All characters and TWD don't belong to me. I just borrowed them from AMC!
Have fun reading and I am grateful for any comment.
They drove back to the church, without speaking a word. The survivors were shocked. How had it come to this? The unthinkable had happened - Beth was dead. The sight of her dead sister, had been burned into Maggie's mind. She would never be able to forget that sight, as Daryl had carried her limp body out of the front door of Grady Memorial Hospital. Maggie had decided to bury her little sister near the church, and so they drove towards the east, in absolute silence. Daryl had refused to let go of the slender body, and so he sat in the back seat of the old Ford and rocked the dead girl back and forth. After what felt like an eternity Rick stopped the car in front of the church. Rick got out and opened the back door. Daryl protested, but Rick gently took Beth's body from him.
"I'll help to dig the grave," Glenn offered.
Rick nodded briefly and carried Beth into the church. Maggie followed him, sobbing, with her head down. The group left the cars in front of the building, too stunned to know what to do next. Daryl was the last to get out and looked around, confused. His eyes searched for Carol, who was standing a few meters away and was being supported by Tyreese. As their eyes met, he just shook his head briefly and ran into the woods.
He ran a few feet and leaned panting against a tree. His eyes filled with tears and he sank to his knees. He couldn't bury a loved one again. Beth was so young, only 19 years old, and so full of hope and dreams and yet she couldn't escape the horror. With trembling hands he reached for the knife in his waistband. From a distance he heard a murmur and familiar sounds seemed miles away. He didn't seem to notice the Walker which was directly behind him. It bent down to Daryl and just before it could sink its teeth into Daryl's shoulder, a small, pale hand slashed a knife into its head. Daryl did not even flinch as the Walker crashed beside him. A second later he was pulled out of his world by a human groan.
Face contorted with pain, Carol leaned forward and groaned again. The knife hung limp in her hand and she held her right arm in position.
Daryl jumped up and turned around.
"What are ya doing here?" he asked curtly.
"Saving your life," she replied in the same tone.
"Go back to the others. Leave me alone," he grumbled, making it difficult for her to understand him.
"I can't. I can't leave you here. What are you doing, Daryl?" she asked anxiously, with a trembling voice.
He just shook his head and walked a few feet away from her.
"It ain't safe here. Go back," he ordered, wiping away the tears.
"You're not safe here alone, Daryl. What is this? Why are you out here alone?" she asked again.
He turned back to her and the knife in his hand flashed in the sun. Carol's eyes flew open in shock.
"None of your business," he hissed shortly.
"It is my business. Don't do that again, Daryl. Don't shut me out again," she pleaded softly.
Daryl Dixon had never been the great orator. It had always been difficult for him to find friends and so he was so thankful for Carol and Beth. But Beth was dead now, and he did what he always did. He pulled back.
Daryl sat down on the ground and buried his face in his arms. Carol limped a few steps toward him and was now standing above him. She waited for him to begin to speak. Daryl was sensitive and she knew that she couldn't push him.
"People are evil. The Walkers ain't the threat, it's humanity. Human beings kill with intent. I can't take this anymore, Carol. Rick is right, humans are animals. There's nothing good in this world. Today I've lost my last faith in humanity," he whispered brokenly.
"We have the group, Daryl. That's good," she said briefly.
"The group is changing. We're changing. I've changed. Everything is changing. I can't stand it anymore. Lori, Hershel, Andrea, Merle and now Beth. It's as if everything and everyone is taken from me."
"And what about me? I'm still here. We've all suffered losses. We can't give up. I often wanted to give up. After Sophia? After Karen and David? After the girls? I wanted to give up but I'm still here. There's always a reason to go on. After Rick sent me away and I was alone, I wanted to give up. But then I saw the smoke from the prison and I knew that I have to find you. Then I met Tyreese and the girls. They were my reason to go on. After what happened with the girls, I heard the shots from Terminus and I had to move on. There is always a reason not to give up. Please, let's go back. Let's mourn Beth. Please, Daryl, don't do this to me," Carol pleaded in a sad voice.
Carol's pain got worse and she could barely stand. Her knees were shaking and her upper body ached. The car had hit her hard.
"We'll start over, Daryl. Just like you said."
"Ya ain't leaving the group again?" he asked anxiously.
"This is my family. I'm not going anywhere," she said in a firm voice.
"I can't bury her. Can we just stay here? Only a little while. Just you and me? I just can't," he stammered.
"We should say goodbye to her. I couldn't say goodbye to Sophia and I regret it to this day."
"It was my fault, Carol. She's dead because of me. Maggie blames me, I can see it. I lost Beth. I should have protected her. She was just a kid," he sighed.
"It wasn't your fault. If I hadn't been so careless, she could still be alive. I want to say goodbye and thank her. She saved me. Dawn told me that Beth gave me the medicine I needed. Without Beth, I'd be dead now. I owe it to her, Daryl. But I won't leave you alone. Did you really want to kill yourself? Daryl? Be honest with me. Merle once told me that a Dixon never goes the easy way."
„Maybe the easiest way is also a relief. Don't worry, I won't kill myself," he whispered now firmly.
Daryl stood up and he approached Carol within inches. He leaned his forehead against hers and took a deep breath.
"I thought I'd lost you, too. Again. When the car hit you, I thought I would never see you again. I can't lose you. You're the only person I still wanna live for. After everything that's happened, be honest with me. What would have happened the night if I hadn't followed you?"
Carol closed her eyes. The pain was unbearable. Not just the physical. Tears ran down her face and she began to sob.
"I'm not sure but I think I'd ... I don't know. Maybe I would have left."
"C'mere," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her trembling body.
"I can't lose you too. It was too often and too close. We need to take care of each other. And now do just that and ... "
Before she could finish the sentence, her legs gave in and she collapsed. Daryl reacted quickly and grabbed her before she fell to the ground. He put his arm under her legs and lifted her up. Carol leaned her head against his chest and moaned softly. Carefully, he carried her back to the church.
The sight of them, Daryl carrying Carol the same way he'd carried Beth, made the blood freeze in the veins of the others. The memory of Beth was too fresh and a loud cry from Maggie broke the silence. Daryl paused, startled. Carol moved her head slightly and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"She's exhausted and hurt but she's okay," he said softly and took a few steps toward the door.
"Daryl? We want to pay Beth her last should be there," said Rick and looked down sadly.