A/N: I'm going away for a few days, so I probably won't update beyond this chapter till Sunday or Monday. However, I will have a lot of time for writing while I'm away, so progress will be made on this story. I'm really sorry that I can't promise an update. REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!
Thank you to everyone who reviewed Chapter 10. I know a lot of you were pissed that I had left you with a cliffhanger. It was totally intentional. I was pleased with the response I got with it.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Walking Dead or any song used in this story.
Chapter 11
Daryl POV
Beth fished my arrow out of the walker's head, and cleaned the brains off it, before heading back towards me. Beth stopped and her body tensed up, my eyes and ears straining for any sign of what made her freeze like that. Then I heard it. The sound of a baby crying. I could see the panic in Beth's eyes; I knew she was thinking about Ass Kicker. I closed the small distance between us, and pulled her to my arms. I couldn't stand the pain in her eyes.
"Daryl," she said, face buried in my chest, "We have to. I have to help. Try to, at least," I pulled her tighter into my arms.
"I know," I agreed, "But we're gonna do it safe." I slowly released her from my arms, and swiped the tears from here cheeks with my thumb. "Got yer knife, and gun?" She nodded, showing me both. I took my arrow from her, and reloaded my crossbow. I checked the ammo in my pistol, and double-checked my knife was in its sheath on my hip. "Stay behind me. No stupid shit!" I reminded her, and started moving. We jogged down the block, pausing to listen for the wails. I heard crying, and took a right at the next street. I was starting to hear grunts and moans, as well as the cry of the baby. Walkers were hearing it too. I looked around, still jogging, waiting for the herd to come through. Looking for where the baby is that's crying.
I looked behind me once more Beth was hot on my heels. A little further back the dead were starting to gather. Only seven so far, but more if we didn't hurry. I looked forward again, and saw two forms in the distance, running, trying to get away from them. "Look," I pointed out to Beth the figures. We broke into a full run. We started to gain on the figures. I could tell that one was a stocky, well built black man. Something about him seemed familiar. A shorter, scrawny figure was slightly ahead of him. I couldn't make anything out about the figure, though.
It didn't take much for us to catch up with them. When we did, though, I could feel my eyes widen in shock. I heard the small gasp from Beth, too. She recognized them too. No time to talk. I signaled for them to follow me. I cut through a yard, crisscrossing back towards the house we had secured. I checked behind us, counting how many of the undead were still on our tail. The slowest ones were nowhere near, and the faster ones were still a good ways away. Only a hand full of them had managed to follow us this far. I motioned for Beth to continue leading our guests along. I stopped and turned around aiming my crossbow in one fluid motion. I pulled the trigger. The arrow pierced the forehead of the nearest walker. It buckled immediately. I loaded another bolt, aimed, and pulled the trigger again. I repeated the process three more times, before the last walker was on top of me. I quickly unsheathed my bow knife, dodging the reaching arms, and getting behind the creature. In one quick motion I stabbed her in the base of the skull, tilting the knife upwards.
I turned around, jogging again. I quickly made it back to our safe house.
I ducked under our alarms, and jogged up the front porch. I walked into the house, eyeing everyone in the room. Beth was hovering near the door, when I walked in. I assumed she had watched me from the window next to the door. I could feel her eyes wandering over me, checking me, making sure I had no scratches. I turned my attention to the man and woman in front of me. The woman I never thought I'd see again.
"Daryl!" Carol exclaimed, "Beth! I'm so glad you two are safe!" I grunted in acknowledgment.
"Carol, Tyreese is that…" Beth started to ask, voice cracking, "Judith?"
Tyreese lifted the blanket away from his chest, grin taking form, I took in the form in the makeshift baby carrier. The soft brown curls framing the face of the baby I'd dubbed Lil Ass Kicker. I kept my face unreadable. Beth moved forward, reaching for the baby she thought was dead, lost in the attack on the prison. Tyreese gently pulled the hiccupping baby from her carrier, holding her out to Beth. Beth grabbed her, pulling her tightly to her chest. She sank to the floor, sobbing.
"Are you two alone?" Tyreese asked, moving closer to me.
I shook my head, "Nah, got a whole group. Split up ta find a place to sleep fer tha night. Be here soon," I watched Carol kneel on the floor next to Beth, and set her hand on Beth's shoulder comfortingly. I wish I could be the one to do that for her, my own insecurities keeping me at arms length away. Especially now that we have part of the prison group back. What're they going to think of me when they find out I've been kissing and sleeping next to Beth Greene; Hershel's youngest daughter. I'm a dirty, redneck old man. She's sweet, innocent, beautiful young, Beth. I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts from my head.
"The others?" I questioned.
"I made it out with Judith, Mika and Lizzie," Tyreese started, "Carol found us. Mika…Lizzie, they…they didn't make it." I nodded in understanding; I knew they would tell us what happened eventually. "I didn't see anyone else, I was near the girls when the prison fell. I grabbed them and got out of there as quickly as I could."
Beth started to wipe her eyes, her breathing starting to go back to normal. She stood up, keeping the squirming Judith tight to her chest, Carol stood up with her. I turned my face towards her Beth. She hesitated before coming to stand next to me, her arm just barely touching mine.
