Carol felt her hands shaking. It wouldn't stop. It was spreading to her arms and into her shoulders that were tense enough to make her entire body feel locked up. None of it mattered though and it was a sickening thought. He was okay. He was fine. He wasn't bitten. But still her hands were trembling and her chest felt tight.
Carol looked over at Merle and watched as he spoke to people she didn't know. The tension and unease in the group was getting worse. People were spread thin as it was but now, now things were just bleak. She thought of Logan's father out there alone in Atlanta and couldn't help but wish they were with him.
"Merle no one asked you." Shane snapped.
Carol growled at the rudeness coming from the man. Merle was ready to hit him and she stood abruptly. Logan tried to catch her hand but she shrugged him off. Storming straight for the man she felt eyes on her. Logan was right behind her even though he was moving completely silent.
"Aren't you looking for that piece of shit anyways?" Shane smiled.
Carol reacted at his words feeling all her emotions swirling in her chest violently. The sharp crack that sounded silenced the entire group. Carol moved so fast and without thought she didn't realize she hit the man until she felt pain in her hand. That pain was quickly replaced by the trembling but was followed by Logan catching her hand.
"How dare you!" Carol snarled cutting off anything he wanted to say.
Everyone was wide eyed and looking at her. She'd been silent. Not interacting with them because they made no move to acknowledge her. Andrea did but the rest were assholes. Merle was right they were self centered and didn't really care about others surviving so long as they made it out. Where was their compassion. She couldn't believe it, not for a minute because it wasn't in her to just stand idly by and watch someone die. If the Dixons were as bad as this man wanted people to believe than Logan would have left her to die.
"Have you lost your damn mind?" Shane barked stepping forward.
Carol was pulled back and Logan stepping in front of her the same time Merle shifted. The hand that was still in Logan's grip was on the hilt of his knife. Merle's movements had a precision that screamed pain if someone dared cross him. Shane faltered but kept his eyes on her the mark on his face darkening to show her perfect hand print.
Merle's jaw clenched and he worked it. Logan was breathing heavily and Carol sneered at the man. He seemed startled but she could see right through him. He wasn't a good man. He played at being one but he was a user. He would bleed this group dry so long as he got what he wanted out of it.
Another man stepped forward his hand going to the other's chest. He stepped back slightly. Logan was still standing in front of her his chest heaving ready to fight. Merle was the same and Carol's eyes widened when Logan jerked back violently from the other man. She was pretty sure his name was Rick but didn't really care. The man didn't try to touch Logan again but instead met her eyes imploringly.
"Ma'am I'm sorry that you're husband is out there but we have to move. We can't wait." Rick looked at her his eyes sad.
Carol held back a grimace of pain when Logan's hand tightened almost violently around hers. Carol pulled Logan back and he allowed her to move him. Carol went to step around him and Merle shadowed her movements. Logan refused to let her go. Carol sighed and shot him a look. He just barely let her go and she could feel his chest brushing her arm with each of his breaths.
"Carol lets go." Merle's voice was hard. "Family meeting."
Carol stared at the group hard before spinning and walking away. Logan was saying something and she could hear gasp but didn't pause. Merle was there suddenly and Logan. Merle gave her a once over and shook his head. Carol wanted to ask but then she really didn't. She was quickly finding out that Merle could be disgusting.
"What' the face for?" Logan questioned.
Merle looked at her again and sighed heavily, "It's just a damn shame." He started jerking up tent poles.
Logan was finishing packing and Carol doused their fire. She grit her teeth feeling eyes on her. Looking over her shoulder it was Shane watching her. She raised her hand as if to wave and his face softened. Instead she flipped him off and he looked ready to storm over here. She almost wanted him to. He was a bastard. Let him come over here and hit her and shot everyone what he really was.
"What is?" Logan paused and swiped at sweat on his face.
Merle tossed the last of the tent into the bed of the truck. "That Carol here is my fake sister in law..." He paused for dramatic effect and leered at her. "Otherwise I'd lie and say she was mine."
Carol scoffed and dusted her hands off, "Not likely Merle Dixon! I'm fully committed to your brother in this farce of a marriage."
Logan was grinning like a madman at them both. It was good to see him smile. He'd not been okay since late last night. Not that she had either but he'd been lying among bodies of downed walkers. He was soaked in blood, walkers bit, and looked to be in shock. By the time her and Merle got to him and seen that he in fact wasn't bitten she ended up puking. Merle held it together better than her but the thought of him getting hurt was almost paralyzing. They got him back to their camp and Carol cleaned him up. Merle was like a guard dog around them after that until the sun came up. When the sun did shine over them though it didn't bring any warmth. It was cold here. Cold and desolate with the knowledge that it wasn' safe and they did indeed have to move.
"Harsh." Merle muttered before moving over to the bike.
Logan stepped next to her and was beaming, "I don't think he's use to a woman rejecting him."
"I find that hard to believe." Carol laughed, "Something tells me he strikes out just as much as wins with that charm."
Logan nodded and then shrugged, "Don't know never seen him really keep anyone around."
Carol paused and looked at him for a minute. It didn't sound sad coming from him and Carol chewed her lip. Merle Dixon was a hard man. She could see that just from what little time she'd been around him but there was the softness there for his nephew and she imagined for his own brother. But there was no doubt that he could be ruthless. He had an edge to him that warned of danger. Again she didn't know his brother and they really had yet to say much about him beyond Merle's jokes about him. Which he had a great many. That was the thing though. Merle Dixon was piss and vinegar where Logan was the same grit but a softness about him. He wasn't as sharp around the edge, he could be sweet at times and it was so at odds with Merle Dixon.
"He didn't have a wife? Or a sister? No women around at all."
Logan chuckled and shook his head. His fingers were tracing something in the driver seat. Carol looked down and realized it was a leather jacket. It was clearly too big for him. His father's. He looked forlorn.
"Nope." He popped the p and looked over at her from under his fringe. "Merle's a slut. I'd say whore but he never got paid for it because he gave it away." Carol let out a startled laugh and Logan mirrored her only slightly quieter. He shrugged and then looked over at his uncle. "Well that's what my dad said anyways."
Both watched as Rick and Shane walked over to Merle. He just finished up packing things away on it when they stopped. Carol could see the tension brewing but stayed quiet. Merle looked at them and then back Rick. There was no hiding the look of hate on his face but he nodded and the men whistled the group gather.
"Get finished packing. We're going to the CDC."
Logan looked at his uncle wide eyed, "We aren't following these assholes are we?"
"More people at our back and they'll be going through the city."
Carol swallowed. He had a point. She sighed and Logan growled. "They've already cost me my dad! Next it'll be you! or her!" He threw his arm out towards her before storming away into the woods.
Carol started to follow but Merle caught her wrist. "Let him go. He's too much like fucking Daryl for you to find him in the woods." Carol huffed and he stared at her, "They both always come back."