Chapter Eleven

Merle Dixon hated being on watch with a burning passion. It was boring as fuck sitting there on his ass watching the sleepy quarry camp. He was doing it to keep an eye out for Ed mostly. He didn't trust the bastard not to try to slip in and slit Mouse's throat while she slept. He had a feeling his brother wouldn't take it well should anything happen to the woman. Merle shook his head. The boy was more attached to her than he was willing to admit. Bout time baby brother sat up an' took note of th' fairer sex.

As long as she didn't think he'd allow her to play games with Daryl. That was one thing he wasn't going to stand for. The boy had been through too much in his life - some of which had been Merle's own fault - and he felt he needed to protect him now more than ever. He hadn't always been the best brother or friend, or even a decent role model … Hell, he was a fuck up. He admitted it freely … at least to himself. It didn't mean it was too late for him to be better. He had to be better now … not only for Daryl, but for Sophia and Carol too.

He didn't understand how Daryl could have formed such a friendship with the woman. Women were good for sex … not conversation, or so he'd thought before meeting the Peletier women. He found he could talk to Peach for hours without ever growing bored or frustrated. She had such a keen curiosity about her and the continuous questions she asked definitely kept him on his toes.

But baby brother had him stumped. Daryl wasn't a talker … he was a doer. Always had been. He kept his mouth shut and did what needed to be done. He didn't sit around having deep conversations like some pansy. He could understand the change if he was trying to get into her pants, but the boy still flinched away at the slightest touch, so he knew that wasn't the case. Even if he did want Mouse in that way, Daryl wouldn't act upon it. If he could get over the scars of his past, his honor would keep him away. He'd no doubt feel he was taking advantage of her. How could two brothers, who spent so much time together, be so different?

Merle shook his head to clear it and yawned, ready for his shift to be over. Dawn was just beginning to tint the sky with pink and lilac, and he couldn't help but smile. He turned towards the open tent flap. Daryl was going to want to get up and go check his snares before breakfast. His stomach was already rumbling noisily at the thought of having a decent breakfast of bacon and eggs. Thank fuck for Marty, he chuckled quietly to himself.

What he found in the tent had all thought of hunger fleeing and a whole new slew of questions somersaulting through his mind. Carol was wrapped around his brother's back like he was her own personal teddy bear. His head rested on her outstretched arm, her other hand tucked up under his arm to rest over his heart, and her leg was curled around his. Yet the thing which shocked him the most was the fact that Daryl was snoring softly. His baby brother did not snore. He usually slept so lightly a bug could fart and he'd jerk awake.

Yup … Definitely more than what Daryl's claimin'. Merle grinned in anticipation. The fallout of his brother's temper would be a sight to behold. He couldn't wait. All those conflicting emotions Daryl struggled with, his irrational temper …

Merle crouched down at their feet, raising a finger to his lips as Sophia sat up on Carol's other side and rubbed sleepily at her eyes. Those same crystal blue eyes widened when she noticed her mother snuggled up to Daryl. She held her silence as Merle reached out to tap his brother's bare foot, wanting to see what would happen when the archer woke.

"Time fer y' to get yer lazy ass outta bed there, sunshine," he said in a mock whisper which had Sophia giggling.

Daryl's smoky blue eyes shot open, but he remained absolutely still as he tried to catch his bearings. Merle grinning like a loon first thing in the morning never boded well, and he had a feeling he was in for it. "What?" he whispered, mindful of Carol sleeping at his back. Carol. Oh hellfire an' damnnation!

It was then his body came to life with awareness and burned at the touch. His nerve endings crackled with nervous energy and panic rose in his chest. The comfort he'd taken in her embrace mere hours before vanished in the wake of his brother's amusement. He rolled to his left and grabbed up his boots and bow without a word, taking off like a shot for the woods before Merle could question him, his face three shades of crimson. He knew it was wrong to leave Carol there to face Merle all alone with what would surely be some embarrassing innuendo, but he didn't know how to deal with it now … If ever.

Carol sat up with a gasp at his abrupt departure, a blush rising to her own cheeks when the realization of their compromising position struck her full force. She'd thought it all a lovely dream until she'd heard her daughter's lyrical giggle. She should have known something which felt so good as being snuggled up against her friend's delightfully warm back was too good to be a dream. Her heart sank, knowing she'd crossed a line. Now he'd run out, uncomfortable because she'd gotten all clingy in her sleep. She groaned and dropped back onto her pillow. Way to go, Carol.

"Mom … Uh, what's with -"

Merle was quick to divert her attention. "Peach, I'm starvin'; how 'bout you?"

"Not really. I'm much more interested in why Mom - "

"I'm sure ya are, but right now we need t' worry about breakfast. Y' can talk t' yer mama later," he interrupted again with a stern look. "G'on an' see about setting things out so Carol can get started after she an' I have a lil' chat."

Sophia huffed out a frustrated breath. "But -"

"Sophia, listen to Merle. He's right, and the longer we delay, the longer it'll be before he begins teaching you how to use your new bow," Carol said, doing her best to distract her child from needless questions … especially ones she didn't know how to answer.

"You never tell me anything," the girl pouted. She pulled on her sneakers and crawled to the tent flap to go outside and rummage in the bed of the truck for the cooking paraphernalia they'd need, all the while grumbling at the unfairness of grownups.

Carol eyed Merle cautiously from beneath her long lashes, her gaze guarded. As much as she was coming to know Daryl, his brother was still a stranger to her. She wriggled uncomfortably under his scrutiny, wishing he'd just get to the point. By all rights she should be having this conversation with Daryl.

Merle settled himself cross-legged at the foot of her bedroll and watched her fidget for a full two minutes. "Alright, Mouse … Fess up. What's up with y' an' m' brother? An' don't lie t' me an' tell me it's nothin'!"

"Merle, really … We're just friends," she tried to assure him. "Daryl just wanted to help me out of a bad situation. I didn't want to drag him into it, but he persisted until I was left with no choice. Ed probably would've killed me if it hadn't been for Daryl's help."

He waved a hand about, gesturing wildly between Carol and his brother's empty bedroll. "And yer so grateful y' repayin' him with sex? Didn't think y' had it in y' there, Mouse."

"What?! No!" she choked in outrage. "Merle, not everything is about sex!"

He liked the way her cheeks flooded with color and made the freckles on the bridge of her nose stand out in stark relief. "Why not?"

"Merle!"

He shook his head. "Look, all I'm sayin's Daryl has helped people out before, an' he ain't never felt th' need t' make 'em part of th' family. There's gotta be more t' it."

"Well there's not," she said indignantly. "And Daryl doesn't seem the type to help someone because of what might be in it for him, Merle Dixon. He's better than that."

The elder Dixon raised up on his knees and pointed one long finger at her. "Y' better not be playin' games with m'brother, woman. I ain't gonna stand for it. He's been through too much in 'is life, an' he don't need any more shit … 'specially from someone he cares about."

Carol rose up on her knees to face off with him. She wouldn't allow another man to make her cower in fear of his temper. "I'm the last person in this god forsaken hell who would ever try to hurt him. I don't know what he feels for me or what you think he feels, but I would never take advantage of his kindness nor his friendship. He means too much to me, Merle." She kept her voice strong and unwavering despite the small bit of fear she held for him. "Maybe you should stop worrying about him being hurt by someone else and start looking at how you yourself treat him."

"The fuck's goin' on in here!?"

Merle whipped his head around to scowl at his brother as he came back into the tent. Blood was splattered on his pants, so he must've had something to retrieve from the snares set up along the edge of camp. "Not a thing, baby brother," he drawled, forcing himself to relax. "Just havin' a lil' chat with m' new sister, s'all." If nothing else, he'd found a new respect for her. She wasn't as timid as he'd been led to believe. Either that or she'd found her backbone when she'd been liberated from her bastard husband.

"It's fine, Daryl. Merle was just going to step out, so I could dress. Then, of course I'll get started on breakfast."

Merle gaped at her. He'd expected her to tattle on him and start with the waterworks to make his brother come to her defense. It's what most women of his acquaintance would have done. Maybe he was hanging out with the wrong sort, he mused.

Daryl glared at his brother speculatively. "Ain't what it sounded like from outside."

Merle backed off and looked over longingly at his bedroll before edging his way towards the tent flap. "Well maybe y' don't hear so good."

The youngest Dixon watched his brother disappear through the flap and then dropped his gaze to the floor, unable to make himself meet her gaze. "That really what happened? He wasn't tryin' to bully you?"

Carol sighed, her heart heavy to see he was withdrawing from her over a little innocent cuddling. She'd just have to work harder to get them back to where they'd been … If that were even possible. "Yes, Merle and I just needed to come to an understanding."

"He didn't … Did he say anything about … "

From the scarlet hue of his ears, she couldn't mistake his meaning. "He did, but I explained it was perfectly innocent. It's been a long time since I've felt safe enough to let myself sleep so deeply."

He chanced a glance in her direction, a faint smile toying at the corner of his mouth before he forced it away. "I don't think I've ever slept that deeply," he admitted so softly she almost didn't catch it. Even when it was just him and Merle, he hadn't been able to sleep, always fighting off the recurring nightmares which haunted his mind. Not until her …

"I'm fuckin' starvin'!" Merle yelled from outside. "What th' hell y'all doin' in there? Or do I get t' guess?"

Daryl rolled his eyes. "Shut up, damnit! You'll get fed, for fuck's sake." He nodded to Carol without looking up at her and left her alone to get dressed.

*.*.*

"Ahh … Sumbitch!" Daryl cursed as the blade of his buck knife sliced his palm. It was his own fault for letting himself be distracted by Carol's slender form backing out of the tent. He hadn't realized just how perfectly she was curved in all the right places until now.

Her new clothes enhanced rather than hid her body, and he gave a silent thank you to her vindictive husband for shredding her entire wardrobe. His cobalt gaze caressed her from top to toe, taking her in with appreciation. The double-layered tank tops she wore - one black; the other an olive green - molded to her, and he had to wonder what she had on underneath to push her breasts up so high and proud. He swallowed thickly, forgetting for a moment about the pain in his hand.

He gnawed at the inside of his bottom lip as his gaze ventured lower over her trim waist to the smooth curve of her hips, his hand gripping his knife more firmly as his body reacted. It grew steadily worse, and he had to bite back a moan as he eyed her perfect ass. Those jeans should be considered illegal, he thought as sweat pooled between his shoulder blades and began a trek to the small of his back. Even the black half boots she wore with their little silver buckles were turning him on.

Merle whistled lowly as she handed off a flat of eggs to Sophia, but for once, he held his tongue. He couldn't help ribbing his brother, however, when he noticed the glazed expression in Daryl's eyes. "Y' gonna bleed all over that meat, or y' jus' stare at yer woman all day? What's th' plan, brother?"

"Fuck!"

"Yeah, I s'pose that's one o' th' options," he chortled.

Carol's azure gaze shot a look of concern at him, and she hurried over to the game table to see how badly he'd injured himself. "What happened?" she tsked, frowning at the thin shallow cut on his palm. "Merle can you fetch me some water, please? I need to clean this."

Daryl flushed, and inched closer to the table to avoid any further embarrassment. "It's nothin' … knife slipped, s'all."

Merle brought over the jug of water they used for cooking and set it on the table, along with a clean rag. He chuckled. "Well, if'n y' hadn't been oglin' -"

"Merle!" Daryl barked, cutting him off.

"Sophia, why don't you run down to invite Lori and Carl to breakfast? Tell her I'll be happy to trade some bacon and eggs for a few loaves of fresh baked bread," Carol said, trying to prevent a fight between the brothers.

"Sure, Mom. C'mon, Merle," she said, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. "Race ya."

Merle snorted. "I ain't runnin' through camp like a fuckin' idiot," he scoffed, idling slowly past her. Just as he took a step in front of her, he broke into a run. "Ha!"

Sophia gaped at him before she hightailed it after him, yelling, "No fair; you cheated!"

"Gawd!" Daryl shook his head. "He's such a kid."

Carol poked at his wound, which was now clean, earning a whistling hiss from between his teeth. "I think that's the nicest thing I've ever heard you say about your brother." She looked down at the brace of rabbits on the table which still needed to be skinned. "I'll just bind that for you, so you won't get anything in it while you work. Thankfully, it's not deep enough to require stitches."

Daryl watched her disappear into the tent to fetch the first aid kit, cursing himself for not paying attention and letting his knife slip. At least his body had cooled. He didn't want her to catch on to his obvious attraction to her. It would do nothing but complicate matters and there was enough of that already.

He was still lost in thought when she returned, and he flinched reflexively at her touch. "I'm sorry, Daryl," she apologized softly.

"Nothin' t' be sorry about."

Carol applied some antibiotic ointment and then folded a gauze pad in half and had him hold it in place as she wound more around his hand. "You don't like to be touched," she murmured. It wasn't a question.

His jaw clenched. "No … Not really."

"May I ask why?"

Daryl stared down at her upturned face, at the myriad questions forming behind her crystalline eyes, and forced himself to remain rooted next to her. He wanted so badly to run. All he could manage was a whispered, "No."

She watched his eyes search out the bruised finger marks Ed had left on her right bicep, and the yellow and green discoloration on her cheekbone. She understood better than anyone the scars abuse could carve deeper than flesh. She secured the bandage and then took a step back, allowing him his space. "So … How do you like your eggs?"

He squinted at her, dumbfounded. Had she just let the matter drop? What woman of his acquaintance would have just let it go like that? She had to be burning with curiosity … Or did it just not matter to her? Now he had questions of his own. Damn! What had she just asked him? "Uhm … scrambled, I guess." He was so confused. Thank god Merle was off with Sophia, at the moment, and didn't have to witness it. He'd be laughing his fool head off.

Carol set to work frying the three pounds of bacon and scrambling the entire flat of eggs as if nothing was wrong and he still hadn't finished with the rabbits. It didn't help when Merle returned with Sophia and their guests and he was treated to that look his brother was fond of giving him meant to question his mental clarity.

Daryl sent a scowl Shane's way when the former lawman settled himself next to the fire. He didn't remember Carol sending the man an invite. "Surprised y' didn't ask the entire camp on up here," he growled.

Merle shrugged from where he stood at the table spooning tomato relish all over his toast. "He was at Lori's when we got down there. What can I say … Peach's got fancy manners."

"Good, maybe your dumbass'll learn somethin'."

"Oh, Carol, this is so good," Lori mumbled around a mouthful of crispy bacon. "Where did you find bacon? Not that I'm complaining. I could die happy right now."

Carol laughed as she swiped some relish from Merle's coveted jar and slathered some on a slice of toast. She added bacon and made a sandwich. Almost as good as a BLT. She winked at him as he grumbled about sharing. "A friend of Merle's has a shop with a bunker underneath stocked full of clothes and foodstuffs. She was kind enough to share a bit with us."

Shane glanced over at the brothers as he rubbed his full stomach. "She a survivalist or somethin'? If she's alone, maybe she would want to join our group."

"Naw," Merle shot him a narrow-eyed look. "She's got two brothers who'll look after 'er." Marty would eat the deputy alive and then pick her teeth with his bones.

Carol spooned more eggs onto Daryl's tin plate, making sure he had enough to eat. Sophia and Carl sat with their heads together where they lounged in the grass beside the tent. "I'm just glad she was able to help me find some clothes and things since mine were destroyed."

Lori cast a quelling glance in the direction of Ed's tent across the path. "We still need to decide what to do about that man."

Daryl pushed his empty plate aside. "There ain't nothin' t' be done about him right now. I made it clear th' other night … He comes near Carol or Sophia an' I'll kill 'im. Simple as that."

Lori shivered at the menace in his tone and - not for the first time -worried about her friend.

"You can't just go around killin' people, Dixon. It ain't how shit's done," Shane protested. "Just because the world has gone to hell, don't mean we have to be uncivilized."

Merle smirked. "Maybe not … But it's how it's gonna be t' protect our own." He snorted when the two looked at each other worriedly. He whistled for Sophia. "C'mon, Peach, let's go test out that bow."

"Whoo-hoo! Ms Lori, can Carl come too?" The girl asked, her friend hovering at her side with a pleading look.

"I don't know …" Lori hedged. She had her doubts about letting her son run off with the likes of Merle Dixon. Yet Carol didn't have a problem with entrusting her daughter's safety to the man. And hadn't she just scolded Shane for making presumptions about members of their group without all the facts? She sighed. "I suppose … As long as you don't leave camp."

Merle slung his rifle over his shoulder. "Just gonna take 'em down by th' lake. They'll be safe enough. Promise not t' kill 'em this time."

Sophia giggled and set off up the path with Carl while Lori nearly swallowed her tongue. It would take her a good long while before she'd ever get used to that man's morbid sense of humor.

Daryl finished up the rabbits and wrapped them for later. "Soon as y'all get cleaned up, Carol, we'll go join them. See if we can break in your new .45."

"You got her a gun?!" Shane squeaked, that funny little sound he made when he was surprised or upset.

"How else is she gonna learn t' protect herself?"

Carol stored the leftovers in a large tupperware container and handed it to the deputy. "Shane, would you please bring this down? I'm sure the rest of the group would like to have something to eat this morning," she said. It was a ploy to keep him from setting off Daryl's temper. One she was happy to see worked.

Lori kept her voice lowered as she began to help Carol do the dishes. "Honey, are you sure about this? We're survivors … Not some cowboys shooting it out at the OK Corral!"

Carol shrugged. "Maybe not, but how long do you really think we'll survive if we can't take care of ourselves? You want to hide behind the men? Because I don't. I'm tired of hiding."