[A/n: I am so sorry, I didn't get my mid week chapter up this week. Work has just been shitballs crazy! Unfortunately, next week is shaping up the same way - so i will try for a mid week post, but no guarantees.

Also, reviewers, as always you guys are amazing and your feedback is much appreciated! I really enjoyed all the love the last chapter got - it is one of my favs too, so I am super happy that you guys dig it! I figured Daryl and Asha needed a good day because, lets face it, life in the apocalypse can be kinda tough. Leyshla Gisel, you are right about Norman and EITD, and i absolutely feel that it is ok for Daryl to be a cat person because of that. Enjoy.]

About half an hour down the road, Daryl pulled sharply into an abandoned farm. Asha, who had been drifting, thinking about Nash and wondering whether she really was spending too much time away from the prison, was jolted sharply into awareness by the lurch of the bike onto the gravel drive.

'What are we doing?' she asked as Daryl pulled the bike up, loose rock crunching as the engine died.

'Vege patch,' he grunted, gesturing to the overgrown mess in front of the farm. He shrugged his pack off carefully—checking the cat was still sleeping inside—then pushed open the little garden gate and began rummaging through the plants. Asha got off the bike, rubbing the ache in her neck as she pulled her spear gun and Daryl's cross bow over her head. She left the bow on the back of the bike, but kept the spear gun in hand.

'I'm gonna check round back,' she called.

Daryl grunted without looking up.

It was a smallish farm house. Old before the turn, paint peeling from its sagging timbers. The front door was kicked in and the windows were broken. Asha didn't bother looking inside. There would be nothing useful left.

The long grass whispered around her boots as she walked around the building. At the back of the house, the land dropped away slightly into an open field, stretching away to a distant treeline that cast long shadows in the late afternoon sun. Asha shaded her eyes. There were three dark shapes in the waist high growth in the field, staggering towards the farmhouse—no doubt drawn by the roar of Daryl's bike.

Didn't matter. They'd be gone before the slow moving creatures made it across the field.

She glanced around, but there was nothing useful in the backyard, just a broken watering can and a rusted push bike with flat tyres, half obscured in the overgrown grass. She took a couple of deep breaths, enjoying the feel of the warm air in her lungs and then turned to go back the front of the house.

For an instant, she didn't realise what she was seeing, and her eyes narrowed at black paint marks on the far right of the building. Then her stomach dropped, followed by her jaw. She gasped, both hands pressed to her stomach as she took two shaky steps towards the house. In marks about two feet across, was one of their signs. Her eyes raced over it, and then again more slowly. Her heartbeat thundered. It matched their code perfectly.

First summer after the turn, south west and a dash—still on the road then. She felt a tiny bite of disappointment. And there, at the bottom point of the cross, was an 'N'.

It was definitely Nash.

She stepped up close to the wall, brushing her fingers across the flaking N, and heard a tiny sob break from her mouth. The need to find Nash, dulled by familiarity over the long months since she'd lost him, suddenly flooded back in full force.

Her head jerked around. South west, she had to figure out which way that was. The setting sun gave her a basic idea of where west was, but she hadn't been paying enough attention to know just how far off true west the sun was setting this time of year.

'Daryl!' she screamed. 'Daryl!'

After a long heartbeat, he tore around the corner, cross bow raised, eyes flashing as he looked for the source of her panicked scream. He pulled up short, feet near slipping in the long grass, when he saw her staring at the farmhouse wall.

'South west?' she asked eagerly.

Daryl stood next to her, shoulder brushing hers, as he took in the code. His eyes narrowed, then he turned around, chewing on his lip.

'That way,' he said, pointing across the field and slightly to right.

Asha started in that direction.

'Hell no.' Daryl's hand clamped on her shoulder.

She spun around eyes flashing. 'What the hell?' she demanded.

'Nah. No fucking way.' He shook her shoulder and then let her go. 'Ya gonna lose the light in hour or so. Ya got no supplies, and that fish needs to get back to our people.' He shook his head. 'Don't be a fucking idiot.'

'Damn it,' Asha hissed.

He was right, but she hadn't been thinking of that. The instant she had a trail or her instincts were screaming for her to follow it. 'Why d'ya have to be so fucking reasonable.'

Daryl was glaring at her.

She glared back.

'And right,' she growled. 'You're right, ok.'

She glanced across the field, and then cast a lingering look at the black marks on the wall. Her throat tightened, and she had to steel herself to turn away. Chest heaving, she marched around to the front of the farmhouse.

Daryl followed her and they rode back to the prison in silence.

They arrived back to the prison as the sun set. Daryl pulled the bike to a stop in the courtyard and killed the engine. Asha put her hand on his shoulder as he dismounted.

'Sorry about before,' she said. 'I wasn't thinking.'

Daryl grunted, pulling his pack off and settling it on the bike seat. 'Merle said ya had a blind spot when it came to ya brother.'

Asha grinned. 'No bigger than his when it came to you.'

Daryl's pack mewed plaintively, and Asha quickly undid it and pulled the ginger cat into her arms. Its broken purr started immediately as it peered around with golden eyes.

As Daryl pulled the fish from the saddlebag, the cell block door banged open and Carol, Rick and some of the others started towards them. Asha glanced towards them, but they had a moment before they reached them. She shifted the cat into one arm and gripped Daryl's arm, her smile spreading.

'Daryl, I have a trail. Finally a trail.'

He nodded, chewing his bottom lip, eyes unreadable.

She stepped back, disappointed he didn't seem to share her excitement.

'I'm going out tomorrow after it.'

'Asha, I can't—

'No, I get it,' she cut him off, mouth twisting with disappointment. 'I know you've got responsibilities here, I don't expect you to come.'

Merle would.

The bitter thought rose up unbidden. Asha quickly repressed it. That wasn't fair.

Daryl's eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth, but at that moment Carol and Rick reached them. Asha saw Carol's eyes flicker between her and Daryl, lips pressed into a thin line, before Rick was lifting the bag of fish from Daryl's hands and they were surrounded by the group's appreciative exclamations at the extent of their haul—and some slightly more ambivalent comments about the little cat.

Asha turned away from Daryl and forced herself to smile.

'He's our new ratter,' she said, suddenly surrounded by almost every child living in the prison, outstretched hands reaching for a pat. The little creature flattened its ears at all the attention and clawed its way onto Asha's shoulder.

'Better let me check him out first,' Hershel said, scooping the feline up with experienced hands, and stepping away to examine him.

There was a peal of delighted laughter from Karen as she and Carol took possession of the bag of fish, and even Carol grinned as they looked inside. For a moment, Asha let herself enjoy the smiles and laughing recommendations being bandied about by the group on the best way to cook their catch. But she still felt Daryl's narrowed eyes on her, and as Rick wrapped an arm around her shoulders to steer her to the grill area, she was looking for Michonne and planning the list of supplies she'd need to head out in the morning.

She didn't hang around in the courtyard whilst the fish were cooked. She saw Daryl talking quietly with Rick and Hershel—who, much to the delight of the children, had concluded the little cat looked healthy enough—all things considered—and let him go. The ginger animal was currently seeking refuge on the roof over the grill area as Lizzie and Mika tried to entice him down with scraps of fish.

From the glances being tossed in her direction, she figured Daryl was telling Rick and Hershel about her brother's sign. When she felt the three of them suddenly turn and stare at her from across the courtyard, she disappeared quickly into the cell block looking for Michonne.

She found her friend in her cell, booted heels resting against the wall as she lay stretched out on her back, turning the straight razor she'd picked up for Rick over in in her hands. She looked up as Asha came in.

'Hey,' she said, then wrinkled her nose. 'You smell like fish.'

Asha waved her hand impatiently. 'Yeah, I caught dinner.' She sat down on an upturned milk crate and leant forward. 'I found a sign from Nash.'

Michonne sat up quickly, dropping her legs off the bed and resting her elbows on her knees. 'What? Where?' Then she grinned. 'Asha, that's fantastic.'

Asha smiled, feeling her excitement bubbling up. 'I know! It's not even that far, a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere down to the south. Not an area we've spent much time in—might be that the Governor is down that way too. We've been talking about heading down towards Macon. Can you be ready to head out in the morning?'

Michonne pushed back and leant against the wall. 'Not tomorrow. There's a run. Promised Sasha I'd go on it.' She frowned at the expression on Asha's face. 'Don't look at me like that. They need the help, and you could use a day here. Rest up, get supplies organised to go back out again. You haven't just stopped for weeks now.'

Asha bit down on her disappointment. 'Fine. Day after.'

Michonne nodded, looking at her hands.

There was something else, Asha could feel it. She rubbed at her temples. 'What?'

'Spent a bit of time talking with Hershel and Rick today, about the amount of time we're spending away from the prison...'

Asha rocked back, the echoes of her conversations with Hershel and Daryl running through her mind.

'Let me guess, they said we're wasting our time—like all the information and supplies we've brought back mean nothing—that we're more use here. We should stop going out so much and concentrate on supply runs and keeping this place safe?'

Michonne met her eyes and nodded.

'Dammit.' Asha slammed her hand down on her leg. 'I copped the same spiel from Hershel yesterday and Daryl today. You buying it?'

Michonne shrugged. 'They aren't entirely wrong.'

'So you're just giving up on finding the Governor, just like that?'

Michonne's eyes flashed angrily at her. 'Asha, we aren't finding the damn Governor. We haven't seen any sign of him for months. I'm not suggesting we forget he's out there, we'll handle it if he comes back, but...yeah. It's time to call it.' She glared at Asha. 'I don't want to spend all my time looking for the bastard anymore.'

Asha felt a surge of anger and disappointment at her friend. 'Yeah, well I have a damn trail. This is the first sign I've had of Nash and there's no way I'm not following it.'

Michonne eyes widened and she leant forward. 'Of course. I'm not saying I won't come with you. It just can't be tomorrow, and...' She looked back at the razor in her hands and shrugged. 'I can't be gone more than five days.'

Asha's brows drew down. 'Five days?'

'Yeah. Sasha's got another run planned. They keep having to go further and further out for supplies. It's hard to keep everyone fed with so many—and you know the further they go out the riskier it gets. Gotta be back for it.'

Asha felt a surge of guilt. Her twenty two bass were more valuable than she'd thought. She grit her teeth. Nash first. If she could find him, they'd keep the entire prison in fish indefinitely.

She nodded. 'Ok.'

At least she'd have company for the first few days.

Asha was in her cell, stuffing her gear into her pack. To be honest, she'd barely unpacked it.

She flattened the map of the area out on her bed, trying to locate the farmhouse. After a few minutes she slapped a hand down on the map in frustration. The farmhouse must be on an unmarked back road. She grit her teeth. She was going to have to ask Daryl.

A deliberate cough behind her drew her attention to the cell door. Beth stood there with a bowl in hand.

'You didn't wait around to taste your own catch,' Beth said. She stepped forward, holding out the steaming bowl. A sudden smile lit up her face. 'It's really good Asha. You gotta try it.'

The smell of fish and some sort of curry and rice filled Asha's nose and her mouth watered. She found herself smiling in response— it was difficult to be mad at Beth, especially when she brought such sweet smelling gifts.

'I am hungry,' she said taking the bowl and digging in. 'Oh,' she paused mid mouthful and turned back to the bed, rummaging through her belongings. 'I almost forgot, I found this for you when I was out with Michonne last time.'

She held out a medium sized hard cover journal. Beth took it tentatively, a shy smile on her face. Asha continued talking around mouthfuls.

'I know you've been writing. Figured your other one must be pretty full by now?'

Beth nodded.

'My sister used to have one just like that.' Asha snapped her mouth shut. Why had she said that? It was true. It was what had drawn her attention to the journal in the first place. But as soon as she'd picked it up she'd thought of Beth.

The young woman thumbed the book, feeling the texture of the pages.

'Thanks Asha,' she said warmly. 'This is much nicer than anything else we have around here.'

Asha nodded, dragging her spoon around the empty bowl. 'This is really good. You have a hand in cooking it?'

Beth grinned. 'Maybe a little. It was mostly Carol, but she's teaching me what she knows.'

'Well, Carol can cook,' Asha agreed. 'Thanks.' She handed over the empty bowl and turned back to the bed.

'So, you going after ya brother?' Beth asked.

Asha grimaced. 'Guess everyone's heard about his sign by now huh?'

Beth shrugged. 'Ya know how this place is. There ain't no secrets here.'

Asha's hands tightened into fists in her belongings. Why was there even a question in anyone's mind.

'Yeah Beth, I'm going after him.' Asha could feel the silence behind her. She looked over her shoulder.

Beth was looking at the bowl as she twisted it around in her hands. 'I can't imagine what it would be like if I lost Maggie, Asha. I'd do everything I could to find her.' There was a long pause and then Beth looked up at her, her blue eyes steely. 'I know you gotta find your brother, but we all got jobs to do... and we're stronger with you—and Michonne—here.'

The young woman gave her a small sad smile and walked away.

Damn it.

Asha's chin dropped to her chest and her shoulders hunched. Why couldn't anyone just be happy for her?

She went back to jamming things into her pack.