CHAPTER 8: More Rain
The rain stopped just long enough for everyone to gather for breakfast and look at the map, then a crack of thunder signaled another downpour. Visibility was so bad that they stayed put several hours. Carol spent some time with Lori and Carl in the SUV while Daryl and Rick huddled under an umbrella, planning their next move. Finally in the early afternoon the rain slowed to a drizzle, and they moved on. Daryl insisted on riding his motorcycle, despite the wet roads, but wouldn't let Carol join him. "No point you gettin' wet too."
The wet conditions continued for 2 days and Carol was going stir-crazy, dealing with the tense atmosphere between Lori & Rick for 48 hours straight. The wet blankets in the trunk got moldy and had to be thrown out. Carol gave her blanket to Maggie & Glenn, who were in the Hyundai, and huddled in the back seat of the SUV under her thin sweater. When Daryl got off his midnight patrol and saw her like that, he was pissed, and opened the door and threw his poncho at her. Carol, shaken out of sleep, looked around in confusion a minute, then got out of the SUV and followed him to the truck, poncho in hand. As Daryl neared the passenger side, T-Dog got out of the driver's side to take his place on patrol. Carol waved to T-Dog, who stepped around the truck and gave her a great big bear hug, rubbing her back and exclaiming "Girl, you look cold!"
Daryl felt a sudden surge of a strange emotion and burst out "I gave her my poncho" to which Carol replied "No, take it back, I'm fine." T-Dog looked from Carol to Daryl, gave her another squeeze, and walked away shaking his head and grinning. Carol held out the poncho and shook it at Daryl. He scowled and grabbed the hand holding the poncho, simultaneously opening the passenger door. He pulled her toward the truck and simply said "Get in."
Carol, still accustomed to obeying a man's commands, did as she was told. But Daryl, instead of shutting the door behind her, stepped to her side and motioned silently to scoot over. He sat down, shut the door, and leaned up against it, snaking his left leg behind her and pulling her into his chest like before. This time he didn't have to worry about the steering wheel, and they were both more comfortable. Well, physically more comfortable – Daryl was still emotionally uncomfortable with holding her, but it didn't feel as weird as the first time.
Once again, Daryl dreamed of kissing Carol in front of the bathrooms of a bar, and in a dark closet leaning up against a shelf unit.
Carol woke up just before dawn with a strange sensation, something hard pressing up against her back. When she realized what it was, she sat up suddenly, which naturally woke Daryl. She quickly exited the truck through the driver's door, and Daryl started to get out, felt the tightness in his crotch, blushed severely, and stayed put a few minutes, thinking "Margaret Thatcher in a teddy, Margaret Thatcher in a teddy!"