Sorry you had to wait so long but I was on vacation for 2 weeks. Here is the next chapter and I hope you still like my little story. Have fun reading.
TWD is not mine and belongs to Robert Kirkman and AMC ;-)
Carol only left Rick's side to clean herself up and to put on fresh clothes. The hours passed and she was exhausted but she refused any help. From time to time Michonne and Carl appeared in the door to offer their help but Carol just shook her head in silence. Daryl had given up asking if she needed anything hours ago. Carol had placed a chair next to the bed and watched her friend with eagle-eyes. As the sun sank, Daryl entered Rick's room again. Carol lifted her eyes, smiling gently.
"Hey, I thought ya could use somethin ta eat," he said, placing a plate with sandwiches on the nightstand.
"Thanks," she said simply.
"How's he doin'? Think he looks better."
"He opened his eyes a few times. The fever worries me. It just won't break," Carol explained.
"Ya did everythin' ya could. Ya should get some sleep. I could look after him for a while if ya want. You've been up all day and I'm worried about ya."
"I'm fine, Daryl. No need to worry. I can't leave... I just can't," she said in a calm voice.
She took a sandwich from the plate and took a bite. Daryl smiled contentedly.
"I have ta keep an eye on ya. Ya need ta rest and ya need ta eat properly. Don't need a woman all skin an' bones. Let Carl an' Maggie watch him. Carl's his son and he should be with his dad," he said, trying to convince her.
"I feel responsible. It's all my fault, "she stammered.
"That's bullshit and ya know that. It's no one's fault," he hissed.
A knock on the door startled Carol. Carl opened the door a crack and stuck his head through.
"Can I come in?" the boy asked carefully.
"Sure, sweetheart," Carol answered lovingly, waving him over.
Carl walked over to his father quietly. Carefully, he sat down on the edge of the bed. He looked down to the weak body of his father, taking his healthy hand into his.
"Is he going to make it?" Carl asked in a low voice.
"I don't know, Carl. I really hope so. He's a strong man and a fighter."
"Thank you, Carol," Carl whispered.
"What for?"
"For trying, and taking care of him. After Mom... uhm... I don't know if I could have done it," Carl stuttered.
"Sometimes we need to do unspeakable things," she said quietly.
"Is it okay if I stay here for a while? I want to be with him if he wakes up," Carl asked, looking at Carol.
"Good idea, Carl. Stay with ya dad and get us if ya need anythin'," Daryl answered before Carol could say anything.
Carl nodded attentively. Carol gave him a washcloth and showed the boy what to do. Daryl put an arm around her shoulders when Carol got up. The couple slowly left the room.
He led her to their room. She sat down on the edge of the bed, supporting herself with both hands on the mattress.
"Ya dead on ya feet. Ya should take a bath or somethin' and then ya have ta catch some sleep. I won't watch ya destroyin' yerself," Daryl whispered, kneeling down in front of her to open the laces of her boots.
He gently removed the boots from her feet, placing them next to the bed. Carol crawled into the bed without another word. Her eyelids grew heavier and she had great trouble keeping her eyes open. She fought against sleep, but lost after a few minutes. Daryl put a blanket over her slim body and kissed her forehead. Than he left the room to settle things for the night.
When Carol opened her eyes after a few hours of restless sleep, it was completely dark in the room. At first she did not know where she was. But then she heard Daryl's breathing. As she moved, Daryl wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Ya said in Atlanta that ya don't think we get ta save people anymore but I think ya were wrong. Ya may have saved Rick today. It's still worth tryin'," he whispered into her ear.
"Yeah, maybe," she said shortly.
"Ya doin' it again, ya know? Spoke barely a word ta me today. We ain't dead, Carol. We're still here. You an' me an' our family. We're all here because of ya. Because ya tried ta save us at Terminus an' ya did. We ain't dead because of you. An' ya scare the shit out of me because I don't wanna lose ya."
"I don't want to talk about it. Can you just hold me?" she almost begged.
He pressed her body firmly to his, inhaling her scent.
"I thought about the map we found in the woods-," she suddenly began "- and about what Abraham said. Do you think we should leave? I mean... uhm... are we still safe here? What if some people from Terminus followed us?"
"I dunno, but we can't move because o' Rick. We have ta stay here and we'll fight if necessary. I'm not givin' up our home again. Not gonna happen this time. Michonne's right. We've got somethin' good here. But ya right too, we have ta talk about it with the others. We have ta figure out what ta do next."
"I don't want to leave again. Not now, not ever. I really feel at home. The last time I felt this way was back on Hershel's farm. I want Hannah to grow up at her birthplace. Oh Lord, where is Hannah?" she asked with wide eyes, jumping out of the bed.
"Hey, hey, calm down. She's with Maggie. She's taking Hannah in for the night. Think our future momma's practicing. I still wonder how she could be stupid enough ta get knocked up in this fucked up time," Daryl said, smirking.
"Don't be mean, Daryl. She's been through so much, and maybe this pregnancy is good for her. Giving her new hope. We all need something to believe in. And by the way, it takes two to tango, Mr. Dixon," she said defiantly, pursing her lips.
Daryl crawled to the edge of the bed and swung his legs out. With a quick movement he grabbed her wrist, pulling her onto his lap. She jerked and a feeble cry escaped her throat.
"Do ya believe in somethin'?" he whispered into her ear.
"I believe in us and that keeps me going," she stated calmly.
He lovingly stroked her hair and nibbled on her earlobe. Carol moaned softly, closing her eyes. His tongue moved gently over her slender neck. She obviously enjoyed his touches.
"Why the fuck do ya taste like iron?" Daryl asked suddenly.
Carol's eyes widened. She wiped her neck with one of her hands and looked down in confusion. She had still a little bit of blood on her nape and behind her ear. Rick's blood. Daryl looked at her in shock, pushing her on the soft bed. He hurriedly wiped his sleeve across his mouth. Then he spat on the ground. Carol watched the scene with a smile on her face. When Daryl turned to her, she had to laugh heartily.
"What's so funny?" he hissed.
"Your face when you wiped your mouth. I've never seen a man doing that after kissing me," she confessed slightly out of breath.
"Pff."
"I'm so sorry, Pookie. I couldn't help it."
"Ya better take a shower, woman because I wanna continue what I started. And I don't want ta have some shit of another man in my mouth," he hissed but grinned childishly.
Carol was quite nervous. She sat up, took a towl and disappeared. She scurried into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She leaned against the closed door, breathing rapidly. The thought of being with Daryl terrified her. They would make love to each other for the first time that night. But this thought also made her the happiest woman in the world.