A/N: This was intended to be a one-shot, but I said: no. It's not going to be a very long story either, but it's just an idea that popped into my head the other day and I knew I had to write it. Title from "Shallows", by Daughter.

At the beginning, she didn't even know what was going on in that hallway. She could see her family in front of her. Rick, Tyreese, Sasha… Daryl. She thought her heart would come out of her chest as soon as she spotted him standing there, next to Rick. Her legs even faltered for a second, but she forced herself to breathe deeply and keep moving Carol's wheel chair, inhaling the stuffiness.

Even though it was the middle of the day there was barely any light. The windows seemed to be permanently dirty, even though Dawn always made sure that someone cleaned them up. The scarce light in the hallway avoided Beth from analyzing everyone's facial expressions. She didn't need to see her family's faces, for example, for she knew their reactions, and how they would be looking at those who had taken their people. However, she had to keep an eye on Dawn and her own people…

"Two of your people and two of ours" Rick said coldly. Dawn watched him for a second before she nodded and gestured so they could let Beth and Carol move. Beth, even though she wanted to look calm and strong, couldn't help but walk a bit too fast to get to the other side. Almost at the same time, two police guards were freed and they walked towards their group too. Beth could recognize them both: the woman was usually kinder, but they were both just dumbasses who didn't know what to do without following orders. Even in their moments of bravado they had needed some kind of leader to guide their wants of power.

She felt Daryl's big and warm hand rest on her shoulder, and she looked at him and smiled before she covered his hand with her own. Actually, her wishes went further than that: she wanted to throw herself in his arms and hug him tightly, apologize to him for leaving him that night, ask him if he was right, if everything was right, if he spent a lot of time alone, tell him that she was who had missed him so damn bad, that she knew he'll always hold on, she wanted…

She wanted too many things, but she couldn't do any of them now. She was free though. She could do all of it once they were out of that place.

She saw Tyreese helping Carol to stand up, and then she spotted Noah. He was in the background, so she hadn't seen him at first. Beth smiled warmly at him. She wanted to ask him if he was okay too, but it was like the words had died in her throat. It had been a while since she had talked and talked. She knew better than talking too much. It always got her in trouble.

Rick nodded and they all turned around to come back outside.

She was going to leave.

She was going to be with her family again.

She was free.

"Now I just need Noah".

They all froze. Beth had her gaze fixed on the floor in front of her; like she was trying to make sure her mind hadn't tricked her. Slowly, she turned around and realized her whole family was staring daggers at Dawn.

"The deal's done" Rick answered in a calm tone that didn't leave any room for reply. She realized Dawn had to swallow hard before she spoke.

"Noah was my assistant, and Beth replaced him. You take them both, and I lose" the woman answered, raising her chin as if to convince herself that she was controlling the situation. Noah started to move as soon as the police guards behind Dawn tensed, but then Daryl placed a hand on his chest and stopped him.

"He's not stayin'" he grunted, and this time it was Beth who gulped. She watched the scene astonished. Her heart was thundering so hard and her hands were shaking slightly and a drop of cold sweat slid down the back of her neck until it reached her polo.

"It's okay" Noah said then, moving away Daryl's hand with gentleness. Beth's heart skipped a beat when she saw him walking towards Dawn.

"No!" she exclaimed, running towards her friend. She felt Daryl behind her, trying to stop her, but she reached Noah and held him tightly. She buried her face in his shoulder and tried somehow to convince him silently not to stay. He couldn't do that. Not after how much they'd fought to come back home.

"I knew he'd be back" Dawn said. Beth's eyes fluttered open and she pierced her. She had never stared at someone with so many hate. She just wanted Dawn dead. Keeping her tears at bay, she moved her fingers slowly to the inside of her cast, trying to reach the scissors…

"I get it now" she muttered. Her hand flew and the scissors perforated Dawn's shoulder with a surprising softness.

"Beth!" Daryl screamed behind her, and suddenly a shot. She felt like someone had suddenly blindfolded her. She could hear everything, but she wasn't aware of what was going on in front of her.

The same police man who they had just freed raised a gun –Beth wondered for a millisecond when had he gotten it- and pulled the trigger; then she heard the shot piercing the air, and a strange warm soaking her. Something inside her clenched right before the dead weight fell over her.

And then she couldn't even hear anything.

Her knees hit the floor when she saw Daryl's inert body fall down, blood surging from his head and staining the floor tiles.

A/N: To be continued. Of course.

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