Ch. 6
There wasn't a damn thing he could do.
The group had surrounded him and his kill, and all he could do was hope they'd leave him alive so he could get home.
Fuck the deer. If they wanted it, they could have it. There was no way he was leaving Beth alone after all the shit they'd been through.
"Fine, man. Take the fuckin' deer." He slung his bow over his shoulder and backed up. "Don't need no trouble with y'all."
The leader laughed and motioned for a guy to start dragging the deer aside. "We ain't got a problem. Go on, boy, clean your catch."
Daryl narrowed his eyes at the man and took a step forward before reining in his temper. He was madder than he'd ever been.
"Ya deaf?" he asked Daryl, smirking a little. "Clean the fuckin' deer."
He was pushed from behind and stumbled a little toward the animal.
"Ya want it, ya clean it," he said and turned away again.
"Teach him a lesson about respect, boys."
Daryl dodged the first punch and landed one against the man's ribs. He was no match for seven though, and soon his was on his back, blood trickling down his split lip.
"Clean the deer."
With a deep breath that killed his ribs, he rolled over and stood up before walking over and kneeling down next to the deer.
They watched and joked as he prepared the deer for them. His blood was boiling by the time he was finished. Never before had he felt like such a pussy.
"Coulda hung the sonofabitch up for me," he muttered and wiped his hands on his jeans.
Daryl was pushed again, and he couldn't stop himself as he turned on his heel and landed a solid right on the man's jaw. Before he could cause more damage, his arms were restrained behind his back and fists landed on his stomach.
They tossed him aside and Joe leaned down into his face. "Get off your ass; you're comin' with us."
"Fuck you." He coughed as he spit blood. Bastards fucked up his ribs good.
Everyone laughed and started walking away as Joe crouched down beside him.
"Ya see, Daryl, we could use your services for the next couple of days. Ya seem like a decent tracker, and me and my men—we're lookin' for someone. Why should we waste our energy when we can waste yours?" He clapped a hand on Daryl's shoulder and stood up. "Ya got a camp around here?"
Daryl kept his face blank as he stared at the man.
"Got a woman?" He felt his jaw twitch, and Joe saw it. "Ya do? We might not be as good as ya with trackin', but ya fuck with us and we'll kill ya and find that camp, ya understand me?"
All he could do was nod and try to stand.
"We don't have much nowadays, but I'll give ya my word; ya help us and we'll leave ya alone. Ya gotta play by the rules, though, and they're simple. Don't lie to me, and if ya see something ya want, all ya gotta do is say 'claimed' and it's yours." He laughed without any humor and added threateningly, "That woman ya got? She ain't yours yet. I'd watch your ass with these boys. They ain't had pussy in a long time."
His fists clenched and his hands trembled as he followed Joe and the others to their camp.
That evening, he sat around a fire with men he hated and ate a portion of deer meat that should have been Beth's. He prayed, for the first time in a long time, that she was all right and that she'd stay at the cabin until he got back.
Since he didn't play their game with that "claimed" bullshit, he was furthest from the fire. He shivered against the cold ground and palmed his knife. It was going against everything in his nature to not fight back, but he couldn't put Beth at risk. He'd play his part to get them off his back, and first chance he got, he was attacking.
The next day, a kick to his already bruised ribs was his wake up call.
"Mothafucker," he groaned and rolled over.
"Get ya ass up. We gotta go." The man named Len used the toe of his boot to turn him over.
Daryl tried hard not to show the pain he was feeling as he grabbed his bow and stood to face the rest of the group. Joe nodded in his direction and waved him over. Instead of flipping him off like he wanted, he walked across their camp and stood in front of the asshole.
"Ya gotta get us some food, boy. Better start trackin'."
Daryl dipped his head down and bit the inside of his cheek so hard he tasted blood before turning away and taking off through the woods.
Several hours later, he had three rabbits and four squirrels, which he dropped at Joe's feet.
"There ya go."
He barely made it out of the clearing where they'd stopped before he heard them start following him. Daryl walked a bit faster, gripping the strap of his bow and looking for a way to lose them.
Wasn't no way he was getting away. Nothing but woods, and the ground was still so muddy even Beth could have tracked him if she wanted.
"What the fuck y'all want?" He turned on his heel, and the men stopped a few paces away. "I gotcha food. Get off my dick, all right?"
Joe held up the game and smiled. "We'll need somewhere to eat these later, won't we?"
Daryl's blood turned to ice as he realized what they meant to do.
"Ain't got no place for ya," he said as strongly as he could.
A sickly looking man with a goatee spit in his direction and snorted. "Ya can find somethin'."
He turned his gaze back to Joe who was smirking and pulling a cigarette from his pocket. "Ya ain't got much of choice. We're gonna follow ya, and ya can't kill all of us. We just wanna place to stay for the night, Daryl."
They didn't make it back to the cabin that night though. Out of nowhere a herd of walkers, stumbled upon them. After killing a few and shoving one of Joe's men into the arms of a few walkers, Daryl turned and ran. The others followed closely behind him and at first he was worried that they saw what he had done. They didn't though. They were too caught up with the walkers to notice.
When they got far enough away, the men that were left climbed trees and waited as the herd passed under them.
They were heading the opposite direction of the cabin, so maybe Beth hadn't seen them, he thought to himself.
As the sun rose a few hours later, he made his way down the tree. Joe dropped to the ground a few feet away, and three other men walked toward them. Out of eight men, Joe had lost four. That was huge hit for him, and Daryl couldn't help but wonder what it might mean for him.
"How far until your place, Daryl?"
"Don't really know. Got all turned around last night."
Joe rolled his neck before speaking, "Ya better walk fast, then, because I ain't sleeping in a fuckin' tree tonight."
The tone of his words made Daryl pause for a moment and look over the man. For the first time since they met, he didn't see Joe as a threat. He was old, slow, and tired. Daryl nodded and started in the direction he knew the cabin to be. Worse came to worst, he'd put an arrow through their heads as they slept.
Once he found the creek, he knew they'd arrive soon. He hoped Beth was inside and the door was barred; he prayed the herd hadn't come close to their cabin the night before.
He shook his head when he heard her voice. Of course she wouldn't be locked inside like he wanted.
"Ya hear that?" one of the younger guys asked quietly.
"I'll be damned," the other one muttered when Beth came into view.
She was outside the barbed wire fence, and it looked like she was checking one of the nails closest to the ground.
"She's claimed." His voice was hard as he turned to stare at the four men behind him.
"Fuck that. She ain't claimed yet." The man who spoke first started to walk forward and Daryl pushed him back and took off toward Beth.
She heard footsteps and turned to see him striding toward her. Relief overtook her body, and she felt like she could breathe again.
Beth looked him over quickly and thanked God he had no visible injuries. When she met his eyes again, she paused at the look on his face, and then a rush of adrenaline shot through her chest. She'd only seen that look once before, and she prayed it meant he was about to do what she thought he would.
His hands slid up her arms, across her collarbones, and settled on each side of her face. Beth's heart skipped as he leaned forward and softly brushed his lips against hers before meeting them again in a punishing kiss. She froze for a moment before wrapping her arms around his neck and letting her fingers tangle in his hair, pulling softly.
This kiss wasn't at all like the one they'd shared a couple of weeks ago. That one had been hesitant and a little shy, especially since she'd instigated it. This kiss was brutal and rough. His lips slanted against hers, and he pushed his tongue into her mouth, groaning when she met him with the same force.
When he started to pull back, she lightly bit his bottom lip before giggling softly.
Daryl's intense blue eyes caused her to freeze in place. She expected declarations of love or something equally heartwarming, but the single word that came out of his mouth confused her. She tilted her head to the side as he turned around and that confusion disappeared as she came face-to-face with a group of men that Merle Dixon would have felt right at home with.
Daryl said it louder this time, pushing her behind him. "Claimed."
The older, haggard-looking man leered in her direction, and she gripped the leather of Daryl's jacket.
"Ain't gonna challenge ya." His voice was rough, and the other men nodded but didn't look pleased.
"Get in the house," Daryl whispered.
She didn't wait for him to say it twice; she slipped under the fence and walked fast to the front porch.
Once inside, she leaned against the wall and put a hand to her mouth to muffle her sob. She was so happy that he was back and all right. Beth let herself feel that relief for a few more seconds before she started to worry about the men that were with him.
Daryl wouldn't have brought them anywhere near her of his own free will, which meant they'd threatened him in some way.
She peeked out the window over the sink and saw that they'd come into the yard and were walking around front. She used the small space between the boards to look out the front window and saw them setting down their packs and kicking leaves to make a circle in the dirt.
It wouldn't be long before it was dark, and they were preparing for it.
She watched as Daryl shook his head and crossed his arms. The leader held his arms out from his body and smiled.
Beth really hated his smile. There was something evil about it.
Daryl shook his head again and took a step back. The other men laughed at something the leader said, and Daryl walked up the porch steps and opened the door. Beth jumped away from the window, and as soon as the door clicked shut, she had her arms wrapped around him.
"I was so worried," she whispered against his chest, relishing the squeeze of his arms around her. "What happened?"
He led her over to the bed and sat down on the edge, keeping both her hands in his. It took him several seconds, but soon the whole story spilled out.
"Are ya all right?" she asked when he was finished. Beth didn't wait for his answer, though. She unbuttoned his shirt and looked over the purple-black splotches on his skin.
"I'll be fine." He slid off his jacket and then his vest and worn-out flannel. Daryl leaned back against his pillow and groaned. "Said they're gonna leave in the mornin'. Don't know if they're bullshittin' me or not, though. Seems like they keep changin' their minds when they're gonna leave me alone."
Beth got up and walked across the room, barring the door as she spoke. "What do ya mean? Ya think they're gonna stay?"
Daryl shrugged and closed his eyes. "Don't know. I think they're gonna try and get me to do more for 'em."
Beth made her way back to the bed and lay down as close to him as she could. "What are we gonna do?"
"We ain't gonna do anything. I'll do whatever it takes to get 'em away from here."
Her heart started beating frantically as she understood his meaning. "You're not gonna leave me here, are ya?"
"That's the last thing I wanna do, baby."
She rested her arm lightly over his stomach and sighed. Neither spoke for a long time, and she thought maybe Daryl had fallen asleep, but he raised his hand to hers and let their fingers twine together.
"Things are different now," he said quietly.
Beth rose up and kissed the side of his neck, whispering against his skin. "Things have been different for a while."
He rolled on his side to face her. Slowly, he traced his fingers over her cheek and into her hair. "Ya sure this is what ya want?" He cleared his throat and flicked his eyes down before meeting her gaze again. "That I'm what ya want?"
There was a moment his eyes looked wary, and her heart hurt that he thought she'd reject him.
"Absolutely." She pressed a small kiss to his lips.
"Ya can do better." It was his turn to move in and take her lips. The hand that was tangled in her hair locked her in place, and his tongue traced her lower lip before taking it between both of this. Daryl pulled back and Beth leaned forward, chasing his kiss. "I'm not gonna complain, though. I'm yours as long as you'll have me."
Beth felt her smile overtake her features as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and tried to roll him over. He shook his head and smirked. "Think ya can manhandle me because I'm injured?" His forearms were on either side of her head as he braced himself over her. "Ya want me on top ya, just gotta say so."
She ran her hands over his back, tracing the scars before sliding up his neck and into his hair. His eyes closed at the feel of her hands on him, and she couldn't help but think he looked years younger when he relaxed a little or when he gave her that halfway grin.
He dipped his head down, and his shaggy hair fell over his eyes, so she moved one hand around, caressing his cheek before running her fingers through the strands and pushing them back.
The slight tug of his hair seemed to set him off, and he crushed his lips to hers like he'd done earlier. Beth moaned into his mouth as his upper body pressed her into the bed.
She couldn't think as he moved his kisses across her jaw and down her neck. When he reached the spot just under her ear, he bit down lightly, and her whole body was suddenly on fire.
"God, Daryl." Beth turned her head further and pressed her hands to his head, keeping him in place. He sucked her skin and then traced his tongue over the same spot before biting down again.
Her stomach clenched with each pass of his lips, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, tilting her hips to meet his. When his hardness brushed against the center of her jeans, she gasped and threw back her head, closing off his access to the spot on her neck he'd been marking.
There was loud laughing from outside that snapped Daryl out of his lust-induced daze and he pulled back.
They really hadn't done anything yet, but he was breathing heavily and his face was flushed. She was that she looked the same way. He studied her face before he leaned his head against her shoulder, placing a soft kiss against the skin she knew was bruised.
"Ain't gonna do this with them outside," he said against her neck.
She pushed his shoulders, and he leaned back. When she could see his face again, her forehead creased in irritation. "Ya serious? After everythin', we're gonna stop now?"
Daryl reached back and untangled her legs before rolling to the side and throwing an arm over his face. Beth looked down, seeing the outline of his hard shaft through his jeans, and felt completely confused.
"This ain't right," he mumbled. "Beth, baby, this ain't how it happens. Not with those pricks right outside."
Beth felt an overwhelming surge of confidence, and before she could back down, she sat up and yanked her shirt over her head, leaving her bare from the waist up before him. But his arm was still in place and he wasn't looking at her.
She stood up and dropped the jeans to the floor before getting back on the bed and straddling his waist.
That got his attention. He dropped his arm away and opened his eyes, taking in her almost-naked form.
Beth flushed all the way down her chest as he stared wide-eyed at her breasts.
She almost crossed her arms to cover up, but Daryl sat up fast, wincing as he did, and trapped her against his chest.
"Damn, woman," he said harshly against her lips. "It's supposed to be special, ain't it?"
Beth laughed nervously. "Am I gonna have to say somethin' cheesy like it's special 'cause it's you?" She leaned forward and kissed up his neck before sucking gently on the lobe of his ear.
It took all his strength, but he pulled back again.
"I'm a sure bet, baby, I swear to ya. I ain't that strong to stop it from happenin', and God knows how badly I want ya, Beth." He kissed her again, savoring the softness of her lips. "But it ain't gonna happen tonight. Not with everythin' up in the air and those guys out there, waitin' for us to fuck up."
"You're mine?" Beth asked against his lips and smiled.
"Ain't much, but it's all yours."
"I guess I'll take that for now."
Daryl kissed her and sighed.
"I'm yours, too, ya know? Even back at the prison, I knew that in my own way."
Daryl didn't what to say to that, but he felt so powerful knowing that this woman had had her sights set on him for so long. He wanted her, too, but never even thought it was possible.
He wasn't sure what would happen in the morning, but he knew without a doubt he'd do whatever he had to do to keep her safe.
"Go on to sleep." He lay back on the bed and pulled her to his chest, relishing the feel of her skin on his.
She slept soundly that night, and he kept a hand on his bow by the side of the bed at all times.
