Hi Everyone - Beth's new chapter! It's going to start heating up but things aren't going to get any easier.

Stitch

She cried out when the needle bit into her flesh and she tried to jerk away when Hershel poked it cleanly through the other side of the gash. He skillfully pulled the two sides together and tied off the stitch while she bit the pillow. He sighed, "About nine more Bethy," and she cried harder into the pillow. He looked at Merle who scooted up the bed and rested his right elbow across her waist to prevent her from jerking away. Hershel began the next stitch and Beth fought, sweating and screaming into the pillow. He tied it off and looked at his daughter. She was suffering enough without him being angry with her.

He started the next stitch. "Bethy do you remember when I had to suture Otis after that bull got him?" Beth unexpectedly let out a bark of laughter. She screamed again when the needle bit into the other side but laughed as he finished the stitch. "Its horn went through the back of his pants," she gasped. Hershel laughed. "He said he'd never get behind in his work again." Beth laughed, then sniffed and wiped her nose. She resituated the pillow and nodded to her father to start the next one.

"Oh my God," came Carol's voice from the doorway. "What happened?" Hershel replied without looking up, "Another souvenir from Beth's run." Carol rushed to Beth and combed back Beth's hair with her fingers. "Oh baby, I know it hurts. It's going to be all right." Hershel looked at his work and grunted, "I'm going to need help getting a drain in there, it's likely already infected," to Carol. Carol nodded and set up the supplies then motioned to Merle to move. He walked to the head of the bed and sat in between Beth and the wall. When Hershel was ready to resume suturing he bent sideways over Beth's upper body, putting his bent left arm around her shoulders and planting his forearm in front of her chest.

Beth clutched his forearm with both hands and hid her face in it, crying and shaking as the needle moved in and out. Merle bent his head close to hers and said, "Where's that girl that went to Woodbury, huh missy? She was purty tough." Beth took a deep breath and stifled her scream with the next stitch. He rumbled, "That's it now. Be over soon then ya can rest. But fer now ya gotta be tough." Beth nodded and tuned into the sound of his voice. "Ya make it through this ya might even be Dixon tough," he rasped and Beth laughed briefly in between stitches. "Do I get a motorcycle?" she asked. Merle chuckled, "Ya just got ya a new bad ass truck girlie. Don't need no bike." Even in her pain she was happy that he liked her truck.

Beth shook and held her breath as the last stitch went in. Eyes closed, she panted with her face against his bent arm. He smelled so much different than her. She tried to concentrate on his scent while Hershel trimmed the sutures and situated the drain and bandage. "Please don't leave yet," she whispered, eyes still closed. Merle looked up and Hershel nodded, so Merle sat up and rubbed the crick in his neck. Carol came around to Beth's side. "How are you doing honey?" she asked. Beth was sniffling and Carol handed her a rag. After Beth blew her nose she asked, "Does labor hurt this much?" Carol laughed. "It hurts more sweetie. And for a longer time." Beth looked at her despondently. "How am I going to do it?" she asked. Carol smiled and rubbed her arm. "Because at the end of it you get a baby and you forget about what you went through."

Carol and Hershel cleaned off his instruments and packed them in his bag. Hershel sighed looking down at his daughter then he bent over and kissed her face. "I love you daddy," she whispered. He answered, "I love you too Bethy, I just wish you would have chosen a better time than the zombie apocalypse to act out. You know the drill, ten days with the stitches and we may have to flush the drain. Carol will start you on antibiotics and ibuprofen. Try not to work it too much the first couple days until it starts to join. Now I am going back to sleep. Good night Merle, Carol."

Carol handed Beth some pills and a bottle of water and Beth dutifully drank them down. She nodded to Merle and Carol and they helped her back to her cell and onto her bed. The stitches were tight and they were very sore. "Good night sweetie," said Carol, kissing her. Merle was standing near the doorway with his arms crossed. When Carol left Beth asked him softly, "Will you stay until I fall asleep? It won't be long." He looked at her with half-lidded eyes and nodded.

She smiled and scooted so he could sit at the head of her bed with his back against the wall. She rested her head in the crook of his shoulder and wrapped her arm around his middle. "I had to get hurt to get you to hold me," she said jokingly. He settled his back and neck more comfortably against the wall and closed his eyes. He replied, "Mighta done it sooner if that big nig...that black guy didn't have his hands on ya all the time." She smiled, appreciating his censoring, and opened her eyes. A few graying chest hairs peeked out of the top of his wife beater and she ran her fingernails through them. "He's my friend," she said. He took a deep breath through his nose and willed his cock to behave.

She relaxed against him appreciating his warmth and they relaxed for a few minutes. His hand traced lazy circles on her hip and she wanted it to go on forever. He looked down and said, "Why'd ya put toilet paper on yer antenna?" She smiled, "I put the full roll on and when I drove it unfurled. It was like a parade." He snorted at the thought then asked what was really on his mind, "Howdya get the cut missy?" She took a deep breath then exhaled. "One of the Woodbury guys had a knife on a pole. He was jamming it into the cabinets to see if anyone was hiding. I was." She knew Merle wouldn't tell Hershel. Merle frowned, "Whad he do when he found ya?" Her hand dropped to his belly and she spread her fingers to feel the firm muscle. She yawned and said, "He didn't notice the blood on the blade because his own men set walkers on him. After they took him down I had to kill them to get out." Merle's expression turned icy and she felt him tense.

She yawned again and whispered, "Merle? Do you like me more than friends?" Merle ground his teeth and looked down at her. "Yeah," he said softly, wondering just how bad he was fucked. He felt her smiling against his chest again. She sighed and shifted. "I can feel your heart," she whispered and she dropped off to sleep.

Carol padded into the room and checked Beth's bandage using her flashlight. She smiled when she looked at Beth lying on Merle. "Is she asleep?" she asked and Merle nodded curtly. Carol turned to leave then looked back at Merle. She said, "I've never seen her act this way about anyone Merle. She may be young but what she feels is real." When she left Merle stared straight ahead of him and ground his teeth.

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You're going to pay, thought Noah as he peered at Beth's cell from the kitchen the next morning. Beth was still sleeping off the night's stress. You made a fool of me and got me in trouble and you're going to pay. I'll make you pay. I'll make you grovel and kneel and then I'll make you mine. I know you'll enjoy it, both of us will.

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The next week passed quickly. Merle sat with her once a day for meals and she made a point of playing her guitar and singing at the foot of the steps before the group went to bed. He never joined the group but always came out of his cell to lean his back against the wall, arms crossed. Every once in a while looked at her and she smiled. She wanted to go up to his cell and sleep against his chest but she knew from Carol's trials with Daryl to give him space. One day she ventured out to the motor pool to see her truck and was surprised to see that it had been swept out and polished. Rick was walking through and laughed at her consternation. "Merle's been working on it every day, won't let anyone else touch it. You picked a good one!" Beth dreamily wondered if he meant the truck or Merle.

That day at lunch Merle told her tall tales about his misspent youth that made her laugh so hard that people around her started laughing too. But Hershel didn't laugh. He saw how his daughter was acting and knew she was falling for the worst man possible.

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Judith fussed in the early hours and Beth drug herself out of bed to heat a bottle. She stood in a tank top and boxers heating the water, her movements mechanical and her eyes bleary with sleep. She heard his chuckle before she heard his footsteps. She jumped and smiled as his arms went around her middle and she gasped when his lips found her neck. "Never know who could be walkin' around late at night little girl," he rasped. "Oh," she sighed. He nipped her softly with his teeth and his hand came up to softly pinch an uplifted nipple. Beth shuddered and he groaned into her neck. "Jesus fuck, sweetest little titty," he growled. Beth felt a warm rush between her legs and she stood still afraid to break the spell.

"You been thinkin' about ole Merle?" he said as his lips made his way along her collarbone and out to her shoulder. He pressed his hardness between her buttocks. A breathy moan escaped her and she knew she was going to melt into a puddle right there. "Yes," she whispered. "Every day." He nuzzled her ear and smiled. He exhaled slowly across her skin and she shivered. "Them stitches gonna come out in a few days. I probably oughta inspect 'em, make sure they healed up right." She pressed back against him and clutched his arms that were crossed around her chest. "OK," she said. Judith's fussing got angrier and he dropped his arms, smacking Beth on the ass softly as he returned to the cellblock. He grinned inwardly. Come to papa darlin'. Ladies can't resist Merle.

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"Last one Bethy," said Hershel as he snipped the suture and pulled it out. "All healed up. Now are you going to tell me how you got it?" Beth looked down at her pillow nervously. Hershel sighed, "All right. How about let's not do it again." Beth sat up and kissed his dear face. "Thank you daddy," she said. He looked at his youngest daughter who was the image of her mother. "About Merle," he said. "You two seem to be close. Closer than friends ought to be." Beth's eyes flickered. "Daddy," she said softly. "Please don't."

"It's my job to protect you, and he's one of the things I should be protecting you against," stated Hershel. "He's too old for you and he's a rough man Beth." Beth looked at him with a furrowed brow. "Daddy, I'm treating him as I would be treated. That's what you taught us. He's never done anything bad to me and he had a good explanation for what happened with Glen and Maggie. I don't like what he did either but I think he was forced."

"Beth, I don't like the way he looks at you. I don't like the way you look at him," Hershel protested. Beth regarded her father who she loved above all other people. She couldn't lie to him. She put her hands on Hershel's face. "I think I love him daddy. I know it hurts you and I'm so sorry," she began to cry. "Please daddy trust me and let me work it out myself." Hershel's head snapped back, it was the worst thing he could have heard. "I don't want him near you," he said. She shook her head. "Daddy, it's too late. Plus we're all on top of each other all the time. Nobody can avoid anyone else. Maybe I'm a stupid kid and I'll fall on my face or maybe daddy this is the real thing. You have to let me find out on my own." Hershel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Beth, has he...?" and Beth smiled. "No daddy. He's been a gentleman." Hershel nodded slowly and left to contemplate his bible.

That night Beth made sure to tell everyone at dinner that her stitches were out. Merle winked at her and made her blush. Later after everyone was asleep she met him in the warden's office. "Hey there girlie," he said as she walked to him. "Hi," she said softly before she was swept up into a kiss that made her head spin. Merle backed her to the desk and lifted her so she was sitting on it. He kissed her assertively, schooling her tongue to respond to his and she shivered. He made his way to her neck and her arms went around his shoulders. His hair was growing out and her fingers found the brown curls at the back of his head. They're so soft, she thought.

He nudged the strap of her tank top and bra off her shoulder with his nose and buried his face into her bare collarbone. She stilled. No one had ever had their mouth down in that area. His hand came up to squeeze her nipple through her bra and she squeaked. Oh my God, so good, was all that she could think. He pulled away to look at her and his eyes were smoky. Her mouth hung partly open as she caught her breath.

He nudged the other bra strap and moved his hand to the bottom of her tank top. He slowly pulled it up to reveal her small young breasts and his neck corded as he brought his mouth to a pale pink nipple. Her groan of pleasure was matched by his. Tastes so fucking good. His hand came up to work the other nipple and she found herself leaning back to give him better access. She felt like she was on fire and the desire churned deep in her abdomen. Her pussy almost hurt with desire and she wanted to open her legs wider. He moved in closer between her legs and pulled her hips toward his. His hardness rubbed on her and she began to shake out of lust and fear. He saw her expression and her fear registered with him.

He backed away an inch and she visibly relaxed. He leaned his head in towards the side of her face. "I ain't gonna do nothin you don't want," he said she looked into his eyes for reassurance. He kissed her slowly on the mouth and backed away, unzipping her fly slowly without breaking her gaze. "Wanna see them stitches," he said. She unbuttoned her jeans and he helped her pull them off. He moved in to kiss her, his hardness rubbing against her through her thin panties and her heart thundered in her chest. "Ya taste like fuckin' candy," he murmured against her mouth.

His chest was against hers and he rubbed his beard against her cheek until she calmed down. He looked down at her left leg and she shifted her weight to the right so the scar was exposed. He looked at her eyes as his hand traveled downwards to lightly rub his knuckles against the top of her thigh. She was mesmerized by his blue eyes and found strength in them. She nodded slowly and he looked down at the creamy skin of her leg. He crouched and softly kissed the sensitive skin on the inside of her ankle and she gasped. He made his way up to nip the inside of her knee then to the top of her thigh. He gently rolled her so the wound faced up and he softly kissed it from one end to another then he rolled her back so she was sitting again.

"Ya trust me?" he asked in a gravelly voice. Slowly she nodded. "Lean back," he said. "I ain't gonna hurt ya." She complied and he looked at her lying in her tank top and panties. It took every molecule of restraint not to fuck her into oblivion. He pushed between her legs and kissed her on the mouth softly then deeply. When she was relaxed under him he moved his hand to stroke her mound through her underwear. She exhaled sharply into his mouth and he pulled his head back to kiss her softly again. "Next time," he said softly, "I'll do this with my mouth." Her mouth was open against his and she breathed shakily. "And I'm gonna rub all over this with my tongue," he continued as he pressed gently against her clit. "Gonna make ya feel good." Beth whimpered and he gently slid his knuckle under the crotch of her panties and against her clit. Her body shook with fear and wanting. She was hot and slippery and open for him.

He tried to resist but he had to know, he'd never been with a virgin before. He slowly tried to insert his finger but met resistance. This time he shuddered because he couldn't imagine this tightness around his cock. He felt pre-cum leaking out of him and suddenly he was rock hard and hurting. He pulled his hand away and straightened her panties, planting a soft kiss on her warm mound that smelled like heaven, then he helped her sit up and get her pants on and her bra resituated.

The throbbing was persistent and he uncomfortably tried to reposition his pants. Beth was still panting and confused and scared but when she saw him pulling at the fabric she was curious. He saw her looking and said, "I'll take care of this later, gotta get ya back." She looked at him searchingly. "You saw me. I want to see you," she said. Her cheeks were flushed and in the soft lantern light her eyes were fathomless. He shook his head and said, "Don't ya worry about it." She pressed her lips together. "Please?" she asked softly.

"Fuck little girl," he groaned. "I can't keep control of it when it's out." She looked at him pleadingly and he swore and undid his jeans. He walked to her and it popped out, erect and bobbing. She gaped. It's so big! And weird. I want to touch it. She reached her hand out and lovingly caressed it and he said, "Fuck," through clenched teeth. It seemed to grow in her hand. "Show me," she said in awe. He guided her hand up and down the shaft until she had the rhythm and she watched as the head swelled with her strokes. "I'm gonna come," he warned. His arms draped over her shoulders and he moved his hips jerkily so that he was fucking her hand. His breathing became ragged and he bucked and bellowed profanity as it jerked in her hand and ejaculate spurted from him onto her shirt and jeans.

He ground into her hand a few more times and rested his head on her shoulder to catch his breath. "Now what?" she asked. He wiped the sweat off of his face and said, "Now we put it away til next time." She looked pensive and he said, "Whatsa matter little girl?" Her eyes prickled and she said, "It's too big, it won't fit." Merle tucked himself back in and put his arms around her neck. He looked her in the eye and said, "We'll go slow. I promise it'll fit after we make a little room. That's for another day." He kissed her softly on the lips and she felt better. She smiled at him. "Let's get ya back," he said.

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The next run was back to the big box store and Beth opted not to go. She knew that Merle would be trying to find contraception for them and he didn't need a distraction. Rick had decided that they would take Beth's truck, as it was forever to be known, on the run with them and she missed it. She wandered around the field staying away from the fence so as not to disturb the walkers. She waved to the two Woodbury residents manning the tower and made her way back. Tyreese should be around somewhere, she thought. Maybe we can sing.

She went in to use the bathroom and saw Noah standing at the end of the hallway near the entrance to C block. He waved at her and when she approached him he said, "Hey, your dad is the doctor, right? I'm not so sure he should be going through D block alone." Beth frowned at him. They had only made one sweep through D block, there were sure to be more walkers in there. She replied, "Why did he go in there?" and Noah shrugged. "He said something about the prison infirmary being there and needing supplies." Beth felt for her knife on her belt. "I'm going to him," she said.

Noah looked nervous. "I don't think you should go alone. I'll go with you." Beth nodded. "OK, do you have a weapon?" she asked. He sheepishly pulled out a fileting knife. "I haven't killed one yet but I know what to do." She nodded and they entered D block. Noah led the way and Beth covered him from behind. They had to take out one walker on the way and Beth did it. "Yuck," she thought as she looked at her shirt covered with walker slime. "Here it is," said Noah. "Let me go in first in case there's any walkers in there." Beth nodded and stood with her back to the doorway to cover. Soon Noah called, "OK, it's clear!" When Beth turned around the police baton smashed into her eye.

And she dropped like a rock.

PLEASE review! I'm feeling lonely!