Chapter 55: Trouble Comes a Knocking
Things had gone back to normal. Eric's ankle was on the mend and Aaron was being a little less over protective of him. Beth and Daryl were back on track, their rough patch had been dealt with and forgotten.
It was nearly March and Len's trial was coming up. He'd gotten out on probation, but he hadn't been seen since. Merle had been keeping tabs on the brothers, making sure Joe was keeping Len out of trouble.
Beth was ready to put this whole ugly chapter behind her as she prepared for the birth of the twins.
Her vocal lessons had just ended when Aaron poked his head in the door, knocking on the wall. "You got time to grab some lunch?"
"Sure. I'm supposed to meet Lori Grimes for lunch, baby shower stuff. You can come with." She smiled back at him when he started to laugh.
"Eric has been dying to meet her. He just got here, so it is okay we crash your lunch date?" Aaron walked towards her with his sad puppy dog eyes and she started to giggle.
"You're paying." She grabbed her coat and purse as they walked out arm in arm towards the foyer.
The diner was hoping for a Wednesday afternoon and Carol looked exhausted. Beth, Aaron and Eric took the front booth by the door and waited for Lori.
They made small talk as they enjoyed their drinks, when Eric saw Lori walk in. Beth waved her over and scooted towards the window. Lori sat down, smiling at the two men she had heard of but hadn't had the chance to get to know yet.
Beth smiled at Lori, introducing her friends. "Lori, this is Aaron and Eric. Guys, this is the Sheriff's wife, Lori Grimes."
Lori shook their hands and Eric immediately started asking questions. He went on and on until Lori gave Beth a curious glance. Aaron saw the look on her face and capped his hand over Eric's mouth.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Grimes. Eric gets nervous around new people. I promise he's not always like this." Aaron dropped his hand from Eric's mouth as his boyfriend stared at him with daggers shooting out his eyes.
"That's okay, Eric. Rick does me the same way. Says if he didn't shut me up sometimes, he'd never get a word in. I'd love for you to help me and Maggie with Beth's baby shower plans. Just give me your phone number and we'll discuss the details later." Lori stirred the glass of sweet tea before her as she gave both Aaron and Eric a very friendly smile.
Carol came back over to take their orders and talked a little with Lori. The afternoon was going well, maybe too well. Aaron had left to help Eric to the restroom and Lori had to take a phone call outside. Beth was sitting by herself when she heard a rough sounding voice coming from behind her.
"You need a better class of friends, sugar. Those two prissy boys ain't gonna be in town long if me and my brother have our way." The man behind her never turned around, so Beth couldn't make out his face. From the greasy dark hair and the worn hoodie, she knew it had to be Len.
Beth wiggled out of the booth, holding her belly and stood by Len's table. "You aren't supposed to be talking to me or be near me. If I wanted I could have your ass tossed back in jail."
Len took a bite of his burger and smiled back up at her. "Go ahead, but it ain't gonna stop me or Joe or Tony from giving your 'friends' a good beatin'."
Beth started to point her finger at Len when he grabbed her hand and pulled him towards her. His face was only inches from hers when he gave her his crooked grin. "Tell Dixon… when I'm done with your little friends, he's next. Don't worry, I will keep you company if the nights get tpo lonely, doll face."
He let her go and she rubbed her wrist where he had gripped it. Carol walked over carrying the Louisville slugger they kept in the kitchen. "Get up… get out and don't you ever come back."
She pointed the bat to the front door, then back to him. Len got up, tossed some money on the table and left. Beth had barely sat back down when her phone started to ring.
"You okay?" Rick asked her as he pulled up to the diner.
"I'm good. Lori shouldn't have called you." Beth watched as Rick got out of his squad car and looked down the street. He spotted Len and got back in the car.
"Go back to work and don't come out to your car tonight without me or Daryl escorting you out. Am I understood?" Rick was being firm with Beth and it took her aback.
Aaron came back out with Eric when Lori walked in. She told Aaron that Shane would be taking both him and Eric home now and that she'd make sure Beth got back to work safe.
As soon as Beth walked into the A&E Center, Daryl came busting through the doors. "Get yer shit… now!"
Beth walked away from him with tears streaming down her face. She hated what an asshole he could be when he got that upset. He was lashing out at the situation and the fact that Len had managed to put his hands on her again.
She grabbed the sheet music for the next class and walked down the hall to find Glenn. He was sitting in the main office, chatting with Dale when she handed him the papers.
"I quit." She said flatly and left. Dale and Glenn both chased after her, Glenn stopping her before she got to the front door.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Glenn sat her down on the bench by the wall, holding her as she cried.
"Len and Joe and this whole damn mess with Aaron and Eric. Daryl's pissed, Aaron can't come to work and Eric is still afraid. I'm sick of it all. My life is chaos and Dixon can't handle his shit. Well… I'm done. Do you hear me Daryl… done!" She shouted at her husband as he walked up to her.
Glenn stared at Daryl seeing the anger on his face and the sadness in his eyes. "Daryl. You need to calm down."
"You need to mind yer fuckin' business." He reached for Beth and Glenn blocked him.
"Stop it. If you're pissed at Len or Joe… go kick their fucking asses, but don't do this to Beth. You're gonna have to go through me if you think she's leaving with your crazy redneck ass." Glenn's hands were trembling as he stood up to brother in law.
Daryl started to rub the back of his neck as he paced the lobby of the A&E Center. He stopped a few times to look at Glenn, feeling his anger ebb and flow. "Beth. I'm sorry baby. Ya know I'd never hurt ya. He put his goddamn hands on ya again. Rick said I can't touch him, but he let him touch you."
Beth stepped around Glenn and took Daryl's hand. "To hell with Rick. Go kick his damn ass."
Daryl kissed the back of her hand as his other hand stroked her belly. "I hope you got bail money, cause I'm stompin' his ass."
He let her go and march out towards his bike. Once he mounted it, he saw Rick fly by him with his sirens on. He started the bike and quickly followed.
Rick pulled up to Aaron's house where Shane sat on the hood of his car, holding a bloody rag to the back of his head.
"What the fuck happened, Shane?" Rick started yelling as soon as he got out of the car.
"They jumped my damn ass is what happened. It was Joe and Tony and some fat ass mother I ain't never seen before. They called him Dan. They knocked me out and when I came to, Aaron and Eric were gone." Shane glared at Rick as he tried to stand.
Rick called Leon to get over to their locations, when he noticed Daryl. "What are you doin' here?"
"Beth's safe, she's with Glenn. Besides, Len is lookin' to pick a fight with me." Daryl took out his cell to call Glenn and check on Beth.
The chaos of the moment soon died down when they found Aaron and Eric hiding in their basement. Aaron had managed to get in the basements back entrance before they were jumped, but Eric had fallen and reinjured his ankle.
Daryl knew there was only one way this was going to end, with a good old fashion Dixon ass whopping.
He jumped back on his bike and headed straight for the garage. Merle was pushing a bike in the shop when Daryl pulled up. "Merle… you ready to kick some ass?"
Merle waved for T-Dog to get the bike and made his way over to his baby brother. "Beth okay?"
"Yeah, just a little shaken up. Where do you think they are?" Daryl took his ringing cell out of his pocket and saw it was Rick trying to call him. He pushed ignore, put it on vibrate and tucked it back in. He gave Merle that lets go do some gratuitous violence look.
"We're outnumbered, Darlene." Merle checked the saddlebags for the gun he kept there.
Martinez walked out, rubbing his cheek. "I'm in." He slipped a pair of brass knuckles on as he walked to his truck. Things were about to go down and the odds looked pretty good.
Daryl made a quick stop at his house for his hunting knife and crossbow. Merle borrowed his compound bow and they made their way out to Joe's little shack in the woods.
As they got closer to the run down shack, Daryl's phone kept buzzing. He thought for sure it was Rick calling him, so he ignored it. They parked a little ways down the road, deciding to walk through the woods to gain the element of surprise.
Daryl's phone buzzed again and Merle took it out of his pocket. "Tell Officer Friendly we got this shit."
He handed the phone to Daryl and what he saw wasn't missed calls from Rick but text messages from a strange number. He opened the text to see pictures of Beth in her dad's barn with Maggie. She was wearing the pale pink dress and white sweater from today and Daryl's heart nearly stopped. There were more pictures of Aaron and Eric and some of Carol and Sophia. The last text was only a two words.
Your choice.
Daryl showed the pictures and text to Merle and his brother went off. He ran towards the house, pointing his handgun as he ran towards the back porch. Joe stepped out, tossing Sophia's rag doll at Merle's feet.
"All we want is those homos gone and the charges on Len dropped. Go home right now and Dan won't hurt that pretty little step daughter of yours. You too Daryl… Len has been itching to get under that sweet little blonde's skirt." He took a draw off his cigarette as he gave them a very cocky grin.
Daryl wanted to wipe that grin off his face, but he knew Beth would be in danger. He picked up Sophia's doll and smiled back at Joe. "Yer brother's ass and my boot are about to become very acquainted. "
"Is that so?" Joe tossed his cigarette at Daryl's feet as he walked towards him. "All I got to do is call him right now and your wife will be screaming Len's name."
Daryl looked down at the cell in his hands, hoping Rick was hearing all of this. He had dialed Rick's number before he walked towards Joe and kept it on. Joe didn't notice the phone in his hand as the two men were busy sizing each other up. Merle pushed Daryl back from Joe only to round on him and slug him hard.
"Listen Joe, you picked this damn fight. The moment Len put his hands on my sister in law… this became personal. I'm callin' you out, Joe. Man to man. Me and you… Daryl and Len… unless yer too much of a pansy ass coward." Merle snarled at Joe, the two men glaring at each other.
"No… I don't think so." Joe pushed a few buttons on his flip phone, smirking back at the brothers.
"Len… do it." Joe walked backwards to the porch, never taking his eyes off Daryl.
Daryl bolted back to his bike, yelling in his phone for Rick to get to Beth.
A/N: Cliffhanger... sorry but you'll have to wait until the next chapter to see what happens to Beth. Thanks for the reviews and follows. Bethyl on!
