Chapter 2

Breathe. Take slow breaths and count down from ten. Stop showing weakness. This was repeating in Daryl's head until he regained his composure. He realized that he had just became vulnerable and given so much away to this stranger. Then again, he knows Beth, maybe. Or, he says he knows someone who sounds like Beth. How long has he been following him exactly? He doesn't seem like an evil man, like so many him and his group have run into before.

He stared at Aaron watching him slightly flinch under the inspection of Daryl's deep blue judging eyes. The longer he held his penetrating gaze on Aaron, the more he could tell that Aaron was telling the truth, and that he only wanted to find the good people that were left in the world. This only reminded him of Beth even more. She once told him that there were still good people, and he started actually believing that because of her. Daryl couldn't begin to describe what he was feeling right now, and why he reacted the way that he did, so he stopped reacting. He kept conversation to a minimum, and stopped making eye contact.

…

Aaron didn't know what to think of this situation. He wasn't sure what this man had been through, but he's clearly on some sort of level of messed up. Who isn't though, given the current state of the world. One minute he's having a nervous breakdown, the next he's brewing up a hurricane with his eyes.

"I believe Beth is her name. She hasn't spoken much since she woke up. She has a friend that came along with her, and he hasn't shared much either. I think they both had a pretty rough time before we found them, even outside of getting in some sort of gun fight."

"Mmm.. Names Daryl. I'll come with ya to check out-yer place. We better get movin'."

"How about we head out when it gets light out? It'll be safer."

"Nah, we'll cover more distance goin' now."

" Alrighty.. I guess you're the boss."

…

They've been walking for about six hours, and the sky was just starting to get a shade or two lighter. Daryl had not said a word for the entire time, he was trailing behind Aaron about two feet. Every time Aaron turned around to check on Daryl, Daryl would stop dead in his tracks until Aaron picked back up the pace.

Aaron broke the silence, "We should be able to head off your friends if we start trying to track them in about two hours. That should be around where you left them."

"No, an I didn' leave em'. Don' say stuff you don' know about."

"You're right. Don't take this the wrong way, but I do know you walked away from them and ended up thirty or more miles away."

"I ain't bringin' my group somewhere I ain't ever been before."

…

They arrived at the spot where Daryl first started walking. All he could think about was that Beth may be at this guys camp. How could she possibly be at this guys camp? He couldn't wrap his head around this. He saw her get shot in the head, he held her lifeless body, and he watched Tyrese put her in the car when everything went to shit. They all wanted her to be safe from walkers. He couldn't bare the thought of her being somewhere with her insides ripped out and being exposed. That couldn't happen. She deserved better than what she got. He was sure she was dead. How could she have just let herself out of the car with a gunshot wound to the head? This doesn't add up. They never would have left her behind if it hadn't been for the herd. There was no choice.

Aaron said there's a friend with her. Who would Beth have with her? One of those asshole cops from the hospital?

"We left her behind."

Aaron turned around to face him, "What was that Daryl?"

"Beth. We all thought she was good as dead, and we left her there. There was a herd. We put her in a car, and we left."

"If this is in fact your Beth that we're talking about here, then everything will be ok. She'll know you're a good man and that you had no choice."

Daryl looked at Aaron with distaste, "She ain't MY Beth."

"I just meant your groups Beth, sorry. When I was watching you, I just knew that you were survivors. You're not just a group of people that gives up because life is tough now. You'll be there for each other and you'll survive to tell the story. Daryl, you led your people to safety when the storm hit. I knew then that I needed to bring back someone like you, someone who would make a difference in our community."

"I ain't nobody. I just do what I have to do to survive."

"That's everything Daryl."

…

Aaron stopped suddenly, causing Daryl to jolt into action, raising his crossbow and scanning his nearby surroundings.

Daryl visibly uneasy, whispered, "What? You see something?"

"I hear something up ahead. Walkers I think. Sounds like quite a few."

"Alright, let's jus keep movin' quiet."

This didn't seem like a good idea and Daryl knew it. As it was, Daryl hadn't noticed a sound up ahead, and Aaron had. Was Aaron a tracker and as good as Daryl was in this shitty world they now lived in? It made Daryl uncomfortable that he had been so deep into his self guilt that he's just aimlessly been following the heels of this stranger, Aaron.

Aaron didn't even try to hide the concern on his face, "Let's just stay alert. We'll be there soon."

Within minutes, walkers came from each direction. It looked like the start of a decent sized herd. Actually, a decently large herd. The only clear opening was behind them. There was no hesitation made from either Daryl or Aaron. They worked their way through the walkers on the back left side, and continued on until they found an overhang of a tree that they could crouch under. Aaron jumped in first urging Daryl to hurry, and only after a moment of taking in the situation did Daryl follow him into the small opening. It took a little effort to squeeze out of view from the passing walkers, and by the time Daryl was fully inside, he was so close to Aaron that it was suffocating.

Daryl awkwardly was thinking of ways to lighten the situation, until finally, "I guess if you were gon' try to kill me, I'd suggest tryin' now."