She’s still in a great deal of pain andthey both know it, even if she won’t admit how much pain she’s in.She’s more likely to admit that maybe she shouldn’t have decided todeal with Morgan on his own than admit that every step she takes,every time she time she takes a breath, every word she speaks sendsshocks of pain through her body. It’s nothing that Carol isn’talready used to – but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. She won’tadmit she’s in horrible pain – and they won’t force her to admitit.
Rick finds her in her bedroom,struggling to even button up her shirt with Daryl watching. Rickknows that Daryl must have tried to help seconds before he haddecided to check on her. He’s slightly amused, more with theexpression on Daryl’s face – he looks a bit like a wounded bird. Hetakes a few steps into Carol’s room and walks up behind her, makingeye contact with her from behind her.
“I don’t need help,” She saysstubbornly, has if she knows that Rick is about to offer hisassistance.
“I wasn’t going to offer.” He sayssoftly, reaching his hand down to move her shirt back a bit. Her backis completely covered in bruises, the spot where her back connectedwith Morgan’s knee the darkest. Seeing them makes him angry again,but he pushes that to the side to lean down and gently press a tenderkiss to her shoulder.
“Shoulda let me kill ‘im.” Darylmumbles from the bed, crossing his arms. Rick glances back at Daryland shoots him a look. It had taken all of Rick’s strength to holdhim back when Daryl had found out what Morgan had done to Carol.
“It doesn’t hurt that much,” Carollies through her teeth and she knows that both Rick and Daryl knowshe’s lying. They don’t call her on it.
Rick slips his arms around Carol asmuch as he can and keeps his skin just hover behind hers. Enough thatshe can sense his touch without having to have his skin on hers. Hislips hover by her ear and he whispers; “It’s okay.”
Carol shuts her eyes and lets a breathout of her nose. “Daryl, could you give me a hand?” Carol asks,turning her head as much as she can without crying out in pain.
Daryl perks up when Carol asks for hishelp and almost jumps out of the bed, walking towards her calmly. Hedoesn’t say anything, just lifts his hands and pulls her shirt backinto place. He brings his hands to the buttons and carefully buttonseach one until he reaches the last button.
Rick’s hands come from behind her andunbuttons her jeans, slipping her buttoned up shirt into her pants.He redoes her jeans up and Carol looks at herself in the mirror.
Without looking at her, you might notknow what she’s in pain. Even as she moves, she doesn’t show it. Butthey know. They always know.
send me a prompt + a ship