11.
Daryl left her body at once. He sensed her perplexity.
Beth stared at him stunned.
"Oh Jesus, Daryl, now I remember you. I remember… everything! Where… where is everybody else?" she asked sharply.
Daryl shook his head.
"Gone now. All… gone," he said in a whisper.
"I haven't seen them since we lost the prison", he admitted with pained eyes.
Beth started to cry. The memories came so unexpectedly, so forcefully now. It felt like thousand voices whispering in her mind at the same time. She pressed her hands on her face. Suddenly she remembered the names and the faces of the people she loved once. Maggie. Glenn. Judith. Dad! She complained aloud, longing for them.
Daryl touched her arm soothingly. Somehow he had known that this day would come. Only now Beth's losses became real.
"I'm so sorry, Beth," he said hoarsely.
The pleasure they shared only minutes earlier seemed a long way off now.
It was at that moment when Beth recovered a little. Suddenly she realized that she was completely naked and in bed with Daryl Dixon.
I just slept with him, she thought shocked, blushed and pulled the blanket up to her chin.
Daryl cursed silently in his mind. They both sensed this new, unexpected awkwardness simultaneously. They lay side by side on the bed and the silence was heavy between them.
She repents … what we just did, Daryl realized darkly. He could understand that. After all Beth was a daughter of the great house, a beautiful and sophisticated young woman.
And he was just a stupid redneck, almost old enough to be her dad.
I knew I shouldn't have done it. I just couldn't help myself, Daryl thought and looked the other way hating himself.
Beth blinked her tears away. She had lost her family a long ago. She couldn't change it. But now - finally - she knew who she was. She was relieved about it.
And she had just experienced something unbelievably good. Making love to Daryl Dixon.
She smiled a bit and touched his hand in the dark.
Daryl misunderstood her little, gentle gesture.
"I'm so sorry, Beth. I know I shouldn't have…" he said in a muffled tone.
"I'm not", she replied and looked at him.
"I liked it, Daryl. No, to tell you the truth I loved it. Trust me - it was the best thing that has happened to me in years. I'm glad we did it. And I'm glad you found me", she said determinedly.
"Do you really mean that?" Daryl asked surprised, with a hint of relief.
"I do", Beth replied sincerely and moved closer to him.
The words were unnecessary now. Daryl smiled and wrapped a blanket around both of them.
It felt so good to be so close.
Afterwards they couldn't remember who fell asleep first.
xxx
When Daryl opened his eyes again the room was filled with early morning light.
Only now he remembered something important. The dog barked at night. And Beth said something about it. I didn't focus properly on her words.
He touched her shoulder lightly. Beth woke up, opened her big blue eyes and smiled at him. She was obviously happy to see him.
Daryl felt a hint of joy and smiled too.
"You said something about the dog last night. Just before we… you know. Can you repeat what you said?" he asked in a low tone.
Beth frowned. Her smile disappeared.
"I remembered that the Gravedigger had a dog. A skinny white one called Boy to be precise. He used it to trace me", she said silently.
"The funny thing is… now that I remember our past… I still can't remember anything more about my captivity," she continued thoughtfully.
Daryl didn't reply, no. Something disturbed him. He didn't want Beth to worry unnecessarily though, so he hesitated before he spoke again.
Beth could tell that his mind was elsewhere.
"What is it, Daryl?" she wanted to know.
"It's probably nothing… but I heard a dog barking last night somewhere near," he finally said.
Beth paled visibly.
Then she started to scream.
