Thank you so much for following/reviewing my story! It really is so appreciated.
This is my first fanfiction ever, so go easy on me.
I'm trying to keep this as close to the TV storyline as possible, but I will have to go off in a new direction sooner or later.
Enjoy!
****Daryl****
Goddamnit! Daryl had been able to focus while patrolling the area around the diner/gas station, but now that he was back in the cellar his thoughts returned to the woman lying only about a foot away. I touched her today; more than a couple 'o times too! He wasn't sure he was amazed at his own boldness, pleased at the contact, or a complete idiot for being so weak-minded.
He hadn't grown up touching or being touched. Mostly he just got shoved or dragged, or worse. The habit to stay out of people's way had been formed early on and he hadn't felt the need to change it, even after his old man had died. Merle wasn't so bad, as long as he wasn't high as a kite. As he got older, there had been a few times when Daryl had defended himself against his older brother. After that, it was only when Merle was senseless from drink or drugs that he even tried to lay a hand on him, and Daryl could handle that easily enough. As a result, it had been many years since the last time he'd been hit.
But things had been different recently. The people in this group touched each other all the time and they'd begun to do it to him too. A handshake with the men when something went well or a pat on the back after bringing home a good kill from his hunt weren't completely unusual. Lori had squeezed his arm once when he went to go looking for Rick and then there was the time Carol had kissed him right on the forehead. That one had been the most uncomfortable, but also the most appreciated, even though he didn't want to admit it. He supposed that was how normal people interacted with each other. Maybe one day I'll be normal too. Doesn't seem too likely tho'. He turned his head to look at Carol. He could only barely see her in the dim light from the camping lantern. She looked peaceful enough.
His mind returned to their interactions that day. He'd almost released her arm when she had frozen like a cornered rabbit. But at the last second he'd decided he needed to convince her, and himself too, that the night he'd raised his hand to her would never happen again. She'll just have to get used to me touchin' her. I s'pose I'll have to get used to it too. She needed someone to show her all men weren't bastards like Ed. Guess I'll just have to do. It wasn't like there was anyone else looking to take an interest in, well, either of them.
****Maggie***
Maggie sighed, shifting position in Glenn's arms and decided that she was awake, unfortunately. The cellar door had banged a little louder than preferred as the shift changed and she saw the hunched form of Daryl move quietly to his sleeping area near Carol. He sat down, ran his hands through his hair, looked over at Carol, and then laid back. She wondered about Daryl; he was hard man to read, but Maggie had sensed from the beginning that he was a good guy. Not like her father, nor Glenn; they were gentle men at heart. Daryl was harsh, born from a brutal life. Underneath all the glares and curses, though, Maggie felt that he was just as good a man as any of the others in their small band. He'd proven her right by how he'd searched for Carol's daughter, tirelessly, and how he'd risked his own life to protect the others. He hadn't even gotten mad at Andrea for shooting him. Best not to think of Andrea or the others. It only made it worse to dwell on the ones they'd lost.
Maggie had spent all her time worrying about Glenn, her father, and Beth; she hadn't had time to consider what was going on with the others. But now she was noticing how fragmented Rick and Lori's marriage was. It had something to do with Shane, but Maggie wasn't sure being upset that her husband had killed a man was the extent of it. She also saw how Daryl liked to keep Carol close to him. She'd known that they were friends, but it seemed like more than that to Maggie. She couldn't quite put her finger on what it was, but she resolved to keep a closer eye on the pair.
****Lori****
The morning dawned bright and early the next day. Lori had to shield her eyes against the bright sun as she climbed out of the cellar, holding the door for Carl to follow her up. It hadn't been the best night sleep she'd ever had, but at least they had been inside, out of immediate danger.
She saw Carol, already standing at the stove, and headed her way. "Sorry I over slept. How can I help?" Carol turned, smiling at her. "No problem at all." She said, "Everyone else has eaten and I'm just fixing another batch of eggs. Their almost done; grab a plate." It was so nice not to have to do anything; she was already feeling nauseas but she knew she had to eat, keep up her strength.
"So where is everyone?" Lori asked as she and Carl sat down to eat. They had been the last ones in the cellar and Carol was the only one in the diner's kitchen.
"Not sure about everybody," Carol replied as she started to clean up after herself. "I know Hershal, Beth, Maggie, and Glenn are next door at the gas station. They want to grab anything we can use. T-Dog went with them to keep watch. Not sure about Daryl and Rick, though." As she said the last words, Lori saw Carol look out the large front windows of the diner searching for the two men. Lori followed her gaze, but there was no sign of either of them.
"I'm sure they're fine." Lori said, not sure if she was speaking more to Carol or herself. She wasn't sure how she felt about Rick anymore, but she wanted him to be safe. He was all the protection she and Carl had. Her heart hadn't broken when she heard that Shane was dead, but when she learned that it was Rick that had ended him instead of walkers, a fury rose up inside of her that she couldn't control. She hadn't let Rick anywhere near her since that day, but now, she knew she had to patch things up. He'd stopped pursuing reconciliation and she knew that the rifts in their marriage were turning into chasms. She just wasn't sure how to bridge the gap between them anymore.
"There they are! Thank God!" Carol's voice sounded so relieved and Lori looked up from her plate. Carl got up to run towards his father and Lori didn't stop him this time. Maybe Rick'll see it as a peace offering of sorts. She hoped so. Carol was close behind Carl, but she stopped short of the two men. Lori had noticed that Carol had not ridden with them like she had before they'd lost Sophia. Carol had stayed with Daryl the whole time since they left the farm and Lori couldn't decide which one of them had precipitated that decision. Maybe it was just a coincidence.
Watching the small group out the window, she could see them talking, but couldn't hear what they were saying. Rick had his hand on Carl's shoulder and they had moved closer to Carol, but Daryl had stayed where he was, not looking at the woman. Lori knew that Carol really liked Daryl; he'd risked his life more than once to look for Sophia and he'd tried to keep her spirits high. His thoughtfulness had surprised Lori, and she'd decided he wasn't so bad after all. Not as much like his brother Merle as she'd first supposed. He'd changed too, of course he'd had his moments, but he seemed softer than before, especially with Carol.
Yet, even with the change in him, Lori couldn't image Carol saw anything more than a friend in Daryl. He would never be kind, gentle, or affectionate; that was the kind of man Carol needed. No, Daryl was too much like Ed; angry and closed off. She couldn't image him changing enough to be worthy of a woman like Carol.
****Carol****
Carol had decided that it didn't matter what her questions or concerns regarding Daryl Dixon were. It was the end of the world and she needed someone and she wanted to be needed. She gravitated towards him unconsciously and she knew he cared for her, wanted to keep her safe. That was enough for now. She'd stick with him and together, they'd survive.
Her resolution waivered when she saw him and Rick walking towards the diner. What if he's only keeping me safe because he feels he has to. I want a friend not a babysitter. His words from a few weeks before came back to her. "You're afraid. You ain't got no husband, no daughter. You don't know what to do with yourself. But you're not my problem!" He'd been right. She was afraid and alone. But since that night, he had gone out of his way to show her kindness. So she walked out to them, greeting both men, and asking for the news. "We walked a wider perimeter; only saw a few walkers, which we took care of easily. Daryl and I think we should stay one more night and then move on. It'll give us time to gather anything we need for the road." Rick said. He looked relieved that things were going smoothly.
"That sounds like a good plan." Carol offered. "Anything I can do to help out."
"I'll let Daryl take charge of that for now. Is Lori around?" Rick seemed distracted, so Carol pointed back to the diner and watched him and Carl disappear back into the building. Turning to Daryl, she saw that he had already started to walk back to his bike. She took off after him. "Well?" She breathed, she had had to trot to catch up.
"Well what?" He looked surprised to see her standing beside him.
"Rick said you might need me to do something." She raised her eyebrows, thinking it had been obvious what she meant.
"No. I have to go check out a pickup we saw a ways out. Can't be ridin' this bike everyday." He had resumed going through his saddlebags, but looked up at her to gauge her reaction. "I see. Can I come with you? Everyone else has cleaned out the station, and I don't want to be around that." Carol jerked her head in the direction of the diner. She felt certain that Daryl would understand she meant Rick and Lori. The tension between them had become so thick lately and she felt they needed some time to themselves.
Daryl narrowed his eyes at her, but after looking to the diner he simply nodded, saying, "A'right, but stay close and keep quiet. I don't want no trouble."
