Sweet Caroline

Chapter 8 - "Brothers and Sisters"

Caroline was fuming, her anger not quite ready to let go. She paced back and forth in front of Daryl's room. She keeping thinking to herself that she should have just punched Andrea. Her hatred for Andrea growing by the second.

Rick looks at Raylan, not sure if he should follow Caroline in the house. Raylan walks on the porch, plops down in a chair and leans the chair back to put his feet up on the banister. He covers the large grin on his face up with his cowboy hat.

Andrea stands there in astonishment. She's really not sure what just happened or why. Shane walks up to the porch, looking like a bull charging.

"You better get a handle on her. She ever talks to a member of the group like that again and..." Raylan raises up out of his seat, standing toe to toe with Shane.

"Or you'll what exactly. I'm not sure if you understand the seriousness of the situation, but if you say one more damn thing about my little sister, you'll find out or what." Raylan adjust his hat over his eyes.

Shane's body goes hard, his blood boiling under his skin. "I tell you one thing boy, you and your sister ain't part of this group. I look out for my own...you better do the same."

Rick stands between the two angry men, hoping to defuse the moment. "Okay you two, that's enough. Shane...I said that's enough."

Raylan goes back to his seat on the porch as Shane storms off. Raylan knows this isn't the last time he'll be having words with Shane.

Maggie walks gingerly into the room, finding Caroline still pacing. She stands there watching her, wanting to help calm her down, knowing there's nothing that really can.

"Caroline, you want me to go slap her for you?" Maggie smiles sweetly at her cousin.

Caroline jerks her head around, trying to process what she's just heard. Once the words make it to her brain, she lets out a snicker.

"Nay, that's okay Maggie. I'm sure she's got the message. I don't think she'll be that stupid again."Caroline walks over and takes Maggie's hand.

"You goin in...to see Daryl?" Maggie turns to leave.

"No...he's sleeping. I want to talk to you." Caroline takes Maggie's hand, leading them to the kitchen.

The kitchen looked rather busy. Lori and Carol had been preparing dinner for Hershel and his family to thank them for being so kind.

Moving a bowl of potatoes out of the way, Caroline hops up on the counter. "So...you and Glenn. What's the story?"

Maggie picks up a carrot stick, chewing away on it. "Story...who says there's a story."

Caroline takes her first two fingers and points from her eyes to Maggie. "I see more than you think Maggie. Glenn blushes around you and he's like a hen on a hot rock, like he can't wait to see you again. That boy has been given a golden ticket and you closed the chocolate factory. C'mon Maggie...tell the truth."

Maggie turns her back to Caroline, looking longingly out the window. "Well, I have needs Caroline and Glenn's the first cute boy to come this way in a long time. The first boy I'm not kin to anyway."

She turns around in a panic, her sweet young face full of distress. "You can't tell anyone. Please, Caroline...you have to keep this a secret."

Caroline grins back at her, reaching out to her. Maggie takes her hands, hoping Caroline understands how she feels.

"Maggie, I just want you to be happy. If Glenn makes you happy then I'm good. Mags...don't worry, I'd never tell a soul. You're like my little sister." Caroline kisses the top of her head, hopping down from the counter.

"What about you and Daryl? What's the story there?" Maggie playfully teases her cousin.

"Yes, the story is I like Daryl. I like Daryl a lot and if you must know...I had a moment with him. Okay, it was more than a moment. He took me like Sherman took Atlanta. Maggie I swear that man did things to me I'd forgot could be done. That aside, he also took my heart. I can't explain what it is about him. I just have to be with him." Caroline lets one tear fall from her eye. Her soul was completely bare to Maggie in that moment.

Maggie wipes the tear from her cheek. "It's okay Caroline. Damon would want you to love again. He'd want you to find somebody. I'm not saying Daryl is it but he sure seems like it. You look at Daryl the way you looked at Damon. It's kinda wrote all over your face."

Caroline sits down at the table. Maggie's words ringing true in her ears. "I know Maggie. Trust me I know. I just have to know one thing. Are you being careful?

Maggie looks shocked then blushes brightly. "We went into to town the other day...to the pharmacy. We found some...condoms."

Caroline tired not to laugh at her stumbling over her words. "I got it Maggie. I just had to make sure."

The kitchen becomes full as Lori and Carol get back to work fixing the evening meal. Maggie gets up to help out and Caroline makes her way back to Daryl's room. Maggie runs to the hallway yelling out to her. "Caroline wait."

Caroline waits for Maggie just in front of the bedroom door. "What is Mags?"

Maggie gets whisper close to her, looking her straight in the eyes. "I need to know something. Are you being careful?"

Caroline shakes her head at Maggie, wondering who's the big sister here. "Maggie you don't know do you. You were just a little girl when I had my accident."

Maggie's baffled look tells Caroline all she needs to know.

"I'll make it short and sweet. There is a reason Raylan is extra protective of me. When I was 16 I went deer hunting with him. We climbed up in the tree stand, waiting for a deer to come by. I wasn't happy with the angle I was sitting in so I moved up in the tree. Raylan kept yelling at me to get down. When I wouldn't come down he jerked me down. The only problem with that is that he jerked me out of the tree. I landed on a tree stump...broke my pelvis in several places. The doctors said my uterus was damaged heavily. Raylan blames himself for the fact that I'll never have children. As you can see, I don't need to be careful...nature took care of that for me."Caroline's face was blank, the retelling of that story was never easy.

Maggie feels a little ashamed of herself. She knew there was a family secret about Caroline, a reason everyone thought Damon would never want to marry her. She almost wished she'd never asked her.

The bedroom door creaks open, the hallway light cascading in. Daryl turns his head, seeing Caroline creeping in. "I'm awake. You don't have to be so quiet."

Caroline slides in the bed next to him. Her blue eyes gazing into his. "I didn't mean to wake you. How ya feeling?"

Daryl places his rough tan hand on her face, smoothing it over her cheek. "You didn't wake me. I've just been thinkin...was that you yelling out there a minute ago. Did you kick Andrea's ass?"

Caroline can't help but laugh at him. His blue eyes smiling back at her. "Yeah..that was me. No...I didn't kick her ass. I will if you want me too."

They look into each others eyes for a long moment. Daryl playing with a strand of her hair. "I heard what you said to Maggie. Just so you know, you felt real good to me. There ain't nothing wrong with you gurl."

His hand pulls her face to him, kiss ing her feverishly. Long sultry kisses echo through the dark room. The want for each other still burning in the back of their minds. All Daryl can think of is her lips, how soft and sweet her lips are. Caroline moves her body close to him, trying to be very gentle. He kisses her deep and hard, dragging his bottom lips from hers. The pain in his side burning like a hot red poker.

A heaving sigh comes growling at her. Caroline knows she has to end this before it goes too far. "Daryl...Daryl. Oh god man...you're making this difficult." She pushes away from him, catching her breath for a moment.

"It's not that I don't want to but you're in no condition to do anything. When you're better we'll pick up where we left off." Caroline strokes his chest, needing the sensation of his skin on her fingertips.

"I'm fine...I keep tellin ya that." Daryl kisses her again. His mouth crashing upon hers like a tidal wave.

Her body just gives in, for the moment. His mouth moves swiftly down her neck, his tongue licking at her skin. A spasm of shivers go down her spine. She can feel his hand travel down her side, trailing over her thigh till her reaches her knee. His strong hand goes to lift her leg up when she stops him. She sits up in the bed, her body quivering.

"I don't care how fine you feel Daryl. I won't let you hurt yourself again." Caroline throws her head back against the headboard, closing her eyes tight.

A coarse fingertip brushes her arm. "Lay back down here with me. I won't try anything else...promise."

That sweet boyish face grins back her, making her heart thud loudly. How could she say no to that. Her hands run over his body, stopping at the injured spots. "Tomorrow." She crosses her finger over her heart.

The hours stroll by, Daryl finally letting sleep take him. Hershel had given him some antibiotics and a pain killer. She knew he'd be sleeping for awhile.

The vision of him sleeping made her sad in a good way. Her heart was sad that the vision of Damon was fading with each kiss, each touch that Daryl gave her. On the other hand, to feel again was beyond joyous. He made the very pit of her stomach shudder, every fiber of her being wanted to consume him. How could she get so lucky, twice.

It was evident that Daryl wanted her, that he had some feeling for her. What ever those feeling are, she was just going to let it be. No prying, no pushing, just loving. The world she met Daryl in was a far different world than what she'd met Damon in. The word relationship seemed almost silly, she just knew she needed him.

The smell of ham came wafting down the hallway. Caroline knew dinner must be ready. She slides out of the bed, watching Daryl crinkle his cute little nose as she leaves.

The dining room was full of people, dinner spread out on the tables. Maggie was sitting at what looked like the kids table with Glenn. Hershel waved for Caroline to come join them.

Caroline took a piece of ham from the table, walking outside to look for Raylan. The atmosphere in the house was more than uncomfortable.

Raylan sat on the banister, leg cocked up, looking every bit a cowboy. "Evenin' little sister. What brings you out here?"

Caroline bites down on her piece of ham, pointing behind her back. "Have you been in there? You could cut the tense with a knife. There is no way under God's green earth I'm staying in there. Why aren't you eatin brother?"

Raylan pulls out his pocket knife and begins to carve on a chuck of wood. "Shane. I'm not going anywhere near that hot head. I've took down lots of men like him Caroline and to think he's a man of the law. All I know is...his mouth is gonna get him killed."

"You had words with him, didn't ya? I didn't think he'd like what I had to say to Andrea too much. From the way he was eyeing me in there, I could tell he's pissed." Caroline parks herself on the banister across from Raylan.

She looks into the bay window, watching Carol make a tray of food. "That's sweet. She's probably taking it to Daryl."

Raylan leans forward, looking into the window. "They are a tight bunch. You sure you want to get mixed up in that?"

"I'm sure Raylan, besides Rick and Lori are real nice. Dale ain't to bad of a guy either. Glenn is sweet on Maggie and he's got to be the bravest kid I know. My vote is still out on Shane and Andrea...I just don't get good vibes from them. Oh, and Carol is beyond sweet. She reminds me of Mom a lot, very caring woman." Those last words carry a bitter sting to them. Caroline missed her Mother so much.

The Georgia moon was hanging large in the sky. It almost looked like you could reach out and touch it. It was just another reminder that she made it through another day. She made it through another day, to have her brother come home and Daryl safe. Her thoughts turned to Tim and why Raylan wasn't talking about him.

"Raylan, did you find Tim?" She dreaded asking that questions but there it was.

Raylan took off his hat, staring her down. "I did...I'm sorry Caroline."

Caroline knew the answer but she still wasn't ready to hear it. "He's dead..isn't he?"

"Tim was bit when I found him, the fever was on him hard. I didn't have a choice little sister. I did what he asked me to do." Raylan's voice trailed off.

Caroline jumped up from the banister, her face a mask of anger. "You killed our brother, your twin. You just killed him Raylan!"

Her feet couldn't carry her from that porch fast enough. She just ran, ran out into the meadow, into the night. She didn't care if a walker found her, she just wanted her pain to end.

Raylan goes back into the house, hoping Daryl is well enough to go after her.