Daryl put the bolts for the cot in his glove box, with Shane's help they quickly got the rest of the stuff loaded to move. Daryl just go a phone call to say that Ed had just left the building Carol was trying to buckle Sophia into her carseat, but since they told her they had to move fast her hands had started shaking. She was trying to keep it together Daryl could tell but at the moment her emotions seemed to be all over the show. Shane managed to convinced her that they wouldn't let anything happen, even if he arrived home before they got out of there, she was safe with them.
Daryl moved her out of the way and followed her directions to buckle the baby into the seat. He was trying to distance himself from Carol and the baby, but somehow or some reason they were both getting under his skin. Carol was a good looking women, he found himself glancing more than once in her direction. Shane had noticed, he was sure everyone of his friends had noticed. The baby was a sweet little thing and pacing the house early hours of the morning he had found himself kissing the babies head before he knew he was doing it.
He didn't even mind her when she pooped out the side of her diaper onto his couch. Carol had almost cried, then Daryl and Andrea said that they could just wipe it, and Merle spills shit on it all the time. The couch was easy to clean because it was leather anyway. Andrea's soft tones and the fact that Daryl wiped up baby poop convinced her that she hadn't committed the crime of the century.
Daryl thought to himself that he needed to get a grip on reality because he kinda liked Carol. Just a little bit, in a non platonic way. Even with her bruised face and shaking hands, there was something that was drawing him to her. He gave his head a shake and tried to clear his head a little. It was silly really but he couldn't shake the feeling that fate had stepped in and brought them into his life. Literary thrown them in his hand. He reached out to steady Carol and help her into his truck, then moved around to get into the truck himself to follow Shane down the drive.
They had just driven out onto the road when Ed's parents car was indicating to drive in. Shane flipped them the bird in the car ahead and drove off. Daryl fixed him with a stare as Ed pointed his finger at Carol who he could see in the front seat.
Carol tried to stop her sobs from coming out. It was a heart breaking sound, Daryl glanced at her and kept driving till he could stand the sobbing sound that were coming out like a choking sound. He felt sick to his stomach listening to her trying not to cry to be brave. He was having a hard time swallowing himself, and he been to car accidents and seen dead bodies but something about seeing blood splatter of Carol's on the wall tore at his heart. He also knew going back into the house seeing her own blood on the walls how lucky they both had been last night.
Daryl knew looking at the state of the house with things tipped over Carol had fought a hard fight last night. What he wouldn't do for 5 minutes alone with Ed now he knew the full extent of the damage he had caused to the house. When they got there the bassinet was tipped on its side. He knew that the baby had been in it, tucked in tight according to Carol so she didn't fall out as Ed's rage tried to get to the little one last night.
He couldn't understand why anyone would do that to a women or a baby yet he come across cases almost weekly where the women did go back. He was going to do everything in his power to give her the confidence that she knew she didn't need him any more and she was set free of this. If she needed it he would help her set up a group of friends. Andrea made friends easily, even Rick's wife Lori would introduce her to some of the other mums around town. She had a baby that was about 6 months.
He indicated and pulled over to the side of the road and unbuckled his seat belt and pulled her to him where she cried against his chest. She let it all go, it all went out she was shaking and crying. Daryl didn't know how long they sat there, he glance over to the car seat seeing the baby was asleep so she was ok.
'I've got ya. Its going to be ok. As long as you don't go back right!' Daryl muttered to her. 'Just don't go back.' And before he knew what the heck he was doing he kissed her head a few times not unlike the way he had kissed the baby during the night. Claimed! He told that fucker last night he was claiming them and he was going to! Carol just didn't know it yet.