The Walking Dead doesn't belong to me.
Carol awoke with a start. She'd been dreaming about Ed. It was her own fault for talking about him earlier. He rarely crossed her mind other than a passing thought on how good life was without him. It was sinful to think such things; to be grateful for his death. But she was. She sighed and rolled to her side. It was still late. Or very early. The darkness was just beginning to be chased away by a faint rosy gray colour.
"Bad dream?"
Carol nearly jumped out of her skin. Standing just outside her cell, leaning against the bars, was Daryl. She could just make him out in the dim light.
"Not bad so much as annoying." Carol said, rubbing her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Nothin' Why don't you go back to sleep." He said in a low rasp.
"It's alright. I'm awake now. Taking a break from Merle?" She asked. He looked distracted.
"Merle's not much for early rising. I was maybe gonna go hunt." He said this but made no move to leave.
Carol sat up and wrapped her blanket around her. "Aren't you leaving this morning?" She asked.
"Looks like it." Daryl shrugged.
"You don't have to go." Carol suggested. She wasn't sure if it was on her behalf or Maggie's. She didn't dare hope that their existence could just continue as it had. Everything had shifted and they seemed to be in a holding pattern, waiting for the unknown thing that was about to happen.
"Merle wants to go." Daryl said.
"What do you want?" Carol asked sharply. It was unfair to be angry with him, she supposed. He was free to do as he pleased.
"Already told ya." He said simply, looking down at his shoes.
"Why?" She asked. He remained silent, unwilling to answer.
"It's pretty romantic, you know, asking me to run away with you." She teased. She fought to feel the comfortable lightness that they'd managed to develop between them. He was having none of it, though, and the air was weighted with tension.
"I need to know you're safe." He said finally, shifting on his feet.
"There's no such thing anymore." Carol reminded him. "Rick does his best. We've come this far."
"Would you come if it was just me?" He asked then, surprising her.
"I'm not sure." Carol decided. "It would depend on why you asked me to come along."
Daryl was chewing his thumb now. "Fuck, I don't know!" He whispered harshly. "So I can know where you are. Keep an eye on you."
"That makes me feel like a burden, Daryl. I don't need you to babysit me. I'll be fine. Or I won't."
"What do you want me to say?"
Carol blinked back the threatening tears. "I don't know. It doesn't matter anyway because Merle is with you. Do you want me to say I'm sad? That I'll miss you? I'm heartbroken. You're my best friend." She held her tongue then, frightened of what else she might say. She didn't want to embarrass either of them by making unwanted declarations.
Carol stood up from the bed and faced him, only the bars of the cell between them. "I will miss you." She admitted. She fingered the bars and wished he'd take her hand again like he had at the fence. Daryl seemed to hesitate, his fingers twitching with a similar wish. Carol sighed inwardly and stroked one of his fingers with her own. He immediately caught her hand and held it.
"You're not a burden." He said gruffly. "Never."
"Is Merle really worth it?" She asked, rubbing her thumb against his.
"I know how Merle comes off. But there's more to him than you know."
"Would he do the same for you?" Carol asked.
"Merle's done more for me than you'd ever guess." Daryl said, pressing his head against the bars. "I owe him my life."
She stared at the man, soaking in every detail. It hurt to imagine never seeing him again. She'd have no way of knowing if he was safe somewhere, or dead. She'd miss the way his eyes flicked up at her, never maintaining contact, but always watching. This was it. She might never have another moment alone with him again. The others would rise with the sun and Daryl would leave forever.
She reached up with her other hand and held it against his face. He flinched, but didn't move. After a moment he seemed to lean into her touch and she stroked his brow with her thumb.
"I'll say my goodbyes now." She said softly. "Don't be afraid." With that warning she leaned forward, meeting him through the bars. His eyes were wide and wild as she pressed her mouth to the side of his and kissed him. She backed off by an inch and let him have a moment to think about it. When she leaned in again, he turned his head so his lips met hers.