Daryl did not like the idea of Carol and Malory going to the gas station alone. He'd wanted to go, but knew Carol wouldn't have liked that. She needed to do things on her own, she didn't need him trailing behind her like a guard dog. So, he stayed with Austin. He'd watched and made sure the girls made it inside safely. Then he stood at the front of the grocery store, counting the minutes as Austin gathered supplies. And then, a gunshot. He bolted from the grocery store as fast as he could, calling Carol's name. He raced across the street and flew into the gas station to see two walkers pressed against the bathroom door. He killed them both quickly as Austin rushed through the front door too. They ran to the bathroom door and heard loud sobs from inside. Only one of them was alive. Daryl froze.
"Malory?" Austin called, banging on the door. Daryl couldn't bring himself to call her name. If she didn't respond, if she was the one who was gone… He couldn't bring himself to face it. Austin continued to call out for his wife until finally Daryl drew in a deep breath and called out.
"Carol?" His voice was shaky, but he didn't care. He held his breath, waiting for a response that seemed to take a thousand years. And finally….
"Daryl?" He'd never been so happy to hear her voice as she slowly opened the door and stood before him. Dirty, bloody, and sobbing, but alive. He wanted to run to her, pull her into his arms, but he was rooted to the spot, expecting her to disappear at any second. Instead of running to him, though, she looked at Austin and said she was sorry. Austin crumbled and fell, screaming as he hit the floor. It was then that Daryl moved, pulling Carol into an embrace that she happily accepted. Austin drug himself to Malory's body. He pulled her into his arms and cried and all Daryl could do was hold Carol as she sobbed into his shirt.
"What have you done?!" Austin cried, his emotions entering rage mode.
"She was bit." Carol said in between sobs. She turned to face Austin.
"You killed her!" Austin yelled, standing up. "You did this!"
"I-"
"You killed her!" He stepped to Carol so he was screaming at her face. "You killed her, you bitch!" With that he slapped Carol across the face. Daryl was on him in seconds, pinning him against the wall and punching him as hard as he could. He didn't stop until he felt Carol's hand on his shoulder.
~X~
Rick stood watch as Lori walked up to him. Her baby belly had grown quite large now, and Rick couldn't help but feel slightly angered when he looked at it. He hated that Lori hadn't told him at first. He hated that he'd never know if the baby was his or Shane's. No matter what Lori said, the baby could be either.
"Rick, you need to rest." Lori said. He didn't look at her.
"It's my turn to watch." He replied dryly.
"You know that's not what I mean." He looked at her. She gave him that look she always gave when she knew that he knew that she was right. "You can't keep leading this yourself. You'll wear yourself out. Let Daryl help."
"Daryl ain't a leader." Rick said. "He's strong. And he's independent. But he's not level headed."
"Then what about Hershel? Or Glenn. Hell even Maggie could help." Lori snapped.
"This group needs me. It's my responsibility."
"Your son needs you." Lori's words cut him like a knife. "This baby needs you. Rick, I need you." Their conversation ended when the black suburban came up the driveway. Rick knew something was wrong as Carol climbed from the front passenger seat and she couldn't look at them. Rick and Lori rushed over as Daryl climbed from the driver's seat.
"Carol what happened?" Lori asked, seeing Carol's cheek. There was a small cut on her cheek bone with a yellow-ish bruise forming around it. "What the hell did you do?" Lori rounded on Daryl.
"Lori!" Carol grabbed the other woman's arm before she could charge at Daryl. "It wasn't him." They both turned as Austin climbed from the back seat, pulling out Malory's body covered in a bloody sheet. His face was bruised and swollen too, far worse than Carol's. Rick quickly went to help with Malory's body.
"Him?" Lori snapped, ready to confront Austin, not caring what shape he was in, or what Daryl had probably already done to him after he touched Carol.
"Don't!" Carol begged, still clutching Lori's arm. Lori looked at her friend. She knew Carol wasn't who she used to be. She wouldn't take the abuse willingly anymore. If she didn't do anything, and didn't want Lori to, then Lori would leave it be.
"Common." Lori said gently. "Let's clean you up."
"No." Daryl growled. "I'll take care of her." Lori looked from Daryl to Carol. She wasn't surprise that Daryl acted like this. The emotional state Carol seemed to be in was fragile. It made perfect sense that Daryl wanted to be the only one near her. Carol gave Lori a nod and a small smile before walking off with Daryl.
~X~
A funeral was held for Malory and she was buried in the space between the two houses. Everyone's mood seemed sad and angry, but not as bad as Daryl, Carol, and Austin's. No specific story was given about that day. And no explanation about the bruises on Carol and Austin's faces. Though they all had a pretty good idea.