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Carol's eyes fluttered open and found herself in an unfamiliar room. A soft orangish yellow glow from a small lamp illuminated the room and Carol sat up slowly, looking around. Taking notice of the crossbow in the corner of the room, she heard a noise to her right and looked to find Daryl asleep on the floor, his head resting against the side of the mattress and his body being held up by the bedside night stand. Sitting still, she watched him a few minutes and took notice of the boyish look his facial features held. Gone was the worry and stress she'd seen earlier in the evening, now replaced with a look of relaxed contentment.
Spotting two glasses of water on the dresser, Carol moved to get up, the older metal bed frame the mattresses rested on creaking. Her body tensed and she stilled, her head turning back to him sharply as fear began to course through her. She'd been caught by Marshal and Ed before trying to leave the bed and had paid the price more then once.
The squeakiness of the bed frame brought Daryl out of his sleep and he took in a deep breath as his eyes squinted open tiredly. Pain in his lower back from sitting on the floor in the position he was in radiated up, causing him to groan as he sat up slowly and tried to stretch his back. Releasing a yawn, he rubbed his right eye with the heel of his palm and looked around, taking notice of Carol sitting up in the bed and shaking almost violently. Her eyes held a terrified look, and it tore at Daryl's heart to think that she was scared that he would ever hurt her. Deciding it best to remain on the floor, he whispered softly, "Ain't gonna hurt ya, sweetheart. Promised ya I wouldn't hurt ya and I meant it."
Looking back at the nightstand behind him for the clock, he saw it was almost three forty in the morning and turned back, pulling his legs up and resting his arms on his knees, "We need ta give ya your meds. I fell asleep so you're late on 'em. Ya want somethin' to eat before ya take 'em?"
She barely shook her head as she kept her eyes down, unsure of herself. Her body still trembled with fear, something that was now engrained into her.
Slowly getting up off the floor, he moved to the dresser, getting the two pills she needed to take and a glass of the water. Moving back to the side of the bed, he held them out for her to take, "Here ya go, sweetheart." When she hesitantly took them, he turned back, getting the other glass of water for himself along with the TV remote. Turning on the small TV in the corner of the room, he turned it down low so they wouldn't wake up Merle and Beth.
Going to the end of the bed and making sure to put some space between them, he sat down on the edge and placed the remote between them, "Ya can turn it if'n ya don't want to watch what's on."
Carol remained where she was but moved her legs, pulling them up and sitting Indian style. Taking the pills, she swallowed them down, taking half the glass of water with them before lowering it to her lap. Without looking up, she whispered softly, "Thank you."
The corner's of his lips curved up and Daryl nodded before moving back more and leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the bed. With his legs spread out and crossed in front of him, he nodded, taking a drink and then sighing, "Welcome."
Finishing up her water, Carol set the glass onto the night stand and then glanced at him. His eyes were watching the TV screen and she went to move but stopped as the bed creaked. Her body tensed once more and she cringed inwardly.
Daryl watched her with his peripheral vision, but acting like he was interested in what was on TV, "Ya ain't gotta stay there, sweetheart. Ya can get up if'n ya want...or get more comfortable. Up ta you. Ain't gonna get mad at ya or anything. You're safe here."
His words seemed to ease her worry and Carol nodded slightly, some tension still in her movements. Biting her bottom lip, she moved on the bed, mimicking his position with almost two foot of space between them. Folding her hands in her lap, she swallowed and nervously glanced at him, "I'm sorry."
Not sure what she had to be sorry about, he shook his head but kept his eyes forward, "Ain't got nothin' to be sorry 'bout. Wasn't your fault what happened. Just been dealt a shitty hand in life. It happens." Hoping to get her talking more, Daryl took in a deep breath, looking across the room at the wall ahead of him, "My 'ole man usta beat on me and Merle when we were growin' up. Told ya 'bout it some before. There were time's though, when Merle was gone that it got worse...sometimes he'd beat me and I wouldn't wake up for days. When I did I could barely move. Was just the way he was I guess. Don't really know. For awhile I wouldn't let anyone close ta me...not even Merle. I knew he wanted ta help in his own way...hell, he'd been the same way as me a few times I guess. Point is...can't let that shit rule ya life. Couldn't let him win like that. Just like you can't let him win that way."
Turning his head and looking at her, he raised his brow, "Ya stronger then that...stronger then him even if ya don't think so. Ain't sayin' ta just forget everything...hell, I haven't. But ya can't let it rule ya life either. Gotta pull yourself up and live, Carol. Live for that 'lil one inside ya...live for yourself. And ya ain't gotta do it alone either. Me, Merle and Beth, we're here for ya, sweetheart. We want ta help ya. Hopein' you'll let us."
Carol listened to him, taking in what all he was saying to her. She played with the hem of her t-shirt and released a breath, shrugging some, "I'm scared, Daryl."
He watched her a few seconds, nodding his head, "Ya got every right ta be. But I won't hurt ya...I'd rather kill myself then hurt ya, 'kay?"
Nodding her head, she finally looked over at him, tears rimming her eyes and her chin trembling, "I was ready to end it...I tried..."
Remembering what Rick had told them, Daryl looked down at his lap, chewing on his bottom lip and then sighed, "I know. Rick told me." Moving his hand out to the side and resting it on the covers as on open invitation to her, he whispered, "Ya did what you thought ya had too. Just thankful Rick and them found ya." Watching her, he turned his hand over, palm up, "Don't wanna be without ya...but I'll wait for ya 'til your ready if I gotta."
She starred at his hand, hot tears streaking down her face. He was offering her comfort and not pushing her in any way. A small sob left her lips, her eyes closing as she rested her head back against the wall. All the hurt, pain and sorrow seemed to flow out, coming to a head as she sat there on the bed. Blindly, she moved her hand, coming into contact with his and gripping it tight within hers. Covering her eyes with her other hand, the bed shifted, his soft soothing voice whispering to her what he was doing.
Moving closer to Carol, he couldn't stand seeing her tears and hearing her cry. He didn't know what the pain she felt was like, he only had his own to go off of and it wasn't anything he'd wish on anyone. "I got ya," he whispered as he closed the distance between them and took her hand in his other and then wrapped his now free one around her shoulder, bringing her to him more. Holding her against him as she cried, he kissed the top of her head, "Just let it all out, woman...I got ya."
They sat there holding each other until Carol started to calm. She sniffled and then yawned, the pain meds he'd given her kicking in and making her sleepy. Daryl reached around her and he placed the pillow in his lap then kissed her head again and whispered, "Ya can lay down if'n ya want. I'll keep ya safe...ain't gotta worry 'bout a thing no more."
She wiped at her face and moved laying herself down and placing her head onto the pillow he'd placed for her. Getting comfortable, she sniffled, "Daryl?"
"Yeah, sweetheart?" he raised his brow, pulling the blanket over and covering her with it to help her stay warm.
"I don't wanna be without you too," she blinked slowly and then let her eyes close.
Placing his hand on her head and gently running his fingers through her short hair, his heart seemed to leap out his chest and a small smile formed, "I'm all yours then, sweetheart." A few minutes passed and her breathing evened out indicating she was asleep. He looked down at the sleeping woman, his fingers still gently stroking her head, "Night, woman." He stayed that way for almost another hour until sleep finally overtook him, his hand moving to her waist and resting there as he drifted off.
I have a CARYL group on fb called Fans of CARYL and it also has the link to the new CARYL website myself and EnglishPoet18 run as well! Wednesdays are "FanFiction Wednesday" in which we will feature a CARYL author in Live Chat with us to talk about there stories which we read here! Tonight, Wednesday Nov 20th at 7:30 pm eastern our featured SPECIAL GUEST AUTHOR will be Hiatus80! Come by, ask questions, pick her brain and have some fun! PM me if you have any questions or cannot find the site!