Author's Note: I do not own Walking Dead
M'Lady
Dang it, Daryl looked over and saw Carol shivering by the fire. She looked so small compared to the flames. Everyone else (except T-Dog who was keeping watch) had fallen asleep, and had some form of covering (be it a blanket, an extra shirt, or even a towel) but Carol.
Who'd forgotten to give her a blanket or something? Daryl sat up and rolled his eyes.
"Woman," he called to her.
Carol glanced up from the fire, surprised to see Daryl awake.
"I thought you were asleep," Carol rubbed her hands together, trying to keep warm.
Daryl ignored her comment, "I ain't got all night, now get over here."
Carol looked puzzled. He nodded his head towards a corner of the fleece blanket, "Like I said, I don't got all night. You wanna freeze? Suit yourself."
Carol stood from the fire and walked over towards him. Shyly, she lay down beside him. Daryl tossed most of the blanket over her.
"Well, 'night."
"Good night," Carol's voice seemed so small. Everything about her seemed small.
"Wait," she whispered, "Daryl…why do you take care of me? Watch out for me?"
Daryl grunted, "I dunno."
"I know I am such a burden. I slow everybody down. I can't shoot a gun. I can't fire a crossbow…"
"You ain't touchin' my crossbow," Daryl drawled.
"Didn't say I wanted to. But I do want to do more. I…I should have done more."
"What are you talkin' about?"
"Andrea," Carol sighed, "I should have done something. I don't know what exactly…but something."
"Listen, you do the same as anyone else here – doin' the best you can with what you got. Besides, you…you keep me grounded I guess."
"How so?"
"I don't wanna shoot everybody anymore."
Carol smiled, "That is true."
"And I guess it's 'cuz of you. Anyways, you do a lot. Don't let anyone else tell ya different."
"Thank you. Goodnight, Daryl."
"Wait," it was Daryl's turn to speak up, "D-did you really mean what you said about me bein' Rick's henchman?"
Carol sighed, "I don't want you losing yourself. Rick seems to be going off on his own and expecting us to follow along. You don't follow along, Daryl. At least…you never really had before."
"Rick's alright."
"But he's becoming dangerous. I don't like the idea of a dictatorship. If…if Dale were here…"
"Well he isn't!" Daryl snapped, a bit harsher than he had meant to.
Carol sighed again, "I know. It's just…I don't want you just following along blindly. You always question and never let anyone tell you what to do. You do your own thing, and your own thing happens to be quite…well, noble. You've put your life on the line for others more times than I can count."
"Nah," Daryl tried to hide the blush creeping up on his cheeks.
"It's true. You are quite noble. You'd make a good leader, Daryl."
"Don't you go sayin' things like that. I don't want lead nobody."
"What I said about…a man earlier. You're than man, Daryl. You're the good man, the honest man. The man who puts others before himself."
"I ain't all that," Daryl tried to object, "I just do what I feel I should."
"And that is so honorable of you."
"It ain't nothin'," Daryl yawned, "Look, are we gonna hit the hay or what?"
"I'm exhausted," Carol agreed, "Good night, Daryl."
"Good night."
"Daryl…"
"Woman, I need my beauty rest. What is it now?"
Carol smiled a shy smile, "What I said earlier about wanting an honorable man? You're that honorable man, Daryl."
Daryl bit his lower lip to keep from smiling, "I do what I can, m'lady."