A/n: Thank you, Laura, Leslie, hellkat121 and Leyshla Gisel for reviewing :) Thank you so much. I own nothing but Callie, Jon and anything you don't recognize. Sorry if you feel Daryl is a little OOC. He gets back into character REALLY soon. we all love him backing an angry ass, right? i know i do.

Chapter Four: The Group

Callie was introduced to Shane, who was also a cop, Lori and Carl, who ended up being Rick's family he had lost, Dale, who was the oldest one in the group being in his early sixties, Carol and Ed who were married and had a child name Sophia, T-Dog who was the black man, Glenn who was an Asian guy of his early twenties and the guy to go to if you needed anything in the city of Atlanta and Amy and Andrea—Andrea being the one she had spoken to in the truck on the way to this camp.

There were many tents scattered on the top of that mountain. An RV was off to the side. When Callie tried looking through the window, she noticed how cozy it looked inside.

When she was left alone again, the campers going off and doing their own business. She noticed a truck that looked fairly familiar to her. She walked around the back of the red truck and read the license plate. DXN 1203. Covering her mouth, she stifled a cry of joy.

"I must say," Shane asked as she walked up to her with his hands in his pockets, "It's a damn shame your husband ain't here. He must be one lucky man to have someone as pretty as you."

She felt nervous after she said that but happiness filled her, "Is Daryl here? Is he here? This is his truck! Where is he?"

Shane held up his hands, "Whoa, whoa. How do you know Daryl? Why do you want to know where that bastard is?"

Callie put her hands on her hips and glared at him. "Don't call him that, he's my husband."

He shook his head and laughed his ass off, clutching his stomach, "Ya've got to be kiddin' me. Daryl Dixon ain't your husband. No way!"

"How do you know him? Where is he at?"

"That imbecile went on a huntin' trip to get us some food. Listen, Daryl doesn't have to know your hear. I can keep you in hiding—"

Callie gave him a face of horror, "What the hell is the matter with you?" Before he could answer, she stormed off. She sat down at one of the tables and looked at her left hand. The diamond engagement ring as well as the wedding band was still shining in the sunlight, making it look like the prettiest diamond that was ever made. She smiled to herself. He was on a small trip and would be back soon and she wanted to surprise him. And hopefully, they could have a peaceful night together without the thought of their son's death haunting them both.

-x-

That night the fire was crackling and everyone was drinking and having a good time sharing their stories. Rick was comfortable in his seat, his arm around both his son and wife. Callie felt a smile on her lips, but it vanished when she realized she would never get her son back like Rick had his back.

"Wait till Daryl realizes Merle is gone," Andrea said.

Glenn frowned, "I know. I ain't telling him! I don't want my ass kicked!"

Callie looked at the group with raised eyebrows in shock, "You left Merle all alone to be eaten by those creatures?"

Morales said, "He wasn't exactly any help to us. He was beating up T-Dog! Not to mention he was wasting our bullets while attracting the geeks towards us. If we didn't handcuff him, we would've been dead!"

"You're all lucky I'm here." She would have smiled, but knowing Daryl's brother was left on top of a roof, she knew that his happiness wouldn't last long. What she would give to have her husband happy and her baby boy back.

"Oh, really?" Shane cocked his brow. "Why's that?"

She smiled. Just thinking about seeing Daryl again gave her butterflies in the pit of her stomach. They all seamed to stare at her in question, wondering what her story was and what the bloody hell she meant by them being lucky she was there. But she didn't want to explain. She was too tired to do anything at all bit sit and continue o listen to all that had happened between Merle and the rest of the group. They were also contemplating on how to tell him.

"Look," Glenn said, "I don't mean to sound racist, but it would sound a lit better coming from a white guy."

"We could always lie," Amy said.

Callie felt her eyelids drift down over her eyes. She struggled to stay awake, intent on hearing all they had to say. But she was too worn out from the many hours she had walked. And even though she had eaten quite a lot of beans that night, she was hungry. Sighing, she wished she hadn't been the two worst things that she could be at that moment.

Standing up, she yawned, "I really am tired. I shall see you all in the morning."

Dale then spoke, "I can make room for you in my RV. Don't want ya to sleep out on the dirt."

She shook her head, "I think I'll just sleep in Daryl's tent. He does have a tent here, right? Just point and I'll be off."

"I ain't so sure that's a good idea...you don't know Daryl..."

Too tired to argue she said, "I think I can handle it."

Dale pointed, sighing, to the tent most out of the way of all the others. Callie thought how typical it was and walked into the tent. It was filthy with clothes on the floor, guns lying on top of sleeping bags and blankets ruffled here and there. She sighed. He used to keep everything neat...at least for her he did.

Callie picked up all the blankets and organized them into two pallets. One for Merle and one for Daryl. However, she would need a place to sleep. Picking a random sleeping bag when she was done cleaning the tent, she fell fast asleep, silently praying that he would be here soon.

-x-

The next morning Callie woke up bright and early, feeling her heart skip a beat. She them washed what dirty clothes she found in Daryl's and Merle's tent and went down to the lake to wash them clean. When she was finished she went back to the ladies who were nearly done putting all their own clothes on the drying lines.

Giving them a good morning smile, she asked, "Is there room to hang more clothing?"

Carol returned the smile, "Of course. By all means, take that half of the line." She nodded towards the other end.

Callie walked over and hung the Dixon's wet clothing. She took her time, not wanting to be over with what kept her occupied and then sit and think about when he might get here. Which she knew would make her anxious.

Suddenly, a scream sounded in the forest. Little Sophia's high pitched yell said, "Mommy, Mommy!" Carol raced over to her and embraced her while Jacqui ran over to T-Dog. Callie jogged over to the group. Shane, Dale, Rick, Jim and Morales were beating up a Walker that was chewing on a deer. Callie covered her mouth, gagging at each bash they took. Finally, Dale swung his axe on the thing's neck and the head rolled off.

Puking, she walked away from the scene and rested on a chair by the fire pit.

Grabbing a water bottle that was in the cooler next to the RV and rinsed her mouth. She sighed. Callie took a deep breath before hearing that hauntingly familiar voice.

"Merle? Get your ass out here! Got us some squirrels!"

Callie rose her head from looking down and saw Daryl set his crossbow down on the ground next to a crate. Callie smile widely, tears streaming down her face.

"Daryl! Daryl!" He shifted his gaze to the woman calling out his name, shock written all over his face. He slid the chain of animals off his shoulder and ran towards her. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she grabbed his face and kissed him hard on the mouth, ignoring the salty tears. He embraces her back, gaining a whole new hope he thought he had lost the moment he laud eyes on both her and his son's lifeless body.

Daryl was breathing hard as he let go of her lips and placed we feet back on the ground. She leaned her forehead against hers, "I thought I'd never find you."

"'N I though' ya left me," he hissed, smirking at her.

"Me? Leave you? Ha!" her smile was playful and wide. As she leaned to kiss him some more, Shane gave a cough. Daryl looked back, giving a deadly glare.

"There's been a situation with Merle. Back in Atlanta, there were a few problems..." Shane looked from Callie, who stood right behind her husband, to Daryl, wondering what his reaction will be.

Daryl seemed calm, "Is he dead?"

"We don't know."

He huffed, "Well, he either is or he ain't!"

"Look, there's no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to say."

"Who are you?" Daryl hissed, turning to Rick hi was now walking up to him.

"Rick Grimes. We found your wife on the road and we picked her up. She was worried about you."

Daryl looked back at Callie who gave him a small smile. He then turned to Rick, "Wha' ya got to say 'bout my brother?"

"Your brother wasn't playing well with others, so I handcuffed him on a roof."

He turned around and turned back, "Let me process this. Ya tied my brother to the roof and left him there for dead?" Daryl launched the squirrels at him while Shane took him down onto the ground. Callie covered her mouth in shock.

Daryl squared on the ground, as T-Dog piped up, "It's my fault. I had the key and I dropped the key."

"What? Couldn't pick it up?"

The man sighed, "I dropped it down a drain."

Daryl scoffed, drawing out his knife and swinging it every direction he could. Shane charged at him again, only this time, he held his neck tightly in his arm.

"Hey! Chokehold's illegal!"

Callie began to tear up, "You all need to stop! Shane, please let him go." She looked at Shane with desperate eyes, feeling she had failed to make Daryl happy in the end and failing to teach him how to handle difficult situations.

Shane looked at her and immediately dropped him. Daryl got up and held his hand to his mouth, stifling a cry.

"I'm goin' back to get 'im. Just tell me where he's at." Daryl grabbed his crossbow and slung it over his shoulder.

Callie placed a hand on his tense arm, "I only just found you. You can't leave me alone again."

He stroked her cheek like he always did, giving her a small smile, "I'll be back with Daryl before you know it."

"Promise?"

He nodded, whispering, "I promise you the world."