A/N: Because I'm struggling with Family Affair, feel like I suck as a writer and just not having a good day I needed to write something so I just started typing and this happened. Review please they mean more than you know
Chapter Twenty-Six: How Many Left
Beth woke with a jolt; her breathing ragged and sweat sliding down her neck. She glanced around the cell her hand roaming the bed for the other body, when all she found were sheets her heart stopped until she remembered Riley was out on watch. Beth brought her hands to her head and ran her fingers through her mop of dirty wet hair.
"only a dream" she mumbled "only a dream"
Beth dropped her hands and stared out of the cell; the dream felt so real, felt as if it just happened. Riley was out on a run with Glenn, Sasha, Daryl, and Maggie when the store they were at got overrun everyone scattered running off in different directions; only when they met up again Riley was gone. Beth felt tears fill her eyes; the dream was so real…..Daryl telling her that Riley wasn't dead just gone, that he would find her, that she would be back
"only a dream" she whispered once more watching as a small stream of gold light filled the cell block as the sun rose slowly in the early morning sky
Beth got dress a few moments later and made her way downstairs. When she reached the bottom there was Riley talking quietly with Glenn, Sasha and Daryl. Maggie walked out of her cell and smiled at her before joining the small group over at the table. Beth bit her lip 'it's not a run day' Beth thought as she quickly walked towards the table as well
"hey….you're going on a run today; didn't you just take one two days ago" Beth whispered to Maggie her eyes on Riley who had yet to notice her presence
"yeah" Maggie spoke nodding her head "Glenn and Riley found this place that looked untouched we're hoping to find a lot more stuff that we're running low on and could use to stock up for the winter"
Beth bit her lip again and nodded her head watching as Glenn closed a small notebook standing up and pushing it in his back pocket "okay we leave in an hour that way hopefully we're back before sundown"
Everyone separated heading towards their cell to grab their bags and weapons "hey" Riley whispered as she looked up and made her way forward stopping to place a gentle kiss onto Beth's lips. Riley grabbed Beth's hand and pulled her into her cell. Once inside the cell Riley pushed Beth against the wall by the door and kissed her rough and hard her hand snaking up Beth's back running her fingers along the girls spine. Beth let out a low moan before Riley pulled away "sorry….shouldn't start something I can't finish"
Beth watched as Riley back away and reached under the bed pulling out her black backpack throwing a few extra arrows inside along with her gun. Once the bag was zipped she grabbed her knife and shoved it into her boot. Standing she looked at Beth and smirked "what….we can finish that when I get back I promise"
Beth looked at Riley fear filling her body…..her dream; "or we can finish it now and you don't have to go on the run"
Riley chuckled "I do….Glenn and I know the place, the layout... it will be quicker with the both of us; plus I have to look for a Batman comic told Carl I keep my eyes open for and this place should have the mother load"
Riley stepped forward wrapping her arms around Beth "why you so scared all of a sudden; not my first run ya know"
Beth squeezed Riley tightly taking in her scent as she nuzzled her face into her neck "I know, I just worry….I love you; you know that right"
"I know and I love you too…." Riley spoke pulling Beth away from her body "hey…" she whispered as Beth's eyes filled with tears "what's going on….you know I always come back….I promise I'll be back"
Silent tears rolled down Beth's cheeks "you promise" the girl whispered panic lacing each word as anxiety filled her body
Riley leaned in and kissed Beth on the forehead before looking into her eyes and kissing her lips "I promise"
After Riley left Beth spent the day watching the children, playing with Judith and trying to get the little girl to crawl, before helping to prepare dinner with Carol she did whatever she could to keep from thinking about Riley being out on a run and how the situation matched her dream perfectly. Looking out of the barred window as the sun was slowly setting Beth looked to Carol as her father and Rick entered from the cell block after a day at the farm
"shouldn't they be back" the girl spoke softly to the older woman as she filled two cups with water for the men.
Rick and Herschel made their way towards the two women gratefully taking the water
"they'll be back any minute you heard Glenn... before sundown" Carol replied giving the girl a soft sad smile
"hey" Rick spoke making Beth snap her eyes over to him "she'll be fine, she is fine; everyone there has each others back, they'll be back soon….."
Beth let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and nodded looking over at her father who gave her a small smile "ain't easy being in love in a world like this Bethy…..everyday could be someone's last….but not Riley Dixon that's for sure; those Dixon's have more lives than cats"
Beth looked at her father before Rick started laughing which caused Carol, Beth and Herschel to start laughing as well "thanks dad" Beth spoke leaning over and kissing her father on the cheek he always knew what to say and how to say it.
Another hours passed before the sound of the truck and motorcycle sounded coming up the drive. Everyone looked at one another as they all rushed outside. Beth trying hard not to let her dream overtake her in this moment 'she's gonna be there…she's gonna be there' she thought as she followed Rick to the courtyard
She watched as Daryl stopped the bike and climbed off refusing to make eye contact with anyone; Beth's heart sped up as she tried to tell herself that it was just Daryl being Daryl and maybe Riley and Glenn were teasing him about something once again. Flashing her eyes over to the truck she watched as Glenn climbed out from the driver's seat followed by Maggie coming out from the passenger's side. The back door opened and out came Sasha….only Sasha; there was someone missing.
Beth stared at the truck waiting….waiting….waiting. It wasn't until her vision was blocked by a body did her eyes refocus there stood Daryl, looking over his shoulder she saw Rick talking to Glenn his head dropped and he brought a hand to the back of his neck….this wasn't good…..
"….the store, it got overrun, this herd came out of nowhere, we all got separated" Daryl started looking at the girl in front of him, her eyes staring at him blank...lost "she ain't dead….she's out there, and I'll find her…she'll be back…"
Beth looked at Daryl before looking once again over at Rick as he made eye contact with her, her eyes flashed back to Daryl
"how many lives she got left"
There will probably be a part two...thoughts