A/N: Thank you for the reviews and to those that have followed my story thus far! Here is chapter two!

CHAPTER TWO

Daryl held a firm grip on his crossbow, barely unable to tear his eyes away from Beth as she tried to yell beneath the hands of a stranger. His body began to burn with rage as he thought hard on how he could get the two of them out of this situation. He wanted nothing more than to see these men dead, but there were too many guns pointed at him. Daryl could only imagine punching the man's smile off of his face until it was grotesquely unrecognizable.

"Now now Len, we don't claim other human beings," another man with a pointy chin and wavy grey hair walked up beside the man who held Beth.

"I don't care, Joe!" Len yelled, still holding eye contact with Daryl, "What's he gunna do about it anyway?"

Joe, who Daryl presumed to be the leader, chuckled slightly at Len's remark. "I know he ain't gunna do nothin'. All's I'm saying is, when it comes to human beings—we share."

"Son of a bitch!" Daryl shouted, unable to hold himself back any longer as he held up his crossbow and swung it violently at the leader's face.

Just before it met contact, Joe dodged it by leaning back quickly and then knocked it out of his hands before Daryl knew what was going on. "Boys! Teach this man some manners!"

Almost simultaneously, five men raced to Daryl and began taking swings at his face and stomach. He attempted to fight back, dodging some and throwing his fists. He managed to hit one of them, but there was just too many and he became weaker at each blow. When he received a knee to his gut, he finally fell to the floor and the men began kicking his back and abdomen. All Daryl could hear were Beth's sobs and her voice calling out his name. He wanted to yell back and say something to her—anything—but he began to choke on his own blood and he felt powerless to help her. Daryl figured this was it; he was finished, but he heard Joe's voice one last time.

"Enough! Don't kill him," the leader shouted, having a change of heart and half snickered as he said it, "Let him suffer."

Before Daryl could watch them leave, everything around him became hazy, and then it all fell into darkness as his last view was of Beth being pulled out the door.

...

Daryl woke up a here and there, but he didn't dare open his eyes as they were practically swollen shut. He was too drowsy, and fell in and out of consciousness several times. However, he knew someone was there with him. He figured he was dreaming because he swore he heard a baby crying at one point or another. But then, Daryl's mind began racing further and he thought about Beth screaming. He could hear her calling his name. It was only when he began regaining consciousness again that the voice became softer, but the reminder of Beth's cries still antagonized his mind.

Daryl shot his eyes open suddenly. "Beth!" He yelled, attempting to sit up as he did, but someone gently pushed him back down on his back.

"Woah, calm down Daryl, you haven't got all your strength back yet," a familiar female voice spoke to him, patting his shoulder.

Daryl finally fixated on the figure sitting beside him as his vision began to clear, and for a moment he figured he must have been definitely dreaming. Seeing the silver, grey-like hair, he decided to speak, wishing for a possibility that he was wrong. "Carol? You here?"

He could fully see her features now, and she smiled while nodding slowly. "Yes, it's Carol, and I'm here."

Daryl sat up again, still feeling a bit disoriented. He regarded his surroundings, noticing that he was once again in the woods. Looking down at himself, he was shirtless and covered with dressings. Without waiting another moment, he reached for Carol and wrapped her in a tight hug. Suddenly without any control, he felt his eyes burn up and he knew damn well that it wasn't from the cuts and bruises scattered along his brow. Water built up out of his tear ducts from the happiness and relief of once again seeing his friend.

"I've missed you," Carol murmured as a couple tears rolled down her chin and onto his shoulder, "I was scared you wouldn't wake up."

"I have, thanks to you," Daryl replied gratefully as he pulled away and cupped her cheek, wiping away the water trail that the tears left behind with his thumb. Carol smiled coolly as he placed his hand on his lap. "How long have I been out?"

"Mmm, not too long," Carol replied with a shrug as she grabbed a damp cloth and placed it over a wound on his brow, "For about a day."

Daryl shook his head in disbelief as he flinched back from the sting of the cloth. "A day? Beth…some lowlife pieces of shit took her."

Realizing that she was still in danger, he suffered through the pain he felt as he stood up on his feet, and Carol followed as she tried to talk to him. "We know where they are. Tyreese followed them. We just need to find a way to get her out."

Daryl turned and narrowed his eyes at her, still trying to focus from the head rush. "Tyreese is with you?"

"Yes, and Judith," Carol pointed over at a baby carrier with Judith inside, sound asleep.

Daryl could not believe his eyes, and yet there she was. He let out a heavy sigh of relief as his eyes softened at the harmless infant in front of him. "She's bigger than I remember."

Carol smiled slightly at his remark. "Well it's been awhile since you've seen her. Babies grow up quickly."

Daryl nodded, wanting nothing more than to pick up the lil' ass kicker, but there was more pressing matters to deal with. He had a lot of questions to ask Carol as well, but now was not the time. He pulled his stare away from the baby and looked at Carol with a more serious expression.

"I gotta go save Beth," he spoke with difficultly, feeling sore in practically every part of his body. However, he had the adrenaline and motivation to fight it off, at least for now. "Where's Tyreese?"

Carol began to open her mouth to speak, but a voice to their left answered the question for her. "Right here." They both turned their heads to see Tyreese walking into the camp and had already stretched his hand out towards Daryl for a handshake. When he accepted, Tyreese spoke again. "Glad to see you're awake."

"Yeah, didn't think I'd ever see you all again," Daryl could barely make out a smile. His worry for Beth began to increase with each passing second. "We'll have a proper reunion after we save Beth."

Tyreese mirrored Daryl's expressions, and nodded briefly. "Of course. There are plenty of trees and bushes to cover us from their view. I figure we should have no problem takin' them down when they can't see us. We just have to be quick with good aim. They won't be expecting us, so they'll be sloppy."

Daryl shrugged, "I have no problem with that. Where's my crossbow?"

"We saw them take it from you," Tyreese replied disappointingly.

Daryl gritted his teeth, feeling more pissed off than before. "Fucking bastards."

"Here, take my gun," Carol took the Colt Detective Special out of her waistband and handed it out to him, "There's a few bullets left. But I won't need it since I'll have to stay here and take care of Judith."

Daryl was hesitant for a moment, not sure if it was a good idea for Carol to be left without a gun. "What if a walker showed up?"

"I have my knife. It's okay, you need it more than I do right now," she nodded reassuringly, hoping that he would take it.

Daryl sighed, but gently grabbed it from Carol, "We'll be back soon."

"I know," Carol breathed while barely smiling, her lips twitched with worry, "Just be careful you two, alright?"

Daryl nodded, but didn't say another word as Tyreese turned to leave the camp and he followed quickly behind. They were both anxious to get going, especially Daryl as he felt like he had failed Beth as a protector. He wanted nothing more than to get her back safely with him again. She was too good—too pure. She was everything this world needed—everything that he needed. He just couldn't believe that a group of dickheads could take someone so innocent like her, doing who knows what to her. Daryl had ideas already forming in his head, and his stomach twisted in disgust.

Then he remembered something Beth had said to him at the Moonshine house. 'You're gunna miss me so bad when I'm gone Daryl Dixon.' The words drilled deep into his mind like a parasite and it gave him goose bumps. Daryl knew she was right, but that didn't mean he was going to let it happen. He would fight for her survival until he physically couldn't anymore. No matter how much pain Daryl was going through this very moment, he was going to make sure she was safe. He had to.

...

Beth was afraid; she had never been so afraid before in her life. Within the dampness of the trees, there were six men surrounding her, staring at her with dilated pupils like she was their next meal. At this point, Beth would rather take walkers any day. On top of it all, she knew she had to look strong, but inside she was weak. She couldn't stop sobbing, not only because of her predicament, but most of all because of what happened to Daryl. It was so sudden, so horrific. He was pulled from her so instantly and now there was no one. Beth wanted to die, there was nothing else left.

The men had her arms tied around a tree in case she tried to run, and the only thing that kept her unharmed for a day was their leader. She didn't know why, but she figured he was just trying to taunt her before the deed was done. Beth pleaded to them a few times just to kill her, but they only laughed. They had other ideas, she knew this. It was only a matter of time. The heavier one—she never learned his name—seemed to stare at her most with an eerie, disgusting grin. Most of the time, Beth kept her eyelids shut so she couldn't see them.

"I really wish she would stop her cryin'," Len spoke with annoyance, "We should do something about that."

Almost simultaneously, Beth stopped and attempted to hold back the sniffles. Again, she heard a few snickers from her sudden silence. They were toying with her emotions, and they were enjoying it.

"Might be fun," Tony replied with a smirk, "It's getting pretty boring out here."

"Now we ain't doin' anything of the sort, so smarten up," Joe retorted angrily, seeming more irritated at them then they were at Beth.

She could hear them arguing, but she didn't make out any of it. She tried her hardest to drown them out through her own thoughts. Beth could only think about Daryl and the fact that she was useless. She knew that terrible quality would stab her in the back at some point, but it hurt her most because it was at the expense of Daryl's life. Why couldn't she have been more like Michonne? She could have done something, ANYTHING, to help Daryl fight them off. He'd still be with her and she wouldn't be tied to a tree.

Beth stuttered a sigh before she snapped back to reality, feeling ready to cry once again. She opened her eyes quickly and noticed Joe had quieted the group as he continued to clean a rabbit he had caught. A couple other men lied down for a nap, leaving the heavier man to stare at her once again. Beth felt nauseous suddenly as he began to walk towards her.

He came close enough to her that she could smell his rotten breath as he spoke. "Pretty little thing, ain't yeah?" He eyed Beth up and down like she was on display. She tried to look away, but he would instantly grab her jaw and yank it back to face him.

Beth wanted to scream. Whether someone heard her or not it didn't matter; she couldn't take it anymore. A tear fell and rolled down her cheek as she began to move violently away from him but it only made him angrier. Then suddenly, Beth heard a gunshot ring out so unexpectedly that she flinched back against the tree. The man's body in front of her shook for a mere second as he let her go, and then he stiffened, gasping for air until he finally fell to the ground. The two men who laid down for a nap instantly sat up at an alarming rate, which was probably a bad idea on their part as they became the next targets. Two more gunshots bellowed in the crisp air, taking them down in an instant. Beth felt a sudden shrill of panic as the rest of the men were on their feet, and all chaos broke loose.

The attackers were coming from behind the trees so she couldn't make out who they were. Joe and his group picked up their weapons right before ducking for cover, and began shooting blindly into the trees. However, the attackers were too quick for them. Shortly, the man named Tony who was wearing a bandana, took the next bullet in the arm and then in the chest. He staggered back until he dropped lifelessly in the grass. Beth could hear him gurgling and choking on his own blood as Joe was frantically yelling out commands, but it was no use. Len took a bullet straight in the forehead as he attempted to get a shot out. Flying backwards, he died instantaneously.

As all of this was going on, Beth tried her hardest to pull her wrists out of the ropes that tied her hands together in an attempt to get away, but it was impossible. She figured that whoever it was, they were out for the kill, and she would be next. Through her struggle, Beth didn't realize that the only two people still alive in the camp were her and Joe. The place reeked of blood and gunpowder, and she knew that walkers would be on their way.

Lucky for Beth, she spotted a knife that had dropped from the man that once stood before her, so she quickly slipped her foot out of her shoe and sock, desperate to grab it between her toes. When she finally had a grasp of it, she bent her leg back as far as she could behind the tree and into her fingers. The task was pretty easy, as Beth had always been flexible. Then a voice yelled from the trees, and she felt her heart jump into her throat as she instantly recognized who it was.

"Put down your fucking weapon!" Daryl shouted at Joe, who was more than willing to refuse.

The leader laughed and lifted his hands up until they leveled with his shoulders, but he still remained a hold on his gun. "I'm already dead, ain't I? Though I'd like to see the face of my killer," Joe finally dropped his gun, allowing Daryl and Tyreese to move safely out of the trees.

Beth smiled briefly with tear soaked eyes, bewildered by not only Daryl's presence but Tyreese's as well. They were not who she expected to see, but she figured that Tyreese found and helped Daryl after the men grabbed her. The sight of Daryl gave her immense relief, as though everything she had just gone though was only a nightmare and she had finally woken up. She could only smile for so long, as it seemed that Joe had something up his sleeve. There was another gun poking out of his pants against his back. Seeing this, Beth quickly continued to sever away at the braided rope in attempts to get free.

"Ah, I thought your voice sounded familiar," Joe chuckled, seeming unafraid, "The new look suits you. I shoulda killed you when I had the chance."

Daryl didn't flinch as he sustained his hands on the gun, aiming directly at the leader's head. He knew full well that Joe was talking about his swollen eye and the black and yellow bruises that blanketed parts of his face. "Yeah, you should of."

"Didn't think you'd have another friend with you though," Joe continued as he inched his right hand by his side, "Maybe we could find a truce and be friends, huh?"

"No," Daryl's rough voice barely echoed, "I have enough friends."

Beth finally reached the last thread with the knife and she was free. Her arms and wrists were sore, but she didn't hesitate knowing what she had to do. In a matter of seconds, Beth ran forward towards Joe who had no idea she escaped, partially limping because of her missing shoe. Her actions startled Daryl and Tyreese as it accidently pulled their attention away from the man standing several feet away. Joe found this as his chance, so he shrewdly drew out his gun as quick as he could in hopes to shoot down the attackers. However, Beth had already caught up behind him and stuck out the knife, instantly stabbing him in the side of his neck before he could pull the trigger.

Daryl and Tyreese were not quick enough to react, but after they witnessed what Beth did, their mouths dropped open in surprise. Joe, who froze as soon as the knife pierced into his skin, arched his back and fell to his knees in a matter of seconds. Beth was breathing heavily as her body shook with distress, her hand covered in his blood.

"Well…" Joe choked hoarsely as blood gushed out of his mouth, spluttering the word as the pressure of the knife swallowed his will to speak. A small smirk creased his cheek, but he couldn't finish his sentence as his body fell, dying before he even reached the ground. His hand twitched for a couple seconds before he finally stilled as the nerves in his body shut down.

Daryl and Tyreese made no hesitation to finish the job as they instantly began running around the camp, stabbing the brains of the men before they turned into mindless walkers. Beth remained silently motionless, affected by what she did and what could have been if she hadn't. It didn't take long before Daryl stood in front of Joe's dead body as he saved it for last, striking him once before looking back up at Beth. She caught his eye, and she could feel the sting of tears beginning to form.

Daryl stared at Beth's glossy eyes, looking at her as though she were a monument. He was impressed by what she did, but most of all he felt relieved. He was worried of losing her, knowing that things might not have worked out the way they did. Looking at her now, he saw someone completely different; he saw someone who wanted love and kindness in the world but also had the strength to do what she had to in order to survive.

Finally, Daryl spotted the tear roll down her cheek and he instantly felt his stomach leap. "Beth…" he breathed, never knowing his voice could be as soft as it was. The last thing he wanted was for her to get upset, but he understood. He was feeling the same amount of worry and anxiety that she was.

Hearing her name surprisingly roll off his tongue the way it did, Beth irrepressibly bolted towards him and jumped into his arms, squeezing him in a tight hug. He reciprocated instantaneously, wrapping his arms around her small frame as he held her up off of the ground.

"I thought you were dead," Beth whispered in his ear as she held tighter as though she might lose him again; her face was now buried into the crook of his neck.

"Never," Daryl moved his left hand up to her neck and into her hair, rubbing the back of her head with his fingers reassuringly. He didn't know if he was perhaps passing the line of friendship with the intimate hug that was being shared between them, but it honestly didn't matter. He was glad she was safe, and there was something he and Beth had that tied them so closely together.

Daryl took a glance past Beth's shoulder and noticed Tyreese watching them carefully with his eyebrows raised up high with a smile. Seeing this, Daryl quickly ended the hug and cleared his throat, snapping back into reality. "Gunna grab the rest of the things that these bastards took from me," Daryl broke the silence as he stepped away and searched through a few bags in the camp.

"They have some food too, over in that bag," Beth added, speaking weakly as she barely had enough sleep since she was kidnapped. She quickly slipped her sock and shoe back on.

Tyreese agreed and began a thorough search with them, emptying bags and taking whatever they might find useful. Daryl even snagged the rabbit that Joe was cleaning, figuring it would be good for dinner. They took all of the guns and ammo, even Len's bow, and Beth found a few cans of vegetables and fruit.

"Did you hear that?" Tyreese suddenly asked a few minutes later; his expressions were riddled with worry.

Daryl froze to listen, hearing fallen leaves shuffling in the distance. "Walkers?"

"Possibly," Tyreese shrugged as he shook his head, "But I don't want to stay and find out."

"Yup, its walkers," Beth spotted the silhouettes of a few undead shambling unevenly amongst the tree's, and she quickly put her backpack over her shoulder as she prepared to leave.

Daryl and Tyreese scanned the direction she was facing, and Daryl sighed deeply as he spotted the walkers heading their way through the fog. The three of them left the camp hurriedly, making sure they were far enough not to be followed before they slowed down into a walk. However, they figured the warm meals of the bodies at the camp would be a good enough diversion for them to get away, so they didn't run for very long.

Beth watched the two men curiously as they cut corners and retraced their steps, seeming as though they knew where they were headed. "Where are we goin'?"

Tyreese looked over his shoulder, and a side smirk appeared on the corner of his mouth. "I almost forgot you didn't know. We have a camp not too far from here. Carol and Judith are there waitin' for us."

I want to apologize if anything was unrealistic in this chapter, specifically on how I dealt with Daryl after having been beaten up and how Tyreese and Carol found him. I wasn't particularly sure on how I should have gone about it, but I did the best I could in the short period of time I had so he could save Beth before anything real traumatizing happened to her. I promise future chapters will be much more realistic when dealing with wounds and fights!