She was the only one that was allowed to touch let alone hold his crossbow. He'd caught her with it one night. Carol had had it up aiming it at the wall. He'd stood leaning against the doorframe just watching her. She must have seen him in the mirror in their cell because she spun around, her face bright red. Quickly shoving the weapon behind her she greeted Daryl brightly and added a smile. Had the blush not been bright along her cheeks he would have believed nothing weird was going on and the crossbow poking out from behind her back was a big give away. Daryl just raised one Eyebrow and Carol's face fell.

"I was just looking… I'm sorry Dare." She said pulling the crossbow out from behind her back and handing it to him.

"It's all good. You know that you look like a kid that just got caught with her hand in the cookie jar." The smile soon returned to Carols face when she realised that Daryl wasn't mad. She had never been scared of Daryl but that didn't mean that she liked seeing him mad. He rolled his eyes and took the weapon and slung it over his shoulder.

"I'm headed for a shower. You coming?" Carol asked. Since the incident when rick had been caught naked by a walker he had made the rule, two people everywhere. Even when they went to the toilet, imagine how annoying that could get. Daryl and Carol had worked out a system where one would stand watch and the other would wash then they would swap.

"Nah… I'll wash later, wanted to get a hunt in before it gets dark." The hunter answered.

"Okay. Just don't stay out too long." Carol reprimanded.

"Yes mum…" Daryl taunted and Carol laughed and brushed past him. Daryl ran a hand across the small of her back before branching off from her towards the exit. Maggie was sitting in the cafeteria; maybe she could stand watch for Carol.

"Maggie… I want to take a shower; you think you could stand watch for me?"

"Hmm? Oh don't you usually shower with Daryl?"

"Yeah but he's on a hunt."

"Sorry Carol I've got watch in a few minutes. Justin's still up, ask him." Maggie answered.

Daryl had warned her away from Justin. He had said he recognised him from before the turn; one of merle's old drinking buddies. What could it hurt though she had her knife…?

"Ok thanks mag." Carol said and wondered off in search of Justin.

~0~

Daryl returned to the gates to a scene of Chaos. There was a group of people at the front of the gate but no-one standing on guard at the gate, weird. As he drew closer he could make out snippets of conversation.

"He did that to… I should kill you… fucking pervert." Daryl had heard enough.

"Hey are you going to let me in or not?" Glenn broke away from the group and opened the gate enough for Daryl to slip through Buck and all.
"What's going on man?" Daryl asked the young man he had become to see as his brother.

"Carol… Justin… he…" Glenn couldn't seem to finish his sentence through his rage. Daryl took off running towards the prison and burst through the doors to his best friend. People just pointed down towards the shower block and he took off running.

"Carol sweetheart… you need to put down the knife and come here so we can take a look at you." Herschel called out to a sobbing figure in the corner.

Carol lay crying in a pool of blood on the floor of the shower. He heart broke to see her like this. He ran towards her and slid to his knees.

"Back off Dare!" Carol yelled and raised the knife again. Completely ignoring her he slapped it away and dragged her into his arms. She initially fought his firm grasp but soon gave into his embrace. Water and blood soaked into Daryl's clothes but he couldn't have cared less. The others crowded in but the warrior waved them out and curled his arms protectively around his best friends' body.

"What happened?" Daryl asked calmly but his insides were churning and he already knew the answer.

"He…" Carol couldn't seem to be able to finish her sentence through her tears.

"Justin. Did he…?" Daryl asked hoping Carol got his meaning. Carol seemed to understand what he was asking and nodded. She could feel rather than hear the growl emanate from his chest. Carol just lay limp in Daryl's arms. There weren't any more tears. It's like she had cried out all of the tears she had left all she had left was the numb feeling in her chest.

Daryl reached up and turned on the water setting it to a warmer setting to try and warm Carol up and wash off all the blood. He stood up kicked off his boots, shirt and jacket and pulled Carol to her feet. Almost all of her weight was resting on him. After lathering his hands up with soap he washed her as quickly and effectively as he could manage.

Wrapping her up in a towel he couldn't quite get his hands to stop shaking with rage. That's what the big commotion was just inside the gate. It was the group dealing with Justin. Good, that motherfucker deserved to die a slow painful death and Daryl was more than happy to provide.

He picked up her clothes from the bench and helped Carol dress. The hunter picked up his sister and carried her to their cell. They had been sharing a cell for a little over a week now and already the cell was becoming less and less of a cage and more and more of a home.

Everyone stepped out of his way as he carried her home. No-one wanted to get in between Daryl and what he wanted. And right now what he wanted was to avenge Carol and kill Justin. He placed her down onto her bed and tucked her in, dropping a gentle kiss against her temple. She was already well and truly asleep by now. He took the opportunity to just sit there and watch her.

How could someone bring Carol down to this level? She'd had enough of this in her life from that bastard Edd. Rage built up in Daryl and he needed to find a way to expel it or it would become turned against the people that meant the most to him.

The commotion outside caught his attention.

Perfect.