The house was spotless. Cleaning was a mindless task before when she'd lived with her dad. She'd hated it. It was an order. A command. Now though after so long without anything to her name beyond a few books and clothes- cleaning this house was something she relished. Daryl wasn't messy by any means but that didn't mean she didn't pick up after him. Sometimes she found herself wishing he'd make a mess. Something to do on her days off when he had work.
Rocky was with him today. He was at the shop. His dad needed him for something. She'd assured him she had no plans on going anywhere. Andrea was supposed to be coming over. She was late though. She figured that had something to do with Merle though. Andrea hadn't said anything about that though. She seen the looks though. Andrea eyed Merle from the moment she'd met him. Merle eyed everything.
Catrick yowled softly and padded down the stairs. Carol shook her head and finished mopping. Padding down stairs she put away the last of the cleaning stuff. When she turned back into the hall she stopped. The door was slightly ajar. Walking forwards she opened it further and peered out. Catrick was on the banister cleaning himself. He looked up at her but otherwise ignored her after a second. The breeze picked up and Carol shut the door.
She was halfway back upstairs deciding she needed to shower. The shirt she'd stripped off Daryl this morning before he could get out the door for work was plastered to her. Her hair was messy and in a knot on top of her head. She hadn't even bothered pulling on her own pants. She was in his sleep pants rolled up. She was a complete mess really.
She stopped at the top of the stairs though. See the thing about hardwood floors when wet was any movement on those floors while still wet left a distinct print even when dry. It was why she usually locked Rocky out when she mopped. Otherwise she'd have paw prints everywhere. Stopping now though her eyes were on a very distinct imprint of a shoe. Not a boot, not a footprint from her bare feet, but a shoe.
Her heart thudded painfully and her eyes shot up searching. She was at the top of the stairs. Her breathing ratcheted up. The creak of a floor board to her right had her eyes shooting over but it was too late. She screamed when her arm was caught and she was jerked sideways.
"Hello."
Carol felt bile rise in her throat. It'd been two weeks since Will got back from where he'd gone on business. She'd thought in that time Ed got the hint. Her dad was dead. Why wouldn't he just leave? She'd been sure he would.
"Nothing to say? You always were a little too quiet for my taste." He sneered in her ear, his rancid breath making her gag. "I'm sure I can make you sing though."
Carol's eyes watered. She searched frantically for anything.
"Which room is yours Carol?" He licked a stripe up the side of her throat. "What bed do you share with him?"
Carol swallowed thickly.
"ANSWER ME!" He bellowed.
If she went into her room she knew nothing was there to help. Not even a phone! Not that she thought she'd get a chance to get to one. No, she knew Daryl's bedroom was the only chance.
She cleared her throat. Forcing it to be steady. "End of the hall."
He shoved her forward and bending her arm behind her back. She grimaced in pain. It felt like he was going to break her arm. His other arm was around her throat. He'd changed over the years. He'd lost the boyish look about himself. The monster on the inside now reflecting the bastard on the outside. He shoved her through the door and she stumbled.
"Did you have fun these years?" He questioned staring at her ruthlessly. "Time to come home, Carol."
Carol glared. "I am home."
He sneered at her. The look made him look even worse. His face contorting.
He stepped closer to her and Carol stumbled backwards. He looked around the room and his eyes landed on the rumpled bed. She'd not had the want to make it up after Daryl left earlier that morning. She'd slept for another hour after he left and before she started cleaning. Now it was clear what had happened. Her panties were at the foot of the bed and her bra on the headboard. Ed glowered dangerously.
"You let him touch you." He hissed. "You're mine."
Carol felt her lip curl. "I'm no one's property."
"I see some lessons need to be learned again." He grabbed for then.
Carol panicked. She lunged for the side table. She didn't snoop in his stuff but knew that drawer well. She ripped it open the same time he crashed on top of her. He was fighting with her clothes violently. Carol clawed at him and kicked. Never stopping thrashing. His mouth was hot and sickly against her skin. Hot tears spilled down her cheeks. The thought of Daryl walking into this room to find her broke and bleeding. All she'd wanted was to drown in Daryl and his love. It was like gravity around him but Ed was taking that from her.
He had her arm pinned but she fought wildly with him. Her other striking out at him. He forced her backwards. He released her long enough to grab for his belt. Carol took a chance. All her fragile strength was waning. Her hand closed around something cold.
Ed's eyes widened seconds before a crack exploded through the room. He stumbled backwards and fell heavily on the ground. Carol set up panting. He'd was able to fight the too big sleep pants off her and rip her shirt. She kept her eyes on him and grabbed the phone. He answered on the first ring. He was laughing and Carol felt her eyes well up.
"Come home."
Her voice sounded foreign to her own ears. She wasn't sure how long she set there watching Ed. He was unconscious. The slam of the door told her that some time had passed. How long she didn't know. The hope wasn't very far after all.
"CAROL!" Daryl yelled.
The sound of his heavy footsteps snapping her out of the fog she'd been in. She jumped up and ran from the room. Daryl was at the top of the stairs when she slid into the hall. She swiped at the hot tears on her face. Her hand came away blood from a split lip. His eyes were wide and dangerous. She slammed into him and his arms were around her quickly. Her feet left the ground and she clung to him violently.
She was shaking and realized that he was trying to shush her. He pushed her back and met her eyes. He searched her face and looked her over before his face darkened. He set her back on her feet. He stepped around her and Carol followed trying to talk, to say anything.
When he stepped into that room Ed was groaning. He was staring to come to. HE'd hit his head when he went down. Daryl bent down and Carol realized she'd dropped her weapon when she ran. He moved like a predator….something dangerous. Lithe muscle tightening like a snake ready to strike. Ed's eyes blinked open and he searching blearily for her.
Carol moved forward and the movement drawed his eyes to her. "Carol he groaned."
"Carol." Daryl's voice was like ink through water. Fluid and dark. "Tell me exactly what he done."
Carol swallowed. She knew what he wanted to know. Ed's eyes were wide and locked on Daryl. Locked on the gun in his hand. HE was clutching the wound on his shoulder where she'd shot him earlier.
"Call an ambulance Carol." Ed ordered.
Daryl snarled low and Carol's eyes widened watching the gun raise. She stared at him before looking at Daryl again. The recoil of the gun was nothing for his stronger, surer grip. Ed hit the ground without so much as a chance to plead for his life. Carol's mouth popped open.
Daryl let his arm fall and he stared at Ed for a second before tossing the gun on the bed. He turned to her and started searching her for wounds. Carol stared at the rapidly bleeding body on the floor. Ed was dead. It was over. No more looking over her shoulder. Daryl killed someone. Her mind was racing.
"Carol." Daryl's voice was softer. "Look at me." When she met his eyes he exhaled. He swiped the blood from her lip. "What happened?"
Carol licked her lip but hissed from the sting. "He didn't." Carol gasped. Her arms wrapped around Daryl quickly and she sobbed., "He was trying but he didn't."
Daryl held her but she knew that he was still way to tense to really focus. He was running on an adrenaline high. Carol clung to him though. When he finally let her go though he looked her over.
He smoothed her hair back. "I need you to take a shower while I…." He looked at Ed and Carol swallowed.
Carol tightened her grip on him. "Shouldn't we call the cops."
Daryl looked down at Ed. "No. I'll handle this."
Carol nodded and done as he said. She was running on autopilot. She heard him moving around the bedroom. But when she finally exited the shower she didn't see him or Ed. She looked at the torn clothes and the bloodied floor. Mind made up she moved to start cleaning it. She'd need another shower but this was something she could do. She needed to do something to keep her mind busy until he was back and he would be back. He'd always be there for her. It was the only thing keeping her calm at the moment.
She heard the door open downstairs. She tensed and waited. The sounds of feet on the stairs had her looking up. Merle was there. He eyed her, her bloody arms, and red puffy eyes.,
"Fuck." He stepped into the room. He looked her over and Carol blinked at him looking up. "Are you okay?"
"Yes." Carol nodded. She would be. She was going to be just fine.
"Where's my brother? Is this his blood Carol?"
"No." She hiccuped.
Merle stared her hard for a second before he took in her busted lip and blacking eye. Merle looked around the room and then back at her.
"He killed him."
Carol nodded and tears spilled.
Merle stayed right there with her. It wasn't long before Will showed up. Both men staying right here. They told her when Daryl left so quickly they'd knew something was going on. First they fought maybe a fight but then thought better of it. He'd left his dog behind and that just wasn't Daryl. By the time they'd got here thought Daryl had already drug Ed away. She didn't know where he was but they'd told her his truck was gone. She should feel bad or something., Ed was dead. Daryl killed someone. But hadn't he done it for her. He saved her. He'd given her the strength since day one to save herself and she had.
Carol watched the fire burning. Will and Merle both fast asleep. When the door opened Carol lifted her head from Will's chest. Daryl stepped inside filthy. He looked up and over seeing the flickering light of the fireplace. Carol stood and he shrugged out of his jacket. Carol tugged him along with her. She left Merle and Will sleeping. Daryl followed wordlessly. She guided him to their room and into the bathroom. She slapped his hands away when she tried to strip himself. Instead she done it for him. He stepped into the shower and Carol quickly followed. The dirt was running off him thickly. The last traces of Ed swirling around the drain.
