Artist's Note: I AM SO SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG. My contract ended at my job, so I've been looking for a new one, not to mention working on a very important website for a client that could possibly change my life. Then we got two new roommates and a new puppy (Fitzwilliam Castiel Legolas Dixon) and a new kitten ("Gizmo" Bellatrix Lisbeth McGonagall) and then there's GISHWHES and I've just been ridiculously sadly busy with life. Then… There's the writer's block. I really look up to all of you amazing writers. I'm so new at this, and it's just… Not flowing. I envy those of you that can bang this stuff out like nobody's business. BUT I WILL GO ON.

I will try my very hardest to have another chapter ready sometime within the next week or so. I'm starting a new job this week, but I should have some down time to blast out another one.

I didn't have anyone proof this because it is 3:20 AM and I just want to get it out to you, so I apologize for the state that it may be in. Feel free to yell at me in a comment or review or PM.

As always, I really love your reviews and comments! Constructive criticism always welcome! And thank you so much to everyone that reviewed; I promise to respond to this next round personally.

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to any adaptation of The Walking Dead, though I do own all plotlines and possible original characters.

Daryl's favorite moments came when he was alone at the shop, tinkering with an engine, music blasting so loud that he couldn't think. There was a sense of solace in losing himself in something so easy, so mechanical. There was nothing to consider, nothing to worry about. Just the machine and the music. It was therapy.

He was replacing the exhaust system on Hershel Greene's truck, AC/DC slamming into his ears, when he noticed headlights shining into the garage bay next to where he was working. He furrowed his brow, sliding himself out from underneath the vehicle as a black Comet came to a stop in the bay. As he stood, the door opened and the girl from the barber shop, Carol, stood from the car.

She gave a sheepish grin when she noticed him. "I'm so sorry for showing up unannounced like this, your brother said to drive it down here."

Daryl turned off the music but before he could reply he heard the familiar rumble of Merle's Triumph, followed quickly by the headlight swinging into view. His brother parked the bike and dismounted, walking over to Carol with what could only be called a saunter before slinging his arm over her shoulders. "See, Sugar, told you you couldn't miss it." Merle noticed his brother and gave him a smirk. "Hey there, baby brother. Girlie here was having a little car trouble. Told her you could give her a hand." He shot him a loaded wink and it was everything Daryl could do to keep himself from groaning.

Carol removed herself from Merle's arm and caught the younger man's attention. "I think the starter went. I couldn't get it turned over. We had to give it a push start."

Merle leaned up against the car, crossing his arms over his chest. "Girl knew exactly what she needed to do to get her started up, too. Knows her way around a car. That's kind of a turn-on, Sugar." He gave Carol a sleazy wink and Daryl could feel the embarrassment and discomfort rising in his throat. He was relieved when Carol returned the wink with an eye roll and a scoff.

"Leave her alone, Merle. She didn't come down here for you to make a damn fool of yourself." Daryl pulled the red rag out of his back pocket and wiped the grease off of his hands, walking past his brother, who was chuckling. He turned his attention to the car so he wouldn't have to look at the girl that made him so uncomfortable. "I'll be able to look at this in the morning. I have an exhaust system to finish up tonight, but if you come back tomorrow morning I should be able to tell you what's wrong. I've got a handful of appointments coming up this week but I should be able to fit you in and get it fixed up for you in the next few days."

Carol nodded and gave him a small grin. "That would be great, Daryl. I appreciate you helping me out on such short notice. I'm sorry to disrupt your schedule."

Daryl fiddled with the rag in his hands, focusing his gaze on the red fabric. "Ain't no trouble." His words drifted off, leaving the pair in an uncomfortable silence. Daryl could feel the taunting gaze of his brother burning into his back as he pushed himself off of the muscle car.

"Well, Sweetheart. Told you Daryl here could fix 'er up for you. Why don't I give you a lift on home?" He motioned to the bike. "You'll have to hold on real tight though. Wouldn't want you to fall off, would we?" There was that wink again. Daryl was pretty sure he was going to beat that wink off of his brother's face one of these days, probably sooner rather than later.

Carol didn't seem to be buying into Merle's flirting. "Merle, didn't we discuss that words could not express how uninterested I am?" She sighed and shook her head as she put her hands on her hips. "Listening is clearly not one of your talents, Merle."

The corner of Daryl's mouth quirked up, but his older brother's response quickly reversed the action. "Well, Sugar. Listening may not be one of my talents, but I think I may have a few others that you might enjoy."

Daryl didn't hide the groan this time as he stepped forward. "Merle, shut the hell up and get inside. Don't you know when to quit? Jesus Christ, can't you ever just act right?" He narrowed his gaze at the older man, wishing the girl wasn't right there so he could wipe the smug expression off of his face.

"Woah, now, baby brother. I was just trying to be helpful. No need to get your panties all bunched up. She started it."

"You started it, and I'm finishing it. Get in the house." He stared the older man down, gaze narrowed and burning holes into the eyes that matched his own.

Merle chuckled and turned toward the door that led into the house. "Alright, baby brother. I'll let her win this round. But that's only because I know you'll take good care of her." Another wink and Daryl didn't think twice as he picked up a wrench from his tool bench and chucked it after Merle. It clattered against the shutting door and fell uselessly to the ground, a soft chuckle still heard from just inside the house.

Daryl sighed and chewed on his thumbnail before turning his attention to Carol, who had a sympathetic expression on her face. "He's a real handful, huh?"

Daryl looked to the floor, both out of shame for his brother and the immediate awkwardness he felt about being left alone with this girl. He nodded at his shoes. "Sorry 'bout him. He's a jackass. Don't know how to act most of the time."

Carol let out a small, wind chime laugh. "Oh, don't you worry about me. Merle is a walk in the park when it comes to men. All talk and no bite. All for the ego. I know the type, believe me." She gave him a wide grin.

He didn't know how to respond to her. The silence resonated around them, quickly becoming awkward. He cleared his throat and shifted his weight from one leg to the other. "Getting late. I'll take you home." He made his way through the maze of the garage out to the wide drive where his '79 Ford truck was parked.

Carol gave her thanks with a wide grin when he opened her door for her, awkwardly waiting for her to climb into the cab before closing it firmly and walking briskly to the driver's side, never quite making contact. Carol gave him directions and they fell into a comfortable silence as he backed out of the large drive.

She loved the smell of the truck, which was surprisingly neat aside from the ashtray that was nearly overflowing with butts. The interior smelled like motor oil and the pine air freshener that was hanging from the rearview. It reminded her of her father.

Daryl was tapping absent-mindedly on the steering wheel as he drove, the cool night air coming through the widows. Carol studied his face, taking time to really look at him now that his gaze was focused on the road. Even in the dark, she could make out his sharp cheekbones and narrow nose. A small amount of facial hair was haphazardly growing around his pursed lips. The breeze fluttered through his chestnut hair, which was starting to get a little long around his ears, but she would give it another couple of weeks or so before it started to become a nuisance like before.

Her gaze unconsciously traveled to his strong shoulders, the muscles there tensed and bunched, accenting their size. Daryl Dixon may have been narrower than his brother, but there was no mistaking that he was a strong man that knew his way around hard labor. If there had been any doubt in his shoulders, his arms would settle the matter. The button up shirt had long-since had its sleeves ripped off, the edges frayed and tattered, framing the shoulder muscles where the fabric ended and was met with the sun-darkened skin of his biceps. Even though his grip on the steering wheel was relaxed, the tendons and muscles from his shoulders to his hands stood out immensely in the shadow of the moonlight. The man was gorgeous, plain and simple.

Carol scoffed at herself in the dark, ashamed of openly objectifying the shy man. He deserved better than that kind of behavior, and frankly, she expected more out of herself. She was acting like Merle, for Christ's sake. She averted her gaze out her window and found that they were nearing the end of her street, her fenced yard just coming into view.

Daryl came to a smooth stop in front of the sidewalk adjacent to the gate that entered into her yard. The house was small but pretty, flowers growing in beds all around the property. It looked like something out of a kid's book. She gave him one of her trademark smiles as she opened the door and turned to him.

"Thank you again, Daryl. I really appreciate you going through all of this trouble for me. I'm sorry again for springing it on you like that."

Daryl's gaze met hers as he squinted through the dark. "Ain't no trouble. I'll try and get her looked at in the morning. I'll come get you around ten or so?" His gaze was gone again as he focused on the steering wheel.

Carol grinned. "How about you and Merle come over around nine or so? I'll make breakfast and we can head back over together. Just as a thank you for tonight."

Daryl felt the heat rise from his chest and flood his face. He was thankful for the dark, but that did little in way of disguising the shock and surprise in his voice. He reprimanded himself as he sputtered, "Ain't nothin' to thank. We don't need anything like that."

Carol shook her head. It was becoming alarmingly clear that Daryl Dixon was going to be a tough one to crack. "Daryl, I insist. Not to mention it will be nice to finally have some company over. I don't really have anyone here except for Dale. I could use all the friends that I can get." Her voice had a hint of teasing as she added her next thought to that sentence. "Merle included."

Daryl sighed and looked at the other houses that lined the street. Everything was quaint and set up just so. No place for him, and especially not a place for Merle. It would only cause trouble for Carol down the line. The people of Blue Ridge did not like the Dixons, and only made a point of associating with them when they needed their cars or bikes fixed. Daryl let out his breath before he glanced at Carol. "Folks around here don't like us much. We're not the kind of people you want to be seen with unless you need your car fixed. People will talk."

Carol allowed a laugh to escape. "Daryl Dixon, I'd like you to listen to me and listen to me well. The day that I start caring what others think about me or the people I associate myself with will be the day hell freezes over." She swung her legs out of the truck, shutting the door behind her but leaning through the open window. "I expect to see both you and Merle here at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning. I won't take no for an answer." Before he could respond she was gone, making her way past the gat and up the stone path to her front door.

Daryl sat for a second even after she had entered the house, wondering what the hell had just happened. Through the fog of the recent events, he knew one thing for certain: Carol was not like the other women he had met before.