A/N: I was a little burnt out from all the writing and needed a day or two of rest. I wrote a fic called 'Eaten Alive', a one shot and added a new chapter to 'Monster under the Bed' as well as making a customised 'Governor' Pony. All that, and work too.

So here, something very short but hopefully it'll keep you all happy. :)

11.

They didn't choose to stop, more like they were forced too.

Daryl grumbled a quick "Here," to Carl as he shoved Judith in her brothers arms. As soon as the baby was out of his arms, Daryl slumped down to his knees, one hand on the ground, the other against a tree for some sort of support.

"Daryl?" Carl asked concerned as he dropped the bags he was carrying and knelt beside the older man.

but if Daryl heard him, he didn't answer and within seconds, Daryl was flat out on the ground, unconscious.

"We can camp here, right?" He said to his sister.

Carl moved his sister so he was holding her with one arm, and used the other to grab Daryl's hand. He pulled at him until he wasn't laying face down on the ground any more and once again placed his sister onto the injured man's chest while he set about making a camp fire.

Lucky Carl had seen the basics of a good camp fire when they'd spent the winter out together before they found the prison.

In no time at all, he had one started and was rocking Judith to sleep in his arms, after feeding her.

Carl used his coat to make the best bed he could for Judith and put her in it. She snuggled down quickly content and Carl grabbed the bag with the medical supplies Hershel had packed.

He took a deep breath, not wanting to have to do this but he could see even in the dim light that blood had started to soak through Daryl's shirt.

He recalled with clarity how The Governor had inflicted this particular wound. He'd started with a knife, and then used one of Daryl's bolts pushing it deeper, wriggling it from side to side to make it wider. It was the first thing that had made Daryl cry out in pain. He peeled the soiled bandage off and threw it to one side.

He sorted through the bag and found a new bandage to place over the wound and carefully started to clean the weeping wound. He must have pressed too hard or done something wrong because Daryl suddenly gasped awake, grabbing hold of Carl's arm tightly.

"Daryl, it's me." Carl supplied quickly and felt Daryl's grip slowly loosen.

"Where's Rick?" Daryl asked.

"He's not here."

"Hershel?"

"Just us. Remember?"

But it was clear Daryl didn't remember. He started to grasp for the bag beside Carl and it took Carl a moment to register what Daryl wanted, but he quickly realised by looking at Daryl's face that it was pinched in pain.

Carl grabbed the painkillers from the bag and quickly tipped some out for Daryl who swallowed them down dry.

They hadn't got very far since leaving the car and Carl started to wonder if it were a mistake. Daryl hadn't been able to go very far before his body had given out. Carl quickly put the bandage over Daryl's wound and tapped it in place.

Daryl at least seemed to be relaxing slightly when Carl heard the shuffling sound behind them.

"Damn," Carl muttered, quickly shifting over to the fire and quickly kicking up the dirt and soil next to it to put it out. The flames were smothered and Carl knelt beside Daryl. "Listen, I'm gonna draw the walkers away. Judith's right here, you have to protect her, but I'll make sure these follow me, okay?"

Carl didn't wait for Daryl to respond, he just pushed a gun into Daryl's hand and then pulled Judith closer to the hunter before he took off towards the walkers.

He had to make sure they didn't ever realise there was a reason not to chase him.

He made enough noise to ensure the walkers followed him, and then lead them off into the woods.