I know this chapter is a little short, but let me know what you guys think about it. Hoping to update soon! ENJOY!


As the group settled into their cell block, Daryl sat in Elizabeth's cell with her. She hadn't spoken since she woke up and was currently staring out the small window above her cot. Daryl sat on the cot, his crossbow hanging from his back and his hands in his lap. Unsure of what to say, he watched her in silence, still trying to convince himself that his mind wasn't playing tricks with him. She was real. After everything the world had gone through; After all the tragedy and the pain, she had made it through everything. Regardless of what happened to her, she was alive. And she was here.

Someone cleared their throat and Daryl looked towards the door. Rick motioned for Daryl to follow him and he stood up. Walking out of the cell, Rick and Daryl moved over to the railing. Rick looked into the cell at Elizabeth, who was still staring out the window, her arms wrapped around herself.

"How is she?" He asked, keeping his eyes on her.

"Quiet. She woke up last night. Didn't say much." Daryl said watching her for a moment before turning to lean on the railing and staring down at the ground level of the cell block. "Not that I bugged her about it."

Rick looked over at him before leaning on the railing as well. "It's good that you didn't. She needs time."

"I know that."

Rick studied Daryl's expression. It was cold and filled with anger. Sighing, he licked his lips. "Listen, Daryl, what Lori said last night…"

"Was bullshit." Daryl interrupted.

"No," Rick shook his head. "It wasn't. You wouldn't have killed those men if you didn't love her, but whatever happened between you guys in the past, its in the past. She needs time to heal."

Daryl glared at Rick. "You really think I would make a move on her right now? You think I'm that much of a scumbag?"

"Daryl, I didn't mean…"

"No. No, I get it. I'm the black sheep of the group. I can see why you'd be worried, Rick." He spat, standing up straight and pushing Rick back a bit. "I'm not as much of a scumbag as my brother." He said and stormed off.

Rick sighed and looked into Elizabeth's cell, taken back by the blank stare he received back as Elizabeth now stood in the doorway. He felt a shiver up his spine, her eyes completely empty and void of emotion. He licked his lips and took a step towards her but stopped when she took a step back, a look of defense finally appearing on her face.

"I don't want to hurt you, Elizabeth. My name is Rick. I'm kind of the leader for this group." He said carefully. "I was with Daryl yesterday when he found you in that other cell block." Elizabeth continued to watch him and he looked around to see if anyone was around before turning back to her. "I don't know if you know this or not, but you mean a lot to Daryl. And Daryl is part of this group. And the people in this group, well, we protect each other. We're a family. Granted, not a normal family, but Daryl cares a great deal for you, so that makes you family. You can take your time getting to know us. Just know that you're safe here. Alright?" After a moment, Elizabeth nodded, still on the defense and Rick nodded. "Alright, then."


Elizabeth walked along the fenced in catwalks where someone would take watch every now and then, her fingers dragging along the chain link. She watched Carl and Beth help Hershel prepare a space for crops. Rick walked along the fences, checking for anything that was damaged, and T, Glenn and Maggie stood off in the distance as they burned bodies left over in the prison. Lori and Carol, she assumed, were still inside the cell block.

"Hey." Elizabeth jumped, and glared at Daryl. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." He smiled sheepishly. "What are you doing up here?" Her glare softened a bit and she turned back to looking at the others, shrugging her shoulders in response. Daryl sighed and hooked his fingers through the chain link.

"CDC."

Daryl looked over at her, confused. "What?"

Elizabeth turned to him, one hand still clutching the fence. "I n-need to go to the C-CDC."

Daryl licked his lips and shook his head. "It's gone."

"What?"

"We were there a few months ago. There was a man there trying to find a cure but he gave up. It blew up. There's nothing left." Daryl said, watching a look of hopelessness cross her face.

Elizabeth shook her head, stepping backwards away from Daryl. "No. No, it c-can't be g-gone."

"There's nothing left, Lizzi." Daryl said softly, using her nickname from childhood.

She continued to shake her head in shock. "IT CAN'T BE GONE!" She yelled, her body shaking.

"Well it is, now calm down. Why is it so important?" Daryl asked, but she wasn't listening.

"I DID NOT KEEP MYSELF ALIVE FOR IT TO BE GONE!" She yelled, her voice suddenly strong and tears streaming down her face. Daryl looked down into the yard. The group had stopped their activities and now gathered below the catwalk. Daryl licked his lips and took a step towards her, placing a hand on her shoulder, but she jerked away from him. "NO! DON'T TELL ME IT'S GONE! DON'T FUCKING LIE TO ME!"

Daryl's heart broke as he watched her cry and he stepped towards her again. She tried to move away again, but he wrapped his arms around her and she began hitting his chest, trying to pull away. Daryl placed his hands on either side of her face, forcing her to look at him. "Its gone, Elizabeth." He said firmly, looking her in the eyes. "There's nothing left."

Her breathing shaky and shallow, she collapsed in tears against him and he lowered them to the floor, hugging her tightly. Rick ran up the steps to the catwalk they were on and appeared a moment later behind Elizabeth. "What the hell is going on?"

Daryl looked up at Rick and shook his head as Elizabeth cried into his chest. "I have no idea."


Daryl walked out of his cell and leaned on the railing. Elizabeth had finally stopped crying and was now passed out in his bed. Rick walked over to him, waiting for an explanation.

"I don't know what happened." He finally said and he could feel Rick's eyes on him. "I found her wandering around up there and asked what she was doing. She didn't say anything." He said, trying to figure out why she fell apart like she did. "Then out of no where she said something about the CDC."

"What?" Rick furrowed his brow. "What did she say about it?"

"Said she needed to go there. I told her it was gone and…" he trailed off.

"And what?" Rick pushed.

"And then it was like the world ended." Daryl looked at Rick. "She started crying. Yelling. Said that she didn't keep herself alive for this long for it to be gone." He said, her words echoing in his head.

"What does that mean? Why was it so important that she go there?" Rick asked, looking over his shoulder towards the cell.

Daryl shook his head. "She wouldn't tell me." He ran his hands over his face. "She had no idea it was gone. Whatever the reason, it kept her from killing herself. Even when those mother fuckers were doing what they did, it was enough to keep her going. She had to get to the CDC."

Rick continued to watch Elizabeth sleep, tears still staining her cheeks. "Why was it so important, Elizabeth?" He whispered.

Daryl stared out the windows from the top floor of the cell block, a dark look in his eyes as a realization hit him. He felt Rick look at him as he spoke, not having to see his face to know that he had the same realization.

"Maybe she knows something we don't."