A Better Man

When he got back to the cabin, night had fallen, and the moon was peeking eerily out from behind the clouds. He quickly dismounted the bike and grabbed up his supplies, sprinting up the steps. He burst through the door, not sparing anyone a glance as he made his way to the room that Carol was in.

When he got there, Hershel was bent over Carol, listening to her lungs with his stethoscope.

Daryl removed his crossbow from around his shoulders, and placed his supplies by the bed. "How's she doin'? She wake up yet?"

Hershel regarded him with worried eyes, and shook his head. He folded his stethoscope and sighed. "Did you get everything she needed?"

Daryl nodded and reached into the bag, removing the medicines. "Got all we needed and then some."

Hershel took the pills and opened them, shaking one out into his hand. "We need to get these in her quickly." He walked back over to the bed and grabbed a bottle of water from the stand, and leaned down to her ear. "Carol? Sweetheart, if you can hear me, I need you to wake up and take this medicine." No response. Not even an eye twitch.

Daryl stood to the side and nibbled on his thumb. He looked over at the old man and shook his head. "Hershel...let me try it."

Hershel turned back around and looked at him with a smile. "By all means. Show me how it's done." He said, handing him the pills and water.

Daryl walked over and kneeled beside her on the bed. He slid one hand under her head, bringing her upright against his chest. He sat the bottle of water and pills down on the mattress, and raised his hand up to her fevered cheek. "Carol...sweetheart. I need for ya ta take these pills." He growled softly as he stroked her face. "It'll help make ya feel better. Besides, my ass almost got at...

... middle of paper ...

... to see something like that.

She could still hear Ed's voice echoing in her head...

"You fuckin' ugly bitch...you disgust me. Look at your body. No man should have to look at what I do!"

She looked down once again, picking at the threads of the comforter. "Who...um, who...who removed my clothes?"

Daryl removed his thumb from his mouth and rubbed at the tip of his ear. "Uh...I did. I promise I didn't see anythin' though. I probably should have got Beth or Maggie ta do it. Mmm' sorry." He said, not quite looking her in the eye.

Carol clenched her fist around the blanket, her knuckles turning white. Just as she had feared. "No! I'm sorry, Daryl. You shouldn't have had to have done that." She muttered as she looked down at her lap. "I'm sorry I put you in that position."

Daryl narrowed his eyes at her. "It ain't like ya could help it none. Ya were sick."