Work Text:
A Walking Dead Fan Fiction
Season 3
It was a cool Fall day at the prison. Carol finished up sweeping out their cell block and thinks of ways she could make the cold cement interior a little warmer. Days would be chilly soon, nights downright cold. They needed to figure out something. Maybe find some rugs to put down. Maybe some tapestries on the walls if they could find a way to hang them. These things were not a necessity but a little comfort couldn’t hurt. Maybe she could go on a run with some of the others and talk them into it. Then again, maybe it wouldn’t be worth the risk. Things down the line should be different, she thought. Once they really got settled it wouldn’t hurt to get some creature comforts.
Carol set aside the broom and went to check on baby Judith who was blissfully sleeping in her makeshift bed. Carol ran her hand over the baby’s soft head before going to get a bottle ready. Judith should be up at any moment. Beth came over carrying a stack of clean cloth diapers.
“I can take over. She will be up soon and I already got a bottle ready for her.”
“Ok, well, let me know if you want any help.” Carol told her, still smiling down at sleeping Judith. “Maybe I can go help Rick, Carl and Hershel with the garden.”
She was heading towards the door when Merle walked in. “Well hello pretty lady. Looks like your thinkin’ about going somewhere. How about you think about making me something to eat before you head out.”
Carol surprised, looked at him and sized him up. “How about you think about feeding yourself.” Carol shot back. She was about to walk away when he grabbed her wrist.
“Hey there little mouse, you best watch that pretty mouth of yours.” Merle chided.
Carol’s stomach flip flopped but she wasn’t about to let this asshole boss her around.
“Don’t touch me.” Carol threatened loudly.
Merle loosened his grip just as Judith woke from the sound with a cry.
Beth who had been watching from the perch turned and picked Judith up, shooshing her just as Hershel walked in, Michonne following.
“What’s going on?” he asked, reading the room. He noticed the tense expressions.
“Nothing, just grabbing some lunch.” Merle told him before releasing Carol’s wrist and walking away.
“That man is nothing but trouble.” Michonne said under her breath.
“Best to keep a close eye on him.” Hershel added.
Carol went to her cell to grab her knife. She decided she needed to keep it on her at all times from then on. She began to sharpen it just how Rick had shown her.
A few minutes later, Merle appeared in her doorway.
“Sorry about earlier. I thought you liked being bossed around, given your past.”
Carol didn’t respond. She just continued to sharpen her knife, making a point for the file to loudly scrap the edge of the metal blade.
When she didn’t say anything Merle continued. “So, I heard you’re single now.” He looked her up and down. “Want some company?”
Carol looked at him in disbelief. She hadn’t even accepted his apology and he was already hitting on her.
“Can you please leave.” She told him sternly.
“Ooh! Since when did you get so feisty little mouse?”
“Leave!” She said more loudly.
“Fine, fine. I’ll leave but I meant what I said, you get lonely, you can call ol’ Merle to help you out. Pretty thing like you doesn’t have to be lonesome if you don’t wanna be.”
Merle disappeared and Carol breathed a sigh of relief. She felt disgusted by his advances. She couldn’t believe the audacity of that man. He made her cringe. If it wasn’t for Daryl, Merle would have never been allowed to step foot in this place. Daryl, she thought. “Hmm” she smiled. She thought of him often. She was drawn to him and couldn’t help but light up when he was near and not just because he was the one to find her and save her after T-Dog died. Not just because he was the one who didn’t give up on finding Sophia. Yes, those things mattered but that wasn’t why she was feeling this way. Daryl was a good man. Now there was a Dixon she could get behind. Or under. She smiled to herself, her cheeks blushed at her own thoughts. She shook her head and laughed. She got up and joined Rick in the garden.
Later that night Carol and Maggie prepared dinner. She cooked a big stew with some possum that Daryl brought in. It wouldn’t be her first time eating possum, probably wouldn’t be her last but she wasn’t a fan. It tasted a little too gamey for her liking. The fatty meat would be great for Beth and Carl who were a little too thin lately. Michonne found a few cans of green beans to add to the soup and that would definitely help. She did what she could to flavor the soup and hide the gamey flavor of the meat. She added spices and rice and told herself to count her blessings. She had a roof over her head, good people around her and enough food to fill her belly. She wasn’t about to take the possum for granted, as awful as it was to eat. She had thanked Daryl for it when he brought it in, calling him her hero. It made him smile and then scoff. She liked it when he smiled.
Later that night, she went to bed. She listened to Maggie and Beth sing an old lament to Hershel who always requested a song or two before they went to sleep. Carl joined them on some parts. He had been learning the words from Beth who was taking time to teach him. Carol laid back, closed her eyes and listened to the sound, a slight smile warming her face. Rick made the rounds, checking on each of them before he rested. Like clockwork, he appeared in her doorway. He stuck his head into her cell.
“Everything good.” Rick asked. He cradled baby Judith in his arms.
She looked over at her friend who risked so much for them all. “Yep.” She smiled reassuringly. She sat up. “You ok?”
“Good enough I guess. Haven’t slept much this week. Judith wakes me up on and off all night.”
“Here, give her to me. I’ll watch her tonight.” Carol offered. “You need your rest.”
“Its ok, you already watch her enough as it is.”
“Please, I want to. I love this little angel.” She got up from her bunk and held out her arms.
Rick smiled and handed her over. The baby cooed.
“Thank you. Let me know if she becomes too much.”
“Oh no, not this little ass kicker. She could never be too much.” Carol said, kissing her cheeks.
“I’ll come check on you two later.”
“Go get some rest. We’ll be fine.” Carol told him as she walked back to her bunk with Judith in her arms. “Goodnight Rick.”
A while later, she had just gotten Judith settled in bed next to her after rocking her to sleep when there was a quiet tap on the bars. She was laying on her side and looked over her shoulder to see Daryl.
“Hey, I heard Merle was kind of a jerk to you today. You ok?”
“Yeah, I’m ok. Just annoyed more than anything.”
“I’m sorry. He ain’t good around people sometimes.”
Carol rolled over and looked at him. “You don’t have to make excuses for him Daryl. He’s a big boy. He knows right from wrong. He just needs to act respectably.”
“Yeah, I know. But dealing with people, it’s not really a Dixon trait. We never been good at it. But I’m trying and so is he. He’s going to try even harder from now on. Just don’t give up on him ok. For me. He’s my brother. He can be a good guy when he wants to be.”
Carol paused, taking in his words before she continued. “When he wants to be.” Carol echoed. “But I’m not sure he wants to be. He’s a bully Daryl. He likes pushing his way around. But hey, for you I will try ok.”
Daryl shook his head. “Just know, I’m working on him.”
Carol nodded. “And Daryl, it’s not a Dixon trait. You’re great with people when you give yourself a chance. Don’t doubt yourself ok? You’re a good man and we’re lucky to have you.”
Daryl smiled a small smile before walking away.
Later that night, Carol was fast asleep cradling Judith who was nestled between her and the wall of her cell when she woke to feel someone sit down on her bedside. She thought maybe it was Rick checking on Judith when she felt a hand run up her thigh on top of the covers. She sat up quickly to see Merle sitting there.
“Hey pretty lady. You up for company now? I figured we could continue where we left off.”
Carol pushed his hand off her. “Get out.” She whispered, trying not to wake Judith.
“Come on now, don’t be shy. Give Merle a little sugar.”
Before Carol knew it, he leaned in to kiss her. His lips collided with hers and Carol didn’t think, she just reacted. She reached out her hand and slapped him hard across the face.
Merle laughed. “Well, I guess you aren’t the scared little mouse you use to be are ya now? You should give me a try though. Get rid of some of that tension. I promise we will have some fun rattling these bars.”
“Get out.” She said a little louder.
“Aw come on now. Don’t get your panties in a twist. Just wanted to have a little fun is all. You’re looking mighty fine. How could I resist?” He said, running his hand up her thigh again.
Carol threw his hand off her again and socked him in the eye. “Get out of here Merle!” She shouted. Judith started crying at the sound. Carol kicked him off the edge of the bed where he sat and he fell to the ground and laughed.
He started to get up. “Ok, ok, I’m leaving. Oh shit, didn’t realize the baby was in here. My apologies.”
With the sound of Carol’s shouting, many of the group members ran to her aide. Carol picked up Judith soothing her as Rick and Daryl came rushing in. Merle was picking himself up off the floor.
“Hey, the gangs all here. I was just checking on everyone, you know, making the rounds.” Merle lied.
“That true Carol?” Rick asked her.
Carol saw the faces of her loved ones looking at her. “No. Merle came in here with other intentions. His advances were not invited.”
“Now now, don’t exaggerate little mouse. That’s not exactly what happened.”
Daryl’s face twisted in anger and Carol saw his eyes go red. Before any of them could stop him, he rushed Merle and pinned him against the back wall of her cell. He had him by his shirt and shoved him hard before he began punching him.
Judith began to cry again and Carol got up and stepped out of the cell, leaving the two brothers to fight it out. Rick took Judith from her to make sure she was all right and she met Beth who came up to check on the commotion.
Rick handed Judith back to deal with the two men fighting. Carol took Judith to change her and Maggie and Beth both followed. Maggie began preparing a bottle while Carol changed the baby. Beth soothed the baby’s cries.
Carol listened as the two men fought.
“Don’t you ever touch her again. If I find out you even laid a hand on her, I’ll cut the other one off, you hear me?” Daryl growled at him as he threw another punch.
“Hey, sorry baby brother. I didn’t know you already staked your claim on her. I’ll leave her be. You gonna finally man up and get yourself a girlfriend, by all means go ahead. Don’t let me stop you.” Merle laughed as Daryl punched him.
“You shut your mouth.” He screamed at him between punches.
Merle started to punch back.
“Oh, you do like her. Ha ha, let me tell you what I think. I think she’s too much woman for you. I don’t know maybe not, let me try her out and I’ll let you know.” Merle joked, purposely taunting his brother.
Carol overhearing this cringed.
Daryl rushed at his brother even harder this time, fists swinging. Merle laughed before letting out a sharp cry and Daryl’s fists made contact. Their conversation was over. All that could be heard was fists hitting flesh.
“You ok?” Maggie asked?
“Yeah, I’m fine. Merle’s just an asshole.”
“I am not sure we should let him stay here.” Maggie stated.
“I agree but he means a lot to Daryl. Maybe we should let them figure it out.” Carol added.
“True.” Maggie said. “Looks like their figuring it out right now.”
They could hear Daryl cursing at Merle and the sounds of fists colliding. Daryl hadn’t slowed down one bit.
Carol finished changing Judith and swaddled her. Beth took her and gave her a bottle and added. “I for one think he’s mean and scary. I’m not exactly comfortable around him.”
Carol saw Rick leading a banged up Merle to an empty cell and locking him in.
“Well, at least he will be locked up for a while until they figure out what to do with him.” Maggie added.
“Good, I can sleep peacefully tonight.” Beth said with relief.
“Me too.” Carol added.
Once Judith was done with her bottle, Carol said good night and took her from Beth. She walked back to bed with her, burping her as she went. Rick stopped her on the way to check on her, asking her if he wanted him to take Judith off her hands. Carol insisted on keeping her for the rest of the night. Looking after Judith was a welcome comfort. When she got back to her cell, Daryl was there straightening things up.
He turned to her and stood awkwardly. “Sorry, didn’t mean to mess things up in here. And sorry for Merle. I don’t know what got into him. You think he would learn his lesson by now.”
“Hey, it’s not your fault.” She comforted him.
“I’m still sorry.” He apologized.
Daryl was tense. Carol could tell he was searching for more to say.
She sat down on her bed with Judith in her arms and continued to pat her back until she let out a loud burp.
Daryl gave a little laugh. “That’s my little ass kicker.”
Carol laughed.
“Can I hold her?” Daryl asked.
Carol stood up and handed Judith to him.
He took the baby in his strong arms and held her to him. He rocked her, speaking to her softly in hushed tones. Carol loved seeing him like this. Judith brought out the best in him. She realized she was swooning at the sight of him and smiled to herself. What if what Merle said to Daryl was true? What if he did like her? She would definitely be ok with that.
“Look at you gettin’ so big. You grow up real strong and Uncle D will teach you to survive like your bad ass Aunt Carol here. I’ll teach you to fish and hunt too. You are gonna rule this world one day, be better than all of us, isn’t that right sweet heart? Yeah.”
Baby Judith gurgled and cooed.
Daryl laughed softly, a sound Carol realized she had never heard from him before. A warm feeling grew in her chest and went all the way down to her fingers and toes. Her head tilted and her blue eyes softened as a smile spread across her face. She had never seen anything more precious then this tough guy being gentle with a baby.
Daryl handed Judith back to her and she began to rock her, watching the baby’s eyes grow heavy.
Daryl looked on with a relaxed expression, a smile playing across his face.
Carol looked at his hands, his knuckles were bleeding.
“Hey, you should clean up those hands, bandage them up. I can help you if you want.” She offered.
Daryl looked at his hands then looked at her shyly. “Naw, its nothing. I can take care of it.”
“Ok, just make sure you put some medicine on them. I wouldn’t want you to get an infection. We can’t have anything happen to you.”
He nodded and gave a small smile.
Just before leaving he whispered to her. “You two ladies have a good night. And hey, Merle won’t be bothering you again. I’ll make sure of it.”
Carol nodded at him and he left her cell.
“Hey Daryl” she called out softly. He turned back to her. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
He gave a slight nod and stepped back out into the darkness. As she watched him go, she realized she wished he would have stayed.
~The End ~