Dah-dah! Thank you so much my lovely reviewers and supporters, as always you are very nice.
Daryl groaned loudly, his head was pounding and his stomach felt nauseated. He had been drunk, the familiar shitty dizziness told him that much. And what's worse the latter part of the evening was still a messy blur. He wanted to think about it, but the drilling in his temples made it possible to only lie there and try not to throw up. The alarm clock silently flashed 11.11 am at him, but he dozed off again anyway slipping into the familiarity of unconsciousness.
He woke later, a few more hours of the day missed. His body protested at the movement, muscles burning with fatigue and stillness, but it would forgive him when he found the pain killers. A shower and a brush of teeth made him feel clean again. If not totally better the evidence of drunkenness was gone from everything but his eyes and his expression. The living room was filled with bottles of cheap American beer and a clear jar of his father's moonshine.
Trust Merle to get in here and get him drunk. But something seemed weird that Merle had only tried to do that much, in fact the moonshine would always knock Daryl out cold, always had. So why had he wanted Daryl knocked out? Sighing to himself Daryl went to check his wallet for money and fridge for food, both were still full. Ok, so there were two options here. Either his brother had finally turned a corner in his pathetic substance abused life, or there was something else Merle had wanted that didn't have material means.
He pulled orange juice out the fridge, gulping it out the carton. Carol would kill him to see him do something like that, she had little quirks but thank god she hadn't seen the state of him. He sat at the counter, taking another swig and pulling his phone across from where it was plugged in at the wall. And that's when he knew something was wrong.
Ten missed calls and three messages. His heart stopped, he was never this popular. Ignoring the numerous texts he listened to Beth's first message.
Hey Daryl, it's Beth- uh, I don't have to say which Beth I am do I? It's Beth Greene- oh dear, I'm sorry I'm being all nervous and stuff, I just wanted to say thanks for the day out- it was all lovely and hopefully we can do it again, unless you don't want to- in which case umm tell me? I- uh-yeah, bye- it's Beth by the way.
Daryl smiled at her voice, the clumsy declarations of her admitted nervousness making him smile more than strictly necessary. Hearing her sound so young and happy made him feel better about the next message, she probably called up to apologise for the first message again. Phew, for a moment there he thought something was wrong. Relaxing in his chair and sipping more juice he played the next message from Beth.
Daryl- oh- I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry- I don't know how it happened. Merle was here, and I wanted you to know- oh shit that's the last bus- call me.
The smile vanished as soon as he heard her tone. The nauseated feeling returned within an instant of hearing merles name mentioned. Why the fucking hell did everything go well until his brother get involved? Not wanting to admit it Daryl was scared to press the little green button and call her back. They had just fixed this and perhaps this was too soon to patch anything up. Ignorance would be nicer for him, but even then he'd be paranoid. So he called.
The dialling tone went on far too long, he itched to shut it off and go to bed where he head could make up some horrendous stories about Beth cheating on him within twenty hours of their relationship. Wait, what? They weren't going out- his stomach felt heavy and his mouth dry at the thought. It brought up too many questions about what they were. Certainly he wasn't opposed to the idea, and she hadn't seemed repulsed either but-
''Hello?'' her voice scared him out of his train of thought. He shook his head violently to dislodge any remaining dreams to focus on getting his heart broken instead.
''Daryl?'' her voice seemed tentative, wondering most likely if he was mad. No, give her a chance to explain what happened first.
''Hey- I got yer message, so im callin'.'' He was biting his thumb nail at this point, already pulling the power cord out to pace round the kitchen island.
''Oh. Well umm I'll just out with it- give me two ticks and I'll be where there's some privacy,'' he heard her gentle voice heavily stress at an invisible Maggie, then a series of little light footsteps on stairs and the door shutting behind her. ''Seriously woman- anyway, sorry, I'm here. Merle showed up at work yesterday.''
''What does that mean? How does he even know where you work?'' his was aware his voice was rather accusatory and the questions too quick to answer, but his impatience was getting the better of him.
''I don't know do I, its not like I invited him!'' she sounded exasperated at him tone, he could imagine her throwing her hands up with aggressive assertion.
''What did 'e want?'' he sighed loudly, so much that she must have heard it. But he managed to get his voice down to a less forceful tone.
''What do you think he wanted, Daryl?'' she sighed back at him, he could hear her small footsteps pacing in time with his. Sex, Merle would have wanted sex.
''And?'' Daryl was afraid to ask, and afraid to know. He braced himself for the inevitable heartbreak that was his existence, hoping he hadn't had all the whiskey and beer last night because he might need it now.
''And?! You seriously think id fuck him again? Really, after everything I just- uhhh! How can you even ask that of me?'' Beth had never sounded so frantically terrifying, her footsteps had stopped or her voice now covered their noise as she barraged him with hurtful questions. But although he did care that she was mad, he was smiling a bit inside that her reaction was so strong. Beth was still his,
''Ok, sorry.'' Daryl knew he had to stop this before Beth talked herself into a fight with him, it was easy to see how he might have offended her. She was silent on the line after a final humph. ''Look Beth, really I'm sorry. I am. Just tell me what he said.''
''He threatened to tell my boss about some of my past choices unless I slept with him.'' her voice sounded quiet and a bit shaky as if she was trying to play it off as nothing big. The flame of anger grew a bit bigger on the additional details, being fed inside him.
''So how did you get away?'' He leant against the counter, holding the bridge of his nose, the pacing had made him dizzy.
''I may have slapped him-'' Beth coughed slightly, sounding worryingly sheepish. It took a moment for Daryl to change is face expression of total disbelief and stutter out his thoughts.
''Really? Lucky you- what I wouldn't give to give him a right hook about now.'' His voice growled, and he tried to suppress it in case it worried her with its aggression.
''the bouncer lady came in, she overheard some of the conversation- but its ok she's really nice and she got Merle out on his ass.'' Beth huffed out air from where he imagined she had thrown herself onto a sofa or bed somewhere. His mind was trailing off to wondering if she was fiddling around with stuff because she was nervous too, or if she could take phone conversations with a pinch of salt.
''So you're ok?'' he tilted his head with the question, slightly embarrassed to ask but needing to be insistent.
''Yeah I'm fine. Michonne, the bouncer, she sat with me after and told me about her little boy until my next bus was due.'' She sounded calmer, as if telling him took a load off, which it most likely had.
''Good t'hear it, Beth. I'm sorry 'bout my brother-'' he wanted to say so much but she cut him off.
''No apologising for him remember- anyway I gotta go Maggie is being insufferable, she wants the basement for when her boyfriend comes over. '' firstly her voice was chidingly serious then moving to sound teasingly annoyed, as if a plan was already in motion to get her sister back for this.
Daryl said his goodbyes and hung the phone up, staring at it dejectedly. His body was shaking a little bit form the anger, he really didn't think it was a good idea to see Merle anytime within the next ten years. The culmination of what he learnt yesterday and today were going to be playing.
See Merle had been here last night. But he seemed to know Daryl was already drunk on happiness and whiskey alone on the couch to celebrate a good day out with his Beth. And he arrived, and for some reason drunk Daryl let himself be taken in by the long nothing of an apology. The offer of beer might have been the reason. If not the fact that Daryl seemed to always let Merle have another one chance no matter what he had done. He blamed the early indoctrination of being told that blood is thicker than water and you had to protect your family. Even if your family are drunks or druggie who hit you where it hurts repeatedly.
As luck would have it his phone flashed, determinedly telling Daryl that he had another message to listen to yet. He figured it was Beth again after she got home to reinforce the message. Maybe her voice would calm him down a bit so he pressed play. The voice of his brother made his want to stab something but he couldn't turn it off quick enough.
Morning Little Brother, remember you're taking dad and me to Dale's this afternoon. Pick us up at 3.
Daryl groaned loudly, Merle not only must have come over here to ask him this yesterday when he was drunk and wouldn't remember , just to piss him off. He could've called, but that wasn't destructive enough. Pulling on trousers and a shirt, because he couldn't think of a way out of it if he had said yes. Jack was an arse and Merle was a dick, they made the full set and together he couldn't deal with them so he always gave in.
Think about the positives. And that was the route he took. Merle seemed to realised Daryl knew why he had a slightly pink cheek and smug expression, but chose to keep his life by not driving Daryl to drive them into the path of oncoming traffic. Thankfully, Jack was in the front so Merle couldn't grab the wheel or change the radio stations.
Dale lived about 45 minutes away, but Daryl was willing to drive twice the limit to get there sooner. Daryl had no problems with Dale, in fact found it hard to believe that his father could have a nice brother at all. As a child, Uncle Dale visiting was the best experience. He and Merle would be spoiled by affection and conversation. Dale obviously knew what was happening but he was busy with his terminally ill wife Irma. Aunty Irma was a good baker, from what Daryl remembered, her illness meant that she and Dale went on long road trips across the country in a rickety old motorhome. It was sad to think now how Daryl resented her dying for his own personal reasons- if Dale wasn't nearby they had no one to call. But all that was the past, and the man had become one of Daryl's only good family members.
They pulled up at the small grey house, shutting off the engine Daryl was the first out and inside the house. He gave his uncle a warm hug. Dale for his part patted his nephew's back and looked at him with wise knowing eyes. Something was up.
''So, what's new?'' Dale asked whilst handing out mugs of coffee to his guest. It didn't escape Daryl's notice that he was using the old mugs from the back of the cupboard reserved for potential breakages. He didn't blame him either. Daryl listened to his father complain about imaginary pains he had and the health system and then Merle talk about his latest time inside.
''And with you Daryl?'' Dale asked kindly, passing the last biscuit to him. Daryl merely shrugged, waiting to leave. Were the clocks slower in here?
''Got himself a lil piece, ain't he?'' Merle smirked, unable to control himself.
''You still seeing her after she tore you and yer brother up and she slapped 'im?'' Jacks voice held enough contempt to let Daryl know exactly how he thought of his youngest son, not that he hid it at any other point. Also it told him that Jack knew everything.
''Did you ask why she had to slap 'im?'' Daryl was feeling trapped, lost in a room of conspirators. Trust his father to side with merle.
''If you didn't want me to see 'er then you should'na told me where she works, baby brother.'' Merle smugly chuckled at the shocked look on Daryl's face. A memory was struggling to beat repression, niggling at him that he might have in fact told merle. He was definitely drunk enough yesterday. It wouldn't be a farfetched conclusion by any means to think that the non-material goods Merle wanted yesterday might have been information on Beth.
The two of them were chest to chest, glaring at each other with distinct hatred. Daryl fist twitched wanting to punch his brother so badly. But Dale managed to manoeuvre himself so he got them separate and suggested that Daryl left, and that he would drive them home. Daryl nodded thankful, giving a small smile to the man who occasionally made it better.
Dale walked him to his truck. He patted Daryl's back warmly, not hiding the fact he was his favourite nephew at all.
''You should come up and look at the RV sometime, the engine clicks a bit. Look Daryl, I know I wasn't there when you were young, but I am now. Don't listen to Merle or your father, just go home to this girl of yours. Hey, maybe bring her with you when you fix up the RV, I don't see you enough.'' Dale smiled knowingly, if anyone got what an arsehole brother was it was him. He affectionately patted to bonnet of his truck in an old worldly kind of way, holding up a hand in goodbye. Daryl simply nodded and got on to the freeway.
He reached the edge of town and decided against his apartment instead turning onto the grey stretch of road that led to Greene farm. He pulled up at the white farm house, staring up at it like it was a fortress to penetrate. Now he was here he had no idea what to say or if I was alright for him to just turn up. His palms felt sweaty and his mouth equally dry.
He must have sat there long enough for Beth to notice his truck and run out. She was dressed in small purple shorts and a tank top, a worried expression on her make-up adorned face and half curled hair. She was pulling trainers on and clambering down the steps as he got out the truck. He crossed the space between the porch and his car door, throwing his arms around her. He held her tightly to him, pressing his lips longingly against hers, taking out all the aggression in a kiss.
It took no time for her to wrap her arms around his neck and lean up willingly for more. He pulled back after a few minutes, simply taking her in. Her hair was a mess from where his hands had threaded through it, cheeks incriminatingly red and lips matching. Her small chest heaved, not wearing a bra, but he didn't care right now, because she was perfect.
''I was just thinking earlier, I never asked you out properly, did I?'' He grinned at her, and she simply beamed back.
This was so much longer than I thought, sorry for all the dialogue! xxx