A/N – A short update. I'm hoping to get another one up tonight. My pace is a little slow at the moment, but I have some ideas for what's coming up next. Also, I promise we will find out more about Alex as we go – because who is this guy who has infiltrated our little group? Good… bad… who knows… Oh right, I'm supposed to know. I keep forgetting that. Thank you for your reviews!

Chapter 37 – I'm With You

Their first overnight at the golf club had been uneventful. They'd all been exhausted by all that had transpired in such a short time. The moment Daryl had lain down next to Carol in the room she had prepared for them, he'd put his arm around her to envelope her small body in close, and she'd snuggled up against him, and they'd fallen fast asleep.

Daryl dreamed of a time before walkers… of a time that usually would have given him nightmares, but the presence of Carol curled up against him seemed to ward off his demons and somehow his usual nightmarish movie reel of bar brawls, ass-kickings, and death dreams, became less edgy, more peaceful and he woke in the morning with a smile on his face.

Daryl woke in the bed alone. No sign of Rose or Carol. He dressed quickly and went looking. Rose was in the kitchen with Lori and Carl when he passed by. He found Carol outside, shooting arrows at a large piece of plywood that someone – T-Dog or Blondie, pro'bly – must have found and propped up for her against a table. He stood there for a moment, watching. She, or someone, had marked an X in the center of the wood for her to aim for. She was calculating in her aim, taking her time, readjusting herself when necessary, and then she let the arrow fly and it sailed straight to the X.

He was grateful that so much of their stuff had been untouched back at the prison. His crossbow, Carol's crossbow, several items of Rick's that Carl seemed happy to have, Andrea's gun, Hershel's medical kit, and more.

Another arrow lodged itself into the wood – woman's gettin' good at that– and Daryl let out a low whistle to alert her to his presence. "Reckon ya should be shootin' at movin' objects by now," he said gruffly when she turned to look at him.

"How long are we staying here?," Carol asked. She always cut right to the heart of the matter and he loved her for it.

Daryl shrugged. "Long 'nough. Group's gotta recuperate and all. Maybe git some fuckin' peace finally. Git Glenn back on his feet." Carol nodded.

"Then what?"

He sighed, rubbed his face and ran his fingers through his hair. "Can't stay 'ere forever."

"I know." She agreed. Daryl was pleased that his woman agreed with him. He hadn't known for sure if she would or if she wouldn't, but it thrilled him, this feeling that he'd done something right by her.

"Thinkin' when we's ready, we hit the harbor. Land ain't safe no more, but water… might be able to git f'rther and faster by sea."

"A boat…," Carol murmured thoughtfully. She smiled slowly. "That's a good idea… heck, that's a great idea. What did the others think?"

Daryl made a face. He had an idea at the question she was really asking… at what was really driving this conversation. Who's in charge now? With Rick gone, the group was a ship without a captain. Someone had to call the fuckin' shots, even if they listened to input from others, someone had to have final say. They were turning to Daryl. He saw it yesterday in the conference room. The moment he'd stood up for Carl in that room… he'd felt it. The power shift. They – Hershel, Andrea, T-Dog, Carl, even fuckin' Alex who hadn't said more than two words so far – cared what he had to say, and whether they agreed or not, they'd give his ideas a fair shake. "Do it make a diff'rence?"

Carol shook her head vehemently. "Absolutely not. I'm with you. I'm just curious. That's all."

Carol watched the smile cross his face with her words. Her heart swelled with pride looking at him. The man had changed so much since she'd first met him. He still had his gruff demeanor, but she loved that about him. He was so much more than that initial curtness and his disdain for people. He was kind without being obvious about it. He'd done so much for her, for the entire group, and he'd done it without seeking something in return. His brusque manner was his way, but it was a façade; Daryl cared about people even though he'd never admit it.

She had seen him the night before, helping Maggie make Glenn more comfortable in their room. She'd seen him offer Lori more blankets to keep the chill out in the damp building. And she could remember the way he curled his body around hers in the bed. The way he held her the whole night. The way his lips were warm on her back when he kissed her shoulder before finally falling asleep.

"Yer with me, huh?," he grumbled softly.

Carol moved toward him, slid her body into place against his. His arms automatically wrapped around her; she leaned into him, locking one thigh between his legs, and she kissed him softly on the lips, and then more fervently. "Hell yea, I'm with you," she drew back and whispered the words, and then kissed him again.