AN: Two in one night. With the risk of sounding cliche, when it rains it pours. I've started the next chapter, so hopefully it will be up sooner than later, but who knows what will happen when my mind is involved. I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter. I actually wrote and rewrote the first half or so over the past several months in anticipation. At some point, I guess you just have to feign satisfaction and throw caution to the wind.

Thank you all again for your support. Throw me a review or a like if you feel the need, or don't... Damnit Jim, I'm a writer, not a review whore!

Or maybe I am...a little bit...my preciousssssss.

Daryl couldn't be sure what it was that made him decide to sneak Beth out of the prison. It could have been their talk up in the tower when she admitted her "criminal background." It could have been the look on her face when that Woodbury bitch yelled at her in front of everyone. It could have been when he walked Beth to her cell afterward and told her not to listen assholes who don't know what the hell they're talking about.

Whatever it was, he was glad for it. He knew it had been a fair few months since she had been outside the gates and Daryl tried to imagine how hard that was. Beth had been itchin' to get out for so long. It may have been difficult to keep his mind on the mission and his eyes on road when all we wanted was to watch Beth smiling out her window, but he was glad it was his action that made her smile in the first place.

Almost as if Beth could read his thoughts, she glanced over and giggled. "What're you thinking so hard about over there?" she asked. Daryl clenched his jaw and felt his cheeks warm. Of course she knew he was watching her. She was way more observant than people gave her credit for.

"Wonderin' how far I'll have to run to keep your daddy from shootin' me straight in the head when we get back," he replied with a smirk. Beth released a laugh so real, he could see her eyes shine.

"You know, I would be more worried about Maggie if I were you. She's got both her legs and is a better shot," Beth pointed out. Daryl groaned in agreement.

"Oh and what about Carl?" Daryl chuckled. He'll probably rush out to save you from the wilds of the world. He can be your 4'7" knight in dirty sheriff's hat." Beth actually tried to cover her mouth at that comment and Daryl couldn't help but push back at the small shove that Beth sent his way.

"Oh leave Carl alone," Beth finally replied through her giggle fits. "Besides, if all that's waitin' for us, let's just not go back. We'll go on a big ol' road trip all over and when we do come back we'll bring souvenirs for everyone and be forgiven." Daryl just raised an eyebrow at her idea. What would that be like…a road trip with Beth?

"And where we goin' on this road trip?" he finally asked.

"Well lots of places," Beth answered, stretching her arms out wide. "We'll take turns picking; that's fair, right?"

Daryl nodded after a pause. "I guess."

"Right, I'm going first then, because I've always wanted to see Lake Itasca. We can just follow the Mississippi River all the way north and see where it all began."

Daryl snorted. "Of all the places in all the world, you wanna see some crummy old lake at the start of a crummy old river that's probably filled to the brim with weeds, beer cans, and brain eating parasites?" He had heard about the parasite thing once on TV, but doubted it was any real concern for Beth.

"Hey now! Don't you tread on my dream to see that crummy old lake," she laughed, poking Daryl in the side. He wondered what it was about this girl and being so touchy. No one acted that that around him except for Carol, and she was like a sister. "Where are you picking then?"

Daryl only shrugged. "Don't know…but I can tell you right now we're going to a big freeway we scouted. Shit ton of cars to dig through." Beth nodded and quickly dropped her joking attitude.

"How far is it that we're going?" she asked.

"It's about a forty-five minute drive, I guess."

Beth looked his way. "That far?"

Daryl nodded. "Every time we go out, we have to go a little further," he replied.

"Are we using up everything around the prison?" Beth asked softly. The last thing Daryl wanted was to make Beth worry, but she wasn't stupid.

"It's not too bad yet, but it's good to spread out, see what's out there for us. Shit like this? The gas? Its kind perfect. Won't have to come back out here for a good while."

Beth nodded and turned to look out the window again. A few minutes later, when Daryl looked over to the blonde beside him, she was fast asleep. He chuckled and ran a hand over his face. No doubt the early morning wake-up call was catching up to her. Well, he would let her sleep. He was kind of glad for the quiet. As much as he liked listening to Beth talk, it was nice to just have someone to sit with for the drive.

And drive they did and as soon as the truck reached the freeway entrance, Daryl reached over to shake Beth awake.

"Beth…get up," he mumbled softly, not wanting a repeat of this morning. He watched as Beth stretched out as much as she could in a truck, but quickly looked away as her shirt road up a bit to show her stomach.

"Come on now, girl, we ain't got all day," he stated, shaking Beth's shoulder once more. Finally Beth opened her eyes and looked around the truck.

"Man," she laughed, "for a second there I forgot where I was. Sorry for fallin' asleep on you. Bet Michonne never does."

Daryl shrugged and eyed the sea of cars before them. "No, but she doesn't talk, so it's basically the same thing." Beth rolled her eyes and made to exit the truck.

"Hold up," Daryl ordered. He gave Beth a hard look as she turned to face him. She gave him a questioning look. He sighed and reached forward to grab Beth's knife and gun. Normally such a move so close to Beth's body might have made him nervous, but he was on a run. This was his territory and he had someone to protect. There was no room for nerves.

He held up both weapons and looked Beth square in the eye. "This ain't a game, Beth. I brought you out here, so that makes me responsible and me in charge."

"Daryl, I –"

"No you need to listen," he replied and effectively cutting her off. "The plan is easy. We go out and you stay close. I take care of the gas and you peak around in any unlocked cars. We don't need to risk settin' off any alarms or makin' extra noise tryin' to break in. You got me, Greene?"

Beth nodded silently.

"Now like I said, the plan is easy, but odds are something's gonna go wrong. It usually does. You know how to use your knife; use it. Do not pull your gun unless it's an absolute emergency. It's just gonna call a whole lot more of those son of a bitches to us, and that's if we're lucky. I know you know what I mean, yeah?"

Daryl watched as Beth licked her lips nervously. "Yeah," she replied giving a sharp nod of her head. "I know what you mean."

Daryl clenched his jaw. "Good. Now if we do get a herd comin' through, you get under the nearest car and cut the fuel line. You know what that is?" Daryl could almost sense the disbelief radiating from Beth's gaze.

"I grew up on a farm and was driving when I was ten. Yes, Daryl, I know what a fuel line is."

Daryl decided to ignore the sass and continued on. "Right then, it'll smell and it'll burn if it gets in your eyes, so watch out." Beth nodded. The pair sat for a few moments in silence.

"Hey Daryl?"

"Yeah?"

"What kind of emergency is the gun for?" Daryl gave Beth a long look and handed her gun back over.

"The non-walker kind….you good?"

"Yeah."

Daryl led Beth out of the truck and toward the bed where they each grabbed a couple of gas cans. He may not have had her in his sights, but Daryl could feel Beth's presence directly behind him. Good, he thought. He didn't need her wandering off like others were prone to do.

Stopping in front of an old minivan, Daryl nodded to Beth and she put the can downs. He watched as she pulled a laundry bag from inside her backpack and raised an eyebrow. "Good thinking," he muttered. Daryl didn't think it was possible for someone to smile so big until that very moment. He motioned for her to start moving. After watching her and making sure she stayed within his sight, Daryl turned back toward the minivan before him.

Filling the four gas cans, Daryl called Beth back over to help him get them back to the truck. She held up her now full laundry bag of whatever she had found and smiled. "Good. Come on, let's get the rest of these finished."

Beth nodded and followed him back up to the main road. Once more, Daryl watched as Beth pulled yet another bag from her pack and head off into the mass of cars. Just as before, Daryl made sure Beth was staying within his sightline.

Two more trips back and forth from the truck to the freeway went smoothly. On the fifth trip, Daryl's alert went up when he realized he could no longer hear Beth's seemingly constant humming along to whatever music was playing in her head. Looking up, Daryl froze when he realized he had lost sight of Beth. Leaving his spot on the ground, Daryl dashed onto the hood of the car next him. He scanned the crowd of neglected cars and could feel his stomach drop.

"Shit," he muttered. "Beth!" He listened for some sound of acknowledgement, but there was nothing there.

"Beth!" he called again. Suddenly, from a little farther ahead than he liked, Daryl heard Beth calling out his name. Rushing down from the hood of the car and crossbow raised, Daryl made his way toward the sound of Beth's voice. When he finally reached her, he grabbed her arm more forcefully than he ever had before.

"The Hell did I say, Beth?" he asked, trying to force her gaze to meet his own. Beth merely looked where he had grabbed her and tried to wiggle herself free.

"I'm sorry, I just –"

Daryl shook his head and made to pull her back toward their truck. She broke the rules so their little trip was done. Maybe the Council was right…maybe Beth wasn't ready.

"Daryl, stop," Beth replied, continuing to fight his hold on her.

"We're leavin."

"I said stop!" Before he could react, Beth had forced herself from his grip and marched back toward the station wagon where Daryl had found her standing. "Would you just stop?" she said again. She gave Daryl a sad look as she pointed toward the windows of the wagon.

Giving the blonde a hard look, Daryl moved forward to glance inside the old wagon and grimaced at the sight before him. There weren't any walkers, which is what Daryl thought had grabbed Beth attention, but he sure wish there were.

Seeing the dead little boy still strapped in his carseat was enough to make Daryl scream. Add the knife wound to the back of the head and the border collie decaying on his lap, and Daryl was ready to throw up. The kid had clearly been there since close to the beginning considering the state of the cars and the state of him. He wondered what was going on in Beth's head and what it was that drew her to this particular horror scene.

"Shit, Beth…come on," Daryl mumbled wanting to get her away from such a horrible sight. He made to grab her hand rather than her arm this time and tried to tug her along, but she was rooted to the spot.

"Beth, there's nothing here." He sighed and checked the area around them for any sign of walkers. When he turned back, Beth had reached in through the open window and placed her hand the boy's head.

"Oh come on, don't do that! It's got all sorts of diseases and shit in there." This time Daryl was able to successfully pull Beth's hand away from the grotesque scene display.

"But Daryl, where are his parents? Why would they do that and – and just leave him?" Daryl shrugged at the questions, not really wanting to know the full story.

"Your guess is as good as mine," he replied. "Come on, we still got lots of daylight and we're doin' good." Knowing Beth was still entranced by the scene, Daryl released a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. Yes it was horrible, yes it was shitty, but what wasn't horrible or shitty anymore. He supposed it was a shock for Beth, but still…if she had seen half the shit he had seen or done a fraction of what he had done, she would know this was nothing new.

"Beth, there's nothing we –"

"No, right, I know, it's just…" Beth paused and gave Daryl a sad look for the first time since he had found her by the wagon. "I mean his parents left him behind but look at the dog, Daryl. He stayed with him,,,his dog loved him enough to die here protecting a dead body. Why didn't his parents?"

Daryl glanced down at the dead border collie and sighed. He sure seemed to do a lot of sighing around Beth Greene. "Beth."

"Let's go," Beth stated suddenly, shaking herself from her thoughts. "We're almost done with the cans. We can check that little rest stop we passed for anything." Before Daryl could move, Beth was hurrying through the maze of cars. Daryl spared one last look of the little boy and his dog before following Beth.

Beth's first trip out sure wasn't going the way he would have liked, hopefully the rest of the day would go better.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. There weren't many other thoughts going through Daryl's head as he used every ounce of strength to hold the door shut. That door and a wall of windows were the only things protecting him and Beth from the twenty or so walkers outside and God be damned if he was going to let any one of them get in.

"Daryl!" Beth cried as she continued to push against the door. "What do we do?"

"Just hold it! Let me think," he replied, giving the door a kick. After several minutes of just trying to stay shut up in the rest stop the pair had found, Daryl swore again.

"Shit fuck!" he cried angrily. How this mini herd had snuck up on them, he had no idea, but that hardly mattered anymore. "You still got your knife and gun?" He feel Beth nodding against his chest and just below his sight line.

"On the counta' three, we're gonna let the shitheads in, got that?" He felt another nodded and for a brief moment was grateful he had someone with him who trusted his decisions so completely. That kind of cooperation was going to get the two of them out and back home.

"Shootem' down!" he ordered. "We're gonna bottle neckem' in the doorway and takem' out."

Satisfied that Beth understood the plan and that she wouldn't back down, Daryl took a deep breath. "One…two…three!"

Suddenly there were gunshots ringing throughout the small building and walkers falling every which way, and Daryl had no clue who was hitting what. The only time he took the time to glance over to Beth was when she released a loud grunt as she kicked a walker away and stabbed him full in the eye.

By the time the way was clear, both Beth and Daryl were coated in blood and breathing heavily. Dragging one arm across his forehead, Daryl shot a look over to Beth and couldn't help but roll his eyes at her expression.

"What the Hell you smilin' at Greene? You nearly got your face gnawed off. You hacked your knife to shit. And you look like Carrie at prom and smell worse. You wanna let me in on why you look like someone just bought you a damn pony?"

When Beth held up a single kit kat, all he could do was stare. "Are you shittin' me?" he cried. Beth just shook her head gave the candy bar a look of pure love.

"Do you know how long it's been since I've had a kit-kat, Daryl Dixon?" she asked excitedly. She gave it a kiss did a little hoppy dance right there in the mess of blood surrounding them. "And look! Only one left! That's it then," she cried. "This is fate."

"Fate? What? Findin' a stupid piece of candy and being attacked by walkers?"

"You and me," Beth clarified while she moved closer to him. "You takin' me out here, us goin' on a run together. This is what was supposed to happen. You and me and this stupid piece of candy at this crummy old rest stop." Daryl could only watch in bewilderment as Beth proceeded to rip into the wrapping and break the kit kat in two.

"You know somethin' Greene? You're just too damn crazy for me," Daryl chuckled with a shake of his head.

"Too crazy or just crazy enough?" Beth asked with a grin. He watched her take a bite out of her half of the candy bar.

"Probably crazy enough to drag me to a crummy old lake at the start of a crummy old river."