Daryl walked through the bushes as he sighed and he arched the strap connected to the crossbow up. He had spent the last few days looking for Carol's daughter, Sophia, and he swore to himself he wouldn't stop until he found her. Or her body.

"Stop thinkin' like that. She's alive," he reminded himself when he came out into a clearing and he looked at the large abandoned house. He had seen a few houses like this scattered throughout the woods and he wondered sometimes who used to live there.

Growing up in what most people would call a shack, he often dreamed of living in a house like this, but he knew that would never happen.

"Sophia!" he called out, silently hoping he didn't attract any Walkers, but he didn't hear anything and he called out her name two more times. He was about to walk away when something made him turn around and he saw the small cluster of Cherokee Roses in the tall grass. He walked closer while he bent down to look at them. His mind replayed the time he told Carol the story about the rose. He had even brought her one and he remembered the sweet smile she gave him.

"She does have a sweet smile," Daryl thought then he shook the thought out of his head. He knew there was no way in hell someone like Carol could feel anything for him. No one cared about him except Merle.

Sighing, he straightened as he looked back at the house and he cautiously walked closer. He carefully opened the door as he held up the crossbow and he quickly looked inside. The inside was littered with scattered papers, clothes and smashed furniture as he headed down the small hallway and he looked up the stairs. He focused his hearing to detect any sound of Walkers, but he only heard the sound of flies buzzing and he sighed.

He walked into the room to his right when he walked to the counter and he noticed a chair next to the counter.

"What the hell?" he whispered. He opened the cabinet doors when he saw the edible boxes and jars of food and he closed the cabinet doors. He checked the other cabinets when he kicked a plastic water bottle lying on the floor and he saw there were several other plastic bottles. He picked up one of the plastic bottles as he examined the plastic bottle and he barely saw water at the bottom. He dropped the plastic bottle as he looked around the room and he saw a stack of plastic water bottles in the far corner. He walked closer when he noticed several of the plastic bottles were gone and he scratched the back of his head.

Suddenly, he heard a sound coming from behind the small door near the counter as he pointed the crossbow at the door then he moved closer. Holding his breath, Daryl opened the door as he prepared to take out a Walker, but what he saw made his heart jump in his chest.

"Leave me alone!" Sophia shoutd as she covered her head with her arms and Daryl heard the fear in her voice. Lowering the crossbow to the floor, he knelt down and he blinked the tears out of his eyes.

"It's ok. It's just me," he said and she lowered her arms. She watched him wipe his eyes on the back of his right hand when she slowly walked closer and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She pressed her face against his neck as she started sobbing and Daryl sighed. He wasn't used to people hugging him, but that didn't stop him from wrapped his arms around her and he made soft hushing sounds.

"Why didn't you answer me?" he whispered.

"I was too scared," she whispered.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah."

"How'd you get here?"

Sophia sniffed after she moved back and he removed the clean cloth from his pocket. He handed the clean cloth to her as she wiped her eyes then she blew her nose and he waited for her to say something.

"After Sheriff Grimes told me to go back to the highway, these things showed up…," she said then paused.

"The Walkers?"

"Yeah. After I saw them, I ran. I don't know how I lost them, but I did. That's when I realized I was lost."

"Then what?"

"I just started walking."

"How'd you survive out here all on yer own?"

"I found tents with food and water in them."

"Then what?"

"I don't know how I found this place. I just walked out of the bushes and it was here."

"Was there anyone around?"

"Nope."

"So, you just came in here?"

"Yeah."

"You're lucky there was food an' water."

"Yeah," she said and he saw the sadness in her eyes. "Are you the only looking for me?"

"Hell no. We've all been lookin' fer you."

"Even Mom?"

"Yeah. Why the hell would you think she wouldn't be lookin' fer you?!"

"I wandered off. Dad said no one would look for me if I did that. Not even Mom."

Wave after wave of anger and rage filled Daryl as his hands shook and he breathed deeply through his nose. She slowly backed up as he lowered his head and he shook his head side to side.

"Son of a bitch," he growled as he looked up and she saw the tears rolled down his cheeks. She handed him the clean cloth as he shook his head then he stood up. "I need to check you."

Sophia nodded as she went to take her shirt and pants off and he held his hands up to stop her. He checked her arms, lower legs and ankles then he peeked under her shirt and he moved his fingers through her hair. He didn't find any scratches or bites and he picked up the crossbow.

"Let's go," he said as he held out his left hand and they left the house.

the Greene Farm

Dale stood on the top of the RV while he used the binoculars to scan for Walkers and he moved the binoculars down. He had seen Daryl walking out of the tree line, but it was who was walking beside him which surprised him.

"Christ," Dale said as he climbed down the ladder and Lori walked toward him.

"Dale, what's wrong?" Lori asked.

"Daryl's back," he said as he looked toward the trees. "Where's Carol?"

"Why?"

"Where is she?!"

"She's in the house."

"Go get her!"

Lori nodded as she ran to the farmhouse and Dale raised the binoculars again, watching Daryl and Sophia walking through the grass.

"This place looks so cool," she said, smiling up at Daryl.

"It's ok," Daryl said, looking toward Dale then he stopped.

"What's wrong?" she asked as she looked at the RV and she waved at Dale. Dale waved back while Lori and Carol ran to him then Carol turned to see who he was waving at. Her eyes widened as her heart slammed wildly in her chest and her legs were moving before she even knew she was running. Daryl let go of Sophia's hand as she ran toward her mom and he held onto the strap of the crossbow. He winced slightly as Carol and Sophia nearly collided into each other and they both fell to their knees. Lori and Dale had run to them as Carol held onto her daughter and Daryl felt a cold lump building in his stomach.

"Fuck this," he grumbled as he walked through the grass and he heard sobbing as he walked by them.

"Daryl," someone called out, but he kept walking and he barely shook his head.

A short time later, Daryl was leaning against the fence while he watched the cows grazing on the dry grass and he had his forearms bent over the top railing. He heard familiar footsteps behind him, but he didn't turn and Rick Grimes appeared next to him.

"Hey," Rick said, glancing at him.

"Hey," Daryl said with a small nod.

"Carol told me you found Sophia."

"Yeah."

"Where did you find her?"

"Didn't the kid tell you?"

"Yeah, she did, but I thought you'd like to fill in the gaps."

Daryl stayed quiet as Rick looked at him and he knew he had to be careful not to push Daryl too hard or he'd shut down.

"She ok?" Daryl asked after what felt like hours and Rick slid his forearms over the top railing.

"Hershel said she's a little dehydrated and a little under nourished, but she doesn't have any serious injuries, bites or scratches," Rick said. "Why did you walk off after you brought her here?"

"Didn't see any reason fer stayin'."

"You just performed a miracle! None of us thought we'd ever find her or if she was still alive."

Daryl glanced at him when he snorted a breath of air and he barely shook his head.

"I got lucky," Daryl grumbled and Rick rolled his eyes. Daryl pushed off the fence as he walked away and Rick watched him heading for the farmhouse instead of the camp. Daryl stopped at the bottom of the stairs as he looked at the front door then he quickly walked up the stairs. He opened the screen door then the front door when he walked inside and he closed the doors behind him. Beth walked out of the kitchen as she scanned Daryl with her eyes and she gave him a tiny grin.

"Hi," she said.

"Hey," Daryl said with a small nod.

"If you're looking for Carol, she's down that way," she said, pointing to the hallway and he walked away. He stopped at the open doorway as he watched Carol sitting on the chair and she was holding Sophia's left hand. The needle to the intravenous drip was tapped to Sophia's left forearm and he saw she was sleeping. Sensing someone was behind her, Carol turned to look at the doorway and she let go of Sophia's hand. Daryl watched her stand up as she quickly walked to him and her arms were around him before he could move. Her head rested against his right shoulder as she started shaking and he slowly wrapped his arms around her.

"Say somethin'!" a voice in his head shouted, but he just wanted to enjoy the feeling of her in his arms for a few more seconds. He felt her calming down as she moved back and Carol looked deeply into his slightly confused, blue eyes.

"Thank you," Carol said.

"Yeah," he said as he looked at Sophia and Carol saw something in his eyes. She walked to the doorway when she headed out into the hallway and he titled his head to one side. "Where're you goin'?"

"I have to go to the bathroom. Mind sitting with her?"

"Sure," he said as he sat down and she walked down the hallway. He moved the chair a little closer to the bed as he watched Sophia sleeping and he gently took her left hand in his hands. He leaned a little closer as he closed his eyes and, though he hardly did, he said a small prayer of thanks. When he opened his eyes, he saw Sophia looking at him and she felt him squeezing her hand. "Hey."

"Where's my mom?" Sophia asked in a sleepy voice.

"She went to take a piss," he said and she softly giggled. "What's so funny?"

"You swore."

"So?" he grumbled then he sighed. "Hershel said you're gonna be fine."

"Yeah, he did," she said and he noticed the look in her eyes. "Uh, Daryl, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"I remember walking near a creek when these Walkers showed up. I screamed and ran, but I dropped my doll."

"You want me to go look for it?"

"Yes, but I don't know where the creek is."

He noticed she was about to cry when he rose from the chair, moved the chair back, knelt down next to the bed and he lightly brushed the tears from her eyes with the pad of his thumb.

"There's a creek not far from here. I'll go check it out," Daryl said and she nodded. He stood when he saw Carol standing in the doorway and he nodded his head toward her before he left the room. Carol watched him walk down the hallway when she went in the room and she sat on the edge of the bed.

"Mom?" Sophia asked.

"Yeah?" Carol asked, taking her left hand in her hands.

"I wish Daryl was my dad," she said with a sigh, closed her eyes and Carol watched her daughter drift back to sleep. Carol silently agreed with her as she kissed the back of Sophia's hand and she looked out into the hallway.

The next morning, Daryl hitched up the strap of the crossbow and he sighed. He hadn't seen Rick walking toward him as Rick frowned and he wondered where Daryl was going.

"Daryl," he called out, but Daryl just kept walking. "Where are you going?"

"None of yer damn business," Daryl grumbled.

"I'm making it my business," he said as he ran closer and he slowed down to walk next to him.

"I'm goin' to find Sophia's doll."

"Didn't she have it when you found her?"

"No. She said she lost it near a creek. Thought I'd check the one near here."

"Want my help?"

"No. I'm better off alone."

"Daryl…"

Daryl walked faster as Rick sighed and he crossed his arms over his chest.

The sun was in the middle of the sky while Daryl walked down the trail and he wondered if he should have taken one of Hershel's horses. Shrugging a shoulder, he kept walking and he kept the creek on his left. He was trying to find a safe way down to the creek as he glanced down the long drop and he shook his head.

Suddenly, something made him stop as he slid the crossbow into his hands and he looked around with his eyes. A low gurgling sound came from behind the trees as the Walker stumbled toward him and Daryl fired the crossbow. The arrow hit the Walker in the forehead as the Walker stumbled toward him and Daryl moved backwards. He didn't realize how close he was to the edge as he tumbled end over end down the long drop and the water exploded after he fell into the creek. He broke the surface as he stood and one of his arrows was sticking out of his lower left side.

"Shit," he grumbled as he looked down at the arrow and he felt blood moving over his fingers. Reaching down, he fished around for his crossbow when he found one part then the other and he saw the rest of the arrows were still connected. Removing his belt, he tightened the belt just about the wound as he sighed and he looked up at the long drop. He slowly moved out of the water when he noticed something lying on the top of the bush and he reached over, removing Sophia's doll from the branches. The doll looked dirty, but intact and he slid the doll under the belt. He started to feel dizzy as he looked for something to help him climb up the long drop, but the darkness moved across his eyes and he dropped the parts of the crossbow onto the ground. He slid onto his knees then onto his back as he closed his eyes and darkness enveloped him.

the Greene Farm

Carol walked outside as she closed the screen door and she saw Sophia standing near the porch railing. She walked closer as she placed her right hand on Sophia's left shoulder and Sophia looked at her.

"Waiting for a bus?" Carol teased, but Sophia frowned. "Sorry. What's wrong?"

"I asked Daryl to do something but he hasn't come back yet," Sophia said.

"What did you ask him to do?"

"I lost my doll near a creek and he went to check the creek near here."

"Well, I'm sure he's fine."

"What if he isn't?! What if he gets hurt or is attacked by a Walker?! It'll be my fault!"

Carol wrapped her arms around her daughter as Sophia started crying and Carol kissed the top of Sophia's head. Carol looked over at the forest as she sent a small prayer for Daryl to be alright and she sighed.