Sorry for the delay, am working on chapter 3 now. Special thanks to untapdtreasure she is awesome!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, wish I did though:)
Daryl finished setting his camp up with Dale's help, by the time they were finished it was to dark and unsafe to go into the woods.
"I'm going to head back Daryl. What time do you want to start searching tomorrow?" Dale glanced over at the redneck as the daylight faded fast into darkness.
"Well, I have late watch so first thing in the morning. The longer she is out there, the more scared she get. That means there is more chance for her to get hurt." Daryl's voice carried softly to Dale's ears.
Dale nodded his head and walked away. He paused beside the log on which Carol sat. "Carol, would you like to walk back to camp with me? I figure we could both use a little company."
That would be nice Dale. Thank you." Carol stood up, brushing herself off, and glanced over toward Daryl's camp. "He moved his camp. I think he might be pulling away from everybody because of me, and that isn't right." She nervously wrung her hands in front of her as they began to head back toward camp.
"He's fine Carol. He just felt like he needed some space. He isn't used to being in such close quarters all the time." Dale laid his hand gently on her back and guided her without seeming to.
Carol looked over her shoulder towards the quiet hunter and noticed he was looking right at her. She quickly turned her head. Dale glanced over and noticed a faint blush on her cheeks and thought to himself, 'I do believe she cares for that man. Irma, we may need to give them a little nudge.' He chuckled softly.
The next morning, Dale met up with Daryl, and they headed out for the woods. They had been walking for a while, when Daryl asked, "Ya really think this will work, old man?"
Dale nodded his head, opening his mouth to answer, when Daryl's hand shot up to still him. He stood as still as he could, wanting to ask why they had stopped but he could see the intense look on Daryl's face, and then suddenly he could hear leaves crunching and a soft moan as the male walker came out of the bushes. He watched as Daryl pulled his crossbow up and fired the bolt. It went right into the eye of the walker. Silently, he went and grabbed his arrow back, wiping the black blood from the tip onto his pants.
"How did you hear that?" said Dale, a surprised look on his face, as he met Daryl's intense gaze.
"Ya just gotta listen to everything around ya. I heard that walker, and I also can tell there is a small creek up to the right of this trail. By looking at the ground, I can tell that a fox went through here 'bout two-three hours ago. 'M glad ya didn't say anything though. Mighta riled that walker up if'n ya had."
"Well, I'm glad you're on our side. You really are at home in the woods. Aren't you, Daryl?" Dale was impressed. It showed in his expression.
"Yeah. It's the place I go to when I need a break from all the yappin' you people do. Gets on a man's nerves." Daryl's voice came out gruff and to the point. He wasn't one to beat around the bush.
Daryl started to walk again when he came up on the blackberry bush he had been searching for. Pulling his red rag from his back pocket, he started gathering the juicy fruit to take back to Carol. Once he had it filled, he muttered, "Well old man, it's getting late. Best be headin' back now.'
They started back the way they had come when Daryl stopped causing Dale to almost run into him. "So, if I leave these berries at the log that Carol sits on every evenin', she'll know they're from me?"
"I think if you leave them in you rag, she will. After she eats a few, that's when you can come up and ask her to go for walk with you in the woods." Dale looked over at Daryl, who was chewing at his thumbnail nervously.
"Uhh, a walk? I don't know. I don't think the woods is safe for Carol." Daryl's nervousness disappeared entirely, replaced with nothing but concern for Carol's safety.
"She will be fine with you, Daryl. I don't believe that you would let anything hurt her. Besides, I think it would help Carol to see how comfortable and good you are in these woods. She worries about you when you go out looking for Sophia." Dale watched Daryl out of the corner of his eye. He saw the telltale smirk of Daryl's when the man was happy. He realized then that there was a lot more to the man that they all assumed was a redneck.
They came out of the woods a few feet from Daryl's new camp. From there, they could see that Carol hadn't made her way to the log yet. Dale motioned for the younger man to go ahead and place the berries there to start his apology. "I'll go let the others know how the search went. Good luck, Daryl." He clapped the man on the shoulder and headed toward the larger camp.
Daryl stalked over to the log to set the berries down. His stomach erupted in what he could only equate to a hundred butterfly wings fluttering. He sat down so that he could hide what he was doing. Chewing at his thumbnail, he let himself get lost in thought. 'This is crazy. I shouldn't be doin' this. She's gonna think I'm stupid.'
Glancing around, he saw Dale stop Carol and talk to her for a few minutes. This gave him time to settle his nerves and finish up with the berries. He looked over, seeing the perfect place that he could watch her from. It was just under the cover of the trees.
Carol walked over to the log, holding tight to Sophia's doll. She liked coming here. It gave her solitude. She liked to talk to Sophia. It reminded her of one of Sophia's favorite stories about Winnie the Pooh and his thoughtful spot. Tears welled in her eyes. She brushed a fallen tear away just in time to look up. On the log was all too familiar red rag. She glanced around then moved to inspect it closer.