With three full episodes wrapped the cast was getting a little time off - sort of. They had a few days off filming, but the work would continue as they were all headed to San Diego on a private plane for a long 4 day weekend at San Diego Comic Con.
"Why do you look like you're about to barf?" Daryl asked, plopping down beside Carol who was already in her seat with her buckle done up while everyone else chatted and moved around the plane as they waited on the tarmac for clearance.
"I've never flown before," Carol said softly, trying to calm the rising panic inside her.
"Me neither," Daryl shrugged. "But it can't be all that bad - people do it all the time."
Carol glared at him. "You're not helping."
"I still ain't forgave you for the movies the other night," Daryl said, glaring back. "You're lucky I'm still talking to you." Carol couldn't help but smile. She had talked him into going to a movie the day they'd seen the new billboard. They weren't the only ones who had noticed Daryl's beautiful face on that sign - in fact, it seemed everyone had seen it by that night. The more photographs and autographs he was asked for the more Daryl looked like he was going to blow a gasket. Carol had tried to calm him down a few times, but eventually she'd just resorted to teasing him because nothing else was working.
When they eventually had to run away from a mob of teenage girls, jump on his bike and speed off down the street Carol had been laughing, but Daryl was not the least bit amused and he'd given her the silent treatment for almost 3 full hours. When he got a massive pout on he was extremely stubborn.
"You realize that what happened that night… it's only going to get worse, right? Especially after this convention thing we're doing…" Carol asked gently. She thought maybe distracting herself by talking about his problems might get her through take off without a panic attack.
"I don't want to talk about it," Daryl replied with a pout. He wasn't trying to be dramatic, only honest, but it made her smile because he was very cute when he brooded.
"Daryl… like it or not you're about to be a huge star." He sunk lower in his seat and pouted harder. "I've told you so many times… you're just too pretty," Carol added, teasing him. That got her another glare, but she didn't miss the hint of a smile.
"You're pretty too," he mumbled, barely audible. Carol wasn't sure if it was a compliment or if he was arguing with her, but she allowed herself a bashful blush. "I don't even know why I'm here anyway," he continued. "I ain't got nothing to say."
"Did you read over the press package they gave us?" Carol asked. She knew he had. She'd actually been quite impressed with how professional he'd been lately. He'd really focussed on his work and when he filmed his most emotional scene to date she'd been there to watch and he'd absolutely nailed it. There had been a change in him since the night they'd kissed - but Carol had convinced herself it was nothing more than a coincidence. Yet there was this little voice in her mind that was convinced he was using work as a distraction.
"Yeah," Daryl grunted. "Read that, memorized the itinerary too… but all that bullshit we are and aren't allowed to talk about - I'm gonna fuck it up - so I think it's better if I just don't say a damn thing." Carol laughed. "Fuck off," he added.
"What are you gonna do? Just say 'no comment'," she snorted. "We're not on trial - we're here to promote the show. You gotta talk."
"There are enough of y'all to do the talkin'," Daryl replied stubbornly.
"Too bad you're the one they're all gonna want to talk to," Carol said, patting his knee.
Daryl groaned and leaned back in his seat. "This fucking sucks."
Suddenly the plane started to move. "Oh God," she breathed, gripping the armrests. Daryl did up his seatbelt and she saw everyone else find a place to sit. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to breathe and to refrain from crying. The plane started to pick up speed and it got harder to suck in a breath. Carol felt a hand on hers and she opened her eyes. Daryl was trying to hold her hand. She released the armrest and let him. It felt good. "Thank you," she mouthed. He really had become her biggest support system and Carol honestly had no idea what she would do without him.
Once they were in the air and levelled out she was finally able to start breathing normally again. And an hour into the flight she finally allowed herself to get out of her seat - only because she had to pee, but once she was up she ended up joining the others at the back where she stayed until the captain let them know they needed to buckle up for the landing. Daryl was right beside her once again as they landed and he held her hand again. "Well, we're still alive," he said after the plane bumped onto the runway and quickly slowed down.
"Yeah, this time," Carol sighed, already thinking about the flight home.
The next couple of hours flew by. They had left Atlanta late in the afternoon but with the time change it was only a couple hours later even with the long flight. They were picked up at the airport in big SUVs and taken to the hotel they would be staying at. The cast mulled around in the lobby while Mike and his assistant checked them all in.
It seemed to be taking a lot longer than expected and when Mike started in their direction Carol could tell he wasn't happy. "I have some bad news," he sighed, as everyone gathered around. "We had booked most of you single rooms for the weekend, but the hotel overbooked," he looked extremely pissed off. "We had to double most of you up. There will be one King bed and a cot brought in. I'm so sorry guys. I had them check 10 other hotels but everything is sold out for the con."
Mke started handing out room assignments. Amy and Andrea were put together, Shane and Glenn, Daryl and Merle… Rick, Lori and Carl were already sharing a room of course. Carol looked around and realized there were no other women left to pair up with since Jacqui hadn't come on the trip after a bad case of food poisoning. "Looks like you lucked out Peletier," Mike said with a smile. "You're the only one who still gets a room to yourself." Carol smiled, knowing there were many envious eyes boring into her back.
Carol heard a familiar voice behind her. "Hey, whatcha say we give Daryl a room to himself and you and I go see how soft the beds are?" She turned around and rolled her eyes at Merle.
"I'm gonna lock myself in my room, have a long hot shower and find some horrible chick flick on TV, but thanks for the offer," Carol replied, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. Despite the fact he was a pervert Merle was really growing on her. She admired how he'd overcome his addiction and really thrown himself into the job. He had a lot of talent for acting - and the ego to go with being a hollywood star if he ended up there someday.
The group all had their keys so they piled onto the elevator and headed to the 7th floor. Once they got off they headed to their own rooms. Carol gave Daryl a little wave as she unlocked her door. He waved back before disappearing into the room next door behind Merle. Well, at least we're neighbors, she thought.
Carol spent the next hour getting organized and exploring a bit. She unpacked her suitcase and took all her toiletries to the bathroom and put some of her clothes in the drawer and hung the rest in the closet. Finally, she was ready for that long, hot shower. Carol went into the bathroom and stripped off her clothes. Just as she was about to turn on the shower there was a loud banging at the door. "Shit," she hissed, looking at the pile of clothes on the floor. "Be right there," she called out. Carol spotted a robe on the back of the bathroom door and grabbed it. She tied the belt as she hurried for the door.
Without checking to see who it was she pulled the door open, chastising herself for being so stupid and then sighing with relief when Daryl stormed into the room. She noticed immediately that he'd brought his luggage. "Stupid fucking asshole," she heard him mutter.
"Uh, Daryl… whatcha doing?" Carol asked, letting the door shut.
"Oh, I'm gonna stay here with you, 'kay?" he said, setting his duffle bag on the floor.
He still hadn't turned around to face her, but Carol could tell he was angry. "Uh… sure… but why?"
"Merle bought me a present," Daryl snapped, finally turning. "Oh…" he added when he saw she was wearing a robe. Carol felt his eyes travelling up and down her body and she felt a warm buzz start inside her.
"A present?" She continued the conversation, trying to distract herself from the sexy feelings stirring inside her. "What kind of present?"
"A hooker," Daryl spat. "He bought me a fucking hooker."
"Oh," Carol bit her lip to keep from laughing. Who the hell does that? Buys their brother a hooker? It was so absurd it was amusing - and so… Merle. "That's uh, quite the gift… and kinda illegal too, isn't it?"
"He called it an escort… or companion… or something stupid - but they were hookers," Daryl said, his face burning red.
"They?" Carol asked.
"Oh yeah… you didn't think he'd get me one and not order himself the deluxe model," Daryl scoffed.
That was it. She couldn't hold back the laughter anymore. Carol snorted and Daryl glared at her for the upteenth time that day. "I'm sorry… what makes a hooker deluxe?" she asked, immediately wishing she hadn't.
"You don't want to know," Daryl replied, sparing her. Carol giggled harder and finally he cracked a smile. "You sure you don't mind me staying here?" he asked, looking around the room. "I'll sleep on the floor."
"Course I don't mind," Carol shrugged. She played it cool, but inside she was freaking out a bit. She had tried her best to pretend the kiss they'd shared wasn't a big deal, but every time she thought about it she wanted it again - and more. "If you promise not to kiss me in your sleep we can share the bed. It's huge anyway."
Daryl narrowed his eyes. He knew she still didn't believe he'd sleep kissed her. "We'll see," he grumbled.
"Whatever," Carol shrugged again. "I was just about to have a shower, but why don't we have a drink first? They left us a bottle of wine over there," she pointed at the table. Carol wasn't sure if alcohol was a good idea or a bad idea but she was gonna drink her some wine anyway.
Daryl smiled and picked up the bottle. "This looks way better than the non alcoholic sparkling cider in Merle's room." Carol hadn't even thought about the fact that they obviously couldn't put wine in Merle's room.
Daryl opened the wine and Carol held the glasses while he poured. "To an amazing weekend in San Diego," she toasted, handing him a glass. Their eyes met and Carol felt her heart react with a thud. The way he looked at her was so erotic sometimes, but she always felt stupid later on thinking she'd made it all up in her mind. In the moment though… the intensity in his eyes made her want to jump him. Carol looked away quickly and took a long drink of the wine. It was amazing - probably the most expensive wine she'd ever tasted. It wasn't long before she'd finished the entire glass. She poured herself more and added more to Daryl's almost empty glass.
Carol sighed and looked over at him. He'd taken a seat in the stuffed chair by the window. She'd had enough booze to give her a buzz, but nothing that would garner her a hangover the next morning. But the wine was already making her feel brave… and horny. She felt the familiar stirring in her belly and thought about how good it felt to kiss him that night. She bit her lip and let her mind wander to the memory of his naked body. A ripple of pleasure coursed through her. How long had it been since she'd had sex? Months. And if you eliminated the unsatisfying encounters with Ned… God, it had been years and years.
Everyone who was single was hooking up that night it seemed but the two of them. Merle was next door banging hookers. She'd seen Amy and Andrea chatting with a couple of handsome young actors from another show in the lobby when they first arrived, making plans to meet later. She'd noticed Shane sitting by the pool with some blonde girl when she'd checked out the balcony earlier and she'd even seen awkward little Glenn talking with a group of girls in the hallway.
She had spent so much of her life not being able to do what she wanted to do when she wanted to do it. But Ned was no longer a part of her life - there was no one to hold her back from doing whatever she wanted. What Carol wanted - right then… so badly… was Daryl Dixon. And sex. Sex with Daryl, specifically.
With every fibre of her being aching for him and every bit of grey matter in her head screaming it's a bad idea Carol stood up and walked over to him. She took the remote from his hand and shut off the television he'd just turned on. "We need to talk," she said. Daryl nodded, but before she could speak again he pulled her down and kissed her full on the mouth. Carol felt the robe loosen, but didn't make a move to tighten it as she sunk into his lap and kissed him right back.