Disclaimer- I do not own the Walking Dead.

Shadowoftheblackdeat- Please accept my humble apologies- I will not be going on any permanent hiatus, I promise you. I didn't even realise it had been that long since I last posted until I uploaded the last chapter. Thank you. I always look forward to seeing your comments.

Alwaysand- Thank you for the review, I love that you are really getting into it and I hope you keep enjoying it. Yes, he is definitely a self righteous fool and we all know he's gonna get someone in trouble if he keeps going.

OldLonBird- Don't worry without spoiling anything you may get some respect back for Glenn and Maggie in the first paragraph of this chapter. I can tell, and I love reading your comments, I love that you are getting so wrapped up in it and angry at the characters. Thank you.

It's a short one but I hope you still Enjoy and review :)

Danny's POV

Daryl tells Merle to stay put as him and I follow Oscar back outside. As soon as we walk through the door Herschel comes hurrying towards us.

"What the fuck is goin' on?" Daryl tries not to shout but he doesn't really succeed.

But it doesn't faze Herschel thankfully. "Rick went out, we thought he'd gone back into the tombs where he's been spendin' most of his time but Carl came runnin' in sayin' Rick had just gotten into a car. We tried to stop him but we were too late".

Please don't tell me he managed to convince them to go, I love Glenn, but this, this is a huge mistake. "What about Glenn and Maggie?"

"They've gone out to try and stop him, convince him to come back". I sigh in relief at Herschel's words.

"Do they know where to go", I ask, They weren't outside with us when Michonne showed us on the map.

Herschel nods, "They took our map, I showed them where it was".

I turn to Daryl, silently asking him if someone should go and help them. He stares back at me, keeping his eyes locked on mine.

Finally he sighs, "Let's wait and see if they can convince him to come back. If one of us goes while they're tryin' we could just make it worse".

I nod, I don't like it but I completely understand. They could be convincing him and then we show up and he'll just completely change his mind. If he gets them in trouble then... God I don't even know what I'll do. "How long do we let them be".

"Till nightfall", Daryl says, "That gives them about three hours. If they're gone any longer we'll get Merle and Oscar to go out after them".

"I'll go to", Carol comes and stands beside me, Sophia not far behind.

"I don't think Merle should go", Herschel seems a little reluctant to say it but he's not wrong. "Out of all of you he's the one Rick will never listen to".

"Well we don't exactly 'ave a lot of options" the frustration oozes from Daryl, "You can't go and neither can I. So if ya want us to try and get them back then we do it with who we have. Ya'll 'ave gotta start havin' a little more faith in my brother, he can be a fuckin' prick and knows how to make things worse but he is also capable of doing the right thing".

I wasn't expecting the defensive outburst, none of us were. Herschel's eyebrows raise in surprise but he does immediately apologise.

Sophia takes a step closer to me and leans in, "It's a good thing Merle didn't hear that, he'd have definitely counteracted that statement".

Carol quickly shushes her daughter but I still catch the smile she's wearing before she turns her face away from us so Daryl can't see it.

"I'll take over from watch", Daryl tells Oscar before turning his attention to me, "Tell Merle what's happened". With a quick look at Herschel he grabs my shoulders and leads me back a few step. "Tell him he ain't got no other choice on the matter and that he ain't allowed to fuck this up".

"You think that'll work, trusting him to go and talk peo... uh, the Sheriff into coming back. I love him and he'd be able to convince me but honestly I don't think he'd be able to do it."

"He's our only chance 'cause I'm not leavin' you here, and neither is Herschel. Carol's goin' and he does listen to her".

"I can't believe the Sheriff would go out like this even after being warned," I pause for a second and then roll my eyes, "You know what, yes I can. He's put us all at risk especially if what Michonne says his true".

I walk past Merle for the umpteenth time in the last hour, every time I walk past him his frown gets deeper.

"What are you doin'?"

"I think the baby's pushing on my bladder a lot more today, I keep having the need to pee".

"Oh, why not sit down here then. Ya closer to the toilet?"

I shake my head, "Cause my backs aching and I just want to lie down".

"Is ya mattress still on the floor cause if it is I can put it on the bed for ya?"

"Yes please".

He hauls himself to his feet with a groan before leading the way back to my room where he then proceeds to put my mattress back on the bed frame. He even puts my covers and pillow on it.

"Shout me if ya need anythin' squirt".

"I will, than..."

"Danny, Merle!. Dan..."

Merle steps out of the room which cause Axel to stop shouting for us. "What?"

"They're back".

I appear behind Merle, my hand on his back so I can squeeze past. "All of them?"

"There's two cars". He says with a slight shrug. "I haven't seen who's in them, I just saw the cars come through the gate and came to get ya".

Please let them all be okay.

I follow after the two of them as they hurry out of the cell block.

Michonne stares at me as we go past but she doesn't make any move to leave the cell she's been resting in.

I make it outside just as the car engines turn off and then Glenn and Maggie are stepping out of the first car. I sigh heavily in relief and make my way past everyone and straight for Glenn.

"I'm so glad you're okay, both of you."

He opens his arms to let me walk into them for a hug.

"Dad!"

Carls call for his dad is drowned out by Merle who stalks towards the Sheriff as he steps out of his car. "What the fuck do ya think you were playin' at".

I step back out of the hug just as Daryl makes it over from closing the gate, he shoves his crossbow at Merle and then shoves the Sheriff as hard as he possibly can. The Sheriff stumbles back into the side of the car.

I go to move forwards but Glenn's hand on my arm stops me, and I let it because what exactly am I going to do. Carol wraps her arms around Sophia's shoulders to protect her against anything that may unfold, the shove even causes Carl to stop his advance to his dad.

"Stop!" Herschel tries to move closer but Daryl's hand comes up to stop him.

"Stay out of it". Daryl sneers at him.

Daryl is suddenly shoved back as the Sheriff retaliates, Merle drops the crossbow but he doesn't get involved as neither of them move again.

"He didn't get too near", Maggie rushes to get out. "He changed his mind".

"It doesn't fuckin' matter, he still went out there. And you knew it was wrong otherwise ya wouldn't 'ave snuck out".

"I went to check out the story. What if she's lying?"

I step out from under Glenn's arm. "And what if she is, going there didn't prove if she was or not, right?" I turn that question on Glenn who seems a little reluctant to shake his head. "See, so you risked three lives on a fools errand".

"I didn't risk anyone, I didn't need anyone to follow me as I was never gonna get close enough to be seen. I just wanted to see the size of the place. See what we were up against".

"And did seein' it help..."

"Oh", I look down at the ground as water runs down my leg.