Thank you all for taking the time to read and review. It always puts a big smile on my face when I read all you guy's kind words. Big thank you to my amazing beta Jaded79 for sending this back so fast, you're awesome! Hope you enjoy chapter 3

Chapter 3

Sanctuary

After Daryl's outburst in town the group had talked about where to head next. Michonne had pulled a map from inside her cloak showing them a prison where she was heading when she found Andrea. The prison was secluded, no houses for miles, the town itself was at least a good half hour drive.

They all agreed it was the best option. Once they finished finding all the supplies they could and Michonne had very reluctantly disposed of her two walker companions, they piled into their respective vehicles. Daryl had insisted Carol ride with him; she slipped on the back of his bike wrapping her arms around his waist as they had headed off to their new destination.

It had taken them about half an hour to get to the prison but they hadn't seen a single walker during their travels. Within minutes of leaving the small town they had found themselves in open country area with only the occasional farm house. But in the last twenty minutes of their journey there had been nothing but open fields and woods. Pulling up to the prison, they all piled out of the cars looking around at the new location. Rick ordered Lori and Carl to stay in the car while they checked the prison to make sure it was safe.

"I want you to stay here with Lori and Carl," Daryl said turning to face Carol.

"What? Why? I mean I could help," she objected.

"Oh no you would be much more help alive."

"I took out three walkers back in town on my own and I'm fine."

"No woman, you took out two walkers and then almost got eaten," he argued his voice raising. She looked down hurt and he instantly felt bad. "Look, please don't argue with me for a change okay." She laughed gently at this and nodded her head.

"Let us guys check to make sure the prison is safe and then when we get settled, I'll train you like I promised," he told her, passing her a small crossbow that he had put in Rick's car.

"What's this?" she asked grasping the small bow in her hands. She was surprised at how lightweight it was.

"You need something to train with," he smirked at her before following Rick and the other guys into the prison.

The guys had left Andrea to watch over Lori, Carol and Carl, and Glenn to watch Maggie, Beth and Hershel. They were gone about two hours and had done a full sweep of the prison. Surprisingly they had found nothing and no one. It just looked like the guards had let the prisoners out when all hell broke loose and everyone have just taken off.

Deciding they didn't need all the space the prison offered, they shut all the doors leading to the back of the prison, locking them down and leaving only one way in and out through the front entrance. They made sure the front half of the prison had everything they needed – rooms, kitchen, bathrooms etc.

"I think this could actually be a safe place for us." Rick smiled for the first time in days. Daryl nodded hoping the man was right as they headed out to tell everyone the good news.

"We have decided that this would be a good place to bunker down for a while," Rick announced to them as they all piled out of the cars.

"Are you sure?" Maggie asked, rubbing her arms trying to stay warm as the winter air chilled her skin.

"It's got everything we need, high brick fences, we found the main switch to shut it all up so no one and nothing can get in, it's got the watch tower to keep a good eye out for trouble and you're able to get up on the fence and walk the wall even," Rick informed them, pointing up at the tall wall.

"There is heaps of food, water, bedding, clothes; we found several generators that still have heaps of fuel in them," Daryl chimed in. "I think Rick is right. This could be a good place for us." Everyone nodded in agreement moving to drive the cars inside the prison gates before Rick powered one of the generators up and sealed the gate shut behind them.

The first week, the group had spent their nights sleeping together in the common room. They had decided they needed to be certain they were safe before splitting up. Everyone had been thrilled to find they had heaps of everything and a run to town for supplies wouldn't be needed for months. Daryl still insisted on going out and hunting as the group would need more than just canned fruit and vegetables for dinner. Rick agreed but insisted he not go alone for the first few weeks.

Carol had offered to go with him but he had quickly shot her down and instead taken Michonne up on her offer to help him hunt. Carol couldn't help but notice how he had started to pull away from her since their arrival at the prison and how Daryl seemed to be spending a lot of his time with Michonne. Not that she could blame him, Michonne was stunning, dark skin, dark eyes, dark hair; she was young and could clearly take care of herself. Carol knew she was no match for her.

In the prison they found there was a weapon's room filled with gun, ammo, knives and more. The guys couldn't believe their luck. The kitchen was fully stocked with heaps of canned goods, other foods and water; and when Carol had opened a laundry cupboard to find it full of toilet paper she thought she actually saw Lori weep with joy.

There were rooms full with fold out beds, pillows, blankets, towels, everything they needed to keep warm during the winter nights. And when Carol saw the washing machine and dryer in the corner of the laundry room, she thought she had gone to heaven, but her joy was cut short when Rick announced they had to be careful not to use the generators too often and they would only be used for must-have things. Unfortunately that didn't include the washer or dryer. While Carol knew he was right, she still wanted to cry.

Now they had been in the prison for a little over a week and although they had locked the prison up tight, Rick was still sure to always have someone in the tower and someone on the wall just in case. They worked in eight hour shifts and even Carol had been put in the tower to keep look out, but she was yet to get her turn on the wall. Rick had said they all needed training in shooting first and Daryl was yet to start hers.

She was working in the garden with Maggie and Beth when Hershel came out to talk to them.

"Carol, the garden is looking lovely," he complimented. She stood up from her spot on the ground removing her gardening gloves and patting the dirt off her pants. She smiled at the older man.

"Thank you, the dirt here is surprisingly perfect for it so I think we will have fresh fruit and vegetables, even herbs within a couple of months."

"That would be lovely."

"Well I couldn't have done it without your two girls." Beth smiled up at her father proudly and Maggie couldn't help but giggle at her sister.

"Well I'm glad they're making themselves helpful and as much as I hate to interrupt your good work, Rick has called a meeting in the common room."

"Oh okay," Carol nodded. "We will just wash up and then head there." Hershel nodded turning to head back inside.

When Carol, Maggie and Beth entered the common room they found everyone else was already there waiting. They moved to sit with the group and quickly took their seats and looked up at Rick as he started to address the group.

"So we have been here a little over a week and aside from the very rare occasions when Daryl and Michonne have run into a walker while hunting, we have had no problems so Hershel, Daryl and I talked and we decided it was okay for everyone to start moving into their own rooms, to get a little bit of privacy," he told them. Taking a breath, he continued, "as you all know there are about a dozen offices lining the corridor just outside this room. We think it's best to use them as rooms, all the doors lock and the windows have bars so if anything does happen and we are split up, everyone still has some safety. But we still think it's best that no one beds alone and we decided every room has to have at least two people in it." Rick finished.

Carol felt a slight panic burn through her as she watched people start pairing up, who would she room with? She figured Daryl and Michonne would end up sharing a room considering how close they seemed to be lately.

She felt jealousy and anger roll through her in waves at the thought of them as a couple, lying together, kissing, touching, and making love. An image of them tangled together in the throes of passion flashed into Carol's mind instantly making her want to shoot herself, but she settled for turning to make a hasty retreat only to run into Daryl's hard chest.

"Going somewhere?," he asked raising an eyebrow at her.

"Ah just to pick out a room for myself," she whispered.

"Oh well I already told Rick, you and I would be taking the office next his and Lori's." She looked up stunned. "What? I know it's small but it's just the two of us so should be fine and as a little bonus it has its own private shower and toilet." She was speechless, he wanted to room with her?

"You going to say something?," he asked looking at the surprised look on her face. Shaking her head, she tried to get her thoughts in order.

"Ah I just… well I figured you would be rooming with Michonne," she replied having a hard time looking at him.

"No I think she is sharing with Andrea and T-Dog in one of the large offices."

"Oh," she said. He looked at her wondering what was going through her mind.

"Why would you think Michonne and I would be sharing a room?" She looked up then, trying her best to act casual.

"Oh well you know, you guys spend a lot of time together I just figured."

"We hunt together but we don't really say a lot out there, sometimes we talk about our lives before the world went to shit… well she talks I just sort of listen but other than that…" She had put her head down once again and he started to realise what she had been thinking. "You didn't think her and I… "

"She's very pretty," Carol whispered, he placed his finger under her chin forcing her to look at him.

"I hadn't noticed," his voice came out huskier then he had intended, For a moment they were trapped in each other's eyes until finally Daryl stepped back, breaking the spell. "She's nice enough, a little nutty, too much time alone in the woods with walkers I guess, but she's not the one for me." She smiled shyly, nodding.

"So the guys have already moved our cots into the room, just got to get your clothes and stuff together, so chop, chop woman." She laughed as she watched him walking away, her heart swelling and pounding loudly in her ears. Taking a deep breath, she started working to get their stuff into the room for their first night sharing a room together. Her cheeks were burning at the thought and she couldn't wipe the smile from her face.