God, this week has been CRAZY! I've had hardly any time to write between school and work and if I did I was usually too tired to write anything and went straight to bed. Even ask Haitus80. I've fallen asleep on her so much this week and we usually talk late into the night haha. Well, this chapter is a little longer than the others so I hope it's worth the wait!

Enjoy!

Part 4

Rick practically threw Ed into the now empty cellblock and with a slam; he had locked the doors and trapped him inside. Carol could tell that Ed didn't like the arrangement, but was smart enough to not saying anything.

He leaned on the door, arms poking through the bars and stared at her. His gaze was unnerving and all she wanted to do was get away.

"Where's Sophia?" He asked. "I'd like to see her. She's still my daughter, you know."

Carol's heart stopped. She had hoped he wouldn't ask that question, but he had told the truth. Sophia had still been his daughter, his flesh and blood, and he had the right to know what had happened to her.

Rick stiffened by her side and she felt his eyes on her, too.

"Carol..." He started softly.

She ignored him and gave her ex-husband a steely gaze, hoping that he couldn't read any trace of sadness on her body. "You can't see her, Ed." She took a deep breath, knowing that the next two words would be painful to say. "She's gone."

Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away. The last thing she needed to hear was Ed's accusations.

Carol stood by the door to the cellblock they called home and waited for Rick to catch up with her.

"I'm going to lay down for a bit, if that's okay." She told him. "Today has been pretty...hectic."

He gave her a nod that told her he understood. "That's fine, Carol. I'll have Beth or Maggie help with the supper tonight."

She gave him a grateful smile and walked into the cellblock. She gave Beth, who was cradling Judith in her arms a tired, reassuring smile, and headed up the stairs to where her cell was located. On the way up, she passed Daryl but wasn't ready to speak to him yet.

He paused mid-step and looked at her, mouth open as if ready to speak but she gently shook her head and kept walking. She needed some rest, physically and mentally, before she could talk to him.

She fixated her eyes on her cell and walked right in, but found her bed occupied by one Merle Dixon.

With a smirk on his face, he propped himself up on his elbow. "Well, ain't this interestin'?"

"What are you doing here, Merle?" She sighed tiredly. Couldn't the man see that this cell already belonged to someone else? One of her shirts was even hanging from one of the posts.

"I jus' wanted to cell whose cell this was." He lay back down on the bed and placed his arms behind his head. Clearly, he was not ready to move it.

"Why?" She was in no mood for this man's games.

"A few minutes ago I jus' watched my brother look in jus' about every one of these cells before he threw his shit into one. Figured he was lookin' for somethin'...or someone."

"He could have just been looking for an empty cell." She moved over to the ladder and climbed up. If Merle wasn't going to move, then she would just have to take the top bunk.

"Every damn cell up here is empty 'cept this one." Merle scrambled out of the bed and now stood to look at her. "He was lookin' for ya, so that he could be yer neighbor."

She turned on her side and away from him. "You know, Merle, I've had a hard day and all I want to do now is relax. I'd appreciate it if you'd leave." She knew that the last person she should be talking like that to was Merle Dixon, but she really wasn't in the mood for him right now.

"A'right," he surprised her by saying. "But this isn't gonna be the last time me and you talk about my brother, ya hear?"

She didn't say anything and listened as he left.

Then with a sigh, she realized that all her pillows and blanket were in the bottom bunk. So, she climbed down the ladder and went to go to her bed, but Daryl's angry voice stopped her.

"What the hell were you doin' in there?"

"What, little brother?" Of course, he would be talking to Merle. "I was jus' talkin' to that woman of yers."

"She ain't mine," Daryl grumbled.

"Really? Well, then that makes my stay here a little bit better."

"What the hell you mean?"

"I haven't been laid in over a year, baby brother and I was quite disappointed to see the selection of woman ya have here. One wants to kill me, one is already with that Chinese boy and that blonde one is way too young for the likes of me. The only I can bed is that-"

"Shut up." The words were quiet, but full of coldness. "Don't you talk about Carol like that. Jus' cuz she ain't mine doesn't mean I wouldn't kick your ass for talkin' about her like that."

Merle laughed, obviously not bothered by his brother's threats. "Why don't ya make it official, then? It's clear ya wanna fuck her. Why don't ya go in there and get to it."

A sound like someone being slammed into the wall made its way to Carol's ears and Daryl's angry voice was once again being spoken quietly.

"I said shut up, Merle."

Merle chuckled. It was plain that he was amused with his brother's anger. "A'right, little brother. I'll leave it be. For now."

Carol decided then that she should get the nap that she much deserved. She only felt slightly guilty for eavesdropping on the brothers argument. A smile came to her face, though, when she thought of Daryl defending her.

Maybe he cared after all.

Several hours later, she found herself awake and sitting by herself in the watchtower. She had taken over from Glenn, telling him that she couldn't sleep. He hesitated for a moment, but when reminded of Maggie waiting in their cell, he was gone.

It wasn't even dark yet and she leaned on the railing, with her rifle strapped to her back, and watched the sunset. She needed this. This alone time to think. She needed to think about what she was going to do about Ed. The last thing she wanted was for him to be here with her family and she knew that she couldn't just kill him. They could let him go. But what if he somehow made his way to Woodbury and brought them back here again?

With a frustrated groan, she ran a hand through her short hair. Things were so much simpler before Daryl left and before Ed had shown his ugly face.

The door to the tower opened and soft footsteps began to approach her. Right away, she knew it wasn't Daryl or any of the other men. When Beth appeared at her side, she sighed in relief.

"Do you want some company?" She asked.

Carol gave her a smile. "Sure." The young woman returned the smile and joined her on the railing. Together they watched the sunset silently.

"You know, he was looking for you earlier."

Carol didn't even have to ask who Beth was talking about.

"He really wants to talk to you, Carol." Beth angled her body more to her. "I think he wants to tell you how sorry he is."

"I can already see how sorry he is."

"Then how come you won't talk to him? He looked like a kicked puppy when you just walked by him earlier."

"I wasn't ready to talk to him, then."

"And now?" Beth pressed.

"I suppose I am now, but I'm on watch so I can't exactly leave and talk to him." She knew it was an excuse, but she didn't care.

"I'll go and get him!" Beth straightened immediately with a smile and was about to run to the door, when Carol grabbed her arm.

"Beth Greene don't you dare!"

"Why not?" She pouted.

"Just because," she said, defeated. "Look, once I get off watch I'll talk to him. Promise." She didn't mention that by the time her shift was over everyone would probably be in bed.

"Fine," Beth looked like she didn't believe her. "Well, I should probably head back in. It's about time to feed Judith again and Maggie wanted me to show her how."

"Alright." Carol smiled. "Have fun with that and I'll see you later."

"Okay, bye." With a final wave, Beth left her to be by herself again.

Beth walked into the common area where they took their meals and found her sister sitting at one of the tables cradling Judith. Glenn was nowhere to be seen and Daryl sat at another table with Rick next to him.

A plan formed in her head and with a smirk, she walked over to Maggie.

"Hey, Maggie," she greeted. "I just got back from talking with Carol." She said the last part a little too loudly and her sister gave her an odd look. With a wink, she sat by her and glanced briefly at the hunter at the other table. He was still facing Rick, but she could tell he was listening to her.

"Well, I got Judith her-"

"She was in the watchtower by herself and I wanted to give her some company." She interrupted and still spoke loudly.

"Beth, what are you doing?" Maggie whispered furiously.

"I'll tell you later," she leaned close and whispered. Then she straightened and spoke in the same voice as before. "I think she's lonely, but I had to leave her and help you with Judith."

Maggie just nodded, still very confused.

"I think she would really like some company. Maybe I'll go back up there later if I'm not too tired."

Suddenly there was a noise, like someone standing up and she looked over to see Daryl shoulder his crossbow and tell Rick he'd see him later. With a triumphant smile, she watched as he walked through the door that led to the yard...and Carol.

Her plan had worked.

Maggie had watched him leave as well and once he was gone, she turned to her younger sister. A smile of her own on her face. "I think I understand now."

It had only been several minutes since Beth had left her and the door to the watchtower opened again. She listened for some footsteps, but when she didn't hear any she turned to see who her visitor was. Her breath caught in her throat.

It was Daryl.

This chapter was meant to be a lot longer, but it's really late here and I have school in the morning so I had decided to end it here. I hope you all don't mind! The next chapter should also be a better than this one.

Thanks for reading!