AN: another little chapter.

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 4

Carol's 2nd Round, Daryl's 4th

"Is it always like this?"

Daryl eyed Carol. She was sitting next to him her feet propped up on the foot rest of the recliner. He could see tiny rhinestones applied to the nail polish on her toes. It was a cotton candy metallic pink. Pretty damn perky.

There was an unwritten rule. Once you claim a chair that one was yours for the duration. That's how he'd ended up with the snorer on his right and Carol on his left. Bob the snorer would come in, nod to everyone and as soon as his port was accesed he'd be out for the count. Softly snoring for four hours straight until the nurse would stir him to wake up.

Daryl had liked the solitude. The rest of the group engaged in mindless chit chatter which he had no desire to join in on.

"I guess". He muttered biting his nail. He'd been worrying about Merle. He'd seemed so "off" lately. The whole cancer thing was wreaking havoc on Merle. Or so he said. Secretly Daryl wondered if it was any excuse to jump off the wagon would do. Never knowing if Merle was going loose it and go off on a bender was starting to wear thin.

"Are you alright?"

Her soft voice startled him out of his thoughts and he turned to her. She had a concerned look on her face. Like she actually cared.

He sighed "Just got a lot on my plate...family shit." He muttered then winced at how badly that must have sounded to her. They all had a lot on their plate, and she had a kid to boot. "Sorry" he muttered.

"Sorry for what?" She asked her brows knitted together in confusion.

"For being a dick...we all got shit going on."

She smiled then and reached out to touch his hand. "You have nothing to be sorry about, whatever is wrong, I wager is just as important as everyone else's problems Daryl. Because they are important to you, you matter, you know that right?"

He felt a lump in his throat threaten to overtake him. Fuck! What the hell was she doing to him? If he wasn't one moment lusting after a glance of her chest, he was overcome with emotion at the way she made him feel with a few words. Or a touch he thought suddenly realizing his hand was still clasped in hers. He lifted his thumb, almost without realizing he was doing it and started circling the pad of his thumb on the sensitive skin between her thumb and forefinger. He saw her involuntary shiver before he dropped her hand.

Trying to lighten the mood he snorted out a joke. "The only one who cares if I make it through this is my brother...and that's when he is sober."

Lying slightly on her side she smiled at him sadly a pallor spreading across her skin, he knew the meds were starting to hit her hard "I doubt that" she whispered "I bet there are lots who care, you just don't let them in. I only just met you and I care."