Chapter 36
Beth sat in the truck, almost trembling with anticipation. Glenn, Maggie and Daryl were surveying the area and trail to the swimming hole and Beth had been told to stay put until someone came back for her. Beth tapped her feet against the floor of the truck, drumming her fingers quietly on the drivers seat in front of her, God wouldn't be so cruel as to let her get this close to swimming only to have them come back and say it wasn't safe. She kept looking around, and then back to the trail, making sure that she was safe in the truck while she waited. Soon enough Daryl came up the trail and motioned for her to follow him.
"It's all clear. We set up some alarms around the swimming hole and on the trail." Daryl said reaching out and taking her hand. "Follow right behind me. There are a few snares and traps set around here too." Daryl said walking down the trail. He let go of her hand and stepped over a small ditch in the middle of the trail before reaching over and lifting Beth over the ditch and setting her down. "It's only a little further. Looks like a man made swimming hole. Someone dug a pretty decent sized hole around a spring, lined the whole thing with smooth stones. It's like a fresh water pool almost."
Beth kept her eyes down on the trail, each step careful. As she got closer she could her Glenn and Maggie talking softly and the sound of flowing water. She adjusted the bag over her shoulder and bumped into Daryl, he had stopped suddenly on the trail. Beth looked over Daryl's shoulder and quickly jumped behind him again burying her head into his back. There was a large cottonmouth on the trail. "Daryl kill it." Beth dried squeezing her eyes shut, almost climbing up onto his back.
"Quiet, it's making its way off the trail." Daryl said keeping the crossbow trained on the snake incase it made a move towards them. Beth whimpered behind him and kept her head pressed into his back and her eyes closed. She was terrified of snakes. She hadn't seen one on a while, the last she had seen on the farm, she had fainted in the garden. "Alright let's keep moving." Daryl said letting Beth walk by him and keeping himself between her and the snake. "You ok?" Daryl asked noticing the Beth was still trembling.
"I'm just a little afraid of snakes." Beth said stumbling a bit. Daryl pulled his cross bow across his back and picked her up. "Daryl! You don't have to carry me!"
"Yeah, yeah. You aren't that heavy. We're almost there." Daryl said walking a bit faster. Maggie and Glenn turned when they heard footsteps and Maggie rushed forward at the sight of Beth being carried.
"What's wrong?" Maggie asked rushing forward. Beth took in the beauty of the area surrounding her and momentarily ignored her sister. "Beth!" Maggie said slightly shaking her sister.
"There was a snake on the trail she's fine, just was afraid." Daryl said putting her down. Maggie breathed a sigh of relief before taking the bag from Beth's arm and setting hit down on a rock. Beth quickly kicked of her shoes and shimmied out of her dress. She shook of her sister's hands and slowly walked out into the cool waters. They quickly dropped over her head and she laughed as she instantly cooled off. Daryl sat on a rock to keep watch over the area with Glenn while Maggie laughed and slipped into the water with her sister.
"So you like it here? "Maggie asked swimming to where Beth was treading water.
"I don't want to leave. I wish we could bring it back inside the fences somehow." Beth said floating on her back and dunking under the water.
"Don't say that loud enough for Daryl to here, he'll try to build you a pool." Maggie said floating on her back beside her sister.
"He said he'd bring me back once or twice a week till the baby came if possible." Beth said. "God Daddy was right, this feels great on my back." Beth said stretching and rolling her shoulders. "I can't wait for the baby to get here Maggie. All that bullshit about pregnancy being a magical experience is greatly exaggerated." Beth said. "I mean glowing is a code word for sweaty, swollen and always hot."
"Are you afraid?" Maggie asked.
"No." Beth answered knowing that Maggie was only asking about upcoming birth and not life in general. "I know I'll be ok."
"Are you mad that I can't be there when the time comes?" Maggie asked. After what had happened with Lori Maggie didn't want to be anywhere near another birth.
"No I get it." Beth said dunking under again. "Daddy, Bob, Carol and Michonne will be there. Daryl said he'd stay too."
"Let's not talk about it anymore. Let's just enjoy the water, enjoy the quiet and relax." Maggie said floating over to a rock and sitting down on it. "What do you think we're going to do about Carl?"
"I don't know." Beth said floating on her back and looking at the clouds. "Michonne seems to be taking care of it. I hope Rick does something though. He's turning into a asshole."
Maggie laughed at Beth's language. "He reminds me of Shane. Remember back on the farm? When he wasn't getting his way? How he'd act out?"
"That man was not a model for Carl to follow." Beth said swimming over to the side and walking out. Sitting beside Daryl on the rock she let herself air dry a bit before pulling on her sundress and removing her damp bathing suit. "I want to head back. I feel funny." Beth said rubbing her stomach. Daryl looked at her in concern. "I'm ok. Just totally relaxed I think." Beth said sliding on her panties and watching while Maggie and Glenn swam around. "You want to have a quick swim before we leave?" Beth asked standing up to slip on her clean panties.
"Nah, I don't need to get in the water, I had a shower after the hunt today." Daryl said running his hand up and down her stomach. Beth took his hand and moved tit to where the baby was kicking.
"You don't just swim for fun?" Beth asked trying to slip her feet back into her sandals without having to undo them. Daryl reached down and pulled her feet into his lap and helping her get her shoes on.
"Nope. I only come to look at the blondes in their bathing suits." Daryl said whistling to get Glenn and Maggie's attention. "We got to head back!" Daryl said. "You guys want to dry off a bit first?" Beth pulled a few snacks out of the bag and placed them on the rock beside.
"We can have a little snack first." Beth said unwrapping her sandwich and opening a juice box. "Do you guys mind? I just want to get back to the baby."
"Nah we're all cooled off." Glenn said grabbing a granola bar. Maggie nodded and spread out on a towel enjoying the sun and grabbing a bottle of ice tea. "You have a good time Beth?" Glenn asked.
"Of course. I can't wait to come back. It's really too bad that everyone else couldn't come too."
"Well maybe next time we come "everyone" else won't be little assholes." Maggie said chugging the rest of her sweet tea and pulling on her shirt.
"He ain't getting an invite so long as I'm coming." Daryl said. "That little shit gets no special treatment from me, never again."
"Daryl you go to forgive him eventually." Beth said getting to her feet. "It'll be too hostile living with each other if you're always at each others throats." Daryl loaded things into the bag before sliding it and the crossbow over his back.
"Glenn, Maggie you guys lead the way back to the truck. Keep an eye open for that cottonmouth." Daryl said scooping Beth up again. Beth chuckled and settled in his arms. "Can't have her slowing us down." Daryl said following Glenn and Maggie up the trail. Maggie quickly stabbed a stray walker through the eye half way up the trail, letting him fall into the ditch before jumping across it. Daryl set Beth down before stepping across and helping Beth over the ditch. Glenn held up a hand stopping them on the trail, Daryl unhooked a bolt and quickly loaded his bow and handed Beth a knife. Maggie pulled her gun with a silencer out and quickly shot 4 of the walkers right through the head while Glenn dispatched of two more with his knife. Daryl shot the last one before leading Beth quickly the rest of the way down the trail to the truck.
"Get in." He said helping her into the back seat. Reloading his bow he shot a walker following Maggie to the truck in the head before running to the driver's door and Starting the truck. Glenn hopped into the bed of the truck and Maggie climbed in with Beth. Daryl quickly pulled out onto the road and headed back towards the prison. As soon as he got far enough away from the walkers he pulled over so Glenn could hop into the cab of the truck. "They came out pretty fast." Daryl commented as he drove down the road. "Everyone ok?" Daryl asked catching Beth's eye in the rearview mirror. Beth smiled softly and nodded her head.
"Does this mean we can't go back?" Beth asked.
"Nah we can go back. Walkers won't stay around there, nothing for them to eat. We just got to be careful." Daryl said. "You feeling better?"
"You're feeling bad Beth?" Maggie asked.
"Just tired. I think I'll sleep well tonight." Beth said leaning back and looking out the window.
"What the fuck?" Daryl said pulling up to the prison. Rick quickly opened the gate and let the truck drive on through. Rick came over right away after locking up the gate.
"I got to talk to you Daryl." Rick said pulling Daryl over to the side. Beth looked over at Rick clutching Daryl's arm and then over to Bob who was in the tower. Where was Merle? He was supposed to be on watch. Why were Rick and Bob out here?
"Shit!" Daryl said grabbing his quiver and crossbow and jumping on his bike and pulling up to the gate, Rick quickly opened the gate and Daryl pulled out and sped off.
"What's going on Rick?" Beth asked shuffling over to the gate as fast as she could. Grabbing Rick's arm and turning him to face her, "Rick you tell me right now." Beth asked crying. "Where'd he go?"
"Merle took off with Michonne. He's taking her to Woodbury." Beth grabbed at her stomach at the news and doubled over gasping in pain. Maggie ran over and let Beth lean back against her and breath.
"Get her in bed." Bob said from the tower coming down. "Go get Hershel and Carol." He handed Glenn his gun before leading Beth over to C. "Tell me what's going on Beth." Bob said helping her down onto the futon in the Rec area.
"I felt fine, bet there's pain in my stomach right now, like really bad cramps." Beth said crying. "You have to go after Daryl. He can't go to Woodbury alone!" Hershel came in and quickly sat beside Beth on the couch.
"Are you hurting baby?" Hershel asked taking Beth's pulse. It was racing. "Calm down baby. Carol's going to check you out. Did your water break?" Hershel asked. Beth shook her head. "Is your pain constant?" Beth shook her head. "If you get another pain you need to tell us right away so we can time the contraction."
"There's no blood and she's not dilated at all." Carol said smoothing back down Beth's dress.
"Alright everyone out." Bob said. "Give her some room, let her calm down. Might just be Braxton Hicks contractions, you know Hershel and I think that's what her back pain has been. We're going to let her rest, keep and eye on her to make sure and figure out what to do about the Merle situation." Bob grabbed Rick by the arm and led him over to talk.
"Where's Judy?" Beth asked sitting up.
"She's with Sasha and Tyreese." Rick said. "She's in her swing, she didn't care for tummy time."
"I'll go get her for you." Maggie said leaving towards the cafeteria.
"Rick tell me what happened." Beth said sitting up.
"Don't know for sure. We think Merle somehow got Michonne to subdued and led through the tombs and out through the prison another way. They didn't go through the gate. He left a note about going off to do what none of us had the guts to do."
Beth placed her head back against the futon and closed her eyes. "He won't go through with it. He's not a bad man. He'll turn around and come back." Maggie walked back into C with a sobbing Judith and quickly placed her in Beth's arms. Judy continued to fuss, sensing Beth's distress. "Shhh baby it's ok." Beth said bouncing her on her shoulder. "She nap most of the time that I was gone?" Rick shook his head.
"She woke up about half an hour after you left. She only calmed down when we put her back in the swing."
"She's going to be a grumpy little girl till bed time then." Beth said trying to ignore the new crisis that had risen. "Did she get fresh air?" Beth asked. Rick shook his head. "Go get the baby's hat. I want to go rest outside and wait for Daryl." Beth said.
"Look Beth I think its best if you rest inside." Bob started to say before getting a death stare.
"I'm going to go wait for Daryl outside." Beth said standing up and walking towards the door. Grabbing a receiving blanket. "Someone bring me out a bottle in hour." Beth said grabbing the hat from Rick's hand and walking out the door. She walked over to the watchtower and settled down on the grass where Glenn could see her. She laid the baby blanket on the ground and laid the baby on her tummy, rubbing her back. "They can't follow simple directions at all can they baby girl." Beth cooed while Judy tried pushing herself up and holding her head looking away. "I know we don't have your toys out here but you'll just have to entertain yourself for a little while." Beth said patting her back. "They didn't take you for a walk or let you stretch out of that swing did they." Beth flipped the baby over on her back and started stretching her legs like she did everyday, working the cramps and gas out of her little stomach. Her colic had improved greatly with stretches that Michonne had shown her, not going away entirely, but Judy didn't scream in pain as much anymore. Beth heard footsteps and looked up seeing her father making his way over with the diaper bag and another blanket. Hershel spread out the larger blanket beside Beth and helped her move over to it with the baby.
"I see you follow Drs. orders just as well as your stubborn boyfriend." Hershel said sitting down beside Beth putting his arm around his youngest daughter. "You know Daryl's going to come back."
"He didn't promise me this time. He just took off on his bike." Beth said sobbing into her father's chest as quietly as she could, she didn't want to attract walkers or upset the baby she had just calmed down. "If I hadn't asked for a stupid day trip Daryl would have been here today Daddy. Merle wouldn't have taken Michonne."
"We were all here, we didn't even see it happen. If Daryl had been with you he might have missed it too." Beth shook her head.
"He would have known Merle was up to something. He wouldn't have gotten the chance to get one over on Daryl."
"And no one else will either." Hershel said. "He's going to be mad at you when he gets back and finds out you aren't taking care of yourself though. You need rest."
"I'm fine out here for a little longer." Beth said stubbornly. "No one listened to my directions. Judy's been cooped up in her swing inside all day. The books say if you don't let her play on the ground and have equal time on her tummy and back she won't learn to sit up and roll over and crawl and walk." Beth said.
"I'm sure she's developing on time." Hershel said sitting back and pulling his bible out. "I think I'll just wait here with you."
"Thanks Daddy." Beth said settling in against her father.
Daryl rushed down the highway speeding towards Woodbury, hoping he wasn't too late. He started to slow when he noticed a figure up ahead making their way down the road towards him. He recognized the dreadlocks and sword and sped up pulling to stop beside Michonne.
"Where's Merle?" Daryl asked helping Michonne onto the back of his bike.
"He dropped a note off on the south wall telling them to meet him at the meeting point in two hours. Said he bring me. Then he let me go. I think he's planning an ambush." Michonne said. Daryl took in the blood on the back of her head and the bruises on her wrists and knew that she wasn't in on the plan that Merle had originally planned to just hand her over.
"I'm sorry." Daryl said. "I'm going to take you back to the prison and go after Merle."
"It's not safe Daryl. You got a baby on the way you can't worry Beth like that."
"He's my brother. I have to do this. I'll be back with Merle by nightfall."
Daryl skidded to a stop in front of the gates and let Michonne off.
"Daryl!" Beth called struggling to her feet and walking as quickly as she could to the gate, leaving the baby with her dad. Glenn was opening the gate for Michonne. Daryl made eye contact with Beth before turning on the bike and taking off down the road again. "Daryl!" Beth screamed trying to rush out the gate only to be caught by Michonne and dragged back in. "Let me go!"
Glenn slammed the gate shut as soon as Michonne had Beth back through the gate.
"He's going to get Merle." Michonne said turning Beth around and marching her back up to the prison. Judy had started to cry at hearing the alarm in Beth's voice. Beth walked over and took the baby from her dad before slamming back into C and stomping up the stairs to the office. She laid out on the bed with the baby curled into her side sobbing into her pillow. Judy continued to fuss over Beth's crying. Michonne made her way into the office and stood in the doorway. Beth placed a pacifier in the baby's mouth and rubbed her stomach until she started to calm down. "He's going to be back Beth." Michonne said lingering n the doorway.
"You can come in." Beth said without turning around. "I need you to tell me what's going on." Michonne sighed and sat down on the futon. After explaining Merle's plan and what was going on. Beth started crying again. "He's walking into a death trap."
"He's going to be driving up long after the fight is over." Michonne corrected. "You're right Merle had a batshit crazy plan, but there is a chance that Daryl gets him back here."
"You don't think that The Governor is going to go back on his 4 month time period? We're going to have to take off and Daryl won't be here when we leave." Beth said sobbing up again. "I'm going to be on the run, ready to pop, Judy is going to have to deliver my baby." Beth said sobbing. "I can't do this alone."
"Beth you aren't alone. I promise you. You will not be giving birth on the road." Michonne said. "Rick and I have a plan, we're just going to have to put it motion sooner than rather than later. We'll run it by Dixon when he gets back."
"It's time to feed the baby." Beth said wiping her eyes off and getting out of bed. "Let's go see about supper." Beth said scooping up the baby and hugging her to her chest. "Can you grab her sleeper and her baby blanket from her bed? After I get her fed I'm going outside to wait for Daryl."
"I'll join you." Michonne said gathering a hoodie for Beth along with a few baby supplies.
Beth made her way down to supper, no longer looking forward to the roasted hog. Sitting down at the table, she waited to be handed over a bottle for the baby. Laying the blanket down on the table she quickly swaddled the baby and placed her in her arms. Judy stared up at Beth, relieved to still be in her familiar arms. Once Rick brought over her bottle Beth grabbed it making her way back out into the yard. Michonne followed her with 2 plates of food and the baby bag. She wrapped the hoodie around Beth's shoulders before sitting down across from her and sliding a plate in front of the young blonde.
"You got to eat something Beth." Michonne said digging in to the pork and salads.
"I will once the baby's settled." Beth lied rocking the baby in her arms while she drank. "It's dark now. He told you that he'd be back by now." Beth said her lip trembling.
"It's barely dark. We'll be hearing that bike in no time." Michonne said. Carl made his way into the yard with a steaming cup of tea and placed it in front of Beth.
"Thank you." Beth said, as she continued to rock the baby.
"I'm sorry Beth." Carl said looking at he's feet. "About earlier today and about Daryl. He'll be back." Carl said spinning around making his way back to C. Beth shifted the baby to her shoulder and rubbed her back until she dozed quietly against her. Hugging her tightly Beth brought the mug to her lips and sipped slowly. Michonne inched the plate closer again holding eye contact. Beth picked the fork and spooned a few bites into her mouth and chewed.
"Daryl would really like this pork." Beth said finishing off her salads and covering the rest of her plate with a napkin. "I'm going to save that for him for when he gets back."
"There's an entire pig in there for less than 20 people." Michonne said uncovering the plate and pushing it back over. "Finish at least half of what's there." Beth ate a few more bites keeping her yes on the road; it was getting harder to see in the darkness, the moon wasn't providing much light that night. "Your dad and Maggie were telling stories about you this morning. You really fly off the patio and beat a boys head into the ground over a doll?" Michonne asked trying to distract Beth.
"Not just any doll. The first Cabbage Patch Kid my parents bought me. Theodore Alexander." Beth said. "Shawn's friend always teased me. He was an only child and seemed to think he could tease me to tears the entire time he was over visiting us. Maggie told me he wouldn't stop till I made him. I tried ignoring him but that just made him start taking my things. I let it slide till he touched Theo." Beth said stopping abruptly at the sound of a motor. She got up and ran to the gates looking out. She could here the bike before she could see. Michonne drew her sword out and started killing the few walkers that rushed over as soon as Beth got close to the fence. Daryl pulled up a few minutes later and waited for Michonne to open the gates before riding in. Beth noticed the streaks on his dirty face; he was covered with walker blood. He drove right past her and up to where he usually parked his bike. Michonne closed the gate and helped Beth up the hill to the car area. Daryl didn't wait before storming into C. Beth handed the sleeping baby off to Michonne before following him into the showers.
"Merle's dead now. I got there too late. That son of a bitch left him to turn." Beth gasped looking Daryl over for any signs of injury. "I'm fine. I had to put him down." Daryl said stripping and throwing his blood soaked clothing into the basket there.
"I'll go get you a change." Beth said leaving the shower area to give Daryl a minute to compose himself. Michonne was sitting on the futon with the baby beside her.
"Can you watch her just for a few more minutes?" Beth asked making her way to the office. Michonne nodded her head. Beth slowly made her way to the office grabbing the first shirt and jeans she saw and making her way back towards the showers. Judy was awake and sobbing so Beth just grabbed her on the way by from Michonne and made her way back into the showers, making sure to bang the door open so Daryl would know she was coming. Daryl looked over and saw Beth coming with his clothing and the baby. Turning his face directly under the spray he rinsed away the tears and grim before turning off the water. Beth handed him over a towel before sitting on the bench, waiting for Daryl to come over.
"I don't want to talk about it right now." Daryl said. "They left a note on a windshield for us. They knew someone would be coming to look for Merle. We have 2 days till they come and take the prison from us." Daryl said zipping up his pants. " I got a plan."
"Let me fix you a plate, you got to eat." Beth said slowly standing up with Daryl's help.
"Yeah let's go to cafeteria and let everyone know what's up." Daryl said wiping the towel across his face again before following her out of the washrooms. Beth squeezed his hand tightly on the short walk, trying to give him comfort. "Are you feeling alright?"
"I had some pains early, Daddy and Bob think they are Braxton Hicks ones. I'm ok." Daryl reached over and took the baby from Beth and placed her against his shoulder that was closest to Beth.
"That's cause you got to take it easy." Daryl said opening the door. Michonne had let people know that Daryl was back, but without Merle. Rick stood up and clapped Daryl on the shoulder and was quickly shrugged off. "Merle's dead. They're coming to take this place from us in 2 days. We need a plan. I got one."
"So do we." Michonne said. Michonne went over the plan she and Rick had concocted while he ate the plate the Beth brought him.
"My planes similar." Daryl said. "Just that we get Beth, Hershel, the baby and Carl out to that safe spot in the woods. I don't want to have to rely on Carl, but it's not safe for him to be here either." Daryl said. "You keep Beth safe." Daryl said pointing at Carl. "You guys stay put till I come and get you. "
"If Beth goes into labor I'm going to need someone aside from Carl there to help me out."
"We can spare Tyreese too." Rick said. "I need Carol and Sasha on the roof sniping."
"You guys are going to take The Jeep into the woods to that shelter we made." Daryl said looking at Hershel and Tyreese. "You keep an eye open for anyone you don't know creping through. The woods after you here the attack. You know the plan. We're going to hide the rest of the cars. They'll think we've actually retreated and left. They're guards will be down, they'll be trapped in the courtyard and we'll reign down fire on them. I'll come and get you from your safe spot." Daryl said.
"Alright we have 2 days to get ready for war. I want everyone but those on watch to rest up tonight. Tomorrow is a busy day." Rick said. Beth stood up with the baby and grabbed Daryl by the hand.
"We're going to bed now." Beth said leading him from the room. Daryl allowed Beth to steer him to the office and to the bed. She quickly pushed him down before placing the baby in her basket within arm's reach. Beth pulled Daryl against her chest and settled his head there, laying back against the pillows. "You can talk to me if you want." Beth said rubbing her hand over his back. Daryl sighed.
"I'm not ready yet." Daryl said snuggling in against Beth's chest. "I'm focusing on keeping you safe."