I don't own the Walking Dead or anyone or anything having to do with the Walking Dead. I also want to take the time to thank everyone who has reviewed the story so far. Thank you so much. Just in case anyone is wondering I titled this story Recapitulation as a play off the title for Coda . The musical definition of recapitulation is a part of a movement in which themes from the exposition are restated.

Chapter 4

Beth watched Daryl out of the corner of her eye while the doctor checked her vital signs and asked her questions. He had introduced himself as Doctor Steven Edwards and while he seemed congenial enough something about him put her on edge. She watched Daryl who was leaning against the door frame in a vigilant but, relaxed manner, and decided that her instincts had to be wrong. If Daryl didn't look worried then she guessed she shouldn't be either. She was still trying to figure out how Daryl had singlehandedly gotten her to the hospital when she heard the doctor say her name for what she realized was the third time.

"Huh," she smiled winningly at the doctor, "sorry I don't mean to be day dreamin but, it was a bit of a shock to wake up here, and I am still tryin to figure it out."

"It's quite all right," the doctor assured her, "How does your head feel? Are you experiencing any pain?"

Beth thought about it for a moment and realized that her head did ache, not in fierce way, but more like in a lingering pain kind of way. Try as she might she couldn't remember doing anything to her head outside the funeral home. What had happened? "Actually it does kinda hurt a little. Not real bad but, some. What happened?"

Beth caught the doctor's momentary look of panic before he turned towards Daryl. The archer pushed off the wall and lithely strode to the doctor's rescue. "You were shot. It was an accident," Daryl stated calmly.

"Shot…like in the head," Beth stared at Daryl incredulously as she reached up to touch the bandage around her head. He looked so calm but, he was standing there telling her she had been shot in the head. The last thing she remembered was trying to fight off a walker who had grabbed her pack as she was fleeing towards the road. No one else had been around. How could she have been shot? She knew Daryl would never have shot her by accident. The thought was just unfathomable.

Daryl lowered himself into the bedside chair and took her hand. She saw something akin to regret flash behind his eyes before he told her ," I was coming towards the road when it happened. Some police officers, ones who were still trying to help people, had arrived, and they saw me tryin to make my way towards the road fightin walkers. They didn't see you though and thinkin they were helpin me they opened fire on the walkers. I couldn't stop em," at this Beth saw true anguish flash in Daryl's eyes," and ya was shot by accident." Beth found herself nodding encouragingly to Daryl so he would continue even though none of this sounded familiar to her. "Once they realized what they done they helped me get ya here. To Grady Memorial where they are based outta and where ya could get real medical care," as he finished Daryl reached down to thread his fingers through hers.

Beth let him while she examined his face for a moment. Something was off but, she couldn't put her finger on what it was. Daryl never lied to her, even when the truth was damning but, her gut told her he was lying now. The only spark of truth she had seen in his eyes had been when he admitted he hadn't been able to stop her from being shot. Her head was beginning to throb with a now fierce ache as she studied Daryl's face. After a moment she decided to quiet the internal battle raging within her, that wanted to confront Daryl, and demand the truth. She trusted the archer and if he was keeping something from her he had a reason. She had to trust that he knew what he was doing, as well as that he would always do right by her.

She nodded to him, "Okay I don't remember any of that but, I guess I have to trust ya." She smiled warmly at him for a minute, a real smile, before withdrawing her hand from his and placing it on his bicep. She massaged it gently hoping to communicate her absolute trust in him, "After all ya kept me alive this long haven't ya. I doubt any of our family would believe it even if they could see us right now." She trailed off about to turn her attention back to the doctor and his original question about her head, when she caught Daryl's instinctual recoil, and the flash of anger he wasn't able to hide from her. He immediately tried to mask it but, Beth had to wonder why mention of their family had caused such a visceral reaction on his behalf.

She decided to ignore it for the moment turning back to Doctor Edwards. " The pain isn't real bad but, it is getting a little worse while we're talkin."

He nodded, " I expect that to be the case for the next couple of days at least," he patted her arm lightly. "I will find Melissa, my nurse, and ask her to give you some IV medications for pain. They might make you tired but, honestly the best thing for you right now is to sleep and heal."

Beth could tell she was being dismissed when he turned back to Daryl. "Before Melissa gives her those meds she could really use some solid food in her stomach. Why don't we head to the cafeteria and I can tell them the best thing to prepare for her." Daryl nodded at the doctor grunting an affirmation before turning back to Beth.

"Ya gonna be okay girl? If I leave for a minute?" He looked torn like the idea of leaving her physically pained him.

Even though her head was beginning to throb with a vengeance, and she really wanted him with her for comfort, she nodded. " Yeah of course. I am kind hungry actually," she wasn't but, Daryl looked relieved at her response. Like her affirmation of hunger increased the importance of his task and decreased his guilt at leaving her. She watched as the two men exited the room, heads together, talking in hushed tones. Her gut twisted with a renewed belief that something wasn't right.

Thirty minutes later Daryl returned with a bowl of oatmeal. He handed her the steaming, sticky, concoction with the order, "Here girl eat up," as an older woman with greying hair and a kindly visage entered the room. She nodded at Daryl affectionately which Beth noted, before turning to her and extending her hand," Hi sweety my name is Melissa. It's so nice to finally see you awake."

Beth struggled to swallow the congealed lump of oatmeal she was in the middle of consuming as she grasped Melissa's soft cool hand. She coughed before croaking out," Um…I guess it's finally nice to be awake to meet you too?" She trailed off unsurely before turning to Daryl who looked amused. She turned back to the nurse flashing her an uncertain smile.

Melissa laughed softly before offering her a glass filled with water, "Always the sweetheart. Here honey sounds like you need a drink to choke that horrible stuff down. I personally can't stand oatmeal, and the stuff they serve here is of questionable origin, not even sure it is oatmeal," she sighed," but beggars can't be choosers and right now it's the best thing for your empty stomach." Beth nodded continuing to watch the nurse as she bustled around the room.

"Doctor Edwards wants you to have some pain meds so you can sleep. He thinks it's best if you get them IV. So I am just going to draw up some and put them into your IV bag. You should feel better in just a few minutes. Any questions?" Beth noted with some aggravation that she was looking to Daryl not her. Everyone in the hospital seemed to be asking Daryl's permission before they did anything to or for her. On one level she understood that she had been unconscious for who knows how long. But she was awake now damn it, and she was a grown woman. She wanted to be consulted on her care.

Daryl was nodding at the nurse to continue when Beth cleared her throat," What is that?" she demanded.

Daryl turned towards her startled by her outburst before reaching out to stroke her hair in an affectionate and soothing manner," It'll make ya feel better princess. They been givin it to ya the whole time ya been here. It's fine."

Beth's blood pressure rose as she realized Daryl was trying to placate her. She recognized on some level that she was angry, really angry, but she wasn't sure why, and she was at a loss to control the words that came spewing out of her mouth, "Don't placate me Daryl. I am an adult damn it and I want to know what that is before they go puttin it in my IV bag."

For a moment Daryl flinched at her anger. Then he studied her with an appraising eye before stating, "It's fentanyl. It's a common opioid medication administered after surgery for pain relief. I asked before they gave ya the first dose. What's got ya so riled up girl?"

Beth deflated at Daryl's matter of fact and well informed answer. Of course he wouldn't let them just go put anything into her IV. She knew that and she wasn't sure why she was so angry. She just was, she could feel it surging through her body, but she knew she wasn't angry at Daryl. "I am sorry," she apologized to both Daryl and the nurse. She rubbed her temple trying to relieve the burning ache that had settled there," I don't know what's wrong with me. I guess the pain is just gettin to me." She smiled weakly at Daryl who continued to study her, clearly not buying her flimsy excuse.

"It's okay honey," Melissa reassured as she went to inject the medication into the IV," It can be disorienting waking up after what you've been through." She patted Beth's hand," Once the pain meds kick in and you've eaten you'll feel better."

Beth nodded noting that she had barely touched the oatmeal as she watched Melissa clean up the room. When she was finished the nurse nodded to both of them pleasantly stating ," Just let me know if you need anything," before turning and leaving.

Beth looked up from her oatmeal to see Daryl still studying her. "What," she grumbled before she could catch herself.

He smiled at her, amusement fliting across his face," Nothin girl just glad to see ya kept that spunk is all. Now eat your oatmeal ya got some serious nappin ta do."

Beth returned to choking down the lumpy oatmeal realizing her anger was fading with both food and pain relief, "Serious nappin. That anything like serious piggyback rides?" She fluttered her lashes dramatically when she glanced back up at Daryl.

The infuriating man was full-fledged grinning at her now, "Somethin like that but, it only involves one party not two," he chuckled clearly remembering carrying her across the meadow in front of the funeral home. That had been a good day for both of them. It had involved finding a safe place to hunker down for a few days and enough food to keep their bellies full.

Beth realized that her eyes were growing heavy as her bowl grew empty, "It could involve two," she stated around a yawn.

At Daryl's raised eye brow she clarified," I don't want ta be alone Daryl. I feel….I don't know vulnerable or somethin."

"I am right here Beth. I ain't gonna leave ya. I promise," he hurried to reassure her. But she realized it wasn't enough. For a reason she couldn't identify she ached with vulnerability and she didn't want to feel alone. She craved comfort and human touch. She knew it must have something to do with being ill but, she wanted to feel a connection with another human being. She unquestioningly knew she wanted that human being to be Daryl.

She realized as the words slipped out of her mouth that he was likely to deny her request but, exhaustion and need loosened her tongue, "hold me please?"

At his startled," Like your hand or something," she roused herself a little awake.

"No you infuriating man like hold me. Like climb in this bed and hold me. My head hurts and I don't feel well," she added a convincing whine too," please?". She looked up at Daryl thorough half lidded eyes trying to convey her desire for his comfort without words. She had always been so good at wheedling her father into doing what she wanted. She could see the indecision on Daryl's face. He was wrestling with discomfort at the idea of physically holding her and his desire to give her comfort while she was hurting. Seeing the chink in his resolve she added ," I need you …please…you're the only family I have right now," as she reached out an arm for him. She could see that she had won when she took his hand and he rose from the chair.

Still holding her hand he walked around to the side of the bed before looking down at her, "How ya wanna do this?"

She scooted over to make room and patted the mattress next to her. Daryl toed off his boots and stiffly laid on the bed. Without hesitation Beth slide next his stiff body and molded herself to him. She threw her right leg over his and snuggled into his warm side as she let her head rest on his shoulder. She felt Daryl take a deep shuddering breath before the stiffness left his muscles and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder pulling her even closer. Beth inhaled his scent luxuriating in the familiar smell of woods, campfire, man, and a unique smell that was all Daryl. Something between sandalwood and sage. It was a woodsy earthy scent that was both calming and centering. Beth was drifting off feeling content and safe when she heard Daryl mumble into her hair," I'll be the only family ya need girl. I promised I'd look after ya and be anything and everythin ya needed. I promised." In her half awake state Beth recognized Daryl's statement as more of a mantra to himself than and statement aimed at her. But what a strange thing to say. They had a large family, they just had to find them. Why was Daryl speaking to himself like they were all alone. The last coherent thought she had before medication induced sleep claimed her was that Daryl must have lost all hope of ever finding their family. That was okay she surmised because just like before she could help him with that. She would convince him to keep searching, they would find their family, and then everything would be right with the world again. She smiled into Daryl's side and let hope and faith carry her into the land of dreams.