So this really escalated. This wasn't planned...much like everything I write, lol. Anyways...that should take care of some things. Enjoy.
Over the next few days tensions ran high. The group made the move to Woodbury and got their living situations settled. She wasn't surprised to see that most wanted to stay together or atleast close. They'd lived so close together sleeping almost in dog piles over the winter that being away from each other was nerve wracking.
Nerve wracking even more when it was brought up her and Andrea moving back in with them. Andrea was an immediate shake of the head. It made Carol snort because she already knew that was something going on with her. What she wasn't sure but she knew that Andrea's interest were piqued.
The group understood though when she said she wouldn't be moving in with them. Her place was with her daughter. Sophia wasn't going to be separated from Daryl and that just gave her sneaking ass kid the chance to push them together more and more. She was wise to what she was doing now and while she wanted to laugh she couldn't help but to shake her head. It made her feel like she was in highschool.
Rick seemed annoyed at the admission that her and Andrea wouldn't be joining them. Andrea was quick to shut him down and tell him that they all needed to acclimate to the people around them. That there was more than just surviving here.
And God love him Daryl seriously tried. He really did and she wanted to hug him and thank him but it was no use. Every time he tried it seemed something got thrown up in his face. He was having issues with Carl not listening and caught him in things he wasn't supposed to. Had it been Brian, Sophia, or any other kid that was from Woodbury they would have gotten a serious dressing down. If not a slap to the back of the head but Carl ran straight to Rick. She wanted to slap Carl for that because she knew Rick was looking for a reason to let his frustration out and he'd picked Daryl for it.
Carol scowled watching the way Rick snapped at Daryl. He was biting his tongue when his eyes met her and she knew it was for her. He gave her a look that told her to get him or he was going to tear his fucking head off. His jaw was clenching and unclenching almost painfully and his glare was hard and edging towards dangerous.
"You don't speak to my son like that." Rick snapped, "I discipline him. You might be playing some game with Sophia but you won't with my family."
Carol felt like she'd been slapped and stormed forward. Daryl moved though and her chest heaved seeing Rick get slammed into the brick wall behind him. Daryl was in his face, his entire body lit up in fury.
"If you keep your goddamn kid out of shit he wasn't supposed to be we wouldn't having this fucking talk." Daryl barked his voice thundering and carrying. "As for Sophia, who the fuck do you think you are? Aren't you the piece of shit that left her to die?" His voice was animalistic and low snarling and rasping.
Carol moved quick sliding between them. Her entire body pressed against the full length of Daryl's and she caught his wrist prying it off Rick's shirt. She kept her hands tight around his wrist and took a step back forcing him to walk with her. He was breathing harshly and it was stirring the hair along her neck and causing her to break out in goose flesh. Carol felt eyes on them but didn't look over. She didn't trust letting go of Daryl yet not sure he wouldn't actually hit Rick, hell she wanted to hit him.
"Rick," Carol snapped, "You are in the wrong." Her voice was fueled with anger and she felt her nails bite into Daryl's wrist. "You have no right to say the things you did and Carl was in the wrong as well. You both need to learn you place here..."
With that she spun and letting go of Daryl and her hands hit on his chest forcing him to move with her. Brian was there. His eyes hard and pensive as he gazed at Rick. She didn't like that look because she knew the Dixon's they were protective. If it was an omen of things to come she had a feeling that Rick was in for a new life lesson.
Brian smiled up at her and inclined his head at his uncle. Daryl didn't even so much as grunt as he stormed away.
"Better chase him down." Brian's voice was low, "As mad as he is, someone says something he's going to ape shit." Brian rubbed his chin and then his throat looking over at her, "You know you're the first person I've ever seen brave enough to touch him like that while he's that mad. Or in general when he's worked up, he usually gets worse."
Carol looked around and cleared her throat. She could hear Rick walking towards her. "Where is Sophia?"
Brian smiled at her all of the sudden complete charm, "She'll be here in a minute, I'm sure."
Carol felt weary and eyed him but his smile only grew. And he jerked his head to where Daryl disappeared before his eyes turned to Rick.
Carol looked forward and seen Sophia. She'd managed to slow Daryl down and was scowling just like him.
"Carol." Rick called.
Carol barely paused and tensed as he neared her.
He eyed her and then looked towards Sophia. She was making her way towards them suddenly and Daryl grabbed for her. She slapped his hand away and Carol sighed. She was so much like him.
"It's a struggle getting use to all these new people." Rick started. "And Daryl isn't exactly the most welcoming."
Carol snorted, "Rick you have in now way tried to be nice to him. The others I've seen you try with but him, fuck, you act like he's a pariah."
"MOM!" Sophia barked.
Carol looked up but her eyes were on Rick. Sophia stormed right up to him and glared, "WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HIM!"
"Sophia, honey, calm down." Carol tried. "They had a disagreement but it's over."
"OVER! Over...then tell me why he's going to get his shit!" Sophia sneered her eyes going to Rick.
Rick paled slightly, "Like your mother said me and him just had a disagreement."
Brian walked over and Carol felt all the color drain from her face. That charming smile she seen Mac use when he was getting ready to right down nasty was there. That was where she'd seen it before.
"Which part of the disagreement?" Brian questioned, "The one where you basically threatened him or the part where you called into question him and Sophia?"
Sophia's eyes swiveled to Brian and he met her eyes. Carol couldn't even begin to understand these two. They could speak without even moving a muscle and she resigned herself to the fallout.
Sophia spun back around and the look on her face was absolute murder. She moved like fire towards them and before either could react she slapped Rick. His eyes widened and stood there stock still.
"He saved me you dick!" Sophia hissed, "He's never turned his back on me, he carried me when I couldn't walk anymore, he gave me his food to make sure I wasn't hungry!" Her eyes brimmed with tears, "HE was there! You LEFT ME IN THE WOODS! You haven't even tried to apologize or even speak to before now and you think you have a right to question him? He's a good man..."
Carol stared wide eyed as well. Her own tears were starting to build and she felt pain at the amount of emotion pouring from her daughter.
"Sophia...I looked," Rick's voice was hoarse, "WE searched for you."
"I ran for days!" Sophia cried swiping at her face, "I barely got a glimpse of him before they were on me again and he was killing them! Who are you to think you could ever come here and tear my family apart, Rick Grimes." His name rolled off her tongue slathered in acid and bile.
Rick started to speak again and Carol threw her hand up. The condescension rolling off her daughter was smothering. Brian walked over and sneered at Rick the look almost feral.
"You get it in your head because this is your last warning," Brian spoke, "Sophia, Carol, and Andrea are apart of our family. We'd kill for them and you can damn well bet we'd never leave them behind." His voice was menacing, "Because you don't fucking leave family behind."
Brian turned then and Sophia did with him, crying as she clung to him. Their steps away were like a gunshot. Each one took a second for her to get her breath back.
"Carol, we searched! I searched...you know i did!" Rick pleaded.
Carol nodded, "I know Rick but she don't. And you coming here starting things with the people who she sees as her family, with the man she calls her father is just making it ugly. You need to stop. Worry about your son and keep him out of trouble."
Carol walked away. Her daughter and Brian were ahead and disappeared into Mac's place. Carol started towards them but Sophia appeared at the door and pointed towards their house.
"He's getting his pack ready mom." Sophia whimpered.
Carol nodded and turned. She wasn't sure how she was going to calm Daryl down but Brian had a point. Not even Mac or Merle pushed Daryl and his distaste for touch once he was so mad. Forcing her headache to the back of her mind she crossed her arms over her chest as she started up the front porch steps. Hopefully he'd see reason.