The last thing she expected when she finished making food for everyone was to see Daryl sat on her bed back in her cell. It was early afternoon now and he was sat on the edge of the bed with his feet on the floor and his hands in his lap, his pale blue eyes looking at them. His fingers were fidgeting and intertwining with his others but his eyes never left them. Finally, he looked up and saw her.
"Sorry. Jus' wanted to sit somewhere bit comfier," he said, quietly.
"Thought this was a cage?" she joked.
He barely smiled. It was brief but definitely there.
"It's fine," she said, sitting beside him. "Have you slept?"
He shook his head. "Nah. Can't sleep."
It was her turn to frown. "Why? What's bothering you?"
His eyes met hers but then he looked back down.
"Daryl?"
"I keep thinking," he started. "About Merle… I mean, I only jus' met up with him again! Now, I don't know if he's even alive…"
Carol knew it was a struggle for Daryl to confess all of this to her. He had not had the best childhood and he never had anyone to put his trust in. That had changed now, he had her so she kept quiet. Urging him to continue with what
He saw his approval to keep going and he did. "He's blood. An' I jus' left him! He could still be alive! He could-"
"Daryl," she whispered, putting a hand on his cheek and turning his face so he was looking at her. He reluctantly turned and she saw how vulnerable he was through his eyes. "He'll be fine. Didn't you tell me that nothing could kill a Dixon but a Dixon?" There it was again. That faint smile. "So, he'll be alright."
Daryl lightly snorted but he smiled nonetheless.
…
"Well, ain't this cosy?"
For one mad moment she thought-speak of the devil- but no. She recognised his stupid drawl anywhere.
"What are you doing?" she asked her hand leaving Daryl face as she stood up. "Rick told you to get back to the other cell block."
Axel shrugged. "He wanted ever'one here plannin' for this Woodbury town attack or somethin'."
"Not now," she said. "And anyway, that wasn't what I asked. Why are you here?"
"I just thought I'd check up on ya'," he said, leaning against the door frame. He looked to Daryl. "Good t' see ya back. She's been worried, man."
Daryl stood up and stepped in front of Carol, much like he had done when Shane suggested Sophia was no longer alive. "Well, I am back now so you can go."
"Hey, man, I'm sorry," Axel said, straightening up. "Was just checkin' up on y-"
"You don't need t' do that no more," Daryl interrupted, stepping closer to him. "You don't need t' be anywhere near here. She's told ya to go so go."
Axel stiffened but raised his hands. Carol knew nobody wanted to get into a fight with Daryl.
"Okay. I'm goin'," Axel said, backing out of the cell and walking away.
Daryl grunted. "Never liked 'im. Glad you said somethin'."
Carol looked up at him. She almost opened her mouth to say something but backtracked. His face was tired and he looked worn out. He looked down at her and the corner of his mouth flicked up. It didn't reach his eyes but she'd take it.
"C'mon. Need to go and see what Rick's planned. I thought we'd be under attack by now."
Carol wasn't sure if it was a joke or not but it didn't matter. She followed him eagerly out of the cell block, keeping an eye on him at all times.
…
He felt his rage bubbling to the surface not two minutes after Rick had started talking about defensive strategies.
"Look, we've got a good prison. Strong walls. Good weapons. We can last in this place. It ours-"
"They don't care if the prison is ours or not," Daryl interrupted. "We're not on the best of terms with 'em and now they're gonna want this place even more and us dead." The words hung heavy in the air, he knew. After what had happened to Glenn and himself at Woodbury, he knew that they weren't gonna be giving second chances to them. "It's what's gonna happen, alright? We can't compare to their weapons. I saw 'em running out of the place!"
Rick swallowed but then he said, "What I say stands. We're staying here. Tyreese and Michonne, go up in one guard tower. Look out for anything. Maggie, take Sasha and the others outside. Carl, you go with them-"
Rick was still barking orders when Daryl dragged his hands through his hair and pushed past everyone and back towards the cells.
…
Carol was nervous about following him. She knew how he was when he was angry but he wasn't like that any more, she had convinced herself. Stepping closer to her own cell, she could a bang on the wall. And another. Then again. As she peered into the cell, she saw Daryl cradling his right fist in his left palm. Blood was dripping off his knuckles and his face was contorted with pain.
"Daryl!" she cried, rushing forward and reaching for his hand.
She held his bloody hand in hers and glanced up at him. "Wait here."
Moments later, she returned with some water and a bandage. He snorted when he saw it.
"Shut up," she said.
"We're low on stuff as it is," he said but he allowed her to clean his dirty knuckles and wrap them up.
She had fastened the bandage but she kept hold of his hand. It was strangely comforting to just sit on the bed with Daryl next to her, holding his hand in hers. Their eyes locked for a brief second and she smiled.
"Rick says he wants to speak t' ya," Axel said, appearing at the doorway again.
This next part, Carol hadn't anticipated. Daryl rose slowly from the bed, locking eyes with Axel fiercely. He took three strides towards Axel and stopped when their faces were inches apart.
"I've told ya. This is the last time I'll say it. Stay outta here. I don't wanna see your face."
Carol looked at the confrontation, unsure of what to do.
"Well, I jus' wanted-"
Then Daryl turned away from him, as though his point had been made, then in one quick movement, his left first swung around and caught Axel right on the jaw. The convict stumbled back several shocked steps until he regained his balance and gripped his jaw. He blinked at Daryl who was breathing heavily then scurried away. Daryl turned back to look at Carol whose face was a mix of shock and humour.
…
It was dark now. No threats had been spotted all day. Glenn was slowly healing. Axel had stayed out of his way. The other group were now much more comfortable with staying in the other cell block. All in all, Daryl hadn't expected this level of calmness throughout the prison. It was a more relaxed atmosphere and so he made his way to his perch. He was just getting comfortable when he heard a whimpering in Carol's cell. Frowning, he sat up and made his way into her cell. He knocked on the wall and she leapt up into the sitting position, knife in hand.
"Shit, woman, jus' me!" he said.
Her shoulders relaxed and she wiped the sweat off her brow and rested her head on the wall next to her.
"You okay?" he said, moving closer and sitting on the end of her bed. He was a little uncomfortable with the scenario but he ignored it. He could make out her glassy blue eyes in the dark.
She nodded. "Fine."
"Pfft. What was all that about then?"
"What was all what about?"
Daryl leant forward. "C'mon. What's this about?"
"I had a nightmare," she said. "'Bout you." He stopped. "In Woodbury."
He wasn't sure of what to do. Carol was sitting there with her knees hugged to her chest under her flimsy blanket. Daryl finally sighed and started to untie his boots and he kicked them off. He shrugged off his vest and looked at her through the dark. He knew she was watching him so he walked forward and slid into bed next to her.
"Go t' sleep, woman."