Woke up super early this morning to write this so I apologize for any spelling or grammatical errors! Huge thanks and virtual embraces to sillymommy2010, DarylDixon'sLover, Dixongurl, cherrywineBA, Ela, Spoonlicker, MamaDCB, Mione788, malzateb, Tania Ibarbia, Natercia, lulu52, Crisphe, angelicedg, TWDFan05, engineergirl86, MaidenAlice, sporkschick44, kristelalugo, heatherrk, TWD, gwenstacy, ledanna, Anara, Guest, Burrsquee, ArtGirlie815, jeanf, TWDobsession, dee22dd, Maykits, LettuceBFrank, rckyfrk, Joise, live-wannabewriter, Guest, bledirishangel, Reignashii, Riain, pisquenta, JKattack, An Amber Pen, stacycoonan, Serialkillingyou, mhuster, SweetSeductionCherryB, Merry Beaker Fractale, and Bluemom for your fantastic, really wonderful to read reviews left for last chapter! Now time to fix that cliffie!

Chapter twenty eight:

Burn it down.

The words replayed in Daryl's mind as he sat up, groping for his clothes and Beth's in the darkness. The noises outside had multiplied, sounding as if they were coming from every angle of the house. Beth mumbled something sleepily, the archer too busy to hear her words as he shook her awake. She gave him a tired, confused expression as he thrust her clothes into her arms, slipping his on in moments as the sound of glass breaking met his ears. Underneath the door, he could see something glowing brightly, a few voices murmuring as they roused from the unexpected interruption. A molotov.

"C'mon," he nearly shouted at Beth, unable to hold in his irritation as she just sat there blankly. "We gotta go!"

"Daryl," sleep was still evident in her tone as she spoke. "What's-"

The explosion that followed next immediately ceased her questioning as flames erupted from the other side of the door. Instinctively, Daryl pulled Beth back, shouts and cries of fright escaping from the rest of the group as the blaze licked hungrily at their closed entrance. The noise had awoken Hershel, the man sitting up despite his weakened condition as he looked to his daughter and son-in-law in astonishment. Beth's nails dug into the archer's forearm as he moved to help her father up, the farmer wobbling as he struggled to stand on his one good leg. It was the first time Daryl had seen his amputation, the limb cut cleanly from the knee down. He heard Beth swallow hard but chose not to press the matter any further. They needed to get out.

"Beth," he called, Hershel's arm wrapped snugly around his shoulder. "Stay behind me!"

Swiping his crossbow from where it rested against the wall, he moved cautiously towards the door. With the back of his hand, he felt the knob, cursing instantly as he yanked it back. Sweltering hot. He inhaled, glancing behind him where Beth stood. Her clothes were wrinkled, expression stiff as met his gaze worriedly. Without thinking of his own safety, he kicked at the door, the old hinges giving as it swung open to reveal the inferno that was located on the other side.

It was as if the whole room had immediately erupted into flames, the glow from the blaze so bright, it caused the archer to squint as he looked for any path out. A figure lay lying on the floor, his form squashed against a corner. Whether he was dead or not, Daryl couldn't tell, but his first priority was his wife and her father. With caution, he walked towards the open entrance, the fire seeming not as strong there. Besides the figure, the room had seemed empty, meaning perhaps Rick and the others had already taken care of their assailants.

"You still with me," he shouted back to Beth.

"Yes," she called. "Daryl, Eugene-"

So it had been Eugene. The feeling that twisted in his gut was sickening. The scientist, or so he claimed, had said he'd known the cure. That once they'd get to D.C, he'd be able to fix this damnation that was the outbreak. Inhaling again, coughing as the smoke filled his lungs, he turned back to Beth. His wife looked to him, her face lit up by the glow of the flames as they crept closer to the three figures. Eugene meant the future of his wife and child. A pass for finally being able to live in safety. Free.

"I'm gonna ask you to do somethin' I wouldn't normally," he explained quickly. "Can you help your father out?"

"Yes," she stated. "But what-"

"I'm gonna help him," he explained. "Rick and the others, they're outside. I need you and your dad out there."

"But you," she argued. "Daryl, you-"

Without thinking, he pressed his mouth to hers, feeling once again silly how ridiculously romantic the scenario was. But if it came down to it, and on the off chance he wouldn't make it out of this alive, he'd damn well regret it in the end if he hadn't. Gingerly, he helped Hershel rest against Beth, the girl seeming to struggle briefly under her father's weight before she got a better hold of him. Daryl could see the teeth baring into her bottom lip as she nodded, mouth pressed firmly together as she moved towards the exit and disappeared out the door.

Once she was safe from the crumbling building, Daryl moved fast towards the far corner. If the figure hadn't yet turned, it very well meant he was still alive. Flames lapping at his heels, Daryl adjusted his crossbow over his shoulder, falling to Eugene's side as the man stared up at him. Shards of glass protruded from his neck, the man's expression frightened as he choked, coughing on his own blood as it bubbled from his lips. The archer's stomach sank, a feeling of failure washing over him. Eugene was dying.

"Mrgh," the man whispered hoarsely, trying to speak despite the blood.

"It's alright," Daryl murmured. "You're gonna be alright."

Eugene took a rasping breath, the mere action seeming to cause him a great deal of pain as he motion Daryl closer. The archer obliged, leaning in so that his ear was nearly pressed against the man's mouth. Softly, Eugene began to murmur something, the words sending chills down Daryl's spine as he listened. His stomach dropped for a second time that night, only this time, it felt far worse than before.

"I...lied..." Eugene croaked. "I...ain't...no...scientist...so...sorry..."

"Why," Daryl muttered, both anger and remorse bubbling in his veins. "Why'd you..." He met the man's eyes, seeing the terror and pain. "It's alright," he assured Eugene. "It's alright. Don't...you ain't gotta worry about it." Slowly, he reached back for his dagger, Eugene slipping into a coughing fit as more blood pulled into his mouth. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

And swiftly, he brought down the blade into the man's skull. Eugene stopped moving, his body still as Daryl withdrew the weapon from his head. He exhaled, eyes falling to the body that now lie before him. He decided not to tell the other's of Eugene's confession. What good what it do now? For all they new, Washington was still a safe zone. It was where the fucking president was from anyhow. The fire began to burn the hairs on the back of his neck as he stood, moving towards what little entrance was left. Almost instantly, he came face to face with a gun.

"Miss me," Alvarez questioned, shoving the crossbow from Daryl's shoulder as he nudged the man to where the others were standing. "Heard what you did to Gordon."

He grunted as the man's elbow buried itself in the spot between his ribs, Beth crying out in protest as he sunk briefly to the ground. The man snorted, forcing Daryl back on his feet as he walked him to the group. Daryl met his worried wife's expression, her gaze searching his for answers. He could only press his mouth together, eyes glancing towards the ground. She seemed to understand, her hand resting against his wrist as the Governor stepped forward, face illuminated by the blaze.

"Weeks," he said firmly. "Weeks we've been trackin' you and your friends. You didn't think we were finished, did you?" He began to pace, Daryl's concern returning to rage as he watched the man. "You destroyed my town," he said simply. "My people. You had it good there. We gave you food. Shelter. And you ungrateful bastards weren't happy with any of it," he paused, frowning in their direction. "We asked what we did to save us all. To save the human race. And you greedy shits couldn't stand to follow."

"Daddy?"

For the first time, Daryl noticed Penny standing outside of the crowd, her body trembling as she stood by her father. The man's attention briefly turned, a small gracing his features as he knelt down, brushing the girl's long hair back as he offered her a small smile. She did not return the gesture, her eyes falling to her step mother and brother who still stood among the others.

"It's gonna be alright now, darling," he assured her. "You and Tommy are goin' come with Daddy. How does that sound?"

"You're scaring me," she whispered. "I want to be with Andrea."

The smile faded from the man's face as he looked towards his wife. Daryl felt the dagger heavy in his back pocket as the man took a step closer to her. Andrea remained unmoved, her expression somewhat triumphant at her daughter's words. The Governor was far from pleased as he reached towards her neck, his fingers tightening as Rick protested instantly.

"You turned my family against me," he hissed, Andrea attempting to suck in breaths as his grip tightened. "My daughter. My son. You can't have them any more!"

In the light of the fire, Daryl could see Andrea's face turning purple. The blood veins in her eyes beginning to swell as she tried to gather oxygen. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced towards Beth, her stare focused on Andrea. He swallowed, hand reaching behind him as he gripped his knife. Within seconds, it found its way into the Governor's temple, the man staggering backwards as his hand fell away from Andrea. She collapsed on the ground, coughing violently as oxygen finally found its way to her lungs.

The man who had once called himself governor, now merely Philip Blake, fell to his knees and crumpled to the earth lifeless. The guards stared in horror, guns still raised as they eyed their now fallen leader. It was then that Rick withdrew his own hidden weapon, raising it quickly as he took out one of the many guards. Daryl yanked Beth and Hershel behind him, watching in horror as the firefight started. His eyes landed on his crossbow, which sat only a few feet away.

"Get in the tree line," he instructed. "And wait there."

He hurried, swiping his weapon from the ground as he took Alvarez out before the man had even a moment to react. One by one the guards fell, their bodies crumpling just as the Governor's had. In a matter of a few minutes, all lay dead on the ground, the causalities on the other side being only singular. Eugene. The archer looked to the others, most of the mothers and their children having followed suit to Beth and Hershel.

"Where's Eugene," Abraham asked, looking around to the others.

"Dead," Daryl responded, ignoring the expression of shock and anger that filled the soldier's expression. "Ain't nothin' we can do about it now."

The archer gazed towards the fire, watching as the cabin cracked and crumbled beneath itself. He didn't turn his gaze as Rick stepped forward, his eyes also drawn to the disaster. Soon enough the walkers would come, brought on by the sounds of the fight and the intensity of the blaze. They would need to leave the area now and quickly. Daryl inhaled, the scent of sweat, dirt, and ash filling his nasal passageways.

"Now what?"

"We keep movin'," Rick mumbled. "Head towards D.C."

Daryl nodded, watching as the entrance way finally disappeared as the flames engulfed it. Washington was their only hope now. Daryl could only pray that despite Eugene's words, it truly held safety. It had to. For his, Beth's, and their child's sake. With one last look, he turned away, following Rick as they walked towards where the rest of the group was, the sun just being to peer over the horizon and welcome a new dawn.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. But don't think that just because the Governor's dead, doesn't mean I don't have another villain planned for this story. In the Walking Dead verse, you can never have peace for too long. But maybe for a few chapters...we'll see. Anyway, feedback is greatly loved and appreciated. Let me know what kinds of bethyl moments you'd like to see. Baby name talks. Daryl feeling the baby. Anything! Well folks, once exams are over, the chapters will become much longer, so hang on for one day more! Until next time! -Jen