I do not own the Walking Dead or any of its characters.
Not sure how long I will keep writing this, seems like the longer I go the fewer people like it. Oh Well.
For those who still like it-Enjoy!
Little by little, the Atlanta group had ingratiated its way into the Greene's lives. Rick and Herschel had become the leaders, not by title, but by action. They had a schedule of who would do watches when, repairs and so on. Carol had unwittingly become the manager of all things domestic. It had started when she had walked into the kitchen seeing Andrea try to make dinner. She knew Andrea knew her way around fish and a campfire, but Susie homemaker she wasn't. A fire alarm was beeping, and there was a plume of black smoke coming from the stove. Carol and Tdog had run in from the front yard to find Andrea sitting on the floor crying. Tdog had cast a sideways look at Carol before he reached up and took the batteries out of the smoke detector. He opened all the windows to clear the smoke while Carol sunk down on the kitchen floor next to Andrea. She nodded her thanks at Tdog, who hit a hasty retreat out the front door, he really wasn't used to crying women.
Carol looked towards Andrea whose eyes were red and glistening.
"Hey, what's wrong?" She knew it was something other than a burning venison roast in the oven.
"I don't know," Andrea sobbed. "I can't do anything right in this damn house. Carol, yesterday I washed Merles clothes and he yelled at me! I have never taken that from a man before. What the fuck is wrong with me?"
Carol sat next to her friend and stroked her back, letting Andreas head rest on her shoulder.
"Andrea, I hope you wont mind me sayin, but have you ever loved a man?"
Andrea's head snapped up, tears gone now. "I DO NOT LOVE MERLE DIXON!" she yelled at Carol.
Carol surprisingly expected her outburst and just gritted her teeth in order not to laugh. "Um, oh, ok."
"That stupid asshole told me I cant do watch anymore. HE told ME I cant do watch anymore."
Carol smirked and shrugged her shoulders.
"So, you are crying because Merle told you he is worried about you taking watch?" Carol knew that Merle probably hadn't said it that delicately, but she wanted Andrea to fill in the blanks.
"No, he told me that I was a woman, and I had to do woman's work. Carol, I know how to catch fish and fry them, but honestly that's it. If Merle wasn't me to sit in this house cooking and cleaning for this group for the rest of my life, ill go fucking crazy."
"Oh gee. I see, this work isn't good enough for you huh?" Carol asked, a gleam in her eye.
Andrea immediately felt guilty for making Carol think what she does wasn't contributing. "Carol, if you weren't here, all of us would go hungry dirty and crazy. Wee need you. And for more than just cooking."
Andrea lowered her head and started rubbing her temples. As Carol rubbed Andreas back, she heard the front door slam and heavy boots walking on the foyer floor. Carols head raised as Merle Dixon came stomping into the kitchen.
"What the hell is going on here? Tdog said yous having a fucking meltdown." He smirked at Andrea still on the floor, knees pulled up to her chest.
Carol slowly rose, noting that Daryl was standing behind Merle. She noted that Daryl actually looked sorry for his brother, because he knew Merle was about to take a beating, either verbally or physically from Carol. Carol looked over to Andrea, who nodded her head in agreement that Carol should go now. Carol rose and walked over to Merle. She put her finger to his chest and walked him backwards into the living room. Daryl smirked, but began the act of waving a dish towel around the room, trying to get the offending smoke to dissipate, plus he knew Carol was gonna give Merle a talking to and fuck him if he was gonna get in the middle of that shit.
Carol walked Merle into the living room, her finger staying on his hard chest. He just had his mouth open like he was gonna argue, but never did. Carol pushed him into the small corner of the living room between the fireplace and easy chair. She gave Merle a steely stare that not many people had ever dared to give Merle before. He let her corner him. He knew that this little woman, his brothers woman was only trying to make things ok. She wasn't one of them gals to just bitch for sake of bitchin. She pushed him into the living room till his knees backed up against a chair and he sat down out of necessity. She looked at him like she could see through right him.
Merle sat and looked up at Carol. She had murder in her eyes; Merle had never seen her like this before. She turned back to the kitchen to make sure Daryl and Andrea were otherwise occupied. She kept here eyes on Merles as she crouched down to his level.
"Merle, I know you want to protect her, I know you love her."
As Merle began to protest, she fixed him with a look that would kill.
"Look you selfish son of a bitch. I may take this shit from Daryl, but I have always taken this shit upon myself. This is my friend, you just gonna fuck with her head, you better steer clear of me, I will gut you in your sleep."
Merle locked eyes with her. She continued her tirade, a smile still on her face.
"I know you and your brother are emotionally fucked up but I would hope you wouldn't drag Andrea into your fucked up shit."
Carol glanced over at the kitchen, seeing Daryl hand Andrea a glass of water.
"You may not fucking have the sense god gave a fucking squirrel, but look at that woman. You think her outbursts are normal? Merle, look at that fuckin woman," Merle turned his head and studied Andrea. "You think that's normal? That woman put her own sister down."
Merle looked at Carol, amusement in his eyes, "you must be serious, swearin and all." Carol fixed him with a glare that actually had his balls shriveling up.
Carol put her hand on his chin, turning him towards her again. She needed him to understand this.
"You and Daryl need to go on a run. You need to get a pregnancy test."
She said it as casually as if she was asking him to pick up a fucking loaf of bread.
Carol turned his head so he would meet her eyes.
"Now if that fucking test is positive, I better see you taking care of her, you understand?'
Merle was shocked as he opened his mouth to respond and Carol shot him a death look, "because if you hurt her, I will find a way to fucking kill you, do you understand me?"
Merle looked at the woman and nodded his head in understanding. He reached out and placed his hand on her cheek and smirked.
"Ya know, a month ago I would have put my fist in yer face for talking ta me like that." Carol rolled her eyes.
"Merle, guess what, I've had bigger men than you hit me in the face."
At that remark his face became darker. He dropped his head, Carol knew what was coming. He had dropped his hand from her face and balled his fist up by his side. Carol turned away, sure he was going to be mad at her and yell. Hell, she hadn't been that forward with anyone since that day with Daryl in the RV. He looked over at his brother, looking towards Andrea, still on the floor.
"I aint good at this," he whispered so low only Carol could hear.
She turned, smiled slightly at him and dropped to her knees in front him. She could see in his face that he was struggling. His face was set hard, its lines and ridges definable. But his eyes were soft, looking towards Andrea. Carol took his face in her hands, pressing a small kiss to his cheek.
"Merle don't fuck this up, please."
He could see the plea in her eyes. Hell, he didn't want to mess this up either.
Carol got up, and walked over to Daryl, who was still trying to avoid the whole situation. She took the dish towel from his hands and placed it on the kitchen table, dragging him out of the house. Merle stayed in the chair for a second. He sighed as he wiped his hand across his face. He couldn't stand seeing her hurt. He walked into the kitchen and crouched down by her and pulled her into his arms.
"Hey blondie. What's yer problem here?"
Andrea tipped her head up and looked at Merle. She could see in his eyes that he actually cared, but how long would that last. He brushed at tendril of hair out of her eyes and pressed a small kiss to her lips.
"Come on Blondie, I'll help ya with dinner."
He walked over towards the stove, "Holy shit, you got the oven as high as it'll go." Andrea sniffled and wiped her nose.
"I thought that would make it cook faster."
Merle chuckled reached down and picked her up off the floor. He moved her over to a chair and sat her on his lap. She put her head on h is shoulder, feeling better.
"Don't worry angel, well figure his shit out."
As Carol and Daryl looked through the kitchen window they saw Andrea get up from Merles lap and turn towards him, and straddle his lap, kissing his lips. Daryl growled and pulled Carol, who was still watching along.
"Dammit Daryl, why'd we leave?' she asked as he pulled her into the grove of trees. "You really want to watch that woman?" he asked.
She looked up at him through thick lashes.
"Thought we could use some pointers." she said huskily. Daryl grabbed her by the waist and ground his erection into her.
"Fuck woman, we don't need no pointers." he growled as his hand went up her shirt, cupping her breast. Carol groaned and hooked her leg around his hips. They heard rustle in the trees and heard Sophia giggle and Carl swear and stalk off toward the house. "Godammit, just want to get an apple, gotta dodge all these people rubbin up on each other." Daryl dipped his head towards Carol's neck biting lightly.
"Damn nosy kids." he complained as Carol laughed.