I know it has been a while since I've updated and I'm sorry for that. I have been really sick and haven't got much of anything done. I'm still sick but wanted to get a update done. It was like pulling teeth but I got it out there. Now I'm not sure when my next update will be for any of my stories really. I'm still sick and it seems I get better only to get worse but I'm trying. I want to warn everyone I've already got it in my head that this ones ending is in sight. We still have chapters to go but I wanted to warn everyone. I'm sure this is horribly proofed but honestly I'll go over it again at a later time when i'm not sick. Enjoy.

Daryl hissed through his teeth as Merle clapped him on the back jarring him forward. It didn't take long for a slap to the back of Merle's head to be heard and then two voices in unison scolding him. Hiding his smirk Daryl walked through the house stiffly. He didn't want people fawning over him and worrying. He wasn't a kid and he'd taken worse falls before.

"Do you need anything?" Annette's voice was gentle knowing he was getting frustrated.

Daryl scowled trying to make it to the back door before anyone else seen him. Shaking his head he muttered a no and disappeared out the door leaving Maggie and Annette watching his slow progress across the road. He hadn't seen Mac yet and he knew that it wouldn't take long for his brother to be following him to bitch about being up and moving.

Pushing his door open his side burned from the stretching of the skin around his wound. The scent of leather and wood hit him along with the smell of a low fire and he took a deep breath slipping further into the cabin. Turning to shut the door he seen Rick striding towards him a determined look on his face. Sighing he left it open and made his way towards the couch knowing Rick was coming for him.

"Daryl?" Rick's voice called as he stepped to the door.

Daryl motioned him in and Rick slipped through the door rubbing his arms. "Weather is changing fast." Rick walked more into the room and settled on the chair angled towards the couch, "So how you feeling?"

Chuckling slightly Daryl tilted his head towards Rick, "Like I fell off a fucking cliff."

"Carol and Sophia were pretty worried when you didn't come back." Leaning forward Rick clasped his hands, "When me and Martinez got you back to the house you were out of it for a while."

"How's Martinez getting along here?"

Rick pushed himself standing and paced for a second, "That is what I wanted to talk about. See he's doing fine in the group and around here. Hershel and Annette seem to like him enough."

Daryl eyed him, "So what is the problem?"

Daryl ran his eyes around his place searching for Carol or Sophia. He hadn't seen them since early this morning almost day break and he felt his nerves starting to rage. As his eyes ran over his place he could see little things Carol had done here and there. There was even touches of Sophia throughout. her stuff was tossed over the back's of his chairs at the island in the kitchen. Then there was her other stuff setting out haphazardly.

"Shane has said that this place isn't safe. I think he's holding on to some grudge against you and Mac." Rick rubbing his throat and then on to his face, "He's saying that you are intentionally endangering us."

Daryl set up and clenched his teeth at the accusations being hurled at him. "What the fuck gives him that impression?"

"Martinez. He's saying that the man isn't safe and needs to dealt with." Rick sounded sick and mad at the same time. "Listen I shouldn't have brought this up right now you're still healing. When you're back on your feet will talk then."

Rick was up and out of the door leaving Daryl to stew over the shit that had brewed for the two days Hershel had demanded he not leave the house at all. Growling he shoved himself standing and moved through the house for the shower. His mind kept racing on the thoughts of the new man here, the group, the Greenes, Carol, and her girl. He couldn't seem to focus and figure out how it was all going to work. It was making him feel sick but that wasn't the worst part. He knew that things with Shane had moved towards this for a long time. Since before Merle was even lost but that didn't mean he wanted to bring that shit storm to Annette and her husband...their family.

The sound of the door swinging open had him huffing and he cut the water off. Wrapping a towel around his waste he knew who it was before he ever said anything. No mistaking the heavy foot falls and he was rewarded with the door bursting open and Merle appearing. He had a sly grin on his face and eyed Daryl.

"Thought for sure you'd be in here jerking it." Merle thrust his hips towards his hands motioning while waggling his eyes brows, "Seeing as how you've finally been alone for the first time since you decided to take a leap."

Daryl snatched his shirt up and pulled it on ignoring Merle and moving away from him. "You need something?"

"There a reason I can't check on you?" Merle snapped.

"You two cockfuckers back there?" Mac's voice lilted as he stepped into the hall. "Figured you'd be back here jerking off together."

"What the fuck is it with you two talking about jerking your dicks?" Daryl snapped back.

"Whoa there baby brother...I said you were jerking your dick I wasn't jerking mine. Why the hell I need to jerk off when Maggie is around?" Merle leered leaning against the wall as Daryl set on the bed.

Mac moved into the room and leaned on the opposite wall, "Kit slapped Shane."

Both sets of eyes landed on Mac suddenly, "What the hell for?"

"He was shooting off at the mouth barking some shit. All I heard was your name once then she was ringing his bell." Mac had a wide smile on his face.

All of them turned their heads towards his bedroom door when they heard his front door open. Sophia's laughter bubbled through the house and Daryl pulled open some drawers grabbing boxers.

"DARYL!" Her little voice was excited as she padded down the hall.

Merle stepped out of his room catching her before she could walk in so he could get dressed.

"You should rest." Mac's voice was low and his eyes were downcast.

There was something in his voice that had Daryl slowing his motions with getting dressed. Mac wasn't looking at him and his hands were hanging limp between his legs. Daryl walked over and set down next to him and Mac shifted his shoulder hitting Daryl's and leaning into him.

"You gonna say what the fuck is going on with you?"

Mac side eyed him, "I was supposed to go out there with you."

"I've taken off hundreds of times without you all." Daryl spoke low. "This aint on you."

"It is." Mac snapped, "I was supposed to be there and if I had been you might not have almost fucking died!" Mac stood up suddenly turning on him and Daryl heard the growl rumble through his chest. "DO you get what that would have fucking done to me? TO CAROL! TO that girl in there" Mac snapped pointing towards the living room.

Daryl looked up at him, "You think I wanted to fucking get killed?" His voice deepening in anger and his accent thickening, "Are you that dense?"

"Fuck you!" Mac barked, "Quit acting like your goddamned indestructible Daryl."

Both of them stalled out when his door opened and Carol stood there. Her face was tense around her mouth and Daryl knew she had heard at least a part of the argument. "Mac Annette is looking for you and Merle."

He looked at her for all of a second before he looked at Daryl his anger still there. Walking from the room Mac left without a word to anyone. Carol turned back to him raising a brow and he shook his head.

"Is it us being here? Did we interrupt?" Carol shut the door and walked closer to him stopping at his knees.

Shaking his head his hands clasped the back of her thighs just above her knees. Pulling her more towards him she stepped between his spread legs and his face pressed into her stomach. Despite everything happening around, despite the world turning to shit and his brother pissed at him Carol was his calm in the storm. Her mere presence was soothing to him in ways nothing ever had been before. Her fingers started pulling through his hair and tugging slightly when she got to the ends of it each time causing him press his face more into her.

"He's mad at himself and is blaming anyone around him."

Carol didn't speak but kept running her hand through his hair as her other hand smoothed over his shoulder. "Mac can't stay mad forever."

"Have you met my asshole of a brother."

"Mom!" Sophia chirped from the doorway taking a tentative step into the room. "Hershel said if he got time he'd let me ride horses today..."

Carol nodded along looking over her shoulder and Daryl smiled and let her go. Carol turned slightly but didn't leave from where she was standing instead her hand stayed on his shoulder, "He say he was coming here to get you or you need to go up there?"

Sophia chewed her lip and looked at Daryl, "Well...he's already here."

Daryl snorted at her evasive tactics and Sophia smiled at him.

"You're just telling me?" Carol scolded.

Sophia frowned, "Well you were busy helping at camp and then Mac said you were helping Daryl..."

Daryl huffed at Mac's words and Carol shot him a look. He was tired of being mothered over every little thing. It was a cold day in hell when his asshole of brothers were trying to mother him over shit. He was getting tired of it.

Daryl didn't listen to the rest of the conversation between them but heard her excited yelp as she ran down the hall. Carol chuckled and looked down at him from his scowling setting position.

"Are you really that bothered because your brothers are worried?" Carol pushed his shoulder and he looked up at her, "Daryl I heard what he said and that wasn't just him being mad he was scared."

Daryl tried to stand and Carol pushed his shoulder, "You need to sleep."

"I need to not sleep."

Carol grinned at him, "Want me to fix you something?"

Daryl eyed her and she blushed at his look causing him to smirk. It seemed just when they got comfortable enough with each other that things weren't as awkward he got fucking hurt. That was his luck. Find someone he was really interested in and he almost dies. Goddamn.

Carol slipped from the room and he sprawled out on the couch when she was paying attention to him walking around. She wasn't overly watching him but still keeping her eyes on him. He appreciated her not mothering him and smothering him with are-you-okay and you-should-ask-for-help-more.

"Here." Carol pushed a plate towards him and set at end of the couch. "Sophia hasn't slept out here since you were at the big house."

Daryl eyed her and took a bite of his food, "She okay?"

"She was terrified for you." Her voice was low and soulful. "I was too."

Daryl set his food aside and motioned to her. Carol moved towards him mindful of his wounds and laid against his good side his arms coming around her. She was quiet as her fingers traced the lines of his body through his shirt. She avoided his bandages but her hand slipped lower and under his shirt to trace over his actual skin. Her motions were lulling him to sleep and Carol smiled feeling his breathing evening out.

Carol looked over a while later seeing Mac walk by the bay window to the living room seconds before he walked in. Mac's eyes immediately went to them on the couch and she seen his forehead crease as he moved silently towards them. The silence was disturbing since it was never something she associated with him. That was Daryl's trait and Mac seemed off as it was.

"How'd you get him to sleep? I think Annette had been drugging him slightly." Mac smirked

Carol's hand was still under his shirt resting in the center of his chest but just down a bit. Mac didn't miss and his eyes brightened in amusement likely thinking of something snarky to say to his brother later.

"He was tired he just didn't need every one at once telling him to rest." Carol spoke softly her fingers tracing a scar.

Mac nodded but remained quiet his eyes going to the fire place. "Watch over him?" Carol looked over but he was already standing and walking out just as quietly.

Carol frowned and Daryl groaned shifting his hand shooting to his side from the shifting. Carol shushed him and he was out again his body relaxing. Carol climbed off him and the couch and walked back through the house. She couldn't just set and lay it wasn't in her. She was never the type to not be busy with something and she felt the need even more with Daryl hurt. She was anxious and she had heard the stuff Shane had said. What was even more bothersome was that Sophia had heard. She didn't expect her baby girl to react that way but she had been fired up. She was as mad but Sophia's slap to his face had stunned everyone. Mac swooping in and scooping her up his arms wrapping around her as he barked out loud laughs saved Sophia from doing anything else. It saved them from dealing with Shane because she wasn't so sure he wouldn't have said something or done something right then.

The door banging open and slamming into the wall had her sucking in a breath and turning. She felt a chill shoot up her spine just as she heard Daryl's snarl from the living room. He was furious. Stepping through the house Carol's eyes widened at the sight before her and she mentally cursed Mac from having left minutes before.