Daryl could honestly say he was thinking about killing his cocksucker of a brother. He could hear his loud ass over there cackling, it was just serving to piss Daryl off more then he already was. He knew Daryl was avoiding this girl like the plague. She just wouldn't take no for an answer, and he had quite literally told her no on a few occasions. If he could just get these brakes and oil changed she'd be gone. Thank God.

"Did you hear me Daryl?" came the voice he was beginning to despise.

He looked up at her from his prone position, "What?"

She gave him a sickly sweet smile that made him want to puke. For fucks sake she was a kid or some shit why was she flirting with him.

"I said we should hangout sometime…"

Now Daryl was raised to respect women contrary to what kind of shit his dad tried to instill in him. But this kid, she was starting to fucking push his patience way over the line. What he really wanted to do was reach over and slap the shit out of her and ask her if she fucking retarded. He just kept his mouth just and hoped to god this torture would end soon.

"Well, what do you think? There's a football game this Saturday.."

Still scowling, "No." he grunted out. He needed to focus and get these brakes on. God forbid he fuck up and the twit have to come back.

Daryl wasn't paying her any attention when he felt a hand on his shoulder sliding towards his neck, tensing up he looked over his shoulder. Standing up abruptly he willed on her. "What the fuck are you doing?" his voice came out like a snarl.

"You just seem so tense, I thou-"

"You thought FUCKIN wrong girl." his accent was getting more pronounced the more pissed he got. He didn't hear his brother cackling anymore. The motherfucker was probably leaning up watching the show. Dick.

"I have a name you know. It's Beth, remember.." she pouted out.

Like he gave two fucks. He'd likely forget just as soon as she pulled out of the shop. Turning back to the project at hand, she finally stepped back from him. That's when he heard the rumble of the engine. He'd know that engine anywhere, he built the damn thing. He smirked to himself.

When Carol pulled up at the shop the first thing she noticed was Daryl's truck, she felt her nerves kick into overdrive. She needed to calm down before she went in there and made an ass of herself. Wouldn't that be embarrassing, right there in front of his family and her dad. She'd surely never live that down. Climbing out of the vehicle Carol straightened her clothes and made her way inside. She didn't see Daryl right off, he must not be here right now. She didn't really see anyone beside some girl standing with her back to her at a car. She could hear the girl talking but not who she was talking to.

"Are you sure I can't change your mind?" in a whiny voice. That voice sounded familiar but she couldn't place it.

Still she heard no response. Looking around for any sign of her father, she heard a whistle.

"Over here Carol Ann…." Dean called out.

Making her way towards him, she smiled and waved at Merle and Norman. "Hey guys!" Walking up and hugging her dad. "Are ya'll working hard or hardly working…" she laughed.

Merle smirked at her, "Hardly working darlin'. It's good for the soul to take sometime every now an then"

"Then I reckon your soul is downright the healthiest I've seen Merle." Norm snorted.

"What ya into Carol?"

Smiling at Norm, "Nothing, didn't feel like being stuck in the house all day. Only so much you can clean." She laughed.

Nodding his head and lighting a cigarette, "Yeah, I hear ya there."

They had all been setting and joking around for quite awhile. Daryl should be getting done soon, then he could see how Carol was going to act. Merle knew that Beth would try to linger to talk to him, and he was going to try to find a way to get Carol out there while Beth was there. Merle was getting excited just from the thought of it. Merle was watching Carol while keeping an eye on his brother. The boy had already stood up and snapped at her once, he thought he was really going to lay into her then. He noticed Carol kept sweeping the building, mostly likely looking for his brother. Merle could tell the minute her eyes found him, her smile got brighter and her eyes were shining. He could also tell the minute she realized that girl Beth was over there, her eyes darkened a bit. Not much, but enough to register she didn't like it a bit. He smiled to himself. Looking over to Dean and Norm, he could tell they were watching her too. Merle looked at Dean and cocked and eyebrow at him, nodding his head at Carol then out to Daryl.

"Carol you should let Daryl know about the noise you heard your car making. He was the one who worked on it, he'll likely know." Dean gestured out towards Daryl.

"He looks busy." she broke off impassively.

"Nah, he should be done with her brakes, should be putting the oil in now.." Merle started laughing watching Daryl jerk away from Beth again, "I'd say he'd be glad for someone to come down there right now."

"When you get down there give him this." Norm slid Carol a piece of paper, and nodded to the door.

Carol hadn't seen Daryl yet, though she was enjoying being around his family and her dad. It was making her nervous for some reason. They hadn't said where he was and there was no mention of him really. She honestly had no reason to feel nervous, but she couldn't help it. She just smiled and went along with what they were talking about.

She wanted to talk to Daryl and tell him about what Ed had said, just incase he tried to drag him into to everything. She felt terrible about it, she'd already caused him a lot of trouble.

When Carol finally seen Daryl it was like a weight had been lifted, she was about to get up and go talk to him when she noticed the girl from earlier standing there. She thought she looked familiar it was the girl from gas station. Carol wanted to scream, that girl infuriated her. She had no claim on Daryl but still it just rubbed her the wrong way.

Carol kept her face passive as she continued talking to her dad and the men, but she kept looking towards Daryl. It was involuntary, she wanted to know what the girl was saying to him. The girl, she thought her name was Beth, kept trying to touch him or get close to him. Each time Carol felt pang of jealousy settle in her gut and her chest clenched.

Dean couldn't help but to smile watching Carol. She was laughing and joking like she use to, he noticed her eyes kept shifting around the shop. There really was only reason she could be doing that, and the boy was underneath a car draining oil as they spoke. He chuckled, he guess Merle and Norm were right, his girl liked baby Dixon.

He wanted to bust out laughing when he seen her eyes flash when Beth tried to lean into Daryl. He couldn't help but let a little chuckle out, he had a feeling those girls were eventually going to have words.

Looking over at Merle, he knew he needed to come up with a way to get her down there to talk to him to see how things went. The only thing he could really think of was her talking about a weird noise her car was making. Seemed good enough.

Taking the paper and getting up, Carol swallowed. Give her strength not to make a fool of herself in front of him like she has every other time here lately. She was halfway to Daryl when she heard Beth talking to him again, she could tell by the set of his shoulders and his stance he was frustrated. Stepping into view Daryl's eyes fell on Carol over Beth's shoulders, he gave her a nod.

"I think if you would just come you'd have fun." Beth was bouncing on her feet.

Daryl grunted his response of "No." and continued lighting his cigarette. His eyes on Carol as she made her way towards him. He ran his eyes the length of her body before settling back on her eyes, "I thought I heard you pull up out there." He gave her a half-smile.

Beth whipped her head around and glared at Carol, "I'm Beth, and you are?" with an annoyed voice.

Carol looked over to Beth, the girl clearly wasn't pleased she was over here. "I'm Carol." She shot Daryl a confused look.

Daryl snorted and shook his head. "What ya got in your hand?"

"Oh! Norm told me to give this to you when I got up to walk down here." she moved the rest of the way to him. "Not sure what it is."

"Yeah I bet I already know. You hungry?" Daryl looked up for a brief moment before looking to where the guys were in the shop. "They didn't happen to hand you any money did they?"

Carol shook her head at him. "No, Norm just told me to give you the paper."

Dropping his cigarette butt, "Well are you hungry?" leaning back against the work bench closest to him. Carol was now directly in front of him while Beth continued to stand off to the side.

"Yeah, I could eat."

Daryl nodded, "Alright, give me a minute." Looking over to Beth he sighed, "You can take your billing slip to Merle and pay him." Nodding his head in the direction of his brother.

Pushing off the bench, "I'll be right back and then we'll go."

Carol didn't know where they were going so she just nodded her head. She was assuming it had to do with food. Carol and Beth stood there awkwardly, she thought the girl was supposed to be taking her slip over to Merle. Carol shifted on her feet crossing her arms, she looked up to see Beth glaring at her.

"Who are you to him?" Beth quipped.

"Excuse me?"

"I would know if he's dating, I've been trying for awhile. So who are you to him?"

"I suppose I'm a friend." Carol arched an eyebrow at her.

"Well you need to back off, I know who you are." Beth hissed.

Carol turned towards her, "Exactly who am I then?" who the hell did this girl think she was.

"Ed's wife. It's not right to have two men. " Beth stepped towards her. "Don't you think Daryl deserves someone better then…you" She looked Carol up and down.

Did she really just bring Ed up? Carol felt her temper getting the better of her, she bit back her first retort. Beth interrupted her before she could speak again, "We've all heard what Ed done to you, maybe you should go back to him. Daryl is going to want a real woman." Beth gave her a nasty smile.

Carol gave her a sardonic smile and widened her stance, she faintly heard her dad call her name. "You're right Beth. You're so very right. Daryl would want a woman, but maybe you should go back to your playpen before you make a bigger fool of yourself." Carol looked over her shoulder to see who was coming towards her, she could hear their boots. It was Daryl. Looking back to Beth. "But honey, if you're smart, and that's a big if, then don't you ever pretend to know a damn thing about me or my relationships again."

Beth sputtered and gaped at Carol about the time Daryl walked up. She looked at Daryl and he looked livid. She wondered exactly how much of what was said he actually heard.

"I told you to take that shit to Merle." he snapped out in a tone of voice that clearly showed he was in no mood to talk to her.

"I..I was, we were just talking." Beth tried to smile but it looked more like a grimace on her face.

Daryl ignored her and turned to Carol, "You ready to go? Dean told me you're also hearing something in your car."

Beth looked between the too and huffed, moving off to pay Merle.

Carol released a deep breath looking into his blue eyes. He was pinning her with a stare she could decipher. "Yeah, let's go."

They had been riding in silence for awhile, Daryl wasn't sure what to say. He had heard what Beth was saying to her. He was about to go over there and lose his shit. But Carol shocked the hell of him. She had tried to be nice but the girl went for a low blow in his opinion. When Carol finally did say something back he had trouble holding back his laugh.

He looked over at her, "What do you want to eat? Anywhere in particular you want?"

"Wherever you're eating is fine with me. I don't really know what all is around here. I never really ate out much."

Daryl laughed at her, "Alright."

He had his sunglasses on so he took the time to appreciate what she looked like today. Her hair was hanging in lose waves around her face, but that wasn't what had his attention. She had on shorts that was showing off her long legs. He was glad he had on the sunglasses, he couldn't keep his eyes off her creamy thighs. It didn't help she had kicked off her sandals and was setting crossed legged in his seat with her legs spread. Biting his cheek to fight back the groan that wanted to escape, he shook his head. He was gonna wreck if he didn't get eyes off her.

They were setting in a bar and barbecue place she had never been to, that Daryl swore had the best barbecue he'd ever eat. He assured her if she didn't like it he would take her somewhere else to get her something to eat.

They were waiting on their food, when she heard a feminine voice call out, "Baby Dixon!"

Carol looked up at Daryl with her eyebrow raised, he just chuckled and shook his head at in his seat a little to look over his right shoulder, "What's going on Stacey?"

The woman in question started making her way towards them, when she stepped out from behind the bar Carol swallowed. She really hoped Daryl wasn't seeing this girl. She wouldn't stand a chance. The woman was beautiful. At first glance she seemed a lot taller then she really was, it took Carol a moment to notice the thigh high black boots with buckles. She had shoulder length brown hair, and had the curves men adored and women paid top dollar for. Carol had to swallow again.

"Now, if you aint just a site for sore eyes? Where's that scoundrel brother of yours?" Stacey asked with a huge grin. It took her moment to see Carol setting there, "Where are my manners! I'm so sorry, I'm Stacey, I own this here fine establishment." She gave Daryl a sly smile, "Daryl here being rude, and you are sweetie?"

Carol couldn't help but to smile, "I'm Carol."

Stacey nodded, "Nice to meet you sweetie, maybe you can teach baby Dixon some manners, aye!" she gave a big laugh and slapped Daryl on the shoulder. Carol noticed the flinch when Stacey got to close to him and touched his shoulder.

"Is that brother of yours here too?" Stacey prodded looking around for Merle.

"Nah, he's at the shop. His sorry ass sent me to get his food." Daryl smirked.

"Well you tell that brother of yours I'll be expecting to see him soon. If ya'll need anything let'me know."

"Nice to meet you Stacey."

"You to honey, and Daryl be a gentleman and make sure she gets EVERYthing she wants." She winked at Carol and sauntered off.

Carol already like this place, it had a friendly atmosphere yet it seemed like you could have fun here. The name threw her off at first, Whiskey Heat, but she liked it. She noticed a lot of the waitresses kept eyeing Daryl and trying to get attention. She chuckled, the man was intent on his food and completely oblivious to the attention he was getting. Then only time he looked up or spoke it was to look at her or ask her how her food was.

"Well she seemed nice." Carol smiled wiping bbq sauce off her hands.

Daryl was still blushing from Stacey's earlier quip, it seemed every time he looked up now he was. She smiled. "Is she dating your brother?"

Daryl gave her a grin, "Yeah but don't tell him." he laughed.

Carol was confused, "What do you mean?"

"Merle has it in his head he's single, but that's all it is. It just in his damn head. I reckon him and her been together for a good while now." He set back sipping his drinking. "I'd say over two years."

Carol smiled, she could see that from Merle. She was glad to see the woman didn't have eyes for Daryl, "I could see that. Merle seems like he might like to make his own rules about stuff."

Daryl nodded to her, "Yeah, get his ass in trouble all the time too. Wait till you see Stacey set his ass straight. It's damn hilarious."

They ordered the mens food and finished up. Daryl insisted on paying for hers, she tried to argue and he just fixed her with a look that told her to shut up.

Pulling up to the shop Carol knew she still needed to talk to Daryl about what Ed had said, she just didn't want to bring it up in front everyone at the shop. She should have done it when they were still out, but he seemed to be a good mood and she didn't want to spoil it.

Sighing she moved to get out of the car when Daryl grabbed her wrist, "Wait here, I'll be back." he said in a serious tone. Carol just looked at him and nodded. When he let go of her wrist she could still feel the heat from where his hand had gripped her. Grabbing the others food, he moved off into the shop.

Daryl re-appeared a couple minutes later, rked his head towards her car. "Your dad said it was making noise. What it sound like?"

She gave him a funny look, crinkling her nose up. "I have no clue how to answer that."

Daryl gave her a half-smile and held his hands out, "Keys"

Carol dropped them in his hand, he walked around and looked at her over the roof, "Well get in."

Atleast she would have a chance to talk to him now. She just hoped he didn't get mad at her.

Daryl handed her one of the pops, while downing half of his. "Tell me when you hear the sound, and we'll see if we can't figure it out."

"Aren't you off the clock soon?" It was already 4:45, she knew the shop closed at 5.

"Yeah, and?" Daryl looked at her raising his eye brow.

"I just figured you wouldn't have time is all."

"If I messed up, I aim to fix it Carol. I don't do anything half ass." he laughed. "Don't worry about what time I get off work right now, just enjoy the ride." He smirked.

Carol smiled and set back getting comfortable. Daryl seemed more at ease when it was just them, even around his own family he still had a tenseness about him.

They were driving around some back roads when Daryl spoke, "I think it's your tire rods. It feels like it atleast." He pulled over in wide spot on the side of the road and was getting ready to turn. "I can order the parts and have it changed as soon as they come in. Wont take long."

Carol looked around, as good a time as any. "Daryl wait I wanna talk to you about something…"

Daryl looked at her then cut the engine off. "Alright?" he stated puzzled. He looked around and started fidgeting.

Carol once again realized how shy and endearing he really could be, no matter how rough he looked. "I had a run in with Ed the other day." she stated. She was watching him and seen him clench his jaw.

He just looked at her, he was just going to wait her out. He wasn't sure what this had to do with anything. He hope the man didn't try to hurt her again.

Carol sighed, "I was in the store trying to shop when he approached me." Carol turned fully towards him putting her back against the passenger door. "He spouted his usual nonsense. He actual tried to convince me to get back with him." she laughed a little and shook her head. Daryl had angled his body towards her and was watching her intently. "After he realized that wasn't going to work, well he got pissed."

Daryl really didn't know why this merited telling him but he thought back to what Dean told Norm about her seeming to be more comfortable around him. He figured he'd just go with it. "Men like Ed tend to get mad when people don't take their shit anymore. Knew a man a lot worse then him once."

Carol looked at him for a few minutes, an odd look had came across his eyes when he said that. It was gone just as fast as it appeared so she couldn't tell what it was but she seen enough for her heart to thump painfully in her chest.

"Ed has got it in his head that I cheated on him with you." Carol all but blurted out. She was scared of what she would see on his face. He could get mad, maybe even be disgusted at the thought of being with her.

Daryl just looked at her and smirked, he list a cigarette. He set for awhile blowing smoke rings and shaking his head. Damn if Ed wasn't a dumb son of a bitch. "What makes Ed think we were fuckin around?"

Carol didn't know what to make of his expression, it was impassive but his eyes held a slight bit of amusement. Her face tinted red, "I'm not sure but that's what he's saying. He said something about that being the real reason you assaulted him. I'm going to try to stop it from being brought into the court but if it does…" Carol looked down at her hands in her lap. "I'm so sorry Daryl."

Daryl guffawed at the thought. Ed didn't want to see him defending a woman he was close to, it became a whole other matter, he'd likely killed the son of a bitch had he known Carol as good then.

Carols head snapped up at the sound of his laughter. She just watched him for a moment, his entire body was jerking with laugher and he had the biggest smile she had ever seen. Damn that man should smile more often, it lit his already handsome face up. "Why are you laughing?!"

"Don't apologize for Ed. Don't ever apologize to me for something you had no control over. Got me?" he was still trying to get his breathing under control from his earlier fit of laughter.

Looking at him Carol couldn't decide if she was hurt or mad, he had laughed in her face at the thought of someone thinking they were sleeping together. Turing around and jerking her door open Carol got out, she heard his door open but just kept walking.

"Where you going Carol?" Daryl spoke from just behind her.

"I don't know!" she snapped back.

Daryl chuckled, "Well you atleast want your shoes for this walk we're taking?"

Carol turned on him he had to take a step back to keep from knocking her down. He held his hands up, he wasn't sure what he done to make her mad.

Carol wouldn't look at him, she could feel her eyes starting to water. She didn't want to cry in front of him, again. "Is the thought that people would think you would sleep with me that hilarious to you that you can't even control your laugher!?" she snapped out at him.

Daryl could hear the hurt in her voice and immediately felt terrible. Sighing, he wasn't good at this shit but he could hear it in her voice that she was close to crying. "I wasn't laughing at that Carol. I'm pretty sure most people wouldn't believe you would be with a guy like me but that's neither here nor there." Daryl shifted on his feet, "I was laughing cause had me and you been in any type of relationship, hell even if I'd known you a bit better. I'd likely beat Ed to death that day. I was laughing cause if we were fooling around, he'd got a lot worse Carol." by the time he was done talking his face was blood red and he knew it.

Carol looked up at him, "You weren't laughing at me?"

Daryl was avoiding looking at her, he just shook his head and turned back to the car. Walking away, "Are you done with your walk now?"

Carol double timed it to try and catch up with him.

They were almost to the shop before Carol got the nerve to speak again. "What did you mean a guy like you?"

Daryl made a noise in the back of his throat and gripped the steering wheel tighter, "Not many people are fond of the Dixons. My dad didn't really make a shining example." he muttered.

"But Will and Norman are so nice. Even Merle in own obnoxious way."

"Yeah well, sins of the father an all."

"I don't believe that, from what I've seen of you baby Dixon," she gave a hooting snort at the nick name she had heard a couple of people call him, " you're a good man. Don't doubt that."

Daryl just cut his eyes to her, " Don't start with the baby Dixon stuff to woman." he growled out.

Carol probably shouldn't but she wanted to see how he would react, "You know I'm not the only one who thinks so…"

Daryl just grunted his response.

"Beth seems to really like you."

Daryl immediately grimaced at the mention of Beth. Huffing he just looked at her while they were at a red light. "Are you trying to piss me off or something?"

"Why would that make you mad? She's a pretty young girl." Carol quipped.

Daryl shook his head at her, "I aint much into kids Carol. How was it you put it, something about her going back to a playpen?"

She was hoping he hadn't heard all that, but it was clear he had. She felt her face burn red. "Yeah something like that." Atleast she knew he wasn't attracted to the girl.

The pulled up at the shop and Carol moved fast exiting the vehicle.

Daryl was still laughing on the inside about Ed, fuck him is all he had to say about it. If Ed had likely said that shit to him, he probably would have let his temper get the better of him and said some shit to make it worse for Carol.

Shaking his head and moving through the shop behind her, Daryls eyes were on her ass. She was looking good, better then before. She seemed happier, lighter maybe?

"I'll order the parts, when they come in I'll let you know and get it fixed for you." Daryl was looking down at some papers in his hand.

"Well boy what was wrong with it?" Norm and Dean spoke at the same time.

"Tire rods." Daryl grunted.

"That'll be a quick fix." Merle spoke moving towards the pair. Looking between them Carols face was red and Daryl was avoiding looking at them. Merle looked at the two older men and smiled broadly and nodded.

"Carol we were talking about having a party this weekend for Memorial Day. You should come by, it'll be at my place." Norm spoke in his deep southern drawl.

Carol looked up at the men around her and smiled, "Will your girlfriend be there Merle, she was quite funny."

Merle looked at her oddly, "Girl I aint got no damn girlfriend. I'm a freebird."

Daryl chuckled, "Yeah, I reckon Stacey'll have 'er ass there Carol."

Merle just huffed and moved off as the other laughed around him.

"Yeah I'll be there, is there anything I can fix or do to help out?" Carol asked timidly.

Norm smiled brightly, "Yeah I think there is, maybe you can drag Daryls sorry ass down there. He's avoided it for the past three years now. Don't be afraid to guilt his ass."

Daryl turned and glared at the men, Carol spoke before he even got a chance. "Yeah I can do that."