Tumblr Prompt:Kateg713

I don't own The Walking Dead

He never thought there would be a moment in his life where he actively sought after the comfort of another human being. It just wasn't something he did. He didn't need people, he didn't really need emotion either.

All that stuff was for pussies.

But this time; This one time it felt as if his world was falling apart, and there just wasn't anything he could do but go to someone who he was sure would understand.

Rick was on watch, because Daryl had already done his rounds, but the sheriff didn't question him when he slipped from his perch to the ground.

He knew Carol would be awake. Even if Maggie had the baby tonight, that woman had a knack for living on next to no sleep at all. She would more than likely be sitting on the bunk, curled in on herself, staring at nothing.

There were no windows in this place.

He found her exactly as he expected to. She looked up when he padded his way into the cell, wearily at first, but then calm.

"Daryl?" Her voice was soft, but laced with concern. His expression wasn't as steeled as he would like. He knew she could see his emotions raging.

"I just..." he struggled for words for only a minute before he gave up, running a hand through is tasseled hair and watching the ground.

He felt the weight of her eyes on him, and he could feel it pulling him down. He looked up, straight into her eyes, opening her arms, she offered the comfort he needed.

A long time ago, he would have walked away, he wouldn't have allowed himself to collapse next to her. He wouldn't have allowed her to put her arms around him, or run her slim fingers through his hair, murmuring words of condolence into his ears. But now he did, because things were different. They were different. He couldn't make himself flinch from her kindness. He couldn't make himself not feel something for her.

"Do you wanna talk? Or do you just need company?" She asked gently,turning his face to look at hers. She could see the tears welling up, and he looked so broken. It was rare, but every know and then, Carol had been able to see a different side of Daryl's personality, the child inside him, vulnerable, needy, and suffering.

This was one of those times.

He adjusted their positions slightly, turning and resting his head on her shoulder, burying his face in the curvature of her neck. She held him tighter.

"I miss him Carol. I didn't think it would hurt this much...but damn it it does." His words were muffled but she still managed to catch them all.

This was the second time at the end of the world that he had lost his brother, except this time there was no getting him back. No miracles.

"I should know what this feels like, right? I've already lost him before...but this is different-" He choked back a sob and Carol struggled to find the words she needed to help him. One of the only times, ever, that she had the chance to be his rock, and she was already sinking.

"Daryl...I wish I could tell you it gets easier... I wish I could tell you that I can bring him back for you...I wish I could tell you that this is all just a horrid dream, but you know that that isn't how life works..." She stopped for a moment to recollect her thoughts, feeling his broken sobs against her neck, continuing to toy with his hair.

This wasn't right. The world had the worst way of doing things. Promising a return to something normal, something good and then ripping it away.

No one deserved that, Daryl didn't deserve it. He was such a kind heart, such a wonderful person, so capable of love and happiness, but the world kept pulling him down to his knees.

"I don't want you to tell me it'll be okay. I just...I don't know how to do this. I don't know how to handle this..." He mumbled against her neck. He was still sobbing and it tore her heart to pieces.

What could she say?

"I can't promise you anything Daryl...but as long as its in my power, I'm going to be here for you..." His arms tightened around her waist, and once again she could feel him mumbling against her neck,

"I'm counting on that."

Of course she would be there for him. So long as she could, so long as he would have her, she would be his place of solace in a world hell-bent on pain.

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