Author's note: And another chapter in the works! It's been a depressing last couple of chapters, but I think it's going to start getting better, at least a tiny bit! I'm really happy how this whole story has been turning out and I'm thankful for the wonderful reviews I have been getting! I thank you all and hope people continue to leave me feedback.
Disclaimer: Still own nothing.
Carol awoke to a room which glowed lightly from the morning sunlight. She felt sore all over and her throat was dry. There was an uncomfortable weight on her stomach and she couldn't seem to wiggle away from it. In fact, she couldn't seem to move at all. Her heart pounded in her chest; if she couldn't move then she had no chance in getting away.
She was scared, Ed had assaulted her and she wouldn't put it past him to simply tie her down so she could leave. She squirmed, he would forget about her; she would die a horrible drawn out and suffered death. Carol panicked, she tried her hardest to twitch away from the weight but it didn't work. Carol groaned in fear, unable to scream. Then a voice was speaking; "Carol, open your eyes. It's alright, you're safe here." Then she realized that the weight was a hand, one wrapped around her own in a comforting manner. In fact, it squeezed slightly as the voice spoke.
She opened her eyes and found that she couldn't open them very far; Ed must have beaten her head so bad that her eyes were swollen. It wouldn't be the first time, but that didn't make it hurt any less. The lights poured into her barely open eyelids. She could see the outline of a man sitting next to her, kneeling on the ground and hovering near her face. The voice the spoke to her was calm, kind and familiar. "Carol, how are you feeling? I've got some water for you if you want to try to drink something."
A feeling of safety spread over her body, it was Daryl. He was caring for her, and then the feeling was gone. Was Daryl in her house, what if Ed was home, what if he caught them together; he would kill her, and try to hurt Daryl. She didn't want him to get hurt because of her, it would just be horrible. She suddenly got sad; he shouldn't be here, and now she had to protect him from Ed. Ed was her problem and he didn't need to deal with her problems; they barely knew each other! "Get out, leave me alone!" She flinched from the effort of shouting. It hurt so much, but he was much more important than that, he was good and unbroken, she had to protect that from Ed.
The hand in her own just tightened its grip and Daryl brought his hand up and placed it against her forehead. Carol struggled against it and started crying. Daryl didn't look so calm anymore, in fact he looked afraid. His hand didn't go away though; no matter how much she screamed he didn't let go and he didn't leave. "Carol it's going to be alright, I won't let him get to you anymore." His voice wavered as he spoke, he was afraid, she could tell. Why wouldn't he just leave then? He was so afraid of Ed, then why wouldn't he just let her protect him?
Daryl didn't push away, he didn't leave, and he just stayed put. Carol only cried harder and then the whole situation was thrown off. Daryl leaned over and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "I won't leave you; you're in need of help. I got ya, you're safe, and we're safe."
The kiss made her stop struggling and screaming, though the crying would stop. We he said we're safe; Carol really took that moment to look around. It was not her room but the room she had awoken in with Daryl before, his room, in his house; miles away from Ed. Memories of pain ran through her head, pain that was still present but nowhere near as bad as it was when being inflicted. Nowhere near the trauma as when Ed was raping her.
The room fell silent as Daryl stared at her, Carol could see as small blush present on his face and she wondered just why Daryl would kiss her. He looked nervous and she began to wonder if he really wasn't use to giving anyone affection. She couldn't imagine Daryl and Merle hugging and for some reason she could imagine that their childhood home life had been a real great one. Still, it made her feel loved.
"What happened and how did I get here?" Carol couldn't help but ask quietly. Daryl bit down on his lip for a minute, he wasn't exactly sure what he should say; 'Ed was raping you so I beat the shit out of him and then carried you back to my house, bandaged you up, chased Merle away from you and wouldn't leave your side as you slept in my bed. I was scared for you and worried you won't make it.' That was what he really wanted to say, but just could find the words, "Kidnapped you."
Carol smiled as much as she could with the way her face was at the moment and snorted slightly. The thought of him just throwing her over his shoulder in front of a group of people and lugging her away even if she was protesting was certainly funny. Maybe for the fact that she knew Daryl would never embarrass both her and himself like that, or just because she had a feeling that he wasn't the kind of guy that did things against others will. "Oh really, and what, am I not allowed to leave your bed, mister bad boy?" She couldn't resist taunting him back.
Daryl flushed red, god did this woman even realize what had to happened to her? It was like nothing had happened to her; she was just lying on his bed with a smirk, flirting away with him. He wanted to say something about it, but decided that maybe it was better this way, and besides Carol deserved to smile, not cry. Maybe he would humor her just a little bit, "Well girly, if ya don't wanna stay in ma bed, then I guess I'll lead ya ta the kitchen, bet you're a great cook."
Carol was full out laughing now, she hadn't expected a reply but it made everything twice as good. "Well then Mountain Man, help me to the kitchen and I'll show you just how great a cook I am." She reached out her hand, not really having the strength to stand up on her own. Daryl looked hesitant to help her up; he obviously saw her pain and was worried about it. "Come on Daryl, I need something to do so I don't think about it." Her voice was small, quiet and scared at that moment; it just about broke his heart.
He helped her to the kitchen.