Daryl went by to check on Merle and to bring him his breakfast.
"Why if it ain't my own baby brother serving me ….whatever the hell this is."
"It ain't too bad," Daryl responded with a huge grin on his face.
Merle studied him closely. "What's with you? I ain't seen you smile that big since Cindy popped your cherry when you were fifteen. Kinda a late bloomer aren't you?"
Daryl turned around quickly. True, he felt much better. After more than a year of crazy ass scenarios a little self relief turned out to be just what the doctor had ordered.
But Merle didn't need to know that.
What he lacked in social skills Merle had in perception. "What'd you do? Who's the lucky lady?"
"There is no lady. Now leave it be."
Merle's eyes widened. "I get it baby brother. Had a little chat with yourself last night, did ya? Well, as you can see," he lifted his crippled arm. "That kind of talking is kind of hard for me to do. This was my lucky hand. I called him Big John."
"You named your hand after a dude?"
"Never you mind that. Go on, don't you have other meals on wheels to deliver?"
Daryl slammed the door to his brother's cell, chuckling in the process.
0000
First Daryl ran into Rick. Daryl, never one for eye contact, definitely did not look directly at the sheriff.
"Get a good night sleep?" Rick asked politely.
"You could say that."
"You're late. Merle was supposed to get his breakfast an hour ago."
"So why didn't you take it to him?"
"He's your brother, isn't he?"
"So that makes him my responsibility?"
"Yeah. Yeah. I guess it does."
"Won't happen again," Daryl muttered before heading down the opposite end of the hall. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, but he knew who he was hoping to see.
0000
Equally happy that morning was Carol, who was busy folding clothes and humming to herself. Daryl cleared his throat.
"Hi!" she greeted him eagerly. "Sleep well?"
"Why does everyone keep asking me that?"
"It's okay, Daryl. Everyone's been asking me that as well, " she grinned.
"You mean?"
"Yep. It was my night off from watching Judith and you were gone. I had to pass the time somehow. Why are you blushing?"
"I ain't blushing," he responded before turning his back to her. She responded by putting her hand on his shoulder.
"It's cool. It's still me. Maybe we're not that different."
He didn't say anything, so Carol broke the ice. "Same time same place? I had Beth watch Judith again tonight so it'll be just the two of us. I made sure Rick knew she'd be with her," she laughed.
He chuckled. He'd never been much of a poker player, but with everything that was at stake, what did he have to lose? Besides his jeans again, of course, and maybe a little dignity. But it would be well worth it if things played out the way he wanted them to.
TBC
