A/N: So, this story came to me in the form of a dream. And really, it was the ending that came to me. I've only just started writing, but I know where it'll probably end. I'm really having fun writing this. I've got the first two chapters done. Hopefully I'll continue to be inspired so that I can continue writing this. I haven't felt this inspired in a really long time.

This is my first Bethyl (Beth + Daryl) fic, I've always written stuff for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but I've also never published anything in any way. So, this is a lot of firsts for me.

I sincerely hope that you guys like this. Please leave reviews and follow and favorite this! Constructive criticism is always nice!

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own The Walking Dead it's characters or anything else about this show. I wish I did, though.

Chapter 1

Daryl POV

"BETH! BETH!" I screamed for her. I ran as fast as I could after the black car, with the cross in the back window. I followed it until I reached the crossroads. I had no way of tracking it. How do you track a car on asphalt? My legs gave out. I could feel the tears streaming down my face. I hadn't cried since Merle, not real tears anyways.

"Look't boys." A voice said, above me. I didn't look up. Something jabbed my shoulder. I think it's the barrel of a shotgun. I look up. A group of men are standing around me.

"Whatcha want wit' meh?" I ask.

"What're ya doin' in the middle of the road, boy? You look like you lost your favorite toy." I could only assume he's the leader of this group.

"Tha took 'er," I said, broken.

"Who?" He asked, kneeling in front of me.

"Black car. Tinted windows. Cross in tha back winda. Dunno who. We were holed up in a place few miles back. Got caught by a herd. I tole her to run. Tha snatched 'er. Ran 'til I couldn't run no more. Dina know where to go next. Cain't track on asphalt. Aint no tracks."

The man looked at me, for a long time. "My names Joe. These here are my boys. Let's help him find his girl, eh boys?" He looked at his group. I looked at the men standing around me. I saw them nod in agreement. I couldn't turn down help. Not if it meant finding her. My Beth.

"'M Daryl." I stated.

"Pleased 'ta meet ya, Daryl." He handed me a bottle of water out of his pack. I gratefully accepted it. Have to stay hydrated, if I'm going to find her. I can't let her down. "What's this here girl look like? What's 'er name?"

"Beth. 's blonde. Blue eyed. 'Bout 19. Looks 16, though." I told them.

"Alrighty boys. Let's go this way, for a while. See if we can't pick up a trail. Find where this car went. If we don't find something by night fall we'll make camp and double back and go the other way in the morning." Joe looked at me, and I nodded. That night we made camp. The next morning we turned around at dawn and went back to the crossroads. We went the other direction, and traveled as far as we could till dusk. Every now and then we scouted the surrounding forest, make sure we weren't overlooking a camp or any tracks. That night I didn't sleep much. When the dream world finally overtook me, I woke to a hand over my mouth.

"'S just me, your shouting, loud enough to alert the dead. Screaming for Beth. Hell'va nightmare."

I looked up at him, shocked. He removed his hand from my mouth. I mumbled, "'m sorry." Everyone had nightmares, nowadays. I never woke up screaming from one before. Not before her. 'You're gonna miss me so bad when I'm gone, Daryl Dixon.' Her voice in my head said. I wanted to see her, just one more time. Tell her she was right. I missed her so bad. I didn't want to go on, not without her. Somehow she broke through to me. She's seen some of me I ain't never showed before. I don't know what I'm gonna do if I don't find her.

I looked around at the faces of this group I had somehow become apart of. The sun's about to start rising. Best get up and ready to go. I saw something. A dirt road a little way off in the distance, if it was anyone but me looking, they woulda missed it. It was overgrown and barely noticeable. But I was looking for it. I expected something like this. I walked quickly the rest of the way. No use runnin' up to it and wasting energy. Not if I needed to fight to save her. I looked around at the ground. Fresh tire tracks. My heart stuttered. I wanted to fall to my knees and pray. I never been to into religion and the sort. I'd give it a shot if it meant saving her. I did kneel, but not to pray. I knelt to look at the tracks. They were the same as the ones I saw at the funeral home. I looked up at Joe, standing over my shoulder. I nodded. "Look's like we found what we were looking for, boys. Let's take a little while and eat, make sure we have strength. Who knows what will be waiting for us." Joe announced to the group. I couldn't fault his logic. Hell, it's what I woulda told the prison group, before all this. Still, I wanted to keep going. I didn't want to stop. I just wanted to find her. I knew I needed to be at full strength, though. I nodded at Joe. We wandered a little ways away, so we weren't sitting in their back yard. We didn't make a fire. We ate some canned fruit. Then we got up and got our stuff together. We decided to leave our stuff hidden, not to far from the start of the dirt road. We took to the woods, just off the dirt road. We wanted cover. After a few minutes we could see a small house. Barely more than a cabin. I motioned for the guys to fan out, surround the cabin. There were a couple windows to look through. I motioned to Joe that I was gonna go take a look. I looked around, making sure there wasn't anything going to surprise me. I moved closer, pausing every few steps to be certain I wasn't walking into a trap, and listening. I haven't looked at the back of this house, either. Probably a mistake. I'll look after I look in the windows. At least I know Joe's men are surrounding the building.

I'm at the window now. I look around, once more. I double-check my crossbow in my hand, and the knife on my belt. I carefully peek into the bottom of the window. I can see a mess of blonde hair, I look a little lower and I see the rest of her. Pale, and beautiful. Her hands are chained above her head, to the wall, connected by handcuffs. Easy locks to pick. I gasp as I see the bruise on her cheek, dark purple. She looks up at the window, and with a small gasp I know she saw me. I shake my head at her as if to say don't give me away, Beth. I saw the recognition. She knows my silent way of communication.

I look around the room, noting where the door is. I look back to her, and I put my finger over my lips, telling her to stay quiet, I'll be back. She nods to me. I duck away from this window and check my surroundings again. It's clear. I go to the other window on this side of the building. I carefully peek in. Still no sign of anybody. It's time to go tell Joe what I seen. I made my way back to the tree line.

"She's there. Chained to tha wall. No sign of nobody else. Gonna do a circuit around the joint." I explained, and he nodded. I kept my crossbow in hand as I carefully made my way from tree to tree, around the building. I had to know if the car was here or not. I needed to look in the other windows, too. At the back of the building I saw an enclosure, big enough to park a couple cars. Or one car and have a workshop of some sort. I could only see one window, off to the side. I'd look in there after I checked the window of the main building. I looked into the window of the building. Still no one. 'Why aint there nobody here? They just left their prisoner alone? Nuh uh. Don't seem right. What'm I missin'?' I asked myself. I made my way over to the other building. I looked into the window. One man, kinda tall, skinny, dressed all in black. 'White collar', I think to myself. 'Preacher, before the turn?' It'll be easy enough to take him down, so long as he's the only one here. I made my way carefully back to Joe. The other men were drifting back towards him, as well.

"What'cha see, boys?" Joe asked.

"Nothin', boss. Not even no biters," Len said, at least, I think his name is Len. I haven't paid much attention to names.

"I ain't seen no walkers, neither. Only one guy, too. 'S in a shed lookin' thing in tha back," I said, looking at the guys. "Beth's in tha house. It'll be easy ta get her. I don't think there's more'n one guy. I can get tha drop on him, than go get Beth. Ya'll don't have to stick around."

Joe looked me over. "Son, we've stuck with ya this far. We're gonna help you get your girl back. There's more then enough of us, to surround the place and take the guy out, while you and me go in and get her."

"Tie 'im up. I want ta be tha one to take 'im out. 'Specially if he…" I couldn't finish my sentence. They knew what I meant, anyhow.

"Sure thing, son. Lets go. Boys, I want two of you with me and Daryl, watching our backs. The rest of you, get the man in the other building. And keep an eye on the back." Every one nodded and headed to do their jobs. Joe, and the two guys who were coming with us waited while I checked my crossbow for what was probably the tenth time in as many minutes. I checked my knife again, too. Couldn't risk a screw up and costing Beth her life. "Let's go."

We went back to the front of the house, I took point. I stalked up the stairs, quietly, eyes out for any sort of trap. I carefully opened the door and jumped back, just in case. Crossbow in front of me, I crept into the room. No one around. I could see the door that would lead me to Beth. I made my way to the door, and once again, carefully opened it. I looked around, letting my eyes finally make their way to Beth.