I don't even know what this is, guys. Speculation? Wishful thinking? I really don't know. Just me working through some dialogue prompts trying to shake the writer's block dust off, and I guess I've been reading and checking out too many filming spoilers/pics, lol. This probably has literally zero basis in reality, but eh. I don't care. Anything that gets the creative juices flowing again can't be all bad, huh? I'm not 100% happy with it, but then again, I never am, lol.

Just a moment in an alleyway.

xx2xx

"I can't let you do that."

Scrubbing a tired hand over her face, Carol sighed. "Daryl, it's a good plan."

Daryl wouldn't hear of it. His jaw set in stubborn determination, his stride sharp and tight, he whirled back to face her, the quiet, lurking presence of Tara and Morgan not even registering with him. "Naw."

"Carol's right," Morgan interjected. "Our chances are better if we split up."

"Don't remember askin' for your opinion," Daryl snapped as he prowled the alleyway. A couple more restless circuits, and he stalked right back up to Carol, toe to toe, and searched her eyes long and hard. "You really gonna do this?"

Carol's hand sought out his, and their fingertips touched for a brief but lingering moment. "It's a good plan."

Shaking his head, Daryl's steely gaze softened as it mapped her face and gravel laced his tone. "It's a shit plan. Don't like you goin' it alone."

Her lips twitching with the hint of a suppressed smile at his protectiveness, Carol let her hand fall against his chest and rest directly over his pounding heart. "I'm a big girl, Pookie," she murmured. "I can handle myself."

He huffed out a strangled sound then, his lips twisting into a scowl. "The fuck am I goin' to do with you?"

"Oh, I can think of a few things." With a grin big and bright and brimming with promise, Carol lifted on her toes and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth that had him whimpering low in his throat when she rocked back on her heels.

The light moment didn't last long. It stretched with the weight of a million words left unsaid, and Daryl's gruff voice was aching with it as he implored her, "Stay safe."

Blue eyes soft and shimmering in the shadows, Carol uttered a familiar refrain. "Nine lives, remember? Give or take a few."

"Don't," Daryl grit out.

Once more, Morgan interrupted the fraught moment, this time his voice filled with a sense of urgency neither could ignore any longer. "We're running out of time."

Tara fell into step beside Morgan, but not before reaching out and placing a calming hand on Daryl's forearm when he would have reached for Carol and hauled her back into the safety of his wanting arms. "Dude. She's got this. We all do. Just…"

"If we're going to do this, we have to do it now."

Daryl's eyes met Carol's one more time across the way, and he dipped his chin, shouldered his crossbow. "Better get a fuckin' move on then. Go."

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