It's the End of the World Chapter 3
Daryl kept looking back; making sure Beth was still following. She swore up and down that she was fine but he knew something was wrong. Even when her ankle was messed up she kept up better than this.
"I got to go to the bathroom." She mumbled when he turned around again. Daryl stopped and waited while she walked off the trail. The other men turned back when they noticed he wasn't following.
"Jesus again?" Merle asked as he walked back and took drink for his water bottle.
"I think she's getting sick. Maybe something she ate." Daryl said as Beth merged from behind a tree holding her stomach.
"Neither of us are sick and we eat what she eats." Merle said as he started leading them through the woods again.
"I can't believe they made us leave that farm." Beth said accepting the hand Daryl held out. "It's winter. We need to hold up somewhere safe, set out watches, stock up and wait for spring." Daryl kept his face impassive, but Beth knew he agreed. He had loaded as much canned and dry food into their bags as he could. They were down to just one change of clothes each, but they were dressed in layers. Beth had traded a few cigars she had found for a pack of panties that Joe had found when he claimed the master bedroom, and had considered herself lucky that he hadn't asked for more. "Daryl I'm sorry. I can't keep going. We got to find a place to rest for a day or two. I should be ok in a day or two."
"So you are sick?' He asked letting her wrap her arm around his waist. Beth shook her head. "Then why will you be ok in a day or two." Beth blushed and mumbled something. "What?"
"I started my period." Beth whispered. "Don't worry, I haven't been leaving any tampons or panty liners on the ground. I got them in a paper bag to burn later. I've got really bad cramps and migraine though." Beth said keeping her red face down.
"Alight." Daryl said. "I'll find us a place to hole up." He said whistling so Merle looked back. Beth poked him hard in the ribs. "Merle! Start looking for a place to crash. I want to get my dick wet." Beth blushed a deeper shade of red and turned her face into his side.
"How is that less embarrassing than just telling them I'm menstruating?" Beth asked. "Besides you said you doubted they thought we were doing anything."
"Yeah and you said we needed to convince them that we were so they didn't try anything." Daryl said. Beth nodded and let out a sigh of relief when Joe leaned against a tree and declared they would stop for a 15-minute break for lunch. Daryl sat with his back against a tree before letting Beth curl between his legs and lean back into him. Merle sat beside them and waited while Daryl pulled out some left over meat they had roasted in the morning and Beth sipped at some water. Daryl made her eat a few bites and handed her an Advil. "Go on take one." He said when she shook her head. "It's just a regular strength one. Try one if it doesn't help we know and can save it for fevers, if it helps we know to save one for your worst days." Beth relented and swallowed the pill before handing their water bottle to Daryl so he could rehydrate too. "You got what you need?" Daryl asked. Beth nodded. She knew he didn't mean food wise, they always ate lightly through the day, waiting till they found a safe place for the night or two to cook up something like soup or stew.
"Yeah, I'll have to find more for next time." She said softly. Merle looked over at the men eyeing them and rose to his feet.
"I know a place we can head." Daryl looked up at him. "We're close to a storage unit Daryl and I have, it's loaded with our hunting stuff and some transportation."
"Merle…" Daryl started to say as he first helped Beth her feet.
"We need that stuff to make it through the winter. Having a truck and the bike for runs once we have a permanent spot would make things a lot easier."
"We don't even know if it's still there. It's probably been looted." Daryl said.
"It won't hurt to check it out." Merle said ignoring his brother and leading them back to the highway."
"Don't see why we all have to go." Len said. "I mean you and Daryl could go get the supplies, we'll watch over Beth for you." He added with a smirk.
"Fuck off." Daryl said letting Beth take his hand again. "It's outside Atlanta. We can't be making a lot of noise. Once we get on the right track we go back to the woods and make our way to the lot." Daryl added. Beth clung to him. "I got the keys to our unit still, but we might need bolt cutters for the fence. Anyone got any?"
"I got pliers." Joe said going through his bag. "They should at least cut the barbed wire at the top of the fence to make it safe to climb over." Daryl nodded his head and continued to follow Merle. "About how far is this unit?"
"We should get there in about 5 hours." Merle said. "Including a few stops to rest." Beth smiled weakly at him.
"Besides transportation and what I assume is more ammo and guns what else is in this unit?" Len asked, clearly angry that his idea of Merle and Daryl moving on alone hadn't worked out.
"Tools, winter clothing, fishing gear, tents." Merle added as they walked. "And there are other lockers. Who knows what we'll find."
"Locker 45 is claimed." Daryl said. "That is my shit in there. Ain't up for discussion."
Joe nodded his head. "You'll help us get into the other lockers though." Daryl nodded and put Beth's arm over his shoulders when she started to slow down. They continued on in silence once they got to the highway, they knew that walkers could be lurking around or under the trucks and they knew to watch their steps and be as quiet as possible. Daryl saw a pick up truck that wasn't blocked in by other cars. He and Beth approached it slowly. According to the dash it still had almost a full tank. He looked carefully at the floor, making sure there wasn't a walker in it before opening the door and helping Beth in. If it started the others could climb into the bed, any sort of a drive would certainly shorten their trip and having another vehicle to trade might come in handy.
"Claimed." Daryl said as the truck started loudly. Merle climbed in beside Beth and the other men piled into the back. He reached behind his head and opened the window. "Look I want to talk about our plan for the winter." Daryl said. "My plan is to find a safe, strong place and hole up till spring. If you guys want to keep wandering you go on a head. Me and Beth, we ain't wandering around freezing." Merle nodded his head back at Joe.
"He's right. We'll just get sick wandering around without a warm place to go to at night." Merle said.
"You know it's hasn't been safe to stay put." Joe said. "What are we going to do different?"
"Have a get away planned. We keep the truck, hopefully trucks stocked up, we have to run we run." Daryl said. "That's how me and Merle came across you guys. We had a spot. It got over run. That's how I found Beth, her place wasn't safe anymore." Beth glanced over her shoulder and was relieved that the majority of the men seemed to be in agreement with Daryl. Joe was nodding his head and she knew that he would be the one that the others would listen too.
"It's nice to get a break without slowing you guys down." Beth said softly resting her head against Daryl's shoulder as he drove. Merle reached behind her and slid the window shut again so they could chat quietly if they wanted to. He knew it was a risk because it also meant that they could plot in the bed of the truck too, but Daryl could also slam on the breaks and send them flying if he wanted to, or drive into a pile of walkers if they ran into them, and Joe wasn't stupid. Merle would tell his brother to do what ever he had to so the two of them survived. He knew that Daryl was keeping an eye on the bed of the truck in his mirrors, just like Merle was. Beth sat up suddenly and opened the glove compartment and started looking around.
"Just matches, a utility knife, a few napkins, cough drops and lip balm." Beth said stuffing the napkins in her hoodie's pocket. She handed the knife to Merle to look at and added the cough drops and lip balm to the small medical bag she kept in her bag. "I was hoping to get lucky and find a handgun."
"If we get lucky it'll be finding some ammo or a big gun. We got enough handguns." Daryl said shifting so Beth could get comfortable against him. "Just rest up." He said. Beth had insisted that he actually sleep the night before. He had argued that Merle wasn't on watch and he was already snoring, one of them should stay awake. Beth had agreed and sat against the wall of the warehouse they had held up in and patted her lap. Daryl had rested his head against her thigh after making her swear to wake him if anyone got anywhere close to them. He had fallen asleep for around 5 hours before Beth had gentle pushed his hair back, startling him upright, telling him that her eyes were getting heavy. It was the longest he had slept since the farm though and he felt fully energized again. Merle waited till he was sure Beth was sleeping before turning to look at his brother. Daryl ignored the look and turned on the four-wheel drive, he'd have to off road to get past the blockade ahead of them.
"You always liked sweet things." Merle said calmly, not trying to mock his brother. "You're going to have to teach her to take care of herself if you want to actually be able to keep her alive. You won't always be there to rescue her, not matter how hard you try."
"Shut up." Daryl said making his way back to the highway. "As long as I keep her with us she'll be fine." Daryl added.
"Even I know you don't believe that." Merle said. "I'm just saying you teach her a few basic things. How to find water, how to walk a lot more quietly, maybe how to track in case we get separated." Daryl nodded his head. "And for the love of god we need to teach her how to shoot." Beth stirred against Daryl and Merle quieted down.
"Don't exactly have a unlimited amount of ammo." Daryl said. Merle looked at him. "I know we can show her a bit about guns."
"It'd be nice if she at least knew how to hold one properly. Maybe she knows a bit. We ain't really tested her knowledge." Merle added.
"I was starting to learn when I had to run." Beth said not bothering to open her eyes. "It was on a Colt."
"We got a revolver in storage that's close. Winter lessons are going to be about guns." Daryl said silently agreeing with Merle. Beth nodded against him. "Go back to sleep." He added.
"I'm not that tired." Beth said quietly, letting Daryl pull her head back down. "Do you think the storage yard is going to be over run?"
"Might be a few walkers inside the fence. Might be a place people are using for a camp too. There's a gas station right across the street, maybe we get lucky and it's not been over run or too badly picked over." Merle said. "If we can get everything from our unit, we'll be good." Daryl nodded his head and swerved to avoid a few walkers. Joe and the other men grumbled in the back about being thrown around and slapped the back window.
"You'd rather I drive through 'em?" Daryl said without turning around. Merle just laughed and leaned his head back to get some shuteye. "Ain't much further." Daryl said as he turned off the highway."
"Should we stop at the gas station first?" Beth asked. "Or drive by the storage unit and see if it's safe?"
"We ain't not getting our gear." Daryl said not bothering to answer her. Beth was used to that though and it honestly didn't matter if they hit the gas station up first or not. "You need something at the gas station I should be looking for?" Daryl asked.
"No. The usual we look for anything useful." Beth said quietly.
"Alright anything you want?" Daryl said. Beth looked up at him. "Come on, I want smokes they ain't useful."
"Gum." Beth said with a smile. "A hair brush." Daryl nodded.
"I got some clothes in storage. We'll have something warmer for you."
"What about you?" Beth asked. "You're the one that goes out on watches and hunting."
"Yeah but you've been coming with me." Daryl said, not bothering to add since the incident with Merle at the farm. "It ain't going to be much, just a plaid shirt you can wear under the hoodie, more layers." Beth smiled and nodded. "I think we got some hats in there."
"We do." Merle said. "Stop worrying Baby Brother, We'll have a good start on winter after today." Daryl nodded as he pulled in as close to the storage yard as he could. "Might be better if no one from the road can see our truck." Merle said.
"I can take the keys with me." Daryl said.
"And if something happens to you we can't get away?" Merle asked.
"I'm leaving Beth in the truck she can lock the doors." Daryl said. "Anybody comes along drive away. You can drive right?"
"Yes I can drive, I'm 19 years old." Beth said. "I don't want to stay here alone though."
"Lock the doors." Merle said as the other men jumped out of the back of the truck quietly. "Keep watch."
"You'll be fine." Daryl added loading his Glock and handing it over. "Anyone comes back and tries to get in the truck that's not me, shoot them." Daryl said leaving the truck. Beth reached over and locked both doors, watching while they walked up to the fence and started to cut their way in. As far as she could tell there were only a few walkers walking on the other side of the fence and they were quickly and quietly taken care of. She kept looking behind and over her shoulder, determined not to be snuck up on. She gazed across the street at the garage too, trying to scope it out but other then a few busted out front windows the way the sun was shining prevented her from being able to see what or who was in the store. She could see some wiper fluid, gas cans and motor oil bottles, and if they were going to have vehicles, they'd need those to take care of them. She watched as Merle and Tony worked on opening the front gate and wondered if she should drive over.
"Better wait for Daryl." Beth said to herself as she scanned the area again. She noticed Len watching her from the other side of the lot and shuddered. Why couldn't he take a hint? She was relieved when Daryl appeared and motioned for her to drive on in to the lot.
"I want to back up right to this tailgate." Daryl said motioning to another truck that had a motorbike on the back of it. "This truck is in a lot better shape than our old one. I want my bike on it." Daryl said guiding her. He hopped into the bed of the truck and lowered the tailgate and easily rolled the bike over. He started to pack up the truck and tie down the equipment.
"Are we going to take both trucks? I don't think the others can fit in the back with all the supplies." Beth said softly as she eased her way back to the middle.
"Merle's going to drive them in our old truck, we'll follow. Then when we find a spot, we'll see if they want to trade something for the truck." Daryl said opening the door. "Come on, help me check the office out. Might be something useful I missed." Daryl added as they walked over.
"Did you find anything?" Beth asked as she went through the desk. She grabbed a blank notebook and a few pens. "I used to keep a journal." She said as she pulled the drawers out. "Where do you think we'll stop?" Beth asked as she found a few more first aid supplies.
"Merle and I know of a spot, a garage, there's not much else close by except for a stream we can fish from and get water." Daryl said. "Lots of game too."
"We could take those empty water cooler bottles. Maybe keep water inside the garage. That way if we have to stay in we won't have to ration water, well not right away anyway." Beth said as she picked up two of the empty bottles. "We put a clothe over the opening and leave them out and the rain will be filtered as we fill them." Daryl nodded and grabbed the last two.
"I was hoping you'd turn up a few more treasures." Daryl said as he loaded the empty water jugs into the truck. "I didn't get to claim another unit."
"We could go over to the store. I saw a few things that might be useful." Beth suggested.
"What'd you see?" Daryl asked. He knew what he had saw and he wanted to test.
"It's not too promising because of the broken windows, but there was some gas cans we'll need and some motor oils." Daryl nodded. "If it's safe it won't hurt to check out the store neither." Beth nodded.
"Do we have to claim the gas station?" She asked.
"We'll just let then know we're heading over." Daryl said. "I want to get back on the road soon."
"It'll be nice to get a good rest tonight. Maybe get a good hot meal too. We haven't had one since the farm." Beth said waiting while Daryl let the other know where they'd be.
"After check out the station we're going to head on down to the garage. If it's not safe we'll head back towards Senoia. We'll meet at the pharmacy there if the garage is a bust. " Daryl said before pulling away. Unfortunately besides the oil, wiper fluids and the few cans of gas they we able to snag, including being able to syphon a full can, the gas station was a bust. A stray can of soda and some matches were all they do found.
"How far to the garage?" Beth asked as they drove off.
"Not too far. Those guys will be a bit longer though. They're going through their extra lockers. I was sure the office would have had more." Daryl said. Beth reached over and patted his leg.
"It's alright, you didn't do too bad. We still have lots of canned and dry goods left." Beth said reassuringly as she rubbed his thigh. Daryl reached down and grabbed her hand. Didn't she know what she was doing to him?
"Don't be a tease." Daryl said dropping her hand back in her lap.
"I'm not—" Beth stammered out.
"Oh no?" Daryl asked pulling off the highway and down a dirt road. Beth looked surprised to see an old garage there. He pulled her into his lap, forcing her to straddle his thighs. He pulled her up against his hardening cock. Beth blushed at how he was staring at her. "If it's not something you want, don't touch." Daryl said loosening his hold, expecting her to climb off his lap so they could start setting up but Beth surprised him by placing both her hands on his shoulders and kissing him softly. Daryl threaded his fingers in her hair kissing her with intensity. "Ain't nothing soft about me. You sure this is something you want?" Daryl asked again. Beth kept eye contact and she reached down and started undoing his belt.