Daryl's eyes flickered open taking in the faded room around him; the emerging day's first light outlining edges and bends of the counters and furniture. They'd slept the remainder of the previous day away, undisturbed by both their pasts and well-meaning visitors.
The rise and fall of her body against his surged immeasurable happiness within his chest, leaning further into her to securely wrap his arm around her middle. He couldn't have imagined being here, with her, like this just days ago. Insecurities and limitations of his own doing kept him from going to her like they had all the times before; feeling like he wasn't good enough, that he would mess things up and lose the best thing to ever happen to him. But none of it mattered since that night.
Carol stirred emitting a faint hum, stretching her backside against his lap, coercing a groan he held back by biting his bottom lip.
"Mm, what time is it?" stroking her fingers up and down the top of his arm. Tiny fireworks following the line of her touch.
"Just 'bout dawn, go back to sleep." he whispered behind her ear, bending his forehead into the top of her hair as she strained unto him once more.
He could almost feel the grin on her mouth in the act of sighing freely, "Don't go getting any ideas, Dixon. A woman like myself in such a fragile state, can't be party to your X-rated thoughts."
Daryl huffed before mumbling a muted stop, her usual suggestive teasing ramped up in light of their closeness. But he felt oddly bold laying next to her; maybe it was the physical reinforcement, or maybe the truth of feelings out in the open. He shifted his head down ghosting his lips down the back of her neck, watching goosebumps raise in response to his warm breath. Lips close enough to her flesh to brush over while taunting, "Ain't my fault ya keep makin' your way to my X-rated thoughts,"
"Where was all this all the times I almost died before?" Carol coyly laughed entwining her hand over his, leisurely coaxing it up her abdomen.
A blazing light flashed through illuminating the room, accompanied by a deafening rumble that shook the entire building.
Carol took in a deep breath, feeling gnawing pains along the edges of her ribs; Daryl's weight thrown completely over her, nearly knocking them both off the bed. His hands cupped her face pulling back, eyes searching that she was unharmed before survival instinct took over, making him run to grab his crossbow. Her body's intuition kicked in, dampening its reception to the soreness as she swiveled herself vertical and landed her bare feet on the cold floor.
"What was that?"
Daryl brought the crossbow to his sight-line, holding a hand up in the air back to her. "Stay here,"
Gliding down the empty dark hallway his reflexes primed for any movement, the scent of gasoline and burning permeated through the air. His hand pushed the wooden door ajar enough to get a glimpse of the chaos while still shielding him from being seen.
A car lay flipped on its side, outer metal darkened black and encompassed in flames and smoke; people were scattering in every direction, grabbing at any weapons they could find. A small object tumbled across the field feet away from Barrington before the ground beneath detonated, evaporating the neighboring man into a coarse spray of bloody tissue.
Daryl's pulse quickened and stomach dropped, Negan was done waiting.
He ran back into the room finding Carol rifling through a drawer, readjusting the seating of the sling on her shoulder. She turned immediately at his reappearance, eyes wild but focused; the tension easing back as her mind recognized him.
"They're throwin' grenades out there. Come on, gotta get ya someplace safe... " his gaze full of apprehension but his words focused. Reaching out to grab her hand, the warmth anchoring him while moving in unison into the black hallway.
"We can't just leave everyone behind... what about Rick, Michonne ?" she panted a whisper behind him.
"Went back to Alexandria while y'ere still out," his voice unchanging, still skulking against the wall, his crossbow trained forward.
"What about Sasha and Maggie, we can't just leave them trapped here?"
"They can protect themselves... it ain't about leavin' them it's about savin' you!" retorting loudly.
Carol slammed his shoulder back into the wall causing him to drop his weapon to his side, anger coursing out of his stare. "You listen to me, we are NOT leaving them behind. If they're trapped then we all are; it's not like I can go anywhere fast ... we don't leave people behind."
The ferocity of her words shook Daryl out of his auto-pilot attitude; inhaling intensely as another blast reverberated against the walls, his glance unveiling the trepidation behind.
"Can't lose you now... not after all t-" his words a little unsteady.
She clutched his free hand in hers squeezing tightly, knowing it insensitive to lie and say it couldn't happen. There were so many things she wished she could say and do at this moment, there wasn't time though and it would just make what was about to happen harder.
"Nine lives?" he breathed, touching his head to hers.
"Think we said five now... still better than one,"
The barely lit air buzzed with a choir of gunfire, explosions and screams. The gates to the Hilltop were battered in, massive splinters of logs strewn over most of the front yard. Saviors roamed everywhere, shooting at anything that moved while seeming to enjoy themselves. Daryl guided them to the left, behind the line of trailers; it provided them with more cover and a better chance of getting the upper hand on an attack. Fresh morning dew soaked the bottoms of Carol's sweatpants, sending a shiver of a memory to the forefront of her mind.
Daryl advanced to assess the opening in cover, spinning back flat to the metal wall as bullets whizzed passed, lodging deep in the wooden fence behind. Seconds later a scrawny Savior emerged sporting a Colt handgun. A bolt landed squarely in between his eyes, crumpling him lifeless on the ground within seconds, the gun dropping underneath his leg.
A second Savior rounded the corner before Daryl had a chance to reload, barreling his shoulder into him knocking them both down on top Daryl.
Carol's brief fear turned to sheer furor watching them tumble to the soil; the Savior punching him across the face before they launched into struggling for the man's shotgun, she slid her free hand in the lining of her sling, leaping towards the entangled men. Her shin cracked against the Savior's temple, flipping him on his back dazed before she withdrew medical scissors out of the sling and jammed them up under his chin.
Daryl lay on his side, tilting the shotgun at them, letting it fall freely, astounded. She smiled at him as she offered him help getting up; once on his feet he bent down and removed the scissors, creating a squelching sound. Carol picked up the Colt, tucking it into the sling almost like a purse. Wiping the blood on the dead man's chest, Daryl paused briefly before handing it back to her.
"Still like my knife better, but this will do," she smirked.
"A fragile state, huh?" gathering the shotgun over his shoulder.
They stayed close to the trailers until they reached a large opening before the front of Barrington, large over-sized furniture laid broken along the expansive brick facing, windows crashed above. Carol tiptoed sideways up the expansive stairs, Daryl crouched peering into each window, judging the threat level.
"Well ain't this a surprise, you're supposed to be dead... Negan ain't going to like being lied to." came a voice from inside the foyer.
He could see Maggie standing unarmed with two Saviors, craning her neck as one pulled her head back by her hair. Daryl flipped his eyes at Carol towards the door as he moved closer to the side window; she understood, taking a step back and pulling her gun.
Daryl let out a quick-high pitched whistle, drawing the Savior's glares into the adjoining room, the main door hurled inwards at the force of her heel; she sent two shots into the chest of the Savior restraining Maggie. Daryl jumped up in the window frame blasting the other backward, spraying the rug a deep shade of red.
Maggie ran forward entangling Carol in a powerful embrace.
"Where's Sasha?" Carol finally managed to get out, pulling away from emotions she couldn't feel right now.
"I don't know, we woke up to the explosions and she ran out before I could follow."
Daryl emerged in the doorway. "I'll find her, just keep Carol safe, ya hear me?"
Nodding in response, Maggie looked him directly in the eye. "Like my life depends on it... but I don't think she needs me,"
Carol yanked the assault rifle from under one of the bloodied corpses, catching his amused look when she stood up, it was so full of pride and adoration. Then he was gone; dashed into the war zone outside of her grasp and protection.
Her heart began to race as panic rose from her belly. For the first time in days she couldn't feel his immediate presence next to her, and the terror of what could be began to slither back in her mind. She had prepared herself for the possibility of leaving him, even though it broke her in two; she was willing to throw down her life for him. But it had never been a thought that he felt or would do the same. No, she wouldn't let it happen; they had finally 'found' each other, they were going to be forever. Even forever wouldn't be enough.
"We need to get somewhere high with sight lines," she warned, unclasping the sling clip that held her forearm against her chest, her newly freed hand grasped the rifle's trigger.
Daryl sprinted across the main field, rolling twice over himself ahead of crashing to a stop with his shoulder on the undercarriage of a truck. The wheeling smoke clouds obscure his vision further than feet in front of the vehicle, shadowy figures danced back and forth, bullets ricocheted off the bumper shooting sparks into the dawn.
His mind fell back to her; he'd left her standing there without a word or touch, only his eyes mapping every inch of her perfection. The constant protector of their group, not willing to back down or run away leaving those she cared about in danger; she'd made everyone including himself better by knowing her.
Soft padded bounces with intermittent rings of tapping metal made their way in the disturbed soil, darting his eyes in search for the known dreaded sound. The grenade rested on its side just barely out of reach; without thinking he lunged taking it fully in his hand before slinging back, launching it back towards the wall. His mouth scraped as he landed, the taste of damp earth and blood swirled around his tongue; he hissed the concoction out curling up to regain his bearings. Hot burning seared above his left elbow as blood gushed ascending from a bullet graze to begin tarnishing the navy of his shirt; heavy black soled boots made their way into his scrunched view.
Simon's thick mustache and receding hairline arose out from the smog, lips pursed, eyes blackened from the lack of a soul; he cocked the slide of the Glock armed at Daryl.
"Just don't learn do ya?" seething savagely.
The shattering explosion of Simon's right kneecap surprised Daryl, not yet responding to the wet spray moistening his face before the sound of mushrooming air billowed in the air. His ears picked up the following thunderous blare as Simon's other knee buckled back, bursting into a stream of crimson that surrounded the now crippled fallen man. Another shot caused his strewn body to jump, a bloody circle on his chest slowly grew wider as his head fell to the side, eyes open. Daryl looked back at Barrington, making out two protective figures and small reflecting light on the top floor balcony.
A few Savior's pointed in Carol and Maggie's direction, gathering weapons as they launched into action. Daryl's protective rage pulled up his crossbow, landing bolts squarely through the meat of their necks; he hauled himself to the still warm bodies, retrieving the arrows trickling a trail of viscous scatterings.
Resounding cracks echoed from the rifle and handgun as the area before him is blanketed with bullet spray, bodies expeditiously fall all around. He turns again towards the blown open gate, weaving in a full run; he reaches the remainder of the weapons shed, picked bare down the nails.
His face is suddenly slammed against the wooden block, bouncing off to feel muscle wrap the front of his throat from behind. The shotgun slides to the ground, crossbow dropped in the corner from the impact; Daryl growls urgently through needy gulps for air.
A dark physique scurried along the wall out of the corner of his eye, his grip clawing at the meaty flesh throttling his neck. Jesus plummeted from above almost inaudibly, thrusting a knife into Savior's side; Daryl snaps free from the howling man and turns to see both of Jesus's hands on either side of the man's head, twisting forcefully letting out a large snap.
"Thanks," Daryl grumbled, rubbing his palm along the strain in his jugular.
Jesus's eyes gleamed a subtle smirk as he mentioned that finally, his dreams came true, eliciting a miffed scoff from Daryl, picking his weapons back up.
"Think ya could make yourself damn useful 'n get them?" pointing at the upper balcony of the broken down historic house; Maggie and Carol lent up to the columns, picking off retreating Saviors at will.
"They need it?" Jesus came back with a sarcastic quip as he began to jog in their direction. Daryl flung the crossbow over his back and slanting open the shotgun magazine, taking note of the shells remaining as he slammed it closed. Scattered movements lead him cautiously to the tree line outside the community's walls.
Minutes passed before Jesus reached the front door of Barrington, Carol bent down to regard him through the bars; his beard smeared with blood up the side of his face, scratches and scuff marks riddled the length of his leather overcoat, yet still a smile lit his face as he somewhat bowed.
"Me ladies- "
The ground shook beneath them, turning to see an enormous fireball erupt outside the gates, scorching any attempt at breath Carol sought to find.
She needed to move faster, her legs spinning under fueled by indescribable dread; she had lost sight of him after he reached the gate, smoke and flying bullets obscured her view before he'd disappeared. Sunlight pried over the horizon behind her, almost illuminating the field like a searchlight from above.
This was all her fault was all she could think; Daryl had wanted to leave with her the moment grenades started flying, but she insisted they stay. Why couldn't she have just left with him? Her decisions again were hurting the people she loved, but this time they may have cost her more than just a piece of her soul; it may have taken the whole thing.
Aching in her slung shoulder intensified, the kickback from the abundant rifle shots deepened the coloring of its bruising, all which could be for nothing.
Carol's feet finally stopped in the middle of open lawn; the trailing edges of her sweatpants drowned in muddy water and human fluids, chastely searching the vacant area for comfort. A Savior walker stirred inches from her bare skin; a bullet from Maggie's handgun burrowed deep into its skull, silencing the moaning.
"Don't you dare do this to me, Daryl," she privately whispered.
Early daylight brushed atop the broad shoulders that materialized moving through the destroyed gate's opening. Carol's heart almost burst out of her chest at the sight of his unkempt hair dampened by sweat, his shirt tattered behind the RPG he carried across him; all other surroundings faded away and she was dashing towards him. She couldn't breathe and didn't care; her pain had never felt this good.
Both dropped their armory feet away from each other; tears trailed down her cheeks as she stopped, chest heaving a small gasp of air, trying to decide if she was extremely relieved or
pissed at him.
"You're such an a- " she managed to begin before his unstopping advancement placed him close enough to shoot his hand around the base of her skull, hauling her forward, slamming his lips into hers.
Their lips moved both languidly and with enough passion to set her mind ablaze; it felt like saying everything they'd wanted to say, feelng everything they'd felt for years, it felt like being home.
Daryl pulled back, Carol's right hand tangled in his hair at the back of his head and her left pressed firmly against his chest; he bent his head to touch their foreheads.
"Ya know there's a damn tiger out there?"
