Disclaimer: Still don't own anything involving TWD.

4. Wimper

They had followed the mysterious car to the outskirts of Atlanta. It turned out it was being driven by policemen. They had stopped and one of them had disappeared for a while. Carol and Daryl had almost been caught when a walker had started beating on their car. Staying frozen, they managed to remain unseen by the policeman and he had stepped into his car and it had driven off. Carol and Daryl meant to follow, but their own car was now out of gas.

Looking around, Carol realized that she knew the area. Figuring that they needed to find a place to get some rest and wait for daylight, she told Daryl that she knew a place where they could stay. It was not without some trepidation that she led him there. It was a women's shelter, specialized for abused women and children. She'd gone there once, to get away from Ed. It was a weak attempt to get away from Ed, but an attempt none the less. If only she'd known then that underneath all the fear, a strong, proud woman lay in wait. Daryl had brought that out in her. And yet, just like that time all those years ago, Carol was once again controlled by fear. She knew that Daryl wasn't going to leave it alone. And once the secrets were out, there was no going back. The love Daryl had for her would surely not be enough; when he found out about the girls, it would all be over. As for the rest, well, she just couldn't be sure how he would react. Not well, she feared.

Entering the building was easy. It looks untouched. Everything is quiet and Carol thinks that it's a good place to stay in, despite the memories it holds. Daryl's sizing the place up and also seems to approve.

"You used to work here or somethin'?" he says.

"Or something" she replies quietly.

They set up in a room of bunk beds. Carol dumps her pack on the top one, then lays down on the bottom bunk, stretching out her back. It's aching and suddenly she feels really old. Not that old, she thinks to herself. Daryl sits down on the bed beside her. She can tell that he's tense. Chewing on the inside of his cheek makes her think he's worrying about something. Then the question she knew he'd ask.

"If I hadn't showed up before, out by the car, what would you have done?"

A small sigh escapes her. With hesitation (and knowing he'll spot the lie) she replies "I still don't know".

Lying down on his back next to her, his hand searches for hers. Silence… then – "That's bullshit Carol, and you know it" he says firmly.

Turning her head to look at him, expecting to look at the side of his head and instead staring into his blue eyes, unnerves her. His eyes are so full of emotion. "I…" she begins, when suddenly a loud banging noise breaks the silence. They leap up from the bed, weapons at the ready and move as one towards the commotion. Down the hall, behind a glass door, they can see the shadow of a person. A walker, clawing at the glass. Then, without warning, another, smaller, hand slams up against the surface. A gasp escapes Carol's throat. A child walker. Tears immediately start brimming in her eyes. Picking up her knife, she takes a purposeful step towards the door, when Daryl's hand shoots out and stops her. Looking at her, he says with a gentle voice "You don't have to". Carol looks at the door and tries to move, but Daryl's holding her back. "You don't" he says again. Letting the tears spill over, Carol shoves her knife back into its sheet and turns back to their room. Daryl gives the door one final look, sadness lining his features, and then he follows her.

Stepping back into the room, Daryl finds Carol has lain back down on the bottom bunk bed. She's covered her face with her hands and he can hear her sobbing. Sighing deeply, his heart breaking for her, he moves towards the bed and lies down next to her. Nudging her carefully, prying her hands from her face and touching her head, he forces her to look at him. Tears are running freely down her cheeks and the look in her eyes breaks his heart all over again. The pain therein is almost too much for him to handle, but he knows there's nothing else he can do now but hold her and let her cry. "C'mere" he murmurs and Carol falls willingly into his arms. The sobs wracks her body; she's wailing and her head burrows into his chest, dampening his shirt with her tears. Daryl isn't at all surprised to find that he's crying to. For Carol. For the girls she lost, all of them. For Beth. And for the walkers in that room. They stay like this until Carol is all out of tears and there's nothing left to do but let sleep take them.

Alright, we're closing in on Carol's secrets. They will be revealed soon, I promise. Hope you're all enjoying this story so far.