Chapter 35

Life was starting to get back into a semblance of normalcy. Daryl had decided to take Rick up on his offer and start working at the small police station. Rick had been putting him through the different courses he needed to complete in order to become a cop. It was tiring but the pay was going to be worth it. He had to run a couple miles a day, on top of weapon training and classes on how to deal with people in different situations. Daryl felt like his mind was being stuffed full of so much information that he wouldn't be able to remember all of it. However when it came down to needing to use it or be able to relay to Rick what he was supposed to do in certain situations, it felt like he knew it all his life.

"I knew you would do great, but I'm still surprised at how quickly you are catching on. Ya might even be better than Leo is. Even though that ain't saying much." Rick laughed as he put his hand on Daryl's shoulder. He involuntarily flinched and Rick quickly pulled his hand back. "Sorry, didn't know ya didn't like being touched."

"It's nothing against ya just don't like people in my space." Daryl replied with a shrug.

"Unless I'm a pretty blonde with blue eyes, eh? How is Beth doing by the way." Rick asked, and Daryl could see the concern on his face.

"She is doing better. Been back at work for awhile and the nightmares are getting few and far between. I think she is finally healing." Daryl thought back to the last few weeks. He had spent almost every night holding her in his arms as she slept, in hopes of keeping the bad dreams at bay. She was doing better now and wouldn't even ask him to hold her, she would just tell him they were going to bed and pull him upstairs with her.

Beth was turning into quite the seductive woman. She was persistent in trying to get him to sleep with her again. She would get upset and he felt bad but he stuck to his guns. He needed her to heal completely before he took anything further. Plus he needed to get his head on straight before he jumped into anything. He had admitted to liking her but he felt like there was something more he was missing. The way he had doted on her after she came back home was unlike anything he had ever done for anyone. He was so worried about how fragile she was and didn't want her to over exert herself. That pissed her off even more.

Now she was back at work and he was working his new job after training a man named T - Dog to take his place at the shop. The man would do just fine but Jimmy wasn't too happy to see him leave. He had tried to get him to stay but when he saw the determination on his face, he accepted the resignation with the request that he train a new hire to replace him. After the training was done, Daryl had started the next day with Rick. Beth had been very shocked when he told her he was taking it. But she quickly enveloped him in a hug afterward. She told him she loved a man in uniform and then had winked and walked away.

Daryl was nudged out of his thoughts when Rick gently prodded his shoulder and motioned for him to follow. They were getting ready to head to the gun range and practice shooting again. Daryl was a little upset that he couldn't use his crossbow but had come to like shooting a gun. It wasn't like his bow, but it was better than nothing. Today he was doing his first set of moving targets. The other had been stationary, so he could get used to shooting but now they were going to be moving and he still needed an accurate hit.

As Rick started the figures, Daryl took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them he began watching the moving figures and carefully placing shots. After a few moments, Rick shut it back down and motioned for Daryl to follow him. As they neared the fake people, Daryl smiled as he saw that he had gotten them all except one. The last shot was a couple inches off of where it needed to be.

"Looks like ya already got this down pretty good. You are s fast learner." Rick said with pride pouring out of his voice. "I could tell ya would be a good shot and I knew I made a good choice asking ya. I'm glad ya took me up."

"That's the first time anyone has ever told me that." Daryl said, his voice low and almost wistful. He had never had anyone other than Beth say anything positive about him. Most scoffed at him and made him think he was stupid.

"Well sounds like ya need some better friends. How would you and Beth like to join my family for supper? We cookout every Saturday night and my wife has been bugging me to meet you. She is curious about who the newest members of the family are." Rick told Daryl as they walked back to the cruiser. He threw the keys to him and Daryl caught them easily. "Let's get you started on driving. I know that ya know how to drive but this car has some neat additions to what you are used to driving."

Daryl started the cop car and began driving back to the station. He listened carefully as Rick went over all of the buttons and knobs in the car. He explained how to work the radio and the odds and ends of information he may need to know about. The radio cut into the conversation alerting them to a domestic disturbance that was happening near by. Rick told him to respond back and say they would take the call.

When they arrived, there was a man and woman out in front of the house, yelling at each other. The woman had a frying pan in her hand and was gesturing around wildly with free hand. The man had his hands in front of him like he was trying to talk her down. Daryl exited the car and straightened his uniform a bit, pulling on his holster to bring it into a more comfortable position. He could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins. This was his first call.

"Imma let a take the front on this. " Rick said as they began walking up to the couple. When the couple realized that they had company the man slowly backed away and began running.

"Stop and put your hands up." Daryl yelled and then mentally cursed when the man picked up speed and continued to run. Daryl pursued him while Rick stayed with the woman, taking down her information and asking her for her statement.

As Daryl rounded the house, he saw the male run through the bushes and head into the neighbors yard. He quickly followed him and couldn't help but smile when he saw that the guy hadn't realized that there was a tall fence and had ran right into it and was laying on the ground. Daryl quickly turned him over and slapped the cuffs on his wrists.

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can't afford one, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rules?" Daryl said the rights, and pulled the man up walking towards the front of the house.

"Fuck you! Damn ignorant pigs. Coming into my house, trynna arrest me fo' nothin'!" The man yelled as they rounded the house. Daryl shook his head.

"If ya hadn't ran, then most likely ya wouldn't be in cuffs right now. Most people don't run 'less they are guilty. So what ya guilty of?" Daryl asked as Rick stepped up.

"I ain't guilty of shit. That bitch over there is crazy. She chased me outta the house with a damn fryin' pan!" He spat looking at the woman with hatred in his eyes. She quickly took a step back, visibly scared.

"From what she told me, you hit her and then kicked her in the stomach even though you know she is pregnant." Rick said to the man. His face turned red and Daryl made sure he had a good grip ok his arms.

"The dumb broad is pregnant with another man's kid. Why should I care if it gets hurt? I ain't been with her long enough for her to be two months pregnant." He spat, trying to pull out of Daryl's grasp.

"I don't know about you, but that almost sounds like an admission. Let's take him down to the station." Rick said as they walked him to the car and put him in the cage. "Looks like ya get to learn how to do paperwork. "

Daryl had never been happier to be out on the open road and heading home. The man they arrested was named Paul and he had a lovely disposition. He spent the entire time they had him, yelling and cursing at anyone and everyone. After they got him back to the station, they had gotten a call from another town telling them that they were sending a car to pick him up. Their station didn't hold people overnight at their station, so they would be sent to a bigger town for that. While they waited for the transport, Rick ran him through the paperwork and he quickly got started. When the cops arrived to pick him up, they knew Paul by name and seemed less than pleased to see him.

As Daryl pulled into the driveway, he noticed Beth wasn't home yet, but there was a nice car waiting in the driveway with two people standing next to it. He pulled up beside the garage and cut his engine. As he pulled his helmet off, he saw that there was a man and a woman out front. The woman had short brown hair and green eyes and the man was a little taller with black hair and brown eyes. Daryl didn't know who they were but could see the confusion on the woman's face.

"Who the hell are you and were is my sister?" The woman yelled as she walked up to Daryl. Daryl began thinking and remembered that her sister was named Maggie. It clicked into place as she got close to him.

"I'm Daryl and ya must be Maggie. Beth is still at work. If ya give me a minute I can let her know you are here." Daryl watched her confusion escalate as he walked up to the door and opened it with his key. Bo came bounding out the door and ran to say hello to the new people. He pulled out his phone and called Beth as her family walked in behind him.

"Hello"

"Hey. There is a woman here claiming to be ya sister."

"Well shoot. She didn't tell me she was coming into town. She must have wanted to surprise me. Let her in, I'll be home in just a bit."

"Ok I'll let them in."

"Them? I wonder who she brought with her."

"Don't know but ya can ask when ya get here." Daryl hung up the phone and turned around. He saw that Maggie was still staring at him with a weird look on her face. Daryl grabbed a beer out of the fridge and offered the two of them one. The man readily accepted while she just shook her head no.

"I'm Glenn, Maggie's fiance, it's nice to meet ya." Daryl shook the hand that Glenn extended and quickly stepped back.

"I'm gonna go change outta these clothes. Beth is on her way and should be here shortly." Daryl mumbled as he quickly turned and ran up the stairs. He could hear hushed whispering coming from downstairs and knew that they were probably talking about how Beth had a man in the house. After he quickly changed into a plain t-shirt and some jeans he returned downstairs and opened his beer. He sat across the table from them, waiting for Beth to arrive. The silence at the table was almost awkward.

"So how long have ya known my sister? Do ya live here? What are your intentions with her? I may look little but I sure know how to pack a punch." Maggie began her questions quickly and Daryl knew he was going to get the third degree. Daryl was trying to formulate a response when he heard the front door open.

Beth was home.

Author's note: Sorry for this chapter being later than usual. Life has been pretty hectic these last few days and I just didn't have the time to write much at all. So now we know that Daryl took Rick up on his offer and I feel I should tell you I don't know much about police or how things generally go. So some of this might be a little bit of a stretch but it's what I need for the story :) anyways thank you everyone for the amazing reviews and I would love to hear what you think will happen now that Maggie and Glenn are in town.