Daryl walked closer to the group his eyes constantly taking in his surroundings. They were fools for setting here for as long as they had. It was to open and indefensible. Shaking his head his eyes swept through the group seeking her out without really thinking about it. Landing on her he sighed when he seen her without a weapon of her own. What the fuck were Rick and Shane thinkin' not giving these women something to defend themselves with. This exact reason was why they needed to be able to fight. The men wouldn't always be around to pull their asses from the fire. Fuck the men were the ones who had let themselves get taken in the first place.

"Daryl what do you think?" Dale questioned.

Daryl looked at him and raised an eyebrow. They never addressed him for shit and to have these people seeking his advice was just downright weird. He looked to Mac and his own eyes were speaking to him more than words could.

Daryl looked at Andrea, "You said he had an accent?"

"Yeah, he sound spanish."

Daryl looked to Mac again and they both nodded, "We know where they are at but there wont be getting everything done tonight."

At the protests of his words and movement Mac moved to defend him, "He's right. Suns setting. Half y'all aint even got a goddamn weapon and setting in the open is easy picking. Be fuckin' smart." He snapped.

Andrea looked at the both of them before nodding, "Where is somewhere close to hunker down then?"

"If you all know so much then tell us where we can go and wait the night out." Lori hissed, "Then we can go get my husband."

Daryl seen Mac's neck tense at thought of Andrea away from him. He seen the look in his brothers eyes when he'd seen the blood on Andrea, this wasn't something small for his brother. Daryl chewed his lip and kicked the side of Mac's boot motioning him over. Mac grasped Daryl's bicep and they walked away from the group, "Bunch of fuckin' morons the group of them!" He growled, "And if that bitch get's mouthy one more time that goddamn kids gonna be a orphan."

Lori made a sound having heard him and started to open her mouth when Mac whipped around, "You heard me bitch, test me!" He barked like feral dog. She snapped her mouth shut but glared at them and Mac gave her a dangerous smile before looking back at him. She wisely kept her mouth shut and Daryl was thankful.

Daryl snorted and shot a look over his shoulder seeing Lori glaring at the pair of them. He felt his lip curl in a snarl before looking away. He didn't believe in hitting women but the thought of putting Olive Oyl on her ass was starting to look better and better. The bitch had done nothing but run her mouth since they had joined the group and he could feel his patience running thin where she was concerned.

"What you think?"

Mac chuckled, "Think their best bet would be to go ahead and start grieving for all the good that group will do looking for those two."

Daryl shook his head at his brother, "Rick went back for him Mac. He tried to help."

"He wouldn't have been on that goddamn roof if he hadn't done what he did brother." Mac snarled stepping into Daryl's space, "He left him to die. They all did? What the fuck are we to them?"

Growling he shoved Mac, "I aint the type to leave someone behind Mac."

Mac moved back towards him jerking him forward by his bicep. Daryl seen the group shift uncomfortably as they moved around each other as if squaring off. He knew this dance well enough, they'd done this for years. His eyes met Carol's worried eyes and he felt something crack inside him again.

"You talk about them walkin' away Mac but you sayin' we should do the same damn thing!" Daryl snapped in a low voice. "We know where those cocksuckers are."

Mac snarled and leaned his forehead against Daryl's his breath labored, "If we do this. It's our way. Us. I aint letting those fuck's get us killed cause their to stupid to know how to wipe their own asses."

Daryl gave him a triumphant smirk, "Any other way?"

"Get your shit together." Mac snapped out. "We aint got much time and we need to put boot to pavement."

The group moved quick trying to get everything they'd need. Daryl and Mac both stood in place their eyes sweeping rapidly around them. It made them both uneasy being so exposed in a city that housed so many dangers.

"Daryl!" Sophia jerked ahold of his belt getting his attention.

Daryl looked down at her raising an eyebrow at her as she held on to him. Mac snorted and moved away blowing smoke high above him as he went already humming another annoying song. Daryl growled and watched him walk away before looking back down at the girl.

"Where are you taking us?"

"Sophia!" Carol called walking towards them, "I told you to get your stuff."

Sophia turned towards her, "But Daryl said he needed my help and you always said listen to adults."

Carol looked at her for a minute and Daryl felt his own eyes on her. His face was passive but the little shit lied straight to her mothers face and was grinning now that Carol was looking at her. She was smiling so big he was sure it had to hurt her face. Mac appeared suddenly and looked at him his eyes amused.

"Now Carol don't be jumpin' on the girl I did hear Daryl here say that." Mac assured.

Carol chewed her lip, "Alright..." She looked to him and he just nodded at her.

"I'll go get my stuff now mama. I'll be right back Daryl." She grinned.

Daryl wasn't sure what to say now that she walked off and it seemed Mac had disappeared just as quick. Fuckers. The pair of them. Carol was watching her daughter walk off a smile on her lips.

"You know that's the first time she's laughed since the quarry." Her soft voice sounded slightly pained. "She was so upset when you left...at first I thought it was the loss of Ed finally setting in. But.." she looked up at him shrugging.

Daryl blew out a breath, "She's a good kid."

"A good kid that how now started calling Andrea tits half the time."

Daryl barked out a laugh getting the attention of a couple of people. He tried to get his laugh under control shaking his head, "That...that is all Mac."

"Oh no doubt about that." Carol smiled. "So where are we headed Mr. Dixon?"

Daryl shot her a look, "Don't call me that." His voice was strained and he felt Mac's eyes on him.

Carol met his eyes, "I didn't mean anything by that Daryl..."

"The only man I know called that was nothing but a son of a bitch. Aint no legacy I'm to keen on following up." It was an effort to keep the anger from his voice. "We're goin' back where me and Mac set up."

Carol nodded at him, "Sounds good."

Daryl watched her walk off and Mac walked back over. "What the fuck is that look for?" Mac questioned.

Daryl eyed him and shook his head lighting his own cigarette as the group gathered back up. He seen Sophia walking right for them and sighed. He had no issues with her being around, in fact he'd rather she was close so he could watch out for her. But that meant Carol was going to be close. That woman had a way of getting in his head and under his skin that he wasn't use to. She distracted him, something he also wasn't use too. He always felt his eyes drift to her and linger longer than necessary.

"She say something to you?" Mac growled.

Daryl shot him a withering look at the tone of his voice, "She didn't say shit. Calm the fuck down."

"Then what the fuck is going on with you?"

"Goddamn drop it Mac." Daryl snapped louder than necessary.

He walked off leaving his brother standing alone. He started towards the alley that would lead them back to the pawn shop and it's apartments. Sophia was already next to him jogging to keep up with his long strides as his anger carried him away. He slowed his pace making it easier on her bag bounce against her back with a thud.

Daryl stopped suddenly dropping down to his knees and spinning her to face him. He didn't say anything as he fitted the bag to fit her frame to keep the sound and impact from make noise as she walked. "Makin' yourself a dinner bell Kit. Key is stealth." He kept his voice low as some of the group had started towards them.

"I thought I was being quiet." She pouted.

Daryl snorted, "You're about as quiet as Mac likes to think he is half the time."

She smiled at him and up at her mother as she stepped next to her. Carol smiled down at him her hand grasping Sophia's braid as Daryl continued fixing the pack. Daryl stood up and shot a look around searching for Mac. He was bringing up the rear and gestured to Daryl and made a hunting call that he knew well enough. Things were set and they were ready to go.

Daryl looked at Carol, "Stay close. Don't break away for nothing if something happens. Keep her with you and keep your ass with me."

She nodded at him seriously as his words settled over her. He had talked low and just to the pair of them. He looked down at Sophia and was regarding the pair of them with a strange look on her face but was smiling.

"Don't worry Daryl. We wont leave you." Sophia smiled at him.

He internally groaned and made the call back to Mac before taking off. He didn't look to the rest of the group and wasn't concerned with them really for all he cared they could all go to hell.

Daryl dropped low to the ground and made a soft call back to Mac and he heard it called back. He heard hushed commands from his brother being issued and looked at Carol, "If I move you move. DO NOT let her out from between us." His eyes went to Sophia and he seen her little hand on the knife grip. He smiled realizing she was crouched just like him copying his motions, "Carol you got a knife, anything?"

Her hand flitted around her belt before she looked up, "Lori must still have it."

His hand slipped down and he pulled a knife from his boot passing it to her. She took it the grip to big for her but it'd work for now. Carol moved closer to him her hand on Sophia's shoulder and looked to where he was directing her. "We're gonna move through there. Try to keep as low as possible and quiet. I don't care if the entire group splits up Carol, keep her with us."

She met his eyes, "What's up ahead?"

"Walkers but it sounds like someone is close." His voice was low so only she heard him.

Carol nodded, "Okay."

With that and the steel in her voice he turned feeling Sophia's hand take ahold of his shirt tail. He flinched slightly but didn't say anything to her when he felt her settle. Moving quick and low he kept his eyes out for anything in their path primed to strike it down before it could alert anything else to them. He wasn't in the mood to deal with a lot of shit right now. He was tired, hungry, and needed to work shit out with Mac about how to get Rick and Shane back.

Daryl moved them along and felt Carol shift closer to him as the sounds of walkers became more prominent. He cursed under his breath when he heard the screeching of queen pterodactyl behind him. Daryl grabbed behind him wrenching Sophia's body closer to his causing Carol to take a step forward as well since she had ahold of the girl.

The groans got louder and he heard Mac curse knowing his brother was seeing the same shit as him. That dumb bitch was going to get them all killed. Daryl made a call to Mac letting him know he was breaking away, his brother responded and he turned meeting his eyes. They would find each other, no doubt. Daryl looked behind him seeing Glenn and T-dog watching him for what to do since he knew the city better now. He jerked his head and they sprung up and started at a dead run.

The sounds of panting and feet on pavement was drowned out by the sounds of his blood humming through his body. His adrenaline was spiking as he neared one of the walkers, not slowing his pace at all his knife slid free of the sheath and he slammed it home and kept his run going.

"SOPHIA!" Carol cried out.

Daryl kicked with everything he had breaking the door from its hinges and shoved Glenn inside. T-dogg was right through the door behind him leaving just him, Carol, and Sophia out there. Mac and the rest of the group were nowhere to be seen. He took off seeing Sophia getting cornered with Carol.

Daryl growled lowering his shoulder and catching the first walker off guard knocking it into a car before grabbing the next and knifing it. Carol's eyes were wide and she had walker blood up her arm. Sophia was moving away from another one and Daryl jerked Carol back away from the next walker dispatching it quickly.

"RUN Carol." Her barked moving for Sophia with fierce accuracy as she shrieked for him.

Daryl moved to her not slowing down or breaking his movements as he killed everything in his path. He felt like he had tunnel vision watching her hand tiny hand wield the knife the way he had shown her how. There was a body at her feet but more moving for her. He could see more coming and knew he needed to get her out of there now.

Making it to her he didn't stop to talk as he jerked her up into his body. She had tear tracks on her face and blood splatter. Her arms went around his neck instantly as his arm banded around her holding her body immobile to against him. He moved quickly hauling ass back the way he had come. He didn't see Carol, Glenn, or T-dogg but knew where they'd be waiting, hopefully free and clear of all walkers. He didn't have time to worry about Mac and the rest of the group. HE knew his brother was safe and would fight with everything in him to get back to him, just like he would him.

"Kit!" Daryl called to her around her sobbing. When she didn't answer but her face buried further into his neck he tried again, "Kit, I need you to say something."

Sophia hiccuped, "It tried to bite me D d-d-daryl."

He slipped through the door as it hung open moving quickly through it away from the opening. Sophia grip tightened around him, "Did he bite you?" His voice was a low whisper in the dark.

"No. I done like you said Daryl. My ass wasn't out."

He fought back the snort at her words and tightened his arm around her knowing she wasn't going to let go anyways. She was clinging to him for dear life as he searched for her mother. "You did good Kit." He smiled, "I seen that dead bastard laying there." He felt her smile against his neck and nodded but she was quiet and shaking in his arms. If he got her back to her mother she'd be able to calm her down better. He wasn't no good at this shit. The sounds of quiet voice caught his attention and he slowed his walk to listen better.

"You seen what he ran towards. If they followed him or cut him off he wouldn't make it back here. Daryl is probably in another building by now Carol." Glenn pleaded, "With Sophia of course." He amended.

"I'm not leaving my goddamn daughter behind!" She growled.

Daryl slipped closer to the door hearing her voice smiling. Sophia pulled back looking at him wide eyed, "She says I talk bad cause of you and Mac but listen to her!" Sophia huffed.

Daryl chuckled stepping to the door, "Tell her about Kit, give her hell."

As soon as he cleared the door Glenn's eyes widened and Carol spun around. She moved towards hi and he tried to pry Sophia from his body but she clung tighter to him and he could feel her body vibrating in panic. Carol slammed into him knocking him back into the wall almost it and her arms were around the both of them. Sophia started crying again and Carol was trying to sooth her as her hand knotted in his shirt on his back. He was pinned against the wall by these two and felt his own panic starting.

T-dogg grabbed Glenn's arm and nodded to Daryl before slipping from the room. He wanted to call them bastards for leaving him with two emotional women but the sounds of relief and crying were drowning out his own anger at them.

"Thank you Daryl. Thank you so much!" Carol met his eyes steadily.

"I had no doubt mama." Sophia smiled at her as her little hand flexed on his shoulder. She looked at her mom then to him a awed smile on her face, "He promised me mama!"