Gray Stables
She was never one to quit, especially not when her father was all she had left. She supposed that was what had placed her in this predicament, staring into the dark eyes of the surly man in front of her. "I want to make a deal with you." AU
Ghosts
"Bethie, I'm sorry."
"I know, dad." And she did. She knew with her whole heart that every ounce of Hershel's battered and bruised soul was screaming with sincerity. She acknowledged his apology.
She just didn't know if she would ever be able to accept it.
But she wanted to.
God, how she wanted to.
And that's why they were here. Had been here for the past twenty minutes, truck parked at the curb, bodies tumbling in rhythm with the idling engine. If it had been any other situation, Beth would have found it soothing. The gentle motion lulling her to sleep, mimicking the cradle her mother used years ago when she was just a tot. If she closed her eyes, she could smell the lavender soap she used, could hear the old folk songs she hummed. She wasn't sure why she could remember such miniscule things.
Ghost memories coming back to haunt her, she supposed. Remind her of things that once were, but never would be again.
"Will you…" Herschel's words were smothered by a sob, breaking Beth's heart all over again. If her limbs weren't weighted with exhaustion, she would have reached out to him. Instead, she merely waited. She had years of practice with that by now. When he regained his voice, Hershel looked back at his youngest daughter, "If Maggie calls, will you tell her I'm sorry?"
Beth didn't think Maggie would be calling either of them for a very long time, but she nodded anyway.
"And I'm sorry to you, too." His voice crumbled again, and he cradled his face in the palms of his hands. This time Beth did reach up to grab her father's hands, gently pulling them to rest at his lap. He didn't need to hide anymore. That was what had gotten them here in the first place.
"I can go up if you want, wait with you until the doctor calls you back?"
"No, it's okay," A faint grin graced his lips. "You're too good of a girl to have to waste your time in a place like this."
"Dad, honestly, I don't mind-"
"I've got to do this myself, Beth." He steeled himself, hand lingering on the doorknob. "I don't think I deserve a daughter as good as you, but for whatever reason, God granted me with a saving grace. I'm ashamed of myself for taking advantage of such a miracle." He leaned over, lips brushing against her blonde locks. "I appreciate everything you have ever done, but you can't help a man that can't help himself. It's about time I do things on my own for once, and I need you to understand that."
"I do." It was the only reply she could manage, fearful of losing her strong front. Beth was in a bizarre state, trapped between a restless mind and an exhausted body. Her brain was in constant motion, craving some type of stimulation, but her body refused to move from its hazy position. Her limbs slugged to the ground, protesting the rowdy thoughts of the long nights that forbade much needed rest. At this point, Beth didn't really care whether her brain or body won the never ending battle.
She just needed something to give.
"I'll call you when I get out," he said, hugging her before he slipped out of the truck without another word.
It took two minutes and twenty-six seconds for him to reach the front entrance. Another thirty-two seconds for him to pass through the automatic doors. And after an anteceding twenty-six seconds, the tented windows completely concealed his shadowed form as he turned down a hallway.
She waited another fourteen minutes and fifty-nine seconds for him to reappear.
And after she finally realized that Hershel was actually going through with his plan, she drove away, caught somewhere between haphazard relief and unshakable fear.