Neither knew where he would head but they were covering ground at a decent rate. He didn't claim to know the man better than anyone really but working with him as much as he had since losing Merle he'd learned enough. Rick was a simple man. He stuck to the basics because he really didn't know much else. He might have been a cop before the world went to shit but those skills didn't exactly transfer here. Sure he could restrain and handcuff a walker faster than anyone if need be but hunting, tracking, and basic survival weren't his trade. They were Daryl's. He'd been doing this shit long before the world decided to go belly up. Rick Grimes was a predictable man.
Daryl slowed walking and his eyes swept the damage in front of them. Walkers littered the ground and he stepped through them without care. He didn't seem them as people anymore and hadn't for a long time. Anything he could have felt for these things died with his brother and Carol's daughter. Acid was like smoke and cinder in his throat as he swallowed around the anger that accompanied thinking of his brother and Sophia. They didn't deserve what happened to them. They were better than this shit but not good enough for Rick Grimes to consider.
Daryl's eyes paused on a walker that was laid out at the doors. He crouched and Carol circled him looking into the building before coming back to him. She leaned down her hand running over the clean cut.
"Michonne." Her voice was rough.
He looked up at her both eyes meeting in a maelstrom of emotion. Daryl watched as her eyes dilated in anger but bled with relief shortly. He waited her out. Neither of them needed words often with each other. They could read the other like they had in fact spoken.
"She ran with him." She looked around them at the fallen bodies that were severed and run through. "When I got there she was-"
Daryl stood and Carol followed him. She stepped further into the building and Daryl watched the tension in her body start to climb. She was working up to something and he was going to let her get there on her own. His issues weren't with Michonne but with the man that claimed to be a brother to him. He kept an eye out around them as she investigated the building. He could hear her as she moved behind him as he tracked her with his hearing. Her movements were quick and angry.
"I don't think they stayed here long."
Carol came up next to him and glared, "How could you know that?"
Daryl grit his teeth at the bite in her tone and looked at her. She swallowed at the look flashing into his eyes but there was no point in trying to tuck it away like he'd always done before. Carol knew him better than anyone and he stared at her hard. Her teeth sunk into her still bruised lips and his eyes darkened. He wouldn't take the bait though.
"Tracks aren't old and the walkers aren't either."
Carol flushed under his gaze. She looked around again and nodded, "He isn't alone."
"We were." Daryl snarled. He was moving out the door and eyed the area where a large vehicle must have set. The grass was long dead underneath. He sneered and paced as he thought about the possibility of Rick being in a vehicle. "We need to move."
It was another week before they got a sign they were close. It was something small but enough. It was one of Rick's failed snares. He was horrible at them and Michonne never learned. He'd started to teach Carl a few things but nothing near this. If Rick was depending on his trapping skills to feed them then they were going to starve.
The woods weren't as thick here and they made good time. He wanted to find shelter before it got dark. There was a storm on the horizon and it'd hit by nightfall if not sooner. Carol was anxious. She could feel it like him. They were close. The taste of blood and the sweet scent clinging to their senses. It was in the press of her thighs together and the heated looks she kept throwing him. He knew what she was remembering because they'd spent a good bit of time getting the blood off her afterwards and him. While he didn't really give a fuck she'd spent a good bit of time cleaning him up. The thought or scent alone sent him back to that room with Carol writhing below him while his cock split her open. Marks still littered her skin- some new some old.
"There!" Carol whispered.
He followed her line of sight while she started forward. He followed her the sway of her hips making his blood rush and his fist tighten. He'd almost lost her. So many times she'd been too close to danger. So many times he'd almost lost her. He wasn't chancing shit anymore. If she was lost to him he wouldn't be long for this world without her. When he'd been out there after the prison fell he'd focused on the pain because it was the only thing that was real to him. It was a familiar sting of loss and he'd just walked. How do live if part of you dies? You don't.
The doors swung open a slight creak of hinges welcoming them to the dusty muted light. The place was devoid of life and Carol smiled at him her eyes alight.
"This will work."
The crack of thunder greeted her words while the rain battered against the shelter. She jerked at the sudden sound stepping closer to him. He pushed her forward wanting to get settled in for the night before the light was completely. She climbed the steps quickly him right behind her pushing her when she slowed. His hand on her back tightened in her shirt and she pressed back against him. It was often he found her pressed into him like this. Into his side, chest, or even back while her head tucked in against him breathing deeply.
The old barn held as the storm raged around them. Daryl leaned back against the wall and Carol slid down between his legs her back pressed into his chest. The jacket he'd found earlier in the week was draped around her. His arms banding her to his body. They were never far from each other. He couldn't stand it and she was just as bad. It was a animal need to keep her close. She was his. It was the same need that had him throwing her to the ground more than once and taking her roughly while she begged for more.
Something wasn't right with them but then maybe they were what was right and everyone else was skewed. They didn't leave anyone behind after all. They fought for the ones they'd cared about but still got shit on. Both tossed to the side like they were shit to be scraped off the bottom of everyone's shoes. Merle told him in that ravine but he'd refused to listen. He'd blamed it on the blood loss and hallucinations but even then his brother knew. Even then Merle knew that Rick wasn't worth shit.
"You're tense." Carol mumbled sleepily. "I love you."
"I know."
His lips slid along her throat resting against the darkened bite mark. Carol caught his hand and pulled it down towards her jeans. He easily popped the button and she thrust his hand into them. He groaned feeling the heat rolling off her in waves as she spread her legs for him and pushed his hand deeper into the confines of her jeans.
Carol panted and rolled her hips against his hand as his fingers teased her. She was soaked and he groaned feeling her flutter around his stroking fingers. Carol leaned her head back further her hand shooting up and tangling in his hair and jerking his head down. Her teeth caught his ear and bit down. A growl tore from his throat and that seemed to be just what she needed as he felt her fall over the edge and flood his palm.
She was slack against him but it wasn't her that had his attention. His blood thundered and adrenaline speared his mind sharpening to a razors edge. His hand slid from inside her pants and she whined. His free hand came up covering her mouth.
"Shhhhhh." He whispered directly into her ear.
Carol paused immediately and her head tilted. He felt a wolfish smile spread across her lips and he leaned down again. His tongue slid against her throat tasting her. She panted against his hand and he bit down.
Releasing her throat as she finished doing up her jeans. When she was ready he stood them both up easily. The storm was gaining momentum and Daryl ghosted to the edge of the barn loft peering down over the edge. Carol was there beside him like always her fingers lacing with his own. Lightning flashed around them and thunder cracked as if the world was warning the people below that death would greet them warm. With a word from Carol he'd deliver just what she wanted and he craved. He needed to be sure though because sometimes words had two meanings and he turned her towards him. Her eyes met his already know what he wanted and she ran her hand up his chest. Her nails bit and dug in as they met his throat. He swallowed and her hand slid up further cupping his throat possessively. There was a feeling he got when he looked into her eyes like he'd never been whole before her. Her eyes mirrored the sentiment and she nodded.
"Mine." Carol whispered pressing into his chest.
"Mine." He growled back hand catching her hair and angling her head back as her other hand caught his hand at her hip. Both holds possessive and a warning to the world around them.
Carol's hand tightened around his, "Death makes angels of us all and gives us wings where we had shoulders smooth as ravens claws."
Daryl felt a smile tug at his lips, "Morrison." Voice low only carrying to her as the barn shook under the storm. If Merle was here to hear her quote that man he'd no doubt tell him she just gave him a fucking hard on. The thought made him snort and he rubbed his chest where the ache of his missing brother never left.
Daryl felt Carol's hand slide over his back along the sheath there and then around to the one that swung from his belt over his thigh. He was never far from his knives but for what he wanted he didn't really need them. He felt a tightening in his chest as his nostrils flared. He could almost smell the relief and fatigue coming off the small group. He could feel the self righteous air that surrounded one in particular and looked to Carol. She nodded and licked her lips her eyes dilating in need at the moment, more than just for him. There was a hunger there that rang through their blood and to the ties that bound them together. Merle and Sophia's voices in their heads as the injustice washed into the room like blood and thunder. Some things were just unforgiven.