AN- Check out my youtube, "Freedomnova" (Username.) I made a trailer for this story let me know what you guys think. It's called the Lost Saints.

Daryl sat by himself as he made some more arrows, he glanced over at Carol who quickly looked away frowning and shaking her head. She didn't agree with him that he sent the boy back, no one did. Daryl felt guilty for handing him over, while his parents were in Woodbury it wasn't a safe place it was run by a mad man and Daryl had allowed the boy to return. He pushed the thoughts of guilt away; Daryl Dixon didn't care for anyone only himself. The nagging feeling he couldn't rid himself of was part of his old self that the child had brought back, the part Daryl needed to keep gone. Having that boy around would have made it to easy to feel like Murphy again. He just couldn't do it; he couldn't be that man anymore.

"Daryl." Rick called out, "I need you."

"What for?" Daryl asked as he glanced up, Rick was the only one in the prison that pretended like the boy never existed he was the only one that didn't care the boy was gone.

"Supply run Judith is running low." Rick picked up one of the packs next to Daryl and began filling it with some guns and water.

"Alright." He stood up from the table and gathered the arrows he had finished making. "Let's go."

The supply run didn't take long they had found a house near by that had baby supplies, one that had missed in the past. When it was just the two of them they moved quickly and efficiently. As he followed Rick he couldn't help but wonder why he allowed himself to join this group, why did he listen to Rick and help the cop out. In the past Daryl Dixon would never trust a cop and for the most part Murphy didn't either, what was it about Rick that allowed Daryl to trust him. It seemed answered the moment Daryl thought the question, in simple it was because Rick acted like Connor or at least he used to. When Rick first joined up with the group he was all about saving everyone, helping out no matter what. That part of Rick, the part that acted like a hero reminded him so much of Connor back then. Without thinking he had acted on instinct and been drawn to the man even when he was responsible for losing Merle because deep down Daryl felt nothing for the white trash that he called his brother. Deep down Rick seemed worthy to follow because he was just like Connor the brother he longed to have again.

"Hear that?" Rick's asked

"What?" Daryl hadn't been paying attention like he should.

"Over there?" As Rick spoke the sounds of walker's echoed through the woods, a gunshot followed.

"Someone is being attacked." He glanced at Rick to see if they would help when Rick didn't respond, "We should help them." Daryl continued something told him he would regret his decision later.

"Daryl no more people." Rick shook his head.

"Don't mean we can't help then send them on their way." He growled.

"Fine." Rick replied gruffly, "But they don't come with us."

"Fine."

It didn't take long to fight the Walkers off a car that was stuck in the mud, it wasn't a large heard that had over taken it just big enough for the one man inside to be in trouble. Daryl stood back keeping an eye out for lingering walkers as Rick moved to the car to see if the man was all right.

"Thank you." Said the man as he stepped out of the car, but the man stopped moving when his eyes fell onto Rick.

"Jon?" Rick asked stunned to recognize the man before him.

"Rick?" Jon felt a sudden feeling of relief, if Rick was alive them maybe the others were too. "I thought you were in the hospital when this all hit, I didn't think you woke up."

"I didn't" Rick told him, "Not until after all this happened. I woke up to a dead world."

"Then you." Jon looked down, "You weren't with Lorie when this all happened or Carl?"

Rick looked away for a moment at the mention of his wife's name, "I wasn't with them, but my partner was he got them away safely."

"They're alive?" Jon looked at Rick a smile growing again. "Did you find them?"

"I found them just outside of Atlanta." Rick informed him, "Carl is fine he's at camp with the others."

"Others?" Jon asked.

"Men and women that we joined up with we have a secure camp a few miles from here." He paused, "But Jon-" he stopped and looked away again, "Lorie she isn't there, She's" he stopped again, "She's gone."

Jon's heart fell, "She died?"

"She was pregnant she died while giving birth." He said softly, "I'm sorry."

Jon was silent for a moment, "At least you and Carl are alright."

"Why don't you come with us you can stay with our camp." Rick knew he was ignoring his own rules, but he couldn't allow Jon to be alone not in this world, not after he just told him Lorie was dead."

Jon nodded his head and followed Rick to the other man who stood a ways off with his back to them. He couldn't see the second man very well.

"Ready Daryl?" Rick asked as he picked up one of the bags.

Daryl nodded and began to move forward when he realized the man was following them the man was still far enough off Daryl couldn't see him. "Rick." Daryl frowned, "I thought you said no more."

As the man came into view Daryl felt his stomach hit the ground.

"Daryl this is Jon Duffy, he's Lorie's brother my brother-in-law. " He looked from Daryl to Jon, "And Jon this is Daryl Dixon he's pretty much who I go to when ever things get crazy."

Jon held his hand out to Daryl and as he did he frowned, this man looked like someone he used to know, someone who was long dead. "Nice to meet you." He said slowly, could this really be who he thought it was? But if it were why would he go by a different name?

"He was a cop like me, but in Boston." Rick continued, "You can trust him."

"Thought you said no more." Daryl ignored the hand held before him.

"I can't leave him out here Daryl, he's family." Rick knew he didn't want anymore joining their group, but he just couldn't tell Jon to go off and find a way to survive on his own.

"What ever." Daryl growled.

As they began walking back to their car Jon kept steeling glances at Daryl glances that made him uncomfortable at any moment the man could tell Rick who he really was and he didn't want that to happen.

"So." Jon started, "Do you have family?" he asked Daryl, he couldn't be sure if this man just looked like Murphy or if he truly was, but if he was Murphy wouldn't he just admit he knew him? Why would he act like they didn't know each other? Daryl just glared at Jon and continued to walk holding his cross bow ignoring the question

"He has a brother. His name is Merle. " Rick answered for him, "don't take offence Daryl isn't great with people."

Daryl just gave Rick a dirty glare he didn't want any questions answered about himself especially not to this man.

"There's the car." Rick ignored Daryl and began loading the supplies into the trunk.

"I'm drivn'" Daryl growled as he opened the drivers door sitting side without looking at either Rick of Jon.

As they drove back to the prison Jon didn't let up on his questions,

"How long have you been with Rick?" he asked, "And the others? Is your brother there?"

"He was part of he group Lorie joined." Rick answered for him, "And his brother." Rick looked out the window, "No he's not with us."

"What happened?" Jon asked, "Did he die?" If this really was Murphy maybe that would explain why he seemed so different he wasn't the fun loving little Irish guy that loved to drink and party.

"No." Daryl growled, "Rick handcuffed him to a roof and left him there."

"Oh." Jon fell silent, if this man was Murphy he wouldn't still be handing around with Rick if Rick had caused his brother's death. Murphy would have killed Rick not stood by him.

"We went back for him." Rick told Jon, "But he wasn't there."

"I'm sorry." Jon told him.

"We found him again though." Rick told Jon, "A year or so later, made Daryl decide between us and him."

"Shut the hell up." Daryl growled.

"Sorry." Rick told him, "But Jon has to know he can trust you, that you're one of us."

"How do I know I can trust Duffy huh?" he asked.

Rick frowned for a moment, then realized Daryl was calling him by his last name, "Daryl trust me, if you trust me then I give you my word he can be trusted."

"What ever." Daryl growled again. He knew that Rick's brother-in-law wasn't the type that would kill you in your sleep, he could be trusted in that way, but not trusted in the way Daryl needed he couldn't let this man tell anyone.

No one had called him Duffy in a long time not since the end of the world. The only ones who called him Duffy were those of the past, ones he didn't have anymore. Men who had known him on the job and not as a brother-in-law. His mind raced, could this man really be Murphy? While it made sense in some ways it made no possible sense in others.

"So Daryl, Where you from?" Jon asked.

"I think that's enough with questions." Rick started to day, but to his surprise Daryl answered.

"Georgia in the mountains. Grew up there with my brudder." He looked into the review mirror his eyes meeting with Jon's.

Jon felt a cold chill go down his spine, the look in the man's eyes seemed threatening like he had seen them before. He thought about the times he had seen Murphy's eyes when he had decided to kill someone, the looking in Daryl's eyes right now were very much similar to that look he had seen years ago. "Ever venture to Boston?"

"No." He answered a little to quickly. "Not one for cities."

"There it is." Rick said nodding his head to the prison that was coming into view.

Jon started ahead he would have never thought of using a prison as a safe zone, but seeing it now it seemed a no brainer. Instead of the fences keeping dangerous people in it was now to keep them out. He let out a sigh of relief now maybe just maybe he could relax and not have to consistently look over his shoulder.

Daryl looked again through the mirror at the man. Jon seemed relieved to be joining the prison, but Daryl knew he would no longer feel a sense of security not knowing Jon could expose his secrets. He had to make sure Duffy wouldn't talk, but how?

"I'm fine Connor." Harper said a soft smile, "I promise."

Connor sighed and kissed Harper softly on the cheek, "I know I just." He paused, "I wanted to make sure."

"Go back to work." She told him, "Liam and I are alright we were just going to the park so he could play on the swings."

"Are you sure?" he asked, "Andrea can finish for me."

Harper knew she worried Connor she knew he couldn't stop thinking about her and Liam, but she wanted him to focus more on himself it wasn't healthy for him to worry the way he did. "Go." she told him, "I'll have dinner on the table tonight when you get home."

Connor didn't want to leave her, but he knew he wouldn't win an argument, ever since she had woken up she seemed a bit more like her old self, the self that never would lose an argument. "Alright." He muttered he looked to where Liam was putting his shoes on, "I'll see you tonight little man."

"Aww you aren't coming?" Liam frowned, "How come."

"I have to go to work." Connor walked over and hugged the little boy, "I'll be back though."

"Promise?" he asked, "Daryl promised once and he didn't come back for a long time."

"I promise." Connor told the boy. It was strange how attached Liam had become to that man who had kept him safe. Daryl was all Liam could talk about. He knew Liam saw him as a hero and it made Connor's heart sink a little. The boy talked all the time about how great Daryl was, how he could shoot anything that moved even if it was a tiny mouse in a field of long grass. He didn't know why but for some reason he felt like it was some kind of competition with that man.

"And don't come back hurt." Liam frowned, "Daryl came back hurt."

"I won't." Connor reassured him that was another thing that Liam seemed to fear now. Those he cared about being hurt, it made him wonder what kind of life those people lived in that prison.

"He got hurt where you have that white thing." Liam said pointing to the bandage still on Connor's shoulder. "Said 'that asshole knew right where to shoot, take forever to heel.' Then he saw me and then Carl made me dinner."

In that moment Connor realized he had seen the man that had brought Liam back, it had to be. "You've got to be kidding me." He shook his head. "And don't say that word."

"I'm not kidding." Liam frowned.

"No not you." He said smiling at the boy, "I promise I won't come back hurt." He kissed Liam on the top of his head and walked over to Harper. "I think the man that shot me is the same man that saved Liam."

"Why?" She asked glancing at his shoulder. She had seen the boys come back with far worse then.

"Just what Liam said." He shook his head, "He shot me, but saved Liam I don't know what to think of these people they come in here shoot us up, take our supplies, then what rescue one of our kids and return him?" he sighed, "I just don't get it."

"You'll figure it out." She told him, "You always do."

"I always used to, not so sure about things anymore Har." He told her, "Decisions are so much harder, and people's lives depend on what I decide."

"Your decisions in the past did the same thing." She said softly, "You decided who needed to go in order to help those in need those the law couldn't help."

"It's different now." He told her.

"How so?" she asked, "The law of this place you question it don't you?"

"Harper-"

"As much as I wish you wouldn't I know you do I'm thinking more clearly now Connor. As much as I want this place to be home, to be a place we can stay forever I know you." She paused, "You wouldn't feel the way you did if something weren't wrong I know you and I trust you if some where deep down you know this place is backwards then I trust you."

"But maybe it isn't wrong." He told her, "Maybe I just can't let go."

"No don't doubt yourself." She told him, "Just because Murphy is gone doesn't mean you are any less of the man you once were." Harper stepped closer to him and placed her hand on her heart, "Looking within yourself trust your heart and you could never make the wrong decision."

He didn't respond with an answer his eyes were just locked onto the girl in front of him. While she wasn't who she used to be he couldn't get over how strong she was becoming again he smirked, "Yes boss." He said softly.

Harper smiled hearing her old nickname. "Then get to work and find a way to save this place."

As they walked into the prison Daryl waited for Rick to disappear up the hall around a bend to grab Jon. He quickly pushed him again against the wall causing Jon to drop the supplies he was carrying.

"What the hel-"

"Shut up." Daryl hissed as he held a hunting knife at Duffy's throat. "You tell anyone and I swear I will kill you."

"I don't know what-" Jon tried to speak but Daryl pushed the knife a little closer to his neck so that the other man could now feel it on his skin.

"Don't play dumb Duffy you know I can do it, how easy I can kill." He knew this man had once been a friend to him, but he couldn't allow himself to have friends from the past.

"So it is you isn't it?" he asked, "Murphy?"

Daryl pushed the knife closer still so that a small drop of blood fell from the other man's neck, "It's Daryl now, Murphy died a long time ago got that?"

"But why?" he asked.

"It doesn't matter all that matter is I'm Daryl now no one here knows about Murphy and that's how its going to stay, got it?" he growled.

Jon couldn't believe how much he had changed so many questions raced through his head, but instead of asking he just nodded his head. Daryl released him and just as he did Rick came back around the corner,

"Everything all right?" he asked glancing at Daryl and Jon suspiciously. Daryl looked to Jon without answering Rick.

"Err yeah, sorry just tripped." Jon lied.

Daryl pushed past Jon without helping him pick up the bags he passed by Rick without saying a word. The only thing he wanted now was to get away from everyone, to spend time on his own.

Later that night Daryl sat in his loft making more arrows, that was all he could do to try and keep his mind focused on a task and not running back to the past?

"M-Daryl." Came Duffy's voice as he entered the lost.

"What?" he growled.

"I think I'm allowed a few questions, if I am to stay quiet."

"If you value your life you will shut up and walk away." He set down his arrow and glanced at his hunting knife."

"You won't kill me." Duffy told him not one hundred percent sure he was correct.

"To hell I won't."

"Just tell me why?" he asked, "Tell me why you are-" he glanced at Daryl and frowned, "This?" he paused, "What happened to you, to Connor?"

Daryl wanted to ignore him, but he knew he couldn't, "Dead they are all dead Duffy." He told him, "Everyone and this." He gestured to himself, "Is the shell of what is left." He sighed, "I just want to be left alone, I just want to forget."

"But you used to be great." He told him, "You and Connor were everything any man wanted to be."

"Well things change." He muttered, "So do people I ain't who I used to be and I ain't gunna be again."

"So what now you're the asshole dumb hick that cares only for himself?" Duffy asked.

"Yes." He continued to sharpen his arrow.

"Jon!" Rick called.

Duffy glanced at Daryl then in the direction of Rick's voice.

"Remember what I said." Daryl looked up and glared at Duffy.

"I won't say anything." He told Daryl he turned to leave but then looked back, "Not because you threatened me, but because we used to be friends." Then he left. Daryl took a deep breath wishing more then anything he had some brandy right now. He wanted to drink until he forgot everything. Between Liam and now Duffy he felt like he couldn't escape his past.

It felt like everything was coming forward now crushing him making him fall into a deep pit that he couldn't get out of. As his mind raced he felt like he couldn't breath he coughed trying to get air into his lungs, what was happening to him? He didn't notice Carl come rushing to his side until he felt her beside him he could hardly hear her voice. What was happening? He felt his heart beating faster it felt like it was going to pound right from his chest. It felt like forever before Carl's voice began to register to him. Her voice was calm and collected.

"Just breath Daryl it's alright just breath." She kept saying over and over her voice never sounding worried or upset.

Slowly he could feel the air filling his lungs he took a couple deep breaths, "What the hell was that?" he gasped.

"My guess." She told him, "An anxiety attack, Sophia used to have them all the time."

"A what?" he snapped.

"Some times people get them when they feel over whelmed." She told him, "It's alright." She paused, "What caused it?"

"Nothing." He growled as he shrugged her hand off his shoulder, "I'm fine."

"Where you thinking about Liam?" She asked

"Why would I think 'bout him?" he asked narrowing his eyes.

"Because you're worried about him." She told him.

"He wasn't no lost puppy Carol we couldn't keep him not with him havin' a family and all." He growled.

Carol just shook her head sadly, "You took him back without anyone knowing because he knew it was wrong" she sighed, "its dangerous there, not a place for that little boy." She had liked whom that boy made Daryl be, she missed that man that was around only when Liam was and ever since the boy had left she felt that man sliding farther away. She didn't like seeing Daryl pulling within himself again fighting against being a member of this family. She could feel him and see him sliding back to his own dark corner being the man he used to be when they had first met. "Get some rest." She said before leaving him alone.

Daryl let himself fall back on his bed and winced as he hit his bad shoulder, "Fuck." He mumbled hoping that the man who shot him was in just as much pain due to the arrow he had shot into the other man's shoulder at the exact same spot.

Connor winced as Harper cleaned his shoulder and reapplied a new bandage.

"You would think you would be used to this by now." She said smirking.

"And you would think you would enjoy this less by now." He answered back.

Harper smiled as she gave him a soft pat on the shoulder causing him to wince again, "All done."

"Thanks." He told her as he stood up.

"Please try to not get shot again any time soon." She told him as she stepped closer allowing him to wrap his arms around her.

"I'll try my best, but if I see the bastard that shot me." He didn't finish his sentence before Harper interrupted him

"But what if he was the one that saved Liam?" she asked, "You can't repay him by killing him?"

"No." he sighed, "But maybe I could shoot him again." He joked. Harper smiled then glanced at the clock,

"Why don't you go tuck Liam in while I clean up dinner." She told him.

"Alright love." He stepped away from her and followed the hallway to Liam's bedroom. As he walked into the door Liam scurried into bed.

"My teeth are bushed." He informed Conner, "Can you tell me a story?"

"Sure about what?" He asked as he sat down on the side of Liam's bed.

"The Saints." He smiled, "Daryl told me lots."

"He did? Did he?" Connor sighed he didn't know who this Daryl guy was, but how did he know about the Saints, sure a whole city knew of the saints, but why would someone tell stories about them?

"Well what do you know?" he asked, Connor knew he had talked with Liam about the saints before even told him a story or two, but never admitted they had once been real people he wondered if Daryl had told Liam that the saints had been real living people once.

"That they were brothers." Liam said, "And they loved each other and wanted to help people and made sure everyone was safe." The little boy looked down sad, "I wish they was alive."

"Were." He corrected the boy, " You wish they were alive." He sighed.

"Daryl said they died." Liam's eyes fell on to Connor's hand, "Pa." he said, "Daryl has a tattoo on his hand like yours, with words."

"What does it say?" he asked.

"I don't remember." Liam yawned. Connor smiled the boy was tired he knew he would get out of story time tonight. He pulled the covers over the boy and kissed him on the cheek as the boys eyes closed. "Good night." He said softly.

AN- So I tried google, IMDB, and couldn't figure out if they actually gave Detective Duffy a first name so I gave him one.