"Fuckin' Memphis. Fuck Memphis. Need to get my happy ass back to Georgia."

Merle banged on the door again, grumbling under his breath about his growing hatred for Memphis, while Carol and Daryl stood dripping behind him.

They were a sorry sight. The sky had opened up shortly after they left the bar, they'd all gotten soaked running for the porch, and now no one was coming to the door.

"Might've seen us coming," Daryl muttered, shifting impatiently next to her.

He was coiled tight, ready to spring. She could feel the nervous energy rolling off of him.

Merle turned and looked at them, shrugging his shoulders.

Just then they heard a voice from inside. "Coming!"

A light flicked on behind the window and a moment later the door opened to reveal a pleasantly plump older woman with a sweet round face and long grey hair.

She was smiling but when she caught sight of Merle her expression changed to one that could only be described as nonplussed. "Oh! Can I help you?"

"Yes ma'am, I'm here to share the word of God," Merle told her as he shoved the door open all the way and stepped inside.

The woman was forced to step back, clutching at her housecoat and clearly flustered. Daryl motioned for Carol to hang back and followed Merle inside.

Merle wrapped his arm around the woman's shoulders, turning her away from Daryl, and said, "Now, what's your name, sweet thing?"

She didn't even see Daryl slipping off down the hallway. Carol moved closer to the door, listening for some sort of sign that he'd found something and trying to ignore the fact that they'd just broken into this poor woman's house.

"May," the woman told Merle uncertainly, looking up at him towering over her. "And what's your name?"

"It's Merle, sweet thing, but you just call me whatever you like," he purred, laying it on thick.

"Merle," Carol said quietly and he released the woman just as Daryl emerged from the shadowy hallway.

"Nothing," he told his brother, his eyes on Carol.

Her chest constricted. It was as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. She hadn't realized until that moment how much she'd been counting on Sophia being here.

She should have known.

"What's going on here?" May demanded, spinning around to look from Daryl to Carol then back to Merle. "What do you want?"

Her voice sounded strangely distant. Carol swayed on her feet, light-headed, and suddenly Daryl was at her side, guiding her to the sofa.

She heard them murmuring above her, heard them explaining the situation to May. Minutes passed and then someone was pressing a cold glass of water into her hands.

May sat down beside her, eyes brimming with compassion. "I'm so sorry, honey. I had no idea that he wasn't supposed to have that little girl or I wouldn't have ever let him stay here."

"So they were here?" Carol asked faintly.

May nodded. "They just stayed the night. Let's see, that must have been Thursday night. They left yesterday morning."

"How was Sophia?"

"She was okay. She was a quiet little thing, didn't smile much, but I fed her a good supper and we watched TV," May smiled a little and looked at the floor. "She was only here for a little while but I tried to cheer her up."

Carol closed her eyes, rubbing at her temples. So as of yesterday her little girl was okay. She might not be happy but she was alive.

"Thank you," she told May, taking her soft, warm hand in her own and squeezing it.

"Ed isn't the brightest bulb," May sighed. "He didn't have a clue what to do with the poor little thing but at least Brenda was helping him some."

"She left with them?" Carol asked, hopeful. "Do you know where they were going?"

"Brenda told me they were going to stay with my daughter Tammy. She lives up in Martinsville."

"Virginia?" Merle asked and May shook her head.

"Indiana."

The three of them groaned as one. Of course she lived in Indiana.

"Have you talked to them?" Daryl asked. "They made it up there yet?"

"I haven't," May shook her head. "But they should have made it last night. I can give Tammy a call."

"Would you?" Carol asked, squeezing her hand again. "Please?"

The woman bustled over to the phone and Daryl immediately sat down in the place she'd vacated. Without thinking, Carol grabbed his hand as well, her heart pounding as she watched May dial the number.

"Tammy? It's Mama, sweetie."

Carol sucked in a sharp breath. She could feel Daryl's eyes on her.

"Yes, I'm doing just fine. Listen, honey, are Brenda and Ed there with that little girl?"

Carol tried desperately to read the woman's face. May shot her a sympathetic look.

"Oh? When did they leave? Just a few hours ago?"

Carol hung her head and Daryl tightened his fingers around hers. She focused on the feeling of his thumb rubbing up and down along the back of her hand, closing her eyes and trying not to be sick all over May's clean white carpet.

"Oh, Brenda's still there?" May perked up. "Well then put her on the phone, sweetie."

Carol's head snapped up and she saw the woman frown.

"What do you mean she won't talk to me? You tell her to get on this phone right this second! Never you mind why I'm asking about Ed. Well, where's she going?"

Daryl and Merle exchanged a look. This didn't bode well.

"Tammy, what in the world is wrong with her?" May looked like she was on the verge of tears. "Talk to her, Tammy. See if you can get her to call me."

May hung up the phone and they all sat there in silence for a moment.

"Brenda always was a wild one," May told them with a nervous smile. "She's hard-headed and strong-willed but she's not a bad person. I think she knows she's done something wrong and she's ashamed of herself."

Carol nodded as if she understood, as if she cared about Brenda and her problems. When it became clear that there was nothing more to say, they all stood.

"I'll give you their address," May offered suddenly, her eyes brightening. "Maybe if she sees you she'll come to her senses. Lord knows she could use some sense."

"Thank you so much for your help," Carol told her. "Really, it means so much to me."

"Oh, dear, it was nothing," May said. "Now, y'all are going to stay here with me for the night and get some sleep then I'll make y'all a big breakfast in the morning and send you on your way."

"Oh no," Carol protested. "No, we couldn't impose on you like that."

"Nonsense, it's the least I can do. It's late and it's raining cats and dogs out there. I'll just go make up the guest bed for you two," she told them with a sweet smile before looking over at Merle. "And you, young man, can take the couch."

Carol stared at her and then at Daryl, wide-eyed. He looked equally taken aback.

"Oh, we're not – " she began but May was already bustling off down the hallway.

Merle took one look at the two of them and then sidled off after May, cackling like a madman.

Down the hallway, Carol heard him say, "Well, I might just sneak on in after the lovebirds are asleep and share your bed, sweet thing. How 'bout that?"

"Oh hush, you."

By the time she showered and changed into dry clothes, it really was late.

As Daryl took his shower she stood in the middle of the bedroom, paralyzed by indecision.

It was a queen-sized bed and they were both responsible adults so really, there shouldn't be anything wrong with sharing. It wasn't like they were going to rip their clothes off and go wild the moment they laid down next to each other. Maybe she was attracted to Daryl and maybe he was attracted to her but they both had self-control. Besides, there were more pressing matters at hand.

Outside, it was still pouring and Carol could hear the distant rumble of thunder.

"I'll sleep on the floor."

She turned to see Daryl emerging from the bathroom in just his jeans, still rubbing at his hair with a towel.

"You don't have to," she said and he froze mid-toweling to stare at her. "I mean, this bed is a little bigger than the one at the motel so it should be okay, right?"

He swallowed hard and when he spoke, his voice sounded a little hoarse. "Uh, yeah. Should be."

"Good," she said stiffly and then repeated it to herself. "Good."

Daryl tossed the towel into the hamper, she turned off the lamp, and they laid down on opposite sides of the bed.

Lightning flashed blue through the curtains, lighting up the room for just a moment.

She felt strangely jittery, hyperaware of the space she took up in the bed and the heat rolling off of Daryl's body. She squirmed, trying to get comfortable, and when her hand brushed against his arm, they both jumped.

"Sorry," he muttered and she felt the bed shift as he tried to settle himself closer to the edge.

"It's okay," she told him. "I don't even know why we're acting this way. We probably won't get in trouble if we touch each other."

She winced as soon as the words left her mouth. "I mean – you know what I mean."

He snorted. "I don't know, I reckon Mrs. May might give us hell if she found out we weren't really married."

Carol almost smiled. "I can't believe she thought that."

"You know Merle ain't ever gonna let us forget this," Daryl told her and she could hear the smile in his voice as well.

She rolled her eyes. "I can handle Merle."

He was quiet for a moment. "You can, can't you?"

"What?"

He shuffled onto his side to face her and she looked over at him.

"You don't let Merle get under your skin as much as other people do," he said. "Don't reckon he knows what to do with you."

"Well, fortunately Merle doesn't have to do anything with me."

Daryl laughed at that, really laughed, and then they fell silent again.

She lay there for a long time, listening to his even breathing and praying that Martinsville would give them the answers they needed.

She wondered where Sophia was at that very moment. What was she doing? Was she asleep or was Ed still dragging her around somewhere? Was she hungry? Was she scared?

Did she feel as cold and alone as Carol did right now?

She looked over at Daryl, still facing her on his side, and wondered if holding his hand or snuggling up to his side or something would make this empty feeling go away. She'd been told over and over that he wasn't the "cuddling" type but this wasn't romantic, was it? This was needing his warmth and his strength.

She tried to tell herself that it wasn't about Daryl, that he could be anyone and she'd feel the same way.

"Daryl?"

"Hm?"

"Can we," she began then stopped to gather her nerve and tried again. "Do you think you could…could you hold me? Just for a little while?"

He was silent for so long that she thought she might cry.

"You sure?" he finally asked.

She thought about it again, wondering if she was losing her mind. "Yes. If you think it would be okay."

He took a deep breath and she held hers.

"C'mere," he murmured, opening his arms.

She scooted into them, burying her face in his chest, and felt his hand settle on her back. Honestly, she'd forgotten that he wasn't wearing a shirt. For a moment, she was overwhelmed by the feeling of his bare skin against hers. It was hot, smooth, and still smelled like soap - Irish Spring if she wasn't mistaken.

She could hear his heart beating, could hear him breathing and his throat working as he swallowed hard.

And it didn't make the feeling go away but it smoothed the sharp edges, making it easier to bear.

She pulled herself closer to him, fingertips pressing into his back, and murmured his name without really meaning to.

She lifted her head, he tilted his down towards hers, and like two puzzle pieces fitting together, their lips met. It was just a taste, smoke and honey, and then it was gone. He pulled back, still close enough for his nose to brush against her cheek and his warm breath to ghost across her lips.

He started to say something but she closed the space between them, her hand on the back of his neck as she took one more taste of him.

They were both breathing a little harder by the time she was finished. She looked up into his eyes, unsure of what she saw there, and then down at his mouth, distracted by the sight of him running his tongue along his bottom lip.

Her heart was hammering against her ribs and for a moment, she felt warm all over.

But then the guilt came flooding in, ice cold, and filled her up inside until she felt like she was choking. Her daughter was in danger and here she was kissing the sexy bouncer from work.

"Fuck," he mumbled, sounding pained.

She felt him trying to pull away and held fast. Maybe it was wrong, maybe she shouldn't have kissed him, and maybe the guilt would kill her. But she still needed to feel his arms around her, at least for tonight.

"Please?" she asked and it came out sounding broken.

"I shouldn't," he started to say but his words trailed off into silence as she turned her face into his neck.

And when she woke up the next morning, he was still holding her.