Authors note: Just in case it's not clear enough, things in italics are flashbacks of some sort.

Title: So far from home

Summary: Everything is bruised and battered and Carol has no one to turn to; he doesn't care about her anymore, not like he used to.

Chapter 2: Forget me not

Cold and lonely, she sat by his side. Hungry and tired, she sat by his side. For two days and two nights, she sat by his side. Always with him, never quite holding his hand but always gripping onto his finger, much like a frightened child or a fragile new born. Precautions had been taken and he had been handcuffed to the bed, no one knew when he would wake up, or if he would, but it seemed his heartbeat was strong so Hershel was sure he would, "A tree branch falls on his head, that's bound to knock anyone out cold for a few days at least, even someone like Daryl. It's just for precaution, if the worst should happen." Carol replayed those words in her head continuously in order to reassure herself, it's Daryl, he's strong, he'll pull through, he has to.

Carol let her mind wander, to when he had the accident, how he didn't hesitate to save her, how he pushed her out of harms way and replaced her with himself. How he caught her when she fell, how his arms felt so tight and strong wrapped around her small, petite, body. How he didn't once make any move to let her go but instead, just held her and was that? Yes, Carol was sure he ever so slightly glanced down at her lips, or is that just simply what she wish happened? Either way Carol was sure she liked their close embrace, they both did. That moment when she melted into him, everything was him and nothing else mattered. They had stood in the woods, one body flush against the other and in that magical moment, she felt indestructible.

Carol was dragged back down to earth when she felt his finger pull away from her palm, and heard him groan in pain. She immediately was on her feet and leaning over him, she placed a soft hand on his cheek and smiled as he opened his eyes, dazed and confused. She made quick work to unlock the hand cuffs and brushed her hand against his as she did.

"It's ok Daryl, baby you're safe. shhh." She smile warmly, stroking his hair back, away from his face.

"Get off me! Does your husband know you talk to other men like that? I ain't a baby neither, go do some laundry or somethin' lady, take care of your daughter, make yourself useful." He spat angrily.

Carol was taken back, she was shocked, bewildered, but mostly hurt. "Daryl... It's me, it's Carol... Pookie, it's me."

He scoffed and stood up, his head pulsating and aching, causing him to become dizzy and almost fall on her. She steadied him with her hand softly on his chest but he pushed her away. "I can take care of myself, I don't need you, I want to see my brother, where's Merle, get out of my way." He stumbled away, still disorientated mumbling under his breath, "Stupid bitch."

Carol slowly sat on the bed, tears falling freely from her eyes it was as if a knife had been driven deep inside her heart, twisted and torn to pieces, she took a deep breath. No. She had to be strong, she can't depend on anyone but herself, not in this world anyway. Angry, she wiped away her tears letting out another deep breath she stood shakily and made her way to find Hershel.

On the other side of the prison Daryl approached Merle, confusion evident in his eyes. "Baby brother, you're finally up." Merle mused.

"Yo Merle, what's goin' on? Why are we in a... Is this a prison? And why does my head hurt like a bitch?" He became dizzy again and perched against the table, closing his eyes as he became more aware of the continuous thump in his head.

"You don't remember? Maybe you should go to, err, Hershel, I think they call him."

Daryl narrowed his eyes. "Who's he? Merle! Where's your hand?"

"Woah, baby brother, that really was a bad thump on the head wasn't it? He's the doctor, or somethin' like that."

"Man I don't need to damn doctor, I already had that, what's her name, try to help me I don't need no help, I'm fine." He thrashed his arms in frustration and almost lost his balance, steadying himself with a hand on the wall.

"Yeah, you seem fine. So that Carol knows you're up? Feisty woman you have there, stubborn too, she refused to eat, sleep, to even move an inch, she wouldn't leave her little Pookie." He laughed to himself.

Daryl's brow furrowed. "What did you say?"

"She calls you Pookie, I don't agree with it, makes you sound like a little girl, but hey the worlds's gone to shit but my baby brother is finally happy."

Daryl just sat there in silence, stunned. The last he remembered Carol was with her husband, he felt unsettled and sick to his stomach because he knew he beat her but he thought that was just sympathy, not that he cared for her in any special way, he'd like to think if it was anyone else, he'd still feel that way.

Carol had finally found Hershel and told him that Daryl had stormed off in anger, but he was weak on his feet and stumbling around.

"He... He doesn't remember." She looked down at her sleeves and pulled at the fraying fabric.

Hershel begun to question her, "He's lost his memory? I was afraid that might happen. We just have to hope he'll get it back, sometimes people do and sometimes they don't. How much has he forgotten?"

She sighed heavily. "I think he only remembers way back before your farm. He thought I was still with my husband... and my daughter."

"So quite a way back, I'll need to talk to him, do you know where he went?" Hershel stood slowly, getting his balance.

"He said he was going to find Merle." Hershel nodded and turned, walking away from her on a quest to find Daryl and figure some things out. "He doesn't remember me." She added quietly, causing Hershel to stop and turn his head toward her. "Well he does but he doesn't, he doesn't remember what we-" she shook her head and smiled through tear filled eyes. "Nothing. It doesn't matter." Hershel simply continued on his way.

That night, Carol once again refused to eat. She missed him, she missed them, if there even was a 'them'. She had wondered for a while, nothing had been said, no words passed but somehow they got on with it, the laughs, the smiles, sharing their food, taking watch together late at night up in the guard tower, she never thought to bring a jacket so he'd always end up giving her his but she'd refuse and they'd end up close, cuddling almost, but never quite. A shiver ran through her body and she pulled a large shirt over her tank top and pulled a blanket over her lap. He gave her that shirt, it was baggy on her small frame yet it seemed to fit perfectly because it was his and she remembered the night he gave it to her so vividly, as if it were yesterday.

"I'm glad you're safe... Do you really have to go again?" She frowned, sticking out her bottom lip, sulking.

He laughed and poked a finger at her ribs softly. "Stop. You're being cute again. I have to, Judith needs more formula." Carol leant into him, resting her head on his shoulder sighing. He stroked her back and reached round, picking up one of his shirts and handing it to her.

At first she was confused but then she smiled. "This is your favourite, I can't take this."

He shrugged. "You're my favourite." He almost regretted saying it when her face dropped in shock but soon her smile returned and he sighed with relief. "I'll be just fine, it'll take a day, maybe two, this is a big run, everything nearby is out, we got it all so we have to go further than usual. I'll be back, I always do come back. Just take that, maybe, I don't know, you'll stop worryin' about me so much." Shrugging his shoulders he awkwardly shuffled his feet.

She leant up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, rubbing her thumb over it she pulled away reluctantly and looked into his eyes, he had eyes like wild flowers, beautiful, unique and the emotion, the love, the fear, the uncertainty, the hurt, the passion, everything she saw in them was reserved for her only, he had to be strong with everyone but she was his escape, his breath of fresh air. "Thank you." she whispered. He nodded, half smiled and then left.

She was so lost in thought and remembrance she hadn't realised that she'd been crying. She inhaled the scent on the shirt, his scent, peppermint and cigarettes, and breathed deeply, it somehow calmed her tears, just as he had used to.

"Dear lord, I know I haven't been as faithful after... After Sofia. But you know I care, so don't tell me this is an empty prayer. I wish he could remember, he's fading and I can't lose him too." She sniffled, whispering softly. "I can't lose him too."

Daryl was up on the balcony of the guard tower taking watch and everyone else was asleep, kicking dirt and pebbles from the tower to the ground below was therapeutic to him, it blew of some frustration he had. "What'd the dirt ever do to you?" Her voice startled him a little but he didn't look at her.

"Shouldn't you be asleep?" Was all he said before kicking another piece of dirt, harder than the rest and walking into the tower.

Carol, however, stayed outside and stood, resting her palms on the safety rail and laughed at his comment; he really didn't remember. He looked at her through narrowed eyes, not so much angry, but confused. "You don't need to check on me, I'm fine, dunno why you care so much."

"Don't flatter yourself Daryl, I always come up here." She tilted her head back and gazed at the stars, unintentionally shivering, as usual, in some form of habit, she'd forgotten her jacket.

"Are you cold?" This time, he had genuine concern coating his voice.

"No, I just like to shiver sometimes for the fun of it." She pursed her lips and looked back at him for a second before returning her gaze back to the stars.

"Damn lady, Merle was right, you are stubborn." He huffed and perched on what once must have been a control table of some sort.

"What do you care? I'm just a stupid bitch who needs to take care of my daughter to make myself useful remember? Well I can't because she's dead, Daryl, my daughter, Sophia, she's died a long time ago." Carol snapped, storming down the stairs and back to the prison.

He groaned and held his head in his hands as once again, a sharp pain raced through it.

"A flower...?"

"A Cherokee rose."

Ok guys, I know it's another short one but I literally did nothing but write and perfect this all day for you guys and I'm pretty excited about it. I hope you enjoyed reading it, reveiws are very welcome! I love reading them!