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:

When her arms wound their way about his waist and the motorcycle took off, Daryl couldn't feel the held breath leave his lips. It had been a close call. Had the engine not turned over when it had, they would have been dead. Simple as that. His eyes flickered to the gas gauge noting that it was a little more than 1/6th of the way full. It was enough to get them by for maybe another few miles before he would start to worry.

Carol had gotten rather far in the time that she'd been gone. Reckoned it had to have been a good 50 miles out, but he knew these winding country roads well. There had been a gas station not too far from where they had been settled in for the night. He'd head there, see if there was any gas to scrounge up and if all persisted well— back to the prison.

He'd felt Carol adjust against him, loosening her hold on his middle, and her teasing voice at his ear. My hero. He sure didn't feel like one. But he knew what she meant and continued puttering on down the road. Tilting his head slightly he simply gave Carol a nod, keeping his eyes steady on the beaten road. Veering a little to the side as there was tons of debris in the way in the more populated areas. Abandoned cars from people fleeing, wreckages, and generally just mother nature taking hold of what she'd lost.

Every so often his eye would catch a walker out in the fields as they rode on by, shuffling about, making their way somewhere else. Daryl wondered where it was they were headed to— if anywhere at all. Was there instinct that dictated where they went and why? Likely not. Too much thinking for something that did nothing but destroy.

In the distance the Hop Stop sign came into view. Hopefully all the gas hadn't been siphoned or if anything was even still there. The motorcycle growled low as Daryl dropped down gears coming to slow in front of the place. There were several cars scattered about the parking lot, their doors wide open, creaking and groaning as a light wind passed by. Stopping a ways from the parking lot, Daryl killed the engine, flat-footing the bike. He gave a quick scan of the area, bringing his hand up to shield the glare of the sun from his eyes.

So far nothing. Throwing out the kick-stand, Daryl swung his leg over and removed his crossbow from where he'd tacked it on. "Stay close," he muttered low as he pulled a bolt from his quiver, booting the stirrup to draw the tension on the string back. Nocking the bolt in place, he drew his crossbow up quietly making his way through the littered cars.

Carol's POV:

Carol let her eyes wander from side to side as the countryside was eaten up by the bike. She shuddered to think about all the lives lost since the world ended. Everything looked like a ghost town, and it made her insides just ache with grief.

So many lives lost or destroyed in some manner because of the walking dead that was a constant threat and obstacle. There wasn't much time to be anything but practical and alert anymore. Even at the prison, they had to venture outside the fences for provisions. For other survivors.

She closed her eyes then, trying to shut out all other images from her mind and tried to imagine that the world was the way it was before, and that she had it all. Daryl. Sophia. Everything good. She had to open her eyes wide as the thought of Sophia conjured the last image of her baby girl. As a walker. She took in the scenery around them once more. How she wished she could banish that from her mind forever. She didn't want to see her little girl that way. Not when she closed her eyes and not in her nightmares.

She frowned when she felt the bike slowing down. It was only then that she realized they were at a gas station. She held on just a bit tighter as he stopped the bike completely and scanned the area for walkers or any other danger. She swung her leg from the bike, scanning the opposite direction just so they had all their bases covered. She watched as he took up his crossbow once more and threaded a bolt into place.

Her eyes narrowed a bit as he instructed her to stay close. She gave a slight nod that she heard him, but she had already proved time and again that she could take care of herself. It was the one thing she prided herself for the most since the world had gone to shit. She quickened her pace a bit when she realized that he was a good five feet in front of her. She may be able to take care of herself, but the last thing they needed was to get split up while they were out in the open.

She glanced around, hoping to find something they could use as a hose to siphon what little gas they would be lucky enough to find here. She narrowed her eyes and tapped him on the shoulder and pointed toward a coiled up water hose. "Could probably slice off a good enough bit." She unsheathed her knife then, stepping to the side and heading for it. There was no time to waste at this point.

She glanced back at him, giving him a slight smile. "Think there's any bottled water left inside?" She was thirsty after their run through the forest just half an hour or so ago.

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!