Carol was heading to the guard tower to start her shift when she heard commotion at the gate. There were shouts from the other side and several people took off running. It took her but a split second to follow, clutching her rifle as she ran, praying whatever was going on didn't involve Daryl being injured or... No, she wouldn't even go there. Carol hated that her mind and her heart didn't give Glenn's safety even close to the same passion as it did Daryl's. She loved Glenn too and quickly prayed for him as she ran, but her mind snapped right back to Daryl.
"Hurry the fuck up and let us in," yelled a familiar voice from the other side. Carol felt relief hit her like a gale force wind. He was okay. Daryl was alive. By the time she got to the gate, it was open. She saw that Glenn was fine too, but Scott was not- far from it actually. Glenn and Heath were pretty much carrying him and he looked on the verge of passing out.
Daryl stood behind carrying his crossbow, two backpacks and Scott's rifle. Carol couldn't stop herself from running right to him and hugging him tightly. Their bodies connected with a thud and Daryl stumbled slightly. She didn't notice the wince or the contorted look of pain on his face until she pulled back and he righted himself, wincing again.
"Oh my God, what's wrong?" Carol asked, feeling instantly sick.
"I'm fine," Daryl grumbled. "Just twisted my knee is all. No big deal."
Carol looked skeptical as he took a step. She could tell he was in a lot of pain, both physical and wounded pride. "Gimme those," Carol said, taking the two packs from him. She flung one on her back and the other over her shoulder. "Rick," she yelled, beckoning him over. "Help him to the infirmary."
"No," Daryl interjected. "Said I was fine."
Rick and Carol shared a look and she let Rick take over. "Fine, huh? Then let's see you walk..." He crossed his arms and stepped back out of Daryl's path. With his first step Daryl disguised the pain well, but it started to show with step two and he stopped after the third.
"See, I'm fine," Daryl hissed.
"All I see is a stubborn fucking liar," Rick said. Despite everything, Carol giggled at the truth. If looks could kill Daryl just turned her into a walker. "Come on, you're going to sit and wait until Denise is done with Scott so she can check you out."
Daryl muttered something that was prob best left unheard, but let Rick help him towards the infirmary, where they had already rushed Scott. Carol started to follow but realized she had the supplies from the run and a shift in the guard tower. She stopped to contemplate what to do when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
Carol turned to see Douglas and felt instantly queasy. "It won't happen again," he said quietly, raising his hands in a symbol of surrender, recognizing the look on her face. Carol nodded and the knot in her stomach eased. "Listen, I know you care about him, and I know he's stubborn. I want you to take today off, maybe tomorrow too. Denise will tell us more, but they way he hobbled off..." Douglas shook his head. "I suspect he won't be going on runs for a while, maybe not even walking on it much for a few days."
Carol started to interrupt, and was about to tell him she didn't want time off, but Douglas held up his hand. "Your mind will not be on the job today, can you argue with me on that?" Carol shook her head once again in defeat, he was right, she couldn't deny it. "We have lots of people here, more since y'all arrived. Someone will cover your shift. Right now your job is to make sure he does what Denise suggests. I see the value in that man, he's a fighter... A survivor, like you. We need him."
Carol sighed, "You realize you're assigning me a damn near impossible task, right?"
"Yep," Douglas agreed with a smile. "But the one thing I know, in the few days you have been here... If anyone can get through to him, make him listen, it's you." Carol nodded and started to turn, but Douglas stopped her. "Carol, I messed up, and I want to make things right. I apologize for the position I put you in, and for making you uncomfortable. You don't have to accept it now, but I hope one day you will."
Carol studied his face, he really did look sincere. "I'll consider it," she said simply.
Douglas seemed fine with her reply. "One last thing, I was in love once... I mean, I know I still am if I looked deep enough to find it," he glanced towards Regina and Carol saw something flash. He did love his wife, she could tell. "Anyway," he cleared his throat. "All I'm trying to say is that I recognize love in another man's eyes. And I see it when he looks at you." Carol felt her jaw slack in shock. "Trust me," he added, looking her sternly in the eye. "Don't waste time... We don't know how much we have left." This time Douglas was the one to start to leave but turned back. "Can you take those packs to storage for sorting? Then head to him, okay?"
Carol was dazed as she headed to drop off the supplies. It wasn't as if she didn't suspect Daryl had feelings for her, she was quite sure he did, and she knew others suspected it too. But to have someone else say they see it so clearly... It was frightening, yet certainly encouraging as well. And he was right about never knowing how much time they had left.
So where did that leave her? The sexy nightie, the sex talk... Hadn't really got her anywhere. She should have known that subtlety was lost on Daryl, even though she really hadn't been all that subtle.
Carol was lost in thought as she slowly wandered back to the infirmary. "Where are you?" Said a voice. Carol stopped and looked up to see Michonne smiling at her. "You're a million miles away."
"Yeah, sorry," Carol apologized. "Just trying to sort something out." Carol studied Michonne's face for a minute and spoke impulsively. "How do I... With Daryl? You know? Get him to be honest with how he feels? I mean... I can't even..." Carol fumbled with her words. "Sorry," she shook her head.
Michonne touched her shoulder. "It's okay, I know what you're asking. I'm just not sure I have the answer. That man is like no one I've ever met before." Michonne smiled again. Carol loved seeing her friend smile, it was a beautiful smile that you couldn't help but smile back to. "The one thing I do know... He's in love with you."
Carol's world was rocked for the second time in a matter of minutes. "Has he said that? To you?" she asked.
Michonne shook her head, "Not in so many words. But remember, I was with him for a while before you saved us and I was with him when you were missing. He was so lost Carol. He wasn't the same, wasn't whole until he got you back." Michonne moved from Carol's shoulder and grabbed her hand. "I think you might just have to tell him how you feel and hope to hell he doesn't try to run. Hey," she exclaimed, face lighting up. "I heard about his knee, might be good timing since he literally can't run away." Both women laughed at the insane truth of the statement. "Good luck," Michonne added, squeezing her hand and releasing it.
Carol watched her leave, wondering if Michonne had the same internal conflict, about Rick. It was a bit different. Rick was fully capable of loving someone deeply and wasn't a socially awkward goof. But no one was really sure if he was ready to let Lori go and move on. No, Carol decided, Michonne had it tougher. She had a ghost for competition. The only competition Carol had was her own nerve and Daryl's nature.
When she arrived at the infirmary Daryl was still waiting. Scott was in surgery and Heath was pacing back and forth.
"I think it's gonna be a while," Daryl said, when she walked in. "He's making me nervous," he whispered, gesturing towards Heath. "Can we come back later or something?"
Before Carol could answer Denise walked out. "You can see him, but he's still sleeping," she said to Heath. "Just gonna check out Daryl here and I'll come update you." She waved Daryl into an exam room. "Let's take a look," she said. Daryl stood staring back at her. "Well?" Denise pushed. "I'm a doctor, get over yourself." He turned his gaze to Carol.
"Oh for Christ sake," she muttered, turning her back. She heard Daryl unzip his pants and couldn't help smiling at the sound. Carol was glad she was facing away.
"Oh yeah, did a number to that knee," Denise said, sucking in a breath. "Gonna need to stay off it for a couple days until the swelling goes down." Carol heard Daryl sigh and the zipping sound again. She turned around as Daryl did up his belt. "I heard you're in charge of making sure he behaves?"
"Word travels fast around here," Carol remarked as Daryl gave her a look of confusion. She shot him back a look telling him she would explain later.
"Yeah well someone thinks this one is important," Denise replied with a grin, jerking a thumb towards Daryl.
"Yeah... I concur," Carol replied, smiling. Daryl had enough of them talking around him and started to leave the room.
"Hold up there Cowboy," Denise stopped him. She handed Carol a tensor. "Get him comfortable in bed, wrap the knee and prop it up with some pillows. Hopefully the swelling will come down some over night." She grabbed a crutch and shoved it at Daryl. "Use it." He scowled at her, but her tone was serious. "If you don't this will keep you laid up even longer," she warned.
Daryl grumbled but took the crutch and hobbled out of the infirmary, leaning on it and walking gingerly. "I like her," Carol said once they were outside.
Daryl snorted, "of course you do." He glanced at her while they walked slowly home. "What was she talking about... You making me behave?" Carol told him most of her conversation with Douglas, even the apology, leaving out only the last part. "Hmm," Daryl muttered. "I don't need no babysitter."
"Think of me as company so you're not bored then," Carol said, shrugging. They made it to the house. "Did you want to get comfy on the couch? Avoid the stairs?"
Daryl shook his head. "Nah, rather be in our room..." Carol looked away so she could smile. He said "our room" not his room. She liked how that sounded.
They took the steps one at a time and eventually made it to the top. Daryl hobbled into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. Carol looked at him and held up the tensor. "I can do it myself," he said reaching for it.
"I'll go get some lunch while you do that and then we'll get you settled, okay?" Daryl nodded and she left.
When Carol returned Daryl was sitting on the edge of the bed, pants at his ankles, still attempting the tensor. When he realized she was there he grabbed the blanket to cover himself. Carol rolled her eyes. "Need help?" she asked, setting down the food.
"Fucking thing keeps slipping and loosening," he grumbled.
Carol walked over and flipped up the blanket to expose his knee. She expertly wrapped it and used a metal clip to tie it off. She'd had her fair share of sprains from Ed, she knew how to wrap almost anything. Daryl started to awkwardly attempt to pull up his pants. "Why don't you just leave them off?" Carol suggested. Daryl flipped his eyes to meet hers and blushed. "You'll be more comfortable," she explained. "I'll cover you up... You're wearing underwear, right? Relax."
Daryl reluctantly agreed and Carol helped him into bed, trying not to make it too obvious when she checked him out as she covered him up. Daryl's legs were lean and muscular. Carol had no idea how much she could be turned on by a man's muscular thighs. She wanted to touch them, badly. Carol restrained herself, but had to reign herself in even harder when she caught a glimpse of his package before covering him up. She knew it was an image that would be burned in her mind for the foreseeable future.
"I'm bored already," Daryl whined after they were through eating.
"Wow, what does that say for my company?" Carol teased. She knew it wasn't going to be easy keeping him down for a few days, but it hadn't even been a few hours. "Wanna make a deal?" Carol said, an idea popping into her mind.
"What kinda deal?" Daryl replied, obviously intrigued.
"If you behave for the rest of the day..." she started, laughing as he pouted before she even finished. "I will tell Douglas you're gonna come up in the tower with me until you're knee is healed." Carol was pleased with herself. She wanted to get back to work and she knew it would make Daryl feel more useful, and she could still stick to her agreement to keep an eye on him.
"Deal," he replied instantly.
If only other things were that easy, Carol thought, studying his handsome features as a smile started to spread across her face. Daryl made her happy. Just being with him, talking to him, laughing with him... But she wanted more. Carol needed more. And she was pretty sure he did too.