A/N: Because you guys are so quick and amazing to review and support this story, I thought you deserved this chapter right now! Hopefully I'll upload the next one on Monday or a day or two after that but this one is just a one-off bonus for you guys! It's very eventful in terms of storyline, Season 4 episode 8. You'll see what the split will be like as we go into the second half of season 4 and how I'll write it.

Thanks to everyone who supports this story, including my faves and follows: , jwugetmoney. Also my amazing reviewers:

Ryane: Haha what appropriate music choices! Also two good songs. I hope you enjoy this chapter, it's Governor time!

Kylo Ren Emily Skywalker: Right?! Boy needs to get his head together, but you know our man Rick, he's got a lot on his mind and he's slow to process his feelings.

Guest: Welcome! and Thank you! Well you'll see what actually happens! She's in two minds about it because a) Carol is like a mother figure to her but on the other hand she murdered two people, regardless of her intentions.

- Angels and Douchebags

I couldn't believe it. In fact I refused to, it had to be some kind of sick twisted joke.

"I don't believe you." I stared blankly at Rick.

"I'm not making this up." Rick said calmly. Clearly he was expecting this reaction from me.

"Rick. Carol, sweet Carol is not capable of murder." I said in denial.

"Pol." Rick said exasperated.

"I can't believe that. I don't want to. She's not gone." I whispered my voice wavering.

"Why did you send her away?" I said in an accusing tone.

"Once Tyreese found out, he would've killed her. You know he would have, this way I thought they could all be safe." Rick defended.

"But David and Karen..." I trailed off shaking my head. No, I couldn't imagine it, Carol killing them then dragging their bodies and burning them in the courtyard.

"She would've done anything to stop the infection from spreading." Rick added.

"I left her with food and supplies, she got a car and plenty of gas to keep her going." He said quietly.

"Carol's not capable of-of well..." I couldn't bring myself to say the word.

"We're capable of anything when we're desperate." My mind flash backed to when we arrived at the Greene Farm and when I had shot Otis, when Shane threatened to expose my secret.

But no one had blackmailed Carol, she did it of her own volition. Because she thought she was helping. Rick's words stayed with me when he left the cell.

Carol was like a mother figure to me. I went to her for advice, she understood my abusive past. Only she truly knew, having been a survivor herself. And now she was gone.

"Pol!" Carl's cheerful voice entered my cell as the young boy tackled me in a hug.

"Hey buddy!" I smiled at him ruffling his hair.

"I'm so glad you're okay." He pulled apart, sitting on the bed beside me.

"I'm glad to see you after a few days! It feels too long, how have you been? How's Judith?" I asked eager to see the baby.

"Yeah I'm okay. She's sleeping at the moment." Carl said.

"I thought you were gonna die." Carl said quietly, I stopped running my hand through his hair and looked at me next to me.

"Hey." I turned his face towards mine.

"Nothing is gonna take me away from you guys. Okay. And I definitely wasn't going to let a flu take me down." I smiled at him as Carl smiled back.

"I'm just so happy you're fine. I gotta go help dad but we'll talk more later!" Carl gave me one last hug before leaving my cell.

His visit left a smile on my face. I was glad he could still retain his innocence as a child and he looked lighter, happier. He had momentarily let me forget about Carol. Stupid, stupid Carol, my face became downcast once more. Why did you do that? I allowed myself to cry for her departure, the joy and energy in me was gone and Carol leaving left a hole inside me.

After fixing my face I left the cell block and went outside in the courtyard with my CD player.

I sat out on the bench listening to the music on full volume with my Lord of the Rings book. The sun danced against my skin, allowing me to forget slightly our troubles and losses.

This was a crazy bad dream. I tapped my foot to the best as the soft electric guitar filled my ears. Carol was no longer with us, I just hoped wherever she was she would be safe.

Radiohead's Creep sounds super appropriate right now. I watched Daryl walk out into the courtyard and make his way over to me.

"Hey." He said sitting up on the table beside me.

"You're okay." He said it as a statement as I took my headphones off to look at him.

Slowly I put my arms around his shoulders and rested my head in a side hug. Daryl being Daryl patted my back as I let go of him pushing the hair back from his eyes.

"I'm glad you're okay too." I smiled.

"About Carol." I started.

"It sucks." Daryl said simply as I nodded.

"Whatcha listening to? And readin'?" Daryl changed the subject, his eyes focusing on the CD player.

"Oh here." I gave him one side of the headphone as we stuck our heads beside each other.

"Radiohead. Cool." Daryl nodded as he listened to the music.

"And I'm reading Lord of the Rings." I explained showing him the back.

Daryl gave me a disgruntled look. "Yeah I know it's not everyone's taste. But it's mine." I defended as Daryl smirked slightly.

"I know." He said quietly.

"Hope you idiots brought my baby back?" I checked raising an eyebrow.

"Your BMW is fine, bits of Walker on it though." Daryl shrugged.

"What?" I snapped my head around so fast I almost gave myself whiplash.

"We were surrounded, had to hack them through the window." Daryl explained.

"Oh great." I groaned.

"We're okay too." Daryl pointed out.

"Yeah, yeah but I don't really care about you. I care about my car." I shrugged dismissively shooting him a smile.

We sat there side by side as friends who were grieving. I felt guilty that I grieved more for Carol and her actions than the deaths of David and Karen.

Did that make me a bad person? Maybe, but the lines of right and wrong were blurred together. Carol crossed one by killing them, but I still missed her.

"I haven't seen Michonne yet. Or Hershel, is he okay?" I asked Daryl after a while.

"Yeah she's just dumping the bodies out. Hershel was fine when we reached y'all. Sure he's around somewhere." Daryl shrugged as I nodded.

"Okay." But I couldn't shake the feeling of unease.

I looked outwards towards the field, watching Rick and Carl tend to the crops. The food and supplies Rick and Carol found on their run was a stroke of luck. The crops were also coming in, we had good potato and tomato plants, meaning we had a long term supply of food.

But as much as the prison had saved us, we had lost so many people now that it was starting to feel less like home. Maybe that was just the nature of the way we lived now, losing people in more than one way. Maybe we just had to live with it now.

"When did you say Michonne headed out?" I asked Daryl who was bobbing his head along to the music.

"I dunno, maybe an hour or so ago. Why?" Daryl asked turning towards me.

"An hour? Seems like a long time." I grounded out looking at Rick and Carl's smiling faces.

"Well it's a lot of bodies. Burying them will take time." Daryl said.

"Okay."

"What is it?" Daryl asked.

"I don't know. I can't put my finger on it." I looked out along the field. The sun was high in the sky, it was just past midday and it was peaceful out here.

"Come on. We deserve a win." Daryl nudged me.

"I know, but since when does anything ever go our way?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"You know. You're kinda bumming me out." Daryl complained making me laugh.

"I kinda exploded at Rick." Daryl dropped the headphone as I paused the music.

"Yeah?"

"When he told me about Carol, I thought. Well I thought he shoulda waited till we got back." Daryl explained.

"Yeah. I think it was rash, his actions. His heart, as always in the right place. But maybe he shoulda waited." I agreed with the archer.

"Lizzie and Micah." I sighed.

"We'll look after them." Daryl nodded at me. I looked over at the field seeing both Rick and Carl no longer there.

"Where did they go?" I asked.

"Rick said he was gonna tell Tyreese." I winced at Daryl's words, who knew how he would handle that.

Suddenly there was a big explosion sound, enough to make me and Daryl jump up from the bench. We ran over the edge of the courtyard fence, seeing the others already there. There were at least 10 cars lined up along the perimeter of the fence, with large guns attached.

"Get back!" Rick shouted pulling out his gun, he ran out with Tyreese as we all stood watching.

"Rick! Come down here. We need to talk."

We all knew that voice. Dread passed through my body as I looked fearfully towards Rick. He was back. We had all hoped that we would never see that unpleasant man again. Maggie and Beth looked shocked beside me as I took my gun out of the holster.

"It can't be." I whispered.

"It is." Rick's jaw clenched as he looked out towards the field. He was breathing heavily from the running. And I could feel his nervous energy.

"It's not up to me. There's a council now. They run this place." Rick shouted just as loudly back to him.

"Is Hershel on the council?" The Governor stood atop a large tank, with his hands on his hips.

My blood ran cold at the mention of Hershel's name. There were a number of men and women holding machine guns, pointing them straight at us. I looked at all of their faces, they didn't seem like killers. So how on earth were they following that men.

One of the women holding a sniper gun, reached into a red car and pulled out Hershel looking distraught and terrified. Maggie gasped and placed a hand over her mouth, Beth holding her arm as they looked on in horror.

"What about Michonne?" I almost stopped breathing. My heartbeat quickened faster than I could handle and I stumbled back slightly. No. Not Michonne. Out of the same car came Michonne, hands tied before her back.

Michonne and Hershel were helpless as they were lowered to their knees, at the mercy of the Governor.

"I don't make decisions anymore!" Rick called out.

"You're making the decisions today Rick."

Daryl placed a hand on my back steadying me, for which I was extremely grateful for. I needed it.

"Come down here. Let's, have that talk." The Governor paused.

I looked at Rick's face, seeing the gears turning in his head. We wanted to avoid a confrontation with the Governor, particularly as he held the upper hand in the situation. Rick nodded at Daryl decidedly placing a hand on Carl's neck affectionately.

"We can do this." He said quietly to his son. He began walking away as I jogged up to him, standing in front of him.

"You can't stop me." Rick said firmly.

"I know. I just- letting Carol go must have been hard for you. And I believe you think it was the right decision to make. We believe in you Rick, you can do this."

I placed a hand on his cheek, his beard grazing my skin. I pulled his face down gently and reached up, planting a soft kiss on his cheeks. My lips prickled from the hair on his face, I pulled back and the look in his eyes was barely discernible. It was as though he couldn't react and nodded, giving me a slight smile. I watched him walk off across the field.

I re-joined the others standing behind the fence. Sasha was giving me a look which I purposely avoided. He was bringing them back, I knew he was. They would be safe, I believed that.

"Don't worry guys. He'll get them back." I said to the rest of the group who remained silent.

I held my breath seeing him approach the outer fence perimeter. He was one man facing down the numerous cars and weapons. I believed in him, but I was sure as hell afraid for him right now.

"We can't take all of them on. We'll go through the admin building, through the woods, like we planned." Daryl whispered quietly.

"We ain't got the numbers no more. When's the last time someone checked the stash on the bus?" he asked.

"The day before we hit the Big Spot. We were running low on rations then, we're lower now." Sasha stated dismally.

"Yeah we'll manage. If things go south, everybody head for that bus." Daryl instructed.

"What if everybody isn't on it when things go bad?" Tyreese asked the dreaded question.

"How long do we wait?" he continued.

"As long as we can." Daryl said.

We watched beyond the field trying to make out the conversation between them, it was barely heard but I could make out some of it.

"Let them go. I'll stay down here. Talk as long as you want, but you let em go." Rick said in an authoritative tone.

"You got a tank, you don't need hostages." He reasoned.

"I do. And this is just to show you I'm serious. Not to blast a hole in our new home. You and your people have until sundown to get outta here, or you die." The Governor threatened.

"He'd kill us anyways." I said venomously to the others.

"It doesn't have to go down that way." Rick pleaded.

"I got more people, more firepower, we need this prison. There it is. It's not about the past, it's about right now." The Governor emphasised.

"There are children here. Some of them are sick. They won't, they won't survive." I could hear Rick's voice wavering and my heart bled for him. I wanted to be by his side, be his support.

"I have a tank, and I'm letting you walk away from here. What else is there to talk about?" There was a smile on the Governor's face.

"I wanna stick my knife in that smug bastard's mouth." I spat out angrily.

I helped Daryl move the bucket of machine guns over to where Bob was.

"You should get on the bus." Daryl said as I gave him a look.

"Worth a shot." He handed me a machine gun as he offered it to the others, hoping no one else would notice either.

"I could shoot you all. You'd shoot back I know it. But we'll win, and you'll be dead." The Governor posed calmly.

"I could aim for his head and shoot him right now." I growled angrily, remembering what he did to Maggie. How he was responsible for Andrea's death.

"Too risky." Maggie said.

"Yeah I know." I muttered.

"Like I said, its your choice." The Governor said.

Gunshots echoed out into the field, extremely loud that reverberated all the way back to us. He shot walkers down.

"The noise." Daryl said gruffly.

"We gotta do something." Carl said from beside me.

"You're dad's got it." Daryl also aimed from his machine gun.

"They're talking. We could kill the governor from right now." Carl moaned.

"As tempting as that is kid, I agree with you but I'm a little disturbed that came out of your mouth." I glanced worriedly over at Carl who rolled his eyes.

"You might end up startin' something else." Daryl, the voice of reason spoke.

"Wait shh, what is he saying?" My ears perked in disbelief.

"There's enough room for all of us." Rick spoke across the field.

"We wouldn't have to see each other until we're ready, we could live in different cell blocks." Rick negotiated.

"That would no way work." I scoffed slightly to myself.

"You know it could." Hershel joined, turning around to the Governor.

Whilst it was idealistic they believed that, there was no way the Governor could co-exist with us, not after everything that happened. No. I could never accept him after what he did to Andrea. And to Maggie.

"I know. But they're trying to find a peaceful option. It's better than the alternative, us all shootin' each other." Sasha said.

"Not after Woodbury. Not after Andrea." The Governor shook his head. Shocking, something we both agreed on.

"Look, I'm not saying it's going to be easy. Fact is, it's gonna be a hell of a lot harder than standing here shooting at each other. But I don't think we have a choice." Rick exclaimed sadly.

"We don't. You do." He said simply.

"We're not leaving." Rick held his ground. We couldn't leave, who knows if we would ever find another sanctuary, another home like this again.

"We'll fight back. Like you said, the gunshots will just bring more of them out. They'll take down the fences and without the fences this place is worthless." Rick's voice was thick with emotion.

"Now, we can all live in the prison, or none of us can." Rick gave his ultimatum to the Governor. I couldn't see their expression on his face, but I knew it was one on anger. He was thinking over Rick's offer. In a sudden move he jumped off the tank and marched towards Hershel. He draw Michonne's katana and held it to the vet's neck.

"No." I whispered, cocking the gun back and taking the safety off.

I could hear Beth and Maggie's sobs from beside me as they watched their father, helpless. I looked in worry towards Hershel. No, I couldn't lose anymore people today. Hershel's eyes were downcast and his expression was one of sadness.

I held my breath, watching the scene unfold as the blade was pressed towards his neck. Rick paced back, his expression everywhere. He began pointing at the other men and women standing with the Governor.

"Is this what any of you want?" He turned his accusing finger at them, close to sobbing.

"What we want, is what you got. Period. Time for you to leave asshole." An arrogant asshole on the tank rested his arm on top of the machine gun.

"Look I fought him before. And after, we took in his old friends. They've become leaders in what we have here. Now, you put down your weapons and walk through those gates. You're one of us." Rick addressed the man.

I looked at the other men and women, sharing worried glances between each other and suddenly came to a realisation. These people were not killers. Hell I don't know how he found them, but he must have deceived them about us. I could see from here that they were having doubts, which meant Rick's words were working.

"We let go of all of it and nobody dies. Everyone who's alive right now, everyone who's made it this far. We've all done the worst kind of things, just to stay alive. But we can still come back, we're not too far gone. We get to come back. I know we all can change." Rick said passionately.

I fought the smile on my face. There was my leader. The man I followed. Right there. I thought back to what I had done to Otis, a couple of years ago now. What Carol had done to Karen and David - things we did to stay live.

His passionate speech seemed to have resonated with the Governor, who began lowering Michonne's katana. I looked over at Maggie and Beth who had hopeful smiles on their face. But it was short-lived. He swung the katana and landed it into Hershel's neck.

I lowered my gun from the shock. A pool of blood appeared on his clothes as he fell, his head hit the ground. Dead. I couldn't move, tears streamed down my face, as we all mirrored expressions of grief. Maggie and Beth cried out, sobbing violently at the sight before them.

"NO!" I heard Rick's shout followed by rapid gunfire from his gun. He injured the Governor on the shoulder before running back to us.

It was mayhem. The sound of rapid-fire machine guns filled the air. Snapping out of what had happened, I begun firing in the direction of the Governor, on the other people who were firing at us. My mind was still reeling over Hershel, I was in disbelief over what had happened.

Maggie and Beth let out cries of anguish and begun shooting at the men. Rick rolled behind the turned over bus, as though he had been shot.

In a horrific move the Governor swung the katana down into Hershel's neck who attempted to crawl away, he continued hacking until the head was separated from the body. I almost threw up gagging at the sight and cried. There were bullets flying everywhere, I ran over to Beth and Maggie both crying and shot furiously into the tank with them.

"Beth come on." My voice was shaky as I pulled them away from the fence and behind one of the buildings. The tank had knocked down the outer fence, cars were driven into the fields.

Rick. He was still there.

"I'm out of ammo!" Beth called out.

"Me too!" Maggie said dropping the gun.

"Run for the bus! I'll cover you!" I shouted.

"Are you crazy? Get to the bus!" Maggie shouted.

"I can't leave Rick." I shot more bullets aiming for the tyres of the cars.

"Go. I'm sorry." I looked at her tear-stricken face and my heart broke. They both ran towards Sasha and Tyreese who were shooting from behind an armed car.

"Get out of here! Get people onto the bus!" He called out to Bob and Sasha who ran. I joined Tyreese behind the car, shooting out into the field.

"Pol go!" He shouted.

"Rick's still out there!" My eyes scanned the field but it was utter destruction. He was nowhere to be seen. Tyreese and I backed up as the tank headed for the fence surrounding the courtyard. It broke through as we ducked behind the tables were we usually ate.

"Where's Daryl? Carl?" I asked him.

"I don't know. Maybe they made the bus!" I backed up Tyreese who reloaded. We heard a loud engine roar as we watched the bus drive out.

"Well shit." I cursed.

We had another round of gunfire on us.

"Move!" Tyreese pushed my back as we ran away from our position, a man and woman were firing furiously on us as we dove into the shrubs. The bullets were around us as Tyreese shielded me with his body. Suddenly the gunfire stopped and we looked up.

Lizzie and Micah were standing there with their guns pointed out, the woman and man now on the ground. I helped Tyreese up off the ground as the familiar growling sounds began filling the air around us.

A walker stumbled out from the open hole in the fence, snarling towards us.

"We gotta get out of here." Tyreese spoke to Lizzie and Micah.

"What about Rick?" I asked looking out towards the field.

"We need to hope he's making it out. But we gotta get the kids out of here. You understand that don't you?" Tyreese looked at me earnestly.

As much as I hated to admit it, he had a point. The kids were defenceless, but Rick I could trust to handle himself. I hope. But where was Carl? Michonne? I just hoped they made it out on the bus. I'm so sorry Rick. I looked apologetically out into the field.

"Yeah, let's go." I followed Tyreese with Lizzie and Micah, who led us over to Judith in the baby basket.

"I got her." I picked her up and wrapped her inside my jacket, she was crying through all the mayhem and destruction. I pressed my lips to her forehead, feeling the sobs wrack through my body.

"Sshh, it's okay baby." My voice wavered.

Everyone was gone. We were all separated. Alive or dead I didn't know.

"Pol we have to go. Come on." Tyreese placed a sympathetic hand on my shoulder. I looked at Tyreese, remembering Carol of all people and felt guilty.

"Yeah, let's get out of here." We snuck out of the prison and into the clearing in the woods, killing stray walkers. Lizzie and Micah were close by us, holding guns. I held Judith close to my chest, protecting her as best as I could.

"Tyreese we need to talk." I said as we stopped for a breath.

"About what?" He asked panting heavily.

I inhaled deeply before choosing my next words.

"I know who killed Karen and David."

A/N: Phew! Ended it on a cliffhanger for you, the next chapter is the latter half of season 4, now you guys know she's with Tyreese's group which means meet up with Carol! Also I know this story is first person Pol, but let me know if you want any Rick POVs in your reviews? Even just short snippets in between the chapters. Until next week!