Author's Note:

I totally forgot to post this somehow! I'm so sorry you guys! This is another chapter from Daryl's POV back at the prison, before they go get Charlie. No idea how I missed posting this. Anyways, here it is now so enjoy and don't forget to read the new chapter!

-Nikki

Daryl

Present Day

They'd been gone too damn long.

And I was about going out of my god damn mind wondering why the hell they weren't back yet. I paced the long, concrete cellblock inside the prison, long since run out of things to do. I could tell by the light coming in through the barred windows that the sun was getting lower and lower in the sky. I couldn't shake the feeling that something had gone wrong. They should've been back a while ago.

"You alright, Daryl?" Carol's voice, all quiet and gentle, came from behind me. I turned around to look at her, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Somethin' ain't right." I muttered. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling agitated as hell. "They've been gone all damn day." I shook my head before starting up with my pacing again. Carol pressed herself up against the wall to stay out of my way. "Should've been me out there with Charlie instead of Glenn. Hell, she should've just stayed here like I asked her to!" I could feel Carol's concerned gaze on me, which only made me feel more and more annoyed. God, if something happened to Charlie out there…well that was one thought I didn't want to face.

"Glenn and Charlie can take care of themselves just fine. They know what they're doing." Carol finally said. "I'm sure they'll be coming on back any minute now."

I scowled at the concrete floor, wishing Carol would stop trying to make me feel better and just let me be. We both knew I wouldn't calm down a single lick until I had Charlie back, safe and sound. But if those two weren't back by dusk, I'd be going out after 'em. To hell with Rick or anyone else trying to stop me.

Suddenly, I heard the prison door slam open and a frenzy of voices. Carol and I exchanged a look before I took off down the stairs, heading towards the common area. I hoped like hell it was Glenn and Charlie finally back from the run. I swung open the barred door that separated the cellblock from the common area and froze, my eyes scanning the room for her familiar face. Instead, I got everyone hustling around all concerned like while Rick hovered over some strange black girl I ain't never laid eyes on before.

"What the hell is this?" I asked, hanging back by the door.

Rick glanced over his shoulder at me, but didn't say a damn word. Instead, he turned back around and dumped a bottle of water on whoever she was. I knew she was hurt bad…could tell by the look on her face, not to mention the dark blood colored stain on her pants.

"You wanna tell us your name?" Rick asked her. Her eyes fluttered open, but she didn't say a word. Instead, she lunged towards what looked like some sort of sword that must've been hers. Rick kicked it away.

I turned to look at Herschel who had hobbled over to stand next to me. "Anyone gonna tell me what the hell's goin' on?" I asked.

He shook his head. "She just showed up outside the fence, just standin' there…had that red basket with her." He gestured in the other direction and I saw Carl picking through a shopping basket with a curious expression. I was at his side in just a few long strides. I crouched down next to him to get a look at what she had been carrying and felt my stomach drop. My skin crawled and every bad feeling I'd had earlier seemed about magnified. Baby formula, toys,diapers…exactly what Charlie and Glenn had been after. I felt Carl's eyes on me and looked up at him and could tell he was thinking along the same exact lines I was. I stood up, one of the cans of formula in my hands. "Rick." I said loudly, trying to keep my voice steady.

Rick glanced over his shoulder and his eyes slid from my face to what was gripped tightly in my fist. His expression changed and suddenly he was hauling the woman to her feet, pushing her back against one of the tables. "We can fix that leg up for you. We can give you food and water and send you on your way…but first your gonna have to tell us how you found us and why the hell you're carrying a basket full of baby formula."

I shrugged off my crossbow, holding it tightly in between my hands as I stood next to Rick. I wanted answers and I wanted them quicker than Rick was getting them. If this chick knew where Charlie was and didn't talk, well I wouldn't be offering her anything at all. She'd have an arrow through her chest faster than she could blink. She stared back at Rick and was quiet a second before finally speaking up.

"The supplies were dropped by a young Asian guy. He had a pretty girl with him…long, dark hair."

I felt my stomach tighten into a giant knot as my pulse skyrocketed. Charlie…she had seen Glenn and Charlie. Before I could stop myself, I had my crossbow raised and pointed right at her skull. She looked back at me, unflinching. "Where the hell are they now? What happened?" I demanded roughly.

Rick placed his hand on my crossbow, forcing me to lower it. I glared at her, my breathing ragged with rage. "Hold on just a second." Rick said before looking back at the woman as we waited for an answer.

"They were taken. By the same son of a bitch that shot me." She said through gritted teeth. "I watched him shove 'em in a truck before taking off."

"Son of a fucking bitch." I muttered, closing my eyes tightly. The sudden mix of anger and fear I felt was overwhelming and unlike anything I'd ever felt before. I knew I shouldn't have let her get in that car. If she had just stayed put or let me go instead…If she wasn't okay when I found her...I felt white hot rage surging underneath me and I whirled around, slamming my fist against the rock hard wall. "So you didn't even lift a god damn finger to do somethin' about it?!" I spat out as I whirled around to face her.

She glared at me hard. "I am doin' something. I'm here, aren't I? If I'd have stepped in then, he would have finished the job and shot me dead." She answered coolly. "I know where they are, though. There's a town called Woodbury, about seventy-five survivors. I think they were taken there."

My knuckles ached and I could feel 'em swelling up. "A whole town?" I breathed. With over fifty survivors. I closed my eyes and leaned back against the wall. God, what the hell were they gonna do with her there?

"Run by a guy who calls himself the Governor. Jim Jones type of guy. Pretty boy, charming." The woman spoke up again in her quiet tone. "Military type wannabes. They got sentries set up on every wall."

"We need to find a way in there." I said quietly, forcing my eyes open. She met my gaze and held it.

"Place is secure from walkers, but we could slip our way through." She finally said.

"Herschel will fix you up. We'll get the supplies ready and when you're all done, you'll show us the way." Rick said, offering no room for argument from her. She didn't say a word as Herschel made his way over on his crutches.

Rick turned on his heel, heading back towards the cellblock and I followed close behind feeling like I was in some sort of daze. Suddenly, though, T-Dog was blocking our way.

"You gonna trust her, just like that? How do we know she's not lying?" He hissed.

"This shouldn't be up for debate. It's Glenn and Charlie." Maggie said, her voice shaky. I glanced down at her, her arms wrapped tightly around her middle and face ash white. I knew she must have been feeling pretty damn close to the way I was...angry and afraid.

"I'm just sayin', I don't think we should be so quick to-"

I lunged at him before I could stop myself, pressing his back up against the wall. "I'm goin' after Charlie, no matter what. I'd rather run on blind faith than sit here and wait, thinking about how I might never see her again. You don't wanna help, that's fine. You can stay here. But don't even think about getting in my fuckin' way ever again. You got that?" I growled. I didn't give him a chance to answer, instead shoving him hard one last time before pushing my way past Maggie and Rick and heading into the cellblock.

I didn't look behind me to see if I was being followed. I knew the others knew well enough by now when I wanted to be alone. I made right for the stairs and took them two at a time, turning the corner into Charlie's cell. I hesitated in the doorway for a second before stepping in, dropping down onto the creaky, old bed. The blankets were all bunched up at the end of the mattress, like she had just pushed them off her and gotten up seconds before. Her flashlight was balanced upright on a small pile of books, clothes thrown over the folding metal chair in the corner. Just this morning she had been with me, her face nuzzled into my shoulder and her breath warm against my neck while she slept. I curled my hands into tight fists. I was supposed to make sure nothing ever happened to her. I was supposed to be protecting her.

My breath was shaky as I fought to stay calm. I'd spent plenty of time being angry, but I couldn't remember ever feeling like this. It was like I was being burned from the inside out. I forced myself to take a deep breath, running my hands over my face. If I didn't get her back alive, and in one piece…I didn't know if I could even think about that. It just made me want to find whoever had taken her and Glenn and cause as much hurt to that person as I possibly could.

Someone suddenly cleared their throat near the doorway and my eyes shot up to see Rick standing there. He was looking at me with something that looked a lot like concern and I didn't like it. I didn't want people to be concerned about me when Charlie was out there with god only knows what happening to her.

"We're almost finished packing the car up. Maggie and T-Dog volunteered to come with us and Michonne." He said quietly, hands in the front pockets of his jeans.

"Michonne?" I sneered, turning away to face the concrete wall.

"Finally got her to tell me her name." He answered. He walked a little further into the cell and leaned up against the wall. "It's gonna be fine, Daryl. We're gonna find Glenn and Charlie and get them the hell out of that place."

I felt something in me snap again and I stood abruptly, my fists clenched at my sides. "I know that. I'm gonna do whatever it takes to get them back here. Just…just don't be comin' in here tryin' to make me feel better when nothing about this is alright. None of it will be until I have her back." I said, my tone harsh and bitter.

I half expected Rick to react, get in my face and yell back. He didn't, though. Instead he just nodded. "I know that, Daryl." He said quietly.

I let out a breath, shaking my head. "Good. Let's get the damn show on the road. Can't waste any more time." I muttered. I avoided his gaze as I ducked out of the cell, knowing there was nothing in the world that would put my mind at ease until I saw her with my own eyes and had here back where she belonged. With me.