He doesn't get to win • Daryl Dixon

You did all you could

Atlanta is gone. Shane had the idea to try for Fort Bending. The group is facing a long hard journey. Maybe even harder than they can imagine. But nothing can be harder than what they already went through. Right? 125 miles that's what the group have to parkour. Rick was trying hard not to lose faith, like everyone. They have to stick together, fight for each other, be willing to lay down their lives for each other if it comes to that.

Noa and Daryl lead the way on the motorcycle. She discovered that she liked that. She felt free on the motorcycle. She liked it even more because that helped her being close to Daryl. It's been a few days since the CDC, the two were in good terms but nothing were clear. Was she his girlfriend now? Noa didn't have the courage to ask him, so she just lives the moment.

A truck in the middle of the highway didn't allowed the group to continue their way. "Let's check tha'", Daryl told her, slightly turning his face to her. The cars were following them when the RV broke down.

The group decided to look around, maybe they could find some food? "Noa, here" Rick walked to her, handing her a gun. She looked at it hesitating. "I know you don't like that kind of stuff but please, you need to be able to protect yourself" Noa sighed and took it. The two smiled at each other and then went looking for supplies.

She saw Shane from afar. She decided to jog to him. She knew all the group, but she rarely talked to Shane. "Hey, did you find something interesting?", she asked.

He turned to her and smiled. "Not yet, you want to look with me?" Noa nodded enthusiastically, she was happy to know that he had nothing against her, she wanted to get along with everyone.

Shane was actually a very pleasant guy. She really liked him and she could absolutely get why he was Rick's best friend.

Shane opened a truck. It was full of water, Shane and Noa looked at each other smiling. "No way!", she exclaimed. "Glenn look at that!", she brought the attention of the young man fixing car.

Shane opened one of the bottle and emptied it on him. Glenn looked at them and they all started laughing. "Save me some!", Glenn exclaimed.

Noa put herself in front of Shane, letting the water fall on her. "God that feels so good", she whispered. She opened her eyes to see Shane staring at her. "What?", she chuckled a bit uncomfortable.

"Nothing nothing", he also chuckled. She felt her cheeks warm up. She had no interest in him but she wasn't used to men staring at her like that. Plus she had to admit that Shane was a charming man. Suddenly he took her arm and hurried the both of them under the truck. "Shh"

A herd was passing by. Noa was scared and in moment like that she always thought of Daryl. But right now he wasn't there, she was with Shane. As the walkers came closer to them, they got closer. They were face to face and Shane's arm wrapped around Noa's waist to bring her closer. She decided to close her eyes and put her head in his chest. She was petrified.

Then everything went quiet again. The walkers were gone. She looked up at Shane and he smiled at her. Everything was okay. They got up. She needed to find Daryl. But then Sophia's scream alerted them. They all ran to her. She went in the woods followed by Rick and two walkers.

"Noa!", Daryl exclaimed. She turned around and sighed, relieved. She walked to him and hugged him. "See I found ya"

Rick and Daryl got back late, the sun was almost setting. They haven't found Sophia. Noa made her way the Daryl, checking if he was okay. "How could you just leave her out there to begin with? How could you just leave her?", Carol asked Rick, angry.

Noa looked at him. He was already feeling guilty but it was now worst. She stepped forward. "That's not fair Carol. You can't blame Rick. Rick did all he could"

"Nobody doubt that", Shane said putting his hand on her shoulder. It was nobody's fault. Shit happened.

Rick went away. What Carol said probably shocked him. Noa followed him close. "Rick please stop", she got in front of him. "It wasn't your fault, okay?" Rick looked so lost. Noa went in for a hug.

She wasn't good with all this survival stuff but she still had her skills with people. "You did all you could"

The day after, the search started. They made two groups. T-dog and Dale stayed at the RV while the others went looking for Sophia.

After a long walk, the group found a church. Only three walkers were in it. Noa stayed back. She didn't wanted to be in it. She wasn't feeling comfortable with her religion for a while now. Since everything went down. She stayed not far away tho because she heard a conversation between Shane and Lori. A conversation that she definitely shouldn't have heard. Does she need to tell Rick?

Rick, Noa, Shane and Carl continued searching while the others went back to the RV. Noa wasn't really aware of the things around her. She couldn't get out of her head the conversation she heard. "Hey, everything's good?", Shane whispered to her.

She looked up at him. "Shane I'm really sorry okay?". Shane looked at her confused. "I didn't mean to hear you talk with Lori at the church, I swear"

Shane looked in front of him, toward Rick. "Listen, you can't tell anything to Rick"

"I wasn't planning on". He sighed in relief. "If i'm being honest with you I thought about it, Rick is very important for me you know?" Shane nodded at her. "But it's not me who should tell him. That's not my story to tell"

Noa was disgusted by the situation but who was she to judge? So she slightly smiled at him and rubbed his shoulder before walking away, now beside Carl patting his head.

They found a buck. It was beautiful. Shane was about to shoot it but Rick stopped him as Carl slowly stepped forward it with Noa. He was amazed by the animal.

Once close enough, Noa and Carl looked at each other smiling brightly. It was such a peaceful and beautiful moment. Like one of the moment they could spend before all of this. And then suddenly a gunshot was heard and Carl was on the floor.

"Oh no no. Carl!", Rick ran to him as Noa kneeled to the floor to put her hands on the wound. He was bleeding so much. There was blood everywhere.

"Rick we need to let them help him" Noa tried to get Rick's attention. "Come on you need air". She wrapped her arm around his waist and lead him outside. Shane arrived at the same time. "Please Shane help me", she begged him. She didn't know how to help him.

"Hey...", he slowly approached. "It's okay Rick..."

"Where is she, your wife?", the doc's daughter, Maggie, asked.

"I'll get you to her" Noa stood up. "Then I'll stay with the others, Lori needs to be here"

Noa and Maggie got on a horse and went away quickly. They rapidly introduced themselves to each other and quickly arrived to the rest of the group.

Andrea was getting attacked when they arrived. Maggie went faster and handed Noa a baseball bat. Once close enough to the walker Noa smacked as hard as she could his head.

"Lori!" Noa got off the horse and made her way to her. "Lori you need to follow Maggie", she said quickly.

"What? Noa what's-"

"Carl has been shot, you need to go now!" Noa took her bag and help her get in the horse. "Rick needs you Lori, we'll join you later"

Noa and the others got back to the highway. Carol didn't wanted to go to the farm, she was scared that Sophia would come back and be alone. So Noa, Andrea, Dale and Daryl decided to stay with her the night. T-Dog and Glenn needed to go to the farm. T-Dog was really in bad condition.