"You sure you know what you're doing with that?" Daryl asked Tara who was adjusting the rifle to her preferences.

"Yeah, calm down, let me think." Tara huffed. Rosita smiled, watching Tara breathe in annoyance as she looked down the scope of the rifle. "I was training to be a cop before all this. I know how to aim a frickin' gun." Tara frowned through the concentration with a "hmm" of disapproval.

It was funny to see Tara irritated, it brought out another part of the girl's personality. When they were doling out weapons and planning everything out, it was clear for each person. Rick had his revolver, Daryl his crossbow, Glenn elected for a machete and assault rifle. For Rosita herself, she preferred using smaller firearms like pistols or machetes as they were easier to wield in close quarters. That left Tara to wield the sniper along with the pistol she always carried, along with the newly discovered hum of disapproval that seemed to come out whenever someone challenged her ability.

"It's alright, Tara, we can do this some other time." Rosita comforted her. "I can cover for you, if you like."

Tara shook her head in defiance. "No need Rosita. I've got this." Tara stocked the rifle against the ledge and breathed in frustration. "It's just this stupid thing that won't work with me…" Tara made the "hmm" of disapproval sound again. Rosita shook her head at Tara's stubbornness in disbelief.

"So, these people we're going after. They must be important to you?" Rosita asked Daryl noticing his restlessness as he paced back and forward in the open air.

Daryl stared back at her as if analyzing her every movement. "Yeah." He said. "Carol. And Beth." He continued to pace. He's like a shark, if he wasn't moving he'd probably die. Rosita noted. Her thoughts turned to Beth. This Beth everyone keeps talking about. She's important to a lot of people here. Maggie, obviously is her sister, but where does Daryl fit in this picture? She watched him take his crossbow off and examine it, wiping the black steel with a dirty cloth. He was always moving.

The plan was to draw out some of the officers from the hospital. Noah would be bait with Glenn and Rick close by, ready to capture the officers after Noah lured them out. Daryl and Rosita would join them shortly after they helped Tara set up in the warehouse they had cleared out before.

"Just gotta get this there, and, hrmm." Tara was still fighting the rifle.

"Oh, give me that shit." Daryl huffed. "You just gotta move this here, and then put it up like this."

"Oh, thanks Daryl."

"Whatever." Daryl shook his head. "Thought you knew about this shit, already. Shoulda brought Michonne or Carl instead of you." He shook his head again. "We're set." Daryl said, slinging his crossbow over his shoulder. "Come on, let's go. Kid's gotta be drawing them out by now." He beckoned towards Rosita.

"Wait, can I ask you something?" Tara said as she calmly looked down the scope of her rifle.

"What?"

"How do you see with all the hair in your face?"

Daryl said nothing in response but stared at her blankly. "I'm gonna be outside." He walked out, mumbling something about "crazy chicks."

"Tara!" Rosita chastised.

"What?" Tara grinned. "That was a perfectly legitimate question." She lifted the rifle with ease, expertly adjusting it to her eye level. "You've seen his hair, right? I don't know who has cooler hair, him or Eugene." Rosita crossed her arms and stared at her disapprovingly, trying her hardest not to smile at Tara's ridiculousness, wondering who would break first. She was faking it the whole time.

Thankfully, Tara broke first. "Oh, alright. Tell Daryl I'm sorry I offended him and his lovely hair."

"Mmm." Rosita pondered, "Maybe later, I don't think he's in the mood for jokes right now."

"Yeah, I must've messed him up." Tara smiled. "No, but seriously, Rosita. Why do you think I'm the way I am? Always cracking jokes and stuff. Everyone needs to hope. Even if Daryl doesn't smile a bit, I know he's laughing on the inside, or at the least, distracted. He has to hope that both Carol and Beth make it out of there alive, or else he'll start thinking they're dead. And they are alive. Trust me. Don't you remember back at that fire?"

God, so much has changed already. "I remember." I'm not sure what came over me, seeing her sitting there alone at that fireplace. "You were stubborn. Glenn kept pushing you when you needed to rest."

"You gave me hope, Rosita. Just trying to do the same thing for someone else." Tara turned back to her rifle. "After all, that's what we do isn't it?"

"Huh." Rosita smiled thoughtfully at Tara's wisdom. We started with me patching up her leg, but she continues to amaze me. She's a better person than I am. She kissed Tara on the cheek and felt her blush slightly. "Thank you again." She whispered.

"Rosita! Now is not the time." Tara made a small sound of laughter. "We can do that later. Go now before Daryl gets pissed off again."

Rosita walked out with a smile on her face. She noticed Daryl leaning against the wall, staring blankly at the wide expanses of Atlanta.

"You done?" Daryl muttered at her impatiently.

"Yeah." Rosita stared back at him, trying to decipher the brooding figure in front of her. He's always moody. What makes this guy tick? With Rick, it had been clear. The man fought for his family and would do anything to protect them. But with Daryl, nothing's clear. He's so secretive.

Daryl eyed her suspiciously. "Let's go then." He stomped off.

"Right." They began walking in the general direction where the rest of the group was. Rosita deep in thought. This continued until Daryl broke the silence.

"So, you and her huh?"

"Like what?" Rosita shot back, fully aware of what he was implying. "And her name is Tara. The least you can do for her is remember her name."

"Nah, y'know what? I don't give a shit." Daryl murmured, quickening his pace. "I don't care. You and her can do whatever the hell you want."

"Well, what does it matter?" Rosita said. "Life's too short, you gotta live it"

Daryl scoffed. "Whatever. Let's just get Beth and Carol."

Beth. Something about saying her name changed Daryl's disposition. It was subtle, but it was there. He really cares about her. Rosita thought, adjusting her hat.

"Who is Beth to you?" Rosita questioned, breaking the uneasy silence.

"A friend."

"Just a friend?"

"Look, those two just…they mean somethin' to me alright? Ever since Merle…" Daryl sighed. "Look it don't matter, ok?"

"Ok."

"Good."

Rosita didn't ask any more questions, but it was clear how much Beth meant to him.
—

Beth Greene quietly inched across the cold floor away from the hospital room. It was Carol. She winced as her shoe annoyingly squeaked. Carol's here. Holy shit. She closed her eyes and breathed slowly. She stared at the tiny scissors n her hand. Whatever you were planning to do, you sure as hell can't do it now. Carol's going to need that doctor. She sighed. Alright, Beth. Calm down. Think this through. You've got to be better than before. For Dad. For Maggie. For you. Ever since the prison fell, and she escaped with Daryl, she doubted that anyone else from the group was alive. She couldn't hope it. Now Carol was here and a glimmer of hope shone through the bleakness of the hospital.

I have to see her. Just to let her know I'm here. Beth waited around the corner from where Carol had been wheeled in. She couldn't hear anything in there the room. Slowly, she peaked around the corner, but a few people were still inside with her, shuffling various medical tools and bandages. Crap! You idiot! Of course they're still in there with her.

"Beth!" Dawn Lerner called her. "I see you're met our newest patient.

Beth stared at her. I hate you. "What happened to her?"

A doctor Beth didn't recognize responded. "Oh, we picked her up after an accident. Her condition is stable for now, but that could change any second."

A cop interrupted them, his red face sweating profusely. "Dawn! There's something you need to see. It's Shepherd and Licari. They're back."

"Are they alone?" Dawn questioned.

The cop shook his head. "No. It looks like they're prisoners."

"Damn it, I don't need this shit right now." Dawn rubbed her eyes as she sighed. "Alright, let's see what they want. Beth, stay with me. Beth?" She noticed Beth who had been quietly sneaking away.

"Alright, one second. Just need to get something."

"Well, hurry up. This is important."

Beth sighed. Finally she was alone with Carol. She looks so fragile. The older woman lay motionless in the stretcher. "Carol." She whispered, taking her arm. "I'm gonna get you out of here."

"Beth, come out here!" Someone she recognized. But no, it couldn't be. Rick?

"Oh, shit!" She whispered as she turned the corner.

"…your proof." Dawn was saying. "There she is."

Beth couldn't believe it. It was her family. They were here. All of them. Daryl, Glenn, Rick and Noah were there along with two other women she didn't recognize, one wearing a plaid flannel and the other with a small cap. No Maggie though. Where is she?

Bound in front of them were two police officers she never knew by name, but she knew they were two of the nicer ones.

"We make the trade now." Rick demanded. "These two for Beth and Carol. Two for two."

Beth watched Dawn scrutinize the scene. She finally spoke. "What happened to Lamson?"

"He didn't make it." One of the cops said. He had a wart on his nose.

"How do I know they didn't kill him?" Dawn said.

Wart looked to his friend who nodded. "The roamers got him, Dawn."

"Fine." Dawn agreed. "I'll let you have them. But one condition. Noah has to come back to me."

Noah stepped forward, but Glenn quickly grabbed him.

"That wasn't the deal." Rick said flatly, shaking his head.

"It's fine." Noah said.

"No, it's not."

"It doesn't matter!" Dawn taunted him. "I'm in control here. You see, I have your friends. I have you outnumbered. I''m in control." She gestured at her squad that outnumbered Rick's group two to one. The crowd behind Beth started muttering. Dawn was losing them .

Beth couldn't take it anymore. She had to say something.

"I get it now." Beth glared at Dawn accusingly. Dawn faced her, her eyes widening with interest.

Beth took a breath and continued. "I get it now. You've kidded yourself into thinking you're in charge while everyone around you does whatever they want. Your police force rapes woman, and you let them do that. You choose people who are weaker than you and screw with their heads. You tried to do it with me like you tried with Noah. Your own doctor killed another doctor on purpose in fear he would be replaced." One of the doctors looked downwards. "You think you've got if figured out, but you won't make it in this world, Dawn, you wanna know why?"

Dawn was silent, her arms crossed as she watched Beth monologue.

Beth didn't wait for an answer. She strode towards her group and stood proudly in front, her arms stretched, beckoning towards them.

"These people, they're my family. We trust each other because we don't have to intimidate or bully each other and call it "surviving." We stick together because we love and trust each other. You get by on fear. That's the only thing keeping all of this together. The moment no one fears you, that's when you know you've lost Dawn. And I don't fear you. I never have. "

She turned towards Rick and her family once again. The two who she didn't recognize were silent. The one with the hat nodding in agreement and the other one staring at her intently. Rick nodded at her and a shadow of a smirk emerged on Daryl's face as if admiring her courage. See Daryl, I can stand up for myself. And a hint of a smile on Glenn's face as he mouthed: Maggie's OK. Beth smiled widely and laughed at how perfect it all was, moving in front of Noah as a protective shield.

"And as for Noah? You never could have him. If you want him, you'll have to kill every single one of us."

Dawn trembled with rage, but the fear in her eyes was clear. "Someone shoot her!" Not one person moved.

"You see, Dawn? They don't fear you and they don't love you." Beth smirked. "It's over. We're leaving. You lost." Beth turned her back to the police officer, striding past Noah. "Let's go, Noah."

Behind Beth stood Rick. Next to Rick stood Daryl. Behind both stood a solemn Tara who was quietly observing the stand-off, unnoticed.

"No." Dawn said plainly. "You see, Beth…" Tara saw Dawn reach for her gun and didn't think, only fired. Dawn fell back instantaneously, a bloody circle in her forehead above her lifeless eyes.

"NO!" Multiple yells echoed off the empty expanse of the corridor as both sides struggled to identify who had shot.

Only one gun fired. Tara almost dropped her gun, hands shaking.

Beth was dumbfounded. "I..I…" Holy shit. I could have died. Multiple cops had their guns trained at the ready but no one was firing. One spoke up, throwing her hands up in surrender. "Enough! Don't make this any worse! We…we're done."

"Good." Daryl growled. "Let's fuckin' go already."

"Beth." Someone gasped. Noah leaned against the wall, hands pressed on a reddening circle that only grew redder and redder. He collapsed.

"Noah." Beth stared, dumbfounded. No. No. No. Not you. Not you, Noah. She cradled his head. "Someone…someone…help…" Beth managed. All the repressed emotions came flooding out as she bawled.

The doctor she singled out earlier was there. "There's nothing I can do. The bullet hit his lung. I'm sorry."

Glenn was next to her, pressing a cloth against the gaping wound, but it was futile. There was too much blood.

Noah grimaced, clearly trying to hide the extent of the pain from her, but failing, seeing her friend as the life drained from his face. He reached and took her hand, firmly grasping it in his.

"Beth, it's ok."

As Noah faded away, both sides silently observed the sobbing form of Beth Greene as Glenn comforted her, momentarily bonded by a universal feeling.