AN: I know, I haven't updated Thicker Than Water, and here I am posting another story! But I promise that TTW is not abandoned, and I do apologize for the wait on it.

This is a fill for a prompt over on LJ asking for Daryl to have a breakdown. This is AU in that the farm never got overrun so they're still staying there, also Shane's still alive and Randall's not a factor in this. Anyway that's all very sidline to this story.

Enjoy! :)

It'd been over a month since they'd lost Carol, and Daryl still had yet to speak a single word since her death. When Sophia came out of that barn no one expected Carol to take it well, but she'd handled it better than anyone would have expected. At first. As time passed it became apparent she was sinking into a pit of despair. When they moved into Hershel's house she and Andrea were given the spare bedroom to share, it was only a few days before she stopped getting out of bed altogether. Try as they might, no one could pull her from this depression. Daryl seemed to be the only one left she would respond to just before it happened; everyone knew Daryl and Carol shared some kind of bond. The level of the two's relationship was the source of much speculation, but whatever it may have been was their own business. Daryl had really thought he'd been getting through to her, everyone had. But they were all wrong.

The day it happened started out like any other. Before going hunting, Daryl would come to her room to check on her. He'd make sure she ate something and encourage her to get up and around, then he'd leave her in Lori, Andrea and Maggie's care until he got back. He'd come home and hand his catch over to Glenn and T-dog who'd taken up the task of skinning and cleaning his kills for him before checking on Carol again to find her still in bed, having eaten nothing since he'd left. On this day, however, when he entered her room he froze momentarily before flying into a panic. Where the hell was Carol? A sick feeling settled deep in his gut. God he was such an idiot! What the fuck was he thinking, leaving her in Lori's hands; she couldn't keep and eye on her own goddamn son! What the fuck made him think she could watch Carol? Rational thoughts failed him. All he knew was Carol was missing and someone was going to have to answer for that.

"Lori!" He shouted, bolting from the room and down the hall. He was gonna kill that woman! Where the hell was she? "Lori!"

"What?" Lori appeared around the corner so suddenly Daryl nearly plowed into her. The look on her face changed from questioning to somewhat fearful, probably because the look on his face was more or less murderous.

"Where the hell is Carol?" the words came out more growl than inquiry. At that she smiled at him, the damn woman had the nerve to fucking smile at him! But the words that left her mouth next were so damn relieving that he wouldn't have cared if she'd spit on him.

"Oh, she got up." Lori answered simply with a grin.

"What?" That's certainly not what he'd expected. Had things gotten so bad that he hadn't even considered that possibility when Carol's room had been empty? Had he given up hope on her?

"I know," Lori went on smiling, "I was surprised myself, but an hour or so ago she got up to take a shower. I'm so glad, too. I know she's still got a lot of healing to do, but this is a great first step."

"Yeah." Daryl agreed. He turned to leave when a new thought struck him, and he spun back to Lori. "Wait! You said it's been more than an hour, and she's still in there? Shouldn't she be out by now?"

"Well, probably, I guess. I just figured she was taking her time." Seeing that wasn't good enough for Daryl she suggested they go check on her.

"Carol?" Lori called through the door. When she received no response she added a knock and called again. Still no success. "Maybe she'll answer you."

"Carol?" Then as if she needed explanation he added, "It's me, Daryl." Silence was his only answer.

"Come on, Carol. You've been in there a long time. You alright?" He was getting frustrated, that sick feeling twisting his gut again, when he heard Lori gasp. He looked over at her then followed her stricken gaze to the floor. Blood was beginning to seep under the door.

"Carol!" He screamed, throwing his body into the door three times before crashing through to find her. Regaining his footing all he could do was stand there motionless, scowling down at her in shock. He'd seen death enough times to know. There was no need to check. She sat there before him propped up against the wall listing to the side, dead eyes staring blankly, skin devoid of color save for the blinding red where the blood stained it. It leaked from the gashes she'd carved in her arms, from the crook of her elbows to her wrists, dripping down onto the floor to pool around her and slowly creeping along the floor where it'd just now made it to the doorway.

Vaguely he registered Lori scream, the others flocking to the sound and crowding around the scene. There were people talking to him and asking him things, but he didn't acknowledge them. Then something terrible happened. She came back to life before his eyes, but not really; she was one of them. Snarling and grabbing, horrible growling sounds bubbling up out of her. There was a collective sense of shock that seemed to paralyze everyone. That is until she lunged for Rick who happened to be crouched in front of her. This unlocked them all, with the exception of Daryl. He just continued to watch passively as Shane pulled Once-Carol away from Rick and Andrea shot her in the head, painting the wall with gore. He watched her body fly back and fall to the floor, stilling for the final time.