A/N: Sorry this is so short, I've been writing tons but unable to finish anything.
The codeine they had grabbed from the hospital made Carol sleepy and breathless. She stumbled out of the van when it had finally coughed its last gasp. Tyreese gently gripping her arm as she struggled to stand, her world twisting dizzily as the painkillers made everything soft-edged and unreal.
Dully she heard Rick tell them they were going to have to keep going on foot.
She was way too high for this, she thought. Feeling slightly nauseous. The hand on her arm released and she felt another arm slip around her from the opposite side. She looked up and peered through the haze at a familiar face.
She murmured his name and then wondered if she had really said it aloud, so she said it again.
"I'm here." His voice was gruff and his arm was strong even though his hand fidgeted, brushing bare skin where her shirt had risen up and then jerking away as though stung.
She leaned against him and felt her body relax as the full effect of the drugs kicked in. She felt warm. Rick was saying something else, she didn't care. Her arm slid around Daryl and she rolled herself until she faced him, her body against his, boneless and unselfconscious. She looked him square in the eyes. He looked back with a startled expression but she felt both his hands settle nervously on her hips.
"Darling..." She murmured and a very far away part of her shivered in embarrassment as the endearment slipped out. But at the forefront of her mind she was way past embarrassment and her hand was sliding up his jaw.
He melted against her as soon as her fingers tangled in his hair, his hands flat against her back, pulling her into him. He bent his head and pressed his forehead against her throat, she wasn't even standing anymore, he held her up as her knees gave way, murmuring something into her hair. Her name? She couldn't tell.
A very loud, pointed cough made them both jump and his grip on her loosened slightly as color rushed up his neck, their bubble of intimacy breaking under the sudden realization that the entire group was focused on them.
For a moment everyone was quiet. Then Michonne comically put up a hand to shield Carl's eyes, who grinned and swatted her away. Tara was pink. "Yessss, I knew it, I knew it." She hissed, glancing triumphantly at Abe, who rolled his eyes.
"Uh." Rick had stopped mid-sentence, raising an eyebrow. "Uh-actually, maybe it would be better to rest for a bit."
"Yes." Tara quickly agreed, a mischievous expression playing across her face. "We should rest over there-" She gestured vaguely away from the vehicles. "And these two..." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Can have all the privacy of the van."
Daryl growled, "The woman's injured." He spat, looking insulted that anyone would insinuate he'd take advantage of someone who was hurt and high.
Tara grinned at him. "Oh, well, maybe she needs some...sexual healing."
The group couldn't hold back the rush of giggles that burst forth and Daryl's face matched the red of the fire engine.
He felt Carol shift in his arms and looked down, to his horror finding a familiar teasing glint in her eye. "Oh shush." She hummed, leaning her head against his chest. "I wouldn't mind some privacy."
Tara stifled a squeal
Daryl glowered at the small brunette. "Y'know that's not what she meant-"
Rick made a noise between a cough and a laugh. "Okay." He said a little too loudly. "Daryl, you're in charge of making sure she sleeps it off." He put a hand on his son's shoulder. "Everyone else, let's get camp set up."
The group dispersed reluctantly. And Daryl was glad that Carol waited until they were out of earshot to smile into his neck and mumble "How d'y'know that's not what I meant?"
He lifted her. "Stop."