Wow. It's been FOREVER! I am so, so sorry! First it was spring break, then it was keeping up at school, and it was so nice outside i HAD to go play and then more school, BUT I DID IT! I finally got my butt in my computer chair, and I DID IT! I wrote- you guys aren';t ghoing to believe this- I wrote WORDS! So here it is- a little emotion heavy, yes, kinda angsty... Please review!

The car pulled up, gravel crunching beneath the tires, and Daryl started purposefully towards it, the urgency obvious by his hurried pace. He had to get Jamie out of cell block A. He'd have done it himself by now, but he figured that with a murderer on the loose, if he let her out and everyone knew she'd been exposed, she'd be in considerable danger. And with things like they were, he wouldn't be able to be with her all the time, watching her back.

So he needed Rick's blessing. If Rick let her out, the killer wouldn't touch her, for fear of being discovered and banished. Karen and David had been sick- they hadn't been able to put up much of a fight, he was betting. With Jamie, she'd go down kicking and screaming, fighting like hell, and someone would come in time, and Rick would banish the killer. At least, that was what he was hoping. And he was hoping the killer knew it, as well, knew enough to fucking STAY AWAY from his little girl.

All these things where whirling around in his mind as he went towards the car, and suddenly they all just disappeared. His mouth was suddenly bone dry, his tongue like sandpaper, saliva non-existent. Rick was alone.

"Daryl…." Rick gave him a sympathetic look, seeing all the man's emotions play out on the man's face.

"Where the hell is she?" Daryl demanded. Or he would've demanded. But for some reason, his voice was soft, now, he couldn't seem to yell….

"She killed Karen and David."

"What? How the hell do you know!?" he hissed, venom suddenly creeping into his voice. Carol- his Carol- wouldn't do anything like that.

"She told me. I gave her a car and some food and sent her on her way. You know why I did it."

Daryl still looked upset. "You couldn't have waited? Taken her back here, we could've figured something out…." His voice was rough, he was angry with Rick, still.

"I figured it was better than letting Tyreese find out she killed Karen." Rick said firmly, voice telling him this was the end of the discussion. For now.

"How're things?"

And then Daryl remembered Jamie. "Fucked up. You remember that Woodbury girl, Lizzy?"

Rick nodded, looking perplexed.

"There was a walker. It was gonna get her in Cell block A. Jamie was nearby, she saw it play out- she went inside and saved her."

Rick sucked in a breath.

"She's been exposed?"

"We all have been, probably. She ain't sick, but she's still in there. It's a living hell. I want her out."

Rick nodded. "You didn't have to ask."

"Yeah, I did. Figured with some killer around, I'd need your blessing so they wouldn't go after her…." Daryl's jaw tightened at the word killer, and he felt a pang of regret….

"Let's go get her." Rick said firmly, and they headed off towards cell block A.

Jamie was sitting on a crate by the observation window, knees to her chest, head resting on them. She looked like she was trying to grab a catnap- god knew how much sleep she'd been able to get in that hell-hole.

Her position would've been cute, if it weren't for the crusty blood spattered on her clothes and skin, the grime that painted her face, and the bloody hunting knife her one hand clung to.

Rick tapped the glass quietly. She didn't move.

"Jamie?" he spoke her name. Still, nothing.

"Jamie!" Daryl barked her name, suddenly worried. What if she was bit, or sick, or- "FUCK!" she sprang to her feet a second after he'd yelled her name, eyes wide and knife ready, panting.

"It's me, baby girl." Daryl said gently.

"What? Oh…." He posture relaxed, slightly, and she sheathed her knife. But she didn't look any less tense.

"How are things?" Rick asked, looking concerned. There was a spatter of blood on the observation window.

"Shitty. Least twenty or so are dead. I'm out of ammo, foods running low- but we got seven that are doing better." Jamie said, trying to keep her tone upbeat at the last part.

"That's good." Rick said. Maybe things were looking up. "IKs everyone alright?"

"Yeah- Glenn almost bought it a few hours ago, but Hershel says he's stable. Maggie and Hershel are good, and Sasha's resting."

"Everything's under control, then?" Rick asked.

"Jamie nodded. "Seems like it. At least they're aren't walkers running around like they were. It's almost over…."

\Rick found the keys lying on a table and reached for them. Jamie's eyes widened. "What are you doing?"

"Getting you out. You were never sick, Jamie- you can go to quarantine with Carl and the others."

She shook her head. "I can't- I promised Mom I'd take care of the girls."

"Mom?" Rick asked quietly, looking over at Daryl.

"Carol." Daryl muttered, that bitter regret rising up in him again.

"Jamie- it's almost over. We'll let everyone else out this evening. You've done enough." Rick reassured her, trying to ignore the sudden guilt that hit him. Since when had Jamie started calling Carol Mom? He'd known Daryl and Carol were close, but never seen Jamie looking up to them like parents… it was just going to make it that much harder on the girl when she found out what happened.

Jamie hesitated. "Lizzy's in her cell, asleep…."

"You said they're ain't walkers. If the doors locked, she's fine. You ain't slept in two days, Jamie- you keep this up and you'll get yourself killed." Daryl said quietly.

Jamie sighed, realizing her was right.

"Promise me you'll let Lizzy out in a few hours?" she asked, turning to Rick.

Rick nodded, unlocking the door.

As soon as it was open Jamie flew out, throwing herself at Daryl, who met her with open arms.

"Thank god." He muttered. Jamie just buried her face in his chest- his vest smelled that same as it always had- like WD-40 and dirt. The smell of safety. His arms around her…. Finally, the constant fear washed away, replaced with the overwhelming feeling of safety.

Rick watched the moment- it was so rare either of the duo showed emotion- and felt another pang. If Carol were here…. No. He'd done the right thing. She'd KILLED Karen and David. Would she have killed Jamie, too, if she'd been here, found out Jamie had been let out of cell block A?

Would she kill the girl who called her mom?

He didn't know. But he was glad he'd sent Carol away- since he was afraid of what the answer would be.

The embrace ended, finally, and Jamie looked around. "Where's mom?" she asked, meaning Carol. She turned to Rick, face completely innocent. She didn't know what Rick had done, yet. "She went on that run with you…."

Rick said nothing, and Jamie realized there was something he wasn't telling her. She turned to Daryl, who stared at the floor, a nervous look on her face. "Dad?" she asked, voice shaking slightly.

Daryl looked up, glaring across the room at Rick. "You did it, Rick- tell her." He growled.

Rick looked down. Jamie was looking at him, green eyes filled with fear and worry. Her hands were clenched into fists, knuckles white, but they were still shaking.

Rick took a breath. Jamie had felt loss before. She could handle this. She had to be able to- she was a strong girl. And there was no gentle way to say this.

"Carol isn't allowed to come back here."

BOOM! How's Jamie gonna react? What do you guys think- tell me in reviews, please! :)