A/N Completely AU now, hope you enjoy

Chapter 26

Eleanor crept through the deserted complex. She didn't know where she was heading; she just hoped she could find him in time. She had no idea what these people wanted, why they kept people locked up, what their plans were. There were several large shipping containers scattered in various places and she heard cries for help coming from several of them. She kept moving, hardening her heart against the pitiful cries and sobs. There would be time to come back later, now her priority was to find Daryl. If she was too late to save him then she would make sure those that hurt him paid for it. She was somewhere in the middle of the complex when she heard laughter and shouting as well as the familiar sounds of walkers. She crept towards a large, well lit building and peered through a window. She saw a circle of about twenty people standing around a large cage type construction. Through the bars she could see at least three walkers, they were advancing on a forth figure. With horror she realised it was Daryl. He was unarmed and struggling to stay upright, his injuries really handicapping him as he tried to fight the walkers off. She could see cigarettes and alcohol changing hands as the jeering crowd made bets about the outcome of the unfair fight. One man was standing on a walkway above the cage and he was laughing as he called down to Daryl.

"Not so much attitude now, Archer" he jeered "maybe you should have co-operated with us at the start. At least you would have had a quick death. Now it will be long and painful." The crowd cheered again as one of the walkers grabbed at Daryl's arm. He just managed to evade it and swung a punch, knocking it back a few steps. The other two closed in. Eleanor stepped into the room; she raised her rifle and fired at the man on the platform. He screamed and clutched his leg, stumbling forward. He screamed again as he lost his footing and tumbled from the walkway into the cage. As he hit the floor the walkers closed in on him, tearing into him. The crowd fell silent and turned to face Eleanor as she stood there her rifle aimed at them.

"Get him out of there, now" she ordered

A man stepped forward, a lazy grin on his face "What you gonna do, Honey?" he sneered "shoot us all?" Eleanor smiled sweetly at him and shot him in the head.

"If that's what it takes" she stated calmly. Several other people started towards her. She shot a couple more. Fortunately she'd spotted that not many of them carried weapons.

"I've got a semi-automatic rifle, shit loads of ammo and nothing to lose" she told them. "If you want to live, you get him out of there now"

A couple of the men nearest the cage exchanged glances. They opened the door and went in, using knives to kill the walkers that were still chewing on their companion. He had finally stopped screaming. One of them reached out and grabbed Daryl by the arms. He didn't resist, he was staring at Eleanor in disbelief. The man pulled him out of the cage and kept hold of him as the other one stood behind him and held his bloody knife to his throat.

"Now what you gonna do, sweetheart?" He laughed "You can't shoot me, without going through him first. I get the feeling you aint thought this rescue out very much" There was laughter from some of the others in the crowd and a few started to creep closer to Eleanor "Shoot any more of our people and he dies" The man thought he had won. There was a sudden, single shot and the knifeman jerked backward, falling to the ground, taking Daryl with him. Eleanor half turned when someone stepped up beside her. It was Glenn; she remembered he'd always been a good shot. She saw movement on her other side as Maggie stood next to her, a grim smile on her face. Bob was behind them, not smiling for once.

"You think we'd let you have all the fun on your own" Glenn told her "We got a few scores to settle ourselves"

"If you wanna live, get on your knees and put your hands behind your heads" Maggie shouted, waving her gun in the direction of the crowd.

Grudgingly they started to obey her. Slowly all of them dropped down and raised their hands. Eleanor heard the door behind her open and Rick and Carl entered, Michonne covering them from behind.

"Go see to him" Maggie instructed Eleanor. She didn't need telling twice. As Rick and Michonne started binding the hands of the prisoners, with rope they had found, she ran to Daryl. He was trying to get to his feet, but was exhausted and hurting. She threw herself to her knees at his side and they both reached for each other at the same time. He pulled her close and kissed her hard, not caring who saw.

"Thought you was dead again" he mumbled into her hair as he clung to her "must have nine lives, like a damn cat" She held on to him, her arms around his waist, her head buried into his shoulder.

"Can't die," she told him "who'd be around to rescue you. You don't seem to be able to stay out of trouble at the moment" They suddenly became aware that they were sitting on the floor, Eleanor half on his lap, with their arms wrapped around each other in full view of all of their friends, most of whom were smiling happily at them. Embarrassed they untangled themselves and Eleanor got to her feet, holding out a hand to help Daryl to his. He gave a cry of pain and stumbled against her, clutching his ribs. At once Bob was at his side.

"Come on, let me take a look at you" With Eleanor's help Bob got him to a nearby table. "Lie down and let me check you over" the ex- medic insisted. When Daryl started to protest, Eleanor leant over and whispered something in his ear. He looked at her in surprise, then grinned broadly, before easing back down onto the table and allowing Bob to examine him.

Eleanor moved away to give them space and Maggie came over to her, a smile on her face.

"What did you say to make him co-operate with Bob?" she asked

Eleanor gave her a knowing smile. "Let's just say I told him there might be certain benefits to a speedy recovery"

Maggie giggled, "I'm not surprised he's behaving." She hugged Eleanor "I'm glad you two have finally seen what we've all been seeing for months" She laughed at Eleanor's shocked expression. "Even the Kids have been drawing pictures of Mr Daryl and Miss Ellie holdin' hands 'cos they're in love. Carol showed me one once, it was real cute." They were both silent, while they thought about Carol and the others they had lost.

"Maggie," Eleanor's voice broke "I'm so sorry 'bout your Daddy. I tried to get the Governor, but one of his men grabbed me before I could shoot him. Michonne got him in the end"

Maggie nodded, tearfully "I know, she told me. You didn't see Beth did you? We found the bus on the road, everyone on it was turned but she wasn't there. I couldn't find her. I hoped she was with someone else. She couldn't cope on her own."

Eleanor shook her head, "I'm sorry, I didn't see her. I guess I just thought she was on the bus, with the kids. I think Tyreese got out with the two little girls, maybe he ran into her and they're all together. He'd take good care of her. Don't give up hope"