It seemed fate was to once again intervene, for when they emerged from the dim confines of the hallway in cellblock D it was to find the other members of their group in a complete panic. Daryl's first thought when they first emerged was to hustle Carol over to one of the empty guard towers for a little private time so that he could investigate the whereabouts of Carol's mystery tattoo. His second thought was that the hallway in between the two cellblocks was way too quiet for that time of the day.
"Somethin don't feel right…" Daryl murmured softly, rubbing a hand against the tiny hairs that had raised up at the back of his neck.
"What is it, Pookie?" Carol placed her hand over his own, to tangle in his overlong hair at his nape. He reached up to pull her hand away, giving it a gentle squeeze. She could feel the tension tightening his wiry frame, and saw the way his eyes narrowed as he scanned across the hallway; on high alert for danger. He gripped her hand tightly and led her across toward Merle's cell.
"Daryl; somethin' bad's goin' down out there, I recognised a few of the voices driftin' in. It's Blake, the one they call the Governor from over at Woodbury. Rick and the others all filed out about a quarter hour ago; there were some gunshots and I heard the little one cryin' but now it's too quiet - can't ya feel it?" Merle was standing up close to the bars, wearing the same alert expression as his brother. "Let me out, baby brother and we'll go take a look see." The fingers on his remaining hand were clenched tight around the bars, so tight that Carol could see the whiteness in his knuckles as the skin stretched thin. His eyes darted constantly around, and Carol could see that the brother's also shared the same natural hunting instincts; both able to sense that there was something sinister at play.
"Merle, I'm gonna unlock the door, okay? But, I need to you stay down here out of sight for a while." One look at resolute expression on his brother's face told Merle that now was definitely no time to start an argument.
"Ya at last gonna leave me a weapon? Good ole Rick took the blade outta ma hand, and I ain't gonna stand here like a pussy while ya go out and have all the fun." Merle stood back while Daryl unlocked the door and couldn't help but see that the little mouse standing by Daryl's side was looking a bit rumpled and dishevelled; yup a little lip action had definitely been taking place there; or he wasn't a Dixon.
"Carol, ya mind giving Merle one of your knives for a while?"
"Sure, Pookie." Carol dug around in one of the many pockets of her linen cargo pants and pulled out an assortment of blades; ranging from a small swiss army style knife up to an ivory handled buck knife.
"Nice hardware you're packin', mouse. Have to say I'm impressed. I'll take the buck knife if you don't mind." Merle saw the way Daryl looked pained at the thought and guessed it was one that he had found for his lady. "Don't worry, D. I'll make sure she gets your little love token back."
"Pfft." Daryl snorted at his brother and turned to run a finger down the side of Carol's face. "Stay here baby, while I go check things out, okay?" Yup, thought Merle, definite lip lock action. He was distracted by his x-rated vision of the little mouse doing a little strip tease action and was startled with Daryl smacked him around the side of his head trying to get his attention. "Fer fuck's sake, Merle! Listen up!"
"I'm listening, 'lil brother. " Merle rubbed his temple which smarted from Daryl's smack and started to pay attention.
"Ya keep Carol safe, ya here? If I get back and there's even one hair outta place on her head…" Daryl threatened his brother, his voice low and gravelly.
"Yeah, yeah. I got it…go and do ya thing. Me and little mousey will just scout around down here."
"Okay, back in a few." Daryl moved his crossbow to lie in readiness across his arms and leant over to place a firm kiss against Carol's lips. "Stay safe." He whispered as he raised his head and caught a shimmer glistening in her eyes.
"Nine lives, remember? Keep outta trouble, Pookie; if you get hurt out there I'm gonna be mighty pissed at you."
"Pfft." Daryl muttered, secretly loving the way she could be so gentle and loving even when she was scolding him. He waved a hand and silently slipped into the shadows; making his way into the main cellblock.
"So, are we gonna do this or what?" Merle's irritated drawl had Carol turning around to face him; arching an eyebrow in his direction. "I know a woman that threatened to slit my throat while I sleep ain't jest gonna sit back on her ass while her man goes off alone. So, I assume ya know another way out of this hellhole?"
"Merle, I think I just might be beginning to like you after all." Carol looked over at the tough redneck, amazed at how he saw through her quiet acceptance of Daryl leaving them both behind.
"Well sugar, I'm a Dixon boy after all. What's not to like?" Merle spread his arms out wide and a full blown smirk took over his chiselled features.
"Well, c'mon Dixon boy. Let me show you what we prison folk like to affectionately call 'The Tombs'." Carol stepped forward and waved her arms toward the long dark corridor at the back of the block; she couldn't help but give a little shiver at the thought of facing her worst nightmare. Those few days that she had spent hiding away in one of the solitary confinement cells after losing T-Dog were among the worst of her life; but if it meant a way to possibly save Daryl from whatever horrors awaited them outside; well so be it.
Merle saw the sudden tension of Carol's frame as she braced herself to pull open the door to the corridor. He saw the way that she shivered and reckoned that something bad must have happened down in the place she called the 'Tombs'. Daryl had mentioned that T-Dog had been bitten a few days after they arrived at the prison and how they had once thought Carol had perished along with him; maybe the Tombs was where it went down. He shifted a little closer to Carol, his arm just brushing across his back. She turned her head to look at him and he shrugged off the motion as nothing.
"Jest didn't want to get lost down here."
"Sure, Merle. Ever been told that you and your brother can't lie worth a damn? Yeah, you're got at hiding your feelings and all that, but to lie outright?" Carol smiled slightly, watching as a pink flush tinged his cheeks. She knew that he'd probably seen how uncomfortable she was at re-entering the tombs and had acted in true Dixon style.
"Pfft." He muttered just like his brother, and gestured at her to get a move on. Taking a deep breath, Carol got her knife ready and pulled open the door.