Chapter Two:

Staring out over the valley Daryl sat on a big rock with his elbows on his legs and his crossbow slung across his back. Hearing footsteps he looked over and saw Carl heading towards him, without saying a word he sat down next to Daryl and they both sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. Slowly Carl inched closer until his head was resting on Daryl's shoulder, Daryl looked at Carl surprised that he actually felt comfortable with the contact, but then Carl was one of the only people that he felt completely comfortable with, as well as Rick of course.

"Daryl?" He looked down to see Carl looking up at him. "Yeah" was the muttered response.

"What would say if I said I thought Uncle Rick might still be alive?" at hearing those words Daryl's body visibly stiffened and Carl noticed. "It's just I keep having these dreams of him waking up in the hospital all alone and really confused, and not knowing anything about the walkers or where we are" he quickly continued.

Daryl took in a deep breath "I would say that they were just hopeful dreams" Carl looked down, a sad look on his face. "They felt so real that I can't help but think that they are"

"Carl…" Daryl's voice shaking slightly, knowing he couldn't start believing what Carl way saying without going crazy. "Can't you just go to the hospital and check it out- just to make sure" Carl carried on, not knowing the effect his words were having on Daryl.

"Carl I can't" his voice close to breaking. "Why not…..don't you love him? "Carl persisted quietly. "Sorry" he quickly added not quite believing he just asked him that. Daryl glared at Carl "Of course I do…..we just have to trust that Shane was telling the truth, there's no reason for him not to. Never ask me that question again" he growled, and with that he stood up and headed off towards the woods. Carl watched Daryl leave and got up and slowly made his way towards his mum.

...

Lori seeing Daryl shoot off towards the woods without warning anyone had stopped washing the clothes she was doing and waits for Carl to get to her.

"Hey baby what's up?" Lori says seeing the upset look on Carl's face as he sits down next to her and hugs hers, burying his head in her side. "Carl, you can't talk with your head in my side and 'spect me to understand you" Lori says softly hearing Carl's mutterings.

"Daryl's made a me" he says while slowly lifting his head off of his mums side, as he feels an arm wrap round him and pull him in closer. "Aww baby Daryl could never be mad at you; you know that, he just really sad at the moment"

Looking around Carl noticed that all the other women washing clothes, had stopped their conversations, and have slowed down their work. Carl guessed that they were trying to listen in to his mum's and his conversation. "But he got angry with me and stormed off" he replied a bit quieter now knowing people were listening in. "what were you talking about then" his mum asked.

"I told him about my dreams" he said barely above a whisper. "Oh Carl, I thought I told you not to tell him about those, knowing how upset he would get over them" Lori said sternly. "But why mum, you know Daryl's the best person to go and have look back at the hospital 'specially if he bought Merle with 'im" Carl said desperately, on the verge of crying now, not understanding why no one would listen to him.

"Because you know Shane went to the hospital to get your Uncle Rick, and what he said happened, what the hospital was like, there was no way your uncle could have survived that" Lori's voice now started to tremble. Carl looked up at his mum "well I think Shane's wrong, I think Uncle Rick's still alive, even if nobody else will believe me" his said angrily. After glaring at his mum he headed back in the direction of his tent.

After listening to the conversation Carol spoke softly "you're friends of Daryl's?" Lori looked up hearing Carol speak and seeing everybody else waiting for her to reply "Something like that " she said softly and starts washing the clothes again, thinking about how she wishes she could believe what Carl was saying . She so desperately wants her brother back knowing he would know what to in this situation.

...

Walking through the forest, following some tracks he had just found, Daryl was being as quiet as he could, knowing that any sound he made could scare off his potential prey. It also allowed him to listen out for the disgusting sound of those walker things, Daryl shuddered at the thought at them, they really were ugly. Being out in the forest allowed him to calm down and collect his thoughts, he felt most at home around the woods, hard not to when you've spent most of your life in the woods. Except for when he's at home with Rick…. Better not go down that line of thought though if he wanted to catch some did feel bad for having a go at Carl but he couldn't help it, he couldn't believe what Carl was saying without feeling like he had let Rick down. He desperately wanted to go to the hospital, but then he kept thinking about how he more than likely turn himself into a wreck, as he would probably just see Rick as a walker and that is something he couldn't survive. So he kept believing in what Shane had said, there was no reason for Shane to lie considering him and Rick had been best mates, right?

Hearing a snap of wood Daryl pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked around for the source of the noise. Looking through the trees Daryl could just about make out the form of what looked like a deer walking through the trees. As quietly as he could Daryl followed the deer being careful not to make a sound so as not to scare it off, he really was rather hungry after all. Nearing the deer Daryl got his crossbow ready and lined up, once he certain he had his aim right he fired off a couple of arrows to make sure the deer went down. Making his way towards the deer he heard the deadly moans of what could only mean a walker was nearby. Daryl looked around and found the walker in the distance and making it's way towards where Daryl had killed the deer. Picking up speed he made his way towards the deer wanting to get their before the walker did, not wanting that thing to start eating his dinner, he had been the one to catch it so he deserved to eat it. Hearing a young high pitched scream Daryl started to speed up, Sophia must have spotted the walker which probably means Carl did as well. Getting closer Daryl hears noises that can only mean the other guys are beating the crap out of the walker. Spotting the eaten deer Daryl makes his way over to the walker.

"Son of bitch" he starts kicking the walker "that was my deer" he carries on kicking it letting out his anger "been tracking that deer for miles was gonna cook us up some venison" he then looks at everyone else that was near him "think we can just cut that chewed up bit out and eat the rest?" he questions, already knowing the reply we'll get. Shane looks at him "I certainly aint gonna risk that" he says with a look in his eyes, was that sorrow? Before he could think too much into he hears a gurgle from the walker, stupid thing was still alive, how had they not killed it yet? With his crossbow ready he fires an arrow straight for the walkers head "come on people what the hell it's gotta be the brain, don't you'll know anything"

"I do now" a voice says, Daryl instantly recognizing the voice, he would know that voice anywhere. Looking up he sees the one person he thought he would never see again, the one person he hasn't been able to stop thinking about since this whole disaster happened, how the hell had he not noticed him before.

"Rick…"

Notes: Well there you go, let me know what think. Got a bit of an idea for chapter 3 but I can't decide what do with Merle. Does Rick unlock Merle himself, or is he still going to be stuck on the roof through the accident. I can't decide :/