FINALLY back from vacation and I know this chapter is coming out a bit later in the night seeing as I've had a crazy ass work week to catch up on. But here it is, the last chapter of Season 2! Hope it ends well because I was hesitant and confused on how to end this season, but I think it ended well enough on my part. And come on, I seriously went out with a bang on this last chapter, 10,000 plus words, longest chapter to date!

As I've mentioned before, I will take a couple weeks off, maybe less to get my plotline for Season 3 written out and planned and will return with Season 3 as soon as possible. So if you haven't, favorite me so that you'll be notified when I do finally put up Season 3!

Reviews:

NanneroftheWE: Glad you enjoyed the chapter, hope you enjoy the last chapter to Season 2 as well!

CarpieDiemMay: Hahah I'll gladly take the title of bitch if it still means you're enjoying my story lol I do like me some awesome cliffhangers though I hate reading them myself lmao hopefully this will be an equally enjoyable chapter for you and thank you for supporting my story! Until next season!

KyraNoelle: Well, you don't have to wait any longer. His reaction is just beyond that fancy line lol enjoy~

TwilightEclps: I seriously have thought about making a side story for Rick/Ana, a version of this but strictly Ana/Rick. Now you've got me thinking it might actually be a good idea to do haha

Crissy: Ooooooh! I'm glad I was able to hook you so quickly! Glad you are enjoying it so far and hope that I can live up to the hype and keep you coming back for more! Enjoy the last chapter of Season 2 and I'll see you again for next season! Thank you for your support!

shadowoftheblackdeat: Gotta love me some angsty moments lol well at this point in the story, the affection Rick has for Ana is confusing on his part. He is obviously attracted to her and how she holds herself. I don't want to say it's love cause it's honestly far from that, but I would say, you'll find out a bit more about that in this chapter. Enjoy~

Frankie: lol no you were not the only one hoping Andrea would take Dale's spot and just kill over haha

Dark Rose Charm: So, a conclusion to my last update, hopefully, it'll answer all your assumptions! Enjoy~

Lavendor Queen: IT HAS BEEN REVEALED AND ITS BEAUTIFUL!

Bri47: I had always planned for Ana to tell Daryl, felt like she needed someone to know the shit she was going through lol poor girl. Kind of connects them a bit more.

UmiNight Angel Neko: Yes, we can always trust Daryl to keep his lips zipped, hopefully lol

This is the last chapter of the season so I want to take the time to thank everyone who only stumbled upon my story during this season and to those who have been with me from the beginning, thank you so much for continuing to support my little side story. I know it isn't much but I do appreciate all the reviews and followers I get, makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside lol no but seriously, I love you guys and hope I'll see you all back for season 3!

Disclaimer: I do not own the AMC's the Walking Dead or it's characters, just Ana

Author's POV...

The two stood there, for what seemed like hours, just waiting for the other to make a move. Ana wasn't sure if what she had said had gotten through to the man. Honestly, she was more worried that what she had said in her defense to get the man to believe had done the complete opposite. She was worried the man would completely flip the switch and avoid her from there on in. If someone had told her the same, she knew, she'd react the same way he was.

"What kind...of other world?" Daryl wasn't sure how to go about this though he had spent the majority of the time going through what she had just confessed to him. As crazy as it sounded to any sane person, he found himself realizing that what she had said, no one would know, not even those down below who had known him longer. He wasn't a very public person when it came to his personal life so there was no way in hell someone would know the things she had said. Unless, she had known him for even longer then he had thought, stalked him maybe? But that was impossible as well, just the look of desperation on her face, the same she had given him out in the forest earlier on the day, enough to push him to believe her, even just a bit.

Ana stared at the man in surprise, realizing that he may believe her even just a bit and stepped forward, closer to him.

"It's like this world but without the walkers. What life was like before the walkers." She explained carefully as he tilted his head in confusion, not completely understanding how that would be considered the 'other world' if it was just like his.

"This life ya'll are living in with the campsite, Hershel's farm and so on, in my world, it's a...well, this is going to sound even fuckin' weirder to you but...in my world, it's a television show." Ana carefully pushed forward, watching the various emotions cross Daryl's once blank expression before settling on one of disbelief.

"And I know, you're gonna think I'm fuckin' crazy that what I'm sayin' is just shit in the wind, believe me, I would think the same but how else do ya explain what I know? I knew about those putos in Atlanta, about them jumping us in the alleyway. I called Shane on his shit with Lori when I shouldn't have known. I knew what we were walking in with the CDC and Jenner. I knew about Sophia running off and getting lost, so I went after her. That's how I found her. I knew you guys would end up at the Greene's farm. I've seen this happen so many times that I easily found my way through a forest and to you at the farm without knowing you'd be there. I said I should have been able to help Dale because I knew it was coming." Ana explained further as Daryl cast his eyes down to the ground where his boots were hidden in the tall grass.

"Why didn't ya stay back if ya knew it was goin' ta happen?" Daryl's eyes shot back up to Ana who sighed, hanging her head in shame.

"When I went ta look for ya yesterday, somethin' was tryna stop me from going into the forest after ya. I don't know what it was, or why. At the time, I figured it had somethin' ta do with the plot line so I tried to remember what was comin' but for the fuckin' life of me, I couldn't remember. Ever since I've been here, I've been able to call things before they happen, attempt ta stop a few things but the further down the line I go, the more I change shit, I'm forgotten stuff." Ana wasn't sure how to explain what she was feeling without sounding even crazier than she already did.

"Everythin' comes with a consequence, that's why I was kidnaped by those putos. Or attacked continuously by fuckin' walkers, because I said or did somethin' that wasn't supposed ta happen. I think, Dale dyin' in front of me was a consequence on savin' Sophia when she was mean ta die out there. I should have stayed back, stayed with him, but I couldn't fuckin' remember anythin' and ran after ya." Ana slowly lifted her eyes, meeting Daryl's calculating eyes before he glanced away to his right.

"So...ya know shit before it's gonna happen, is the farm gonna be a permanent fuckin' place?" Daryl then asked as she snorted, shaking her head at him.

"Ya know I can't say shit. Like I said, if I tell ya somethin' or do somethin' that isn't meant ta happen, something bad is gonna happen." Ana excused as Daryl lifted his hand, chewing on a hangnail.

"Well, ya fuckin' told me this shit, ain't this the worst shit ya could do?" Daryl then asked, worry coating his words as she sighed, turning to peer down at the farmhouse where a group of people was gathering near the shed.

"Probably, ain't gonna lie but I wanted ta tell ya the truth." She met his eyes once more, an unknown emotion settling behind his orbs.

Daryl believed her, he had no doubt. It sounded crazy to him but he could tell she wasn't lying to him, that what she was saying was real. But how was that possible? How did she end up here? Why did she end up here? And how much did she know?

"How much do ya know?" Daryl then asked as he pulled his box onto his shoulder.

"On one hand, enough. But on the other hand, not enough." She whispered in doubt as Daryl glanced over his shoulder to the farmhouse.

"I'm headin' back to the farm, ya comin'?" Daryl didn't want to dwell on the subject too much, knowing the new info was too much for him to mentally handle right now. They'd have time later to talk more about it.

"Uhh...not yet. I'm gonna hang out here, chill for a bit more." Ana passed him a soft smile, glad he wasn't completely avoiding her as she had originally thought.

"Keep out of trouble, be back later." Daryl nodded, making to step back away from her only to stop himself, swallowing his pride as he turned back to her quickly, pressing a hard kiss to her soft lips. Ana's eyes shot open in surprise, having not expected the man to openly kiss her before he turned back away from her quickly. He took a few steps in the direction of the farm before stopping as she watched him.

'Ain't yer fault what happened ta Dale. Even a trained fuckin' doctor couldn't help the man so don't let those bastards get ta ya. Ya worth more than that." Ana felt her cheeks quickly flare up at his confession before he trotted away, disappearing down the hill and towards the farm.

She couldn't believe what was happening.

She had just come clean to Daryl about knowing shit and he took it, well, he took as it well as he could. But he didn't hate her. He did completely flip out like she thought he would.

Once Daryl had disappeared from sight, Ana found herself standing in the same spot he had left her, her fingers brushing across her lips in thought. Not only did he not hate her, but he had kissed her. Just the thought of not losing the one person in this world that mattered most to her, took her legs out from under her as she fell to her knees in relief. Warmth filled her form as she knelt in the tall grass before letting one a single laugh, this situation clouding over Dale just briefly.

Ana found herself lost in her thoughts, lying in the grass just thinking about everything that has happened since she had arrived here. At first, the emotions of knowing what was going to occur and not being able to do anything about it, overwhelmed her. She remembers wanting to leave this place, thinking that maybe if she died here, she'd return to her own time. But now that she looked back on that instant with a new set of eyes, she found herself never wanting to leave.

She had nothing back home for her. Sure, she had a family, a life, friends, but she always felt alone. Her family looked at her like some sort of insect. Always breathing down her neck to be someone she wasn't, someone she didn't want to be. Her family had tried to shape her into someone they wanted her to be, an heir to a family business like a child should, but she would have none of it. Wanting nothing to do with her family business, she got part-time jobs like being a waitress or tutor just to pay for her schooling so that her family had no connection to it. She was sure the only one that knew about her going to school was her grandmother, but now, she had a nagging feeling that her mother had caught on soon after. Her friends, she'd miss though. They were the craziest bunch of bitches she ever came across in her life and she loved them for that.

But compared to this life. Sure, they were running for their lives every day. Worried about their next meals or a place to sleep, but still, she had people who genuinely cared about her here. They genuinely cared about what happens with her, physically or mentally, always making sure she's alright.

Then there was Daryl.

She found herself, not wanting to leave him. She realized, no matter how much she danced around it, she'd never be able to go back to her time and be the same after encountering him. He did things to her, protected her like no one else had, she found herself tearing up at the prospect that maybe, she'd wake up one more and be back in her bed. That this would all be some sick dream and that it had never happened.

Before long, the sun had slowly crawled behind the trees, casting a low glow over the pasture, pulling her from her thoughts as she sat up to be welcomed by darkness.

Had she really been out there that long?

"Shit..." She muttered to herself, climbing off the ground before dusting herself off.

Daryl hadn't come back like he had promised, so she casted an unsure eye at the farmhouse lit up at the bottom of the hill.

Maybe something happened?

Maybe something came up?

She had a nagging feeling in the back of her head as she noticed how quiet the farmhouse was. No movement on the outside, barely any on the inside either.

Ripping her gun off the ground, she began making her way towards the farmhouse before movement just behind her caught her attention. Without glancing back to see who or what it was, she quickly darted into the treeline just to the left of her, planting her back to the nearest tree. Talking, voices, familiar voices is what welcomed her as she glanced around the trunk of the tree, to see Rick and Shane standing just a few yards apart, Rick's back to Shane.

"Fuckin' hell..." The plotline knocked the wind from her chest as she realized what was happening and what exactly she had missed while daydreaming. She really needed to get her shit together.

"So...this is where you planned to do it?" Rick's voice carried over the wind as Ana began to silently make her way down the treeline, closer to where the two men were standing.

"It's a good place as any." Shane shrugged as she peered around a tree, eyeing up the two men just in front of her.

"At least have the balls to call this what it it- Murder." Rick hissed, turning to face his ex-friend who continued to eye him in a daze.

"You really believe if you walk back onto that farm alone-no me, no Randall-..." Rick continued on in irritation as Shane chuckled, waving his hand at the man.

"I want you to hush up." Shane mentioned though Rick wouldn't step down with that.

"You really believe they're gonna buy whatever bullshit story you cook up?" Rick narrowed his eyes, his hand itching for his pistol.

Ana silently cocked her gun, aimed at the side of the man's head as she silently made her way out of her hiding spot, gathering Rick's attention as she put a finger to her lips.

"That's just it. It ain't no story." Shane smirked, waving his gun around.

"I saw that prisoner shoot you down. I ran after him. I snapped his neck. It ain't gonna be easy, but Lori and Carl-they'll get over you. They done it before. They just gonna have to." Shane taunted as Ana stopped, just a few feet back from Shane as she listed to him go on and on.

"Same fuckin' way ya did with Otis?" Ana spoke, making her presence known to the man who startled at her voice, his crazed eyes shooting over at her.

"Ahh...wonder where you crawled off to. Take that old man's death hard, huh?" He mocked sending Ana grinding her teeth as she fought the temptation to just kill him there.

"Can't deny I have a fuckin' conscious when we all know you don't." She shot back as he chuckled, shaking his head.

"It's your fault he fuckin' died, to begin with, I'd hope you'd have a conscious with the man's death on your hands." Shane added as her eyes hardened, her feet moving on their own to move closer to the man.

"Ain't my fuckin' fault. There's nothin' no one could have done ta help him." She hissed defensively sending him chuckling in amusement, again.

"Who told you that? The redneck or maybe the Sheriff?" Shane's eyes flashed over to Rick who was standing rigid.

"No matter, now that you're both here, get to take you both out and be done with it." Shane mockingly checked the clip of his gun.

"Shane, you leave her the hell out of this." Rick threatened as Shane's eyes snapped up to meet his friend's ones, a slow smirk growing on his face.

"Oh? Is that protectiveness I smell on you, Rick? And for what, this girl?" Shane tilted his head, wanting to push Rick further.

"Shut your fuckin' mouth. This is between you and me." Rick avoided.

"I'm assuming she still doesn't know, huh?" Shane turned back to Ana who stared between the two men, confused. Not sure what they were talking about as Rick's now panicked eyes shot over to her.

"Oh, she doesn't, huh?" Shane noticed the look Rick passed her as the grip on her gun, wavered ever so slightly.

"Shane..." Rick warned as Shane cut him off, intently watching Ana.

"Rick doesn't love Lori anymore, he likes you." Shane blurted out as Ana's eyes shot wide and over to the Sheriff who quickly glanced away from her stare.

No. That couldn't be right. Rick loved Lori. Even after she cheated, he still cared for his wife. That's how it was in the show. He still cared for her.

"No...I...what?" Ana couldn't stop herself from whispering in disbelief as Rick hung his head, unable to deny it as a stone dropped into Ana's stomach.

"Ever wonder why this bastard was hovering around you all the time? Seems ole Ricky here has a crush on the new girl, surprise, surprise." Shane mocked as Ana opened her mouth to say something, anything but like usual, she found her mouth floundering for words.

This couldn't be right. There was no way this was true. Shane was pulling her leg, she was sure. But the way Rick was now acting, avoiding any eye contact with her, his head hung as if someone had just kicked his puppy, he wasn't denying it.

Fuck. What had she done?

She wasn't sure why it had taken her so long to pinpoint certain things, but now that her mind was racing to find anything to prove Shane's words, she realized that everything Rick did to her, proved it.

She had fucked up.

She turned, wanting to voice her opinion, maybe try to deny what she was now believing to be true, but she wasn't given a chance. As soon as she made a move to face Shane, her gun was painfully whacked from her hand before his large hand was once again, tightening around her throat, gun pressed to her forehead.

"Familiar position, don't you think?" Shane smirked down at her as she gaped, clawing at his hand as he effortlessly lifted her tiny frame into the air.

"Shane! Let her go!" Rick screamed as Shane chuckled, shaking his head.

"Not another step or sound from you, or my finger might just slip." Shane put emphasis on the P in slip, taunting Rick who froze in his steps.

"Shane, your fight is with me. Just let her go..." Rick pleaded as Ana gasped for any air available, her legs viciously attempting to kick out at him. Unfortunately, Shane had learned from the last few times she had tried that same move. Quickly, letting her go, he wasted no time in ripping her off the ground and spinning her to press her back against his chest, one arm tightly around her waist, his gun now pressed to the side of her temple.

"No, my fight is with both of you." Shane cocked his gun as Ana's eyes widened, meeting Rick's in mild panic as she attempted to whip up something to do to stop this psycho from killing her. She eyed the gun on the ground just feet from her, too far, he'd catch her before she got anywhere close to it.

"Shane, why? Why now? I thought we worked through this all already and now..." Rick's eyes bore deep into Ana's as she returned the look, claw marks slowly showing up on Shane's forearm that slowly tightened around her neck.

"We tried to kill each other man. What do you think? We were just gonna forget about all the shit that happened, ride off into the sunset together?" Shane laughed mockingly at Rick before leaning his head down beside Ana's once more.

"Think i'd forget all the shit you put me through, huh? From the quarry to the CDC, fuckin' hell, I've never wanted to kill someone so much in my life. I'm definitely going to enjoy killing you most." Shane seethed into her ear, leaning down and biting harshly into her shoulder. Ana screamed, tensing as she tried to push him off only for the man to rip his teeth away, laughing as blood poured down his chin from the open wound now in her shoulder.

"Shane! Stop!" Rick shouted, stepping towards him again only for Shane to tighten his grip around her neck, his gun pressing painfully into her temple.

"Oh Rick, you are making this way too easy for me..." Shane slowly began to smirk through blood tainted.

Shane eyed Rick, waiting for the man to jump out and fight for the woman in his arm as he thought he would. He soon let his eyes scan down to the body in his arms, the open wound on her shoulder now bleeding down the front of her shirt causing his smile to widen. This was all too easy.

"Even right here, right now, you ain't gonna fight for em'? For her?" Shane's eyes panned back to Rick who stood stalk still, his eyes only on the woman in his arms.

"Hate to say this but I'm a better man than you, Rick. Cause I can be here and I'll fight for what matters to me. You come back here and you just destroy everything! You got a broken woman. You got a weak boy. You ain't got the first clue on how to fix it and honestly...don't think you want to, especially with this piece of ass now on your radar." Shane sniffed at her hair teasingly as she licked her dry lips, the pain in her shoulder now going numb as she listened to the man rant on and on.

"It's not...it's not true." Ana rasped out through the fog as Rick's eyes shot down to her once more.

"You shut your fuckin' mouth..." Shane hissed, tightening his arm around her throat.

"Carl isn't weak, Lori isn't broken, but to you, anyone that isn't on your standards is worth nothin'." Ana pushed out, gasping for air as Shane's arm pressed painfully against her windpipe.

"Shane!" Rick snapped as Ana's arm shot out, stopping him from approaching.

"Carl...Carl is a good boy. He's not weak, you can't be weak in a world like this. He's been pushed to mature quicker than any child should, but that doesn't make him weak. Doesn't make 'you' weak. There is nothing to fix Rick, well, maybe one thing..." Ana hoped that Rick would pick up on her words, not even completely sure if what she had in mind would even work.

"Raise your gun, Rick. Raise it or I'll kill her." Shane had enough of Ana's crap, only tightening his grasp on her, ignoring the way her windpipe slowly began to sink beneath his forearm.

"You're gonna have to kill an unarmed man." Rick shook his head, giving Ana one last look as he pulled his gun from his holster, holding it backward as he approached a skiddish Shane. Shane eyed the man in suspicion, watching the gun in his hand as he grew closer.

"Nice and easy. Easy does it." Rick dropped his pistol to the ground before standing with his hands in the air.

"Now listen to me, Shane. There is still a way back from this. Nothing has happened here. We're gonna lay down our guns and we're gonna walk back to the farm...Together. Back to Lori. Back to Carl." Ana's face was slowly beginning to turn blue as she gasped for air.

"There will be no such thing, Rick. You know we'll never be able to go back from this. You're gonna die by my hand, but first, this bitch..." Shane's attention momentarily shot down to Ana who was beginning to lose consciousness, giving Rick the opportunity to dive at the man. Completely catching him off guard, Rick pushed Ana forcefully away before tackling Shane to the ground, as his gun went off. It missed everyone thankfully as Rick straddled Shane's chest, his machete pressed deeply into the center of the man's chest.

"Shhhh..." Rick bit his cheek, watching as Shane opened his mouth to say something only for a bubble of blood to pour from the man's lips.

Ana was seeing black dots clouding her vision as air rushed back into her lungs causing her to choke back, coughing viciously at the sign of oxygen. She knew what Rick had done and honestly, even if she wanted to get up to see what was happening, she couldn't find it in her to sit up from her current position in the tall grass. It felt like her lungs were on fire.

"Ana! Ana! Are you okay?" Rick's voice shot through her ears as she was suddenly ripped off the ground to sit up, a sturdy chest being pressed against her shoulder as she gasped in any air she could get her hands on.

Rick ignored the fact that he had just killed his best friend and began lightly caressing the woman's cheek, hoping she would be alright. Her eyes stared up at the darkening sky, almost if she was seeing right through him while she took wheezing intakes of air, her neck already bruising from Shane's hand.

"Damn it..." He whispered, not liking the fact that said man had put his hand on her like he had and the fact that it had left a visible print. If he wasn't already dead, gurgling in his own blood, Rick was sure just the sight of her bruised neck was enough to push him to kill him once more.

"Ana, can you hear me?" He whispered, placing his hand on her opposite cheek, pulling her attention to him as her eyes finally met his own.

"Fuckin' hell...hurts like a bitch." She wheezed out, coughing through a wince as Rick sighed in relief, glad that she was still okay though he was sure once Daryl got a good look at her, all hell was going to break loose.

"We should head back to the house, sure everyone is worried." Rick calmly offered as he pushed himself to stand before helping her clamber off the ground on unsteady feet. Once she was standing and he was sure that she wasn't about to face plant into the dirt, he retrieved her gun for her, slipping it into the holster at her side before searching around for his own gun. He was sure he had dropped it nearby.

Daryl's POV...

I felt like a stone, the size of a mini-van was slowly beginning to weight itself deep in my gut the further into the forest we had gone. I had originally meant to check in with the group and return to Ana back on the hill, but when I approached the farm and saw the shit storm that had hit, I didn't think twice about throwing myself into it just to have a reason to kill something, or someone. Sure, it wasn't the intended man I had my eye on for the past couple months, but it'll do for the time being.

"Did you find Ana?" The Asian's voice pierced through the night sky as my eyes shot up from the prints we were following and to him.

"What does that have ta do with ya?" I defended quickly, peeved that this man still worried about a woman that would obviously hold her own, no matter what shit was thrown at her.

"She's a friend, Daryl. That's all, promise. Just wanted to make sure you found her, safe and that she's alright." Glenn was clearly annoyed with the way I had answered if the furrow in his brows was anything to go by, but I could care less as I pushed on.

"She's fine, mind yer own fuckin' business." I spat out as my eyes shot back down to a rough part of the dirt that obviously been kicked up.

"Dust up right here." I knelt down, pushing one of the leaves out of the way as Glenn stared down at it confused.

"What do you mean?" He asked unsure as I rolled my eyes, realizing I was speaking to someone who probably had no fuckin' idea what I was goin' on about.

"I mean something went down here." I growled out, standing and pushing him out of the way as I followed another set of trails.

"It's gettin' fuckin' weird. Had a little trouble." I muttered as I moved on before freezing when I saw the looks of what I could pinpoint to be shoes, peeking out from behind a nearby tree.

The Asian couldn't contain his gag at the sight as I sputtered my lips, coming fully around the tree to get a look at what once was Randall.

"Fuckin' hell..." I muttered, glancing around the area for a bit before turning back to the dead body lying out in front of us.

"Got bit by a walker." Glenn said with confidence as I scoffed, kneeling down in hesitation, making sure he was truly dead before I began digging around. Something about this whole situation didn't sit right with me.

"He's got no bite marks." I concluded, my assumption from earlier in the evening coming to life as I shot to stand, noticing the confused look on the Asian's face.

"Yeah, none you can see." Glenn excused sending me growling in irritation.

"No, I'm fuckin' tellin' you he died from this." I kicked out my foot, making contact with the boys head as it rolled over into an odd angle, visibly showing us that he had broken his neck.

It took some time but within moments, it seemed that Glenn had finally caught onto what I was getting at and passed me a horrified look. Pussy.

"That means..." He didn't get a chance to finish his comment as a loud gunshot echoed through the trees, shaking us to the core. My attention shot around the forest, trying to pinpoint the sound though it echoed from all directions before something in my heart cracked.

"Ana..." I whispered in concern, finally deciding on a direction before I took off running like a bat out of hell.

She was out there. Rick and Shane had gone in that same direction and now that I knew Shane had been the cause behind all of this, I could only assume that he had a plan in motion, one that I prayed Ana was far from.

Author's POV...

"Dad?" Ana's eyes hadn't moved as quickly before, snapping up from her hunched form to the boy now standing feet in front of them, his father's gun in his grasp.

"Carl." Rick said in hesitation, knowing exactly what the scene looked like to the boy as he noticed the man lying dead just behind them.

"You know...you should be back home with mom." Rick uneasily pointed out, catching Ana as she stumbled to take a step, gathering Carl's attention as the bruises coating her neck glowed through the night. Before Ana could open her mouth to settle the argument she knew was coming, Carl's grip on the gun had tightened before he rose his hand, aiming it at a shocked and horrified Rick.

"Carl, just-just put the-" Rick wasn't sure what to say to make his son see reason as he put his hands up in defense while Ana leaned against him, still trying to get her barrings together.

"Carl...stop..." She rasped out as Carl's hands began to shake as he held the gun, his terrified eyes landing on her as she stared across the field at him.

"You're hurt." Carl pointed out in fear as Ana swallowed down her bruised throat, attempting to hold back the wince that crawled up her spine.

"I'm fine...it wasn't your dad." Ana quickly explained, knowing that the boy had been thinking that as his eyes widened slightly.

"I know you're scared, you're not sure what is happening, but I need you to put the gun down before..." Ana had heard it too late as what she ignored happening behind her, finally happened. Carl hadn't waited another second as Rick's pistol went off, shooting past the two of them before hitting something behind them. Ana should have been more alert, knowing what was coming as both her and Rick shot around to see a walker version of Shane falling back onto the ground. Rick stared down at the man who had once been his friend, and dead, in confusion before it seemed to have set in with him.

You didn't need to be bitten to be changed.

Ana ignored it and instead, stumbled forward towards a crying Carl who had soon dropped his father's gun in favor of hugging the now kneeling woman in front of him.

"Shhh, it's okay, you're okay." Ana promised through a hush as she ran her fingers through his hair while her other hand rubbed his back soothingly. She knew what the boy was be thinking, someone he looked at as an uncle, he had just shot him. She knew the boy was shaken up by doing so, which she didn't hold against him at all. No child should have to do that.

"You're alright, Carl. Everything is alright." Ana winced as her voice cut in and out as she spoke before she pulled away from him, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of her shirt as Rick approached them from behind.

"You did what you had to do, Carl. Don't think any less of yourself. Had not for you, your father or I could have been bitten." She calmly added, hating the way her voice cracked and wheezed as Rick knelt down at her side.

"You're still hurt." Carl sniffled sending a smile across Ana's features at the boys worry for her.

"I'll be fine, thanks to you." She passed him a kind smile as Carl's watery eyes met hers before he went about wiping his own face.

"Shane...he did..." Carl then began to ask as she shook her head, scooting closer to him to grab his hands, stopping him from continuing.

"No, don't do that. Everything is okay and that is all that matters. Now, we should head back to the house, I'm sure everyone is worried, hm?" Ana knew he was shaken, poor thing as he nodded to her words and stood up with Rick helping Ana to stand.

"Can you draw me something else when we get back home?" Carl stopped suddenly, turning to look up at her with bright eyes causing her to chuckle, as best as she could. How could she tell the boy no?

"Of course."

Carl hadn't let go of her hand since they had left the field and honestly, Rick was slowly melting at the sight. He had never thought Carl would grow comfortable with someone outside of the family, especially in this world, but when Ana came around, it was like a bee to honey. Carl was always intent on Ana. Even when he didn't specifically seek her out, Rick had noticed the boy always searching for the woman and then when she had disappeared the previous day, he overheard him talking about it with Carol. He had been truly worried about the missing woman and if she was alright.

Ana had no problem holding the boy's hand, she could tell he just needed someone to hang on to after what had just happened. She knew previously that Carl was going to shoot Shane but she had realized how much more heart wrenching it was to see it happening in person. No kid should have to go through that and if she had been capable, she rather had been the person to put him down, not Carl.

But, she worried less about that the closer they got to the house. Thanks to that douchebag, she knew something was wrong with her neck and throat. It wasn't broken, that she was sure about but the slightest movement stung like a bitch and she had all about given up on speaking. Daryl was not gonna be happy about this, she was sure.

Rick seemed to have known too.

"They're not gonna be happy." Rick commented under his breath as they slipped through a broken fence board into the main field.

"Ain't shit we can do about it now. Shane's dead, we move on." Ana didn't want to sound like she had no heart but honestly, Shane didn't deserve shit from her.

Ana passed Carl a soft smile, not wanting the boy to think much more on the topic as she sighed, stopping in their walk, kneeling down in front of Carl.

"What's wrong?" Carl asked unsure as he chewed on the inside of his lip as he tried to stop his eyes from panning down to the bruises growing darker and darker on her neck.

"You're amazing, ya know that?" She whispered, realizing that it hurt less when she whispered to Carl who stared back at her with wide eyes.

"I am?" He asked surprised as she chuckled, immediately regretting it when pain shot up her neck which both boys noticed as Rick knelt down at her side.

"Course. But not only amazing, insanely brave too. Not a lot of kids your age could have done what ya did, saved me and yer dad." Ana shook off Rick's worried eyes before offering Carl another smile.

"I know it was probably scary and hurt, but what ya did was right, no matter what anyone else says. You're a brave kid Carl, kick ass too." She winked at him teasingly, watching the way the tips of his cheeks reddened at the compliment as Rick smiled softly at the interaction.

Ana hated the words Shane had spouted about Carl. Sure the shit he said about Lori was right, without a doubt, but Carl wasn't weak. She saw what he would grow to be and what the boy had to grow through, you couldn't be weak and go through shit like that.

"We should go." Rick interrupted the two as Ana nodded in agreement, standing on wobbling legs once more as Rick caught her as she stumbled again with a huff. Fuckin' legs.

"You sure you're alright to walk?" Rick asked worried, his arms tight around her waist as she nodded, knowing she was more than capable to walk on her own. Patting his shoulder, a silent sign to let go of her, Rick hesitantly did as she glanced innocently over his shoulder in the direction they had come from only for the color to drain from her face.

"Oh fuck..." She muttered in horror when it finally dawned on her. The farm wasn't safe, it never was going to be and this was proof as she watched the horde peek over the hill, stumbling in their direction.

Rick turned to see what she was looking at just as Carl peeked around the two, letting out a gasp of fright as he clung to both Rick and Ana.

"We...we gotta get to the house, tell the others." Rick instantly grabbed the two, dragging them in the direction of the house, only to be cut off by another horde coming from the right causing the trio to slide to a stop, Carl pressed tightly into Ana's abdomen.

"We'll never get through that." Ana shook her head as she passed Carl behind her as she ripped her machete out of its hiding place, slicing through the nearest walker without much effort.

"Can't go around either." Rick huffed out as he began kicking walkers away from them while Ana glanced around for an escape route.

"The barn!" She yelled in realization as Rick glanced at the very building with a nod as he grabbed out for Carl.

"Carl, stay close. Go!" Rick pushed his son to run before he grabbed at Ana's waist, yanking away from her killing fest and towards the barn.

Daryl could feel his heart beating in his throat as he continued to run, only to yelp and slide into a tree as he attempted to stop and hide. A horde, a fuckin' horde was coming through the forest and towards the barn.

He panted heavily, attempting to keep his breathing low and unheard as he felt panic swell in his chest. Ana was up the hill from here, exactly where the walkers were coming from. He bit his lip, shaking the evil thoughts from his head as he sighed, realizing that Ana was smarter than most. She must have saw the horde and ran for it, no way she would have bypassed them, no way she would have stayed to fight that many off on her own. No, she wasn't stupid, she knew her limit, she must have ran. Ran back to the house to warn the others, that's what she would have done.

He nodded in agreement with himself as he changed directions and took off running back towards the house, passing Randall's body on the way back.

Breaking through the treeline, huffing out, he stumbled up the stairs just as T-Dog opened the door to allow him, seeing the horde coming down the hillsaid.

"Kill the fuckin' lights!" Daryl screeched as everyone took one look out the open door to see what was coming in their direction.

"I'll get the guns." T-Dog locked the front door, slipping past everyone and down into the basement where the guns were being stored.

"Maybe they're just passing, like the herd on the highway." Carol commented softly as she peered out the curtains with Andrea at her side just as Daryl came charging down the stairs.

"Anyone seen Ana?" he rasped out as Glenn shook his head in confusion along with a few others.

"Haven't seen her since last night." Carol added in concern as Daryl's heart sunk. He didn't hesitate, grabbing his bow before walking towards the door where Carol dove out at him, cutting him off.

"You can't go out there with those things out there." Carol scolded in desperation only pissing Daryl off more as he pushed her aside, as gently as he could muster, pinning her to the wall beside the door with narrowed eyes.

"Ana is out there. I ain't leavin' her out there with those fuckin' things so get the fuck out of my way." He hissed just as Lori ran into the room, announcing Carl was missing catching everyone's attention along with Carol's. She pushed off of Daryl, glancing around the room in growing horror when her little girls face was not among those present.

"Sophia?" She called out, praying she was just in the other room hiding from the excitement. But when no answer came, Carol realized the worse just as Maggie came down from upstairs with a shake of her head for both children.

"Shit!" Ana cursed as both her and Rick slammed the barn door closed on the herd following them, wincing as the walkers pushed effortlessly against the opposite side of the door leaving both adults stuck holding it shut.

"Alright Carl, gonna need ya to listen to me." Ana muttered out as Rick's eyes shot around the barn, looking for anything within reach to use.

"I-no, I can't..." Carl was shaking like a leaf, though she couldn't blame him as she forced a calm smile on her face realizing he must be seeing the fear on both their faces.

"Remember what I said back there? You're a brave kid, one of the bravest I've ever known so I need ya to do somethin' for me. Somethin' for me and yer dad, think ya can do that?" She fought back a groan as the push on the other side of the door grew causing her to slip through some hay, almost completely falling face first onto floor had Rick not caught her and helped her back up.

"I...I don't know." Carl answered unsure sending her inwardly cursing as she continued to push.

"Carl, I don't want to scare you, but everyone needs yer help right now. Not only me and yer dad, everyone at the house. Your mom, Daryl, Sophia. We all need yer help, okay?" She hoped putting out the girl's name would help the boy see reason as she watched him slowly stop shaking before he pulled on a brave face, nodding towards her causing her to smile a bit more genuine.

"Alright, I have a lighter in my back pocket. I need ya to take it and go up that ladder at the back. When I say drop it, ya drop it. Okay?" She eyed the pocket at the back of her shorts as Carl hesitantly stuck his hand in it before pulling out a lighter.

"But..." He made to argue as Rick answered him this time, finally realizing what the woman had planned.

"We'll stop some of them from reaching the house and distract the others, so at least we'll have a chance." Rick added as Carl stared between the both of them in hesitation.

"Hey buddy, you got this. I trust ya." Ana pressed as Carl stared at her in shock as a few moments passed before he nodded, a bit more confident, turning before running over to the ladder.

"On 3?" Rick turned his attention back down to her as she sighed, adjusting her stance just a bit before the man began counting. On 3, they both let go of the door, running towards the back of the barn as the herd stumbled in. Clapping their hands, doing anything to get the herds attention, Rick grabbed her, pushing her ass up the ladder before he began climbing.

"Carl! Now!" Rick shouted halfway up the ladder as the boy threw the lit lighter without any hesitation instantly sending the dry hay on fire along with the bottom half of the barn.

"We gotta get out of here. We wait any longer and we're gonna get caught in the flames." Ana held Carl to her torso, holding the flaps of her flannel over his face, attempting to block what smoke she could from the boy as Rick ran over to an opening on the top floor of the barn.

"We got a ride! Come on!"

It was complete chaos when they finally cleared the barn, sadly losing another one of Hershel's family in the wake, but they had no time to sit back and make sure as they made a mad dash for the house, Carl's hand still tightly wrapped in her own hand.

Luckily the group hadn't completely left yet as Lori screamed out for Rick and Carl. She leaped out of the back of the truck and towards her husband and child, looking at them as if she had been staring at their ghost.

"No time for reunions! Go! Get in!" Ana screamed through her swollen throat, ignoring the look Lori passed her when she noticed the marks around her neck.

"Sophia! Sophia!" A voice caught her attention as she was trying to climb into the back bed of the truck, her eyes narrowing in on Carol all alone.

"Fuck! Carol!" Ana slammed the door shut after grabbing a rifle from the backseat of the truck, telling Rick to go on without her as she shot through the walkers, reaching Carol who was sobbing and begging her to find her daughter.

"Come on, we'll find her." Ana promised, making sure the woman's hand was in hers as she began swinging through the group of walkers heading for them.

Ana wasn't sure if she was going to make it through the herd as she looked around, noticing that basically, all the cars that had been present were nowhere to be seen. They had really left her just as a child screaming caught the two women's attention.

"Sophia!" Carol didn't hesitate to scream back, ignoring the herd bearing down on the two as she ran towards the sound, Ana barely having time to reach and shoot down any walker trying to make a snatch at the crazed mother running off.

Luckily they stumbled upon Sophia hiding just behind a barrel, unhurt and sobbing loudly. Ana pulled the girl out of her hiding spot, passing her over to her mother as the two turned, being faced with dozens upon dozens of walkers heading straight for them with nowhere to go.

"Mom." Sophia sobbed at the sight, clutching to her mother stomach as Ana stood in front of them, her wide eyes scanning the area, her mind running away with itself on how the hell she was going to get out of this unscathed only for the sound of a motorcycle engine coming up behind them to break her from her thoughts. She turned, looking at Daryl in relief as she began pushing the mother and daughter towards the backseat of the bike.

"Get them out of here." Ana huffed, shooting a nearby walker down just as Daryl caught her wrist.

"I ain't leavin' ya here." He shook his head in defiance, uncaring about the two on the back of his bike. If he had a choice in all of this, he'd take her and ONLY her.

"Well, yer goin' to cause we ain't all fittin' on yer bike, genius." Ana snarked out, pulling her arm free as she shot another getting too close.

"I ain't fuckin' leavin' ya!" Daryl snapped as she turned to see Sophia crying even harder, the sight alone tugging at her heartstrings.

"Ya are gonna leave me here, go get them to safety, now!" Ana hadn't thought twice as she grabbed his collar, pulling his lips quickly against her own before stepping back with a smirk.

"Gonna take more than a few walkers to kick my ass, Dixon. I'll meet ya at the highway." She slowly began to step back from the bike, not giving Daryl any chance to grab out at her again.

Every bone in Daryl's body was screaming at him to stay, to grab her and pull her onto the bike. He could figure out a way to get them all to fit if it meant he'd be taking her away from this hell. But from the look on her face, he knew, even if he parked the bike, she would raise hell against him until he took the other two to safety. It pissed him off to no end that she always thought about others above herself, like now, but that's just how she was, as annoying as it could be.

Letting out a frustrated growl as the walkers grew closer, he eyed her once more, watching as she effortlessly hit a walker down with the butt of her gun.

"Better see ya ass up there or I'll find ya myself." Daryl threatened before taking off as Ana did the same, running towards the forest where she knew she could put much needed space between her and the herd, hopefully.

Hours later...

Everyone had congregated on the highway where they had lost Sophia, the sunrise done and over with as everyone silently stood around, watching the groups redneck who had not stopped pacing the guardrail, his eyes intently on the treeline.

"You think Shorty is alright?" T-Dog asked worried down to the Asian sitting on the car hood beside him, an equally concerned look on his face.

"It's Ana. She was made for this world, like Daryl." Even Glenn didn't believe his own words as T-Dog inwardly agreed with his statement.

"We can't stay up here all day, we have to go before that herd comes back around." Beth suddenly commented over to Rick, catching the attention of everyone present, including the rabid redneck who froze in his steps, his eyes snapping over to the blonde.

"We can't leave, Ana's still out there." Carol defended as Rick and few others nodded.

"But that herd, it could come back around. We're sitting ducks out here!" Beth was hysterical as Hershel attempted to calm her down, shut her up just a bit.

"Ya wanna leave?" Daryl's dark voice pierced through the tension brewing in the group as Rick and T-Dog were quickly on their feet in case the man lashed out.

"Daryl..." Rick calmly started as Daryl's eyes shot over to him, almost daring him to say anymore shit.

"No, you lot are alive cause of her so don't say shit ta me. She put her fuckin' neck on the line to get that woman and her little girl out of there! I'm sure as fuckin' hell she saved you and yer boy out there too, ain't I right? She's done nothin' but help assholes like ya'll and ya wanna leave her ass back?" Daryl was shocked by the group, though only one person had said anything about leaving. Just the thought of leaving her back, a chance of never seeing her again, it didn't sit right with him. If the group decided to leave, fine, but he wasn't going anywhere. He'd go searching for her if he had to.

"Whatever, fuck ya'll. I ain't leavin' so if ya wanna leave, get the hell outta here." Daryl turned away from the group, unable to meet their eyes as he returned to his spot near the guardrail just as a movement in the treeline caught his attention.

It was brief though he had caught it just as a form came stumbling out of the trees and into the tall grass. He wasn't sure who or what it was as he pulled his pistol from the back of his pants, hopping over the rail in the next instant with the rest of the men close on his tail.

Daryl slid down the hillside, tripping over himself to get to the place where he had last seen movement, his heart in his throat.

It had to be her, it just had to be.

"Fuckin' hell..." The body had spoken when he was close enough to hear it, sending relief through his system as he all but dropped his gun, rushing over to see Ana laid out on her side, looking to be completely exhausted.

"Ana!" Daryl shouted, dropping to her side as he picked her up, lightly shaking her to wake her up though she only let out a soft snore before her head lulled back, showcasing the large bruises coating her entire neck.

"What the fuck happened to her?!" T-Dog snapped as Daryl's eyes hardened, scenarios shooting through his head as Hershel winced at the sight as he carefully reached down to check her pulse with a relieved sigh.

"She's alive, most likely exhausted." Hershel promised as Daryl's eyes continued to eye the bruises along her neck, his blood slowly boiling over at the sight. What the hell had happened in the time they had been separated, for her to get those? Who the hell had given them to her? When he found out who did, who caused her such pain, he was going to kill them, slowly.

That was a promise.

No one was ever going to hurt this woman anymore. For as long as he continued on, anyone that did shit to her would answer to only his pistol.

Rick, on the other hand, stood there, eyeing the wound in guilt.

It was his fault, it was all his fault just like Shane had said. He couldn't protect his family, he couldn't protect those he cared about most. The evidence clear on the skin of the woman lying in the arms of another man.

But that was going to change now. He was going to protect what was his. His family, his friends and most of all, the woman in Daryl's arms because she meant way too much to him to allow any more harm to come to her.

That was a promise.

And there it is. The final chapter of The Walking Dead: Ana's Series - The Farm.

Honestly, the farm season was not one of my favorites seeing as a lot of things that happened in this season just annoyed the hell out of me, but I'm happy to say that the prison is one of my favorites so I'm so excited to start writing up a plotline for that season. Like I always say, if you have any suggestions on what you would like to see happen in season 3, let me know, I do enjoy reading everyone's suggestions and it does help me brainstorm a bit better.

Either than that, I hope I will see ya'll back for Season 3:

The Walking Dead: Ana's Series - The Prison

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Until next time ya'll~