Day 29

Beth was riding behind Daryl on his bike now. And she much preferred it to trying to drive the other one herself. People had shifted around and most were riding two to a bike to make room for the people they had picked up from that other camp. Two women and one man had come with them. Tara had gotten all bent out of shape about being expected to ride behind one of the guys, so now Harlan was on her bike, riding behind her. They had picked up two women and one man, so the group now had ten members.

Beth was leaning her head against Daryl's back. He was really too tall for her to do anything else. She couldn't see around him and she had got sick of trying to crane her neck to get a look after the first mile. The insides of her thighs were pressed against him and the vibration of the bike combined with having him so close was making her think wicked thoughts. Thoughts about things she might like to do later when they made camp that she would never in a million years have the nerve to say out loud.

Something had been building between them when they had been alone together after the prison fell. She was sure of it. But lately he had been acting cold, more like he was before. Beth thought maybe he was just trying to give her space. After what happened to her, she understood that he might be hesitant to try and make a move on her. She could be patient, but she didn't want to wait forever.

Beth was lost deep in her thoughts, Daryl had to elbow her several times before he got her attention. Then he pulled up in front of the small back of bikes, giving the signal for everyone to stop. Beth climbed off the bike, looking around with wide eyes. She knew exactly where she was. The sign they made for Sophia was long gone, but this was the spot on the highway where they had all found each other again after the farm got overrun.

"Think I got an idea of a place we can stay at tonight," Daryl called to Neegan.

"Lead on brother," Neegan yelled back. Daryl whistled to Beth, gesturing for her to get back on the bike. She dashed over and hopped back on. Then she looked up, watching for all the familiar trees she knew could only be found on the way to her house.

The barns were burnt out, and the fields were overgrown, but the house still looked solid. Daryl headed out to see if he could get the generator going. He took the new guy with him. Davis was black like Carson and Harlan. But his hair was white. His face looked young for someone with such white hair and it made his age hard to determine. Unless it was to agree with something Neegan said, the man didn't speak up much. So far, Daryl found his sucking up to be a little annoying. But Daryl decided to give the man a chance. He was with a new group, and he had seen the leader of that group stomp one of his old group member's head in. Maybe he was just nervous.

They lucked out and found a huge tank of gas sitting behind the generator. Daryl poured it in and they started it up. Even from where Daryl was standing, they could hear people cheering from inside the house. This meant hot showers and cold drinks. Daryl had to admit, even he was looking forward to a shower.

"How did you know this place was here?," Jasmine asked Beth. The girls were in the big bathroom, wrapped in towels, trying to comb the knots and snarls out of each other's hair.

"I used to live here," Beth said, "back before the turn."

"Really?," Lauren asked, wincing as Tara combed hard at a bad patch of snarls on her head. Her hair dark brown and it fell to her shoulders. It had clearly not been brushed in a very long time, the loose hairs were coming out in clumps and Tara was tossing the little hairballs into a trash can.

"Yeh, it seems like such a long time ago. Like it happened to someone else," Beth said. She saw the other girls nod and she knew they understood. Tara tried not to even think about her life before the turn. It just made her miss everyone she lost that much more.

The men had taken significantly less time in the bathroom. Daryl was out on the porch smoking his last cigarette when Neegan came out.. He tried to sit down on the railing next to Daryl but it made a protesting squeaking noise, and then there was the sound of wood starting to crack. The big man got back up and settled himself down on the porch swing. It also creaked in protest, but held his weight.

"Wanted to thank you," Neegan told him.

"For what?," Daryl asked.

"For yesterday, that fucker with the knife. I woulda kicked his ass, but he mighta cut me up a little first. You shot him before he could."

"Don't need to thank me, was no more than what you did when you found me."

"That was just killing roamers," Neegan reminded him, "killin' a man is a different sort of animal." Daryl nodded. Killing the living was different. But if he had the choice, he would shoot that man dead, just the same.

"Just glad to have you around," Neegan told him. He got up, patted the other man on the back and headed back inside the house. Daryl could hear his booming voice through the windows. If you women don't come out of that fucking bathroom soon, I am coming in there and drag your naked asses out! There was a loud pounding, which Daryl guessed was Neegan banging on the bathroom door. Or maybe trying to kick it in. Anything was possible.

Then Daryl heard a loud bang, followed by some assorted laughter and some high pitched giggly shrieks. It was one thing for Neegan to be teasing Beth and Tara, but he ought to know better than to be messing with those new girls, Daryl thought. Who knows what kind of things happened to them out there. But from the amount of laughter coming from inside the house, they didn't sound too upset. Then he heard Tara yelling. Grab for my fucking towel again and you are getting the stick. Daryl couldn't help but crack a smile.

He thought about how quick Neegan had been to help those strangers when he heard that scream. There had been no hesitation at all. He had helped Daryl the same way. And helped him find Beth. No questions asked. But when that man had messed with Tara, Neegan had not hesitated to kill him.

Back at the prison, Daryl had been able to help out. He was a contributing member of the group. It had made him feel good inside. Like he was worth something. People that would have spit on him back before the turn were finally treating him like an equal. But he had never felt completely at home there. He had always felt like he was pretending to be the person they all thought he was. Now he didn't have to pretend. For the first time in his life, he felt like he could relax and just be himself. These were his people.