You are my lifeline

Chapter 1

It was a quiet Saturday night in the Peletier household. Ed went to the bar with his friends, and won't be back until later.

So Carol drew herself a bubble bath, opened a bottle of wine and then plopped herself on her big suede couch. She sighed in contentment at having a relaxing moment.

Ed's been on her back about making sure the house is clean, making sure his dinners on the table, and making sure his clothes are always washed. So she was exhausted.

She picked up her cell phone on the round coffee table and dialed her best friend.

Daryl picked up on the second ring, "Hello?" His rough, husky voice filled the line.

"Hey there." She smiled into the phone. "Whatcha up to?" She asked sinking further into the couch.

There was some ruffling on his end of the phone, "Uh, I actually have company. Hold on. I gotta find underwear." More ruffling coming in through the line.

"You have company. You're butt naked and you decided to answer my phone call because?" She asked silently chuckling.

"Because you're the number on girl in my life. And if no one don't get that, then I don't want them in my life." Daryl said in a confident voice that made her smile ear to ear.

"So how are things over you're way? How's Ed?" Daryl spat his name, like it was venom in his mouth.

Carol pondered his questions for a minute, "Things are, uh, okay. Ed's been on my back about making sure the house is clean, and having his dinner on the table when he gets home."

Daryl snorted, "What an asshole. Where's he at now?"

Carol glanced at the clock on top of the tv. It was close to ten o'clock, "He's at the bar with his friends. Shouldn't be home for awhile. How are you?" Carol asked wanting the topic off of her life.

There was a creak of a door opening and shutting on Daryls end, "I'm good. Been working crazy hours. Been making sure Merle stays out of trouble. I've been trying ta stop over and see ya, but I know how much Ed hates me and when I finally do get a chance he's home."

Carol sighs and throws her arm over her eyes, "He doesn't hate you Daryl. You're welcome here anytime." She says reassuringly.

Daryl scoffs, "Yes he does. And not when he's around I'm not." He argues.

Carol closes her eyes and thinks about what she says next, "I want to start a family Daryl."

The line stays quiet for a few minutes, "And ya should. You'd be a great mom. Have ya talked to him about it?"

Carol sits up and pours herself another glass of wine, "Everytime I try to, he blows me off! It's frustrating." She exclaims getting up pacing.

She hears a car door slam and walks over the the window behind the couch. Ed is storming up the side walk looking pissed off.

"Daryl, Eds home. He looks pissed off. I'm kinda scared. I have to go." She says almost hanging up.

"Don't hang up. Keep me on the line. Put the phone in your pocket." She does what Daryl says and slips her phone in her pocket.

The front door swings open and Ed comes storming in. "Hi honey, how was the bar?" Carol asks with a bright smile.

"Shut up. Where the fuck is he?" Ed asks.

Carol furrows her brows together, confused, "Where's who?"

Ed backhands Carol and it sends her stumbling backwards, "Daryl! I know he's here! I know you're sleeping with him! Where the fuck is he?" He's yelling now.

"What are you talking about? I'm only sleeping with you! He's not here!" Carol yells back, trying to get him to hear her out.

"Bullshit. You stupid whore." He backhands Carol again and heads for the stairs. "I know he's here. When I find him, I'll kill him." He's taking two stairs at a time.

Carol nurses the right side of her face. Her eye is already swollen shut. She follows Ed up the stairs, "He's not here! Why don't you believe me!"

Ed turns around and gets in carols face. "Tobin fucking told me he saw you making eyes at Daryl at the coffee show the other day. I knew you were fucking him all along. You stupid whore."

Carol keeps backing up but Ed keeps getting in her face, "I'm not fucking him! He's my best friend!" Tears are streaming down carols face.

Eds eyes gleam with anger, he pushes Carol and she hits into the railing on the stairs. "You're a lying bitch." He advanced on her again and grabs her by her throat.

Carol grips his hand with her hands, but it doesn't do any good. She can feel her windpipe being crushed by his strong grip. Ed spits in her face and throws her down the stairs.

Carol cracks her head off the last two bottom steps. Carol crumbles to the ground and her vision is blurred.  She can feel the blood gushing out of her head and staining the hardware floor. The last thing she sees before she is overcome by darkness is Ed racing down the steps, towards her with a fire in his eyes.