A/N: Takes place just after "Beside the Dying Fire'

Outside Looking In

Sleep was a long time coming for any of the group. Beth, not quite the youngest, but the most innocent, dropped of first, warm in her father's arms. Maggie reached out and stroked the teenager's hair, a motherly gesture, one that tugged hard at Carol's heart. She choked back another sob and wiped tears from her gentle blue eyes.

All I ever do is cry or scream or wait. What use am I? Why am I here? What part do I play in this ever changing group?

As Daryl had pointed out once in that brusque, cruel way he had, Carol was no longer wife, no longer mother. She had lost her identity, the one thing she had clung to through the terrible years of her marriage and the terrible times since the plague had stricken them. Which was worse, she often wondered. At least Ed was gone. That was a good thing, a wonderful thing and she refused to feel bad or guilty about the freedom her soul now experienced. The dangers Carol faced in this new world were impersonal ones; hunger, walkers, stray bullets, accident.

Ed, that bastard had destroyed her personhood bit by painful bit. With every punch and every smack and every shove, Carol had become smaller, shrunken in on herself, a meek, quiet creature, a nothing and a nobody.

Lost in thought, she moved away from the tight circle by the fire. Carol felt Daryl's eyes on her. She kept her back to him and tried to hug herself warm. The thin sweater she wore did little to beat back the cool of the Georgia autumn night.

"Don't wander off," the hunter ordered gruffly. "We've lost enough people already." He kicked halfheartedly at the ground. "Stupid bi…"

Carol whirled around, eyes blazing with a rage that she rarely expressed. "Don't you call me that! Don't you ever call me that again!"

She stalked toward him then, hand upraised, ready to slap. Daryl grabbed hold of her wrist and held on, just tightly enough to stop her. He wore an infuriating smirk.

"Well, well," he drawled. "Nice to see you have some spunk." He dropped his voice then, and it became gentler, softer, and his eyes scanned Carol's face, kind eyes now, filled with a confused affection. "I'm sorry and I won't."

The others watched the little drama play out before them, dropping their gazes when both Carol and Daryl turned to look at them.

"We don't fit in," Carol observed mournfully. She hugged herself again. It was a poor substitute for Sophia's arms around her. Grief hit her then and she wanted to fall to her knees, scream and rage and beat at the earth with her fists until they were raw and bloody.

"Hell, woman, I ain't ever fit in anywhere. I'm used to it." And he was. Daryl purposely isolated himself. Being alone was better. Depending on no one was better too. Wasn't it? "Besides, they all act like they're in some goddamned soap opera. I don't want no part of that."

Carol snorted. It was true enough. Then she saw the expression on Daryl's face. He looked as though he wanted to vomit. She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.

"You're right."

"Course I am. " He reached out and touched her shoulder, a barely there touch, one she could hardly feel, but one that still meant so much. "It's nice to hear you laugh."

"Feels good," the woman admitted.

The fire crackled and the breeze grew colder and stronger. Carl was asleep now and Lori too. Carol was dead on her feet, but wasn't quite ready to allow herself the luxury of closing her eyes.

"Daryl?"

"What?"

"I'm tired of being helpless and weak. I wanna learn how to take care of myself. Will you teach me?"

He stared at her appraisingly and must have liked what he saw. "We'll start tomorrow."

Grateful, Carol cupped his cheek. Daryl shrugged off her hand but he was pleased nevertheless.

~~~~0000~~~~

A/N: That's my first attempt at 'The Walking Dead' fanfiction. Daryl is the character I find most compelling and the one I root for. Judging by the other fanfics here, I'm not alone in that feeling.

His relationship with Carol is worth exploring, I think, and I might do more of that.

Feedback is greatly appreciated.

Alabaster