So, I realized that I left Chapter 15 with a cruel cliffhanger. :( So, here...so you aren't left hanging...:)

Of course, I don't own anything or have anything to do with TWD. This is just for fun.

Chapter 16

Daryl POV

Daryl stood there and stared down at Carol. He felt the blood drain from his face. There, on her beautifully freckled shoulder, was a bite mark. In a panic, he fell to his knees next to her. In disbelief, he began wiping the blood away from it to see it better. Daryl looked at it closer, and noticed that the puncture wounds were small and slim looking.

"What is it?" Carol asked him. "It didn't feel like a bite...it felt like a sting." She was much calmer than Daryl was concerning the situation. That was Carol now. Strong and calm.

Daryl looked behind Carol, and saw what had caused her injury. An old strip of carpet tact was piled on top of an old rug. The tacks were the same shape and were narrow just like her wounds. When she had fallen she had somehow rolled on top of it. It caused the shape of the injury and the design of it.

Daryl relaxed and leaned back on his heels. His heart started to beat again. He almost laughed out loud in joy.

"Tell me you've had your tetanus shot recently." Daryl asked her. His face breaking out into a smile.

It would be hard to find the medicine for giving a tetanus shot, but it was a hell of a lot better than a fuckin' walker bite.

Carol grinned. "A month before all hell broke loose."

Daryl leaned forwards, and wrapped his arms around Carol. Damn, he just got her back, he sure as hell wasn't ready to lose her now.

"Hey! Careful! Injured woman here!" Carol teased him.

"Woman, you'd better stop scaring the hell out of me." Daryl told her with a sigh of relief. "Let's get inside and get you patched up.

Carol held the rag to her shoulder, and cautiously followed Daryl into the abandoned cabin. Luckily, there were no other walkers inside.

After Daryl had cleaned and bandaged Carol's shoulder, he went out and grabbed some wood to make a fire. Carol went about organizing the pact she had managed to grab before they ran. She pulled out two cans of soup and set them aside.

When Daryl got back to the cabin they started a fire and ate in silence. The silence was comfortable. It was natural for them. When they were done eating, they settled in for the night. Daryl figured out that the couch was actually a pull out...It was old and musty, but it was better than the floor. It was also near the fire, so all in all, it wasn't that bad. Carol laid down, taking care to stay off her injured arms. Luckily, the puncture wounds weren't terribly deep.

"I'm going to have to wrap you up in bubble wrap if you keep getting hurt like this..." Daryl told her. He laid down behind her and took care to only rest his arm around her waist.

"I know...but it's worth it if it protects the ones you love." Carol told him squeezing his hand. Daryl leaned in and kissed Carol's neck. Carol shivered and smiled.

"I need you to be more careful." Daryl said in a near whisper. His eyebrow furrowed with concern. "There are people who love you just as much, and would do the same to save you."

Carol turned to look at Daryl. This man was the most beautiful man she'd ever met. His warmth, care, and loyalty was what truly made him beautiful. Daryl pulled himself up to where he was hovering over her. He had all his weight on his arms...keeping it off her. He leaned down and kissed her gently.

Though they were exhausted, they carefully undressed each other. When they made love, it was slow and gentle. They reveled in knowing they were safe in each others arms. Making love was the physical act of one heart fully connecting to the other. It was the recognition of soul mates who had finally found one another after multiple lifetimes of searching. That night Daryl and Carol sealed their connection to one another and for the first time ever...they finally felt complete.

To be continued...