Author's Note: Thank you for reading and reviewing and enjoying the smut! I will say I am not very proficient in smut so when it's there, I had to really work on it, lol! I wanted to wrap up season 3 so I could get to the hiatus where anything goes, so this chapter wraps up the battle and Andrea's death. I hope you enjoy it and don't forget to let me know what you think. Now, you may cringe at the Caryl in this chapter, just know this is a Marol story but Carol does love Daryl, but it is so different than what she feels for his brother. Adds to the drama!
XOXO Pamela
5. Chances
Carol awoke as to a gentle nudge to her shoulder. Her eyes shot open and she found Daryl standing over her, completely dressed and battle ready. The new crossbow that Rick, Michonne and Carl brought back from their run was strapped to his back, his buck knife in its sheath on his belt and a pistol tucked into his waistband. "Sorry, Rick wants everyone up and ready. You got five minutes and then you need to meet me in the yard." She sat up and started lacing her boots as he headed to the doorway. He stopped and came back, sitting on the bunk next to her. He looked at her intensely. "No matter what happens, you stay with me. I don't need you wasting any more of those lives of yours."
Her eyes smarted and she gave him a bittersweet smile. "I promise I will put my cat like reflexes to the test and stay right with you." She took a deep breath before she continued in a more serious tone. "Daryl, I know you don't want to hear this but I need to tell you." His body stiffened like he was one second away from running screaming from her cell, but she could see him visibly try to relax himself. She grabbed his hand and held it tightly. "There have been so many times since I met you that I would have died, gone hungry, been hurt or lost my damn mind. You were there to make sure none of that happened. I said that night by the dying fire that I wanted a man of honor. I had one all along. You." He swallowed and his hand tensed in hers. "When you left with Merle, I was hurt, but I understood. It's your code and I would never want you to go against it. Thank you for showing me there are good men like you in this world." She leaned forward and kissed the corner of his mouth, lingering there as a tear fell on her cheek. She let out a tiny sob as he reached his free hand and placed it on the small of her back and entwined the fingers of his other hand with hers. She drew her lips away slowly and leaned her forehead against his shoulder. They sat there like that for a minute, holding each other like they never dared before. The moment was broken when they heard someone bounding up the stairs, feet clanging on the metal. They split apart quickly and Carol wiped her cheeks as Glenn popped his head into her cell.
"Hey, guys, Rick's ready. Meet you in the yard?" He asked and they both nodded, not yet able to pull themselves together to speak. Glenn left as quickly as he came but Daryl remained behind, waiting for Carol to finish pulling herself together. He watched her as she tugged on her giant black coat and grabbed her weapons. He waited by the doorway as she walked past him and then they headed for the yard together.
Merle was already there, holding his rifle and his eyes locked on to Daryl and Carol as they entered the yard together, Carol first with Daryl not more than one step behind her. She caught his eye and tried to shoot him an inconspicuous smile but he sniffed and looked away. She tried to step away from Daryl but he seemed to want to stay in her orbit for the time being. She wanted to at least talk to Merle for a moment but certainly wasn't going to do it with Daryl right there. Rick took that moment to interrupt her train of thought to go over the battle plan again. They each went over their individual duties once more. Rick, Michonne, Daryl and Carol were going to the tombs to flank them, using flash grenades and smoke bombs. Glenn, Maggie and Merle were going to stay outside and try to run them out with rapid fire. One of the two way radios that Daryl had brought back on a run crackled to life. Hershel's deep timbre broke through the static, his voice tense, advising them he heard multiple vehicles on the road to the prison. Every day, Hershel would take the Hyundai and leave with Beth, Carl and Judith heading for a designated location as part of their drill.
Everyone started scrambling towards their designated areas. Carol's heart was racing as she tried to grasp a glance at Merle before she headed off for the tombs. A hand grabbed her elbow and Merle's unmistakable growl met her ear, his breath tickling her hair. "You keep yourself safe and don't try anything stupid. I expect you to be riding me like a show pony by the end of the day, darling." She didn't even have the chance to turn around and acknowledge his words before he was gone and Daryl was at her side, his hand at the small of her back as they rushed towards the tombs.
The made their way through the maze of the dark corridors and reached the point where they needed to split up into different directions. It happened so fast that when she looked back on that moment she wasn't even sure if it really happened. Daryl had turned to go to his area but spun on his heel. He stomped back up to her and before she could even brace herself his hand was wrapped around the back of her neck and his dry lips were pressed against hers. Her eyes were wild and wide open as he pulled back to mutter, "Stay safe," before disappearing into the shadows. She let the breath she was holding out in a rush before gathering her wits and hustling to where she needed to be.
It was over much sooner than they thought it would be. As they trudged back out of the tombs into the bright sunlight of the yard, Carol had to blink furiously to adjust to the change. The Governor and his group were gone, pushed out by dumb luck and sheer will. There was damage to the main gate but nothing that couldn't be repaired easily. Carol's attention was directed to Glenn and Maggie holding up a wounded and bleeding Merle. She ran to them, crying out, "What happened? Was he shot?"
Maggie's face was flushed and she was breathing heavily as she half dragged a semi-conscious Merle. "He needs to get to Daddy. He got shot but it's through and though. Doesn't seem like it hit anything major. He's been running his mouth until just now." Daryl swept to her side and took Merle's slumped form off of her so he could help his brother. Carol could hear Rick yelling into the radio for Hershel to get back as soon as possible. As Glenn and Daryl carried Merle inside, Maggie turned to Carol. "Merle, he took that bullet for Glenn. Glenn had lost his helmet and was pinned down pretty bad. He was on his knees and the guy was aiming for his head. Merle stepped in front of it. If he hadn't…" Maggie's eyes filled with tears and she shook her head. "He saved Glenn's life, Carol."
Carol embraced the young woman tightly and put her arm around her as she led her inside to follow the men. Hershel wasn't back yet so Carol hurried to his cell where they had put Merle. He was lucid and groaning in pain. Daryl was putting pressure to the wound, which seemed to be small and not bleeding much at all. She grabbed some alcohol and sterile pads, soaking them and rushing to Merle's bedside. "It's going to sting," she warned before placing them on both the entry and exit wounds. He cursed up a storm and Carol almost cried with relief. "You're going to be fine, you big baby. But, it looks like you'll need some stitches to sew up the wounds. You got lucky."
He had no opportunity for a smart retort as Hershel hobbled into the room on his crutches. He shooed everyone out except for Beth. Carol and Merle shared a look before she left the cell. Daryl was in the hall talking to Rick and Michonne. They were leaving immediately for Woodbury to end it for good. Daryl walked up to her. "Keep an eye on that asshole brother of mine. If he gives you any lip, shoot him again." He brushed her arm before nodding quickly and heading off after Rick and Michonne. She sent up a quick prayer of safety for them before heading for a cell on the lower floor to get it ready for Merle. He wasn't going to be able to maneuver the stairs right away and needed to rest close to Hershel. She grabbed some clean linens and the fluffiest pillow she could find before finding a cell a few doors down from Hershel.
Once Hershel got Merle patched up to the best of his ability and loaded with painkillers, Glenn and Maggie helped him to his new cell. Carol was waiting with a hot bowl of soup and a bed made with fresh sheets. He was loopy and out of it due to the strong pain pills so she spoon fed him as much as possible before he passed out. She stroked his hair and watched him as he slept. He always carried himself with such bravado, bigger than life. But now, lying on this bed, wounded, he looked very much like a man that had vulnerabilities. A man that threw himself in front of a bullet to save a person that hated his guts, for good reason. She prayed it would be enough for Glenn and Maggie to help heal the wrong done to them by Merle and the Governor. She wanted Merle to stay with them, not just for Daryl, but for her. Carol's insides twisted at the ramifications that admission could bring.
Hours passed and night had come and gone, the dawn filtering through the cell blocks. Carol's neck ached from the position she slept in on the chair next to Merle. Beth rushed in, breathless. "They're back!" She scurried away, leaving Carol to quickly check Merle's wounds before covering him and heading out to meet the returning fighters. She entered the yard and her brows furrowed at the sight of the bus that seemed to be full of people. She saw Michonne stagger out of the truck, her face twisted in grief. Daryl was at the back of the truck cutting the rope securing a blanketed form. Carol neared the truck and searched Rick's face for the devastating confirmation she knew was coming. He lowered his head, nodding sadly and Carol let out a sob. Andrea was dead. Her hand reached out and she touched the blanket covering her friend, and let the tears fall.
Daryl stood next to her, their arms touching. "Bastard had her locked up in some room. Killed somebody and threw them in the room with her. She fought her way out of her restraints, but it was too late. She got bit." His voice was hoarse with his own grief for his fallen comrade. "We got a chance to say goodbye. Michonne was with her at the end."
Carol reached out and clutched his hand, desperate to feel comfort in any way she could find with her best friend. "She was happy to have you all there with here. No matter what transpired, she was always part of our family." She sucked in a shuddering breath. "Merle's going to be fine. The pills Hershel gave him knocked him out good. I'm going to go and check on him."
She tried to let go of his hand but Daryl stopped her, looking at their connection. "You know, Merle ain't never done anything like that his whole life."
She stepped back, hands connected, arms stretched out towards each other. "He gave Glenn a second chance. Maybe now Glenn can give him one." She squeezed his fingers before letting go and heading back towards the cell block, towards Merle. She didn't notice Daryl staring at her as she left, his mind whirring and his fingers burning.