Getting Close to Carol

The next day's journey seemed endless to Carol. They kept getting stopped in traffic snarls and chased my walker herds. Everyone's nerves were on edge and tempers were flaring. She kept her knives and her new sword close enough so that she could reach them at a moment's notice. Judith was riding with Rick, Michonne, Daryl, and Carl this morning and Carol thought that was the safest place for her to be. Elijah was riding in the last seat because as Tyreese said, "We always make the white guys sit in the back of the bus". Elijah had laughed, "Can I sing "We Shall Overcome?"

At the midmorning stop Sasha decided to ride with Maggie for a while and Beth moved to their vehicle. Tyreese said, "We always make the white girls sit in the back of the bus". Beth looked at him, "Can I sing "We Shall Overcome?" She was surprised at how funny they thought that was. Elijah had moved over in the seat to make room for her and said loudly enoughly to be heard in the front row, "I have a dream that little white boys and girls can sit in the second row". Everyone laughed again.

Carol smiled; Elijah for all his piety had a snarky sense of humor and had fit in with their group. Beth had largely ignored him until now but she had laughed when he made the "I have a dream" comment. Bob called them "ZA Ken and Barbie". Elijah warned, "Keep talking, and I am going to start singing".

Beth relaxed and shook off some of the fear that this morning had instilled in her; these people might be overrun at any time by a pack of hungry walkers but they were going to find something to laugh about. This was a lot more fun than riding with Maggie and Glenn. She always had the feeling that if she dropped over dead in the back seat it might be days before they noticed. You might get snarked on in this vehicle but you didn't go unnoticed.

They rounded a curve and Morgan saw a large herd that covered both lanes in front of them. He hit the hazard lights and started to slow down and in a smooth move made a 360 degree turn on the berm of the road. The vehicles behind him slowed and began turning and Morgan let them make their turn before starting out. Michonne had been driving the car directly behind them and he drove into the left hand lane so that his vehicle was beside of hers. Their eyes met for just a second and they both waited until the cars behind them were safely turned around before they pulled out. They took off like two hot rodders racing for kicks on a Saturday night just out of reach of the hungry walkers.

Beth and Elijah had both turned to look at the threat coming at them with quick lurching steps. Elijah had taken her hand and she held on with a death grip. They both let out their breaths as they watched the dead disappear from the rear window. Beth released Elijah's hand when she saw that Tyreese and Carol had been holding hands too.

Morgan drove back into the right hand lane as they went back around the curve and the convoy drove on a few miles before they pulled off a roadside park. Morgan, Bob, Tyreese, Carol, Elijah, and Beth jumped out of the vehicle and had a group hug that was interrupted by Sasha and Michonne joining them.

Daryl watched them celebrate and understood why Carol would be comfortable with that group. They showed their feelings and their affections. He moved closer to her. He had promised himself that he would protect Carol and that meant he had to be in a position close enough to her to intervene if danger came.

Rick carried Judith to Carol and then patted Morgan on the back. "Thank you for keeping your cool. We could have all got tangled up trying to get out of there."

Morgan said, "We need to stay further apart and it's time to find some radios. We need to communicate better. That could have gone south too easily".

"I agree. We need to find some radios and a way to keep them charged". Abraham had come over to talk this situation over. "Let's find someplace safe for tonight for the group and go on a run for what we need".

Carol turned and almost fell over Daryl who was standing looking out at the woods behind the roadside park. She was still carrying Judith and Daryl turned to see who had bumped him and he smiled at her and the baby. Carol smiled back but moved out of his way. Maggie and Glenn were waiting by their vehicle. Tara and Rosita were standing with Eugene. Carol was relieved that they were stopping for the day. That had been a big herd. Michonne came over and hugged her. "Damn, that shit was scary".

Carol hugged her back, "You and Morgan were as cool as cucumbers."

Morgan came over to them. "MIchonne, you can drive my car anytime." He hugged her and Michonne resisted her impulse to lean in. There were lots of reasons to want to be closer to Morgan and one big reason to stay away. Carol and Morgan were close but was it friendship or the beginnings of love?

Michonne glanced at Daryl. What had happened or not happened between him and Carol? Everyone in the group knew that Carol had been banished by Rick before the prison fell and yet somehow had been with Tyreese and Judith on the way with Terminus. Daryl had left the prison with Beth and somehow Carol had found her. What in the hell was wrong with Daryl?

Daryl glanced back at Carol and saw her handing Judith back to Rick. He had seen the walkers in the road before them and his first thought had been for Carol's safety. Morgan had made the right decision. Time to man up, he thought to himself and walked over to Morgan, Michonne, and Carol. "Quick thinking out there, got us outa a bad situation". He took a quick glance at Carol and their eyes met and he knew that he would do anything to keep her safe. He needed to find a way to ride in this vehicle. "Maybe I can ride with you to find our place for tonight". Daryl pitched his voice low so that Carol wouldn't hear. Morgan nodded.

Sasha and Bob went over to Glenn and Maggie. Daryl slid in the passenger front seat and Carol sat directly behind Morgan so as Daryl talked with Morgan he could watch Carol too. Morgan asked, "Can you think of any place that we passed that could work?"

Carol had noticed a fenced in warehouse about 20 miles back. It was off on a side road, but the fences had looked intact. "I saw a steel warehouse about 20 miles back. It looked to be in good shape".

Morgan said, "I remember that now. Let's head back that way and check it out. Now what useless items will be stored in that warehouse?"

Daryl snorted, "High end faucets and shower fixtures".

Tyreese thought for a minute, "Lawn decorations".

Morgan came up with, "Above ground pools".

Carol said, "Universal television remotes".

They laughed at all the things that people used to care about. Tyreese asked, "What would be the most useful?"

Morgan said, "Survival equipment".

Daryl, "Weapons".

Tyreese, "Food".

Carol, "Water purification filters and tablets".

Daryl was beginning realize why Michonne kept sneaking in here and why Beth and Elijah seemed to have settled in. This group liked and trusted one another. Carol asked, "What nasty food is going to be stored in that warehouse?"

Tyreese said, "Instant potatoes".

Morgan, "Brussel sprouts".

Daryl, "Turnips"

Carol, "Beanie Wienies".

The three men shook their heads that Carol would put Beanie Wienies in the same category as turnips and Brussel sprouts. Then Daryl realized that it was his turn and he froze for a few seconds. "What kinda clothes will be stored there"?

Morgan, "Golf shorts for men".

Tyreese, "Business suits for men and women".

Carol, "Prom gowns".

Daryl, "Bathing suits".

Rick had signaled that he was pulling off the road and Morgan parked behind him. Rick wanted to drive down a side road to look for a house. Morgan said, "Let's go check this warehouse out. If it's a no go then we will look for a house". Rick reluctantly agreed.

The warehouse had high fences and a graveled driveway. Tyreese cut the chain with a bolt cutter. Daryl, Morgan, Rick, and Abraham went in through the side door. The others stayed well back and in a few minutes Rick came back smiling and they drove their vehicles on the side of the building away from the road.

The warehouse had mattresses and bedroom furniture. There was an office, restroom, and kitchen area off to the side. It was dry inside and the fences were surprisingly sturdy. It looked as if it was going to rain but they were inside a steel building and reasonably safe for the evening. The building had windows close to the roof that let in light so it wasn't too dark inside.

Glenn, Bob, and Elijah decided to make bedrooms so that everyone had a place to rest. Carol and Michonne scored a corner bedroom with Sasha and Beth. Rick had watch and so Judith slept between Carol and Michonne.

Daryl had first watch but he had watched where Carol moved her things and had his in the next space. There was a large dresser between them and he had been on watch when she went to bed.

It had been a long lonely watch but Daryl figured that at the end of that he would sleep close to Carol. She might not know he was there but he would know that she was. He still had to figure a way to get back in that vehicle. He liked Morgan and he saw a little something in Michonne's eyes when she looked at him. She was a damn fine looking woman and Morgan would be happy with her. He just had to play matchmaker with those two.

Michonnne was thinking about Morgan. He was out of his mind with grief and regret when she first met him, but he had found his way back from that. She hadn't been all that calm when she got the suv turned around today. She had wanted to goose that gas and get the hell away but she had looked at Morgan and had given the others the seconds they needed to get out of the way. She had flirted a bit with Rick in the past but she could never accept the part of Rick that would banish Carol. She wanted to be with Morgan, but there was Carol to think about. The solution of course was that Daryl and Carol would get together. Daryl had shown a little effort in that direction today. He had found a way to ride in the same car as Carol and he kept popping up like a bad penny around her all day. He had claimed the bedroom beside theirs though Carol had been too busy cooking at the time to notice. She was just going to have to play matchmaker with those two. Michonne kissed Judith on the top of her head and settled down to sleep.

Daryl followed the pathway that ran between the bedrooms to find his own niche. He moved his stuff off the bed and covered himself with one of the blankets that had been stored in a side room. It always took him a while to get to sleep after a watch. He heard Carol make a muttered cry and he knew that she was having a nightmare. Daryl bit his lip and thought of all the times he hadn't comforted her and he rolled out of the bed. Carol had gotten up and moved toward the side offices and he followed her.

Carol controlled herself until she went into a side office and then she let herself sob. This had not been a standard nightmare. In her dream she was back in the grove with Mika, Lizzie, and Sophia making pralines. She had been so happy and it had felt so real. Then, all at once the girls had turned to her and she realized that she would lose them again and Sophia had walked out of the house, then Mika, and then Lizzie looked at her and walked out. Then, she woke up and knew that they were gone forever.

Daryl had hesitated by the office door. They had put the solar lights in here so that the way to the restroom was lit. He went in and Carol was crying almost silently. He put his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. She was too far gone in her sorrow to resist him and he picked her up and sat down on the couch in that room still holding her.

Carol let her grief and anger out and Daryl realized from what she said that Mika and Lizzie can be killed on the way to Terminus. Carol had watched them die and he held her even closer and just let her cry it out. Carol went from exhausted sob to exhausted sleep and Daryl felt his arms grow numb but he wasn't letting go. Carol would probably regret this tomorrow but he never would. Carol had needed him tonight and he had been there. He went to sleep still holding her.

Carol had woken up after a couple of hours and saw that she was entangled in Daryl's arms. Then, the dream came back, her flight for somewhere to let go, and Daryl showing up and holding her while she poured out her sorrow. She eased out of his arms and onto her feet. She had been self-sufficient at the prison but she needed the comfort of friends now.

Carol went back to her bed and crawled in quietly. She didn't go back to sleep and was still awake an hour later when Daryl went by and she heard him slide onto the bed behind the dresser. She smiled and went to sleep.

AN

Michonne and Daryl as matchmakers? I can hardly wait. It's going to take more than a midnight snuggle to win Carol.

The muse has been struggling as of late and needs some reassurance. Review please.

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