It's about time. I've been waiting to be able to post this chapter! I'm a sucker for the happy stuff =) I'm glad this one ended up being a morning chapter. Maybe it can brighten your day. Unless you are completely disappointed, of course, and in that case, my apologies! But I really don't think you will be. I hope not. I'm going to shut up now before I make myself go read it again. Thank you for reading and reviewing =)

Chapter Thirty Six

Andrea invited Shane to play a game of poker with the others at camp. He accepted gladly. She had known not to even ask Carol. It was almost dark now and she didn't know from what direction they would emerge from the woods. They could be anywhere.

She heard quiet footsteps coming around from the back of the house but she knew that it wasn't Daryl. She wouldn't have heard him at all. She laid her head down on her knees and tried to force herself not to worry. But it was taking too long. If he would have found the kids then he would have been back by now. But he was still out there and Sophia was still out there and now there wasn't anyone around to distract her from her troubled thoughts. She felt tears stinging her eyes and she tried to will them away but they just kept coming.

"Hey, mom."

Carol lifted her head. She was afraid to turn around. Afraid that she had imagined the sound of Sophia's voice. The sound had been so soft that it could have been the wind that was sighing through the trees. If she turned around and there was no one there it would crush her.

"Damn, woman. Thought you'd be happier to see us."

That was most definitely not the wind. Her head came around quickly and sure enough, standing by the corner of the house was Daryl and Sophia. He was behind the girl with his hands on her shoulders. He gave Sophia a stiff push and he gave Carol a smirk and then she was running to meet the girl halfway. She dropped to her knees as Sophia reached her and when the girls slender arms wrapped around her neck she thought her heart would explode. Her daughter was alive. She breathed in the familiar scent of her. a scent she hadn't been sure she would ever smell again. But here she was, living and breathing and in her arms. She hadn't realized how empty she had been until Sophia had her arms around her. She could hardly catch her breath and she had to keep blinking back the tears that filled her eyes.

She looked up at Daryl who was now leaning against the corner of the house with his arms folded across his chest and his feet crossed at the ankles, watching them. There was nothing she could ever do to repay him for what he had done. No one should ever have to go through something like losing a child but she had. And he, against some pretty bad odds, had brought her daughter back to her when even she had almost given up hope.

Sophia pulled away when the screen door banged against the wall as someone charged out. It was Rick. He stopped on the top step and took in the scene before him and then he ran towards them and scooped Carol up in a crushing hug, spun her around twice and then sat her back down on her feet. Sophia was next and then he approached Daryl.

Daryl put his hands up. "Rick, if you pick me up and spin me around like that I swear to God brother, I'll black your other eye."

Rick just laughed and held out his hand while Daryl gave him a warning look. He took Ricks hand but then Rick used it to pull Daryl in for an actual hug. He looked so mortified that Carol and Sophia both laughed. Rick pulled back and then grasped Daryl by the shoulders, giving him a serious look. "You brought my son back to me. There ain't nothin' I can do to repay you for that. Not a thing."

Daryl was obviously struggling for words and eventually he just nodded. He looked relieved when Rick finally let go of his shoulders. When Rick had rushed back into the house Carol decided that it was her turn to thank him. But when she finally reached him she couldn't find her voice. He pulled her closer and smiled down at her.

"I don't even know what to say." She shook her head slowly. There was nothing she could say.

He just shrugged. "Ain't nothin' too say."

She decided to stop trying to say anything and opted for hugging him instead. He held her there for a long time with his face buried in her shoulder.

"Let's get this girl fed. And showered. She stinks." Daryl said as he raised his head and pushed her away gently.

The three of them filed in and Carol could hear a commotion coming from one of the rooms. A gruff male voice rang out clearly and to her surprise it was Sophia who responded first.

"Damn it." She hissed and then took off towards the voice.

Carol stared after her. "What the hell is going on?" She asked, eyes wide.

Daryl let out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "There's somethin' I ain't told you about yet."

"Oh, what now?" She felt her nerves start to fray again.

He put his hands on her hips and looked her in the eyes. "Sophia kinda ran into someone in the woods this mornin'. But I don't want you to worry alright? It ain't gonna change nothin'. It ain't gonna change us."

"This sounds really bad, Daryl."

"Sophia found my brother." he said quietly.

She felt her muscles tense. She didn't mean for them too. All she saw in her mind was Daryl back at camp. Never as cruel as Merle had been but indifferent. He was nothing then like he was now. Merle had been gone less than week before Daryl, the real Daryl, started to show. How could she not worry? And then the rest of his words sank in. "Sophia?"

He nodded. "She found him in a shack in the woods. He was about dead. She gave him her water and she fed him walnuts." He smirked. "And she stayed with him. Carl tried to talk her into leavin' so she punched him in the face. I think I've been a bad influence on her. She killed two Walkers. They would have killed him if she hadn't, killed them all."

"Sophia? She had to kill Walkers?" Carol felt like she was going to be sick. "Is that where she just went? She went to Merle?" Carol asked, unable to keep the shock from her voice.

They both made their way down the hallway where the yelling had been coming from. They both paused in the doorway to the only room with it's door ajar. Both looked in and froze. Milton was quickly injecting something into Merle's arm as Hershel unwound the gauze that covered what must have been his stump. He was red faced and sweating but Sophia was there. She had her hand on the side of his face, keeping his head pointed towards her. He actually reached out with a shaking hand and tucked her hair behind her ears. The girl smiled at him and said something. He nodded and let his hand drop back down to the bed.

"Seems to me like you and your momma have a soothing effect on these Dixon men, little lady." Hershel said as he glanced over at Sophia.

Sophia smiled at him but said nothing as she kept her hand there on Merle's face. When she spoke to him her soft voice didn't reach the doorway. Carol was surprised when Sophia looked up when Milton was about to inject something else into Merle and she grabbed his wrist.

"What is that?" She demanded, pointing to the syringe.

Milton hesitated, clearly as surprised as Carol had been at the girls tone. "It's an Antibiotic. His infection had spread to his bloodstream. This will help with that."

She nodded and let go of the man, returning her hand to Merle's face. "It woulda helped if you hadn't banged his arm against the table. The two of you should be more careful." She said sternly. She watched both men as they worked over Merle, her expression was, for lack of a better word, protective. What in the hell was going on here? Carol was confused and from the look on Daryl's face, so was he.

"He's passed out." Sophia said with wide eyes.

Hershel shook his head. "No he hasn't. We needed to sedate him so we can work on this mess." He gestured to the mangled stump.

"Do I have time to eat and take a shower before he wakes back up?" She asked as she finally took her hand away from him.

Hershel and Milton shared a look and then Milton answered her. "He probably will be out until morning."

"Sophia?" Carol's voice was filled with concern.

Sophia looked up at her and then back down to Merle's face. She let out a sigh and then came to them. Before she said anything she shut the door and then leaned against. "Yeah?"

"What was that?" Carol asked arching an eyebrow at the girl.

"That was Merle." Sophia grinned. Daryl had to grin along with her so Carol narrowed her eyes at him and he stopped grinning and looked away.

"I know that. But why did you go to him? He's Merle." She shot a glance towards Daryl to make sure he wasn't offended. Apparently he wasn't the one she had to worry about offending.

"And he's a man that's alone and in pain. And if he needs someone to be there then I'm going to be there. You know, maybe he wouldn't be so bad if he had somebody that cared. Well, now he does. I care."

Sophia had never talked to her like that in her life. Not that the girl had said anything bad to her or even that her tone was angry. She had just never stuck up for anyone like that. She was quiet and shy. This was a new Sophia and Carol had to admit that she didn't mind it.

"I'm sorry mom." Sophia said, realizing that she may have hurt Carol's feelings.

"Don't." Carol smiled at her and touched her face. "You're right. Merle needs someone right now and if you can make him feel better then you need too. I want you too."

Sophia's eyes grew a little wider but Daryl's narrowed. "You sure that's a good idea?" he asked gruffly.

"Daryl." Sophia took his hand in hers and craned her head to look up at him. "I know what I'm doing."

He nodded and she dropped his hand and followed them to the kitchen.

Carol was surprised to see Rick and Lori both sitting at the table, Carl sitting in a chair between them. Lori was smiling widely, as was Rick. Carl was eating and grinning and then Lori looked up. Her smile fell right off her face and then she was quickly out of her chair and storming towards them. She looked intense, her eyes wide. She grabbed Daryl and hugged him tightly, eyes still wide at first but then she squeezed them closed. Daryl, being Daryl, didn't hug her back. He just stiffened up until she was done.

"Thank you." She said as she pulled away from him. "You saved my boy and nothing I ever say or do can repay you for that." She said in a thick voice as tears escaped her eyes. Then she turned to Carol and actually had to cover her mouth to force back a sob. Her face crumpled. "I'm so sorry for the way I've treated you and those things I said out there on the highway."

Carol, feeling sorry for her, drew her close and she couldn't believe how tight Lori was clinging to her. If Andrea had came in just then she would have had a stroke. Lori pulled away and then wiped at her eyes before returning to the table and kissing Carl on top of his head.

Carol hoped that her and Rick could work things out. They had Carl back and that was a start. At least, thanks to Daryl, that was one wound that was already closed up.

They had brought in food from the CDC so they weren't eating up all the Greene families rations. Carol was happy to see that there was leftovers. She fixed Sophia and Daryl a plate and they both dug in like they were starved.

"Sophia," Carl grinned at her from across the table.

"What?" She asked around a mouth full of ham.

"No offense but this is way better than the walnuts." he said happily.

Sophia grinned. "None taken."

Carl looked up at Rick. "Where are we sleeping tonight?" He asked.

Sophia shook her head. "Sure not with me."

Daryl coughed a few times and had to take a drink of water. When he had composed himself a little he looked down at her. "Sophia, shut up and eat before you cause me to choke to death."

Carol just watched them for a long time. She couldn't seem to keep the grin off her face. Lori caught her eye and she seemed to be the same way. Carol still couldn't make herself like the woman. Not after what she had done to Rick and Shane. Two good men that got twisted up by her.

When both their plates were empty Carol reached across the table to clean up but Lori stopped her with a hand on hers. "Leave it. I'll clean up. Go get her washed up."

"I don't mind." Carol said but she pulled her hand away.

Lori nodded. "I know. Go on." She smiled and Carol stood up and shrugged.

"I wont argue with you." She said as she grabbed Sophia's hand and took her to their room where their bags were. Daryl followed, yawning loudly.

After getting her clothes together and showing her to the bathroom Sophia turned to her before she shut the door.

"Mom, I want to sleep in Merle's room. There's a couch in there and that way if he wakes up and needs something he wont be alone." her voice sounded hopeful but Carol wasn't sure if she wanted her to sleep somewhere that she couldn't get to her right away. She knew she was going to have a lot of separation anxiety for as long as she lived now.

"I don't know about that. That room isn't far away from ours, Sophia. If he needs anything I don't think he'll hesitate to yell." Carol argued.

"Mom, I've spent the last two nights sleeping out there in the woods. I don't think being one door down is going to matter much. He needs me."

Carol reached out and touched her face again, still not being able to believe that she was here and she was real and she was alive. But there she was, flesh and blood, standing impatiently in the middle of the bathroom. She looked much older than she had a week ago. Like some of her innocence had gotten lost out there in the woods and she would never be able to find it again. This made her sad.

"Well?"

Finally Carol nodded. If this was something she felt like she needed to do for that awful man then she would let her. She knew Merle wouldn't hurt her. He wasn't a woman beater or a child abuser. He was just a rotten low life criminal. There was a difference no matter how slim.

The grin Sophia rewarded her with made it worth it.

"I'll lay out some blankets and a pillow for you." Carol said quietly. "And you're sure you wont need anything else?"

Sophia shook her head. "I'm fine, mom."

Carol reached down and kissed the girl on the forehead. "Good night then, I guess."

Carol sat the blankets down on the couch that Sophia had claimed for herself and then walked over to where Milton and Hershel were still both leaning over Merle's stump. "Oh my God." She gasped as she covered her mouth at the wicked sight before her. Even though she had just been thinking what a rotten man he was she couldn't help but feel for him. Hershel and Milton were working diligently but she had to turn her head. She wasn't even sure what they were doing exactly and she didn't want to know.

"Are you sure it wont bother you if she sleeps in here?" She asked.

Both men shook their heads but Hershel was the one that spoke. "You need to go check on that man of yours. He put himself through a whole lot today and I'm sure he's paying for that now." He held up a bottle of pills and she took them. "Make him take two for the pain."

She thanked them and finally made her way to their room. He was lying on the bed with his arms crossed behind his head. She shook the pill bottle and sat down on the edge.

"I don't need no pills." He said stubbornly.

"You have to be in a lot of pain. They'll help you sleep."

He looked at her and smirked. "I ain't in much pain and I don't need pills to fall asleep."

She sighed and then kicked off her shoes. He watched her as she moved like she was going to climb over him but stopped and straddled him instead. She braced her hands on each side of his head and kissed him like she hadn't kissed him in what felt like years. She kept all of her weight off his midsection since, regardless of what he said, he had to be in pain. His rough hands pulled the sweater up a little so he could touch her skin.

She raised her head up and smiled down at him. "Take the pills." She whispered.

He sighed and then reached for the bottle. He chased two down with water from a glass of water on the table by the bed and then he pulled her down again. She kept herself braced over him with her arms but he was tired of that so he wrapped his arms around her waist and yanked her down so the top half of her was flush with his. She still tried to keep most her weight off his injured side but he was making it difficult to do with the grip he had on her, crushing her to him harder.

With a discouraged sound bubbling up from her throat she broke their heated kiss and pushed herself back up. She had to clear her head. Her fingers went to the buttons on his shirt and he smirked. He had the wrong idea and she couldn't blame him but she knew it was the only way she could check on his wounds without him having a tantrum about it. She was worried about what he had put his body through today.

She pushed his shirt open and looked down at the dressing covering up the holes in his side and lower abdomen. Hershel had done a good job covering them but they were now saturated in blood, just like she suspected.

"Damn it Carol." He growled. "That's just dirty."

"You've done some damage to yourself today, Daryl. I'm not going to pretend like it wasn't worth it, but this needs cleaned and redressed. And I knew you would give me hell if I tried to look at it."

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Didn't have to make me think I might finally get some. It's mean. I never thought you'd turn out to be so fuckin' mean."

She climbed off of him and heard him sigh. Milton had filled the nightstand drawer with supplies that she could use to keep his wounds clean and covered. She took out what she need and then turned to him. He was scowling at her. "You have to keep it clean, Daryl. You want to end up with an infection like your brother's?"

"Woman, I've spent most of my life takin' care of my damn self and I ain't dead yet. I don't need a nurse maid."

"Are you really going to pout about this?" She asked as she crossed her arms in front of her.

"I ain't poutin'." He grumbled.

She sighed and then narrowed her eyes at him. "Get up." She demanded.

He looked over, that scowl still in place. "What?"

"Get your ass out of bed, Daryl."

He sat up. "I'm injured here woman. Why should I get out of bed. Your the one talkin' about me needin' to heal."

She rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand, pulling him until he was finally standing. She sat down on the edge of the bed, slipped her fingers through the belt loops at his hips and yanked him forward. She smiled as she heard his breath come out in a rush.

"Oh." he mumbled.

She forced back a laugh and then pushed his shirt back once more. She looked up at him. He was looking down at her, that mischievous grin on his face. She grinned and shook her head as she peeled the tape away and removed the bloody bandages.

She winced but it wasn't really as bad as she had feared. It must have bled earlier because it wasn't bleeding now. It didn't look infected so that was a relief. She had to remind herself to thank Milton again in the morning. Things could have turned out a lot different if he hadn't been with them.

"You gonna clean this up or sit there lookin' at my crotch all night?" He asked after a while.

She glanced up at him. Why was she blushing so bad? She should have been used to this by now. She hadn't even realized that her eyes had traveled down that far. She shook her head and then got to work cleaning him up. Her hands were shaking.

When she was done she risked another look at his face and offered him a small smile right before she kissed the skin right above his waistline and then pushed him back a bit so she could go find her own clothes to sleep in.

He growled something that she didn't catch as he crawled back into the bed. She smiled to herself, turned around so her back was to him and peeled off her sweater.