Daryl growled as he escaped from Stevens and Hershel. He needed away from them or he was going to lose his fucking shit on everyone. All their poking and prodding on him was doing nothing for his mood and he was already done with it. No one seemed to understand that he just needed a fuckin' minute to breathe. It wasn't much to ask for but it seemed to others it wasn't something he was going to get. He didn't have much time before Mac and Merle got to him and then he knew that he'd not see daylight till those two left him alone.
Shrugging his leather jacket back on and ignoring the twinge of pain that shot down his back Daryl looked down the street. He could see people gathered and knew that Carol's group was down there. She was likely down there along with Sophia. It was her group at one time but Daryl couldn't say that he liked those motherfuckers really. Sure some of them helped him but what about the little girl they left in the woods? Who the hell does that in the first place? If something ever happened that Sophia got separated from him Daryl knew he'd tear the woods apart limb by limb, tree by tree, and mountains to ravines until he found her. He wouldn't rest and he knew his brothers wouldn't either. Hell Brian and Hannah would be right there with him searching for him. That was the thing though about him and he knew that was the difference. He'd never have her in danger. He'd never let her get out of reach of him to be in danger or get lost. He'd never chance her life.
Swallowing around the sour taste left in his mouth thinking about Carol's group Daryl turned and stormed the opposite way. He wanted to be left alone. He needed time to process just how his world was being ripped apart. It hurt. Goddamn did it hurt, he felt like his chest was being ripped open and someone was tightening their hold around his heart teasing him. He didn't like this shit and he understood why he always kept people at arms length. Sophia wasn't out to hurt him and he was sure Carol wasn't either but that didn't mean shit. He knew there was something coming but he wasn't about to back down. He knew what was right and he knew where he stood but things were different now. He was different now.
Daryl grimaced seeing Karen ahead of him her stance already combative. He wanted to punch her in the face for being in front of him but knew that'd just start more shit. He didn't need it right now. She was glaring at him but there was a blush spreading across her face and he felt like slapping her all over again. Her stupid fucking doe eyes she was making at him now was pissing him off.
"Daryl we need to talk." Karen offered.
"No." He shook his head not slowing down.
Karen made a noise of protest and followed him. His walk was fast and he outpaced her quickly but her clacking boots let him know she was still there. He felt his temper flaring and he was two seconds from tearing her fucking head off already.
Stepping up on the porch he felt her hand close around his forearm and ripped it away.
"Daryl I said we need to talk!" Karen pleaded.
Turning on her he felt his eye twitching and his nostrils flare, "WHAT!" He snapped his voice echoing.
Karen blanched, "Your daughter needs to learn some manners. I know we discussed this before but you didn't listen to me and I really think you need to discipline her. A girl shouldn't talk that way. It isn't lady like! She needs a mother, a woman's presence in her life. I believe I-" Karen's voice was haughty.
Daryl cut her off with a snarl, "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
Karen looked up at him wide eyed, "Excuse me?"
"There is no excuse for you." Daryl sneered looking down at her, "Let's get this clear because I'm tired of you runnin' your cock sucker. Sophia is no concern to you, I'm not going to fuck you, I don't like you and get the fuck off my porch."
Karen's mouth started to open but snapped shut at the last minute. She stared hard at him for a while but nothing ever came. He gave her a pointed look and she turned on her heel and walked away muttering to herself. His chest was heaving and each movement made him feel even worse. Swiping a hand over his face and closing his eyes Daryl blew out a breath and yawned.
Daryl turned and was met with blue eyes studying him with a finely sculptured brow raised. He wasn't sure how long Carol was there and honestly he just didn't care. Didn't matter anymore anyways. The thought made him flinch and he nodded at her but she never moved out of the doorway. Instead Carol stepped onto the porch pulling the door firmly shut behind her.
Daryl sighed knowing he wasn't getting to sleep anytime soon and dropped down onto the swing. Foot bracing him the swing started a slow rocking motion that if he wasn't careful was going to lull him to sleep.
"This place is amazing." Carol's voice was quiet as she walked over. Her eyes went to the spot next to him and she raised a brow asking for permission to set. Daryl shifted and she took the seat. "I didn't think anywhere survived what happened out there after Atlanta."
Daryl rubbed his face and cleared his throat but wasn't sure what to say. "Takes work."
Carol looked out into the streets where people were walking around and smiled. Her smile fell through and Daryl looked to where her eyes were. Karen was there with a few of other of the hen party. He felt his face morph into a sneer when he realized they were watching him. Leaning forward his elbows hit on his knees and he grimaced in pain.
"So what I heard a minute ago?"
Daryl looked over his shoulder at her and winced at the motion. His entire body hurt and she noticed it her face showing concern.
Before either could say anything a loud barking voice was heard. Daryl's head snapped around seeing Karen in front of Mac motioning to him. Daryl smiled a full smile and leaned back against the swing his arms crossing over his chest. Mac was shaking his head at whatever the woman was saying. The madder he got the more animated he became. Hannah was next to him her eyes set on the woman but offering no help for her.
"BACK THE FUCK OFF!" Mac barked causing the woman to jump.
Brian caught his dad's arm and was visibly laughing as he started walking. He said something that had Mac's head turning in his direction. Mac's face flamed in anger and he was storming for Daryl next. Sighing he rubbed his face and leaned his head back.
Pushing himself standing he was met at the door by Mac. "You fucking idiot!"
"Missed you too." Daryl chuckled.
"Oh you don't get to do that." Mac snapped, "You don't get to make everyone think you're dead and cause Sophia to not fuckin' sleep the entire time you're gone." Mac grabbed his arm dragging him more towards him his worry and fear clear to Daryl, "You scared the fuck out of everyone. I had to threaten Brian and Sophia to stay here and not go after you."
Daryl pushed the door open and Brian slipped inside followed by Hannah. Brian's face colored at his dad's words. He knew Carol was watching them silently. She didn't know them and she was getting a first hand experience to just how volatile Mac could be.
Daryl eyed his brother and shook his head, "I"m fine, I'm here." Mac's grip tightened, "This isn't the place."
Mac's eyes cut to Carol and a smirk slid on to his face, "Have you met Karen?"
Carol walked more to them and eyed Mac's hand on Daryl before looking back at his brother. Daryl knew that look he'd seen it on Sophia enough times.
"You're brothers been hurt and you manhandling him isn't helping." Carol's voice was nice but her eyes were snapping. "I saw her speaking to my daughter and Daryl."
Mac looked at him and a dangerous smile was there. He didn't like that smile. In fact he knew he hated it. He hated it so much that he wanted to hit his fuckin' brother right then. That was the same smile that spelled trouble for him all through his youth and even up to now. Fuck that smile.
"Daryl where is your manners not introducing her to Karen." Mac questioned. Carol made a noise in her throat as if questioning him and Daryl tried to talk. Mac cut him off. "I mean by morning everyone is going to think that you and Carol are together or were at least."
Daryl's face was blood red and he stared hard at his brother. He refused to look at Carol. Of course he knew what the fuckin' hen party was going to do. The bitches were staring at him not to long ago as it was.
"I'm sorry my people skills are rusty." Daryl snapped jerking away and storming inside.
Daryl could hear Brian and Sophia talking quietly as he neared the living room. He wasn't sure what Sophia was really going to say to him and didn't feel like getting verbally abused by a teenager in his livingroom. Veering off he picked the lesser of two evils and walked in the kitchen on Hannah. She slid a plate across the bar and eyed him.
"You need to eat." Hannah's voice was the softness Mac's lacked, "Stevens and me talked and until everything is cleared up I'll be checking in on you.'
Daryl growled but took his seat, "I'm fine."
"You're fine is like another man breaking a leg I don't believe you." Hannah huffed, "I could just let Mac cook for you."
"I can cook for myself." Daryl huffed out, "I'm not a kid."
"Could've fooled me." Merle spoke startling everyone.
"Heart breaker, soul shaker I've been told about you!" Mac's voice rang out from the living room.
His voice died off followed by Sophia's loud laughter and Brian speaking. Mac' was laughing with Sophia and Daryl smirked stirring whatever this hell Hannah was trying to get him to eat. He'd be better off cooking for himself. Fuck how did Mac eat this shit.
"Red hot mama velvet charmer…" Brian's voice was as loud as Mac's as they sang together.
"Not cool!" Sophia snapped out loudly. "Go to hell Brian."
"Now you're messin' with a son of a bitch…" Mac sung louder drowning out Sophia. He strolled through the song getting louder and louder. Sophia was laughing as loud as he was singing and Mac paused at Hannah's look. "What I gotta piss. Wanna hold it for me?" He waggled his eyebrows.
"Go." She pointed.
Hannah turned around and Daryl grabbed Merle's plate dumping his food into it. He heard a snort next to him and seen Carol leaning against the counter watching him. His face flushed and Merle raised a brow at him.
"She's going to harp like a broken record when she see that." Merle chuckled.
"If I eat that I'll die sooner from that then my injuries." Daryl growled under his breath.
Carol watched the brother's and she couldn't help but to smile. There was a clear divide on who was who within their family unit. Merle was without question the eldest and the one who directed his brothers. Well what she gathered they'd allowed themselves to be handled. Mac was harder to understand at times. He came off as out of control and more of a maverick but more and more she realized Daryl was what kept him reined in. That left Daryl she got the sense that despite his brothers worry over him that he was capable. Maybe more capable than them in this world. Sophia's words about him were churning through her head non stop and she couldn't help but feel such relief that this man found her daughter. That this man found her and not someone like Ed.
Daryl slid out of his seat and she watched his jaw tighten in pain. He kept his emotions and pain masked well but he had his tales. Daryl started down the hall and up the stairs and Carol frowned. She knew that he was hurting from his ribs alone and she shook her head.
"I'm sorry I'm Hannah Brian's mother."
Carol smiled at her and nodded. "Sophia's mother, Carol."
Hannah smiled and looked over to say something. Her smile left her face and she looked at Merle, "Where did he go? I know he didn't eat all that already."
Mac appeared stretching and shrugging his shirt off. "He hates your food I don't know why you even tried."
Hannah glared at him and Carol looked away from the man standing there. She wasn't sure what to say and she felt like she was intruding. Moving out of the kitchen she seen Sophia slip out of the living room her steps determined as she made it up the stairs. Merle was at the end of the hall watching her go. Brian appeared next to him and gave Carol an appraising look that was so much like his uncles that it was eerie. Daryl had gave her the same look from the time she assumed he realized it was her that was Sophia's mother until he started avoiding looking at her at all.
"She's pissed." Brian's voice was low.
Merle looked down at the younger man and nodded, "She's got a fight on her hands."
"He's gonna fall asleep while she rips his ass." Brian grinned.
Carol moved to them when Merle motioned her over, "I talked to your man Rick and the rest of them. It's already getting dark out and he's said they could stay the night before meeting in the morning."
Carol nodded her head. "Where are they right now?"
Merle wasn't looking at her but Brian was and she didn't like the look in his eyes. It wasn't threatening it wasn't anything even close to that. It was a sadness settling into them that shook her.
"With Carter." Merle looked over at her finally, "He's getting them a place to stay while Rick decides if he wants to show his fuckin' ass or not."
Carol made a face, "That's not Rick."
"That's the man that tried to keep me from getting to my brother." Merle looked at her pointedly, "I don't care what you seen or know of him. That don't matter. I go by what I see, what I know. So far that man is a idiot."
Carol hid her smile with her hand. "Rick's had a tough time of it we all have." Her mind tried to take her to when she lost her daughter but she pushed it away, "We've ran into bad people that meant to do us harm. We don't trust easy."
"You said she was mad just a minute ago...what is the matter?" Carol questioned.
She didn't like that she knew so little of what was going on with her daughter. Sophia had a family outside that of her. She wasn't apart of these mens worlds. She was the stranger here for better or worse.
"Daryl is being difficult." Brian smiled.
Carol frowned at that but Merle shot the boy a look. She understood that this boy was the closest thing to a friend Sophia had. She'd bonded with him and despite Carol being her mother he wasn't willing to tell her something Sophia herself didn't. Carol rubbed her arms and listened when Merle tilted his head like tracking a sound. She raised a brow when she realized he was in fact doing just that. There was a clear circuit being walked somewhere upstairs from someone.
Brian made a face at Merle and then her, "Dad said that two of his ribs were broke or bruised, is he okay? What the hell happened out there?"
Merle nodded his head, "Yeah he'll be fine. His ass aint going to be wanting to do much moving for a while with his ribs busted but everything else is fine." Merle jerked his head at Carol, "She ran him over."
Carol's eyes got wide and she looked between them, "I did not."
Brian raised a brow, "I know my dad said women were shit drivers but the roads are pretty much vacant...and you still managed to hit someone. Fuck."
Mac snorted suddenly and Carol flushed deeply. Mac winked at her and passed her by still shirtless. He was up the steps in no time and a door opened and Sophia's voice barking out the door.
"WHAT MAC!"
"Well you're still a goddamn peach." Mac laughed, "Go do kid things while I help my brother."
Carol watched a distraught Sophia come down the steps and meet her eyes. Sophia turned and went down the hall away from them all. Brian looked at her hard and then after Sophia. Carol took off after her daughter not waiting to see what the rest of them were doing. Carol followed the sounds of pacing and found her daughter in what looked like a den. Or what use to be a den at one time- this must have been where Daryl kept most of his gear.
Sophia looked up at her and shook her head but kept pacing. Tear tracks were on her face and Sophia swiped at them. "Feel like a kid." her voice was angry, "I knew he was hurt but seeing it...seeing the bruises and…" Sophia gave her a helpless look, "Mom is he going to be okay? You took care of him right? He's going to live right?"
Carol set down on the chair watching her daughter, "He had a concussion and will have headaches for a while. So long as we keep an eye on him he'll be fine. He had a fever but I'd got it down before it became an issue. His ribs will heal but it'll take time honey and the rest is superficial."
Sophia nodded, "I've never seen anything slow him down mom. Not even when he saved me. He didn't sleep, eat, or anything. He made sure I had everything and just kept going," Her voice broke unevenly and she swiped at her eyes again, "Will you make sure he's still okay? Will you help me?"
Carol's face softened Sophia's word about the man still so strong from before. This her daughter was her dad. He held a very significant place in her heart.
"Yes." Carol nodded smiling.
Sophia crashed into her practically crawling into her lap despite being too big for it. Leaning into cushions Carol ran her hands down Sophia's back as her daughter's breathing evened out again. She needed to figure out what was happening with her group and daughter. She swallowed realizing that rough waters were likely ahead. Carol couldn't help but to look at her daughter though and see the strength that she seen in Daryl as well. Even hurt the man radiated it and it seems that he was rubbing off on her child. Sighing Carol snuggled more into cushions just holding her before she outgrown even this.