A/N: Another one-shot (well, let's call this a short story) that must be born. I promise I will add to my other Caryl fic "Everything I Do" soon! This takes place not long after the TWD:S3 episode in which Carol appears in Daryl's cell to thank him for saving her.
Carol tossed and turned in her bunk as sleep eluded her once again since Daryl had rescued her from the tombs.
Hiding from the Walkers and knowing T-Dog had sacrificed himself for her weighed heavy on her mind.
Rolling over for the tenth time, she finally got out of bed.
She knew Daryl was often plagued by nightmares of his own, so she left her cell and quietly padded down the cellblock towards his cell. She hesitated in his doorway, peering into darkness within.
"What's wrong?" he sleepily muttered, sitting up and swinging his legs off the bunk.
"I can't sleep," Carol whispered, edging into his cell. He motioned for her to sit next to him.
She leaned against him and sighed.
"Every time I close my eyes, all I keep picturing are Walkers advancing and thinking 'this is it,'" she said.
They were silent for a while.
Daryl didn't tell her all he envisioned was her graveside and that he was sure he'd lost her for good without telling her how important she was to him.
"Ya wanna stay 'ere t'night?" he finally spoke.
She turned her head in surprise at his invitation.
"You sure?" she asked. He gave her a slight nod.
Carol crawled into his bunk and settled against the wall. Daryl lay down beside her before startling her by pulling her to his side, causing her to rest her head on his shoulder. She tentatively placed her hand on his chest and he covered it with his free hand.
"Try to get some rest," he murmured in her hair.
She was eventually lulled to sleep by his heartbeat under her ear. He followed suit, reassured of her existence by the warmth of her body nestled to his.
Daryl snapped out of his slumber when he heard footsteps. Carol shifted and made an intelligible sound when he inadvertently tightened his arm around her.
"Daryl, we need to make a run this mor…" Rick called out as he appeared in the doorway. He didn't finish his sentence, shocked at the sight of Carol curled up with Daryl.
Daryl put his index finger to his mouth to hush the sheriff. He didn't want to wake Carol if he didn't have to.
Rick seemed to understand and lifted his hands up in surrender as he backed away. Carol was having a rough time bouncing back since Daryl had found her alive.
He decided the run would have to wait or he'd have Glenn do it. He made sure to tell the others to let Daryl and Carol sleep, omitting the part about them being in the same cell.