The Spare Room

Summary: The bills keep piling up and if Daryl Dixon has any hope of improving his life, he and his brother are going to have to find someone to fill their spare room. The problem is that while he can't stand his new roommate, he finds himself falling for his roommate's girlfriend. Caryl. AU.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters that you recognize from the Walking Dead.

Chapter 8

Daryl returned to the house in the wee hours of the morning. He had fallen asleep by his creek and his internal clock woke him up at about four in the morning. He made it back home in time to shower and to get himself ready for another day at work. He could hear both Merle and Ed snoring from their respective rooms. Shaking his head, he finished getting ready and made his way to the door to lace up his steel-toed boots.

He rolled up to work at 5:09 and Kevin was already at the shop, grabbing new coveralls for both of them and grabbing a new jug of chemical for the spray tank.

"Holy shit!" Kevin exclaimed upon seeing Daryl, "What the hell happened to your eye?"

"Ed Peletier happened," Daryl grumbled, bypassing Kevin to hop up on the back of the truck.

"Ed hit you?" Kevin asked incredulously, "How come?"

Daryl scowled and took the jug from Kevin and measured out the correct amount to put into the tank. He grumbled, "Bastard thought I was hittin' on his girl or some shit."

"Were you?" Kevin asked. He received a cold look from Daryl, who poured the chemical in the tank and shut the lid.

"I was just talkin' to her 'cause the bastard was an hour late pickin' her up," Daryl corrected, "Weren't hittin' on no one."

He jumped off the truck and got in the driver's side while Kevin scrambled into the passenger side. He drove over to the water pump and lined up the hose with the tank, listening to Kevin jabber on, "You know, he was always like that. He hated it whenever his girlfriends in high school talked to other guys. My friend Ryan got beat up for carrying Veronica Creedy's books. She was in our year and dated Ed for a while."

"Well, he's a fuckin' jack-ass," Daryl grumbled, getting out of the truck to turn the water on while Kevin got onto the back to make sure the water got into the tank instead of all over the truck.

"What'd Carol Ann say about all this?" Kevin wondered after a moment.

"She freaked. Couldn't stand to be around him. She left," Daryl answered, "Hope she dumped his ass to the curb."

"Yeah?" Kevin asked, getting that smile that told Daryl that he was about to get teased, "You want her single there, Little D?"

"Shut up," Daryl groaned, rolling his eyes at the nickname he had received once the guys on Merle's crew realized that they were brothers. Merle was called Big D, so Daryl was Little D. He hated it. He neglected to answer Kevin's question, something that Kevin picked up on instantly.

"You didn't deny it," Kevin said, smirking, "You want to get with Carol Ann Taylor, Buddy?"

"Let's get to work," Daryl sighed, once again refusing to answer. If he tried to deny it, Kevin would still tease him about it. If he told the truth and said 'yes', he'd still get teased about it. Sometimes it was better to say nothing at all.

0-TSR-0

It was around noon when Merle took off in one of the county trucks to find the road that his brother was working on. Hoping to make amends, Merle had stopped to pick up Chinese food at the Skyway and was delivering it out to Daryl. He didn't want the boy mad at him and he doubted that Daryl had had anything for breakfast.

When he found the spray truck, Daryl was the one out walking in the ditch in his marshmallow white coveralls, spraying the trees. Merle pulled up in front of the truck, causing Kevin to stop behind him. Merle grabbed the bag of Chinese and stepped out into the heat.

"Hello, Merle," Kevin greeted without getting out of the driver's side of the truck.

"Hey there, Poindexter," Merle responded, leaning against the door, "Baby Bro lookin' for food?"

"Probably," Kevin said, ignoring the poindexter remark, "He didn't have his lunchbox this morning."

"Well, I got shit covered," Merle replied, holding up his gift. He heard the squeaking of the reel as the hose was wound up and then silence as Daryl flicked the generator off.

"The hell ya doin' here?" Daryl asked, coming around to the driver's side of the truck.

"Brought ya lunch," Merle said, gesturing to the bag. Daryl's eyes lit up a little at the prospect of food. He took off those ugly green gloves and set them on the truck bed. He took the food from Merle and walked over the Merle's truck to flip the tailgate down so that he could sit. Merle and Kevin joined him and though Merle could do without the little Elton John look-a-like, he was looking forward to a peaceful lunch with his brother.

"It's good. Thanks," Daryl said between mouthfuls of ginger beef.

"Figured ya could use it, what with spendin' the night out in the damn forest," Merle shrugged. Daryl narrowed his eyes at Merle.

"You tryin' to bribe me into lettin' Peletier stay?" he demanded, setting down his plastic fork into the Styrofoam container of food.

"We need the money, Brother."

"Never mind the fact that the bastard hit me," Daryl responded sourly.

"Now, Boy, ya hit him first," Merle reminded his brother, "The entire situation was a big ol' misunderstandin' and we ain't losin' out on the money just 'cause of a little black eye."

"You're an asshole," Daryl ejected, closing up the box and shoving it away from him, "Take ya damn bribe food and get the hell outta here."

Merle shoved it back at him and said, "I ain't tryin' to be an asshole. I'm tryin' to be realistic. There ain't no reason that you and Peletier can be civil to one another. He's got nothin' against ya and is right sorry for the whole damn thing."

"So he says," Daryl sulked. Merle huffed. The boy wasn't making shit easy, that was for sure.

"Let shit go and let bygones be bygones. You're worse than a damn woman with the way ya hold onto shit," Merle told him.

Kevin chuckled, "Yeah, that's the way to convince him to let it go, Merle."

"Quiet there, Elton," Merle snapped at the kid before turning back to his brother, "Look, I done told Ed that if he ever pulls that shit again, his ass is out. I mean that."

Daryl looked at him for a long moment, not saying anything.

Merle sighed, "C'mon, man. Wouldn't ya rather waste Ed's money than yours?"

And it appeared that those were the magic words. In fact, Daryl looked almost happy to be screwing Ed out of a buck.

It was moments like these that Merle was sure that they were brothers and that their mama didn't just pick up a baby Daryl off of the doorstep.

0-TSR-0

Carol hadn't had to wait long for Ed to meet her at the Burger Baron. He was only a minute late and he came with a bouquet of flowers, which she had accepted and put to the side on the table. After they gave their orders to the waitress, Ed spoke, looking the epitome of remorse.

"Carol Ann, I want to apologize for the way I acted yesterday. I went over Merle's friend's place and had a few drinks. I know it ain't an excuse, but it was one of the reasons why I messed up and I'm sorry for that," he apologized.

"You were like a totally different person," Carol reminded him.

"I know I was. I guess…I guess the whiskey does somethin' to me," Ed said, shrugging his shoulders, "I don't usually drink it and…it just made it all that much worse."

"It did," Carol agreed, taking a sip of her water, "but I don't…I don't understand why you would even think that I'd ever cheat on you. I'm not that type of woman, Ed."

He sighed and nodded his head, "I know you ain't, Carol Ann, and I supposed it's my issues that I got. I know how easy it is for someone to just up and walk away from you. My mama cheated on my daddy. She walked out when I was just a kid. She damn near broke him. Even though he found Gloria, he never forgot what Mama did to him. Then when I was datin' Veronica in high school…hell, all she did was flirt with the other guys. I tried so hard to keep her, but as soon as I had my accident, she was off to the next guy and I was left in a damn hospital bed with nothin' and nobody."

"That's awful," Carol said softly. She knew that his parents had separated, but she never knew the specifics of it. She had never liked Veronica Creedy and would not put it past the girl to do something like that to Ed.

"It was," Ed agreed, glancing down at the table top, "All my life, people've been leavin' me. I guess…I guess I'm just scared that you're gonna too."

Carol reached over and placed her hand over his arm, "Ed, you don't have to be scared. I'm not your mother or Veronica. I would never, ever do that to you."

"I know that now," Ed said, "and I feel like such a fool, Carol Ann, for ever doubtin' you. It's just that for the first time in my life, things are goin' so good. I've got you and the thought of losin' you just…well…it makes me crazy and scared and all."

Carol gently squeezed his arm and told him, "I don't want to lose you either, Ed, but there was no need for what happened yesterday. Daryl and I were just talking and the only reason I asked him if he was single was because a girl at work asked when he came into the restaurant for lunch."

"I know that and I feel like an ass," Ed said remorsefully, "I should never have hit him. When I see him this evenin', I'm gonna be tryin' to make it right. Least I can do."

Carol smiled, pleased with how the conversation had gone, and said, "You're a good man, Ed Peletier."

Ed raised his eyes to hers and smiled as well, just as their food was brought to the table.

Carol was happy that they were able to talk. She understood that alcohol can make people do things that they wouldn't normally do and she was honored that Ed confided in her. It was the first time he had ever confessed his fears to her and if anything, she felt closer to him than ever.

0-TSR-0

Daryl dragged himself into the house around six. He was sore from his long day and that was compounded by the fact that he had slipped walking down a steep ditch and twisted something. He was too stubborn to quit at a decent time and was now feeling every single moment of his shitty ass day. As he limped around the corner, he ran straight into a soft, curvy body. He steadied them both and raised his head to look at the woman and found himself struck by a familiar pair of blue eyes.

"C-Carol," he stammered, surprised to see her back in his home.

"Hi, Daryl. I'm sorry about that…" she apologized sheepishly, stepping back.

"It's alright," Daryl told her, "Uh…what're you doin' here?"

For a moment, he was hoping, however irrationally, that she would say that she was there to see him. He was hoping that she'd say that she felt horrible about the way Ed had treated him and that she wanted to see if he was okay.

"I came over with Ed," she said. Daryl's face fell slightly and she continued, "I talked to him about what happened yesterday and he felt horrible about it. I do too. I'm sorry for the part I played and for leaving-"

"Ain't your fault," he cut her off, glancing down at the floor.

"It wasn't hers at all," a smarmy voice said from the living room. Ed, dressed in a polo shirt and khakis, came towards them, a look of apology pasted on his face.

"Ed," Daryl greeted, shifting his posture so that his head was raised and his chest was puffed out. He did it instinctively and when he realized he was acting like a dominant male posturing for position, he almost laughed, but he remained defiant and aloof.

"Daryl, I want to apologize for yesterday. I had been drinking and I completely misread the entire situation. I feel just…horrible for hittin' you. Whiskey don't make me the most…pleasant of men," Ed excused himself. Daryl wanted desperately to call bullshit. He could see right through the act he was putting on for his girl, who looked to be eating it all up. But then he saw Merle come into the entry way, his arms crossed over his chest and the bright, expectant eyes of Carol. The desire to cause a scene left him upon his glance towards her. He didn't want her to see some violent redneck.

"Sorry for hittin' you too," Daryl muttered, nodding his head. He stepped to the side, not quite hiding the wince as he put weight on his fucked up ankle.

"Are you okay?" Carol asked, her face contorted in concern as she twisted to look at him. For some reason, that look made him want to escape her sight. While her attention was nice, he didn't want her to see him in pain. He didn't want pity.

"Fine," Daryl lied, limping away from the couple towards his room. He heard as Ed ushered Carol out the door to go to dinner and focused instead on easing off his boots. Merle appeared at his door, holding out a beer for his brother.

"What'd ya do?" he asked.

"Fell in a ditch. Twisted it," Daryl grumbled, wrestling out of his coveralls, "You believe that moron out there?" he asked, changing the subject. Merle chuckled and handed Daryl the beer bottle now that he was done with the coveralls.

"He's puttin' it on thick for that little lady, that's for damn sure. Came in here with her earlier, simperin' and apologizin' to me for yesterday," he said, "Damn bastard's pussywhipped pretty damn good."

Daryl frowned at the term and shook his head, "If anyone's whipped, it's her. She's always doin' shit for him."

"So she's a sweet little thang," Merle shrugged, "He's still wrapped around her little finger, trippin' over himself tryin' to get her back. Probably knows he ain't ever gonna find another woman like that one."

"Bet he does," Daryl agreed, "and I betcha he's gonna make damn sure he don't lose her…even if he has to punch out every guy she talks to."

"You're just pissed 'cause that sack of nails socked ya," Merle teased, but then he became serious again, "Good on ya for forgivin' him. We need his money."

"Ain't forgivin' him," Daryl corrected, "I'm just lettin' bygones be bygones or some shit."

Merle chuckled again, "Or some shit. Ya always were the stubborn one."

"Speak for yourself," Daryl griped, getting to his feet, "Gonna go shower."

"Good. Ya need it!" Merle called back to him, laughing.

Daryl shook his head and moved to the bathroom, shutting the door. He reached to turn on the shower and set his beer on the counter by the sink so that he could undress. He figured out damn quick that his ankle wasn't going to tolerate the slick porcelain of the shower-tub so he hit the knob that turned off the shower, but let the tub fill with water. He grumbled under his breath and grabbed for his beer before he sat down. Soaking his ankle was probably the best thing for it anyhow. He leaned back against the back of the tub, the cold tile feeling good against his heated skin. He closed his eyes and let his thoughts stray as he brought the beer bottle to his lips and took a long pull.

It was inevitable really, that his thoughts would turn to Carol Taylor. He just didn't get it. He didn't get it at all. The woman was a sweet girl. She seemed smart. So why the hell was she with a bastard like Peletier? Why did she buy his bullshit?

And why did Daryl care? Why did he care about what she did or who she dated? Why did he care about what she thought of him and his house?

'Because you like her,' that traitorous voice in his head teased him, 'You want her pressed against you, only you want to be closer to her than when you ran into her in the hallway. Honestly, it's a shame that a woman like that, a woman who'd be perfect for you, is wasting her time on a chump like Peletier.'

"I'm a Dixon. I ain't for her," Daryl told himself, but at the same time, he was filled with longing. He did want to be closer to her. He did want her. Even now, he could still smell the scent of her perfume in his nostrils. She smelt like strawberries. He could feel her soft curves against him from when she ran into him. And those eyes...whenever she looked at him, he felt like she was looking directly at him. Those eyes disarmed him and made him feel like she could see right through him. It made him uncomfortable, but at the same time, relieved, like for once, he didn't have to hide. He shifted in the tub as his body reacted to the memory of a few moments ago. He wished that those eyes would look him, not out of pity, but because she wanted him.

But she never would. She was with Peletier, for whatever reason, and apparently she wasn't about to give up her boyfriend.

"What are you doin'?" Daryl asked himself as he stared up at the ceiling, "She ain't yours and she ain't ever will be."

TBC

AN: At this point, Carol is desperately clinging to the idea of settling down with Ed, mostly do to her rationalizations that she will marry him, which makes it easier for her to accept his version of things. It makes it easier for her to forgive him and look past the warning signs that something's wrong. And poor Daryl's getting in deep.

Please let me know what you think so far! Thank you for all of the wonderful and kind support!