KEZZ 1: Thank you! I only hope I'm doing some justice...

Azuraskye21: You and me both, hunny...you and me both...

The kids stayed to ask a few more questions before Daryl and Merle told them to get to the administration building. They promised to come check in later, staying down in the field rather than come up, and would bring some food for the pair and leave it down with the water. Daryl walked them out, heading up the field with them before splitting off at the courtyard. He went over to one of the faster, more fuel efficient vehicles and checked the battery, oil, and filter. Michonne came out and put her gear down on the trunk of the car before walking up to Daryl.

"Son of a bitch is about a quart low," he informed her, not wanting to deal with the look of concern she was giving him.

"You still keep it in the bottom of tower three?" she asked him, referring to the oil.

"Yeah."

"I'll go get one," she said as she turned around and walked away.

"Hey," he called out to her. "I'm glad you're here."

"Where else would I be?"

Daryl looked down and fiddled with the rag in his hand while he answered, "Runnin' off."

He looked back up to her, seeing her confused face as she told him, "You know I'm not running off." Daryl just looked at her for a moment before looking back down, his face conveying everything Michonne needed to know. "So it's just gonna be me and you like in the old days? How's Ani doing anyway?"

"As good as she can be. And Bob's comin' too. Still, feels like we could use another person."

"Well, who isn't sick?"

"We don't ask Rick. He wants to stay here with Carl and Little Ass-Kicker. Keep 'em safe. Plus there's plenty of stuff he could do here. Merle's stayin' with Ania, so he's out of the question. Ain't leavin' her alone when she's sick."

"So who else we got?"

Daryl thought about it for a moment before heading into the prison while Michonne fetched the oil and filled the car. He walked through the commons and the cells, down to the library, over to the shower. He checked D block and the infirmary before heading down towards A block, finally catching sight of the person he was looking for.

"There you are," he said. "Took me damn near forever to find you. Whatcha doin'?"

"Somebody needs to stand watch. Ain't that why you've got Merle locked up in that tower with Ani?" Tyreese asked as he turned around.

"That's why we went to the tower yesterday," Daryl admitted. "Man, I wanna find 'em too. Put a bolt in 'em for what they did, what they'd a done to Ania. These people are cut off. Ain't no way anybody's gettin' in or out without a whole bunch of people seein' 'em."

"Sasha's in there. I ain't goin' nowhere."

"Standin' guard ain't gonna do no good unless we come back with them meds. Merle's in the tower to take care of Ania, not to stand guard. Got people in there takin' care of Sasha too. We need you." When Tyreese just turned around and looked back through the window into the cell block, Daryl shook his head in frustration and said, "Alright. We're gassin' up by the front gate in case you change your mind."

Walking out of the room, he took the shorter route to head straight into the courtyard. Michonne handed him the oil, but he just put it down and booked it over to the tower. He had to see her one last time before they took off. If something went wrong, if she couldn't hold out, he couldn't forgive himself for not at least giving her a proper goodbye. Taking the stairs two at a time, he moved quickly to the top of the tower and threw the door open.

She was still sleeping, Merle coming in from the balcony, "What's the matter, boy? Watched you book it like there was a fire in your pants."

"Just needed to see her before we left," Daryl told him, not caring if he sounded needy or clingy in the moment.

If Merle had anything to say about it, he kept it to himself as Daryl walked over to the bed and knelt down. Turning to sit on the mattress, he looked at Ania's sleeping form and took in how fragile she looked. Her normally glowing skin was pale and had a sheen from sweat. Her lips were dry and cracking rather than the sweet, plush things they were usually. Even her hair seemed to have lost it's luster as the braids started falling out, leaving a tangled, wild mess in its wake. Running his fingers through the locks, he sigh and bent over.

"Stay alive for me. I'll be back soon," he whispered in her ear, kissing her cheek tenderly before going to get up.

"Daryl?" her weak voice called out weakly.

Turning back to her, he watched as she opened her eyes slightly and looked at him, "I'm here."

"Thought ya were leavin'."

"Gettin' ready to. Just wanted to make sure you were okay, baby girl. Rest up while I'm gone, and don't let nobody talk you into leavin' the tower. Stay here, stay safe," he told her, doing his best not to choke up as he wiped the tears off of her face.

"Ya come back ta me, ya hear?" she said before turning her head to cough.

Helping her sit up, he took note that the cough didn't seem to last quite as long, though it sounded just as bad, "I'll be back before you know it."

After making sure she was tucked back in bed with his poncho under the blanket, he gave her a kiss and told her he loved her. Heading back to the door, he told Merle to help her with her hair if he felt generous before turning back to her. This time, she was watching him leave, and for some reason that made it a little better. Seeing her just laying there earlier had done nothing good for his already frayed nerves, so seeing her eyes watching him walk out gave him more of a reassurance than he could have hoped for. Seeing her there, he couldn't help but walk back over to her and kiss her for everything he had. He knew she couldn't handle too much, but he just couldn't leave without one last kiss. Especially if it was the last kiss.

When he pulled away, he leaned his forehead against hers as her hand came up to caress his cheek, "Go else ya not gonna go."

"Yeah."

"I love ya, D."

"Love you too."

~x~

"Where are you going?" Carl asked Hershel as he and Sophia made their self-appointed rounds around the administration building.

They hadn't wanted to sit around coloring like the rest of the kids. Beth might have been content to do that, but not Carl or Sophia. They'd decided to take watch, going on rounds of the offices to make sure everything was in order. That's why they were out in the hall when they saw Hershel come out the area he'd been isolated in. In fact, Sophia had planned on going back over to the tower to talk to Merle and Ani through the door.

"I'm down here away from y'all 'cause you kids are supposed to stay away from me," Hershel told them.

"We've been walkin' the halls. My dad told us to look out for everyone," Carl told him, the pair walking a little closer to the older man.

"Well, you should keep your distance."

"You're walking towards the exit," Sophia commented.

"I need to go out there."

"To the cell blocks?" Carl asked.

"To the woods."

"So you're sneakin' out?" he asked once more.

"Don't need anyone worrying about me and I damn sure don't want someone tellin' me I can't go," Hershel said, a little miffed that the kids were trying to stop him.

"I can't just let you go out into the woods by yourself!" Carl said, Sophia nodding her head in agreement.

"Let me?" Hershel questioned with a look that clearly told Sophia and Carl they'd crossed a line.

"We can't stop you," Sophia said. "But we can't let you go alone. You have to go with someone!"

"Yeah, I have to tell my dad," Carl agreed.

"Go ahead then," Hershel told them while turning towards the door. "I'll be out there by the time you find him."

"Hershel!" they both called at the same time, moving to catch up to him.

"If you have to go, then I have to come with you," Carl told him.

"And I'm comin' too," Sophia said. "Whatever you need in the woods, Ani and I know where to find it. Since she can't help, I will."

"Carl, Sophia," Hershel said.

"We have to!" they said at the same time.

"Ani's sick and we're stuck here doing nothin'," Sophia told him. "I have to help!"

Hershel looked at the pair before simply sighing and turning to leave. They followed him out into the woods. He had a bag with him while Carl carried his silenced gun and Sophia had her bow. She proved how good she'd gotten with it as they walked, shooting a couple big squirrels and a rabbit. When Hershel asked her if she knew where the elderberries were, Sophia lead him through the woods to the spot she and Ani had been picking the berries. They'd left plenty, only going for specific ones as Ani said that they had to be the right kind of mature for her medicines.

"She used up the supply she brought back making that tonic. We're going through it fast, though," Hershel said as he and Sophia worked on picking while Carl stood on watch. "Did you know she's got it?"

"Yeah, Rick told us before we left the cell block. She doesn't look very good," Sophia told him.

"You saw her?"

"Only from a distance. We went to the tower, but stayed at the door. She could barely speak. The others, they'll get back in time with the medicine, right?"

"Don't you worry about it. Daryl won't let anything happen to Ani, neither will Merle," Hershel told her before addressing Carl. "When did your dad give it back?"

Carl knew he was talking about his gun, which his dad had taken away around the time he'd forced him into being a farmer, "Yesterday, after everything happened."

"You've grown a lot these past few months. The both of ya. There's a responsibility about ya. I think it's done you good to step back, Carl, and you to step up," he told Sophia.

"Yeah, it's alright," Carl said as Sophia just shrugged. "Can't be like that all the time."

"I would have been fine on my own," Hershel insisted. "It's peaceful out here. These last couple a days, we might be safer outside those walls than in."

"No, we're not," Carl said harshly the sounds of a walker could be heard.

Cautiously walking further into the woods, they came across a campsite that was withered and torn. A decomposing walker laid at the base of the tree, Carl watching it in fascination. Hershel declared that they had enough and could go back to the prison as another walker came into sight with a trap on her leg. When he raised his gun to take it out, Hershel called out to him.

"Don't. You don't need to," he said before looking around. "It was so peaceful."

"It was," Sophia agreed.

"Can't be like that all the time," Carl told them as he walked past, leading the way back to the prison.

~x~

Daryl finished putting the oil into the engine as Bob walked up with two fuels cans of gas. Slamming the hood down, he moved over to the side and popped his head through the driver window. It was the fastest car they had, though Daryl couldn't help but feel bad using it. Zack had been a great kid and kept his car in excellent shape. If he were still alive, he'd probably be going with them seeing as how Ani had saved his life when they met him.

"Everything look alright?" Bob asked.

"Yeah, kept this thing runnin' pretty good."

"This is Zack's car?" the man asked disheartened.

"Yeah, it's the fastest one we got," Daryl informed him. "Sooner we get there, sooner we get our people medicine. Sooner Ania's feelin' better. You alright?"

He noticed how Bob was just staring at the vehicle looking completely dejected. "You really want me coming along?" he asked.

Daryl felt around his pockets for the letter Hershel had written. Finding it and taking it out, he unfolded the paper and held it up to Bob, "What's that word?"

"Zanamivir," he said.

"Yup, we need you," Daryl told him. "Not even sure Ani could pronounce some of this, and she can figure a lot out." Tyreese walked out as he folded the paper back up and leaned against the car waiting for Michonne to come back out. "What's up?"

"Still got room for one more?"

"Hell yeah," Daryl said, eyeing the man.

"Good," he said. "Just gotta get my gear."

"Alright," Daryl said as Tyreese walked to the cells. "Just hurry up! And tell Michonne to shake a leg while you're at it!"

About ten minutes later, the four of them got into the car. Daryl was in the driver's seat when he heard Merle hollering out. Looking over, they all saw Ani, still in Daryl's poncho, standing at the railing of the guard tower, waving out at them. She couldn't yell anything out to him, but she did blow him a kiss, leaning heavily against the rail, but still out there to see him off. Tyreese clapped his shoulder while Michonne smiled softly.

"You know, Sasha's doin' fine. Well, as fine as she can be. Tonic's keepin' her from coughin' too much and the fever isn't so bad she's dizzy anymore. Least I can do is help get the meds for her and Ani after everything Ani's done for us," Tyreese told him.

"Appreciate it," Daryl said, driving down the road as fast as he safely could; if it weren't for his promise to Ania, he wouldn't be paying attention to his speed at all. They drove in silence for quite some time before Daryl spoke up to Michonne. "Hey, I know you weren't runnin' off. The thing is, that trail went cold. You know that, right? If it was any different, Ani and I would be right out there with you." When Michonne didn't speak, but just shared a look with him, Daryl began fidgeting with the radio, finding only static. "Would you hand me one of them CDs right there?"

While fiddling, he heard something come through, prompting Bob to ask if they'd actually heard a voice. Daryl shushed him and fiddled a little more with the radio, managing to get a clearer message out. He focused on the radio, taking his eyes off the road as he listened to the message.

"Terminus...determined to survive...Keep alive."

Daryl looked over at Michonne before something caught the corner of his eye. A walker was in the road and Daryl swerved to not hit it. Unfortunately, it didn't matter as there were several more walkers in the road, causing him to begin swerving uncontrollably until he could stop the car as a horde of walkers stormed around the vehicle. Throwing the car in reverse, he told everyone to grab something before flooring it. They didn't get very far before they were stuck, but they were still away from the main herd and had a fighting chance.

"We're jammed up!" Daryl said as everyone started grabbing their gear, pointing out Bob's window. "Alright, we'll make a run for the gaps right there! You two, you make a run for the woods and you don't stop for nothin', you hear me? Now!"

He busted the sunroof off the car and popped up through it with his crossbow, taking out the walker closes to Michonne's door. Michonne got out next, unsheathing her sword and kicking a walker away from the car before she swung her weapon and took out another. Daryl threw his knife into the head of a walker as he slid down the roof of the car, retrieving the blade before running towards the woods behind Michonne, Bob leaving the car behind him. Tyreese hesitated for only a moment before climbing out behind him, using his hammer to take a few walkers out as he ran for the woods. Daryl and Michonne dodged and slashed walkers, Daryl using the butt of his bow to kill walkers and yelling at Bob not to shoot.

The four of them ran through the woods, managing to lose the walkers as they exited into a rather clear area. Daryl had them wait for a moment while he loaded his bow. A few of the walkers caught up to them, Tyreese taking one out as Michonne took down the other. More followed, prompting the four to keep running. It seemed like they'd been running for miles before they had a chance to stop and rest. The herd was still coming after them, so they would have to find a different way to get to the college. They ended up being in the woods all night just to get away from the herd.

Early the next morning, Daryl and company found a bridge over a creek that Michonne seemed to know. Tyreese stopped to rinse his shirt out from the walker blood he'd gotten on it during the escape saying the smell was horrible, but really just wanting to be away from the others for a while. Michonne and Daryl stood by discussing where they were with Bob and what their next plan was.

"This is Turner Creek, so Barnesville will be a few miles downstream," Michonne told him.

"Sounds like our best chance at finding a new ride," Bob said cheerfully.

"Yo, Ty! Come on, let's go. Vamanos!" Daryl yelled at him.

"We lost a whole night!" he cried, ringing his shirt out for a last time. "My sister. Ani. Everybody else—they're probably dead."

"Don't think like that. We can't think like that," Daryl told him. "Gotta keep goin' 'til we get what we need and get the fuck back to 'em. Ania ain't dyin'. Neither is Sasha. They've got the tonic and I'm sure Hershel and Dr. S have something figured out."

"Maybe," Tyreese said dejectedly.

"Look," Bob cut in. "We have to get the meds one way or another. Might as well try to look on the bright side. It helps to keep moving."

As Tyreese put his shirt back on, he looked at the shorter man, "No, it don't."

~x~

Ani was sleeping. She'd held it together long enough to see the car out of the gates before she'd broken out into a fit of coughing. Merle watched as she spat a small amount of blood out, Merle looking at it horrified. She told him it was probably from her throat from the coughing, not her lungs, but that didn't stop him from worrying over her. Taking her back inside, he forced her to take more tonic before making her lay back down. She'd fallen asleep shortly thereafter, Merle just listening to her labored breathing as she lay in the bed. He couldn't even bring himself to read as he watched her.

Sighing, he left the small room and walked outside to the balcony. He sighed and grabbed his rifle as he watched Carol set up the 'bird', as they called their noisemaker, and headed out past the fence line towards the creek. He'd seen her heading into the tombs the night before, which was why he'd been so adamant about coming and keeping an eye on Ani. Daryl hadn't asked too many questions, just made sure he knew what he was risking, but Merle hadn't gotten sick from anything but questionable life choices in a long time. He wasn't afraid of some cold that was knocking his little sis on her ass and he damn sure and well wasn't about to let the mother hen slaughter the chick just because she was sick.

Merle looked on with rapt attention, the woman not even paying much attention to her surroundings as she fiddled with the hose they used to draw water behind the fence. As Rick ran up to the fence, the walkers got a little to close to the woman, causing Merle to raise his rifle and take aim. He shot two before Rick got out to help her, taking out three more before the pair got back inside the fence. Merle could hear Rick yelling at her and telling her she was lucky Merle was in the tower with his gun. He didn't stick around to see or hear what else happened because he didn't care. He'd only helped the woman for Ani's sake, not out the goodness of his heart.

It hadn't taken Merle long to put two and two together over who had killed Karen and David, and Sasha had made mention of wanting to keep Ani there just in case her allergies weren't allergies. Daryl had shot that down quickly by telling her Ani'd had to clear her throat for a few days, not something that popped up over night. After Daryl had stormed into the cell block and started grabbing shit from his cell, Merle had gone in to find out what was wrong. When Daryl'd told him about Karen and David and how Ani was coughing more and more, they'd both gone into overprotective mode. Merle figured out Carol was the one that did it pretty quickly, not realizing the woman changed so much. He couldn't help but wonder if she'd have done it to Ani, too, if the girl had been down there. As they walked to the tower, they both swore they weren't leaving her side until she was over whatever it was she was dealing with. If it weren't for the need for medicine, Daryl would be with them, holding Ani and worrying more than anything else. At least the man has something to do, Merle thought to himself as Ani started coughing again.

She stayed awake for a couple hours, managing to get some food down more than just broth and water. Merle offered to brush her hair out as long as she stayed wrapped up. Taking him up on that offer, she did her best not to wince as her hair was horribly as he ran the brush through it, but he was rather gentle considering. It took quite a long time to get all of the knots out, and she was half asleep by the time he was done.

"Damn girl, you really need to cut this a bit," Merle said. "All your braids are out, too. And the feather's tied with the bead. Gonna have to redo it all at some point."

"Nah, think I'll jus' do 'em meself next time. Do one braid that's got the featha and bead on it tagetha," Ani said slowly. "D's not back yet?"

"No, don't look like he's makin' it back today," Merle told her. "Don't worry, girly, he'll be fine."

"I know," she said before breaking out into a cough again.

Merle sat and patted her back while she coughed before standing up and grabbing her tonic and some more water. Urging her to take more tonic, he sat back down next to her. After she'd drank some water, she leaned her head against him and sighed.

"Told ya that blood had nothin' ta do with me lungs," she said as she leaned into his shoulder. "Used ta happen when I'd cough too much from takin' a hard hit. Used ta get nosebleeds when I did that, too. Jus' a popped vessel or torn muscle, nothin' too bad."

"Still, can't blame me for worryin'. Cough's not gettin' any better, but it ain't gettin' any worse, either. That's gotta count for somethin'."

"Yeah, I guess," Ani said, sitting up and looking down. "Merle, do ya think it coulda been ma?"

"What?"

"Do ya think ma was the one who killed Karen and David?"

"Why do you think that?" Merle asked, not wanting to tell her what he knew.

"'Cause she was down there. She wasn' with us when we went down inta the tombs, but she was there when we found the bodies. And she hasn' once come ova ta ask how I was doin'. I dunno. It's jus', somethin' feels funny."

Merle sighed, "Yeah, I think she did it. Saw her sneakin' down to the tombs the night before last. Didn't think nothin' of it 'til Daryl came in and told us what happened. Best not to think of it. She was just tryin' to do what she felt she eneded to do to keep the prison safe."

"Can' help but think 'bout it," Ani said honestly. "Sash wanted me down there. She wanted me ta stay 'cause a me cough. And I should a. But I didn'. And I can' help but think, if it was ma, would she a killed me too?"

"Best not to dwell on thoughts like that, Ani. Just gonna give yourself a headache. How about I read to you for a little while, get us both out of our heads, hmm?"

"Ya gonna read me a bedtime story?"

"Might as well. Already tuckin' you in," he said as he helped her lay back down on Daryl's side of the bed.

Kicking off his shoes, Merle sat on her side of the bed, propped up against the wall after moving Ani's pillows to the side. He'd grabbed Steven King's The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger and started reading it to the woman. He read five chapters aloud before hearing her snore. Laughing to himself, he closed the book and got up, readjusting Ani's pillows so that she'd have them when she rolled over. Even though she was in it for the long haul, she was managing to pull through. Merle could only hope Daryl hurried back with the medicine that would help her completely recover before the tonic stopped working. Walking over to his chair, he sat down and reclined it, pulling out his own blanket and settling in for the night. Watching Ani as she rolled over, he couldn't help the small, sad smile that formed on his lips at how he'd managed to find the little damaged girl he'd heard so much about only to find out she wasn't so damaged after all. She's a fighter, he thought to himself as he looked at her. She'll fight her way through this.