Guys, I stuffed up.

Nothing major, but I said Mika was dead… In my 'The Farm' arc, Mika is well and truly alive! And since I'm going to have this link up with the arc at the end, Mika is alive. Alive! But Lizzie is still deaded.

Reviews addressed at the end.

She took watch that night. They'd been on the road for a week now, and Daryl was starting to worry her. For a couple of days, he'd been snappy and belligerent, but she didn't mind. She knew what it was like to be in pain. She knew how it felt to feel useless, and so his snark and grouchiness hadn't upset her any.

Recently, though, he'd been staring off into space more often than not. He refused food, saying that it should go to someone who was actually contributing, and she could see the effect hunger was having on his demeanor. She knew he wasn't sleeping, either. She thought maybe living in such close confines had soured him of her presence, and so she volunteered herself for watch duty to give him some breathing room and let him sleep.

"Carol?" It was Rick.

She sighed internally, but gave him an uncertain smile. "I'm up here." She called down from the top of the pickup.

"Mind if I join you?" He stopped near the bed, ready to climb up.

In response, she patted the spot next to her.

He clambered up and settled beside her, hands clasped in his lap and head bowed. "Thank you for letting Carl sleep in there with you two."

"It's nothing." She said. "There's enough room, and he's no bother."

"He missed you."

"I was only gone for a day, Rick."

The silence stretched and she felt bad. She had missed him, believe it or not, and she worried that she had shut him down.

"I did the wrong thing." He croaked, looking down at his clasped hands. "I am so sorry I did that to you. Jesus, Carol." He shook slightly.

She blinked. Was he crying? "You did the wrong thing." She murmured. "But maybe I did too."

"I left you out there on your own." He moaned.

"Rick, I can't apologise for Karen and David. I did what I thought was right." She said firmly. "But it plays in my mind, over and over, and I'll never be able to forget it. I don't blame you, you know."

"You don't?" He asked skeptically. "I did you wrong because of me and my problems… I was worried you'd lose it like I did."

"You were scared for your children. I understood that." She offered. "You did what you thought you had to to keep them safe. I couldn't do that for Sophia, but I did for Mika and Judith and it's just one more thing that's piling up on my conscience… So I understand why you left me out there."

"I thought…" He swallowed thickly. "I thought, because you were so calm about it… I thought you'd gone cold, like Shane, or Carl. Carl, he came back. But I was worried you'd snapped, and I know you haven't. You're still Carol."

"Of course I am." She smiled, then sobered. "Rick, I'm not sure I've forgiven you just yet… But I get it, okay? And I'm glad you're alive."

"Can I…?" He asked awkwardly, extending one arm slightly.

She hesitated before leaning into his side.

"I know it's not for me to decide," Rick said leaning his cheek against her head. "But I want us to be friends again. Like it was before I left you out there. I screwed up and I'm so, so sorry… I love you, you know? You're one of the best people I've ever met and I didn't realise it until I messed us up."

"Oh, Rick," She mumbled, wrapping an arm around him and discreetly wiping her eyes. "We are friends. I'm still pissed at you, but I missed you and it hurt when you said you didn't want me around."

He squeezed her. "I do want you around… You saved me, and us. You saved everyone. I thought Judy was dead."

"That was Tyreese and the girls. Not me."

"Mika told me that Lizzie tried to smother her. And then," he laughed softly. "To hear her tell it, you appeared like some sort of fairy out of the forest or something and saved the day."

"She loves fairy tales." Carol smiled. "Rick, I love those kids like they're my own. Carl, Judith, Mika… All the others…" She trailed off. "I would do anything for them."

"I'm sorry." He said again. "I wish I could take it back."

"You can't." She said, but she nuzzled into him and hugged him back.

Three walkers came upon them during the night, but Carol hopped down and knifed them all without needing to raise the alarm.

She and Rick sat and talked about what had happened since the day he sent her off. She had convinced herself that Rick was cold, unyielding, not to be trusted, but she truly understood his motives. He had left her on the side of the road to protect his children; she had killed two people, then one of those children she'd so desperately tried to keep safe.

"I was scared I'd been wrong all along." He confessed as the sky began to lighten in the east. "When you were so calm afterwards… I went crazy after Lori, I was afraid it proved that I was weak and it scared me that you could have done so much better since the start. Saved more people, been a better leader. You're designed to lead, Carol… But when I realised that I panicked."

"Rick, I'm not a leader… I'm not!" She insisted when he shook his head. "I don't think I could take that burden."

"You could." He said. "But you won't have to. Nobody will. We have a council again."

"What do you think'll happen?" She mused. "I don't want to live on the road again."

"I want to get restocked and find another place." Rick said. "Somewhere safe."

"Y'all want me to take over?" Tyreese interrupted. "Go eat."

Rick jumped down off the roof of the pickup and held up a hand for Carol to take. She let him help her down, and then patted his arm in a friendly way. He nodded to Tyreese and went to wake Carl and Mika for breakfast.

Carol opened the door and climbed into the cab. She placed a gentle hand on Daryl's knee and shook him carefully. "Daryl." She whispered.

His eyes opened and he rolled his head to give her a listless look. "You a'ight?"

"I'm fine." She squeezed his leg. "Breakfast is ready."

"Ain't hungry." He mumbled and shut his eyes again.

"Daryl." She said again.

"Go get somethin' t'eat." He mumbled. "You need to keep your strength up."

"So do you." She said gently. "Come on."

"Jus' go away, Carol."

That stung. She realised her fear that he was getting sick of her company was correct, and so she let go of his knee and crawled backwards out of the cab.

"Sorry for bothering you." She said with a weak smile. "I'll bring you some food anyway… In case you change your mind."

"S'okay." He muttered and turned his face away, trying to get comfortable.

A cold feeling settled in her stomach as she shut the door.

Glenn was the only one keeping watch over the food that had been left for Carol and Daryl.

"Hey." He said.

"Morning." She replied shakily.

"What happened?" He asked, instantly concerned. "Are you okay?"

"Uh huh… Just tired, I guess." She sniffled.

"And…?" He prompted.

"I'm worried about Daryl." She admitted. "He's not right."

"Aw," Glenn stood and wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug. She squawked but chuckled as he squeezed her. "He'll be fine now that he's got you back." He wriggled and shook her a little, trying to make her laugh. It worked, and she hugged him back.

"I missed you, Glenn." She patted his cheek.

"I missed you too… More than I realised, you know? We all just thought you were gone, and it sucked…" He sat back down on the road and held up her bowl of squirrel meat. She sat beside him, groaning as her body protested. "It was horrible, thinking everybody was dead, but the feeling when everyone showed up was just amazing."

"You and Maggie got out though. At least you were together." She smiled gently.

"We weren't. She was gone by the time I woke up. Cell block A was completely wrecked and it was just me and Tara, and we met up with Abe and Rosita and Eugene not long after."

"That must have been horrible." Carol sympathised.

"Hey, we're all back together now, right? The dream team." He joked weakly, throwing a couple of feeble punches.

She snickered.

"Most of us, anyway." He murmured.

"We're going to find Beth." Carol said. "We will."

"Yeah." Glenn said. "Daryl needs food. Don't let him upset you, okay? He's always been an asshole, this is no different to any other time you've seen him."

She swatted him playfully and took Daryl's plate.

The door cracked open and a bowl of squirrel meat appeared next to him.

"Eat." Carol commanded, hands on her hips. "Please."

"You should have it." He said.

"I've eaten already. Just a little bit, Daryl. A couple of bites." She coaxed.

"Don't need your damn coddling!" He snapped suddenly. She jumped a little but stayed where she was. He breathed hard through his nose and eyed her angrily. She stood with her arms wrapped around herself outside the cab, lips pressed together. He sighed. "M'sorry." He said. "I jus'… I can't eat. Can't sleep. I'm just wastin' space and it's bullshit." He looked down for a moment. "Sorry for snappin' at you."

"It's okay." She nodded. "Can I come in?"

He patted the seat next to him and shifted the bowl to his lap.

"You can't eat?" She asked. "Not even a little?"

"Tastes like sawdust. Can't swallow it."

"It's not exactly five-star," She said dryly. "But if you don't eat it's going to take a long time for you to feel better."

He snorted. "Think I ain't never been depressed before?" He quipped.

"Just eat something then, smartass." She shot back with a teasing look. "You know the drill."

"Y'gotta eat somethin' too." He bargained. "Can't have you fadin' away."

"Fine." She said with a challenging eyebrow raise. She took a piece of the meat and put it in her mouth. She nodded towards the bowl.

He chewed slowly, the meat feeling like pulp in his mouth. Squirrel wasn't usually so bad, but it felt wrong in his mouth somehow. It didn't taste like anything, and he struggled to swallow it. When he was finished, she nudged the bowl. He sighed but took another piece.

Whilst he ate, she leaned over into the back seat and fished around for the half-filled water bottle she had stashed in there. Once she found it, she turned around again and slid back down in the drivers' seat. Mika was approaching the window, and she opened the door to greet her.

"Can I ride with you guys today?" She asked.

"I guess so," Carol shrugged. "Is everything okay?"

"Judith keeps crying… I don't think she likes driving very much."

"Poor thing…" Carol sighed. "Are we leaving soon?"

"Glenn sent me to get Daryl's bowl and then we're going." She confirmed.

"Alright, well, brush your teeth before we go, okay?" Never mind the fact that they had no toothpaste, someone had found an unopened box of toothbrushes still in their packets. Everybody brushed their teeth with a little water, and it made them all feel a little more put-together. Carol hunted out both hers and Daryl's, and they quickly scrubbed the taste of squirrel from their mouths and spat on the asphalt.

Daryl felt a little better for having Carol back with him. He hadn't mentioned it to her, but he'd been unable to sleep without her there until the sound of her voice had filtered down through the roof of the truck whilst she talked with Rick.

"How's about… I spy, with my little eye… something beginning with… C?" Daryl said.

"Carol?" Mika tried.

"Nope."

"Car?"

"Nope."

"Colours?"

"Nope." He smirked at Carol over Mika's head.

"Uh…" Mika flailed. "Calculator?"

"Nope."

"Can I have a hint?" She begged.

"Nope."

"Confused? As in, me?" She pleaded.

Daryl laughed outright at that. "Nope."

Mika fell silent, thinking hard.

"California pines?" Carol tried.

"Nope."

Daryl's slump in mood seemed to have ended. After the Woodbury group had moved in, Daryl had become something of a hero among the children because of his hunting and walker-slaying prowess. Eventually he had warmed up to them enough to show that he had a real soft spot for them, and Mika had used that to her full advantage to get out of Rick's car with the cranky Judith.

She had coaxed him into a game of 'I Spy', and the distraction was doing him good. Carol was relieved to see him acting almost normal, although she could see that every bump in the road was hurting his arm, and he had large dark circles under his eyes. The bruise across his cheekbone was beginning to go yellow, and the swelling had gone down in general from the beating he had taken before he had even reached Terminus. He had reluctantly let her inspect his ribs for breaks, and the size of the welts and bruises under his shirt had shocked her. Somehow, he had tolerated her leaning against them while she slept without letting on.

"I give up." Mika sighed.

"Me too." Carol added.

"I'm jus' messin' with ya," Daryl snickered. "It was 'Carol'."

Mika gave an exasperated growl and threw her hands up in defeat. Daryl and Carol laughed.

"Even though Daryl is really bad at 'I Spy'," Mika said. "It's way better in here with you guys that with Rick and Glenn and Maggie and Carl and Judith."

"Carl ain't much fun, huh?" Daryl asked.

Mika shrugged. "He's all twitchy and he doesn't like touching anyone… It gets pretty uncomfortable all crammed in there. There's more room in this truck."

"He'll get back to normal." Carol said, "Just give him a while. Everybody's been through some scary stuff and we all need a while to get used to it, right?" She patted Mika's knee.

The little girl suddenly looked close to tears. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Lizzie's pills." She whimpered.

"It's not your fault, sweetheart." Carol soothed. "Sometimes people just get sick, and it happens." She glanced in the rear-view mirror. Everybody was still following in their cars, except Abe and Eugene, who had hijacked another Army truck that sat far higher than usual cars and gave them a vantage point. They travelled ahead of Carol's car, with Rosita and Tara sitting in the back, occasionally making faces at Mika when they pulled close enough.

She'd told Daryl of how she and Tyreese had been collecting water when they'd heard Mika scream and Judith begin to howl. When they'd found them, Lizzie had Mika pinned to the ground in a puddle of blood. Mika and been bucking and screaming as Lizzie loomed with her knife in hand, dripping with Mika's blood. Tyreese had rushed in and hauled Lizzie off, shaking her until she dropped her weapon. The look in her eyes had given Carol chills. They were cold, flat, almost shark-like, and completely devoid of emotion. Mika lay sobbing, curled around her stomach, trying to staunch the slow but steady flow of blood that stained the earth around her.

Judith had been trying to push herself up on her blanket, howling with terror.

"It's okay." Lizzie had said, her sweet voice completely at odds with the bloody knife at her feet. "I didn't hurt her brain. She'll come back."

"Lizzie…" Carol had whispered, as she pressed her folded shirt to Mika's stomach wound. "What have you done?"

"You got here before I did Judith, but once Mika's back you'll see. Now we don't have to worry about her any more, because she can't die! Unless you kill her."

The walkers had been drawn to the commotion, and began filtering through the gap n the fence. Lizzie brightened.

"Oh, look! They're coming to watch!"

"Ty, take Judy." Carol had murmured lowly, trying not to catch Lizzie's attention. "I'll bring Mika in a moment. Go inside."

Tyreese slowly released Lizzie, and scooped up the hysterical baby. He'd backed towards the house. The walkers were almost upon them, and Carol scooped Mika up under the knees and shoulders and staggered towards the house.

"Carol, wait! You have to let her come back!" Lizzie had cried, rushing after them. "Carol!" When Carol didn't stop, she turned to the snarling walkers. "Help me!" She pleaded with them. Carol stumbled up the stairs, tears running down her face. She had dumped Mika on the floor in the kitchen and scrambled to shut the door. She stifled a scream as she saw Lizzie running towards the walkers. One reached for her and sunk its teeth into her lower arm.

The girl stopped in puzzlement, then tried to turn back when another bit her on the shoulder. She had let out a screech of pain, and Carol fumbled for her gun.

The walkers began to overpower the screaming girl, as she begged them to stop.

Carol had raised the gun in her shaking hand, and aimed. The gun went off with a bang, and her screams were silenced. The only sound was that of the walkers tearing into her body. After a beat, Mika had wailed in agony from the floor and Carol had slammed the door shut and run to her.

"Carol!" Daryl's shout snapped her back to reality as he leaned over and hauled on the steering wheel, swerving the car back into the middle of the road. She had lost focus and the car had been travelling at speed towards the ditch that ran alongside the tarmac.

Abe pulled the Army truck over up ahead, and she indicated to let the others know she was pulling over. She clambered out of the pickup on shaky legs and dry-heaved, hunched double. Daryl bolted around the front as fast as he could and stood rubbing her back as she choked on sobs.

"What the hell happened?" Abe barked as he climbed down. "Everyone alright?"

"I'm okay," She managed, waving him away. "But someone else needs to drive the pickup for a while." She stood up and was a little surprised when, in front of everyone, Daryl put his arm around her waist and squeezed her comfortingly.

Sophiacharlotte and Demoninmyview, look at what you've done! You've created a monster!

la8255, guest, melniewn, chey8, tinkerbell99, georgiapeachs, bspooky3, thanks for your reviews! It's super nice to get them and very inspiring

My fave review for Ch.2 was from 'guest', who said "love it. now make them kiss"… All in good time :P Patience, my child!

Thanks for reading, I hope you're all enjoying so far!