A/N 1 Starting back right where we left off. This will include the backstory of how Carol and Daryl met the first time. I'm putting a time stamp at the beginning of the chapter, and sections so that we know if we're in present day or Carol or Daryl's memory. I'll explain more at the end of the chapter. Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Chapter 4 ~ A Heroes Heart
Friday Afternoon – Evening Early May
Carol lifted her moist eyes to her daughter and had to fight her tears again. "Yes, sweetheart, I remember." She gave her daughter a watery smile.
"Why are you, sad Mama?" Sophia asked, as she came closer and wrapped her small arms around her waist, and rested her little head on her stomach.
"Oh, just remembering sweetie." She rubbed her daughter's back and kissed the top of her head. "Are you done with your lesson's?"
Sophia's nose wrinkled, and she pouted. "I want to watch a movie." She whined.
Carol looked over at the time it was just after five. Sophia had been working on her lesson's for a little over an hour. "Alright sweetheart, I guess you've been at your lessons for long enough, let's put a movie on, while I get dinner ready."
Sophia smiled happily enough, and Carol got her daughter situated with a movie, it was Finding Nemo.
Carol went back to prepping dinner. She was distracted by that summer three years ago when she met Daryl for the first time.
Summer 2007
Tigger had been Sophia's cat, she'd been a gift (last gift) from her granddaddy, his cat had a litter of kittens, and he'd given her one. One night when Ed had raised his voice to them, the cat got spooked and got outside, and Ed, the only thing that he offered to do was kill the damn thing because it was a nuisance and all Cats were good for were catching mice. He even went as far as kicking the cat. Tigger had disappeared the night before, and Sophia had cried herself to sleep, because Ed had come back in, telling them that he'd killed the cat. She remembered he'd been so angry that evening. He'd backhanded her, and left that night not coming home for a few days.
Like most places, there had been significant crime in the area, and the police had been in her neighborhood that day periodically. Earlier that afternoon, Carol had been out gardening she could do that when Ed was at work. Sophia was out playing with her dolls not ten paces from her. Carol looked up when she heard a couple of loud engines.
Her neighbor across the street was a Marine, Mark he had come over a few weeks earlier and introduced himself when she and Ed were out in the yard. Ed had been yelling at her, and had struck her, then in anger he'd peeled out of their driveway. Carol was sure that it had caused a scene, her heart had been hammering in her chest when she had heard his footsteps.
Mark was a big man, taller than Ed, with a close cropped hair cut, he breathed military, or police Carol decided. He had piercing blue-green eyes, but they were kind, and observant, he was wearing a muscle shirt, with US Marine printed across the front of it. He had a shy smile on his face when he walked up and was holding a cat.
"This one yours?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow, and a smirk.
"Oh, sorry, that's Tigger, he's skittish." She nodded at the bundle of fur in his arms.
"Aww, it's no bother, just didn't want Bear to get him…he likes to chase them" He nodded over his shoulder at the big black lab that was sitting obediently at the end of his driveway. "I'm Mark Pine, thought I'd come over and introduce myself since I'd lived here a few weeks, been away at drills, but home for the summer." He explained and held out his hand to shake hers. He gripped her hand gently.
"Oh, I'm Carol Peletier, and who you saw leave a moment ago that was my husband Ed, and this here" Carol motioned at Sophia, who had walked over shyly and was hiding at her side, "Is Sophia., Tigger's hers." Carol nodded down at her.
Mark stooped down, with a grin. "Hello Miss Sophia, it's nice to meet you." He smiled, then stood to his full height. Sophia hadn't said anything she'd just hid further into her side. She was usually scared of men, because of Ed, he was loud and angry a lot of the time.
"Well, it's nice to meet you Mark, and thanks for bringing Tigger back over to us." She smiled, and he handed her the cat.
He nodded, and explained he had to run to the store to get food, but if she needed him for anything to let him know. She then knew that he'd heard her fight with her husband, and that was probably why he'd come over there. She nodded.
Carol turned to look over at Mark's. He'd called out earlier that afternoon he was having some buddies over that evening. And that if she and her girl wanted to come over for BBQ they were welcome. He didn't include Ed into that, but that was because he'd not been home since the night before. Carol somehow thought that maybe he already knew that.
Carol squinted up from her stooped position in the front yard and over at Mark's. There were two men just pulling in on Motorcycles. The engines cut off, and she could hear them talking.
Carol's eyes locked onto the younger man. He was just pulling off his helmet and shaking out his hair. That had been flattened down from his helmet. He hooked that to the bike, and then pulled off his riding jacket, what had caught her eye about him, was on the back of it, the riding jacket it had angel wings. Well, they might not be angel wings, but they were wings. It drew her eyes right away. But that wasn't the only thing that drew her eyes. It was when he pulled his jacket off.
Good lord, he had muscles, and his tan arms just shined in the bright afternoon sun, again drawing her eyes right to those strong arms.
Carol's mouth went dry, and she tried to swallow. What the hell was wrong with her? It was like, suddenly, the man's head snapped up, and he was staring right back at her.
Carol was caught, she knew it, so she immediately dropped her gaze. How the heck did he know she'd been looking at him?
Friday afternoon, - Carol (Present Day)
A sharp pain drew Carol out of her thoughts. She hissed and brought her finger up to her mouth to suck on it. She'd been chopping carrots and mistook her pinky finger for a carrot. She pulled her finger back and frowned. She'd got it good. But didn't panic, she just went over to the sink and turned on the faucet, and ran her pinky under the cold stream of the water. It stung, and again she hissed in pain, turning the water off with her elbow, she grabbed a paper towel above the sink, inspecting to make sure that she didn't drip any blood up there. She wrapped her pinky finger with a paper towel and walked back towards the back of the apartment to find the first aid kit that Holly had showed her the evening the moved in with her.
Finding it, she opened it and pulled out what she would need. The cut, wasn't deep enough to need stitches, but she'd have to bandage it well, so she didn't contaminate their dinner. She worked quickly and efficiently, like a trained doctor really, she'd bandaged herself up many times over the years. Even had stitched herself up on occasion. She'd gotten really good at giving herself medical care. She pulled out the alcohol, and dumped it over the wound, and bit back a hiss of pain, as pain induced tears filled her eyes. The little cuts always hurt the most. She remembered having to put rubbing alcohol on her head and flinched. She made a butterfly bandage, and after drying her finger as much as she could, she placed the bandage over her finger, and found a gauze pad, and tape, and wrapped her finger. Holly had a complex first aid kit. So Carol dug around, and found a finger tube, it was plastic, almost looked like a… condom. That would work, she decided.
She cleaned her mess up, and put the first aid kit back under the sink, and walked back into the kitchen. She cleaned up the mess there and grabbed a new knife and cutting board. She wasn't going to use the contaminated one.
Carol finished up with the carrots and set them aside. Then went on to the rest of the meal. She was making fried chicken, her mother's old recipe. She hoped that Daryl and Holly ate chicken. She didn't even think to ask her, she just saw the abundance of chicken in the freezer, and went with it. So it was really, that she should have asked if Daryl was one to eat chicken. But if she remembered correctly, that night at the BBQ over at Mark's he'd had chicken there. So… yeah, she was ok.
Friday afternoon, - Daryl (Present Day)
Daryl was leaning back in his office chair. His shoulder was throbbing, but that could be because he had his hand's locked behind his head, and he was staring at the ceiling. His shoulder still burned from being shot, and Daryl was having a hard time shaking the thoughts that had been running through his head all morning. He'd killed before. Sure, he'd killed someone before, but not in the head. Since that gunfight, two days ago. He'd replayed that whole fight in his head, watching as the bullet's riddled that Tweakers body. He should have gone down. That's what the medical examiner had told him when Daryl had gone down into the morgue to speak with him.
He'd been told, that the Tweaker had been on a lot of drugs. Some cocktail mixture he was sure. Daryl had heard stories in years past that certain drugs, combined with certain drugs could make someone appear to be invincible. But six shots in the chest? That seemed hardly unlikely. That Tweaker should have dropped by the first bullet. Most the men and women on his team all carried glocks for guns. They had fifteen rounds in them. The bullet's not all were hitting their mark. But the ones that did should have brought the fucker down. He shouldn't have had to shoot the asshole in the head. But he was coming down right on Holly, and after what Daryl had seen what that fuck was doing to the other guys. Daryl fired. It took one bullet, and he fell backward with a splat of gore.
Daryl shook himself out of that thought as his office phone rang.
It'd been Captain Stevens. They needed him downstairs again. Holly was having a hard time, he said, and she wanted to talk to him. And him only. Daryl frowned and leaned forward to drop the phone back in its cradle. He stood and stretched, his back popping, and he winced. He was getting old. Or he'd just been beaten up. That could be it.
He made his way to the stairs. He needed the exercise, so he was going to take the stairs. He made it down to where Holly had been all morning, in the gym.
"Hey, Daryl." Holly called out as he walked into the gym, she sniffled, her eyes were watery and her face red. She was sitting on one of the benches in the weight room, far back from the door, her arms folded around her and she was rocking back and forth.
"What's up?" He asked as he came and sat down across from her on the bench. "Captain said that you needed me." He met her eyes, and then flinched, she was crying again. It was like those four years ago all over again. The fear in her eyes. "What is it?" He murmured, and stood and sat down next to her, putting his good arm around her shoulders and pulling her to his shoulder.
She sniffed, and hid her face on his chest, and began to cry. "I'm sorry," She whispered Daryl tightened his grip around her shoulders, and took her clenched fist in his hand, and evened it out as he rubbed his thumb over the inside of her wrist.
Daryl cleared his throat, "Nothin' to be sorry for sweetheart, what is it?" He murmured.
Her watery eyes met his, "I feel like it's my fault." She whispered brokenly.
Daryl frowned slightly, "What do you mean?" He whispered.
"You had to kill him…I froze - I" She lowered her gaze from his and fiddled with a string on her pants. "I - if you would…" She started to sob,
"Hey - hey, stop that… Holly - anyone of us, could freeze. I could have frozen…" His voice faded, and brought his hand up to her chin, to try to get her to look at him, "Holly look at me." He whispered, she sniffled, and coughed, then slowly raised her eyes to meet his. Daryl winced at what he saw there, and his eyes softened, and he cleared his throat a small lump had filled his throat. "You did the best you could in your situation, we don't know what we are dealing with here, ok. It's not typical, and no one is equipped to take a life." His voice faded, and he had to clear his throat to continue. "It was my job to do Holly. I saw that Tweaker coming down on you…" Daryl trailed off, and swallowed, and his voice hardened, but his eyes remained soft. "I did what I had to do, please don't blame yourself, Holly, it's not your fault."
Holly nodded and wiped at the corner of her eye. "I just wish I could have done it, so you didn't have to." She whispered and rubbed her other eye.
"Holly, you don't feel bad for me, I'm doing alright." He met her eyes, then closed them a moment, and took a breath, "Is all this because of me" He motioned towards her, his eyes softening further, but narrowing slightly, as she chewed on her lip. He wasn't angry, but he didn't want her hurting for him. He was handling it fine.
"No - yes, I don't know." She dropped her face into her hands.
Daryl let out a heavy breath. "Hol - I'm ok, and I don't want you feeling guilty, or feeling sorry because you froze." He cleared his throat and looked away a minute. "The first time I had to shoot someone I froze…it scared the ever-living fuck outta me." He admitted, "Joel could have died, and he had to take a life because of me." He swallowed thickly, "That guilt gets in yer head and fucks with ya. I took that tweakers life because he was coming at ya, he could've hurt you, he could of…" his voice caught, and he cleared it, "he could have killed you…so don't you feel guilty for something that I had to do!" His voice had hardened, and he stared at her. "I ain't mad at ya, but please…Holly, don't feel guilty for me." His voice softened at the end there.
She nodded and sniffed. "But didn't you feel guilty with Joel."
Daryl dropped his gaze and let out an annoyed sigh. "Yeah. I did." He rubbed the back of his neck "He and I had a similar talk, nine years ago…not this emotional" He looked up and smirked at her, then looked away "He had to hit me. I was pissed at myself, and acting like a fucking prick." He snorted out a laugh and met her eyes again. "I ain't gonna hit you." He raised an eyebrow.
Holly snorted, "I could take you."
Daryl rolled his eyes, "Maybe" He sighed, then his eyes hardened again, but his voice was soft. "I've taken a life before Holly, an' in this line of work, sometimes we just have no fucking choice, it sucks." He looked away and took a breath to calm himself. "Hell…you feel like shit!" He hissed, took another deep breath and met her eyes again hers were teary again. "But I ain't gonna let you feel guilty over what I had to do." He whispered, and took her hand. "You hear me?"
Holly sighed, and wiped her eyes. "Ok, um…" She wiped her eyes with her free hand, and cleared her throat. "we still on for dinner?" She asked, and he nodded.
"Yeah." He swallowed, and stood up. "You good?"
"I am now, there might be a few hiccups along the way, but I'm ok." Daryl rolled his shoulder and stared out the window. "Shoulder hurting?"
He nodded, "A little." He smirked over his shoulder.
A few hours later it was almost time to leave the office. Daryl had driven his truck that morning. It still hurt to use the bike. His shoulder hurt more than he was letting on. The bullet had gone through, but it had cut through one of the ligaments in his shoulder.
He sighed, he'd be off the bike for a few more days.
Daryl tossed his pen down on the top of his desk. He hadn't got much done, too distracted with what Holly had told him, and going to meet Carol and Sophia for dinner. He'd been thinking a lot about her, remembered her which made him a little more nervous this time around. He wondered if she'd remember him? His nostrils flared, and he stood and stretched. It was no use. He wasn't getting any work done. His shoulder felt like hell, but he wasn't going to admit that to everyone. He just hoped the pain didn't show on his face. He prided himself on having a high pain tolerance. Hell, he needed it, his old man had built that up in him over the years of abuse. He'd grown a tough skin.
But hell, this emotional pain was a little harder. He felt like a fucking failure when he met Carol the first time. When he couldn't get her away from Ed. So this time, when Holly had called him last week and said her name…he decided he wasn't going to fail her again. He was going to get her out of there that day, no matter what. When he realized it was Carol, that Carol.
Daryl remembered he'd met Carol when he and Joel were working Mark Pine's case. He turned out clean, but one of his friends hadn't. Since Mark knew Merle and knew him through Merle, he couldn't work undercover. But he stayed on the case as just a friend of Joel's. Fortunately, Mark never knew what Daryl did. That was just because Merle had just told him, that he was a mechanic, and worked on motorcycles. Which was accurate. Daryl knew how to work on Motorcycles, and enjoyed it.
Summer of 2007 (Daryl)
Daryl cut off the engine of his triumph and reached up to start to unbuckle his helmet as he stood on the bike, and hopped off.
"How many guys are coming tonight?" Joel asked.
Daryl finished unbuckling his helmet and shook out his hair. It felt like his hair was glued to his skull. His hair fell in his eyes as he looked over at Joel.
"Uh… six I think" Daryl grunted, and ran a hand through his sweaty unruly hair, then shook it out again. "Why?" He asked as he was reaching up, and unzipping his riding jacket. It was hot as hell. Daryl could feel the sweat running down his back. He would have preferred not to have worn the riding jacket itself, but it had been cooler that morning when he'd set off from Northern Georgia.
He'd been on the road for about three hours before he'd met up with Joel. Daryl had to go up to Sweet Water because his grandfather had had a heart attack. He was resting well again in his hospital room. He'd have to stay in the hospital for a week.
So Daryl had ridden back to Atlanta that morning, and driven out here to Jackson, to meet up with Joel. Daryl finished pulling off his riding jacket, vest and jacket and all, he folded it and pushed it into the side of his saddle bag.
Then pulled his sweat-soaked shirt, that was sticking to his chest like glue away from it. Joel was laughing at him. "Damn Daryl, shoulda brought a clean shirt." Joel snorted.
"Fuck you!" He unbuttoned his blue cutoff shirt and pulled it off. Now he was just down to his t-shirt which was just fine with him.
"Is this a paid strip show,"
"Fuck off!" He snorted, and chuckled and stuffed his blue shirt in the back pocket of his jeans. Once he dried off, he'd pull it back on. The back of his neck just then felt like it was on fire, it was all prickly. They were being watched. But he only frowned, and listened to what Joel was saying. But he had an incredible itch to turn his head, and look behind him,
"You reviewed their backgrounds, names?" Joel asked.
Daryl was snapping the buckle on his saddle bag and straightened. Distractedly, he brought his hand up and chewed on his thumbnail. "Yeah, uh " His voice trailed off again, and he whipped his head around.
It was like they were being watched him in particular, he turned and under the cover of his bangs he met the eyes of the woman that was in her front yard, that he'd seen as they rode up on their bikes. Her gaze immediately, dropped, but not before he'd seen her blush.
"Daryl?" Joel tried again.
The lady out front gardening was stunning. Even from the distance, he was standing, he could see the blush that was covering her cheeks, as she peaked up again at him she immediately looked down again.
Daryl smirked, and scratched the back of his neck, and turned back to look at Joel, who wasn't watching the pretty lady across the street but his eyes were on him.
"What" Daryl scowled, narrowing his eyes at his partner.
"Where'd you go?" Joel was smirking at him. Then his gaze went across the street to the pretty women, who had her eyes on them again. "She's pretty. You should go over and introduce yourself." Joel chuckled.
"Stop!" Daryl hissed, and narrowed his eyes at his partner, "She's married, and you're an asshole, she's got a young daughter right over there by the edge of the house." Daryl nodded towards the small rambler.
"How the hell you know, might be a single lady with a kid." Joel put his hand on his shoulder as Daryl turned and rolled his eyes. "Hell, married or no, she's hot." Joel snickered,
Daryl shoved him forward. "Come on Romeo." Chuckling as Joel tripped over his own feet, and nearly face-planted onto Mark's front lawn.
"Asshole" Joel snarled, as he righted himself and caught up with Daryl.
Joel and himself had scoped out this neighborhood the last few weeks when they had first got information on Mark. They were still not confident that Mark was involved, he had a clean military record. Merle had told him, that he knew of him, that he took the straight path, but other men in his group weren't as clean. Mark, himself had been injured in the war. So, he was home healing from that injury. But he was still active and doing drills.
Daryl with one last look at the pretty lady, she'd gone back to work in her garden. She'd probably just been nervous seeing two men riding up on motorcycles. Mark greeted them as they walked up the drive. Clamping a hand down on Daryl's shoulder. "Finally meeting the sweet one," Mark smirked, and Daryl rolled his eyes.
"Merle's and asshole, don't believe him." Daryl shook the man's hand.
Joel did the same, and they followed Mark into his home. "Ignore the mess, still trying to move all my shit in, living outta boxes." He explained as Daryl sidestepped a box that was right in the walkway. It was dark in the room, so he'd been keeping his eyes open for boxes like that. That woulda seriously had Joel teasing him endlessly for the next month or so. Daryl had to laugh when he heard a hiss behind him, and "Fuck."
He raised his eyebrow and looked behind him at Joel, who'd just righted himself by grabbing the wall. "Careful where ya walk," Daryl smirked at his partner.
"Asshole." Joel was hoping along, and rubbing his shin.
Daryl frowned and glanced down at his partner's shin. "You ok?"
"Fine, fine. The box just didn't move is all." He frowned,
Mark had turned around after hearing what Joel said. "Yeah sorry, bunch of weights in that one."
Daryl snorted and shook his head. Then watched as Joel lifted the leg of his jeans to make sure it wasn't bleeding. It wasn't, but he was going to have a hell of a bruise. Joel dropped the pants leg, and limped over to him, "Hell of a way to begin the afternoon."
"I have some ice, going to go move that box, so no one else breaks a leg. Daryl, check the freezer, on the top under the ice trays, should be a cold pack for Joel. Joel, just take a seat. I got some ointment too, gave me some for the bruising when I got injured." He shrugged, "It helps." He grunted, and lifted the box, and put it against the wall with a grunt. Then he left the room quick, and went into the hallway, and came out with a tube in his hands. He was tossing it up in the air and catching it. "Only need a little bit." He handed it over, and Joel took it turning it over in his hand to look at the ingredients. "It's all natural my sister makes it, but the ingredients are there." Mark pointed out.
Joel nodded, "Thanks." He opened the tube and sniffed at it. Smelled sort of like peppermint candies he decided. He dipped his finger in, and pulled out just a dab of it, and smeared it over his shin. It seemed to almost instantly soothe the burning pain in his shin. He replaced the cap and set it aside seeing that Mark had wondered off again.
Daryl came back into the room with a hand towel wrapped around the cold pack. "Prop yer leg up." He instructed, and then gently laid the cold pack over his shin. Then straightened to his full height. And narrowed his eyes, and brought his thumb up to his mouth. "Does it still hurt?" Daryl mumbled around his thumb, nodding at Joel's shin.
Joel sighed, and nodded at the icepack. "Feels better," Joel rubbed his beard, and narrowed his eyes looking back up at him. "Mark gave me some sort of muscle rub." He tossed it up to him.
Daryl caught it with one hand, and opened the container and took a sniff. "Smells like peppermint." He swallowed, and rubbed his chest. "Granddaddy always picks peppermint in the woods to sooth bruises and injuries." He put the cap back on it, and set it aside.
"He said his sister makes it." Joel leaned his head back, and closed his eyes. "Didn't get much sleep last night, little Ellie was up all night, her hamster died." He rubbed his eyes and then cursed.
"What's wrong?" Daryl asked and frowned.
Joel had his eyes squeezed shut, "Peppermint" He hissed.
Daryl's eyes widened, and he froze for a second…then took off towards the kitchen calling out to Mark, "Ya got any mayonnaise?"
"Mayo?" Mark asked, with a strange look on his face.
"Joel rubbed his eyes."
Mark rolled his own, and nodded at the refrigerator. "Should be some in there, if not cupboard, my ma brought some over, why mayonnaise?"
"Will soothe it, and just wanna laugh my ass off…"
Mark snorted, as Daryl moved towards the refrigerator, "You're worse than Merle, shit sweet one." But Daryl didn't hear the rest, as he stuck his head into the refrigerator and pulled out the jar of mayonnaise, he shut the door, and found a spoon bringing it out into the living room, and took out a glob with the spoon, and smeared it all over Joel's eyes.
Joel jumped, and hissed. "What the hell are you doing?"
Daryl just chuckled, "Trust me, it'll stop the burning."
"Is that mayo?" Joel sniffed, as Daryl continued to wipe his fingers over his eyes. Joel tried not to flinch.
"Yes it's mayo, it'll help soothe the burn am I right?" Daryl asked as he stood.
"It's not burning no more, thanks…but stinks like shit." Joel grumbled.
"Leave it on for twenty, then you can wipe it off." Daryl grinned, and took a step back to avoid getting kicked.
"Christ now all I need is bolonge." Joel muttered.
"Hey now, I didn't make ya rub the damn peppermint in yer eyes, ya can thank me later, gonna go find Mark." He cleared his throat, "Call out if ya need me." Daryl picked up the jar, pausing looking over his shoulder as he heard Joel talking again.
"Got it, and uh…thanks"
Daryl brought the mayo back into the kitchen leaving it on the counter as he washed off his hands and dried them, and then wiped off the container and opened up the refrigerator to set the mayonnaise back in there. Closing the door, he turned to find a hand towel and brought it back out to Joel.
"Hand towel on ya right." Daryl set it down next to Joel's hand in the recliner. "There are more towels in the kitchen ya can use to wash up." Daryl told him quietly, and turned to head back out and look for Mark.
After twenty minutes or so, Joel got back up wiping his face on the hand towel, and brought the cold pack back out to the kitchen. "Swelling's already gone away." He said as he opened the freezer door, and pulled the cold pack out of the towel, and put it back in there. "What's in that stuff?" He asked Mark. As he turned towards the sink, and run his hands under the water, and splashed it on his face. He wiped it clean, and turned to Mark.
"My sister makes creations with essential oils claim that they work really well. That shit was better than the Vicodin that they gave me." He shrugged, "Sorry again about the box." He cleared his throat, as he grabbed out three beers, and handed one to Joel, "and not warning ya to rub your eyes." He twisted off the cap of his beer.
Joel doing the same, as he took a sip of it. "No bother I've had worse." He grunted, and looked around for Daryl. "Where the hell is Daryl."
"Out back, playing with Bear, that dog is usually wary of everybody, but took to him like he's his favorite person, check it out." Mark pointed, and Joel walked over to the patio door towards his right and looked out. Daryl was laying on his back in the grass, the dog, an enormous black lab that Mark had called Bear, had his huge head on Daryl's stomach. Daryl was scratching the beast's ears.
"Animals love him…he's got a chocolate lab, calls her Harley." Joel grinned at his friend.
"Merle always called him the sweet one." Mark chuckled. "Looking at them, you'd hardly think their brothers…Merle's so hard. Daryl, he ain't."
Joel shook his head. He knew that "Yeah, they're about ten years separating 'em Daryl ain't soft"
"Didn't mean he was. My sister and I are like that." Mark cleared his throat as he pulled the patio door open and stepped through. Then handed Joel the other beer, to give to Daryl.
Joel walked over to Daryl, making sure to make noise he'd snuck up on him once and he nearly killed him.
"Feeling better?" Daryl squinted up at him. He'd come up on his elbows,
"Yep, you getting acquainted with the dog?" Daryl flicked him off.
"Shut up." Daryl leaned back again, his arm going behind his head. He was looking up at the cloudless sky.
"So touchy." Joel snorted.
Daryl didn't answer, just stared up at the sky, and scratched Bear's ears. He was lost in thought about something. Maybe he'd ask Mark what was up. Joel knew that Merle could sometimes be a touchy subject for Daryl. He grew up not really knowing his brother, and when sometimes. When someone knew his brother more, it was a sore subject for his friend. Joel held the beer out to Daryl, and Bear growled at him.
Daryl started chuckling, and eyed Joel. "He doesn't like you much." He raised an eyebrow.
"You got him all brainwashed." Joel rolled his eyes.
"Careful, Bear might bite ya." But Daryl reached out and took Joel's hand letting him pull him up. And took the beer that was offered to him.
"You ok?" Joel asked,
Daryl nodded, "Hmmm." He waved his hand dismissively. "I'm alright." He murmured as he twisted the cap on the coors, and took a long gulp.
Joel frowned and swallowed. Yeah, he'd have to ask Mark, when he had a chance. Something had set Daryl off. He was pissed off about something. So when Daryl went back to scratch Bear's ears. He made his way back over to Mark. After all, it was his job. Daryl was just there as his partner, and he'd insisted on being on the property. It'd look strange otherwise.
"Hey, need any help?" Joel cringed, he wasn't the guy that typically asked if you needed help.
"Understand anything about propane? And hooking the fucking thing up…grew up with campfires, and shit." Mark looked over his shoulder. He was crouched down in front of the grill, trying to hook up the valve. It was really Daryl's area, but Joel could hook up a pipe, he'd just make sure to as Daryl to look at them afterward.
"Hey, uh… were you talking to Daryl, while I was laid up?" Joel asked trying to keep his tone curious and not annoyed, that he'd got hurt.
"Oh yeah, a little bout Merle, and Carol." He shrugged,
"Carol?" Joel squinted up at him. The sun was blinding him.
"Neighbor lady." Mark replied he ran his hand over his head, "Figured, b'cuz Merle and Daryl grew up in abusive home he'd know a little about it." Mark frowned,
Joel sat up and scowled. "How can you tell that?" Joel hissed,
"Easy, there cowboy. Merle told me about it." Mark held up his hands, "Wasn't intending to bring up any shit with him… Carol over there, and her little girl" He pointed over his shoulder. "There's always a lot of yelling over there by her dumbass husband, saw him backhand her a few weeks back." He swallowed, "Then when he left, I went over and introduced myself." He shrugged, "Had to catch her cat…it gave me a reason to go over there." He rubbed his jaw, "Saw faint bruising on the little one's shoulders, and a red mark on the little lady's jaw."
So that's what had Daryl upset. Joel thought as he went back to working on the propane valve. Yeah, Daryl would definitely have to look at this so the neighborhood didn't blow up.
Daryl watched Joel walk over to Mark, he was feeling antsy after talking to the man. He'd brought up some shit that Merle had told him about, and then was talking about the pretty neighbor lady, said that she was being smacked around by her deadbeat husband. He had said he'd invited them over for BBQ, just the woman and her daughter, her husband wasn't invited, but he hadn't been home either.
Daryl laid back and locked his hands behind his head. Bear was resting his head against his chest, and sleeping. Daryl couldn't figure out if he was trying to comfort his worrying thoughts, or just that he knew he was an animal person. But he continued to scratch the snoring dog's ears, and think about Carol, and hoping that she'd come over for some BBQ. He wanted to get his own read on the situation.
Later that evening, Daryl felt like he was going to die as he lay there panting on the grass. He'd just gotten sacked once again. He rolled over on his side. Joel ran back over and knelt on the ground. "Hey man, you ok?"
Daryl grunted, and winced as he rolled his shoulder. "'s all good." He hopped up to his feet, "Need a break, this about half-time?"
They'd been playing four on four football. Not tag football either, and they weren't wearing any pads to protect against bruised ribs or bruised shoulders. It was a hot night, still sticky and humid, and it was closing in on 8 pm. Daryl had gone to the front of the yard out to his bike. He'd planned on texting into Captain Stevens when something across the street caught his eye.
Carol was standing outside and shining a light up at the tree in her front yard her little daughter, Sophia. Mark had told him was clinging to her leg, crying.
"…Here kitty, kitty, come on Tigger!" Carol called out, as she was shining the flashlight up at the branches. Daryl squinted from where he stood by his bike up at the branches. He could pick out some eyes, as the woman passed it by. He frowned, this wasn't a good neighborhood, and it was nearing sunset, and here she was, in shorty-shorts and a tank top shining the light up at a cat.
Daryl sighed and hesitated for a moment. He'd been running around in the back with Joel and Mark and the other guys, they'd been playing football, so his white t-shirt with the cutoff sleeves was wet with sweat and sticking to his chest, and he probably looked a mess, with his long hair, and biker pants on. He stuffed his phone in his pants pocket and glanced both ways before cutting across the street. "Ma'am, what seems to be the trouble?" He called out quietly when he got into hearing range. She whirled around in fright with a squeak, and shone the light right in his eyes, he held his hand's up, shielding his eyes, and trying to look less of a threat. "It's alright ma'am, just saw you, shining the light up at the trees, and wondering if ya could use some help, not looking for any trouble." He dropped his voice, trying to sound gentle.
Her hand was at her throat, and the light still shown in his face. She finally, dropped the light, "Oh! My!" She giggled, and blew out a breath, "You scared me, I'm sorry."
"Sorry ma'am, guess I shoulda announced that I was coming up on ya, forget I'm quiet sometimes, can I help you?" He asked again, his hand absentmindedly smacking his chest when a mosquito bit him there, trying to suck the life out of him. He slapped at it, hitting it, and then scratching at it. "The mosquitos are vampires." He scowled at his hand, and then just wiped it off on his jeans.
She seemed to look him over, her eyes landing on his chest, and remaining there for a few moments before she seemed to collect her thoughts and look up at him again. "Oh… right, their enormous this year!" She blushed then because she was still staring at his muscled chest. The wife-beater was leaving very little to her imagination, as it stuck to him like a second skin he was stirring something in her that hadn't been stirred since her teen years. He was the same man that she'd been looking at earlier when they'd shown up on bikes, he was even better looking up close…Get a grip Carol!
She huffed out a breath and raised her eyes to his face. "Right, sorry… uh, that's Tigger," She pointed up at the tree with her flashlight, "He got spooked and got out last night, and my little girl, is so upset right honey?" Sophia, her little girl, that Daryl had noticed when he'd crossed the street, and she was clinging to Carol's leg poked her head out.
"Tigger's scared Mister can you help?" She asked timidly, while taking a few steps towards the tree.
Daryl frowned looking up into the branches, even though the light was fading and sunset was almost upon them he could still make out the shape of Tigger, and his eyes. He scratched at his chest where the mosquito got him. He wasn't looking for getting clawed up. "I can, just hold on… let me grab my shirt… hold on." He nodded at them both, and turned and jogged back over to his bike, and pulled his light blue cutoff on, and black vest from the saddle bag on the motorcycle. He dug deeper into his pack for his flashlight. He could hold it in his teeth while he climbed to get the cat. He even grabbed his riding gloves out. Didn't want to get all clawed up. He walked back across the street while buttoning up his blue shirt, and vest.
"Wow," Carol observed when she saw him come back up, "You're just the everyday cat rescuer." She smiled, and he blushed.
"Well… I try," He winked, then his lip quirked up as he pulled on his gloves. "If you, hold up yer light between the two of us, we should be able to see Tigger, and get him down for you." He told them with a slight nod of his head.
"She." Sophia corrected.
Daryl stopped his reach for the branch that was high above his head. His lips quivered until he bit down on his lower lip, to fight back the grin "Well, I stand corrected Lil miss, 'her'" And he reached for the tree again pulling himself up on the closest branch, having to jump just a bit to reach it.
Carol marveled as her knight and shining armor, stretched and reached for that branch. An inch of tan skin shown, as his jeans slid lower down his hips. And Carol swallowed, as she then watched as the muscles in his biceps bulge, she swallowed thickly and tried to focus on something else… anything else. The man was very hard bodied. She'd seen that when he'd come up with his shirt sticking to his chest, it left little to her imagination, and she couldn't turn her eyes away from his muscular chest. That kind of guy would never give her the time of day, but he seemed to care enough to jog over and help her out with the cat, though.
She shone her light, trying to keep it from his eyes, as he continued to climb. She prayed to anyone that would listen that he'd stay safe up there, and not fall out of her tree. But he seemed very limber. It was like he'd climbed many trees, she heard him hiss in pain as the cat scratched him. She hoped it was only that, but it seemed, that he was descending the tree in no time. When he got to the lowest branch, he sat down on it, and hooked his left arm, and swung down until he was hanging precariously by his forearm and bicep and then just hopped down from that branch that was nine feet up, and dropped down beside her into a loose-kneed squat. He was smirking at her as if he'd known she was checking him out, Daryl had a scratch mark on his cheek, some blood starting to form there, but he was still had a half smirk on his face.
"Scared her, she got me, but she's purring now," He told her as he handed the cat to her. Once he was certain that she had him, he pulled his gloves off and put them in his back pocket. Then pulled out a bandana and wiped his cheek off.
"Oh, thank you oh my, well, I have bandages inside, I can get one so we can clean you up cat scratches can get infected." She worried her lip, as she saw more blood weep from the scratch on his cheek.
"Ain't no bother, have had worse, Tigger seems fine, probably just needs some food and water, depending how long she'd been up there." His eyes darted around looking for Sophia she was sure.
"Oh, she's still clinging to the tree, thank you so much…?"
"Oh Daryl," He wiped his hand on his jean's, and Carol couldn't help but follow that hand, and he held it out for her to shake.
"It's nice to meet you, Daryl, my name is Carol, and that's Sophia." She grinned, and he did too. "Now that you gotcha kitty back should probably go inside" He looked both ways down the sidewalk, pausing to listen for a second, "neighborhoods a little rough on Friday nights." His eyes met hers, and she couldn't help to see how clear blue they were. His eyes were as pretty as the rest of him. Carol had to swallow again. Goodness, what had gotten into her, she was a married woman, not happily for that matter, her husband Ed was a pig, but she wasn't worthy of a man like Daryl.
"Yes, Daryl it is, but at least we have a guy's like you out to keep us safe." She grinned, and he blushed.
"Well glad to be of service, even if I'm saving cats," He snorted. "Well, it's been a pleasure, but I'm sure Joel will wonder where I'm at. Nice to meet you, Carol," He winked, and then jogged back over to his bike, and put his gloves in the bag, flashlight, and pulled his vest off, leaving his blue cutoff on and walked back into the neighbor's yard.
Present Day – Daryl
Daryl blinked, "You even hear anything I've said?" Holly asked smacking him on the arm.
Daryl jerked, and gave Holly the side-eye, "What was that?"
"Are you ok D?"
Daryl sighed heavily as he waited for the light. "I knew Carol three years ago, 'member the Mark Pine case?"
Holly shook her head no, "Probably before my time boss." She snorted, and Daryl rolled his eyes at the nickname.
"Maybe…well he was her neighbor." Daryl looked at her quickly then glanced back at the road, the traffic was heavy. "I rescued Sophia's cat." He smirked at the thought.
Holly laughed at that, "Yes. Sophia was telling me that, but when I asked where the cat was, she got a little teary eyed." She bit her lip.
Daryl nodded, "It was three years ago." He sighed, then swallowed.
"Do I sense a little bitterness here, Daryl?"
Daryl immediately shook his head no, "I – no, not bitterness" He shook his head violently, feeling a bit of anger at her words, but he swallowed it. "I failed her the first time." Guess he didn't quell all his anger, because Holly was staring at him with her eyebrow raised.
"Daryl there's definitely bitterness in your voice."
Daryl glared at her, and it flared his nostrils as he let out a sigh. "It's not Bitterness, at Her!" He growled, then took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
Holly flinched at his anger, she knew of his temper. And she realized that it wasn't directed at her, "Sorry." She squeaked, "I know how much heart you put into this Daryl."
Daryl winced, "Sorry for scaring you." He swallowed tightly, "Just don't want to fail her again." He whispered.
Holly reached out, then hesitated, but let her hand fall on his forearm. "You won't fail her Daryl she is NOT going back to HIM." She whispered fiercely, and tears spilled down her cheeks. "Believe me, I know." She let her hand drop, and then wiped her eyes.
Daryl let out the breath that he was holding, and swallowed thickly. "Sorry" then scowled at the rush hour traffic. "Sorry," He knew that he'd said sorry for the last five minutes straight, probably said that more than he had in his life.
"Daryl, it's ok. I know how much this means to you. I shouldn't have pressed on you." She squeezed his forearm again.
Daryl nodded, "'S all good." Closing his eye's, a moment, they were stopped at a light.
Daryl followed Holly into her apartment building, his eyes were alert and he was looking everywhere. Just searching for danger that may be hiding in the shadows. "Daryl it's a secure building." She told him, she could sense his tension when they got into the elevator.
He snorted, "Don't matter. I ain't letting my guard down, you shouldn't either, fucking anyone can break a lock." He said tightly, he sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Holly turned to face him, and reached for his hand. She squeezed it, he flinched, but let her hold it, then let his eyes drop to meet her gaze. "Do you need me to do anything?" She whispered.
Daryl sighed, and removed his hand then leaned back against the elevator wall crossing his arms over his chest. Daryl was nervous, "Let's just see how dinner goes." He closed his eyes, and laid his head against the wall.
"You're not nervous about keeping her away from Ed, are you? You are nervous what you'd do to him if she don't."
Daryl's eyes snapped wide open at that. "What I'd do to that Asshole! I want to tear him limb from limb!" He hissed his fist clenched. "And he'd fucking deserve what he got!" He closed his eyes and let out a slow breath, and then opened them and looked at the number slowly rising on the elevator door.
"Daryl!" Holly touched his shoulder, and he sighed and looked away, he swallowed thickly.
"I ain't gonna do nothing stupid." He said hoarsely, as the elevator door opened, he straightened, it wasn't yet their floor. Holly moved to stand a few feet away from him. Her arms crossed over her chest too. As another person got on the elevator and smiled at her in greeting. She rode a few floors with them then got off on her floor.
The elevator dinged, and their passenger went on that floor. "But what would you do?" She hissed.
Daryl had his eyes closed his jaws clenched, and he swallowed thickly. "Holly, not now." He turned his head, and looked at her, "I know how the system works, if he ever finds them…" He swallowed, "That's when I'll act. Like I said, I ain't doing nothing stupid!" He whispered fiercely.
She put her hand on his forearm, and he looked down at it, then at her. "I trust you, I just want you to know I'm here, that Joel is here."
He nodded. "Got it." He smirked, and swallowed down the emotions he was feeling.
He knew it was nerves, and he hated himself for letting it get the better of him. It'd been awhile since his emotions did that. They stepped out on Holly's floor, and he followed her to her apartment still his eyes were darting everywhere.
Carol was nervously looking at the clock every few minutes. She had finished cooking now was just waiting on Holly and Daryl. She was nervous, she'd taking the time to get herself and Sophia dressed for dinner. Now she was worried that she over dressed in a sundress. It had been forever since she had worn something like that. It was normally just baggy clothes for her. Ed didn't allow her to wear things that showed that she looked like a woman her age should. He had spent extra time just tearing her down. The physical abuse would fade, not the scars…but the emotional abuse. Him calling her a fat cow, or telling her that she was worthless stuck with her still. Course she'd only been away from him for a week now, but, she'd hope that his voice would have faded by now.
So by the time she heard the key rattle the lock, she had worked herself into quite a frenzy. She had almost went back to her bedroom to pull on a few more layers of clothing, but it was too late now. Sophia had boosted her confidence though too, telling her she was beautiful. That helped. But still she knew that she was just this plain old lady, all her better years behind her.
A/N 2
So yes. Daryl and Carol did know each other before Carol runs from Ed. I know it appears that neither really recognized the other, but there is a reason for that. Which will become clearer as we move along into the next chapters. Daryl's reasoning might be a little clearer in some sense, I think. It's not a job for him, he puts all his heart and soul into this project. It affects him deeply, and when he can't save someone he feels like he fails them, and he loses a part of himself with what he thinks is that failure. All his life he's felt like that, his father very much lives in his head here, still beating him down, still abusing him mentally, and he believes he is a screw up.
Three years ago, he couldn't convince Carol to leave Ed, and a piece of himself was destroyed right along with that. He opened his heart, and he lost her. He moved on in his life, and kept on doing what he does best. Not being able to help Carol hurt him, but he's not angry at her, or nothing. He's just taking a different approach this time. He realized working solely with his heart wasn't going to cut it with Carol. She had to wise up on her own. Which brings me to Carol, she hasn't seen how bad Ed can get yet. She still thinks it's HER fault here, three years ago, that it was something that SHE did to cause Ed to snap. She still wants to try to fix him, she doesn't love him. She's scared of him, but what else has she known in her life? If she's come from the same background as Daryl? She grew up watching her own mom get abused, herself getting abused. It's all she knows. She doesn't understand kindness, just the same as Daryl. She recoils from Daryl's kindness, and protection, because she doesn't think she's worth that. She very much in the mindset, that she screwed up and she should be punished. For her to leave, she's got to realize that she's worth it…or rather, she's protecting Sophia. Her mind needed to wake up to the fact and realize that Sophia didn't need to be punished, and that's why Carol leaves.
Someone asked, if we'd see Ed again, if I'm following the same story line as the show. No. I'm following the show, but not necessarily the shows storyline. Will we see Ed again? Maybe, but three years in the future, Carol has left Ed, and she's running from him. But it doesn't mean he's not searching for them… This is where we're fortunate that Daryl is with her.
Daryl recoils from kindness as well. He tolerates touch from the few that he his closest too. But he's a very different Daryl than we know in Cannon though to. In Canon, he's not a cop, but he definitely could have been. He's got those skills, and when he was allowed away from his brother, he blossomed and grew into the man we all love. I'm very much trying to keep his 'voice' in my head. But with AU stories, we can bend them the character too. So with Daryl, he's still keeping his foundation, his insecurities, who he is. But, he's a little more of a Daryl that has people in his life that care a great deal about him, and he's accepting of that. He still recoils, and blows up at them. But, he's got people in his life that he cares about too. Cares about what they think of him, and he's trying to be that better man for that. Daryl and Carol are very alike in this point.
Already have chapter 5 written, so it will be up soon.
Thank you for the feedback I appreciate it. Keeps me writing! Still going to try for weekly updates.