A/N: Shit I accidentally uploaded chapter one again... My bad. Thanks to the guest reviewer who let me know! Here's the real chapter 3, don't forget to comment/follow/favorite if you like it!

Warning: mentions of child abuse and assault.


Ever since he could remember, Daryl was always the one to make sure Merle didn't fuck up too bad and fix everything he screwed up. He didn't pay back drug money? There goes Daryl's slim savings. Merle hit on a girl who was taken? Daryl took the punch from an angry boyfriend. Merle stole their dad's beer? Daryl got the belt.

His older brother wasn't too fond of thank you's either. People that they met in towns that they stopped at told him Merle was no good for him, he could live a good life if he didn't follow his brother around like a lost puppy. This usually earned them the middle finger and being cussed out by him. Daryl had no one else, so he would keep following him around Georgia dealing with his brother's shit until he kicked the bucket or decided to settle down. Daryl snorted at the thought, like that would happen anytime soon.

It was just after midnight and the bar was bustling with people. Merle had Veronica, his latest toy, in his lap with one hand wrapped around her waist and a beer in the other. They had been drinking for a while, and Daryl knew there was no way he was going to be able to pick up the hefty tab. Which meant he would inevitably have to.

"Come on baby brother, stop lookin' so down. Why don't cha find yourself a girl while we're here? Find some tail to pass the time?" Merle chuckled, nudging his shoulder as he took another swig of beer.

"I don't need a woman to have fun." Daryl snorted into his drink, downing the rest of it. Hopefully he could get drunk enough to ignore his brother.

"What about that cute little blonde over there?" Merle chuckled, pointing across the bar to where a small stage was set up. Daryl groaned in annoyance when he recognized the person. It was the girl from the diner, Beth. He was shocked really, at first glance she didn't even look old enough to be in the bar. Hell, did she look different though.

Even though he was across the room from her, he could definitely pick out what was different about her. Their past two encounters she had been dressed casually, no makeup, hair up, not looking to impress anyone. Now though, her eyes were dark and smoky while her lips were painted the color of bubblegum. The dark blue jeans she was wearing were sinfully tight, making her legs look long and lean. She looked sexy, and the thought made Daryl kick himself, he shouldn't be thinking that way about a kid. A nosy, annoying, overly friendly kid at that.

There were cheers and whoops as she sat down on the stool in the middle of the stage, some coming from Merle which made Daryl punch him in the arm. His brother was old enough to be her father, hell so was he, it was just wrong for him to be catcalling her. She smiled shyly into the microphone and settled her guitar in her lap.

"Evenin' everyone." She chuckled. "I'm Beth Greene for anyone that doesn't know me, and I'm gonna be singing for a little while." With that, she started strumming the chords on her guitar, tapping her foot on the floor. Daryl instantly recognized the Dolly Parton song as Beth's smooth voice filled the air. She was good, her voice wasn't too high and held only a little bit of the twang she had when she spoke.

"I need some air." Daryl mumbled after listening to a few songs. He glanced over to Merle, who was too busy groping Veronica too notice he had even said something. Rolling his eyes he stalked out of the bar and leaned against the cold brick wall, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket. He stuck the cigarette in between his lips while he fished the lighter out of his pocket, quickly lighting it and inhaling the smoke into his lungs.

The cigarette was half done when the door to the bar swung open and out walked the girl he had deliberately left to avoid. Beth didn't seem to notice him as she pulled her phone out of her back pocket and made a call. Daryl ignored her, trying to finish his cigarette so he could go inside and get away from her. He knew if she saw him, it would most likely lead to her starting up an unwanted conversation. He stomped out his cigarette after another minute and was making his way back inside when he saw a guy leaning against the wall next to Beth. She looked frustrated with him, her jaw tense and her fingers curled tightly around her phone as she continued to talk on it. Daryl was tempted to ignore them but when the sleaze pulled her phone from her hand and pinned her against the wall he couldn't just standby and watch.

"Get off you dick!" Beth exclaimed, trying her best to push him away as he pressed his hips firmly against hers, forcing her against the wall. Daryl saw red as the guy chuckled, grabbing her wrists and forcing them against the wall and rolled his hips into hers again.

"Hey!" Daryl shouted, getting to them in a few strides. "The girl said get off of her."

"Why don't you piss off old man." He scoffed, dropping one hand to run up Beth's side. She yelped in fear, wiggling more in another weak attempt to get free. Before thinking about the consequences, Daryl was yanking the guy away from her by the back of his collar, his fist connecting painfully with his face.

"Why don't you learn to respect women." He spat, throwing him on the ground and giving him a kick to the stomach before turning to Beth. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." She breathed shakily, her hands shaking from fear and the cold. "Thanks."

"No problem, fucker shoulda left you alone." He said with a nod, turning on his heel without another word and going back into the bar. He got another beer before looking for Merle and Veronica, trying to forget about what had just happened and his throbbing knuckles. He would've done it for any girl, he told himself. He was just being a decent person, no more no less.

He found his brother coming out of the bathroom with his usual smug 'I just got lucky' smirk, a very disheveled Veronica hot on his heels.

"We're heading to Ronnie's place, you just go on home when you're ready baby brother." He said, wiggling his eyebrows and winding his arm around her waist, not so subtly grabbing her ass. Daryl rolled his eyes, hoping she was sober enough to drive because there was no way in hell his brother was in a position to drive.

"See y'all tomorrow." He gave them a nod and Merle all but pulled her out of the bar. Daryl could only roll his eyes and throw himself onto a bar stool. He sat alone for a while longer, drinking a few beers and watching ESPN on the flat screen over the bar. He paid his tab with a grimace, it was much more than he would've liked and as he had suspected Merle didn't pay for his own drinks.

"One day that son of bitch is gonna pay me back." He grumbled to himself as he shoved his wallet back into his pocket and made his way out of the bar. He walked quickly to where Merle had parked their truck when they got there, and was more than shocked to see that it wasn't there anymore. He must've taken it when he left with Ronnie. Typical Merle, leaving his brother stranded somewhere with no way to get home. In the middle of January, no less. It wasn't the first time he had left him somewhere, he couldn't count the times he had been stranded as a child on both hands.

Daryl sighed and shoved his cold hands in his pockets, starting the trek across town to the shitty apartment he had leased after realizing that he would be in town for a while. Merle was more than happy to freeload on old friend's couches, but Daryl always felt awkward and bothersome intruding in someone's house. In a car, the apartment was only a five minutes drive, but he knew walking would take much longer. He was going to have a hell of a cold the next day and he was already dreading the runny nose that would come along with it.

He was halfway home when a car drove up behind him, slowing to a stop next to him. He glanced over at it, hoping it wasn't someone that Merle had pissed off and was there to beat the shit out of him. To his surprise, it wasn't, and instead of a dealer a familiar blonde head popped out of the window.

"What the hell are you doing walking around at three in the morning? It's like, twenty degrees out." Beth stated, giving him a once over. He was shivering visibly and his nose and cheeks were bright red from the wind, it was obvious his thin jacket wasn't doing much to keep the cold out.

"I'm walking home what the fuck does it look like?" He snapped, turning away from her and walking down the road again. He heard her groan and move forward to drive slowly next to him.

"Well do you not have a car? What about that motorcycle you had a few weeks ago?" She pried. Daryl rolled his eyes, she was even nosier than normal.

"Merle took the car and left me there." He shrugged, walking faster and hoping she would find the answer acceptable and leave. He had no such luck.

"Do you need a ride?" She offered, frustration evident in her voice as she sped up slightly to keep up with him. Daryl shook his head, not even turning his head to her. With another agitated groan she stopped her car abruptly, the breaks squealing and gravel flying everywhere. "Stop ignoring me and get in the goddamn car Daryl Dixon!" She demanded, slamming her hand down on the steering wheel.

"You tryin' to wake the fucking dead?" He snapped, turning to her. She glared at him, her eyes full of determination.

"I'm trying to help you but you're being an ass." She bit back. Daryl rolled his eyes and ran a hand through his hair, his frustration with the teen growing.

"You give me a ride then leave me the fuck alone, you got that?" He grumbled, walking around her car and slinging the door open. She smiled triumphantly as he threw himself into the passenger seat and slammed the door. Beth wasn't fazed by his hostility and nodded towards him.

"Seatbelt." She reminded, her voice sweet as sugar, a big contrast to the harsh tone she used just minutes before. Daryl rolled his eyes again and jerked the belt across his chest, angrily pushing it into place. Beth shot him a smug grin before moving again.

The ride was silent, the only sounds being the engine humming and Daryl's simple directions to his apartment. He was surprised that Beth didn't try to pry or start a conversation, she just drove quietly. Her silence unnerved him, Merle had told him when he was younger that there was nothing worse than a silent woman and he was completely right. He waited for her to explode on him, yell at and berate him for being so stubborn, but it never came. She kept her mouth shut until she pulled into the parking lot of his building and put the car in park.

"Goodnight." She mumbled, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel nervously. He had noticed her doing that during the drive and at the diner, she was constantly fidgeting her hands.

"Night." He nodded simply, unbuckling and stepping out of the car. He was about to shut the door before he turned around and ducked down to look in the car. "Thanks."

"Anytime." She replied, her voice soft from obvious exhaustion. He gave her one more awkward nod before standing up straight and closing the door, giving her a small wave as she drove out of the parking lot.

He stood there on the sidewalk until her tail lights disappeared, wondering how the hell he was going to stay away from her.