Hope all of you had a safe and happy New Year's! Here is something to start the New Year off with...a little CARYL for all of you. Hope you enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own any of The Walking Dead characters and I'm NOT making any money off of them! I only claim the OC characters I created for this story.
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CARYL ON!
Two weeks had past and the group had finally entered into South Carolina. They had been able to find a map of the state and Bob and showed the the best route's to take to get to the area's he knew of. It wouldn't be easy getting to a few of the area's, but they pushed on nonetheless. The walker herds had started to dwindle a little as they left out of Georgia, but they still ran into some that they had to either go around or fight there way through. Most of the town's they had hit had been a gold mine too.
Having acquired a U-Haul truck, they had been able to load it with supplies they had found along with food. Daryl and Tyreese made sure to mark the towns where they had found more supplies then they could carry in hopes of being able to come back later once they were settled and clean them out.
Sticking to the outskirts of the town of Allendale, they found a old self storage facility and pulled up to the gate. If anything, they could clear out a few of the lockers for the night and then move on again in the morning. Daryl waited as Glenn brought the bolt cutters, cutting the lock and then pushing open the gate. They drove in and circled around, facing all the vehicles back towards the gate incase they needed to run during the night. Once everyone was in and the gate was resecured, they began to pile out the vehicles and start looking for units they could stay in for the night.
Daryl found three side by side that were empty, picking out the bigger of them for him, Carol, Sophia and Dakota. Lizzie, Mika, Luke and Merle would take the one beside them and the smallest of the three was claimed by Maggie and Glenn. Others found more empty units down from there and two across on the other side facing them. Everyone for the most part would be together.
Carol got out the passenger side of the truck, her leg not fully healed yet, but she had finally been able to start walking on it again. The limp she had though slowed her and Daryl tended to watch her like a hawk when she was up and moving around.
Using the U-Haul truck, Michonne climbed up on top of one of the units and walked down to the end of it, taking up watch for them. The height gave them a vantage point to watch the road in both directions along with the surrounding area incase any threat came there way. So far though, they hadn't encountered anyone living while being on the road, only the dead. But none of them were going to take a chance.
Taking the bolt cutters, Glenn and Tyreese began opening other units that were locked, looking for mattresses for them all. Finding one here and there, some of the others carried them back one by one. The woman huddled together to get something for dinner made for them while the men worked. Daryl and Chad had gathered they water containers and headed out the gates, going back to where they had crossed over a small stream before finding the storage units. Everyone worked as a well oiled team, no one taking any chances to endanger the group or themselves.
One advantage they found with staying at the storage units was the things that they found there. Tyreese had hit the jackpot, finding a propane grill with two full tanks attached to it. The woman had been excited at the prospect of being able to finally cook a hot meal for everyone without the worry of a fire drawing walkers to them. Glenn had even found them some pots they could use along with a bag full of paper plates to help save on cleaning.
Using a few jars of the dried beef and canned vegetables they had found along the way, Carol and Sasha work on making them up a stew of sorts. It wouldn't be the best they'd had, but it was better then what they had been eating. Making up a gravy on the side, Sasha then added it to the stew to help thicken it and stirred the two large pots they were using for it. Lizzie and Mika gathered the bowls for everyone, placing them close to where Carol and Sasha were working.
Wiping at her sweaty brow, Carol squinted as she saw Daryl and Chad coming back carrying water for them. A smile formed on her lips and she took in a deep breath. Even with as many times as she had seen that man move and work, she was still mesmerized by him. Mika tugging on her shirt got her attention and Carol turned to the girl, "What, sweetie?"
"I...I was wondering. Where do we go if we go to...well...you know? The bathroom?" Mika asked shyly, her voice lowered so only Carol could hear her.
Giving Mika a warm smile, she took the girls hand, "Sasha...I'll be right back." Walking Mika towards the back of the units, she looked down a the girl, "Never be embarrassed to ask where you need to go, Mika. It's something we all do."
"Yes, ma'am," she answered softly.
Pulling out a few folded napkins from her back pocket, Carol handed the girl one of them and put the rest back. Going behind the unit between the building and the fence, Carol pointed to the area, "You can go here...just make sure when you have to go that you have another female come with you." Turning around and giving the girl some privacy, Carol waited until she reemerged and was at her side again. Running a hand over her hair, Carol began to lead them back, "Remind me later and I'll braid your hair for you if you want."
Smiling brightly, Mika nodded, "I'd like that! Can we do Lizzie's too?"
"Don't see why not." They came back into view of the others and Mika took off to find her sister. Smiling as she came back over to the grill where Daryl was now standing, he nodded to her, "She okay?"
"Yeah. Call of nature." Stirring the pots, Carol cast her eyes at him for a moment, "So...I was thinking. This place seems somewhat safe. Think we could rest up here for a day or two? We all could use a break from the road."
Looking around some, Daryl nodded and then looked back, his eyes going to the food she was stirring, "Don't see why not. Give me a chance ta hunt...maybe get us some meat for dinner."
"It'd probably be better then the dried beef," Carol smirked, cutting her eyes to him. Seeing that the stew was ready, she got him a bowl, making sure his hand a little extra in it and then handed it to him, "Eat. I know your exhausted."
Taking the bowl, he then pointed at her, "Make sure your ass does too...and no giving yours away either, ya hear? Saw ya give yours to the kids last night. You need ta be eatin' too."
Starting to dish out more for the others as they began to gather, Carol sighed, giving him a pointed look, but was met with his own at her. Pursing her lips, she handed two bowls to Tyreese for him and his sister and then looked back at Daryl, "I'll eat when I'm finished with everything."
Scowling, he took a seat on two tires that were laying on their sides and sat there eating and watching her. If anything, he'd make sure that she did eat and didn't skip another meal. She needed her strength just as much as everyone else and he wasn't going to let her skip out on anymore meals. He took his time eating his, enjoying the taste of the hot food. He had to admit, Carol could could her ass off and make even the simplest of foods taste like it was a gourmet meal.
When the last of the group had gotten there bowl, Daryl got her attention and nodded towards the pots. She got herself out a helping and then moved over next to him, sliding down the closed door of the unit they were in front of and sitting on the ground. Taking a bite, she chewed, and then looked up at him, "Happy?"
"Yep," he said, his southern twang coming out strong. Getting up, he motioned for her to sit on the tires and took his bowl over to the small bucket they had for washing. Setting his bowl next to it, he pulled out his pack of cigarette's and lit one. Releasing the smoke through his nose, he glanced around and then asked, "Who's got Dakota?"
Chewing, Carol looked over at him and then around, "Sophia. Don't worry, Maggie took her a bowl so she could eat."
Leaving her, Daryl walked over to the unit, looking in at the young girl as she tried to balance Dakota in her arms with his bottle and try to eat her own food. Shaking his head, he walked over, kneeling down next to her and holding out his hands, his cigarette hanging from his lips, "Give 'em here. Ya need ta eat."
Sophia handed Dakota over to Daryl and then gathered her bowl and water and went outside with the others. Daryl trailed behind, feeding Dakota his bottle as he walked around slowly. He didn't understand how he had become so connected with the little boy, but he had. In some ways, he they were the same, both having lost their parents at a young age in life. Only Daryl had been older and remembered his mom and dad...and the pain that came along with it. He was just glad Dakota wouldn't know that type pain, or at least he hoped he never would.
The night sky was filled with stars as everyone began to head into the unit's they had claimed as theirs. Glenn and Gary were on watch, one positioned at each end of the roof of the building they were using for watch. They had decided two on watch at night and one during the day, rotating shifts like they had at the prison. Merle sat in a folding chair outside the unit he was sharing with the kids, cleaning his gun as the song of crickets and frogs filled the night air around them.
Daryl walked into their unit, setting his crossbow down in the corner and smirking as Carol covered Sophia and Dakota with a sheet. When she stood back up, he whispered softly, "How long they been out?"
Shrugging, she wrapped her arms around herself and smiled as she looked down at them, "About thirty minutes. Dakota knocked out pretty quick and Sophia wasn't too far behind."
Daryl watched as she moved to the door, looking out at the night sky. Coming to her side, he shoved his hands into his pockets, "Ya need to get some rest too."
"I know," she breathed out, her eyes staying on the sky. Not ready to lay down just yet, she turned to him some, "Take a walk with me? I'm not ready to lay down just yet."
Eyeing her a few seconds, he then nodded silently and got his crossbow. Slinging it over his back, he followed her out, stopping where Merle was sitting, "Gonna take a walk. Listen out for the kids for us?"
"Sure thing, 'lil brother." Smirking and looking up from the gun in his hand, Merle sucked on his teeth, "Y'all fixin' ta go bump uglies?"
"Fuck off," Daryl growled, walking off as Merle laughed at them.'
Carol tried to hide her embarrassed smile, thankful is was too dark for them to see how red her cheeks were from Merle's comment. Granted she got along with the older Dixon for the most part, but he still had a way with words that would sometimes catch her off guard.
They strolled along slowly, making there way around the facility in silence, just enjoying the night air and each others company. They hadn't had a moment like this since her return and even before that, they rarely had time at the prison with all the people that were there. It seemed like they had let time slip by them, each going about there daily lives and not having the time they had once been able to share.
Stopping behind a set of units, Daryl stood at the fence looking out towards the darkened town of Allendale. He'd been through the town once, almost ten years before when Merle had dragged him out for a so called hunting trip that had actually been so Merle could make a big score for him and some buddies of his. They had barely made it back to Georgia thanks to his brother's mouth and temper.
Carol came over, standing beside Daryl and looking out with him. Keeping her eyes on the darkened almost eerie scenery she whispered, "Nice night."
Taking in a deep breath, Daryl released it and nodded, "Yeah."
Smiling, she turned to him, leaning against the fence and looked up at him, "You're doing a good thing here, ya know?"
"Just doin' what's gotta be done," he replied, his eyes still looking towards the town.
"Maybe. But, you've come a long way. Back at the quarry...you were so different then. Same at the farm, but after you found Sophia..." Taking in a deep breath, she sighed, adverting her eyes and turning back towards the fence, "You're not that standoffish man you once were. You've done so much for this group...for me..."
Daryl turned to her, narrowing his eyes as he watched her. Looking down as he picked at his nails, he shrugged, "'Cause I care 'bout ya. You and Sophia."
Smiling, Carol turned back to him, looking up into his eyes as his met hers. Closing the distance between them, she pushed up on her toes, her lips going to his cheek and giving him a soft lingering kiss there. When she lowered her self back down, she placed her hand onto his arm, giving it a slight squeeze, "We care about you too, Pookie."
Blushing some at the nickname she called him when they were alone, he ducked his head some and then cut his eyes back up to her. The moment seemed right, the tension thick between them and Daryl hesitantly lifted his hand to her neck. Holding her there gently, he stepped closer to her and lowered his head, his lips ghosting over hers and then watching for her reaction. When she didn't pull away or protest, he found her soft lips again.
The kiss lasted longer this time and Carol leaned into him, her hands resting on his chest and gripping his shirt. When they parted, she opened her eyes, finding his looking down at her. Reaching up, she stroked his cheek with her fingertips, wanting to make sure she wasn't dreaming. The edges of his lips turned up and she couldn't help the smile that came to hers. He had finally let her know in his own way that he felt the same about her as she did him.