Shit. Ow, shit.
Daryl Dixon had cut his hand with a knife. His own knife. After all of his experiences, all the time he had spent fending for himself, he cut himself with his own knife. He looked up to see if anyone noticed. They were all still distracted by whatever they were doing. Good, he thought to himself. The last thing I need is for one of the others to see this mess.
You okay?
Goddamn it, he thought as he turned to see Carol, eyebrows raised. He pulled a rag from his back pocket and wrapped it tightly around the wounded hand. Yeah I'm fine.
She stared at him. Is your hand okay?
It's fine. Just a scratch is all.
Well, okay. See ya later then. Carol, turned back in the direction she had come from and began walking that way. Daryl winced as his hand throbbed. He watched her turn the corner.
Hey Carol! he called after her. She peeked back around.
Hm?
We, uh, we got any more alcohol in the first-aid kit ? I should probably clean this. He looked down at his hand then back up at her, tightening his grip on the rag. She smirked.
I think so. Let me grab it. She disappeared again. His hand continued to throb and the rag was beginning to wet with blood. Daryl stared at the forming bloodstain. He could only remember one other time he had cut his hand, when his daddy had come up on him. Merle was gone somewhere then, so Daryl had to protect himself. He had grabbed a kitchen knife, but cut his hand in the process. His daddy just laughed and took him upstairs for a whooping.
Daryl? He looked up and saw Carol standing over him with a bottle of alcohol, some cotton balls and gauze.
We didn't have any bandages, but I managed to gather this up.
He just stared at her, still reliving his flashback. She laughed.
Here. Carol sat next to him and grabbed his hand, pulling the rag off. She expertly pulled up the cap on the alcohol bottle and poured some on a cotton ball. Daryl assumed she had done this before, with Sophia. He cringed as her name came into his thoughts.
I know it stings, you just gotta get through it.
He glanced at her, then looked at his hand. The cut wasn't bleeding anymore. Carol placed the remaining cotton balls over the wound, then wrapped his hand with the gauze.
There. Better?
She still had his hand in hers. He lingered for a moment, then realized what he was doing. He pulled his hand away sharply.
Yeah. Thanks.
Carol's demeanor seemed to wilt. No problem, she said with a half-smile. Grabbing the bottle, she rose.
Well, I suppose I better check on Judith. I left her with Beth, so who knows-
Carol?
She stopped. What?
He stood, facing her.
Thank you. I mean it. She smiled sincerely this time.
Anytime, Daryl. They stood like that for a few moments, then Carol smiled politely and turned away.
But Daryl grabbed her arm. She looked back, startled yet silent. He stepped near her, very near, so that they were face to face.
And he kissed her. And she kissed him. In that moment, they both forgot the world and everything was okay.
