Carol and the baby stayed in for monitoring over night, Daryl by her side through it all. Both relieved they could leave the hospital, the next morning. Helping her get ready in the clothes Andrea had brought back with her that morning, Daryl buttoned her jeans up, the shirt already done, his head rested on her shoulder as he pulled her close, savouring her in his arms.
His eyes caught the purple dress hanging up, flashes from last night clear as day. Daryl's body reacted to the imagines running wild through his mind.
"Never did get to tell you how beautiful you looked in that you know"
"Never wear it again" his mouth moved up her neck with soft kisses as he nibbled on her ear
"You will. Gonna make new memories wipe out the old. You had me so turned on last night, and so pissed off at you. Those men touching what was mine, you are so lucky Merle stopped me from doing what I wanted" her head moved back as his lips continued back down her neck, her words whispered out on her next breath.
"What was that?"
"Was aiming to show all those men who you belonged to, had me some thoughts of thrusting you against that wall that was behind you and making you mine,"
"You wouldn't have, there is no way" looking in his eyes and seeing him nod his head, her words became stuck in her throat.
"Didn't fucking care who saw us, all I could see was ya making me so on edge woman, all I wanted to do was fuck ya, mark ya and brand you. In a room of people and I didn't give a shit who watched. That's how you got me baby, you have no damn idea how much power you have over me." he kissed her deep and as an after thought added his next words.
"Would have paddled that ass of yours bright cherry red for making me suffer. I wanted to kill every one of them, but what hurt the most"He swallowed hard, trying to get his words out, as he looked at her face, seeing the concern in her eyes
"What hurt the most, was when you turned your back on me" he pulled her tight to him his head hiding back in her neck as he breathed in her smell.
"Don't ever do that to me again baby, promise you would never turn ya back on me again" her heart went out to his boyish plea, her hands lifting to his hair holding him tight to her. She still had a lot to learn about what the men had gone through in their childhood, even though Merle had told her almost all . He had always said his lil brother had suffered the most, and holding the grown man now in her arms she knew her actions had cut him deep, brought up memories that he had long tried to bury, or forget.
"I promise, I will never intentionally turn my back on you again" She just let him hold her, get his thoughts back under control, they had a few minutes until Andrea and Merle came back, she treasured this closeness
"Don't think I am letting you off woman with what you pulled last night. Don't you go giving me that innocent look not working woman, That ass of yours need a good spanking, yeah knew you would like that, Can feel the shivers running through your body. That what you like Carol?"
"I..." How could she answer him, it was not right a woman like her enjoying him touching her that way. His fingers came under her chin, lifting her reddened face to his so he could look into her eyes see the truth
"Is that what my baby likes? Your face all red sweetheart, I think you love it when your man spank's you baby" he laughed as she went redder., kissing her softly he helped her pack
"You will get that and more later. Now Merle and Andrea will be here soon"
"Where is he?"
"Where's who baby?" his mind elsewhere as he checked the room for anything they had left
"Ed"
"WHAT?" now she had his attention why would she want to know where that bastard was?.
"Please is he ok?"
"You are fucking kidding me right?" his hands going through his hair, trying to calm himself down
"I know you beat him up"
"BEAT HIM UP I WANTED TO FUCKING KILL HIM!" seeing her step back at his words he walked back and to trying his best to get his head round what she was saying why she felt the need to even ask.
"I WISH HE WAS DEAD CAROL. I WANTED THE BASTARD TO NOT PULL THROUGH. HEY GO SEE HIM BABY HE IS IN ICU, GO BACK FOR SOME MORE OF HIS ..." her hand came back as she slapped the words from his mouth. Tears in her eyes
"How could you think I would even want to see him. You idiot, I wanted to finish the damn job make sure he could never hurt either of us again. But you... YOU! THOUGHT I WOULD WANT TO...GET THE HELL OUT!" He had fucked up again, he knew that the minute the words had left his mouth, no way was he leaving her, she was his and he loved her. Tough if she didn't want him near her, he was sticking to her like glue.
"No!"
"Pardon?"
"I said no, so I thought you wanted to, In fact fuck it I have no idea what you were wanting to do. But there Is no way in hell I am allowing you near him. And you have another think coming if you think I am walking away just because ya pissed at what I said"
"I hate you" she punched his chest with her small fists, collapsing in his arms letting him hold her
"No you don't, you hate what that man has done to you and hate the fact you thought, I had done what YOU wanted to do"
"I don't want him ever to hurt me, you the baby. I hate that I will be looking over my shoulder wondering if he will be there"
"Baby listen to me, that man has more charges, once he has recovered he is going away, for years. We managed to get him on attempted murder of both you and the baby. I promise you darling, never will he be coming anywhere near you again"
"Promise"
"You are safe"
"Well see ya looking after mouse well lil brother" Merle had chosen that moment to come through the door with Andrea
"Just comforting her. You got the car all sorted, the house keys been given to Michonne?"
"Yes as promised, even cleaned the damn place for them"
"Why what's happening?" Carol asked from the safety of Daryl's arms
"We are off to stay at his Haven, oh god Carol just wait till ya and Andrea see if, ya won't want to leave.. It's beautiful, he's done himself proud, built the damn place from scratch. I can't tell ya anymore just wait till you see it" Daryl had gone red with the praise his brother bestowed on him, what with Carol, Dale and Merle he was starting to believe more and more each day how worthy he really was of it all.
As they headed out of the building towards the car, no one saw the small blond sneak into the hospital. No one saw her pinch a nurses uniform and sneak into ICU.
Her presence at the side of the bed, woke the man, who had been beaten badly, lucky he was still alive. The venom from her eyes, scared him. Never had he seen her like this, he was the one who dealt out the pain, he had never been on the receiving end from his women, and he sure didn't like it. Her face came closer to his, Ed's eyes widen in fear, unable to move from her, due to the way he lay in the bed.
"Oh dear Ed you aren't afraid of little Beth surely" He didn't like who she had become, this creature in front of him was not the placid little girl he could bend to his will. When had she grown up?, he tried to move his hand to call the nurse, but she slipped the button from his reach
"Ed, now why would the nurse want to come and help a useless piece of shit like you. I see Dixon did a good job on you, You just had to go to that signing didn't you? Had to do things without me, and still you couldn't get the job done, You didn't get rid of her or the baby. Would anyone really miss you if I just did this" reaching for the tube that controlled his breathing, she pressed hard, causing the pipe to push in more than it should, she watched in delight as he tried hard to get his breath. Seeing him turn blue just before his monitors buzzed she leaned to him
"Never trust a man to do a woman's job Good bye Ed" with a push of a button the alarms were heard going off around his bed, as Beth sneaked out the emergency exit, smiling to herself, soon Daryl she thought soon you will be mine.
