Merle kept his eyes everything at once refusing to lose focus. Mac would make sure that Daryl was covered while he covered them both and got them clear. He could hear the man that ran the show here talking to his people but didn't care to listen to him. He was a uptight prick that rubbed him the wrong way.

Carol apparently already talked to him and what he could tell she'd laid the law down to him regardless of his standing. Woman had balls that was for sure. He could respect that in a person.

"Rick you can come with me or you can not either way I'm going with them." Carol snapped louder, "MY daughter Rick- my Sophia is out there and there isn't a damn thing going to stand between me and her."

Merle's eyes shot over to his brother seeing Daryl looking off. Merle didn't need to see his face to know that her words had been like a physical blow to Daryl. Mac shifted closer to him his face neutral but his eyes speaking was speaking quietly to his brother and he had a firm grip on Daryl's bicep as he talked. Merle moved towards them and Daryl's eyes shifted over to him seeking his brother out. Panic was in Daryl's eyes but he was doing good to mask it. Merle was sure that anyone other than him or Mac would have never seen it but they did.

"When do we leave?" Mac questioned. They were anxious to get the fuck out of here.

Merle's eyes went to the other group and seen a few watching them. He felt a smirk cross his face before looking back at his brother. He was sure that to this group they looked like a bunch of criminals. Possibly violent and out to only take from people but fuck them.

"As soon as she's done."

Daryl was silent something he'd been since it was decided they'd leave to get back to the town. Merle was use to Daryl being the more quiet of his brothers but he didn't like the weight of the silence on him. Sophia wasn't just some kid he'd seen his brother bring to that town and dump off on someone else. Daryl had spent months with her getting her to a point where she was stronger and capable. She wasn't scared of her shadows anymore and she would give you shit just as fast. In that time his brother done something he never thought he would do, be a father. It was different than it was with Brian and that was what struck him at first. Sure he was there with Brian like he was with Sophia and Brian would seek Daryl out just as much as Mac. Hell at times he was sure that Daryl was just as much a father to that boy then Mac with how he acted but the girl got in deep. She dug down into him sinking her claws into his heart and he'd barely fought it before she was there like she'd always been apart of him. When Sophia left it was going to be like Daryl lost a kid and he was scared how that was going to hit Daryl.

Mac was better at pushing shit down then Daryl. When they were trying to get to the town and he wasn't sure if his son was alive you'd never known he had a kid. He kept it locked away. Daryl was the one who was snappish and showed worry wearing his jaw and brow out. Sophia though was apart of him like he'd never let happen before.

"Okay guys." Carol's voice was close to him.

Merle turned looking at her but her eyes went to Daryl when he turned and she could see him. He was pale and looking away. Her brow furrowed but she didn't say anything. He could see worry there in her eyes for his brother and he found it odd. This bitch didn't know his brother beyond nearly killing him.

Mac walked with Daryl to a truck they had and Carol was right behind them. Mac eyed her as Daryl climbed in and she stood there. "What're you doing?"

Carol pursed her lips, "I'm riding with you two."

"Like hell lady." Mac snapped.

Daryl cleared his throat, "It's fine Mac."

Daryl looked out the window his head pounding something awful. Mac climbed in the driver seat and Daryl watched in the side mirrors as Rick, Andrea, and Hershel climbed into a vehicle to follow them. Daryl swallowed around the thickness in his mouth and the ball in his throat and closed his eyes as the engine turned over.

Carol was silent beside him having to ride in the middle. He wasn't sure what to say to the woman besides he'd found her daughter. Since then he'd not spoken really. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to say anyways. The more he talked to her the more it was going to hurt in the long run. He needed to distance himself from this but he knew the second he was in those gates Sophia wouldn't let him.

The ride was quiet and he could tell the two people with him were itching at the silence. He'd almost laugh about it but it'd take too much effort. Opening his eyes he groaned and set up straight and felt her tense as his body brushed against her. Of course she would tense from such a small touch she likely thought all men were like the bastard she had for a husband. Daryl grimaced and Mac cleared his throat loudly and shot him a look.

"What?" Daryl growled.

Mac grinned at the gruff in his voice, "There's the asshole I know as a brother."

Daryl shot him a look and Carol raised her brow but was quiet otherwise. "What Mac?"

"When I get shit for being gone, and we both know I'm going to, then I'm sending Hannah your way." Mac chuckled.

Daryl raised a brow and leaned back feeling a genuine smile tug at his face. He rolled his head over looking at his brother. He felt Carol's eyes on him but ignored it. He felt her looking at him a lot since he'd woke up and didn't know what to make of it really. When he'd first opened his eyes she was there pushing his sweaty hair off his forehead and trying to sooth him before he'd knocked back out. He was pretty sure she didn't think he remembered waking up while that fever was racing but he had a few times and every time she was there. Looking at him and talking low her hands on him carding through his hair or rubbing soothing circles on him. He didn't know what to think of that any way he turned it. He wanted to chalk it up to the mother in her but he was a grown ass man that she didn't know even the slightest.

"Knew your ass was scared of her." he replied. It was forced and Mac knew it.

Mac made a disgruntled noise, "I'm not scared of her….I just have a healthy understanding that she's fucking bat shit crazy."

Daryl barked out a laugh and shook his head. He felt Carol jerk next to him startled by his laugh in the cab of his truck. She cleared her throat and Mac raised a brow.

"You got something to say?" His voice wasn't aggressive but it wasn't friendly either. Mac was struggling with not hating her and Andrea for hurting him and the thought that Sophia was leaving. Mac wasn't as open about things but Sophia was close to him and Daryl knew that he cared for her more then he let on, hell both his brothers, Martinez, Brian, and Merle's men did.

Carol ignored his brother and Daryl couldn't help but to grin but he ducked his head to hide it. Carol was looking at him. Since his brother's got here and she found out about her daughter she didn't get to ask him anything. It was made clear he saved her but she knew nothing else. Merle and Mac had barely let him out of their line of vision and that gave her barely a chance to even look at him. He knew it was why she decided to get in this truck instead of riding with her group.

"So you were the one who found her?" Carol's voice was soft and her eyes were on him. It was the same voice she used on him when he'd been running a fever and struggling to stay awake.

Daryl nodded and cleared his throat, "Yeah."

Mac hummed his throat and Daryl made a face knowing what was coming soon.

"We looked...we spent so much time looking for her." Carol's voice held a sorrow that only a mother knew and he was starting to understand as more and more of the reality of Sophia leaving settled.

He knew that she didn't give up. He seen it in her eyes. Hell they'd set that car up for her but with the way the world is he couldn't stay out there that long hoping that they'd show back up. Daryl nodded at her words and then Mac leaned forward as they came up to the gates. Daryl shifted as Merle idled in front of them his feet planted and the gates opening. Carol's questions stopped as she took in the area. Her eyes were wide and searching like Sophia was only a dream and a hope dangled in front of her.

Mac drove through the gates and stopped next to Merle and jumped out motioning to Carol, "She'll show up with my boy."

Daryl started to open his door and Merle was there holding it close shaking his head, "Oh fuck no. Your ass is going to get checked over."

"I'm fine."

"Fine my fucking ass." Merle snarled, "You almost died out there and you want me to believe you're okay? You want her to believe it then goddamn go!"

"I need out of this goddamn truck." Daryl snarled right back slamming the door into Merle's chest causing him to take a step back. "I'm not a goddamn kid stop fucking treating me like one.

Daryl slid out and could hear Carol's group on the other side of the truck speaking. Their eyes were sweeping around and Rick cleared his throat ass the guard on duty walked by on the wall his rifle poised and ready. He knew they were uncomfortable considering Merle's men were also there strapped in full gear and crowding around him but their eyes locked on the others.

Daryl moved out of the circle and looked around seeing Mac standing waiting on him. Daryl walked towards him shrugging his shoulders as the bow came off. Martinez was there taking it from him and clapping him on his back.

"Good thing your back Sophia was getting ready to start taking people's heads off."

"Baby Dixon your ass go on vacation?"

"Your brothers son of bitches when you aint around."

"Need to put a bell on you and lowjack your ass."

Daryl chuckled but the sound of boots beating pavement caused him to look up. Sophia was barreling towards him with Brian behind her sprinting. Her eyes were wide and even from here he could tell she had been crying. He felt his chest tighten and Mac stepped into him slightly behind him knowing exactly what was happening.

As she neared her eyes darted all over him but never away, "DAD!"

Daryl barely had time to brace himself before she launched herself at him arms wrapping around him as a pained grunt escaped him. His arms came up keeping her balanced as she wrapped around him like a little vine. He stumbled backwards despite Mac being behind him supporting him and had ahold of his bicep trying to help steady him as he got his breath back. She was clinging tightly to him crying into his neck and hitting him at the same time.

Brian walked closer and raised a brow at him, "Dick it took you long enough to get here."

Daryl barely had a chance to register what was happening before he heard her. A soft gasp, "Sophia?" Carol's voice was heart wrenching as her daughters name in that soft voice cracked his chest.