A/N: This is my first Walking Dead fic, so I hope I got the characters right. This is going to be mostly about the evolution of Carol and Daryl's relationship through the series so far. I've been shipping them for a while now, so Season 2 thus far has really been a treat. Please let me know what you think, good or bad, by taking some time to review. I'd really appreciate it.

This chapter takes place around the time of the first episode. Each chapter will be based on an episode.

Oh, and I own nothing.

Chapter One: Days Gone Bye

He'd known how it was with them from the moment the group had first come together on the highway.

The woman, who had introduced herself as Carol Peletier, had been friendly enough, but the look in her eyes was one that as all too familiar to Daryl. She was pretty, in a delicate sort of way, but she looked older than she was, and she seemed so tired. The arms that she had crossed protectively over her chest when Merle had stalked over to them had been covered in new and fading bruises. Merle had given her husband, Ed, a knowing look, and the bastard had just smirked about it, like he was some kind of man.

Ed Peletier abused his wife and child, and didn't give a shit who knew. Daryl saw it in more than just the bruises too: there was the woman's short haircut (long hair was easier to grab) and how skittish she got whenever someone got too close. The girl wasn't so bad off as her mother, but she clung to her parent like a little shadow. She had barely looked up at Daryl as Merle introduced them, her eyes going back to a point on the ground after just meeting his.

Daryl had been the same way when he was a boy, before his mother died. Once she was gone, there was no one to cling to. He had sought comfort with Merle once, the day they buried her, but the only thing he'd gotten was a smack to the side of his head. He'd never tried it again, even though now his brother was all he had left. There'd be no comfort in this new world either; he was supposed to help his brother survive, and to hush up while doing it.

After Atlanta was bombed, they all decided the best thing to do would be to wait things out by a quarry they had passed several miles back. It was a good vantage point, and there would be plenty of water and game to keep them going for some time. It was also close enough to the city that they'd be able to see if any rescue efforts came along, once the government got its shit together. Daryl's hopes weren't too high, but he knew the quarry was a good spot anyway.

Merle had given Daryl's arm a nasty twist when the younger man had suggested the move.

"You keep this up little brother, we'll have every pansy ass in the tri-state area seeking refuge. This ain't a time to be playing Mother Theresa! You keep your damn mouth shut from now on."

Daryl had just stalked off and gotten into their truck, never noticing that Mrs. Peletier was watching him with a knowing and sympathetic look in her eye.

. . .

Camp was mostly quiet. They'd had to deal with a few walkers, but nothing like most of them had dealt with so far. They had a boy—Glenn, don't let Merle know you know his name—making supply runs into the city, and sometimes the others would tag along, Merle included. Daryl was always grateful for the respite from his brother since it meant he could hunt in peace. Merle was methed out half the time anyway, and wasn't much use out in the woods.

Everyone was doing their part, in their own way. Except for Ed Peletier. As far as Daryl could tell, all he did was loaf around and make sure his wife's supply of fresh bruises never ran short. Daryl was thinking of taking the man hunting with him, but if he tried anything out there it would be too obvious. So, he stayed as close as he could, and tried to keep his watching the woman and child a secret from Merle. His brother would only laugh at him, or make things worse.

. . .

He had his first real conversation with the woman, Carol, a few nights later. Merle was passed out in their tent, having gotten high as a kite earlier in the day (and hadn't that been a scene), and Ed was sleeping, as usual.

Carol and the girl were walking by as Daryl and a few of the others were sitting around the fire. They had been swapping stories, and the talk had turned to the things they had used to think strange, before the dead had begun to walk.

Carl had told them all about the time he thought he had seen a ghost, while Dale had mentioned hearing strange whisperings in his home when he and his wife had been newlyweds just moving into their own place. Glenn thought he had seen a UFO once, while out on a pizza delivery, but it had only turned out to be one of the big spotlights at the convention center downtown.

Daryl thought he had a story that could beat that.

"I saw a chupacabra once."

Carol and Sophia had just been passing as he spoke, and the girl tugged on her mother's hand, clearly wanting to stay and hear the story. Carol took a quick look around and, seeing that her husband wasn't lurking anywhere, she and Sophia took a seat by Lori.

Daryl gave the pair a small nod and went on with his story.

"I was on a hunting trip a few years back, and I'd been tracking this buck so long that the sun had gone down and it was full on night by the time I'd made any real progress. I'd finally got it in my sight, when I heard this weird howl."

The group was giving him their undivided attention. Most of them had never heard him speak so much. Sophia was looking at him with wide, excited eyes. Daryl was reminded of himself many years before, when he would beg his mother to tell him just one more story.

"Now, I been spending time in the woods half my life, and I had never heard a sound like that before. Haven't since. I backed off some, and kept myself behind a tree. The buck had his head up; he knew something was coming. There was a rustle from about thirty yards away, and then I saw it. First I thought it was just a coyote, but then it stepped into the light.

"It wasn't a coyote. It looked like a dog, but it had next to no hair, and I could see the ridges of its spine sticking up through its hide. It had glowin' red eyes, and fangs and claws as long as my finger," he said, holding up his hand and curling his first finger to show them.

"The buck turned tail and ran, and I expected the thing to chase it, but it saw me."

There was a gasp from the little girl, but when Daryl turned to look at her, she wasn't scared. She was looking at him like he was the most interesting thing she'd seen in a long time. Carol looked just as interested.

"What did you do?" the girl asked.

"I thought it was gonna come at me, so I raised my bow and waited. It let out this growl and tossed its head. Before I could do anything, it turned and walked away, giving me this look like I wasn't worth it. And I ain't never seen anything like it again."

"You're sure that was a chupacabra, Daryl?" Dale asked.

Daryl just shrugged.

"I know what I saw."

A rustling came from one of the tents, and Ed stepped out, bellowing for his wife and daughter.

Carol shot to her feet and took Sophia by the hand, not wanting to dally and give her husband another excuse to be angry with her. Daryl watched them go, not quite sure what the constricting feeling in his chest meant.

. . .

He had first watch of the night, so he went back to his tent to get his binoculars.

Merle had been passed out earlier, but he was awake now, staring at the canvas ceiling.

Daryl got the binoculars as quietly as he could, not wanting to provoke his brother. Anything could make Merle snap when he was like this.

Just as Daryl turned to go, Merle's hand shot out clutched at his wrist with a crushing grip.

"Where you goin' baby brother?"

Merle's breathing had gotten ragged, and his eyes were wide with panic.

"I've got first watch. Let go."

Daryl held back a grunt of pain when Merle twisted his wrist.

"Watch how you talk to me. You sure you ain't goin' nowhere?"

"No."

"You better not be. You said you wouldn't leave me behind."

And that, right there, was what kept Daryl around. Merle had gone from vicious to pleading in the blink of an eye. He couldn't be trusted with himself, so it was Daryl's job to keep an eye on him. He wouldn't leave his brother, especially not now, because the man was too unstable to really look after himself.

"I'm just gonna take watch at the RV. I'll be back in a few hours."

Merle's breathing slowed, and he let go of Daryl's wrist.

Daryl turned and left the tent without another word.

. . .

She came to speak to him while he was on watch. He heard a rustling from the direction of her tent, and watched as she cautiously stuck her head out. Carol looked his way, and he gave her a small nod from where he was sitting on top of the RV; all clear.

She walked over and climbed up the ladder, coming to sit next to him on the roof.

"Your girl okay being left alone?"

"She's with Lori and Carl for the night. Said she wanted to have a sleepover," Carol said, shrugging. "She's never gotten the chance before."

Daryl didn't know what to say.

"Thank you, for telling that story."

"Hell, it's not that big a deal."

"Sure it is. It's been a long time since Sophia's been that interested in anything. She and I used to read stories all the time, but the last few years…"

The last few years had been the worst so far. He could tell.

"Anyway, I know you couldn't possibly have known that, but thank you. Really."

"I've always liked a good story. Been a long time since I told one."

He cursed inwardly. He shouldn't be opening up to these people; Merle didn't even like Daryl talking to them.

But he let his eyes look into those of the woman next to him, and he felt his chest constrict again at the knowing look in her eyes. She gave a small, sad smile, said goodnight, and went back to her tent.

He didn't even know her, and here he was telling her things she had no real business knowing about. But her eyes were kind whenever she looked at him. He'd gotten so used to living without that, he wasn't sure how to handle it anymore.

Daryl watched her retreating form til it was out of sight and returned his eyes to the perimeter. Now wasn't the time to be thinking fool thoughts anyway.