( Notes: TW - Emotional and Violent :3 )

A lot happened after Gareth's group was taken care of.

Abraham, Eugene, Rosita, Tara, Glenn and Maggie left to get Eugene to DC.

Daryl and Merle came back without Carol but with a young boy named Noah. Noah told Rick where Beth and Carol were and how to get them back from where they were kept.

As Rick, Daryl, Merle, Tyreese got ready to go with Noah to get Carol and Beth, Hedley showed Daryl a card.

'I'm going with you'.

"No." Daryl shot down.

Hedley underlined the note, stubborn.

"No." Daryl said again.

Merle came over, "Ya still recoverin', lil' Dixon. Don't go pushin' yourself now."

Hedley wrote something down. 'I want to help bring them back'.

The Dixon brothers looked at one another.

"It's your kid not mine, baby bro." Merle shrugged, going back over to pack his bag.

Daryl looked between his brother and Hedley's note then let out a big sigh, "Fine. But you do exactly as I say. No runnin' off, no talkin' back, no gettin' yourself hurt again. Got it?"

Hedley nodded. Daryl hugged him tightly.

"He has you wrapped round his lil' finger, bro." Merle said, smirking.

"Yeah. Yeah." Daryl rolled his eyes, "I'm raisin' a soldier."

Hedley grinned as best he could, twitching in pain as his stitches pulled.

"We're going to a hospital." Rick reminded, gesturing to Hedley, "Might be wise to swipe some meds and stuff for his face."

Daryl agreed with a grunt while Merle was already at the door, yelling out, "Come on! We'll lose light if we keep washing each other's ass'! I wanna get ma woman back!"

"So, Carol's your woman now?" Daryl smirked, nudging him.

"Better be after what we did the other night."

Daryl's nose wrinkled and so did Hedley's - as best he could due to his tight scabs. It made Merle belly laugh at the sight.

*****

They got hostages for the exchange, they made their way up the stairs of the hospital, silent.

Merle kept close to Hedley, the boy looking around at the white walls, inspecting every detail.

They entered the hallway, and four officers were waiting, guns drawn. When Dawn ordered the officers to holster their weapons, the group got closer, holstering their own weapons.

Carol was wheeling in a wheelchair, being pushed by Beth, a doctor by their side.

Seeing Beth and Carol made Hedley whine, attempting to go over but was stopped by Merle. "Not yet." He whispered, eyes on Carol.

Carol looked back at Merle, a small sigh of relief escaping her lungs.

"They haven't been harmed." Informed Rick.

"Where's Lamson?" Dawn asked.

"Rotters got him. We saw it go down." Said the hostages.

"I'm sorry to hear that. He was one of the good guys." Dawn said, nodding to Rick, "One of yours for one of mine."

"All right." Rick let go of the hostages, watching them move. Beth pushed Carol, carefully making their way back to the group.

Beth saw Hedley and gasped at his face, "Spider Monkey. What- Oh my god." Tears filled her eyes as she hugged the boy tightly. Hedley whined with excitement, bouncing up and down on his toes as he smiled up at Beth. He didn't mind the pain it caused.

"I've missed you too."

Carol stood with the help of Merle, hugging the older Dixon. Merle held her and whispered something in her ear that made her giggle. Daryl hugged her next, Merle nudging him out of the way jokingly, "She's mine, brother."

Carol rolled her eyes.

"Glad we could work things out." Dawn said.

"Yeah." Rick responded as the group made their way out.

"Now I just need Noah." Everyone stopped, looking back at the officers. Hedley frowned up at Beth. She looked scared. "And then you can leave."

Rick shook his head. "That wasn't part of the deal."

"Noah was my ward. Beth took his place and I'm losing her, so I need him back."

One of the officers beside her tried, "Ma'am, please, it's not -"

"Shepherd!" She cut him off, "My officers put their lives on the line to find him. One of them died."

"No, he ain't staying." Rick said, voice rough.

"He's one of mine. You have no claim on him."

"The boy wants to go home, so you have no claim on him."

"Well, then we don't have a deal."

"The deal is done."

Noah went forward, "It's okay. I'll- I'll go."

Beth looked at him, "No. You can't-"

"No. I got to do it."

"It's not okay."

Noah hugged Beth tight. "Thank you for everything." He whispered to her then separated, walking towards Dawn.

Beth shook her head, "Wait!" She ran to him, facing Dawn with anger written all over her face. "I get it now."

Beth then took out a pair of scissors that she had hidden in her cast, and she stabbed Dawn in the shoulder. It caused Dawn to pull the trigger of her gun. The bullet went through Beth's head quickly, spraying the walls with red. Beth's body fell down. Dead.

Hedley screamed.

Shock and disbelief washed over all that was watching.

Dawn spluttered, trying to talk but Daryl took out his gun and shot the officer in the forehead.

Hedley kept screaming, falling to the floor, hands over his ears as his chest contorted.

Merle knelt down to bring his nephew into his chest, holding his hands down as the boy tried to claw at his already sensitive face.

Carol went over to Daryl, holding his shoulder as he lowered his gun and began to cry.

"No!" Another officer yelled, "Hold your fire! It's over. It was just about her. Stand down."

Hedley kept sobbing, yelling out. Merle took the boy and went out into the other hallway, shielding him from Beth's body.

"I've got ya." Merle tried to soothe but Hedley was erratic, kicking his legs out and yelling. "Stop. Stop now. Ya gonna tear ya stitches!" Hedley didn't care, the stitches in the corners on his lips splitting. "Fuck." Merle cursed, watching and unable to do anything. He just held him close, rocking him like a babe.

"Is there anything I can do?" Sasha asked from behind Merle.

The older Dixon looked over, "Get Daryl."

A moment later, Carol came through. She was crying, kneeling down.

Merle looked at her.

"He's carrying Beth." She said, looking at Hedley. She reached for him, stroking his hair. She began to hum a tune to him, rubbing his back with her other hand. Merle kept his hands in his, making sure the boy didn't hurt himself.

Rick came in, informing them that they were ready to move out.

Merle lifted Hedley, the boy wrapping his arms and legs around him, burying his head into his uncle's neck. He was still crying, making Merle's shirt all wet but the older Dixon didn't say anything. Carol was beside him, rubbing Hedley's back, crying herself and limping slightly. Daryl was behind them all, Beth's body in his arms.

Worse thing was, that when they exited the hospital, Abraham, Michonne, Rosita, Tara, Glenn and Maggie arrived. Maggie was smiling, happy and excited to see her sister.

When she saw her sister, dead and dangling in Daryl's arms, she began to scream and sob.

Hearing the sorrow made Hedley cover his ears and whimper. Carol went and got his headphones out from his backpack - which was on Merle's back - and placed them on him.

Maggie and the group mourned Beth, life drained from each and every one of them.

Beth was a light in this world.

And now it was darker than ever.