Chapter 7

They trudged like broken soldiers down the road of the deserted, sweat lining their brow and each drop that hit the ground became more defeating than the last. He looked around at the group, finally seeing the mirror image of the old group they had been, it saddened him to think he was kinda glad to get back to what he was used to. Carol and him had become the quiet companions they had been before unknowingly drifting towards each other, their quiet exchanges were enough supported they needed to keep going. Andrea's death like all others had begun to fade into the background as things did when your too tired to think ,let alone feel anything no more.

They had decided to get to Alexandria this idea of haven they had begun to build up inside their heads, he hoped to get Carol to stay inside the walls once he got her there. She had become the warrior she'd been before and he had little hope of making her stop fighting. People were starting to give up with little food, water, or a car with any little bit of gas they could scrounge up. It ain't his place to make them stand he didn't want it to be but thankfully Rick and Carol were there to make them. The heat scorching the ground beneath them, almost shrivelling them they took another achingly long step forward "Rick. Gonna look for some water. Keep goin"
He nodded once putting one urging hand on Carl's back pushing him forward, Carol's hand rested on his arm as he went to search the forest. "I'll go with you."
If something went wrong he didn't want her there, "I'm k." he said quietly.
"That wasn't a question."
She stayed behind him hiding her knife neatly in her hands as they stalked through the forest, a squirrel bounded up a tree and his heart leapt, thank the lord. He signalled Carol to stay quiet behind him and his bolt never missing soared through it. A small smile broke through his cracked lips "A'right."
Her smile was full and teasing as he retrieved the squirrel "Never a bragger."
"Someone who's as good as me don't need to brag."
They walked side by side her arm playfully hitting against his "Is that so?"
He bit his lip squirming under her gaze, nodding slowly. Just as they heard the reminisce of their group she walked in front of him calling back "I sure do like a man that can take care of himself."
He blushed, dropping his gaze low to the ground, the squirrel hanging carelessly from it and rejoined Rick who seemed to be lost in his whole world until he lowly teased "What were you two doing out there?"
"Ain't done nothing."

Carl screeched falling to the ground crying as a group of walkers emerged through the forest, they all sprang into action Carol first her knife like her third arm taking down walkers as easy as it was to walk. Still he found himself distracted things didn't happen in order he had to keep an eye on her, he found himself being pushed to the ground as walker collapsed on top of him. He grappled desperately for his knife ain't gonna die, gotta get her to Alexandria. Finally someone grabbed the walker by the back of the head digging their knife into it's rotted flesh but they wasn't who he was expecting. "Hey I'm Aaron." He introduced as he was pulling him to his feet again.
Carol rushed over to his side, seeming like she was going to scold him "Thought I said I liked a man that could take care of himself."
She seemed shaken if he hadn't totally lost his head, it relaxed him somewhat he didn't know what she thought of him in this world. "I had him." He insisted placing a reassuring hand on her back, his hands were shaking at the close contact, the heat burning him.
"I've been following your group and before you call me a stalker or weirdo and stick a bullet in me." He babbled but Rick was barely listening as Daryl muttered under his breath to him "Kid from Alexandria, he's a'right."

He perched on the steps outside their home in Alexandria, the night sky comforting as he sat routinely cleaning his crossbow. It was weird being back again, the place brought back that sickeningly feeling of death holding a cold Carol in his arms and he shuddered. "Cold?" Carol asked as she handed him some tea, sitting down beside him, cradling her own cup.
"I'm fine."
Her leg was pressed against his without even thinking about it, he was glad things had gotten back to where they used to be. He didn't know when he'd turned into such a pussy and needed this goddam woman so much but he did. "What happened to me?" her question stunned him and it broke through the comfortable silence they'd been sitting in.
"Your protecting me more so than necessary, I'm not stupid. I see it."
He gripped his cup tighter staring into it, he didn't why he was so reluctant to tell her didn't mean nothing but the words were lumped in his throat. "You…died. When we were here, I got into some trouble with some group of pricks called the Wolves and you saved me."
She must of heard the venom in his voice as spoke "Daryl not your fault I saved you."
Her voice was soft and comforting as she took one of his hands her fingertips playing absently with his hand, making him shift uncomfortably under her. "Everyone who died had died. I ain't gonna lose you again. I need you to stay put, inside the walls." He was pleading with her.
"I might Daryl can't stop that but I'm not gonna be afraid for something that might not happen. I've been afraid for long enough."
Before he could object she cut across him "But I'll try."
He relaxed his shoulders breathing a sigh of relief, with little warning she tucked herself into his side dropping her head on his shoulder. His body froze he didn't have no clue what to do, if he stayed still couldn't ruin nothing. "Daryl just put your arm around me." She laughed lightly.
He quickly put his arms around bringing her closer towards him, this woman could undo him in a second. He knew how to kill walkers but this was foreign to him.
Michonne made them jump apart as she started to climb the step towards them, she was the leader of Alexandria which made sense to him. "Sorry didn't mean to interrupt."
"It's okay I was going in. Do you want a cup of tea?" she inquired.
"If you wouldn't mind."
Carol nodded ushering her inside "See you tomorrow pookie." She teased.

He packed up a car he was taking out with Aaron to do some recruiting, tension was building through his body making them stiff. He hated leaving her behind, needed a babysitter for this woman. "For the road."
She shoved some food into his hand giving him little time to protest "Thanks."
Her eyes sought out his, he found himself being pulled closer towards her like an invisible tether but Aaron noisily slammed the door beside him. "Let's go I'll have a walkie talkie on Carol" He smirked.
She nodded gratefully, turning to leave. "Stay safe."
"Nine lives remember."