Daryl scrambled for the taps and shut the water off. "Carol. Carol?" he called out her name, hoping for a response, while trying to avoid looking at her naked body like a creepy freak. "Towel, get a towel you idiot," he muttered. Daryl grabbed a towel and quickly spread it over her, covering all the parts he shouldn't be looking at. "Carol?" he tried again, reaching for her face. She stirred when he touched her and Daryl felt instant relief.

"What? What happened?" she moaned. When Carol opened her eyes she immediately tried to sit up. There was a crazy look of terror as she took in her surroundings.

"Stay down," Daryl urged her, blocking her from sitting up. "You must have passed out. Do you remember anything?"

Carol looked down at the towel and then up at him. "Oh God," she groaned. Her face turned red. "You saw… I was… you came in and…"

Daryl felt his own cheeks burn at the memory of her nude body. It was an image he wasn't going to forget anytime soon. If he was being honest, it was also one he wouldn't mind seeing again - in different circumstances. "Oh, uh, I grabbed the towel, right away," he said, trying to make her feel better.

Carol hid her face in her hands. "I am a disaster." She peeked at him. "I'm so sorry. Are you mad?"

What the…? Why would she think that? "'Course not," he shook his head. "I'm just glad you're okay."

She looked relieved. "I should have known better," Carol sighed. "Hot water when you're already feeling dizzy is not a good combo." She pulled the towel more securely around herself. Daryl noticed the red blotch on her cheek was starting to get bigger and darker. Carol touched it and winced.

"Must have hit your cheek when you fell," he said. "I can get some ice if ya want?" he offered.

"Oh no, I'm okay," she shook her head. "I've had much worse, this is nothing." Carol gave him a smile that made him feel so sad. "I think I'm alright now. I'll just finish up quickly."

"Are you sure?" Daryl asked. He was hesitant to leave her in case she got dizzy again. He reached to steady her as she stood up. He got a glimpse of her ass before she adjusted the towel and had to turn away before she saw his cheeks go pink again. "If you uh, need anything…I'll be right out there," he pointed to the hallway.

"Thanks," she called after him as Daryl rushed into the hall and shut the door behind him. Once he was in the hall he finally took a breath. He really needed to pull himself together. How was he supposed to work with this woman when all he could think about were those lovely little breasts with perfect perky nipples that he would love to suck? Daryl had never been much of a boob man, not like Merle who said the bigger the better. Carol's tits… they were… Fuck, gotta stop thinking about them, he screamed in his mind. So he stopped thinking about her boobs by turning his attention to those hips and that quick glimpse of her ass. She really didn't look like the type of woman who was hiding a body like that. He had never seen her wear anything tight or revealing - though she clearly had a lot of great parts to accentuate.

Daryl shook his head. He didn't know her well, but one thing he did know already was that she was complex and she was full of surprises. Maybe this new job wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Okay, I'm ready," Carol announced as she emerged from the bathroom. Daryl tried not to laugh at the sight of her in a pair of his joggers and a long sleeved tee. She looked like a child playing dress up. "I'm gonna need an extra few minutes with my makeup to try and cover this bruise." Daryl looked at her face. It was pretty bad.

"You sure you don't need to get that checked out?" he asked. "How bad does it hurt?"

Carol gave him a look. "I'm fine," she insisted. "No more trips to the ER." Again he felt a pang of sadness for what she'd been through. "Let's go, don't want to be late."

They started to walk towards the front door and Daryl decided he'd better break the news. "So, do you think your hungover ass and banged up face can handle a bike ride?"

"Huh?" she looked confused.

"Motorcycle," he clarified. "It's the only option we've got unless you want to call a cab again…"

They walked out to the garage and Daryl opened the door. His bike and Merle's bike were side by side. "Oh… I've never been on one before… But… it's fine I guess."

Daryl decided to accept her answer quickly before she changed her mind. She didn't look quite as pale as she did before and not nearly as green as she was first thing. He gently placed his helmet on her head - he rarely wore it anyway - and did it up. "Feel okay?" She nodded slowly. He climbed on the bike and backed it out before firing it up. He waited a moment for Carol to climb on but she was hesitating. "Come on," he said. "Ain't got all day." He hadn't intended it to sound as snarky as it did. She shot him a look, but it worked because they next thing he knew she was climbing on the back and wrapping her arms around his waist. There was this strange fearless quality that seemed to pop out of her once in awhile that Daryl found really interesting. Maybe it was rooted in her stubborn nature - because it was very clear she was stubborn as a mule.

When they stopped at the first stoplight he decided he should probably check on her. "Doin' okay?"

She smiled. "Little nauseous, but I'll be fine."

Carol gave him directions earlier and within 15 minutes they were at her place. They actually didn't live that far from one another. Hmm, interesting, he thought. No it's not interesting you dumbass, another voice in his head spoke. What am I? Schizophrenic? Daryl wondered. Why so many voices?

"Daryl?" He suddenly realized she was talking to him. "Are you okay? I kept you up last night, didn't I? You're tired, aren't you?"

"What? No, I'm fine. Slept great," Daryl protested. She really wanted to feel guilty about something, didn't she?

Carol sighed, "If you say so." She jerked her head towards the house. "Come in, you can make us coffee while I get changed. I think I'm ready to put something on my stomach." Daryl followed her in. He really liked her ability to make him feel at ease. Most people made him put his guard up instantly and he turned into an asshole which made them think he really was an asshole effectively ending any chance of developing a friendship. It was a vicious circle he found himself in over and over. Carol showed him to the coffee maker and supplies and was gone.

He was sitting at her kitchen table drinking his second cup when she appeared. He did a double take when she walked in the room. She looked different… First of all she'd done a pretty good job at covering the bruise on her cheek. He could still tell, but it was likely because he knew it was there. Secondly… She was wearing a tight blouse that actually showed a little bit of cleavage, with a pair of jeans and boots - motorcycle boots.

"What?" she said, looking down at her outfit. "I bought some new clothes… Stuff Ned wouldn't let me wear. But is the outfit awful? You're looking at me weird. I thought maybe you would appreciate the Harley boots," she added with a smile, modelling them for him.

"You look fine," Daryl muttered, trying not to stare at her boobs. Instead he looked at the boots. "Merle has the same style in mens. Expensive."

"Hmm, yes, I put them back three times," she admitted. "But hey, I finally have a functional reason to wear them." Carol poured a coffee and drank it quickly. "Don't think I'm ready for food, but I can make you something before we go… if you want?"

Daryl shook his head. "Maybe we can grab something after?" The truth was… he was feeling nervous about the meeting for some reason. He didn't want to pay a lawyer but he was worried he wouldn't understand the contract and sign on for something he wasn't bargaining for. But he realized after it was too late that it really just sounded like he was trying to make another date with her. Carol was smirking at him and he looked away.

"That works," she replied. "Okay, we should go I guess. Don't want to be late. I checked my messages and I'm supposed to be there the same time as you."

They arrived in the parking lot 10 minutes early. But unfortunately Rick, Lori and Carl arrived at the same time. Lori was wearing big sunglasses and she looked even worse than Carol had earlier. They all ended up walking in together. Carol was chatting with Lori who was holding Carl's hand. Rick hung back a bit with him. "So, uh, you got Carol home safe last night I see," Rick commented.

Daryl shot him a look and realized Rick was trying not to smile. "Yep," he replied.

"Her home? Or yours?" the cop added. When Daryl glared again he saw that Rick couldn't hold back the smile this time.

"It ain't like that," Daryl muttered.

"Uh huh," Rick teased.

"It ain't," Daryl snapped loudly. It was enough that the women looked back at them strangely.

Rick waited until they turned back. "Hey, sorry man… I didn't mean anything by it."

"You really think I would take advantage of her like that?" Daryl hissed. He was so tired of people thinking the worst of him.

"No… I… I'm sorry…" Rick was stammering.

He really did seem like he was sorry and Daryl found himself explaining what happened. "She passed out in the cab before I could find out where she lived. So I took her to my place and she slept on the couch, barfed on my floor, fainted this morning in my shower… and here we are."

"Shower?" Rick asked with a grin. Fuck, why do I even speak? Daryl asked himself.

"She was alone," Daryl grumbled. "Ain't nothing going on." His eyes wandered to Carol's ass and he couldn't look away.

"Uh huh," Rick said again. "Not yet…"

"Yep, and this is exactly why I hate people," Daryl muttered, walking on ahead as Rick chuckled behind him.