Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead.

a/n: Feeling a little nervous about this chapter.

...

It had been three days since the people from Woodbury had joined their small community at the prison, and three days since she had last seen Merle, or well, spoken to him. Frustratingly, she knew he was avoiding her-every glimpse had sent him off into the opposite direction. A few of the others had seen it too, and on more than one occasion it had seemed that Daryl wanted to say something on the matter, but one look at her face, and he had clamped his mouth firmly shut. She just wished that Daryl would say what was on his mind. Really, she had no idea how to broach the subject with him, especially when she was so unsure on how she felt about the situation as it was. All she knew was that she'd been carrying this heavy feeling in her heart for every single time his brother had turned away from her.

Rick had looked at her questioningly more than once, but she was in no mind to reveal anything to him. Unless it was the usual talks of chores, who was taking their shift of watch duties, or even to discuss how the Woodbury folks were settling in. But anything of a personal nature, she would not share with him, or with anyone. So, she had kept herself busy, and tried to ignore the ache of Merle's absence, the sting of his seemingly dismissive attitude.

The sudden influx of the Woodbury children had lightened her mind to a degree-even though seeing them had brought back one too many sorrowful memories of her own. That was a burden she kept mostly to herself, although she had seen Daryl's quick glances as she had watched them at play in the courtyard. Children were adaptable, a lot more so than the adults that watched over them.

She was watching them now, watching as the two Samuel's girls played at tag with a larger bespectacled boy, Patrick, and a few others. Their light peals of laughter rang out vividly in the sunshine, and she felt the small smile begrudgingly tug at her lips as she watched them, before her gaze drifted past and over them to where she could see Merle and Carl at the fences, taking down the few walkers that clawed through the metal links.

The smile froze on her face before it had fully formed, and she sighed. She didn't know why it surprised her as much as it did, but seeing Merle with Carl, she couldn't help but wonder what had happened for the burly caustic man to actually let Rick's son in. He was so very closed up normally, just like his brother-although Daryl now seemed to be embracing life at the prison, even with the extra burdens and responsibility. Maybe it was because Daryl had finally found his place and self worth...whereas Merle hadn't.

Her gaze drifted from them, to the field beyond. With the extra bodies and man power, the damage that the Governor had wrought was now being undone. Finally, the old main gate had been repaired, it was now just a question of getting rid of the walkers that straggled through the occasional breach in the fences. She spied in the distance Tyreese, Glenn and Maggie, and she raised her hand to her eyes against the onslaught of the bright sunlight, squeezing her eyes to gain a better view.

"Shit yeah!"

She turned her head sharply back towards the inner fences, as she saw Merle give Carl a sudden wide lazy grin, and she smiled at the sound of his voice, at the sudden carefree nature of his tone. Her heart sped up a little in her chest, and she glanced across towards him. He stood there, still and suddenly rigid and she knew then that he must have been aware that she was there watching him, and she saw the quick flash of his eyes as they met her gaze, before he turned quickly away from her again.

The tears stung hot and unbidden in her eyes, and suddenly she didn't want to be there, she didn't want to see the way he could so easily dismiss her.

Her feet thudded across the concrete, their pace matching the drum of her heart as she walked across the courtyard and back towards the prison.

She walked with her head down and almost collided squarely into Daryl before she was aware of the fact that he was even there, and if it hadn't had been for his hand snaking out and grasping her about the elbow, she wouldn't have known.

"Ya a'right?" Daryl asked softly, and she wanted to squeeze her eyes tightly shut at the sound of concern in his voice.

She reluctantly raised her eyes and saw the way that his eyes blazed at her, and she felt an ache at the fact that she wished that things could have been so much simpler than what they were.

Offering him a small smile that she didn't quite feel, she smiled tightly. "I'm fine Daryl."

He huffed a little, not sounding convinced, "Ya ain't." His hand slipped from her arm, "Still not spoken to Merle?"

"I don't think...haven't had the time," she corrected herself. "It's been kinda hectic what with the new people."

He reached into his leather vest and pulled out a bent stub of a cigarette, lighting it as she watched. The plume of smoke drifted almost lazily between them. He took another puff, before turning to her, his eyes hooded beneath his fringe of hair. "I dunno what's goin' on between y'all. But hell-he's been a miserable sumbitch, more so than usual."

"What do you want me to say?" Carol answered.

"I dunno." He took another long inhale on the cigarette, grasping it between his thumb and forefinger, before carelessly flicking the embering butt to the ground and grinding it into the ground with the toe of his boot. He was silent for a moment, and Carol feared he wouldn't answer.

"I know one thing though."

She waited with baited breath, feeling miserable. This was Daryl..and she cared for him without question. But this with his brother...Merle? She wasn't sure how to respond. She cared for Merle, and if anything... the last few days of him avoiding her had proved this to her. But she was at a complete loss as to what to do. Part of her thought it would be easier to walk away, but she wouldn't do that. It wasn't in her nature to just go and abandon anyone. She had cared for Daryl even when he had rejected her, why would it be any different for his brother?

Daryl glanced at her, "I ain't letting that bastard hurt ya."

"It isn't like that, Daryl," she said, wondering if he had misinterpreted things.

"Bullshit," Daryl spat. "I seen ya the last few days, an' you're hurting, and I know it's 'cause o' my brother. I told him...I told him I wouldn't let him hurt ya. And he went did it anyway."

"No," she insisted. "It isn't like that."

Daryl glanced at her quickly, "Why would ya say that. I seen ya the last few days, seen him too, the fuckin' jackass." He sighed nosily, "I really dunno what happened with ya both, but this can't go on. Yer both important to me. Yer both...family." Daryl glanced away from her, frowning, a slight blush creeping across his skin. "An' I told ya before, he ain't never thought of a woman with respect, but I seen him with ya, and it's different." He sighed again, scuffing his feet on the ground. "Do you care for him? I know I asked before, but ya ain't never answered me, and I think I deserve to know. Be honest with me."

Carol looked at him for a while before answering. Her heart thudded pitifully in her chest, and she glanced back towards the fence line, feeling a pang when she saw that Merle and Carl had gone. She looked at Daryl, realizing that she hadn't wanted to admit it to herself. She took a shaky breath before answering quietly, "I'm sorry. But yes. I care for Merle as much as I care for you. You're brothers, and you are both needed with us."

Daryl laughed shallowly, "That ain't what I was asking. I ain't asking about me-I'm asking about my brother."

"Don't Daryl, please," she warned. Sighing, she closed her eyes. There had been a time when she would given everything for him. She loved him, and that was without a doubt-but as time had lingered and then stretched on, she had relegated herself to the fact, that despite all her joking and gentle teasing, Daryl had never once taken the bait that she had so easily offered to him. And she had resigned herself a while ago that their relationship would never be founded on anything vaguely physical. It didn't detract for one minute what she thought of him. But this with Merle...he had woken up a part of her that she'd thought had died a long time ago, long before the turn and Ed and his fists and brutality.

She looked away from him, and felt the sudden hot sting of tears behind her eyelids. "I care for him," she admitted reluctantly. She wouldn't look at him, instead her eyes focused on the gate, and as she watched, she saw two walkers straggle their way there.

"Fix this, Carol." Daryl said quietly. "Whatever went on with you and my brother...it's making ya both miserable. I ain't stupid, I've seen it." He frowned at her, "Fix whatever shit went on between ya both."

"He wont listen to me, he wont even see me," she answered wearily.

"Then make him." He looked at her carefully, "I gotta go fer a few days. Michonne wants to track down the Governor, an' I said I'd go. I wanna find him for what he fuckin' did. But I can't go...not when this shit is going on between ya and Merle. "

"Really Daryl, don't worry. I'm sure it will fine between us. I don't want to distract you-"

"Pffft," he replied, "Already is. Talk to him Carol, try an' least put a smile on that miserable sumbitches ugly face. Hate him like this. Fuckin' asshole."

"I don't know Daryl. He wont listen to me, but...I'll try," she grimaced.

He watched her for a long moment, "Ain't gonna be long 'til we go, can ya take my shift in the tower, I told Rick I'd sort it."

She smiled a little at his sudden earnest gaze, "You know I will Daryl, without question."

Daryl almost smiled back at her, "Good."

…

Daryl had left a few hours previously, his backpack and crossbow fixed firmly to his bike. She had been reluctant to see him go, knowing damn well what that man, the Governor was capable of. But no amount of persuading would have swayed him off his mission. She had sighed regrettably as she had watched Michonne mount his bike, and she only hoped that the two of them would be safe, and knew exactly what they were doing.

Merle stood to one side, watching his brother intently, and she sighed softly to herself as she watched him. He refused to look at her, and she couldn't help but to start feel annoyed. After all, it had been him that had run out on her...

Michonne sat astride Daryl's' bike, and she felt saddened to see them go. She half hoped that they wouldn't find Blake, because if they didn't-it would mean Daryl would be safe from harm. They'd all seen what had happened to Merle when he tried to take him out on his own.

…

She watched as Merle said his goodbyes, and glanced at him sharply as he walked past her. "Merle," she breathed, watching and wondering as he paused.

"Wha?" he rasped, glancing at her quickly before looking away.

She couldn't help but feel saddened at the brief angry look he shot her, "We need to talk."

"Ain't nothin' we gotta talk 'bout," he spat back at her, and she winced at the venom in his voice. He glanced to her side, his eyes refusing to meet hers, and she couldn't help at the sad painful ache.

"We do," she said quietly.

He ignored her and pushed his way past her.

"Don't you walk away from me, no. Not this time." Her heart felt caught and tangled with the shortness of the breath in her lungs.

"I dunno what the fuck ya want from me," he barked, "But I know I ain't got time for this."

Tears stung at her eyes and she swatted at them. "I...I've missed you," she said quietly.

"Missed me? What the fuck? Hell Carol-I ain't no good, I keep tellin' ya. One day you'll finally fuckin' listen."

"You're wrong, Merle," she replied softly, and he turned to look at her in surprise.

"How can ya know that?" His breath hissed in his chest, and he stood there, shifting restlessly from one foot to the other. "Ya don't know what the hell yer damn well saying," he answered tersely, and Carol thought she could hear the flat dull tone of defeat in his voice.

Sighing bitterly, she stepped a little closer to him, half scared that he would just turn on his heel and bolt away from her. "I've missed you." she insisted gently. "I don't know what is going on here, Merle- but I care about it, and I care about what happens to you."

Merle frowned at her, and it was obvious that he was going to disregard what ever the hell she was saying.

Reaching out, she caught at his wrist, her fingers grasping about his bandaged stump. He glanced down at her hand. "Ya don't know-" He had moved closer to her before she had noticed, and his hand reached out and caught about her arm roughly, pulling her close. "Don'tcha tell me shit and don't mean it," he hissed close to her ear.

He stared at her for a moment, before pushing her abruptly away from him. Grimacing, he rubbed at his face with his hand. "Ain't had no-one ever care for me before, an' that suits me jus' fine." He glared at her again before shoving his way past her and heading off towards the prison.

Carol watched him before sighing angrily. She was damned if she was going to let this go. Taking a deep breath, she followed after him. He was walking so quickly that she almost had to jog after him.

They made their way quickly through the prison block, and she was so intent on glaring at his back that she almost didn't hear Rick calling after her. She paused, turning to look at him.

"What is it?" she frowned.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, his eyes moving from hers to where Merle stomped his way through the prison.

She shook her head, "Not now, Rick."

Rick's eyes were intense and thoughtful, "Something going on? Merle...has he done something? Has he hurt you?"

"He's done nothing, Rick," she pursed her lips, before offering him a small smile at the concern showing on his face.

"You would let me know if he has?"

"Really, he has done nothing, I assure you."

Rick frowned at her briefly. "Alright." He moved away from her, "But if he has, you should tell me."

She rolled her eyes at him, annoyed that he would be so quick to assume that Merle had done anything.

…

Eventually she found Merle in the workshop, and he sighed irritably as soon as he saw her. "Quit bugging my goddamned ass, woman."

"No. We are not done, Merle," she spat back at him.

"An' I say we fuckin' well are," he rasped thickly, narrowing his eyes at her.

Carol glared at him heatedly, "Jesus...Merle. You really are a stubborn fucking asshole!"

Merle gaped at her in surprise, before laughing. "Well...I'll be goddamned."

She stiffened in anger at the sound. "You're going to laugh at me?" she hissed.

He moved quickly across the room towards her and caught her arm in his hand, pulling her close to him. "I ain't laughing at ya, sweetheart," he smiled. "But shit mouse, ya got some damned balls on ya."

She felt his arms slip about her waist as she looked up at him. "I meant what I said, Merle," she said stiffly. The anger she found in herself seemed to ebb away, and she found that she just wanted nothing more than to stand here with him in the quiet and feel his strong presence around her. She sighed, before raising her hand and touching at his cheek softly with her fingers. She thought his gaze softened under hers, and she leant against his chest, her fingers cupping his chin as she leaned up to brush a brief gentle kiss to his lips.

She stood back and watched him warily, her heart pounding, wondering if he would just go and leave her like he had done before.

Merle shifted against her, and his arm tightened more firmly around her, pressing her closer. His head dropped towards hers and she felt his chin brush roughly against her cheek, his stubble raspy and his breath warm on her skin. She raised her head and looked back at him.

His gaze was fixed resolutely on hers, his smoky dark eyes boring deeply into hers, and she felt the breath catch in her throat as his eyes slowly dropped to her mouth. Her fingers trailed softly across his jaw to his throat. She felt his pulse quicken under her fingertips and before she could stop herself, she leaned up and pressed her lips firmly to his again.

He kissed her back without hesitation, his lips nothing more than a slight brush on hers, and she sensed the caution wired tightly in him. Moving from him, their noses bumping awkwardly against each other, she let her gaze meet his again. She felt a shiver of nervousness slip through her as she saw the want glowing largely in his eyes, and she slipped her hand firmly about his neck, pulling him to her.

The second time he kissed her, he wasn't so cautious, she mused, not with the way his lips met hers hard, the way his hand flew up to her head, holding her and angling her head to deepen the kiss. His mouth was hot and urgent against hers, and she moaned softly against his mouth as his tongue quickly pushed past her lips, fighting with hers. Her hand cupped at his chin, her fingers fluttering against his rough cheek.

His hand was gentle against the back of her neck, his fingers stroking her skin as his mouth moved from hers to drop small soft kisses down her jaw to her throat, and she thought that it had never felt like this with Ed-not even once, and if she was totally honest, she couldn't really ever recall being kissed quite like this at all. Her hand caught about his shoulders, her fingers skimming across his warm skin, before touching at the short hairs at the nape of his neck. His hair was soft beneath her fingers, and she splayed her fingers outwards, pressing him closer. He growled, and kissed and then nipped at her collarbone and she couldn't stop the little shudder that rippled through her. She felt, more than heard his low throaty chuckle against her skin, before his mouth caught hers again, and she gave herself over to the moment and to the urgency of his mouth moving against hers.

Reluctantly she laid her hand on his chest, and pushed herself away from him. He frowned at her, and she smiled at his expression. "I told Daryl I would take his watch shift," she explained. "And I should be going, I'm sorry."

Merle huffed but let his arms slip away from her.

She kissed his cheek before stepping away, raising her eyebrows as he followed after her. "What are you doing?"

"Comin' with ya. Ain't no big deal if two take a watch. I seen Kim-chi and Maggie do it most of the damn time."

Carol put her hand to her mouth and laughed a little, "There's a reason why they do that."

"An' yer point is?" Merle raised an eyebrow and smirked at her.

...