Panacea - {Daryl Dixon Fanfiction}

Day 83 - Beside the Dying Fire

It was only a matter of time before shit hit the fan. Again.

There had been too many to count. Appearing out of the dark, coming from every direction, teeth gnashing and hands seeking the next meal. It was hard to tell who had made it off the farm. In a panic the group had scattered, going off in separate directions in separate transport. Daryl knew Carol was alive, because she hugged close on the back of the motorcycle, but as for the rest of the group...

There has been something off about that Randall kid: no bite marks, no scratches, and yet he turned. If he had Shane's gun, what had happened to him. Daryl suspected foul play, and he was eager to hear from Rick or Shane, if ever they found them.

Ahead of him was a car, indecisively breaking: Daryl smiled because he knew that car, and Carol was the one to say, "It's Glenn!"

* * *

Leading the charge, Daryl returned to where they had originally lost Sophia. Rick and his kid, the farmer Herschel, Shane, Andrea and a few others had yet to be found.

"Look!" Carol pointed across the grass where the cars leaving Atlanta had been backed up. Behind a red truck was three of their missing convoy: Herschel, Rick and Carl.

He quickly pulled to a stop next to them, and there was reunion all around as the two other cars pulled in next to him and the passengers got out.

"Where'd you find everyone?" Rick asked him.

"Saw this guys tail lights swerving." He gestured to Glenn. "Figured he must be Asian."

"Good one." Glenn said.

"Where's the rest of us?" Daryl asked.

Rick sighed. "We're the only ones who made it."

Lori perked up. "Shane?"

Rick shook his head. Daryl couldn't say he'd miss him.

"Andrea?" Glenn asked.

"She saved me, then I lose her." Carol replied.

"Saw her go down." Said T-Dog.

"We should go back." Daryl offered, moving to start up his motorcycle. He'd rather not lose anyone else.

"No." Rick said sharply, stopping him in his tracks.

"We can't just leave her."

"She's not there. She's gone, she's somewhere else, or she's dead." He stated bluntly. "I don't want to risk losing anyone else."

"We're not even gonna look for her?" Glenn asked.

"We've gotta keep moving." Was all Rick replied.

"I say we head east." T-Dog opted.

"We need to stay off the main roads." Daryl said, noting the walker coming towards them. "Keep away from assholes like this one."

* * *

They kept off the main highways, driving down the uncrowded roads until they ran out of gas. It was dark, but at least they had distanced themselves from the horde.

It was uncomfortably quiet around that campfire. Rick and Lori refused to look at each other.  Maggie and Glenn murmured to each other. Everyone was shifty, fighting the urge to turn and run.

"I killed my best friend for you people, and you're all ready to bail?" Rick finally demanded. They looked at him like he was a monster. "He left me no choice." He paused, waiting for someone to come forward, and when they didn't he said, "Maybe I shouldn't be leading this group. I think there's a place for us out there, but maybe I'm wrong. If you think I'm not fit to lead, then your free to walk away. I won't stop you." He waited. No one moved. "No takers?" Again, no one moved. They all just looked on at him, stunned. "If you stay, understand that this isn't a democracy anymore."