Jess greeted them at the steps when they pulled in. Carol cracked her eyes open looking to Daryl and frowned. He was still asleep. With Will, Danielle, and even her talking with the radio on he'd not even batted an eye. He'd slept like the dead and she could feel him shivering against her.

"Mom." Carol called as Danielle opened her door. When she turned Carol motioned to Daryl, "I don't think it's a hangover."

Danielle walked over and Carol nudged Daryl awake. He mumbled something and Danielle pulled his door open. He stepped out and her hand was already on his bicep. Carol could see Danielle already in full on mother mode. She was leading Daryl up the driveway like a little boy and he wasn't even resisting. He didn't even glance back at her and that worried her.

"DARYL!"

Will spun and his arms shot out grabbing Ellie before she could tackle Daryl. Carol let out a breath and she seen Daryl relax more. Ellie struggled in Will's grip but he refused to let her go. She was close to having a temper tantrum. Daryl looked defeated and ready to get her. Danielle kept her grip on him as they walked up the steps to the porch.

"You got not one leading you around but now two?" Jess quipped, his laugh was light.

Danielle scowled at him and Carol came up next to Daryl. "Classy. Make jokes while your nephew is ready to drop." When Jess really looked at Daryl he sobered. "He needs to lay down."

"He knows where to go." Jess waved them inside. "If I'd know he was sick Will I wouldn't have asked him to come."

"He was fine last night. He started getting sick on the way here."

Both sets of eyes went to her while Ellie's fit grew. Jess snatched her up and the little girl stopped fighting. The look he was giving her was severe and Ellie whimpered. Carol grimaced. He wasn't doing her the way she was done as a kid but it was clear that if Ellie didn't straighten up she was in trouble.

"I want Daryl." She whined, big doe eyes filling with tears.

Jess shook his head, "You keep your ass out here away from him. He's sick and don't need you crawling all over him."

"Carol crawls on him."

Carol's face turned blood red. "And with that I'm going to go check on him real quick."

"Carol if he needs anything let me know." Jess ordered.

"Can I go with her?" Ellie huffed. Her hip cocked out and she crossed her arms glaring up at her father.

Jess stared down at her and she stopped fidgeting. "He's sick. You let him rest little girl. If they tell me you're pestering him then I'll blister your ass." She nodded seriously eyes wide.

"I can be a nurse!" She clapped. "Carol can be the doctor."

Carol grimaced and Will winked at her. "It isn't a game." Jess chided.

Ellie shook her head her hair fanning out, "Oh no! We'll save him!"

Ellie spun and climbed right up Carol's body. Will caught her arm though stalling her before she could go inside. Carol met his eyes and his smile fell. His face was completely serious and she waited.

"He's going to wake up soon and try to come help me. Make him stay in bed Carol. I'll call his brothers to get their asses here." Will assured her, "See if you can get him to actually stay in bed."

Jess waggled his brows at her before laughing and walking away. Carol watched him and huffed. Will let her go and squeezing her arm for a second. He smiled at her and then followed his brother. Carol shook her head and opened the door.

"Ellie do you know where Daryl would go to sleep at?"

"Bed." She deadpanned.

"Well Mini Merle which bed."

Ellie simpered at her batting her eyelashes, "The one he crawled in."

Carol grit her teeth. She walked further into the house and listened. Hearing someone talking she followed the sound and came up to a set of stairs. There was a room set off just from them before you went up. Her mother's voice was scolding and Carol stepped into the room without knocking.

"Good you're here." Danielle huffed. "Talk some sense into him."

Carol set Ellie on the foot of the bed and Daryl scowled. Danielle and him were having a standoff. His hair was sweaty and he looked pale. Danielle was glowering at him and Carol knew that look. She'd received it many times before. It'd be best if Daryl gave in now.

"I'm fine." Daryl growled.

Carol walked forward and his eyes went to her. She could see the fever in his eyes and caught his wrist. "Daryl you need to rest."

"Me and Carol are going to save you." Ellie chirped.

Daryl mhmd at her but didn't look down. It wasn't like him to ignore Ellie at all. When she was around she got all his attention. Ellie frowned and crawled more towards him. Daryl shivered and looked at her again. Danielle patted her arm and excused herself for a minute. She grabbed Ellie off the bed as she passed and she shot Carol a pointed look.

Carol pushed him on the bed and he set heavily. He groaned and she stepped forward pushing his sweaty hair off his forehead. He leaned into her touch.

"I feel like death." He mumbled into her chest.

"Anything I can do?"

Daryl shook his head sloppily against her. He shivered again and Carol pushed his head back. "I'm cold."

Looking around she smiled to herself. Catching his wrist she pulled him up. Daryl moved slower than usual and she pushed him forward.

"Strip."

Daryl stood there in front of her and then looked at her. "Under better circumstances that'd be welcoming to hear from you." He chuckled but shrugged out of his shirt.

Carol stepped around him and started the shower. Steam rushed out and she watched as he breathed deeply. He set on the edge of the tub and started fighting his boots off. He got mad and threw his arms up in the air. Lifting his hips after getting the belt, button and zipper undone he shoved his pants and boxers down. Carol watched in amusement as he just slid over the side of the tub into the hot water. His booted feet with jeans pooled around them hung out of the shower.

A deep groan rumbled through his chest as his head lolled back against the tiles and he closed his eyes. He wasn't shivering anymore and Carol relaxed some. Stepping forward she shook her head untangling his boots and pants before stripping them away. Folding them up she looked over and snorted seeing him sleeping right there.

The door to the bedroom opened and Carol peaked out seeing her mom. She had a tray of food and juice. She raised a brow at her and Carol stepped out more. She kept it open enough to see him and make sure he didn't drown.

"He has to be just as difficult as his dad." Danielle huffed, "I know he doesn't feel good but he refused to let me help or admit it."

Carol shrugged, "He's not use to having a mom around."

Danielle's hands stilled as she turned down the blankets. Carol looked at the rest of what she brought realizing there were flannel sleep pants for him. She picked them up figuring she was going to have to fight him into clothes at all. That was if she could even get him to dry off. DIfficult wasn't the word for what Daryl could be if he was in the mood to be.

"Did he say how he was feeling?" Danielle worried looking at her.

"He said he's cold and that he feels like death. I can feel the fever though." Carol looked in on him and he shifted. His eyes cracked open and narrowed at her. Carol grinned at him knowing he heard her talking to her mom. "I'll make him eat and drink this."

Danielle nodded, "If he need or just wants something you let me know."

"Will do."

Danielle went to the door and then turned real quick. "Here Jess said give him these."

Carol looked down and took the cold medicine. This would be a fight. He damn near broke ribs and didn't even want to take the medicine for that. Carol sighed and nodded at her. Danielle pulled her into a hug. She hated when Daryl was sick or hurt- she worried non stop. She couldn't help it.

Danielle kissed her forehead, "He'll be fine Carol. It's just a cold. It'll be gone by the morning."

"I know."

Her mom let her go and slipped away. Carol walked back into the bathroom and set on the edge of the tub. Daryl opened his eyes again looking up at her. He huffed and swatted at her.

"Nark."

Snorting, "She's just as worried as me, Will, Jess, and Ellie." Carol pointed, "When Merle and Mac find out they'll be mother henning just as much."

Daryl whined and then caught her wrist. Carol shook her head at him but he jerked surprisingly hard for how sick he looked. She slid right into the tub. Right into his naked lap. His arms went around her and his face buried in her neck. He let out a breath. She wanted to be mad but it was hard when he was sick and holding on to her like she was the only thing that mattered.

"I'm wet." Daryl snorted against her throat and Carol blushed. "Stop being dirty."

They stayed there until she felt the water starting to cool off. Cutting it off she untangled herself from Daryl. Stripping right out of her soaked clothes in front of him he watched with an eyebrow raised. No doubt in her mind that if he felt good he'd already be on her. It was mutual though because it'd been awhile since they could escape and not be interrupted. Here he was dripping wet and completely naked but sick.

Taking the towel she handed him he wrapped it around his waist and ignored the sleep pants. "Take them. Jess won't have shit for you to wear. Get my shirt too."

Carol nodded and stole his shirt while he pulled on his boxers. "You're eating before you sleep."

Daryl scowled at her but didn't argue. He ate fast and chugged the juice. She barely even had time to finish drying her hair before he was done. He made a show of wiping his hands on his boxers causing her to frown.

"Beast."

He shrugged, "You like it."

Carol snorted and he flopped back on the bed. "I should go help my dad."

"Merle and Mac are going to come help him." Carol walked over. He looked up at her sleepily. "Take this and stop worrying."

Daryl set up enough to take what she handed him. He must have felt worse than she thought. He wasn't fighting at all. He laid down and then watched her.

"You going to lay down?" He yawned.

Carol crawled into the bed and he immediately rolled towards her. His arm went around her pulling her into his body. He jerked the blankets up and over them. Carol wrapped around him and he let out a breath. She could hear his breathing already starting to even out. She figured they had a few more minutes before her mom and Ellie showed up. Both were overly concerned but it was adorable on both. Daryl would soften up to her mom sooner than anyone thought. She could see it.

"Carol." Daryl breathed.

"Hmm?"

"Stop thinking and relax. Your stiff as a board." He rumbled.

Doing just that she burrowed into his body for heat. His breathing evened out again and she felt her own eyes growing heavy. It felt good to just be close to him. Even that felt like it hardly ever happened anymore without someone in the room. It was sad it took Daryl getting sick to get him alone. Even if it was only for a short amount of time. She would take it.

Daryl's eye cracked open hearing the door open. Carol was pressed as tightly into his body as she could get and he bit back a smile. He already knew who was in the room and turned his head. Danielle was picking up the dishes with Ellie quietly at her side packing a water bottle. She put it up on the side table and smiled up at Danielle. Daryl yawned and turned slightly. Carol followed his movements almost crawling right on top of him. He was use to it though and didn't think much of it. Danielle's face though was priceless and he could guess her thoughts.

Danielle's eyes flew up to his face and she smiled. She stepped forward as his eyes went to the window. He frowned realizing it was later in the day, way later. Her hand was on his forehead again.

"How you feel?"

Daryl met her eyes. She was watching him intently. "What time is it?"

"Eight."

"At night?"

Danielle smiled, "You two have slept all day. Did she say she felt sick too?"

Daryl shook his head, "She always sleeps as late as I do." His voice was rough and tired.

Danielle nodded as Ellie stepped forward. Her own hand went to his forehead. She made a show of checking on him. Daryl grinned at her and her face lit up. He could see worry on her features. He didn't like it.

"Did you know that Mac and Merle got slapped?" Ellie chirped.

Daryl arched a brow and then looked at Danielle. She blushed and ran Ellie off. "Let him rest. I'll be out in a second."

"Why did you hit them?" He didn't bother asking who did it.

Danielle's face took on a annoyed note that was radiating protectiveness. "Daryl we've known each other and about each other for a long time. In all that time I've never heard about you getting sick. Hurt sure but never sick. So when you willingly let my daughter does you up on cold medicine and sleep the entire day away I worry. You father is worried and Jess."

Daryl got the bottle of water watching her. She was wringing her hands. He didn't respond though. He didn't know what to say. It was true. He knew her mother actually longer than Carol. Didn't mean they'd known each other personally- just knew of the other.

"Merle and Mac both came in here. Which I get they wanted to check on you but poking and prodding isn't okay. When I told them to leave you alone they got mouthy. They started waking you up." She huffed her anger showing, "I might have over reacted but they didn't harass you anymore."

"You slapped my brothers." He deadpanned.

She nodded at him and gave him a sorry look. He grinned at her suddenly. Her face changed and she arched a brow. "I don't trust that smile."

Daryl laughed and tried to set up. Her hand went to his shoulder keeping him down. He gave up and Carol snuggled against him again. Her arm wrapped tightly around his chest. Danielle smiled at her daughter then at him.

"Are you mad at me again?"

Meeting her eyes he could see honest worry there. Hell who hadn't wanted to slap his fucking brothers? How many fights did those cocksuckers drag him into and not just with them either. More bloody lips and busted noses than he knew what to do with it is what.

"I like you." Daryl chuckled. At her incredulous look. "I only regret not getting to see it."

Danielle laughed lightly her face lighting up. She had the same smile as Carol. Oddly it was reassuring and he didn't feel like she was actually hiding a set of sharp talons behind her back to gut him. Danielle flit around the room some more before going to the door. She bid them good night again and he could feel the second dose of medicine kicking in. He didn't feel as terrible as he did. He was damn sure his fever was gone but now he was just tired.

"Good night Daryl." Danielle whispered.

Daryl looked over lazily. "Where's my dad and brothers now?"

Danielle paused like she didn't expect him to talk. She shut the door some more and walked back over to the bed. "Merle left after they got done working. When he had me check on you again and was sure you weren't going to die. Mac let about an hour ago. He mentioned something unrepeatable. Will's with Jess."

Daryl nodded and yawned, "Are you two staying here tonight?"

"Yes. I'm not leaving you with you sick, Daryl." Danielle frowned, "Holler if you need me."

Daryl mumbled something but his eyes drooped. Fighting sleep he looked at her again and snorted. "Next time slap them when I'm there." When she smiled at him he looked away. He turned his face into Carol's hair hiding away from her. "Thank you."

Danielle leaned over then and kissed his temple. She didn't say anything else as she slipped out of the room. Daryl laid there for a few minutes his eyes readjusting the dark room. Tightening his grip on Carol he pulled her tighter against him. He didn't know what to make of her mom. One thing was sure though. Carol and her mom both were unpredictable.