A/N – I love Daryl Dixon. I know he's fictional, but I just love him anyway. He's just so much fun to play with as a character. That is all… don't worry, Carol isn't in this one but she'll be back soon. Please read and review. And thank you so much for the many, many reviews so far! I love hearing your thoughts and it means so much that you take the time to read this!

Disclaimers – My Walking Dead addiction is my own, but I don't own anything else.

Chapter 10 – Lessons from Daryl

"Blood infection… why didn't I know about this sooner? I didn't even know she was shot," Hershel said, looking to Daryl for an answer.

He shrugged, "It's Carol… ya know 'er… didn't wanna bother nobody, said it was nothin'."

"Well, hell, I'm plenty bothered now, aren't I... Get her in my tent, I've got to get some antibiotics in her. Be quick about it now," Hershel huffed out but Daryl knew it was for show. Poor bastard's prob'ly glad for somethin' to keep 'is mind off things.

Daryl could hear Maggie and Glenn's voices as he stepped out of Hershel's tent. He'd wanted to stay with Carol but Hershel had shooed him off, spouting some shit about privacy – Fuck privacy, doc, no such fuckin thing with ya people. But fine. I'll leave ya to it, but ya just do yer damn job here and do it fuckin right. And fuckin fast. He resigned himself to taking a seat on a rock nearby, in between Hershel's tent and the open area that Maggie and Glenn had placed their stuff. They were arguing, trying to keep it quiet. Rick had gone back up for his watch shift after checking on what was going on with Carol. T-Dog was asleep leaning against a rock, a hat pulled low down over his eyes.

They'd only put up two tents… one for Lori and Carl to sleep in – and Rick, if Lori would let him – and then Hershel had put one up for Maggie and him in case she needed some privacy. Maggie had moved outside with Glenn though soon as Daryl had come running up with Carol in his arms.

Daryl's mind was full. He was exhausted but he'd be damned if he'd sleep now. Not without knowing what the fuck was going on with Carol. Carol. Fuckin woman's worth 'er weight in gold. He thought about that kiss… how her lips had been just as greedy as his, how her hands had run up his back and through his hair and she grappled for more of him. Stupid fucking dumbass infection. Now what the fuck was he going to do? He wasn't all touchy feely like these fuckin people. Sure, Carol could spout off about being good and amazin' and all that shit, but that wasn't him. Was it? And once she was all fine and fixed up – cause she better goddamn well be fuckin fine! – what was he s'posed to say to her then? Gee, thanks for the great kiss, sorry ya passed the fuck out but may I have another?

Glenn's voice cut through his thoughts. "It wasn't your fault, Maggie. It wasn't anything you did, you know that. I'm not mad at you. Why the hell do you keep saying that? I'm trying to help you. I love you. I'm here for you. Just tell me what you need me to do…"

"Just go. Just go, Glenn. I don't want you here," Maggie sounded teary and Glenn got up and stormed off angrily. Piss poor decision, short-round, piss poor. Leaving Maggie alone like that had to be a bad idea if even Daryl thought so. He could hear the girl sobbing now – gut-wrenching, vomit-inducing tears.

Daryl stood up, brushed himself off, and headed in the direction Glenn went. Why I gotta be e'rybody's fuckin' nursemaid?

Glenn was standing at the edge of a decline, staring down into the dark quarry. "I want to be alone, man," Glenn said to Daryl as he approached. Daryl said nothing, and stopped to stand a little upwind of where Glenn was standing. He proceeded to take out his dick and piss off the edge… "What the fuck, dude!," Glenn screeched leaping back out of the line of fire.

"Better to be pissed off than pissed on, ay?," Daryl said a half-smile on his face, still not looking at the scrawny, now very indignant, Asian. Daryl bounced on his feet a bit, and zipped his pants. He turned to look at Glenn.

"Dude, what the fu-uck. I've been through hell today. I'm pissed off, of course I'm pissed off. What the hell you want from me?," Glenn said.

"Ya gots to man up."

"Man up? What the hell's business is it of yours? I'd have stopped them if I could."

Daryl shook his head, not what I mean, short-round. "Get ya pansy ass back over where ya belong… wit' Maggie," Daryl said.

"Shut the hell up. She told me to leave. What the hell you know anyway." Abso-fuckin-lutely nothin', but still mo'e than yer stupid ass.

"Can ya jus' fuckin' take a fuckin' breath and listen for a goddamn minute." Fuckin kids. Daryl continued, "don't ya know nothin' bout girls? Girl didn't want yer dumb ass to leave! Girl fuckin loves yer dumb ass - beats the hell outta me why - and she's the one been through hell. Jus' cause ya had to watch don't mean ya know what she went through. Stop fuckin thinkin' bout ya'self, get ya head outta yer goddamn ass, and be there for 'er." Glenn narrowed his eyes at Daryl, opened his mouth to speak – thought better of it – and left in a huff heading back towards the campsite. Daryl watched him go and crawl back into the darkness where Maggie lay, then turned back to stare out into the darkness of the quarry, whistling a tune to himself. He could hear the soft sound of Rick chuckling not too far away, but didn't acknowledge it.