AN: so my daughter's sick movie marathon that mommy has to be a part of continues. Writing on my I-phone, please excuse any mistakes, it's very hard to edit on here:) let me know what you think:) review please?

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 2

After my picture fades and darkness has

Turned to gray

Watching through windows - you're wondering

If I'm OK

Secrets stolen from deep inside

The drum beats out of time -

~Cyndi Lauper~ Time After Time~

Carol awoke with a gasp, her head snapping up. Shit, she had fallen asleep. She glanced at Tyreese's form with trepidation to find him looking ...better? Getting up she walked over to him placing her hand on his brow, he was definitely cooler.

She'd found supplies in the medical center to start an IV and she'd been pumping him full of fluid overnight. In one of the doctors office's she'd found a treasure trove of medical textbooks, she'd been scouring them all night trying to figure out the correct antibiotics to use and dosages. Her efforts didn't seem to have been in vain. Thank god, she lowered her face into her hands and let out a shuddering breath, wiping her tears away.

They had been at the medical center for almost two weeks. They had gotten lost en route to Terminus, extending their traveling time. Tyreese's infection had gotten so bad they had to venture into the closest town, trying to find something to help him.

The medical center had been a blessing in disguise. Unlooted, untouched and easily cleared by her and Tyreese who at that point had been still able to help with that task. She'd even found a stash of diapers, baby food and formula samples for Judith. Tyreese's condition had quickly deteriorated. The angry festering wound had started seeping foul smelling green fluid, the surrounding tissue had become red and swollen and then a telltale red line had begun a dangerous path up his arm. Nothing seemed to work to stop the infection. They had found the antibiotics early on and Carol had injected him with doses as often as she dared, with no effect. They had talked about amputation, Tyreese had wanted her to just do it, but she foolishly thought they still had time. God that had been so stupid. The next working she hadn't been able to wake him up.

She sat back down and rested her head on the table, she knew Judith would be waking within an hour or so , she just needed to close her eyes. She wasn't sure how much longer she could keep this up, how much more she could take. The thought of Tyreese dying and leaving her alone with Judith was terrifying. She couldn't be responsible for another child on her own.

She couldn't be responsible for Judith's safety on her own. She just couldn't. She couldn't lose Tyreese either, they had become extremely close, not in an romantic sense, that would never happen, but she'd never had a friend like him. Someone who valued her enough to forgive her, to love her anyway faults and all, to make her feel worthy...Well maybe not never.

Thoughts of Daryl filtered through her head. The likelihood of ever finding him again was unlikely. She was haunted by his face, when she closed her eyes, by his voice, by his eyes.

She had spent many hours wondering what his reaction had been to Rick's revelation. She cringed at the thought he may have agreed with Rick, or been angry with her, blamed her?

Her feelings for Daryl had hit her by surprise, a long time ago, but she had repressed them with all her abilities. She would not allow herself to think about him in that way. It was obvious Daryl cared about her, but he had never given her any indication that his feelings extended anything past friendship. In fact in the months leading up the fall of the prison, she had felt their friendship shift a little. They just never seemed to make time for each other. She had mourned the possible loss of their closeness, but it was to be expected she guessed. So many more people, in their life's, in their orbits.

She didn't know if she would ever find someone else. She wasn't crying in her bunk at night over Daryl, she knew without being boastful that she was good catch. There had been a few men who had expressed interest , and if Daryl wasn't one of them, his loss, but she didn't think she would be able to get involved with any man if her heart truly wasn't into it. Been there, done that, bought the Ed Pelletier t-shirt. She refused to acknowledge the L word when thinking on her feelings for Daryl, but she knew her heart was already taken. Maybe irrevocably so.

She got up and went to the small window that she'd covered, peeking through the cracks, the sun was starting to rise in the sky, she smiled, Tyreese made it through the night. She couldn't help but wonder if Daryl was out there somewhere, if he was ok. She believed he was, she could feel it. He had to be.