A/N: Thanks for reading this story. I hope you like it. This is my Daryl/Beth story about what would have happened if Daryl was hit by the car instead of Beth.
Inside Grady
Chapter One
The black car with the white cross painted on it.
Daryl and Carol had followed the car all the way to Atlanta and now they were stuck, trapped in the city surrounded by walkers. There, they found another survivor, Noah. Daryl didn't take too kindly to the young man at first, stealing their weapons. But Daryl eventually caught up with him and got them back finding Noah trapped under a bookcase.
Daryl was annoyed carrying a third wheel in the party. He was happy enough with just the two of them. But he couldn't let anything distract him from his ultimate goal - he had to get Beth back. The black car with the white cross painted on it. He remembered running after it until he could run no more. It belonged to Grady Memorial Hospital right in the heart of Atlanta. They had Beth.
It all started in the funeral home. Penned in by walkers, the two of them tried to escape together. He told her to make a run for it and she did and that was last time he saw her. He saw her backpack laying on the ground outside the house and knew something was up. Suddenly a car sped off into the darkness and Daryl was left all alone once again.
Daryl hated being alone as much as he hated to admit it. He needed people, he needed people to protect and in turn he needed to be protected to. Daryl imagined how Beth must have struggled against her kidnappers how they must have grabbed her and forced her into the car against her will. Beth was a fighter, he knew that. He had taught her how to fight himself. They had to have used real force and knocked her out. She must have been so scared, screaming for him. The thoughts choked Daryl and he had to kneel down and wipe his eyes hoping that Carol didn't spot any tears.
Daryl saw the black car circle the building once and was keeping a keen eye on it. He waited with Noah and Carol around a corner near the entrance watching and waiting.
The car didn't come back around though. Daryl slowly stepped forward holding his crossbow out in front of him. Daryl was still suspicious and as he exited he told the other two to hold back until he gave the signal.
He checked both sides for walkers. It was all clear and he turned around and gave a thumbs up to Carol and Noah. That was when the black car came speeding around the corner again, tyres screeching. Daryl couldn't get out of the way in time and even though the car slammed on the brakes, it hit him sending him rolling up the bonnet and crashing down on the hard tarmac, unconscious.
Two men dressed in police uniforms immediately got out of the car and rushed to Daryl's side. Carol watched on in horror and then aimed her gun. She was ready to run in and kill the two police officers.
"No, don't." Noah whispered putting his arm in front of her to prevent her from shooting. "They can help him."
Carol reluctantly accepted and simply watched while trying to stay out of sight. The two police officers picked up Daryl, one grabbing his legs, the other his arms and put him in the back seat of the car.
The car pulled up at Grady Memorial Hospital on the grey autumn afternoon. Dr Steven Edwards was waiting by the entrance with a stretcher. The two police officers got out of the car and and approached Dr Edwards.
"You found a new one?" asked the doctor adjusting his glasses.
"Yeah, he's a big guy." replied one of the police officers. "Saw him running around Atlanta with a small group. Didn't see the others but this guy will make a great addition to the hospital. Looks like he can do a lot of work."
"Good work." Dr Edwards said. "Bring him in."
The two police officers then unloaded the muscular man onto the stretcher. They the took out his crossbow which they had picked up at the scene too.
"Found this too." said the police officer holding it up and pointing it at Dr Edwards. "This will definitely come in handy."
Dr Edwards put his hand up and shielded his face as if they were really going to fire at him. The two police officers laughed and wheeled Daryl's body into the hospital. He had several large lacerations caused by the impact on his face and arms. Dr Edwards wanted to get him in as quickly as possible so they could treat him.
They wheeled the stretcher down the long empty corridors of Grady until they came to the main functioning ward, the only functioning ward left in the hospital. There were several staff there some with clipboards, some just milling about. One of the staff members was Beth Greene wearing a blue hospital gown who was there mopping the floor when Daryl's body was carted past her. She couldn't believe her eyes. It was Daryl Dixon. The man who had saved her.
Beth dropped the mop and asked Dr Edwards what was going on and if she could help. Dr Edwards agreed and allowed her to come to the operating room where they put Daryl.
Beth looked down at Daryl's unconscious face - his body still, his eyes firmly closed and started to cry. She found it hard to imagine that this strong man could be dead. There was no way, she had to save him.
Beth ran her fingers down his face and Dr Edwards barged her out of the way.
"Please Beth," he said. "If you're not going to help, don't stay here. Don't just stare at him!"
"I'm sorry." she replied.
But she couldn't help staring at him. It had only been a few weeks but it had felt like a lifetime since they last met. She put her hands together and prayed. She prayed that he would be all right and she prayed that they would make it out of the hospital together.
His face was as handsome as always with his rugged beard and his straggly hair. He was still wearing the same leather jacket with denim vest from when they were last together. Beth hoped and prayed but then spotted Dawn out of the corner of her eye standing in the doorway. Seeing Dawn always meant trouble, one way or another and she hoped that she didn't have any plans for Daryl. She would have to stop her if she did.
Beth turned around and gave a reassuring nod to Dawn and she reciprocated in kind.
Daryl, please wake up, please be ok, Beth thought to herself as she handed Dr Edwards a syringe.
TO BE CONTINUED….
A/N: There will be more from this story very soon. What will happen when Daryl wakes up and he's reunited with Beth? Will they be able to escape the hospital together? Or will Noah turn up with Rick and make a trade? Find out soon! x
