Ed got one hell of a fright as he turned around and saw Daryl standing a foot away from him. He was sporting a few scratches down his face, a black eye and a bruise to his temple. Daryl was proud that Carol had managed to get a few good shots in.

'You like hitting girls and babies?' Daryl asked in a low growl, hoisting his crossbow so the man had no doubt that he shouldn't try anything.

Ed stood looking shocked at the man in front of him, his eyes drifting to the weapon over his shoulder.

'Want to try hitting a man?' Daryl asked him with a deadly glare. He could tell the man looked sicken by the suggestion that he hit Daryl. He also knew that Daryl would win, Daryl was bigger and leaner than this overweight man. 'Come on, I'll give you one shot to man up and try hit a man, or do you only hit little babies?'

'Your mistaken.' Ed stumbled over his words. 'She's lying!'

'Oh no I don't think I am. I'm also taking whats yours and I'm going to keep it! I'm going to keep your women and your baby, and if I see you in one foot of either of them I will put a arrow in your arse!' Daryl stared him down. He knew he was taunting the man but he was eager to smack him one so hard he would end up in the dirt. You didn't grow up being a Dixon without learning how to fight, if Ed tried Daryl knew he would fail. Ed made a move taking a swing at Daryl but Daryl as faster waiting and expecting, as he lay the man on his back with one punch. Leaning forward dragging the front of his shirt.

'Come near them, or even look in their direction I will hunt you you will really find out what I think of men who hit women and babies. ' Daryl let him go into the mud, Daryl jogged sideways back to the truck keeping an eye on Ed on the ground making sure he didn't chase after him, he indicated for Carol to unlock the truck so he could climb in.

'Won't you get into trouble for hitting him?' She whispered not wanting him to get into trouble.

'Fuck no! I mean no.' Daryl drove the truck forward down the road at a still slow pace towards his home.

'My brother and his wife live with me, she's a doctor she will check you both out ok.' Daryl told her driving slowly into town. He drove slowly down the main street when lights flashed him from behind, a police cruser pulled up beside him, Daryl wound down his window and the police car come up beside him.

'What you been doing tonight Dixon? Got a phone call that some redneck with a crossbow kidnapped a baby and a women.' A handsome police officer looked out the window. Daryl indicated behind him where Carol was just visible. The police officer nodded his head. 'Nice one Dixon, now I have to follow this shit up.'

'Probably, she's been assaulted by him, the baby too.' Daryl told them out the window. 'Follow me home. I'm not stopping they were both soaked to the bone, Baby is warm now and pink, I'm taking them to Andrea. They ran 7miles in the rain.'

'How old is the baby Daryl?' He asked, Daryl turned his head to look at Carol.

'3 months.' She offered.

'3 months.' He told them.

'What does it eat?' The police officer asked.

'Ummmmm boobs...' Daryl called out the window. He didn't know much about babies, but he knew enough that they were asking about formula and bottles for the emergency pack. They baby hadn't left Carols breast since he took her off his chest to give back to her before they drove off.

'Ok we will swing by the police station and get an emergency pack, Will be at yours in 15.'

'Can you ring Merle and let him know we are on the way?' Daryl asked, 'And go pick that cunt up for assault on a minor and women. Drunk driving, and any other shit!'

The police officer nodded pulled out his phone as the driver indicated, put their lights on and speed off. As they started to move on another police cruiser with lights flashing speed past them, going in the direction that they had come, it flashed its lights at Daryl truck as it passed.

'I got you in trouble?' Carol asked starting to cry for the first time during the night, it was dark and stormy still, Daryl looked over his shoulder at her.

'Nah your not going to get me in trouble with the law, I'm a cop anyway! But they will put his arse in jail as long as ya press charges, you'll press charges right?' Daryl asked her, Carol nodded looking at Sophia.

'I don't want him to get to Sophia again.' She told him.

He pulled up the drive as he knew the lights were still on, he beeped his horn. A few minutes later a man come to the door with blanket, coming down the steps. He opened the back door and he didn't look surprised to see Carol, he reached in and took the baby, wrapped her and left to go back into the house.

Daryl got out and held his hand out to Carol which she took and she stumbled out of the truck trying not to fall. She was still slightly bleeding from her nose as she hadn't had a chance to stem it because she was taking care of the baby, he reached around and lifted her light as a feather into his arms to make his way into the house.

Carol sagged into him starting to cry on his shoulder as he made his way up the steps as they were greeted by a blonde women who was waiting to fuss on her. Andrea wrapped her in a warm blanket and held it against her as she got her into the house.

'Shhhh now ya alright.' Daryl muttered to her. 'I've got ya.'