I do not own The Walking Dead, and I am not associated with the writers, creator, actors or franchise. This is just for fun.

Chapter 13

Daryl was pissed. Beyond pissed. Out of the corner of his eye, he'd seen Carol's face when Beth had snuggled up to him. He'd seen the flash of pain cross into her eyes. Knowing that he'd caused that pain pushed Daryl over the edge...Suddenly, he was DONE with being nice...he was done making Carol feel like she wasn't important to him. Like he didn't love the hell outta' her. Tired of not feeling and acting man enough for her.

Plus, that fucker had been hovering around Carol, practically at her beck and call. Fuckin' prick. He'd deal with him later. One problem at a time.

His "talk" to Rick made him realize a few things. Mainly, that Daryl needed to get off his ass and man up. It was time to stop being afraid...afraid of fuckin' Carol Peletier.

So, when Beth came in to the cafeteria and started leaning on him, and batting her eye lashes...he was over it. He'd leaned over and quietly asked to speak to her privately outside. When he got outside all the frustration and anger came rushing out of him.

"Beth, you've got to stop this shit." Daryl told her. His body rigid and hostile towards her.

"What are you talking about?" Beth asked innocently, as she moved towards him, and reaching out to touch his arm.

Daryl took a step back, and put his hands up fending her off.

"I don't know what you think happened between us, but whatever you're thinkin'... you're wrong." Daryl told her flatly.

"But Daryl, I don't understand...you told me I was the reason you changed your mind about everything..." Beth told him, her eyebrows wrinkled in confusion.

"I didn't mean that, all I meant was that you gave me hope Carol was still alive..." Daryl told her...now he was confused.

"You're just upset...you don't know what you're saying..." Beth told him. She had denial and desperation in her voice.

"Look, a lot shit went down when the prison fell. I mean...I almost lost my fuckin' mind Beth. If you hadn't been there...I'm not sure I'd be standing here...BUT that doesn't mean I'm in love with you or that I ever was..." Daryl told her.

Beth covered her mouth in shock. Daryl knew his words would hurt her, but it was time this shit gotten straightened out. This cluster-fuck of a Beth situation had gone too far. Beth stepped away from him and turned and ran.

Daryl sighed. He felt...relief...and free. He wasn't one who spoke a lot, but somehow he'd done it with Beth. It was way overdue.

Carol pulled at the weeds. She wondered if whether they shouldn't look into chemicals and fertilizers. Before the walkers, she was always purchasing organic, and buying organic plants to grow. Ed hated it, and she hid it most of the time. Now, organic didn't seem to matter...not if you were living literally day-to-day.

Suddenly, she saw Daryl burst out of the housing door. She tried to ignore him, but he started pacing back and forth. She had to resist the urge to go to him, and to try to calm him down like she normally would have...like she felt driven to do.

Instead, Carol turned back to her plants trying to block Daryl's agitation out. It was hard, and if she was being truthful...impossible. Carol had a connection to Daryl that she didn't think she'd ever be able to separate herself from...she literally felt when his was upset.

This angered her, and she found herself tearing into the ground with a fury. Carol chided herself for still noticing Daryl. She wanted to move on. Move on from a man who, if he was interested, should have shown some indication a long time ago.

"Hey, are you okay?" HE asked her. She hadn't even heard HIM approach.

"Yeah." Carol told him with a smile. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Daryl pause and look over at them.

"Still need help?" HE asked. Looking down at her.

"Yeah." She told him. Then she showed him how and what needed to be done. As Carol watched HIM over the next few hours, she couldn't help but notice how gentle HIS hands moved in the dirt. It made her remember how HIS hands had moved against her body. She shivered at the thought. They were working next to each other, and if she leaned a little bit to the left she'd be touching him.

Carol looked over to him. Something in her eyes must have showed her desire for him...Suddenly, she felt his hand reach out, grasp her neck and pull her into his body...his mouth overtaking hers.

Carol was stunned. Such an open sign of affection, such an intimate activity...out in the yard where everyone could see them. She wasn't ready. She was attracted to him, but to do it in front of everyone showed a sign of commitment. A type of commitment that she wasn't yet ready to give...so Carol pulled back. HE held her firmer, but broke the kiss to say, "Don't pull away. I can give you so much. What you deserve."

Shocked..Carol still pulled back, but HIS grasp was too strong. Suddenly, she felt HIS body pull away from her. When his lips left hers, she felt a sense of relief. She'd felt overwhelmed and dominated. A feeling she didn't like or care to ever experience again.

"Asshole. I don't think she wants what you're offerin'." Daryl told HIM.

Carol looked up. In that moment, she saw a man she hadn't seen for what seemed like an eternity. He was looking between HIM and Carol, and he didn't look happy...he looked lethal. That man was 100% Daryl FUCKIN' Dixon.

To be continued...

Reviews are always welcome...I know some of you are so upset that I haven't put Carol with Daryl...that you've stopped reading this story. I just want to say that if Daryl ends up with Carol (in this story)...Daryl won't be able to just bat his baby blues and just get her. She's worth a shitload more than that.

Hope you keep reading! :)