Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead. I also have no claim on any pop culture references that I may use throughout my writings. I only own my OCs. Enjoy the read.

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~206 ~ 3717

Isabell ended up getting a very little amount to sleep that night. Even with Daryl within such a close range to her, she only managed to get a couple hours. Being up early to head back to the farm wasn't easy on Isabell with no sleep. Isabell knew, however, that she needed to go with the group. She needed to see how Carl was doing.

Isabell rode on the back of Daryl's motorcycle on the way to the Greene farm. She held onto him tightly with her arms wrapped around his waist, wishing that Daryl could go faster.

When they arrived to their destination, Isabell didn't even wait for Daryl to turn off the bike before she pushed herself off of it. As soon as she noticed Rick coming out of the house, she moved to stand in front of him. "Carl? Is he okay?"

"How is he?" Dale asked.

Isabell glanced back at Dale, but then looked back to Rick. She begged with her eyes to get him to spit it out.

Lori answered instead. "He'll pull through."

Isabell smiled and hugged Rick, who either hugged her back or just used her for the support. "Oh, thank God." She said in one breath before she pulled away.

"Thanks to Hershel and his people."

"And Shane," Rick insisted, looking back at his friend as he came down the stairs. "We'd have lost Carl if not for him."

Isabell looked to Shane, studying him. Besides his new haircut, something seemed really different about him. To Isabell, Shane looked much more jumpy than when she'd seen him last, before he left with Otis. "Where's the other man?" Isabell asked. "The one who went with him? Otis?"

Rick looked back at Hershel with a regretful look on his face.

"He didn't make it back." Hershel said softly.

"Oh," Isabell said, her eyes moving cautiously towards Patricia. "I'm sorry."

Patricia nodded back, unable to speak.

Carol was the first to break the silence after that. She moved forward towards Lori, hugging her happily. "This is wonderful news. We were all so worried."

Isabell furrowed her brow at Carol's happiness. She quickly wondered if disclosing her secret to the woman was helpful to her about Sophia being missing.

Dale went forward to hug Rick. "How'd it happen?"

Rick's eyebrows pushed together. "Isabell didn't tell you?" He asked, looking to the blonde.

Isabell chuckled shyly shrugging her shoulders. "I wasn't exactly in the mood for conversation last night."

Rick nodded. "Hunting accident." He said, looking at everyone in the group. "That's all. Just a stupid accident."

Hershel stepped forward, addressing the newly arrived group. "We were just about to hold a service for Otis. If you all would like to join."

"Yes." Isabell said instantly for the group. "We'd love to." She looked around to the others who had just arrived with her. Isabell received nods all around.

Daryl was the only one to keep his head still, watching Isabell. He looked to her noticing that she looked as if a small weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Daryl showed a small smile, that could barely be considered a smile. He followed Isabell, joining the group around a pile of rocks that had been set up under some trees. Obviously, they didn't have a body to bury, so this was good enough.

The youngest blonde in the Green family took a step forward to add a stone to the large pile in front of her.

Hershel took this time to speak a few words for Otis from his bible.

Isabell looked around to the people they had come across. What was left of the Greene family seemed nice enough. It was only Hershel, Maggie, and Beth. Then there was Beth's boyfriend, Jimmy. And Patricia, who had looked like she had just lost everything.

Patricia had lost everything and it was completely understandable that she was acting the way she was.

These new people looked like they had been on this farm since the beginning. They didn't know what it was like out there. Rick's people have lost enough to be stronger.

"Shane, will you speak for Otis?" Hershel asked, gaining Isabell's attention.

Shane looked at Hershel, seeming as if he had just been pulled out of whatever trance that he was in. "I'm not good at it." Shane relented, shaking his head and lowering his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"You were the last one with him." Patricia insisted, eyes full of tears. "You shared his final moments. Please." She begged. "I need to hear…. I need to know his death had meaning."

Everyone in the group passed sideways glances at Shane, practically screaming at him with their eyes to say something. If anything, the sentiment would calm Patricia.

Isabell had noticed that it wasn't just that Shane was nervous about saying something to the group. Almost as if he was even a little guilty about something. Isabell looked behind her to Daryl, wondering if he was seeing the same thing that she was.

Daryl looked at her and nodded. He seemed to understand what she was trying to convey to him. Daryl knew that something was off about Shane.

"Okay." Shane whispered, starting on his story. "We were about done. Almost out of ammo. We were down to pistols by then. I was limping, and it was bad. Ankle all swollen up." Shane shook his head. "'We've got to save the boy.' See, that's what he said. He gave me his backpack. He shoved me ahead. 'Run,' he said…. He said, 'I'll take the rear. I'll cover you.' And when I looked back…." Shane limped forward towards the wheelbarrow full of rocks and took one out, limping back towards Otis' grave site. "If not for Otis, I'd never made it out alive. And that goes for Carl, too. He saved us both." He paused. "If any death ever had meaning, it was his."

Isabell studied Shane as he placed the rock down. There was definitely something different. Almost as if that wasn't what had happened on the run. Isabell sighed and looked to Daryl.

Daryl flicked his head for her to follow him towards the group of cars. Once they were out of the other's earshot, he spoke. "I hope ya don't believe one bit of that crack bit story."

"'Course I didn't. I was watchin' him, same as you. Somethin' happened out there that he ain't sayin'."

"Got that right." Daryl pushed.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he killed Otis himself."

"Why's that?"

"You never saw Otis, D, but he was a big man." Isabell stressed. "Now, if they were surrounded like Shane said they were, even if Shane wasn't hurt, they both wouldn't have made it out. Shane probably shot him, so he could get away with the goods."

"That's a strong accusation." Daryl told her.

"I know." Isabell nodded. "Would you really put it past him? To save Carl?"

Daryl shook his head. "Just watch yerself 'round him, yeah?"

"I will." She turned up the corner of her mouth.

Daryl quickly kissed her forehead as he heard the others head into their direction.

Hershel was talking to Rick with Shane and Andrea following behind them. "How long has this girl been lost?" Hershel asked.

"This'll be day three." Rick stated. The group of them gathered around the car that Daryl and Isabell were standing by.

"Day three, but we still have hopes." Isabell said, approaching the group.

Maggie came out of the house shortly after that with rolled up papers in her hands. "County survey map." She unrolled the map on the hood and placed rocks on it to hold it down against the wind. "Shows terrain and elevations."

"This is perfect." Rick thanked. "We can finally get this thing organized. We'll grid the whole area and start searching in teams."

"Not you." Hershel said, shaking his head, looking to Rick. "Not today. You gave three units of blood. You won't be hiking five minutes in this heat before passing out." Hershel turned towards Shane. "And your ankle, if you push it now, you'll be laid up a month. No good to anybody."

"Guess it's just me." Daryl said, looking at the map.

"And me." Isabell insisted, "Ya ain't goin' alone."

"I can make it."

"I know ya can." Isabell said, looking towards Daryl. She just wanted to go with him, still not comfortable with the entire group and the members in it.

Daryl nodded. "Alright. We're gonna head back to the creek, work our way from there." Daryl explained, pointing to the map.

"I can still be useful." Shane put forth. "I'll drive up to the interstate, see if Sophia wandered back there."

"Alright." Rick said, glancing around at the group. "Tomorrow them. We'll start doing this right." He assured.

"That means we can't have our people out there with just knives. They need the gun trainin' we've been promising them." Shane begged.

There was an awkward pause in the conversation. Rick seemed to be thinking that option over and so was Hershel.

Isabell didn't like the loudness of the guns. Training the others in hand-to-hand combat with knives would be more beneficial to all of them in the long run.

"I'd prefer you not carrying guns on my property." Hershel said. "We've managed so far without turning this into an armed camp."

"All due respect, you get a crowd of those things wanderin' in here…." Shane trailed off, not wanting to admit what could happen if it happened.

"Shane, we can't argue if it's his land." Isabell told him. "He doesn't even have to let us stay here while Carl heals."

"Isabell's right." Rick said, earning a quick scoff from Shane. "Look, we're guests here. This is your property." He told Hershel. "And we will respect that." Rick stressed towards Shane. He took out his gun and set it down on the hood of the car.

Shane followed suit regretfully.

Rick nodded. "First things, first. We set up camp. We find Sophia."

"I hate to be the one to ask, but somebody's got to." Shane started. "What happens if we find her, and she's bit? I think we should all be clear on how we handle that."

Rick thought for a moment and then answered his friend's question. "You do what has to be done."

"And her mother?" Maggie asked. "What do you tell her?"

"The truth." Isabell answered. "I'll tell her. If anyone finds Sophia, you need to tell me first. I'll take care of telling Carol. I've been there." Isabell watched as Maggie and Hershel shared a look. Isabell waved it off, thinking Hershel was saying that Maggie had overstepped her boundaries. Rick's group's problems were just that: their problems. They would deal with it however they would.

"I'll gather and secure all the weapons. Make sure no one is carryin' 'til we're at a practice range off site." Shane explained. "I do request one rifleman on lookout. On top of the RV. Dale's got experience."

Hershel seemed to hesitate.

"Our people would feel safer, less inclined to carry a gun." Rick reasoned, earning a nod from Hershel after a moment. "Thank you."

Daryl nudged Isabell's arm with his elbow and told her to follow him towards the RV. "Let's set camp. We'll head out in a bit."

Isabell agreed and got their things out of the vehicle. They set up their tent in a heavy silence. Her situation with Daryl was a little confusing. Isabell still wasn't sure how he was feeling about how things have been going around the group. Between losing Merle and then losing Sophia, Isabell knew that he was a mess and just wasn't showing it. Thinking it over, Isabell wasn't so sure that she should have let Daryl promise to find Sophia. She was even admitting it to herself that they might not find her alive or at all. Daryl had made that promise to her before, and he wasn't able to deliver on it. Since then, he hadn't really been the same as he was.

Daryl wanted Harley to be okay, just as much as Isabell did. The same thing could be said about how they wanted Sophia back. Daryl knew that Isabell had gotten close to her and Daryl saw that, which is why he promised to find her.

Isabell had hoped that they wouldn't get the same result as they had with Harley. She was sure that Daryl might not come back from that.

The pair Isabell and Daryl were ready to leave after their campsite had been put up. Isabell secured her bow around her body, preparing for their trip. She checked to make sure she had a knife in her boot and grabbed the machete she had from looking for Sophia. Isabell followed closely after Daryl as he walked around the white house and towards the trees.

"Daryl! Isabell!"

The two looked to their right, seeing Rick sitting on the steps up to the porch. They stopped in their spot to look at him.

"I'm better on my own." Daryl insisted, glancing back towards Isabell. "With Izzy, too. We'll be back before dark." He said, taking steps to continue where he was going.

"Hey!" Rick called, taking hurried steps towards Daryl, not done talking with him yet. "We got a base. We can get this search properly organized now."

"You gotta point, or are we just chattin'?" Daryl snarked, reluctantly turning back to talk with Rick.

"Daryl, c'mon." Isabell begged quietly, knowing Rick was still paces away and couldn't hear her. "Don't be an ass."

"My point is, it lets you off the hook." Rick said, then glancing at Isabell. "Both of you. You don't owe us anything."

Isabell furrowed her brow at the sheriff, not understanding what he meant. Why would the two of them just take off and leave before they found Sophia?

"My other plans fell through." Daryl said, pushing off again towards the forest.

Isabell sighed. "We ain't goin' anywhere." She pressed. "Even when we find Sophia, I think he wants to stick around."

Rick nodded to Isabell and gestured for her to go.

Isabell smiled at Rick and took off in a jog to catch up to Daryl. When the two became hidden by the trees, Isabell decided that she wanted to talk to Daryl while they walked. "Look, I know you're still bitter about Merle, but we need to stick around these people." Isabell insisted. "We're safe with them. It was hard when it was just the three of us. Now we have eight other people watchin' our asses."

"I know, Izzy. That's my plan."

Isabell was surprised by his statement. "Okay," She said slowly. "Well, you need to be less of an ass to them. Eventually they ain't gon' want you 'round anymore."

"So? I'll go." Daryl shrugged. "You can stay if ya want. Just like ya said, it's safer."

"Do you really think I would stay here without ya?" Isabell asked.

Daryl stopped walking to turn and look at her. "Ya think you could live with them with all that weight ya got on yer shoulders?" He asked rhetorically. "With all ya think ya owe 'em?"

Isabell scoffed, shaking her head. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Daryl paused for a second before he shook his head and kept going. "Nothin'."

Isabell groaned internally, rolled her eyes and followed after him. She decided to put some space between the two of them and walked a few yards away from him to his right.

It was quiet for a while, until Isabell heard some snarling coming from in front of them. Isabell turned and saw two of the dead ones headed in their direction. "Walkers." Isabell said out loud so Daryl could hear. Isabell quickly threw the machete at the ground and it stood in the ground, freeing Isabell's hands. She pulled her bow off of her and shot an arrow at one of the two skillfully, hitting it right in his eye.

The other had gotten too close to her for her to shoot it down, so Isabell grabbed the machete from the dirt and hit the walker over the head with it. The blade didn't get the brain, but it knocked the monster over. Isabell leaned over the walker and pulled back on the weapon hard before bringing it down again. She hit the walker over and over until it stopped moving.

"Ya okay?" Daryl asked, coming up behind her and checking her over quickly. "You should sharpen that thing."

Isabell stood up straight, blowing the hair out of her face. "Quit bein' such an asshole to me."

"What?"

"Ya heard me, Daryl." Isabell insisted. "I don't need it. The group doesn't either. I don't need you pushin' away our chances at bein' a part of somethin'. I'm kickin' my own ass enough over what's goin' on, I don't need it from you, too."

There was a silence and Daryl watched Isabell carefully. While he was happy that she had finally admitted to him that what's happening with the children of the group was getting to her, Daryl wasn't happy that she was struggling. "Mkay." Daryl said, pushing along.

"That's it?" Isabell asked, following him. "Just 'okay'? Okay and yer done pushin' everyone around?"

"Yeah." Daryl shrugged. "Guess."

"Un-fucking-believable."

"What? What do ya want from me, Iz?"

"Take back yer promise. The one about Sophia." Isabell insisted. "Because at this point, finding her…." She shook her head. "It'll probably be just as easy as findin' the fuckin' abominable snowman."

"Izzy, I can't do this with ya. Just the other damn day you knew we could find her." Daryl scoffed. "This fuckin' mornin' you told Hershel we had hopes."

"Maybe there's not." Isabell backtracked, throwing her arms out to the side. "Maybe I'm just as crazy as I was a couple months ago goin' into the city, thinking Harley would be okay. I don't want you to have to live with not findin' Sophia. I don't want ta see you how you were after Harley."

Daryl shook his head and continuing on in their path. "'M keepin' my promise. We're gonna find that little girl."

"But if we don't — " Isabell took a few steps towards him.

"We will!" Daryl shouted, turning back to Isabell, making her stumble backwards at the fierceness that coated his voice.

Isabell nodded, but then turned away from Daryl following along their trail. The two continued in silence again, but kept checking on each other every couple minutes to make sure they were still there.

After a while, they came upon a clearing in the woods. Right in the middle, was an old wooden house.

Daryl unraveled his crossbow from his body and armed himself.

Isabell held the machete in her hand tightly, knowing that her bow wouldn't do her much good in the house. With the large knife, she could easily take a monster out. With her amateur bow, it would be a lot harder to do what she had to.

Daryl led Isabell up to the house, and glanced back at Isabell. "Ya ready?" Daryl asked.

Isabell nodded and tightened her hold on her machete.

Daryl kicked the door opened and sidestepped into the house in front of Isabell. Cautiously, he cleared the hallway and gestured for Isabell to come into the house. Daryl took the rooms to their left and Isabell grabbed those on their right.

The two met again in the hallway and continued down the hall.

Isabell waited for Daryl to clear the next room before she entered the next one on her side. When he was out, she led them into the last room on her side. Isabell's eyes scanned the room as Daryl walked around it, searching for clues.

Daryl picked up an empty can of food from the trash and sniffed it, wondering how long ago it was opened.

Isabell watched Daryl until she heard a sound at their left. Her eyes shot to that wall of the room where she heard water splatter. Isabell held up her machete, ready to use if it she had to.

Daryl slowly put the trash back down, noticing Isabell's alertness. He looked over at her, silently asking her what was wrong.

Isabell glanced at Daryl but quickly looked back to the door on the left wall. The door was slightly ajar, and she flicked her head towards the door.

Daryl nodded and gripped his crossbow. He took slow steps to the open door.

Isabell walked next to Daryl. When she reached the door, she grabbed the handle, looking to Daryl. Isabell awaited Daryl's signal to open the door when he was read.

Daryl nodded and Isabell pulled the door open quickly. His next actions moved slowly when he realized that it was only an empty pantry. Daryl lowered his crossbow and moved to the side to show Isabell the small space.

Isabell looked inside, seeing a small bed laid out with a blanket and a pillow. "Could this have been her?"

"Maybe, maybe not." Daryl shrugged.

Isabell crouched down next to the pill, hoping she would be able to catch some sort of sense that it had been Sophia's safe place to lay her head for a while. "It had to be."

Daryl backed out of the room.

Isabell had stayed for a moment long until she could hear Daryl shouting outside. She furrowed her brow, pushed herself off of the floor, and rushed out of the house. "Are you crazy?" Isabell shouted.

"Sophia!" Daryl screamed.

Isabell hurried down the steps and grabbed his arm to stop him. "You tryin' to draw out more dead ones?"

Daryl shrugged her off. "I'm tryin' ta see if she's out here." He went around to the side of the house. "Maybe she heard us comin'. We coulda spooked her. Sophia!" Daryl called again before his eyes got caught on a nearby treeline. He approached a bush and bent over in front of it.

Isabell jogged up behind him and saw Daryl staring at a flower. "What is that?"

Daryl crouched next to the few flowers that were in bloom. He looked at it curiously, picking the flower from the bush and turning the step between his fingers. "Cherokee Rose."