AN#1: so I realized I erased Reynolds from the plan at the meeting, just imagine he was with Gallant. Thank you for the lovely reviews and faves and follows! ( thank you for the pm ReedusRocks that was so sweet :)i do not own or profit from the walking dead.

Chapter 6

Love will draw an elephant through a keyhole.~ Samuel Richardson 8 months Ago "You should go talk to him".

Glenn slumped down next to had been sitting at a table in their eating area, glancing down the hallway

"Who" She said

"Umm , who do you think?" Glenn responded gesturing down the hall. He sighed "I would talk to him myself, but I don't think he wants to talk to me, Rick or Hershal either, that leaves you. I'm worried about him, Carol, just cause I didn't like Merle didn't mean I wanted him dead. He needs to know we all care . He's been quiet even for Daryl since he got back."

"I'm scared he'll really pull away this time"she said sadly .

"So pull him back in, you've done it before, we all have to be in this together you know?".

Standing up she trekked down the hall. She stopped in front of his cell rehearsing in her mind what she wanted to say, many different scenarios running threw her mind...

"You know it's bars right? I can see you" his hoarse voice interrupted her thoughts.

She smiled and walked in. He was sitting on the floor in the corner, his elbow resting on his raised knee, hand in his hair. "May I?" She said gesturing to the spot on the floor beside him. He shrugged and she sat. after all internal struggles about the right thing to say, she said nothing.

Carol did not know how long they sat there in silence, when she noticed his free hand which was resting on his thigh tracing a very slow path toward her own ,until his hand was so close it brushed hers with every breath he exhaled.

Oh screw it she thought and reached out intertwining her fingers with his. He didn't pull away. He didn't flinch. Eventually she could see the light from the sun setting threw the window and supper time noises from down the hall, but still they sat, him clutching her hand tightly. When the sounds of nighttime settling began to fade he turned his head which was still resting against the wall towards her, his gaze intense he spoke quietly "when the governor comes there's a chance that..."

"No" she said" no what if's, or doomsday scenarios, we will be fine. I'm not going anywhere and neither are you."

"You don't know that..Merle" he choked out then stopped.

"Merle made a choice, I think he needed it to be him to give you a chance at being happy. I think he wanted the chance to redeem himself to you, because he loved you."

He stared at her intently for a long time, then nodded. They stayed that way for most of the night, sitting side by side, hands clasped together.

Present Time 2am

Carol and Beth were busy helping the lieutenant and his men pack their trucks the precise way they wanted them and secure the house. They intended to come back here when everything was said and done but did not want to leave anything to chance. Nothing was to be left behind, all the entrances secured so they would find no surprises waiting for them. The lieutenant had already told Carol and Beth the whole group would be welcomed at The Hilltop, but they decided to wait to make that decision with the group. Beth just didn't think she could leave Maggie and Glenn. Carol knew it would be impossible for her to leave Daryl.

The Lieutenant's men were passing the time trying to convince them. Thomas, Carol was surprised to learn was a doctor at the medical facility, one of many. He had been a medical resident and reservist at the time of the turn. When he had learned of Carol's interest he'd been excited and offered her a job, stating he would teach her what she needed to know.

Perez was the one who seemed to have developed the most "big brotherly" relationship with Beth. When he heard Beth excitedly speaking about seeing Carl again he stated "Wait a second who is this little Carl shit?"

Beth had rolled her eyes saying he was only 14 and he was too young for her. Perez had gotten serious for a second saying

" Aww Blondie you remind me of my little sister, too sweet for your own good- you gotta come back with us who's gonna look out for you if you don't?" Gallant overheard and quipped "yeah but if she comes back with us the problem will be keeping Miller out of her pants" Beth blushed rolling her eyes as Perez exclaimed

"Miller! What the fuck!" And he stomped off to torture the young man.

"You have seven new big brothers there Beth" Carol laughed purposely excluding Miller. "I can understand why, you're an easy person to love."

Beth looked up at Carol intently. "You know you're easy to love too right? I know what Rick did too you and I'm mad as heck. He didn't speak for all of us. I love you, I would have wanted you at the Prison no matter what." Her voice broke "Daddy too" She continued on "I know Daryl loves you, don't give up on that, he needs you."

Train Car 4 am

Eugene sat on the floor with his back to the wall in the corner of Train Car watching Tara sleep, when he suddenly heard a tapping noise coming from behind him so he tapped back.

The sound stirred Tara and he quickly looked away. He DID NOT want Tara to catch him watching her sleep again. She had gone on and on saying it was "creepy". Just then the tapping noise sounded again so he tapped back.

She had made a big deal about it and the sheriff, the archer, and Glenn had asked him to just keep his distance. Hummphff, he thought, they weren't the bosses of the train car if he wanted to stare at Tara he would.

Just then he noticed the archer and the sheriff glancing at him he quickly looked away ( definitely not at Tara) as they made their way over to him.

"What are you doing, why do you keep tapping the floor?" The archer asked.

"I'm not doing anything." He responded quickly Just then he swore he heard faint shuffling from the other side of the wall and and whispered muttering that sounded like" Jesus Christ" said in an irritated tone. He turned to look at the hatch and was in time to see a small slip of paper slid through a crack. The sheriff grabbed it and took it to an area where the was a small shaft of light from the moon and read it out loud

"To the literal dumbass sitting on this hatch, Move!" The archer turned to him with a grin and said" you heard the man...Move!"

An#2: sorry this is a little short, between work, and one of my kids being sick my eyes are crossing a little bit this week lol. Let me know what you think please! :)