Hope Is All We Have

by Isabell Winchester

While searching for Sophia Daryl finds a young woman injured and alone. He brings her back to the farm and a light begins to form in the group. Damaged people tend to gravitate towards damaged people. It is the end of the world with walkers roaming all over. People just want to survive and find others that don't want to kill them. Without hope, what is the pont of living? Daryl/OC

9. Judge, Jury, Executioner

A stream of light beamed though the top window of their tent. A soft breeze blew past their tent bustling it a little bit. Daryl groaned, not wanting to get up. He yawned and slowly opening his eyes. He rubbed them, yawning and stretching but finding he couldn't stretch too far. Something was also tickling his face. Daryl turned his head and smiled at what he saw. Anna's hair was loose, curly from always been tied into a tight, long braid and was always either tucked under the braid or tied into a bun. Anna was sound asleep, curled up into a little ball right into him. Anna was lucky he thought, she could just about fall asleep anywhere she wanted and get a good sleep. But with her fractured hand, it caused her a lot of pain during the night that she found it hard to fall asleep. But when Anna did, she didn't stay asleep for long, the poor girl he thought. Daryl propped her wrist up high during the night on his chest and put a jumper underneath during the night to help ease the swelling. Anna had been stubborn the night before; she had refused to take anything for the pain she was suffering from. Daryl couldn't believe the "reason" behind her decision and it was because she didn't want to waste medication on something so small. There could be a time when someone would really need it for something bigger. Anna's hand was now all different shades of dark colours from where she hit Andrea hard in the nose. Her hand was now fractured again. Anna had only just gotten over it from when she first arrived on the farm. Now it was even more with a new fracture in the same spot. Daryl was worried about her. What if he wasn't around one time for Anna when she needed him the most? Anna couldn't even draw her cross bow now. She certainly couldn't shoot her hand gun and had no hope in hell of using her father's sniper rifle. What if her knife got caught in the skull of a walker? Thinking of all of this made him flinch back a little. He felt responsible for Anna now. She was his to protect now.

Samson yawned, stretching out his body and shook his fur about. He got up and sat beside Daryl, his big brown eyes blinking, still slowing waking up. Daryl smiled, patting him behind the ears "Morning boy. You wake up just like your momma! Got to get you out of those bad habits".

Anna stirred from her sleep, opening her eyes a little. She closed them quick when the sun hit her eyes and she immediately closed them. Anna scrunched up her nose, pulling the blankets over her face and hiding back under them "I have really stopped liking mornings since this whole end of the world thing happened" she groaned. "It really has put a dampener on a lot of things?"

Daryl shook his head at her "Let me guess, there not being not so much coffee and all. I bet if you had been given the chance, you would have lived in a Starbucks!"

"Damn straight! Give me a grande caramel latte or a blended caramel frappucino. Coffee is the only true sustainable food course for any doctor. It was the only way I could find myself getting through the long days where I found my eye balls hanging out of my head. Concealer saved me because I would have looked like those things out there!"

He rolled his eyes at her, leaning up onto his elbows and squinting his eyes down at her "You would have gotten a lot better night of sleep if you had taken the pain medication that Carol had tried to give you before your dinner last night. You are so stubborn".

Anna yawned underneath the blankets; pulling back them back off her face. Her hair was all over the place "I am not wasting pain killers on a sort of pain that I know I can handle. I have had worse before".

Daryl's face fell, feeling a little unnerved "That is not cool, Half Pint. Don't say stuff like that, you know I don't like it" he muttered, getting out from underneath their blankets. He reached for his boots and put them on "Well anyway, you are pretty damn lucky really to tell you the truth. I happened to have grounded down some pain killers last night down to a powder. Just imagine how bad the pain would have been if you didn't have any pain medicine".

She looked at him; feeling a little puzzled "You did what?"

Daryl knew he had to be sneaky with Anna. He knows what she is like "I mixed it into your sweet tea last night. It was the only way we could think of getting it into you without you noticing".

"Ass hole" Anna frowned at him, sitting up, crossing her arms across her chest with her mouth open and pointed at him. "So I wasn't going crazy then. I knew my tea tasted a little bit funky last night. And it wasn't because of snake you cooked for us either!"

He shook his head at, trying to keep serious "Quit your moaning princess".

Anna tilted her head, sighing and looking right at Daryl, He ducked his head, looking at his feet. Her eyes softened, feeling a little guilty about what he was going to do today. She knows Daryl wasn't a bad person "You are going to talk to Randall today, aren't you? You are going to find out if he is a bad guy or not? If he is a threat to your group"

Daryl looked up to her from underneath the hair that covered his eyes. The comment didn't go unnoticed "A threat to our group you mean. But yeah, yeah I am. I will do what is needed to keep my people safe" he answered, watching Samson picking up her shoes and bringing them to her. "And you are a part of this group".

Daryl leaned over to the side of their sleeping mat. He reached for her black hooded sweat shirt and leather jacket "The days are getting cold fast. We can't have you getting so sick again" She rolled her eyes and took the clothes off Daryl, putting them on. Anna took the boots off Samson, reaching into a bag and giving him some deer jerky.

Anna started to think to herself while tying up the laces of her boots up. Anna sighed, feeling guilty she had somehow brought something bad to the group and couldn't bear it if something happened any of them. Surely there could be some way she could help "I can help you with Randall. You don't have to do it by yourself".

"No" Daryl was firm with this and wouldn't have a thought of it. He put his knife into the holster and picked up his cross bow "You aren't getting blood on your hands, Anna. I can do this by myself. So I am putting my foot down on this one. It ain't happening".

"There would be no more blood on my hands than I already have right now Daryl" she admitted, shrugging her shoulders and looking at Daryl with her watery green eyes. "I killed two of his people, remember. They could still be looking for me and want me dead because of that. What if they came here with all hells blazing? I couldn't live myself if something happened to any of you".

"Yeah you did kill two of their men. But you did that to save the lives of three people from your group! We won't give them the chance to get to you because we won't let them anywhere near you. No way in hell that will happen! Besides, you aren't like those sorta people, Anna. You could never be even if ya tried your worst day. You have a heart of gold, not of ice. So I can handle this kid on my own. Don't you worry your pretty little head over it. Besides, your head might start hurting if you start thinking too much" He leaned back, just missing her little bony punch she had tried to throw.

Daryl had a little laugh about that and she just poked her tongue out at him. Anna huffed "Jack ass". She then looked at him strangely "What?" she asked, then looking at where he was looking and then she realized.

Daryl took a hold of her feet and dragged her carefully towards him. Anna had once again not tied her shoe laces the way he liked her to have them "What have I told you about your shoe laces?"

Anna sighed "That I am to tie them the right way or I will trip over. Then I would get my ass kicked by you or if I am lucky, I would get my ass bitten by a walker. That would hurt less than getting my ass chewed up by you"

"Damn straight" Daryl told her.

Anna patted around her, looking for her knife "Oh why do I always lose my knife?"

"What would you do about me?" He rolled his eyes at her, reaching from his hunting back pack and handed it back to her "What have you got planned for the rest of the day then?" Daryl asked her, tying up her shoe laces of her boots. "I have got to keep track of you, so I know where the trouble will be and I need to get there in a hurry to stop whatever you have caused"

"Ha ha, very funny Daryl but I am going to spend some time with Beth in the house today. The poor girl is feeling a little lonely by herself being cooped up there by herself. Besides, not a lot of people would really like to see my face around the farm at the moment after what I did to Andrea".

"All done" Daryl got out of the tent, holding the flap open for Anna. He checked out her hair and shook his head "You ain't leaving your hair out".

It needed to be tied in the braid he had made so it didn't get tangled by anything or for it able to get caught by a walker. Anna quickly ties her hair into a pony tail "Is that better?"

"Nope" he said shaking his head.

"Ugh. I will get Beth to tie my hair into a braid then. Will that make you happy?"

"Sorta" he admitted.

Samson dutifully stayed by Anna's side, just a little ahead of her, sniffing the ground. "Alright then, I am going to walk you back to the farm house. I have got to make sure you get there without causing too much trouble again. We don't need anyone else to get a black eye from you because they pissed you off"

Anna reached into the inside of her leather jacket pockets, pulling out her fingerless gloves and sliding them carefully on. "Ha, ha. Think you have such a great sense of humour don't you, Daryl Dixon"

He looked on ahead of him, scoffing and smiling "Oh no, I am deadly serious".

Anna shrugged her shoulders, picking up a stick and throwing it ahead of Samson "I just don't put up with any one's bull shit, that's all. I am not going to stand back and take any one's crap for anything".

"That you do. That's what I like about you" he complimented, putting his arm around her shoulder.

---

A cold, wind was blowing across the field as they were walking. Daryl was right, the days are getting colder and Anna was thankful for her warm clothes she had on. Anna always had hated the winters, she always got sick. Daryl looked at her, kind of thankful she was spending the day inside with Beth and out of this weather "Need your scarf? I can go back and get it?"

They had reached the front porch of the house; Anna turned and put her hands on his shoulders "I will be fine. I am inside and out of the elements. Don't be going and giving yourself a heart attack because you are worrying too much about little ol' me. You have got to start looking out for yourself, you are getting old. I can see those grey hairs coming through" she teased, flicking her fingers through his hair.

"Old age has nothing to do with it" Daryl shook his head and playfully pushed her shoulder, stepping down from the porch and walking away "It is pretty hard now with having you in my life" he called out, looking over his shoulder back to her.

"Right back at ya Daryl" she called out.

Anna watched Daryl until he reached where Randall was being held and then turned to head inside of the house "Hello?" she called out.

"Oh it's you Anna; you know you don't have to knock to come into our house. You are more than welcome to come and go as you please. You should know that by now young lady" Hershel called out and then peering from the door of the reading area. He was always happy having Anna. He always kept on telling her she was everyone's guardian angel, their guiding light through the dark times.

"My grandmother would roll over in her grave at the very thought of me not using my manners like a good southern lady should do" Anna called back, opening the door. Samson rushed through as soon as there was enough room for him and ran straight up the stairs to Beth's room "Sorry about that, he is rather fond of Beth" Anna laughed. "We are just here to spend some time with her for a little bit today. We are going to try and cheer her up. Hopefully a little bit of girl time can lighten her spirits even if it is for a little while".

Hershel chuckled a little bit, ushering her into the kitchen and picking up a big basket from the table "Beth told me all about it yesterday and she got real excited about it. So I prepared some food for your play time with Beth. It isn't anything special and nothing much either. Some cucumber, salted radish, stone bread, a little bit of chicken and roast peaches"

She smiled at the nice gesture, taking the plates and cutlery "This all looks amazing, Hershel. Thank you. This beats wood fired snake any day of the week. There is only so much of that a girl can stomach" she laughed, tucking a loose string of hair behind her ear.

"Don't you let Daryl hear you say that" Hershel chuckled, picking up a pitcher of lemonade with mint in it. Anna's mouth watered at the very thought of it.

"Too late, I had already told him" she chuckled.

"Beth wanted to have something nice to eat for your little play date. And it is also a little thank you for what you are doing for my little girl. You are bringing up her spirits more and more each time you visit her. Her eyes are lighting up like the way they used to do before all of this happened"

Anna followed Hershel up the stairs "It really is nothing Hershel".

Hershel nodded, then thinking out loud "It may seem nothing to you, but what you are doing for my little girl is something priceless. I can never repay you for what you are doing for her. You are saving my little girl and that basket of food you have there in your hands is the least I can give you for all of your troubles and help"

Hershel knocked on Beth's door, there was a scuttling of paws and hushed voices. Hershel opened the door and they both walked in. Samson was sitting up on the side of Beth's bed on the floor. Beth was sitting up straight, reading a book.

Anna shook her head "You both are terrible actors. I know Samson was up on the bed. I can see his hair on the blankets".

Beth put down her book on to her lip, wiping away the hair "Is it that obvious?"

"Samson can never help himself when it comes to pretty girls. He always likes to make them feel better when they are sad. Animals have a funny thing of making us feel like everything is going to be okay. They are good therapy for the soul"

Hershel sat down the lemonade on Beth's side table "Well I will leave you two young ladies to it then. If you need anything else, just give me a yell from the door and I will bring it to you".

Hershel leaned in and gave Anna a kiss on the cheeky and a hug "Thank you Hershel".

"You make sure you braid that hair of yours up too young lady!" patting her back.

"Oh I can do that! I love braiding hair!" Beth told her.

Anna smirked, shaking her head "Have you been talking to Daryl, Herschel?"

"May or not have young lady" he chuckled "We all need to band together to try and handle that spirit of yours. Now you two young ladies have a good time. Give me a holler if you need anything"

Hershel gave Beth a kiss on the cheek "Bye daddy".

Anna sat down the tray of food on to the bed, untying her shoes and kicking them off. Samson cheekily jumped up on to the bed and sat beside Beth. "All of this looks so good".

Beth had a hair brush, hair ties and bobby pins to do Anna's hair. Anna didn't mind, it was good for Beth to do and as well keeping Daryl off her back about it. Beth took the hair tie out, her long hair over flowing on to the bed "Wow, your hair is real pretty and long. Your hair looks like all of the princesses in the story books".

"My mother loved it like this" Anna told her.

Beth started with two braids on the side of Anna's head and French braid down the middle of her head. Beth stuck out her tongue, concentrating hard on tying her braid down on to a long plait and tying it into a bun. "There, Daryl should be happy with that"

Anna turned her head, peering at Beth and laughed a little. Beth shrugged her shoulders "What? I think it is cute".

"Any way, I wanted to pick something nice for us to eat while we had some girl time. You can spend some rare time away from Daryl. You two are inseparable these days"

Anna smiled to herself, taking some plates and filling them up. Samson eyed off the chicken, his eyes following the movement of her hands. Anna gave him some of her chicken "Daryl has something special that a lot of people don't see".

Beth smiled "But you see it don't you? I bet you saw it the first time you met him"

Anna had been finding herself more and more smiling randomly because of Daryl "We help each other to battle each of our demons. I honestly don't know where I would be without him. Lying in a ditch somewhere out in the woods or one of the walking dead"

"No, I don't think any of that would have happened to you. I know you would have found a way out somehow. You are way too strong to go down like that" Beth gave her a soft, empathetic look "I actually can't imagine how this group would cope without you around the place. Rick wouldn't have you to go for guidance when he doesn't know what to do. Daryl would go back to being all grumpy again and not be talking to anyone".

Anna pressed her lips together, scoffing a little to herself and picked a few weeds that were caught up in Samson's fur "And I would be lost without all of you as well. You all are like my new family now. It is all I have left in the world the way it is now"

Anna brushed the crumbs off her trousers and down onto the ground "I am going to open up all of these windows. It is a beautiful day out there and a little bit of fresh air would do you the world of good"

"I would like to go outside for a bit. Do you reckon you would walk with me out there? I want to go and see Maggie"

Anna nodded to herself, looking out to the barn where Daryl was talking to Randall. Beth was pulling on her cow girl boots "You are worried about Daryl, aren't you"

"I am always going to be worried about that man" she muttered. "Won't ever be a day where I am not worried about any one of you, where ever I am" Anna turned back to Beth, who had Samson wagging his tail, looking at Beth up and down.

Anna laughed at Samson, pulling her cross bow on to her back and tucking in her St Jude necklace into her shirt. "He is after some of your radishes".

"What?" Beth asked, looking at her strangely and quite not believing it. "You're kidding me right?"

"The dog has some weird tastes. Liking radishes is one of them" she laughed.

---

Daryl paced back and forth in front of Randall, digging his finger nails into the palms of his palms in anger. He wanted to belt the living hell out of Randall. Daryl looked like a wolf that was ready to attack and ready to protect one of his own at any cost. This Randall kid, he was a threat to his group; a threat to Anna. Daryl punched Randall in the face hard with all the force he could get together. He took his frustration out with every punch he threw. Blood dripped down from Randall's nose and he collapsed down on to the ground. Daryl was seething with anger, he was fuming and he had to get that he needed to know from this kid in any way possible to keep everyone safe. Daryl threw in two more punches to his face for good measure.

Randal spat out some blood, pleading for his life "I told you".

Daryl picked him up by his jumper; heaving him up from the dusty floor and slamming him hard against the barn wall, the force making it shake "You haven't told me shit!" Daryl snarled, his lips curling up and his face red with anger.

The kid was breathing hard; one eye was closed from all of the punches he had already taken. He was scared for his life and maybe he would just about say anything to get out of the situation. That is what had Daryl had been worrying about for his group. What if he was lying to him? "I barely knew those guys. I met them on the road"

"How many are in your group?" Daryl growled, gritting his teeth and getting right close into Randall's face.

Daryl then took out his hunting knife, twirling it in his hand and peering sideways at the kid. Randal's eyes widened with fear and scooted back into the wall, instinctively trying to get away from Daryl "No, no, no, no, no! Come on man! You don't need to use that!"

Daryl lunged forward and slammed his knife into the ground right next to his bad knee, scaring him "How many!" he growled.

Randall had to tell him now "About thirty!"

"Where?" Daryl asked, ripping his bandage off his knee.

"I don't know I swear. We never stayed in a place more than a night!"

Daryl leaned into Randall's face "Scouting? Planning on staying local?"

"I don't know, they left me behind" Randall cried.

Daryl pointed his knife into Randall's healing wound "Did you ever pick off scab?"

Randall breathed fast "Come on man. I am trying to cooperate".

"You start of slow, but sooner or later you got to rip it off" he growled, putting his knife deeper into his wound.

Randal finally gave in, hoping to escape any more pain "Okay. Okay. They have weapons, heavy stuff. Automatics. But, but, I didn't do anything'

"Your boys shot up my people out there, trying to take over this farm. You trying to say you are innocent?"

"Yes! These people took me in. It's a whole group of men, women and children too. Just like you people" Randall told him.

Daryl got up off his knees, turning a little and looking at him from the side of his eyes.

"I saw it as a chance. But we go out, just the men to scavenge. One night we found this camp, a father with his son and his daughter with their German shepherd. That dog acted like a wolf or something. It was the biggest dog I have ever seen in my life"

Realization hit Daryl. A father, son, a daughter and a German shepherd. Randall was talking about the night Daryl had found Anna barely alive. His breathing came quick, clenching his hands into tight fists, slowly turning his head and staring Randall down with absolute hatred. He was a part of the group that had hurt Anna, murdering her father and brother.

"This woman, she was real small. So small, that they almost thought she was a child and that kind of turned them on even more. She had real long, dark brown hair and green eyes that they were obsessed with. They untied her braid and everything because they wanted to play with her hair while they played with her. She was real pretty too, which was a bonus to them, I guess. They tried to make her scream but she didn't make a sound the whole time. She fought like hell though. They made the father and brother watch what they did to her. They didn't even kill them straight way. The woman, she had a kick ass cross bow and hit one of the guys around the head, knocking him out stone cold. One of our guys shot her in the leg with their bow. The dog, it went crazy. She whistled real loud and the dog just ran out of there. Shots were fired. They found the father and brother, shooting them and leaving them to roamers. But I swear I had nothing to do with it. I didn't touch Anna!"

A shock was sent through Daryl's body, his muscles tensed up and he slowly turned around to face Randall, his hand clutching his buck knife. Randall scooted back into the wall, realizing he had made a mistake by admitting the name.

"This knife in my head is the least of your worries right now boy" Daryl threatened. "You deserve a lot more pain than just a knife wound, you ass hole" Daryl laid his boot into the side of Randall.

"Please? I had nothing to do with it"

Like hell he did and he lunged forward, throwing a punch hard into his face "That was for taking advantage of her"

Daryl took big heavy breaths, laying a punch, breaking his nose "That for shooting her in the leg"

He kicked him in the ribs "That's for taking away her family away from her".

Daryl stepped back, then launching a heavy blow underneath his chin "That's for almost killing her".

Daryl was walking across from the field, wiping the blood off his hands. He looked up, seeing Beth outside with Maggie. Anna had gotten Beth out of her room and got the two sisters together again. Yes, that girl could work miracles with people.

"Are you okay Daryl?" His head snapped up, looking into the light green eyes of Anna's. She looked at him concerned, worried about him and gently taking his hands, looking at the bloody grazes. Daryl felt like he was going to throw up "Can we go and have a talk after this? I need to tell you something. Something what Randall said to me. It's something you need to know".

When Anna looked at Daryl and he didn't look at her in the eyes, she knew something was wrong with him. Daryl look haunted, he looked scared. She looked down at his hands '"What happened in there Daryl?" She saw the anxious look on his face.

"Can we please just talk after this away from every one? I don't want everyone hearing this" he pleaded. "They don't need to know".

Anna knew when not to push Daryl, she just nodded and stroking his arm "Yeah, of course we can. I will patch up your hands while we are at it. I can't have them getting infected"

Daryl rolled his eyes at her, pushing her forward to the direction of the group "You're always fussing over me"

"Can't help it, it is my job" she said with a smile.

---

Daryl, Anna and Samson reached the group. Everyone has gathered and was standing around the fire. Daryl stepped forward; ready to talk to everyone "The boy back there has a gang, about thirty men. They have heavy artillery, they roll through here our men are dead and the women will wish they were"

Carol saw his hands, bloody and raw "What did you do?"

Daryl looked down to his hand "We had a little chat. Bastard deserved every hit I gave got for the shit he is involved with"

"No one goes near this guy" Rick commanded out loud, looking around every one. "He isn't a good person"

Anna leaned into him "I will just go and get my medical bag to patch up your hands up"

"Is everything okay?" Rick asked; looking on at Anna as she walked back to their camp.

Daryl kept his eyes on Anna as she made her way back to their camp "That Randall kid, he was a part of the group that attacked Anna and her family. That kid is a part of the same group that hurt her and almost killing her. That night they shot her father and brother but not killing them. They let them turn into walkers"

Rick closed his eyes and shook his head in his hands "I had always hoped that she would never have to relive what happened that night. God knows how she has kept it together this long without losing it"

Daryl's head snapped up, looking at Rick "You knew what happened that night?"

Rick raised his hands up in peace, trying to calm Daryl "I made a promise to Anna. She didn't want anyone to treat her any different and that is why she made me promise her. We both know how stubborn Anna can be. It wasn't my place to say something when Anna didn't want me to. I didn't see it as a danger to the group, so I saw it as no harm done".

Daryl scoffed "You got that right. Too Stubborn for her own good" Then shock set in, what would happen if the people on camp found out? What if they wanted Anna off the farm? "You sure no one else knows about this right?"

"Only you and I know what happened to Anna that night" Rick reminded him.

Daryl nodded his head "Best keep it that way. We know how people would react if they knew"

Samson walked ahead of her and ran up to where Daryl was trying to clean his hands "Hey boy" he said, leaning down and patted him behind the ears.

Daryl squinted, looking at Anna. She had walked all the way back to their camp to get the medical bag and back to him "You shouldn't have gone back to the camp by yourself. You know the rule".

"If I walk by myself, I will get my ass kicked" Anna rolled her eyes at him, putting down her bag and getting out what she needs to fix him. "I had Samson with me the whole way, Daryl. My cross bow is all loaded, ready for anything that comes at me and my knife is sharp. I knew I would be fine"

Samson settled himself beside Daryl's feet. He put his head on his paws and watched his owner work away on his new best friend. Daryl was trying to find a way to say something to her about what he now knew about the night he had found her. But Daryl didn't know what to say to her, let alone known how to say it to her. Anna could see that Daryl was struggling with the thoughts that were running through his head. Lucky for him, she could read him like a book. So Anna tried to lighten the mood "Lucky for you, I have had plenty of practice with this sort of thing, both on myself and others in the emergency ward. I am pretty good at fixing up things, covering them up without no one none the wiser" she joked.

Daryl looked at Anna, cringing at the thought and shook his head "That ain't funny half Pint" Daryl muttered "You know I don't like that sorta humour".

She felt bad now looking up at Daryl, suddenly finding the swabs in her hands a little more interesting to look at. Anna dipped the swabs in antiseptic cream, wiping away at the cuts on his knuckles "I didn't say anything to anyone about what those men did to me because I didn't want to get "those" looks from all of the people around here. You and I know what people can be like. It would be like as they were walking on egg shells around me. I don't want that".

She put the swabs in a plastic bag and pulled out antiseptic pads. She carefully placed them on his grazes. "I don't want their pity. I don't want to be treated like I was going to fall apart at any second, to treat me as if I was some puppy that had been kicked or something. I hate being babied by people. I absolutely hate it. It makes me feel weak and stupid".

Daryl knew where she was coming from, with what happened with his dad and all "Know how you feel there. Been there, done that and earned that merit badge. But I am here for you if you need a chat. I won't judge, no matter what the cussing"

Anna looked up at him, smiling "I know I do, thanks Daryl". She went back and carefully wrapped his hand in a stretchy bandage "Now you have to go as easy as much as you can on it. It will be a bit tender and sore for a little while. Keep the padding on for a day to stop any infections. You should be able to take it off after that and be okay"

"Thanks" he muttered, looking at her and keeping his stare on her, patting Samson behind his ears.

Anna knew that look of Daryl's "I am fine Daryl. You don't have to worry about me"

He raised his head, squinted his eyes at her "Alright. But I have got my eye on you".

Anna packed everything back into her bag, getting up of the ground and brushed off the leaves that got stuck on her trousers "It is nothing I haven't been through before. I know how to deal with the night mares of it all"

"Alright" he answered, eyeing her warily and getting up off his seat. He looked at her; pushing her loose arrows a little more into the cross bow. "But you don't gotta do this all on your own. You have got me now and I have got your back".

Anna smiled at him, laughing a little bit. She did love Daryl for who was "You don't have to worry about me" she joked.

Daryl scoffed, shaking his head at the girl and ruffling her hair. Anna screwed up her at him "Yeah, right. I am always going to worry about you Half Pint. I can't help it. I will bring you back a squirrel and you will eat it all without giving away any of it. You need some more muscle on those bones. You need to keep up your strength so you can kick some walker ass"

Anna rolled her eyes at him, picking her cross bow "Go on now, the sooner you leave, the sooner you can get back here and I can stop worrying about you being out there on your own"

He turned, walking backwards, pointing at his eyes and back to her. She ushered him off, waving her hands at him to move along.

Anna was almost back at the farm when she saw Dale and Rick with each other, arguing. Dale saw her coming, stopping what we he was saying and hastily made his way to her "He can't do this Anna! He can't kill Randall! What it will do to his character, his soul! Please will you talk some sense into him? You are the only one that can on this farm!"

She rubbed her temples with her fingers, taking a deep breath and opening her eyes "Killing him Rick? Why are we killing him?" People always came to her. She pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes and took a deep breath to ease the head ache that was coming on.

Rick nodded, struggling to find what was right and the better choice "I have thought about it all night, Anna. Knowing what I know now". He looked Anna, shifting on his feet and putting his hands on his hips. "I don't have a choice now. I need to do what is best for the group to keep them safe. I can't have his gang threatening my group"

Dale shook his head, not quite believing what he was hearing. "You can't decide on your own if you want to take a boy's life. You need to at least talk to Anna about this!"

Rick took a breath "The group seemed supportive about it all".

"You didn't give them a chance to have a say on the matter" Dale replied.

Anna stepped in between Dale and Rick "There has got to be processes, Rick. The world may have ended, but we still have got to keep our humanity. We need to let the group have a chance to figure out what they want to do about this" Anna declared.

"So he is guilty by association and you are going to kill him? He is just a kid. Give me some time to talk to everyone" Dale cried.

"We can't act this out! People are scared!" Rick bellowed.

"Which is why people need time to process this. Which is exactly what Anna just said!" Dale retorted.

"No, these people need to be safe and I owe them that!" Rick snarled.

"Think about your son! The message you are giving him. Shoot first, think later" Dale countered. "I am just asking one day to talk to everybody. You can give me that. Think about Carl".

"We reconvene at sunset. Then what ever happens, happens" Rick snapped.

Rick walked off, Anna looked on after him. Rick was struggling, he was carrying himself to same way she was carried herself when she was struggling "Oh Rick" she whispered. Dale was walking the other way from her. Anna didn't want to get into the fight but she hated being in the middle of two men who she respects both just as equally. She would listen to them both, hearing both sides of their opinions when they didn't understand each other. Samson started whining, looking up at his owner "It's okay boy. We will be okay"

---

Anna looked up into the sky; it was late in the day now and she decided to walk to the barn. Andrea was still there, her plan would work. She shielded her eyes with her hands, walking up to Andrea "I was sent here by Rick, says he needs you to go on a fence run with Shane to make sure they are secure"

Andrea looked at her apprehensively, crossing her arm and steeping forward to Anna "Oh really? Did he now?"

Anna was good at lying, she was always good at lying with the bruises, the limps she had when her fiancé got real mad and hit her "Yeah. Everyone else is busy and I was the only one spare to do it. I was the only person who Rick trusted".

Andrea nodded at her, leaning off the barn door "Alright. I will send someone to take over your watch soon".

She stood there staring at the door, nervous and scared. Samson looked up at her, whining and worried about his owner. Samson could sense something was with his owner. Anna took her knife out of is holster and held it one hand but then she had another idea and put it back. Kneeling down, she picked up a long, rusty nail. She put stood hesitantly on the barn door and walked into the barn.

"Hello. Who is there?" he asked, not being able to see because of the blind fold over his eyes.

"Remember me?" Anna walked to the boy. She stared at him and twirled the rusty nail around in her hand. She kneeled down, taking off his blind fold and stared him in the face. A look of realization came across his face and he knew who she was.

"It's you" Randall realized with shock.

"Why did your group do what they did to me and my family?" she asked.

"Because you were exactly what they wanted. Something easy to have a good go at, a nice piece of tart which they could destroy. I bet you liked it because I bet it'd be good compared to anything that red neck could give you"

Anna snapped, stuffing his mouth with a piece of cloth into his mouth and stabbed him in the knee "You deserve to get everything you get. I hope this slowly kills you. That pain you are feeling, it is nothing compared to the pain I feel each and every day".

---

Daryl came back from his hunt near the clearing of trees close to the house because he figured Anna would still be with Beth. But he saw Rick, looking angry and talking to Shane and Lori. He warily stood off the side from them a little "What happened while I was out?"

Shane smirked, cocking one eye brow and putting his hands of his hips "Your little princess was unstable, that is what the matter is! Being raped, killing men and then attempting to kill another. We can't have something like that here, especially with Carl and Lori now being pregnant. She could be a danger to us all"

Daryl dropped his cross bow, going for Shane but Rick got in between them and stopped him. Daryl paced behind Rick, his eyes not leaving Shane "Like you are any better ass hole? Anna loves that little kid and she has done everything she can for this putain here".

"That group could be after her. What if they found out she was here? It is too big of a risk to have her here to our group so she has to go" Lori stepped in.

"Her name is Anna" Daryl shook his head, pushing Rick away from him and picking up his cross bow "How did you all find out?"

Lori ducked her head to ground "I did exactly what Glenn done for the group when he found out there were walkers in the barn".

"You and Shane have had it in for Anna ever since she came to this farm, you both were just waiting for an excuse to try and kick her out"

Daryl huffed, angry and staring Rick down "She is not like those men! She has a better heart than all of ya'll put together. Anna isn't some walker you can just get rid of, she is human!"

Rick looked to the ground, shaking his head "The group needs to feel safe and secure. They will be worried that danger could make its way to the farm. I need to do what is right for the group".

"And Anna is what is right for this group! You kick her out of this group, she will die out there! Do you want that on your conscience" Daryl scoffed, shaking his head, looking down to the ground. "Anna's hand is fractured again, same spot when she first got here. She can barely lift her knife, let alone draw up her cross bow and kill a walker in a blink of an eye like the way she could when I first found her. You send her away from the farm; you might as well be killing her with your two hands, Rick. She ain't gonna survive out there"

Daryl stepped forward, looking around at Lori, Shane "No way in hell is this right" Daryl scoffed, shaking his head "Then again, what would a dirty, red neck know then huh? I know what you all think of me really. Same thing you are thinking of Anna right now. Just think where you would be without her. And think where you will be now without me now because I am going with her"

Rick watched on as Daryl walked back to their camp. He didn't like the idea of sending her away like a piece of trash. He pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head and walking away from Shane and Lori "This isn't not right!" he growled, pointing his hand back to them.

Anna was sitting in front of their fire, her hood over hanging over her head. Samson was on the ground with his head close to her feet, feeling the mood that was going on around them. Daryl looked to her bag and her cross bow beside it. He picked them up and sat them on the other side of him.

She sighed, uncrossing her arms and rubbing her hands over her face "So when are they sending me on my way? I can't just up and leave. I need to at least have a plan where I will go. It's time to find supplies and get my shit together. Find myself a car and some fuel".

Daryl shook his head, feeling angry and chucking a stick into the fire. He turned, facing her "It isn't want Rick wants, you know that right. He doesn't want to send you out there on your own. He just has Shane and Lori in his ear"

Anna nodded "I know, but he needs to do what is best for his group. He can't have them fighting like cats and dogs just because he let me stay here"

"But you are a part of this group! We need you here" Daryl growled.

She admired Daryl's determination, smiling and looked up to him "I haven't been here that long Daryl".

Her shoulder's slumped, absentmindedly kicking the dirt and making the stones skip into their fire "He will listen to Lori and he will listen to Shane and those two main people want me gone".

Samson got up and sat beside Daryl's feet, he scratched his belly "Fine. But I am going with you!"

Anna shook her head, trying to stop the tears from falling. She tried to be brave for him "You can't do that".

"Why the hell can't I?" he growled. "I don't break my promises".

Anna looked back into the flames of the fire, the warmth hitting her cheeks. It was a stark contrast against the small wind that was blowing around. Anna had always hated the cold weather. She just found it to be a horrid feeling being cold and not being able to get warm. That was definitely going to be one of the main things she was going to miss with not having Daryl by her side all of the time. Warmth just radiated off him naturally, like a water furnace.

"Rick needs you here, Daryl. You two rely on each other. The group needs you here too. You need to help fix what is broken and help get them get it all back together. To get them to the way they should be as a group even if it means me leaving this farm helps with that. It will give me a better chance living happy with a good conscience on my mind. I know I couldn't live with myself if I took you away from all of them here. They wouldn't be able to do any of this without you. They need you Daryl Dixon, more than I need you out on the road" she choked out as convincing as she could.

"Then you need to stay here. Don't leave me alone with these people' Daryl looked at the young woman before him from the corner of his eye. He playfully nudged her with his shoulder "Always thinking of the better for others rather than you looking out for yourself. You need to be selfish once in a while and look after yourself".

"That is never going to happen, I was brought up better than that" She laughed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Then again I could act like more like Lori if you wanted me too. She is always thinking of herself and her image. I could go, make lemonade with nice little mint leaves in it. Welcome you back to camp with a massage and a beer after a long day of hunting?"

A look of disgust came across Daryl's face and he shifted a little away from her "Oh hell nahh. Though the massage and beer do sound tempting".

She shook her head and punching him with her hand "Keep dreaming". A sharp pain zapped through her hand and she winced in pain then quickly masking the pain "Oh I forgot about that. Shit, shit, shit".

Daryl put his hand out "Let me take a look at that hand, I want to check how it is getting along".

She rolled her eyes at him, sighing and putting her bandaged hand in his "My hand is just fine Daryl".

Daryl crossed his arms, eye brow raised apprehensively, looking at her warily as he unclasped the Velcro binders "Uh, uh. Do you think you could draw your cross bow, lift it up and fire it?"

She looked down to her feet "Yes". But luckily Daryl could read her like a book. Anna only looked down to her feet when she couldn't bear to look someone in the eye when she lied.

"Do you think you could do all of that with walkers just like the night I found you?" he challenged.

"There is no point even trying to lie to you is there?" Anna knew when her cover was blown "No. No I don't think I can" she whispered, looking up to him with tears welling up in her eyes.

Samson got up off his feet, alert and looked past them both. Daryl shook his head, it was Dale. He carefully wrapped her hand back up. His face turning into a snarl when he stood up "The whole point of us being all the way out there is to get away from you people. Can't you just leave us be!"

Dale shook his head "Going to take more than that for me to not come out there to you two".

"Did Carol send you?" Anna asked, carefully slipping on her thin thermal gloves.

"Carol isn't the only one worried about you two all of the way out there. Beth wanted me to come out here and check up on you, Anna. Says she doesn't want to lose any more people she cares about. She doesn't want to lose her new best friend" Dale told her.

Anna sighed, feeling a little guilty she was leaving them "There is not much I can do about that now, Dale. I may not like it but Rick has made his decision. I have got to respect him for that. It wouldn't have been easy for him. I just need enough time to get myself sorted with supplies and have a plan for what I am going to do out there on the road. It won't take more than a day or two".

Daryl was angry "This group is broken. We are both better off fending for ourselves. They chucked out Anna real easy. It won't be long before they try and chuck me out too. That is why I am going with her".

"Dear god Daryl, that won't happen at all with you. You act like you don't care about Randall?"

Daryl grabbed his jacket off the tree branch, putting it on and turning back to Dale "Yeah, cause I don't".

"So live or die. You don't care what happen to Randall?"

Daryl sneered "You really want me to answer that after what he was a part of?"

Dale looked to Anna "I know you aren't a bad human being Anna. I know within my heart that you could never have an evil bone in your body, even if you tried with every fiber of your soul. Please, use that gentle conscience and kind heart of yours. Stand with me to save the kid's life if it really doesn't matter one way or the other to either of you".

Daryl shook his head "I didn't peg you for a desperate son of a bitch".

"Both of your opinions mean a difference with this group. Rick listens to you both"

Daryl was picking up bolts, putting them in his quiver. He found a couple of muesli bars and threw them at Anna "Man. No one from that farm house is looking to me for nothing".

"Carol does. I am right now! And obviously you have Rick's ear'

Daryl walked to Dale "Rick just looks to Shane. Let him. He cast Anna out to die like it was water off a ducks back. Rick didn't listen to me before about her. Why would he listen to me now about that Randall?"

"You cared about Sophia" Dale called out "You are leaving the farm with Anna to make sure you won't lose her".

Daryl turned around, seething with anger. Dale took a step back, putting his hand up in surrender "You knew what it meant to the group in finding Sophia. Torturing people, that isn't you! You are a decent man, so is Rick. Shane is different"

"Why is that? Because he killed Otis?" Daryl asked.

Dale was taken a back a little "Who told you that?"

"He tells some story, about Otis covering him and saved his ass. Next thing he shows up with a dead man's gun. Rick isn't stupid; he didn't figure it out because he didn't wanna. Like I said, this group is broken. Anna, you stay put. Rest that hand, I will bring back dinner. Samson, look after your mother and make sure trouble doesn't find her"

Daryl sauntered off across the paddocks "He can be so stubborn sometimes".

"Rick is going to be so lost without you here on the farm" Dale turned to Anna "I am so sorry they are kicking you out. It isn't right. You are only human, still grieving over your family. I don't hate you for what you did"

"You are a good man, Dale. But the decision has been made by Rick. He is doing what he sees best for the group. I am not going to undermine Rick"

He stepped forward to her; hands forward and feeling desperate "Then join me! Help me keep Randall alive!" Dale pleaded.

"I am really sorry Dale, but I don't think me voting yes to keep him alive will do any good. They will just think I am doing it to save my own ass" she replied.

"But you have to voice your opinion. Rick will listen to what you have to say" Dale told her.

"He may listen to what I have to say. But he will listen to his group first; I am not a part of his group now". Anna reminded him.

Anna had her bag all packed, ready to leave in the morning. She had her legs stretched out, her injured hand resting on Samson and her Harry Potter book opened up. Samson flicked his ears up, his eyes looking past Anna's shoulder. She turned, seeing Rick walking up to her "Hi Anna" he awkwardly said.

"Hey Rick" she replied, putting her book down "What's up? You have got that look on your face? What's wrong?"

Rick, being a gentleman put out his hand to help Anna off the ground. He felt awful "Take my hand, Anna. The least I can do for you right about now" he looked at her, with a melancholic smile.

'Thanks" she put out her good hand, taking Rick's offer and got up off the ground.

"I don't want to send you out" he admitted. "I am really sorry. But I had no choice. They are all scared and I was pressured by them to do something".

"I know you didn't, Rick. There are no hard feelings okay. You are just doing what is best is for your group. Now what sort of human being would I be if I hated you for that?" she asked him.

"Why do you always do that?" Rick questioned.

'Do what?" Anna wondered.

"Do that thing you do where you make people feel like it is all going to be alright when in reality, it really isn't" he replied.

Anna rolled her eyes at him, playfully punching his arm. She had to try and at least cheer him up "Someone has to at least try and get that doom and gloom look off your face. You are starting to get wrinkles all along your fore head now".

He ruffled her hair, messing it up a little. She frowned, trying to smooth down her hair "Daryl isn't going to be happy with you; he doesn't like my hair being out of place".

"I can handle, Daryl" he joked, flatting down the loose pieces of hair from her braids.

A gust of cold, wind blew past them, making Anna shiver and putting her hands in the pockets of her leather jacket "Already the days are getting colder. Winter has come early this year on us all" she commented, smiling softly as she looked around the farm.

That made Rick mentally cringe on the inside, screwing up his face a little "I will make sure you have everything you need. I am not going to send you out there unprepared"

She smiled again, the little crinkles around her eyes "I know you will, Rick. I am not worried about that"

Anna pointed down to log she was sitting down on, Samson back asleep "Why don't you sit a little with me. Daryl found some tea out on a run, still got some hot and you can tell me why you really came out here to talk to me"

"I will be fine; you have got to know that right. Don't let that guilty conscience of yours creep on up on you" Anna poured him a cup of tea and handed it to Rick. He reached out, taking it kindly from her.

"Thank you, Anna" It was nice and warm in his hands. He took a small sip of the tea, it warming his throat and into his stomach. Rick looked up from his cup of tea, seeing Anna looking straight through him.

She knew when Rick struggled with his thoughts "I don't hate you, Rick. You made a choice as a leader of your group and you are doing what is right for them. I am not going to stand in the way of that"

Rick sighed, putting his spare hand to his temple and shaking his head with his eye closed "There you go doing your thing again".

Anna put her cup of tea down "So what do you need my help with? You didn't come all the way here just for a cup of tea and a chat".

"I am sorry to do this to you, but I need your help with Carl. He found out how and why you are leaving. He got really upset about it all. Carol was walking along and saw him. She thought he was upset over Sophia and tried to comfort him. But he got angry and said some mean things to Carol about Sophia".

She knew what Rick wanted her to do "I will have a talk to the little guy. See if there is anything I can do to make him behave himself and get him apologize to Carol"

Rick felt guilty, watching Anna gingerly pick up her cross bow "I am real sorry to have to ask you to do this".

Anna knew how hard Rick was taking the decision that got her kicked off the farm. The guilt was weighing down on to his shoulders, dragging him down further into darkness. The blame was eating away at him. She put her hands on to his cheek, he looked into those bright green eyes of Anna's worse "Listen to me Rick Grimes; you have no reason to feel guilty about the choice you made. You are doing what is right for your group. You are listening to what they have to say. Who am I to go against something like that? I respect you too much". Anna dropped her hands from his face, picking some grass of his tartan shirt. "Always such a grot you are. What are you going to do without me?"

"Come here" he muttered and took her into a hug. "You are one special little lady".

Rick stepped back from Anna, closing his eyes and pressed his lips together in frustration. Anna became worried about Rick and stepped towards him "Are you okay, Rick?"

Rick felt her calming, gentle presence close to him and it made him feel even sicker to the stomach. Rick shook his head, putting his hands up and opening his eyes. He took a big breath through his nose, blinking hard.

She smirked, rubbing the side of his arm "None of this is your fault Officer Friendly".

"Will you make a promise for me?"

"Of course, anything"

"Please don't you lose what you have there? You have performed something special with this group. That power you are holding right there, is the most powerful weapon a person can have. I know it will get you through anything that you come across"

"Of course, I am a one of a kind super hero from Marvel Comics" she answered "Now let's go and talk to this boy of yours. Maybe a little stern talking from me will bring him to his senses"

"Carl!" Anna called out.

He looked up from staring at the ground, frowning at Anna "What are you doing here? Haven't you left yet?"

"Sorry" Rick muttered, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"She isn't leaving yet, Carl" Rick told him.

"Carl, please come over here" Anna asked.

Carl, reluctantly turned around, rolling his eyes as he went. His shoulders were slumped, dragging his feet along the ground. He reached Samson, patting him and not being to look up at Anna in the eyes.

"I heard you smart mouthed Carol. Did you?" Anna asked.

"No" he replied shyly.

Rick stepped forward, being Anna's back "Well she told me you did".

"Sweetie, you can't talk to people like that. It isn't a nice thing to do"

"Anna, I said it was stupid to believe in heaven because it is. I heard Daryl when he said when you go out there; you will be as good as dead!"

"Well just think about that for a minute. She just lost her daughter. She wants to believe her daughter is alive in some way"

"But she..." he started before Rick cut him off.

"Don't talk. Think. It is a good rule of thumb for life" Rick told Carl.

"Well mom wants you to talk more to her and not to Anna" Carl declared.

"Don't change the subject, you owe Carol an apology. You made a mistake. Fix it"

"Is that why you are going to kill that guy? Because Anna tried to fix your mistakes and you are kicking her out".

That hit Rick, he turned around to face Carl and Anna "That is different, Carl"

"How are you going to do it? Are you going to hang him?"

"You just think about how you are going to make things right with Carol"

Rick turned and walked away from Carl and Anna. Carl was looking to the ground, kicking any one all the rocks he could. He looked up at Anna, wiping away some tears and turning away from her.

Anna looked at the boy, he was upset "Carl".

"I don't want to talk to you right now" he muttered, his eyes hidden underneath his father's hat.

Samson whined, walking up to Carl and sniffing his hands. Carl patted him behind the ears, wiping his nose.

Anna sighed, getting down to her knees "Carl. You can't avoid me"

He turned his face away from her. She gently put her hand on his cheek "Please, will you just look at me. I can't bear not to be talking to you"

Carl's face fell, tears flowed down his face and he jumped into Anna's arms "I don't want you to leave, Anna. Please, please, please don't leave me. I don't want you to go"

Anna blinked back the tears, looking up at the sky. She had to get it together for Carl. Anna rubbed Carl's back while he cried into her shoulder, she rubbed his back and kissed the side of his head "It is going to be okay".

He pulled away from Anna, tears still falling down his face "But you are leaving me".

Anna wiped away the tears from his face, tenderly touching his cheek with her finger "Carl, you are strong and you will do well in life. I will always love you. Today and tomorrow let each day grow and grow. Keep smiling and never give up even when things get you down. Can you make that promise to me?" Anna asked.

Carl nodded, trying to keep in the tears "Okay. I will, just for you Anna".

Anna pulled him into a hug "I love you, such a brave young man you are. Now, you run along and have some fun with Samson, I know he would love to have some time with you".

He smiled, giving Samson a massage along the neck which he started to fall asleep with "Okay Anna. Come on Samson".

Lori stood back behind the tree, her hand on her mouth and realizing she may have made a mistake. Looking on how she was with Carl, it is something she hasn't had with "Oh god what have I done" she whispered.

---

The sun was setting, beautiful shades of red and pink spread across the sky. She was patting Samson on the neck. He had his head facing the direction of the woods, keeping his eyes out for Daryl when he got back. Samson suddenly jumped up and over the log. Anna laughed, giggling. She got up off her feet and smiled fondly at the sight of them both. Daryl had his arms raised up, lifting the rabbits out of Samson's reach. Daryl was trying to be stern with him but ended up laughing; knowing Samson was only playing with him.

Daryl looked up, seeing Anna waiting by their camp. He sighed, leaning down and scratching Samson behind his ears. Samson whined, Daryl knew he could feel what was going on "Yeah, I know boy. I am sad too" he whispered.

Anna was walking up to them, her arms tucked away to keep herself warmed "Want me to take one of those?" she asked.

Daryl shook his head "Nah. I can skin these. But I did find some sweet potatoes in an old garden. You can peel those. I can slice them nice and thin. It will cook quickly on the fire".

Anna and Daryl had a big dinner. Of course, Daryl had slid extra of everything on to Anna's plate. She glared at him and he squinted his eyes, pointing his fork at her "Eat" he demanded.

"Fine" she grumbled, then shoveling everything her mouth. "Better?" her voice muffled.

Daryl turned to his head to face her, actually laughed and shook his head. She had her mouth closed, but over filling with sweet potato "You are an absolute grot".

Anna swallowed her food, choking a little and falling back off her log. Samson jumped up and over the log to Anna. Daryl looked over his shoulder. Samson was licking her all over her face; Anna was turning her face side to side and trying to avoid "Daryl. Help! Please? Samson will not stop" she laughed.

Daryl was sneaky and got out her Polaroid camera. He whistled, catching the attention of Samson, whom stood to attention. Anna tenderly propped herself on her good hand "Smile, Anna!"

Daryl look through the camera, Anna was actually smiling normally at the camera. He took the photo, shaking it about and blowing on it until it's developed. Anna was leaning over his arms but he just held the photo up high so she couldn't reach it "This is mine!"

Daryl looked up, squinting his eyes and looking into the distance towards the house "By the looks of it they are gathering to decide what they are going to do with the kid".

"Better let you get to it then" she replied, still trying to get the photo.

Darryl rolled his eyes at Anna and put the photo into the inside of his pocket "You ain't getting your filthy red neck hands on this photo".

Anna blew the hair out of her face, she smiled "You are a jack ass you know that right?"

"Well it takes on to know one then, huh" Daryl was feeling a little restless with his thoughts, looking down to his feet "I had better head on into this meeting. You better be here when I come back!"

Anna sat back down on the log, reaching into her bag and took out Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone "I have a bit of catching up to do anyhow".

He absentmindedly pulled on his cross bow strap "Alright, I won't be long" he whistled, Samson jumping up and going straight to Daryl.

Anna pulled a face, putting her book down on to my lap "You are stealing my dog!"

He smirked, turning to the house and looked over his shoulder, laughing when he saw Anna had slumped down on to the ground, pouting like a child "Oh you don't have to worry. I am not stealing your dog, I am just taking him as leverage so I know you won't leave"

Daryl stepped up on the front porch, the steps creaking as he went up them. Samson bobbed his head up and down, hesitant to walk into the door "It's alright boy. You don't have to worry" Daryl muttered.

He walked through the front door, leaned against the room frame and Samson sat down near his feet. The air was thick in the room, filled with horrid tension and a few sad faces. Carl walked, glaring at his father and walking into another room.

Glenn sighed, struggling with his thoughts and losing a friend of his "So how do we do this? Do we have a vote?"

Daryl scoffed, screwing up his face and unfolding his arms "Same way you all voted for Anna to be sent of the farm? A three musketeer vote?"

Andrea stepped forward "That was different, Anna did what she did on her own accord. She isn't a part of our group, well not really and being so she doesn't deserve a vote. Us killing this kid? Does it have to be unanimous or does it have to be majority rules?"

"Let's where everyone stands and then we talk about the processes"

Shane stood back arrogantly, looking directly at Daryl "Hell, the way I see it there is only one way forward. Anna is lucky getting of the way she has"

Daryl squinted his eyes at Shane "You thinking of killing her?"

"Killing him right? What is the point of even having a vote? Between the three of you it has already been decided that a good young woman is being sent out to die. Look, I am not saying what Anna did was the right thing. But we all have done things in life we may or may not have regretted. But that doesn't make us a bad person. Anna is not a bad person; I think you all know that. Why are you even taking a vote on Randall, it clearly is going the way the wind is blowing"

Rick was really struggling with his thoughts, leaning on the chair with his hand and looking up at Dale "If people want him alive, I want them to let me know"

"Well it would be a small group, just me and Glenn. I can tell you a lot more would let Anna stay, if you gave them the choice"

Glenn took a big deep breath, only just being able to look up at Dale. "I think you are pretty much right about anything".

Dale couldn't believe it "They have you scared! Why haven't you stood up for Anna the same reason Daryl has!"

"Neither of them are one of us!" Shane pointed out.

"Well that is bull shit!" Daryl called out, standing up good and proper, walking into the group more.

"We have lost too many people already, I am sorry Daryl' Glenn told him.

"I can't believe any of this! He would be another mouth to feed, Anna wouldn't"

"Well we all know which side you are going to choose then"

Daryl looked to Rick "She isn't a bad person.. You know that"

"We can't just have two people we don't trust running around the place. I wouldn't feel right having someone I don't trust walking around freely" Lori called out.

"Look, if we do let him in the group and he is real nice. What if he runs off and brings his group back to get some sort of revenge because of what we did to him. They both need to go. Maybe we can trust Anna a little bit more than Randall. But we still can't trust her enough"

"So we are going to kill him? We are going to commit him of a crime that he will never commit. We are sending out an injured young girl to ultimately her death! If we do this, we are saying we have no hope. Rule of law is dead and there is no civilization"

"Could you take him out further? Maybe find a safe place for Anna to live. I don't think that young lady is evil. I couldn't live with my conscience if I knew Anna was in harm's way" Herschel asked.

"You barely made it back the last time you went out, Rick" Lori commented.

Daryl looked in between them all "You all are crazy!"

'If you go through with it? How would you go through with it, killing him. How would Anna survive out there on her own with a badly fractured hand?"

Rick shook his head telling Shane to stop it "I have thought about it. Shooting would be more humane"

'And what about the body?" T Dog asked "What do we do to that'

"You are talking about this like it is already decided!"

"That's easy one for me" Daryl said and looking around at them all. "You all are sending her out on her own for something you all are about to do yourselves. She isn't going out on her own. I am going with her. I am standing by what is right by her!"

He whistled to Samson and walked out of the house. He was angry, clenching his hands into tight fists. They are the ones who made him choose; of course he was going to choose her. Daryl had a sense of purpose with her. Samson stayed by his side was they walked, every so often he would look up to Daryl "It's going to be alright boy".

Anna got up off her seat when Daryl was closer, rubbing her arms up and down with her hands "What happened?" she asked.

He walked straight past her, into his tent and chucking his bag right next to hers. She was speechless, not quite believing it.

He was looking down to the ground at first, trying to bring up the courage to look her in the eye "You remember that promise we made with each other?"

"Yeah. Yeah I do" she whispered.

"We are stuck with each other for life. I stand by my word and I don't break it. I am leaving this group and going with you, no matter what you say or think. I just have to help Rick in a minute with Randall. Then in the next day or two we will head off on our own" he told her.

She smiled "Okay".

'What? No arguing with me?" he pondered.

"I am kinda glad I am not going to be alone. I don't know how I would have survived out there without someone with me that was human. That scared the living hell out of me. I just didn't want to show it" she confessed.

Daryl shook his head, walking up to his bag and pulling out an oversized beanie he had found out on a run. He dusted it off; shaking it about and put it on her head "It is pure sheep wool and will keep you warm during the winter".

"Thank you. Now you need to go on and help Rick with Randall. He is going to need your help. I know as sure as hell that he is going to get none of that from Shane!"

He squinted his eyes at her and she rolled her eyes at him "You don't have to worry that pretty little head of yours. I will be here when you get back. Lord knows you will kick my ass if I tried"

"Alright" he answered warily, walking off. "See you when I get back. Stay close to the fire and keep yourself warm. We don't want you catching a cold"

'Come on, I wasn't that bad" she called out.

Daryl turned around on his feet, raising his eye brows at her and a cheeky look on his face "You sure about that? They say man flu is bad. I don't know what the hell you had!"

Samson was whining, tilting his head side to side and dancing a little on his feet "Oh go on then".

"See you when you get back!" she shouted.

He nodded to her, leaning down and patting Samson.

It was a beautiful night, the sky was clear of any clouds and the stars were shining brightly. Her ears were accustomed to all sorts of sounds. She could tell the difference between the sound of a walker and he sounds of a human. There was a sound of a moaning cow, from her life in the country before all of this, Anna knew the cry of pain. Surely it wouldn't hurt just to take a little walk around close to their camp? She holstered her knife and put her cross bow on her shoulder. Anna would be quick enough and be back before Daryl came back. If something was wrong, she would be quick enough to get out of there. Anna leaned down, looking at the ground and saw track of a walker.

'Shit!" she whispered, looking up and around. Trust her to be out and alone when there were at least two or more walkers around.

Anna looked up, seeing Dale in the distance and a walker close to him. The blood drained from her body and she felt sick to the stomach "DALE! BEHIND YOU" she screamed.

But she was too far away and he didn't hear her. The walker tore into him like a hot knife cutting through butter. Making her scream "NOOO!"

Anna stopped for a moment, her heart pounding in her ears and everything was in slow motion. "No" she whispered.

She shook her head, gathering herself and running as fast as she could. Anna skidded to a stop and pulled it off Dale, the walker taking his stomach with him. Then a second walker came up from behind, pushing her down on to the ground and landing hard on her cross bow, digging into her back. It was biting on her leather jacket "DARYL!" she screamed, tears falling down her face.

He came from the tree line "Anna!" he screamed.

Daryl ran as fast as he could to get to her. Once he got close, he pulled his cross bow off his back. He ran, tackling the walker off Anna and drove his knife into its head. He threw the walker off Anna and he tried to check her over, but she pulled herself up on one hand and scampered over to Dale. She was in hysterics, wailing and putting her hands on to his wounds. The bloody etched up to her elbows and all over her clothes "I need to save him. I need to save him!"

Daryl grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her away from Dale.

"I was too slow" she whispered. "I was too slow!"

Rick was the first one to them, skidding to the ground and putting his hands on Dale's face. Andrea was the second one "it's going to be okay. It's going to be okay! Someone get Hershel!" he yelled, looking up at every one.

Daryl held her away a little more, quickly fussing over her and thanking whatever god there was out there that the walker didn't pierce her jacket.

Anna couldn't taker her eyes off Dale and Daryl turned her head into his chest "It is not your fault" he whispered.

Rick was leaning down, his gun pointed at Dale. Anna felt for him, looking up at him "Help him, Daryl"

He simply nodded, giving her a little rub on the back. T Dog came up to her and taking her into a hug.

Daryl put his hand on the gun, taking it off Rick. He leaned down on to one knee and pointed the gun at Dale's head "Sorry, brother"

Anna stood with T Dog, silently shaking as the shock hit her body. She couldn't take her eyes off his body. The tears poured down her face, her breathing came in slow and long breaths. Anna looked around and every one was crying. She looked down to her hands, the blood from Dale covering all of her hands. It was streaked along the sleeves of her leather jacket and then there was the mark from the walker. Why was she so lucky? Why did she survive? There was a voice floating around her, calling her name but it was muffled and she couldn't quite hear it. Anna just couldn't find herself to take her eyes off Dale, she felt so bad and responsible for it all.

"Anna" Daryl whispered.

She glanced up, her eyes stinging with each blink. Daryl put his hand on her arm, feeling the drying blood. She looked up at him; her eyes were red from crying. Oh those tears but he had to keep it together for her "I will take her back to camp. I need to clean this blood off her" Daryl pulled Anna away from T Dog.

T Dog took a big breath through his nose, blinking back some tears and rubbed Anna's back, letting her go out of the hug and giving her a kiss on the cheek "Please look after her. She is going to need you".

Daryl nodded, putting his arm around her shoulder "You don't got to go worrying about her. While she is with me nothing is ever going to happen to her".

"Come on now, Half Pint. Let's go and get you washed up" He gently took her away with Samson running ahead to make sure to coast was clear. They always had a bit of a walk and she was silent the whole time. Anna was shutting everything out and it scared him a little. He couldn't help but pull her tighter "Don't you go away Anna" he whispered. "You gotta stay here with me. You aren't alone".

They reached their camp, Samson sitting up straight and by the front flap of the tent. Daryl sat her down on their log "Let's take this jacket off and we will get it cleaned up for you".

Anna nodded, slowly blinking. Samson crept up to her, lying by her feet. Daryl took off his jacket, lying it down on the log "I just have got to get the fire going. We don't have any warm water so the fire is going to have to get you warm after I get the blood off. We only have cold water and I want to keep you warm after you get cleaned up".

She absentmindedly slowly nodded her head up and down. He unzipped her jacket and pulled it back off over her shoulders. He lifted each arm, pulling the sleeve down and taking the jacket off her. Samson's ears pricked up, Daryl looked up and saw Carol with a bucket and some towels over her shoulder. Anna turned her head, Daryl put his hand on her shoulder, he stood up to go and meet her.

"I figured you wouldn't have any hot water to clean the blood off or any clean rags. I got these off Herschel. I know you; you would go ripping your shirts for her"

Daryl took them off Carol and nodding his thanks.

"How is she?" Carol asked.

"Not so great. I know she blames herself for what happened tonight. Anna thinks if she could have to him faster, she could had saves him"

Carol sighed "Of course Anna would. She has a too a big heart for this cruel world. More than all of us put together"

She saw Anna bloody jacket lying on the log "Let me wash that. I can get it like brand new again. Anna needs to have her leather jacket to keep this cold from setting into her bones. I don't want her getting sick again".

"Just be careful where the walker tried to bite her" Daryl turned, picking up Anna's jacket and coming back to Carol, giving it to her. Carol gasped, looking at Anna and thinking how close she was to dying.

"Dear god, I don't want to even think of losing her" Carol gave him the bucket of water and put the towels on his shoulder "I can come and help with her if you would like?"

He thought about it, shaking to towel in his head and looking back to her "Nah. I got this".

"You sure?" Carol asked.

"I am sure. I can do this for her" he was firm with this.

Carol leaned down and gave Anna a kiss on the head "I love you sweetheart".

Daryl picked up her bag in one hand and held out his other hand. She looked up at him, taking his hand and he moved it to be put around her small petite frame. Samson got up off his feet and quietly followed behind Anna and Daryl.

He held up the tent flap and ushered her in. Samson sneaking in front and settling in the corner of the tent.

Daryl sighed, looking at her. Strands of hair fell out from her braids. Blood was splattered across her face. She was just an empty shell "I will be right back".

Daryl stepped out of the tent, taking a deep breath and putting his hands on the back of his head, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. He only needed just a moment because he had to get back in there for Anna.

"Come on. She needs you" He leaned down, picking up the bucket of water and heading back into the tent.

Anna hadn't moved from her spot. Samson was still on his corner. The dog knew his mother all too well and knew when to give her space. Now was one of those times. Daryl sat down in front of her. He looked at her and she looked at him. They under stood each other. He slowly unzipped her hooded jacket and laying it on the ground. She didn't blink an eye and he was glad. Daryl was nervous. He untied her boot laces and pulled off her boots. They were so small in his hands.

She unclipped her belt, pulling it out of the loops and gently sitting it aside their flat mattress. He holds out a pair of her bike shorts and gave them to her. Daryl grabbed one of his old shirts, dipping it in water and wiping away at her face.

There was blood on her trousers "We need to get your trousers off and get you in some clean ones" He politely turned around. Anna drops her trousers to the ground. She is on auto pilot, her mind still on Dale but she manages to put her shorts on the right way round. Daryl slowly turns his head to see if Anna is done and by some miracle she did it right. He didn't know how but his girl did do it. Daryl picked up his warmest woven flannelette shirt, putting it around her shoulders and gently putting her arm in the sleeves. He respectfully done up the buttons for her and picked up his jacket, putting it around her so she doesn't get cold. He takes the bucket out and sat it beside the fire for the time being.

Daryl comes back into the tent. She had only moved to face the tent opening. She was waiting for him. He took her small frame into his arms and held her tight "I ain't leaving you. Ever".

Daryl was sitting there, looking down to Anna who had finally fallen asleep on his chest. It was the only way he could get her to fall asleep without waking up in fits of night mares. She was half on to his chest and his thick sleeping bag over them both.

Samson's ears flicked up and het got up quick on his feet. "Someone out there boy?"

He gently laid Anna down on to his pillow and carefully pulled the sleeping bag over her "I will be right back, Anna" Even though she was asleep, he still wanted her to know where he was. "Stay with your momma".

Daryl picked up his hunting knife, holding it tight in his hand and pulling down the zipper. He let out a sigh of relief, seeing it was only Rick.

"How is she doing?" Rick asked.

Daryl scoffed, shaking his head "You are the second person to come and see how she is tonight. Why all of a sudden you care?"

Rick went silent, not bringing himself to be able to look Daryl straight in the eye. Daryl apprehensively looks at Rick "She is empty and broken real bad. The only thing she has spoken is I am sorry over and over again".

"It doesn't matter what the others think and I know I have let her down. Where ever we end up, Anna is staying with this group. She is not going to go anywhere and I am not going to let her go. You both are staying here. I know where Anna goes, you will go. I am not going to lose the both you"

He knew Rick was trying "I had best go back in there. I only just got her to sleep now. Only going to let you try and talk to her in the morning. No one else".

Rick closed his eyes, breathing through his nose "Why me?"

"Because she trusts you the most out of the rest you here" he informed Rick.

Daryl turned away from Rick, carefully lifting the flap to try and not to wake her up. Thank god she stills was. Daryl put his cross bow in the corner with hers. He pulled off his boots and propped them next to hers. He lifted up the sleeping bag, making sure he didn't take too much off her. Anna instinctively curled up on to his chest. Daryl closed his eyes, happy she was going to be safe. For now.