Here's the next chapter, hope you like it.

Chapter 5: Survive

Daryl's P.O.V

My lungs are screaming for air by the time I get back to my house. There's a dim light in the living room where Katie and I sleep. I rush through the door opening it more violently than I wanted.

"Daryl? What's wrong?" Katie asked as she stood up where she was sitting near the light.

"They're here." I said between breaths.

"What?" She gasped not hiding the fear in her voice.

"My dad, he just attacked me. I'm willing to bet they know you're here too." I said slowly catching my breath.

"We need to leave. Is there a car we can take?" She asked as she threw all her stuff together.

"Yeah, we can take the car…they're going to need the van and truck for supplies." I said as I grabbed my stuff. We grabbed the flashlight and headed to the door. I opened the door and fear struck over me, I pulled my crossbow to my shoulder aiming to his head. He had a knife to Aaron's throat. How could I have been so stupid to leave Aaron there.

"Put the bow down boy!" He yelled. I hesitate but lower the bow before pushing Katie behind me. "Back up." I backed up making sure to stay in front of Katie.

"Katie, sweetheart, we've been looking everywhere for you." He laughed. His short hair messy, and his clothes worn out and there's blood on his hands. I examine Aaron from where I stand to check if he hurt him. Aaron's fine, then who did he hurt?

"It's Carter." Katie corrects him.

"You don't have any right to talk to her." I spit at him.

"Carter? Well Carter we have a score to settle with you. You took something from your dad. No one takes stuff from my friends and gets away with it." He said tightening his grip on Aaron.

"Since when do you have friends?" I asked trying to distract him while I thought of a plan.

"Listen boy you don't shut your trap Imma kill your boyfriend here." He pulled the blade making a small cut on Aaron's throat. I start to step forward but stop mid-step. "Ah, don't test me"

"C'mon Carter we've got some talking to do." I use my arm to keep her behind me. When I feel a small push.

"No, Katie, you don't have to." I say turning my head to face her without letting her pass.

"I love you Daryl." She said before walking around my arm and to my dad. Why would she do that.

"There you got me, now let him go." She said sternly. He shoved Aaron, who lost his footing, and fell into me. I caught him, steadying him on his feet.

"Are you okay?" I ask. He just nods and looks down. "Katie." I say putting Aaron behind me this time. He had Katie and pulled her out. When I hear the door open, Katie made signals with her hand. We always had hand signals to signal each other from our bedrooms. Her signal meant there's another one with a gun.

"I'll be right back." I say. He nodded and I ran to the door. I look through the peep hole and see Katie standing as far from the guys as she can. I fling the door open and shoot the arrow into my dads arm that's holding her. She gets free and grabs her knife stabbing the other guy, it's her dad. I load another arrow but when I look up they're running down the street as I hear shots. Down the road I see shadows running towards us. I flick the light on for the outside and as they come into the light I see Rick, Carol, and Glenn running with guns.

"You guys okay?" Rick asks lowering his gun as the rest keep running.

"Yeah." I breath out as I embrace Katie.

"Where's Aaron?" She asked.

"He's inside. Are you okay?" I asked holding her at arm's length to check her over and she nods. "Okay, I'm going to go check on Aaron. I'll be right back okay?" She nods again I look at Rick and he just nods.

"I'll keep an eye on her." He said. I nod.

"Are you okay?" I asked when I ran back in.

"What the hell just happened?" He asked.

"It's the reason I need to leave. The longer I stay the more everyone's in danger." I explain.

"No, please don't go." He said looking me in the eye.

"I have to bef…" I start but get interrupted by Aaron pulling me in for a kiss.

"Daryl we have to…" I hear Katie's voice cut off and I pull away. "Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt." Before I respond she's already back outside.

"I have to go." I say before giving Aaron a quick kiss on the cheek, then I grab the bags and meet Katie outside. "Are you ready?" I ask tossing Katie her bag.

"What? You're leaving?" Rick asked.

"Gotta keep my sister safe." I say not wanting to explain as we head off I feel an arm turn me around.

"She can be safe here. We're safer together." Rick says sternly.

"No, she won't. They got over the wall once, and they'll come again." I said pulling my arm away.

"No, I'm not letting you leave the group like this." Rick said.

"I'm leaving and no one can stop me." I said turning my back to Rick when he grabbed my arm again and I turned and swung a punch, hitting him right in the jaw. He was caught off guard and fell to the ground. Carl pushed me aside and sat beside his dad. "Let's go." I say almost a whisper to Katie. She didn't say anything and we ran for the car.

I get in the driver's seat after throwing the bags in the trunk with the exception of my crossbow in the back seat. Katie got in the passenger seat when I pull out wires from under the steering wheel. I start the car and the front lights come on. Rick is standing there with Carl both have their guns raised to us.

"Get out of the car." Rick said. "Let's talk this through." I rev the engine trying to signal to them to move. "Don't make me threaten your sister Daryl. Get out of the car and we'll talk this through." Rick yelled pointing the gun to Katie.

"Shit." I breathe. "Wait here" I get out of the car both hands in the air. "You best stop pointing that gun at my sister." I say trying to stay calm.

"Then let's talk about this." He said lowering his gun but not putting it away. "Who was that?"

"S'none of your business." I said putting my hands down. "Now get out of my way."

"No, Daryl. We're family now. After all we've been through. I told you before and I'll tell you again. You. Are. My. Brother" Rick said mentioning each word clearly. "Now tell me what the hell is going on." I just turn around and take a breath before looking back to Rick and Carl. "Please Daryl, don't shut me out. We're all here for you but you keep pushing us away. I know you and Merle didn't have the happiest childhood but you need to learn to let people in. Just let us in."

"I….he…" I said trying to find the right words.

"Go ahead Daryl, talk to me. Let me help."

"He's my dad." I breath out and I hear small chatter among the group gathering behind Carl.

"What? I always thought your dad was dead." Rick said.

"No, he's alive. He took Carter in when her parents we're arrested for beating on her. The cops placed her there. When all this happened she ended up killing her mom. So my dad's helping her dad come for her. They're both coming for us." I explain.

"Daryl, we can figure this out."

"No, you don't understand. He'll never stop."

"We can deal with this…" I cut him off.

"You don't know what he's capable of."

"Then tell me. I'm here for you Daryl I know it can be scary."

"Ain't scared of nothin'" I spit back. "You really wanna know what he does. What he can do?" I turn around and pull off my shirt. There's a gasp and everything is silent. I turn around revealing more scars. "If he can do this to his own kid he can do anything. Now let me go!" I scream before getting in the car. I put it into drive and start driving, Carl and Rick jump out of the way.

"Are you okay?" Katie whispers.

"M'fine. Just need to get that gate opened." I say racing through the streets.

"I'll do it." I just nod trying to hide how I'm feeling. I stop at the gate and Katie gets out and opens the gate slowly with her knife ready. She stabs a few walkers before opening it all the way. I drive through and get out to cover her while she closes the gate again. We get in to the car and drive off.

Rick's P.O.V

I grab Carl's arm and pull him with me out of the way of the car Daryl's driving. Why won't he listen? I know he's hurting but he's stuck with me this long. I don't understand.

"Glenn, make sure the gate gets closed. Rest of you should get some sleep." I say.

"What we're just going to let them leave?" Carol asks.

"Daryl's left before, he'll come back. He just needs time to cool off." I reassure Carol. She nods and leaves with everyone back to their houses.

"Carl, are you okay?" I ask checking him over.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll see you back at the house. Maggie's watching Judith." He says before following the others. When I notice Aaron is still there.

"Aaron? It's Aaron right?" I ask.

"Yeah."

"Everything's going to be okay. It'll all work out."

"It's all my fault."

"How is it your fault?"

"He came to me earlier, he threatened to kill me if I said anything." He said his voice shaking.

"Daryl?" No, it couldn't be.

"No, his dad. He was waiting when I got home. Said to make an excuse for Daryl to come over. But then he saw Daryl outside and told me to keep him talking. I didn't say anything to him. It's my fault." Aaron said breaking down into tears.

"No, Aaron your life was on the line. You had no choice. It's not your fault. If it wasn't you, it could have been someone else. He could have threatened Carl or Judith. Or one of the other people and they all would've done the same thing you did." I said pulling Aaron into a hug.

"Aaron?" I pulled away and saw Eric.

"I'll leave you two alone." I say. "Are you going to be okay?" I asked Aaron.

"Yeah, thanks Rick." He says.

"Anytime." I give him a small smile before I walk back to the house. When I get back I find Carl sitting beside Judith.

"Nobody is ever going to hurt her." Carl said quietly looking at Judith.

"What?" I ask.

"I'm never going to let anyone hurt my sister, the way Daryl's protecting his sister."

"I know that son."

"But you don't understand, Daryl was just protecting her. We shouldn't have gotten in the way."

"I know."

"No, you don't understand. A parent can protect you but they won't be there forever. Your brother, your sister, they're there for life. They're the one person you can depend on. He can't turn on his sister. Even for you." He said. When did he start sounding so grown up?

"I get that Carl, but he needs to think past her to be rational. He needs to think about their path in the long run." I said.

"That's not going to happen. Not as long as she's alive." Carl said as he held Judith. "We're going to need to leave soon."

"What are you talking about? We're safe here." I argue.

"No, we're not. Those guys are going to come back and look for Daryl and Carter. They don't know that they left. They'll keep looking until they find them. We need to leave at first light and find a new place." Carl said.

"I promise you, son. No one will come here. No one will hurt Judith." I say crouching down beside my kids.

"If anything happens…"

"Nothing will happen."

"But if it does, I'll take Judith and I'll head south. I'll wait for three days in the first town." He looks at Judith. "No one will even think of hurting her. It's just so you know where we will be."

"Okay, son." I said before pulling them both into a hug. "You're a good big brother, you know that?"

"I promised mom I would be." He admits. Carl was made for this. He will survive.

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