Enjoy Chapter 11 - thank you my steady readers and my new ones too. I enjoy each review, it's like my drug. So hit that button please. Hugs, Kat

It was still dark outside when he woke, hearing Glenn switch shifts with Maggie and their whispered murmurs in passing, then the kiss. He wondered what it was like not to worry about how to act, what to say or what to do around a woman that you cared about. He had nothing to draw on, and in a way neither did she. Her sleeping silhouette was barely visible in the dim, yellow light from the lantern but he could hear her breathing, a steady, comforting sound.

At some point he must've turned over to face her again. He felt bad for shutting her out earlier. It was in Carol's nature to care about everyone, to care about the group. He did too, just expressed it differently. "What in the hell are we doin'?" He whispered, propping his head up on his arm and running his thumb down her jaw.

She murmured in her sleep and pushed closer into the span of his chest. Instantly he panicked and tried to back up, wondering if she was awake but she was tenacious and followed his movements. If he backed up any further he'd be off the blankets. Her hand curled around his bicep, pulling her body even with his. She felt so small against him. Her eyes flickered open long enough to see him, gauge the expression on his face – or at least that's what he thought she was doing and then he held his breath as she kissed him.

Her soft, warm lips swept across his and he reacted, gave in completely for a moment, losing himself. It scared him because he never wanted anyone to have any kind of hold over him the way they had before.

This is different. He told himself. She doesn't wanna hurt you. But she could hurt him and that was a risk he'd have to decide on taking or not. But you've already gone past the point where you can stop now.

She sensed his internal struggle and waited. She always waited, always had been patient with him, which was why he trusted her. When he found he couldn't fight it; the wheels in his head stopped their spinning. He brought himself far enough back to set eyes on her again. "Carol." He whispered. "Come here." He'd been sayin' that a lot lately. It reaffirmed how much he wanted this, how much he wanted her.

She did, with everything she had inside her, he could feel it vibrating through her and into him and from him back to her. His tongue ran across her bottom lip, slowly and deliberately before his lips held fast to hers again. And then it felt like he couldn't get enough of her, like if they didn't take their clothes off right then and there he'd go crazy. How could another person have this much of an effect on him? It freaked him out.

Shit. He thought, trembling as she unhooked the buttons on his shirt. He'd never exposed himself to anyone – the dark, jagged scars. Would she be able to see the fucked up road map to his past in the low light? She clung tight to the edge of his shirt determined to snatch it open where only a few more small buttons held it together in the front.

"It's alright." She assured him in the quietest whisper against his ear, popping that last button.

He smirked against the soft flesh of her neck, knowing he'd catch her mending the shirt in the next day or two. His thoughts scattered again when the shirt fell loose off his shoulders and he worked on pulling hers over her head, trying not to think about how she'd react or if she'd hesitate once she pressed her hands against his chest.

They came up together as if coming up for air, sitting on the mess of blankets they'd been laying on and under. The black bra stood out against her pale, freckled skin. He didn't know what shocked him more, her choice in sexy underwear or that she ran her hand along his shoulder blade, moving down across the start of many divots, flaws and lines of disfiguration without hesitation. She never took her gaze off his, never tried to hide the tears that glossed her eyes.

Her breath caught when he grabbed her hand. She was probably afraid he was pissed, but instead he held her hand in place and reached over with his other, swallowing the lump in his throat, running a shaky finger along the black lace that adorned the tip of her bra.

Once his stare left hers he felt his face tighten up in that way it always did when he felt unsure. He didn't want to feel any uncertainty – not when it came to the here and now, especially not with her. Everyone was asleep. Maggie was on watch, they had the next few hours for the takin'.

Carol put her hand up to his face, closing the gap between their bodies, bringing her knees between his. Her arms crept around his shoulders, across the ugliness, the flaws and imperfections he'd always kept covered and she held him, just held him as he tried to hold back the tears that he sealed behind his eyelids.

If anything were gonna happen, it was gonna be now, he decided – but the sound of someone running – Maggie – running off the hill froze them in place.

"Walkers." Came her desperate whisper as her shadow whipped past their tent.

Daryl had his shirt back on in seconds and the crossbow loaded. He edged his way out of the tent and ran after Maggie in the darkness. Glenn wasn't far behind.

"What do we got here?" He asked when he reached her side.

"I counted at least five comin' out of the woods." She whispered back.

"Alright, five we can handle. Quiet now, if there's more we'll wind up drawin' them out too." Daryl warned, holding his arm out to keep Glenn back for a minute. "Let 'em come to us."

The sickening scent flew in on the breeze. The scuffing and moaning grew louder as they advanced through the field. A few he noted were in prison jumpsuits and chewed up pretty bad. "Got this one." He whispered, aiming at the one closest. His bolt hit its brain and the thing buckled, knocking into the walker next to it. Quickly he reloaded and took out the second one.

Maggie ran like a warrior, taking a wild swing at the next, slicing its head straight down the middle. It made a cracking sound, as if she'd split a pumpkin or a cantaloupe in two. She tip toed back quick as not to get messy. They were going to have enough of that once they got to the prison after the sun came up.

"Two left." Daryl announced, scanning the area for more, but he didn't see any. Carol joined them then, carrying his knife, her shirt and sweater back on. One look was all it'd take and his mind would be filled with creamy, freckled skin and black lace. Shaking the thoughts away wasn't easy. He could've reloaded and taken the other two down but Glenn went for the fourth with his knife, and Maggie sliced through the fifth, dodging its groping fingers and getting it in the shoulder from behind, then butchering through the back of its head once it was down in the grass.

He did a thorough sweep of the area with the three of them covering him. Once they got back up on the ridge, Daryl eyed the tree line with the binoculars. Something was off and he still couldn't place the feeling that'd been with him since the day they'd set up camp here. Keeping his concerns to himself right now was best though, he didn't wanna scare Maggie. It was the first time she'd taken watch, so he clapped her arm and headed back down to the tent, taking Carol's small hand in his own.

"Good eyes." He called back, leaving Glenn up there with her.

In the morning he'd planned on hunting and the first place he wanted to check once sunlight hit the ground was the direction those walkers came from.

Carol ducked inside the tent first, but he stood outside watching that same area for a moment before he joined her.

They sat in silence while she studied him with her eyes before pulling the covers over herself. "Something's bothering you – and it's not what was happenin' with us."

If he were to tell anyone it'd be her. "I've felt somethin' since we came here. That's all."

She propped her head up on her arm and patted the spot next to her. He kept his shirt on and slid in next to her. Putting his arms behind his head, he glanced over and realized she was waiting for more of a drawn out explanation, though she hadn't asked out loud.

"It's like someone's watchin' us."

"Andrea? Michonne? Maybe they've come back?"

He didn't wanna burst her bubble. He almost laughed. "Naw, they wouldn't hang back and spy. If they were comin' back they'd waltz right in here. It's someone. Not more than one."

"A scout from another group maybe?"

She was tryin' her best to help. "I grew up havin' to creep around, hopin' I could make myself invisible. I know how ta do that still – and there's only one other person who can mimic that out there."

Realization dawned across her features. "No, you don't think?"

"I can't say for sure. No tellin', but I'm gonna do a thorough go around when I hunt this mornin'."

She grew more concerned with each second that ticked by. He could tell by the restless way she twitched next to him. "Take someone with you." She said finally. "Please."

He shook his head. "Naw, better off goin' alone so I can focus. I don't want no one knowin'. Not 'till I'm sure. We all got enough on our minds with gettin' in the prison."

There was fear in her eyes, but she managed to nod and let out a hoarse whisper, "I'll keep it quiet. But I'll be watchin' for you. Wake me up before you leave."

He rolled on his side and scooped his arm around her waist, pulling her flush with his body, knowing she'd probably feel him wake and be up and out of the tent before him. Resting his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes. Though he fought it and the thoughts of his big brother possibly lurking close by, her breathing became a rhythmic lullaby that finally soothed him to sleep.

Merle stood still as he could between two large pines. His hand felt sticky when he pulled it away from the seeping tree trunk. The smell of pine overtook the oozy, skanky, puss from those bastard geeks he'd ambushed. Originally there'd been fifteen in this bunch, but only five made it past him into the field.

Like he'd seen with the sheriff and Daryl earlier, the clan out there in their little tents had each other's backs. He'd known his brother had made it out of that camp. When he'd gone back and seen the graves at first he'd panicked. The drugs had been wearing off, he'd been jonesin' for more, but then he saw his bike and the truck were both gone.

He never figured on Daryl gettin' this cozy with anyone – he'd always been a pussy loner. What surprised him more was the way he took up with the scrawny bitch he was in the tent with now, probably knockin' the bottom outta her. What the fuck was he thinkin' or was he thinkin' at all? Hell, I'm lucky if I can think myself most days. Merle almost laughed in spite of himself.

He took a deep breath, wiped the gore off his forehead, before he began the long process of draggin' the bodies far away, then coverin' his tracks 'cause the way his brother stalled before goin' into his tent, he was almost sure he'd head out in this exact direction as soon as first light hit.

Merle spun in a slow, lazy circle, eyeing the heaps of bodies surrounding him, his smile forming into a full blown grin.

Darylena had always thought he was so smart. If he was catchin' on, that was one thing, but he wasn't gonna get jump on his big bro. If it's gonna come down to a game of cat and mouse boy, you're gonna find yerself bein' the mouse. Merle thought and set to work.

The light from the rising sun seeped through the nylon of the tent, warming her cheek. Daryl lay on his stomach, his forehead resting on his muscled arm. His other lay between their bodies and she could feel his hand wrapped tightly around her hip. She never knew how she might find him when they woke – he always wound up in some crazy position from being such a restless sleeper, not that she was any better.

She thought back when it'd been dark and how they'd almost gone a step further. The inside of her thighs burned when the memory of his touch washed over her. They might have gone all the way if the walkers hadn't rolled through, though she wasn't sure if Daryl had been ready to – she blinked, fresh tears springing into her eyes, thinking about the vulnerability he'd revealed.

The scars hadn't surprised her much; she'd gotten a few peeks at them while living on the farm. It was the pain he hadn't let go of on the inside that killed her. Ed may have been a monster – and he'd beaten her good a time or three, but there was no comparison. That had been her doing. She'd married the man. She'd chosen to stay in the loveless, sham of a marriage. Losing Sophia had been her punishment for that. Daryl hadn't picked the family he'd been born into or the life he'd been given. He had nothing to be ashamed of. One thing she knew for certain, after their wordless exchange last night, he hadn't ever let anyone in the way he had her.

All of a sudden he sucked in a breath and his eyes flew open. His hand gripped her hip tighter. "Christ." He whispered. "Fuckin' never know where I'm gonna wake up."

She put her hand over his wrist and squeezed.

"Shit, sorry." He said when he realized he had an iron grip on her and got ready to pull his hand away.

"Don't." She told him, holding it in place. "Stay for just a minute."

"I gotta get out there. The sun'll be nice and high soon I'll be able ta track - if there are any tracks to be seen, besides the walkers." He told her in a low voice.

She didn't want him to leave. Right now they were safe in the moment and that's all they had were moments. These kind of moments seemed to be what was driving her these days. Pushing up on her elbow, she pulled his arm further around her and kissed him. He slid his tongue inside her mouth letting out a deep groan as he pulled away. And then he surprised her by taking her hand and putting it where she could feel his erection in his pants. "If we don't stop I won't get out there and that's more important right now." He said quietly.

A determined frown was what she gave back, but she rolled away from him moving to lace up her boots and go out to make coffee. She wasn't planning on taking her eyes off of him if she could help it.

By the time he met her outside the tent, she had at least a cup of coffee made for him to take.

He raked a hand through his hair and stared off into the distance at the five bodies that lay on the ground.

"Go on. We'll figure out what to do with them once everyone wakes up." She looked behind her and saw Maggie wave from the chair and Glenn wedged between her legs, his head resting on her knee as he slept. "He didn't wanna leave her."

Daryl squinted, looking up at the couple. Grumbling, he held up the cup. "Thanks. Now stay put. I'll be back, with breakfast."

Once he made it past the fallen walkers and into the woods, she followed. He wasn't the only one adept at sneaking around, not the only person in the world who'd figured out a way to stay invisible when need be. She pulled her sweater around herself, buttoning it down the front and moved on careful to stay in his tracks in the dew. A large knife left by the campfire over night yielded a quick pick for her weapon, though she would've preferred the baseball bat or crowbar.

At the edge of the forest it grew dark. The sun had just poked up over the hill by the pond but its light hadn't stretched far enough to where she now stood behind a thick pine.

Daryl was standing in the middle of a clearing looking up into the tree tops, bow off his shoulder and loaded but not aimed. Her nerve to follow him further in almost disappeared. She needed more confidence in her ability to hide from him and it came when he began to retreat into the shadows. There was no way she was letting him out of her sight.

She was careful to stay just off the trail, so when he rounded back – if he did, he wouldn't spot her tracks. It was quiet among the budding trees, the tweet or rustle of the occasional bird, but other than that, it seemed peaceful enough. She'd take the long way around. Once he got close enough to camp she'd follow him out and pretend she'd just gone in to pee. That simple. She thought moving a bit further in, keeping focused on the faded wings of his vest.

He was at home, hunting, walking and tracking among the trees and the graceful way he moved kept her eyes busy. He'd already killed two squirrels. That reminded her she'd better watch where she was walking. When she looked down she found tracks heading toward camp.

The walkers from last night. She figured, but as she widened her view and took it all in she saw more, more than just five. There were tracks all over the place, a little further over from where he was looking but then they died quickly as if the walkers had 'appeared'. It's been raked over. She knelt down and felt the dirt. Whoever had done it had been real careful, but not careful enough – or maybe thought Daryl wouldn't veer off the path much.

What was she supposed to do? Daryl was further ahead of her now, out of her eyesight. If she didn't warn him –

"I fuckin' told you to stay back there." He yelled from her left, scaring her out of her skin.

She whirled to face him suddenly, angry at his tone. She'd taken shit all her life and damnit, it stung to have him go from bein' the way he was with her last night to how he sounded now. She let the fact that he was standing right next to her griping, boil over like water on a hot stove. "You know if you hadn't figured out I was here, you never would've found this." She gestured to the ground with the knife where the dirt was a different color and the tracks abruptly began.

His expression changed in the next minute from surprised - he retreated a step backwards when she gave it back to him - to curious as he bent down to see what she was pointing at, to fear.

"Did a good job." He muttered – not talking about her, she understood. "Why don'tcha come out?" He stood up, getting louder with each word, gearing his energy toward the phantom culprit somewhere in the woods. "Quit fuckin' around. No, you were always good at that weren't ya?" He started pacing, plucking the knife from her hands and stabbing a nearby pine with it. "Come on!" He yelled, but nothing happened. "Fuck." The word came out anguished, pained.

"Daryl." She said meekly, resting her hand on the backside of his flexed bicep. He pulled away, but it wasn't unexpected. Actually she'd expected worse.

"My brother's alive." He said advancing on her. "And he's here."

"You don't know for - "

"The fuck I don't." He said swinging away from her again. He paced, checked the tracks and the line where they started again.

"Where are his tracks then?" Carol asked.

Daryl let out a laugh – but it wasn't a ha ha funny laugh. "Don't you know anything? He almost got it all covered up. He knows what he's doin'. There were more walkers last night – he took care of 'em." Daryl followed the tracks back to where they stopped again, a short distance from the clearing. "A few must've gotten past him."

"What do you think he wants?" She whispered, crossing her arms, hugging herself as she often did now that Sophia was gone.

He turned to look at her, narrowing his eyes. "For someone so smart you sure can be - "

"Knock it off Daryl. I was smart enough to find what you were lookin' for."

He stood there for a second, mouth open to say something, but he must've changed his mind. "He's waitin'. Probably watchin' us now." He said a little louder.

"Do you feel like he's watchin' us?" She asked, hoping he'd tell her no.

But he nodded yes instead, gripping his crossbow. "And he don't want us to know what his agenda is."

"So what do we do?"

Her question seemed easy for him to answer as he took her by the elbow gently and prodded her to move with him. "We go on with ours." And a little quieter, he said, "And we wait. Gonna need your help."