A/N: Thanks for following and favoriting! If you're ever left waiting for the next chapter, just drop a review, I'll try to get right on it - a PM will be super effective to get a story back on the roll.

Now, what will Daryl do next? What can he do? Continue, dear reader, and see for yourself!

By the next morning, the walkers outside were cleared. People were outside, yelling for their loved ones and finding each other after hiding for two days. Someone was inside the house, clearing it. Pete listened hard to learn who it was. It was Rick, calling out for Jessie and her family.

Daryl was still out so Pete rushed over and shook his shoulder. Daryl woke with a start, crying out and flinching away.

"Shut up," Pete spoke in an undertone. "The town's cleared, Rick's about to barge in looking for survivors." He dragged the hunter up by the neck and got him to his feet, still strangling him. "If you tell anyone," he snarled, "I will kill you, and maybe a few of your group. How about the old lady that serves food? Or how about the baby?"

Daryl inhaled sharply and shook his head.

"Say it!" Pete muttered, hurried.

"I-" He wheezed, struggling to breathe. "w-won't, I won't tell."

"Get out," Pete ordered, flipping the switch to raise the garage door and shoving Daryl out when it was up. The hunter stumbled away, out of sight before Rick opened the interior door.

"Pete," He said, sounding disappointed like he'd been hoping to find Pete's family safe.

"Rick," The doctor replied.

"Rick, we found the kids at the school, Carl's safe!" Maggie called from the street, seeing Rick in the garage through the open door.

"What about Ron and Sam?" Rick asked.

Maggie smiled. "Safe with their mother at the pantry."

"Good," Pete interjected, leaving to see them. Rick watched him go, skeptical.

Daryl staggered down the street, trying to stay out of sight. His frazzled mind was frantically running through his options. He had to keep the secret, but he could need help. Mostly, he needed someone he could trust and somewhere he could hide. He couldn't think of anyone other than Aaron. The hunter headed toward his and Eric's house, hoping they'd made it.

When he got to their front door, he knocked. Best not to barge in and give one of them a heart attack.

Eric answered the door. He looked relieved to see Daryl, but his eyes widened when he took in his condition. "My lord, Daryl, what happened?"

"C'n I come in?" The hunter asked breathlessly, leaning against the door frame.

"Of course, of course," Eric opened the door wider and stepped back. Daryl entered, shaking from the effort of getting this far. He collapsed into a set at the dining table inside as Eric shut the front door.

"'M sorry," The hunter mumbled absently.

"Whatever you need, I want to help. No need to apologize." Eric's words were sincere as he pulled a chair over to sit next to the injured man.

"Aaron, he's not-"

"Oh, no, he's fine, we were home when the town went into a frenzy. Is it okay if I go get him? This isn't a big secret, right?"

The weary man felt warmed by the considerate words, almost flattered that Eric would consider keeping a secret from Aaron for someone he barely knew. But he had to make sure he kept this quiet. He struggled for a moment to find the right thing to say, how to explain without giving anything away.

"You c'n get him, but..." Daryl paused, worrying his lip as he did when nervous. "Uh, just, no questions?" He sounded unsure, anxious. "And you can't tell nobody." He backtracked, trying not to sound demanding. "I mean, I'm trusting you guys."

Eric smiled gently. "Alright." His heart broke when Daryl looked no less on edge. "And Daryl?"

The hunter didn't make eye contact, but he held his breath in anticipation.

"We're here for you no matter what you need. Thank you for trusting us. Our home is open to you anytime."

Daryl nodded, then closed his eyes and sagged back into the chair. Eric smiled for real. It looked like that had been exactly what the hunter had needed to hear, that he was safe. Eric stood to get Aaron.

"What happened?" Aaron asked before he was even in front of Daryl. "How bad is it?"

"Honey, no questions," Eric reminded.

"Right," Aaron slowed down, eyes locked on Daryl but softening as he calmed down. "Sorry. Um..." Aaron scrambled to find what to say without setting the hunter on edge. "We have an ice pack and a pretty well-stocked First Aid kit for bad runs."

Daryl nodded and Aaron went to grab the kit from the bathroom. Eric laughed quietly as his partner ducked out. "He's great when it comes to facing the dead outside the walls, but when someone he loves gets hurt-"

Daryl's eyes shot to Eric at that.

"Uh, sorry. Love is a strong word. I mean we care about you. You're, like, his only friend." Eric chuckled, looking back toward the doorway Aaron had gone through.

The hunter exhaled slowly and closed his eyes, able to breathe easy for the first time in days. Maybe he could stay here for now, and he'd get better, and everything would be fine.

Yeah, he thought to himself, trying to ignore the underlying fear that had been sitting like a rock in his gut since Pete first struck him. Yeah, everything will be fine...