Beth's eye lids drooped as her adrenaline wore off, and exhaustion settled in. She tried keeping her eyes open as Daryl drove down the road, but the yellow lines were hypnotizing. She glanced over at the speedometer and saw it was pushing 80. She looked over at him and quickly became aware of the healing cuts on his face, the sweat dripping down his temple, the dirt blotching his shoulders and arms. She slowly looked back to the road and sighed.
Daryl didn't feel entirely safe yet, he could still see the city in the mirror. It was taunting almost. He did however see that Beth staring at him and it made him uncomfortable, he hated when people studied him. He felt as if she could see everything, he was trying to overcome that fear but it was hard. A life of being tormented by his father and older brother really ruined him.
"So is your group around here?" Noah asked.
Daryl nodded."Bout an hour out, maybe two."
Beth looked at Daryl and watched as his hand gripped the steering wheel with such strength, she wondered if he was okay. She frowned a little as she stared at his hands, her own hand slid on to his leg. She could feel that every muscle in his body stiffened up a bit, she looked over at him meeting his questioning eyes.
"Are you okay?" She whispered.
He nodded." Mhm." and looked back.
She nodded and turned back to the road, she looked over at the map that Noah had sitting next to him. She picked it up and immediately saw Walton circled with black marker, she ran her fingers over the circled county.
"Is this where we're going?"
Daryl looked over and saw she was pointing to the map, he plucked it out of her hand and looked at it; confused." Glenn, you circle this?"
"Um, no." He said leaning forward a bit." I don't have a marker."
"I just found it." Noah said.
Daryl nodded and handed the map back to Beth, his fingers grazing her soft and slender ones. She unfolded the map a little more and found Atlanta, they were close to where it was circled on the map. She smiled.
"We should go." Beth looked at Daryl then turned and looked at Maggie and Glenn hoping they'd be all for it, but they didn't seem amused by the idea." Why're we stayin? All's that's here is bad memories." She folded the map back up and tossed it on to the dash board.
It wasn't that Daryl didn't want to go, he just didn't want to keep moving to different places of Georgia. If they were going to leave, it would be out of Georgia. He didn't want to keep being reminded of what was, he'd rather they all start fresh, somewhere new, some place where the memories of loved ones didn't haunt them.
...
5:35 P:M
After what felt like an impossible car ride, they finally arrived back to the group's makeshift camp, although now there was a fire truck sitting on the side of the road making it blatantly obvious. Daryl slowed the grey pick up down just behind it and put the truck in park, Rick and the others were already at attention; hands on their weapons. Daryl wasn't offended though, it was better to be safe than sorry he guessed. When they saw it was him they relaxed and walked over.
"These people kidnapped us." Glenn said as he climbed out from the back." Shit got crazy. Barely got out." He walked past Rick over to the fire truck and examined it.
Rick stared at Daryl as he waited for Beth to step out, when she did she immediately smiled at Rick and walked over giving him a hug. He kissed the side of her head.
"Are you okay?" He asked as he eyed her cuts on her face.
She nodded." I'm fine."
"Grady Memorial in Atlanta, people are fucking nuts." Daryl laid his crossbow on the hood of the truck." Tried to take us back there, said that some chick Dawn would be happy to have more wards."
Rick nodded towards Noah who was standing awkwardly by the passenger side door." Who's he?"
"That's Noah, he was with me at the hospital." Beth said." He's a good person."
"Mind if I ask you some questions?"
Noah shook his head." No, not at all."
Rick gave Daryl a slight nod then walked over and stood in front of Noah. Maggie walked over to the front of the truck, she laid her arm on the hood as she stared at Beth. She wasn't angry, just curious it seemed. Beth looked over and Maggie engulfed her in a hug, she slowly wrapped her arms around the brunette woman and closed her eyes. But, the hug was short lived as Maggie pulled away, still keeping her hands on her shoulders. Daryl knew the questioning would soon begin. He grabbed his crossbow and shrugged it over his shoulder.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Daryl turned and looked at the eldest Greene." Was gonna let you two talk."
She shook her head." This involves you too."
He sighed and walked back over to the two; standing next to Beth, awkwardly shifting his body weight from one foot to the next. He didn't like being subjected to twenty questions, not from Merle, not from anyone.
"When did this happen?" She asked as she smoothed Beth's hair back.
Beth grabbed Maggie's hand and slowly lowered it." After the prison fell, we'd only been together for a week or somethin' and he was upset. We ended up drinkin' moonshine in a cabin that he found with Michonne earlier." She paused." We ended up fighting over what had happened, and then it just happened."
Maggie frowned." It meant something right? It wasn't just to use her. Right?"
Daryl glared at Maggie, how dare she even imply that it didn't mean anything. It did, it meant a lot. He just had a hard time vocalizing that, and now with her eyes and Beth's eyes settling on him waiting for an answer, it made it that much harder. He grew incredibly nervous and had to get away.
"I'm goin' hunting." he said before turning and walking away. He gripped the strap to his crossbow tighter.
Beth frowned and looked down at her fingers." You shouldn't ask him stuff like that, he get's insulted easily."
"I'm sorry Beth, but I need to know what his intentions are. Does he plan on being with you, raising the baby with you? D-Does he love you?" Maggie bit her lip." I'm just-"
"It's really none of your business Maggie, I'm nineteen. Not nine. And I imagine he will, he's a good man." Beth picked at a hangnail." I just wish you wouldn't do that to people, sometimes people get offended that you think so low of them."
Maggie sighed." I don't think low of Daryl, I just..." She looked down." I guess I thought he was one of those guys."
"Well he's not."
She laid a gentle hand on Beth's shoulder, the blonde looked up from her hangnail. She had a somber look upon her face. Maggie cupped her face with her hands and leaned in kissing Beth's cheek, Beth forced a smile as Maggie pulled away.
"I'm just worried is all."
Beth nodded." I know. And I respect that you still want to protect me, but, like I said I'm capable."
"Maggie." Glenn said coming up from behind. She turned around and Glenn smiled a little at both sisters." Can I talk.. to you for a minute." He nodded back towards where the group's makeshift camp was.
"Everything okay?"
He nodded." Yeah."
Maggie gave Beth another hug." I am so happy we've got you back."
"Me too." She replied softly.
"Beth, are you hungry? There's food back there, they found some stuff." Glenn said.
She smiled and walked past Glenn who touched her shoulder; squeezing it a bit, she enjoyed having him as a brother in-law. He was like an actual brother, always looking out after her and sometimes light teasing occurred. All in good fun though. He was better then some of Maggie's previous boyfriends that she almost called her in-law, he wasn't what she expected Maggie to be with, but he was good for her.
Michonne was up ahead in front of the fire truck holding Judith, Beth's eyes immediately welled with tears, she never thought she'd ever see that baby again. Michonne smiled at Beth as she walked over, she handed Judith to Beth who lifted her into her arms. The baby whimpered some before clutching the strap to Beth's shirt, Beth cradled her head with her hand and laid her head on top. Michonne leaned in close and kissed her forehead.
"Glad you're back." She said.
Beth smiled." I'm glad to be back." She looked down at Judith. She looked back up at the woman who's smile started to fade as her eyes roamed her face, most likely looking at the cuts but being too polite to mention them. Beth shook her head." They don't hurt anymore, I forgot I even had them."
"They fit you."
Beth blushed and looked down.
Michonne snickered." It tells a story about you and what you've been through."
She looked up and gave a small smile." Thanks."
...
Later that night everyone sat around the fire eating and waiting for morning to come, Beth had learned that Carol was the only other person missing and that the group was going to look for her as they headed towards Richmond, and how ever long that took was how long they'd search for her. Beth was saddened as the woman was like an older sister or mother figure to her and Maggie, it didn't feel right enjoying their beans without everyone there.
But not eating the beans wasn't that hard for Beth she was feeling a little sick, so it wasn't like she'd miss much. Just as the group finished eating, Daryl came back from his hunt with a few squirrels hooked to his belt, but nothing that would feed the entire group and be satisfied. If they rationed the meat then they'd have enough to go around, but it wouldn't be enough for the group. They'd more than likely would still be hungry.
"See anything?" Glenn asked.
Daryl shrugged as he scooped some beans out of the can with his spoon." Couple walkers." He shoved the spoon into his mouth." Most of the game was gone for the night, only found a few squirrel." He glanced over at Beth and noticed she wasn't eating, he nonchalantly nudged her with his hand. She looked over and gave a smile almost making it seem as if everything was okay. He swallowed his mouthful of food." You good?"
She nodded." Y-Yeah, just not really hungry is all."
She turned back to the can and swirled her spoon inside, Daryl watched her for a minute before going back to eating. The group had fallen silent by this point, the only sounds were of Judith's slight whimpering as she slept and the crackle and pops of the fire. That was, until Tyreese spoke up breaking the silence.
"So what about Carol?"
Daryl looked up feeling slightly sick from eating too fast, he put the can down in front of him and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He didn't know who the question was directed to, but Rick spoke up anyways considering he was the one who made the decisions. Daryl's answer would've been simple if he had the chance to answer.
"We're gonna find her."
"We need a plan." Maggie said.
Rick nodded." We'll think of one tomorrow, right now we need to rest. Some of us had a longer day than others." He kissed Judith's head.
"What if we don't find her?"
Everyone's eyes adverted to Carl who sat beside Rick, no one really knew what to say. It was entirely possible that they wouldn't. Beth frowned and looked down at her can of beans, her nostrils flared slightly before she finally set the can down. She felt a pang of hurt when the reality of things hit.
"We'll cross that bridge if we get to it." Rick replied; patting his son on his back.
Beth stood up quickly covering her mouth, everyone turned towards the girl as she ran from her spot next to Maggie. She doubled over near a rock - holding her hair off to the side as she spilled her dinner. Daryl stood up; swiping his water bottle and started walking towards Beth or in the direction she ran off to. She wasn't that far away, a good three feet, if that.
He set his crossbow up against the tree and walked over to Beth who was dry heaving, he laid his hand on her back. She didn't really acknowledge him, she just continued heaving. He sat the water bottle down on the rock that she was leaning over.
She looked up and sniffled, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and brushed the pieces of hair stuck to her forehead away. She folded her arms on the rock and laid her head down. Daryl stared at her unsure of what to say to her, he knew something was wrong with her when she wasn't eating. He watched as a mosquito landed on her arm, he mushed it with his thumb and wiped the bug off on his pants.
"I don't know why it's happening at night. It usually happens in the morning."
He looked down." S'it the baby?"
"It's supposed to happen, I just thought it only happened in the morning." She inhaled deeply as she sat up, she noticed the water bottle and grabbed it. She took a long and much need sip, the cool liquid ran down her dry and scratchy throat.
"You okay now?"
She nodded." I guess."
Daryl wiped his hand off on his pants as he stood up, he lent his clean hand down to Beth. She eyed it and then him, he moved his hand as he waited. Her hand finally but slowly slipped into his. She pushed off the rock as he pulled her up, with the force of him pulling and her not being quite balanced she stumbled into him, but he caught her arm before she could fall.
"Sorry." she mumbled.
He nodded." S'fine."
Maggie got up from her spot next to Glenn and walked over, she had a worried expression all over her face." Are you okay?"
Beth nodded." Yeah, just got sick is all."
"You need rest, you had a long day." She slung an arm over Beth's shoulders.
"Quit fussin' I'm fine."
Maggie scoffed." It's my job."
Beth rolled her eyes as Maggie led her back to the makeshift camp, she glanced behind her to see Daryl walking behind them; gripping the strap to his crossbow, like he always did. She sighed and turned back around, the warmth of the fire already touching her chilled skin.
Maggie handed Beth her flannel and even though Beth felt bad, she also appreciated it very much. It was chilly out and she was most definitely cold. She put the flannel on and watched as Glenn slipped an arm around her sister, she couldn't help but feel out of place. She looked over searching for Daryl, but he wasn't there in his spot.
But behind Tyreese she saw the orange glow of the cigarette amid the darkness, Daryl was there. She laid down on the thin tattered blanket that was provided for her, she watched the flames of the fire dance before finally closing her eyes.
...
She's back with her family :D
Next chapter is going to include some bethyl fluff, not too much. But just enough! I feel like they deserve a bit of time alone together.
I want to thank all of you who reviewed last chapter, I love getting those emails. I really don't have much else to say except review (they are appreciated and they do make me write faster) so please do :)
XoXo
