Daryl and Carol had been driving for what seemed like hours. Making sure to not follow too close to the car with the white cross. Daryl was sure this would be the key to finding Beth. He hates that he was the one to lose her, hates that Maggie has already lost Hershel, and now Beth is missing. His only bright spot in this whole fucked up world is Carol. Before the prison fell, their friendship had started to developed into something more. He knew she was different from everyone else to him. Of course they were all family but Carol was much for then that. It took thinking she had died in the tombs along with T-Dogg. Finding her in that cell made it clear to him. He loved this beautifully broken woman who knew he was just as broken.
"You're quite tonight, Something on your mind?" Carol asks as if she already didn't know the answer. It was Beth.
"Naw just hoping we get were we are going before we run out of gas." He could see that she didn't believe him but turned away to stare out the window again. Daryl hates lying to her but he's not ready to share his feelings for her. He's never done this before. Growing up with Merle was a revolving door of loose woman but none you'd make a life with. Relationships in the pre-zombie world scared him, but relationships in this walker filled world absolutely terrified him.
(Carols internal monologue)
Carol decided not to push it. He made it clear that he didn't want to talk about it. Before they were separated after the prison they had something. Though it never crossed the physical side, but things were growing between them. During her daily chores she'd catch him out of the corner of eye watching her. Not the in the creepy makes you uncomfortable way. In a strange way it made her feel safer then any fence ever could. He spent every minute he wasn't one watch or hunting helping her or just sitting in silence as she cared for Rick's daughter Judith but this silence was different. It was almost deafening. Time doesn't move like it used to before the world went to shit. I'm not even sure how long we were apart for but it was obviously long enough for him to move on. I don't know what happened between Beth and him, but he was defiantly different. I can't say I blame him. In this world we lose so many people that there isn't even a point in grieving anymore. We didn't know if we'd find each other again or if either of us was alive.
Daryl knew he needed to say something. I knew she had to be thinking the worse but everything I thought I should say wouldn't come out. I didn't want to push her to a place I'm not sure she wants to go, but I can't lose her not like this, not when there is a real threat out there. I can't lose her because I'm not man enough to face when needs to be said.
"Hey, you hungry? I've got some food in the bag in the backseat floor." "We haven't eaten since we started this drive."
"No." Carol says with a hint of sadness to her voice."But if you're hungry I'll grab you something." Fuck he knew that tone. He knew she was hurt. "Look they heading into Atlanta. This place looks worse then when we left it." Daryl says as he stares out at the wrecked skyscrapers and miles of abandoned vehicles.
"It belongs to the dead. There's more of them now then there is us left." I hate when she talked this way. It feels like she is giving up the fight. That she has accepted her fate to either become a walker or die by the hands of one. The car comes to a stop at an intersection and just idles as if waiting on something. Worrying that they had been spotted Daryl started to play out exit strategies to make sure Carol was safe. The sound of a walker slamming into Carol's window brought him back to reality. He knew the people ahead of them would hear the banging and snarls of the walker. Before he had the chance to react Carol has rolled her window down halfway and drove her knife into the walkers skull.
"You OK?' "I'm fine Daryl. We need to get off the street." He knew she was right.
"Find somewhere to hold up for the night. It's too dark out here."
"We'll pick this up in the morning."
"We'll move once they go." Replied Daryl
After a few minutes the car turns left and disappears into the night. He knew the car only had about ten or so minutes before it would be completely out of gas and it be walking from there. Every place they drove by became more apparent that finding shelter was going to be almost impossible. Like he predicted the car shut down in the middle of the road on what used to be considered a rougher side of Atlanta.
"Guess we are walking from here." Daryl said with a half sorry smile.
"Come on. I think I know a place. It's only a few streets over." Carol said grabbing her bag and heading for an alleyway 'Wait, stick to the streets. We can see better." Daryl whispered cutting off her path.
She knew he was right but didn't care. She was tired of pretending things were OK. She just wanted to get there and put some space between them for a while.
Daryl saw the conflict on her face and didn't wait for an answer. He grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him. They only spoke when she told him which direction to turn in. Fifteen minutes later they were here. The doors were boarded up and looked to have not been messed with. Good sign he thought to himself.
"How did you know about this place?" Daryl asked.
"Sophia and I came here for a few night." she said never taking her eyes off the door like she was avoiding letting the memories of her daughter come seeping into her mind.
"Let's go. It should be empty." Carol said walking towards the door. After a few minutes of Daryl fiddling with the barricade door while Carol kept watch for walkers. Finally the wood gave way. They knew if any walkers were in the main entrance they would have already been at the door while he was removing the wood. Turning on their flashlights to scan the dark corridors when a sign catches his eye. "Atlanta's woman and children Shelter" so she had fled from her piece of shit husband at least once. Thinking about him still made his blood boil. Heading down the hall to the left of them that Carol said lead to sleeping areas but have to go through the office to get the keys to the doors. After collecting the keys, Carol turns to a door and listens checking to be sure that no walkers are on the other side but it's nothing but silence. I couldn't help but notice how familiar with this place she was. How many times had she ran here with her daughter to only go back home to her own personal hell. Scanning their flashlight down the hallway to a room Daryl was sure she knew very well when the unmistakable snarls and slamming two doors down. As they approached the shadows of what was a mother and daughter danced behind the frosted glass Clawing to get out. Carol pulls her knife and reaches for the door.
"No, you don't have to." She just stares at the door seeing what could have been her future. She reaches for the handle again. Daryl reaches out and pulls her close to him. "No, let's go." Carol just nodded and walked to the room she used to call home every time Ed's outbursts became to much or she needed some time to recover from one of his more extensive beatings. She always went back though. She was an idiot in her opinion.