

The Group

It was well past midnight as Shane sat against the truck holding his gun. He hears footsteps as Madison comes over and sits down by him. "You okay?" Madison asks. Shane looks at her and shakes his head.

"He can't be dead. He can't be dead," Shane says.

"We don't know if he is," Madison says.

"I hate the waiting. I want to run into those woods and find him," Shane says.

"Alicia does too. She won't say it, but I can see it in her eyes. She cares about him," Madison says.

"She has for a while," Shane says.

"He's okay," Madison says. "I'm going to bed. You should do the same," Madison says. She kisses Shane's cheek and goes inside the camp. Shane nods. He sits there for a little bit. He hears footsteps and turns as someone goes into the woods. Shane stands up and grabs the flashlight that he had beside them. He sees the shine of their light as he follows them. He follows the light until they stop. They turn once they see his light.

"Alicia? What the hell are you doing?" Shane asks.

"I was looking for him. Charlie asked me what I think happened. What am I supposed to tell her?" Alicia asks.

"I don't know, but if we get lost too. It won't help anybody," Shane says.

"I can't wait," Alicia says.

"You can stay up with me, and at first light, we'll go. If he is dead, Charlie can't lose you both," Shane says. Alicia sighs but nods and follows Shane back to the truck, where they both sit down.

The cabin

Daryl looked outside and could see it would be less than an hour until first light. He turns around as Reid wakes up. He looks at Daryl. "I expected you to be gone," Reid says.

"I wouldn't leave during the night, and Derek is outside making sure I don't leave," Daryl says. Reid nods as he stands up.

"Do you have any kids?" Reid asks.

"I got a kid I'm taking care of, Charlie," Daryl says. Reid nods as the others start to wake up.

The group

Shane and Alicia stand up as the sun starts to rise. They walk into the woods and could see well enough as they start to follow Daryl's track. They stop by where Derek took him. "Someone when down here," Shane says as they start to follow the tracks leading towards the cabin. Shane pulls out his handgun as they get close. He sees Derek on the porch. He aims his gun at the man as they get close. "Where is he?" Shane asks. Derek looks at him and moves for his gun. "I'll kill you," Shane says as Alicia aims at him.

"Daryl, I think you have some friends out here," Derek says. Daryl opens the door and comes out.

"Hey, it's okay," Daryl says as he comes down the porch. Alicia drops her gun and runs up to him, and hugs him. Daryl hugs her back. Alicia pulls back and kisses him. She pulls back quickly after.

"Sorry, I didn't me-" Alicia starts to say when Daryl interrupted her with a kiss. He pulls back.

"It's okay," He tells her. She nods as she hugs him again. Daryl lets him go as Shane comes up and brings him into a bear hug.

"Don't ever do that again, you son of a bitch," Shane says. Daryl hugs him back.

"Sorry, I got kidnapped," Daryl says. Shane looks at Derek. "Meet Derek Morgan. The man who took me," Daryl says.

"Sorry, we couldn't be too safe," Derek says. Hotch, JJ, and Reid walk outside.

"They're joining us," Daryl says.

"They took you," Alicia says.

"Let's call the Rv a sorry," Hotch says. Shane nods.

"I'll get them back to camp in the Rv. We'll meet you there," Shane says. Daryl nods as he leads Alicia back to the camp. They walk out of the woods.

"Daryl," Merle says as he comes over and hugs his brother. "Where's Shane?" Merle asks. The others come over.

"Bringing the new people," Daryl says. Merle looks at him, confused. Charlie comes over and hugs him. "Hey, sweetheart," Daryl says. Charlie just holds him. "Let's get ready to leave," Daryl says. The others nod as they slowly move towards the car. Daryl gets in the truck and pulls out, and gets on the road. After the cars were on the road, Daryl heard the Rv. He walks to the back and sees Hotch driving. "You can meet everybody when we stop again," Daryl tells them. He nods as Shane gets out and goes to the bus. Daryl goes back to the truck and leaves.

Thanks for reading. The Criminal Minds Characters are here. I might introduce more later. The chapters leading up to the lake will be gathering supplies and getting people for the most part. I would like to hear some new ideas for the Criminal Minds characters, such as pairings and other stuff. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.