Hey everybody!

I'M CRYING. I'M SCREAMING. I'M BLUBBERING LIKE A BABY. I'M IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION.

Herschel! Christ,WHY? You will be fondly missed, . :(

(Wrote that two weeks ago,after the finale. Still feeling it)

So I'm back! Just wanted to thank you all for your concern over me,it just warms my heart. A special thanks to marsbonde and imnoprincessFYI for those awesome messages. You guys are amazing. Reading those and watching some Pewdiepie lifted my mood enough to get this out.

P.S: I do have a poll set up that concerns this particular story,though it will be closing soon,so vote fast!

Enjoy :)

Daryl watched the little spat between Riley and Carl with a frown,seeing the boys shoulders droop as she turned her back to him,making her way towards Daryl. She looked angry,but she also looked tired,like she was sick of these constant fights between her and her old friend.

It worried Daryl.

"Poor Carl,"Carol said from her place behind the table,where she was still collecting plates from breakfast. He turns to her,eyebrow raised slightly.

"What'd ya mean?" He asks.

The silver-haired woman looks away from the squabbling teens to him. "Don't you see it?" She says. "He's heartbroken. Poor boy has no idea what to do,but still tries because of how much he cares."

He snorts. "He shouldn't of pissed her off then."

Carol shot him a look of disapproval. "Don't be so hard on him. Yes,he messed up,his attitude those months after Michaels death not helping his cause whatsoever,but he's trying."

Riley stormed past them suddenly,ending their conversation for the moment. Carol looked from Daryl to her,then called out to her.

"Riley," she says,the teen turning to them. "Daryl is taking a group out on a run and they have another seat available. He's is wondering if you'd like to go."

Daryl glared at Carol,not wanting Riley to go on the run. It was dangerous,something he didn't think she was quiet ready for yet. The girls platinum eyes studied them both for a moment,as if seeing if it was a trick or not. After awhile,her face softened a bit.

"Sure," she draws out slowly,almost unsure of her answer. "I'll get ready then meet you at the cars when we're all loaded."

Carol discreetly nudged him,signalling that Riley was talking to him. Daryl cleared his throat and gave a curt nod,his tone low with contained anger towards the small woman beside him. "Yeah,that's fine. We'll be headin' out in an hour.

Riley nodded before turning back around and slipping into the cell block. Daryl let out an irritated growl the moment she was gone,his attention now on his grinning best friend. She raised a brow at him,as if she did not know why he was upset.

"Why the hell did you go off and say that?" He snapped,crossing his arms to hold him back from punching something.

"She needs it,Daryl." Carol replies,focusing back on her previous task of washing the dishes. "Being cooped up in this place for so long can make anyone irritable,especially her. And who knows? Maybe she'll kill some walkers and get some anger out. She hasn't really ever had the chance."

Daryl scowled at her,standing directly in front of her so she had no choice but to focus only on him."Do you remember what happened last time she went on a run? She nearly killed herself!"

"But it's been months since then,Daryl!" She shot back,crossing her arms as well. "Its a large group that's going anyway. Do you really think she'll pull some stupid stunt with so many at risk?"

His eyes narrowed,him hating how right she was. "No," he replies,his voice low but dangerous,like treading through the wild in the dead of night. "But you didn't see her Carol. That day,that look in her eyes. She just didn't care."

Carol sighs,running a dainty hand through her short hair. "I'm sorry Daryl,but maybe she does need this. Sheltering her any longer could trigger something bad. And it's just a supply run,isn't it? In and out,nice and easy,right?"

He nodded hesitantly,the urge to carry on this fight diminishing.

She was right about that,he was just a run. In and out,nice and easy. Done a thousand times. The mere definition of simplicity in this hell. And simplicity was just the thing they didn't get.

"Homicidal Cop?"

Laughs broke out through the small group,Zach turning red. Daryl simply snorted.

"Sure kid,sure." He says,rolling his eyes. Riley shakes her head from her place beside him,her knees pulled up as she sat on the concrete with her back against the Big Spot wall.

"Aw,well I guess I'll just have to try again tomorrow." Zach says with an overly dramatic sigh. He glances down at Riley then,a toothy grin still on his face. "You guess,Riley."

Daryl and Riley both look at the young man,Daryl's eyes narrowing slightly. It was a push to have her even out like this,but to put her as the main focus was just plain dangerous for her wellbeing alone.

The brunette looks up at him warily. "What?"

"You guess what Daryl used to be," he says brightly. " I already used up my chance today,but you haven't."

Daryl was ready to tell the kid he was teasing the wrong person when Riley surprised them all by answering.

"Construction worker," she says simply,sending Michonne into a fit of giggles once more.

Daryl and Zack both stare at her. The younger man looks appalled. "Why do you think that?" He asks,clearly confused on her guess.

"Well," she draws out in that same slow tone she had used earlier. "It fits Daryl."

"How so?" Zack asks the same moment Daryl snaps, "What the he'll ya' mean by that?"

A small smile forms on her lips,a rare sight that surprises him. "Think about it. He's hot-headed,strong,stubborn,a bit racist-" Glenn laughs" -and loud when he wants to be."

Daryl shakes his head this time,narrowing his eyes at her. "Do you got a bone to pick with me or what,Short Straw?"

The store was quite at first,unnerving Riley. She slipped aisle to aisle,grabbing anything useful before moving on,never staying in one place for more than a few seconds. She didn't know what came over her,but the air had a tinge she could not place.

She wanted to relax,but she just couldn't. So she nearly it herself when someone had suddenly touched her shoulder. She spun around to find only Zack grinning at her. She huffed irritability.

"Jesus Christ," she hissed. "Are you writing a death note or something? I could've blown you head off!"

He only laughed. "I didn't mean to scare you,Riley. I just had this brilliant idea about what you said earlier."

She snorted."Brilliant?"

"Yeah," he replies,obviously not taking note of her snarky attitude. "I was thinking,what if Daryl was a construction worker and a detective? Like,his personality meshes with both,right?"

She stared at him. "Uh,that sounds . . . Very creative,Zach."

"I know,right?" His grin widens,his voice switching into one of over-deep,silly dramatics. "Daryl Dixon: Undercover cop,posing as an everyday construction worker. Fucking. Brilliant."

She laughed then,a full from the belly laugh. It was almost new,and Zach joined in silliness was cut short though when a crash sounded from the other side of the store,followed by a cry of pain.

Zach just managed to yell "Bob!", when a loud crack echoed from above them. They looked up to see long cracks along the frail plaster,the cheap roofing material soiled by some foil yellow liquid.

Rileys eyes widened. "What the hell-"

The roofing gave in suddenly,a walker spilling out. She screamed,falling away from the airborne undead,pulling Zack along with her. Gore splattered their clothes as the walker slammed into the ground,luckily killing it on impact and away from them.

They jumped back up and pulled out their weapons,more walkers falling from the roof in a sick, plaster,walker hail storm. They ran toward the crash,killing walkers along the way,to find Bob trapped under a fallen shelf,Daryl and Glenn trying desperately to push it off while keeping walkers from ripping into their flesh. Zack put away his weapon and began to lift the shelf as well,Bob whimpering in pain beneath them.

A walker stumbled towards Daryl suddenly,mouth gaping and ready to tear into the hunters throat when Riley threw herself at it,knocking it onto the floor. She held it between her knees as she tore her knife from her boot,slipping the blade into the abominations head before she could realise what she was doing.

As she stood,another scream pierced the air. Riley turned,her heart dropping at what unfolded before her. Zack,in his effort to help Daryl and Glenn save Bob,had gotten bitten by a walker in the Achilles,followed by another,taking him down.

"NO!" She screamed. "ZACK!"

Daryl grabbed her arm roughly. "We gotta go!"

Riley looks up at him,horrified as Zacks screams sound from somewhere in the darkness. Tyreese and Sasha help run a injured Bob out of the store,Glenn and Michonne right at their heels. More of the roof began to cave in,a sick sound of breaking metal going along with it.

Daryl growled then. "We don't have time for this!"

He grabs her suddenly,pulling her over his shoulder as he sprints out the store,giving her a perfect view as the store caves in,Zacks screams dying along with him and the many walkers within.

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Abby 'Zombie Slayin' Dixon ,over and out.