Daryl was long gone by the time Carol and Sophia come out of his bedroom the next morning. He slept on the couch, gotten up when she woke during the night. Helped again pace the floor with the baby to help Carol. Although Carol felt better than she did the night before she wasn't up to pacing for the time needed to settle her again.

Being in strange surrounding has unsettled Sophia. Also she was picking up on Carol's nervous energy, stopping crying the moment Daryl took her. He was like the baby whisper or something. Or maybe he was so calm that it didn't matter who was holding her as long as it wasn't Carol.

'He's gone." Merle announced from the kitchen. He was leaning against the counter eating toast and drinking coffee. 'Andrea's gone too.'

'Oh ok.' Carol said, wondering what she should do now.

'He got picked up by one of the guys, left you the keys to his truck and the flat keys are here. Jo Greenes going to meet you at the flat around 10ish.' Merle mumbled looking at a note on the counter waving it out to her. She walked over to look at it.

Jo Greene's going to spend the day with you,

let me know if you need anything.

I'll stop by after my shift and check up on you

Daryl

Carol read and re read the note. Daryl must have organised the women to come knowing Carol didn't really want to be alone. Merle offered to hold Sophia while Carol took a shower. He wandered around doing stuff that he needed to do one handed. Carol peeked out the bathroom door to see what he was doing, Carol wasn't sure but she was sure he was singing her something, half dancing around the kitchen with her tiding up. Carol was sure if she reviled herself he would stop. She showered and dressed, walking out, Merle was lying on the couch flying her in the air, asking her if she like her Uncle Merle looking after her.

Sophia was fully engaged watching him. Smiling, then Merle pulled her to his chest humming away to her, telling her secrets of the world. Sophia seemed to be enjoying her time with him. Carol was amazed that both Daryl and Merle were so good with her. Carol come out to the hall letting him know she was there. Merle just glanced at her and kept talking to Sophia.

Carol got her gear together and she headed off towards her new flat with Sophia in Daryl's truck. Merle headed off to work waving her goodbye. Carol drove down the road towards town hoping she remembered the way to the little flat and she got there before Jo Greene.

She didn't find it too bad driving his truck it was bigger than she was used too but she could still drive it. Next week she would have to look for some sort of job, get a breast pump and find something part time.

As she was driving into town she wondered if Ed had been to court yet. It was still early enough that he may not have. She glanced back at Sophia who had gone asleep in her seat, she looked in her rear vision mirror and a police car was flashing its lights behind her. She pulled over watching out the side mirror as Daryl got out of the drivers seat and walked up the side of the truck.

She couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked in his uniform. She shook her head telling herself to stop those thoughts. She would be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. She was having trouble keeping focused on not looking at how handsome he looked thought.

'Morning, hows everything?' Daryl asked through the window.

'Good, you left early?' Carol asked him.

'6am, I'm just on my way to court, I'll come see you when he's been through.' Daryl told her.

'You think something might happen?' Carol asked.

'Nah not really, get a diaper bag packed and bags for a few days. Change of plan. You and Soph are going out to Jo Greenes for the day, then I'll take you back to mine tonight!' Daryl told her, he walked around the front of the truck and opened the back door to see Sophia.

'You don't have to come get me I can stay there. At the flat, I don't have to stay with you, I'll be ok.' Carol told him.

'No, your coming. You want to stay with Uncle Daryl right Soph?' Daryl asked the sleeping baby.

'Is there something your not telling me?' Carol asked looking around at him. Something wasn't quite sitting right here, she only known him for a few days but she got the feeling he was trying to keep something from her. He didn't meet her eyes and shook his head. He come back round to the front of the truck and leaned in through the window again, he reached out and trailed his fingers down her arm as to calm her.

'Not really, nothing really or something, we are not taking any chances though. The grandparents were seen buying diapers and formula, all sorts of baby stuff yesterday. They brought a car seat this morning...' Daryl said looking at her. Daryl watched as her face turned to ash, he reached out and touched her arm again. 'Its ok, your just going to the flat for a little bit Rick will be there, then out to Jo Greenes, no one's going to know where you are.'

'They are going to try take Sophia?' Carol asked him. 'Steal her?'

'I'm not going to let them take Sophia.' Daryl told her.

'Look I just spent the last hour sorting this, Rick's at the flat, he's going to follow you to Jo's, then I'm going to get you later, don't worry.' Daryl looked at her. 'I've got this. I'm going to court now to keep an eye on them, hopefully Ed will go to jail. With your statement and my statement he shouldn't get out today, also when his parents see the photos, photo's don't lie. They will know what he did.'

Carol pushed open the truck door and Daryl stepped back as she stumbled out and bent over and vomited all over the ground. Daryl stepped back onto the road and moved behind her to rub her back, she tried to wave him away with her hand. It wasn't her finest moment. She felt sick to her stomach and worried about everything now. She didn't want them to try take her baby. She wasn't a bad mother.

'You ok now?' Daryl asked as she stood up. She looked around noticing that Shane had got out of the police car to walk towards him. Daryl and Shane talked quickly and Daryl moved Carol into the passenger seat. Shane Climbed into Daryl's truck to drive.

'Shane's going to go with you and move you both onto Rick. I have to go to court. I don't have a choice or I would take you ok. You be ok, I'm going to get you a cell phone too ok.' Daryl quickly told her and patted her knee looking like he wanted to do something else. He gave Shane a quick nod and shut the door walked back down to police car pulled out from behind him and moved into town quickly.