Baptized

"Shit." Daryl growled as he ambled his way towards the creek. Damn kid's blood was all over him. The Georgia sun was hot today and it was making the blood and dirt harden on his skin. He'd already given all the information to Rick that he got out of Randall, so now he just wanted to scrub off. Sure, it didn't bother him too much to do the dirty work...but this task hadn't been something he enjoyed doing. But, he had steam to blow. After the barn...seeing Sophia walk out... The man shivered as he made his way past the Greene's farm house. The cool water of the creek was calling his name. It was mid day and he didn't have any intention of getting naked, just wanted to wash off.

As he rounded the building he seen Maggie and Glenn, huddled and talking. He momentarily stopped, seeing them stop their conversation. Maggie gave him a look he couldn't full decipher and Glenn put his arm around her and led her away. The eldest of the Greene girls seemed to be almost horrified by him. Daryl couldn't totally blame her, he could feel the blood flaking off his face. He huffed up though, he hated the way they all looked at him. All of them gave him those skiddish glances, well all except one. And that single person had been stuck in her room for the past few days. His jaw clenched as he cast a glance up to the teen's bedroom window. Daryl sighed, continuing on his way. Damn Andrea had put some thoughts in her head, girl had cut herself.

It had gave everyone a scare. Daryl hadn't seen her since she'd done it. He had been pissed that after all the tormenting she'd done to him, she'd go and do something stupid like that. The short blonde was smarter than that, he knew this. True it was her life and he had no say in the matter, it still angered him though. Damn kid. Daryl continued on towards the creek, getting more antsy the closer he got to the sound of water. When he silently padded down the short dirt path to the water's edge, he looked around to make sure nobody was around. Quickly, he tossed down the crossbow and unlaced his boots. Quietly he swore, there was blood all over him. His knuckles were a little sore, too.

He righted himself, glancing around as he unbuttoned his shirt and wadded it up in his hands. The shirt soon dropped behind him and he unbuckled his belt, letting his jeans be the next thing to drop. Feeling more than exposed in his boxer briefs, he snatched up his clothes and waded out with them. If he was going to get clean, might as well clean his clothes too. The sounds of birds chirped around him, speaking to the wild side of him. Most people felt more at home in houses and busy cities, he just liked waking up to the sight and smell of trees and grass. Felt more natural. He'd never been huge on TV or computers before the world fell to shit. Never had the time for it.

Daryl dunked his clothes into the creek and began scrubbing the material with the bar of 'community soap'. When his shirt was done, he tossed it over a low branch and started on his jeans. His eyes were squinted, focusing on the blood stains. Then he heard her. By now, he'd come to recognize the light steps, naturally almost soundless. His shoulder's tensed. He kept his back to her, wanting to cuss knowing he was fully exposed to her big blue eyes. He kept waiting for her to announce herself, but she didn't. He felt her eyes on him though, his spine tingled. It unnerved him, but he knew she hadn't been out of her room in days. Trying not to be too much of a prick, he turned his head. The blonde was standing there in the shade, old blue jean shorts and the same shirt she'd had on the night she'd sought him out.

Beth was bare footed, and she looked wrong. Her eyes were dull and her lips were pale. Those proud shoulder's of hers were slouched and she seemed to almost sway in the light breeze. Her hair though, that's was made his skin break into goose bumps. It was down and wild, evident it hadn't been brushed in days. The girl was broken. Despite himself, Daryl turned sideways to get a better look at her. She remained silent, watching him and breathing. His eye brows furrowed and he stopped working on his jeans.

"Kid..." He said, she didn't blink. Just stood there, staring at him but not seeing him. Not really. Daryl licked his lips and looked around behind her and up the creek, then down. Last thing he wanted was someone walking in on this and assuming the worst. He took a cautious step towards the blonde, feeling as if he was approaching a bomb. "Beth?" He asked. This got her attention, but instead of her giving him the usual smile...she just grimaced.

"I'm sorry Daryl." She croaked out. He froze. She was at least 10 yards away from him. The sun was pouring on her in streams through the shadows of the trees above them. Strands of her hair seemed to be glowing, flying around lazily.

"For what?" He asked, confused as to what the girl would have to apologize for. Beth met his eyes and wrapped her skinny arms around herself. She was trembling, he took another step. Maybe he should get Maggie or Hershel? Tears began leaking out of her eyes as she bowed her head and covered her face, shoulders shaking as she cried. The hunter took another step. What the hell was he supposed to do for the mentally fractured teenager? He was in his skivvies almost and..if someone...damnit! "C'mon kid, what's tha matter?" She sucked in a loud breath and looked back up to him.

"That poor girl...my mom...everyone." As if someone had jerked a string, she collapsed on her knees. Daryl froze again. His chest squeezed, that wasn't her cross to bare. Only his.

"Ain't no need for you to be cryin' for Sophia." He told her, almost regretting the sharpness in his voice. His words seemed to not phase her as she stayed on her knees and cried. He wasn't good with this kind of stuff, but she had come to him for some reason. Beth always came to him? Why not Maggie or Lori? With a grunt he tossed his jeans on the bank and made his way to her, feeling his cheeks warm at the fact he was only in his underwear. "What ya want me to do, Beth? I'm not good fer words, kid." He kept some space from her, listening to the water drip off him and 'splat' on the dirt. She shrugged, and looked up to him. He wanted to snap at her eyes roaming over his chest, but he bit his tongue. The more they went over him, the wider her red rimmed eyes got.

"Daryl! You're...covered in blood!" She roughly gasped, shakily getting to her feet and grabbing his arm. Her emotional shift gave him whiplast. With her small hands she tugged his arm so she could look over his back. "But.."

"Ain't mine." His words were final and she nodded, visibly relieved. She didn't let his arm go though, just gently held onto his forearm. It felt like it was hot against his, scorching his insides slowly. Beth didn't pay no mind to his discomfort, trying to swallow down her emotional wreckage.

"I'm sorry. I don't know why I came down here. I just seen ya walk past the house an' just thought...I wanna see Daryl." Her voice was mousy and she wiped her face with her free hand. "I must looka mess." Beth added, Daryl just swallowed and gave her a quiet nod. She did look a mess, but no way was it working against her. Beth probably couldn't ever look not pretty. The thought made Daryl uncomfortable and gently tugged his arm out of her grip. The loss of contact made Beth frown. "Can I help you?" Daryl blinked a few times, not sure he'd heard her right.

"Huh?" He asked, sounding like an idiot he thought. The girl's cheeks flushed and she wiped her face again. He took note of her bandaged wrist, the dried spots of blood towards the inside. When her hands dropped, she chewed her lip before speaking again.

"Let me help you...please?" Yeah, she'd said what he thought she had. The air became thicker than usual and out of nerves or fear one, he took a quick step back. The look on her face gave her feeling rejected immediately.

"Don' think that's a good idea, kid.." He sputtered out, why was his voice sounding so...adolescent all the sudden? This angered him. He cleared his throat. "Don' ya think that's inappropriate? Yer Daddy or sister catch you within 100 feet of me like this..." Then Beth snorted. His eyes went wide as she groaned and trudged into the water after him. Daryl did the only thing he knew how to do, he retreated. With a few quick steps backwards he put more space between them. When the blonde stopped pursuing him, she was waist deep and she put her hands on her hips.

"I jus'...need to be close to someone..." Her eyes weren't dull the way they had been when she'd first come down. His head swam. She was like a little blonde tornado, always keeping him confused about everything. They'd had a few friendly moments between them, especially the night he'd yelled at her. What had she done? Beth Greene hadn't backed down from him and forced him off his high horse. She'd shared the silence with him, not once complaining. The teen really was trying to be a friend, but her version of friends was borderline illegal for him. Honestly, the girl scared him. His throat closed on him when he seen the water slowly soaking into the spaghetti strap shirt of hers. It was skin tight to begin with, be he knew if it all became soaked he'd see right through it.

"Beth..." He croaked out, refusing to move anymore. His eyes were darting everywhere, silently praying someone would come along...and then again...nobody would. No, he couldn't be thinking this way. This was dangerous. That broken girl had an attachment to him that would get them both into trouble, but those big blue eyes looked desperate and haunted. The same feeling he'd gotten the night he'd caught Jimmy roughin' her up came back to him. Protectiveness. Be careful, he reminded himself. He honestly had enough on his plate, he didn't need her adding to it. But the fact she came to him, it just...made him feel...important? He knew in ways everyone here needed him, but the girl chose him. She wanted him there. Beth had even told him she made him feel safe. Safe. The older man knew that wasn't a word thrown around carelessly these days. Nobody was ever safe, ever. But he made her feel safe. Damn, damn, damn!

The girl must have seen the mental war in his head, taking advantage of the distraction to get closer to him. His blue eyes watched her until she was right in front of him, soap in hand. When had she grabbed that? It didn't matter because she lathered up her hands and stuck the bar into his hands. It was a silent command, hold it. Daryl's throat tightened as her hands began rubbing circled into his left arm. The soap allowed her hands to glide along his skin, soft and tingling when her nails would scrape across. He remained stalk still, but his insides were melting. All too soon the arm was done and she reached for the soap. He gave it back to her without argument.

"When I was little, my Momma used to give me bubble baths after a bad day. She would sing to me and tell me stories as I soaked and she scrubbed the 'bad day' off." Beth paused, taking a deep breath and moving to the back of his shoulder. Daryl knew she was getting an eyeful of his back. She'd seen it before, but never made a comment about it. He felt the bar rubbing against his skin slowly as she ran it over in zig zag patterns. "As I got older, I knew there was certain things you couldn't just wash off. It broke my heart, but I always tried to scrub things off." Her soft voice stopped as she reached around and placed the soap back in his hands. Daryl wanted to groan feeling her hands knead into his shoulders. He even lowered himself a little, making it easier for her. But he kept his ears and eyes peeled for company.

"Sorry bout yer Momma." He offered to her, feeling her hands stop for a second. She gave him a squeeze and started back up.

"Thanks." Beth was sincere, always sincere with everything she said. Daryl took a deep breath as her flat palm moved over his scars. It was impossible to miss the extra attention she gave them, as if she was trying to wash them away like she'd done in her childhood. The idea made him feel a way he wasn't familiar with. A kinship to the girl maybe? Soon enough her hands moved on, gliding down his spine. He grunted as she worked out a knot and moved to his lower back.

"Where'd ya learn to do this?" He asked her, honestly curious. He couldn't imagine her doing this all the time. Little bouncy blonde stretched out, hands working over tense muscles and eliciting all kinds of sounds out of him...he mentally kicked himself in the dick. Jesus, Dixon!

"Well, when Shaun played football I used to watch Momma work on his back. Pretty soon I took over the task as it would hurt her arthritis. I never minded, made me feel important." The hunter nodded, feeling her tug him upwards. He stood all the way up and had to hold back a groan as her hands moved to his right ride. Daryl lifted his arm to accommodate her. His eyes closed as she worked over his ribs and down to his hip. He thought he'd have to stop her, but Beth pulled away right as she got to his hip bone. "Dunk under." She suggested. Daryl opened his eyes and shot her a look. Beth nodded, seeming serious. "Go on." So, having already given in to this point, he obliged her request. Swiftly he went underwater and came back up, handing her the soap as he pushed his hair out of his eyes.

"You alirght?" Beth asked him. He nodded, wiping the water from his eyes. She was watching him curiously, it no longer irked him the way it used to.

"Why ya ask?" Beth shrugged and began soaping her hands up again, motioning him to get lower. He bent his legs and watched as she stepped into him and rubbed the bar in his hair. Yeah he made it seem like he was okay, but he was really freaking out. Nobody had ever...bathed...him before. Especially in such a casual and platonic way. Not since he was a baby. This girl always treated him as if he'd always been around.

"Cause I know you're so...guarded." He didn't bother replying to it, just took one last look at her face. Her blue eyes were boring into him, many questions swirling behind them. "Close your eyes." Daryl closed his eyes and felt her place the bar back into his hand, before her fingers began massaging his scalp and cleaning his hair. His body twitched, holy shit it felt amazing. The hunter had to strain to keep his focus on the sounds of their surroundings. Please God, he thought, if you're up there...do me this one favor? Beth's fingers were magic, and he almost moaned when she applied her nails into the mix. He heard her giggle, Beth swirled her fingers through the his hair for a minuet before digging her nails in again. The breathy groan he let out made her giggle again.

"Your like a big ol' dog." She said, he could hear the smile in her voice. Despite himself, he felt the corner of his mouth turn up.

"Dog huh?" He asked, feeling her finger tips trace down the back of his neck and to the front of his chest. She took the soap back and re lathered before placing it back in his outstretched hand.

"Yeah, who'da known if ya scratch Daryl Dixon's head he goes from wolf to puppy." He rolled his eyes behind his closed eye lids and splashed her. It earned him another giggle, he would rather hear her giggle than hear the emptiness in her voice. How had he gotten here with the blonde? Seemed like over night, but he knew it was futile to buck the pretty teenager. She had her claws in him, didn't even know it. God help him the day she realized it. He lifted up more for her, having to keep his eyes closed as she ran her hands over his chest. He tried not to think about it too much, but he felt the warmth of her palms behind the cool water beaded on his chest. Damnit, Beth. Every few seconds she'd slow down and he'd feel her eyes stripping him down to muscle and bone. "I think you're clean..." Her voice spoke, soft and hesitant. Daryl licked his lips, tasting the soap on them. He wanted to dunk down, but her hands were still on his chest. Beth shifted and he felt the need to see her suddenly, a warning buzzer going off in her head.

"Beth?" He asked. She made a 'hmm?' sound. He swallowed the lump in his throat and reached for her hands. They were soft and soapy still, slightly shaky. "Y'alright?" He asked her, unsure of why she suddenly seemed a 100 miles away. With a quick movement, he felt her step in the rest of the way to him. Her skinny arms wrapped around his neck and it threw him off balance. Daryl's feet lost their placing and they went under water. He grabbed onto her from instinct, feeling her hold him tighter as he brought them above water. He coughed up a mouthful of water and wiped the last bit of suds from his face. When the hunter opened his eyes, big round blue ones were inches from his. They were surrounded by wet blonde hair and pale creamy skin. Her legs were around him and his left arm was around her, holding her to him in the gentle current of the creek.

"Daryl..." Beth whispered. His eyes shifted to her lips, watching as she spoke his name. It was him turn to reply with a 'hmm'. Out of the water a pale hand rose and wiped the hair off his forehead. The air grew thick between them and he swore he was about to be sentenced to hell. Beth withdrew her legs from him and stood, rising above him. Daryl couldn't tear his eyes away from her, the way the hair stuck to her neck and her shirt became second skin. Thank god she'd wore a bra he thought to himself, until her face came closer to his. The sunlight made her look almost angelic...pure and sacred. The air strangled in his lungs. His hand on her back tightened in her shirt, pulling her closer and trying to push her away simultaneously. Beth's eyes were glued to his, he could feel her breath on his face. Then her eyes fluttered shut as her lips rested on his forehead. Daryl let out the breath he'd been holding, letting the warmth of her breath race over his face.

Beth carefully withdrew her lips and followed suit with another one to the side of his face. Daryl too closed his eyes, not sure of what he should be doing right now. No use scolding her, he was just as much at fault. His hand let her shirt go and gripped her hip, gently pushing. Beth sighed, backing away and looking at him as if she understood the world and the meaning to life.

"I think you're scrubbed clean, Daryl Dixon." The teen's voice was a whisper, and it made him shiver. Slowly he stood, once again towering over her. He ran his hand through his hair, looking her over. The dark circles under her eyes made her look almost hollow, but she was still one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen. As if not to push the envelope too far, he reached for her and pushed the hair behind her ears. Beth smiled at him, white teeth peeking out and briefly leaning her face into his palm. Daryl knew she had scrubbed him clean, made him feel clean. The youngest Greene girl was a blessing and a curse to him. He'd never expected this...not in a million years. "I'll let you get back to your day, thank you for...letting me in close." She added, before stepping away from him and walking to the bank. He let her leave and watched as she headed up the trail, quiet as a church mouse.

Daryl wasn't sure what had just changed between them, but he knew it would be a fine line to walk. Friendship? Trust? Something more? Hell, she could have just baptized him for all he knew. That girl made things different for him. The man sighed and decided not to think on it too much, just take it as it was. Beth needed him to feel safe, he needed her to feel human. He needed the unexpected companionship she offered to him.