R_S: So I guess this is one's for DarylDixon'sLover and Steffy2106. I think this chapter will be up your alley ;p
Bittersweet
Chapter 7
The next night found them huddled just outside Woodbury, the gates looking a little worse for wear since their last visit.
"Alright Michonne- you know the layout better'n anybody else. Take Daryl and get Beth from the Governor's quarters. Glenn, Merle, n' I'll run interference."
"You sure it's a good idea to take Merle out from under Daryl's eye? He seems to be the only one who can make him behave…" Glenn muttered, eyeing the mercenary suspiciously. He snorted.
"Relax, ping-pang panda; I promise I ain't gonna double cross ya 'til my baby brother's back safe n' sound, kay?"
"For the last time, I'm Korean-"
"Stop it, both of you! Get going, now!" With the noise of their three comrades in the distance, Michonne and Daryl lurked through the shadows between buildings.
"It's through here," she motioned by inclining her head, "but we don't know if he's in there or not."
Daryl drew his crossbow, "Cover me, I'll head in first." They made their way silently up through the building to the Governor's apartment. He turned to look at his companion, as though to ask if she was ready, and she gave him a nod of confirmation, which he returned. Looking back at the door, he counted to three in his head before delivering a swift kick to the lock, busting it and sending the door swinging violently wide open. He scanned the room quickly, finger itching on the trigger, but it was empty…except for Beth.
She sat up at the sudden entry, blond hair falling messily around her, down for the first time he had ever seen. The only covering she had was a thin sheet clutched up to her chest, falling in front of her but covering only the essentials. Her eyes were wide and fearful, though they relaxed as they fell on his form. Despite being cleaner than she had been since the farm, everything about her appeared more worn. She had aged in those short days and obviously suffered. Her cheek and the side of her lip were slightly swollen, and his eyes fell to the hand holding the sheet, its wrist looped with bruises. He turned his head away from her, blushing, and coughed, though not before he caught a hand shaped bruise out of the corner of his eye, its expanse decorating her hip.
"Michonne, get 'er dressed; we gotta move fast." The woman slipped in, sheathing her blade, and Daryl closed the door behind her.
"You came back for me…"
"Of course we did." Daryl said gruffly but gently, still turned away. He could feel Michonne's eyes flick to him, but ignored it.
"Do you know where your clothes are?" He did not hear the girl's response, but he assumed she shook her head, since the next thing Michonne said was, "Then we'll have to make do wit what the Governor has; we'll get ya somethin' else when we can." Again, Daryl assumed she nodded, since there was no sound other than Michonne rooting through drawers. Without thinking, she captured the older woman in a hug as she handed over a bundle of linens, before donning what she could quickly. In moments, she was dressed in one of the Governor's shirts. There were no pants that would stay up, but luckily he was about a foot taller than her, so she could stay decently covered for the time being.
"It'll have to do." At Michonne's defeated tone, Daryl turned to look and dropped his gaze almost immediately. The girl had legs like a gazelle, and seeing her in that vile man's shirt left a sour taste in his mouth and a pit in his stomach.
The blond chewed her lip fretfully, "I sent Martinez back-"
"Yeah, him n' the li'l ass kicker're back safe n' sound; y'did good. Now c'mon, let's get outta here. Stay close to me. Michonne, bring up the rear." Both nodded obediently, but before he could open the door, the blond's arms captured him from behind.
"Thank you." Her voice was a light whisper.
He gave her arm a squeeze, "You can thank me when I get ya back home safe. Let's move, we ain't got much time." They slunk back out the way they came, Beth yanking down the hem of her shirt, mindful of the Governor's men. Daryl took most of them out silently, before they even saw the trio. The closest call was a burly soldier that came seemingly out of nowhere while they were distracted, meaty fist shooting out to grab Beth's frail arm. She reacted instantly, jamming her hand up to hit him in the nose. Though it did little damage, she did loosen her grip, and her yelp alerted Daryl to the necessity of his rescue. He dislodged the man with a firmer punch, and Michonne made short work of him.
"Shh…" he quieted Beth as soon as the man was put down, though she was not making any more noise, "you ok?" She was shivering and a couple of tears had escaped her big eyes, which looked darker than normal in the low light of the night, but she made no noise and wore an expression of determination. She nodded once, though without meeting his gaze.
"We're almost there." He assured her stoicly. Within minutes, they were sliding around some overturned debris, the sound of their approach alerting his brother to their presence.
"Oh look, Li'l Bo Peep's back!" Merle grinned, shooting down some more guards, "I think ye read the nursery rhyme wrong, darlin'; it's yer sheep that're supposed to get lost, not you." He turned and got a good look at her. "Well I'll be damned…if y'all are tryin' t' seduce me, it's workin'. Remind me to look this li'l thing up when we get back to camp, little brother."
Daryl growled, "Shut it, Merle. Where's Rick n' Glenn?"
"They went after the Gov'nor. Turns out Grimes' ankle-biter is a stow-away; climbed into the trunk n' followed us up here. He's coverin' from them trees while they deal with the big man himself; brought some home-made dynamite for whatever hole he's hidin' out in."
"Carl's here?!" Beth asked, alarmed, instantly turning to Daryl. "You gotta go keep an eye on him; he shouldn't be up there by himself."
"Then who's gonna watch you?"
"I'll go to him," Michonne cut in as Merle handed her a gun, "you stay here with your brother and Beth." She slipped away with the grace of a wildcat.
"Beth, you remember how to shoot?" Daryl asked, handing her a piece of her own. Her hand shook slightly as she took it.
"I know the basics, but I'm not very good. Haven't shot at a walker before, let alone a person."
"Shit- alright, just… just stay down n' if anyone comes near ya, y' point it n' pull the trigger. Got it?" She nodded nervously but hunkered down, and Daryl moved to stand next to his brother and continue the exchange of bullets.
"Look at us," Merle smirked, "rescuin' the princess like a couple'a big damn heroes… I could get used t'it."
"Yeah…" he said, thinking about the effort it took to tear his eyes away from Beth's naked form, "we're regular knights in shinin' armor."
From afar, an explosion cut through the air, and a building fell.
R_S: Kudos if anyone gets the reference I slipped into the dialogue haha. Hope you all liked it!