AN: hey not sure what this is...probably just a short story, three to four chapters. Takes place in the future at the Alexandria Safe Zone. Let me know what you think
I do not own or profit from the Walking Dead
PART 1
"I don't like the look of that son of a bitch"
Daryl looked across the room at the Alan, a resident of the Alexandria safe zone who seemed to have more than a healthy interest in Carol. The asshole followed her around like a lost little puppy.
They'd been at the safe zone for two weeks, but he'd barely spoken to Carol in the past two months. Not since he'd lost her again...not since he'd realized the truth.
They'd been searching for Beth, and he'd lost her..he'd lost Carol. He'd been devastated, shattered. With a single minded determination to get Carol back, and it had hit him. He loved her...he loved Carol.
He was tired of losing people..Merle, his Momma, Dale, Sophia, T-Dog, Andrea, Hershel..Beth. She'd been the little sister he never had and he failed her. He failed another kid. Everyone he loved died, he couldn't lose Carol. She was the one person, if he lost her he wouldn't be able to come back from it, never. If he lost Carol he might as well stick his own gun in his mouth because he would be done, and there were too many people who needed him. That's what he told himself anyway, if he was honest with himself he knew he was just scared.
So he'd pulled away, distanced himself. He saw how it had hurt her, and it broke his heart. He wanted to go to her and fall down on his knees everyday and tell her he was sorry, for being dumb as fuck. But his fear held him back. He was tired of losing people and everyone he loved died.
They'd come across the safe zone by chance, wandering aimlessly after realizing Eugene was lying and full of shit. It was as good of a place as any. But they had been suspicious, and careful, Rick still didn't trust them. But he could see some of the group starting to drop their guards, Glenn, Maggie, Tara, ...Carol.
They'd been interviewed by the safe zone council and she'd been honest, he'd been so fucking proud of her. She'd sat there proud and unflinching telling them the truth, about everything she had done, she'd made no apologies. The council had been spellbound. Like him she'd been placed on a team doing runs. Fucking hell that women seemed intent on placing herself in danger.
They shared a house with Glenn and Maggie. Rick had offered to let him stay with him sensing something was off between him and Carol but he'd refused. He needed to keep his eye on her.
That's how he noticed Alan, their neighbour, and the way he watched Carol. He'd heard the stories about Alan around the community. an alcoholic who just happened to be one lucky son of a bitch. He'd lived at the safe zone since the turn.
Daryl had seen guys liked that before. Guys who drank too much or did too many drugs and when they finally dried out they weren't right in the head. Simple, Merle used to call them...killed too many brain cells.
From the moment Alan had seen Carol, he'd been like a puppy constantly at her feet. He knew Carol found it tiresome, but she was to kind hearted to tell him to get lost. She was nice to him, never encouraging, but Alan just didn't get the message.
They were at some fucking party the safe zone had once a month Welcoming new residents. Waste of fucking time. He hadn't been planning on going but then Carol had walked down the stairs, and his heart had practically stopped. She been wearing a red dress. A simple red dress but it had hugged her boobs and showed off cleavage that had made his dick go hard as a rock and he knew without a doubt he be going to that party.
He'd watched Alan chase her around the room all night and saw Carol's growing agitation. Alan had obviously found some booze and was shit faced drunk. He was getting a little too grabby hands for Daryl's liking.
He knew she could take care of herself. She could drop that mother fucker like a rock if she wanted. That was his girl, she didn't mess around he'd thought with a smirk. But they were new to the community and he knew she was trying not to make a scene. He'd been about to intervene at one point but Rick had gone over asking Carol to dance. Alan was watching them dance on the floor with a hate in his eyes that made Daryl's stomach churn with worry.
"Who...Alan? Aww dude's harmless" Glenn said in a bored tone beside him.
"I don't like the way he looks at her"
"Daryl, man you don't like the way anyone looks at her. Seriously we all see what you've been doing the past two months, well Carol doesn't but the rest of us do. Hell the whole safe zone except Alan realizes it. She might as well walk around with a sign around her neck that says Property of Daryl Dixon; Touch at your own Risk." Glenn said snorting at his own joke.
He glared at Glenn he hated the fact that he was so obvious. Glenn just shook his head and continued on
"Dude...the two of you, it's gonna happen you can fight it all you want but I think you know it will. You think if something happens to Carol it will hurt any less than if you had acted on it. It won't, it'll probably be worse. Carol can take care of herself, I mean come it's Carol. I wouldn't mess with her."
"She shouldn't have to..." he started and then stopped
"She shouldn't have to what...take care of herself? She'd have your balls for saying that. Dude that's what it is being a couple. Your partners, she takes care of you, you take care of her, you watch each other's back. Carol's not some shrinking violet you gotta protect nonstop anymore. But she'd be the one person you could depend on without a doubt to have your back, and you know that" Glenn grinned as Maggie and Sacha returned to the table. He'd seen how much Maggie had been leaning on Glenn lately. Her guilt at giving up on Beth was wearing on her. Glenn was her rock. He wanted to be that for Carol.
Rick sat down next to him just then...alone.
"Where's Carol?" He asked
"Said she had a headache...was heading home. I don't blame her, Alan will just not give up." Rick said with a sigh
"Alone?" He all but yelled.
"Daryl...it's Carol, she'll be fine" Rick reassured him.
His eyes darted around the room, and that's when he saw him. That sneaky little fucker Alan. Slipping out the side door.