Happy Friday! I hope everyone enjoys this chapter for the weekend. I don't even know what to say about the response being given to this story already. I'm just feeling incredibly overwhelmed and humbled that this little random idea of mine is already loved by so many. Thank you an infinite amount of times.
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Three.
"Do you work on Georgia Bare?"
The question comes just as they sit down across from one another at the table with bowls of steaming chicken noodle soup and the last of his bread rolls before they get too hard to eat.
He lifts his head and looks at her sitting across from him. For the years he has lived here and has had this table with the two chairs, Daryl realizes that he has never had someone sitting down across from him for an actual meal. This girl, Beth, is the first and he sure as hell would have never thought that someone who looked like this girl would ever be sitting across from him.
"Yeah," he grunts, picking up his spoon and bowing his head close to the bowl, taking his first slurp. He lifts his eyes to see that she has picked up her spoon as well, but hasn't taken a sip of the soup yet. Maybe she isn't as hungry as her stomach had let on. "You watch it?" Daryl then heard himself ask and he wonders why he cared one way or the other.
He isn't the sort to try and make idle chat when there is a silence hanging in the air. Living out here, like he did, on his own, showed that he pretty much prefers the silence.
"I don't," Beth shakes her head and then he watches as her eyes widened – almost to a comical size. "I'm sorry! I… shouldn't I have told you that I do? Is it okay if I don't?" The words fall from her mouth quickly and Daryl looks at her as if maybe, he has never seen anything like her. And he guesses that that is the truth. He still can't really believe that he has found this girl out there in the snow and now, a couple hours later, she is here, sitting across from him.
Daryl gives a shrug. "'s a free country. You can watch whatever the hell you want," he grunts.
"My older brother absolutely loves it though," Beth then is quick to say; as if she has to assure him that she knows someone who watches the show.
Daryl can't help, but smirk into his soup as he slurps another spoonful. The show in its first season had been one of the biggest shows of the season – according to Michonne, the show's creator and co-producer. Being renewed for a second season had been obvious and inevitable. What was surprising to him was that he actually liked working on the show and he missed it once they wrapped filming for the first season and he has spent these past couple of months, ready to get back to it.
The contestants for the first season had been idiots. Well, most of them had been. The last three standing had been pretty good; pretty smart and the one who had won the whole thing at the end had been a guy who deserved it and if anyone else had won, Daryl wouldn't have liked it. For the second season, the studio that aired Georgia Bare had been flooded with applications of those who want to compete. They chose thirty finalists to bring into the studio to tape them and ask them further in-depth questions. They don't need some psycho off his meds competing and Michonne and Milton, the other co-producer, had called Daryl for him to come and see some of those tapes.
Yep, idiots, too.
But Daryl supposes that they need idiots. It wouldn't be fair to anyone if they had some survivalist like him competing for the half-a-million dollar prize. There wouldn't be a competition and who would want to watch a show when it's obvious on the first episode who's going to win?
Also, Daryl supposes they need idiots or otherwise, he's out of a job.
"You lookin' to compete or somethin'?" He asks before another slurp of soup.
That's something he still has yet to get used to. It's a small town and just about everyone knows he works on the show and people he has never spoken with a day in his life have begun coming up to him, asking him if he can put a good word in for them because they want to be on the show and try to win themselves the money prize.
"Goodness, no," Beth shakes her head as quickly as she can without making herself dizzy.
Daryl wonders why he feels relieved at her answer, but he just ignores it. Even if her answer had been different, it isn't like he'd do her any favors.
"I would be so terrible on that show," Beth continues. "My sister and brother call me too much of a girl. As if that's the worst insult I can be called. But I know already that I would use poison oak to wipe or something like that and I don't feel like having my stupidity aired for everyone in the country to see."
Daryl takes a gulp of water. "Had a few people do that on this first season already."
"See?" She gives him a little smile. "There'd be nothing special about me."
Daryl looks at her sitting across from him and for some reason, he wants to tell her that he doubts that, but he's able to swallow the words down before he makes an ass of himself and speaks them out loud for her to hear. Probably would make her uncomfortable as hell and Daryl would be right there with her.
"What do you do on the show?" Beth then asks.
Daryl lifts his eyes and watches as she dunks a chunk of the roll into the soup and then takes a bite, her own eyes on him as she waits for his answer.
He almost tells her that he likes to eat silently. Everything in his life, when it's just him and Bullseye, is silent, but then he reminds himself. This girl doesn't know him. She doesn't even know where she is. All she knows is that she's wearing long underwear and sitting across from a man she has never see before, eating soup in his cabin. Looking at things from her point of view, Daryl understands why she would be a bit nervous; even terrified.
He supposes he can assure her that he's not going to hurt her, but he's already put a Band-Aid on her forehead. What else does she need from him?
"I make sure that none of 'em get themselves killed," Daryl answers simply.
"Oh," Beth says though he has the feeling that she doesn't really understand that, but she doesn't speak again and Daryl isn't going to give her more of an answer.
They eat in silence and Daryl can't help, but lift his eyes after minute or so to look at her through the hair hanging in his face. She eats slowly; carefully, and not a drop of soup dribbles on her chin. He's suddenly very aware of how he slurps his soup.
With him watching her, he sees the way that she is looking around the room and he can't help, but wonder what she is thinking when she sees the rest of his cabin. He knows that she had gone through the bathroom and bedroom – even if she had been quiet while doing it. He just assumes that she had because she doesn't know him or where she is and she probably just wanted to make sure he isn't keeping body parts of an arsenal of knives around. Can't be pissed at her for that.
Daryl likes to live simply. He always has. He doesn't see the need to have a lot of things. People have too much stuff crammed into their houses and only use one-third of it. It's all a waste. Daryl just buys what he absolutely needs.
The living room and kitchen is one big room. In the living room, he's got the couch and a recliner and a coffee table in front of the couch. A couple of tables with a couple of lamps and the fireplace. He has a television, but it's an old box with rabbit ears and he rarely turns it on. Especially up here, he gets a fuzzy picture more times than not, but he admits to watching Georgia Bare when a new episode aired each week and he always sat through the end credits because – again, he admits – he always got a surge of pride at seeing his name scroll past.
He's still getting used to that – feeling proud of himself for something he's done.
He has nothing on the fireplace mantel, but he's got a two-shelf bookshelf filled with books. Nothing much else to do up here in the cold months when he's not hunting or seeing to the cabin's maintenance.
The kitchen's got the usual sink, oven, microwave and refrigerator as well as some extra counter space and the table he has is square and made from heavy wood with two matching chairs. The cabinets and pantry are both completely stocked though. As a member of Costco, Daryl buys in bulk to bring up to the cabin. It's the smartest thing to do – living in the middle of nowhere like this; especially with the weather the way it is right now.
The only things he buys from the grocery store at the base of the mountain is his milk, bread and eggs. Hell. He even buys his socks and boxers in bulk from Costco.
When he looks back to Beth, he sees that she is sitting stiff now in the chair, not moving, and without having to think about why or see the reason, Daryl snaps his fingers.
"Bullseye."
The wolf leaves from sniffing at Beth's feet and comes out from under the table, plopping himself obediently down next to Daryl's chair. He gives the wolf the rest of his dinner roll as a treat.
Daryl then looks to Beth across from him. "He ain't gonna hurt you," he tells her.
Beth shifts a little in her chair. "He's a wild animal," she reminds him.
Daryl just shrugs at that. He's not stupid enough to ever forget that Bullseye is a wild wolf, but he's his wild wolf. "Have had him since he was a pup. Hasn't bitten me yet. He's the one who found you out there," he then reminds her.
"I know," she replies quietly, but doesn't say anything past that.
They finish eating their soups in silence and when he's done and sees that she is, too, Daryl stands up and takes both bowls and spoons, heading towards the sink. From the corner of his eye, he sees Beth stand up, fiddling with her fingers in front of her.
"Can I help?" She offers.
"Nah," Daryl shakes his head and begins filling the sink with hot water.
She hesitates for a moment and then Daryl watches as she walks towards the large front window. Its pitch black outside and all she can see is her own reflection from the light behind her.
"Worried about your boyfriend?" Daryl hears himself ask.
"God, no," Beth answers with a shake of her head and she turns back towards him. "Jimmy can take care of himself. And besides, he has two bottles of champagnes in the cabin to occupy him."
"'s long as he doesn't burn the place down," Daryl says, back to grunting.
Beth is quiet a moment. "Is that cabin yours? The one Jimmy rented," she clarifies as if she needs to. Daryl doesn't answer; just gives a head nod. "What little I saw of it, it's beautiful. It's…" she trails off and it's obvious that she's thinking of how to say what she wants to and Daryl nods as he scrubs at their bowls with his washcloth.
He knows without her having to say it. His second cabin is a hell of a lot nicer than this one. A lofted bedroom, a sunken bathtub, a kitchen with granite counter tops. He bought it and fixed it up like that on purpose; knowing that people vacationed plenty in these mountains all of the time. He didn't need granite counter tops in his kitchen, but people getting away for a weekend might.
"Well," Beth clears her throat then. "It's very beautiful."
"Thanks," Daryl says and shakes off the bowl before placing it into the drying rack next to the sink and getting started on washing the second. He lifts his eyes and looks to Beth again. Now, she has gone over to his bookshelf and sinking to her knees, she begins looking over his book titles.
It's strange, having someone else in the cabin with him. It's just him and Bullseye. Been that way for three years now. It isn't that he feels uncomfortable with Beth here, but she's a complete stranger and he's glad he's found her, but it's still strange having another person here with him.
He glances towards the clock on the microwave. Almost ten. He looks back to Beth as she has stood up from looking over the bookshelf and has turned back to the window. He feels like he's ready to collapse in exhaustion and he's not even the one who knocked himself out today.
Without a word, he dries his hands on the towel and then heads into the bedroom, going to his dresser. He takes out a clean white tee-shirt – also bought in bulk from Costco – and a pair of sweatpants. He then goes into the bathroom, closing the door so he can take a piss and get changed to go to sleep.
He wonders if he'll actually be able to get down the mountain tomorrow. He sure as hell is going to try, but – and he won't tell Beth this – but he doubts he'll be successful. The snow hasn't stopped falling for hours now and if it's going to be keeping up like this over the night, well… he might have to go on the roof tomorrow and shovel some of it off.
He thinks of Beth out in his living room. He doesn't even know this girl and now, she might be stuck here with him and Bullseye for who knows how long. And she seems nice enough, but that doesn't mean that he actually wants her here for what can possibly be days. He likes being by himself. It's why he lives all the way out here – by himself. There's no way he will be able to be comfortable in his own home for as long as she's here.
First thing tomorrow. He's getting dressed as soon as it's light enough out and he's going to see just what he has to do to get her out of here and on her way back to her own home.
Outside the bathroom, Daryl sees Beth standing in the living room, not moving, clearly waiting for him. Daryl glances at her before turning and going into the little room he has off the kitchen with his stacked washer and dryer unit. After dumping his clothes into the plastic laundry basket on the floor, he takes a deep breath as if preparing himself and steps back out.
Beth is still standing there and she's already looking at him. She's fiddling with her fingers once again in front of her. "I can sleep on the couch," she then says. "You shouldn't have to give up your bed for me. It's your bed."
Daryl looks at her for a moment, silently.
Christ, he wonders how old she is because standing there in her black long underwear with her hair in braids and a Band-Aid on her forehead, his too-big socks on her feet, and she looks like a kid. Just a kid and he suddenly wonders if her family is going to call the police and then he'll be arrested for kidnapping this little girl.
He really needs to try to get down the mountain tomorrow.
"I'm not the one with a head wound," Daryl answers.
Beth's fingertips lightly touched the Band-Aid. "It's hardly a head wound."
"Knockin' yourself out and bleedin' in the snow counts as a head wound. You're takin' the bed."
They stare at one another for a passing minute; a showdown at high noon like those old movies.
Beth breaks first. She sighs softly. "Fine. But just for tonight," she then is quick to add. "I mean, I'm only going to be here for one night anyway."
Daryl doesn't say anything to that and after a moment, Beth, reluctantly turns to the bedroom. He goes to the front door and makes sure it's locked though really, what's the point, and he begins turning off the lamps. He had started a fire in the fireplace a couple of hours before and he tosses another log onto the fire, blazing the flames back to full height, and then he goes to collapse on the couch, grabbing the blanket he has draped over the back of it.
Bullseye comes and drops himself into a heap on the floor next to the couch. Daryl drops his hand down and scratches the wolf behind his ear as he lays there, blinking up at the ceiling. He listens to the fire pop and crack and the room is dark except for the fire. And with the snow outside, the night is quiet, too. Not even an owl is hooting.
And because it's so quiet and Daryl is just lying there, not able to fall asleep even though he feels completely drained, he's able to hear Beth softly crying in the next room.
He swallows a sudden lump he finds to be lodged in his throat and he wonders if he should do anything. Maybe go and ask if she's alright.
But he's not going to do that. She probably thinks he can't hear her. And she is crying quietly. She just doesn't know that his hearing is better than most. He'll let her cry and not get up to see to her. She'll probably be embarrassed. Daryl knows that that was how he always felt if someone used to even think that he had been crying – embarrassed and angry – and being the son of Will Dixon, most people would think that that was reason enough to break down in tears.
He wonders what reason's got her crying right now. Is it because of the fight she had with her boyfriend? Is she scared because she's in some cabin with a complete stranger? Is it Bullseye? Is she afraid that the wolf is going to tear her to shreds as she sleeps or is she scared that if she falls asleep, Daryl is going to climb on top of her and violate her?
She was passed out for two hours in his bed and he never touched her except to get her out of her cold clothes and to clean up the cut on her head.
Unless… does she think that he had already done something more to her when she had been out cold and she just doesn't know?
Daryl frowns at that. He would never do something like that to a woman – unconscious or not. The thoughts don't even cross his mind; let alone give him an urge to do anything.
Before he can get angry though, he reminds himself that Beth doesn't know that because she doesn't know him. She doesn't know anything about him. She's a girl – a young and little thing – and she's in a cabin on a mountain with a man and his wolf.
Daryl exhales a sigh. No wonder she's crying. Girl is scared out of her mind and she's got every reason to be. Daryl knows he really needs to try and get down that mountain tomorrow morning – not just for him so he can get his space back to himself, but so Beth can feel safe again.
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