Disclaimer: I don't own The Walking Dead. Just borrowing the characters with rather naughty intentions ahead...

Game Playing

Chapter 2

"I hope she is okay?" Jimmy said anxiously as he watched Herschel and Daryl's rapid strides to the farm house. His eyes flitted back and forth between the group and the house. "I didn't mean to hit her. I feel just terrible!"

Glenn smiled and patted the young boy on the back. "It's okay. I don't think Daryl is going to kill you at least not yet," he teased.

Maggie glared at him and Glenn immediately looked contrite.

"It was an accident, Jimmy. Herschel and Daryl will take care of her. Carol will be fine." Rick said as tried to give the upset boy some reassurance.

Shane scoffed at the mention of Daryl Dixon. He was really sick of the redneck. In particular, he was sick of the way Rick was suddenly his best friend. Like Daryl was anyone you could rely on like he had Rick's back the last eight years. Shane's eyes narrowed as he caught Rick's warning look. Fuck Rick. Fuck Daryl for that matter. Actually that wasn't such a bad idea, Shane thought as a smile spread widely across his face. "I think I'll go check on Carol," Shane said.

Rick's eyes narrowed. Since when did Shane care about Carol Peletier? I mean sure they all felt bad that she had taken that ball to her head but for Shane to want to check up on her? It was beyond suspicious. "Hey," Rick called out as he followed Shane across the grass.

Shane stopped and ran his hand across his recently shaved head. "Yeah?"

"You're not starting something?" Rick asked his eyebrow arched in question as he eyed his best friend.

"Now what would I be starting, Rick?" Shane asked his dark eyes narrowed and not just from the blinding Georgia sun baring down on them.

"Daryl is checking on her. I really don't think you need to." Rick replied his eyes locked on Shane's. It was a soft directive.

"So now you're gonna start dictating who I talk to?" Shane said more than asked an expression of annoyance crossing his handsome features. His head bobbed the way it always did when he was evading a question.

Rick took note and sighed. "It's not like that."

"Uh, yeah I think it is Rick," Shane said. "Carol's part of the group. I'll talk to her when I want."

Rick watched as Shane walked determinedly to the farm house. Rick ran his hand down his face.

"That is gonna be trouble." Dale said bluntly as he came to stand by Rick.

Rick nodded at the older man and shook his head. "Nothin but."

Daryl followed Herschel up the porch steps and into the farm house. The old wooden porch steps creaking as he took them two at a time.

"Let's get her upstairs were she can rest a little." Herschel directed over his shoulder.

Daryl nodded as he carried Carol following behind the older man. He looked down at her pale face. "You okay?"

Carol's eyes fluttered open. His tone was gruff but she could hear the concern underneath. "I'm fine except I feel like I got hit in the head with a baseball," she feebly attempted to joke.

Daryl gave her crooked smile. "That right?"

Carol smiled back and nodded but then grabbed her head as the small action only made it throb worse.

"Hurts?" Daryl asked softly.

"A bit," Carol whispered her eyes locked on his. The worry in them surprised her. "I will be okay."

"Yeah. You will be fine." Daryl said as he followed Herschel into the upstairs bedroom. Daryl carefully lowered Carol onto the oak bed post bed that occupied the center of the room. The sun danced across the surface of the mattress as the curtains rufflling in the breeze filtered its brightness. The bed was the same one that he had been in when he was injured. Carl, too for that matter.

Herschel turned to Carol, his black doctor bag at his side. He had stored the bag in what was quickly becoming the recovery room. He pulled out a small penlight. "Just going to check your reflexes."

Carol blinked against the light as Herschel checked her pupillary response.

Herschel dropped the light back into the bag. "How many fingers do you see?"

"Two." Carol answered as he waved his hand in front of her.

"Squeeze my hands," Hershel instructed. "Good. How about any nausea or double vision?"

"No." Carol answered, smartly opting not shake her head this time.

Daryl watched Herschel continue to ask her some questions before having her sit up at the edge of the bed, wait, and then stand. Daryl watched her face carefully which is how he knew when to move from the wall to catch her before she fell. "Careful now, don't go falling again on me, woman." Daryl's arm slipped securely around her waist pressing her to him.

"A little dizzy," Carol acknowledged unsure at the current moment if the swirling feeling was from her head or Daryl's arm wrapped tightly around her waist. It was strangely comforting and something more.

Herschel nodded. "I think you might have a small concussion. Can't do a lot about that except rest but we will need to check up on you through the night. Maybe one of the girls can stay with you. Make sure you don't have any problems."

"I'll stay," Daryl said firmly.

Herschel and Carol both looked over at him.

Daryl shrugged.

Anymore conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. They all three looked up to see Shane lounging against the door frame. He leaned against it, lazily.

"You know you almost had that ball, right?" Shane teased.

Carol laughed then groaned as she grasped her still aching head. "Don't make me laugh."

"Sorry." Shane said as he walked into the room and over to her bed. He could feel the heat and anger radiating off Daryl. He looked over at him with a knowing smirk. "Hey, Daryl."

Daryl glared at Shane. God, how he wanted to knock that smirk off that asshole's face.

Herschel shook his head at the exchange and decided now would be as good time as any to leave the sullen redneck and the angry cop alone although he hated to leave Carol alone with them, glowering at one another. "She needs her rest and no stress," Herschel said hoping they would heed the warning tone in his voice. He gave them each a cursory warning glance before exiting the room.

Carol looked from Daryl to Shane. She knew the two were not exactly best friends but right now they looked like two angry cats circling a milk dish. She surmised this must have to do with Rick's growing reliance on Daryl and not Shane. Maybe she could help with that. "Thank you, Shane for checking on me. I really appreciate everyone's help."

Shane nodded down at Carol. "You're tougher than you look," he teased as he sat down on the mattress. "Anything you need that I can do for you?"

"Daryl's got it covered," Carol said as she gave him a soft smile and looked over at Daryl.

Daryl was more pleased then he'd ever admit at her words. He walked over to the bed and sat on the other side. "We're fine," he said his eyes narrowed on Shane's.

Shane ignored the warning. "You're gonna have a nasty goose egg on that forehead, honey," Shane acknowledged as he ran his hand lightly over Carol's forehead. "I'll get you some ice."

Carol looked over to Daryl who looked like he might implode, literally. "Shane, I really don't need..."

"No worries," Shane stood up and walked to the door. "I'll be right back."

Daryl's jaw twitched as he ground his teeth together.

"Daryl?" Carol asked as she looked up at him. She sat up in the bed, clutching her head. "Did something happen? With Shane?"

"He's an asshole," Daryl glared.

Carol's eyebrow rose. "Some in particularly asshole thing he did recently?"

Daryl looked at her. She was sitting up clutching her head looking at him like she was worried about him. He sighed and shook his head. "You need to rest, woman. Lay down." Daryl got up and walked into the bathroom.

Carol laid back, cautiously. She heard the water running in the bathroom and then Daryl was back at her side. He repeated what Shane had done earlier running his fingers along the already forming goose egg while he held a wash cloth in his other hand. His fingers were rougher than Shane's against her forehead but so much more wanted. Carol shivered slightly as the roughed pads rubbed in a soft circle over temple. She moaned, softly. "That feels good."

Daryl looked down at her closed eyes, her face relaxing under his touch. The little moan that escaped her throat made his constrict. Fuck if it wasn't the single sweetest, sexiest sound he had ever heard. He wondered silently if she made the same sound when touched other places, intimate places? Did her skin feel just a soft everywhere as it did under his hands at this moment. Fuck he needed to stop that train of thought. Now. He gently lifted her head up slipping the washcloth to the back of her neck. Carol's eyes fluttered open. He swallowed hard as she stared at him with those sky colored eyes. They were such a sweet clear blue that they reminded Daryl of the spring sky.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You're welcome," Daryl answered his own voice suddenly lower. "I should let you rest."

Carol looked up at him with worried eyes. "Don't leave."

Daryl smiled that crooked half smile of his. "I ain't going anywhere. Just close you're eyes for a while for me. You need to rest."

Carol sighed and let her eyes shut. She smiled when she felt Daryl's fingers resume their work on her temples.

"Helps?" Daryl whispered.

"Mmmm, yes. So much," Carol whispered her voice low and pleading. "Don't stop."

Daryl inwardly groaned at her choice of words. Damn it all to hell but know an image of her underneath him whispering the same thing flashed through his head making not only his head throb but something else further south as well.

A/N: Shane continues to push Daryl but how far? And Carol does a little unintentional pushing of her own after someone accidentally mixes up some pills.