The Meaning of Love

Part 11

Daryl waits five minutes after the last Walker passes to move. Daryl shoves the body off him and moves to check on T-Dog.

"We need to get you back to the RV and Dale," Daryl says. Daryl gets ready to help T-Dog get up when he hears a scream that shatters his heart.

"Go," T-Dog says, shoving Daryl towards the sound.

"I can't leave you unprotected," Daryl says, staring off to where the scream came from.

"I'll be right behind you. Go," T-Dog says, shoving Daryl a lot harder. Daryl ran as fast as he could to where he saw Carol and Sophia last. He gets there just in time to see Rick run into the woods as Carol fights back a cry. Daryl feels his breakfast threaten to reappear, but Carol suddenly buries her face in his shirt. Daryl quickly hands his crossbow to Glenn, who looks scared of it and wraps his arms around Carol.

"Rick will protect her," Daryl says, trying to convince Carol and himself. Daryl can feel Carol's tears soaking his shirt. "Let's go sit down and wait." Carol just nods into Daryl's shirt. Daryl pulls Carol to the back of his truck and puts the tailgate down.

"Is it safe to sit on?" Carol asks, pulling slightly away from Daryl.

"If you sit more into the bed," Daryl says, jumping into the back of the truck. "Give me your hand."

"I can jump up there myself."

"Not with that tailgate." Daryl grabs Carol's extended hands and lifts her.

"You need more meat on your bones," Daryl says, sitting down against the back of the truck cab.

"Sir?" Glenn stammers out, walking up to the back of the truck. "Where do you want me to put this?"

"You can just lay it in the truck cab," Daryl says kindly.

"I've never heard you speak so kindly before," Carol says, sitting down next to Daryl and resting her head on his shoulder.

"I feel sorry for Glenn. Everyone always looks down on him because he can't do much," Daryl says, picking at a hole in his jeans.

"You do it all the time. Calling him 'china man,'" Carol says, watching him pick at his jeans.

"Yes, and I feel bad about doing it. I know what it feels like to try so hard to be useful. At least he only gets picked on," Daryl says before he realizes what he said.

"What?" Carol asks, sitting up and looking shocked.

"Nothing," Daryl says, looking away from Carol. Daryl hates how much he has already told Carol, and he doesn't want to tell her about being useless around his house,

"Daryl?" Carol asks, pulling Daryl out of the memory of his worst scar.

"What?" Daryl asks, looking at Carol and, without realizing it, touching his right side where the scar is.

"What do you mean by what you just said?" Carol asks, watching Daryl's hand grab his side.

"Nothing," Daryl says, quickly dropping his hand from his side.

"Daryl, tell me. You know you can trust me."

"You don't want to know."

"Yes, I do." Daryl jumps when Carol touches his cheek and brushes his crazy bangs out of his face.

"I can't. Not right now," Daryl says, looking away when he feels tears come to his eyes.

"Ok," Carol says, lying down with her head in his lap. "You can tell me when you are ready. I'm not going anywhere; I can wait." Daryl feels uncomfortable with Carol lying on his lap, but he doesn't say anything. Daryl starts to doze off but is woken by a shuffle at the edge of the woods.

"Woman, get up," Daryl says.

"What's going on?" Carol says, sitting up and looking around. Daryl sees Carol stiffen when she sees Rick walking towards the cars.

"No," Carol sobs, turning and burying her head in Daryl's chest. Daryl watches Rick walk to the RV and talk to Dale, then Rick turns and heads towards Daryl's truck.

"Carol," Daryl says softly, which makes Carol look up. "Rick's coming."

"I don't want to talk to him," Carol says.

"Ok. Wait here. I'll talk to him," Daryl says, getting up and jumping out of the truck. Daryl meets Rick halfway.

"I need to talk to Carol," Rick said, continuing to walk until Daryl grabs his arm and stops him.

"Carol already knows what you have to say. She doesn't want to talk to you. If you have anything to say, you can say it to me," Daryl says, sitting on the hood of a car nearby.

"I found Sophia," Rick says, which makes Daryl look up. "I made her hide, led the Walkers away, but when I went back for her, she was gone. She must have tried to find her way back here. I was hoping she would be here when I got back."

"She's not," Daryl says softly, looking back to where his truck is parked.

"Dale told me. We're going to have a group meeting in about a half-hour. I want to start searching as soon as possible," Rick says.

"Of course. Let me talk with Carol," Daryl says.

"We'll be waiting in half an hour," Rick says as he walks back to the rest of the group.

"Carol," Daryl says softly when he gets back to his truck and finds Carol sitting curled up.

"I don't want to hear it, Daryl," Carol chocks, sobbing.

"Carol, listen to me. I need to tell you something extremely important."

"I don't want to hear it!" Carol yells, making Daryl flinch away.

"Damn it, woman. Shut up and listen to me," Daryl snaps, punching the side of his truck.

"Daryl?"

"She is alive. Rick led the Walkers away as she hid. She's out there, trying to find her way back here," Daryl says, sinking to his knees and out of Carol's sight. Daryl doesn't see Carol move, but suddenly she is kneeling behind him and wrapping her arms around him.

"Thank you, Daryl," Carol whispers into Daryl's ear.

"I haven't done anything. I don't deserve your thanks," Daryl says, turning and facing Carol.

"You have done a lot for me, Daryl. You have done more than I could ever ask for," Carol whispers. Daryl flinches slightly when Carol leans in and kisses Daryl on the forehead.

"A group meeting is being held in a little bit," Daryl says quickly, standing and turning around to hide his blush.

"Let's go then," Carol says, grabbing Daryl's arm and pulling him towards the RV.

"Let me grab my crossbow first, woman," Daryl says, pulling out of Carol's hand.

"Hurry up, Daryl. The sooner we have this meeting, the sooner we can find Sophia."

"I'm coming."