Daryl woke to the sound of Rick and Michonne speaking at the front of the truck, they found it abandoned on the side of the road with a couple of walkers inside. After they dismembered the walkers Daryl climbed in the back and fell into a deep dreamless sleep, and when he woke he felt unrested and achy. He sat up rubbing his face suddenly remembering the nights events and what two nights before held, sudden anger and guilt twisted in his gut.
Beth... She was gone.
He stepped out of the truck stretching out his aching limbs, Rick and Michonne stopped talking and Rick stepped forwards his face seemingly somber. Michonne leaned against the front of the truck with Carl as Rick walked over to him, Daryl really didn't want to talk to anyone.
"You're up." Rick began." How are you?"
Daryl looked up at Rick feeling dejected, he promised her that he'd meet her up the road. He kicked a stone that sat by his boot, it bounced to the other side of the road and up a small bank.
"Shit.." Daryl mumbled before settling against the truck. Rick settled just beside him almost sitting the same as him, Daryl inhaled sharply then exhaled, but the pain filled within him hitting him twice as hard.
"She dead?"
Daryl looked over at him water brimming his eyes, he leaned his head against the door of the truck biting his lip.
"She's just gone."
"What does that mean?"
Daryl blinked his eyes before finally closing them, he inhaled again feeling the pain in his bones and in his stomach." Means I let someone take her." He paused." A house we were at got overrun, I told her to go up the road...an' when I got there some car took off."
"What'd the car look like?"
"Black... white cross on the back."
Rick nodded." And you know she was inside for sure?"
"Her bag was on the ground. Shit that was inside was all over the place...They were struggling."
"We're gonna find her, but we need to come up with a plan first.. Cant go there blindfolded."
Daryl looked over at Rick, his smile was genuine and lighthearted. Like he meant that they would find her. There was no hesitation in Rick's voice, no pessimistic attitude. It made Daryl feel like there was still hope, that maybe it wasn't the end. Rick looked back over at Daryl not sure of what to say to someone especially Daryl who was so upset, they stared at each other for a minute before Rick cleared his throat to speak.
"You bein' here means a lot Daryl, you helping last night...You're family Daryl, my brother."
He looked down at his hands trying to mask his emotions, it was hard too especially for him. He gave a slight nod and his lips tugged up to one side as he forced the tears away.
"Where else would I be?" Truth was Daryl didn't know and he was hoping Rick would tell him, but the man didn't know either. He wanted to be with Beth, but right now he wasn't and he wasn't even sure he'd ever be again. That realization broke him harder then losing his brother, yeah he was his brother but he was an asshole and he'd done a lot to deserve his death in the end, he was high strung and out of control. But, Daryl was able to find him and end it. He was able to close that door in his life and for one split second he felt that maybe he was given a second chance to do things right, like another had opened up for him to start a life... But it was a moment gone too soon.
"I didn't know who they were, Rick. Or what they were, they found me an' I had no choice."
Rick nodded." That's the past Daryl, we don't live there."
Daryl looked down at his hands once again - looking for an answer probably, the one thing in his past that he couldn't get over was Beth being taken from him. No matter what happened, that was on him. He'll never be able to get over what he let happened, she made him believe and have hope for the first time in his life and now he felt like he couldn't go on, not without that support.
"After we find Beth, we gotta head to Terminus." Rick said to Michonne. He looked at his son who was still traumatized from last nights events, he heaved a sigh and moved in closer to Michonne." He needs a decent place to sleep, we all need a decent place to sleep. Be safe for a while."
She nodded." You think the others are there?"
"Its a safe bet if they followed the tracks, they can't miss the signs."
"And him?" She nodded towards Daryl.
"He feels responsible for Beth bein' kidnapped.." He looked back." I told him we need to work out a plan to get her back-"
"We don't even know who took her or where she is."
Rick nodded." I know.. But if that was Carl..." His jaw clenched." We have to, I'm not asking. I'm telling." He looked down the road with his hand gripping the butt of his gun." I have to, for Hershel."
Michonne nodded and sighed." So what do we do then?"
"Well, we have to find a car first. Since this truck doesn't run, we might get lucky down the road. If not we walk."
"That's a long way." She commented.
Rick walked to the back of the truck where Daryl was, he was looking through an old tackle box. In his hand was fishing line and a couple of hooks, older rusty hooks that probably hadn't been used in some five or six years. Rick grabbed a sleeping bag that was off to the side and pulled it to the edge of the tailgate.
Both men didn't speak, they just continued the task at hand which was gathering what supplies were stashed in the back of the truck. Rick figured Carl could use the sleeping bag, and the fishing line and hooks for fishing so they could eat and to set up a makeshift perimeter alarm for their next camp. There was a few medical supplies but not many, the first aid kit was practically bare.
"I didn't mean it Rick." Daryl mumbled." Walkers...I ran downstairs an' I told her to go up the road... I'd meet her there.."
Rick put his hand on Daryl's shoulder." This isn't your fault."
Daryl scoffed." Who's fault is it then?"
Rick offered silence and Daryl didn't berate him for it, he expected it. He could see Rick unsure of what to say, and he figured that's why he kept his mouth shut.
...
Beth mopped the cafeteria along side Joan who was oddly enough talking aloud about something, Beth at first assumed it was to her but later she realized it wasn't. She dipped her mop back into the bucket and wrung it out, the door to the cafeteria opened and Dawn walked through along side two other officers. One of which was Gorman, the creep who made a pass at her. But she didn't acknowledge their presence, she pretended that she didn't see them walk through, instead she looked out the window that was in front of her as she mopped. Or maybe she was just trying to hear what they were talking about without being so obvious.
"Has she been taking her medication?"
"Edwards said yes, but I don't think she has." Lucy said eyeing Joan.
Dawn sighed." Great. Go get Edwards and Hanks, we need to get her into treatment."
Beth's eyebrows furrowed as Dawn spoke to the other officers, what did they mean by medication and why did Joan need treatment? She heard the officers walk away and she glanced over, Dawn stood there speaking into her radio. Unfortunately Beth couldn't hear her and that made her uneasy, but she wouldn't let on, as far as they knew she didn't hear that conversation. Or maybe they did.
"Beth, the hall needs mopping."
"I just mopped it." Beth said as she set her mop in the bucket.
Dawn's jaw clenched." Beth, Mop the hall!"
Without much thinking she grabbed the mop and the bucket, she pushed the door open with her hip and walked out into the hallway. The door swung back and forth before finally losing momentum and closing shut, she leaned the mop against the wall and peered inside the window hoping to catch a glimpse of what was going on. Right now though, all she saw was Dawn staring at Joan who had her back to her as she mopped. Beth felt the uneasiness grow inside of her as she watched, she hadn't realized that she laid a hand over her stomach. Dawn sat down at one of the tables - her eyes still piercing into Joan, Beth swallowed.
"You know Joan, taking your medicine will help you. That's all we want for you."
Joan snickered." I know what you want and what you're planning, I'm not stupid."
Dawn shook her head." I know you're not stupid, I never said you were. You're very smart Joan, that's why I want you to take your medicine."
"Don't fucking patronize me!" Joan snapped throwing her mop." That medicine makes me tired, makes me depressed. I don't wanna be like that...I-I want to be normal."
"You will be if you take your medicine, now don't fight me on this Joan. I will take action if you do." Dawn warned.
"Fuck you." Joan spat viciously. She bent down to pick up the mop when the two officers from earlier came out of virtually no where grabbing her from behind pushing her to the ground. She screamed and tried pushing them away but they restrained her arms behind her back.
Beth gasped and all she could do was continue to watch, it was like a train wreck that she couldn't stop watching. Doctor Edwards and Doctor Hanks walked into the cafeteria, they had brought a gurney with them that they kept by the double doors.
Joan's screams subsided but when she saw the Doctors they started up again, this time spitting out profanities. Beth watched in horror as Doctor Edwards kneeled down next to her, he pulled a needle out of his coat pocket and stuck it into her arm. Joan screamed in protest, Gorman the police officer brushed her hair back almost like he was soothing her, but Joan didn't find it comforting as her screams retorting into sobbing. Beth didn't feel like it was soothing her either, she felt as if Joan was scared more than comforted.
But before she could turn away Dawn looked over her way and saw her peering into the glass, Beth cursed under her breath and backed away. Now that she was seen what would Dawn do? She had to of known that Beth could easily see what they were doing, she wasn't a dumb woman that much Beth would give her credit for. So she couldn't do much. Beth quickly grabbed her mop and made it look like she was mopping instead of spying, she bit her lip as she tried figuring out what could possibly be wrong with Joan that she'd need to take medicine for.
The door behind her opened and she stiffened but never stopped mopping, her beat pounded against her chest. She knew who it was she wasn't stupid, she slowly glanced behind her and saw the dark blue kakis and the black dress shoes, she turned around and saw Dawn staring at her with displeasure crossing her features. Beth stood there awkwardly as she held on to the mop that was in the bucket, it was at the moment the only thing helping her stand as her legs felt numb.
"What you saw in there was necessary." Dawn said quickly, almost as if she was defending what they did.
"What's wrong with Joan?"
Dawn looked down at the ground, she inhaled then looked back up." She has a mental disorder, I can't specify what. All's anything anyone needs to know is that she needs to take her medication, if not she becomes a danger to us and to herself."
Beth's forehead creased and her eyebrows knitted close together, Joan didn't even seem like she was...She seemed odd at first but everyone was until you get to know them properly, she looked up at Dawn and saw a mocking almost patronizing look of sympathy across her face. Beth felt anger bubble inside of her, there was no way she'd let her get away with that.
"She'll be okay, she just needs to get treatment since she's gone a while without her medication."
"She seemed fine." Beth said.
Dawn's eyes intensified." What you saw back there seemed fine to you?"
"No.. I mean before she seemed fine, I-I...-"
"She's sick, Beth. She has been for a while, medication will help her get better."
Beth inhaled." Can I see her?"
"Not today."
Dawn walked away without another word leaving Beth puzzled with a million questions, she watched as the officer walked down the hallway seemingly okay as if nothing happened. Beth looked down at the bucket of water, she touched her forehead as a headache began forming. Something about Dawn and the way she patronized people made Beth angry, what gave her the right? People who patronize people seemed to be snakes, at least that's what she heard Daryl say. He said a lot though.
Beth decided that her shift was over, she dumped the bucket of water down the drain and watched as it swirled down almost hypnotizing her. She put the bucket down on the ground and looked at herself in the mirror, the cut on her face looked awful. It felt awful too, and it was ugly. She touched it with her one free hands and the ridges of the stitches sent a cold shiver up her spine, makeup couldn't cover this.
She picked up the bucket and walked out of the bathroom, sleep couldn't come faster. But up ahead stood Noah...And Dawn. Suddenly sleep was the last thing on her mind, it'd be the first time all day that she had seen Noah. She continued walking towards him when Dawn stepped to the side of Noah, he eventually turned around as well with a smile on his face. It was refreshing to see a smile rather then a cold stare.
"Hey-"
"What're you doing?" Dawn asked looking at her watch." Shift isn't over for another half an hour."
Beth sighed." My back is hurting."
"Did Edwards give you Ibuprofen?"
She shook her head no. Dawn shook her head with a sigh, she grabbed her radio that was attached to the shoulder of her uniform.
Beth smiled at Noah and set the mop inside of the bucket." Long time no see."
He bent down and picked up the bucket." I'll take it for you."
"No you don't have to." Beth protested." I'll do it."
Dawn walked up to Beth." Noah take the bucket, Beth go see Edwards."
Beth looked over at Noah who was staring at her with concern, she nodded and turned away from Dawn who stayed behind to finish speaking with Noah. Beth walked down the hallway feeling anxious, she rubbed her arm subconsciously. There was a bit of chatter that seemed to grow closer to her, she slowed down almost to a stop so she could listen. If she was ever going to feel comfortable even in the slightest, she needed to find out what this place and it's people were like. So far not so good.
"She's sedated, I made sure of it."
"Good." Dave nodded." Bitch is crazy."
Beth bit her lip and looked for a door that she could step into for a minute, there was a sign above the door that she was standing in front of. X-ray. She hurried over and stepped inside leaving the door open a crack, the room was dark and there was a projector in the middle of the room with a white board in front of it. The room looked like it was going to be used so Beth wouldn't poke her nose around, the last thing she needed was to be caught snooping. She already was chewed out for being out past curfew.
The officers walked by silently, their shoes squeaking down the clean floors that Beth had mopped earlier. And would most likely be mopping again tomorrow, she opened the door and peered out - looking to her right, the officers were walking completely oblivious to Beth being there and hearing everything they just said. She walked out and headed for Doctor Edwards office in the opposite direction of them, the walk seemed longer then she remembered. Maybe her nerves made it seem that way.
The blue door up ahead was open when she made it there, he was sitting at his desk looking at a manila envelope. His face was serious and focused as he thumbed through the pages, for a moment she contemplated on if she should even knock, but, Dawn said he wanted to speak with her. She knocked lightly on the light blue door, he never looked up as he summoned her inside. Beth swallowed and walked in.
"Dawn said I should-"
"I know." He held up his hand." Please sit down."
Beth nodded and sat down in the chair that she did yesterday, his detached mood made her feel jumpy and nervous. He finished reading the pages of what looked to be reports of some kind, but she wasn't exactly sure. He began cleaning up making the pages neat.
His eyes glanced up at her through his glasses." Back hurts again, huh?" He stood up." I can only give you Ibuprofen, but only one for today. That'll take the edge off of the pain, but I'd suggest rest. I'll talk with Dawn to see if you can be put on light duties."
"What happened with Joan?"
His lips pursed into a thin line, he touched his glasses pushing them up the bridge of his nose." That's not up for me to discuss, Beth. You know as well as anyone that someone's personal life isn't any business but their own. Which includes their health, unless they choose to tell you."
"I saw you stick a needle in her arm, why'd you do it? She didn't want it."
He sighed and began fidgeting with a pen." I sedated her, she needed her medication and sometimes she doesn't cooperate."
Beth stared at him, her anger beginning to surface.
"Beth, she can be a danger if left untreated."
She sat there ignoring him as she stared at the file on his desk marked Beth, her nostrils flared a little as she inhaled trying not to show that she was tearing up. Her whole story was right in front of her face, with one quick swipe she could find out what really happened. Doctor Edwards put his hand on top of her file and slid it to the edge, he sat down in his chair as he opened the manila envelope.
"I was reading earlier how you've not been given an ultrasound yet."
Beth raised an eyebrow." You have that equipment here?"
He chuckled." We have a lot here."
"And they work?"
"Well, not all of them. The fifth and sixth floor are run by generators. Not all machine's work, but ultrasounds are a must and we make sure they do work. We need them in case someone has internal damage, or in your case pregnant."
Weary, she nodded. An ultrasound sounded great in theory, but she wondered why they even cared when she would be leaving. Beth watched as Edwards wrote down on a piece of paper with a marker then stuck it into her file, she eyed him.
"How's tomorrow sound? Nicole, our ultrasound technician will come get you around eleven."
"Sounds great." Beth said trying to force herself to be more enthusiastic, but she was more suspicious.
She left his office feeling dizzy, not the dizzy that would make you sick, but the dizzy that makes you frustrated. He said the same thing Dawn said about Joan, then quickly changed the subject. Why did he even care?
"Oh Beth!" Doctor Edwards called.
She spun around and saw him hurrying up to meet her, he was holding something in his hands. She forced a smile when he neared and she saw the small pack of Ibuprofen.
"It's not much, but it should help."
"Thanks." She put them into her pocket and turned to leave.
Edwards walked up behind her." And Beth."
She turned back around." Yes?"
"You'll be okay." He smiled." You'll be okay here." He assured.
Beth swallowed and watched him walk away back to his office, his assuring didn't make her feel anything but scared.
...
Got a little insight on Daryl. He's not doing so good. But Rick is there to help, yes I changed it because in my head this is really how the end of season 4 played out, instead of them completely forgetting about her.
Grady is getting weird, lots of secrets. Like I said it's going to be getting worse, this is literally the tip of the ice berg. I'm really excited for the next chapter, I'm already writing for it as we speak lol
Anyways! Please review, they really make me update faster and they get me motivated. if I get enough tonight I'll post a chapter tomorrow :D
XoXo
