AN: hey shorter chapter. I hope Daryl doesn't seem ooc in this but please remember, he is changed slightly by the connection to Carol and a lot of this chapter is her reading his internal feeling. Let me know what you think ;)

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 9

She reached her arms out hesitatingly not wanting to scare him away. Her hands touched his forearms and slowly slid around to his back. Encircling him in a loose hug.

He was still for a moment before she heard him sigh, pulling her in more closely, his arms wrapping around her waist tightly. His voice echoing in her mind.

I can't lose you too

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The moon was high in the sky, the night felt still, calm. The calm before the storm Carol thought with a sudden dread, as a chill wracked her body as she stood wrapped in his arms in the middle of his camp.

He seemed to hold her more tightly went he felt it. She sensed his resistance to let her go. He was rapidly becoming aware that "friendly" hugs didn't last this long, but a large part of him was saying who the hell cares. He loved the feel of her body against him, the softness of her cheek pressed into his chest, the curve of her waist under his hands. He loved her scent she realized in surprise. He loved her neck, he wanted to run his mouth along it inhaling her scent.

Another shiver racked her body, this one of desire. She knew after a traumatic experience it was natural to want to immerse yourself in what was good, what was pure in your life. But he wasn't ready for that...she could wait.

Tonight it was enough to know that he felt like he was home, holding her. Like he found the place he belonged, and that scared the living day lights out of him, but he still didn't let go. Because for once in his life something felt right...touching felt right.

My sweet Daryl she thought, he has such hidden depths...she smiled slightly into his chest, at the thought of what he would say at her calling him sweet. He was telling himself one more moment, he would let her go in a moment, as his arms tightened around her. She scratched her nails lightly on his shoulder, her breath flowing softly over his open collar and she felt him shiver in return. She made him feel whole, and he needed that tonight. She wanted to be what he needed.

She saw the memory of ending Dale's suffering flash in his mind, how the kick back of the gun felt in his hands. The reflection of himself in Dale's eyes. She searched his mind for memories of Dale and found one of him telling Daryl he was a decent man. She brought it to the forfront of his mind made him focus on it.

When he rebelled at that thought, she sent a calming wave of peacefulness crashing over him. Surrounding him in love, letting his light connect to hers. He felt weightless and he wasn't sure why. His head came down, as he buried his face in her neck, she felt his lips ghost over her skin. He wanted to taste her. It was like a surreal dream as though time had stopped and all that existed was the two of them as his breath fluttered over her skin. He wanted to taste her...

"Daryl! Carol! ...are you out here?"

The spell broken they broke apart. He was looking at her in confusion and curiosity. Like he was trying to figure something out. His internal turmoil fighting it's way back up to the surface.

What the hell was I doing?...What was that?

He rubbed his face with his hand as Rick came into view nodding at him.

"I think you should move your camp in tonight Daryl. We're gonna move into the house tomorrow. I think we would all feel better if you were closer." Rick said nodding at Carol meaningfully.

She didn't want him to feel burdened by her, that wasn't her wish, about to speak up, she paused as an image flashed through Daryl's mind, instead of Dale on the ground it was her, staring up at him, dying, begging with her eyes for him to end it. He felt nauseated and thought he might vomit at the image. It knocked the wind out of him. He needed to protect her he told himself over and over. His face impassive she felt his rising panic, his urge to lash out at Rick, to send him away escalated.

She intensified her link to him, sending an image of her cupping his cheek to his mind. I'm ok Daryl she whispered to his mind, you won't lose me.

His demeanor changed, he looked up suddenly in surprise and glanced at her in question. His eyes seemed to bore in to her, questions in his mind swirling more rapidly then she could track. She felt a sensation of goose bumps run down her spine as she stared back at him in shock.

Had he ...had he heard her?

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They walked back to the house in silence Rick and Daryl chatting softly. His mind was distracted, not focusing on the moment in his camp. He was dismissing it as a fluke, a trick of his mind, and maybe he was right. She had no experience with this, it was impossible...wasn't it?

She had hoped for solitude tonight. Andrea was staying with Shane, and Glenn in the house both unable to face the RV. The memories it brought with it. She smiled as she entered, Dale had the RV a long time, it was filled with happy memories for him, the past month only a heartbeat, an echo in a long happy life. Dale had been at peace in the end, he had been happy to see his wife.

She was hoping her Gram would come to her tonight, she felt the longing to talk to her more than ever, to have her questions answered. When the door opened suddenly.

She turned as he entered the rv self consciously. His face flushed, his mind remembering the last time he'd been in the RV.

A flower?

It's a Cherokee Rose.

"It's late, we're moving in to the house tomorrow. Seems crazy to set up my tent...ya mind?" He asked quietly.

It was true...all of it. But it was also true that he knew her tent, Glenn and Andrea's were all free. He needed to be near her. Needed to know she was ok. Always the protector, the provider, there was no one more important to him than her.

"Of course not" she smiled her voice hoarse.

He settled on the floor beside the bed, she would offer to share the bed with him but sensed that would make him bolt.

He fell asleep quickly, which surprised her. She relaxed her mind, trying to drift off to sleep when she heard him moan in his sleep.

He was dreaming of her, she realized. Of what he fantasized could have happened at his camp if Rick had not shown up. If his lips had touched her skin, if he had tasted her like he wanted to.

She saw herself, naked, lying in his tent, staring up at him as he moved inside of her. It was sweet and tender in his dream, he touched her with an almost awe. His hands running softly over her body as he told her how good she felt, how much he loved her.

She broke apart from his dream, this was private he hadn't meant to share this with her yet.

She couldn't help but feel his residual need and longing though. She almost got up and walked over to him, but she didn't, she simply watched his face. He was unguarded in his sleep. He was a truly beautiful man she thought, as his head turned slightly moaning her name.

She smiled sleepily her eyes starting to drift shut before she whispered softly.

"I love you too"