Beth averted her gaze down so that Daryl wouldn't chance a look in her direction and know what she was thinking. Confessing the depth of her feelings for him would go against everything he had asked when he told her she could stay if they kept it professional. Then again, leaning in to kiss her also violated that agreement so Beth was a little uncertain where she stood. Her brain was a hazy fog of pain killers and until she could think clearly, but she wasn't going to make any sudden moves on her handsome but wary protector.

"How's Haley?" Daryl was asking and Beth guessed he was talking to Pete.

"That's good, man. And Karen?"

Beth sat up a little straighter, blatantly eavesdropping now.

Daryl's lack of reaction led her to believe that Karen was going to be fine. Daryl was nodding along and Beth wished the conversation wasn't so one sided for her.

"I'm thinkin' of doing the same," Daryl was saying and he cut his eyes to Beth, noting her attention and regarding her wryly. Beth blushed but it was too late to pretend that she wasn't interested.

Daryl shrugged. "I dunno, a week or so? Just until things die down. Any word on whether Dave made it? Yeah, sounds about right. Son of a bitch," Daryl cursed fluidly. Beth assumed that the instigator of the fire fight had survived.

"I'll call you when I head back," Daryl promised and then hung up. He opened his mouth to address Beth but was halted by his phone going off again. Daryl's glared at the contraption as if it was responsible for all the chaos of the evening.

"Yes?" Daryl answered aggressively. His expression turned sour, his demeanour became defensive.

"You've read the reports, you knew there was a possibility this would happen, Walsh."

Daryl's fingers tightened and then he said, "No one was hurt."

Beth's shoulder throbbed in retaliation to his lie.

"I'm gonna get out of Atlanta for a while to let everything settle down some. I'll take Beth with me and keep her safe."

Beth had to fight not to react to that comment. They were going somewhere? She had got the impression Daryl intended on laying low for a while but out right leaving? She figured it had something to do with the bullet getting too friendly with her arm.

Daryl was rubbing the back of his neck, looking a little nauseated. "Listen Walsh, about Beth. She-"

Beth stood up hastily and her head spun. Daryl was thinking of telling his superiors the truth. She didn't know why she was so sure but she just knew. Beth waved her good arm to get his attention and mouthed 'no' at him.

Daryl was wavering, his guilt obvious. Beth glared and shook her head. "You tell them this, you have to tell them everything," she hissed lowly.

Daryl covered the bottom of his phone quickly. "I get that,' he replied witheringly.

"You tell them I get hurt, they'll take me out and I can't help you."

"Maybe that's for the best?" Daryl was still covering the phone and Beth could hear an incomprehensible but angry voice from the other end.

"You try and side line me and I'll tell them you kissed me."

Daryl's eyes iced over and he took a neat step back and away from her. Beth's heart was pounding in her chest. That comment had been low but she could barely think through the fog in her head. She didn't want them to take her somewhere else; she wanted to go wherever Daryl was going.

"You play dirty, Greene," he muttered. He uncovered the phone. "Sorry, think I cut out. I was gonna say Beth's hanging in and doing just fine."

The conversation wrapped up quickly. Daryl's tension didn't evaporate once he was off the phone.

"Go pack some shit, we're leaving."

Beth winced at his cold words. He was angry with her and she didn't blame him. She had definitely crossed a line with what she had said. But then again, she was kind of pissed at him too. After everything that had happened to them, he still thought getting rid of her was a solution. Even if he was doing it because he cared about her, it didn't make it alright. He was just afraid and Beth wanted to take that fear, take all his negativity and cast it aside. It wasn't as easy as wanting it to happen though, that doubt and insecurity was rooted deep inside his very being.

Beth bit her tongue and kept a reign on her anger. His self blame was a flammable thing and it wouldn't take very much to ignite it into rage. She wouldn't do that. She didn't want to cause him any more pain.

Daryl was still brooding when she clambered into the truck half an hour later. Beth didn't take it too personally; she saw the way his mouth curled when she gasped in pain. He reached to help her in but she was too quick and the hand fell away between them.

"Where are we going?" Beth dared asked.

"My cabin." Daryl wasn't verbose at the best of times but when he was sulking he was downright monosyllabic.

"I'm sorry about earlier," Beth began in a rush. "You know I wouldn't have told."

Daryl side eyed her before switching back to the road in front of them. The sides of the road were pitch black and Beth was finding it hard to get her bearings. She wasn't sure if she was drowsy from the pain medication or because of how late it was.

"I know."

"You know?" Beth repeated, surprised.

"Sure, you wouldn't be able to go through with ruining my life."

Beth slumped back into seat, crossing her arms. It was warm in the cab of the truck, she wasn't sure if the beaten old thing even had air conditioning.

"Would it really ruin your life if people knew?"

Daryl blew some air out in a sigh. "If we were just two people, two people who met randomly, no. Obviously it wouldn't. But that ain't how things are, Beth."

Daryl was tired too, that much was apparent. Beth felt like she was poking a bear with a stick but for some reason she couldn't let the matter lie.

"But I'm an adult," Beth pointed out. She probably contradicted her own point with her petulant tone.

"Just barely," Daryl countered, though he was teasing now.

"Old enough to make my own decisions."

Daryl's fingers curled around the steering wheel tightly. "I'm not gonna argue with that. I was looking after myself from 'round eleven. It's just that I got a legal obligation to you. To protect you and not take advantage of that."

"You're not taking advantage of me."

"What would people say if I was your teacher or something? It's like that." He was exasperated. Maybe with her, maybe with the situation; but his patience was wearing.

Beth chewed her bottom lip, wanting to fight him on it now that he had calmed down some. They had both come so close to dying tonight. Life was too short for these ridiculous conventions of propriety but yet they abided by them. Still, she didn't have to push him now. They were both alive. Largely due to him. He had killed at least one man getting them out of there.

Beth's stomach sank and she internally cursed her own selfishness.

"Thank you," she burst out abruptly.

"For what?"

"For saving my life tonight," Beth clarified sincerely.

A flush of red crept up Daryl's neck. "Did what needed doing is all."

Beth was never going to remember the events of that night with all too much clarity but the sight of that man's skull giving out at the back would be etched into her memory forever.

"Did you get hurt at all?" Beth trailed her gaze up his body.

As if he felt it like a physical touch, Daryl shifted in his seat. "Nah I'm fine."

Beth nestled into the chair and fixed her stare on the man next to her. His face was half shadow, half illuminated by the passing street lights. His presence was soothing; even when he was grumpy he was still a stable, consistent fixture in her life.

"You can sleep if you want."

"But who'll keep you company while you drive?"

Her innocent question caused him to grin. "I'll be fine. You need the rest. You got shot after all."

"Yeah, I'm a badass," Beth noted and ignored his chuckle.

"Well then get some sleep, badass. I'll wake you when we get there."

"You wake me if you get tired and I'll drive," Beth instructed him sternly.

"Sure," Daryl agreed readily in a manner that told her that he wasn't going to do anything of the sort.

Beth closed her eyes and drifted off, lulled by the sway of the truck and the warmth. When she woke she was in a bed, covered by a worn quilt. It might have been frayed and faded but it was warm and soft. Her shoulder ached and there was a circle of red blood in the centre of the bandage.

There was quiet outside her room. Just a few birds chirping in the distance. It reminded her of waking up on the farm and only hearing the animals. Moving gingerly, Beth climbed out of bed. Her legs were stiff from sleeping in jeans but Daryl had at least taken her shoes off for her.

She opened the curtains and sunlight streamed in. There were trees for as far as she could see but if she tilted her head she could catch a glimpse of the blue truck. Overcome with curiosity, Beth left the room and decided to go exploring. The cabin wasn't as large as the apartment but the layout was completely different. The living area wasn't nearly as spacious as his place in Atlanta but there was a second bedroom. Daryl had put Beth in the 'master' bedroom, judging by the size of the rooms. Beth shook her head at that. Daryl might play the coarse red neck but he hadn't hesitated to be a gentleman and give her the more spacious room and the bigger bed. It didn't look they'd be sharing it unfortunately, judging from the way Daryl's things were sprawled in the second room. A few clothes and a lot of weapons.

Beth wandered lazily through the rest of the house. This cabin felt far more domestic than the apartment. Daryl clearly loved this place. There was more of him here than in Atlanta. There were books and possessions all round the place. It wasn't decorated but it felt more lived in.

The kitchen was small and looked out across a lake. Beth raised her eyebrows at that. Despite its rustic charm, this wasn't a cheap bit of property. There were also no houses around the lake and Beth wondered if Daryl had bought up all the land to keep it isolated. It wouldn't surprise her.

The door opened and Daryl appeared. His hands were covered in grease. "Got the hot water and electricity running so you can take a hot shower in a bit," he started without preamble, toeing off his boots in the corner. Even he looked more relaxed out here. He had traded in his leather for flannel but his preference for no sleeves was still there.

"How's your arm?"

Beth moved it tentatively to gauge. It hurt. A lot. "It's alright," she answered, wanting to sound tough.

"You always been this stubborn?" Daryl demanded ruefully.

"I think present company is rubbing off on me," Beth quipped.

"Come here. I'll change the bandage then make us some breakfast."

"You're gonna cook?" Beth asked incredulously.

Daryl narrowed his eyes in her direction. "I can manage toast."

He went to fetch some clean bandages and Beth poked her tongue out at his back.

Daryl sat her down at the small wooden table in the sun flooded kitchen. It was a bit dusty inside but Daryl had already flung open most of the windows to flush out the stale air. He dragged his own chair closer until their knees bumped. Just an innocuous brush of contact but Beth's heart spiked.

Daryl carefully peeled the old bandage away and examined the wound. "Looks alright. No sign of infection." Just to be certain he wiped it over with another antiseptic swab. It stung and Beth grimaced.

"Serves you right for sassing me," Daryl chided her lightly. Beth wanted to snap back with a witty retort but it hurt too much at the moment. He stuck down a new bandage and taped it up. "Should be watertight but when you shower try and keep it outta the direct spray all the same."

"Yes boss," Beth replied, studying the new bindings.

"You keep that up and you're not getting any toast," Daryl threatened.

"The horror," Beth mock gasped placing a hand on her chest.

"I ran to the store while you were asleep but didn't grab very much. We can head back into town later this afternoon and get anything else we'll need."

Beth murmured her agreement. She was already exploring the rest of the cabin. She noticed a crossbow on the shelf.

"Can you use this?" Beth asked.

Daryl glanced at the direction she was pointing. "Yeah," he said with real fondness, like she was gesturing at his most prized possession in the world. Beth realised with a start that she probably was.

"You weren't lying about being a hunter were you?"

"Why would I lie?" Daryl asked, genuinely perplexed.

"Are you good?"

"Had to eat," he said cagily, which wasn't really an answer. Beth knew she was straying close to territory that Daryl liked to avoid. She curbed off the questions and they ate in comfortable silence. Most of Daryl's restless energy had evaporated and he was calm in a way she'd never seen before.

Beth chewed her toast thoughtfully, watching her protector while he stared out the window.

"How long have you owned this place?" Beth decided this was safe topic to settle on.

"A while," Daryl answered. "Before I got all mixed up in this cloak and dagger shit."

"This the kind of place you grew up?"

"Kinda. I haven't been back since we got out the first time," he confessed. "Suppose my old man is still there."

"Your dad's still alive?" Beth asked in surprised.

Daryl's grin was humourless. "Only the good die young they say."

Beth didn't know how to respond to that so she kept quiet for a minute. Eventually she said, "I'm alive because you're good."

Daryl groaned, "I woulda saved you anyway, even if you weren't such a kiss ass."

Beth knew it was his way of deflecting the gratitude and it made her shake her head. Trying to give him a compliment was ridiculously difficult.

"One day you're gonna let me be nice to you and you won't be able to think of a single way of getting round it," Beth informed him primly.

"Knock yourself out, just so long as you don't expect no pretty words back."

"Actions speak louder than words anyway," Beth observed, remembering the way his thumb had run along her lip.

Daryl cleared his throat as if he'd read her mind. "Letting you get shot doesn't speak too highly of my intentions."

Beth had to laugh at that. "No don't suppose it does, but I reckon it'll all balance out in the end."

"You always so damned optimistic?"

Beth half shrugged. "I'm used to getting what I want." Her gaze was weighted with double meaning and she knew Daryl picked up on it when he swallowed uncomfortably. Maybe it was too heavy handed but Beth was beyond certain that she wanted him and the only thing standing in the way of that was Daryl himself and his ludicrous sense of nobility. But she was done pretending with him. If this cabin was taking down some of his defences then they could steal some of hers too.

She made a silent vow to anyone who may or may not be listening that she would get Daryl to kiss her again before they left this cabin in the woods.

AN: I didn't get a lot of sleep or a lot of time but this is what I managed. It helped that I have a detailed plan of what happens. Someone guessed or wished they'd get some proper private time; well you were uncannily on the money. Please show me love, it makes me do a whoop whoop!