Sorry this took so long but here you go , enjoy :)

He knew he was driving Merle insane. Sitting there incessantly tapping the glass bottle with the tip of his nail, while his leg bobbed up and down impatiently but something was nagging at him.
Carol. It was always Carol these days and he tried everything to not admit it to himself but he was falling to dam hard for this woman that soon Merle would leave bits of him strewn across the house.
"If ye don't shut up m'gonna take that bottle and smash it straight over that thick skull of yours." Growled Merle at the last end of his tether eyes snapping up to his accusingly.
"I ain't talking."
"No. But you're doing that….thing with your hand and moving about and it's fuckin wrecking my head. Can't ye just sip a beer and nod off."
He sighed pulling himself up placing his beer as loudly as he could on the counter bracing himself against with his two arms, ducking his head as he thought this out.
Maybe he could just say he needed to get some smokes and duck out for a while, he needed to fuckin see her. He heard the coach screech as Merle's massive body tilted himself backwards he presumed it was so he could stare at him, he could feel his judgemental glare burning holes in his head.
"What?" he snapped refusing to look back up at him.
"Calm down. Ye on yer period or something being so touchy lately."
Finally making up his mind his head shot up, he watched Merle comically recoil backwards as he snatched his keys without a word as he charged towards the door ignoring his hollering from inside the dimly lit house which would soon include a drunkenly dozed out Merle, with questions he could answer tomorrow. He had to see Carol.

Ed had hit her so many times, the prospect of it no longer frightened her and the cold feeling of dread normally settled in her stomach to a point where she could completely ignore it but god she felt furious. Shit like this shouldn't happen to her, she didn't do shit to deserve it she bit hard on her lip shoving against him again, pushing her two hands against his face and roughly pushing him away. Drunken angry hands determinedly went to the buttons of her shirt not exactly opening with precision, he didn't even look at her. It was much more frustrating, it could've been anyone it wasn't about how much he loved her. It never was. This was just some rivalry he had towards Daryl and he was getting back at him. "Get off me! Shane!" she spat slapping him again but he held her hands back laughing shortly saliva hanging off the corners of his mouth, he was like an out of control dog, he was pathetic.
"Get the fuck off!" her voice was muffled by the anger that was shaking it.
His unabashed hands were diving into his shirt greedily groping her with sweaty hands that had tremors in them from the alcohol. He hummed happily to himself almost licking his lips as he mouth ducked towards her chest and her thrusting of her body to get away wasn't helping anything.
As hard as she could she took her knee and aimed from his balls. She didn't think it would happen but his reflexes were dulled. He groaned stumbling back a step cradling them uselessly but also snatching a lazy hand at her. She kicked out one of her legs and he blindly tripped over it face planting himself on the ground. Sprawled licking the drool off his lips, she felt herself smile proudly as she walked to the door, opening the lock and striding outside.
That was until the pelting rain hit her and she was shaking. It was adrenaline. She didn't know if she was shaking from the cold anymore or the fact that she almost got attacked and raped again.
She laughed coldly to herself, "Someone up there really has it out for me, don't they. Well fuck you!"

It never occurred to her she had been driving towards Daryl's house until she was sitting on his drive way to hands planted firmly on the wheel. The light barely making a silhouette of the lonely shadow that sat hunched in their car, head dropping down as she thought about her choices. The rain was beating loudly off the top of the truck she was almost worried it would come in at her. A loud roar of thunder erupted from the sky and she couldn't help the jump she made. She laughed quietly to herself before doing something unthinkable. She slowly let the door open closing it quietly behind her and let her head fall back the rain showering her face. Her arms were outstretched around her, the thunder clashed again, lightning lit up the whole sky and she felt godly. Standing out in the middle of it ready to take on the world. She spun around madly laughing so exuberant if Daryl saw her he would've probably thought her insane. That's when it hit her, she was in his driveway of course he could see her. Strong hands grabbed her shoulders they were anxious, frantic and she leaned closer to them. "What the hell ye doing?" he spat but his voice was trembling with worry so much so in her daze she reached forward and traced the edges of his face trying to calm him.
"I'm fine." She smiled.
"Ye ain't ye standing out in the middle of a storm. That ain't fine, it's stupid!"
She looked at him standing out in the rain and bit back a groan. His muscular arms were gripping her so tight, she just wanted to be swept up in them.
There was lazy droplets of rain falling off his lips teasing her, testing her and she found herself biting down on her own lip. He was drenched. His shirt was clinging anxiously to his skin, his hair plastered to his head, his trembling body as he held her closer somehow their bodies still warm.
"Your outside." She teased, she felt drunk.
"Ye drunk?"
"No." she scoffed leaning closer to him her eyes expectantly travelling down to his lips and she looked boldly at him, her tongue tracing his bottom lip first and she loved watching him squirm underneath her. He gripped her tighter, his fingertips probably leaving imprints as he gave in and finally opened his mouth so she could leave her tongue sweep the inside of his mouth.
He hungrily kissed her back, his hands moving to her face much rougher than normal as they fought angrily against each other both groaning, breathing deeply and trying to find new ways to touch each other without taking each other's clothes off.
"Shit." He paused just above her mouth.
"What now?"
"You're going to freeze to death. Come on." He grabbed her hand and jerked her forward.
They both froze at a jovial looking Merle's who head peered out at them looking way too amused at them before hollering "You's two lovebirds gonna come inside or….?"
She looked at Daryl who was staring straight ahead but he gently squeezed her hand and started walking them towards the house. Shit this was all her fault, maybe she wasn't too great at this whole secret thing.

"Now it's my turn to get ye something. Beer Carol?"
She nodded quickly, "Yes please."
He noticed her fiddling wiping her hands uselessly on her clothes, they were both soaked and this wasn't going to be fun and it wasn't going to be much better doing it wet, in any sense. It was worse.
"Come on. I'll get ye something ye can throw on."
She clung to his hand a lot longer than usual her eyes a bit wider as she let herself be led by him to his room and the whole time he could see Merle just staring at their joined hands.
Cats out of the bag. "I'm sorry." She whispered as soon as they got in the door and he chuckled at her not thinking he could when he was dreading this.
"It's alright, it wasn't gonna last forever."
"I know but it could've lasted longer of I wasn't in your driveway, I was just driving and then I was just here and….and…."
"And what." He snapped impatiently.
"I needed you." She said quietly her eyes flashing with tears it looked like that thought alone scared her and he was glad cause it downright terrified him. But also what the fuck happened?
"What happened." He snapped a little too harshly as she stood away from looking sheepishly up at him, there was something she didn't wanna tell him and that was never fuckin good.
"What is it?"
"If I tell you promise to not explode or anything."
"I can't promise anything till ye tell me."
She took in a long air of breath shaking out her hands, "Okay after you's left and I was closing up the bar, Shane came in and he was so drunk, drunker then I've ever seen him. In fact he probably won't remember a thing of it…."
He could feel his teeth grinding together, his heart felt uncomfortable in his chest he knew what she was going to say and he wouldn't be keeping that dam promise.
"Carol." He said shortly.
"He forced himself on me and before you kill him, I got away I fought back and I won. That's why I was here acting like a crazy person because I finally won." And she beamed at him like she'd won the lottery and it made it so much worse he could barely speak pass the golf ball in his throat.
"You shouldn't have to win like that. He shouldn't fuckin touch you. No one should…" he tried to keep his voice even he didn't wanna spook her but his voice was getting sharper, harsher and he was picturing ripping into Shane nothing she could say could stop him.
She looked stunned as he spoke falling speechless. He ripped the door open storming towards the door with only one intent, until she softly called out to him. "Daryl not right now. Please stay."
His hand paused on the door knob and he hung his head low in defeat. Merle was right women made ye into fucking pussies he'd done anything she said and he wouldn't regret a second of it.

Merle was shaking with laugher when he turned his head around letting his back tiredly fall against the door looking at Carol the whole time from across the room.
"Ain't old Merle here lucky. Got more drama here then I would on a drinking session with the boys, Derylna couldn't of opened up a bit sooner."
He glared at him before walking back to Carol who was standing just outside the door not knowing what to do and before they could retreat. Merle ushered them to sit. Shoving a beer in their face and they both gulped it down gratefully. "Sorry for not telling you sooner Merle, it's just…"
"Listen here little mouse ye think Merle here was born yesterday…."
"No….I was just…" she opened her mouth to protest but Merle never kept his big mouth shut ever.
"I knew what was going on with ye's two lovebirds the minute I saw ye two together. Anyone can fuckin see, anyone with a brain that is."
"Ye must've got lucky then." He sniped at Merle and he looked accusingly at him, "If ye knew, why didn't ye fuckin say anything. Jackass."
He clapped his hands together gesturing one of his hands towards him, "Cause I loved see Deryl over here squirm about the place…" Carol laughed cutely smiling intrigued at Merle.
"Ye should seen him soon as any old fucker came waltzing in and took so much as a look at you, he was bounding out of his seat. Bit fucked up if you ask me, might need a restraining order on this one."
"She doesn't." he snapped ducking his head to hide his embarrassment his damp hair clinging to the side of his face.
Her fingers gently played with the inside of his hand, giving it a quick squeeze.
"Well Merle nice to meet you outside of work but I need to go home to Sophia. I should already be there, I just got distracted." She smiled coyly.
"Right ye did, didn't know Deryl here had even kissed anyone before. Gave me quite a shock, might take me a while to get my bearings right."
"Something tells me you'll be fine." She smiled teasingly at him taking his hand as he walked with her two the door wordlessly handing her his jacket to hold over her head.
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine. Run."

They ducked out into the rain together. Puddles now forming in the uneven patches of land and she felt a dreamy smile come upon her again. He shoved her into the truck his hands clutching her waist as he lifted her up into the driver's seat. "Seriously though ye okay?"
She nodded quickly smiling easily at him. "Gotta be."
"Come here." He ordered grabbing her chin and diving in for a goodbye kiss he never thought he'd have.
She started chuckling against him so he pulled back. "What's so funny?"
"You're freezing."
"No I ain't."
"You are. Get inside before you catch a cold."
"M'not cold." He growled trying to fight off the feeling that he was going to shiver.
"Go." She ordered and he unwillingly strode back to the house still hearing the chorus of her laughter.
"Oh boy. Ye got it bad lil bruder."
He was smiling in that dam way he always did that always annoyed the crap out of him, "Fuck off." He grumbled not too harshly nothing could really sit on him for too long after Carol.
But then he remember fucking Shane and Merle must've seen the rage that changed his whole demeanour he grabbed his beer viciously, clinging to it.
"What is it?"
He contemplated not answering but he needed to talk to somebody, Merle would get this, he was a piece of shit sometimes but he wouldn't hit a goddam woman, he would never feel the need to rape one either for some reason they were normally pretty goddam fucking willing.
"M'not gonna leave it go. Shane is gonna fucking pay for this." He voice was venomous, he barely recognised it, was no better that Merle looked just as shocked and didn't fucking say anything.
"Now ye ain't got nothing to say."
"Deryl deal with it tomorrow. Ye can beat that sack of shit anytime ye want but not when you're this mad, you'll do something real stupid and end up in jail."
"He woulda fuckin raped her Merle. M'not fucking surprised he tried either seen the way he's been looking at her, between him and her piece of shit husband. I need someone to fuckin hit, m'not gonna let anyone touch her, ever again." The realisation of the words shook him, he didn't care that Merle knew how much he cared about Carol cause it was plain as day, to any asshole who looked.
He fucking loved her. He was fucked.

Shane hid his head in his hands trying to shake off the sob that was curled up in the back of his throat, he sat at the bar stool like a wounded animal. What the fuck had he done?
He'd done it cause of her, it was always about her. Poor Carol had gotten lashes from the scars of anger that were rotting inside him still. He was out of his mind, he hadn't meant to do it.
Grief had a way of changing him that scared him. The door hinges screeched in protest and in a worn out voice he roughly snapped "We're closed."
He heard the door lock. His stomach sank feeling cold air suddenly hit his body and the hairs on his arms stood up. He had a bad feeling before he regret fully looked up to see who this visitor was he already had a good idea. The boots stomped slowly towards him, he took in a deep breath looking up with wounded eyes. Daryl Dixon parked himself in front of him with that signature scowl on his face but a cold, calm rage that he'd never seen before like he was the devil himself. He felt himself gulp he knew when not to mess with him and now was certainly one of those times.
"Look man…" he started but like a cat he pounced grabbing him by the scruff his shirt, his lips curling back as he snarled at him. "M'sorry. I didn't mean it man I swear, I didn't."
He grip grew tighter but he didn't dare move against him this was a battle he wasn't going to win especially in this state. "You touch her again and you won't be taking one foot outside this bar."
He leaned in closer his steely, cold eyes never breaking eye contact which was odd for Daryl Dixon, he nodded slowly trying to push him away.
"You got me?"
"Yeah man m'sorry."
"Good."
He took a step back he breathed a sigh of relief too soon as Daryl socked him in the mouth leaving him once again sprawled on the bar floor, breathing in the scent of alcohol.
Well shit. The whole time he'd lived here Daryl Dixon had never once touched him he kept to himself mostly, ever since Carol the whole male species had become a target.
Boy he had it bad. Well good luck to him.