The heat was sweltering and the sweat that was sliding down her back was long since unable to soak into her shirt. To say she felt disgusting was an understatement. She wasn't one to really complain though because despite the sweat and dirt clinging to her body from being out here all day this was still cleaner than she had been through those winter months. Those times were some of the roughest of her life. They'd almost starved then and while looking back she could see that the time had made them come together more as a cohesive unit- it didn't mean things were easy. No they'd struggled and fought tooth and nail for everything they had. If she was honest and thought about it then even when she'd been at the prison.
Thinking about the prison always brought her up short. It wasn't long ago she watched Rick and them walk out of those gates while talking to Merle. Merle she learned quickly was a man of his word and that his brothers would have his back quickly. They defended and protected those around them but would always fight harder for each other and their family. Sophia was a part of that. Carol could appreciate the safety that granted her daughter. Knowing that those men would fight to the death for her and that they already regarded her one of them was a weight off her chest.
Still like always though she knew that there was a guilt for not going back to the prison. They were her family. She fought with them, she survived with them, but here she was following a man she barely knew deeper into the woods like the world was normal. But she couldn't say she didn't know Daryl because she did maybe not as well as Hannah or Sophia but she did. She knew that he wouldn't allow anything to happen to her, that he would rather take a bullet then let her daughter down, that he was shy and that he was avoiding her even now. It was a curious thing to see a man with so much assertive behavior be so shy.
Watching his shirt cling to his back like it was painted on as he moved making each muscle movement and breath resonate in her chest was doing serious damage to ground rules she'd set. She couldn't look at this man like that. When things got bad with Ed she made a promise to herself and to Sophia that she would never be with another man. She would never become dependent on a man or let herself get caught up in that. Yet here she was watching him like her next breath depend on it. Her thoughts were her own and until the man in front of her developed the power of mind reading she was safe.
Daryl paused and Carol paused as well her eyes sweeping the area and she swallowed watching him. He was more relaxed here and in his element. He was beautiful. Carol smiled to herself but shook her head because it was ridiculous. He was close to her daughter- hell her daughter called him dad! The women hated her that much was clear. Well Karen at least if looks were anything to go by. Walking in with just him after all this wasn't going to make that any easier. Though if the woman truly believed that Carol and him had a child together then she was a fool to think that she could mess with that. Or maybe she was just a fool to begin with. Hannah had informed Andrea that Daryl himself tended to go off on the woman at least once a week for crossing a line and coming on to him. It seemed even Sophia didn't like her and was extremely protective of Daryl and tore into the woman a few times.
Carol shifted her weight and the crack of a branch had his eyes swinging to her. He regarded her silently until an eyebrow raised. Heat started to rise in her face and she sighed. This man was going to be the death of her.
He pivoted on his feet completely silent and she huffed at it. How could he be so silent! He was larger than her, weighed more, and moved quicker surely he should be make more noise than her.
"Something wrong?" His voice was a barely there husky whisper that played on his accent. It devastated her.
Shaking her head to clear the fog there she forced a smile and her eyes went around them. Nothing. "Nope."
He stared at her clearly not believing her but gave a sharp nod and looked to her feet. He smirked at her for a second and she watched the difference it brought to his usually stoic and hard features. How was this man unattached? Oh that's right her daughter had been running off suitable women! The thought was hilarious to her but that didn't explain before things went downhill. He clearly didn't have issues with kids because he was amazing with Brian and Sophia so what was the issue here?
Carol made a startled noise when Daryl suddenly moved. He was closer than he had been before but he was breathing harsher. He was in her space bent slightly and looked up at her. HIs eyes were wide and she could see the pulse in his neck jumping and the way the sweat had his hair clinging to his skin. He looked like he was made for this world- made for her. Face flushing at her thoughts as heat pooled low in her belly she licked her lips and forced her eyes away from his own lips.
"Watch where you step Carol..." His voice was low and held stern warning. "We aren't the only thing out here looking to kill."
Carol looked down and swallowed. There at her feet was a snake that he was already working. Carol couldn't tear her eyes away from his hands as he cut the head away and then buried it. He'd saved her. While she was off lost in her own head this man had saved her life and her tongue felt to thick to even form words.
"Hey you alright?"
Carol looked up at him her eyes wide and just set there. He sighed and leaned back against a tree passing over his water.
"Set."
Carol done as he said her eyes sweeping the ground as his scolded words had warned her to do. She felt like a kid getting ready to get lectured. Way to go Carol lust after a man for a minute only to get snake bit and die. It'd be a bitch to survive this long with the world the way it is to get taken out by a damn snake.
"Wanna tell me what's wrong? You want to head back?" His voice was gruff like the words were punched out of him. She didn't need to ask others about it to know that he wasn't one for discussing much. He was a silent man.
"I'm fine just need a minute."
He hummed at her words and stood fluidly arching his back and groaning as it popped. Hand carding into his hair she watched it stuck up at odd angles. She really needed to get a grip on herself and stop this. She wasn't some little teenage girl with raging hormones. That wasn't her! She'd been a married woman with a kid and still didn't act like this. Then again Ed was no Daryl Dixon and that was something she was sure of.
"How do you feel?" Carol questioning sipping water.
His eyes squinted at her for a second before he looked off. "i'm fine."
"Okay...but really? Mac and Merle aren't here. If you aren't going to be honest with them about at least be with me. Someone needs to know if you're healing good."
He looked down at her again and smirked, "Did you just...Yeah...yeah you did." He snorted, "You just mom voiced me."
Carol smiled watching the amusement in his face, "Did it work?"
"No." He deadpanned.
"Too bad. How do you feel?"
"Hot." He snapped, "Sweaty, tired, and hungry."
Carol nodded and handed him the water, "Do you need a bottle to go with your little tantrum?"
His head swiveled around to her and his eyes landed on hers. She wasn't sure what that look was in his eyes but knew that he was fighting laughing or yelling. He shoved the water into his pack his eyes still on her.
"I see where she gets that shit." He muttered.
Carol grinned at him watching as he huffed and moved around. "When we get back you need to either go to medical and be looked over again or let me."
He glared at her, "Goddamn you're as bad as her and Mac put together."
Carol pinched his arm as he turned and he grunted jerking away from her. Walking beside him as his eyes followed a trail she tutted at him, "If you would listen to the first time this would be a complete non issue Daryl Dixon."
"Yes ma'am." He growled under his breath, "Hush up we're hunting not whatever the fuck that just was."
Getting back wasn't as bad she thought it would be but she was tense and tired. Daryl was working under the weight of the buck despite his injuries and she knew they were hurting him. He'd done a good job of hiding it but being out there for that many hours with just them left her with a lot of time to regard him and study. It was in his steps, in his breathing, it was in the very air around him that he didn't feel good. Carol wasn't a stupid woman and knew that Daryl had a lot of pride and for him to be showing any ounce of pain or discomfort was significant. He needed to be checked over. She wasn't taking no for an answer and honestly where was he going to go to get away from her. Woodbury was enclosed, she stayed at his house, and his brothers would tell her instantly where he was. He couldn't run.
The gates opened and Carol cringed seeing the creepy man from before. WIthout realizing it she stepped almost into Daryl to put him between them. His eyes went to her and she felt that blue eyed touch like his hands slid over her but her eyes remained firmly on the man. She knew he followed her eyes when he made a noise in the back of his throat to get her attention.
Looking up at him Carol raised a brow their silent communication amusing to her. Barely knew him but already she didn't need words to be able to speak to him. He raised a brow his tongue sweeping out as they walked silently to where she assumed things were slaughtered and processed. Shaking her head she felt the other man's gaze on her and shifted again closer to Daryl. She knew that with the rumors and what people already thought that it wouldn't seem odd for her to be in his space. Hell everyone thought they had a kid together and she was pretty sure some assumed they were still together on some level. Whatever though she wasn't here to play high school cat fight with a bunch of women and just shrugged it off truthfully but if it kept that man's eyes off her she'd stand as close as she could get. He reminded her of Ed on his darkest days and it made her blood run cold.
Carol opened the door for him and he stepped in brushing against her and his eyes went to her. He smirked before clearing the door and she looked down and huffed. Sure enough there was a smear of blood over her side, chest and arm now that made it look like she'd been all over him. She knew he wasn't laughing because that's how he saw but because she'd been disgusted as he field dressed the deer and didn't care that he was getting soaked in the blood. It ran down his arms and onto his chest and she was sure it was even beyond the leather of his belt.
"You Dixon's sure are good out there."
Daryl nodded but didn't speak so the man turned to Carol and smiled. He was nice enough and older seeming to not even be bothered by the state of the world.
"Well Mrs. Dixon you're man here sure did us a service bringing in fresh meat like this."
Daryl choked on his drink but Carol raised a brow at him. The man was talking again before either could correct him.
"That girl of y'alls was in here earlier with that brother of yours. Handful that one but she's a good one." He was nodding to himself as he started maneuvering the deer, "I best be seeing to this and I'm sure the two of you will be wantin' to clean up."
Daryl was out the door before she could even say bye. The man grinned at her and winked causing Carol to snort. All thoughts of gently correcting the older man were gone and she didn't know what to say anyways.
Stepping outside she walked towards Daryl's house and ignored the looks from the women. She had to look a sight with blood on her now from Daryl. Not to mention the few hand prints from where she'd grabbed him as they'd come down the hill and his hand shot out to grasp her arm or shoulders. It didn't look very innocent. She needed to get cleaned up and ignore these thoughts, a nice long cold shower would work wonders for her.
"Hey mom!" Sophia called dragging Brian with her. The grimaced as the sun hit him from where he'd been shaded just a second ago. "Stop being a jerk Brian."
"Bitch you don't need me to manipulate people."
Sophia hissed something at him and he sighed like he was suffering the worst thing to ever happen to anyone. He just rolled his head back on his shoulders and growled at her before smiling at Carol to wide.
"Where's Dad?"
Carol shook her head and motioned ahead of them. She could see him now that the sun wasn't in her eyes from Brian's larger form shading her.
Sophia looked over her shoulder and smiled widely, "You two are disgusting."
Carol raised a brow, "Is there something you need I want to shower and get cleaned up."
"Why are you covered in hand prints?" Brian blurted out and then grinned looking to much like his father, "Daryl get handsy did he?"
Carol's face colored and she glared only to see Brian's smile widening. He looked like the cat that got the cream only she wanted to smack the bowl into his face.
Sophia regarded her, "I guess you all got that buck?" Carol nodded and Sophia did as well, "You all worked good together."
With that her daughter walked away and Carol started walking avoiding looking at Brian's amused eyes. He was having too much fun at her expense. Crossing her arms over her chest as the wind bit at her listening to thunder in the distance she ignored everyone in case someone tried to get her attention. SHe really just wanted to get a damn shower and not look like a serial killer or think about the man that was likely stripping as she walked to his house to take a shower….or about the way the soap would leave suds in path. No she didn't need to think of those things because she was a grown woman who needed to be more concerned about her group's safety and plans- about her daughter.
She still needed to make him set down at some point before they all fell asleep tonight so she could make sure he was healing up good. Fight as much as he wanted he was going to listen to her. Someone had to make him take care of himself because clearly his brothers didn't catch on as quick as they thought when he was hurt. Shaking her head she walked into the house and her eyes flashed out at the silence of it. A thud from upstairs let her know Daryl was there and she blew out a breath. Being alone now days didn't hold the same charm as it did before for her. Before she craved it because it meant she wasn't getting harmed or threatened but now it meant you had no one at your back. You were more than just alone if it came down to it and she preferred company to solace….well some. Brian was a little shit right now she'd like to avoid.