"Oh god." I grimaced, reaching down for it. I tugged lightly and he groaned, grabbing my hand to stop me. He began to sit up and that's when I saw the other half of the arrow protruding form his back. I felt nauseas and my head was spinning. I tried to remain calm, but that was something I found difficult as I stared at the man before me. He pointed to the creek bed and I nodded, throwing his arm around my shoulder.

He fell to the ground once we'd reached dry land, twisting awkwardly to look at his wound.

"Don't- Don't look." I stammered grabbing his face and turning it to look at me. His features were twisted in pain and I breath deeply, taking a calming breath. After the initial shock wore off I found it easier to think. I grabbed his knife from its sheath, cutting his shirtsleeves off. I tied them together quickly, trying to drown out the sounds of his pained moaning. "I have to tie this as close to arrow as I can." Daryl watched me hesitantly before slowly nodding. Gingerly I came up behind him, wrapping the sleeves around his body. I began to tie the knot, going as fast as I could, causing Daryl to yelp in pain. His body went rigid as I tied it off, my eyes darting to the arrow.

"Can ya take it out?" he asked through pained pants. I shook my head, crossing back in front of him.

"I can't. You could lose a lot of blood. It's best of I just keep it in there." Daryl looked up at me, pain clearly evident on his face. "I'm sorry…." I whispered. He simply nodded at me, understanding.

Daryl grabbed the side of my face, bringing his lips to my forehead. His sudden display of emotion sent me spiraling and my strong façade faded. I began to heave heavy, panicked sobs, resting my forehead against his lips.

"It's gonna be okay." He reassured me, groaning again. "We'll be fine." I heard the fear in his voice and I knew he wasn't so sure. I looked up at his face, but he was already scouting ahead. "We gotta get out of this crick. Up ta that ridgeline. Okay?" I nodded at him, still sobbing.

I helped him to his feet, throwing his arm around me. Daryl shrugged me off, shaking his head. "Ya can't carry me. We need ya ta have free movement." He looked around the creek bed, his eyes falling to a stick. I handed it to him, thankfully it was the perfect height for a walking sick. He nodded and I continued down the creek.

Slowly but surely we made our way. I stayed out in front, knife drawn, ready to strike at anything that jumped us. I could hear Daryl's panting from where I stood, his groans breaking my heart with every step.

There was rustling in the trees ahead and we both froze. My eyes widened and I gripped the knife tighter, taking a deep, shaky breath. If it was only one walker, I could manage, but any more than that we may have a problem.

I looked back to Daryl and he reached for his crossbow. There was a hill to our left and it seemed to be our only option. I pointed to it, ushering him over to the hillside carefully.

Daryl went up first, me not far behind. He panted, attempting to get up the hill, which he was finding more and more difficult with the arrow in his side. Our climb was slow and painful, every time he pulled himself up he cried out in pain. I kept glancing behind us, in front of us, making sure we weren't noticed by anything living or dead.

As we neared the top of the ridge I scurried past him, moving to pull him up the final few feet. He watched me go, holding his hand out to me as I reached the top. Carefully I grabbed for him but our hands were slippery and Daryl slipped from my grip. I flailed, reaching for anything I could grab, his shirt, his arm, his hair, but I couldn't get a good hold and he went sliding back to the creek bed bellow.

"No!" I ran after him, hearing the trees and shrubs breaking under his weight as he fell. He hit the ground hard, rolling once before he grew still. I began to sob as I ran to him, leaning over his body. I brought my ear down to his nose, listening intently. His breath was coming in a slow, ragged pace. His chest barely moved, but he was still breathing.

I shook him lightly but he did not stir. I pried open his eyes, looking for any sign of response. I moaned, very afraid, as I realized he was out cold. Checking the woods around us I stood, running my hands through my blonde, ratted hair. I turned to him again, looking down at him quietly.

I began to hyperventilate, tears stinging at my eyes, as I felt completely lost. I took a few deep breaths, steeling myself for what I had to do next. I had to buck up, I had to be strong now, for both of us.

Another rustle in the tree line and I froze, taking the knife from my belt. A walker stepped from the bushes, eyeing me curiously. He began to walk over to us slowly. His gaze changed to Daryl's unconscious form and he changed course, making a b line for the easiest prey.

"NO!" I raged, jumping at him and knocking him back into the dirt. He snarled at me, trying desperately to stand up, but I prevented him from doing so, jamming my knife into his forehead.

There was another growl behind me, but I was to slow. I turned, only to be tackled to the ground by another walker. She snarled at me, chomping her jaws at me and I grimaced. My knife had been knocked away from me, and I reached for it desperately.

As I struggled against her, I managed to get my elbow under her chin, distancing her mouth from my flesh. Her hands scraped dumbly at the sand on either side of me, but she was heavy with rotting flesh and in my panic I couldn't push her off of me.

I grunted, still pushing her jaw away from me, but she had grown smarter. Her hands found their way to my arm and in that instant I knew that I was dead. I began to make my peace, still struggling against her when something pierced her skull from behind. I realized I was staring at the tip of one of Daryl's bolts and in an instant I shrugged her to the beach next to me.

Daryl stood wobbly over top of me, staring down at me in pained concern, crossbow in tow. His hand was over his side and I realized the arrow had gone missing from his abdomen. I widen my eyes at him, scurrying to my knees. I brought my hand up to his wound, lifting his shirt to look.

Daryl was bleeding bad and I put my hand up to the wound, applying as much pressure as I could. He groaned and I looked up at him. "Take your shirt off." He did as he was told, handing it to me. I folded it neatly, pressing it against where he was bleeding. "Hold this here."

I untied his shirtsleeves as he held the shirt to the wound. My fingers shook from the mix of adrenaline and fear, but I managed to undo the knot. I placed the fabric around his mid section, tying it off again, but this time finding less resistance.

I paused before I stood, spying Sophia's doll on the dirty ground next to me. I bit my lip, picking it up gently and stood, handing it to him. Daryl took the doll, studying it silently. My cheeks flushed as I looked at him, and I whimpered, holding back tears.

"I'm so sorry!" I moaned, burying my face in my hands. Daryl shushed me, gently taking me into his arms. He wrapped them around me tenderly, squeezing me. I sobbed into his chest. "I'm dropped you. I'm so sorry. I'm so fucking stupid."

"Ya don't have ta be sorry. It's okay, we're gonna be okay." He repeated over and over.

After my outburst we set to work finding an easier way up. I had calmed down considerably since the creek bed and I noticed without the arrow in his side Daryl was able to move much easier. I looked back occasionally as he followed me, every time he greeted me with a weak smile.

"Looks like you saved me this time." He teased quietly. We'd moved considerably away from the creek bed, which allowed me to calm. I smirked, looking over my shoulder at him. He wore a coy grin that was quickly winced away as he took a step.

"Sounds about right." I muttered, climbing over an uneven part of the hillside. I grabbed on to a tree, turning around to help Daryl and his walking stick over the hump. "Now you know what it feels like to be the damsel."

"Keep talking, wait till we get back to camp." He said, raising his eyebrow at me. His threat was thinly veiled behind his mischievous tone.

After a long climb we made it to the top. Again I scurried past him, losing my footing on the loose dirt near the top. Daryl watched me, amused, licking his lips.

"Kick off them damn high heels'n climb, darlin." He goaded. I glared at him, regaining my footing, and climbing the rest of the way to the top. I reach out my hand for him to take, this time making sure he had a firm grip before I started pulling.

"You are an ornery son of a bitch." I muttered, struggling against his weight. One more hard pull and we had both made it to the top. We both collapsed on the forest floor, Daryl laying on his back and looking up into the trees. We were both breathing heavily, relieved to be free from the creek bed.

I glanced around, tree to tree, when I saw one of the rags we used to grid off the forest during our search.

"Holy shit, look." I said pointing at the tree. Daryl rolled over, his mouth agape and he began to laugh. His joy was contagious and I too began to laugh, both of us filling with renewed vigor. "Holy shit." I breathed again, standing up.

I reached over, holding my hand out for Daryl since he had discarded his walking stick on the way up the hill and pulled him to his feet. We walked a few feet and my heart fluttered. Through the trees I could make out one of Hershel's fields, the RV camped in the distance. Daryl stopped, leaning up against a tree. I watched him curiously and he bent over

"I'll catch up." He gestured. I shook my head, furrowing my brow.

"I ain't leaving you here." I argued with him. I was tired and sore, all I wanted to do was get to camp, hopefully grab some dinner, but I knew there was no way I was leaving him behind. Again he shook his head.

"Ya ain't leavin me. I'm just catchin ma breath. You go first, see if ya can get any of them jackasses back here ta carry me back." His stare was deadly serious and I groaned.

"Fine." I said begrudgingly, stowing my knife. Daryl smiled up at me, pleased, grabbing my hand and giving it a light squeeze. We sat like that for a few minutes before I bent over, planting a soft kiss on his cheek.

The brush at the edge of the woods was thicker than I had expected and I stumbled over it, nearly falling to my face. As I broke the treeline, the sun blinded me, but it felt so amazing on my skin and I felt a flutter in my chest finally realizing I was free. Daryl cussed form behind me and I heard the shuffling of sticks and dead leaves as he too, headed for the field. I smirked to myself, taking a few unsteady steps into the field.

I looked up to the RV. The camp was busy with excitement, people running around crazily, back and forth. I hesitated, losing my footing on a molehill I'd walked into. There was shouting and immediately I was put on edge. They gestured to the field I was in, running at me with blunt objects. I turned carefully; Daryl still had not exited the woods, causing me to worry. I hesitated, tripping over another molehill.

A small group of the campers ran to meet me in the field. They reached me finally, weapons drawn. We sat staring at each other for a few seconds before Rick lowered his gun, smiling at me.

"Ya'll need to relax, running up on people in a mob like that. You're likely to give someone a damn heart attack." I joked. I heard Daryl cuss again from the woods and the posse looked past me. Rick opened his mouth to speak, but a loud bang broke the air.

I felt pain as I went sprawling backwards to ground. My head was swimming and my face felt like it was on fire. I rolled over, searching for the will to stand but I was so disoriented I couldn't find the ground.

I lost consciousness for a moment, before the ringing in my ears brought me back to reality. Slowly, I brought my hands to me head, drawing them away as my fingers stung the tender flesh at my temple.

"No!" Rick yelled. He ran over to me, kneeling over top of me. The tree lines rustled and Rick looked up. He was quickly replaced by Daryl who, tossed him to the side as he knelt over me. My eyes felt heavy and I struggled to keep them open. My hands were warm and wet and Daryl turned my head to assess the damage.

"Darlin', keep ya eyes open." He cooed softly, brushing my hair off of my forehead. I felt hot and cold at the same time and again I reach my hand up to the bullet wound. Daryl bit his lip, almost like he was suppressing a sob and he looked up at the RV.

"NO! NO!" Ricks voice grew distant as he yelled. Glenn and T-Dog joined Daryl at my side, both of them reaching down for me. They lifted me to my feet, my arms finding their way around their shoulders. A hand remained on my head, Shane's hand, and Daryl limped a few feet away. He kept reaching out to me, touching my face, my hands, my hair, anything he could.

Two more figures ran out to us, they were both blurry but I recognized Andrea's voice.

"Oh my god! Is she dead?" Her voice was loud, and sharp, which only pained my already aching head more. I just wanted my ears to stop ringing and my eyes to not be so heavy. I shook my head, trying to remain aware.

"Unconscious, you just grazed her." Rick said, running up to her. It felt more painful than a graze and I wasn't sure how much I believed him. Daryl growled from beside me, approaching Andrea angrily.

"What the hell were ya thinking?!" He fumed. No one said anything and I assumed Andrea had gone red. My vision was coming back to me and I groaned as the bright sunlight shined into my eyes.

OH NOESSS

Sorry for the slight AU, but to be fair if you read my other stories you'd know that i kinda do that sometimes. Reviews are always appreciated!

Stay beautiful!