AN# 1:Thank you so much I really had expected no reviews. It was very intimidating to hit that publish button:) Please excuse my horrible grammar. Although English is now my first language my younger years of school were spent in a French school and my English grammar has never caught up. That being said there shall be an aspect of this story very loosely based on the Comics, and when I say loose I mean very-I've never read them. I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead or the use of it's characters in any way or form.

" They say that somewhere in Africa the elephants have a secret grave yard where they go to lie down, unburden their wrinkled gray bodies and soar away, light spirits at the end." ~Robert R. McCammon

Chapter 2

Daryl stood apart from the others digesting everything Tyreese had just told the group. Forearms against the wall he rested his weary forehead against his clasped hands and rolled on the balls of his feet with nervous energy. The family reunion complete Tyreese had quickly told the group all that had transpired on his journey between the prison and Terminus. Well maybe not quickly, the big man had clutched Sasha and paused many times, seemingly overcome with emotion. Tyreese's voice had wavered when he spoke of Lizzie's descent into madness and the ultimate horrific decision he and Carol had been forced to make. When he spoke of Carol's confession to Karen, and David's murder he glanced up at the the group and said,

"I don't think you people realize how much she loves you all, what she would do for you. She kept Judith alive not me. I've forgiven her, she's suffered enough." His eyes had focused on Daryl briefly as though trying to convey a message.

Rick had stumbled backwards as though struck when learning of Judith's survival and Carol's involvement. Maggie listened quietly with a guilty expression on her face. Glenn and Carl had grinned happily when learning of Carol and Judith's fate. Sasha sobbed quietly throughout the entire story.

Daryl's heart ached for Sasha. Three days and they still hadn't managed to come up with an escape plan. The Termites had seemingly thought of every possible means of escape and taken measures to prevent it. Yesterday they had come for Bob.

The emo wannabe punk Gareth had called out for Carl to exit the train car or he would set it on fire. Rick had glanced around the room frantically seeking any alternatives but none were given. Carl in the end had walked out bravely hands raised in the air. Gareth had grabbed him and pressed Carl's back to his chest, one arm around Carl's neck the other pointing a gun at his head. Then he had called for Bob saying he would shoot Carl in the head if he did not show his face. A horrified Sasha had begun a litany of no no no's. Bob had simply placed both hands on her cheeks and kissed her passionately.

"I'll never be alone again" he'd whispered while smiling as his thumbs had traced her cheekbones softly, and then walked out the door. He never came back. Sasha had barely spoken since.

Which brought Daryl back to the fact that Carol was now somewhere close by with Judith...alone. Carol...he closed his eyes and imagined she was here with him. He could almost feel her breath on his neck, her hesitant hands tracing a pattern on his shoulders. Her back pressed against the wall as his fingertips began his exploration of her waist. He loved her waist, Daryl had spent many nights imagining his hands on her waist, and his mouth nipping at her neck. He shivered as goosebumps rose all over his body. That's all it was though, Daryl thought sadly...imaginings.

He had never gotten his head out of his ass long enough to just tell her. Friendship just wasn't enough for him anymore. Everyday at the prison he had awoken with a new vigorous determination that today was the day he would tell her of his longing. Every night he went to sleep promising himself he would be fearless tomorrow. Self doubt had haunted him, he had been too terrified of rejection to push past his internal boundaries and procrastination had become his mental crutch.

Then the flu had struck and he had run out of tommorrows. Guilt ate away at his soul, he should have been there for her. Maybe if he had, Rick would have known she was essential to his well being and not abandoned her. Maybe if he had, she wouldn't have felt the need to make such a sacrifice for the group. He knew without a doubt the deaths of Karen and David and Lizzie would weigh permanently on her heart. She would carry that with her forever. He wished he could erase every bad memory for her. Daryl would carry it all, if he could, all her pain and suffering. He wanted her free from all her internal doubts and self -recrimination. He wanted her blue eyes to shine brightly and her laugh to float around him like a whispering breeze. He didn't want her to be alone and scared.

That thought had plagued him his entire time with Beth. Visions of Carol suffering an unspeakable fate had materialized in his mind like a ghostly movie, and had made him act like an ass. He had lost his edge, gotten sloppy...and stupid. The kid had paid the price. He had come to care about Beth like a little sister. For all her brave talk Beth wasn't made for life on the run, thinking no one survived he had been ready to hunker down in that funeral home and focus on protecting Beth. What a joke, he thought with self loathing. He wasn't invincible, he wasn't a superhero. He failed Beth, just like he failed Carol. He'd told Maggie what had transpired , the need to confess his guilt overwhelming him. Daryl had wanted her to unleash her anger on him but Maggie had simply nodded sadly and walked away.

He felt the need to make amends to both Carol and Beth, even if it was just honoring their wishes. He wouldn't give up again, he wouldn't stop looking for a way to escape. He owed them that at least.

"So what you're sayin Tyreese" Abraham began"is our assess are depending on some housewife and a baby."

Daryl answered him hoarsely

" Don't underestimate her"

"Ppfffttt" Abraham snarked out while rolling his eyes stomping off to talk to Rosita and Eugene.

Daryl sighed pressing his forehead again to his joined hands. He really missed his crossbow. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carol stared intently at the group of eight men standing in front of her in pseudo military style garb. All heavily armed. Her gun was drawn in a steel like steady grip, her other hand contained her knife. She would protect Judith like a mother lionesses defending her offspring. She smirked knowing she wouldn't make this easy for them and asked,

" Are you from Terminus?"

The leader of the group ( she supposed) stepped forward. He was a large muscular man, mid forties she guessed with a touch of salt and pepper in his dark brown hair. He had an air of authority to him. He chuckled as he answered her

"Blue Eyes, do we look like we belong to that group of dumbass Hannibal Lector wanna-bees ?"

Carol's brow rose in question at the reference,he continued on:

"Nah Carol, my name is Lieutenant Paul Monroe, and these are my men. Like I said were gonna help you get your friends out of that little human meat factory over there ." He gestured toward Terminus as he spoke.

Carol stared at him incredulously

"Why would you help me? How do you know my name?"

The lieutenant grinned broadly:

"Glad you asked Blue Eyes, we got ourselves a mutual friend" he titled his head to call out over his shoulder. " You can come out now Blondie, it's her alright."

A disgruntled voice answered sarcastically,

" Thanks for pointing out the obvious".

A few of the men chuckled at the response. Carol's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the voice. She cried out in happiness when she saw the smiling blonde step out from behind a large tree

"Beth!"

AN#2: So, I killed Bob, I liked Bob, I enjoyed his story, I just couldn't see his luck holding out a third time. To make things clear he is dead. Also to reassure you there will be no Bethyl in this story. Not even a hint of it, I see them more as brother /sister, and yes I like Beth too. Let me know what you think. thanks :)

I do not own or profit from any form of The walking dead or it's characters. Nor do I own or profit from the character of Hannibal Lector.