Well I didn't think I was going to be able to update this honestly. The weather here is horrible. The snow, ice, and floods have gotten so much worse. They are evacuating people and I'm currently closed off from every road that gets me out of here. Here's to hoping things calm down soon. o.O Anyways if it takes me a while to to update again I guess you get why now. I'll likely not be home or some other natural disaster has decided to descend on the area I live in. Hope everyone is safe and warm. Anyways...I hope I done this justice and got it to come across right. I'm not sure it does and so this isn't exactly my favorite chapter.

Carol watched as the brothers watched over Daryl as Hershel checked him over. The oldest was like a solid wall of intensity that kept most at bay. The one she knew to be Mac was almost feral it seemed in his reaction to his brother blacking out. Carol was sure that nothing was wrong that it was just to soon for him to be moving around as much as he had but she kept her mouth closed. Things were tense with Rick standing close by his shirt covered in blood and the damage to his face uncertain. With one hit it seemed the oldest of them put Rick down good and Carol felt bad for him knowing he was in pain. Things could have been handled better but she didn't blame the brothers really. In this world you didn't know how much time you had with someone. Every moment was precious and they were reacting to their brother being missing.

"So let me get this straight,"Mac started looking to Carol and then Andrea. He seemed less inclined to snarling like a wild animal at the two of them. "You two tried to run him over?"

Andrea made a noise in her throat at that and glared at him, "NO we didn not try to run him over...he just came out of nowhere as we rounded the corner. It was an unlucky accident."

Mac glared at her so hard that she shifted. Daryl made a noise and caught his attention diverting it down to him. "I'll say." He growled.

Carol huffed, "Listen we didn't leave him in the road like some might have. And believe me he wasn't easy to move and it wasn't like we had al the time in the world."

Mac looked up at her and nodded sharply. His eyes were critical and calculating studying her and it made her uncomfortable. Daryl had done the same but it seemed less harsh when on her and she knew that for a fact, honestly. She's seen this same look aimed at every other member of her group but not her and it made her mind spin. These men alone stepping into their world was tipping on it's axis.

Hershel looked up at Mac and cleared his throat, "Son I know you all are taking him out of here but before that do you all have somewhere safe for him? He needs rest. He don't need a fight for survival right now." Hershel waited a second then started again looking at Daryl. "Unless you have a doctor or someone in medical that can keep an eye on him then I'd rather you wait to take him."

Mac whistled loudly the sound wolfish and threatening. The oldest brother stepped through the door making the room seem smaller. Andrea and Carol shared a look as the man walked to his brothers. Carol took the time to study them and realized just how silly Hershel's question really was. These weren't men who were struggling that much was clear. They were well fed, clean, and didn't have roughed up gear like they had. Carol and Andrea shared another look but Andrea's eyebrows waggled and Carol scowled at her.

"Merle…" Mac's voice was low but the name was caught while the rest was lost. Carol watched the way Mac spoke to his brother his eyes wide and worried. Merle stepped in closer to him both of them hovering close to Daryl as they spoke. Mac gave a sharp nod but then his eyes went to her and she watched as he shifted and started speaking even quicker.

Andrea stepped next to her and elbowed her, "What do you think that is about?"

Carol looked to Daryl then his brother's and felt her stomach churn. She knew she wasn't mistaken when she heard the name Sophia earlier come from Mac's mouth when he'd been pleading with his brother. The odds had never been Carol's favor before so she didn't put much stock in it. Daryl was a good looking man and there was no reason to think that this woman wasn't his wife or possible daughter. Men like him never stayed single for long and for that Carol had pushed the name as painful as it was from her mind.

"I don't know."

Andrea shifted and her hands went to her hips, "Did you hear wh-"

"Yes." Carol spoke quietly.

Merle turned to Hershel, "He'll be fine where we're taking him."

"Still I'd like for him to come around before he's moved." Hershel's voice was firm.

Merle nodded at him and Mac moved to set on the bed at Daryl's feet leaning into the wall. He looked exhausted as the worry seemed to lessen in his face. Merle on the other-hand had another look on his face. It wasn't worry, anger, or anything she knew but all the same her stomach churned and she wanted Daryl to wake up. She wasn't sure why she wanted it so bad almost needed but she did all the same.

Carol walked back in packing water bottles as she came to check on Daryl. Mac was knocked out against the wall almost slumping down into the bed with Daryl. It wouldn't be long til he was just laying next to him and the image made her snort. A deep chuckle to her right startled her and she looked over seeing Merle. He was watching her and she blushed realizing she'd been caught watching them.

He held his hand up to her mouth letting her know to be quiet. Nodding she walked over to him and held out a bottle. He accepted and nodded at her looking to his brothers and a smirk tugging at his mouth. It made him look less severe and condescending as he did so.

"What's your name?"

Carol looked at him for a second and spoke just as softly, "Carol."

He nodded his head, "You look like a Carol."

Carol raised a brow, "And what does a Carol look like?"

He looked to her and chuckled again, "You."

Carol huffed but smiled at him and took a seat next to him. "The woman that was in here earlier with me she thought Daryl was Mac."

He cocked a brow the only indication he heard her.

"He got mad when she called him Mac."

Merle smiled at that and nodded, "Those two spend a lot of time at each others throats but just the same they are attached at the damn hip. Have been since they were kids."

Carol looked at the two men as Mac fell the rest of the way down his face squished into Daryl's side. Daryl shifted to accommodate the man and Merle shook his head motioning to them.

"He'll be a pissy when he wakes up."

"Which?"

Merle looked over and smirked, "Both."

"He talked in his sleep calling out for you all." Carol spoke quietly. "There were a few times that I thought he was going to wake up. His fever spiked and it seemed his dreams turned with it."

Merle studied her for a minute that same stomach churning feeling coming back. his eyes went back to his brother and he had a look in his eyes that was far away for a moment. It only lasted a second but she seen it. It wasn't pity or anything like that but she could clearly see that from both his brother's something was upsetting for Daryl and them.

"You the one who took care of him or the old man?"

"Me."

He hummed in his throat and nodded his head, "Don't often say shit like this but thank you for letting his ass die out there in the street and getting him back here."

Carol nodded at him. She could already tell they weren't the type to hand out compliments or thank you cards. "Are you serious about having somewhere safe for him until he's back on his feet?"

Merle snorted, "Helluva lot safer than you'd think."

Snapping awake at the sound of a groan and a cough she set up just as Mac sprang up. His hair was sticking up and his eyes were wide and alert. There was a knife gripped in his hand that wasn't support his weight as he looked around. When his eyes cleared and he looked around she watched as the knife slid back into a sheath that was concealed on his back. Merle moved to stand just as Daryl struggled to set up. Catching him under the arm Merle helped right him and Mac scrambled out of the bed.

"Bout time your pussy ass wakes up. You think this is a day at the spa?" Mac snapped.

"Blow me."

"Shut the fuck up." Merle snapped.

Carol slipped over between him and the wall and handed Daryl a bottle of water. He looked at her briefly and she seen that sadness she watched in Merle's eyes creep across his face.

"I'll give you all some time and go let Hershel know he's awake."

Carol slipped out of the room and heard their voices but not the words. She felt like something was happening. Something big. This was the first sign of people that didn't try to hurt them. Well besides Rick's face but that was really his own fault. He'd been snapping at the man quite bitterly even as he seen that it was in fact Daryl's brothers. She wasn't sure what he expected to begin with when they had brought Daryl back here. They couldn't and would not keep him locked up like some criminal. She didn't give a shit what he'd declared for the group if he'd said that the man was to be killed or kept locked away she would have made sure that he wasn't harmed and was free. He didn't ask to be hit by them and he sure as hell didn't deserve a death sentence. She knew Andrea and Hershel agreed with her but sometimes Rick needed an attitude adjustment. It seemed that came in the form of Merle almost breaking his face for him.

Getting Hershel and letting him know that Daryl was awake he nodded at her and smiled. He made sure he came back with her and she sighed. She wasn't sure she could handle the strength and bond of their family unit she seen in there. It was different then with her group. Sure they were family but they were what these men were. That was clear. They were survivors through and through and something told her they'd been surviving longer than this shit started.

Daryl growled and snapped at being poked and prodded. Mac seemed to be taunting him and she instantly got the sense of where each brother stood. Mac was impulsive and taunting, Merle seemed more of a father figure standing over his brother's like a shadow while Daryl was strong and silent brooding mostly.

Hershel huffed at him, "Son if you don't hold still i'll have them hold you down."

Daryl sneered but Merle and Mac both glared at him adjusting themselves to grab him if he didn't listen. Daryl made a face and flipped them off.

"He always a bitchy little shit wasn't he when he came to seeing a doctor." Mac observed.

Merle nodded, "Fidgety fuck."

"Why don't you both fuck off." Daryl snapped.

Carol raised a brow but Mac grinned, "You'd be lost without us."

Daryl made a face, "There's a fuckin' miniature you I'm sure I'll make do."

Mac nodded and laughed loudly but said nothing else. Daryl flashed a small smile and Carol felt a smile of her own start. They were actually a breath of fresh air. Most everyone it seemed had lost the ability to live and were just surviving. These men didn't lose the beauty that was the world before in the way they acted or talked. She loved it.

"Well son if you take it easy and rest I think you'll be good to go." Hershel looked at her and nodded his head, "Lots of water don't you say Carol?"

"Yeah Carol what do you say?" Mac chuckled.

Merle elbowed him sharply and she heard the harsh exhale as Mac's breath left him. Hershel smiled ruefully and stood up. He slipped out and nodded to them and Carol turned to follow.

"Wait." Mac ordered.

Carol turned and Daryl shifted around till his feet was planted. "Carol wait a minute."

Three sets of blue eyes trained on her and she felt like she was going to be sick. Swallowing she looked directly at Daryl and waited on him.

"You said you had a daughter earlier." His voice was rough and strained.

Carol nodded jerkily. "I do." She corrected.

Daryl wasn't looking at her but she seen him swallow at the same. Mac's eyes were trained on his brother the energy in them quiet for once. Merle was looking at her though and she looked from hi to Daryl. Carol turned fully to Daryl and waited on him to speak again.

Mac set down by Daryl their bodies flush as he spoke quietly. She heard a few words but nothing made sense to her and then Daryl's eyes lifted.

"If you're sure." Merle's voice was firm.

Daryl nodded, "Whats her name?"

"Sophia."

Daryl's face was blank but his eyes were clear as day to her. He sucked in a breath and stared at her hard, "Is she here?"

Carol made a face, "Why are you asking questions about my daughter?" When he didn't answer her Carol growled that wound starting to open wider. "No." He snapped.

Merle looked at Daryl then her. Pain was clear in his eyes and it seemed Merle was going to step in. She already got that he wasn't good with words from what little bit she had been around him.

"Did you lose your daughter back when this shit all started?" Merle questioned. "Left a sign on a car or some shit?"

Carol felt like she'd been punched in the heart at his words. Her eyes frantically searched his face but she got nothing. Instead she turned back to Daryl looking at him begging him to meet her eyes. When he did she took a step forward tears starting to build in her eyes at the look he gave her.

"Is she? D di did she…" Carol's voice was a choked sob.

Daryl shook his head but winced and Mac made a face at him, "She was fine when we left to come find him. She's with my son."

"What's your last name?" Merle questioned.

Carol made a almost hysterical noise and looked at him, "What?"

"Your last name?"

"What the hell does that matter? Where is my daughter?"

Mac, Merle, and Daryl all three looked at her and she swallowed, "She's safe."

"Peletier."

Daryl nodded at both his brother's, "I found her back in the woods she was being chased."

Carol made a noise close to suffocating and met his eyes. Tears were running free but she stood strong needing to hear it.

"When?"

How long had Sophia been scared and alone? It was a miracle that they ran into this man when they did. Carol looked at him again her need to thank him almost overwhelming.

"She couldn't have been out there more than a few hours. Months ago." Daryl coughed.

Mac nodded, "Wasn't long after this shit started. Fucking summer."

Carol set heavily in the chair. Daryl found her daughter and they'd kept her safe all this time. Carol swiped at her eyes and stared at Daryl. It seemed his brothers were following his lead on this. From the dynamics she thought it would have been Merle.

"Where is she?"

Merle looked around the place and then at her, "We can show you so long as your fearless leader don't try some shit."

Carol nodded, "I will handle Rick."