I got off of Daryl's bike and grabbed my crossbow from my back, I saw Carl and Glenn get out of the car.

"Alright Jessie you stick by me the while time you understand? I am not losing you again ok?" he said seriously

"Yes sir" I said sarcastically

We walked into a small convenience store, Carl and Glenn walked off which left me and my brother.

"Hey Daryl?" I said

"Mm" he replied

"Um i've been meaning to ask you" I paused for a moment "Um w-where's Merle" I asked

He suddenly stopped walking and just stared for minute, I looked up to his face and saw a look of pain across it.

He finally looked at me knelt down to my height "H-he um was- " that's not good...

"Is he dead?" I cut him of bluntly

"Honestly, I-I don't know" he said

"Look, basically the first time we met Rick was when some people from our group went out on a run to the city, Atlanta, and after they'd bumped into Rick, they where on a roof. Apparently Merle was high and being a dick again and Rick handcuffed him to a pipe, when they had to leave because walkers were surrounding them T-dog dropped the key and they had to leave Merle behind" he explained

There were a few tears forcing their way out of my eyes but I wouldn't let them, there's no time to cry in this world anymore. But anyway Merle might not have been the best person in the world but he was my big brother and I loved him to pieces, we got on so well.

Daryl carried on "When I found out this happened, we went back there and looked for him, but when we got there all that was left was a hand and a trail of blood"

"I'm so sorry Jessie" Daryl said and hugged me as the tears now solemnly made their way down my cheeks but I wiped them away angrily

This will not effect me.

Just then Carl walked over "Hey I got- woah whats going on? Jess you ok?" he asked worriedly

Daryl mouthed something to him and he nodded understandingly while I tried desperately not to let out a sob into his shoulder. This whole 'no crying thing' really hasn't worked since I came to the prison.

After a few minutes I realised how pathetic I must look, especially in front of Carl. Dammit. I brought my head up and harshly wiped the stupid tears off of my now red face and said "well let's go then" as I pushed past Carl to go through the door of the shop

They both followed me in, I went to a section looking for tinned foods when I felt hand on my shoulder.

It was Carl "Are you ok now?" he asked, I nodded and said "Yeah thanks, but I guess I'm just pissed you know?" I looked at the ground

"He was such a prick" I dryly laughed "but I just miss him so much" as I said this my voice cracked

I was shocked when Carl crushed me in a hug, I tensed up at first but then melted into his arms.

I buried my face into his neck and sighed peacefully, I couldn't help but feel really safe with him right now

We stayed like that for a while until he pulls back and smiles sheepishly at me.

"Sorry" he chuckles "I just really wanted to do that" I look into his gorgeous eyes and giggle- wait what? I never giggle

"It's ok, I guess I needed it" I smile at him missing his warm arms wrapped around my body and the way my head fit perfectly in the crook of his neck and-

"Hey guys" said Glenn as he walked over to us with Daryl pulling me out of stupid thoughts, I was silently kicking myself for feeling like this.

I can't.

"You got everything?" asked Carl

"Most of it but we might need to go into some other stores" said my brother

"Ok then let's go" I walked out and they followed.

When we reached another store we all went in different sections

I was taking some things of a shelf to put in the bag when I heard Carl yell for help

I quickly dropped the stuff on the floor and grabbed my crossbow from my back as I ran over to the source of the noise

There was a walker on top of him with another stumbling towards them

I quickly shot the one coming over and grabbed the arrow out if it's head before using it to stab the walker that was trying to eat Carl's face off

I helped him role it off of him and gave him a hand to stand up, he went and retrieved his gun where it had fallen

"Woah that was close" he said still in shock "Thank you so much, you literally just saved my life"

He gave me a hug "Anytime" I told him

"Hey we heard shouting what happened?" Daryl said worryingly as he rushed over with Glenn

"I got attacked by walkers but Jess saved me" Carl replied looking at me

"Well done" Daryl said to me as he rubbed my back "so you're ok Carl? No scratches?"

"Yep totally fine" he reassured us

Once we finished in the stores we went back to the car and Daryl's bike and made our way home, the sun was already setting.

We reached the prison and went inside, Rick rushed to Carl and gave him a hug, then they started talking.

"Well done for savin' Carl back there" Daryl said as he came over to me "Thanks" I replied

"You must be tired, go get some sleep and I'll see ye' in the mornin'" he said then kissed my forehead.

"Jessica honey, I put some clothes on your bed for you to sleep in, they're Beth's so they might be a bit big but they'll do for now" she said sweetly

"Thanks Carol" I said "night"

I made my way to my cell and saw the clothes on the bed, I got changed into them and they were a tad on the large side but not to bad

I heard a knock on the wall and turned to see Rick "Hey can I talk to you"

"Yeah" I said casually

He walks in a bit further "Look, I just wanted to thank you for saving Carl today, he told me what happened and I just needed to say thanks because I just couldn't handle loosing him as well"

"Hey, hey that's fine it was nothing really, he's an amazing guy you know, too good to be walker food" I joked

He laughed as well "and I also wanted to say that I'm sorry for how I treated you when we found you, it was immature, I think I was just shocked, there aren't many tough people with good hearts left you know, but what you did for Carl proved that there are and I think that you've really earned your place in the group" he smiled at me "your one of us now" he said sincerely

"Thanks Rick" I said gratefully, while smiling at floor

"Alright, now go get to bed you must be exhausted"

"Ok night" I waved "goodnight" he replied

Tonight I could fall asleep happily knowing that I was actually worth something and there were still things to live for.