Wow thank you all for the amazing review for chapter one, it means so much to me. Big thank you again to the amazing Jaded79 for beta-ing this chapter for me and I hope you all enjoy chapter 2.

Chapter 2

Fight or flight.

After the one walker that had attacked Carol, thankfully they hadn't had anymore stumble out of the woods. Rick and Glenn took over watch at around 4am giving T-Dog and Daryl a chance to rest.

T-Dog curled up close to the fire near Hershel and Beth, falling to sleep pretty fast. The evening's events were taking a toll but Daryl stood awkwardly for a moment, unsure where he should lie. It was freezing and he didn't have anyone to help to keep him warm; he knew who he wanted to lie with but he had no idea how to approach her.

He moved, sitting on a rock close to her. She was curled on the ground and every now and again she would shiver and he knew she must be freezing lying there all alone. Moving from the rock he laid his bow down next to her so it was within reach. He lay down behind her pressing close to her small frame to try and share his warmth with her. He thought she was asleep but when she grasped his arm wrapping it around her, he knew he was wrong. Rolling over, she snuggled close to his chest.

"Is this okay?" she asked looking up at him shyly. He just nodded afraid to talk. "Good night Daryl," she whispered into his chest causing him to smile.

"Go to sleep woman," he replied trying to sound gruff and failing.

When Carol woke the next morning Daryl was already up standing near Rick and Hershel, more than likely talking about their next move. Sitting up, she could see Lori, Beth and Carl near the small fire making breakfast. Standing, she brushed herself off looking over at Daryl who smiled shyly at her. She smiled back and moved over to Lori asking how she could help.

After breakfast, Maggie and Glenn came back from a supply run, returning with gas, food, water and warmer clothes. They informing the group that there was a small town about a forty minute walk away, that had enough gas to fill all the cars and other provisions they would need. They decided the best thing to do was stock up first. They filled the cars with what little gas Maggie and Glenn had brought back and headed off to the small town.

When they pulled up everyone piled out of the cars and split up into groups. Beth and Hershel went into the pharmacy to find any and all medical supplies they could. Glenn and Maggie started taking the cars over to put fuel in them. Rick, Daryl and T-Dog went to find weapons, ammo and camping gear tents, blankets, etc.; while Lori and Carol went to find more food and clothes.

Lori and Rick told Carl to stay in the car, to lock all the doors and stay down. The boy had, of course, argued but they reminded him it was far too dangerous for him to be wandering off. They all moved quickly grabbing what they could. Lori and Carol came out of the clothing store quietly, happy with their find. They were dragging a few trolleys out, full of food, water and clothes.

"This should last us a while," Lori smiled. Carol laughed softly nodding her head in agreement. They both quickly noticed two things – first, the car door was wide open and second, Carl so gone.

"Oh my god, where is Carl?" Lori gasped looking around frantically. That's when they heard the young boy scream. Carol looked to her right; she could see three walkers closing in on Carl. She turned and saw the guys come running out of the stores but they were too far away and she knew they would never get to him in time.

Grabbing the gun and knife from Lori's belt, Carol took off running towards Carl. She raised the gun and shot the first walker in the head. Watching it drop to the ground, she fired a second shot hitting the next walker in the mouth. She knew that wouldn't kill him but hopefully it would put him down for a minute or two.

"Carl, run!" she yelled at the boy who ran around the now distracted walkers and headed toward his mother. The third one came at her fast, teeth bared and growling. She hit it as hard as she could in the arm, the walker spun just enough for her to grab a handful of his hair and jam the knife into his skull. The walker dropped to the ground.

She had forgotten about the walker she had shot in the mouth and when she looked up it was right in front of her, going in for the kill. There was nothing she could do but suddenly a long blade sliced through its head from behind and the walker fell, revealing Andrea and a cloaked stranger with two chained walkers.

"Oh my god, Andrea we saw you go down, we thought for sure you were dead," she gasped, moving around the dead walkers and hugging the woman close, surprising them both.

"Well glad to prove you guys wrong and so glad to find you all, is everyone okay? Did everyone get off the farm?," Andrea asked.

"We lost Jimmy, Patricia and Shane," Carol sadly informed her.

"Oh god" Andrea sighed shaking her head in sadness.

"Are you out of your bloody mind woman." She heard Daryl snap next to her. They had all finally made it to her.

"Daryl…" she started but he quickly cut her off clearly mad.

"No, you could have been killed."

"Andrea, you're alive?" Lori gasped surprised.

"Yeah thanks to Michonne, she found me running through the woods, no ammo left, exhausted and walkers right behind me, she saved my ass." Michonne removed her hood and smiled softly at the group.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all," she spoke softly and calmly.

"The pleasure is all ours; we can't thank you enough for saving Andrea." Rick smiled moving in to shake her hand but then pulling back realising she held the chains attached to the walkers in her hands.

"Yeah, welcome back" Daryl said quickly before directing his attention back to Carol. "Now you, did you hear me before?," he continued, stepping in front of Carol.

"Yes, I heard you Daryl, I could have been killed but what did you want me to do, let him get bit?"

"You were with Lori, his own mother, why didn't she run to his rescue?" he asked turning to face Lori, "Why didn't you help save him?"

"I… I froze," she stammered holding Carl close to her side, "I'm sorry Carol."

"It's okay," she whispered.

"No, not okay, he is your son and he was surrounded by walkers and you freeze? You're useless, I'm glad you're not my mother," he hissed at her.

"Daryl!" Carol said surprised by his harsh words.

"No, they need to hear this," Daryl informed her before continuing his verbal assault on Lori "Your boy has a bad habit of never doing what he is told. We have no shelter, no safety and there are walkers all over the place wanting nothing more than to kill us all and your boy can't seem to listen and obey simple instructions like STAY!" His last word came out as a yell.

Lori looked at Rick, her eyes pleading with him to do or say something to Daryl but he simply shook his head knowing that Daryl was right in what he was saying.

"So do us all a favour before he gets himself and everyone else here killed, teach him to do as he is told. Watch your son for a change or put him on a leash," he spat before storming off, rage burning through him.

When he had heard the scream and saw Carol run to save the boy, taking on three walkers alone, fear had gripped him thinking he could lose her and she would never know how much he truly cared for her. He intended to change all that. He would train her like he promised, make her strong and fast, and then he would let her know how much she meant to him – that she was his only reason for living in this hellish world and he could never lose her.