Daryl had found himself pacing up and down the cell block again. It was dark out; everyone was asleep which meant that he had nothing to distract himself with so he had let his thoughts get to him.
"She doesn't like you in that way. You're you; no girl ever wants to be with you permanently." Daryl couldn't stop thinking about Carol; the way her lips smirked up whenever he spoke, the way she held herself up, her confidence, the bond that they had, how Ed had treated her. "You'd never do that to her. Never. She deserves so much more than that. More than you can give her. But what if..." He had had enough. He put his shirt on and strode into her cell. Pushing the curtain aside he could hear her soft snores as she slept. She was so vulnerable and fragile while she slept, one hand tucked under her pillow and the other sitting next to her face. Daryl pulled a chair up and sat next to her, he was just going to watch. Protect her. He enjoyed listening to the sounds she made and the way that it was all he could hear.
Daryl rested his head on his hands and slowly closed his eyes, taking in the peace and quiet that seemed to wash over the prison at this time of night. He let his thoughts run wild. He thought Carol, Rick, Lil' Ass Kicker and the rest of the people he now called family. He thought of Merle and the way his eyes were so empty and cold when he had found him. At that point he wasn't his brother, he was a monster. A walking, bloodthirsty thing. He remembered the way his father had treated him. The scars still vivid on his back. He didn't like to think of the past too much. The past was the past. It was gone. It's better to focus on the present. If you let memories rise you lose focus and that's when things can get bad.
"Sophia..." Daryl snapped out of his reverie at the sound of Carol calling out. She was calling out for her daughter. She had gone missing months ago, run off into the woods. Daryl couldn't find her. It had meant so much to him, to everyone, finding her. She was so young, so innocent, and he had failed her. The memory of her stepping out of that barn still haunted the group. He knew that Carol missed her, always would, but he felt like the death of her daughter had made her stronger. "Sophia… It's okay, I'm here..." Carol started to sweat and tears stained her cheeks.
"Carol. Carol wake up, it's just a dream" Daryl said shaking her shoulders lightly, "Carol, it's not real. Wake –" Carol jolted up with a small scream and pointed her knife at him. "Woah, it's just me."
"Jesus, Daryl, what the hell are you doing in here?"
"I heard you mumbling so I came in to check that you were alright. I couldn't sleep anyway."
"Oh well, sorry I almost stabbed you," she said, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"No big deal, reckon I would've done worse," Daryl laughed. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt this at ease. Carol pushed his shoulder teasingly and smiled up at him. "Well, I better get going. Goodnight Carol."
Daryl started to walk out of the cell when suddenly he felt Carol's soft hands wrap around his wrist. "Could you stay?" She wanted him to stay. It wasn't just the words, it was the way she had said them and the look in her eyes, begging him to stay.
"I, uh," Her grip hadn't loosened and the desperation hadn't faded from her eyes nor had she broken eye contact with him. "Yeah. Sure. Do you want me to just-" He had started to pull up the chair and sit in his previous position but Carol insisted otherwise. She scooted over and patted next to her. She wanted him to lay in bed with her. "Carol, I don't think I should."
"Oh come one. You're Daryl Dixon. You're not afraid of anything. We're not going to be doing anything. Just sleeping. I promise."
"O-okay. If that's… if that's what you want." He was nervous. He wiped his palms on his pants before climbing in behind her and putting his arm around her waist.
"Thank you, Daryl." Before he knew it she was nuzzled into his neck and snoring softly again. He smiled to himself because this means that she must have some sort of feelings for him. They could have a chance together. Why couldn't they? Glenn and Maggie found each other in all the chaos. Besides, he was a changed man now. He could call her his own. Daryl closed his eyes and fell asleep with Carol in his arms for the first time.