The day had been like any other, it was hot as hell. He'd buried himself in the forest earlier than normal wanting to get away from camp before people started getting up, Merle included. After catching two rabbits and three squirrels (and putting down a walker or two) he figured now would be as good a time as any to return to the camp, it was getting dark after all.
By the time he reached the camp, he could see that Ed had practically drunk himself into an abyss, but was still clutching firmly to what looked like a bottle of whiskey. Rolling his eyes as he walked past him, he passed the animals to the blonde haired lady and made his way to his brother who seemed to be tickled pink.
"Would you look at that…Mouse looks like she's good and ready to kill her husband tonight bro". Daryl gazed in their general direction and noticed that Carol was practically dragging her husband away from the fire, and the newly abandoned whiskey he was reaching back for. "Maybe that means you stand a chance with her after all Darylina".
"Shut up Merle" he growled. Still watching the exchange between husband and wife he noticed Carol's stance change when Ed roughly lost his footing and swore at his wife. Daryl's breath hitched as he watched the drunk chase after his wife, and his knuckles turned white from where he was grasping his crossbow so tightly. Feeling his brother's hand on his shoulder, Daryl shrugged harshly to get it off. "Easy bro, it's not your place"
"Hmmmhmmm" he mumbled before stalking off in the direction they'd been heading. He knew he shouldn't interfere between a man and his wife, but he couldn't stand idly by and watch her get hit. It wasn't right. No woman deserved that.
As he watched Ed stagger towards Carol from the shadows, he thought it strange that she didn't look nervous at all. In fact, she looked calm…eerily so. Having always prided himself on being an observant person, Daryl was shocked when he noticed that Carol had something in her hand. It looked like, but wait it couldn't be…was that a…a skillet?
Ed got himself up in a huff, but then fell to the floor again in a stupor. Rather than walk away, he noticed Carol edge up to him closely. A smile made its way across her face before she raised the skillet and started to lay into him hitting his back and legs. Was this really the mouse?
Daryl coughed out a laugh which spooked her, and caused her to look into the shadows trying to find its source. He stepped further back into the shadows and continued to watch her with a smile on his face. After a moment or two she walked off and Daryl walked up to Ed and kicked his shoe. He was definitely out. If not from the stupor, he was sure that Carol had added to his current unconscious state. Chuckling to himself, he made a mental note not to get on Carol's bad side, before considering how on earth she was going to explain it in the morning when Ed got up. Turned out he needn't have worried at all.
"What the hell happened to me woman" Ed demanded grasping Carol's arm tightly as she went to move past him with a bundle of washing in her hand. Daryl steadied himself preparing to get involved, when she suddenly glanced at him and just as quickly returned her gaze back to her husband. Did she know I was there last night? A sphynx-like smile ghosted across her face, and disappeared before her husband could notice. "You fell down the quarry Ed, you don't remember?"
Yeah, I definitely don't want to piss off the mouse.
