Chapter Six:

"Daryl stay awake love" Rick said softly not wanting Daryl to fall asleep until he was able to properly check him over. "Why not 'm tired?" Daryl whined already half asleep. "Cause we're nearly there" Rick replied not wanting to tell him the real reason. Noticing Daryl close his eyes Rick shook his shoulder "Oh no you don't, I aint carrying you all the way to our tent"

"Sum partner you are" Daryl grumbled, whilst sitting up in his seat causing him to wince in pain. Hearing gun shots being fired they both turned to each startled "Did that come from camp?" Rick asked; panic seeping into his voice Carl. More gun shots were heard "I think so, you might wanna put ya foot down" Daryl said trying to keep calm knowing Rick needed him. He rubbed his forehead again as his head didn't half hurt, Merle better have some strong painkillers he thought.

…

Seeing the walker heading towards Amy Merle started to sneak up on the walker. When the walker grabbed Amy's arm and went in for the bite Merle whacked the walker round the head with his baseball bat knocking it to the floor "I don't think so ya piece o' crap" Merle grunted still whacking the walkers head until you heard the sickening crunch of the walkers head exploding. "Thank you" Amy said faintly staring at the walker, looking like she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. "Couldn't let a pretty girl like ya turn into summin' as disgustin' as that na could I" he replied pointing to walker, shrugging off the thanks.

Hearing another scream they both ran in the direction of the voice only to come across a bunch of walkers entering the tent they knew contained Ed. " 'im however, is about to get what 'e deserves" Merle stated having no intentions of saving the guy, partly knowing it was too late.

"AMY?" Andrea shouted causing Amy to run off towards her "Andrea!" Amy replied launching herself at her sister, engulfing here in a hug. "Thank god you're okay, I thought I was gonna find being attacked by walkers when I heard you scream" Andrea cried whilst stroking Amy's hair. "Was about to be but Merle saved me, smashed the walkers head in with a baseball bat" Amy mumbled into Andreas shoulder. Andrea looked over the Merle in shock "Thank you ". Merle half smiled at her in response "Save the thanks for later, right na we need to worry about all the walkers headin' our way" Merle said pointing out to the woods, causing both girls to look at each other in panic.

…..

They arrived back at the camp to see it in complete and utter chaos, gunshots being heard and groans of walkers coming from all directions. Both of them jumped out the van quick, Daryl grabbing a riffle then chucking the bag at Rick who immediately grabbed a hand gun and started shooting walkers. Daryl did the same whilst also keeping his eye out for his brother. Rick found some of the other campers and started handing out the rest of the guns.

When the last walker was killed the camp turned deathly quiet, everyone in a state of shock over what had just happened. "Uncle Rick…. Daryl!" Carl cried out killing the silence and ran straight over to them both. "Carl!" Rick replied, his voice breaking overcome with relief at seeing him still alive. They both crouched down when Carl barreled straight into them crying and shaking causing Rick to cry as well. "Thank god you're okay" Rick mumbled in Carl's shoulder. Daryl wound his arms round them both giving them comfort; trying to hide the fact he needed the comfort too. Lori then came over and joined the hug putting a comforting hand on Daryl's shoulder, knowing what he was feeling and gave him a reassuring smile. When they had all calmed down a bit they stood up and looked around the camp to see it in a total mess. Walker bodies lying everywhere, people hugging all their loved ones and friends, no one really knowing what to do now.

"Nice to see ya worried 'bout ya big brother" Merle said sauntering over to them. "Shuddup, knew ya could look after ya own ass" Daryl replied not wanting Merle to know he had actually been worried about him, he would never live it down otherwise. "Lucky for you that's true" Merle laughed patting him on the shoulder "Good to see ya made it back in one piece" he added before wandering towards the walkers to make sure they were all actually completely dead.

"You okay" Lori said once Merle had gone, looking between Rick and Daryl. "We're fine, came across a couple of other men who had spotted the bag but we came to an agreement and split the bag between us" Rick replied wrapping an arm round Daryl's waist seeking comfort in the man's touch, Daryl responded by resting his head on Ricks shoulder and closed his eyes for a moment. "Good, I don't like it when you keep risking your life like this though, I lost you once, I can't lose you again" Lori said tears welling up in her eyes again. "He's fine, I made sure of that" Daryl said opening his eyes and rubbed her arm, giving her the reassurance this time. "I know I'm glad he has you" Lori smiled.

…..

When everything had calmed down everyone gathered together to make sure no one was hurt, and find out who they had lost. "This is why I didn't want you to go" Shane growled looking over at Rick who still had his arm round Daryl's waist. "If we hadn't have gone, we wouldn't have had the guns needed to kill those walkers." Rick retorted. "If you hadn't you would have been here from the start meaning it might not have got so bad"

Rick looked round the group noticing everyone was listening in to hear what he had to say "If we hadn't have gone a lot more lives might have been lost and we wouldn't have all this extra ammo and guns that we can now use to protect ourselves in the future" Rick stressed. Everyone murmured in agreement, except for Shane who growled knowing his argument was lost.

Rick looked down at Daryl feeling him rest his head on Rick's shoulder again "You okay?" he asks slightly concerned " 'm fine" Daryl slurred, not convincing Rick. "You sure?" he asks again this time lifting up Daryl's head noticing that his eyes didn't seem very focused. "No" Daryl said dazedly whilst his eyes slowly closed. "No Daryl, stay awake for" Rick half shouted, his panic rising. " 'm awake" he murmured his eyes slowly blinking in an attempt to stay awake. "Come on Daryl stay awake for me love, does your head hurt?" Rick asked in an attempt to find out what's wrong. Daryl slowly nodded "mm hmm" he replied making himself dizzy from the head movement. Noticing Daryl's unsteadiness he sat them down on the floor so that they didn't fall down. In doing this people seemed to notice something was wrong. "Is he okay?" Lori asks rushing to Rick's side. "Uncle Rick what's a matter with Daryl?" Carl asks concerned seeing Daryl on the floor "No, I don't know" Rick replies to both questions, seriously panicking now. "Was he bit?" Shane grunts as he walks over causing Rick to glare and Carl to gasp. "No" Rick defended "He… he was hit" Rick stuttered "round the head…. With a baseball bat" his voice growing quieter " 's all my fault" he whispers, stroking hair out of Daryl's face "No it's not Rick, I don't know what happened but I know you wouldn't purposely put Daryl in danger" she says softly. "He probably has concussion, we need to keep him awake" she adds.

Daryl starts closing his eyes again "Daryl stay awake for me… Daryl!" Rick says gently hitting cheeks in an attempt to keep him awake. "Cant" Daryl whispered and falls unconscious.

Notes: sorry for the not so happy ending but they couldn't get beat up and enter a walker attack and come out unscathed, as much as I would love them to. Let me know what you think!