Thank you for all your support on this story and now for a twist x
Daryl and Dale met up for dinner, after discussing what as left to finish on the job, he headed back up to his room, arranging to meet in the morning. Glancing at his watch he had time to call Carol before she settled the children down. Two days he had been away now and he felt it, he missed them all. From Little Sophia cuddling him to holding the twins whilst his woman fed them. Merle had been keeping an eye on them, Andrea was due any day now. The Dixon brothers had come along way from the little shit hole they lived in, with parents who never gave a damn. Both brothers had family and woman who loved and supported them. Closing the door he pulled his boots off, the phone already at his ear waiting to connect. He laughed when he heard the noises on the other end when Carol picked up
"Hi Pixie sounds like bedlam there baby?"
"Hi sweetie, your boy sure has a set of lungs on him, just had Annabella off and your son, I stress your son did not want to sleep and he is the process of letting everyone know." Daryl chuckled, he was like that when he was younger or so Merle said.
"Guess he takes after his daddy then. Put the loudspeaker on, hearing my voice may sooth him darling" doing what he asked, she let Daryl talk to his children, surprisingly Daniel settled down when he heard his voice. Much like Carol did when she heard him, he could calm them all down with a few words.
"It's working, guess that voice of yours has a calming effect on your family" the twins settled down in their crib. Carol took it off loudspeaker giving the phone to Sophia so she could talk with him before she went to bed. She handed the phone back to her mummy then ran off to her room ready to settle in for bed. Carol followed as she spoke with him.
"And what does my voice do to my woman?"
"You know full well what it does to me Dixon, and I am not entering into that sort of conversation whilst your children are still awake" she heard him laugh, knowing he wanted some phone sex.
"Shit!" she heard from his end.
"What's wrong?" she guided Sophia into her bed, holding the covers up, whilst the little girl slipped in her pink duvet.
"Someone at the damn door, Hold on baby let me get it" Carol waited the next thing she knew was the loud noise and the sound of falling.
"DARYL" she shouted what the hell had happened, she waited to hear his voice over the line.
Sophia started to cry she felt something was wrong her mummy, looked like she could break.
"Mummy" Carol's hands started to shake her breathing getting frantic. Sophia tried to grab the phone out of her hand, her daddy would know what to do. Carol wouldn't let go, Daryl would come back in a minute, she just needed to grabbed her mummy's mobile phone and pressed 1, she knew this would go to her Daddy. The phone rang out, she tried again and again. No answer, she knew even at only 5, something was not right. She tried another key hoping someone would help, it went to Dale.
Dale heard the bang as he walked into his room, after grabbing some ice, running towards the area where he had heard the noise , noticing it was heading towards Daryl's room. Not even bothering to check who was calling he answered mid-run.
"Hello"
"Hello, it's…."
"Oh my god Daryl" Dale set his phone down next to his fallen friend he noticed the blood around him.
"Daryl mate can you hear me?" Carol could hear it all even Sophia shouting down the phone, as Carol collapsed on the bed, the phone in a death grip, trying to hear what was happening.
"HELP" Sophia shouted into the phone she knew things were not looking good. She knew then her daddy was in trouble.
"Sophia sweetheart, calm down darling, where's your mummy?" Dale suddenly remembered her on the phone.
"On the phone to daddddyyy" her tears now coming down her face.
"I need to call you back" Dale spoke into the phone, realising that the little girl would be so scared. And so to Carol
"WWWWWhattt's happpened to my daddyyy" her little voice breaking up as she tried her best to get her tears under control, she felt so scared, she wanted her daddy.
"I don't know sweetheart he's been hurt, I'll call you back when I can."
"NO" she screamed but Dale hung up. Going to her mummy she held her tight, gently rubbing her back. Carol had heard Dale, yet she was not hanging up, she heard a lot of movement and shouted down the phone
"I need to hear, I want to know it's all a joke, DARYL" Carol looked at Sophia seeing the tears in her daughters eyes, she had to act, Sophia should be in the bed. The twins needed checking. Moving on automatic pilot she grabbed Sophia to her
"Mummyyyy I not sure,... Is daddy?... Dale said" Sophia's words were all over the place.
"I need to check the twins darling, put you to bed" Carol moved without any emotion, it was ok, nothing had happened it was just Daryl and Dale messing around. She listened to what they were saying.
Dale had called the emergency line, by this time, the manager of the hotel had arrived with a few others. Daryl was lying in a pool of blood it looked like someone had gone to town with a crow bar, to his head.
"Everyone move out-of-the-way we need it clear, Someone get the first aider NOW". The manager shouted, as he picked up the phone Daryl had held, noticing it was still connected to who ever was on the other end, handing it to Dale, the manager felt so sorry for the person on the other end of the line, they had heard everything.
"Carol honey, is that you?" her relief at hearing Dale's voice rushed through her.
"Dale tell me it's a joke please, that whatever has just happened is part of some joke. TELL ME"
"Carol honey" Dale wiped his hand across his forehead how the hell do you explain to someone, their fiancé could be dead.
"Dale tell me please"
"No sweetheart it isn't" Carol screamed, falling to her knees the pain she felt was gut wrenching, she struggled to breath.
"Carol!" hearing her back on the phone Dale went on to tell her what had happened to Daryl and as soon as they could they will call and let them know. Carol thanked him and held her daughter to her, both sobbing that this had happened to him. Carol couldn't take this, she needed to be busy, brushing herself down she went to see to the twins talking to them, soothing them, letting them know daddy would be home soon, how he missed them. Anything was better than the truth, Sophia clinging to her side. Dale called Maggie telling her what had happened, and to get to the Dixon's. Carol would be needing her more than ever now.
Getting to the hospital Daryl was rushed straight into theatre, they managed to stem the bleeding and rectify the damage, that had been done. The surgeon came to speak to Dale
"It looks like we stopped the bleeding, I can 't tell you as yet what the outcome will be but the next 24 hours will be the worse. Has he close family?" he nodded
"It would be best you get them here"
"What do you think happened?" the older man asked.
"Between you and me someone took a crowbar to that man and they didn't expect him to survive"
"Thank you for your help doctor"
"No problem Dale we will see you next week won't we?" They had been friends over the years, and the man had looked after Dale's wife when she was ill with cancer.
"Yes, yes" Dale's mind was on Carol and who the hell had done this?. Calling security at the hotel he asked for any footage that could help towards what had happened. He then put a call into their good friend Rick the local sheriff, explaining it all to him ,glad that he would be able to cover the case, then swallowing hard he picked the phone up to Carol.
Carol looked at the phone not wanting to answer it, now if she ignored it all this will go away. Maggie picked it up, before Jess could stop her, she had arrived about an hour ago, after the shocking phone call from Dale.
"God no Dale? , You don't, How are things?, yes I will ,when will you get Merle to collect her ?, of course yes if we need anything" Putting the phone down she saw her friend already backing out of the room her hands over her mouth tears streaming down her face. Carol ran upstairs into the room, their play room and locked the door. They had fun there only two nights ago, how life changed in such a short time, she looked around, he had cleaned it, yet he had left the paddle out. Sinking to the floor holding it to her chest, Maggie gave Carol time it was her way of dealing with things. Getting the twins sorted , Sophia too she packed a suitcase, and waited for the Merle to call. Knocking on the door she begged Carol to come out, she had to face it sometime, wiping her tears away Carol slowly opened the door.
"Sweetie, Dale has sorted Merle to come over and take you, I've got the kids ready too. He will want to see them when you get there, you know how much Daryl has missed them. I've packed the bag etc and Dale has sorted you all a room at the hotel. " Maggie had taken over the role of mum, whilst Carol fell apart. Walking towards the door she asked what Dale had said.
"He's been attacked honey, the doctor thinks it was a crowbar, they managed to stop the bleeding, but the next 24 hours are going to be the worse, you need to be with him" Carol nodded, she was moving outside her body, she didn't feel anything, she was numb from the minute she had heard that noise.
They all arrived at the hospital around 3 hours later. Rick and Lori had turned up too, they took the twins from Carol. Dale came over hugging both her and Sophia tight, trying to give her some support as he walked out from ICU.
"There's no change honey go sit with him, talk to him, hearing your voice will sooth him, Leave Sophia here with us, Maggie honey can you?" Maggie came over and picked Sophia up in her arms, telling her friend to go she walked towards the doors ,Dale had come from. Pushing it open she almost fainted, seeing him there motionless, his body attached to the machines, this wasn't him, this wasn't her Pookie. He was strong and could handle anything. Scared to even touch him she just stood where she was.
"Hi love you must be his girlfriend, go up to him, touch him, he's still your Daryl in there" the nurse confirmed. Carol walked slowly to him taking his hand in hers, he felt so cold, to her Daryl was always hot both in and out of bed. Stroking his arm she sat down her head fell to the bed as she silently sobbed.
"Merle we are doing what we can to find out what has happened" Dale confirmed to the older brother, who he also classed as his son, he was the strong one of all them at the moment. Daryl's family needed him so much now.
"Ok Dale Thank you. Do you have an idea who would do that to lil bro... I mean why? He's the sweeter of us two. he..." Merle could no longer go on, his emotions getting the better of him.
" Rick is looking into it. I don't know Merle I really don't know" Dale shook his head, in disgust, who would want to hurt the man, and his young family.
"I'm going to go back to the hotel and change then I'll be back in about an hour" the older man said as he put his hand on the younger man's shoulder to reassure him that they were all here for them.
The first few hours were hard, Carol never left his side talking to him, telling him what the twins and Sophia had done that day. Merle had popped in now and then and so had Maggie, seeing if she needed anything. Dale came back too, confirming he would take the twins and Sophia back to the hotel, Lori would look after them. Carol hadn't even done any milk for the next time the twins woke. She didn't want to leave Daryl's side so the nurse kindly got her the pump and bottles closing the curtain around them, so she could express it. Lori and Dale brought the sleeping twins and little Sophia in so she could say goodbye. Then she was left alone with Merle, Maggie and Rick set up in the visiting room. It was around 3-00am when she felt him move, she had nodded off holding his hand. His fingers lightly gripped hers, suddenly the machines went off. Nurses came in, Daryl was coming round. Carol moved to the side as they dealt with him , the doctor came in after and checking his vitals, confirming all was ok. They helped him to sit up a little as he asked for water. After they had done all they needed, they left them alone.
"Hi darling" he said
"Hi baby how you feeling?" she went to him reaching for his hand, but he pulled it away.
"Where's Beth and who are you?"Carol looked at him shocked.
"Daryl it's me, Carol, your fiancé"
"No offense darling you're cute in a way but certainly not my type. Now where's Beth?"
"Dixon stop messing,you and I have been together years"
"Yeah right sweetheart" he sneered back at the woman stood in front of him.
"Daryl, Beth and you, I don't know what you are getting at?. We got back together and the twins were born almost 3 months ago " Daryl burst out laughing who did this woman think she was as if he would touch that when he had his gorgeous blonde girlfriend. Kids with her no way, Beth and they had no children at the moment but hell he was working on it, he wouldn't be fucking this woman.
"Nice try sweetheart, I don't know who the hell you think you are but I would never cheat on Beth, especially not with you. I kinda like my woman young and looking at you, you ain't that"
" Daryl please tell me you remember, Daniel and Annabella, Sophia"
"Who are they, Your kids?.I have no children, I am certainly not the daddy to yours honey"
"Don't you remember me? the games we play?" how she wanted to scream at him, beg him to remember.
"Yeah darling you are certainly playing a game of something now aren't ya, I won't ask again WHERE IS BETH?" His monitor went off his heartbeat was going fast, the nurse rushed in.
"Carol is everything ok?
"Carol, Carol is that your name?" turning to the nurse
" Darling this little bitch" he looked her up and down in disgust " is pissing me off now get her the hell outta here and get me my girlfriend"
"Daryl please you and Bet…."
"ENOUGH" he roared "Nurse get her out of here fast"
"I'm sorry Carol, I will have to ask you to leave"
"What but,we .I"
"For fuck sake listen to ya, you are pathetic. Now I won't ask again get out" Carol ran hurting so much, the pain ripping her in two. Merle choose that moment to come out of the visitor's room and caught Carol mid run,
"Mouse what's wrong? Please god he hasn't gone, please Carol" she looked up to him the hurt and pain in her face was nothing he would ever want to see again.
" he'ss" she couldn't get it out.
"Maggie!" she came running at Merle's shout, with everything that had gone on, Carol passed out in his arms. Placing her down on the made up bed in the visitor's room, Merle went to check things out. He caught the nurse coming out of his brother's room.
"Hi How is he?
"Oh hi Merle, his vitals are ok. He' s responding to things, had some water. Can I ask a question who is Beth?"
"Pardon?"
"He threw Carol out without a backward glance and demanded we get him Beth"
"Shit" Merle rubbed his head.
"He, looked after Beth a while back, it all got... Shit why would he …. Oh god poor Carol, that bitch almost made her loose the twins, How could he even. What did he say to her? No don't bother saying anything the look in ya eyes tells me it was bad"
"Look after her Merle please" The nurse walked off leaving Merle standing there debating should he go knock Daryl out or just finish the job someone had started. The doctor arrived, went in to see his little brother, coming out he confirmed what the nurse had said. Walking to the other room with him he talked to Maggie and Merle as Carol slept.
"Mr Dixon sometimes when people have an injury like you brother's they can suffer short-term memory loss, which can confuse the patient. At the moment it would not be in his best interest to push him to remember anything, he has to do it in his own time. It will be best to all that Carol taken away from the situation and if we can find this Beth"
"No" they all turned to see Carol sat there."She did this I am sure. No she can't be allowed near him, Merle please tell them she's dangerous. Maggie you know what she did to me, It can't be allowed" Carol became hysterical why this now. She slid down the wall sobbing.
"Mr Dixon could I strongly recommend that if ok we sedate Carol, she's been through a traumatic hour and she will need her strength to cope with this as well as look after their children" Merle couldn't authorise that it didn't feel right, he understood exactly what Carol was going through.
"He won't I will" Maggie replied "Merle, she needs to rest for her body to get the strength to cope, she's running on empty" He looked at her she was worn down, drained physically and mentally. Picking her up in his arms
"Little mouse, we are going to give you something to sleep" she shook her head
"I know love but you need to be strong, to fight for you and the kids, come on sweetheart let the doctor help"
"Ok" it took about 5 minutes for the medication to work Carol lay limp in his arms.
"I have a private room over here we will check her too" showing Merle the way.
"I hate to ask this but how do we get hold of Beth?" Merle and Maggie, looked at him as if he had grown two heads
"I know, if there was any other way we could do this I would, but I have a patient in there who wants his girlfriend, in the long run its vital to his recovery that I find her"
"Ask Dale" was all Merle said as he sat next to the bed watching Carol as Maggie fussed around her.
"Can you believe this?" Maggie commented the minute the doctor walked out."How the hell can he think he's still with that bitch?"
"I know sweetheart, but we can't push him on this, in time he will find out, we need to be patient. It's Carol and the kids my heart goes out too. Shit what a fucking mess"
The doctor ask Dale to come in around 7-00am he had managed to get Daryl sedated, like he had Carol. Whilst she needed the sleep, he had medicated Daryl to keep him quiet and calm, after all the ranting he had done about his little Beth.
Dale arrived earlier. Looking at his good friend Martin, Daryl's doctor, he dreaded asking
"Ok Martin give it to me"
"How did I get hold of Beth?"
If Dale had been drinking he could have choked. "Beth, why?. How has her name suddenly come in to this?. Has Daryl woken up? Did he say it was Beth" Both Dale and Rick, had an idea it must have been, but they were still looking through the security footage.
"Yes he's awake, yet now sedated, due to the amount of noise he made, he's been demanding we bring his girlfriend, Beth in to look after him"
"No there has to be a mistake. Where's Carol? Daryl and her have the twins born around 3 months ago, Little Sophia too. He's not with Beth. What did Carol say?"
"Dale I had to sedate her, he threw her out of his room, with no recollection of who she is or the kids, she's in the private room over there with Merle and Maggie"
"Shit what a mess, Is there any way we can get around this?"
"No as I told Merle it will be vital to his recovery, if we bring her in"
Dale hated what he was about to do. Calling a number, it was picked up within 4 rings
"Philip, I need you to get hold of Beth, Daryl needs her" God he hated to do this, how would poor Carol feel when she knew he had to make the decision he just hoped she would forgive him. Confirming everything he hung up.
"She will be here in half an hour, Martin you make sure she goes nowhere near him without a nurse present and for god's sake keep her away from Carol"
Martin nodded his head and went to wait for Beth.
Dale, walked into the room, Maggie had crawled in the same bed as Carol holding her as they slept. Merle was half asleep and awoke when he walked in.
"Hi"
"You got a minute Merle, outside" the younger man followed him.
"I've had to call Philip, to get hold of Beth" putting his hand up to stop whatever Merle was about to say
"Listen I don't like it anymore than you do, I've asked that she is not allowed near Daryl without supervision, a nurse will always be present. I've told them to keep her away from Carol" Merle nodded it wasn't a decision he would have liked to make, but he knew that when Beth arrived the fireworks would start.