Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead nor am I in any way affiliated with the show, the comics or AMC. This is strictly a work of fiction for entertainment purposes only. Thanks.

A/N: Hi! Okay, so I probably won't always be able to update this quickly but this chapter was in my head and wouldn't get out!

Okay, I have to respond to this, GeorgieGirl75, not only did your comment have me giggling my booty off, but thank you! That was exactly what I was going for!

With that, thank you to everyone who reviewed. Please continue to do so. Okay, I'll stop blathering and let you read. Let me know what you think!

Hunted

Chapter Two

Joe seemed pleased when Daryl offered to take point as they approached the strangers' campsite. He saw it as a sign that Daryl was going to start showing some enthusiasm for their chosen pursuit in this brave new lawless world. He was convinced that it had something to do with all those women locked up in those tiny little cages.

He just didn't know how right he was about that; nor how wrong he was about the motivation. That was fine with Daryl though. Let Joe think that he was some kind of sexual deviant, he really didn't give a damn. Not as long as he got her back.

"They're settled in too damn cozy," Daryl growled, crouched down low as he eased forward, "That means they ain't worried about walkers. That means they got traps."

As they drew nearer to the camp, sure enough, they heard groaning, labored breathing and movement ahead. Daryl had his crossbow at the ready as they came upon the surreal sight. Around the clearing where the strangers had set up camp, they had placed barricades. Each barricade was equipped with long, sharpened stakes, spears basically. Walkers had just impaled themselves along the perimeter and gotten stuck. Didn't take much force. Their bodies were soft and rotting. Rotten flesh didn't make for a strong protective shell.

Daryl slipped between two of the spears that were walker free at the moment and climbed to the other side of the barricade. Without a word, he kicked the barricade until there was a gap for Joe and the boys to slide through. Idiots. You'd think that with the whole kidnapping and holding girls in cages they would know that the bigger threat in this world was other people; not goddam walkers and maybe make an effort to fortify against the predators that actually possess the ability to think. Daryl waited for a hint or tinge of guilt. It didn't come. These assholes deserved whatever Joe's assholes did to them.

Plus, he needed the distraction that they would provide.

They closed in on the fire and Daryl's eyes sought her out at once. Acid churned with suppressed violence in his gut as he looked at her. She was huddled in the corner of a fucking dog crate, curled in on herself like a beaten animal. If he figured out which one of these bastards had put her in that damn cage, he would tear him apart with his bare hands. He pulled back when shadow gave to firelight; let Joe take the lead. Let him make the first move. Daryl wanted to draw as little attention to himself as possible.

And, just as Daryl had known that he would, Joe entered the scene with a grand fanfare. He strolled right up behind one of the strangers, grabbed him by the hair at the back of his head and dragged him to his feet. Then, without pause, he slit the man's throat and grinned with mirth at the rest of the strangers, who seemed to be frozen in place in a kind of shock.

"Evenin'." Joe said, his tone cordial. Pleasant.

The strangers finally snapped out of their stupor but before any of them could even go for their weapons, the boys were on them. That's when the screaming began.

For the first time, Daryl ignored the depraved atrocities of his new companions. He didn't care. Let them do their thing. Have at it. He hunkered down low and slid over to the row of filthy metal cages. He had to take out one stranger on his way over. Single blow; knife to the temple. He didn't draw it out. Bastard would never know how lucky he was.

Then, he got his first up close look at her.

Beth.

Her hair was tangled and matted to her head with blood and sweat. Her clothes were torn. Low on her jaw, there was an ugly purplish bruise. She looked like hell and she was the most beautiful sight Daryl had ever seen—until he saw her eyes. That was the worst part of it all. Those big blue eyes had always been so vibrant and hopeful; unwavering. Now, they were flat, void, dead—like a walker's.

"Not givin' up on me, are ya, little girl?" he breathed.

Her gaze cut to him and BAM! It was like someone lit up a sparkler on the fourth of July, those eyes brightened up so fast. Came right back to life. Something squeezed hard in Daryl's chest. She flung herself forward, small, dirty fingers curling around the cage bars. "Daryl!"

"Shh," Daryl said, casting glances around to make sure everyone was still otherwise occupied before settling back on her, "Did they hurt ya, Beth? Did they—they touch you?"

Beth shook her head and Daryl released a breath that he hadn't realized he had been holding. Then, Beth gestured to the cage beside hers. There was a young brunette woman lying prone and bleeding at the bottom of it. "But, that girl," Beth said, her voice trembling, "they—they—right there. Right in front of me. They laughed the whole time while she—she cried and scre—they just laughed. I think I'm meant to be next."

Daryl's jaw tightened, "Ain't gonna be no next." He reached through the bars of the crate and caught Beth by the jaw. He didn't hurt her, but his grip certainly wasn't gentle, "I'ma get you outta here and you never leave my sight again."

Having said that, he pulled a crowbar from his pack and wedged it into the metal door. The shrill high pitched sound of the hinges giving was much louder than he would have liked, but he couldn't really bring himself to give a damn. The door fell open and dangled only by the lock. He shoved it to the side as Beth clambered out. He knew her well and was quick to catch her by the arm and get her to her feet before she could embrace him. They weren't out of danger just yet.

Over her shoulder, he saw that Joe had spotted them. His plan had been to get Beth and slip away during the attack but that clearly wasn't going to happen now. Joe had taken a step toward them.

Dammit.

"Alright, Beth, listen up," he rushed, "you gotta follow my lead, here, okay. I need you to be emotionless. Poker face, got it?"

Beth didn't hesitate. She didn't question him. She simply said, "Got it."

With that, Daryl grabbed her by the wrist and went striding toward Joe, tugging her along behind him.

"What you find there, Daryl?" Joe asked, leering at Beth.

"Find nothin'," Daryl said, "This is my property."

"Oh, we share in the spoils, son."

"Spoils is spoils. This is mine."

"Pretty thing. You ought to share with your friends."

Daryl wanted to tense up, prepare. Every instinct he had was shouting at him to grab Beth, fight his way out and run. They'd never make it. Not right now. He needed time to prepare, to plan. He forced his body to relax, letting his mind bring up a playback of all the chauvinistic bullshit he's heard Merle spout over the years.

With humor he didn't feel, he snorted, "You kiddin'?" he jerked Beth forward a little, put her on display. He hated himself for it, wanted to throw up even as he did it, but it fit the part he was trying to play so he had to do it, "Look at this bitch. She's grade A prime cut. All the rotten tail out there now, when you find a prime piece, you don't share. You savor."

"Agreed there, son. Been a while since I had me any prime."

"My condolences."

"Daryl—."

"I don't share what's mine."

"Yours?"

"I told you they took somethin' o' mine," He gave Beth a squeeze, "I took it back."

"She's yours?"

"Won 'er in a poker game from some asshole named—Shane. Sweet pot. Had a buck knife, four cans of blueberry pie filling and her." He slid his hand down to Beth's hip, "You can use your imagination about what happened to that pie filling."

When he watched Joe's eyes follow the progression of his hand, Daryl had to wonder if he was doing more harm than good here. It was too late to change tactics now. Possessive was better than protective with guys like Joe any day of the week. Joe's eyes continued to skim over Beth's body and it took everything that Daryl had in him not to shield her bodily from the predatory glint in his gaze.

"Well," Joe said, "maybe we could rustle up a desk of cards and have our own little poker game."

"Maybe," Daryl forced a smirk, "when I'm done with 'er. Til then, there's five other cages. Take your pick."

That said, Daryl made like the conversation was over and brushed past Joe with Beth in tow. He had bought them some time. Not a lot of time, but some. Joe wouldn't come after Beth tonight. Though, he couldn't help but feel deep down inside that all he had succeeded in doing tonight was pulling Beth out of the frying pan and both of them into the fire.

Joe kept a careful eye on Daryl and his new plaything, searching for any signs of affection, compassion, weakness. She was a pretty little thing with that fragile angel face and tight little heart shaped ass. He could understand Daryl's want to have her to himself for a while. Sweet little pussy like that, you don't want to wear out too soon.

But Joe worried. He was a worrier. He worried that there might be something more than possessiveness behind the younger man's actions. If that was the case, it would need to be addressed and dealt with.

Still, he thought, stealing another glance at Blondie, what a tasty looking bitch.

All that smooth skin he'd bet anything was just as soft as it looked. He wondered how it would look with light dribbles of blood running across it. Deep crimson red against all that creamy whiteness. He wouldn't deny himself the pleasure of seeing that. He'd hold off for tonight. Let his newest have a good time with the little bitch. Tomorrow was another day. Or the day after. Hell, the anticipation was sometimes just as good as the act itself. But he would have her.

Maybe he would even make Daryl watch.

A/N: Okay, I felt dirty even writing that last section but I think Joe is a seriously twisted mister. But on a lighter note, Beth is back with Daryl! All is not quite right with the world but at least they are together. So, again I plead with you, please, please, please review and let me know what you think! Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it!