There was a commotion in the hall so Carol got up to see what was going on. She'd spent the night with Daryl. The fever broke before bed so Rick agreed they were likely safe. Carol had curled up at Daryl's side and they slept peacefully with relief.
They had both been awake for a few minutes when she heard voices in the hall, that seemed to be getting louder. Carol opened the door and peeked out. "What's going on?" she asked, looking at Abraham, Eugene and Tara talking animatedly.
"I was just trying to convince Eugene to leave you guys alone and go get some sleep," Abraham explained. Carol found it odd that even after everything that happened with Eugene's lie Abraham still had this air of leadership and protectiveness towards him.
"He's been up all night," Tara said, looking at Carol apologetically. She looked at Eugene. He was a mess, with big black circles under his eyes and hair sticking up all over making it look like a furry dead animal had plopped itself down on his head.
"It'll just take a minute," Eugene looked at her desperately. His face changed to a look of excitement, "I had an epiphany." She felt like she was staring at a mad scientist. It was almost amusing.
Carol looked to Abraham for explanation but he simply shrugged. "He said he wanted to tell you and Daryl first."
"Come in," Carol said, leading the three of them into the room. "Eugene has something to tell us," Carol let Daryl in on what was happening.
Once everyone was settled and looking at him Eugene spoke, "This whole thing is really quite fascinating, but baffling too. If I had a research lab I know I could figure out so much more, but there's one thing I'm quite certain of." He paused, likely for dramatic effect, which in itself was amusing to Carol. "We know everyone has the virus. Once we die, something happens and it's activated. We also know that you can be infected by being bit. In Daryl's case he was infected through intercourse." Carol laid a hand on his arm because without even looking she knew Daryl was ready to leap. "We always think of blood as the main source of transmitting diseases, infections, viruses et cetera, but… what I realized last night is that in this case it makes perfect sense that Daryl was infected the way he was. I mean there would have to be a cut or tiny scratch on his..." Carol wasn't quite sure where he was going, but she hoped he got there soon because she could feel Daryl tensing. "Anyway… we get infected through walker bites. The infection is in the saliva, bodily fluids, not in the blood. But it has to get into the bloodstream to infect us, which is why I know Daryl must have a cut on his..."
"Eugene," Abraham snapped, interrupting the sentence.
He was getting more excited and barely noticed. "Think of all the times we've been covered in walker blood but have never been infected. But one bite, even a tiny one, and we turn." He paused again, "I believe Carol is a living walker."
"What?" She hissed. "And this is supposed to make me feel better?"
"I never said that," Eugene replied, looking sad, as his news didn't have quite the same impact he was hoping for.
She was still holding Daryl back, even though she was feeling angry and considering just letting him attack. "Listen, Eugene isn't great at explaining things in a… polite manner," Abraham said, attempting to soothe the situation. "Just hear him out, but try to ignore the fact that he's more robot than human. It took me a while too, but I learned."
Carol relaxed a bit and nodded. "Uh, perhaps I chose the wrong words," Eugene struggled to be more considerate. "I just mean that you seem to possess the ability to pass on the virus through your bodily fluids like a walker. But you're clearly not dead or turned. If you were to bite someone I think they would become infected, like what happened with Daryl… sorta. Wait, you didn't bite him somewhere did you?"
"No," both of them answered at the same time. Carol caught a look of amusement on both Abe and Tara's face and she softened, but Daryl didn't. The scowl on his face was getting worse by the minute.
"Okay, okay, just wanted to be sure, in the name of science and all," Eugene replied. "Those are the things I know. The list of things I don't know grows longer every day."
"Like your mullet," Tara muttered. Carol snorted. She couldn't help it.
Eugene ignored her and continued, "I would like to put some ideas on paper and get the group together in a couple days to discuss things. I'm obviously the smartest one here, but maybe one of you will say something that triggers me."
"Is that your way of asking for help?" Carol said, smirking at him.
"You catch on quick," Abe chuckled.
"Yes, Ma'am, it is," Eugene replied. "Now I'm going to go sleep so my brain will remain sharp." With that he promptly left.
"That man is so weird," Carol mumbled, her eyes watching the door close behind him. "How did you…"" she looked to Abe.
"Don't even ask… it was a challenge," Abe said with a smile. "You two okay?" he asked.
Carol eyed Daryl who still looked like he was about to explode. He hadn't said a word, likely because he couldn't. "Yeah," Carol replied, still looking at Daryl. "We're fine," she answered for them both.
"We're fine, right?" Carol asked gently after the others left and she locked the door behind them.
"We are, but I might kill that dude in his sleep," Daryl growled. "Or cut his damn mullet." Carol giggled and even though she knew he was fighting it, Daryl smiled. The relief that he was okay washed over her once again and it was overwhelming to the point she had to sit down.
"He's right though," Carol started.
"Which part?" he replied, eying her.
"Well I think he's likely right about me," she sighed. "But I was referring to the part about the list of things we don't know getting longer and longer." Carol leaned back on the pillow. "Even between you and I. I mean, are you immune now, like me? If you get bit would you survive? He said the virus is in my saliva and other… fluids, like a walker, but it has to go into the bloodstream to infect someone. What if you're not immune and we… again… and you end up right back where you were yesterday morning?"
"That ain't gonna happen," Daryl said, reaching for her.
"You don't know that," Carol said, with emphasis. "We can't risk it." He looked disappointed. "Please don't think I don't want to, because there's honestly nothing - nothing, I want more right now. Being with you… in this world… with all this crazy stuff that's going on right now… it's like a sweet escape. I need it. I want it. It makes me feel normal. It makes me feel loved. It makes me feel like I'm not alone. But seeing you like that… Daryl, you almost died because of me, because of whatever I've got… I can't let that happen again." Carol shook her head. "I can't."
Daryl nodded and slipped out of bed. He started to undo his pants. "Daryl… did you hear what I just said…" Carol looked at him, completely baffled.
"Yeah, yeah… I just have to know," he replied, dropping his jeans to the floor, followed by his underwear.
"Know what?" Carol watched as he grabbed his penis and leaned down, examining it. She started to laugh when she clued in.
"Well the little fuck was right," Daryl muttered. "Look," he said, moving closer and pointing at a little red scratch just behind the head.
"At least he didn't demand an examination," Carol teased. "Did I do that somehow?" she wondered out loud.
"I ain't really sure where it came from," Daryl replied, pulling everything back up. Carol was struck with just how strange it was to be examining Daryl's penis so nonchalantly, with none of the former awkwardness. "Come on," he said. "I'm ready to get the fuck outta this room."
She knew the feeling and followed him out with a smile. Carol did her best to keep up the positive attitude for the rest of the day and forget about the fact that her and Daryl could no longer be intimate. She kept herself busy all morning and spent the afternoon watching Judith while several others went on a quick run. It drove her crazy that they still didn't want her to go. Rick hadn't out right said no, but he'd tricked her by asking her to watch Judith before she knew why. Luckily the kid was way too adorable for Carol to feel angry while being around.
Daryl hadn't gone on the run, but she didn't see him most of the afternoon. She wondered what he was up to, but felt silly, knowing they didn't need to be together all the time anyway. That night most everyone was hanging out in the common room together. Carol decided to stay a little longer, engrossed in a competitive game of Scrabble with Tara and Michonne, even when Daryl took off for the night. In the end Tara beat them with the word 'QI' which landed the Q on a triple word score and had a letter I in both directions earning 66 points.
After the game she excused herself and went to bed. When Carol entered her room Daryl was waiting for her. She was surprised to see him there, but after everything that had happened the last few days she was certainly glad to have him waiting. She hoped he was planning to stay. They could at least sleep together and feel some intimacy that way.
Daryl wandered over and placed his hands on her hips, then leaned in and lightly sucked on her neck. "What are you doing?" Carol sighed. "I told you before it's too risky. We can't. Please stop."
"Hear me out," Daryl replied, releasing her. Carol moved to her bed to put some distance between them. Even the tiny encounter had her hormones raging. "The virus is in your bodily fluids and has to enter my bloodstream to infect me, right?" Carol nodded. "So it's like HIV."
"I guess," Carol shrugged. She didn't know a lot about HIV and AIDS.
"Merle had a junkie buddy that was HIV positive," Daryl said, sitting down. "He still had sex with his girlfriend." Carol listened curiously. Daryl didn't often say much about his past or people from his past. And he certainly didn't often talk about other's sex life. "I went to see Glenn earlier. And…" Daryl pulled something out of his pocket. "He's running low. Gonna have to do a run and find more, but… I have two for now."
Carol looked at the packets in his hand and then up at Daryl. "You actually went to Glenn?" She knew that Daryl and Glenn were close, but it just wasn't like him to broach his sex life with Glenn, in any manner. Daryl was way too shy for that.
"Please don't think it's just the sex," Daryl started, looking embarrassed. "I ain't like that." He searched her eyes. "When you said earlier it's like an escape and you need that right now," he shrugged. "I wanted to give it to you. I wanted you to be able to do what you want, without worrying." He chewed his lip. "I mean, we don't have to," he set the condoms down. "But if you want to, option's there."
Carol picked up the foil wrappers and tore them apart on the perforated line. She set one back down and studied the other in her hand. "I feel really stupid right now," she said.
"What? Why?" he asked.
"This option," she replied, holding up the packet. "Never even crossed my mind. I could have spared you and asked Maggie, but I just never thought…"
"Sometimes I come up with good ideas," Daryl said, giving her a smile that made her heart flutter.
"So," Carol started, batting her eyelashes. "I have a deal to make. I am willing to use these… but only if I get to go on the run to get more."
"Sexual bribery?" Daryl asked. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "Works every time."