Megan Grimes, thirty two years old and pregnant with her first child. It should be a happy time for her but instead she's fighting to survive with her sister in law and nephew. What happens when Daryl becomes overly protective of the mother to be?

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After Daryl and Rick told the group what had happened to Megan Daryl wanted to head straight out and look for them, Rick refused. They didn't know who was left out there, people could still be watching them waiting for them to move on and take them all out one by one.

Daryl didn't even attempt to sleep that night, no one really did although sleep won the battle for most of the group.

Daryl sat by the window listening to the odd snore coming from the group.

His thoughts were all over the place. He was angry, upset and scared.

He was worried they wouldn't find Megan again, he was worried that if they did she would he hurt or worse.

She was his friend..no she was more than that, he was close to admitting to himself that his feelings for Megan were stronger than he ever imagined but how could he now. He needed to push them back because he wasn't sure he would be able to keep it together if they didn't find her soon.

Then there was the baby. When they found out that you turn into a walker either way Daryl instantly worried about Megan. What is she got hurt and the baby turned? She would slowly be turning and not know it until the fever hit.

He wondered why she was taken, what did others want with her? He had a rough idea of what other survivors were capable of but he didn't want to believe they would do such things to pregnant women but in this new world people changed, turned into polar opposites of their former self if they were too weak to stop that change.

When morning came the group decided it was better for them to at least try and find Megan.

They all got in separate cars and drove in the general direction of where Megan was taken.

They checked down most side roads they came across, watched houses for movement but used mainly the long continuous road as their main point of the search.

Days went by and the harsh cold weather was taking it's toll on some of the group.

Daryl had become even more distant with everyone apart from Rick. He kept himself to himself and didn't say a word unless it was to order everyone to get back on the road. Loosing Megan had brought Daryl and Rick closer together, although both determined find her they were also loosing hope.

As more days passed Daryl still refused to stop looking for Megan. Rick was slowly beginning to give up, they had no clue as to where she was or how she was. The chances of finding her were slim.

What he found odd was taking Megan hadn't been any kind of warning for their group. Those who took Megan hadn't come back for the rest of them or - from what they were aware of -looking for them.

It had crossed his mind that Shane could be behind it. He was still out there whether It was as a survivor seeking revenge or a walker seeking flesh. He was out there somewhere. Rick hoped he was dead but if he was alive there was a chance he had been watching them since he left the farm and there was a good chance he was using Megan to bring the entire group to him.

If only Rick knew how accurate his theory was.

The Governor entered Shane's house without even knocking. He was sat at the kitchen table nursing a bottle of whiskey.

"You're a better actor than I gave you credit for." The Governor grinned.

Shane smirked. "Had to be done."

The Governor nodded. "Why her though? Thought you wanted Lauren-Lori? Whatever her name is."

"Lori and I do." He replied.

"Then why the girl? Not that I mind." He smirked. "I can make use of her."

"She's Ricks sister. He will come looking for her and that filthy redneck too. Send a group of men out in a few days searching for them. Trust me, it won't be long until you come across them. You can bring them here, I can have Lori back and you can use the others as walker bait for all I care, although I wouldn't mind dealing with Rick myself.." He grinned.

The Governor nodded. "Alright then, but if this plan goes wrong you'll be walker bait." He warned.

"You owe me one. This is the least you can do." Shane replied.

The Governor snorted. "Don't push it Shane, you're surviving here, I'll kick you out if I want too. No pigs around anymore to stop me from beating you to the ground." He said riling Shane up.

"Maybe not but a deals a deal." Shane hissed.

The Governor nodded. "It is but there is one thing left for me to do."

"What's that?" He asked.

"Megan believes I'm going to punish you. I need to make it believable."

"Oh come on." Shane exclaimed slamming his fist in the table, knowing what he meant.

The Governor grinned. "Don't want her getting suspicious."

"You're going to enjoy this ain't you?" Shane asked standing from his chair.

"Yes, yes I am Shane." The Governor grinned

After it was done Shane was sure he had a few cracked ribs, his face was bloodied and his bottom lip was bust.

"You enjoyed that way too much. It only had to be on the face." Shane grimaced.

The Governor chuckled before heading to the door. "Had to be believable."

The group had set up camp in the woods, gathered around the fire and trying to come up with a plan to get Megan back. Most had given up, they believed she was dead or too far away for them to do anything.

Daryl refused to talk to anyone. The only time anyone ever heard anything from him was to argue about going to find Megan.

As soon as the group found camp and was settled Daryl would head on out to look for Megan or at least a sign that she was okay.

He wasn't giving up, he couldn't.

Merle was genuinely worried about his brother, he had never seen him act like this. He was so determined yet so close to giving up. Merle could see the pain in his brothers eyes, he wanted to help but he had no idea how. He often went out on the road trying to lesson the strain on Daryl as he helped search places for Megan. Merle knew the feelings that Daryl had for Megan went deeper than friendships, whether Daryl knew that or not was another story. He had, had his problems with his brother before, teased and tormented him about not having a women or two in his life to fuck around with but now that he had Carol, he saw the appeal of an actually relationship. He'd tried to get Daryl to go out and get laid, gave a meaningless one night stand but it was never something Daryl found appealing.

Merle couldn't be sure how Daryl would react if they went any longer without finding Megan or worse found her dead. He hoped they would find her for his brothers sake..even for Rick. Although he would never admit any of this out loud.

While out in the woods checking cabins for Megan and hunting food for the group Daryl came across something more than out of place in the quiet world now.

It was laughter. He followed it hoping to see survivors..maybe even Megan but instead he was met with a wall. On the other side he could hear laughter and talking. He wondered if he imagined it.

He walked along the side of the wall waiting to find an entrance. He hid in some bushes when he saw armed men stood on vehicles looking out down the road that was just a few feet away.

He wasn't sure exactly what this place was, or what the people inside were like but maybe just maybe they had Megan.

When the gates began to open he crouched down further watching as a car drive out.

A car with a familiar face in the front.

Shane was there, could Megan be too.

Before he was noticed Daryl ran none stop back to the camp.

Everyone looked at him confused as he arrived back panting and trying to explain what he saw.

"Safe place...guards with guns...Shane was there..Megan might be too." He aids all at once.

"Wait, what?" Rick asked not understanding.

Daryl caught his breath and began explaining once again what he had seen but in more detail.

"Shane took her and brought her there..." Rick muttered.

"But why?" Lori asked.

"I don't know. To get revenge on us, to get back at you and me, there's a number of reasons." Rick said.

"Why would he keep her alive then. It's been what? Three weeks now..wouldn't he have killed her already or flaunted it in our faces that he had taken her. Maybe he's just there to start a fresh." Lori defended.

"Stop sticking up for him!" Rick snapped making Lori shut up and look away.

"What do we do?" Merle asked.

"I say me, Daryl, You and Glenn check this place out. See if we can get a view inside, find out how many guards their are and most importantly if Megan is in there." Rick explained.

"Why don't you just pretend you are looking for a safe zone." Carol asked.

"No, with Shane there it could be risky." Rick replied.

"I say we blow the fucker up " Merle said

"No! We check it out first and then we come up with a plan. We have to know what we are up against or if Megan us even in there." Rick explained.

"I have an idea..." Otis spoke up.

Everyone looked at him. "What?" Rick asked.

"Well I'm hardly you most skilled member of the group, I can hunt and shoot pretty well but apart from that I'm pretty much nothing. If I approach the gates looking for sanctuary and they let me in, coming face to face with Shane wouldn't be such a big deal. Unless he's been watching us. I will tell him I was left behind, it's more believable, that you would leave me behind." He explaind.

"I'm not sure..." Rick said.

"No way, not happening." Hershel said sternly.

"Let's see how the first plan goes. Please consider it though Rick. I have nothing to loose." Otis stated.

Hershel began arguing with Otis and Rick blocked it out, it was all going wrong for them once again.

Will anything ever go right?

"As soon as it gets dark we go right?" Daryl asked finally looking a little more hopefully, breaking Rick from his thoughts.

"Yes. Does everyone agree?" Rick asked.

Everyone nodded but Lori and Hershel who looked annoyed.

Daryl waited patently until nightfall came before they began to set off towards the safe zone.

"Got a good feeling about this baby brother and even if she not there i still think she's alive" Merle said slapping his shoulder.

Daryl just nodded. He hoped Merle was right.

-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-

So I know the chances of this happening would be pretty slim but it's made up no one cares right?

Next chapter will be a bit of Megan and the group and then the chapter after that they will be reunited...maybe. ;)

Also I know I've had Daryl almost admit his feelings in his head but it will still be a while before he does anything about it.

I can guarantee he will not let Megan out of his sight after this fiasco!

Also hopefully an ass kicking for Shane will be around the corner ;)

Let me know what you think..

Was it any good?

Thank you for reading.

Frankie.

:)