Summary: Running…Walking…Hiding…Running… that's all they seemed to be doing these days. Surely there had to be more out there. This takes place after the stand off at the hospital at the end of Coda S5. Surprisingly Beth has survived and one member of the group couldn't be more relieved. A slow burning story about Beth and Daryl. Rated M or language and possible adult situation (oh yeah!) Sorry I suck at summaries hope you like it!

Running…

Still running…

Hiding…

Running again…

This is what their life was like now. Always moving and always hiding, never knowing where the next threat would come from. Most of the time Beth could just turn it all off and run. Focus on the trees in front of her, the breath on her lips, the people running beside her, and the sweat beading up on her neck and forehead. She didn't mind the running, not really. It was a much needed distraction for all of her thought and all that had happened in the past two weeks.

She was so happy, happier than she remembered being in a long, long time. But she was also angry. Angry that the woman who stood in front of her was threating the people she cared about most in the world.

"Let's just everyone calm down….We don't want'ny trouble." Rick's rough voice said, full of authority. Not many would pick up on the concern in his voice but she did. "We're just going to take our people and leave"

Beth sighed internally, looking between the people who loved her and the people who wanted her for their own, she knew what she needed to do. She had a plan, sort of. Her eyes scanned the faces before her, searching for just one. She needed him to know he hadn't failed her that night. She needed him to let go of the guilt she knew he carried. Their eyes met. Blue finding blue. Even after all this time those eyes were so familiar. Without saying a word, she pleaded with him 'Don't feel guilty, there was nothing you could have done. It wasn't your fault, and neither is this.'

Time seemed to slow down. Everything became so clear; the cool smooth metal of the scissors, the voices, the space between her and her target closing.

Bam

Beth heard the sound, felt the pain, but was confused. She hit the ground with a thud. The lights were getting brighter and brighter and then faded to black.

"All right let's stop here for the night." Ricks voice brought Beth back to the now, she hadn't even noticed she had drifted off. She came to a halt and looked around. The sun was setting over her shoulder and the air was beginning to have a chill to it. Fall was almost upon them and they were still on the move.

"Glenn, Daryle, Michonne, come with me and let's check it out. We need to see if it's a safe place to stay for a bit." Rick drew his gun and walked toward the old cabin about 50 feet away in the trees. Glenn dropped his pack at Maggie's feet and followed after him. Daryle looked at Beth for half of a second and brought up the rear.

"Think it'll do?" Maggie called to Beth. Taking her eyes off of Daryle's back as he rounded the house, Beth turned and walked toward her sister. She dropped her pack next to Glenn's and sighed.

"I sure hope so. We could all use a break." The sweat on Maggie's face mirror what Beth imagined her own face looked like. They were exhausted, starving, and worrying about winter. "We need to be looking for a place to build up for the winter."

"This place has potential." Said Maggie, looking about. "The cabin will be a bit tight, but with the surrounding trees so close together we could build up a wall fairly easy."

Beth felt a small smile flash across her face. Maggie was really growing as a strong leader for the group. Maybe not in the physically strong way Rick was, but in a problem solving and planning type of way. Maggie always had an opinion or idea to voice, especially when the group found themselves in a bind.

'I sure hope she's right' She thought to herself 'I'm not sure some of us have it in them to go much further anytime soon'

She surveyed her small family, all grouped together. Some, like Carl and Tyreese, were watching the darkening trees. Others, like Tara and Sasha, were gathering wood to start a fire once they received the all clear. Carol, holding Judith, walked over to the sisters.

"This could work for a while. Maybe we can stop long enough to catch our breath." Carol shifted Judith on her hip. "We're about to find out." Maggie said, looking past the two woman to the approaching figures of Rick, Glenn, Daryl, and Michonne.

"The cabin was sealed tight! Looks like whoever owned it before used it sparingly and no one's been here since." Glenn said jogging over to the woman. "We're about to go in and see what all we can find inside, maybe there will be something to eat."

Maggie smiled at Glenn and then at Beth. They all headed to the back door.

Glenn had been right. The cabin was sealed tight; boards on the windows, locks still intact on both doors, and a locked up shed a few feet from the back. Beth moved through the cabin. It was small for the group but it seemed secure. There were 3 small bedrooms off of the hallway, and a large living room and kitchen.

Carol was in the kitchen opening cabinets and drawers, a smile slowly growing on her face. "This is better than I could have imagined." She said to no one in particular. Beth came up behind her, "Find anything even remotely edible?" Carol smiled and pulled open the cabinet right in front of her. Inside Beth saw a normally stocked kitchen cabinet. Canned goods, boxed food, beans and rice, and more.

Her mouth fell open, "Am I seeing things?" She let out a laugh "We haven't seen this much food since, since I don't know, the farm?" Carol smiled at her, "I was just about to start on some supper, go find Rick and give him the good news."

Beth walked out the front door in search of their fearless leader. Some of the group was scouting the woods, taking out any stray walkers as quietly as possible. Beth spotted Rick talking to Daryl and Glenn near the shed.

"…and tomorrow we can look through this shed and see if there is anything we can use." Rick said.

"Soun's good to me." Daryl replied, his eyes met Beth's as she approached. He looked away. Things had been off with him ever since that night.

"Carol hit the jackpot, she's cooking dinner as we speak." Beth spoke to Rick but never took her eyes off of Daryl. "The house seems to be fully stocked up, we'll go through it more tomorrow. I think everyone's exhausted and could use a rest."

Rick ran a dirty hand over his equally grimy face. "Let's get a watch schedule set up but I agree with Beth. Get some rest, and start fresh in the morning." Rick said looking around at the group.

"I'll take first watch, bring me some food or somethin' when it's done." Daryl walked off to a tree that offered a decent view of the area. He dropped his pack and leaded up against the tree.

"Don't suppose you know what's up with him?" Rick asked giving Beth a look.

"No idea." She walked back into the house.

Maggie was moving some things into one of the bedroom, "Hey where's your pack? We're sortin' out some of the bedrooms and I figured you, me and Glenn would be fine in one." Beth picked up her pack and followed her sister into the bedroom.

This was the closest the group had felt to normal in a long time. They all sat around the living room eating a soup Carol had made. It was warm and filling, given the last real meal any of them had was a long time ago. Beth looked out the window at the tree she knew Daryl was at.

Beth stood and took her bowl to the kitchen; she filled it up with more soup, and walked out the door.

"Brought you some soup." She said as she approached the tree.

"Thanks." Daryl replied. He took the bowl from the girl's hands and their fingers brushed ever so slightly. He looked up at her.

She smiled a bit and a slight blush crept to her cheeks. She sat down on the ground next to him. "Seen any walkers out there" She motioned to the dark forest ahead of her.

"A few." He said between spoonfuls. Beth knew he must be starving, even more so than the rest. He always seemed to be giving his portions away. To Carl, to Carol, to her. She suddenly felt very guilty. He never complained, never showed anyone how much he was hurting or suffering. He bared it all so others could have a little more.

"…st of them have been far off and don't seem to interested in comin' this way." Beth focused back on the man next to her.

They sat in silence for a while; just looking out into the night and enjoying each other's presence. It had been a while since they had spent any time alone. Lately it felt like he was doing all he could to avoid her, or at least avoid being alone with her. It had been weird ever sense that night. She hadn't had much time to think about it with all of the running and moving around. But now she realized, it had been weird ever sense she woke up in his arms…