I hope you all got the email that I had posted chapter twenty! I didn't know that the site was messed up and wasn't alerting anyone of new chapters! But that is suppose to be fixed. There is a point to this chapter. It is the build up to a Dixon breakthrough. I hope you like it. I like it. But I wrote it and that makes me biased I suppose. Hope you all have a good morning! Thanks for reviewing!

Chapter Twenty One

Daryl threw two blankets and a pillow onto the couch. The room was much cooler than they were used too since the air conditioning worked. He glanced at the bed longingly. Carol was in the bathroom changing.

Sophia had her arms crossed. "Daryl, this is stupid. It's your room. I can sleep on the couch."

"Shut up. I've slept on the ground most of my life. This couch is gonna be just fine."

He sat down and started unlacing his boots and then Sophia dove behind him onto the couch and laid her head on the pillow. She pulled the blankets up to her chin.

"Get the hell up." He said as he eyed her.

"No."

He turned so he was facing her. "You think I can't pick your skinny ass up and move you myself?" He scowled.

"Oh, that would look real good. My mom comes out of that bathroom and you're throwing me around. You know how much trouble you'd be in?"

"I ain't scared of your momma. What happened to that kid that kept her mouth shut and listened to her elders? Get the hell off my couch."

She shook her head and then Carol came out of the bathroom. Daryl swallowed. She was wearing a thin pair of cotton pajamas and a tank top. She put her hands on her hips and eyed the two of them.

"What are you two doing?"

"Nothin'." He said quickly.

"Arguing." Sophia chimed in.

He shot her a look but she just ignored him.

"About?" Carol raised her eyebrows.

"About the couch." Sophia said as she yawned.

"She wont get up. She's a brat." He grumbled.

"No I'm not. You're just stubborn." Sophia said sleepily.

"Shut up. I ain't stubborn."

Sophia just shrugged and closed her eyes.

Daryl just shook his head and frowned at her. It didn't look like she was going anywhere and when he looked up at Carol she was already in the bed so it didn't seem like she much cared either. And she was the whole reason he was going to sleep on the couch in the first place. She had been so embarrassed earlier when Sophia had came in that he figured that she wouldn't want them in the same bed but he wasn't going to have the two of them sleeping in the other room alone. These guys seemed okay but he wasn't taking any chances. Jenner was kind of creepy.

He looked back at the girl and he could have sworn she had been looking right at him but her eyes were closed now and there was a smirk on her face. He had to admit that he was glad she'd stolen the couch. But he had to be very careful once he got into that bed with Carol. It didn't take much for things between them to escalate and there couldn't be any of that happening with the kid in the room.

He turned out the light and was about to crawl over her but she caught him around the neck, keeping him right there above her. This was exactly what he wanted to avoid. But he brought his face down to hers and kissed her lightly. He kept his hands braced on the bed and held himself away from her. He felt her lips turn up and he pulled away.

"What?" He whispered.

"Nothing." She unwound her arms and let them drop to her sides.

He moved away from her and laid down on his back, shoving his hands under the pillow so he wouldn't even be tempted to touch her. She did what she usually did and curled up against him but she too kept her hands to herself. They were both tired anyway. And Sophia was about ten feet away. He had to keep reminding himself that every time he felt the urge to take his hands from under the pillow.

"Do you think I was able to change their minds?" She whispered as she moved her head to his chest, causing him to sigh.

"I don't know. I think maybe that Milton guy could have changed his mind but Jenner seemed hell bent on stayin' here."

"I feel bad for them." She said sadly.

He rolled over onto his side, only keeping one hand under the pillow and used his arm to drag her closer. He hated that sound. She had spent too much time sounding like that. He wasn't used to that tone anymore and it drove him crazy. "It ain't your job to feel bad for them. They're grown men. They make their own decisions."

"Well, that's true but they don't think there's anything worth living for. Nothing. And that's just sad, you know? They're just scared."

"We're all fuckin' scared. Ain't no reason to go and off yourself."

"You're scared?" She asked, sounding shocked at this news.

He thought about that. Was he scared of the Walkers? Not really. Sure they were creepy as hell but he was used to them now. The only thing he could think of that scared him was something happening to her or Sophia. And not being able to stop it. That was pretty much it. And he was having a hard time coming to terms with that. It was the reason he had been so pissed off when Milton had said that earlier. Because what if he wasn't able to keep them safe.

"Daryl?"

"Nah, I ain't scared." But even as he said the words he tightened his grip around her waist.

~H~

Carol reached over and turned on the light. Someone woke her up knocking on the door and she had to slide out from under Daryl's heavy arm to even get up to see who was there. Just as she was about to get out of bed he pulled her back to him and buried his face in her shoulder.

"They'll go away in a minute. Kill the lights, woman." He grumbled into her neck.

She tried to shove his head away but he wouldn't move. "Daryl, it could be important."

"Not more important than our last night in a real bed." He said and then he bit her shoulder gently.

Her breath came out in a hiss at the feel of his teeth on her skin. She almost forgot that there was someone knocking when he raised his head and grinned at her sleepily. Right before his lips met hers someone said something.

"I'm really happy about all this but do I have to watch you guys make out?"

Daryl rolled over onto his back and covered his face with the pillow. "Forgot you were in here." His voice was clearly embarrassed even though it was muffled by the pillow.

Carol couldn't even look over at her. This could not happen again. She had forgotten about her own daughter being in the room. What the hell was wrong with her?

She got up and hurried to open the door. It was Shane, of all people. And he looked drunk. She glanced back into the room but Daryl's head was still covered up. "I'll be right back." She said quickly and then slipped out the door, pulling it closed behind her.

"Is something wrong?" She whispered, crossing her arms over her chest. She hadn't expected him.

"I just wanted to see you." He said quietly. "Lori, she keeps messin' with my head, you know."

She was right. He was drunk. Very drunk. "Shane, I'm sorry about that but this really isn't the time to talk about it. Maybe we can talk about it in the morning."

Carol glanced at the door nervously. If Daryl came out and saw Shane it would surely end up bloody and she didn't want to see that happen again and she certainly didn't want to be the reason.

"Why couldn't she have been like you. See, you're too good to fuck with someones head. But not her. She's always fuckin' with my head and she's drivin' me crazy, Carol."

She couldn't help but feel sorry for the man. With one last look at the door she made a split decision that she hoped she wouldn't regret. She walked to her own room, right next door and motioned for him to follow. She'd talk to him for a minute and then she would go right back to Daryl's room.

When the door closed behind him he looked up from below his brow and smiled. "You're a good woman, Carol. You know that?"

"Thanks Shane. But listen, you have to get over Lori, okay? Rick's alive. He's back. And so you have to just let go. It's for the best." She said quickly. She really hoped Daryl didn't come looking for her.

"I know." He nodded. "But she ain't makin' it easy. She's hot and cold. I don't know what the hell is goin' on with her. She wants me to stay away from you but she acts like what we had is over."

"Stay away from me? Why?" She asked with a frown.

He laughed. "You tell me. Seems to me like she's jealous. She thinks I wanna try to get with you or somethin'."

Carol scoffed. "Why would she think that? It's ridiculous."

He smiled again and shook his head. "No it ain't."

She was already standing about six feet away from him but she took another step back. "What?"

"Come on, Carol." He said with a shake of his head. "You know you can do better, right? Dixon ain't got shit to offer a woman like you. And that temper of his, you don't think he wont eventually turn that around on you. Was Ed always like that? Or was it all fine at first and then it got bad after time. You think he's any different?"

Carol shook her head. "He is nothing like Ed."

He closed the distance and she had no where to go. Her back was almost against the wall. "No. I'm nothin' like Ed. Dixon is just like Ed. You should cut him loose, Carol. I'd treat you right. You can get over Dixon, I could get over Lori. It's a win win. Neither one of us would have to hurt anymore." He reached up and slid his finger across the bruises at her throat. And then leaned down. "I have a lot more to offer you than him. I could protect you better than him. I'm a better man for you than he is Carol."

His face was dangerously close to hers. "Shane, stop." Her voice came out in a whisper.

"Is that what you really want?" he asked in her ear as his other hand slid over her hip.

"Yes."

She stayed perfectly still. It was a defense mechanism that she had learned a long time ago. Don't fight. Just wait and it would be over soon.

He forced his mouth on hers and she squeezed her eyes shut tightly. His tongue parted her lips and then something very strange happened. She got pissed. Her eyes snapped open as wide as they would go and then she shoved him as hard as she could.

She was only able to move him a few inches but he pulled his face away from hers and stared at her. His eyes looked scary, glazed, feverish. When he moved forward again she slapped him as hard as she could across the face. He stepped back.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Shane?" She hissed.

He shook his head. "You know that this is what you want." He argued angrily.

"You come near me again and I swear to God I'll kill you myself." She spat as she headed towards the door.

"Carol, wait. I'm sorry." He called as she opened the door.

"Go to hell, Shane."

When she got back to Daryl's room he was just about to open the door. She actually hit him with it when she shoved through it. Without a word she stormed to the bathroom.

How dare that son of bitch do that! She snatched her toothbrush from the sink and loaded it down with toothpaste. He kissed her! She was scrubbing her tongue when Daryl stuck his head in the partially opened door. She spit in the sink and then scrubbed some more.

"What the hell, Carol? Who was that?" He asked as he came all the way into the room.

She rinsed her mouth out and then spun around to face him. "Shane." She growled. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and was surprised at the anger she saw in her own eyes.

"The fuck did he want?" Daryl asked, starting to sound angry himself.

"To talk." She crossed her hands over her chest and glared at the floor.

"Well, what did he say that's got you so pissed off." He asked and then tilted her head up with a finger under her chin.

He narrowed his eyes. Daryl wasn't a stupid man. He was much more observant than people thought. He looked down at the toothbrush and then back up to her angry eyes.

"He didn't. Just tell me he didn't." He growled. That look he had given Milton was nothing compared to the look on his face now.

She had been so angry that she hadn't thought to act like nothing had happened. Didn't consider lying to him. And now she realized that that was exactly what she should have done. Instead she had let her anger get the better of her and now she knew that something very bad was going to come from this.

She shook her head. "He was drunk. Really drunk." She said quickly. "He was babbling about Lori and then he must have just been so upset that he did it without thinking. Daryl stop!" She grabbed his arm as he turned to leave the room.

He surprised her when he stopped. She expected him to storm out and find Shane no matter what she said. His muscles were tense under her hands, his whole body rigid. She tugged on his arm until he turned around. "Please don't do anything. Not right now."

He slammed his hands down on the counter, trapping her between his arms and for just a split second, she thought of what Shane had said to her. Ed hadn't started out violent at all. Daryl had a violent streak in him already that they had all seen.

She shook off the thought as soon as it entered her mind. That strange anger flared inside her again. Shane had planted that seed in her head and it was trying to take root. She wasn't afraid of Daryl. He was violent. She had seen it. But not when it came to her. He wouldn't hurt her.

His face was close to hers and his eyes were still as hard as steel. The anger there was causing her heart to race. She had to keep reminding herself that she wasn't scared of him. "I know I can't tell you what to do. I know I ain't your boss and I don't even wanna try to control you. But you best stay the fuck away from him. Cause if you don't I'll slit the bastards throat in his sleep."

She nodded quickly. "I don't want to be around him." She whispered. "And I already told him that if he ever touched me again I'd kill him myself."

That anger seemed to drain away quickly and she relaxed. She hadn't even realized how tense she had been trapped between his arms like that. "You told him that?" The corner of his mouth pulled up a little.

She nodded quickly.

"And he didn't try to do anything else?" he asked. There was still a hard edge to his voice but it wasn't directed towards her.

She shook her head. "He just said that you wasn't any different than Ed. That you'd end up doing the same thing." Why did she keep telling him things that was going to spark that anger again. But he didn't get angry over what she had told him.

"He said that?" He frowned. "Do people really think I could do that shit to you? I ain't my fuckin' brother. When will everybody stop lookin' at me like I am?"

She didn't like that look in his eye. She put her hand to his face and leaned towards him. "I don't look at you like that." She whispered.

He put his forehead against hers and gave her a sad smile.

"And I don't think anyone else does either. Everyone in this group owes you their life. And they know it. They probably don't think you're as great as I do but they still think you're pretty okay. They know you aren't like Merle. Shane's just an asshole. His opinion doesn't count for a thing."

He looked unconvinced but he gave her a smile anyway. A real one but it didn't last very long. "I wouldn't ever put my hands on you. Not like that." He said quietly, searching her eyes.

"I know that." She said and then felt so guilty that it made her sick for the fear she had felt in the face of his anger.

"You guys okay?" Sophia asked quietly as she pushed the door all the way open.

They both smiled and then looked at her. "We're fine." Carol said. "Go back to bed. We'll be out in a minute, okay."

Sophia just nodded and shut the door.

Daryl turned his head so he was looking at her again. "We need to do the same thing. I wanna get the hell outta here as early as we can."

She nodded and led him out by the hand. She didn't feel tired anymore. She felt keyed up from what happened with Shane. She felt like she still needed to make Daryl feel better. She was afraid to say what she really wanted to say.

She slipped in next to him and turned out the light. There were no windows in their underground room so it was black as pitch. Even the crack under the door didn't let in any of the light from the hallway. His arms came around her before she even had a chance to lay all the way back and she turned towards him. Her lips found his throat and she felt his heart start to race under her palm. She moved so her head was resting on his shoulder.

Eventually his heart slowed and she could tell he was asleep as soon as his arms tightened around her. He always held her tighter in his sleep. Like he was afraid that if he didn't she would slip away.