Hey guys! long time no see! I was gonna update sooner but the weekend was crazy and I was running low on inspiration so this isn't that good but it's better nothing! I've review and changed so much in the last 24 hours to this chappie, but I'm still doubtful about it.

I still hope you enjoy! R&R.


"… S' like I said" Alyson heard Daryl say as she approached him and Dale. Apparently Dale was worried about Daryl as well, so maybe he decided to check on him? Alyson didn't know but she wanted to find out. "Group's broken" Daryl said, nodding in acknowledgement to Alyson before turning around and walking off, leaving Dale and the girl behind.

"What was that about?" she turned to Dale as she folded her arms over her chest and gave the old man a confused look. "Randall" the older man answered her and she raised her eyebrows, still in confusion.

"They want to execute him" he replied to Alyson's silent question and her eyes quickly changed from confusion to disbelief once she processed the information her gave her. "Dale… I don't think Rick would do that" she told the older man sincerely.

Alyson had always trusted Rick's judgment. He was the leader of the group of survivors and she knew he was the one man everyone looked up for answers. She knew he had always tried to make the best decisions for the group, but that often left him with the hardest ones to make as well. Alyson would never judge Rick, if anything, she supported him, no matter the circumstances. Alyson would follow Rick till all of this was over… or at least till the day she died, but one thing Alyson wished he would do was to stop relaying on Shane.

Shane had gone from bad to worst and lately, he was jumpy or angry, for just about anything. He constantly blamed Rick for everything. In Shane's eyes, everything Rick did was wrong and he always felt the need to make everyone see his point. Alyson was grateful that almost everyone could see that there was something awfully wrong with the ex-cop and would turn to Rick's side instead of his, with the exception of Andrea.

"Rick gave me until sunset to talk to everyone. We can't just kill this young man Alyson" he started. Looking up at the younger woman, he prayed she would be on his side. He really wanted to save the life of this kid; he wanted to keep his humanity even in this world. "What's going to happen if this young man is innocent? Could you live with his blood on your hands Al? Don't you think he deserves a chance?" he asked her, flooding her with tons of questions at the same time, making her bite down the inside of her cheek why she thought of an answer.

In this new world, Alyson had seen and learned many things. She was conscious that she had to help protect her group at all cost, even if it meant her own life was to be placed in the line for one of them, but she also knew that Dale was a much older man, who had lived longer than her and had seen and lived many more things that her. He was wiser and Alyson was conscious of that as well, which made his questions sink into her head even more. He was the voice of experience, the one to whom she would go to when she needed advice and he was 99% of the time, right. Randall deserved a chance, she knew, but what if he wasn't so innocent? What if he hurt them? She would be the first one to rip his head off, not minding getting her hands dirty.

"And if he's not? If he hurts you or Daryl or… just anyone? What do I do then, Dale?" Dale's eyes turned to hers in disappointment as she asked him this. He knew what she was thinking and that scared him. "Dale… I can see your point, but is the life of one person worth more than the lives of the people in this group?" She had a point, the old man knew, but in his heart he felt killing Randall was just wrong and that's what he wanted the others to see and understand. "So you're on Rick's side?" he eyed her while waiting for her answer, to which she just shrugged. "Whatever happens tonight with that kid I will have to live with. I'm not sure if it will be good or bad at the end, but whatever Rick's call may be, I will support him" Alyson answered truthfully as she placed a hand in Dale's shoulder, giving it a small squeeze, trying to make her words hurt less. She loved Dale. He had always been there for her since they first met. He was sweet to her but was not afraid of letting her or anyone else know how he felt, which was something Alyson could relate to. He was the fatherly figure she had been missing her whole life, so she truly took to heart whenever he was hurting for something she or Andrea said and always tried to make it better.

"I hope you don't regret this later my dear" he told her as he left her behind. There was nothing more he could say to change her mind.


"Hey!" Alyson greeted Daryl as she saw him moving Randall to tie the young man up. A small smile to her face.

"The hell you doing here?" he asked her, keeping his voice down even though he was a bit annoyed that she was there while he was with Randall. He knew the kid was a threat and he didn't want Alyson near the guy. If he so much looked at her in the wrong way, Daryl was going to poke his eyes out.

"Rick told me about the situation" she said, slowly bringing her hands up to her neck, massaging the soreness away. The events that happened and that little meeting had left her positively exhausted and tense. She knew Dale was really hurt when no one took on his side, but the ways things were turning out was either kill or be killed. If he heard her say that, she knew he would glare at her just like a parent to their kid whenever the child did something wrong.

"You should go back to the tent Fe-" he stopped when he realized he was going to name her in presence of Randall, which he preferred not to do. "I'll get you when I'm done woman" he said quietly as he finished with Randall when they heard a scream.

Alyson looked at Daryl and quickly turned around searching for the screaming voice while Daryl grabbed his lamp and rushed from behind her, leaving her confused and lost, but she quickly shook that off and went after him. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, her heart almost bursting out of her chest as she heard the familiar voice scream in agony. "Daryl!" she called as they approached the scene. A walker. Daryl immediately took care of the flesh eater with his knife, but Alyson stopped, staring at the scene in front of her.

Dale stomach's was completely exposed he was bleeding out fast. The walker didn't take a bite out of him, but gave the old man much of a fatal wound. Tears started building in her eyes and she just felt on her knees, next to the dying old man. "Over here" she heard Daryl yell, but she kept her eyes focus on Dale. "You're gonna be okay Dale! Just hold on" she called to him as her tears streamed down her face.


"Stop!" Daryl grabbed both her forearms as she sobbed without control. Her knees gave out and she went straight to the ground, falling on her knees, but Daryl kept holding her, making the impact less painful though she could had careless what happened now.

Daryl got on the ground in front of her as she kept her head low, not looking up once. He knew she knew he gave Dale the mercy shot since the old man was suffering and Rick couldn't do it. It scared him to think she was being that way because of that same reason, but still he was going to comfort her.

Dale and Alyson had a close relationship. Daryl knew she liked to spend time with the older man and that they would talk just about anything. Back when Andrea went off at him for what had happened at the C.D.C, Alyson went up and confronted the blonde about her attitude towards the man, who was just worried and concerned about her after what had happened to her younger sister.

"Fey look at me!" he shook her gently, but she simply leaned in towards him and kept sobbing her heart out. Daryl wasn't used to this situations, so he simply went with his instincts and placed his arms around her shaking body, trying to calm her down as best as he could.

Alyson always presented Daryl with new emotions he didn't think he had. Thought sometimes it was all a little weird, it was something he enjoyed from her. She had taught him that he was wanted and needed and that she trusted him. He had also learned what it meant to share small details with someone you care for, what it was like to be jealous and concerned for someone's well being.

"Why today Daryl? Why did I have to lose Dale?" she managed to look at him. Her face was red and swollen from crying so much. Gently he placed both hands on her cheeks, drying some tears away from her cheeks. "I almost lost you and now Dale? I don't want to be alone Daryl, but it seems like I just keep losing people. Soon you'll disappear too and I-" she stopped as more tears started flowing out of her puffy eyes, making her unable to speak.

"I ain't going nowhere Fey! I ain't gonna leave you ok? So stop bullshitting around woman!" he said, annoyed at the fact that she thought he would have it in him to simply leave her after everything he had gained from her. He would be damned if he ever left her. He promised once and when he could be anything, even redneck trash, he was a man who kept his word.

Daryl kissed Alyson's forehead and wrapped and arm around her waist, taking her up with him and helping her to his tent. He knew she wasn't ok so he was not going to leave her side until she was better. He owed her that much for ending the life of the man she had grown to love as a father.

"What did you meant when you said the group was broken, Daryl?" the female asked, her voice just above a whisper, as Daryl helped her lay next to him. "Just that, Fey. Get some sleep now." He demanded in a soft tone as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, keeping her close to his warm body, hoping that would soothe her aching heart.

"We should do something Daryl" she said as she sniffled and rubbed her tired eyes, before closing them and letting out a shaky sigh. "There ain't nothing we can do Fey. Might as well get our shit and go on our own" he replied and she nodded her head gently against his chest, smiling a bit at his words.

Daryl wouldn't let her behind. If he considered that they couldn't be in this group anymore, he would take her and their stuff and simply go on their merry way till everything got better. They would be okay on their own. They were both capable enough to handle themselves alone, so together they would be lethal, although he always wanted to keep her safe and sound and do all the dirty work himself.

"You think we'll be okay?" Alyson threw another question at him before closing her eyes and calling it a hell of a night. She just needed to hear that everything was going to be better, even if it was a lie. Just for that moment, after the tragic events that took place with Dale, she needed to fool herself and leave the night behind, thinking and dreaming that her next day would be better for her and everyone else.

"Don't know, but I'll make sure to keep you safe" he whispered into her hair as he pulled her closer, kissing the top of her head gently, before closing his eyes and drifting off into his sleep with her secured by his side. Daryl would be damned into hell if something ever happened to the woman he had grown to care for. He would do anything for her, just like he knew she would do anything for him. He was sure of it.