A/N: I wanted to apologize for taking so long to translate and for any mistakes in the chapter! Remember I'm not 100% bilingual and also I need to edit every single chapter.

Also thanks to everyone who has read and commented this fic! I know it's a slow-paced story and not everyone is into it, but thanks nevertheless to everyone for giving it a shot. Every time I receive a email because someone added it to their favs or followed it or left a comment, I soar!

Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: TWD and its characters are not my property. If they were, Beth and Daryl would have a passionate kiss in every single episode.

"Well, look at this…" Joe said. He heard the rest of them laughing cruelly. He refrained himself from punching every single one of them, knowing that that would be his end. But thinking about it, it wasn't like they had many chances of getting out of that one alive.

He felt a gun on his back.

"Walk" Harley told him. He obeyed and took a few steps forward until he wasn't behind the vehicle anymore. He could see Carl inside the car, waking up and ignorant of what was going on.

The astonishment in Rick's face was like a mirror of Daryl's feelings. He could even perceive some doubt, as if he was wondering if Daryl was really with those bastards, and he couldn't help but feel ashamed.

"It seems like the deserter found a toy to play with"… Tony whistled, burying his face in Ellie's hair. She closed her eyes, repulsed.

"And it seems like we found the guy who killed Lou" Joe added, pressing his gun even further against Rick's temple, "C'mon, let's count. Ten Missisipis, nine Missisipis, eight Missisipis…"

"Hold on" Daryl said. It was like everything was at slow motion.

"You stopped me at eight Missisipis, Daryl" the man complained.

"Just hold on" Daryl repeated.

"He killed Lou, there's nothing to talk 'bout" Harley spitted out.

"The thing 'bout nowadays is we have nothing except time" Joe countered, "Say what you wanna say, Daryl".

The hunter swallowed hard, more nervous than never.

"These people… you gotta let 'em go. These are good people".

"Well, I think Lou wouldn't agree with ya" Joe answered, plastering a terse smile on his face, "'Cause it turns out your buddy strangled Lou for no reason".

"You want blood. I get it" he looked behind him one second just to make sure Harley was still pointing at him. And then, he moved forward and dropped his crossbow, raising both hands, "Take it from me, man. C'mon".

He saw how it was Joe who was truly shocked. His mouth was a perfect "o".

"This man killed my men. You say he's a good person. And you know what? That there… that's a lie" fury replaced incredulity, "That's a lie!

"C'mon…" he started, but suddenly someone hit him.

"No!" Rick yelled.

Daryl felt the bile rising up when a rifle got him in the stomach, but he managed to contain it. Just as he thought he was regaining balance, a punch sent him straight to the floor. His ears were ringing while the blows kept going, making him smaller and smaller. He tried to get up a few times, but someone's shoes were keeping him at bay. He tasted the copper blood, and was surprised to notice that all of his teeth were still in place.

"Teach him some manners, boys" Joe exclaimed. He opened his eyes enough to see Ellie lying on the floor, blood pouring from the corner of her mouth. His stomach clenched when Tony moved from him to make her stand up brusquely.

"Let's have fun, huh…" he muttered, pinning her against a van's door. Daryl saw her struggle as fiercely as possible, but that man was twice her height and weight. He didn't have to fight much in order to get his nasty hands over her flannel shirt and tear it apart to find her bra. He tried to get up to kill that sick bastard, but Haley kicked him again and left him breathless for a second.

And then, everyone heard a shot.

He turned just in time to see Joe punching Rick, just to try and tackle him to keep him from moving. He thought they were going to die. That's exactly what went through his mind just before he went blank.

We're gonna die here.

And then Rick moved his head forward and tore Joe's neck apart with his mouth. Blood surged like it was a fountain while the man crumbled, agonizing. Daryl was in shock, but he knew it was a "now or never" matter: he spun around and punched that fucker as hard as possible.

Over and over again, his boot wouldn't stop sending blows to his face, trying to hurt him as much as he could. He grabbed him from the lapels of his jacket just to send him to the ground again. And that was the final hit.

He raised his boot, and Harley's eyes shone in terror when he understood. Just a whimper is what came out of his mouth before the sole of the boot buried itself on his head. It cracked easily, like a melon. He moved away, trying to not get too much blood on himself, and made his way towards Tony.

However, when he arrived, the man was already lying on his back, his mouth flooding with blood. He had died struggling to breathe through all of it. He searched Ellie, but he couldn't find it. He did find Dan, holding Carl and with a knife on his throat. He took a step forward, but Rick said with a completely calm voice:

"He's mine".

And for the first time since they met, Daryl felt kind of scared of the ex-sheriff. Rick's face was soaking in blood, and his eyes had a shine of craziness. But, somehow, he got it: his son was in danger.

"Get away from me! I'll kill 'im, I'll kill 'im!" that pig screamed, not noticing Rick's eyes. But then he dropped the knife, "Wait, hold-"

It was all he could say before Rick pierced him with his blade. A strangled moan, wide eyes, dying body. Rick drove the blade further into his body. He kept stabbing the body even when it was already dead.

Daryl wasn't shocked anymore. If Beth had been in Carl's position, if Tony had been who had abducted her…

Thinking about her brought something else to his mind.

"Ellie!" he yelled, turning to look for the girl, "Ellie!"

He rounded the car and found her leaning against the wheel, staring at the ground with wide eyes. She was white as a sheet; her hands wouldn't stop shaking.

"Ellie" he muttered just before she started crying. Something broke inside him. Any thought he might have had about her being an adult faded away. He knew from the first tear. He couldn't ask her to go to Terminus. He couldn't make her go through that again.

And without even thinking about it, he crouched down and held her tightly. It was just a shoulder squeeze, not even a proper hug, but it was enough for her to wound her arms around his neck and start sobbing uncontrollably.

Daryl pulled her more against him and stroked her hair, trying to comfort her.

The first rays of sunshine poured over the treetops. Daryl approached Rick and handed him a rag and a bottle of water. The sheriff was sitting in the same spot Ellie had been hours before. The girl was now sitting on the side of the road with Carl and Michonne; she hadn't said a word since last night.

The youngest Dixon soaked the rag and offered it to Rick. He shook his head.

"We can't waste the water" he said.

"You can't see yourself, but he can" the hunter answered. Truth is his blood-covered face and his unraveled beard and hair didn't make him look like a very sane person. He hesitated just one more moment before he took the rag and tried to clean up his face, "I didn't know they were like that".

"How did you wind up with 'em?" Rick asked.

"I was with Beth" he clenched his fists, "we got out together. I was with her for a while".

His eyes were lost. He didn't know where to look at, so he just fixed his gaze on the floor.

"Is she dead?"

It was a tense question. Rick had asked so softly and yet, it made him feel so sick.

"No. Someone took her" he answered, his voice now harsh. Rick's eyes widened slightly, but he kept silent, "And then, Joe and his men found me. I knew they were bad, but… they had rules. Simple and stupid, but… it was something. It was enough".

He was so brutally honest that the guilt and shame were practically burning under his skin.

"And you were on your own" Rick commented.

"They were after a guy. They said they had spotted him… and I was thinking about leaving as soon as possible. But then I found Ellie. We had been hiding for three days from these dudes and the people that were after her. Last night, when I saw the fire, I thought it might be them… but then I saw you. And then you saw me. I… didn't know… what they could do" he whispered. He couldn't look him in the eye.

Maybe, if he hadn't left. Maybe he would've been able to convince them. Maybe he would've done something. Maybe, maybe, maybe…

"It's not on you" Rick said, "Hey. That's not on you".

Daryl turned his head to look at him. The craziness was long gone from his eyes. There was Rick, epitome of all the good things he'd never had: loyalty, friendship, partnership… it was there.

"You being back with us here… that's everything".

That was it. No hard feelings, or throw backs, no one to blame. No disappointment. It wasn't on him. That was it. That was the Rick he knew.

"You're my brother".

His heart skipped a beat. He didn't remember Rick saying that to anyone except for Shane. He looked at him. He felt something alike to emotion, but the exhaustion and the shock from last night didn't let him say anything in response.

"What you did last night…" he managed to say, "anyone would've done it".

He was trying to comfort it, to make him realize that he wasn't a monster. He wasn't.

"No, not that" Rick replied.

Daryl bit the inside of his cheek, trying to find something proper to say.

"Something happened. That wasn't you".

"Daryl, you saw what I did to Tyreese. That wasn't all of me, but that's me" he said, "That's why I'm here, and so is Carl. I just want to protect him. That's all that matters".

He looked so determined… he wasn't feeling guilty. Maybe a few months ago, after Lori's death, everyone would've thought he wouldn't make it, but that was before. He had come back. He had come to make up with his actions. Because Carl was his priority.

"How are they?" Daryl asked Michonne.

"Carl's unhurt, but I'm worried. He saw how he tore a dude's throat apart-"

"To protect him" he defended Rick.

"I know" she answered calmly, "But it's not like that makes it easier to forget. And the girl… she doesn't look damaged either, but she hasn't said a word yet. It's like she's gone".

"She hadn't killed anyone before, and she's as old as Carl".

"She must be traumatized".

"She already was" Michonne turned her head to look at him, frowning, "When I found her, she was running away from Terminus. It's not what they try to sell. There's no sanctuary, community, or salvation. They killed her brother and held her captive. Who knows what she saw, she just told me half of it. And those people… the ones from Terminus, they abducted Beth as well".

"What does Rick say about all of this?"

"He doesn't know yet".

"Why not?" she inquired. Daryl just shrugged.

"I wanted to go get Beth, but Ellie refused. I wanted to go during the night and rescue her before they could realize. I thought… I could convince her to come back there" he felt uncomfortable admitting it, "She knows that place, she knew Beth, she could help me get her out of there".

Michonne didn't answer right away. Instead, she took her katana and slung it over her shoulder as she crouched down to take her bag.

"We were trying to get there" she muttered".

"I know".

"You gotta tell him".

"I know that too".

"Tell what to whom?" Rick asked. He looked ready to start going, "We should keep moving if we want to get to Terminus before night".

"Rick…" Michonne started. The woman sent Daryl a look, trying to make him talk. Rick glanced at Michonne, then at Daryl, and then at her again.

"What's wrong?" Rick asked, frowning.

"You gotta know something" Daryl finally said.

Rick's frown deepened.

"So, we've been travelling all this time for nothing" Rick concluded.

"Not nothing" Daryl answered, "Now we know what's awaiting there. If I hadn't found Ellie, we'd be all heading towards death".

"A'right" Rick sighed, "What now?"

Daryl's eyes widened.

"What are you talkin' about?" he snapped, "We go get Beth"

"Daryl…" Michonne started.

"No. Ellie told me she was there, alive".

"She was alive a week ago, Daryl".

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Daryl practically growled.

"I'm just saying that if Terminus is anything like what she tells, we cannot take such a risk and go get someone that might me dead".

"She's alive" Daryl grunted. The ambient had become extremely tense all of a sudden. Daryl didn't want to argue with Rick, but what he was saying wasn't even a possibility. Beth was alive. She had to be.

"Okay, let's calm down" Michonne interrupted, "Listen, Daryl, nobody says she's dead. From what you've told us, if she hasn't tried to fight 'em, she could be okay. But we aren't totally sure she's still alive. And besides, we need to know where is she from all the places-"

"… and we don't have a clue" Rick concluded.

Daryl didn't answer. Truth is, they had a point: they weren't positive she was alive, and even if they wanted to find out, they couldn't take such a risk. They weren't many: there were three adults, one of them harmed, and two kids.

But what was the other option? Leave Beth behind? She could have died (he felt like someone had punched him) but she might as well be alive. Just from thinking that they could pass by Terminus with her being so close, made him sick. He could still see the bruises on her skin. The fingerprints on her neck were as purple as the first day. He couldn't help but wonder what had Ellie done to receive such a beaten up. She said she had escaped without fighting anyone. What had happened?

His thoughts came to an end when Carl and Ellie got up suddenly and approached them.

"We gotta go get Beth" Carl said immediately.

"Carl" his father interrupted him.

"No, listen" he kept going, "I know it's not a sure bet, but the world's changed, dad. All we do now is take risks. If there is a slim chance that she's alive, as days go by the chance turns smaller. We gotta go get her now. If we do it at night they don't have to notice right away".

"It's not that easy, Carl" Michonne interfered.

"Of course it is".

"No, it's not" Rick countered harshly, "My priority is to keep you safe".

"You were the leader. Your priority was to keep us all safe. Beth wasn't part of our family then?"

"I didn't say that".

"She was like Juju's mom. That doesn't count?" Carl continued. Rick looked away, hurt and ashamed, "I'm not saying we go across the country just to see if she's there, I'm just saying we should end this journey and find out once and for all. And if she' not…"

His voice cracked lightly, and he bowed his head lightly. He breathed in deeply and looked at his dad again.

"If she was dead" the word fell over them like a wall of bricks, "at least we'd know what kind of people we're fronting. We'd get out of there and be on our way immediately. I think it's worth the shot".

No one said anything for a few moments.

"Can I… say something?" Ellie muttered weakly. Daryl was surprised. Ellie was always so strong, so determined, and so extremely outgoing with him… hell, she gave him shit whenever she wanted.

Rick nodded kindly.

"If it hadn't been for her, I… I'd be dead. She helped me so much. She gave me hope. I just wanted to die, but she made me realize that there was something good out there. That's why I think we should go".

She lowered her gaze and took a step back. Carl squeezed her shoulder gently, and she smiled at him, as if they were old friends.

"Ellie knows where Beth is" Daryl thought it was the perfect moment to add it, "If she's willing to go, we could get her without them noticing".

Rick stared at him for a few moments in a way that he couldn't decipher.

"I'm not your father. If you want to…" Ellie nodded, "then it's decided".

He looked at the hunter again, and this time, he snorted and smiled softly.

"Look at that" he muttered, so low that Daryl doubted anyone had heard him, "But still, I don't want you going there, Carl".

"You cannot keep me from going".

"I can".

"What am I going to do then, wait outside until you're done?" he huffed, "I'm going too".

He was so determined that everyone looked surprised. Carl wasn't a kid anymore. He had gone through so many things that he just wasn't afraid of hardly anything. But Ellie was another story.

He looked at her. She was as silent as before, chewing on her thumbnail absently. She seemed as if she was relaxed, but Daryl knew that she was incredibly tense. The way her shoulders were contracted betrayed her.

Once there were no more issues to discuss, they kept going. It was almost noon when they reached one of the latest Terminus signs. The map indicated that there was just a mile away from the "Sanctuary".

Daryl approached Ellie when Michonne, Rick and Carl were talking ahead of them. He wanted to make sure she was okay and she was sure of her decision. She was too pale and she just wouldn't stop moving her knife around as they approached their destination.

"Ellie" he called her. She turned slowly.

"Yes?"

"You alright?" she nodded, "Don't look like it".

She just shrugged and kept walking. Daryl was getting pissed off. She just wouldn't talk to him. He was never the talkative type, but Ellie was always chit-chatting and that was her.

"You can't lie either, you know?"

"No".

"Yeah".

She didn't answer.

"Hell, I'm worried you're fucked, that's all".

"You don't need to be" she muttered.

"You hadn't killed anyone before, right?" he asked her right away. Ellie squinted at him. She looked annoyed as hell since he said "kill".

"Asshole".

"What?" he couldn't believe it. Why was she mad at him?

"Asshole" she repeated, as she turned her back to him and kept walking. Daryl didn't understand anything anymore. If he had ever believed he could kind of understand women, or at least Ellie, he was extremely wrong.

Giving up, he kept some distance and watched her intently. She looked as serene as always, but this time, she hadn't crossed her arms and her knife was on her hand. At least she hadn't forgotten that. He sighed heavily. He had to be focused. It was going to be an intense night.

I'm coming for you, Beth.