Daryl leaned his back against the fence and waited with bated breath for Maggie or Glenn or Rick or whoever was in the watchtower to come down and loose him back inside, he had seen the snapping heads of four Walkers as he walked indicating that Michonne had been on a killing spree since he'd been gone.
"Daryl." Maggie beamed, joining him at the gate, he spotted Glenn in the watchtower overlooking the encounter, "Long time no see." She added adjusting the straps on her strap top. "I was just err, we were just..."
"Bumpin' uglies?" He asked arching an eyebrow and Maggie laughed whole-heartedly, "I don't wanna know." He replied before starting across the forecourt.
He made his way into the prison with his crossbow slung over his right arm and a bunch of dead squirrels hanging over his left.
"Hello son." Hershel smiled, "Good to see you back."
Daryl nodded his head in Hershel's general direction and placed the bunch of squirrels on the table.
"Good hunt?"
Daryl grunted by means of a reply and shrugged, "There's a lot of Walkers about, the suns got 'em all riled up." He explained casually, he placed his crossbow against the wall and took a seat in front of Hershel. "I'm thinkin' I gotta go further out next time." He added and Hershel nodded his head in agreement. "Where's Carol?" He finally asked.
"In bed." Hershel stated simply, nodding his head in the direction of Carol's cell, "She's been a wreck these past few days Daryl."
Daryl went rigid as he shrugged, "Ain't nothin' to be in a wreck over," He replied curtly, "Everythin's fine."
Hershel shot him a sympathetic look but didn't say anything else as Daryl got to his feet and left the table.
He sauntered boldly across the prison, stopping momentarily outside of his own cell to kick off his shoes and place down his knife. He noticed the freshly laundered clothes neatly folded on his bed and gave a small smile, Carol.
Before he had chance to head over to Carol's cell she was standing behind him, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"You're back." She breathed, relief evident in her tone. Daryl nodded once as he turned to face her, "I'm glad." She added softly.
Daryl grunted and stepped back into his cell, pretending like he had no intention of seeking Carol in the first place, "Yep." He said, "Gonna do a run into town tomorrow."
"I'll come." Carol added quickly, eager for him to know that she wasn't going to be leaving this one alone. "I need to get me some stuff."
"Write me a list." Daryl replied, not looking up from the floor.
Carol shook her head, "They're not the kind of things I'd want you fetchin' for me." She lied, any excuse.
He nodded firmly and angled his body towards her, "Fine." He stated in a low gravelly voice, he leant back in his bunk and kicked his feet up onto the bed before fixing her with a cold expression. "That all?" He asked.
Carol just continued to smile, glad he was back within the confines of the prison, at least she could keep a close eye on him, "For now." She breathed before turning on her heel and leaving. She was going to get him to open up if it was the last thing she did...