Chapter Six

The first tinges of pink had barely touched the horizon when Carol fought to make her heavy eyes open. At first, she was confused as to why she hurt so badly or – for that matter – where she was. Then it all came flooding back to her. Ed trying to force himself on her … the overwhelming desire to refuse to let him hurt her again … her cheek exploding in pain and the force of her body falling through the tent flap … and then Daryl rushing across the camp to save her, nearly mindless with rage. Her lashes fluttered open wide, all vestiges of her previous slumber fleeing in the space of a heartbeat as she found herself staring into his all too familiar cobalt eyes. They were sleepy yet focused, concern knitting his brow as he raised a finger to his lips to silence her.

"Shh … you're safe," Daryl drawled, his voice a deep hum as he tried to reassure her.

Of everything she'd learned about her new friend over the course of the last month, she would have to admit she'd never expect him to want to sleep so close to her. Yet his bedroll and hers were separated by barely six inches. She winced as pain lashed at her side, and she realized the ibuprofen must've worn off hours ago.

"How're y' feelin'?" he asked, watching her carefully. Of course, he knew she'd try to hide her discomfort from him if she could.

"Like warmed over crap," she grumbled, a tiny smile toying at the edges of her lips. He didn't return her smile. If anything, his frown deepened. She decided it would be best to shift his focus off of her for the time being. "How 'bout you? Did you sleep at all, or have you just been lying there watching me?"

"I slept," he replied somewhat sheepishly, unused to such concern for his own well-being. "Merle just came in from watch an' woke me. I need t' go check th' snares … see if we mighta caught somethin'. I don't want t' be too far from camp today."

Carol frowned. "Daryl, you don't have to guard me every second. I think you made it quite clear to Ed last night to – "

"He don't look th' type to heed a warnin' neither," he hissed. "He ain't hurtin' y' again."

Oh boy … "I don't want to be a burden. You don't have to alter your daily routine for me. I don't want that," she insisted, her chin rising a notch in defiance. "And I can't just stay in the tent all day when there's work to be done." She ruined the effect of her newfound stubbornness when she sat up too quickly and another jolt of pain had her grabbing her side. "Ugh!"

Daryl arched a brow and smirked smugly. "Oh, yeah … you're jus' ready t' take on th' world, ain'tcha?" Before she could swat him with her pillow, he rolled up onto his knees and crawled over to where he'd left the first aid kit, grabbing a packet of ibuprofen and a bottle of water for her.

They were both taken by surprise when another pillow hit them both. "For fuck's sake, take it outside! Let a man sleep, wouldja?!"

Carol reached for her thin-soled flats and pulled them onto her feet. They weren't the most practical shoes in the situation in which she'd found herself, but they were lightweight enough to sleep in if she had to. Never knowing what she'd have to endure by Ed's hand, she'd taken to wearing them to bed. If she hadn't, she'd have been left with nothing to wear when Daryl had saved her the night before. She could only guess he'd removed them from her feet when he'd made his way to his own bedroll.

Daryl tossed the pillow back at his brother. "Shut up, y' ass! Weren't talkin' that loud. You're worse than an old woman." He frowned up at Carol as she unsteadily climbed to her feet. "And where th' hell d'you think you're goin'?"

"To find a convenient tree, if you don't mind," she replied flippantly

His face heated. "Oh." She'd nearly made it out of the tent before he could finish pulling his boots on. He grabbed his crossbow and quickly followed her, keeping his distance to insure her privacy.

She tried her best to hold back the groan of pain fighting to escape her as she went off into the tree line. There was no way she wanted him bursting through the brush to see what was wrong and finding her with her pants around her ankles. She took her time. She had to considering how sore she was, but it wasn't surprising considering how many times she'd had to do it in the past. Either Ed was getting more violent or she was feeling her age.

"Woman!" came his worried hiss when she still hadn't emerged from the trees. "Are y' ok in there?"

"I'm fine," she whispered as she returned to his side. "You didn't have to wait."

"Pfft," he scoffed. "Mine t' protect, remember?"

Carol couldn't go back to sleep after Daryl left her to go hunting. It would just be to check his snares, but she felt rather relieved he'd be sticking close to camp today instead of venturing further afield. The mountain the quarry was situated on provided all manner of game, and another deer would be more than welcome to the group, but she still felt safer knowing he'd be close by.

She didn't like the idea of having to stay in the tent all day either. She was used to keeping busy with chores which needed to be done. She'd been a housewife for more years than she cared to contemplate, and the familiar tasks of cooking and laundry and even tidying her tent kept her from thinking about the world going to hell around them.

Daryl had asked her to rest, to allow herself to heal. As much as he liked to claim her, he wasn't trying to be domineering like Ed had been. She knew without a doubt he'd never be anything like Ed. It was going to be a change taking care of two men instead of one – more laundry, more cooking – but she couldn't say she minded. There was a sense of peace being with the brothers, a lack of fear that every action she made would be met with a violent reaction.

"Carol?" she heard at the tent flap. "Carol, it's Lori … may I come in?"

"Sure, Lori," Carol said, lifting the flap so she could enter. She wasn't expecting Andrea and Jacqui to be with her. "Um … where's Sophia?"

"Oh, she's um, still sleeping. Don't worry," Lori added when she saw the concerned look on her friend's waxen features. "Shane and Dale are nearby and have strict instructions to keep them there in my tent until I get back."

Andrea winced as she took in the bruises on Carol's cheek and jaw. "How are you?"

Carol snorted and moved to sit on Daryl's bedroll. "Well, judging by your expression, I'm hoping I feel better than I look."

"I hope so too," Jacqui said, taking a seat next to her.

Merle sat up in his sleeping bag and scowled at them. "What th' fuck is this? A hen party?! It's getting' t' where a man cain't get no sleep in this camp."

Mirth danced in Carol's eyes as she looked over at him and saw he wasn't really mad. "Merle if you go down to Dale's and get me a can of tinned tomatoes, I'll make that relish you like so much to go with your toast."

A wide grin spread over his face. "Wellll …" he drawled. "At least m' new sister has some respect fer me." He figured there would be no harm to leave her alone for a moment since she had her friends there with her. And if he could get one of his favorite treats in the bargain, so be it. "All's y' need is th' tomatoes?"

Carol nodded, already having inventoried the small crate of supplies they kept in the tent. It took him but a moment to pull on his boots and leave to do her bidding.

Then the barrage of questions began …

"Have you lost your mind?!"

"How hard did Ed hit you to make you shack up with the Dixon brothers?"

"Girl, you been holdin' out on us … how is he in bed?"

"Please just tell us it's not Merle you're involved with," Andrea groaned.

Carol gaped at her three friends and then crossed her arms defensively over her chest. Why should she have to explain her motivation for accepting Daryl's offer of help? Especially since the three women before her looked like no matter what she said, it would be the wrong answer. "There's nothing wrong with Merle, Andrea," she said coolly, "and I'm not having sex with either of them. Both he and Daryl are hotheaded and coarse, but I stand by my conviction. They're two of the best men I know. They'd never lay a harmful hand on either me or Sophia."

Jacqui reached out and squeezed Carol's hand as she rested them back on her lap. "But how do you know that? That's a lot of blind faith."

Lori gave them all an owl-eyed stare. "You've barely known them a month!"

"How well do any of us know one another?" Carol asked in a quiet tone. "We all met on the road while Atlanta was being bombed. We took a chance and stuck together to find this place. We've lived here together and tried to eke out an existence while we're terrified those things are going to come for us. Now be honest … would you have thought Ed was the real monster when you first met him? If he can be as he is, couldn't you admit you might be wrong about Daryl and Merle?"

Andrea shook her head. "You're still taking an awfully big chance."

"No more than the rest of us. Dale let them stay. Apparently, he didn't view them as a threat," Jacqui argued. "Carol's right. We have to all trust each other."

"I've gotten to know Daryl over the past several weeks. He's a good man and I have faith in him." She looked down at her hands and closed her eyes for a moment, remembering how he'd practically begged her to let him help her. "He saved me. If you think about it, he was the only one who could." Or would, she added silently.

Lori still wasn't convinced. "You can come and stay in our tent with me and Carl," she offered.

Carol slowly shook her head. Even after only one night, she felt a part of something new and special, a sense of belonging, and she knew she didn't want to give that up. It wasn't going to be easy … far from it, but it was right. "Thanks, Lori, but I can't."

"If you change your mind …"

Daryl set the bag holding his kills on the outdoor table beside his crossbow and made his way silently to the tent flap, his stealth just a part of who he was after so many years spent in the forest fending for himself. He paused, a furrow appearing between his brows when he heard voices coming from within. His gut clenched when he recognized those voices as belonging to Carol's friends. Had they come to talk her into leaving? Into leaving him? Would they make her see he wasn't good enough to care for her well-being? His hands balled into fists at his side, ready to storm into the nylon structure and toss those biddies out on their asses. They couldn't have her! And then her next words drifted out to him and knocked the breath from his body. He's a good man and I have faith in him.

Did she really believe that, or was she just trying to make her friends feel better about her situation? He knew he and Merle were no prize, and it would be more than a little difficult for her to adjust to living with them, but did she really think they were more than what everyone thought them to be? It made his stomach twist and churn, but it was different than what he'd ever experienced before. If he didn't know better, he'd think it was the first stirrings of hope. Hope he could make her life a little better.

He didn't have time to dwell on it, however, as he heard Merle coming up the path, a chattering Sophia at his side. "Where's mama? Is she still in our tent? Is she sick? Why didn't she come for me this morning? Why'd she send you to get me?"

Merle scrubbed a hand over his face in exasperation. "Girly, I'm about two seconds away from getting' out th' duct tape fer that mouth o' yers. I toldja she'd explain when we got here."

Sophia closed her mouth for all of five seconds, pursing her lips in a pout. Then she was off again. "Is she ok?" She lowered her voice, a tremor emanating deep in her vocal chords. "D-Did daddy hurt her again?"

"Hey, Soph," Daryl called to her, saving his brother from having to answer that. "Didja have fun with Carl last night?"

"Yeah, we played Uno and I totally kicked his butt," she grinned unrepentantly.

Merle sent his brother a grateful look before turning to the women who were filing out of the tent. "Ladies," he drawled, though his gaze was drawn to Andrea as she stepped past him. He winked at Daryl as she cast Merle a look of disgust. "Hate t' see y' go, but damn … love t' watch y' leave."

Daryl rolled his eyes and held the tent flap open. "G'on, Soph. Your mama's inside." He followed her as she dashed inside, letting the flap close behind them, leaving Merle outside. He frowned darkly as the little girl took one look at her mother and burst into tears.

His eyes met Carol's as she held her arms open for her daughter. "Easy, love," she crooned, wincing when Sophia hugged her a bit too tightly.

"She's hurt, Soph, so be gentle," he warned, shifting restlessly on the balls of his feet. Carol patted the sleeping bag he'd used that morning, urging him to sit next to them. After a moment, he finally did as she bid.

The girl eased her grip and turned her watery gaze up to her mother. "Oh, mama, I'm sorry."

"Baby, you don't have anything to be sorry for."

"If I had stayed with you, maybe …"

Daryl stared hard at Sophia, anger flaring in his chest. "It's not your fault. If you'd have stayed with her, y' probably woulda gotten hurt too."

Carol nodded, trying to muster a brave smile for her daughter. "He's right, Sophia, and I didn't want that. But you don't have to worry about him hurting us again."

Sophia sat up and dried her tears on the back of her hand. "What … why? And why are you here?"

"Daryl saved me. He asked me to come and stay with him and Merle … to be a part of their family. They're going to protect us from your father."

The girl's eyes widened before her entire face broke out into a grin. "Really?! We get to stay? I need to go get my stuff! This is so cool … I can't wait to tell Carl."

Merle caught her, his fingers gently curling around her upper arms as he came into the tent, preventing her from leaving. "Whoa there, Peach, where y' think yer goin'?"

"To get my stuff from our tent."

"Sophia," her mother said, her tone distressed. She didn't want her girl to see the sorry state of her father. "I don't think that's such a good idea right now. Why don't we have some breakfast first."

The blonde nodded and set about exploring her new home. It wasn't much, but she was curious by nature and there would be no deterring her.

Daryl leaned closer to Carol, his voice low. "You're afraid t' go back for your things?" He ground his teeth furiously when she nodded. "Don't be. Me an' Merle'll go get them."

"So you can shoot him in the other cheek?" she asked with a knowing smirk.

"Only if he opens his mouth," he shot back.

"You might want to ask Shane or Dale if they'll help you. Might be easier that way." She didn't want Ed to say anything to rile her hunter up even more. Daryl's temper was a ticking time bomb and the fuse was mighty short.

*.*.*

"Leave it, woman," Daryl barked as she reached for the tin plates they'd dirtied at breakfast. "Me and Sophia can take care of this. Go rest and let your body heal."

"Yeah, Mom, we got this," the girl chirped happily, already gathering up the dishes and dumping them in the wash basin. Daryl had already filled it with water for her.

"I'm not an invalid," Carol grumbled.

"Hey, we let y' cook breakfast, didn't we?" Merle piped in. "Damn stubborn woman."

"I suppose you'd rather me be a simpering belle good for nothing but filing my nails and fluttering a fan?" Carol asked, barely able to hold back her laughter at his horror-stricken expression.

"Gawd, no!" He shot to his feet and rubbed his greasy fingers on his jeans. "Alright, I'ma see if I can round up Shane and Dale t' go an' get yer things."

"Inside, woman … now," Daryl ordered in a gentle tone. It wasn't often she heard him speak like that to anyone but her, and she was learning a healthy appreciation for it. "You need rest."

She turned her head to look at his profile as he sat down next to her and pulled his crossbow to rest on his lap. His focus was trained on the tent she'd shared with her husband and daughter up until yesterday, no doubt anticipating trouble from Ed when the others arrived to fetch her things. When she still hadn't moved, he swung his gaze to her with an exasperated sigh.

"Can't I stay here with you?" she asked.

"What's wrong with the tent now?"

"Nothing."

"Carol …"

"I might be a little claustrophobic," she admitted. She ducked her head and sighed. "Sophia and I had to hide in a closet more than once, Daryl, and confined spaces are not my friend. I doubt I'd be able to sleep during the day anyhow because I'm so used to being active with the chores which need to be done in this camp."

Heat rose in her face at the confession. She didn't know why she felt the need to confide these little snippets of her past with someone she was only now getting to know, why she trusted him so much already. She watched the muscle work in his jaw as he chewed the inside of his lower lip, her gaze dropping to watch the rippling muscles of his forearms as he clenched and released his balled fists. It wasn't hard to tell he wanted to bolt across the path and beat Ed to a pulp … again.

Carol sighed. "I'm going to have to get back to work tomorrow. It's not good to let the laundry go for more than a day."

"Christ, woman! None of that shit matters," he cursed, trying to keep his voice down so as not to upset Sophia.

"Yes, it does. The children deserve a bit of normalcy in this craziness. I have to try … for her. Even before," she choked out around the lump in her throat, "I tried to pretend."

"Pretending now is a surefire way t' get your ass killed," he growled. "No more pretending. I need t' know you're goin' t' be honest with me. You're our family now. We'll help y' get strong, teach y' how t' fight, t' survive, but I gotta know you'll be honest with me."

He could see the determination in her eyes as she nodded. "Always, Daryl. I promise not to disappoint you," she murmured, blinking rapidly to stem a fresh flood of tears. How could she not promise him honesty when he'd already done so much for her and her daughter.

Daryl was quiet for a long time, comfortable with the silence between them. When her head dropped against his shoulder and he could hear her even breaths as they puffed softly against his bare arm, his lips curled into a smug smirk. Just as he'd thought, the stress and strain had been too much to resist. Her body needed rest even as her mind argued the point. Carefully, without waking her, he lifted her into his arms and carried her back inside