Disclaimer: I own nothing related to The Walking Dead.

Chapter 2

A/N: This chapter contains sexual content of a mature nature and references to abuse.

Carol sought out Karen first. She was an obvious choice being close to Daryl's age. She was also quite pretty with dark Hispanic looks. More importantly, Carol had found Karen to be a smart and compassionate woman. "I really appreciate it." Carol said as she leaned against the cell door.

Karen looked up at Carol and smiled. "It's not a problem, Carol."

"Daryl is a great guy. I know he isn't always the most social…" Carol started.

Karen snorted. "That saying a lot." She grinned. "I am just helping him with the fence not marrying him."

Carol nodded.

Karen wasn't exactly sure what was going on with Carol or the strange request. She was a smart woman. Something was definitely up. It almost seemed as if Carol was hinting that she should go down to the fence and flirt with Daryl? Why was what Karen could not fathom? It was obvious that something was going on between those two though what was always a quiet and careful speculation. However, Carol's request afforded Karen an opportunity. An opportunity to find out from Rick's right hand man just a little more about the sensitive sheriff. It wouldn't hurt to placate Carol while at the same time finding out about Rick, would it? Karen put her hands behind her neck as she gathered her long dark hair into a knot. She smiled at Carol. "See you later. Good luck with Judith." Karen said as she slipped past Carol and headed outside.

Carol bit down on her lower lip and tried to ignore the unease in her stomach. This was the right thing to do. It was right for Daryl. Even though it would hurt. An image of the two of them together flashed through her head. It would hurt like hell.

Daryl had never been so relieved as when Tyresse and Sasha came back from their run and relieved him. For some reason, Carol never showed up that morning instead sending Karen with some lame excuse about Judith's teething and Beth not being up to taking care of the child. He had been disappointed and now he was kind of pissed at her. He had spent the entire day being questioned about Rick. Rick this and Rick that so much so that Daryl was ready put an arrow through his own head by the end of the day. Even his monosyllable answers did not deter her questions. Fuck. He was going to strangle Carol when he got back inside. He trudged across the grass onto the concrete feeling his anger building when he caught sight of Beth with a cooing Judith. She looked like she was handling things just fine.

Beth waved at Daryl, ignoring the cross look on his face. She had come to respect and care deeply for the men that protected their group. She felt like Tyresse, Daryl, Glenn, and Rick were all the older brothers that she never got to have. They were all family now. "Hey, Daryl."

Daryl nodded. "Ya seen Carol?"

Beth smiled. "She is working with the kids. Self defense class."

Daryl rubbed his fingers softly across Judith's head. "She been okay, today?"

Beth looked up at him as bounced Judith a little. "Judith or Carol?"

Daryl shrugged his shoulders. "Guess both."

Beth smiled at him. "Both of your girls have seemed fine to me."

Daryl's eyes narrowed as he absorbed Beth's response. Both his girls, what the fuck? Did little Greene know how he felt about Carol?

Beth adjusted Judith. "Maybe not Carol so much. She seemed a little out of it this morning. Sad."

Daryl frowned.

Beth rubbed Judith's back. "Are you going to check on her?"

Daryl nodded. "Ya."

"Good." Beth loved Carol. She had become a confidante to Beth just as close as Maggie.

Daryl proceeded into the prison. He passed through the common room where Michonne and Maggie were going through logistics for the next run. Passed by a gaggle of squealing little ones. Daryl caught Jacob softly by the arm. "Ya being careful?"

The four year old looked up at him with wide brown eyes barely visible under a mop head of sandy curls. He nodded, vigorously, which made Daryl smile as he let go. Jacob was one of ten children that had become part of their group when the Woodbury residents arrived. His grandfather was his sole family that meant the others, including Daryl and Carol kept a tight eye on the young boy. Daryl continued down the hall past cellblock C to the library where Carol was teaching the children. The group had decided that even the youngest needed to be able to defend themselves whether that meant knowing the escape route or for those slightly older how to handle a weapon. Teaching had fallen to Carol who had more patience for and with the children. Daryl watched her as she instructed a group of girls on knives. He leaned against the door jam, arms folded across his chest.

"Does everyone understand?" Carol asked as she put away the knives for the day.

"We defend only when threatened." Jessie piped up.

Carol nodded.

"Always know our way out." Annie said.

"Pay attention." Lily replied.

"Always pay attention." Carol reiterated. She smiled and hugged the girls in turn. Lily hung back.

Carol smiled, questioningly at the girl.

"Thank you, Miss Carol."

Carol swallowed hard. Lily was fourteen about Sophia's age. She was blond like Sophia even had a similar splattering of freckles across her nose. Something people often missed to distracted by the burns that covered the entire left side of her face. Her classes came to late for Lily. Carol knew the girl had been abused before Woodbury. She was a survivor though. It was in her stance and her wide set green eyes. She reminded Carol of Sophia and other things. Things left best unremembered. "Thank you, Lily." She hugged the little girl.

Lily walked out of the room acknowledging Daryl with a silent nod, which Daryl returned.

"Hey." Carol smiled over at him as she put the box on the top shelf.

"Hey yourself." Daryl replied, pushing off the doorframe with his shoulder. "Ya could've told me if this was why ya were blowing me off today."

"Blowing you off?" Carol raised her eyebrow.

"Ya not helping with the fence." Daryl replied.

"I sent Karen." Carol said, like it solved everything.

"Didn't ask for Karen's help." Daryl grumbled.

Carol looked at him and smiled. His hair was an overgrown shaggy messing falling into his eyes. It seemed to be darker now with each passing year. Yes, they had now spent over three years together. She reached forward her fingers landing softly on his upper arm. She squeezed. "I thought you would appreciate the help of a pretty girl, Daryl Dixon."

Daryl frowned as she let go of his arm. What the hell did that mean, anyway? As much as they had shared over the last couple of years, conversations with Carol still left him perplexed. He chewed at his lower lip.

"Karen's really nice, don't you think?" Carol asked.

Daryl's frowned deepened. "She's fine, I guess. Maybe you should talk to Rick though."

Carol looked over at him, confusion in her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"Karen spent all afternoon yacking about Rick. Worse than Glenn with his Maggie shit." Daryl rolled his eyes. "Might wanna tell Rick that Karen's so nice cause I think she's got a thing for 'im."

Carol eye's widened. "Really?"

"Shit if I know." Daryl snorted. "But she wouldn't shut up about 'im."

"Wow." Carol shook her head. "Karen and Rick?"

Daryl shrugged his shoulders. "Ya heading to the dinner."

Carol nodded. She walked over and flipped the light off as she closed the door behind them. They walked down the hall together both quiet.

Daryl cleared his throat as they approached the cafeteria. He grabbed her arm, stopping her. "I need to go out tomorrow for Rick. Small run just down the road. Just need to take one more person. How about ya come with me? Ya haven't been out in awhile."

Carol smiled at him unable to resist the hesitant look in his eye. She missed the outside. She could go and maybe get him to open up more. Maybe find out what he wanted in a woman. It might help. "Okay." Carol nodded. She tried to ignore the warmth and happiness that invaded when he shot her that crooked smile.

Daryl grinned, releasing her arm as the entered the cafeteria.

After dinner, Carol fed Judith and tucked her into her new crib. Rick did it most nights now unless like tonight he had watch. Carol kissed her head softly. She walked out of the cell and ran into to Hope.

"Tucking in Judith." Hope said with a smile.

Carol smiled. "She is such a gift."

Hope nodded. "Goodnight."

Carol caught Hope's arm. Maybe she would be a good fit for Daryl.

Hope looked at Carol, questioningly.

"Could I talk with you for a minute?" Carol asked.

"Sure." Hope followed Carol back down the stairs to the now quite common room.

"Are you busy tomorrow?" Carol asked.

Hope grinned at her. "Like getting my hair done or something?" Her blue eyes focused on Carol's with humor.

"Daryl needs someone to go on a run with him." Carol said. "I was going, but Judith might need me."

Hope Adams was not a dumb woman. Something was up here. She wrinkled her nose. "Sorry Carol, but this is one favor I do have to refuse."

"Why?"

"Daryl."

"Daryl what?"

"He is a pain in the ass." Hope groaned.

"You don't know him."

"Spill." Hope leaned across the steel table and grabbed Carol's wrist. "What is going on, Carol?"

Carol pulled her arm back and laughed. "Were you an attorney in a prior life? Nothing is going on. I just thought you and Daryl might get along. On a run."

Hope squinted her eyes, dragging her arms back across the table. "Well that is bullshit."

Carol rolled her eyes. "What do you think is going on?"

"Not sure." Hope said, standing up. "But Daryl Dixon is your problem sweetie."

Carol pursed her lips as she watched Hope walk out. Shit, she was running out of options.

Daryl walked reluctantly down to the showers. He hated the prison showers. Cold water. No privacy. It sucked. He always chose this time late at night just before bed because no one else seemed that fond of it. He placed a candle on the ledge just in front of the shower. He toed his boots off as he reached behind his head to fist his shirt and bring it back over his head. His hands pushed down his ratty brown pants and boxers into the growing heap on the floor. He walked to the farthest corner and turned the water on. He jumped a little as the cool stream cascaded over his shoulders and back still not used to cool showers. He leaned both his arms out in front of him stretching his arching muscles. The water glided over his shoulders making hundreds of rivulets down the line of his back, along the taunt planes of his abdomen pooling on the floor of the shower. He sighed, dropping his head. He thought about her smile this afternoon. The way her blue eyes crinkled at the corners.

Daryl dropped his right hand, fisting his cock. He began to slow move up and down the length of his shaft. His eyes shut tight as he thought about the small spattering of freckles on her shoulders that her tank top exposed. He loved that sun-kissed skin. He let a groan slip loose, rubbing his thumb over the head of his swollen cock before fisting the shaft again now water and precum making the glide easier. He thought about her neck. The smooth expanse of perfect skin that was exposed when she tilted her head back in the sun, his hand moved faster. His balls drew up snuggly to his body despite the cold water. His dick pulsed and jerked in his hand. He pictured her under him, those blue eyes wide for him, that neck arched back and flooded with color for him. Her legs wrapped around him. His dick sliding into her, she was tiny and small he would need to be careful. He imagined the initial resistance and friction of her body as he entered her. He could almost feel the warm and tightness. Daryl began to pant, his hand moving rapidly. He pressed his face against his left arm. His cock pulsed as streams of whitish liquid shot out from the now magenta colored head. He buried the cries of her name against his own skin.

A/N: Thank you again for reading! I am hoping to update fifty shades next with a very funny and smut chapter! Also, I watched the Season 4 Trailer that looks awesome! I barely noticed the scene with Daryl ad Beth. It did not look romantic at all to me.