AN: I am already sad that we have to wait until February to see more TWD, so I fanfic to get me through the hiatus. This should be a multi chapter, I have it plotted out to about 6 chapters. Your reviews would be lovely! Thanks for reading!

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Bad Influence

Four nights had past since leaving the farm. Rick was only speaking when it was required. Camp was moved daily, and silence was kept at night. Daryl hunted each morning, but due to the herd's recent pass through, there wasn't much to catch. Two squirrels for ten people just wasn't enough. Carol did her best dividing the food, giving Lori and Carl most of her portion, a growing boy and a pregnant woman needed to eat.

Her own hunger is what fueled her resolve to convince Rick they needed to scavenge, there had to be homes somewhere, with canned goods, much needed blankets, medical supplies and clothes. She stepped quietly toward him.

"Hey" she spoke softly to Daryl as he cleaned his kills.

"What?" he snapped at her with out looking up from his bloodied hands. He was still not speaking to her after her 'man of honor' comment.

"I could use your help, I want to ask Rick if we can scavenge some nearby homes, but I don't think he'll be as receptive if you don't back me up" she barreled through her thoughts before he could interrupt.

"Why would my opinion matter?" he looked up at her, the angry tone still in his voice.

"Because, he looks to you when we move, Rick trusts your judgment for where to camp. He'll listen, if you agree." Carol's empty stomach growled and gurgled like it knew she was talking about food.

"I ain't your errand boy" He glared.

"That's not what I am asking you. We need food, blankets, tents. I am just asking you to back me up. Rick has been avoiding any city. Hell he won't even let us pick through any cars we find, just get the gas and go. We won't last like this."

Daryl sighed and stuck his knife into the log next to half of a plump squirrel. "Fine, but you are eating today. Stop worrying about everyone else's shit and take care of your own". He stood, wiping guts onto his already soiled jeans.

They headed toward Rick as he stood pouring over an old local map they had found in the glove compartment of Maggie's car. "Gotta sec?" Daryl interrupted his thoughts; Rick looked at them for a moment before staring at the map again.

"Yeah, I was thinking we head west from here, might be able to get some fishing at that creek" Rick scratched his chin, looking at Daryl questioningly. Carol smirked at him. Rick had just proven her right.

"Not gonna find much more than fish if that's the way that heard was heading" Daryl grumbled.
"What do you want from me Daryl?" Rick was tired and annoyed and it showed in is voice. "I am trying to keep this group safe."

"Safe is one thing, starving is another" Daryl raised his voice, the rest of the camp had come to a silent stand still watching argument.

Carol pushed forward as they bickered peeking at the map. "What about this?" Carol traced her finger on the map in a slow arch from where they were camped to south of where Rick wanted to camp without looking up. "We could scavenge through these two small towns, pick up some necessities, and Ed and his brother had a hunting cabin somewhere around there. It's nothing big, just a large room, a well, a fire place and an old coal stove, maybe we could take a few days to recover there." she was so quiet it looked like she was talking to the map and not the two men standing near her.

"Do you think you could find the cabin?" Rick asked.

"I've only been there once, Ed wouldn't let me go, but Donnie, Ed's brother, shot him in the foot once and they made me and Sophia drive out there to pick him up, wouldn't let Ed bleed in his truck" She smirked slightly at the memory of Ed crying in the backseat of her SUV.

"It's a great idea, the cabin, and shootin' that prick" Daryl agreed glancing at Carol.

"Then we'll head straight there, getting into those towns could be too dangerous" Rick drew a straighter line across the map.

"No." Carol looked up, surprised at her own voice. Daryl nudged her softly with his shoulder. "We smell, we're hungry, we're cold. Damn, there three women in this group that are going to need tampons at some point. Your wife needs vitamins, we probably all should have some if we can find enough. I need tools to cook with. Stop being so damn selfish"

There was a long pause as Carol caught her breath and looked around the group. "What?"

Rick assessed the faces of everyone. Carol was right; they were never going to be able to live like this. "Ok, but we are all on high alert when we scavenge. I want everyone in teams, no one goes anywhere alone, we are silent and efficient, I want out of populated areas as quick as possible" Rick announced to everyone and turned back to his map like a security blanket.

"Thank you." Carol spoke softly to him.

That evening they huddled around the small fire with T-Dog on watch. Daryl had cut the squirrel meat up and skewered the pieces on 10 small sticks, each person roasting their own few bites of food. He sat next to Carol, watching her slowly turning her meat to cook it evenly. "Yours looks better than mine" he held up his, almost raw on one side, black as charcoal on the other.

"And that is why I cook," she grinned shaking her head. Carol handed him the perfectly cooked meat and took his, turning the raw side to the heat.

"I can't take this," Daryl started.

Cutting him off Carol smiled and gestured to the last raw skewer. "T-Dog hasn't eaten yet"

With a slight snicker he handed her the raw meat and began to tear into his now perfect squirrel skewer. "You're with me tomorrow."

"What?"

"T offered to teach Carl how to keep watch of the cars, everyone else is going to pair off, I want you with me. You keep quiet, move fast and you know what we need. You're no burden"

"Oh, okay." Carol blushed slightly at the complement. "Gotta take this..." she jumped up and carried the food over to T-dog sitting on top of one of the SUVs.

When she returned to the fire's warmth she was chewing violently on her last piece of squirrel and had her sweater pulled tightly around her. The temperature was dropping nightly as winter crept up on them. After everyone had finished eating they were curling up in small groups around the fire to keep warm and try to rest.

"You gave him your meat didn't you?" Daryl asked with out looking up.

"I don't have any idea what you are talking about." she sat down near the fire, still shivering.

"Here." Daryl tossed his jacket over her then settled on the ground near her,.

"Daryl, I can't..."

"You can and you will. Sleep. We need to be alert tomorrow"

"Thank you." she said quietly.

"You did good today, we have a solid plan, and that was all you." Daryl let a small smile play on his lips, "and Thanks for lettin' me ruin your dinner."

A small quiet giggle escaped her lips as she laid her head down to sleep. Daryl curling up behind her, close enough for them to share body heat, yet not close enough to touch. Tomorrow they would scavenge and look for shelter.