Ch. 21

Thank you all so much for reviewing! I think there's about six chapters left?

It was warm again, and Beth wondered if she could just sit outside and absorbed all that sunlight into her body so she would never be cold again.

The prison had been a great protector from the cold and wind, but it still wasn't like before. It was what she imagined an old castle would feel like. Drafty, the wind slipping through cracks and windows, the cement of the building staying the same temperature as it was outside.

It was spring, though, and it wasn't cold anymore. It was beautiful and bright. The sun shined down on them and their little garden. There were wildflowers growing in between the prison gates, and they were catching game in their snares.

Beth was happy and feeling relieved.

The baby had survived the winter. They had an ample supply of formula thanks to Daryl, Glenn, and Jimmy and one hell of a gutsy run into Macon.

Everything would have been perfection for them in this new world if it hadn't been for the snarling walkers that gathered along the fences like moths to a flame.

She had no idea where they all came from, but slowly, like they were following the call of the others around them, they made their way to the prison. They pressed against the chain link fences, their skin peeling off as they drug their bodies against it.

If she pretended things were fine, she would just be sitting in the sun, but she didn't imagine things like that anymore. It was stupid to pretend away your surroundings. Being alert was the only thing that kept everyone alive.

With a deep breath, she picked up the short, but heavy, piece of rebar and began ramming it into the skulls of the walkers.

It wasn't the most glamorous job, but they all took turns doing it. Working the fence was like taking a turn on watch. Even Carl took fence duty.

Everyone pitched in and had their own little niche now. It hadn't been formal at all, but they didn't have a sole leader anymore. Rick had collapsed into a depression then finally into an almost pacifist state.

They lived by majority vote now, and nothing major was ever done without the whole group's approval. Still, her daddy took care of the medicines and lists of medical supplies. Carol inventoried the kitchen and pantry. Glenn and Maggie were in charge of runs. Daryl was defense and caretaker of Judith. Beth handled most of the hunting except for mornings. Daryl always went first thing in the morning with her. Jimmy and T-Dog handled fence checks and water control. Oscar and Axel made sure that the tombs were secure since they knew their way around the bowels of the prison better than any of them.

Rick took care of the garden, and he made Carl help him with it.

Beth didn't know much about the grief he was coping with, but she and Daryl always had Judith. More so Daryl because she was always attached to him. He never called her by the name that Carl gave her, though. It was always "sweetheart" or "lil' asskicker". Beth had even written it on her little mail crate that she slept in.

Daryl liked it, and he liked taking care of the baby. She didn't mind it either, but she was constantly worried that if something ever happened to Judith, Daryl wouldn't be able to cope. She knew that she wouldn't which was why she tried to keep distance between them.

Her resistance was hard fought because Beth loved singing to her.

Eventually Rick would come in and take her for a little while, but then he'd always bring her back. Daryl muttered on and on about how he'd come around and everything would be fine, but it had been three months, and Rick was still staring into space and talking to himself.

It was sad for all of them, but it was life changing for him. She figured it had to do with the separation between them and all the unsaid words, but she would never ask. She wasn't close to Rick. No one really was anymore.

"Girl, ya think too hard, you're liable to catch a headache," Daryl said from her left.

Beth turned and smiled his way. "You're lookin' lonely this mornin'."

Daryl blushed a little. "Carol took her. Said that I's spoilin' her."

"You do," Beth agreed and went back to stabbing another walker.

"Kid just needs some good memories. She needs to know she's wanted and cared for."

She let the rebar fall to her side and turned his way. "You're amazin' with her, but it's not your job, and one day, he's gonna wake up and take over."

Daryl shook his head. "I ain't gonna act like she's mine. I know she ain't. Don't want her callin' me daddy and shit. I'm just this placeholder until he gets his shit together. I know she's got you and Carol, but I like helpin', too."

"You do too much," Beth said and turned to the fence again. "Ya rigged traps in the woods, ya double-check the fence even though ya know T and Jimmy do a good job, ya go on runs with Glenn, ya go huntin' with me."

He shrugged. "What can I say? I like to know what's goin' on in my little world."

"The only people ya don't chase around are my daddy, Carol, Axel and Oscar." She cut her eyes at him as she waited for his reply.

"Your daddy's a tough sonofabitch. Carol's sneaky as hell. Y'all don't even know that woman really. Axel and Oscar are good. They know the price and the way things stand. Besides, the tombs smell like rotters. I'll pass."

"What'd ya mean about Carol?" She asked, stopping her work again.

"Just somethin' I can feel, I guess. She's like me. She don't trust people. She's wary and even though she doesn't ask them a lot, she's got questions."

"And how do ya know all that?"

"Her hair's longer now, but when she first got here, there was bald spot missing in the back. Small, no bigger than a half dollar. I know where she comes from just like she knows about me without me tellin' her."

Beth felt a tingle of something in her chest but ignored it. "And here I thought I was special."

"Ya are," he said matter of factly. "She might know, but I didn't tell her." They settled into the quiet then Daryl asked, "How's things with Jimbo?"

"Fine," she said with a shrug. "We're civil. That's about it. Y'all still tradin' barbs?"

"Always." He laughed a little. "It's funnest on runs when he can't really say shit because we'll get caught. Just stews in his anger."

"Ya shouldn't do that to him."

"I know. I can't resist, though."

Beth nodded. "I'm sure he says just as bad shit."

"Nah." Daryl shook his head. "He's alright. Don't talk about you no more. Just makes fun of my general hillbillyness."

"And what do you make fun of?" She nudged his shoulder. "Better not be about me."

"It's not. I call him nicknames a lot. Boy Scout, Whitebread, Jimbo. He hates it. Hates he don't know how to hunt, too."

"I'm sure everyone wishes they were as knowledgeable as you."

"And you," he said immediately. "Girl, I don't know if ya've noticed this, but you feed this prison in meat. I go out and hunt a little. I check the snares, but I spend my time rigging those woods like damn war zone."

"They see me differently now."

Daryl raised his hand to her neck. "They should. You're a fuckin' badass. I'm proud of ya."

Beth smiled and looked away, but Daryl tilted her chin up and kissed her softly.

"The weather's good now," she whispered against his lips.

"Tower again?"

They stared into each other's eyes and smiled.

It looked like they were going back to their home away from home again, and she couldn't be more excited.

"This run isn't as important as the last one for formula and baby food," Glenn said and pointed to a map. "We're running low on medical supplies, and we want to hit several pharmacies in the area. Maybe hospitals, too. The longer they're out there, the more likely it is someone else will pick them up."

"What he wants is rubbers," Daryl mumbled and kicked Jimmy's boot. He didn't really like the guy, but he'd saved his ass a couple of times over the winter. It seemed like after Lori died, a lot of them realized they had bigger shit to worry about that love triangles.

"They don't sell extra small," Jimmy said with a snort.

Daryl laughed at that, too, and Glenn shot them both a glare. "That's a common misconception. All condoms are the same size. They just advertise some as bigger for assholes like you two who think you've got extra larges."

"I don't think that," Daryl said with a grin. "I'm perfectly average."

"Well, you two sissies are perfect together then. It won't hurt too much when ya finally go for it." Jimmy snarked and stood up. "I'm ready to go whenever."

Once he was out of sight, Glenn sighed. "He doesn't like it when you bring up sex."

"I know. I don't say specifics. I just like to fuck with him."

"Let's just not today. When we find other people, good people, and he's getting laid, then you can make dick jokes."

"Whatever," Daryl muttered. "Holler at me when you're ready to go."

"Damn children."

Daryl had to laugh, but it was silent as he walked away. That's just what he did, and Jimmy just walked away or waited to pull a punch over something when they were out. Didn't matter none to either one of them, and it was a lot cleaner than brawling every time they looked at each other.

It helped that his interactions with Beth were very limited. They rarely spoke, and that suited Daryl just fine. Beth didn't act like she was missing out either, but he figured she was being considerate like always and giving Jimmy his space.

He hadn't been kidding earlier when he said he was proud of her. She had come so far over the winter, and she was the reason their people were getting fed. They had leftovers in the kitchen still and canned stuff from runs, but Beth put meat on the table.

With the weather getting warmer, though, he was going to start going with her more often. People got to moving around along with the walkers, and he'd be damned if someone caught up with her out there.

She would probably laugh him off, but Judith would be fine. Carol loved taking care of her, and he knew his time was running low when it came to being the main protector in her life.

When Rick got it together, he'd take a step back, and it seemed more and more likely as the days got warmer. He was coming back to himself and finding a purpose, even if it wasn't leading.

About thirty minutes later, he had his crossbow slung over his shoulder and was kissing Beth goodbye before hopping on his bike. If shit went down, he could draw them off while Glenn and Jimmy got to the truck. At least, that's what he knew he'd do. No one else knew that.

"Be safe," she said quietly. "Bring back good stuff."

"I'll try. I'm at the whims of the pizza boy today."

"I heard that, asshole," Glenn said before he shut the driver's side door.

"Stop." Beth grinned despite trying not to. "Don't wreck the bike or anythin'."

He threw his leg over and revved the engine. "Don't worry about me. Go down there and kill those walkers. Get too many more and we'll be fucked again."

Beth's eyes scanned the fence below and she nodded. She was smart, calculating, efficient, and he loved her for all that and more.

She waved and he took off down the gravel road to the gate. Carl pushed it open and he sped out, drawing the walkers to the noise so Carl could open it wider for the truck.

When he got out on the main road, he closed his eyes for a split second, and a grin spread across his face. It was times like this he could pretend the world wasn't completely shit after all.

He sat on his bike in front of the Walgreens front door. It was grimy, but there was no mistaking the walkers pressed us against.

"Four?" Jimmy asked as he unclipped the knife from his belt.

Daryl shrugged. "Maybe more inside."

Glenn sighed heavily and leaned against the hood of the truck. "Well, how do we get in? If there are walkers and the doors are this dirty, chances are no one has been back there yet."

"Or maybe someone looted it when everythin' was goin' to hell, and there's nothin' in there but walkers," Daryl returned and hopped off the bike. "Wanna bust the glass or try the back door?"

"Bust the glass."

"The backdoor."

Jimmy and Glenn spoke at the same time.

Daryl started walking toward the back of the building. "Bosses orders," he said and motioned for Jimmy to follow him. He absolutely hated Daryl, but he followed along. "We'll go in this way and take 'em out."

"What if there are more?" Jimmy asked, calling back Daryl's own words.

"Then I guess we shut the door as fast as we can," he answered easily.

He tried to make everything seem so simple when it came to talking to Jimmy. He wanted him to think that he was always relaxed and ready. Not all tightly wound and a little scared like he was. Daryl didn't know why it was such a big deal to him, but it was.

After they broke the handle off the back door, they moved through the stock room. It was ransacked but deserted. They looked through the windows of the double doors that led into the store first, seeing nothing, they slowly entered the main floor.

"Go right," Jimmy said. "I'll go left, and we'll scan the aisles."

Daryl nodded and they parted ways, looking down each one with the wall behind them. The right side had him with his back to the pharmacy, and he could hear the growls before he saw the walker behind the counter. If he shot his bow, the walker would fall over and make noise, leading the others back on them, so he carefully walked forward and waited until the rotter leaned across the counter to grab him before slamming his knife into his temple.

He caught the weight of his shoulders and lowered him to the counter.

"It's just those four," Jimmy said from behind him.

"Let's get 'em, and let Glenn in then."

Opening the front doors was much easier than opening the back door. Glenn ended up squeezing through the narrow gap they made with three garbage shacks in his hands. "Meds. Anything you can find. Bandages, antibiotics, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide. Shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes."

Daryl looked to Glenn and smirked, getting his feet planted and ready to go. "Condoms."

Then he took off running toward the aisle with the sign "Family Planning" above it, listening to Glenn's feet hit the tile floors behind him. There was a knocked over shelf at the entrance to the aisle and Daryl kept moving as fast as he could and at the last moment, dropped to the floor and slide under the shelving.

He was laughing hard and he scooped boxes into his bag. Surprisingly, there were plenty. During all the looting people tended to grab the weirdest shit with their and booze, and he hadn't ever seen a store like this that was so untouched.

Someone must have locked it up to start then the walkers kept people away. Maybe even being in a bigger town had kept people out.

"Y'all are fuckin' immature," Jimmy called out from a couple aisles over. "We need important shit."

"This is important to me," Daryl said through a silent laugh. "We know how much they mean to Glenn."

Jimmy failed to hold back a laugh at that. "Don't horde 'em, Dixon. We don't need a mini Maggie runnin' around. I remember her when she was a girl. A holy fuckin' terror is what she was."

Glenn rounded the aisle from the open side and fake laughed. "You two are so funny."

Daryl left him with plenty more to choose from and went to the pharmacy to gather actual medicine that Hershel would put in their stockpile. The prison infirmary had been destroyed, but they managed to save some stuff. It looked like they had tried to treat a lot of people with the antibiotics there, but nothing worked, and they knew now that nothing would ever be able to fight the fever.

They made several trips in and out, loading down the bed with all sorts of good supplies and baby stuff from the lone baby aisle.

"That was really easy," Glenn admitted as they looked at the cracked open from door of the now scavenged store. "We can go home now with just that one stop."

"Sounds like a really good day to me. Longer we stay out, the more they worry," Daryl said.

"Not about me," Jimmy said with a huff.

"Oh, fuck off," Daryl muttered. "None of that woe-is-me bullshit. They care. Ya know they do."

Jimmy looked away. "Shut the fuck up, Dixon."

He got back on his bike as they opened their truck doors so they could leave. Daryl was just about to start up the bike when a gunshot popped and there was a muted scream around the corner.

They all turned and looked as a black woman stumbled into the parking lot, holding her thigh and looking over her shoulder.

When she caught sight of them, she stopped and looked from side-to-side. Daryl knew that look, she thought she was trapped.

"C'mon!" Jimmy yelled. "Get in the truck!"

Daryl stepped off the bike and took off across the parking lot for her with his bow drawn. "Someone chasin' ya?"

"Don't touch me," she said and pulled away from his hand, almost falling over.

"Listen, lady, I'm just tryin' to help ya."

She started to collapse and he dropped his bow and caught her.

"What the fuck are ya doin' out here, baby brother?" Merle's voice startled him and he almost lost his grip on the woman who was now unconscious in his arms.

"Merle?" Daryl looked over his brother, his right hand was missing and in its place was a knife. "What the hell happened to your hand? Did ya just shoot her?"

His brother shrugged and tucked the gun into the back of his jeans. "It's a long story. Why the hell are ya away from Locust Grove."

"It's a long story," Daryl muttered.

"I ain't got nothin' but time. Far as I'm concerned that bastard that sent me out chasin' this crazy bitch can think we both got taken down by rotters."

Daryl could feel Jimmy and Glenn walk up slowly. "This is my brother, Merle," he said his voice rough. Merle wouldn't do well with these new people.

"Ya done made friends with a Chink and an altar boy?" Merle kicked his foot. "Ya turn queer on me?"

"Help me get her up," he said to Glenn. "We'll take her back with us, and Hershel can fix her up."

"I'm Korean, by the way," Glenn said with a tilt of his head.

"I ain't Catholic," Jimmy added as he gripped the woman under her arms.

"Like I give a shit," Merle said and started walking toward Daryl's bike. "Betcha I can still ride this even with one hand."

He opened his mouth to tell him to back off, but nothing came out, and he felt himself getting smaller.

"Your brother's a fuckin' asshole," Jimmy said. "Grab her feet."

"Yeah," Daryl said with a nod. "He is."

"Well, this'll end well." Glenn let out a heavy sigh. "Let's get back to the prison and work it out from there."

Daryl watched his brother start the bike and laugh wildly as he took off around the parking lot. He hadn't realized it until this moment, but he hadn't missed his brother all that much after all.