This started out as a role play between myself (gunslingerdixon) and my Carol rp partner untapdtreasure (nolongeraxburden), and it was mutually decided upon to share with the rest of FF as a fanfiction. So here it is! Enjoy!

If y'all are interested in following us just go to: nolongeraxburden. tumblr .com or gunslingerdixon. tumblr .com

Also: we own nothing in regards to The Walking Dead. All rights belong to the copyright holder.

Daryl:

The pungent smell of acrid wintergreen filled his nostrils. He wrinkled his nose in contempt— far worse smells seemed better at that moment. The liquid sloshed in the bottle before it was poured over his wounds. It burned and he tried pulling his hand away. Low growl deep in his throat trying to contain the cry of pain as he winced.

He bit the inside of his cheek as it stung deep in the ripped pieces of flesh. Daryl hadn't lied about having dealt with far worse. Arrow to the side seemed to be top on his list. This just stung like a bitch because of how deep the shards had tore at his hand. The pipes groaned as the astringent wound it's way through the sewer system and forever gone to where it was the pipes led.

She teased him lightly. Scoffing, Daryl knew it was to make light of his previous outburst. "I ain't tough like Merle. Bastard could damned near get hit by a train and walk 'way fine." He gnashed out between his teeth. Merle was good like that. And he wasn't wrong about him neither. Only person could kill Merle was Merle. In the end, Daryl had been right. He hated when he was.

In the back of his mind he was reminded of a time when he'd knocked a glass over. His Daddy had thrown a fit at the broken shards that littered the ground. Forced Daryl to pick them up by hand. And he did. Dixons didn't say no when they were told to do something. And they certainly didn't give up either.

Merle had been the one to stitch his hand up. Wrapped up the bleeding mess with an old ratty dishcloth and a nonchalant ruffle to his copper hair. He could still smell the sharp tobacco of the cigarette Merle had been smoking. The stick dangling from his lips as he half-soberly wrapped it about his hand. That was that and nothing more needn't be said about the whole matter. He just understood that things were just as they were. Wasn't more they could do but grin and bear it as they did— day in, day out.

When Carol finished dressing his wound, her soft voice brought him back from his childhood. Brush of fingers dancing along the bandage. He swallowed the lump clogging his throat. He felt nervous again. A weight slowly building in his chest— always present and then not. He'd grown accustomed to it, but found it burdensome when she seemed to breech his comfort zone. Wasn't her fault. It just happened that way.

When she kissed at his wrist, pressing her warm lips at that one spot that sent a shiver down his spine, he damn-near choked on his tongue. Not a literal choke. Just a flop of his gut that sent his insides a flutter. Jaw didn't bother to work to form words as they were lost on him. He may as well gone mute from his reaction. A boy's reaction to being kissed by a girl. She felt her lips whisper silent words and then pulled away.

"Jus' fine. Not more can be done." His voice coarse like sand having struggled to find it finally broke his silence. Daryl found words hard to come by in that moment. His sentences a tangle of thoughts running faster than his mouth could form. Knowing the fool he was going to make of himself, Daryl's jaw went rigid, muscle taut. Not another word spoke.

He could feel those bright blue eyes searching him out as he stood there in the dark. That glean ever so sharp in spite of the dim light that only seemed to trickle because of the moon. Wetting his chapped lips he tried once more. "Better get some shut eye. Ain't got a lot of time 'fore we go." Daryl's voice this time held more strength in his tone despite the boyish warble that came through. He shied away almost instantaneously feeling the embarrassment of her kiss at his wrist settling into his cheeks.

Thank god it was dark. Daryl could play it aloof like it hadn't bothered him and they could maybe go about sleeping without making things somewhat weird. He did find things odd between them. An unresolved sort of tension that he wasn't completely sure on. He had a remote idea, but it surely would never come to fruition. Not right now at least. Not right now.

Carol:

Carol let him pull his hand away with so much as a fight. She cleaned up her cleaning supplies, tucking them back into her pack. Her fingers clamped tight around the bottle of gatorade. She picked it up, placing it on the sink. "Here. Just in case you're thirsty." She gave him a smile of sorts in the darkness. "Can't have you or me getting dehydrated."

She then turned her attention to bedding down for the night. She very easily folded up the poncho to use as a pillow. It was much too hot to need a blanket, not to mention the thickness of it would just make it that much more closed in if she were to lay it across her. She sat down on the floor.

There was just enough light to make him out. He was standing, no doubt trying to make heads or tails of the mess they were in. She knew he needed his space to think so she didn't say another word as she laid back and stared up at the ceiling. She swallowed the lump that formed as her mind went over the events of the night.

Their kisses were fresh in her mind. Her lips gave a little tingle at the memory. Things had changed between them. And she would do good to remember that she had to keep treading carefully where his heart was concerned. Too fast and she'd lose him. Too slow and she'd grow impatient. She had to find a balance. Some way of showing him they could be more without messing up any sense of self or belonging that he had.

Her eyes were growing heavy as she turned onto her side, content to leave her thoughts and rest. She could still make him out. He was so much more than he'd ever given himself credit for. And he meant everything to her. She wouldn't stop showing him now. She couldn't.

She drifted off to sleep, uncomfortable and full of so many emotions. Her dreams seemed to match with a mixture of past, present, future. She tossed a bit here and there, but remained asleep.

Please review and let us know what you thought! Cheers!

*Note: This is also not 100% written by myself. I owe a lot of credit to my wonderful partner as she is Carol and does a phenomenal job. Send her some love too at untapdtreasure here at FF!