AN: ok...before you read this just know...I never kill Carol or Daryl. But I love Cliffhangers ;) let me know what you think :)

And sorry I know this a short one .

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead.

Chapter 5

She flinched a little and cried out when the large man's palm splayed out across her abdomen. Putting she was sure unintentional pressure on her abdomen.

She heard him curse slightly as he eased the pressure. His hand stayed where it was, the warmth seemed to radiate from it. She knew that hand, she thought looking up at the man and bringing her hand up slowly to cover his. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her she thought, as he had a slight intake of breath, then used his opposite hand to push the goggles up and the mask down.

Daryl.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"We need to get her out of here...she's in shock"

"Rick's group secured the house, Andrea was just closing that asshole up...she actually took his appendix out, with a gun to her head...that's bad ass."

"We need to go...now, ...she won't last much longer..."

The voices seemed to swirl around Carol in a controlled hectic pace. She couldn't tell who was speaking she could only focus on the hand on her stomach and the warmth that was radiating from it. He was talking, issuing orders, planning their escape from the old stone hut never once taking his hand off her stomach. She felt soothed by the simplest touch. She wouldn't die alone, and maybe... There might be a chance that she would survive after all.

The raw determination written on his face seemed to be in stark contrast to the way his fingers seemed to caress her stomach in a comforting way.

One of the other men in the room suddenly removed his mask. It was one who'd been in the pub. He had inserted the Iv and had been inspecting her limbs for various injuries.

"Carol...your arm is broken, otherwise your limbs are ok...do you have any head injuries from the crash?" He asked

Her throat felt as though she had swallowed a bucket of sand. She wasn't sure she could speak. She shook her head no as he flicked a flashlight up checking her pupils. Finding her voice she spoke " Stomach..." She said her voice a scratchy whisper.

The man nodded at her "Believe me sweetheart I know we have a problem there."

She moaned when a wave if pain hit her, trying hard not pass out.

"Dammit Perez...give her something for pain" Daryl snapped.

"I can't..I'm worried about how much blood she lost. Don't wanna drop her blood pressure anymore...not sure how we are going to move her. There's a group outside the fence firing on us. Stretcher makes a good target." Perez answered.

"I'll carry her." Daryl said lifting down to pick her up. She bite down on her bottom lip to stop herself from crying out.

Daryl had her quickly in his arms carrying her bridal style, her head resting on his shoulder trying to catch her breath. She was panting in pain.

"I'm sorry...I wish we could do things differently...are you ok?" He whispered and she nodded.

The next part seemed to take hours, but she was certain it was only a few minutes. The intense blinding pain as Daryl clung to her, running towards the fence, they had to go over.

Shots were being fired in their direction, when an explosion went off near by. Daryl dropped to the ground and she let out a cry of pain at the sudden movement as he shielded her body with his own.

"I'm so sorry" he whispered before they were moving again. She faded to black at some point. To wake in the back of a truck, looking up at Daryl's face still in his arms.

He was looking at her, saying something. It was hard to make out the words. She watched his mouth as the words left his mouth.

"Stay awake...don't do this to me."

She nodded and tried. She tried to stay awake. But her mind seemed to drift, to the time her Gram had taken her to the beach and they'd walked along the shore for hours picking sea glass.

And to when she'd been worn down, and defeated working to help after the tsunami and it had seemed hopeless. Her attention had suddenly been riveted by two small kids laughing and playing among the ruins.

Then the memory of Daryl, in the pub in Germany. All of her best memories. All the ones she cherished. All flashing before her eyes.

They were suddenly in the helicopters she didn't remember getting there. But Andrea was there, looking at her worriedly. She was lying on the floor of the helicopter as Andrea and Perez worked on her, Andrea's hands flying over her as she quickly assessed her.

The helicopter lifted, Daryl was holding her hand. She turned her head at his voice unable to make out what he was saying. A haze clouding her vision.

"Don't do this to me."

She didn't want to hurt him, he was important to her. He'd made her see the truth. She deserved to live, she deserved to be loved. Her eyes wouldn't stay open any longer and so she closed them, happy to know that at least she wasn't alone