There isn't a lot left to do in this story. It was never meant to be a long one at all. Trigger warning here for light violence.
Carol was almost ready to go when Natalie buzzed through the room. She didn't bother asking what she was doing since she had her work outfit on. Their schedules were different now and she felt like she hardly seen her friend most days. If she wasn't with Mac then she was working and the same went for Andrea now days. It wasn't that Carol was jealous or anything she just felt bored most days.
When she had been home she had her mother when her friends were like this. She always had that easy conversation and her mothers ready smile waiting for her. Carol smiled her eyes going to the picture of her mother that set on her dresser. She'd talked to her on the phone every morning since moving. Carol was brave in the sense that she got away but wasn't brave enough really to face her father's wrath. She knew her father and knew he was mad about her leaving. She didn't ask his permission after all.
"Where you going Carol?"
Carol looked up at her friend as she grabbed her keys. "Out."
Natalie grinned at her, "Going to check on him aren't you?"
Carol blushed and nodded, "You didn't see what happened or you would be just as worried."
"No Carol I wouldn't and that's because Mac told me he was alright. I asked that night after you told me what happened. You were so upset I just wanted to check and make sure." Natalie kept smiling at her and Carol felt her face heat up more. She was more than a little upset when she had come home. "Also if you didn't have a crush on him I doubt this worry would be so bad."
"Stop." Carol shook her head, "Showing compassion and concern for someone isn't wrong."
"Oh I didn't say it was wrong, I think it's all kinds of right." Natalie swiped her own keys off the table, "I love that you aren't being such a chicken...albeit you are still being a coward in the way you're going about seeing him."
"I am not!" Carol huffed walking down her steps. "I just want to make sure he's okay."
"Keep telling yourself that Carol but we all know that you have a thing for Daryl."
WIth those parting words Natalie was gone. Carol grabbed her stuff Natalie's words spinning around in her head. She couldn't lie to herself let alone her friends. Andrea and Natalie were relentless. Both had accused her of liking Daryl since the first day she seen him. Truthfully she'd accused herself of it. It was why she had to get out of that house with her father. If he found out she had even looked Daryl's way it was no telling what he'd do.
Carol grinned turning and locking the lived on her own now and loved it. It might be lonely sometimes but she would take that over the fear she lived under for years.
Stepping outside she turned to lock the door and chuckled at her own thoughts. She didn't hear the person behind her and regretted not looking around. She regretted a lot when she felt that steel tight grip right her away from her door.
"Daryl?" His voice barked, "You runnin' around with those goddamn Dixon's when you know my rules."
Carol flinched violently in his grip as his hand tightened around her forearm. "No!"
She watched her father's eyes go to the the house then back to her. "I know you're cheap shit job don't cover this place. Spreading your legs just like a little Dixon whore that you are now get you this place?"
Carol's eyes flashed at his words and she jerked her arm away from him. He didn't expect it since she had never done anything but listen to him when he would start in on her. Her arm slipped from his grip.
"You should go home, you're drunk."
"Get your shit Carol you're coming home." He snarled.
Carol looked at him and shook her head, "I am home and I want you to leave."
He stared at her hard. His eyes bloodshot and hazy as his lips twisted in a sneer. Carol felt her spine prickle with more than fear. Her body started to shake under his gaze and he stepped towards her again. Before she could react to run from him he caught her around the throat drawing his hand back.
"I raised you! I took you in when that whore of a mother of yours should have been beat to death!" He was screaming at her his breath coating her in his whiskey threats. "I"ll learn you girl!"
Carol closed her eyes against his words. The back of his hand connected with her face sending her towards the door as he shoved her by his grip on her throat. Opening her eyes wide and bringing her hand to her mouth from her slumped position she wiped away the blood. He was still screaming at her but she couldn't make out his words as his arms waved violently through the air. He hit her. Carol felt a sob starting in her throat as she tightened her arms around her legs trying to become as small as possible. It seemed she crossed a line again for being nothing more than who she was.
"You're no good whore is what you are!" He bellowed slapping his hands together in her face.
A sharp clearing of a throat caused her stiffen. She didn't look up scared of what she would see. Her father spun as she watched his boots turning to meet the person behind him.
"Carol darlin' you alright?"
Carol sucked in a breath at the sound of Will Dixon's voice. Why did it have to be one of the Dixon's? Why? Carol was more than a little embarrassed at what was going on. Keeping her eyes downcast refusing to see the pity in the man's eyes as her father breathed fire.
"I'm fine."
"You stay the hell away from my daughter." Her father snarled.
Will's voice dropped low and threatening, "I suggest you shut your drunken mouth before the cops are the least of your worries."
Carol tuned out what was being said as she moved to stand. The thud of boots coming towards her had her looking away. A strong grip caught her jaw and drug her eyes up to meet the crisp blue eyes of Merle. When her head was tilted up he swore under his breath his nostrils flaring.
Merle spun on as he stood, "Did you fuckin' hit her?"
Carol stood grabbing Merle's arm trying to keep things from getting worse. She was scared that they were going to think that there was too much trouble here now. That with her father showing up here was going to cause her to get kicked out.
Will stepped around her father ignoring him like he wasn't even there. He stepped right into her space his face softening from the thunderstorm that was there seconds before. He was looking her over his eyes the mirror image of Daryl's. She seen the same look in his son's eyes when he'd first caused her to really question her father.
"You need to leave here. Now." His voice was low as he looked at her father. "I don't want to see you back on my property."
Her father's eyes blazed ignoring Will, "Playing fuckin' house with him!"
Carol flinched at his voice her head starting to hurt. Merle seen it and he stepped in front of her both Dixon's blocking her off from her father as he stepped towards her.
"Get your shit girl. You are going home."
"She ain't goin fuckin' anywhere with you." Merle's threatened. He was tense his chest heaving.
"You don't speak for my family, boy." He sneered at Merle. "Teach your goddamn son some respect before I do."
Will snarled a sound like growl leaving his chest, "Get the fuck out of here, NOW!"
Will took a step towards the man and Carol watched in fascination as her father flinched away from him. Her eyes were wide as Will backed him down the driveway to his truck his voice cracking like a whip against her father. Merle was still standing in front of her slightly like a guard dog his own chest rising and falling fast.
"CAROL YOU ARE COMING HOME!"
With that her father was gone and Merle spun looking at her. Will was there just as quick moving Merle out of his way. "You okay?" His voice was soft a complete contrast to the voice she heard used at her father.
Carol nodded and felt her eyes prick with tears, "I'll be fine."
Merle's eyes went down the road and then back to her, "Andrea said he didn't know where you were staying."
Searching Merle's face and then Will's she sighed, "I didn't tell him. I didn't because I knew he would basically lock me away in that house the second he found out I was moving."
Will nodded and motioned Merle to the truck. He disappeared and Will started walking her down the driveway, "You got someone who can stay with you so you aren't alone if he shows back up?"
"Natalie."
Will smiled at her and shook his head, "I'm talking about someone who isn't working when you're home." Carol made a face at him and he chuckled, "I hear more about her work schedule than my own from Mac."
Carol shook her head, "Andrea but I need to check her schedule."
Will's eyes went to Merle and he watched as his son paused looking at her. Will looked back at her, "I'm talking' about someone besides a woman. I've known your father many years and I know he aint afraid to lay hands on a woman. I don't want to see you or those girls hurt. What about a uncle?"
Carol's face flamed and she tried to swipe the dried blood away. Merle handed her a wet rag and she cleaned her face. Will was there again taking the rag watching her. He started cleaning her face and she wanted to cry all over again. Her father had never been so gentle with her like this man was. He was holding the side of her throat the concentration on his face intense but his eyes soft and sad. Her father had never looked at her with anything more that disdain and never cared when she'd been hurt before.
"What about the house?" Merle quipped, "Daryl's there right now and she won't be alone."
Carol's eyes shot to Merle but he wasn't looking at her. Will nodded along but didn't speak as he stepped back looking at her. "You have no one else besides your mom?"
"Can't go to her." Carol's voice was forlorn, "I'll try to get ahold of her….we'll work something out."
Will gave her a look before digging in his pocket, "Merle take that shit up to the house and put it out. We'll get this finished and then make sure Carol has what she needs."
"I'm fine Mr. Dixon." She wasn't use to so much attention being on her. Especially attention that felt paternal.
Will made a face and Merle barked out a laugh startling her, "Oh shit." He kept huffing out laughs as he started getting stuff from the back of the truck.
"Will will work, leave the Mr. Dixon for my father." Will's eyes followed his son until he was up at her porch. "Carol I'd rather you didn't stay home alone until this thing with your father is handled."
Face flaming she shifted and crossed her arms over her chest. "He won't come back tonight."
Will shook his head, "I know you don't want to talk about it and I'm not one to force you to if you don't want to but darlin' he put his hands on you." Will stepped closer to her forcing her to meet his eyes, "You don't know what he would have done if we didn't show up when we did darlin'."
Carol nodded tears slipping free and she laughed bitterly swiping them away. "I have nowhere to go. I have no one."
Merle walked by and shot them a look mumbling under his breath. Will smiled at her, "I'm short handed today and need to run some shit to my house. Do me a favor and run it there for me. Make yourself at home."
Carol waved her hand away not familiar with such a gesture of kindness. This man was like a stranger to her almost it. Why was he being so nice.
"I can't do that."
Merle stopped by her wiping sweat away, "Look like we need to go get Daryl's shit, he's waiting on us then."
Will nodded, "Call and let Mac know we'll be late then."
Carol watched them and bit her lip. Was he wanting her to take something to Daryl? He was at home she knew that much from Natalie talking to Mac. He wasn't allowed on the job until he was cleared after the fall he had. Merle even suggested she go there because of Daryl….she was going to see him anyways. Surely it wouldn't be so awkward if she stopped by.
"Is that what you wanted me to do? Run something to Daryl?" Her voice was soft as she watched the two men.
Will looked over but it was Merle who spoke, "Yeah his pussy ass is at home."
"Picked some shit up that he needed and was going to take him lunch." Will studied her as if waiting on something.
Carol bit her lip and tightened her hand around her own wrist flexing her fingers, "He won't be bothered that I'm the one dropping it off?"
Merle eyed her, "Weren't you all concerned about him or some shit? Bleeding heart type shit."
Carol's face flushed and she shrugged, "Well he fell."
"Yeah Andrea kept saying your ass was worried about him."
Will jerked his wallet out handing her some money, "So it's settled then? You'll take him some shit and his food? Don't let him give you shit he'll more than likely be knocked out."
Carol nodded at him and he gave her a wide smile, "What does he want to eat?"
"Already ordered just need to go get it. Get yourself something too on me." Will smiled at her again and started working a key off his key ring. He handed it to her and she raised a brow, "Door will be locked and like I said boy will likely be sleeping and not hear you."
