Chapter 11….Talks

Hey folks, greetings from Ohio and Alaska! Sorry this has taken a bit longer than normal to get to y'all, but last Sundays episode left at least part of the writing team in a funk. Have faith and stay strong fellow Caryler's… We will go down with our ship! Vicki has extra torches and Pitchforks ready in case we need them…

-Darkest-

While Carol and Daryl were gone, the rest of the group got ready for the next part of training.

Rick called Michonne and Martinez over, "Hey guys, I thought of something. Will she be able to fight if she knows who's under the gear?"

Michonne gave him an appraising look, "I wondered about that. I don't know if she will feel threatened enough with just you three. Who else can we use?"

Martinez didn't like were this was going, "I don't think this is a good idea. She's getting better and you could fuck all that up if you're not careful. "

"I can't take her out if she isn't able to control herself. She can't lose it during a fight."

Rick nodded, "Carol is strong, but for her to be able to do this she has to be in control. Christ, the way she came at me and Glenn… That's not the woman I know. She has a strong and gentle heart, but that darkness…I've never seen anything like it. She would have killed us both, if Martinez and Daryl hadn't stopped her. What are you thinking Michonne, how can we help?"

Michonne was worried; this was another one of those ideas that could go really good or tits up in a heartbeat. "Martinez, do we have anyone here who… well who could physically remind her of her attackers? I don't mean looks wise, but general build?"

"That big black guy that's her friend and I think the two guys I had with me on watch earlier could both pass. Why?"

Michonne bit her lip in thought, "Rick could you talk to Ty, Mike and Shawn and see if they would be able to help? You need to let them know the dangers and make sure they are covered in gear before she sees them. Make sure they know they are supposed to be attackers but if she loses it, grab a shield and let us deal with it."

"Fuck, yeah I can talk to them. You sure you want to do this and do we tell Daryl beforehand? He's gonna kill us if this doesn't work."

With different scenarios racing through her head, Michonne answered. "Tell Daryl. I think we need to do this. I'm also gonna take her on a run later, but I don't want him to know. I need to get her out of here for a bit. "
Martinez just shook his head at the woman, "You're fuckin' crazy, you can't take her out there especially without Dixon or me!"

Michonne gave him a cold look, "I will take her with me, you and Dixon can sit here while we're gone. You know we still need to have a talk about YOUR actions in this, trying to play all sweet with Carol, hovering around her, calling her a cute little nickname, making nice with everyone here. She's not going to leave him for you. You do know he will kill you when it's time, don't you? Or did you forget that bit. You don't get to live asshole!"
Martinez looked her in the eye and responded in a soft voice, "I'm counting on it."

He walked off towards the fence not seeing the looks of the others following him.

"He's going to be a problem. I don't know what game he's playing but there's no way Daryl lets him live." Rick tracked the man in question as he casually started killing walkers through the fence.

"Why would Carol forgive him? I mean… well Daryl said she did but doesn't know why." Glenn asked from behind them.

Michonne dropped her head before answering "She said it's because he saved Daryl. Right now that is the only thing she really has said about him. I don't get the bond thing the three of them have going. Daryl wants to kill him, but trusts him to keep her safe. Carol is …hell I don't know what Carol really thinks about him and Martinez..."

"Maybe one of you should talk to him, see if you can find out what he's thinking. " Glenn added as he stepped closer to Michonne and Rick.

"Who wants that job?" Michonne sneered.
"Does he get on with Hershel? Maybe Hershel could talk to him" Glenn said.

"Why Hershel?" Michonne knew the old man had a way about him, but didn't think a few bible passages could solve this.

Rick nodded to Glenn, "When we brought Merle back here, it was Hershel that talked to him. They seemed to have some sort of uneasy alliance afterwards. I can ask him after all this is done for the day."

"Let's go get lunch. Rick, do you want to talk to Daryl and let him know about Ty and the guys helping? He may take it better from you." Michonne knew Daryl was having a tough time trusting any of them when it came to Carol at the moment.

"I can catch him while you are getting her ready," Rick replied and added with a chuckle, "Just hope I don't take another fist to the face for this."

Darkest

Rick ran inside while the others got Ty, Mike and Shawn. He found Hershel in his cell, his bible open, the man had his head bowed a little and Rick knew he was in prayer. Rick cleared his throat and Hershel looked up at him, "Rick, something wrong?"

Rick shook his head, "No, I need a favor."

Hershel sat back in his chair, "Anything, you know that."

Rick walked in, hands on his hips, "When Merle came back, you talked with him and the two of you seemed to have an uneasy friendship of sorts. We were wondering if you would talk to Martinez, find out where he's at in all this."

Hershel sighed, "I don't know what I can do, but I'll talk to him. I've seen him praying, at night when I walk by his cell. I'll see what I can do. But you have to do something for me."

Rick nodded, "Anything."

Hershel sat up a little straighter, "Ask Carol and Daryl if I can see them. I know it might be too early but I miss them and they're part of my family too. All of you are like my kids to some degree and not being able to see Carol and Daryl every day is hurting me. So if they will..."

Rick smiled, "I'm sure we can work on that. Just let us get pass today and I'll see if we can work out something for tomorrow. You'll talk to Martinez?"

Hershel nodded, "Of course, ask Cesar to come by after dinner. If it helps I think he's a good man at heart Rick."

Rick sighed at the cell doors, "I don't think that matters now, but at least we'll know where he stands. Thank you."

Rick left Hershel and walked back to the yard. He hoped that he was doing the right thing. But if it had been him in Daryl's shoes he would've killed Martinez already, he wasn't sure where his friend's control was coming from. Now he had Hershel talking to Martinez, he needed to talk to Daryl about what this training was going to be like and then spend the rest of the day trying to keep Daryl busy so he didn't know that Carol and Michonne were gone. He just knew he was going to get a fist to the face and that wasn't how he wanted to spend his day. Rick sighed, knowing that tonight he'd be sleeping with an ice pack again.

-Darkest-

Daryl and Carol took their time changing their clothes; both of them seemed more at ease which was a good thing for what was to come. Daryl waited at the cell door for her and was happy when he felt her hand slip into his. He looked over and smiled at her, "Ready?"

Carol sighed, "As I'll ever be I guess." They walked the long way to get to the yard, it had less people and it was nice just walking together like that. When they got outside she turned to him and softly kissed his cheek, "No killing Martinez."

Daryl smirked, "Kisses at bed for good boys."

Carol chuckled, "Yes, at bed, IF you're good."

Daryl watched her walk toward Michonne and he sighed, hoping that this was going to go like Michonne had planned, if not they'd be back to square one and he couldn't lose her again.

Rick came up to him an uneasy smile on his face, "Well we have a small change in plans."

Daryl glared at him, "What kind of change in plans?"

Rick sighed, "We're going to have Ty, Mike, and Shawn fight against the two of you."

Daryl sighed, "Because they….they look like them."

Rick nodded, "Yeah, you going to be alright with this?"

Daryl shrugged, "I gotta be, you people ain't givin' me a say in how to handle things with my own wife. Just make sure his ass in the mix." Daryl nodded toward Martinez his eyes going dark. He stalked away from Rick; his mind was set on doing some real damage to the asshole. He told Carol he wouldn't kill him, he didn't say he wouldn't make sure he was bleeding.

Carol glanced at Daryl as he walked over to their gear, she looked at Michonne, "Promise me if this goes bad, you make sure they get Daryl off of Martinez."

Michonne chuckled, "I'll try but you know I'm not a miracle worker and besides Daryl needs to get some of that out before he snaps and kills him."

Carol nodded, "I know, but I have my reasons why I forgave Martinez."

Michonne nodded, "Because he saved Daryl."

Carol looked at Michonne her eyes clouding a little, "Yeah. Just make sure that Daryl doesn't do anything stupid."

Michonne nodded watching Daryl walk up behind Carol, "Always."

Daryl placed a soft kiss on her neck, "Let's do this woman."

Carol took his hand and they moved to face their attackers, Carol squeezed his hand looking over at him, "I remember, I love you."

Daryl smirked, "I love ya too."

Darkest

Michonne had Daryl and Carol position themselves in the clearing, giving each a practice weapon. She made Daryl take off all of his knives and set his crossbow in the gear box.

Martinez, Rick and Glenn put on the padded riot gear and helmets. Michonne wanted to make sure they were as covered as possible to lessen the chance of real damage.

"Ok, Daryl, I need you to move away from Carol. Attackers, you will start by attacking Carol, after I give the word, you will move over and attack Daryl. Daryl, you are NOT to interfere when they attack her! She needs to be able to do this. Carol, can you come over here for a minute before we start?"

Carol looked nervous but walked over to her friend, "Michonne, do you really think this will work?"

Michonne leaned down and whispered in Carol's ear, "Honey, you can do this. You have too. I'll be here and if anything goes wrong, I'll stop this. Just remember, control is the key." Giving the smaller woman a quick hug, Michonne sent her off to her spot.

Everything started out kind of slow. The men, especially Rick and Glenn, hung back a bit almost afraid they would hurt Carol. Martinez moved in with a lazy swing and an attempted grab. Carol easily deflected both attacks and scored a hit to the man's mid-section.

Michonne yelled at Rick and Glenn, "If you two don't get in there, I'm gonna kick your asses! You want to help, HELP! She can take you."

Spurred on by the woman's words, Glenn and Rick started to move in. Taking turns they each tried to grab or strike Carol.

"Fuck, she's fast!" Rick panted after 10 minutes and several hits to his body. He was happy to see how much his sister had learned and couldn't get over the beauty of her movements.

Glenn nodded to Rick; he had taken several hits himself. He watched Carol smiling as she defended herself. There was none of the pain or anguish that had been in her face since she had returned. She looked free and beautiful, almost happy. Glenn felt a thrill slide through him at having this woman who was so dear to them all back.

Martinez enjoyed watching Carol kick ass. He knew the next part was going to be harder for her and dreaded the time when the others joined the mix. This was the woman he saw hidden within when he met her. Despite everything she had been through, there was an inner fire and beauty to her that sent his mind racing and his heart pounding. She was light in this dark world, for Daryl, for this group, for him. He was waiting for things to come to head with Michonne, Rick and especially Daryl. They would never understand "why".

Caro knows, she understands and I will love her forever for that.

Daryl kept catching himself, his body jerking, fighting the urge to rush in and beat the others away from her. She was beauty, warrior, goddess. I love her.

He glanced over at Martinez, saw him watching Carol and felt his blood boil, that's right asshole, I'll be comin' for you here in a minute.

Daryl could almost feel his fists connecting with the other man's face, the desire to break the man was almost as intense as his desire to grab up Carol, run from here and take her far away from these people, this prison, this life. Just her and him, together, living in the world. No one else to interfere, to interrupt. No one else to try and take her from him.

Michonne called a halt to the training. She said with a laugh, "Seems she can easily take you guys. Daryl, you're up. You can defend yourself, but please try not to break any of them. Carol you need to fight your way to him and together fight the others off."

Carol nodded her agreement and sent a sweet smile to Daryl, "Got your back, baby."

Daryl laughed with her, "Always, baby."

The action picked up quickly, the "attackers" were much more comfortable with fighting Daryl than they had been with Carol.

Daryl's style of fighting was pure brute force. The sounds of fist connecting with bodies, the grunts of the men as he hit them was a familiar sound. This was a fight he knew how to fight, having done it his whole life. He was biding his time until Martinez got in range, suppressing a smile at the thought of getting a few hits in on the man. Carol said I'd still get kisses as long as I didn't kill him, a few punches won't kill him, right?

After a few minutes of the watching the men fight, Michonne motioned to Carol to start.

It's Glenn, Rick and Caesar, they won't hurt him. I can do this.

Carol, practice sword swinging in graceful arcs, easily cut through the men and made it to Daryl's side. She glanced up at her love and gave him another smile. "No worries." She tossed to him.

Michonne knew it was time to add the others, Carol had been doing so well, but she could tell Carol wasn't afraid yet. They needed to do this, God don't let this go south!

Michonne let out a loud whistle, catching Carol off guard.

As Carol turned to Michonne, she heard a noise coming from behind the prison. Whipping around she saw three men, dressed like the others, running toward them.

Carol froze, she didn't know who was under the helmets and felt the panic build. A growl bubbled up inside her, the desire to protect Daryl washed over her.

Daryl, Michonne and Martinez watched Carol carefully. They could see the battle she was fighting within. They heard the growls quietly slipping from her lips. Could feel the rage rippling off her body.

Michonne pulled her sword as Rick and Glenn grabbed the shields.

The others made it to Daryl and Carol, circling, taunting them with their movements.

Ty stepped up close behind Daryl and grabbed him.

Daryl fought the larger man, not wanting anyone to ever hold him like that again. He began to thrash around trying desperately to shake the other man off. He raised his eyes to Carol's, locked them with hers, fighting his own panic at the moment.

Carol, seeing the fear in Daryl's eyes, threw a kick at one of the men who had gotten too close and a back handed the other. She side stepped away from them and raising her sword began to attack full force against the man holding Daryl.

No,NO,NO! Not again! NEVER AGAIN!

Carol fought for the control she needed, but felt it slipping away, there was nothing but the blue of Daryl's fear filled eyes.

Ty, not understanding the danger he was in, let go of Daryl with a shove and stepped between the couple. "Hey pretty lady, come to play?"

Carol heard the voice, knew it wasn't the same voice, but the words, the words were, "Hey pretty lady, come to play?" Hands on her, the smell of an unwashed body, the pain, "Hey Pretty lady, Come to play?" the cackling laugh, her eyes locked with Daryl's, the light dying, his words telling her to remember, that he loved her, to LOOK AT HIM!

Carol became frenzied in her attack, control all but gone, she HAD to get to Daryl.

FUCK! Not THOSE words! She's losin' it, I can't lose her again!

"Carol, come back, baby. Come back!" Daryl saw the control slipping away, knew they needed to do something soon, or they would lose her again.

" 'Shonne, Martinez, get your asses over here NOW!" He yelled as he worked his way to Carol.

The other's grabbed the shields, rushing to get between Carol and Ty.

Martinez went to push Daryl out of the way, trying to get to Carol first, to stop her from doing something she would regret.

Daryl saw it coming and turned with his own brand of fury and let lose the anger he had at the man. Fist flying, satisfying sounds of the punches hitting the other man, Can't kill him, but I can hurt him, make him bleed.
Michonne saw the chaos unfolding in front of her, " Rick! Get him off Martinez. Glenn come here with the shield. Mike grab the meds out of the box. Shawn help Rick."

Michonne did a flying tackle into Carol taking her to the ground. " Carol, snap the fuck out of it, it's Ty. Daryl's beating the shit out of Martinez, I need you to snap out of it!"

Carol heard Michonne's words and felt her control snap into place. She jumped up off the ground and ran over to Daryl and Martinez, " Daryl, remember our deal. What do good boys get?" she quietly said as she got closer. " Daryl, please.. I need you."

Carol's words finally penetrated the fog in Daryl's mind. He stopped pummeling the other man, and pushed him away. He lay back taking deep breaths, trying to calm his heart.

"Good boys get kisses at bedtime."

Carol fell to the ground next to Daryl and pushed his hair back, "Well this didn't turn out so well, did it?"

"No, I guess it didn't. " Daryl relied with a small snort, " least I didn't kill him. I still get those kisses, right?"

Carol gave him a smirk, leaned over and brushed a kiss against his forehead, "We'll see. I need to check on Ty and Martinez and talk to Michonne. I think I'm done for the day."

"Yeah, me too baby, me too." Daryl stood and pulled Carol up, " Do what'cha' gotta do, I'll start cleanin' some of this mess up."

Darkest

Michonne was proud of how quickly Carol snapped back, but was worried about what had happened to cause her to lose it. I'll talk to her some more when we go on the run, think we'll do it tomorrow morning.

Rick was exhausted by the time they had cleaned everybody up and put the gear away. He kept his eyes on Daryl, the man still glaring openly at Martinez. Rick thought he knew what had gone wrong in the mock fight, but he wasn't going to ask Daryl or Carol, but he would run by Michonne what he thought. The thought of what probably happened to Daryl made him sick, he knew how strong the man was and now it was clear in the way that Daryl had kept going just to save Carol.

Martinez held the rag to his mouth, his eyes casted to the ground. He had made a huge mistake in going for Carol during the fight. He knew better. He knew it was just a matter of time before Daryl finally snapped and ended his ass for good. He closed his eyes, he welcomed that, he wanted it. To finally be at peace, he just hoped how he was helping Carol and Daryl would count for him when he was judged by God. He just wanted to be with his family again, not burning in the pits of hell.

Daryl sat off to the side, watching Martinez, he had almost snapped and killed the mother fucker. He deserved it, a deep part of Daryl didn't give a shit that Carol had forgiven him, he didn't care, he would never forgive him.

Carol came over and put her hand in his giving him a soft smile, "Let's go to our cell, what do you say? We can have some dinner and I might give you those kisses."

Daryl looked at her smirking, "Really? I was a good boy, see the prick is alive." He motioned toward Martinez.

Carol giggled, standing up she held her hand out and helped him up, "Come on we will discuss the definition of good boys when we get to our cell."

Daryl wrapped his arm around her, the two of them walking back together. One thing was for sure, they were both finding light in the dark and they were doing it together.

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