Thank you also to all the readers for y'all's kind words & encouragement. Your reviews and message have keep me going even when I felt this story wasn't going anywhere. You all ROCK!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own any of The Walking Dead characters and I'm NOT making any money off of them! I only claim the OC characters I created for this story.

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CARYL ON!

WARNING: Contains trigger's of violence and abuse. You Are Warned!

The week seemed to fly by for everyone. Beth had taken to going to stay with Carol after work and late into the night before heading back to the house with Merle and Daryl. Both men went to work, but going straight to the hospital afterwards and staying until visiting hours were over. They would leave to go get them all dinner and return to wait until Beth came down. It had become a sort of routine for them all. There were even times where Daryl had opted to stay with Carol while Beth went with Merle to get the food so he could spend a little more time with Carol. Slowly, she had started to let him back in and didn't shake as bad as she had been at the beginning.

Carol had made some progress, even though she still hadn't said a word. Beth, along with the nurses help, had been able to get her up and moving around some in the room. She'd also started to slowly pick at her food, but always kept her eyes down when she did. Carol still wouldn't look at herself in the mirror, refusing to the point of turning her body away from the reflection. The IV was still in and and would remain until just before Carol would be released. Even some of the bruising on her body and face had began to fade and change to a greenish yellow coloring indicating it was healing.

Friday afternoon came and Beth and Carol sat in the room waiting on Daryl and Merle to arrive from work to take them home. Beth had helped Carol dress into a pair of sweat pants and a loose tee-shirt so she would be more comfortable for the ride home. Making sure everything was packed and ready, Beth smiled and took a seat in the chair next to Carol's bed.

Looking at her friend as she sat on the edge of the bed, her hands in her lap and head down, Beth gave her a warm smile, "The guy's should be here shortly. They were gonna pick up dinner on the way here so we wouldn't have to stop on the way home. I think they said they were getting fried chicken from Pack 'N Sack." Tilting her head some, Beth raised her brow, "Carol, I wanted to ask you, would you prefer me to stay with you tonight...or Daryl?"

When she got no response, Beth nodded and sat back up, "I'll stay tonight...just to make sure you're settled in good. That way if you need help with anything I'll be close." Looking a the clock on the wall, Beth pulled out her cell and checked to see if she had any messages. Seeing none, she slipped it back into her pocket, "Oh, I also went to the store for you too. Got some milk being yours had expired...some fresh fruit and veggies. And...my daddy sent you over some fresh tomatoes and squash he picked from the garden. He had so much this year he's loaded everyone up with some."

Beth continued to ramble on and Carol shifted some on the edge of the bed to get more comfortable. Her body still ached and she still didn't feel all that comfortable around people, but Beth, Daryl and Merle had been so patient with her. No one besides Jacqui had ever showed her that there was still good in people, now she was seeing it with the three of them. Licking her lips, her eyes stayed down on her hands, "Thank you."

Beth barely registered Carol's soft barely there voice as she talked and it took a few second's before it finally registered in her brain. Stopping mid sentence, Beth starred at Carol and then smiled, placing a hand onto her's, "It's what friend's do for each other, Carol."

Carol hesitantly lifted her eyes to meet Beth's and gave a small nod before looking back down at her lap. She still hadn't opened up about what had happened at the cabin, not even when the female officer from the sheriff's department had come by for her statement. She had remained silent and at one point had rolled onto her side, giving the woman her back and closing her eyes in hopes she would be left alone.

At night when she was alone she would wake up screaming because of the nightmares that now haunted her sleep. His voice along with Ed's always seemed to be with her now, always taunting her, leaving her feeling small and vulnerable. The worst had been two night's before, the dream's looking and feeling almost too real and causing Carol to lash out violently, ripping the IV from her arm, shoving a nurse into the wall and trying to escape. She had been sedated and returned to her bed unharmed and watched closely the rest of the night.

A knock at the door caught their attention, Carol instantly tensing as Daryl popped his head through the door. When she saw it was only him, she seemed to relaxed somewhat, the tension still being seen in her body as he come in closer. Lowering her eyes back down, she gripped her hands together.

Taking notice to Carol's reaction, Daryl then nodded at Beth, keeping his voice low, "Merle's down with the car. Ready when y'all are."

Standing, Beth smiled, "I'll go let the nurse know." Walking past Daryl, she gave him a warm smile and left the room.

Shoving his hands into his pockets as he seemed to always do now to show Carol he wouldn't hurt her, he approached the bed slowly, "It'll be nice havin' ya back at home. Made sure the AC was on...hot as fuck out there still. Didn't want your place feelin' like a sauna ta ya."

Deciding to take a seat in the chair Beth had vacated, Daryl sat down, resting his elbows on his knees and looking up at her, "If'n there's anythin' ya need though, need ya to tell me or Beth and we'll get it for ya, ok?"

Barely nodding that she heard him, Carol took in a deep shaky breath but still didn't say anything.

Daryl reached over slowly, setting his hand onto hers and whispering, "Remember, ya ain't alone, woman. I'm here with ya. Ain't gonna let ya get hurt anymore. You or the lil' one. Gonna take care of ya both if'n you'll let me. Up ta you though."

Moving one hand out from under his, she set it on top of his, gripping at it as a single tear fell.

Tilting his head, Daryl shook his head, "Ain't nothin' to cry 'bout no more. Ya both safe, I promise. Me and Merle...we'll make sure of it."

Beth came back into the room with a nurse following with a wheelchair. Keeping his hand on her's, he stood up and leaned down, whispering into her ear, "Let's get ya home, sweetheart." Helping her up and into the chair, Daryl then gathered her bag, walking on one side of the wheelchair as Beth took her position on the other side. One way or another, he was going to make sure she was safe, cared for and loved.

They had arrived at Carol's place and gotten her inside and settled in before serving dinner. Carol had sat close to Daryl on the couch while Merle and Beth shared a spot on the floor on the other side of the coffee table. The three of them chatted as Carol picked at her food silently, not adding to the conversation. Most of the conversation had been about things they needed to do the following day between the two residence's. Merle had planned on cutting the grass again while Beth helped Carol and Daryl had volunteered to work on some repairs to Carol's front porch and getting more outside lighting up.

Beth cleared the small table of what food was left and the paper plates while Merle and Daryl stepped outside to have a cigarette. Placing the leftover's into the refrigerator, she then walked back into the living room, slipping her hands into the back pocket's of her jean's, "Carol, if ya want, I can help ya get cleaned up and ready for bed if you're tired."

Shaking her head, Carol scooted back on the couch, her eyes darting around the room. She didn't feel all that comfortable in her own home anymore and it was starting to get to her. Her hands began to tremble as the memories of the night she'd been taken came flooding back to her. Her eyes rested on the spot where Marshal had been standing in front of her that night and his voice echoed in her head, You'll always be mine, bitch. No one will ever want your sorry whoring ass. Your nothing but a worthless cunt to anyone.

Beth could see the changes starting in Carol and moved to the door, pushing her head out, "Daryl...get in here."Going back in, she went to the couch and went to sit when Carol lounged forward, knocking Beth to the floor and began to fight the younger woman, "CAROL!"

Rushing in, Daryl found Carol on top of Beth, her hands wrapped around the girl's neck. "Shit..." he cursed, moving quickly and pulling Carol off her and Merle going to help Beth. As soon as Daryl's hand's touched Carol she began to freak out even more.

Marshal seemed to consume her, her mind taking over and everywhere she looked all she could see was his face and his voice echoed all around her. Strong arm's came around her, holding her arm's to her body as she struggled to get free. A blood curdling scream left her lips as the nightmare's seemed to become reality.

Scared that she might hurt herself or the baby, Daryl kept her solidly against his chest. Her feet connected several times with his shin's causing him to flinch slightly as her shoes caught him just right. Clenching his jaw, he looked frantically to his brother and Beth, "Get her med's!"

Merle shook his head, raising his brow as he held Beth to him, "She ain't gonna take 'em, bro. Not like this. Need ta get her settled down first."

Pulling all the calmness he could muster, he began to whisper to her close to her ear, "Calm down now, woman...ain't no one here gonna hurt ya. Just Beth, Merle and me here...no one else. Ya safe...ya safe now..." Her sobs ripped at his heart as she broke down crying, really crying for the first time since they had gotten her back. Easing up his grip on her, he turned her in his arm's, holding her, "It's okay now, sweetheart. I got ya."

Beth watched him with Carol a few minutes before she spoke up, "Jacqui warned me this might happen. Said that she could have flashback's, even certain thing's might trigger her. Could be this room being this is where they took her."

"Might got a point there, 'lil brother. She was fine 'til we went outside. Maybe ya should take her over ta our place. Might make her feel a little safer," Merle offered up. "Plus if she does this again we'll be close ta help."

Daryl nodded in agreement and then looked down at the woman against him. She was gripping his shirt in a death grip, her knuckles white. Glancing at Beth, he then breathed out, "Get her stuff." Kissing the top of Carol's head, he whispered to her, "Gonna take ya ta my place...get ya out of here, okay?"

Carefully, Daryl Released her with one arm, moving slowly and then picking her up. He continued to whisper to her as she cried and once Beth came back with Carol's bag, he carried her back outside. He could feel her relax almost instantly in his arm's and glanced back as Merle and Beth followed. "Y'all take the car over there, I got her. Meet ya there in a few...just put her stuff in my room."

Without another word, Daryl walked with her towards their place. The night was clear, star's littering the dark sky above and the moon shining bright. Her head rested against his shoulder and he breathed out, "Ain't gonna let ya get lost in ya head, woman. He's gone...dead. He can't hurt ya no more. Just need ya to fight to keep him out ya head. Don't let him win...ya stronger then him. Ya survived, ya done proved ya stronger then that prick was."

Coming to his driveway, Daryl stepped to the side as Merle and Beth drove the car by and then he continued along, "'Ment what I said in the hospital...I love ya, woman. Hell, ain't loved no other woman 'side's my momma...ya should know that. You and me...we'll get ya past this. Get ya better. I'll take care of ya like ya should be."

Daryl walked up the steps of the back porch to find the back door open for him. Walking her inside, he looked down, finding her eyes closed. A small smile formed and he smirked, "Didn't know I was that borin'." Merle and Beth came out his room and Daryl carried her in, laying her down on the bed and covering her with the sheet and thin blanket. Stepping out the room, Beth handed him her bottle of pills, "When she gotta take 'em?"

"She's due in an hour. I think she's exhausted. But, I think she'll probably do better here then at her place. Might need to talk to her doctor about it though," Beth replied as she pushed a strand of loose hair back from her eyes.

Eyeing the bottle of pills, Daryl then looked at them, "Y'all get some rest. I'll stay with her."

Clapping his brother on the shoulder, Merle raised his brow, "Ya come get us if'n ya need any help, ya hear? She's family now...one of us."

Nodding, Daryl looked down at the floor, "Yeah, I will." Saying goodnight, Daryl watched as Beth and Merle headed to their room. Daryl went to the kitchen, getting two glasses of water and locking up. Heading back to his room, he went in, finding Carol still asleep in bed. Placing the water's onto the dresser, he turned on the small lamp he had in the room and turned off the overhead one. He didn't want her waking up to a dark unfamiliar room and freaking out again. Taking a seat on the floor beside the bed, he reached up, resting his hand on her's and giving it a soft squeeze, "Sleep, woman...sleep."

Yes, Carol has a long recovery road ahead of her...but, Daryl is determined to be there with her every step of the way. I know some abuse victim's have trigger's...for Carol it was her own living room being Axel and Marshal kidnapped her from there.

Review's are my cookies...and I hope you'll leave me some, LOL. Not sure if y'all saw Norman's tweet tonight...but for those who didn't, it was great. He posted a pic of himself licking Melissa. Finger's crossed that is a hint of things to come...at least I'm hoping so. I'm sticking with this ship...Carol and Daryl need to be together no matter what. Maybe TPTB (The Powers That Be) will get there head's out there asses soon.

CARYL on! ...and review me please!