A/N: This story is dedicated to my Bethyl sisters ( you know who you are) and a very big thank you to Ayame2004 for all her help.

Walk With An Angel

Chapter 1: Little White Church

The rain was starting to fall when Daryl pulled up to the church. He wasn't sure what he was doing here, it wasn't like he was a religious man. When the doctors told him it was a fifty-fifty chance Merle would survive from his gunshot wounds, he felt like what was left of his world was starting to crumble. His brother was all he had in this world, the only person left that cared about him at all.

As he climbed in his truck, he wasn't sure what he'd do. It wasn't like he had anyone at home waiting on him and he sure as hell didn't want to spend the night alone thinking about Merle dying.

When he pulled up at the little white church, he saw a man with white hair, his thumbs in his suspenders walking up the steps. A blonde girl opened the door, her face the closest thing Daryl had ever seen to an angel.

With much trepidation in his steps, he started walking towards the church, his mind focused on Merle. A brunette walked out from around the corner, her hazel eyes red from tears. "Can I help you?"

"Sorry... didn't mean to bother anyone." He turned to go, the brunette giving him a forced smile.

"You don't have to go. Reverend Smith just opened up for us, but you're welcome to stay." She opened the door and waited for him to come in.

Daryl shook off the fog in his mind, it was late Sunday evening so why was the church open.

He followed the brunette in, the white haired man and blonde both on their knees by the alter. An Asian man takes the brunette's hand, Daryl immediately feeling as if he's interrupting something.

He quickly sat down in a pew, his eyes glued as the Reverend knelt by the group up front, his hands over their shoulders and prayed.

The preacher recited the Lord's Prayer as Daryl placed his forearms on the pew in front of him and bowed his head. "Listen J.C., I ain't a prayin' man... I don't even know if yer listen'... but I sure could use a favor."

A hand slid over his arm causing him to jump. Daryl looked up to the blonde angel from before, her eyes bluer than the sky and rimmed in red from her tears. "Do you want to join us?"

"Nah, I shouldn't be here. I'll go." He moved to get up and she sat down beside him. His head turned towards her as he wondered why she's being so kind.

"We're here cause we lost my brother in a car accident and my mom was hurt, doctors don't know if she'll pull through. I don't know why you're here, but from the look on your face I can bet you've got someone you need to pray for too." Her eyes looked at him, as if she saw through him.

Daryl licked his lips as he sat up straight, his mind still wondering why this girl was talking to him or even being nice to a complete stranger.

"Yeah, my brother got shot. Don't know if he'll make it or not." His nervous nature was taking over as he wiped his palms on his pants, his iron will holding back his tears. He wasn't sure why he told her about his business, something about her made him feel comfortable, at ease even.

The brunette waved for her to come back, the blonde giving him a gentle smile. She held out her hand, waiting for him to shake it. When he didn't she pulled it back, still staring at him. "Names Beth, Beth Greene. That's my sister Maggie, her boyfriend Glenn and my dad... Hershel. If you ever need anyone to talk to, just come by the Greene farm or the vet clinic... I'll be there."

He watched her walk away, swearing he'd seen a halo atop her golden head. Daryl didn't believe in angels, they were stories people told themselves to get through the hell they have on earth. If angels really existed, why didn't one come and take him away when he was little.

With the cross at the alter in view, he walked over and looked up at the symbol of Christ. "Hey J.C., takin' requests?"

He gazed at the door that Beth had just entered, wondering if her family would be okay. Merle had done some shitty things in his life, won't no one gonna mourn his passing but him. But that family in there, they needed a real miracle. Daryl turned back to the cross and closed his eyes. "If yer takin' requests... make sure her ma pulls through."

He hung his head down and walked out of the church and back to his truck.

Beth looked down for her purse, remembering she left it on the front pew. She opened the door to the Reverend's office and saw the stranger talking to the cross. He asked Christ if he's taking requests, then tells him to make sure he mother pulled through.

Tears pricked the back of her eyes, her heart cracked a little more in her chest. He came here with no family and the look of despair in his eyes and he didn't pray for his family, but hers. From the moment she saw him, she saw someone that needed a kind word and a gentle touch.

She knew going over to talk with him was something that felt right, almost natural. As she sat down with him, she felt his heartache radiating off of him like heat on a hot day. Her own heartache was a burden she was sharing with her sister and father, his heartache was eating him alive.

After she saw that act of pure kindness, she knew she had to know more about this stranger. He looked rough around the edges, his shaggy dark hair covering his sad blue eyes, but she had a feeling there was more to him than that.

She went back in the office and sat down beside her dad. Reverend Smith handed them each a prayer cloth, saying he'll be a phone call away anytime they need him.

Before they leave, Beth approached the Reverend and asked the question that had been plaguing her since the stranger walked in.

"That man that came in, the one that sat in the back. Do you know who he is?" Her fingers twisted the prayer cloth in her hand as she waited for an answer.

"That's one of the Dixon boys, Daryl. Stay away from him Beth, they are nothing but trouble." The stern and harsh words from the Reverend caused her to give him a very cross glare.

"Doesn't the good book say... judge not less ye be judged? I'm sure the Roman's felt the same way about Christ." Beth smiled to herself as the smile faded from the Reverend's face. She turned to go and join her family, hoping in her heart she'd run into Daryl Dixon again.