Words and Whereabouts
Looking much better" Carol smiled at Hershel as she checked his wound. "We're going out to find you some crutches".
"Thank you, Carol" he smiled back.
"Thank yourself for teaching me all you did, not me".
"Ready?" Daryl appeared in the doorway. "Glenn and Maggie are waiting outside.
She nodded and stood up.
"All four of you?" Hershel asked.
"Yes, we need a lot of things for this new place and we decided to go all four, to move faster" Carol explained.
"Right, be careful".
Glenn and Maggie took the car, Daryl and Carol the bike.
"Ya made a list?" Daryl asked as they got off.
"We did" Maggie said. She took a deep breath in. "You know this is a risk".
"We're gonna handle, take it row by row, if there are too many of them, we retreat" Daryl said looking up at the worn out logo of the big supermarket.
"Ok" Carol turned to Maggie. "You get soaps and detergent. But that only after you find the crutches. I get the sheets, blankets and maybe I can find some clothes. We'll meet outside".
"Right" Maggie agreed.
They entered the supermarket and split up. Maggie went with Glenn, Daryl with Carol. Step by step, without a word or a whisper. Daryl whistled at some point showing Carol the linings section. She nodded and walked there. Daryl watched her gather everything she could with the speed of light. The two ran back.
"That's all?" Daryl asked as Carol threw the things in the back of the car.
"No, there was no walker in sight. We can get more towels and some clothes".
"Ok, let's go back".
The process repeated, Carol grabbed whatever she could, while Daryl was holding watch. Pants, shirts, underwear, stockings and sweaters she took everything she could. She stuffed them in her bag. She nodded at Daryl and they were ready to go. But as they turned right they met a dozen of walkers.
"Shit" Daryl whispered. He turned, grabbed Carol's hand and the two ran out. Maggie and Glenn were at the car.
"Everything ok?" Glenn asked.
"Didn't stumble upon any?"
"Nope"
"Well, we did. Ain't seen us, doe. Come on, let's head back".
"You found crutches?" Carol asked as she threw her bag and everything she was carrying in the car.
"Yes, hardly, but we did. Also soaps, detergent and so on" Glenn said.
"Come on, ya can chat later" Daryl said and Carol jumped on the bike.
They drove back.
"New sheets?" Lori asked.
"Yes, enough of them to have some comfort" Carol said as they brought everything in. "Also towels and Maggie got soap".
"Not only that" she winked and made a sign for them to approach. Beth was also in her cell. She opened her bag, which was full of feminine hygiene products and even some for pampering.
"You brought body oil?" Lori asked amused.
"Don't we deserve some pampering? I just took everything of the shelf, what can I do if somebody baby oil, smoothening shower gel fell in? Besides, with the baby coming we don't want you getting stretch marks"
They all started laughing, looking at the products Maggie had in her bag.
"What ya all laughing so happily at?" Daryl asked curios, appearing in the door way with Glenn.
"Girl's party in here, no boys allowed" Maggie joked closing the door to the prison cell.
Glenn pulled Daryl away.
"Maggie picked up woman's stuff from the supermarket. Guess their having fun with it".
Daryl puffed sarcastically.
Later Carol set a little washing corner in the bathroom and a rope to dry the clothes. She was arranging the food with Carl.
"It should last us a while" she said writing everything down.
"It's starting to look pretty human in here" the boy said, helping her move the food in order.
"When we're finished with this, we will burn the bodies outside and start placing seeds to grow plants".
He nodded a little absent minded.
"Carl…may I ask why you are so upset with Lori?" she said while counting the cans. It wasn't an invasive question.
"'Cause she's still treating me like I am a small child. She doesn't trust me, Carol. She got all over me when I brought those bandages for Hershel, instead of being happy she had them".
"You're not a boy anymore, you can defend this group almost as good as any man around here. Sure, you're still growing, you don't have T-Dog's or Daryl's strength".
"So why can you see that and she can't?"
"She can. But she is your mother and for her, your safety comes first. This is how it's mean to be. She never wanted this for you. She wanted you to grow up in a normal world, to have a childhood, to make beautiful memories, not sleep with a gun under your head at night, wondering if you will still be alive in the morning".
"She needs to accept the truth".
Carol stopped what she was doing and looked at Carl.
"She is. But keeping you safe will always be her top priority. Because that's what mothers do. They keep their children safe, they watch them grow up. And if you want her to give you a break, you'll also have to give her a break as well".
Carol smiled at him. He somehow nodded fast and resumed moving the cans around.
"What ya doing in here, playing with food?" Daryl asked as he entered the room.
"Counting it, rationalizing it" Carol replied.
"Well, Lori prepared dinner, said to call ya both in".
"In a second. Carl, go ahead, I am almost finished".
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, thanks for the help".
He passed Daryl, truth be told he was kind of hungry. But, like anyone else he was never complaining about it.
"Ready. Now we know what expires when, what will be finished when and what we will need next" she said looking at the shelves full of food. She turned pleased, just to face Daryl who was staring at her.
"Ya never knew to fight for what ya wanted" he said.
She frowned, she didn't see it coming. She walked and passed him.
"Carol" he called her name, grabbing her wrist. She turned, but pulled her arm away.
"Why don't you gather everything you have to reproach me and say it all? Take it all out".
"Why? 'Cause ya used with all kind of abuse?"
"No, because you know you can say anything to me; that I will listen and forgive every crap that comes out of your mouth" she was starting to boil. "I'm fighting, Daryl, I'm fighting to stay alive, I'm fighting for this group. Just like you, day by day".
She was breathing fast, looking with anger at the man she desired.
"And I'm fighting for you, but it's just different from what you are used too. I am never going to push myself onto you, I am never going to put my desires before yours, before your safety. You'll either accept it or not".
She turned to leave, but stopped. He approached her and placed his palm on her shoulder. Carol turned, her hands going directly into Daryl's hair, pulling him closer. Her lips found his, avidly and angry. He grabbed her waist, pressing her body against his, his hand slipping under her top, feeling her skin. Fuck dinner, he wanted something else.
"Carol, Daryl, dinner!" they heard T-Dog call and approach.
Carol pulled away from Daryl, breathing hard and looking angry in his eyes.
"Come on, man, it's getting cold what the heck!" T-dog said as he reached them.
"Coming" Daryl said, still staring at Carol.
"Everything fine?" T-Dog asked.
"Yes, just perfect" Carol said, trying to calm. She turned and finally walked away.
Daryl threw a vicious look at T-Dog and also passed him.
"What?" T-Dog asked confused and followed Daryl.
Carol sat down, Lori handed her a bowl of food. She had calmed as she saw the woman, with her big belly popping out of her blouse. She realized, as she slowly ate whatever food Lori had given her that she had just thrown herself into Daryl's arms, despite everything she had said before. It was even harder for her to interpret her gesture as it hadn't been something she had planned to do it had just…come over her. She looked at him, from under her lashes, like she feared to meet his eyes. She sighted relieved when she realized he wasn't staring at her, but listening to what T-Dog was telling. Something about cleaning the yard…Carol wasn't paying attention. Now that Daryl was concentrated with someone else, she could gaze her eyes at him, without the fear he might notice.
He kept biting his lower lip, which was slightly redder than usual as it had been a pretty passionate kiss. Of course, his gesture made Carol only wish to devour his lips and she bit that plastic spoon she was eating with. His hair was a little messy; she could still feel the thick strands between her fingers. And speaking of fingers…her eyes went down on his hand holding the spoon, that same hand that had been on her skin, under her top just a second ago. His skin was chapped and rough, but it had felt better like silk on her body.
He suddenly turned his head and looked directly into her eyes. There was that expression in his eyes that told Carol he had known all along how deep she had stared at him for the last couple of minutes. And not only was he looking at her, but everyone's eyes were on her.
"Will you, Carol?" Rick asked.
"What?" she barely whispered, her eyes imprisoned on Daryl. It was impossible for her to move her stare even if she desperately wanted to.
"Work with us in the yard to organize everything? I know there's still much to do here, but we could use your help outside" Rick said.
Carol finally came to herself and as she did she saw Daryl smirk.
"Of course" she turned to Rick and smiled polite.
"You barely touched your food, are you feeling sick?" Lori asked her. She placed her palm on Carol's forehead to check her temperature.
"No, I'm fine, my mind slipped for a while".
"Where?" Daryl asked, clearly playing with her.
"To some highlights of my life" she teased back with a smile. Daryl clearly liked the answer as it was hard for him to hide that second smirk forming on his lips.
"Ok, so we're going to the tower see how many walkers gathered and all that" Glenn said, referring to him and Maggie. "Don't wait up for us".
Carol stood and gathered the dirty bowls.
"You go rest, I'll take care of this" she said to Lori.
Beth went to take care of Hershel, Carl and Rick went outside for a quick stroll. Carol washed the bowls, while Daryl and T-Dog moved the big sachets of corn around.
"At least the food is stored properly" T-Dog said as Carol also entered the room that had become the pantry.
"It will be enough for a while" she looked at the shelves.
"Let's take a perimeter stroll as well" T-Dog said to Daryl and went to the door. The man looked at Carol and followed him.
When Daryl returned, and he returned pretty late, he walked to Carol's cell. She had fallen asleep, with the gas lamp still working. He entered and turned it off, looking down at the woman.
As he passed Lori's cell, he found her still awake.
"Can't get any rest?" he stopped in the doorway.
"Not much" she smiled somehow bitter.
"The baby kickin'?"
"This is a strange world to deliver a baby" she sighted.
"Ya know…" he crossed his arms and leaned on the wall. "A baby is a blessing. And in today's world, it's a beacon of hope".
Lori looked up at him, very surprised of his words.
Carol had woken up as she heard the m speaking. She smiled and sighted, falling back to sleep.
Note: Getting there...
Thanks for reading!