cassette tapes |d. dixon| [1]

43

"I spent the next few hours, thinking. Waiting. Wondering what I was going to say to Daryl. His brother had a hold of him, an influence. But I needed to show him I wasn't using him. That I really do care for him."

THE DOOR TO THE CELL BLOCK OPENED AND CAROLINE LOOKED OVER TO SEE DARYL STOMPING IN,

She stood from her seat at the table, "Daryl-"

He ignored her and went upstairs into their cell. Maggie stepped in and encouraged Caroline to follow him, "Go on."

With a sigh, Caroline climbed the steps. She leaned against the doorway, watching him clean up his crossbow,

"Daryl, can we talk?" Caroline asked,

"Nothin' to talk about." He grumbled,

She stepped further into the room, "Yes, there is." She grabbed Daryl's arm, "Can you look at me?"

"Don't!" He pulled his arm away and Caroline stepped back, "Don't wanna talk."

"We shouldn't put this conversation off. What Merle said-"

"Is it true?" Daryl asked,

"Is what true?"

"You want nothin' to do with me." Daryl tensed, getting into her face, "I'm just some dumb redneck you can manipulate to keep you safe! You're usin' me!" Daryl his voice raised.

It took a lot of restraint for her not to flinch as tears filled her eyes. Daryl took a step back, seeing the fear in her,

Tears fell down her cheeks and shook her head, "I'm so sorry." She wiped at her wet cheeks and began to approach him slowly, "I'm so sorry that you grew up with someone who would make you feel like that. That would make you think that you're unlovable." Caroline reached for his hand and he pulled away, "Daryl... you're so much more than just a crossbow. You have feelings even if you act like you don't." She reached for his hand once again and he let her.

"You came to me first when we were back on the farm." She traced the scars and tattoos Daryl had on his arm, "And I think that's because you understood what I was going through. Because we have the same scars."

Caroline began unbuttoning her shirt, "If I show you mine will you show me yours?"

He watched her as she slowly took off her shirt and turned around, giving him the view of her scars.

"I knew this was the only thing I can do to get him to trust me again. To forget Merle's words. I need to expose myself to him for him to do the same."

Daryl had seen her shirtless before, back when he was helping her stitch up her wounds, but he was distracted then. He never noticed the scars her father left on her back. From before they were at the farm.

He brushed her hair over her shoulder to see her upper back. He ran his rough fingers over them softly and she shivered.

Daryl wrapped his arms around her and breathed into her hair, "I'm sorry."

Caroline turned around and reached for the buttons on his sleeveless shirt, "Can I?'

He didn't stop her as she continued.

"I had never seen him shirtless. Despite how long they'd been in a group together, he'd never seemed to have his back to me. He never changed clothes around anyone. Even when he was injured back on the farm he hid his back from her. And she understood why."

Once the shirt was fully unbuttoned, she ran her fingers down his chest, tracing his other tattoos. She held eye contact as she slid his shirt from his torso.

"I'm not using you." She whispered,

She bit her lip as her eyes met with his back. Scars crossed over each other and scattered along his skin. Caroline ran her fingertips over them softly and he tensed.

Caroline went onto her toes and kissed the large scars between his shoulder blades. She laid her forehead against his back and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Daryl's hand reached up and laid on her own. He squeezed it for a moment before turning around in Caroline's arms,

"I'm sorry." He whispered,

"Don't be."

Daryl leaned down to catch his lips with hers. He brushed her hair behind her ears and cupped her face in his hands.

He backed her up until the back of her legs reached the bed. Careful not to hit the back of her head against the top bunk, Daryl lowered her down to the mattress. Caroline wrapped her legs around his hips and brought him down with her,

Daryl brought his lips down to her shoulder, where her bullet wound scar was after that night at the farm.

He continued down her body, paying special attention to all the scars that marked her skin.

After pulling off her jeans, Caroline grabbed Daryl's hands and flipped them over. She ran her tongue and fingers over every scar she could see, faded or raised.

She sat up to push the hair back from her face and smacked the back of her head off the bunk above her.

Caroline let out a groan and laid her head down on Daryl's chest. He raised his hand to the back of her head, rubbing it to help relieve the pain.

His chest began to shake and Caroline looked up to see a smirk on his face, "Are you laughing?" Her eyes narrowed,

"It's funny." He smiled,

She smacked his chest, "It's not!"

Someone cleared their throat and Daryl reached up, wrapping a blanket around Caroline's back. She sat back against the wall and turned to see Rick standing in the doorway,

"Sorry, I, uh, need to speak to Daryl."

Daryl nodded, "In a minute."

Rick left with a smirk on his face. Daryl slid to the end of the bed and reach down to the floor to grab his shirt.

"Do you think it's about the Governor?" Caroline asked, sitting down next to him,

Daryl let out a grunt as he buttoned his shirt, "Or fortifying the prison." He turned towards her, kissing her softly before standing,

"I'll be back."