The rest of her shift passed quietly aside from the usual rowdy drunks. It was nothing she couldn't handle, nothing like Ed.
The place seemed to clear out quick at closing time. It seemed no one wanted to stick around a strip club after-hours. The main room was empty by the time she headed down the hall to fetch her coat and her purse.
Just as her weary fingers closed around the leather strap, she heard her name drifting through the flimsy curtain that separated the hallway from the dancer's dressing area.
"Did you see Little D flipping out on that guy that grabbed Carol?"
"Carol the waitress?"
"Yeah, that's her. Poor guy, he just can't hide it."
Carol frowned, leaning back against the wall as she considered what they could possibly be talking about. Daring to peek through the gap in the curtain, she saw it was two of the dancers she knew – Jessica and Katie. They sat in front of the brightly lit vanity, carefully removing their makeup and false eyelashes.
"Does she know?" Jessica asked Katie, squinting into the mirror as she removed one of the sticky strips of lashes.
Katie shook her head, blonde ponytail bobbing, "I don't think she has a clue. Hey, do you have another hair clip?"
It was a strange conversation to be sure but her heart just wasn't in figuring it out. She was always tired at the end of a long shift but Ed's little outburst had left her completely drained.
The lights were out when she emerged from the hall. Darkness made familiar shapes seem alien and she stumbled over a chair as she headed for the door.
Daryl Dixon was nowhere to be seen. He usually saw her out to her car every morning after she got off, just like he did for the dancers, but she wasn't in any mood to wait around for him. She wanted nothing more than to get home, step under a scalding hot shower, and then climb into bed.
But still she found herself hesitating in the doorway, struck by a queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach as she stared out across the empty parking lot. It was silly; she could see her Cherokee from where she stood. The streetlight she'd parked under was flickering, alternately bathing her car in a sickly yellow glow and then plunging it into darkness.
It was as quiet as it always was this time of morning. No cars were passing on the street. Everyone was at home in bed or at least passed out on the nearest flat surface. As she wavered there, she could hear the faint buzzing overhead from the vulgar neon sign that advertised Blue Diamonds Gentlemen's Club with a bouncy cartoon pin-up.
She suddenly missed Daryl's stony, silent presence at her side. He wasn't much for conversation but he was a good man to have around. She always felt safe with him there. But then, she supposed that was probably the purpose of an establishment like Blue Diamonds having bouncers.
He was quite attractive as well, she allowed, in a rugged sort of way. Most of the other girls seemed to agree. She got the feeling he'd spent time with one or two of them but it didn't seem to be anything romantic. He probably wasn't the romantic type.
She shook Mr. Non-Romantic out of her head and pulled her coat tighter around herself, heading for the car. The wind picked up, rolling an empty beer can and sending it skittering across the asphalt. She shivered just a little and picked her pace; almost there.
Relief filled her as her fingertips brushed the cold metal of her door handle and then she was grabbed from behind, crushed against a broad, thick chest.
Her first instinct was to scream and so she did, at the top of her lungs. But a large, heavy hand clamped over her mouth, cutting her off as she struggled against the arm around her waist.
She fought wildly, lashing out against her captor, but she quickly realized he was unmoved. In fact, he was laughing at her, a low chuckle right up close against her ear.
"Wasn't very nice, what you did earlier. Getting me kicked out by your little friend? That ain't the Carol I know," his breath was hot against her neck and she shuddered. "I think I deserve an apology."
A sudden chill raced down her spine and she thought for a moment she might pass out from sheer fear. But she fought it back, fought it down. She wasn't weak anymore. She was strong.
Ed spun her around to face him, shoving her back against the car. Her skull bounced off the window and she whimpered, tasting blood as she bit into her tongue. He leaned in close, his bulging eyes grotesque in the flickering yellow light.
"You're going to be a good girl and tell me you're sorry, right?"
It made her sick but she nodded.
"And then you're going to give me a little kiss, aren't you?"
She'd rather bite her own tongue and choke to death on it.
"Aren't you?" he repeated sharply, pressing her tight against the car with the full weight of his body.
Her answer was to bring her knee up into his groin as hard and as fast as she could. He grunted and automatically released her to grab himself, bent double from the pain.
Seeing her chance, she slid out from between him and the Cherokee and stumbled over her own feet in her haste.
She heard the sharp zing of something ripping through the air but she didn't see the arrow until it was protruding from Ed's backside.
He let out an unearthly howl, hitting his knees with one hand wrapped around the strange new addition to his rear.
Startled, she followed the arrow's path across the parking lot to find Daryl Dixon standing next to his rusty old pickup, lowering a mean-looking cross bow.
"I – I can't believe you shot him…with a cross bow."
"It's all I had. That bastard's lucky I didn't have my Browning in the truck."
She was still in shock, staring out the window of Daryl's truck at all the sleepy houses as the passed by. She had ran to him and hopped in without even thinking about it, leaving Ed on the ground screaming after her.
"What if he calls the police?" she asked suddenly, glancing over at him.
"Nah," he said dismissively, checking his rearview and flicking on his blinker. "Probably ain't the type. Guys like him would rather handle shit themselves."
That certainly sounded like Ed.
"Oh God," she sighed, feeling a sinking in her chest.
"Hey, don't worry about it," he glanced in her direction, raising a brow. "I ain't worried. I've handled worse."
She looked at him in surprise. She hadn't even considered Daryl's part in all of this. No, she knew Ed. She knew him well and she knew that he wouldn't be concerned with the likes of Daryl. He would blame the whole thing on her, arrow to the ass included. And he'd want to make her pay. But still she appreciated Daryl's willingness to jump to her rescue. He really was her knight in denim and leather.
He nearly jumped out of his skin as she reached out to touch his arm, her voice quiet, "Thank you."
His eyes darted her way before looking back to the road as he said stiffly, "No problem. Just doing my job."
She pointed out the turn ahead and he obeyed.
"So why'd you go out by yourself anyway?" Daryl asked, eyes still on the road. "Why didn't you wait on me?"
"I didn't see you around."
"I was just walking Denise out to her car. I was coming back to get you when I heard all the commotion."
She sighed, dropping her head into her hands and rubbing her puffy, swollen eyes, "I just can't believe this is happening. I can't believe he's back."
He glanced over at her, rubbing the scruff on his chin, "Wait, you know that guy?"
She nodded and lifted her head to look out the window again, careful to avoid his eyes.
"He's the father of my child."
If he was surprised, he didn't let it show.
He just dipped his head, considering her words with a thoughtful expression, "Didn't know you had a kid."
"Yeah, she just turned two," Carol smiled in spite of herself as she thought of her little girl.
He bit his lip, "She got a name?"
"Sophia."
He nodded to himself, turning down her street and slowing as she pointed out her house. He rolled to a stop at the curb, rolling down the windows to let in the cool night air before he cut the engine.
She knew she should get out and head inside but it felt good to just sit there and enjoy the cool breeze on her warm cheeks. She knew her mother and Sophia would be sleeping and suddenly she wasn't so eager to be alone.
Daryl shifted next to her and she looked over at him. He'd been looking at her but looked away quickly, focusing on his hands on the steering wheel.
"So why do they call you Little D?" she asked after a moment.
He shot her a look, narrowing his eyes.
"I've been wondering that since I started at the club," she explained.
He snorted, looking out into the dark, and for a moment she didn't think he was going to answer her.
"Little Dixon. My big brother worked there before me and they called him Big D."
"Big D, huh?" she found herself smiling again in spite of the night she'd had. "I bet he liked that."
"Yeah, he loved it," Daryl met her eyes, the slightest hint of a grin tugging at his own lips.
"Well, as…intriguing as Little D sounds, I think I'll stick to Daryl."
He shrugged but pressed his lips together tight like he was fighting to keep his little grin from spreading into a smile.
"So I guess your brother moved on to another job? I don't think I've ever met him."
Daryl shook his head, "Nah, he moved on to the big house."
"Prison? Oh."
"He's out now," he said quickly, gaze darting over her face. "He's just busy. With other things."
She nodded like she understood and they both fell silent again. She glanced back at the glowing porch light and sighed.
"Well, I better be getting inside. I want to peek in on Sophia before I get a shower."
He nodded. She felt his eyes on her back as she pushed open the door and slid out of the cab of the truck, her legs aching as her feet hit the unforgiving asphalt.
"You got a ride to work tomorrow?" he asked suddenly, before she could shut the door behind her.
"Oh," she said, looking over her shoulder at the empty driveway. "No, I guess I don't."
She hadn't even thought about the fact that she'd left the Cherokee behind with Ed writhing in pain next to it. She and her mother shared it. Another car would have been convenient but it wasn't in their budget and probably never would be.
"I can swing by and pick you up," he told her, sounding unsure of himself, "If you want."
She had the sudden desire to climb up in the truck and hug him but she just smiled.
"I'd really appreciate that," she told him, leaning against the open door. "Are you sure though? It won't be out of your way?"
"It's fine, don't worry about it."
"Okay. Well, I'll see you then," she nodded, closing the door behind her.
She stepped up onto the sidewalk as he cranked up the truck. When he glanced in her direction, she raised her hand to wave goodbye and he nodded that brisk little nod of his.
"Thanks again! For everything!" she called out, running her hands up and down her arms to chase away the goose bumps prickling at her skin.
He lifted his chin in acknowledgement and she turned away, heading inside.
Yes, Daryl Dixon was definitely an odd one. But he was a sweet one too.