Hi Everyone! I seriously can't believe all the love I've received from you guys. You should see me open my emails to read the reviews you send...lol. I open them on my phone, and I have to scroll down to read the actual review, but i do it with one eye squinting and the other half closed wincing slightly. Always afraid a troll is responding or it will be something hateful. Kinda like putting your hands over your eyes during a scary movie.

Also, I will be out of town for the weekend. So, no updates on this story for a little while. Promise I will get on it as soon as I get back!

Reviews are sooooooooooooo appreciated!

I don't own anything to do with the Walking Dead. Not the story, characters or ideas...this is just for fun!

Chapter 4

Tyreese POV

Tyreese led Lizzie and Mika away from the house. He fought against running back to Carol, and dragging her away from the house. He still couldn't believe he had just left Carol there to those men. He was so angry and frustrated with himself...with the situation...with how the world was now.

"Come on girls..we gotta hurry." Tyreese told them in a hushed tone. He was leading them through the woods, and back towards the tracks. Luckily, he had checked this area recently and hadn't seen any sign of walkers. Of course, that didn't mean they weren't there now.

"Hold hands, stay close and don't make any loud noises." He glanced back at them, and saw they were still following close to him. Judith was asleep in a bundle on his back. It was just past dusk now, and traveling in the dark was always a dangerous thing to do. Especially, with two children and a baby. He could hear moans from walkers in the distance. Quietly, and as quickly as possible, he had to get these girls to safety. Carol's sacrifice, though not for certain, wasn't going to be for nothing if he could help it. He'd already decided that once he got them to safety, then he was going back for Carol.

Tyreese kept the pace fast, but not so fast that he would lose the girls. If those men came after them, the only real advantage Tyreese would have is staying ahead of them. So, with those thoughts still in his mind, they arrived at the railroad tracks. Tyreese stopped for a few minutes to let the girls and himself catch their breath. Then he passed around a bottle of water.

"This is where we have to stay as quiet as possible. Stay on the wooden beams as much as possible. We need to travel a few hours before we can look for a place to settle in for the night. Do you think you can do it?"

The girls nodded their heads yes. They were hiding their fear well for being just children. Tyreese had seen grown men and women crumble under the pressure these kids were going through.

"Good, okay let's move. Hold hands. Ears open. Pay attention to what's around you." Tyreese told them and they began their journey down the tracks. Though he was calm on the outside, his heart pounded against his chest. He prayed with every step they took that they would make this out alive.

Rick POV

Rick sat staring into the fire. His mind filled with the faces of the people lost at the prison. Not to mention the faces of their 'family' they had lost in the Governor attack. Maggie, Glenn, Daryl, Beth, Tyreese, Sasha, Bob...the girls...they haunted him. He should have done more, planned ahead, been more pro-active, but he just hadn't been there mentally. God, Hershel...he closed his eyes in pain at the thought he was no longer with him. To advise him, to mentor him...

Carl and Michonne were sleeping while he had watch. They were close to Terminus, and he was finding it hard to relax in anticipation and anxiety of what they would find there. Part of him was excited to see who had made it from the prison, if any...the other part feared not seeing his friends and family ever again.

A small part of him dared to hope that other members of his group had somehow made it out of the prison. If they had, then he hoped they were heading to Terminus. One person he could not stop thinking about was Carol. His mind kept returning to those men in the house. It was obvious that people with morales or ethics were going to be hard to find in the world now. Rick, knowing what type of evil men that were out there, and what they did to women...was having a hard time justifying his banishment of Carol.

"Wanna talk about it?" Michonne asked. She was laying on the ground, her eyes looking up at the stars. Rick noticed she had the look of relaxation, but also knew in an instant she could turn deadly and be ready to do battle.

Rick ran his hand through his hair and scratched at his beard.

"Just thinking about Carol." Rick told her.

"Oh... and..." Michonne asked him leaving room for him to elaborate. Rick had told Michonne about Carol's banishment a while ago. Michonne had listened to him, but never commented on his decision. Truthfully, he had never asked.

"What do you think?" Rick asked her. Rick knew she understood what he was asking. He saw her sit up and cross her legs. She looked at her hands for a moment and then up at him.

"I think you made the only call that you were able to make at the time." Michonne told him. Rick looked at her.

"But, I think it was the wrong call." Michonne added. She looked him straight in the eye. Rick respected Michonne, she spoke her mind and was always truthful. Rick sighed and looked down. He rubbed the heel of his boot into the dirt in agitation.

"I think so too." Rick told her. Not that he could have just ignored the fact that Carol had killed two people...he just finally admitted to himself that he'd majorly fucked up leaving her to fend for herself. Add it to the list of bad decisions that hurt the people he loved.

"I basically sentenced her to death." Rick added. Saying it out loud made it real. Rick wondered how many times he would have to mess up before he could start making the right decisions. He'd made so many wrong ones. Rick would never forgive himself.

"That's not necessarily true..." Michonne told him. "...don't underestimate Carol. She's more of a fighter and stronger than people give her credit for..." Michonne told Rick. Rick just nodded his head at her, and they both went silent again immersed in their own thoughts.

Rick thought of how much Carol had grown and evolved since they had met. She had turned into to such a strong and beautiful leader. Rick had seen her at the prison mentoring children, organizing supplies and routines. People came to her with questions and concerns. If he was honest, he felt intimidated by her. Rick feared he would never gain back the confidence she had exhibited.

He shook his head. He had to remember that Carol was a murderer. Though, he would always be haunted by having left her alone, it still didn't change how cold she had become...with a last thought of Carol...Rick looked at his son, and hoped that in the end they would find somewhere safe, somewhere they could heal...maybe find the others alive. There was hope afterall...Michonne was alive and had found them...others couldn't be that far behind.

Daryl POV

As soon as the door shut Daryl fell to his knees next to her. His heart pounded against his chest. Watching Joe hit Carol, that man grope her, even when he himself had thrown her to the floor...Daryl had almost lost it. He had almost let himself go primal, but he had forced himself to keep the end result in mind. All this led to Carol and him surviving. If only he could keep his temper in check...

'Oh god Carol. I'm so sorry." Daryl told her as he gently pulled her up from the floor. The look she gave him was filled with fear, and he saw her step back from him. Even at the quarry, she had never moved away from him. Daryl had screamed and even raised his fist at her then and she never truly feared him. Not like now. Seeing her react to him, moving away from him, cut him to the core. Daryl swore he would never give her reason to doubt him again. Even if it cost him his life.

"Carol, no...I'm not going to hurt you." His eyes pleaded with her to believe him. God, he would never purposely hurt her, but he was playing a role. Without that role, those men would kill both of them without a second thought.

"We gotta get outta' of here. No time to explain. Just please...trust me." Daryl told her. Carol narrowed her eyes, and she looked deeply into Daryl's eyes...then suddenly Carol's face relaxed a bit.

"Can you get these cuffs off me?" Carol asked him turning her back to him and putting her cuffed hands out. Daryl took the key from his pocket and unlocked them. Carol rubbed her wrists and faced him again.

"There are six of these guys. Three of them went looking for Tyreese and the girls. There are still three here...including Joe." Daryl told her. Carol nodded to him, and let him continue. She took the back of her hand and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.

Daryl felt anger rise at the sight of what Joe had done to her.

"The guys that are going after Tyreese will be gone for about an hour, then they will come back to check in with Joe. We have two choices. Take the time to kill the guys here, which will be difficult...then hope when the other three get back we can take them out as well...or...

Carol looked at him...

"...we take out Joe and then fuckin' book it the hell outta' here as fast as we can go." Daryl finished.

Carol looked at Daryl. She knew he was panicked. She had never seen him this way. Truly scared. For her? For them?

"I vote take out Joe and get out of here." She told him.

Daryl nodded to her. "We're going to have to do it as quietly as possible. The other two guys know Joe likes to take his time with women. So, we should be good till the others get back." Daryl saw Carol shiver at his words. Instinctively, he reached over and pulled her into his arms. At first, Carol stood rigid, but then she relaxed in his arms.

He couldn't help but notice how her hair smelled. Somehow it smelled like vanilla. He'd have to ask her why when they got outta' there. He felt her tremble in his arms.

"I'm not lettin' anything happen to you." Daryl told her trying to comfort her. She tightened her grip on him. Suddenly, Daryl went stoic.

"Get on the bed." Daryl told her. Carol looked at him perplexed. "He's gotta think your restrained and resisting". With that, Daryl guided her to the bed. She laid down and clasped her hands behind her back to mimic them being cuffed.

There was only candlelight, so small details would most likely be looked over or not even seen. At least Daryl hoped so.

Daryl gently pushed Carol all the way back into the bed. He then reached down and ripped her shirt part way up. Buttons flew everywhere. Then he took his own fingernails and drug them down his arms. He undid his belt and unbuttoned his pants and slid them down a bit. Just then they heard the click of the door as Joe entered the room.

Daryl quickly shoved his hand up Carol's shirt, restrained her by putting his weight on her. Then smashed his mouth against hers.

To be continued...