AN: Hi! Thank you to galwidanatitud and MiniHorseMeadow for reviewing the last chapter, and thank you to ZombiesRUs, EverGreenRiver, MiniHorseMeadow, and alexiamarie for following and favouriting the story.

Song: Keane - Sovereign Light Café

~ Chapter 6 ~

Carol pushed at T-Dog and he let her go, then she ran off crying. Violet stopped crying and stared at the barn. She felt the same way she did after her parents died. She felt like her heart was gone from her chest. She felt like she couldn't breathe. She felt sick, weak and useless.

It was all her fault. She should've said something about the girl in the barn that way Carol wouldn't have had to find out this way. If that was her baby brother, she would be a mess, she'd hate to have that happen to her.

Violet reached down and pushed Daryl's arms from around her waist and he gripped her tighter.

"Let me go," She whimpered and Daryl grunted in response. Violet looked over her shoulder and saw Jimmy holding Beth, whilst she was crying. Then, she suddenly remembered her mom and brother were in the pile of walkers.

Beth started wriggling against Jimmy's hold and then she began to walk forward. She sobbed and cried, then crouched down pushing a walker off one of the bodies.

"Mom," She cried and then the walker snarled and grabbed onto her hair.

"Beth!" Violet screamed and she shoved Daryl's arms off her and everyone ran over. Violet grabbed onto Beth and pulled her back and T-Dog started to kick the walker, then Andrea grabbed the pickax and swung it into the walker's skull. Violet hugged Beth tight and stroked her hair. Hershel walked over and took Beth from her arms and walked away with Maggie and Jimmy.

Rick looked around at all the bodies and then Shane made a move towards Violet, but Rick held out his arm to stop him.

"We've been searching in the woods for Sophia and she was in there the whole time. You knew!" He yelled.

"Shane, not now," Rick hissed.

"You knew all along, you bitch!" He spat and Violet continued to stare down at Beth's mom.

"I knew..." She whispered. "I didn't know it was her. Otis found her a day before you came and then she escaped from the pole...I had to fight her and drag her into the barn...I didn't know it was her until a few moments ago. It all added up in my head," She explained, never looking away from Annette.

"You're sick!" Shane yelled and then he marched off after Hershel and Rick followed after him.

"Violet, you should come and sit down in the RV," Dale suggested, and he reached out and touched her shoulder. She looked over at him and sighed.

"I'm gonna' go," She whispered and then she walked off across the field, heading into the woods. Andrea looked over at Daryl who was watching her leave.

"You should go after her," She said.

"We need to bury the bodies," Daryl muttered.

...

Violet decided that a walk in the woods wasn't a good idea. She made her way to the back of the farmhouse and walked inside. Beth was in the kitchen with Maggie and Glenn nearby. Violet lent against the counter watching Beth closely. She seemed out of it and she needed to be watched.

Violet walked over to Maggie and Glenn and they both smiled at her. The three of them fell into silence, all exchanging looks with one another.

"Violet-" A crashing sound came from the kitchen and Violet saw Beth on the floor.

"Beth!" They all ran over and Violet shook her gently. "Beth..." She was staring up at the ceiling, her eyes as dead as dead could get.

"What's wrong with her?" Glenn asked.

"She's in shock," Maggie said. "Glenn pick her up and bring her upstairs," Glenn nodded his head and picked her up. They all walked upstairs and Glenn put her down on the bed. "Sweetie are you okay," Maggie whispered, brushing some of Beth's hair out of her face.

"Violet, get Hershel," Glenn said and Violet nodded her head and walked out of the room. She rubbed the side of her face, feeling the dirt crumble from her face. She ran down the stairs and out of the door. She saw some of the group wandering around the camp slowly and she couldn't see Hershel anywhere.

"Hershel!" Violet shouted and she walked down the steps. "Hershel!" She yelled and she looked around frantically trying to find him. "Hershel!"

Lori came over and Violet stopped shouting. Rick joined her along with Dale. Violet rubbed her forehead and she looked over their shoulders trying to find Hershel.

"Have you seen Hershel?" Violet asked and they all shook their heads. "Beth's collapsed...we need Hershel."

"I'll go and see to Beth," Lori said and she walked on over to the farmhouse, then everyone followed after her. They all walked up the stairs and Maggie was sitting on the bed with Beth, trying to get her to respond.

"I can't find him," Violet said.

"Your stepmother's things?" Shane asked, messing with the things on the shelf.

"He was so sure she'd recover, that they'd just pick up where they left off," Maggie explained, leaning against the draws, then Shane grabbed the small flask from the shelf.

"Looks like he found an old friend," Shane said, shaking the flask, then throwing it to Rick.

"That belonged to my grandfather," Maggie walked over and took it from Rick. "Gave it to dad when he died."

"I didn't take Hershel for a drinker," Rick said.

"No, he gave it up on the day I was born. He didn't even allow liquor in the house," Maggie explained, leaning back against the drawers and staring down at the flask.

Violet walked over to the bed and sat down. She reached out and grabbed Beth's hand, stroking it with her thumb. She brushed some of her hair from her face and smiled down at her. She shook her gently.

"Beth..." Violet whispered.

"What's the bar in town?" Rick asked.

"Hatlon's. He practically lived there during his drinking days," Maggie explained.

"Then that's where I'll find him," Rick replied, looking over at Glenn.

"Yeah, I've seen the place. I'll take you there."

"Alright, I'll get the truck," Rick responded.

"No," Maggie said, placing her hand on Glenn's chest.

"It's an easy run," Glenn whispered.

"The pharmacy?" She reminded him and Glenn looked over at Rick.

"Maggie, we need to bring him back," Rick said with a firm nod and Maggie looked back at him.

"I'll come," Violet spoke up and Rick looked over at her. "After what's just happened. Hershel needs someone he can trust, not the people who shot down his friends and family."

"Okay," Rick nodded his head and then he left, and Lori chased after him.

"Violet," Maggie said, walking over to her. "I need you here, Beth needs you."

"I know, but she needs Hershel...she needs her daddy and I'm gonna' bring him back," Violet assured her.

"Please be careful," She whimpered.

"I will," She stood up and hugged Maggie tight. "I promise you, I'll bring him back."

Glenn and Violet both got up and left the room. They made their way out of the farmhouse and saw Rick by the truck.

"You ready?" Rick asked Violet and Glenn.

"Yeah," Glenn said, getting into the truck.

"You need a gun," Rick said and Violet shook her head.

"I'll be fine with my knife," She replied.

"Are you sure...we don't want to lose anyone else," He explained.

"I shot your son. I thought you wanted me dead," She shrugged her shoulders and turned to get in the truck, but he reached out and grabbed her arm.

"I don't hate you...He was my son and it was an accident. I was just in shock, and I apologize," He said and Violet looked up into his eyes.

"I'm sorry too," Violet whispered.

"Then let's put this behind us," He suggested and she nodded.

"Okay," He let go of her arm and they both got into the truck.

Daryl watched Violet get into the truck and then it drove off. He played with one of his arrows and he squinted, watching it fade off into the distance. He looked over at the barn and sighed.

He was pissed off about the whole thing. The walkers in the barn, Sophia being there all the time and the way Carol reacted, not wanting to go to Sophia's funeral and lastly what Violet did. He understood she didn't want them to see what was inside the barn, but what she did, could've got herself killed.

Daryl didn't know what it was, but he just got this urge to protect her. When Shane pushed her into that walker, he was about to run over, but Beth got there before him. It was like when Shane punched her in the face. He didn't even think before he reacted, he just saw red and got engulfed by rage.

He wasn't sure what it was about her. She was permanently covered in mud and she always had that shine in her eyes. Daryl wasn't going to deny it, Violet was beautiful. What made her more beautiful than anyone else he'd ever seen before, was the fact that she didn't know it. She wasn't like Lori, who knew she could use her looks to get what she wanted from people. She wasn't like Andrea either and it made him want to be around her more.

He'd taken to watching her from a distance. She was easy to sneak up on, because he'd seen Beth do it to her many times and she'd place her hand on her heart and smile. Her smile seemed to make his chest tighten in a way. It was just so big and she could make anyone smile when she did.

She was always covered in mud and she looked like she'd been rolling around in a mud pit all day. Her hair was in masses of knots down her back, but she didn't look like a scruff, she looked tough. The way she observes everyone like he does, makes him like her more, because she wasn't the one to talk to everyone like Dale and Glenn. She just liked to sit back and relax. She only spoke when she had a question or she was spoken too, or she wanted to express her opinion.

When he was in his tent resting and he'd overheard her conversation with Beth. He was going to make himself known as soon as they started talking, but then he heard her mention her baby brother and he felt sorry for her, even though he was so against her feeling sorry for him. For a nineteen year old girl she was tough, just like he'd been at her age. Finally being able to leave home and get away from his Pa.

The fact that he was taking an interest in her, even though she was nineteen, didn't seem to bother him as much as he thought it would. When Daryl calls her kid, he doesn't actually mean it, he just finds it funny how she reacts to it. He knows it pushes her buttons, but whenever he says it she either smirks or storms off in a mood.

Daryl was glad that Violet agreed with him about Otis. He could see it in her eyes that Otis had meant something to her. Daryl just wanted to have proof that Shane had killed Otis, because it would bring ease to Violet and it would finally reveal Shane for who he really was, but he knew that was going to be hard. Even though he'd punched Violet in the face, shoved her about and pushed her into a walker, people were still having a hard time seeing that Shane was a psychopath.

Daryl coughed and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. He looked over at the barn and saw Shane and Carol sitting down together and he sighed, walking off to his tent.

...

They drove in agonizing silence and Violet could see something was wrong with Glenn. She'd strapped herself into her seat and they'd both given her an odd look, but she didn't care. She didn't like being in the truck at all, so she was going to make sure she was strapped in safe. She didn't want a repeat of what happened with her parents.

Glenn tapped the side of his shotgun and Rick looked over at him and then back at Violet. She shrugged her shoulders and he nodded towards Glenn and Violet rolled her eyes.

"Glenn, what's wrong?" Violet asked.

"Maggie told me she loved me," He admitted and Violet smirked.

"N'aww, little walker bait is growing up," Violet grabbed his cheek and he swatted her hands away.

"She doesn't mean it," He said. "I mean she can't...S-She's upset."

"Glenn-"

"She's confused. She's probably feeling like-"

"I think she's smart enough to know what she's feeling," Rick said.

"No," Glenn shook his head.

"He's right," Violet added and Glenn continued to shake his head and Rick laughed.

"You know she wants to be in love. So she needs something to...like-"

"Glenn, it's pretty obvious to everyone that Maggie loves you, am I right?" Rick looked back at Violet and she nodded her head. "It's not just because you're one of the last men standing, so what's the problem?"

"I didn't say it back," He muttered.

"Glenn!" Violet smacked the side of his head. "Do you know nothing about women?"

"I've never had a woman say that to me before...I panicked," He admitted and Rick smiled. "Violet, what do I do?"

"I don't know, I'm not really fluent in men...I just know that when a girl tells you they love you, you don't stand there like an idiot," She explained.

"You've never had a boy tell you that they love you?" Glenn asked.

"Nope, only my baby brother. My parents stopped a long time ago. I loved them and they loved me, but we never really said it to one another. I never got to say it to my dad, because he died straight away in the car crash, but I got to say it to my mom, before she died," She explained.

"I'm so sorry," Glenn said.

"Why are you sorry for? These things happen," She replied.

"We're just sorry that you had to go through that," Rick said. "No one deserves that."

"Thanks," She whispered.

They pulled up in the middle of the crossroad and it reminded her of the one the car accident happened, but it wasn't the same. Though it was nearby. Glenn sighed and then scratched the back of his head.

"Rick, I know about Lori," Glenn admitted and Rick looked over at him. "So does Violet," Rick looked back at her and she smiled.

"Hey, I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time," She explained.

"I figured," Rick replied and he opened the truck door and got out and they both did the same.

"I'm sorry I kept it from you," Glenn said.

"It's okay you did what you had to do," Rick got out his gun and held it by his side and Glenn held up his shotgun.

...

Lori marched across the field and she could see Daryl up ahead. He was scraping his knife against a stick, and he looked over and rolled his eyes as she marched over to him.

"Listen, Beth's in some kind of catatonic shock, we need Hershel," She explained.

"Yeah, so what," He muttered.

"So, I need you to run into town real quick and bring him back," She crouched down next to him and he continued to carve his knife into the stick. "Daryl."

"Your bitch went window shoppin', you want him, fetch him yourself," He mumbled. "I got better things to do."

"What's the matter with you?" She asked. "Why would you be so selfish?"

"Selfish? Listen to me Olive Oil, I was out there lookin' for that girl everyday. I took a bullet and an arrow in the process. Don't you tell me about not gettin' my hands dirty. You want them two idiots, have a nice ride. I'm done lookin' for people."

Lori walked off and Daryl watched her leave. He growled then continued to butcher the stick.

Daryl didn't want to help, especially do anything for her. He liked to observe people and he'd seen Maggie throw the abortion pills on the floor and he'd heard Violet and Lori talking about it. Whether she'd taken them pills or not, Daryl didn't know, but how dare she come here and call him selfish, when she wanted to kill her baby.

Daryl threw the stick on the floor and then he walked across the field and over to the farmhouse. He walked inside and made his way into the room Beth was in. Andrea was in there and so was Maggie.

Daryl had seen some weird shit in his life, but this topped it all. Catatonic state was an understatement. Beth continued to stare up at the ceiling, not even blinking. Maggie grabbed her hand and started begging her to talk, but she didn't respond.

"We need Hershel," Andrea said. "The poor girls in shock."

"I can see that," Daryl grumbled.

"Sweetie, please talk," Maggie kissed the back of her hand, but Beth didn't react. "Beth, c'mon."

"We need Hershel," Andrea whispered and Daryl looked over at her and then back at Beth. He knew he shouldn't have reacted that way to Lori, but he was sick of looking for people.

...

They walked into the bar and Violet saw Hershel straight away, sat on a stool at the counter. Rick lowered his gun and so did Glenn. Violet stepped around them and walked closer.

"Hershel," Rick said.

"Who's with you?" He asked.

"Glenn and Violet," Rick replied.

"Did Maggie send them?" He retorted.

"No, we both offered to come. Maggie tried to stop us," Violet said and she walked over and sat down on the stool next to him. She grabbed a whiskey glass and wiped the dust out of it, then she grabbed the bottle and poured the liquor into the glass.

"Violet, don't drink that," Rick ordered.

"First time for everything," She placed the glass to her lips and knocked it back. The liquid burnt the back of her throat and she cringed, slamming the glass back down on the counter.

"How many you had?" Rick asked, walking over and leaning against the counter.

"Not enough," He retorted and Violet smirked.

"That is such an alcoholic reply," She chuckled and Hershel looked over at her.

"Excuse me?" He snapped.

"I don't get it...why would you turn to the drink after how hard you tried to quit. You need to decide who you want to be in this new world, and alcoholics aren't going to be able to survive, because there's not an endless supply of alcohol," She explained.

"I'm just having a drink," He replied.

"Yes, and then a drink turns into another and another. Trust me I've seen it happen before. My grandpa was an alcoholic, he drank himself to death, believe me he tried to stop, but he couldn't. I'm proud of you for giving it up, especially for this long."

"Let's finish this up back at home," Rick suggested and Hershel looked away from Violet. "Beth collapsed, she's in some kind of state. She must be in shock, I think you're too."

Hershel looked back over at Violet, who nodded her head, confirming that what Rick said was the truth and he stared back down at his glass.

"Maggie's with her?" He asked.

"Yeah, but Beth needs you," Violet said. "She needs her dad."

"What can I do?" He muttered, sadly. "She needs her mother. She needs time to mourn, like she should've done weeks ago. I robbed her of that, I see that now."

"You thought there was a cure. Can't blame yourself for holding out for hope," Rick said.

"Hope," Hershel laughed. "When I first saw you running across my field with your boy in your arms. I had little hope he'd survive."

"But he did."

"He did," Hershel nodded his head and Violet knew what he was going to say next. "Even though we lost Otis," Violet reached out and grabbed Hershel's hand, giving it a squeeze. "Your friend Shane made it back, and we saved your boy. That was the miracle that proved to me, miracles do exist. Only it was a sham...I was a fool Rick, and you people saw it."

"Hershel...you weren't a fool," Violet said, stroking his hand with her thumb. "I actually believed in you...you were right, you gave me hope about the walkers and you may have been wrong, but you weren't an idiot for believing things could get better."

"My daughters deserve better than that...you do too," He looked at Violet and she shook her head.

"No, you're wrong, they need you and I need you," She expressed. "Please don't ever think that."

"I promised Maggie I'd bring you home safe," Rick said.

"Ha! Like you promised that little girl?" Hershel laughed.

"Hershel!" Violet scolded.

"So, what's your plan?" He questioned. "Finish that bottle? Drink yourself to death, and leave your girls alone."

"Stop telling me how to care for my family," Hershel got up from his chair and walked over to Rick. "My farm! You people are like a plague! The only people I need are Maggie, Beth, Jimmy, Patricia and Violet! I do the Christian thing and give you shelter, and you destroyed it all!"

"The world was already in bat shit before we met!" Rick snapped.

"And you take no responsibility! You're supposed to be their leader!"

"I'm here now!" Rick shouted. "Aren't I?"

"Yes," Hershel said. "Yes, yes you are," Hershel walked back to the bar and sat down. Violet watched him carefully, then she looked back at Rick.

"C'mon, your girls need you now," Rick said and he tried to grab Hershel's arm, but he pulled it away. "More than ever."

"I didn't want to believe you," Hershel said. "You told me there was no cure, that these people were dead and not sick. And I chose not to believe that, but when Shane shot Lou in the chest and she just kept coming. That's when I knew what an ass I'd been! They'd been dead long ago! And I was feeding her rotting corpse! That's when I knew there was no hope! And when that little girl came out the barn, the look on your face. I knew you knew it too, right? There's no hope, and you know it now. Like I do, don't you?...There is no hope for any of us..."

"I'm done! I'm not doing this anymore!" Rick snapped. "Cleaning up after you, you know what the truth is? Nothing has changed, death is death, it's always been there. Whether it's from heart attacks, cancer or a walker...what's the difference? You didn't think it was hopeless before, and there are people back at the farm who need us. Even if it's just to give them a reason to go on, even if we don't believe it ourselves. You know what? This isn't about what we believe anymore. It's about them..."

Hershel looked away from Rick and picked up his glass and brought it to his lips and knocked the drink back. He placed it down on the counter, upside down and Violet knew this meant they were going back to the farm, but then the door creaked open and they all looked around.

"Son of a bitch, they're alive," The one man said and Rick looked them up and down. They sat down at the table and they began to pour themselves some drinks. "I'm Dave. And that scrawny lookin' douche-bag is Tony."

"I'm Glenn, it's nice to meet some people," He smiled.

"I'm Rick Grimes," Rick greeted. "This is Hershel."

"And who might this sweet piece of ass be?" Tony asked, breathing down the back of Violet's neck.

"That's Violet," Rick said and he eyed Tony up, then Hershel reached over and pulled Violet into his side and away from Tony.

"Not bad, huh?" Dave said, showing Rick his gun. "I got it off a cop."

"I'm a cop," Rick said.

"This one was already dead," Dave replied. "There is no way out of this thing, just keep going from one pipe drain to the next."

Tony kept looking over at Violet and at one point he licked his lip. Violet felt like she was about to be sick, but Hershel's grip tightened on her and he gave her an assuring nod.

"Hey, it don't look like you guys are hanging your hats here. You holding up somewhere else?" Dave asked.

"Not really," Rick replied.

"Well, that's your car out front?" Dave pointed to the door.

"Yeah," Rick said.

"The car kind of looks empty...clean. Where's all your gear?" He asked. "Well, we were thinking about setting up camp around here, is it safe?"

"It can be. Only killed a couple of walkers around here," Glenn said.

"Walkers?" Dave asked. "That's what you call them."

"Yeah," Glenn smiled.

"So, what you guys set up on the outskirts or something?" Dave questioned. "The new development?"

"Trailer park or something?" Tony asked, getting off the stool. "Farm?"

"You on a farm?" Dave quizzed and the sound of Tony having a piss bounced around the room and Violet looked away from him. "Is it safe there? You got food and water?"

"You got another piece of ass like Violet, ain't had some ass in the long time," Tony chuckled.

"You're disgusting!" Violet spat.

"Sorry about him," Dave said, rubbing his forehead. "So, listen Glenn-"

"We've said enough," Rick interjected.

"Well, hey now a second. This farm sounds pretty sweet, don't it sound sweet Tony?"

"Yeah, real sweet," Tony replied.

"How about a little southern hospitality," Dave suggested. "We got some bodies back at camp, and they're having a real hard time. I don't see why you can't make room for a few more."

"Look, I'm sorry that's not an option," Rick explained.

"Well, it don't sound like it would be a problem," Dave said.

"I'm sorry we can't," Hershel replied.

"We can't take in anymore," Rick confirmed.

"Wow, you guys are something else," Dave laughed. "I thought we were friends. We've got people we gotta' look after too."

"We don't know anything about you," Violet said.

"I'd love to show you parts of me, which your dyin' to see," Tony growled and Rick glared at him.

"Now, that's true. You don't know anything about us," Dave replied. "You don't know what we've had to go through there. The things we've had to do. We're all the same, so c'mon let's take a nice friendly hay ride to this farm and get to know each other."

"That's not going to happen," Rick said.

"Rick-"

"That's bullshit!" Tony snapped.

"Calm down," Rick ordered.

"Don't tell me to calm down! Don't ever tell me to calm down!" He snapped.

"Shut up!" Violet hissed.

"Why don't you bring that fine ass over her," Tony walked forward and Rick stood up pushing him back.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Dave said, getting to his feet. "No one's gonna' kill anybody," He jumped over the bar and Violet saw Tony grab his gun. "Where's the good stuff," Rick placed his hand on his gun and Dave held his hands up in defense. "You know what it's like."

"Yeah, but the farm's to crowded, I'm sorry," Rick said. "You'll have to keep looking."

"Keep looking, now where do you suggest we start?" Dave asked.

"I don't know," Rick replied. "I hear Nebraska's nice."

"Ha! Nebraska!" He laughed and then he reached for his gun, but Rick was too quick for him and he shot Dave in the head. He then turned around and shot Tony twice and then walked forward and fired a shot to his head.

"Holy shit," Glenn muttered.

"You all alright?" Rick asked and they all nodded.

"Let's head back," Hershel said.

A car light shined through the windows and Rick told them all to get down. Violet crouched down by the bar and Hershel appeared next to her. Violet looked over at Rick and he nodded his head at her. She let out a staggering breath and pulled out her knife ready.

"Dave?" A voice called from outside. "Tony?"

"I'm tellin' you I heard shots," Another voice said.

"Dave!" The voice called out and they heard heavy footsteps.

"You wanna' track them stay close. We're going to find them."

Violet saw the silhouette at the door. She could see the gun in his hands and her eyes widened and she looked back over at Rick. The whole place began to creak and the shadow moved away from the door and to the window. Violet reached out and grabbed Hershel's hand.

The people disappeared, and they could no longer be heard. Rick got to his feet and he looked out the window. He crouched back down and gestured for them to come over and they all crawled over to him.

"Why won't they leave?" Glenn whispered.

"Would you," Violet whispered back.

"We can't stay here any longer. Listen we'll go out the back and get to the car," Rick ordered, in a hushed tone.

Shots were fired and they all retreated back to their spots. Violet looked out of the window to see a man holding a gun. Rick's eyes hovered over to hers and she stared back at him blankly.

"Just some roamers. Nailed them," One of the men said. "I think they disappeared, but their car is still there."

"You guys check the buildings. I'll check this one," Another voice said and Violet's eyes widened.

Rick held out his gun and Violet grabbed onto Hershel and pulled him further behind the bar. She looked back and grabbed her knife, watching the shadows. The door opened, but Glenn scurried over and slammed his back against it.

"There's someone in here," One of the voices said.

"You, if someone's in there. We don't want know trouble," The voice called out and Rick shook his head.

"We're just lookin' for our friends."

"We don't want any trouble!"

"We're just lookin' for our friends. If something's happened, tell us!"

"Dude, I'm telling you, no ones in there."

"They drew on us!" Rick snapped and Hershel sighed from behind her.

"Dave and Tony in there?"

"No, they're dead!" Rick shouted back.

"No, they killed Dave and Tony. I ain't leaving."

"Your friends drew on us! They gave us no choice! I'm sure we've lost enough people! Done things, we wished we didn't have too, b-but it's like that now. You know that!" Violet shouted, getting up to her feet. "So, let's just put it down to wrong place at the wrong time!"

Shots were fired shattering through the glass and Violet jolted backwards, feeling the bullets sore through her stomach and her shoulder. Her body fell backwards, crashing onto the wooden floor.

"NO!" Rick yelled and he stood up firing shots out the window. "GET HER OUT OF HERE!"

Hershel and Glenn raced over to Violet and picked up her body. They ran around the bar and the shots splintered the wooden beams.

"Help him!" Hershel snapped and Glenn let Hershel bare all of Violet's weight and he grabbed his shotgun. Hershel put Violet down and he grabbed a cloth and pressed it down on her stomach wound. He checked her shoulder wound and felt an exit wound and did the same for her stomach and there was also an exit wound. Her head rolled forward and blood seeped out through the bullet wounds.

The firing stopped and Hershel looked over the bar and Rick looked over at him with panic in his eyes and Hershel nodded back at him.

...

Daryl marched through the trees. He couldn't handle not knowing if Violet was okay. He'd left a while ago. He wanted to check up on her. His mind was rushing with a thousand different thoughts. All of them being bad and he was struggling to think straight.

What if she was out there hurt and he hadn't done anything to stop it from happening. He kept his eyes glued around, trying to spot any walkers. He was heading towards the town, which he knew wasn't that far away from here.

After a few minutes of walking he made his way out of the trees and he was in the back part of the town. He heard shots being fired and his eyes widened. He held up his crossbow and slowly made his way down the road.

Up ahead he saw the back entrance to the bar. The shots stopped and Daryl scanned the area once more and then he opened the door slowly. The door creaked loudly. He must've walked into the cellar. He carried on up the stairs and opened the door. Daryl came face to face with the end of a shotgun. He looked back at Hershel, and he lowered the shotgun and Daryl lowered his crossbow.

His eyes fell behind Hershel and he saw the lifeless form of Violet. Her head was hanging forward and she was covered in blood. His eyes widened and he looked back at Hershel, who reached out and pulled him in, shutting the door behind him. He pulled him down behind the bar, next to Violet. He looked her over and Hershel pressed the cloth against her wound.

"She was shot," Hershel whispered. "One in the stomach and one in the shoulder."

"Is she gonna' live?" Daryl asked and Hershel looked her over and he looked back up at Daryl, worry in his eyes. "Is she gonna' live," He spoke through gritted teeth.

"Hey!" Rick shouted. "We all know this isn't going to end well! You just shot one of my people! So, now this definitely isn't going to end well!"

Daryl put his crossbow on his back and he pulled his rag from his belt and pressed it down on her shoulder wound and Hershel nodded in thanks. Her face was pale and there was a thin layer of sweat forming on her forehead.

A car engine was switched on and Rick looked over at Glenn and he was shaking underneath the table, holding his gun. Glenn got to his feet and walked around the pair, sending a worried glance in Violet's direction and then he pushed the door open with the end of his gun, and looked down at the cellar and then he disappeared inside.

Rick ran around the bar and crouched down next to Hershel.

"Is she going to be okay?" He asked.

"I'm not sure," He replied. "I need to get her back to the farm. The bullets have gone straight through, and I need to see if it's done any damage to her vital organs."

"I'll stay here and you go to Glenn. See if you can make it to your car, tell him to pull up back and we'll run for it. Get the hell out of here and get Violet back to the farm," Rick dictated. "Daryl you watch Hershel's back. Hershel you carry Violet-"

"I'll carry her," Daryl interrupted.

"I've got a good shot," Hershel said, pulling out his gun. Daryl picked Violet up, scooping her into his arms. He walked through the door and Hershel followed him. Glenn turned around aiming his gun at them.

"Sorry," He muttered.

"Rick wants you to try and get the car," Hershel explained. "We need to get Violet back."

"Chinaman, do it quickly!" Daryl hissed.

"Try," He laughed nervously.

"Try and succeed," Hershel assured him. "I'll cover you."

"That's a great plan," Glenn cringed and Daryl growled at him. Glenn walked towards the door and then he pushed open the door. Hershel held up his gun and Glenn looked around.

Daryl heard a groan and then Violet moved in his arms. He quickly dropped to his knees and put her on the floor. Her eyes flung open up and she opened her mouth to scream in pain, but Daryl slammed his hand over her mouth. He held his finger against his lips to hush her and her whole body began to shake.

"She's having a fit," Hershel whispered.

"What do I do!?" Daryl yelled and Hershel hushed him.

"She needs to play it through," He explained.

"There's nothin' I can do?" He asked and Hershel shook his head. Daryl looked down at her fitting body and he pushed down on her shoulders and her body stopped shaking. She went limp on the floor and he scooped her back up into his arms and her head rolled into the crook of his neck.

Glenn stepped outside and Hershel nodded for Daryl to follow and then Hershel covered his back. Thunder could be heard from a distance away and Daryl carefully adjusted Violet in his arms.

Shots were fired and Glenn ducked. Hershel stepped in front of Daryl and fired a shot. A dark skinned men fell to the floor, crying out in pain. Hershel looked back at Daryl and he nodded his head at him.

"What happened?" Rick came up behind them and Hershel looked back at him.

"He fired," Daryl said.

"He must've hit Glenn, he's behind the dumpster, and it doesn't look like he's moving."

Rick stepped out aiming his gun around. He stepped closer to the dumpster where Glenn was and Daryl stared at his leg, which was sticking out from behind it.

"Chinaman," Daryl hissed.

"Are you hit?" Rick asked.

"N-No," Glenn stammered.

"We need to get Violet back," Daryl growled.

"The cars over there," Rick explained. "We'll get her home."

The man continued to groan and Daryl rolled his eyes. He wanted to grab his crossbow and fire an arrow in his skull. He could've been one of the people that shot Violet and he would really enjoy doing it.

"Let's go," Rick ordered and he got to his feet and Glenn followed him.

More shots were fired and they both ran back behind the dumpster. Daryl looked back down at Violet's pale form and he knew that they needed to get her back, fast. The only thing that was keeping him going was the fact he could feel her small breaths against his neck. It kept assuring him she was still alive.

"Let's get out of here! There's roamers all over the place!" A voice yelled and the screeching sound of tires, echoed around the street. "Jump!" The person jumped and then a shrill scream followed after.

The truck's tires screeched and the car drove off, leaving the boy screaming at the top of his lungs. Rick got up and walked out onto the street and then Daryl heard the sound of groaning and he turned around to see walkers approaching. Hershel started to fire shots and then the walkers started to rip into the man on the floor.

They ran out of the alleyway and over to the truck. Hershel opened the door and Daryl put her in the backseat and got in with her. He crouched down in the small space and he pressed the pieces of cloth against her wounds.

Daryl looked out of the window and saw walkers stumbling around the street. Glenn and Rick started firing shots at them, killing them one by one. Daryl slipped off his crossbow and put it on the floor. He stared down at her pale face and he reached out and touched her neck checking for a pulse.

He paused. He pressed down harder, trying to feel for it, but he couldn't find one. His eyes widened and he grabbed his crossbow, and kicked open the door, running out onto the street. He fired an arrow at a fast approaching walker.

"We gotta' go!" Daryl hollered. "She ain't breathing! I can't feel a pulse! Goddammit c'mon!"