AN: so, this chapter is a little different( especialy at the beginning), I may have ventured a bit ooc, but I like it:) let me know what you think

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 23

When you have got an elephant by the hind legs and he is trying to run away , let him run- Abraham Lincoln

Carol raced through the woods ,branches whipping at her arms and face. Her breathing heavy from fear as much as her rapid pace.

She'd driven the truck down the dirt road to Daryl's usual exit point and entered her way into the woods tracing their normal path in reverse hopefully working her way towards meeting him in the middle.

She had to calm down, she was going to get herself in trouble. Being preoccupied in a situation like this could get you killed . She knew this better than anyone. But the panic in her blood had set off a claustrophobia attack the likes of which she had never endured. The trees felt as though they were stealing her supply of oxygen, suffocating her. She needed to breath, she needed to find him so she could breathe.

A vision of Sophia running blindly through the woods in fear popped in her mind, and she stopped placing a hand on a tree bending over to catch her breath. No no no not now. Don't think of that know. Bile rose up in her throat burning a vile path, she shook from suppressing the urge to vomit. Not now...please.

You have to get up Mama.

She stood up straight, still gasping for breath as a cool breeze caressed her face. She could hear Sophia's voice in her mind urging her on.

You have to move Mama, go now

So she ran. She heard a rustle behind her in the trees and she stopped as a walker cleared the bush staggering towards her. Palming her knife she dealt with it quickly. Thank you baby she whispered through her mind.

You're strong Mama , don't forget that.

Don't go, please, stay she thought as she ran with a new vigor. Please.

I will see you again, when it's your time. I love you

Carol's raised her head and looked upas she ran at a break in the tree canopy. She could have sworn she saw a white dove spread it's wings and fly away.

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"Fuck" Daryl watched grimly as thirteen walkers made their way through the trees. Milky white dead eyes intent on him. Where the fuck were they coming from? He'd already dealt with more today than he had all week. Something was wrong, dead wrong. Loading his crossbow repeatedly as quickly as he could he took out seven of them before they got to close.

Alright six left, those aren't bad odds, stop being such a pussy, he thought as he stabbed the closest one to him with his remaining arrow. Alright five, see it ain't hard, just do it. Keep movin, keep going, you're not going back on your word to her, not this time. Three left he thought as he used his knife.

The last one down he took a second to catch his breath. He looked up as four more breached the bushes. His stomach dropped with dread as realization hit him. These were the stragglers, the wanderers, the ones off to the sides who got pushed in a different direction. He'd seen this before more times than he could count. There was a fucking herd close by.

Carol...he whispered her name on an intake of breath as he began to run. Adrenaline spiked taking the four down with relative ease.

He knew in his heart they may be gone already. They wouldn't be able to wait for him. Panic settled into his gut at the thought of losing her again. He may never find her this time. His chest heaving he stopped. He wouldn't be able to go on if he lost her again.

So he would. He would find her , he had twice before. Third time is a fucking charm right? It wouldn't be hard, it would be easy. He started to run yet again. Please let it be easy.

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Carol felt frustration strangling her as she became more out of breath. Fucking hell Daryl where are you?! She yelled in her mind . Minutes felt as though they were moving in reverse. She'd been searching for maybe fifteen minutes, but the reality of that number felt as though it had been multiplied a thousand times. She would find him, she had too. She could see up ahead the light breaking through the clearing where they had rested only yesterday admiring the views...I couldn't make it without you...echoing in her mind. Well she thought as she broke through the brush, you better come find me.

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He burst through the brush and pulled his knife, he could hear them coming. Better here in the open, then in the woods. Ears peeled he realized it wasn't many, maybe only one ... then he saw her.
She ran into the clearing cheeks flushed stopping abruptly as her wild eyes rested on him.
An involuntary sound escaped from his throat; half sob, half whimper when she smiled in relief. They ran and met somewhere near the middle. Grabbing her in what must be a bone crushing embrace on her tiny frame he asked
"How many?"
"Thousands...truck's on the road if we can make it"
"Yeah" he said taking her hand taking off yet again "we gotta go angel"
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They made to the truck, a short time later.
"We can go back and try to get out the road" she said" or we can follow this road and see where it leads, either way we are on the opposite side of the herd we should be to get to The Hilltop. We might have to detour for days if we can get by at all" she said quietly as they jumped in the truck.
"Been wantin to see where this leads" he said with a soft smile" now seems to be as good a time as any"

As he started the truck and took off down the road she couldn't help but notice his hand's slight tremor.

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They drove non stop for a half an hour. She watched in the rear view,no one, dead or alive was following.
The road condition improved the farther they drove. Which lead her to believe that they would hit pavement soon. She was about to voice this when he pulled over stopping the truck. He stared out the window, his fingers gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles.
"You alright?" He asked
"I'm okay Pookie" she said softly

He nodded looking down at the steering wheel and then said in a voice that was barely a whisper
"Come here"

She slid across the bench seat towards him. He reached out and grabbed her, pulling her onto his lap. His arms banded around her in a almost desperate embrace, his face burrowed into her neck.

That's when she felt the tremors beginning,shaking his entire frame, and then she felt his tears on her neck.