A/N Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll enjoy my newest Merle and Beth story.

She was just starting to wake up and she could swear she smelled a man, you know, like a man's after shave, or deodorant, something like that.

Her head was pounding as she opened her eyes and whispered to herself, "Oh no, where am I?"

She was in bed, but it definitely wasn't her bed or her bedroom. She just had to look around a little to know this was a man's bedroom. The heavy furniture, the lack of any sort of decoration or even a knick knack, the dark quilt. Oh dear, it all said 'man's room.'

Then her eyes landed on an overstuffed chair in the corner of the room. There was a sheriff deputy's uniform lying neatly over the back of it, and her dress was lying next to it.

Oh my God, what had she done? Who had she gone home with? It was then she noticed she was dressed in a man's t-shirt.

And then she saw the photo there on the nightstand. It was him with his younger brother. Oh it just couldn't be, oh my God, what had come over her? She couldn't even remember anything.

Please God, please wake me up from this dream, and she was pinching herself. It was no use, it wasn't a dream. She was in Merle Dixon's bed.

This day was not starting off well for Beth Greene. Not well at all.

xxxx

He'd stopped in the place just before going off duty. They'd had reports of young women being drugged and his boss, Rick Grimes, had asked him to drop by the joint, make his presence felt and maybe scare off any potential trouble.

Merle had a real talent for scaring off trouble, although the joke around the sheriff's department was he probably started as much trouble as he scared off.

Grimes didn't see it that way. He saw Merle as a valuable asset. There was a certain "rough element" in town, especially after methamphetamines had become the drug of choice. The drug element would be even harder to control without someone like Merle Dixon on the job.

Merle knew plenty about drugs.

He was a guy who knew what manufacturers and dealers were up to, knew their connections, knew when they were trying to get away with shit no one else would even suspect.

He'd been a part of their world. Lived that life.

Merle Dixon may be big, loud and crass, but Merle Dixon had a way of keeping crime down, while he walked a very fine line himself. Rick didn't question him much, mostly he really didn't want to know how Merle did what he did.

The solve rate was up, and the crime rate was down. That's what the Sheriff cared about.

After all, Sheriff is an elective office. Votes come when people feel safe, protected.

And that's why Merle Dixon was his Chief Deputy.

When he walked in the place things quieted right down, all eyes on him. Merle had a reputation for being mean, for going hard, for being a badass. He knew it and he used it to his advantage.

He saw a guy slip out the back door. He recognized him, didn't know him really but he'd seen him around.

That's when he spotted Beth Greene, and he couldn't have been more surprised. She was one of those girls you never would imagine coming in a bar. She seemed almost innocent, and a little introverted, definitely not the party girl type.

She worked at the Sheriff's Department and for the Courts. She was a sketch artist, the best anyone had ever seen. Merle was sure she could easily get a job in any big city, but then again she didn't seem like a big city girl.

And as much as she wasn't Merle Dixon's type there was something about her that got to him the first time he saw her. He couldn't put his finger on what that was exactly. He just knew that dammit, he had a bad case for her.

Sure she was pretty as could be, and that woman had some knock out eyes. And when she did smile it was big and expressive. But his favorite thing was the way she flushed up all pink in the cheeks when someone just spoke to her.

She was sweet as sugar that girl.

Just the kind of gal he didn't need in his life. Fuckin' around with his feelings and shit. Expecting more from him than what he wanted to give a woman.

And yet, even feeling like that, Merle had tried his damnedest to get her to go out with him. He turned the old Dixon charm up full blast, but she wasn't having any part of it. Nope.

He supposed she'd heard stories about him from the other ladies in the department.

He did have a reputation when it came to the women, he acknowledged that. Owned it. He liked the women. Nothing wrong with that.

But she wasn't the kind of gal you just took up with for a night, had a few drinks with, both of you knowing what was next. Sex and a sweet goodbye. No promise to call, no strings.

Everybody moving on. Simple, uncomplicated. That's the only kind of relationship he'd ever had, and the only kind he ever wanted.

And there were plenty of gals around who liked it that way too.

She definitely wasn't one of them.

Well fuck it, he couldn't deny it. He had a genuine attraction to her. He knew he'd never had that feeling for anyone else. And he just didn't know what to do with it.

But then again, it didn't seem to matter. Because Beth Greene wouldn't give him the time of day.

xxxx

She saw the bedroom had an attached bathroom, thank God for that at least. She took her dress in with her and she'd been relieved that at least she still had her bra and panties on.

She washed her face, took the ponytail out, ran her fingers through her hair as best she could, and put the ponytail back in.

She squeezed some toothpaste on the end of her finger and made an effort to sort of brush her teeth.

Her dress looked to be in good shape and she put it on, then neatly folded his t-shirt and set it on the dresser, she slipped her sandals on and then she knew there was no more stalling.

She knew she had to walk out of that bedroom and face him, and she almost hyperventilated just thinking about it. But she couldn't hide in this room, his room, forever.

xxxx

She'd spotted him her first day with the department, he was ruggedly handsome. But there was something about him that also seemed so dangerous. She thought that was odd, he was a Sheriff's Deputy for heaven's sake.

He'd asked her out a few times, and she did have a crush on him, but she was afraid to go out with him. He had a reputation as being quite the lady's man, in a love 'em and leave 'em one night stand way. She certainly wasn't interested in that.

He was definitely older, she guessed in his early to mid-thirties and she'd just turned 22. But it wasn't really the age difference, in fact that didn't bother her at all. It was more that he seemed so, well, rough.

He scared her just a little. And because of what she'd heard about his reputation with women, well she knew he wasn't the guy for her. No matter how handsome he was, or how attracted to him she was.

He was always polite to her, he was never pushy. But every time he asked her out, well she was afraid, afraid if she went out with him he'd want something from her that she didn't just go around giving away.

She didn't know if she could handle a man like him. Even though it kept getting harder and harder for her to tell him "no."

xxxx

She took one last deep breath, opened the door and stepped out.

He was sitting in an easy chair drinking a cup of coffee and reading the paper. The radio was on low and she recognized an old Hank Williams tune.

He looked up, set the paper down on the coffee table, stood and said, "Hey Beth, how ya feelin'?"

And she started to cry. And not just a little.

Shit he wasn't used to that stuff, he tried to never hang around with a woman long enough to see one crying.

He got up quickly and walked toward her, he put a hand to her upper arm but when she flinched, he took it right away. "Ya okay, ya sick, whatsa matter?"

"What happened last night, Merle? I mean, you and me, what did you do?" She was trembling and sniffling, and he felt kind of bad for her. But damn, she had no business accusing him.

"Well I'll tell ya what little lady, why don't we sit down n have a pleasant conversation about just what I did last night. Can I get ya a coffee?"

"Yes please." She was redder than he'd ever seen her.

"Ya look like a milk n sugar girl, is that how ya like it?" She nodded. "Ya go on ahead n sit down, it ain't what ya think Beth."

He was a little perturbed, but he understood why she'd probably think something like what she was thinking.

He handed her the coffee and started right in on the story. "I stopped at Jersey's Joint just 'fore I got off duty last night. Grimes ask me ta see what was up, we've had some reports a trouble over there.

Anyway, I seen ya over in a far corner, ya had about a half glass a wine in front a ya, but you was out of it, like you'd had a couple bottles.

I asked the barman n he said ya just had that one glass. He said a guy had gone over ta yer table n sat with ya. He noticed when I walked in that guy scooted out the back, fast.

So now, ya tell me what ya remember."

She took what must have been her hundredth deep breath of the morning, "I'd never been in the place, I'd never even heard of it, I'm not really a person to go to bars, in fact I'd never been in a bar. But I have a new neighbor, Amy, she'd asked me that morning, 'It's Friday, let's have a drink and dinner out.' She seemed like a real nice girl, so I agreed.

She asked me to meet her at that place right after work. Sasha dropped me off there on her way home from the station, and she warned me to just be careful. Anyway, Amy wasn't there yet so I ordered a glass of wine.

A man came over and sat at the table trying to, well you know, get friendly with me. I told him I was waiting for a friend and that I wasn't interested, but he was the persistent type. Finally I went in the bathroom, thinking maybe he'd get the hint and leave. I waited about 10 minutes before I came out.

He was at the bar drinking a beer. I was so relieved that he'd given up. I got my phone out to check for a message from Amy, I took a few sips of wine and I started to feel so tired, and I don't know, heavy, like I could hardly move.

I remember seeing the man walking back toward me, and the next thing I knew, I woke up here."

"Yeah well it sounds ta me like you was drugged Beth, one a them date rape things. I'm real sorry." He saw tears come to her eyes and he felt bad. He knew she was one of those good girl types. This was freaking her right out.

"Nuthin' happened after that, ya got my word. I seen ya wasn't with it. So after I was done talkin' ta the barman and the cocktail waitress, I brung ya here. I knew ya lived over in that apartment complex on East Elm, but I didn't think it was a good idea ta leave ya alone for the night. All kinda helpless and out of it like that.

I slept in the spare room."

It was then she addressed the elephant looming large in the room. At least it was for her, "What about my clothes Merle?"

Okay now wait, THAT was the reddest he'd ever seen her, ears, neck, throat, face, all of it.

"My neighbor Karen was sittin' out front a her place havin' a beer with her man when we got here. When she seen the kind a shape you was in, she asked if she could help. I give her a t-shirt ta put on ya so ya wouldn't have ta sleep in yer clothes.

Ya know Beth, I know I got a reputation, and I know people talk, but I ain't no kinda desperate man. I don't drug women for sex, or take advantage of women that don't know what they're doin'. I'm tryin' hard ta be respectful and considerate of ya here, so don't treat me like I'm some kinda sleazy bastard, K?"

There came that color again. "You're right Merle, I'm so sorry, I haven't been fair to you. If not for you who knows what could have happened? I owe you a debt. Please forgive me, and thank you so much for taking care of me." She was trying so hard not to cry, but the tears were pooled up in those big blue eyes.

Damn he'd like to wrap her right up in his arms and comfort the hell out of her for about three days.

Well a guy can dream.

And at least this time when he touched her arm she didn't flinch, "Hey Beth, it's all right, we're good. Now, ya think you can make me a sketch a the guy? I'ma find him and make sure nuthin' like this happens again."

Now she looked nervous, "Oh no, I won't have to testify in court will I?"

"Nah, I think he'll probably wanna leave town after I'm done talking to him." Merle knew something would happen to the guy, oh yeah, something that wasn't going to be real good for the asshole.

And what was going to happen definitely wouldn't involve a court date.

xxxx

They'd say "Hello" and smile when they happened to run into each other on the job. Everything had been cordial. But they hadn't discussed anything further about that night, or that morning.

Hell he hadn't told anyone, not even the sheriff, that he'd seen the guy that night, or that he found him later the next day.

They didn't have to know anything, the situation was taken care of and besides, they were better off not knowing. Especially the Sheriff.

He'd made up his mind he was going to try one more time. Why the fuck not? She'd already turned him down a dozen times. What harm was one more rejection?

But this was going to be it. He wanted to take her out, wanted a chance with her. But damn, if she wasn't going to budge, well then he didn't have a choice, he'd have to just walk away.

A/N Thank you so much for reading! Please leave reviews/comments and let me know your thoughts. xo