Carol walked up to Daryl who was sitting with his legs hanging over the edge of the guard tower. She sat down next to him and rested her arms on the railings. He looked over at her with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
"How are you doing?" she asked. He shrugged. "Okay someone is not chatty today" she said staring down at the ground. It was dark out and a little chilly so she pulled her sweater around her chest. They were silent for a minuet until he finally spoke up.
"How's Merle?" Daryl asked. She looked at him and smiled.
"Always so concerned for others" she said with a chuckle "He's fine, sleeping. I am going to join him soon, we were on watch all day" she finished. He nodded.
"Ya know Carol I'm happy ya let Merle in, he may not be the most level headed guy, but he wont hurt ya like Ed did" Daryl said taking his last hit from his cigarette and putting it out next to him. Carol smiled and nodded, she knew Merle was difficult and he might have a temper but he would never lay a hand on her and he, just like Daryl would die to protect her.
"I know Daryl, I know" she said softly.
"How's the girl?" he asked.
"Still asleep, I went in and checked on her with Maggie a little bit ago, she is sound asleep, poor thing probably hasn't slept good in months" Carol sighed and shook her head. "Hopefully the group votes for her to stay" she added. Daryl looked over at her confused.
"It shouldn't even be a vote, she's barely five foot tall and has been out there on her own for months, don't ya think she deserves a little bit of…" Daryl trailed off.
"Stability?" Carol asked.
"Yea, that's the word" he nodded. "She needs to be here" he finished off lighting up another cigarette.
"You think she's cute," Carol said nudging her elbow into Daryl's side. He looked over at her and shot her a glare. She was cute though; she was maybe five foot tall, probably a hundred pounds with long brown hair and amazing green eyes. He shook his head.
"No, she just needs to feel safe" he said shaking his head. He didn't think like that, he never did. All he needed to think about was keeping everyone safe and surviving as long as he could.
"What ever you say Daryl" Carol said standing up. "Its freezing out here, I'm going in, see ya in the morning" she said patting his shoulder and climbing down the ladder. He didn't even respond, he just stared out into the distance and looked at the few walkers still leaning up against the fence growling. This was gonna be a long boring night.
The sun started to come up and Daryl needed some coffee and he was down to his last smoke. He climbed down and met Glenn at the door.
"Get some rest" Glenn said slapping Daryl's shoulder as he walked past. Daryl just nodded and walked through the door. He walked straight over to the coffee pot where he poured himself a large cup. He turned around and leaned again the counter and watched as Hershel walked over to him.
"Morning Daryl" Hershel said happily. Daryl nodded. "The girl woke up a little this morning," Hershel added.
"Really? She okay?" Daryl asked. Hershel laughed and nodded.
"Knew that would get ya talkin, and yes she's fine, a bit confused, she thought you were fake," He poured himself a cup of coffee too. Daryl looked confused.
"How's er arm?" He said staring down at his cup.
"The arrow came out clean and it doesn't look like there will be an infection" Hershel said positively. Daryl flashed a small smile and started to walk over to the cellblock door.
"Might as well go check on er" Daryl opened the door and walked through.
The cell door was open now and the girl was sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked up at him and smiled. Her shoulder wrapped up.
"thanks" she said shyly. He nodded. "I didn't even know what happened, I thought maybe I was dreaming you" she looked at her hands, which were now sitting, in her lap.
"Naw, I'm more like a nightmare," he said quickly. She looked up at him and cracked a small smile.
"So do I need to leave?" she asked "I know people don't like to let new comers into their camps, another mouth to feed, another person to worry about." she trailed off.
"Naw, I'm not gonna let um send ya back out there on yer own" he sipped his coffee. "Do ya want some?" he asked. She looked up.
"Is that coffee?" she asked in pure shock. He nodded. "Oh my god I didn't even know that existed anymore," she said in a whisper. He laughed.
"I'll be right back, sit tight" he said as he walked away.
Daryl walked into the makeshift kitchen and poured her a glass when rick and Michone walked in.
"Is the girl up?" rick asked. Daryl looked over and nodded.
"Her names Olivia and yea, she's up" he said facing the two of them. "And she ain't goin anywhere unless I say so, if she turns out to be bad news I'll kill er myself, but until then she stays" he said matter of factly before walking back into the cellblock.
She was lying down when he walked back in and he quietly set the cup down on the little table in the room. She sat up and looked at him.
"Sorry didn't mean ta scare ya," he said leaning up against the wall. "Now your gonna stay here, that is if ya want to, but I will tell ya right now ya try any kinda funny shit and your gone, if I don't kill ya first" he said crossing his arms looking and she looked up at him with wide eyes. "These people are my family and I ain't gonna let nothing happen to them on my watch." He added. She nodded and went to speak but that's when she heard it. A sound she hadn't heard in a good two years.
"Is that a baby crying?" she asked him in astonishment. He nodded.
"That's our lil ass kicker, Judith"
"Can I see her?" she asked tears swelling up in her eyes.
"I dunno" Daryl said nervously, he knew she couldn't hurt him but Judith was another story, he didn't want anything to happen to that baby girl. "Don't try anything, its Rick's kid and if he thinks anything is goin on you'll be out fast," he said walking towards the door. Olivia sat there still in shock, she didn't think there were any babies left in this terrible world. He turned and looked at her. "Ya comin?" he said looking over his shoulder. She got up and followed him out of the cell.
