Chapter 10

He stood up quickly dropping the wooden rabbit, blinded by rage. He was seething and he was becoming even more upset because he didn't quite realize why he was so mad. Daryl made his way across the field, his crossbow slung across his back.

"Aye! Dixon!" He heard on his right halting his angry steps to the fence. Daryl glared towards the person interrupting him before turning his eyes back on her. It was Walsh.

Daryl tilted his head toward the man, his murderous gaze still focused on the laughing Jimmy and Beth, waiting for Walsh to speak his piece before he could resume his own task.

"We're gearin' up to go teach these people how to shoot. Gon' need you to give up that wild goose chase for Sophia. We can't have you gettin' killed out there. Could use your help," Shane paused when he noticed Daryl's grip on his crossbow strap tightening. Was the tracker even paying any attention to him?

The ex-cop followed Daryl's angry gaze until his own dark eyes settled on the crazy blonde girl.

"Oh, I get it," Shane muttered under his breath with a snicker before clearing his throat before speaking louder, "Yeah, that's the boyfriend."

Daryl's eyes flashed over at Walsh. That caught his attention. A myriad of unfamiliar emotions were suddenly filtering through his mind. They weren't unfamiliar because he hadn't felt them before. He had certainly felt hurt before. They were unfamiliar because he'd never felt this way because of a woman outside of his family before.

"You didn't know?" Shane grinned slyly, "Ya'll been playin' house in that tent of yours for the last few days and she didn't tell you about boyfriend Jimbo?"

Daryl glanced quickly back over at Beth and Jimmy before turning on his heels. He looked around the campsite to see that everyone was making their way to where Rick stood but he wouldn't be joining them. From his peripheral view, he could see Walsh throw his hands up, probably upset that Daryl wasn't going to be his lackey. He strode over to his tent intent on dismantling it, attempting to ignore the constant echo of Beth's giggling that was slamming against the walls of his skull. He wished that they would find a way out.

He looked around the inside of the tent, his eyes falling on her bag. And his blanket that had become hers in the short time they'd spent together. He grabbed the bag and blanket, tossing them outside of the tent, his space that she had invaded. Grabbing his own bag, he took off towards the stables.

XXXX

Beth didn't see Daryl anywhere. He had been whittling at the campsite close to their tent when she went to help Jimmy with fence repairs. When they were done, she looked towards the campsite, her bright eyes seeking him out. She was hoping to go with him to find Sophia.

She'd gone to the tent in search of him but had found her bag resting outside of it. Confusion and worry set in.

Beth made her way over to where her father stood talking to Rick by the wraparound porch.

"I'm not havin' it Rick. You need to control your people. Jimmy is my responsibility. He isn't my kin but he may as well be," Hershel spoke sternly. The old man glanced up as his daughter neared them.

"I'll have a word with Shane. It was my understanding that Jimmy had your permission," Rick bit out frustratingly with a slight shake of his head.

Ah. So Jimmy hadn't asked her father if it would be okay for him to learn how to shoot and handle a gun with Shane and the group he'd taken off into the woods. She understood her father's protectiveness, all too well, but Jimmy was an adult.

Clearing her throat Beth interrupted in a timid voice, "Do you know where Daryl went?"

Both Rick and her father cast their gazes upon her. Rick had a small smile on his face and her father's eyes crinkled grimly.

It was clear that's Hershel disapproved of Beth and the presumable "shacking up" that she was doing with hunter. Beth had assured him that nothing untoward was going on between the two despite Shane Walsh's misgivings but Hershel still worried. Especially because of how fragile Beth had once seemed. In his mind's eye, Hershel could not shake how much smaller...how fragile...the blonde girl had looked in that hospital those months ago. He just hoped that she hadn't latched onto this man, this Daryl, to set herself up for hurt. She'd made it out of Atlanta by some miracle, safe and sound, and he wouldn't get in the way of her happiness.

He knew that Walsh was a problem so he would listen to Beth overall, but he didn't have to like it.

"He took a horse. Went off to search for Carol's girl," Rick spoke after a beat, his eyes analyzing Beth's face curiously.

Beth could feel her eyebrows dip into a frown.

"On his own?"

Rick nodded, his curious features filling with humor. For what reason, Beth did not know.

"On my horse?" She spoke slowly still trying to comprehend.

"Yes, Nelly," Hershel affirmed shaking his head, "Nervous Nelly."

Rick moved his eyes over to Hershel quickly, "There somethin' I should be worried about?"

"No. But there's something Daryl should be worried about. Nelly gets spooked by a leaf fallin' from a tree for God's sake," Beth said throwing up her hands in clear annoyance. Why would he go off on his own with her horse like that? He'd known that she'd wanted to go with him on the search.

He was asking for trouble.

"I'm goin' to need to have a talk with Daryl," Rick muttered his hand going to his face to wipe at his sweaty brow.

"So am I," Beth sighed with a roll of her eyes. To that, Rick smirked before making his way back to the campsite.

"I wouldn't worry, Bethy. He seemed…capable enough," Hershel reassured his youngest daughter. He didn't like having to do so.

"Why don't you go help Maggie tend to the chicken coop. Some of the wiring came loose and needs repairin'," Hershel directed. Giving her tasks would keep her mind good and occupied.

XXXX

Beth sat at the campsite waiting. Just…waiting. When she'd finished at the chicken coop, she'd made herself scarce. Maggie kept asking her strange questions and giving her odd looks as if she was trying to figure something out and it made her wary. The looks only increased when Nelly made it back to the farm, causing Beth to bite at her lip nervously when Daryl was still nowhere to be found.

Why was she so concerned about this man? Maggie had asked her this, but Beth found that she didn't even have an answer for herself. She and Daryl, whatever they were, friends? She needed him. He filled a void that she'd been sinking into. She couldn't lose that.

She knew that it had only been a handful of weeks that she'd been with the group but it felt like a lifetime and she wanted to live. She could only really live with him near. She knew it was a stupid sentiment but she knew that it was also her truth.

Beth move her gaze downward breaking her focus on the tree line that was behind the stables. There was something small and familiar on the ground. She leaned down to pick it up, noticing that it was the small piece of wood that Daryl had been whittling on whenever his hands had become idle.

She ran her fingers along the unfinished project, her feelings starting to overcome her.

He had really gone and left her.

"WALKER! Walker!"

Beth jumped up, nearly dropping the partially finished, wooden bunny rabbit. It was Andrea. She had taken point on top of the RV.

Everyone appeared then, grabbing onto whatever weapons they had. Stuffing the wooden rabbit into her back pocket, Beth made to grab her own knife that she kept in her boot. The only reason that she was wearing the damn boots was because she thought that she'd be off with Daryl in the woods.

"I can shoot it from here," Andrea exclaimed eagerly from her position on the RV.

"No guns, Andrea," Shane shouted out, his weapon in hand. He hurriedly started limping after the others, his leg still bothering him from the night that Otis died.

"No! Hershel wants to deal with walkers," Rick yelled out his call landing on deaf ears as everyone moved closer to the walker.

"Shit," Rick muttered to himself before following the others.

Beth hung back and cupped her hands around her eyes, something about the walker's swagger tickling the back of her mind. That tickling feeling was a persistent one. She ran over to the side of the RV and climbed the ladder. Andrea was standing there holding up binoculars. She hadn't even noticed Beth standing there, her primary focus on the walker. And proving herself.

"I got it," she whispered dropping the binoculars and aiming the shot gun she wore strapped across her body.

Beth launched herself towards her the binoculars unable to ignore the feeling that things weren't as they seemed. Pushing the binoculars against her own face, she looked towards the looming danger.

The figure was hard to make out, the sun making it difficult to see but the walker seemed to be holding something large and bulky. Walkers didn't hold anything except for their next meal, Beth quickly realized, and that's when it clicked. That was a crossbow.

Beth could see the group starting to surround the figure.

"Andrea…don't shoot," Beth said slowly, the back of her throat going dry, as recognition of the figure finally clicked.

The other blonde woman scoffed loudly, "I can make it."

Beth lowered the binoculars to glare at the older woman when she noticed Andrea's fingers tightening around the trigger.

"NO!" Beth exclaimed launching herself at the older woman just before the shot rang out.

They both heard yelling from the others immediately after the shot.

"What the hell?!" Andrea yelled pushing Beth off of her, angry at the possibility of having missed her shot. She scrambled to her feet while ripping her binoculars out of Beth's shaking hands. She held the tool up hurriedly, noticing that she'd made her shot. A smile started to turn up the corners of her mouth before disappearing just as quickly.

"Shit," Andrea whispered guiltily, "I shot Daryl."

Beth's eyes widened at the confirmation. She nearly threw herself down the ladder, her hands and ribs hitting each of the rungs painfully as she slid down from the top of the RV. She could hear Andrea trailing behind her as she took off towards the group but she didn't care. She couldn't care. Her focus was set on one person only.

Note:

This chapter was ridiculously difficult to write. I apologize for the lateness. I'm feeling a bit self-conscious about it so please tell me what you think.

As I stated, this is a slow-burn but our favorite couple might light a few more coals and set some things in motion in the next chapter. I've had most of it written since I started this fic, and I love it.

More action and uncovered secrets coming soon. Thank you guys so much for your love!