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 chuckled at her remark but helped her down nonetheless. He kept his hands settled near her waist as she made her way down taking care not to let either of themselves slip and fall. No need to get hurt when there was no reason for it. It was something they simply couldn't afford in their present situation.

Finding their footing on even ground, they left the stall, Daryl allowing Carol to exit first. She touched his arm as she went and for a moment he paused before shaking himself from the musing of the gesture. Bending down to pick up the old backpack he had found near his feet, Daryl set it atop one of the sinks and unzipped it. Pulling the MRE from within he passed it off to Carol.

"Here." He muttered zipping the pack back up and tossing it back into the stall devoid of any help that could be had.

Daryl was hungry but he would go without. He needed her to be at full strength so she could help him if need be. There was still no real knowing what was beyond the door. For all Daryl knew there could very well be nothing out there, but that was only wishful thinking. "Eat up. We got work t'do." He grumbled crouching down on his haunches to rummage through his own pack.

Digging out his own pistol, he thumbed open the cylinder checking for bullets. Only three remained. He hadn't found any bullets in recent memory on any of his loot runs. Sighing to himself he knew this may not be an easy win. Tucking it in his back waistband, Daryl zipped up his pack and slung it over his shoulders.

His mind was still sifting about of the nights conversations and he wondered if he was making the right decision. Was this what Carol really wanted? His eyes slowly panned up finding her own head tilted towards the door, not quite looking dead on at her. What was it that she wanted?

Carol:

Carol took the MRE and frowned. A flash of that fateful day when she and Sophia had been barked at by Ed to get their asses in the Cherokee. He'd filled the back with MREs and other survival gear. The man had always been paranoid. Ate that shit up and it didn't change after they were married. And not even a little bit after Sophia had come along.

She felt her stomach lurch as the swirl of emotions and memories moved around her head. She had to catch her breath. "The granola bar filled me up," she said in a small somewhat wary voice. "You, you take it, Daryl." She pushed it back at him. The hard set of her jaw and look in her eyes enough to request he not go there. Not right now.

She needed to be strong and clear minded. They were going to make it out of here whole and with their lives. He'd come there to save her, and she wasn't going to let it be for nothing. It couldn't be for nothing. Even if she was terrified of what they would do to her when she stepped back into the prison yard. It would almost be easier if she had all the answers now. And then she'd be prepared.

"Daryl, I can handle them. At the prison, I mean. I just need you to know that whatever happens…even if they vote to return me to Rick's exile, I can handle myself. You've done all you can do at this point. And I have to take the punishment for killing…" Her voice wavered then, making it hard to keep speaking. She swallowed then. "Karen and David." She finished strong and grew silent for several beats.

She checked her clip. Full and she had half a clip in her pocket. "Maybe you should have this…" She offered her pistol. "When I go back inside, I don't need to be armed. I don't need to pose a threat."

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!