I had to write something … more to balance the darker muses of the day. The idea for this had had more to it, but as I wrote, just this part found its way out. More will follow, because I am re-opening this idea to fashion it into a another series for Caryl to grow. :-)

Return, by MissMishka

Disclaimer in chapter 1


They stopped to make camp on the highest rise they could find on the outskirts of the military base, not wanting to just blindly go forward into this place as they had the CDC.

Daryl brought the motorcycle to a shuddering stop and carefully looked around before killing the engine's rumble. As she sensed the other vehicles in the procession coming to a similar halt after making a circle for the camp to be established in and the occupants preparing to exit, Carol realized she needed to get off the bike. Her arms were slow to release their hold on his waist, but he made no comment on it nor did he do anything to hurry her along.

Shakily, she braced a hand on his shoulder and shifted her weight to swing off the machine. There was an odd numbness in her thighs and backside from the ride and she understood why vibrators had that warning against prolonged use. Blushing red and horrified at that unexpected thought, she hurriedly whipped around in hopes he'd not seen anything that betrayed the idea.

"You alright?" he asked, right there to steady her as her abrupt action caused her to wobble.

He'd lowered the kickstand and risen from the motorcycle so smoothly she'd not even sensed him moving, let alone standing at her side.

Her nod was quick and sure, encouraging no further question as she forced the redness from her cheeks and ignored the quirked brow that clearly wanted to learn what had caused the blush. The others spared her any other scrutiny by beginning to unpack and talk amongst themselves. Instinctively, they moved to do the parts they had become used to filling when the group made a new camp. She couldn't help but worry as he pulled the weapon from the saddlebag he kept it in before melting into their surroundings to make sure there were no surprises or dangers in the immediate area, but distracted herself with setting up tents.

He stepped noiselessly back among the group shortly thereafter, just as they'd started a low fire to cook a lunch on. She forced herself to remain seated when she wanted to run at him in relief. Rick's gaze snapped up to meet the hunter's and Carol watched with pride as the two men exchanged a quick, speaking glance and nod. Somehow in that easily missed moment, their unofficial leader asked Daryl if this place they'd chosen was safe and Daryl assured the other man that it'd do for the night.

The bow settling quietly on the ground just to the back of her, caused Carol to start in surprise. The shocks continued for her as he began to ease himself down on to the fallen tree next to her. No one else seemed to find anything odd in Daryl's choice in seating, so she forced her heartbeat to return to normal. When Maggie began dishing up the simple meal of canned meat and vegetables she'd volunteered to make, Carol leapt forward with relief to help hand out the plates to others.

His eyes watched her and, for once, she couldn't deny that they were on her. She supposed that the hours spent clinging to his back like a vine had given him the leeway to be a bit bolder. The idea of the direction they might be moving in, that she wanted them to be moving in, had the plate in her hand shaking just a bit as she extended it to the man. She damned near dropped the thing like it had burnt her as his hand came up, not to take the plate, but to steady her with a touch to her wrist.

"Thanks," he said gruffly before he took his hand away and accepted the dish.

She wanted to rub at her wrist, almost feeling scorched by the fleeting gesture, but instead she just made one last trip to the campfire to collect her own portion.

"I'd like you to go ahead with us," Rick said after everyone had been given a chance to eat some before broaching the subject.

"Planned on it," Daryl answered without looking up from the food he shoveled in to his mouth.

Carol wished there had been some confusion among the gathering as to whom Rick had been aiming his statement, but somehow even she had known it to be directed to the man at her side. Appetite suddenly gone, she made to rise to scrape her plate into the fire. A booted foot nudging her own and a subtle grunt stopped her, though.

"Eat," he ordered softly when he knew he had her attention.

Her hand obeyed without conscious thought as she stared into his eyes and read concern there. She looked away to take the bite waiting on her fork and heard a satisfied noise from him before he resumed cleaning his own plate.

"Don't need a bunch of feet stomping around down there if the place is infested," Shane protested, hunkered down at the edge of the group and finishing off the last of his portion.

"Then you can stay and guard the camp," Rick replied firmly.

"I ain't ever stomped any where, punk," Daryl retorted at the same time, setting aside his empty dish and getting to his feet. "But keep up your yapping and I will stomp your ass."

With that, all the men in the group were instantly on their feet and Carol struggled with the urge to shrink away from the aggression filling the air. There was an anger between the two men that they all knew would have to be dealt with and it scared her. Not because she feared it overflowing and hurting anyone else in the group but because she knew Shane would not fight fair and would likely try to get at Daryl at a vulnerable moment.

"Not now," Rick said as he put himself between the two puffed-up chests before they bumped together beside the fire. "Daryl, get your gear. We'll head on out since you seem to be finished."

A choice was made with that order and Carol felt her fear worsen at the hatred she saw flash like fire in Shane's eyes before he banked it.

"Rick…," the man began to plead his case, but Rick shut him down.

"You're right," the Sheriff said, putting up a silencing hand to his friend, "we don't need feet stomping around down there. That's what you'll be if you come with us, cocked up like this. Set up a perimeter here and walk it off."

While none of them really wanted Shane to stay behind, they weren't going to argue with Grimes' order and, thankfully, neither was the subtly chastised man. His shaved head dropped forward and with a careless wave of his hand he indicated that they could get on along without him. Carol also read in the gesture that they could not return while they were at it, as far as the officer was concerned.

"I'll be right back."

Startled by the quiet promise, she looked away from the scene between the old friends and found herself looking straight into the clear blue eyes of one Daryl Dixon. He was right about the never stomping and she wished he'd make just a little more noise when he walked so she wouldn't get a start like that. Her eyes looked into his, but she couldn't voice any of the concerns she felt as he leant past her to pick up the crossbow from where he'd left it.

His chest was so close, it seemed natural for her hand to rise to it. Through the material of his shirt, she felt the hitch of breath in his chest and the thud of his heart. After a moment, he exhaled the sharp breath he'd sucked in at her touch. Without a word, he wrapped his fingers around hers, there, for a heartbeat, before he pulled her hand away.

The pair left quickly after that, just Daryl and Rick doing the recon. She watched them move from sight with her hand going habitually to the bare hollow of her throat. Having forgotten for the moment that she had left it on Sophia's grave, the missing cross jarred her. It had been a gift from her mother and she'd worn it faithfully since the eighteenth birthday she'd received it on. Leaving it with her child had been right, but she wondered what she'd use as her worry stone without it.

Sounds of the camp shifting to clean up mode stirred her from the horizon she'd still been staring at and she gladly focused on helping. She told herself she needn't worry. If he said he would be back, Daryl would return to her.