"Getting Closer" Chapter 3: A Night in a Bar
After several glasses of rum & Coke, Carol slipped off to the ladies room, while a rather drunk Daryl debated weaponry with a sober (but very amused) Glenn. "Well, tha's my las' word on the subject," Daryl stated firmly, backing away slightly. His eyes swept the room and he noticed that Carol was missing. Without thinking, he rushed down the long dark hallway that lead to the restrooms and stockroom. Just as he got to the ladies' room door, it opened and Carol emerged. He grabbed her arm roughly, asking "Where you been?"
Carol, caught by surprise, said the first thing that came to her lips, "In the bathroom, obviously!"
"Don't you sass me, missy!" Daryl growled, and Carol tried to pull away, knowing she had angered the man. Daryl wouldn't let go; he pushed her roughly against the wall and suddenly crushed his mouth to hers.
Carol, shocked at this surprising turn of events, tried to turn her head away, and pushed at his chest in vain. Daryl let go of her arm and pinned her to the wall with his entire body, using his now-free hand to grasp Carol by the back of her neck. Under the influence of the rum, her defenses were down, and soon she gave in to his kiss and melted her body into his. As she felt his manhood harden against her hips, she moaned and returned his kiss with more passion.
Suddenly Daryl heard the click of footsteps and a surprised "OH!" coming from Maggie. He pulled away from Carol, who opened her eyes and looked at him with confusion. When she noticed Maggie, Carol turned a deep shade of red and ducked under Daryl's arm, fleeing further down the hall to the stockroom to compose herself. Maggie laughed as Daryl glared at her. When Maggie pushed open the door to the ladies room, Daryl snorted "Hmmph!" and turned to go after Carol.
He found Carol leaning against the first set of shelves in the dark stockroom. As the light from the closing door swept across her tiny frame, he noticed that she was gasping and fanning herself with a hand. And she wasn't looking at him.
Carol knew from the sound of his footsteps and heavy breathing that it was Daryl, not Maggie, who had followed her into the stockroom. She kept her eyes downcast and forced herself into silence, not knowing what the volatile man might do next. After an uncomfortable moment of silence, she asked, "Do you kiss a lot of women in the back of bars?"
Now it was Daryl's turn to be embarrassed. "Some…" he mumbled. "But never anyone like you."
She looked up at him in surprise. "Old and ugly, you mean?"
"No. WOMAN! That's not what I said! Why don' ya listen ta me?"
"I'm sorry," Carol apologized, ducking her head. A lone tear began to roll down her pale face. He raised his hand – and she cringed.
"Hey!" Daryl said softly, as his fingers gently wiped the tear from her cheek. "I won't hurt you. I… I just… damn it, woman, I can't think!" Exasperated, not knowing what else to do, he took her chin in his hand and gently turned her face up. "Look at me. I promise I will never hurt you. I've been protecting you, don't you see that?"
Carol took a deep breath and tried to blink back her tears. "Yes... it's just – old habits die hard, ya know?" She smiled ruefully, then stood on tiptoe and planted a quick kiss on his lips. "Thank you."
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again, a little more gently than their hallway kiss, but not quite "tenderly." His tongue was insistent and probing. It had been almost a year since he'd had a woman, and he had needs….
Carol found herself melting into him again, surprised that after so many years in a loveless marriage, her body could actually respond with passion.
A loud burst of laughter came from the main room, bringing their attention back to the world around them. Daryl pulled away from Carol and looked down at her delicate face. "I meant, I never kissed anyone special like you." He walked away, leaving her alone in the dark with her thoughts, strode quickly through the bar and out the front door. He nodded to the sentry on the roof, then walked around the building several times, trying to burn off some energy. "Wha' th fuck am I doin'?" he wondered, but no answers came to him.