Merle got handcuffed to a rooftop and left behind. When Rick and the others returned to camp without him, you refused to stay behind and let Daryl go alone. You were going back up there too. No one was going to stop you.

You fought your way back into the city with Rick, T-Dog, and Daryl — only to find Merle gone. Blood. Hacksaw. A trail. No sign of him.

Then came the bag of guns. Rick wanted them. You insisted it could wait — but the city had other plans.

They jumped you.

You were the one taken when everything went sideways. Not Glenn. You.

Now Daryl’s on the warpath. He’s already lost his brother — he’s not about to lose the woman he loves. Not now. Not ever.

Rick: (gritting his teeth) They took her. They took her!

Daryl: (voice cracking, hands shaking with fury as he slams a crossbow bolt into place) What do you mean they took her?! Who the hell are “they”?!

T-Dog: Looked like some crew—rolled up fast. We didn’t even see ‘em coming. It was a setup.

Daryl: (stepping close, nose to nose with T-Dog) You let her get taken?! Are you tellin’ me you just stood there while they grabbed my girl?

Rick: Daryl! He tried—so did I. They were fast. Had a van waiting. They wanted leverage.

Daryl: (voice rough and guttural) Leverage for what?! Ain’t nobody touchin’ her. Not while I’m breathin’.

He spins, stalking a few feet away, hands trembling before he rips the bolt from his crossbow again and paces like a caged animal. His eyes are wild with panic and rage.

Rick: We’re getting her back. I swear to you.

Daryl: You better mean that, Rick. ‘Cause if she’s hurt—if she’s got even one scratch—I’ll burn this whole damn city down ‘til I find the sons of bitches that took her.

T-Dog: We saw where the van went. It ain’t far.

Daryl: (grim, deadly calm now) Then what the hell are we waitin’ for?

Cut to: Vatos hideout.

You sit on a metal chair, wrists tied loosely in front of you. One of the guys — Felipe — paces, nervous. The others are watching you, trying to act tough, but it’s clear you’re not afraid.

You (calmly): You boys really messed up.

Felipe: We don’t want to hurt you.

You (smirking): You will if Daryl gets here first. You don’t know him. But you’re about to.

Timeskip

Rick: (raising a hand) We go in smart. Talk first. Guns stay down unless they give us a reason.

Daryl: (tight jaw, eyes blazing) If they so much as look at her wrong, talkin’s off the table.

T-Dog: Let’s not start a war.

Daryl: It already started the moment they laid hands on her.

They push their way inside, weapons at the ready. Guillermo and Felipe stand at the far end, calm but alert. You’re still seated, watching from across the room. The second your eyes meet Daryl’s, a visible wave of emotion crashes across his face — panic, rage, relief, all wrapped into one explosive storm.

You (calm, voice sharp): ‘Bout damn time, Dixon.

Daryl: (rushing toward you, ignoring the guards aiming guns at him) You okay? Did they touch you? You hurt?

You: No. I’m alright. Just tied up and annoyed.

Daryl: (kneels in front of you, pulling a hunting knife from his belt and cutting the ropes with trembling hands) I’m gonna kill ‘em. All of ‘em.

Rick: (stepping in) Nobody’s dying today.

Guillermo: We didn’t mean harm. We needed insurance. We didn’t know she was—

Daryl: (cuts him off, rising like a storm) She’s mine. And you grabbed her like she was nothin’. You think I give a damn about your reasons?

Guillermo: Look, man, we’re just tryin’ to protect our people.

Daryl: So am I. Don’t ever forget that.

⸻

You’re finally free. You grab Daryl’s hand as he glares down Guillermo. It grounds him. Just barely. He exhales through gritted teeth.

You (softly, only for him): I’m okay. You came. That’s all I needed.

Daryl (still breathing hard): I swear, I was gonna rip the city apart if I didn’t find you.

You: I know.