Thank you so much for all the encouraging reviews! They really helped me get this chapter put together. I was struggling to decide how I wanted to move forward, but you guys gave me the motivation to make it happen.
****Rick****
It had been a week since that herd had drove them from the diner, since they'd been separated from and then reunited with Daryl and Carol. They had been so happy for everyone to be together again, but the joy had been short lived. They'd continued north, but were continually hounded by groups of walkers, some groups small and others frighteningly large. Rick was starting to wonder how they were going continue, and if they weren't going north, then where?
Another issue Rick had to contend with was Daryl. Ever since they'd found him, he'd been more distant than ever. Anytime Rick had asked for Daryl's opinion or help the response had varied from a middle finger held aloft to "Fuck you! Do it your goddamned self!" It wasn't helping that anything could set off his explosive temper. One night, Beth had accidentally knocked over his bow and he'd cursed at her and yelled at Hershel to contain his daughter. Rick had had to step in, dragging an angry Daryl behind him.
"What the hell is the matter with you?" Rick decided this had to end. He needed to get to the bottom of whatever it was that had caused this setback. With this man, the best method was usually straight forward honesty.
Daryl looked like he was about to blow up all over again; he took a step towards the ex-sheriff, but Rick put one hand on Daryl's chest, not pushing him away, just holding him back. "Daryl," Rick tried to keep his voice even. "something has happened and you are taking your anger out on all of us. Now, you don't have to tell me what it is, but know that you have to fix it, whatever it is, and fast. Those people" he waved his arm behind him. "they need you to be strong. We can't have this dissention." Rick assumed he'd get the customary response; instead, Daryl stepped back, dropping down on his heels in a squat. He took a deep breath.
"When Carol and me got separated from ya'll some things happened. Words were said that can't be unsaid." He stood, rubbing his neck and looking troubled. Rick wasn't sure how to respond; this was probably very tricky ground. "I'm assuming, since you're mad in general and not just at Carol, that you were the one saying those words." He turned to look back towards the group, hoping that Daryl would respond better if he didn't have to look right at him. He heard the man sigh heavily. "You'd be assumin' right."
This was uncharted territory for the two men. Rick trusted Daryl implicitly, but they weren't the type to talk about their personal problems. Still, this issue was affecting the whole group, so Rick felt he should try to help. "Carol is an understanding woman. I'm sure if you talk to her, apologize, you can smooth this whole thing over."
"It's more complicated than that." Daryl huffed. Rick was about to insist when Daryl came to stand beside him. "Look, thanks for tryin' t' help. I realize I've been makin' things difficult for everyone. I'll see what I can do." Without waiting for an answer, the hunter trudged away. He didn't go back to the group around the fire and Rick didn't see him the whole next day. He'd started to get concerned, but then he saw the man come out of the forest, carrying his kills and knew that Daryl had just needed some time to himself.
****Glenn****
Glenn considered himself a fairly observant guy. He had to be since his occupation consisted of running around walker infested towns gathering up whatever supplies he could get his hands on. So, when Maggie had said that she thought something romantic was going on with Daryl and Carol, he was shocked. They'd gone missing the next day, so there wasn't any time to think about it. It wasn't until several days later that Glenn realized how different things were. Carol and Daryl seemed to go out of their way to avoid each other; before, even though they weren't joined at the hip or anything, they had been friendly and he remembered Daryl taking time to make sure Carol was doing okay. He wasn't sure if Maggie was right, but something was going on. By the looks of things, whatever it was wasn't good.
****T-Dog****
As they all sat around the fire eating, T-Dog couldn't help but fantasize about his grandmother's cooking. Whenever there was a holiday or a birthday, the whole family would gather at her house and she, along with his mother, aunts, and some of the younger girls, would make all the different dishes the family loved so much. The huge dining room table would be so full their plates hardly had room and there were more dishes on the side board and some in the kitchen. His favorites were collard greens, cornbread, sweet potato pie, and peach cobbler. T-Dog felt his mouth water and looked down at the food in his hands. Squirrel and stale bread really wasn't going to cut it tonight.
He looked around the circle, all squeezed in tight around the warmth of the fire. They were becoming his family now. To his right sat Beth, smiling and talking to her father on her other side. Next to Hershel was Maggie with Glenn's arm around her. Carl was sprawled out with his head propped up on his hands. Lori had her hand on one of Carl's legs as if to assure herself that he was there, safe. Carol was sitting quietly, watching everyone in the group talk. She met his eyes and they exchanged a smile. There was an empty spot by Carol where Rick had been before he got up to relieve Daryl of his position. Daryl had come, dropping into his spot next to T-Dog, leaving Rick's space empty between him and Carol.
This was the new normal it seemed. As the months had passed, T-Dog had come to like this churlish man who he had earlier disliked and even been somewhat afraid of. Daryl had saved his life, for which T-Dog would always be grateful. But it was more than that. After Merle had sawed of his own hand and disappeared Daryl had been angry, ready to take revenge, but as time passed it seemed like he'd put the loss of his brother behind him. It was almost as if he'd come out of Merle's shadow. He was nicer to everyone in general and helpful. T-Dog didn't think Daryl was racist (although Merle had definitely been) just wasn't used to people different from him. But it wasn't until a few weeks ago, after he and Carol had rejoined the group that they'd begun to actually spend time together.
It had all started when T-Dog had mistakenly come upon Daryl at the stream by the house they were staying at for a few days. T-Dog had been planning on taking a bath. Thinking he had found a somewhat secluded area, he had started to undress. He froze when he heard the familiar mocking voice say "Whoa now. I don't wanna see any o' that shit." Daryl had been sitting with his back against a rock, bare feet in the water. He'd looked exhausted and burdened. T-Dog knew that Daryl wasn't the kind of man to talk about his troubles, but he thought he had an idea what had happened and he wanted to help in any way he could. "How you holding up, man" He'd asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Daryl just shook his head. "I've been better."
"I know it's none of my business, but if you want to talk about it I might be able to help."
The other man noticeably tensed. "What the hell do I need help with?"
T-Dog tried not to smile. This guy couldn't admit to feeling anything. "I had four sisters, two aunts, and one very overbearing grandmother. Not to mention my mother. No brothers and my dad died when I was eight. I have a pretty good idea how to handle almost any problem relating to a woman."
"Who's sayin' I got a problem with a woman?" The words were ground out, as if he was holding himself back from violence. T-Dog just looked at him. He can take my help if he wants. If not, at least I offered. After a minute or two, Daryl relaxed a little. "I ain't got no idea how to handle any problems relatin' to women. At all." He accentuated the last words, making a cutting gesture with his hand. "All I want to know is why they're so damn complicated."
T-Dog let himself laugh this time. "It's just part of their nature, my friend. My grandmomma always used to say if women weren't so mysterious men would get board and leave."
"I said somethin' terrible to Carol while we were out there alone." T-Dog knew that admission had been hard for Daryl. He kept quiet, waiting to see if he would continue. It didn't take as long this time before Daryl said, "I don't know how t' care 'bout people, 'specially no woman. I can't seem to stop myself tho'." T-Dog just nodded.
"And now I've gone an fucked it all to kingdom come." He saw the man slump forward, elbows on his knees.
"Have you told her how you feel?" At that Daryl shot up, glaring. "Hell no! That ain't gonna happen." He paced in a small circle.
"Look, man, you may have done something stupid but Carol will forgive you. All you have to do is say you're sorry. You don't have to tell her anything else if you don't want to." After that he'd gotten up and found another place to have his bath.
It had only been about two weeks since that conversation and they hadn't spoken about it since. But they had come to an understanding; they had each other's backs; they were friends. Now, T-Dog just had to figure out a way to repair the damage done to Daryl's relationship with Carol. He had to force Daryl into it, but he had no idea how.
Sitting there, seeing the distance Daryl had put between himself and Carol, T-Dog sighed. Well, if Daryl wasn't going to look out for Carol than he'd have to do it himself. At least until Daryl came around. He got up, crossing over to the small woman and knelt beside her. Pushing the bowl with his remaining food into her hands he said, "I couldn't stop myself from reminiscing about my grandmomma's cooking. It's left me unable to finish this. You take it." She put a hand on his arm and smiled at him. "Thank you."
As he walked away he saw Carol offer some to Lori before digging into it herself. She really was a good woman. He also saw the look of resentment (and if he wasn't mistaken, a bit of envy) that crossed over Daryl's face. He shook his head. If he had to push Daryl into taking back his role as Carol's protector by making him jealous, well, so be it.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. We'll return to more Daryl/Carol next time.