AN: well I got stalled on this, trying to get back in gear. Not sure I love this chapter but it's a start. I'm not going to get super political with this... It's not what this story is about, and FYI car accident triggers in this. Let me know what you think :)

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 3

Her face flashed across the screen.

It was a candid shot, obviously taken when she was working somewhere tropical. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkled as she smiled at a small child on her hip.

Daryl sat on his bed in stunned silence watching as the news went into more detail about the kidnapping.

"Witnesses say only two passengers survived the car crash..."

"Car crash?" His voice squeaked asking Rick.

Rick nodded gravely watching the screen "yeah they were forced of the road."

"The other survivor is thought to be Andrea Harrison a 31 year old American doctor"

"Jesus Christ" Daryl said running his fingers through his hair. This can't be happening he thought as he watched several pictures of Carol and Andrea flash across the screen. Some obviously taken while working others more personal ones.

His heart ached in his chest as he saw one of Carol with an older lady. Her grandmother he thought.

"The families of the hostages have been unavailable for comment."

The newscaster said.

"Fuck...I hope to fuck they ain't hounding her grandmother." Daryl muttered to himself.

"I'm sure the government sent someone to her" Rick said "they won't want her to talk" Rick sighed sitting down on the bed "this is very close to our base...we're being called back.."

Daryl stood up excitedly "So then it's us..we're going in to get them."

Rick put his hand up "Maybe Daryl...and truthfully I shouldn't let you come with us..."

He felt his breath catch as he stared at Rick. He shouldn't ask him to do this. Rick had worked hard to get where he was, he knew that he took his position seriously. He shouldn't ask him..but he would.

"Rick..." But Rick put his hand up to stop him.

"Daryl..I shouldn't let you come with us...but I will. But at any point if you're not thinking clearly, you're out. And if the shit hits the fan I'll deny that I knew you knew her...but I won't have to, I trust you brother. We'll get her back."

XxxxxxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxxxXxxxxx

"Carol open your eyes...come on"

Carol drifted slowly back to consciousness, she'd been having the most wonderful dream. She's in bed with Daryl. Surronded by his warmth. She could hear the rain pounding on the windows. Her back had been pressed to his front, and he had been nuzzling her neck. She'd felt safe, she felt secure. She hadn't wanted it to end. She knew that was going to change somehow. Her mind revolted against waking, trying desperately to claw it's way back down that ladder of consciousness.

"Carol, wake up sweetie...come on"

No, it's so much more warmer in my dream she thought. She tried to snuggle her way back into Daryl's warmth only to realize she was on the ground with her head on someone's lap.

No..the ground was cold and her dream was so warm, and her head...hurt.

She opened her eyes squinting up into the darkness, her head...hurt, and Andrea was staring down at her in concern.

"What...happened?" She muttered, hoarsely, realizing her head was propped up on Andrea's lap. She tried to lift her head but was hit by a wave of nausea.

"No, don't move" Andrea said. " You have a head injury..not sure how bad. You've woken up several times but you were confused, incoherent. I hope your c-spine is okay. I had to stop you from hurting yourself. You seem to be moving your fingers okay...I'm worried you have some internal bleeding though," Andrea said touching her stomach.

"Ahh" Carol groaned at the slightest pressure on Andrea's hand on her stomach.

She panted trying to catch her breath as the pain slowly dissipated and she was able to speak.

"Are you ok?" She asked Andrea.

Andrea, smiled and nodded "the impact was on your side...barely a scratch" Andrea said. "I honestly don't think this is the big bad guys..they seem too nervous, scared,...they were upset when they saw..." Andrea's voice caught in her throat "When they saw Lisa and Leslie didn't make it."

Carol gasped

Andrea nodded. "They were scared, unbuckled their seat belts...they were thrown..." Andrea stopped not needing to say anything else. "They kept asking where the doctor was..I think they just need a doctor. They took all our supplies too..."

"Did you tell them?" Carol asked before coughing

"Yes...I'll cooperate.. We need to get you help. I'm worried about how bruised your stomach is... And...it's getting firmer when I palpate it."

Carol winced. That wasn't good. She was obviously bleeding internally and her stomach cavity was filing with blood. She couldn't survive long like that long and she knew that situations like this could go on for months.

"Andrea...you need to worry about yourself, I'm ..." She paused when Andrea interrupted her.

"Nope...not happening. Don't even talk that way. We are getting out of here together." Andrea said leaning back against the wall.

Carol's eyes had adjusted to the light and she could see they were in some crude shack with a dirt floor. Andrea grabbed a small bottle and put it to her lips, dribbling some water into her lips.

Carol closed her eyes. Her Gram must be so worried. She'd begged Carol not to sign on for another term. She groaned in guilt. She probably wouldn't make it out of this, but her Gram was strong...she'd be okay, she hoped.

She knew since Ed's death she'd been looking for this. The guilt she'd felt at surviving had consumed so much of her life. She should feel relieved. This was so long what she felt she deserved and suddenly she knew how wrong she'd been. She deserved to be happy. She was such an idiot. She let Ed steal so much from her.

Daryl's face flashed in her mind. He was the first one who had found his way into the walls she had built around herself. She had a feeling he knew the way through because he had walls of his own.

She kept his image in her mind's eye as she drifted back to sleep. His image calming to her, somehow making her feel more secure and loved than she had in years.