This started out as a role play between myself (gunslingerdixon) and my Carol rp partner untapdtreasure (nolongeraxburden), and it was mutually decided upon to share with the rest of FF as a fanfiction. So here it is! Enjoy!

If y'all are interested in following us just go to: nolongeraxburden. tumblr .com or gunslingerdixon. tumblr .com

Also: we own nothing in regards to The Walking Dead. All rights belong to the copyright holder.

Daryl:

Daryl knew that things were going to be a little bit different once he found her. Not that he aimed for it to be, just that he somehow knew that there would either be a falling out between them or something a little more than before if there could have been a chance for that. And it had been the latter of the options, the only thing was that he had no clue how to deal with it and it frightened him. Daryl Dixon was not afraid of most things. Wouldn't let it show if he could help it, but right now he was afraid of losing anymore people. Afraid that he may lose her.

When she roughly let go of his hand, he paused mid-stride to see her go down with the walker. At first, he resolved that she would be fine as he saw her knife find its way into its jaw. She was more than capable of taking down walkers from what he'd seen in the recent months. But his heart immediately went hammering into his chest and his breath catch in his throat the moment he saw her struggling to push it off her teeth dipping too low for his own comfort.

Immediately, Daryl hurried over grabbing the thing by the shoulders and thrust it off her in one fluid motion. He pulled his own buck-knife from within its sheathing and rammed it deep into the skull of the walker, hearing the soft sucking of gore and brain matter pulling at his knife. He yanked it free wiping the matter on its shirt, before replacing it back to his hip and hurrying over towards Carol. He did a quick scan of her seeing no bite marks or any scratches visible on her, holding his hand out for her to take.

In the background he could hear the shuffling, groans and moans swiftly following in step behind them he felt a sudden anxiety to hurry away as fast as they could possibly go. Normally, he was a silent force of urgency and calm reactions, but in this moment that was not the case. He was always afraid of the walkers. If outright asked he wouldn't deny that. Right now though, he was downright terrified.

They needed to hurry and fast.

Without waiting for her, Daryl grabbed for Carol's hand dragging her up and to her feet, not caring that he may have hurt her in the process. He would address that later when they got to the rest stop. Right now, though, they had to go.

"C'mon, ain't much more 'an a few minutes." He growled behind him. If he was being logical, the rest area wasn't too much further away from where they were. He'd seen the small sign indicating at the turnoff before he'd found her that there was one hidden for camping sites. He'd even gone down that way thinking she may have stayed there, but found nothing when he'd searched about. Why there'd be one in the middle of god-knows-where he couldn't figure, but was grateful for it nonetheless.

He felt his feet take him faster as he saw the small building in the distance. His fingers tightened over the strap of his crossbow at his shoulder as they pressed forward with long quick strides. Daryl dared not look back as he could only assume the noise of their arguing and the loud growl of his chopper had brought them towards them from a large swath of land.

When their feet hit asphalt, his pace quickened, tugging her along towards the building. He kicked open the door as they barreled through. He skid to a halt, tossing his things to the ground as he slammed himself against the door, fumbling with the large lock, sliding it forward. He panted in relief as he let his head fall against the door hand still held at the lock glad that they'd made it.

Carol:

Carol hadn't intended to need his help. She could handle herself where walkers were concerned. Most people, too, but this one got the best of her, and try as she might, she couldn't get it off of her. And in that moment, she thought that she might truly have met her fate, and then Daryl coming to find her and leaving the safe haven of the prison would have been for nothing. She then felt the weight of it being pulled from her and she could breathe again, ragged and gasping for the next intake of fresh air.

She had rolled to her hands and knees and reached up to take the hand as he offered it to her. No words were spoken. They weren't needed. They'd talk when this was all over. And keep right on talking until they figured all this out. She was pulled to her feet, thoughts interrupted and she had to refocus on the here. The now.

And they were off again, running and stumbling almost blindly through the woods and bramble. She could feel her chest tightening and her breathing was coming in more and more ragged gasps, but she wasn't about to slow down now. She had no idea where he was heading, but he seemed to know exactly in what destination they were going to end up. She clutched his hand a little tighter, afraid that if their grip on each other was lost that it'd be the end of her.

When the sound of their feet running made a different sound, she looked around her for the first time. She knew he had been right to bring them here. There had to a sanctuary and it had to receive them and harbor them from the nightmares they were facing while wide awake. She swallowed hard, trying to ease the burning of her throat with her own saliva. Desperately she needed a drink, but that would wait. It had to. She felt her knees wobbling from the exhurtion of the last five minutes and their sprint through the woods and she had to keep telling herself that it was only a few more feet.

She heard the sounds change before the door even was shut. Her back pressed against the wall, pressing her palms into it as she sunk down to rest and pull her knees to her chin. She laid her head forward onto her knees and tried desperately to catch her breath. It was almost pitch black dark inside the building. The only light was that in the cieling by way of several windows that were be used to save power during the day and let the sunlight in. She was trembling now.

"Daryl?" she whispered after several silent seconds. It felt like an eternity since she'd heard his voice last. Her voice carried across the entire length of the building. It was an eerie sound and she gripped her knees tighter, not wanting to speak again until he did. And the growing sensation that they were locked inside this building began to creep up her spine.

She'd gotten better with small spaces since living at the prison, but she wasn't over her fear of small, confined spaces. Especially after the two day stay in the tombs. She swallowed again, her throat finally being eased from the spit that she was able to work up in her mouth to keep it from remaining dry. It would be better tomorrow when the sun was out and she could see the environment around her. It had to be.

Please review and let us know what you thought! Cheers!

*Note: This is also not 100% written by myself. I owe a lot of credit to my wonderful partner as she is Carol and does a phenomenal job. Send her some love too at untapdtreasure here at FF!