Author's Note: Enjoy a lengthy chapter! I decided to update twice this week! Happy Walking Dead day! :D

Theme Song: "Sleep Well, My Angel" - We Are The Fallen

My heart swelled and Glenn grinned faintly as if he knew something I didn't. "Why are you smiling like that?" I asked cautiously while Maggie held a pillow against her belly. "Thought you could use some company tonight." Glenn offered this with a small smile.

This time Maggie spoke and she gave Glenn a kiss before walking into my cell, "You don't need to be alone tonight, Vicki. Thought we could bunk up like old times." I felt the tears prickle at my eyes as the gesture of kindness did not go unnoticed.

Maggie and I had "sleepovers" some nights and we'd spend hours talking and goofing off. Sometimes Daryl would yell at us to keep it down and we'd laugh even louder. It wasn't necessarily the night to do this, but I wouldn't turn down Maggie. She was like a sister to me by now. Glenn smiled before taking off and Maggie scooted in on the cot with me. She eyed the can of food, grabbed it and placed it in my hands. "Ya' need to eat, Vicki."

I sighed heavily and relented to eating the food. I barely tasted anything, but ate it all because she wanted me to. During the evening we talked minimally, but the company was much needed. "You sure you don't want to go back to Glenn? I'll be fine.." I trailed off, getting cozy in the cot next to Maggie. "I'm right where I need to be. Just sleep some, I'll be here." I looked up to Maggie and half smiled before turning over and closing my eyes. I didn't want to say it out loud, but I was so glad Maggie was there with me.

Long after I'd dozed off I awoke to muffled voices, but I kept my eyes closed all the while. I didn't want anyone to know I was awake so I kept quiet. I was never like this, but the day had wore me thin. "I promised her someone would be here when she woke up." I heard Maggie's twang before another voice, male, spoke lowly, "I'll stay with her. Go back to Glenn."

Rick.

There was a shuffle and I felt the shift of weight as someone left my side and then another body came and sunk down on the cot next me. "Tyrese and Sasha?" Maggie's voice was low and I could tell she was closer to my cell door now. "Haven't come out of their rooms all day, I don't know.." Rick's voice was numb sounding and it pained me that he was at a loss for his group of people.

"What are we gonna' do?" Maggie spoke again and I heard Rick sigh. I closed my eyes tightly and listened to the exchange. I barely breathed so I could hear each word. "She's family, Maggie. Can't just kick her out on somethin' we didn't see happen. We don't even know what happened-" he started and then stopped as Maggie interrupted him, "I know that, Rick. I meant with her. She's holdin' it together now, but.." This time Maggie stopped talking and I knew both their eyes were on me.

"She'll come back from this. We all have come back from the edge at some point. I doubt she's had anythin' like this happen to her before. Killin' bad people is one thing, but losing good people..it's a hard pill to swallow." There was a brief period of silence before Maggie's voice chimed out again, "She looks up to you, ya' know. We all do." Rick was silent again and I already knew he was looking to down to his hands. It was what he did when he was thinking.

"I'm tryin' Maggie." He sounded tired and I felt my heart twist into two. These people deserved better. Maggie didn't even hesitate with her answer, "I know." I thought Maggie had left before hearing her ask Rick about Daryl. I felt my heart constrict and I held my breath again. "Doesn't wanna' talk to anyone. I saw Carol in there earlier, but I don't think it went over too well.." Rick shifted beside me and I realized pretending to be asleep was a bitch.

"He shouldn't have said those things to her." Maggie had a firmness to her tone and it made me smile. Of course Maggie would stick up for me. "He didn't mean it, Maggie. Ya' know that." The last pause came before Maggie spoke lowly, "Yeah, but she doesn't."

After that, I heard footsteps as Maggie walked away. A part of me was still hurt from the venom that Daryl had shot at me earlier that day. It was not something I could get out of my mind and his words had cut me pretty deep, though I'd never admit that to anyone. Even though they spoke as if Daryl was only shouting at me from pent up anger, I still felt broken because of it.

Rick got comfortable next to me and I waited a good half hour or so before turning over and looking at him as if I had just woken up, "Rick?" I asked sleepily. Rick turned to look at me and he offered me a small smile, "I'm takin' over for Maggie, if that's alright. She went back to Glenn." I nodded and felt relieved. I had wanted Maggie to go back to Glenn at some point, regardless of her promise to stay with me. They needed to spend the night together after such a tragedy. Which brought me back to Rick.

"You should be with Carl and Judith." My voice was a little hoarse, so I cleared it. Rick shrugged lightly. "It's alright." I pursed my lips before shifting on the cot to look up at Rick as he sat beside me with his back against the wall. He must have seen the look on my face so he spoke up, his country drawl sounding out, "Ya' can't blame yourself, Vicki. We'll figure this out like we always do. Together." I nodded silently and peered up at Rick through my ever-growing heavy eyes. All that pretend sleep actually got me sleepy all over again.

I quickly changed the subject, "You should go back to Carl and Judith, Rick. I'll be-" I yawned, and continued to lie through my teeth, "I'll be fine." I wasn't going to be fine. At least not now. Everything was too fresh. But, I lied anyways. I wanted them all to be with their families..not consoling me. But, I was too nice to be mean about it. And let's be honest, the selfish part of my mind wanted Maggie and Rick to be here with me.

Rick offered me a rueful smile and shook his head, "Tell ya' what. I'll stay here until you fall asleep. And then I'll go back to Carl and Judith. How does that sound?" Rick already knew I was stubborn, so it was no surprise he was trying to bargain with me. I felt my smile widen slightly at Rick, "Okay, it's a deal." I turned on my side, facing away from Rick. Not too long after, exhaustion overcame me and I fell into a deep slumber with my back against Rick.

These days he was the closest thing to a father figure I had and it was during the time that I bordered between falling into a deep sleep and being half awake that I realized what I had to do to keep them all safe.

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When my eyes opened early in the morning, Rick was gone and I breathed out a sigh of relief. It was what I had wanted so I wouldn't second guess this decision. I climbed out of my cot and looked to the window and noticed no light shined through. It was still early in the morning. Without a word, I grabbed my duffel and peered out of my cell. I looked down over the railing into the cellblock before gathering my things quietly.

I had been mulling this idea for a long while and after seeing everyone I knew I couldn't risk anyone's lives. Not for me. Daniel was my problem, not theirs. And in my heart of hearts, I knew Daniel would be sneaky and pull some shit like this. It was typical behavior for a psycho, right? It had to be him.

I crept my way to the basement floor and looked around until I saw the maps Hershel had kept up on an old table. I quickly grabbed it and scanned it over and over again. It was only until it was burned into my brain did I roll it back up and put it back where I found it. Stealthily, I wandered the hallways until I saw the door to the prison that led to the quad. I wondered briefly who was on watch duty, but they weren't going to have a choice in the matter.

I back tracked for a moment up to my cell and unclasped my elephant necklace, laying it gently upon the pillow. I frowned at the feeling of taking it off. I'd not taken this thing off since Daryl had put it on and now I was giving it back. I didn't know exactly what I felt about Daryl, but there had always been something there lingering at the edges. A deep connection that I didn't have with any of the others. And it wasn't just me, I saw it in his eyes from time to time too.

But, I couldn't linger on these thoughts for too long. I pushed the charm around for a moment with my finger before turning on my boots and ghosting away from the cell. It was silent and I tiptoed until I reached the exit doors. Pushing it open as quietly as possible, I stepped out onto the quad and the smell of burnt bodies hit my nostrils. I hefted my backpack up on my shoulder and looked towards the watch tower. It was Sasha. I froze and Sasha did a double take before peering down at me.

It was only when Sasha saw that I had my bag and weapons that she climbed down quickly. I forged on towards the gates, paying no mind to Sasha's fierce whispers of my name, "Vicki, what are you doing?" Sasha hadn't seen nor looked at me since the invasion in the prison. It was awkward almost, seeing her. Especially knowing that Sasha was one of the ones that blamed me.

However, here was Sasha following behind me and wanting to know where I was going..almost as if I were crazy. I got to the gates and whipped around in time for Sasha to abruptly stop in her tracks. "I have to leave, Sasha. I have to find him. I'm so sorry for what happened and I know I can't change it. But, I have to go. If he's out there, he only wants me. No one else has to get hurt."

Fresh tears sprung to Sasha's eyes at the mention of what happened, the wound still fresh for everyone. She held there for a moment, taking my words in. She looked utterly conflicted. One part of her wanted me to go and never come back, but the other part of her saw someone familiar, someone like family. And though the wound was still fresh with Lizzie's death, some part of Sasha did not want me to leave.

The things is though, Sasha didn't say a word. She just stared at me, her eyes glistening and full of angst. It looked like Sasha was going to finally protest, but I did something that stunned the both of us. I pulled my Glock out on Sasha and the moment I did I saw the betrayal in her eyes. I felt sick having to do this, but I didn't want anyone stopping me from leaving.

"Do not try and stop me, Sasha. Please. I have to go." Sasha stood numbly, watching me unlock the gates. I slipped out and Sasha took a step forward, but I raised the gun again, "Don't." My words were a warning and I knew I had tears in my own eyes as I spoke. Sasha's eyes were wide and she looked from the gates to me. "Lock up behind me. And don't tell the others." I murmured this before holstering my gun and watching as Sasha stood in shock on the other side of the gate.

Without another word, she locked up the gates behind me. I breathed out a sigh of relief before side stepping a walker that was ambling towards me. I quickly subdued him with my sickle and then looked towards a stray group that was coming towards the gates.

I had plenty of space to duck and dodge them as I ran across grounds and towards the forest line. Once I was clear of the prison and at the edge of the woods, I looked back once more. Sasha was still standing there at the gates and I knew there was a small possibility that Sasha would say something. On the other hand, Sasha might not say anything at all since she still looked like she had some kind of ire towards me for her Lizzie.

Whatever the case, I knew I had to move. I had to take care of the problem before things got worse. I mentally pictured the map in my head with my photographic memory. As I walked on into the woods, the morning sun started to come up. I was leaving the prison behind me, but I kept telling myself over and over again that it was for their protection.

Not to mention, people blamed me for it. How could I stay when people held ill will towards me? Glenn. I thought of him and how he'd be upset that I left. One of my best friends from Atlanta. I couldn't get more attached to these people than I already had though.

Half of me was terrified and the other half of me had a steely resolve. I hated Daniel and my hate for him led me to this point. I knew my plan was suicide and quite possibly the reckless thing ever, but I also knew without a doubt if something ever happened to any of the others, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. And that was not something I could live with so I forged on through the woods.

"I'm coming for you Daniel." I murmured quietly as I headed towards the path that would lead me back to Juno.