AN:Hey you guys, hope you are having a great weekend! Working my way towards how I want to finish this off. I hope you will like what I am planning. Let me know what you think:)

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 20

There is no creature among all the Beasts of the world which hath so great and ample demonstration of the power and wisdom of almighty God as the elephant.~ Edward Topsell

Carol's anxiety had reached new and unparalleled levels and she wasn't sure why. Daryl had been gone maybe two hours, he could at times hunt for up to four hours or more and she knew that,but something felt...wrong. He had left around the same time as the run group, making his way to the dirt road saying he was going to try for the deer one more time. She'd laughingly called out it wasn't about the deer anymore it was more about his pride. He'd turned with a grin and answered ; damn straight.

She'd found some unexpired baby acetaminophen in some of the supplies gathered on runs and gave Judith a dose who had succumbed to sleep gratefully once it took effect, whimpering and sniffing as she was relieved from pain. She'd taken her in to sleep with Beth.

Once Judith was settled the anxiety had commenced beating a relentless drum in the pit of her stomach. She'd been out to the porch more times than she could count Looking towards the dirt road as though willing Daryl to materialize by force of thought alone. Housewife mode soon kicked into overdrive as she prepared food for the groups soon to be returning and set up sleeping areas for the lieutenant 's group as everyone assumed they would not be leaving until the next morning.

That complete, Carol began to organize with a frenzy ensuring they were packed and ready to go. All the while stopping every ten minutes or so to look up the road willing his return, his voice echoing in her head...I couldn't make it without you...

She decided to take lunch to those on watch. Carl and Sasha were in one area of the yard while Abraham and Rosita were down the lane a bit. Eugene wandered aimlessly between the two groups. Carl grinned at the sight of food quickly started digging in.

"Thanks Carol! I thought I was gonna fall asleep it's so quiet out here. Haven't seen a walker in hours...weird huh?"

Carol looked around agreeing with him with a the woods around the farmhouse seemed to provide a natural buffer zone from the walkers there had been those stragglers making their way up the road dealt with on regular basis by those on watch. She turned once again to the dirt road entrance begging the fates for Daryl's reappearance, but to no avail.

"Yeah...weird"

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The run was going surprisingly well. They had arrived at the medical center only thirty minutes after leaving the farmhouse as the route was clear from traffic snarls and jams.

It was a large three story brick building on a slight hill at the edge of town backing up to an open industrial area. The first floor contained a reception area and rather large pharmacy which was untouched. A rather architecturally impressive staircase and elevator lead to the second floor which had once contained a large medical practice. The Third floor appeared to have administrative offices and staff lounge / break areas according to signage in the lobby.

They had set to work clearing the first floor which had been relatively easy. A few walkers in the pharmacy, some wearing green uniform smocks had been dealt with with relative ease. The trucks filled to the brim the group had been ready to bypass the second and third floor when Tara spoke up.

She mentioned how her sister had been a nurse in a doctors office and often spoke of how pharmaceutical companies would gift doctors with large quantities of brand name drugs to hand out to patients starting new prescriptions. A pharmaceutical bait and hook her sister had called it she said while smiling sadly. There could be an untouched store room on the second floor filled with prescription drugs...too good to pass up.

Clearing the second floor was as easy as the first. One walker appeared to be a maintenance/janitor, and two other clerical workers. They worked quickly through the offices taking anything of use when Rick opened a door and called out "jackpot" softly. The small room was packed to the brim with pharmaceutical company boxes. They had set about to quickly emptying the room bringing the boxes to the truck when Rick asked Michonne and Tyreese to do a quick check of the third floor, not wanting to miss anything else of worth.

The third floor had been easiest to clear of all, no walkers. They worked quickly, checking each office, but not finding anything of worth. They made their way into a large staff lounge which had an impressive bank of windows. Michonne had made a crack about how it was nice of the management to provide their employees with a lovely view of an industrial park on their breaks before making her way to the kitchenette area. A quick check showed the kitchenette to be a bust. She turned to tell Tyreese it was time to leave to find him staring out the window as though paralyzed in fear. His chest heaving,his eyes large.

"Ty? You ok?" She asked placing her hand on his shoulder.

He lifted his hand pointing out the window to an area in the distance

"Look" he said.

She turned looking out the window, seeing something of in the distance. She squinted and then realization hit her. Her heart proverbially dropped to her knees,

"Is that...?" She paused unable to finish her sentence.

Tyreese turned to her to her his voice shaking with fear "Yeah, I think it is"

"Jesus Christ, we got to get out of here"

AN#2: sorry for the cliffhanger- had to do it :)