Hey guys! I'm psyched to be diving into requests! Granted, this is a hard left turn from the playful smut in the last chapter, but I still hope you'll enjoy it. As promised, I'm doing my best to make these requests happen. Vickih asked me to write about Carol confessing to Daryl. She wanted me to describe the moment when Carol finally breaks down and tells someone about what happened to the girls…back in the grove. This was difficult for me, but I think It's an important moment and it shows how deeply Daryl and Carol care for one another. I'm trying to stay true to the characters in the show, so the Carol and Daryl in this scene have not had any prior romantic involvement.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead, but I sure could write the s #$ out of that show!

Chapter 2: Truth

The sun was sinking slowly, bathing the city in eerie, twisted shadows. The last rays of glowing, orange light were slipping away…disappearing down dark alleys, the bright glare streaking across cracked windows. Carol reached up and used her sleeve to wipe layers of dust and grime from the glass. Her thin fingers were resting lightly on the window ledge as she stared out at a broken world. A heavy sigh escaped her, making her shoulders slump. She knew they'd been fortunate to stumble across the deserted office building…the same one she'd stayed in when Rick exiled her. As she stood near the window, Carol couldn't help but to think back to the nights she'd spent there…alone, curled on a small sofa….her knife clutched tightly in her hand as she tried desperately to sleep. She bowed her head as the memories flickered behind her eyes…

Daryl didn't say anything as he walked to the window and stood just a few feet from her. His eyes narrowed while he watched the sun dip below the horizon. With one hand in his pocket and the other gripping the strap of his bow, the hunter took in the scenery. The once thriving city was dead…dry…burned out. Corpses and garbage filled the streets. Crushed glass glittered like sugar crystals on the black asphalt. As he continued to stare out at the wreckage, Daryl was finding it difficult to remember what Atlanta had been like before the turn. He eyed the skyscrapers…banks, offices…hospitals…their facades littered with broken windows, like open mouths with jagged teeth…from a distance, they seemed to be screaming. As the sun dragged it's light away, a dark world grew darker, and Daryl glanced at the woman who stood beside him.

"Hey," he growled softly, stirring her from her thoughts.

She reached up, rubbing the back of her neck as another sigh escaped her.

"You alright?" he asked, knowing how foolish the question must sound.

Since when have any of us been alright?

But he still felt the need to ask, if only out of habit.

She rapped her knuckles lightly on the window ledge, her eyes still fixed on the devastation outside.

"It's just strange," she said, her voice soft…tired. "When I was here before…it was hard seeing the city like this. Still is. When everything fell apart…people were crawling over each other to get out…just didn't think I'd be coming back here."

Daryl answered with a slow nod. "Me neither."

Carol folded her arms across her chest and took a step away from the window. "You really think we're gonna find her?"

The hunter hefted the bow strap on his shoulder and bowed his head. He considered his words. When he finally felt that he had the strength to meet her gaze, he lifted his chin. "You found us…" he said, gnawing his lower lip.

Carol's lips parted but she couldn't speak. She was lost in her memories…her chest tightened as she thought back to her time at Termnius…the way it felt when she walked into the storage room and saw Daryl's bow sitting amongst all the belongings of the victims who had gone before him. The room had been filled with so many things…children's toys, weapons, clothing, personal effects…there must have been hundreds…but all that mattered was the bow…the familiar arrows fletched with bright green feathers. The blood had frozen in her veins and air left her lungs as she moved towards the table. She'd reached out, her hand shaking as her fingers curled carefully around the stock. It had taken all her strength to heft the weapon onto her shoulder and keep going. The only thing that drove her was the hope that he might still be alive…somewhere. She had to believe that there was a chance… It wasn't luck, and it wasn't prayer that lead her to her group…it was ruthless determination and perseverance. She'd witnessed the attack on the prison and knew that the others must've fled. Despite her crimes, Carol knew that she couldn't stop until she reunited with the people who'd taken her in so long ago. She supposed that if she'd managed to find them…to help them…then she and Daryl could find Beth. Whether or not the girl would still be alive was another matter.

Her eyes were growing warm and she rubbed her cheek against her shoulder. "You're right," she whispered. "I found you. We can find Beth." She turned, moving away from the window. They'd found a small break-room with two cots pushed against the wall. Carol walked to the cot that was closest and slumped down, her hands going to her hair as she bowed her head. She blew out a breath and ran her fingers slowly through her hair. "We can head back out as soon as the sun's up." she said.

Daryl could see that there was something weighing on her mind…something heavier than their search for Beth. She'd been quiet since Terminus. The hunter almost felt as though they'd traded roles. She'd withdrawn into herself, keeping the others out, while he'd taken to seeking her out…prodding her for answers that she wouldn't give. She didn't posses the same hostility that he'd had during their time on the farm…she'd never lashed out at him the way he'd screamed at her beneath the tree, after Sophia's death…but she was still guarded. So much so that Daryl was growing concerned. He felt that some part of her had been lost…damaged after she left the prison. He didn't know what caused the change…or how to help her, but he wasn't going to let the woman he knew disappear. Drawing on what little strength the day had left him with, he made his way across the small room and sat down on the edge of the second cot. They stared, in silence, at opposite walls…their backs facing each other.

Sighing, he shrugged off his bow, setting it on the floor. His fingers curled tightly around the edge of the cot as nervousness began to get the best of him. He knew that he needed to say something, but he'd already tried so many times…and she always ended the conversation before it could even begin. She'd turn away from him, sighing, a shadow passing over her features. She'd retreat behind the safety of the walls she'd created for herself, leaving him on the outside with so many unanswered questions. With his head bowed, and his eyes on the dirty floor, Daryl took a deep breath, steeling himself. "Carol…" he said, his voice low.

She stiffened, her heart rate speeding up. Her elbows were resting on her knees as she began to wring her hands. "What?" she asked softly, without looking back at him.

Daryl licked his dry lips and tried to decide on how to start. "Ya ain't been the same…" he paused, waiting for her to say something…to stop him the way she always did.

"What do you mean?" she asked softly, feigning ignorance. She knew exactly what he meant. He'd been trying to get an answer out of her for days.

"Since Terminus," he growled under his breath.

Carol bowed her head, her eyes closing as a warm sigh passed her lips.

"I get it." he said, nodding. "Ya don't wanna talk…but I think ya should."

"And why's that?" she asked, running a hand over her tired face.

Daryl sighed in frustration, the muscles in his arms tensing. "Because ya can't keep goin' like this…keepin' all of us in the dark. Ya ain't alone no more…ya need to quit actin' like it."

She lifted her chin and stared at the ceiling, as if an answer was waiting for her there. "Guess I just don't think it's gonna do any good to talk about it…what happened out there…it's over and I'm trying to put it behind me."

The hunter growled under his breath and glanced over his shoulder at her. "Don't look like it's workin'."

She bowed her head again, fingers combing through her mussed hair. After several seconds of silence, she spoke. "Why do you need to know? Why does it matter?"

Daryl was still staring hard at her back, his brows knitting together. "Because you're one of us…ya always have been. 'N I ain't gonna sit here, watchin' this eat at ya 'till ya turn into someone else."

Carol's hands were clasped behind her neck as she struggled to form a response. Her eyes were getting warm again. What Daryl didn't know was that she'd already become someone else. She supposed that had been true the moment she drove the pickaxe through Ed's skull. The naïve, frail woman from the quarry was gone. A part of her had died that day on the farm, when Sophia's corpse stumbled out of the barn. It was as if the world they lived in….the harsh, ugly reality…it was slowly stripping her of her humanity. Circumstance and necessity had transformed her into a survivor…she was jaded. She didn't question things anymore, she simply acted. If she had to kill, she killed. It was the only reason she'd lasted this long…or so she thought. She knew that she'd done terrible things…unforgiveable things, and she was afraid that there wasn't a place for someone like her in Rick's group…at least not anymore. They'd all been so grateful when she helped them escape Terminus…when she'd reunited Rick with his daughter, and Tyreese with his sister…but it didn't matter. She still felt like an outsider. Carol didn't think she should be around other people…

I don't deserve to be with them….

The somber realization made her think of Lizzie.

Sometimes isolation is the only answer.

Carol's eyes slammed shut and her jaw clenched.

We never should've left her alone with Mikka….with Judith…

An angry tear was forming at the corner of her eye, and she sniffed quickly, trying to keep herself in check. Daryl must've heard her because he was speaking again.

"Carol…you hearin' me? Ain't like ya got a whole lotta choice in the matter. We're stuck here for the night…we ain't goin' nowhere. You really gonna sit there 'n not say anythin' all night?" He paused, taking a moment to scuff his boot lightly against the floor. "Ya used to be the one wantin' to talk…" He turned away, refocusing on the wall.

The hot tear slipped from the corner of her eye, blazing a trail down her face. Feeling trapped and restless in the small room, Carol stood quickly and stalked back to the window where her fingers gripped the ledge. She was holding on so tightly that her knuckles were white. Her shoulders tensed and her entire frame seemed to vibrate with anger, but she wouldn't look back at him.

Even from his spot on the opposite end of the room, he could feel the rage and hurt pouring off of her. He considered getting up…following her, but he sensed that she needed space. He would allow her that one courtesy if it meant she'd talk. So Daryl waited anxiously for her to say something, anything. His toes were curling in his boots.

Carol stared out at the city that was now blanketed in darkness, but didn't seem to see it. She was looking past the rubble…into her own hellish memories. Her face grew pale as she remembered the horrible brightness of the blood on Lizzie's hands…there was so much. It had stained the small blanket the girls were sitting on…seeping into the grass…the thick drops seemed to fall slowly from the end of Lizzie's knife…and there were small scarlet flecks on the girl's cheeks…her neck. Carol knew, no matter how she tried, she'd never rid herself of the image…she'd never forget the smile on Lizzie's face…the look of excitement as the disturbed girl explained what she'd done. Trembling with rage, Carol clawed at the window ledge and bit out the words she'd been too afraid to say…"It's my fault…" Another hot tear rolled down her face.

Daryl turned on the cot and stared at her back. He could see her body silhouetted in moonlight that was beginning to spill in through the window. "What's your fault?" he asked, his voice hushed.

Carol sniffed and gnawed her lip. The city seemed to fade, and suddenly it was her own reflection staring back at her in the grimy window pane. Her eyes were tired and the tear tracks on her cheeks were shining. She tried to ignore the feeling of Daryl's eyes on her back. "The girls…" she whispered, taking a staggered breath. "What happened to them; it's my fault."

The hunter could hear the sadness in her voice and he knew something had broken inside her. She was finally opening up. Now that the moment had come, Daryl didn't know if he was prepared to hear her confessions…but he couldn't turn back now; he'd started this. He wasn't stupid. He knew the girls were dead…if they were alive, Carol would've had them with her. But he needed to know how they died…he wanted to know what happened…and why it had taken such a toll on Carol. He needed to hear it, and he knew that she needed to get it off her chest.

She took a deep breath and wiped at her eyes. Turning away from the window, Carol leaned back against the wall; she didn't want to look at herself anymore. She met Daryl's gaze and her lips parted. She wasn't prepared for the look on his face…the raw concern and hurt reflected in his eyes.

I don't deserve his concern…

With her heart pounding in her chest, Carol made herself speak. "I found them….after the prison…the attack…they were with Tyreese." She paused to wipe at her cheeks and then folded her arms tightly across her chest.

Daryl's body was twisted on the cot as he continued to stare at her.

She bowed her head for a second, collecting her scattered thoughts. When she lifted her chin to look at him, another tear slid down her face and her lip trembled. Carol was trying so hard to keep herself together…to stay standing…she didn't want to crumble in front of him. "We were together for a while…the four of us…and Judith."

The hunter nodded, urging her to continue.

"We found a place." she sniffed again and leaned harder into the wall, letting it take her weight. "A house. It was small, but isolated. Out in the woods."

"Was it empty?" he asked softly.

She nodded, wiping the moisture from the end of her nose. "I was already worried when we got there."

"Bout what?"

There was a sad smile on Carol's lips and she tried to blink away unshed tears. "Mikka. She was so sweet…" her voice cracked as she remembered the little girl who'd been so much like Sophia. "I was scared for her. She didn't have a mean bone in her body…and I knew that would catch up with her. People like that…" Carol sniffed. "They don't last…kids…" she shook her head and shuddered.

"What happened?" he asked in a low growl, his own dark memories lurking on the fringes of his consciousness.

Carol pulled a deep breath into her lungs and closed her eyes. She let her head fall back and rest against the cool wall. "We were only gone for a few minutes…" A choked sob escaped her and Daryl could see the tears rolling slowly down her cheeks. "We were just checking the perimeter…we'd seen some deer, and I was hoping we'd get close enough to line up a good shot. We were only gone a few minutes…" she repeated as one of her hands formed a fist and slammed back into the wall.

Daryl stood, his concern growing as he watched Carol's walls come down, piece by piece.

Carol didn't bother to hide her weakness. She couldn't stop the tears from falling anymore than she could bring Mikka back. Her fist ached from striking the wall, but she suspected that pain was the only thing keeping her rooted to the present. Her fingers were clenched so tightly that blunt nails were biting into the meat of her palm. She sucked her bottom lip and shook her head as the hurt continued to pour from her. "We…we thought…" she took a staggered breath and forced herself to continue. "We thought they'd be okay. There was a small fence around the property…we gave them weapons…they'd already practiced shooting."

Daryl's lips parted as he made his way around the cot and took a step in her direction. "What happened?" he asked, his voice even softer than it had been a moment ago.

Carol could taste salty tears between her lips. Her eyes were still slammed shut as she relived the nightmare in her head. The memories were too much for her…the images too real. She felt herself breaking…snapping beneath the weight of her failure. Her body slowly began to slide down the wall until she was sitting on the dirty floor. She brought her knees up and clutched desperately at her hair. Another sob ripped from her chest and her shoulders shook with the effort of containing so much regret. "We were walking back…just talking…making conversation…everything was fine!" she hissed through clenched teeth and pulled her hair sharply.

Daryl was afraid…she hadn't been like this since Sophia. It was terrible to see someone he cared for in so much pain. She seemed to be falling apart in front of him…her broken pieces coming unglued. He took another step in her direction but hesitated.

With one hand cupping her forehead and the other resting in her lap, Carol stared up at him. Her chest was rising and falling with each labored breath and fresh tears were shining beneath her eyes. "We were only gone a few minutes…" she whispered, her voice thick with grief. "But when we got back…she'd…." Carol was shaking her head again. A part of her still couldn't believe what had happened to the girls. "Lizzie killed her…"

Daryl felt as though he'd been kicked in the chest. His eyes were wide and his lips were parted as he struggled to accept what Carol had just told him. All he could do was stand, on shaking legs, and stare down at her. "W-why?" he breathed, his hands balling into fists at his sides.

Carol's hand moved up, past her forehead, and tangled weakly in her hair. "She was sick. She probably had been for a long time…since before things fell apart." she admitted. "She was confused about the walkers…didn't see them for what they were. She never thought they were dangerous, or bad….she just saw them as…different."

The hunter brought his hands up and laced them behind his head as he started to pace back and forth across the small room.

"She just wanted to be like them…she wanted us to see that they were good, so she killed Mikka…hoping to make her turn." Carol's eyes slammed shut again, the revulsion washing over her like a wave of nausea. "She stabbed her…we left them on a blanket with Judith, thinking they'd look after one another…and when we got back…Lizzie was covered in blood. And she couldn't see anything wrong with it!" Carol growled through her tears. "She thought she was doing Mikka a favor…" she gnawed her lip so hard she could almost taste blood, but she had to keep talking. Daryl needed to know. "Me and Tyreese….we just stood there…we were frozen. All we could think about was Judith…she was still on the blanket…just a few feet from Lizzie. We tried to talk to her, but she wouldn't listen…she was so excited…." Carol leaned forward, sobbing into her knees.

The hunter stopped pacing and stared down at the broken woman.

"She was excited to see her sister turn…." Carol spat out the bitter words through clenched teeth. "We had to convince her that Judith was too young…"

"What happened?" Daryl growled.

Carol's whole body was trembling. "Tyreese managed to get Lizzie to head inside with him and Judith. I stayed back…making sure Mikka didn't turn. We buried the body while Lizzie was sleeping."

"What happened to Lizzie?" the hunter asked, his tone softening as stared down at his friend…the human wreckage that used to be his friend.

"We didn't know what to do…" Carol admitted as one hand tugged at her hair. "She couldn't see anything wrong with what she'd done. Judith was our main concern. We knew we couldn't leave them alone together…we'd never be safe with her…" Even as she said the words, Carol was still having trouble believing that any of this had happened. "I thought about leaving with her.." she sniffed. "But I knew it would take two of us to keep Judith safe…I couldn't just leave Tyrese alone with her…they would never have lasted on their own." She glanced nervously up at Daryl, hoping that he would realize the truth without her having to say the words…but he was still staring at her, a deep crease forming in his brow as he tried to understand.

He needs to hear it.

Another tear slipped from the corner of her eye, and her skull was beginning to pound. Carol's entire body seemed to ache with the effort of containing such a terrible secret. She felt as though she carried it inside her, like a virus. It was slowly changing her…tainting her blood. After all the time she'd spent running, and all the terrible things she'd done to stay alive…Carol found that it hadn't gotten her anywhere. She was alive…but at what cost? And to what end? All her effort had lead her back to the same lifeless shell of a city where this whole mess started. She was slumped on the floor of a small, dirty room…crying in the dark, like some pathetic child who'd lost her way. A powerful loathing was building, with each beat of her exhausted heart. She hated the person…the thing she'd become. Her teeth were clenched and she seemed to tremble with rage and sadness. She leaned forward, bowing her head…thin fingers curling angrily around her shins as she held herself together. In a moment of weakness, Carol found herself wishing that she could end it….that she could rip herself open, letting all the darkness spill out of her broken body. Taking a staggered breath, and slamming her eyes shut, Carol whispered into her knees. "I killed her…"

The hunter's body went rigid. As he stood in the center of the dark room, staring down at the woman he thought he knew…Daryl's mind fumbled for an explanation. He shook his head, taking a step back from her, and tried to convince himself that he'd misheard…

Carol was breathing hard, her lungs burning as she waited for him to say something. She heard the soft sound of his boots scuffing the floor…he was starting to pace again, but he wasn't talking. Her eyes eased open as she realized that he'd heard her…but he didn't want to believe.

He needs to know. I can't hide from this anymore.

Lifting her chin, she glared up at him through hot tears. "I killed her!" She yelled, her upper lip curling back in a snarl.

But Daryl refused to acknowledge the outburst. He stalked past her, moving from one end of the room to the other, his eyes fixed on something she couldn't see. His breathing seemed to pick up and she could hear him muttering to himself. "Naw….ain't her…..naw…." His fists were shaking at his sides. He wouldn't look at her…

Carol wasn't sure how much more she could take. He pushed her into this…backing her into a corner until she was forced to admit the most terrible thing she'd ever done. She'd whispered it, screamed it…But he wasn't listening. Her confession seemed to fall on deaf ears and she couldn't stand it. Carol needed him to say something…anything. Her eyes followed him as he moved back and forth across the small room. Each time he moved past her, Carol's anger seemed to build. She'd spent her entire life in the shadows….hiding, cowering…and she wasn't going to hide anymore. She wasn't going to let another man ignore her. With her thin fingers still curling around her shins, Carol hissed at him. "I had to!" She saw Daryl pause for half a heartbeat, his head shaking…but he still wouldn't face her. The rage storming inside her gave Carol strength and she forced herself to stand. Small fists were trembling at her sides she snarled again. "I had to! You weren't there…you didn't see what she'd done!" As she spat the venomous words at him, something seemed to snap in the hunter.

He stopped pacing and glanced over his shoulder, glaring at her. His blue eyes had narrowed to cold slits…the look so chilling that for a moment, Carol was genuinely afraid of him. With every muscle in his body tensing, Daryl stalked quickly in her direction, closing the gap between them. She flinched when he was standing in front of her, his body inches from hers. He was seething and she could feel the anger rising from his skin like steam. There was a low growl coming from his chest and his upper lip began to curl back as he stared at her. The hunter was trying to focus on the woman in front of him, but all he could see was red. His breathing picked up and his voice was dangerously low as he spoke to her though gritted teeth. "Ya stab her? Suffocate her?"

Carol swallowed hard, the small hairs at the base of her neck standing up. "I shot her…" she breathed. "She didn't see it coming….I had to…"

"Bullshit!" Daryl snarled as he brought one fist up and slammed it into the wall, just inches from Carol's face.

She gasped, her eyes closing suddenly as her heart skipped a beat. She could hear his knuckles colliding with the wall…the deafening sound echoing in her ears. And then he was swearing…the unrestrained curses falling from his chapped lips, one after the other… Adrenaline was coursing through her frame, making her nerve endings vibrate…and cold sweat had broken out under her clothes but there was nothing she could do. Carol couldn't get away from him….from her mistakes. She kept her eyes shut tight as more tears rolled down her face. All she could do was shake her head and whisper a feeble explanation. "She would've killed us….would've killed Judith..I didn't have a choice…" The weight of her own sadness was slowly crushing her.

Daryl's chest was heaving as he tried to contain the rage burning inside him. He couldn't accept what she'd told him…he didn't want to believe it. His mind was reeling and he didn't know what to say…what to do…. The world seemed to slant violently beneath him and Carol became a stranger. He watched her as she crumbled, and wondered how they could possibly fix this.

When Carol finally felt brave enough to meet his gaze, she slowly opened her eyes and blinked away fresh tears. Sniffing, she offered up the only words she had left. "I had to…"

Daryl wanted to be angry. He wanted to scream at her…but when she looked at him, the raw pain and suffering that he saw reflected in her blue eyes left him speechless. All he could was stare at her and wonder how she'd even survived losing those two girls. As the two survivors studied one another, so much fear and hurt mingling in the small space between them, Daryl seemed to remember the pain in his hand. Grunting, he pulled his hand away from the wall and stared at the blood that was shining on his knuckles. He was still breathing heavily, but he'd taken a shaky step back from her, his focus going to the damage on his hand.

The realization that he was in pain seemed to pull Carol from her stupor and she reached up to wipe the moisture from her cheeks. Sniffing and clearing her throat, she pushed herself from the wall and moved towards him. Her eyes found his as she silently asked for permission to approach him. The hunter merely grunted, extending his arm. Carol carefully held his wrist and brought his hand up so that she could study the wound. His knuckles were bruised and bloody, the sticky liquid shone black in the moonlight. "Come on," she said softly, urging him to head back towards the cots. He let her lead him until they both eased down to sit on the edge of the first cot.

Daryl blew out a breath, his head hanging low. He let one elbow rest lazily on his knee while Carol held his other hand. "Hang on," she whispered as she carefully set his hand down on the cot. He glanced at her while she stood, moving towards the bags they'd left in the far corner of the room. She stooped, searching through their belongings until she found what she needed. When she walked back to the cot, she held a small towel, a water bottle and a roll of gauze in her hands.

"Ya ain't gotta…" he muttered under his breath.

She sighed, knowing that it was going to take more than a first aid kit to get him to trust her again. "If I don't, no one will." she said as she unscrewed the lid on the water bottle. The tears were beginning to dry on her cheeks.

The hunter's fingers flexed nervously as she pulled gently on his wrist and held his hand out over the edge of the cot. She tipped the bottle and began to pour water over his wounds. He winced when he felt the cool liquid rushing over his torn skin. The water mixed with his blood, diluting it. The two survivors listened to the pit pat sound of heavy drops hitting the floor. Daryl gnawed his lip and formed a fist, forcing more blood to seep from the wounds on his knuckles. Carol continued to pour the water, hoping to clean his hand as best she could. Neither of them knew what to say, so they opted for silence. Carol set the bottle aside and grabbed the small white towel. With narrowed eyes and the tip of her tongue resting between her lips, she dabbed softly at the wet skin and took care not to apply too much pressure to his raw knuckles.

As Daryl watched her, he realized that she wasn't a stranger…at least not entirely. The woman he knew was still there. She still cared, and there was still a gentle side to her. It was then that he understood what it must've taken…for someone like her to put down a child…a child that she'd cared for. The anger that had been burning inside him seemed to die down as guilt crept into his consciousness. He'd almost struck her…. and for what? Something neither of them could change? He'd forced her into this…he made her tell him. They were supposed to look out for one another, support each other…but he'd lashed out, judging her.

As If I got any right to judge….

He knew that neither of them had clean slates, but something about her confession had struck a chord with him. The idea of her killing a child was almost beyond his comprehension, but he supposed that he had no choice but to accept what she'd told him. A sharp tearing sound pulled him from his trance and he watched as she began to wrap his hand with a strip of gauze. The dry cloth felt good on his throbbing knuckles. He grunted softly and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "Thanks."

Carol looked up from her work, her lips parting.

"For that…" he explained, eyeing his hand.

"Oh…" she said softly, shaking her head. "It's nothing."

"I'm sorry." he growled under his breath.

Carol looked up at him again, a crease forming in her brow. "Don't be." she swallowed hard and continued wrapping his hand. "You had every right to be angry…you still do."

He shook his head. "Naw. I shouldn't have pushed ya. Ya said ya didn't wanna talk about it 'n…"

She held his hand carefully in hers. "Daryl, don't. You didn't do anything wrong. I should've told you before now." She looped the fabric around again, creating a cushion of layers to protect his knuckles. Her voice was raw from crying and she took a moment to bring the water bottle to her lips, wetting her throat.

The hunter flexed his stiff fingers, wincing at the pain. "I'm still sorry." he said. "Sorry ya lost 'em." he sighed, meaning Lizzie and Mikka.

Carol squeezed her eyes shut, willing the tears not to fall…she was too tired to keep crying. "I didn't want to…" she whispered.

"I know." he said, his voice so low she could hardly hear him.

Carol sniffed as she tucked the loose end of the gauze strip into the rest of the binding, securing his bandage. When she'd finished, she let her hand rest lightly over his, her fingertips grazing the soft white fabric she'd wrapped him with. "I…." she took a shaky breath and let her shoulders slump. "I didn't know what else to do…."

Daryl watched the way she ran her fingers over the bandage. This was the woman he remembered. The one who leaned over him when he lay injured in the guest bed on Herschel's farm. She'd been so careful with him, brushing his temple with a soft kiss before leaving him to his peace. He knew she'd changed…they both had. She was so much stronger now. A part of him still couldn't believe that she'd survived the hell that was losing Sophia. A lesser woman would've been broken by such terrible loss. But Carol kept going. She didn't need anyone to protect her…she'd made it this far on her own merit. He knew that strength like hers often left little room for softness or compassion…and he worried that the gentle heart he'd first met at the quarry was all but destroyed. But she was still there.. Beneath her hard edges, Carol was still there. "Hey," he said.

She looked up at him, a staggering blend of shame and anger in her eyes.

"You know we get to come back, right?" he asked in a low growl.

Carol released a heavy sigh and gave his hand a gentle pat, dismissing his words. She turned her attention to the window and focused on the moonlight that was spilling into the small room.

"Hey," he said again, his body turning towards her. "We get to start over." His blue eyes seemed to burn in the dark as he stared at her.

Carol didn't want to look at him. She didn't want him to see that she'd already lost hope. She tried desperately to focus on the window…the few stars that she could see blinking into existence out in the darkness. But he wouldn't let up. In the next instant, she could feel him tugging gently at her hand. Swallowing down her own frustrations, she finally turned to face him. With her head cocked to the side and one hand rubbing the back of her neck, Carol stared at him. "You really think we get to come back?" she whispered.

He answered with a nod, not trusting himself to speak.

She gave him a sad smile and continued to rub her aching neck. "I'm glad one of us thinks so." she sighed.

Daryl's expression was pained. He needed her to understand. Not knowing what else to do, he squeezed her hand in his, as if he could keep her there…stop the last of her from being torn away. Despite the fact that she was sitting beside him, their bodies just inches away from each other…it felt like they were worlds apart. He couldn't let her disappear.

Carol stared down at his hands…he was holding on to her, his grip at once strong and gentle. The warmth of his palms offered some small comfort and for a moment, Carol felt like she was right where she was supposed to be. She hadn't felt that in so long…. She'd convinced herself that she belonged on the outside…alone. But as he continued to hold on to her, she wondered if she'd been wrong…if he hadn't been keeping her there all along?

Maybe I was always supposed to find them again…

Daryl was in over his head; he blew out a breath as he attempted to gather his thoughts. He'd never been good at these sorts of things…talking to people. But this was Carol…and he knew that if he tried, he could talk her down off the ledge….he had to. He'd already lost her once and wasn't going to watch her walk away. "We can start over," he whispered.

Carol's eyes went to his face. She took in all the little details that she'd grown to love. She'd memorized every line and curve, but there was something different about him now. His eyes were a vivid blue and seemed to convey some sense of urgency. It was too much for her and she pulled her hand away from his.

"Carol…" he said, but she ignored him, standing. Once she was on her feet, she walked to the window, leaving him to stare at her back. With her fingers curling around the ledge, she fought to hold back the sadness that was threatening to spill from her. She stiffened when she heard him stand.

He crossed the small space until he was standing beside her. He followed her gaze, each of them staring out into the gloom of the early evening. She was so quiet and he wondered what it was that she was searching for. All that was left out there were broken buildings, bodies…the wasted, skeletal remains of a once thriving city. His lips parted as a dark thought entered his head.

She's lookin' for someplace to go…

He couldn't keep quiet any longer. "You thinkin' of leavin'?" he asked in a low growl.

Carol's breath caught in her throat as she glanced at him. She considered feeding him a line…offering up another feeble excuse, but something stopped her. She simply couldn't bring herself to lie to him. He'd gotten under her skin and she couldn't hide anymore. "It's crossed my mind." she admitted.

Daryl pulled a deep breath into his lungs and bowed his head. His hands moved to the window ledge, resting near hers. He was at a loss. He didn't know what he could possibly do or say to convince her to stay. "Wish ya wouldn't…" he finally said without looking at her.

Carol turned her head so that she was facing him, her fingertips clawing anxiously at the window ledge. "Sometimes…I just…" she swallowed, trying to maintain her composure. "Sometimes I can't help but think that it would be better for everyone…"

Daryl met her gaze. "Well you're wrong." he growled.

Carol's brows knit together as she struggled to understand the sullen hunter.

He blew out a frustrated breath and ran one broad hand through his hair. "I want ya to stay." His words were hushed, and Carol wasn't even sure she'd hear him at first. But when he locked eyes with her, she felt her chest tighten.

He wants me to stay…

The knowledge was staggering and Carol didn't know how to respond. Her lips were parted and her eyes were growing warm again. "You…what?" she breathed.

Daryl gnawed his lower lip nervously, but he forced himself to keep looking at her. He wanted her to know that she was more than the sum of her sins…that she had worth. She mattered to the group…to him. Carol wasn't the same woman he'd pulled onto the back of his bike as the farm burned around them. She wasn't a weakling that needed to be rescued…if anything, he owed her his life. If it hadn't been for her…he knew that he and the others would've met their ends at Terminus. They would've been nothing more than livestock…their blood spilling into cold metal troughs. Even before that…she'd been there…when he stumbled back to the prison, a sniveling mess after he'd had to bury his brother. It had been her warm hand wrapping around his, pulling him off the ground and forcing him to keep going. She'd done so much for him…and he suspected that she had no idea how grateful he was. He needed her to know. Taking a shaky breath he closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her. A small gasp escaped her and she didn't know what to do, but then she felt him bow his head until it was tucked into the crook of her neck. He didn't say anything, he simply kept his arms locked around her thin frame. She could feel his scruff scratching at the tender skin at the base of her neck. Not knowing what else to do, Carol reached up, her arms circling his neck. A single tear slipped from beneath her lashes as they held the connection. He was so warm, and Carol wanted to savor the feeling of being close to him. After Terminus…when he first saw her, he'd taken her breath away by pulling her into a strong hug that made her ribs ache. He'd held onto her as if she were going to be ripped away from him at any moment…and Carol wondered if that same thing was happening now.

Is he really afraid of losing me?

His fingers were flexing, clawing gently at her back as he kept their bodies pressed together. He released a heavy sigh when he felt her slender arms wind around his neck. Carol felt the warm breath hit her skin and she shuddered. Neither of them knew what to say, so they simply held each other. Carol wondered what it was that made him care. She knew that he was strong enough to make it on his own…he didn't need anyone, let alone her. But he was with her, so close to her…his arms trapping her. With him, Carol felt something that she knew she'd never find anywhere else…she couldn't quite name it, but It was strong…warm, and real. She could feel it in the way he held her…he was scared. Doing her best to keep more tears from falling, Carol let her fingers tangle in the ends of his hair. As they stood in the dark room, Daryl growled softly into the crook of her neck. "Don't go."

Carol choked down a sob and nodded. She clutched his hair tightly in her fists, wanting to keep him close to her. Daryl eased back, just enough to look into her eyes. They could each see how vulnerable the other was. Carol was chewing her bottom lip and a deep crease had formed in Daryl's brow. The hunter's hands slid down to her waist and a sudden warmth was spreading through her frame. With his eyes locked on hers, Daryl licked his chapped lips and forced himself to speak. "Stay." he pleaded.

Carol blinked away tears and nodded. She knew then, as she stared at the man who had become so much more than a friend…more than family…she couldn't hurt him…she couldn't leave. She knew that as long as there was breath in her lungs, she would stay with him. Overwhelmed by the feelings stirring inside her, Carol pulled at his hair, bringing their bodies back together. His lips were resting in the crook of her neck, barely brushing her skin, and she kept her hands in his hair, loving the familiar feeling of it between her fingers. She buried her face in the warmth and safety of his chest, letting his scent surround her. He tightened his grip on her body and gently nuzzled her neck. Standing together, their bodies bathed in the silvery light of the moon, Daryl and Carol clung desperately to the only homes they'd known since the world fell apart. Alive, aching and breathing, they savored the closeness and silently wondered how much time they had left.

I know! This one was a bit darker, more on the sad side…but I thought it was a powerful scene and just goes to show that Daryl cares for her and needs her. He forgave what she considered to be her greatest sin. Hope I did it justice Vickih! I'm working on another request now (more on the playful side) so there will be more to come from Hotline. Please review! Share the love and tell me what you liked : ) requests are always welcome via PM.