I do not own anything that has to do with The Walking Dead or it's franchise. I do not profit in anyway. It's just for fun. :)

First, APOLOGIES, this isn't the last Chapter...It had a little more that needed to be told. :) Thanks for still reading!

Chapter 15

Carol had pulled Tyreese aside before they headed out. She'd told Daryl she was going to be talking to Tyreese. So, as they were packing, Carol walked over and sat down next to Tyreese. Daryl was off to the edge of the camp fixing and cleaning his crossbow. Michonne was out doing a quick scout of the area.

"Tyreese..." Carol said as she took a seat, and turned towards him. Tyreese stopped what he was doing, and he looked over at Carol. She was stunning. Damn near the most perfect woman he'd met. He'd been lying to himself saying her had only fallen a bit in love with her. He'd fallen harder than that , and it was his own fault. He'd always known that Carol and Daryl were meant to be together.

"I need you to know how much our friendship means to me. You've been there, supporting me for a long time." Carol told him.

"Carol, you don't have to say anything. I understand." Tyreese told her, he looked down and continued to pack.

Carol reached out and gently touched Tyreese's arm. They sat there for a few moments looking at one another. Had things been different, if Daryl hadn't come into her life...then maybe...but Carol's soul mate, was standing patiently a small distance away, waiting for her to return to his side.

"Thanks for understanding Ty." Carol told him. It would take time, but she knew that Tyreese would be okay. Their friendship would always be strong. Carol gave Tyreese a hug, then she stood up and walked back to Daryl. Daryl looked at Tyreese and nodded his head at him. Tyreese returned the nod...it was an exchange of respect and understanding. There would be no hard feelings about Carol.

Just then, Michonne came running forward, and out of the brush to their side.

"We've got to go now!" Michonne told them. "Walkers. A herd of them!" Her samurai sword already pulled out and at the ready.

Suddenly, there were two growling walkers that lunged out of the tree line. Daryl lifted his crossbow, and shot the first walker in the head. Michonne swung her sword, and beheaded the second one. Daryl ran forward and grabbed Carol's hand. Tyreese was already pulling his hammer out of the pack, and Carol had her knuckle breaker out and instantly ready in her hand.

They all started pushing through the brush, and trees and headed towards the tracks. However, as they ran towards those railroad tracks, they hit a small clearing...looking to the right...Carol saw the main body of the herd, it had to be close to hundred walkers, and those hundred were practically on top of all four of them.

Somehow, the herd had caught up behind them also. Tyreese and Michonne were fighting off the few that were on there heels. Michonne, seeing that they wouldn't all make it out, yelled..."GO!" towards Daryl and Carol.

"We're not leaving you!" Carol yelled. Daryl still firmly holding her hand, and not letting go. Carol locked eyes with Tyreese, and Tyreese nodded her way. She knew what he was telling her through his eyes. Then Tyreese turned back to the walkers and raised his hammer. Carol felt Daryl pull on her hand, she looked up at Daryl and saw panic in his eyes.

"Come on, we have to go." Daryl told her. Carol held on tight to her knife and followed after him. Michonne and Tyreese were left behind.

Carol felt terror flow through her. As they hit the tracks, they realized the way towards Rick was blocked with walkers. Skidding to a stop, they reversed direction, and ran back towards the woods, the plan was to circle back through the forest, and end up inadvertently heading towards the right direction. At least, that was the plan. Carol refused to think about Michonne and Tyreese. There would be a slim chance of them getting out of there. She couldn't believe the sacrifice they had made to save Daryl and herself. Carol remembered the look Tyreese had given her. It told her to go and get to the girls. To be safe.

They ran for what seemed forever. Every once in a while, they would have to stop and kill a random patches of walkers. She hadn't fought next to Daryl in a long time. She could tell he was in the habit of taking the brunt of the danger. Now, though, Carol stood next to him, and together they fought side by side, and as equals. Carol no longer stayed back in fear or because of lack of skill. Eventually, after a few hours...they had managed to circle back behind the herd, and they were no longer running into small groups. It was getting late, and they were exhausted.

"We're going to have to find shelter tonight." Daryl told her. He looked tired. He was sweaty and breathing hard.

"I know...it will give the herd time to move on..." Carol told Daryl. Both Daryl and Carol gave a worried look. Where the herd was heading was towards Rick and the group. Carol silently prayed they wouldn't be caught by surprise like they did. After looking for a little while, they found that luck was on their side. They found an old broken down cabin. There were no walkers outside, but that didn't mean their weren't on the inside.

Slowly walking up onto the porch, they hesitated when their steps creaked the floor boards of the porch loudly. Carol put her hand on the doorknob, she held her knife up high at the ready. Daryl stood directly in front of the door, but slightly back with the crossbow ready. Carol opened the door and two walkers came out. They must have heard their steps on the creaky porch. Immediately, Daryl's arrow flew and took out the closest walker. Carol brought her arm down to stab the other walker in the head, but her feet tangled as the walker that had fallen got caught under her feet. Carol missed his head and got her knife stuck in the side of its neck.

In horror, Daryl watched as the walker fell down on top of Carol. It's teeth snapping at her face, and it's hands pulling at her shirt in an effort to get closer to her exposed skin. Before he could react, Carol rolled it over, straddled it, and taking out the knife she'd had stored in her boot, rammed it into the front of its skull. The walker instantly stopped moving. Carol sat there for a second breathing hard. Looking over at Daryl, she saw a look of pure terror on his face. Curious Carol looked around, and then down at herself. There were curved punctured wounds on her shoulder, and blood was pouring from it. Looking back up at Daryl, she knew what he was thinking...she'd been bitten.

To be continued...