A/N: Interested by response, thanks. Since its Thanksgiving holiday is coming up I won't be able to post any chapters for this story because I'm out of town. Will as soon as I return, thanks for reading. Spitfire47

When Sophia had closed the door, the guilt inside her tightened and squeezed like a snake killing its prey Sophia shuttered and walked back to the tiny living area where her mother was just starting to wake.

"What is going on?" Carol asked. "Is everything alright?"

Sophia bowed her head, there was no way she could lie to her mother.

"Carl's sad."

At this Carol got to her feet and walked over to Sophia. "Why?"

Sophia shrugged. "Shane said that he was sad and that he was going to talk to Carl, but Carl's in the bathroom."

"Where is Lori?"

"She was at the door with Shane, I…I think she was trying to get inside."

Carol knew these types of situations too well, Sophia only knew bits and pieces because Carol had perfected at hiding the horrors of abuse. She grabbed the housecoat on the chair and coaxed Sophia into bed.

"I'll be back sweetie alright?"

Sophie nodded but then added, "Do you think Carl's going to be okay?" A hint of sadness crept into her words. Carol stroked her on the head and kissed her. "I sure hope so." Once making sure that her daughter was comfortable Carol cautiously walked to the door, opened it and peered around. There was no one in the hall except for Daryl's unconscious body that had fallen over from the propped position he had been in. She wondered where Lori was, where she was when her child was in such dire need. Carol walked down the hallway and was ready to step around the unconscious Daryl when there was a loud thump follow why a sharp cry. Immediately Carol went to the door nearly tripping on Daryl as she did. She pounded on the door loudly.

XXXXXX

Inside the bathroom Carl was nursing the bump that was on the side of his head. His eyes were watery and bloodshot and he had managed to squeeze his small body between the toilet and the shower. Even though it was slightly uncomfortable his mind was on other things. When the door opened he immediately pushed himself out of his hiding place hoping with all his heart that it was his mother Lori coming in to comfort him. But instead, it was the devil. When Shane turned Carl's heart dropped and his insides grew cold, the temperature in the bathroom seemed to have dropped drastically and Carl felt that his whole body had given up on him then and there. There was a small click and Carl realized that Shane had locked the door. He was trapped.

"Now Ca-."

The boy scurried back, trying to fit into his hiding place. Thinking of ways to escape but al he could come up with was screaming at the top of his lungs until someone rescued him. He was ready to when Shane grabbed him by the ankle and pulled him out. Carl tried to hit Shane but the former police officer easily dodged it and trapped both of Carl's wrists in one hand.

"Now listen to me Carl," Shane said struggling to contain the flailing child then he gave him a harsh shake. "Listen!" Carl stopped all together.

"Now what you saw in there…," Shane tried to think of a good excuse but none came to his alcohol filled brain.

"You're my dad's best friend," Carl said angrily trying to kick Shane but the fear factor returned when Shane gave him another shake to be still.

"You know what? It was your mother's idea, she was the one who got lonely easily and she was the one who agreed to continue in a heartbeat."

Carl tried to break free but Shane gripped tighter and Carl felt his bones grind together and he was positive that if Shane put any more pressure that both his wrists would break.

"So whether or not you like it your mother is a whore."

Something inside Carl snapped. Shane was up close and invading his personal space so there was only one thing to do. Carl snapped his teeth at Shane. The older man backed up upon instinct and crashed into the trash bin. Freed from his captor, Carl got up and unlocked the door. Shane grabbed Carl by the seat of his pants and pulled him back. Carl crashed to the ground and he felt his head bounce against the tile floor. His vision was temporarily blurred and there was a sharp noise. His heart rate quickened and he heard another sound however it was lower and continuous. Fresh tears sprung to Carl's eyes and continued to flow down his face creating puddles on the floor. Shane got up and answered it.

"What the hell is going on in there?" the voice was female. Carl turned his head to see who it was but Shane had only opened the door about a quarter of the way so that both his body and the door was blocking his view.

"He's alright," Shane replied to the voice in his best sober voice. "Just hit his head a bit but I think it's best if we just leave him alone."

"I don't think so, let me in this instant."

Shane walked right out of the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Carl laid there curled up in a small ball on the ground, he wanted someone to come in right now to pick him up and carry him out. Carl also wanted someone to punch the living daylights out of Shane even though he preferred that he do it himself. But most of all, he wanted his parents.

Lying there on the ground, Carl had fallen asleep. When he woke he wondered what time it was, if it was day, if everyone was still here but most of all where his parents were. He was still curious if someone was at the door and he quickly got up. Carl regretted it as soon as he was on his two feet, it felt as if someone had slammed a hammer right into the side of his head at that very moment. Carl staggered and held his hand out feeling for the wall, wanting support. When he found it another knock was at the door. Carl feared opening up the door, what if it was Shane coming back to finish him off, but it also could be his parents. Took them long enough Carl thought bitterly. He took in a deep breath and walked to the door but that was how far he had gotten. He hesitated, hand near the knob but unable to bring himself to open it. The fear of Shane just on the other side made his scared so much that he shook. But the person on the other side was kind enough to say who it was.

"It's Daryl, open up I have to puke."

Carl opened up the door and Daryl barged in and ran to the toilet. Without making sure that the person had left he knelt against the bowl and let fly. Carl watched in disgust. After finishing, Daryl gave on last puke filled spit into the bowl before flushing. He turned to finally see that he had an audience. Carl on the other hand was surprised at how fast Daryl sobered up, well half-way at least.

"What are yer doing in 'ere?" Daryl asked, forgetting the events of last night.

"What time is it?" Carl asked ignoring Daryl's question.

"Two in the morning."

Carl only nodded and was ready to leave when Daryl whistled at him. The boy turned.

"What the fuck happened to yer head?" Daryl seemed oblivious to the fact that he had just swore in front of Carl but then again the young Grimes didn't seem to care.

"I fell."

"Like hell ya did."

Daryl walked up to Carl and Carl backed up. Daryl knew this kind of behaviour.

"I'm not gonna to hurt yer, your momma would have my throat."

Carl bowed his head at the thought of his mother. Where was she? Where was his dad? Daryl cautiously approached Carl as if he were a deer and then gently tilted his head to the side. The bump was recognizably large and Daryl made a face.

"I fell a shit loada times when I was yer age, ain't none of 'em look like that."

Daryl gingerly touched the bump and Carl winced.

"Easy no boy."

Daryl took his fingers away and bits of dried blood came off. The redneck hunter went to the cupboards and opened them up.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

"Lookin' for some peroxide," Daryl answered picking up and setting down bottles. "Don't think yer momma and pop gonna like that bump on yer head." Finding nothing useful Daryl slammed the door in frustration, Carl jumped back away from the hunter. However Daryl didn't seem to take notice and finally he thought of something.

"Come on."

Daryl opened the bathroom door and headed out and Carl froze. The bathroom was his haven the outside was his hell. Daryl poked his head around to see that Carl hadn't moved.

"Come on boy," Daryl said motioning Carl to follow but the boy shook his head vigorously indicating that he didn't want to. Daryl sighed remembering why he hated children.

"If someone comes at us I'll knock 'em out okay?"

Carl shuffled forward to the edge of the door and looked down at the padded line that separated the bathroom from the rest of the CDC. He looked up at Daryl who looked back.

"Well I ain't shooin' 'em!" Daryl argued.

Carl nodded thinking that was a fair argument and then crossed the line. He held in a breath to see that no one was coming for him. Carl looked to see that Daryl had already moved on and he ran to catch up. The hunter walked to the table with the half empty scotch bottle on it and picked it.

"Otta do the trick," Daryl muttered to himself. He went back to the bathroom ignoring the fact that Carl was following and grabbed a washcloth. Over the sink Daryl poured some of the alcohol onto the washcloth and then pressed it to Carl's head. The boy gave a sharp yelp of surprise and pain. Daryl winced as the cry was right beside him ear and a sudden pounding of footsteps got their attention. Carol appeared at the door. Her housecoat waved around her as she came to a sudden halt and Daryl also noticed that there was something wrong with her. He didn't remember her having a cut lip when they came here.

"What the hell happened to you?"

Carol ignored Daryl and instead look at the bottle of scotch in his hand to the cloth that he held against Carl's head.

"What are you doing?" she whispered angrily.

"Umm." That was all Daryl managed to get out as Carol grabbed the bottle out of his hand and took the cloth from him.

"Ain't no peroxide or any shit around here so," Daryl waved his hand at the bottle, "Alcohol."

Carol looked down at Carl who had his head bowed.

"Was that you at the door earlier?" Carl asked in a low voice. Carol took in a shaky breath and nodded. The young boy looked back down to the ground.

"When I tried to enter he dragged me to my room and told me to stay," Carol explained in a sad voice, "I tried to move but he elbowed me."

Carl just stay there listening to Carol's story but not responding.

"Who's he?" Daryl asked.

"Shane," Carol said turning to Daryl, "He hit both Carl and I."

Daryl's eyes widened knowing that Carol wouldn't lie about situations like that.

"Fuck," he muttered leaning up against the sink. Daryl never really liked Shane or anyone to be exact in the first place, but Shane had something about him that Daryl didn't' like especially. He gripped the sink as anger boiled up in him, memories from the past entered and filled Daryl's brain to the brim. Daryl shook those memories out of his head and then picked up the boy to Carol's surprise. It shocked Carl as well but he was too weak to fight the older man and he felt his eyelids droop.

"Where is his room?" Daryl asked.

Carol managed to snap out of her shock and then gave Daryl the directions. Daryl pulled the door open and stood face to face with Carl's angered father Rick. Rick looked like he was going to knock out whoever spoke to him next so Daryl decided it was best to keep his mouth shut despite the numerous snarky remarks and cussing that replaced the remaining memories. Behind Rick was Shane and Lori both who were shocked to see Daryl holding the child so gently. Both had different versions of how Daryl would pick up a kid. Daryl passed the half conscious Carl to Rick who gently took him and then glared at Shane. The look in Shane's eyes didn't please Daryl not the least, it reminded him of his father on one of his drinking rages. Both men held their glares until Carol spoke up.

"He has a bump on his head, and I think that the skin tore a bit."

Rick placed a gently hand on top of the bump and then something caught his attention. He sniffed a few times and then looked at Daryl.

"Hey man," Daryl said backing up and holding his hands in defense. "That was all that was around this damn facility anyway."

Rick ignored Daryl, turned on his heels and marched to the Grimes's room. Lori looked up at Carol and saw the split lip and held in a small gasp, she turned away and walked to her room. As soon as the Grimes door closed Daryl quickly walked up to Shane, grabbed him by the lapels and slammed him up against the wall. Shane punched Daryl directly in the face but Daryl didn't let go.

"You touch anyone and I will rip you apart," Daryl threatened, with a final shove the hunter released Shane and stalked to his room. Carol didn't give a second glance at Shane as she walked briskly to her own and locked the door. Shane looked around to see that he was alone, he balled his hands into fists and pounded the floor angrily, he felt his skin split but he didn't care, that little shit had ratted him out along with that bitch. Someone had to pay.