A/N Thanks so much to followers and guests for all the reviews, PMs, etc. I appreciate all of you. Fasten your seat belts, here we go.

Two Months Later

So much had happened in the past month.

She'd taken care of business and gotten her Georgia Driver's License right away, she'd also registered to vote and opened a small checking account. She felt Georgia legit.

He'd given her a duplicate of his debit card and she'd tried hard to protest that, but he'd been insistent. "Jesus Beth, ya got access ta damn near everythin' I own. And besides, when I just give ya my card ta use, then I ain't got it, that's inconvenient as hell, and what's the difference anyway? Shit. I never keep more'n 5 grand in that account, so it's gonna be hard for ya ta bankrupt me completely. Don't argue with me 'bout this, argue about sumthin' that matters, not this, please." And so she'd taken it and just said "Thank you, Daryl."

She and Carol had grown closer, and every weekend they spent at least part of a day or evening with Carol and Merle, one house or the other and it usually involved grilling and just chatting, being a family. She found that she enjoyed being around Merle too, he'd seemed like such a rough guy at first, but she'd watched the way he was with Carol and Sophia, he treated them like gold. And she and Merle had something big in common, they both loved Daryl.

She and Daryl had gotten new bows, and he had the backyard set up like a bow hunter's shooting gallery. They'd had so much fun practicing; it was like their own personal playground. They'd even started eating dinner a little later just because they wanted to be out there "playing" every night until nearly dark.

Daryl had become completely proficient with the compound bow, and she'd shot with it a few times herself.

She felt like she'd totally honed her skills with the recurve, and Daryl was always teasing her, calling her his natural born killer.

And Daryl had taught her something she'd never even considered trying before, knife throwing. She was surprised how fast she'd taken to it, and she could tell by the way he watched her throw he was proud. He'd surprised her one night with the gift of a beautiful throwing knife, he'd even had her name tooled in the leather sheath.

Then he'd gotten embarrassed, "Sometimes I'm just a dumbass Beth, a man ain't supposed ta be givin' his woman a damn knife, I'm supposed ta be buying ya jewelry."

"Don't be silly Daryl, not only will I have a lot of fun with it, but it's a beautiful piece of art, and you picked it out just for me. You did just right, I love it."

They'd started spending every Saturday in the woods behind the cabin. He'd taken her progressively further and further in, and she felt like she'd really learned her way around. But no matter where they wandered in those woods, they always wound up at their little spot next to the creek. They'd quit pretending they didn't know what that was going to lead to, and now they took a small blanket roll with them on their hikes.

Beth had been surprised to find out she could have just shy of four days in a row off next week, plus the two day weekend. The owner of the horse she was training was taking him north to show him. The owner of the stable had given her the option of taking the rest of the week off, and that sounded great to her. All she had to do was go in Tuesday, work with the horse a little, get all the tack together and the feed, and load the horse, the tack and the feed in the horse trailer. She should be done and out of there by 11am.

Daryl had four huge jobs getting ready to start, all were for commercial contractors. The business end of the work was done, all the designs and bids were in and approved, and he'd ordered all the materials. Now the guys just had to get everything built and installed, they were looking at a solid two months. Of course he planned to oversee everything, but his guys had been working with him so long, they all knew what he expected of them.

There were also several smaller jobs working, and they were pushing to complete those, materials were all in, and the guys had just started the work. Daryl and Jacqui had to tell anyone else wanting his services, the waiting period was now two to three months.

When she told him about her upcoming days off, he'd mentioned an idea to her, he'd take some time off, and they'd pack back in the woods, set up camp at their favorite spot and spend their days tracking, shooting their bows, and having some knife-throwing showdowns.

She not only liked the idea, she was ecstatic. "Oh my gosh Daryl, I can't wait, this is going to be so fun! Thank you so much for thinking of this!"

They'd decided to make it three nights, what the hell. The plan was she'd get home from work that Tuesday, probably around 11:30a, take a shower, pack up the cold food. They were taking their meat in a small soft-sided, insulated freezer bag with a chunk of dry ice.

Daryl had decided he'd go into the shop, have a quick meeting with the guys and Jacqui, make sure everybody was squared away, and be back by 9a. He was going to pack the tent and their sleeping bags down to the creek, then meet her back at the cabin.

That way he could pack more, and he wanted it to be fun times too, so he was taking some wine and beers, they'd keep stuff as cold as they could in the creek.

They told one person where they'd be just in case of any sort of emergency, that was always a good idea, and of course, that person was Merle.

They both woke up way too early Tuesday morning, you would have thought it was Christmas. So they did a little exercising under the covers to try and calm themselves down.

Over breakfast Daryl told her he'd take that first load in and be back no later than noon. They'd walk into camp together. They hugged goodbye and she got in his truck and he got in the work truck.

She got home a little earlier than she'd thought, 11:15. She took her shower, packed up the small freezer bag, and waited. When he wasn't back by one she was getting nervous, she'd even called Merle to make sure what time he'd left the shop.

When he wasn't back by 1:30, she'd said out loud, "Screw it, something's not right." Daryl was a man that if he said he'd be there, he'd be there. She had her side arm and her knife, she knew he'd be upset if she didn't. She put her backpack on and carried the small freezer bag. The last thing she did was grab her bow bag and sling it over her shoulder. She headed to the creek.

xxxx

He felt good about everything, the guys were all lined out, and he knew between them, Jacqui and Merle everything would go smoothly.

He got home right at 9, just like he expected to. When he headed back out the door, he imagined he looked a lot like an armed pack mule. He had the compound bow and the backpacker's tent on his back, and a front pack with the wine. He carried one sleeping bag in each hand. Hell, he'd still have a pack full of food to carry next trip.

He got to the creek and set-up the little tent, it was just big enough for the two of them to sleep in. He was on his knees, facing the creek, getting the wine from the pack, planning to submerse it in the creek to keep it from getting hot.

That's when he felt a crushing blow to the side of his head and face, he crumpled over on his side. He was barely conscious but he heard that voice, the one he'd hoped so much he'd never hear again, saying, "You fuckin' little bastard, I shoulda beat ya ta death a long time ago, save me the aggravation a havin' ta do it now. Well I'ma take care a that right here, then I'm gonna beat yer worthless brother ta death. Ya think yer such a big shot, with yer big deal business, ain't never even looked me up, tried ta find me n share with me, nah, yer sharin' with yer worthless drug addict brother instead. You two are a real pair." The whole time the man was yelling he was punching mercilessly at Daryl's face and body. When Daryl's face was an unrecognizable bloody mess, he started to kick him, in the ribs, in the legs, in the arms.

Daryl was unconscious, that took the fun out of it for the bastard, so he opened one of the bottles of wine, drank from it and laughed. "I always knew you was a pussy, even saw ya down here fuckin' that little blond, I still knew ya was no kinda real man. Ya never was. Can't even take a good beatin' like a man. Sweet little Daryl, yeah, yer sweet alright."

He'd powered down that first bottle of wine and had opened a second, he was thinking it had turned out to be a pretty good day. He was just waiting for this piece of shit to come to so he could beat him again.

After the second bottle he passed out, just before Beth got there.

She nearly passed out herself when she saw Daryl. She now knew without a doubt what the expression "Beaten to a Bloody Pulp" meant. If she hadn't known it was him, by the body, the tats, the clothes, she would not have recognized him.

She went to him and knelt down, "Daryl, oh God, please Daryl, say something." But he was completely out, he was breathing, but that was the only positive thing she could say.

She reached in her back pocket for the cell, praying to God she'd get a signal. She had one bar, but it was enough, Merle answered. She spoke quickly, surprising herself with how calm and business-like she sounded, "Merle, Daryl's been beaten nearly to death, oh my God Merle, it's a mess. There's a strange man, I don't know him, he's passed out leaning against a tree, I'm sure he did it, his hands are bloody. We're at the creek. I don't think 9-1-1 would find us, can you come?"

"You stay right there with Daryl girl, ya draw that gun and you be ready ta shoot that bastard that done it if he comes to, don't ya hesitate Beth, ya just do it. I'll be right there."

He hollered at Axel and Oscar, "Axel, ya get ta my house right now, ya get Carol and Sophia, ya meet me at Daryl's, tell Carol, no options, come. Oscar, ya come with me, I'ma need some muscle."

His last stop was at Jacqui's desk, "Gotta go, Daryl's been hurt bad, ya lock the place up when it's time. I'll check in with ya soon as I know sumthin'."

And he and Oscar got in Merle's truck and Oscar was sure Merle broke every speeding law in the State of Georgia, but they made it to Daryl's in record time. Merle slammed on the brakes, threw it in park, and he and Oscar hit the ground running. They raced to the creek and Merle couldn't believe what he saw.

xxxx

She'd been cradling Daryl's head in her lap, talking to him softly, hoping to God Merle got there before it was too late. The man leaning against the tree started to come to, but she was ready, just like Merle had told her to be. She had the throwing knife and the pistol, both ready to use.

The strange man looked at her and snarled, "Ah it's you blondie, well, well, well ain't you a fine little piece a tail. I can't imagine why ya'd wanna waste that sweet stuff on a worthless piece a shit like this boy here. Did ya really get off, or was ya just fakin' it? I'll tell ya what, I'll do ya real good, right here, right now, then I'll beat ya, same as I beat him. Won't that be sweet? You two can lay here n rot ta death tagether, now that's fuckin' romantic."

She hadn't even thought about what she was doing, she had the pistol in her hand, aimed right at him. "Ya ain't gonna shoot me blondie, yer one a them prissy little gals, yer just gonna cry n wish ya had." He was up and moving toward her and she pulled.

Maybe she should have aimed to kill, but she just wanted to stop him from getting any closer to her and Daryl. He fell over, the bullet had hit him in the upper left chest. He was cussing her out, but he stood back up and now he lunged toward her, and this time she didn't hesitate, she threw the knife and it went right into his side.

He wasn't dead, but he wasn't coming at her and Daryl anymore, he was writhing in pain and cussing her out.

The next thing she remembered was Merle saying, "C'mon Beth, me n Oscar gonna carry Daryl up ta the house, I got 9-1-1 called. We gotta hurry girl, ya gotta walk with us, c'mon now, yer a strong one, you can do this."

She didn't know where she got the presence of mind, but she did it. They were moving fast, Oscar with his hands under Daryl's arms, Merle holding an ankle in each hand. Beth jogged beside them.

They got to the cabin and the paramedics, Axel, Carol and Sophia were all waiting. Carol immediately moved her hand over Sophia's eyes so she didn't see Daryl and how terribly injured he was.

The paramedics had the gurney ready and they moved Daryl to it, then they did their work. One asked Beth, "Are you his wife?" And before she could answer, Merle said, "Yeah, she'll ride with him, answer yer questions, I'm his brother, I'ma meet ya at the hospital. And Beth, now don't ya forget darling, he keeps that insurance card in his wallet." Beth looked at Merle and sent a silent "Thank you."

She told the paramedics what she knew, except of course about the other man, Merle had given her strict instructions to let him handle calling the sheriff.

Merle told Carol, "Ain't no way they can take care of him here in our little hospital, he's in real bad shape. Get some things together fast for Beth. We'll run ta the house and get a few things for us, my guess we'll be goin' to Atlanta."

Merle and family got to the hospital just in time to see them loading Daryl and Beth in the transport ambulance, the driver told them where they'd be. And they were all off to Atlanta with lights and sirens.

Merle couldn't drive as fast as that ambulance, not with Sophia and Carol in the truck, but he went as fast as he felt was safe. It was just before they got to Atlanta that he called Sheriff Grimes and told him the situation.

Beth started to fully realize everything that had happened when they were in the ambulance. The paramedic had given her a special lined bag, and she'd thrown up in it twice. He told her not to feel bad, it was expected.

Daryl still hadn't regained consciousness, and his vital signs were a bit weak, but he seemed stable, and he was alive. That's where she tried to keep her focus, Daryl was alive.

They were waiting for his arrival at the hospital in Atlanta, where he was immediately rushed somewhere for x-rays. She wasn't sure how much time had passed when they informed her he was in an E.R. room and took her to him.

As the doctors and nurses began their work, another woman asked Beth all the questions about him they'd asked at the other hospital. Thank God she and Daryl had now been together long enough she knew the answers.

Merle came in the room, and she was so relieved to see him, he put an arm around her, "Ya holdin' up okay there Little Sister?" That's when she first cried.

"Don't cry now girl, ya done good, real good. Ya saved Daryl's life. Got everyone called. Ya took care a business, held it together. Yer stronger than I'd given ya credit for."

"Merle, who in the world was that man, and why would he want to kill Daryl with his bare hands?"

"That there was our ol' man," Merle replied casually, but she could hear the hate in his tone.

"Oh my God, that was your father?" She was more than stunned.

"I don't really think of him as bein' our father, I think of him as a sperm donor," Merle gave her a last little hug, then he went to stand next to Daryl's bed.

The E.R. doctor and nurse left the room, saying they'd be returning with a specialist. That's when Merle bent down and started talking to Daryl, like Daryl was wide awake and listening, "Ya gotta fight hard little brother, ya gotta pull through this, ya can't let the sumbitch win. You n I we got us a pact. Ya can't be leavin' me, can't be leavin' Beth, we need ya here with us. Ya c'mon now brother, yer a survivor."

The Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon came in the room and introduced himself, he asked if they were relatives, Merle replied, "Yessir, I'm his brother Merle Dixon, this here's his wife, Beth." Beth appreciated how both of the Dixon brothers knew how to stretch the truth at a hospital.

"Nice to meet you both, sorry it's under these circumstances. As the Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon I deal in head, face, neck and jaw injuries. Another physician will discuss his other injuries with you. Mr. Dixon has suffered major trauma to the facial bones, both his upper and lower jaw are fractured, his right eye socket and his nose have been crushed. I'm predicting it will take as many as four surgeries to repair the damage, and about four months for him to recover completely, providing everything goes well. He's stable now, and I'd like to get started on his jaw first, and also check the eye socket and nose, at the very minimum we'll do our best to get everything stabilized. We need to prep an O.R. and I'll need you to sign the surgical release forms Mrs. Dixon."

Beth had a moment of sheer panic, should she really sign? She wasn't actually his wife. As if he knew her dilemma, Merle put his arm around her and said, "Now don't ya worry Little Sister, I'm right here. I know this is what Daryl wants, he needs this ta get better, K?" Obviously Merle was not backing down on his little lie. Beth just half whispered, "Yes, yes of course. I'll sign."

The first doctor had no sooner left than another came in the room, and they went through all the introductions again. He was a hospitalist, and his report was a little less frightening. "Mrs. Dixon, your husband has several cracked ribs, and a broken collarbone. We expect to be able to successfully treat all of these without surgery. We'll wrap the ribs, and put a brace on his shoulder to minimize movement as much as possible. Other than those injuries, he has massive bruising and if he were awake he'd be in a lot of pain. The best news is we didn't detect any organ damage or internal bleeding."

When they'd wheeled Daryl into the O.R. Merle led her down to the cafeteria. "Carol and Sophia are waitin' on us, we can't do nuthin' here."

Carol hugged her so hard it nearly took her breath away, and Sophia was gripping her arm. She thought she'd cried earlier, but now she really came undone.

Merle announced, "Nurse told me there's a nice little hotel just a block away. I'ma take Carol and Sophia over there n get 'em set up, I'ma be gettin' you a room too. Sheriff is on his way, so I won't be gone long, just gotta take care a my girls, K?" Merle gave her a small smile and she nodded her head.

Merle hadn't been gone 10 minutes when Sheriff Grimes walked in. She'd only met him a few times, when he'd brought his son out to the stables for lessons. She knew he'd known Merle and Daryl ever since they were all kids. She knew he had a lot of questions for her, but she felt oddly calm.

They talked for a long time, and she openly told him everything that had happened. Then he told her, "Will Dixon isn't going to die from the injuries you inflicted, that's a damn shame, but I feel confident he'll die in prison, so I guess that's the bright side. Judging by his blood alcohol level he'd been drinking for quite a while before he ever got to the campsite, and he'd taken plenty of methamphetamine. There won't be any charges brought against you Beth, it was an act of self-defense, there's no doubt in my mind," and he smiled and tilted his head to the side, "I'm the Sheriff and that's my decision. My family and I will be praying for Daryl to make a full recovery, and for you and Merle too, you're going to need a lot of strength to get through these next many weeks."

He reached a hand out to her and she grasped it, "Thank you, I just wish I could have gotten there sooner."

"Hey, don't be punishing yourself, you no doubt saved Daryl's life."

Merle returned a half hour or so later, and they got coffees and went to the surgical waiting room.

As it turned out, Daryl was in surgery over 10 hours, but the surgeon assured them that things had gone quite well, that Daryl seemed strong, and although his eye socket was crushed, he had not lost the eye itself, "We can give him a new eye socket, a Titanium one, he'll be better than new. It's just going to take a lot of time, and a few more surgeries, but we'll get him there."

Merle tried to convince her to go back to the hotel, but she wouldn't leave the hospital, not tonight.

When he was finally moved to his room on the surgical floor she was allowed to see him. He was out cold, like she'd expected. His jaw was wired, he had a gauze bandage around his head, and his eye was covered with a piece of shiny metal. His face resembled raw hamburger, bruising was coming up all over his neck. He was a mess. And all she could think about was how much she loved him, and how much she wanted him to get better, come home with her, she just wanted their lives back the way they were.

No one was in the room with him but her, so she slipped up onto the bed and got as close to him as she felt was safe, she didn't want to hurt him. Moments later she was sound asleep.

The night nurse came in sometime later and smiled at the scene, sure it wasn't allowed, but the patient seemed to be doing okay, and she decided to pretend she hadn't seen a thing as she exited the room.

A/N Poor Daryl, poor everyone except that SOB Will Dixon. If you're familiar with Norman's terrible accident in 2005, you know that's where I got the eye and nose injury, the four surgeries and the four months to recover. He said at the time his face looked like hamburger, and he was sure his acting career was over. But it all worked out, and he is one handsome man! More soon. Thank you for reading, please review xo