Chapter 9 – What if's and Maybe's

Beth held her breath, her eyes going from the gun pointing at Daryl's head to the grim line on Blade's face as they stared each other down. Neither one moving an inch, possibly scared it would set the other one off. Even Beth remained unusually still as she watched the moment freeze in time. Something impossible being determined here and now, though she couldn't decide what.

As the air around them grew tighter, making it harder to breath as Beth finally made a decision. Holding her hands up in surrender, catching Blades's attention as she slowly moved into a kneeling position. "Blade, please," she muttered, steadily standing so that she was positioned between the barrel of the gun and Daryl.

"Don't, Z," Daryl said, reaching out to grab her arm. Beth took a step forward, her legs shaking as she moved away from his touch. Her gaze bearing down on Blade as she tried to soften her tone. Hoping to make the man listen because obviously Daryl wasn't going to plea for his life. And why should he? Blade already labeled him a traitor. A no good familiar that just needed to be added to the number of dead familiars.

Blade looked at her, taking in her trembling limbs and wide eyes as she stood between him and his target. She knew it wouldn't take much for him to take her out and then go for Daryl. Two simple shots and Blade would disappear into the night again, no one ever knowing what happened. But he was pausing, and that was all Beth needed as he looked from Daryl to her and back again.

"You really did all this for your brother?" Blade asked, his hand moving to the trigger. Daryl watched the movement, his tongue coming out to lick his lips as he nodded his head. Taking a deep breath, he moved his gaze from the weapon to the man, both of them waiting for Blade's judgment.

"Even turning into one of them?" he asked, his eyes racking over Daryl. Beth could see the condemning look in his eyes, the way he almost sneered at the man before him. Beth wondered how he could hate something that was so much apart of him. How could one hate their own kind?

"Nah," Daryl answered, his voice raw, almost that rough tone that Beth grew accustomed to. "They turned me when I said I was done, said my own brother would be next. Only they would have locked him in the ground to starve."

"hmm," Blade said, his eyes scraping over him once again before he spun the gun around and placed it back in it's holster. "Maybe I could help."

Beth smiled, taking in a deep breath as her shoulder's sagged forwards. Practically leaning on Daryl as he nodded his head. "I was hopin'."

The big man looked at him, his eyes narrowing for a moment before looking around the place. He picked up his dropped weapons and started making his way for the door, Beth not far behind him though Daryl paused. His eyes roaming the place before his gaze met hers. Something akin to fear was building up inside of him before Beth took in the pale skin and scars a cross his stomach. "Oh," she said, running back into the apartment. She threw open the closet, grabbing one of the more raggedy shirts that she intended to leave behind before heading back out and throwing it to Daryl. He looked at it, noting the R.E.M band logo on the front and then eyeing the now empty apartment.

"You were gonna leave this?" he asked, pulling the shirt over his head.

Beth's brows came together as she stopped short. "What's the big deal, it's holey," she said, shrugging as she tugged at a hole on the sleeve.

Daryl looked at it, his eyes sweeping over the other holes along with the lettering that was peeling off. "It's one of my favorite bands."

Beth's eyebrow quirked up. "It's old."

Daryl's frown deepened as he crossed his arms over his chest. "You implyin somethin?"

Beth giggled, her hand coming up to stifle the sound as she shook her head. "No," she replied, suppressing the laugh that wanted to come out.

"Alright girl," he said taking a step toward her. "What's your favorite band?"

Beth smiled, her eyes going distant as she remembered some of the bands that her and Maggie would sing along with on TV or even when driving into town with their daddy. "Right now, I would be probably listening to people like Kelly Clarkson and thinking their the best thing ever," she said, giving Daryl a quick glance.

His eyes were narrowed on her as he asked, "who?"

"Winner of American Idol?" she said, more of a statement then anything. Daryl shook his head, his gaze still pinned on her as he came to stand in front of her. He looked like he was trying to work something out. A question burning behind his eyes that was just on the tip of his tongue as he opened his mouth, ready to ask it when Blade came back up the stairs. "You two can do twenty questions later."

Beth glanced at him before her eyes darted back to Daryl. "He's right. The sun's going to be comin up."

She grabbed his hand, dragging him along as they made their way out of the apartment building and into Blade's waiting charger. The ride back was quiet, the tension building now that they were on their way to the warehouse. Whatever happened between them remained unspoken through the whole ride, making it uncomfortable to the point that Beth shifted whenever she noticed Daryl glance over at Blade, and the man continued staring out the window. It seemed surreal to be riding in the back of Blades car as someone he mistrusted rather then a friend of his. Even more surreal to be here with Scud knowing it's her Daryl sitting up there. The same man that fought walker after walker is the same one that took on the vampires.

'No wonder he never blinked when the walkers came after him,' Beth thought, resting her head against the window. 'He was already use to the impossible.'

As they pulled up to the warehouse, Beth felt both relieved and anxious. On one hand this is where they wanted to be; where Daryl said there was a cure for him. On the other hand, Blade could just as easily lock him in that room and leave him there. Daryl did betray him after all.

Pulling into the warehouse, Beth took in the layers of dust covering the nearly empty shelves, along with the quiet coming from the control panel. Where before Daryl's cartoons and music would have been playing non-stop it was now just the sound of the computers humming. Half way drowned out by the sound of the welding machine. That was a familiar sound. One that drew her as she got out of the car and looked over to see an older man standing over the work bench with the helmet being the only thing keeping his long gray hair pulled back.

When the cars engine shut off so did the noise as he looked up. His brow furrowing when he came across Daryl. "What the hell is this?" the old man asked, coming up one of the many pathways created by the number shelves. Beth took in his long gray hair and limp leg. Before looking toward his face that held nothing but hate for the man standing next to her. "Thought we left him for dead back there." he said, coming to stand in front of them. It was obvious he was only talking to Blade, though Daryl stepped in, lightly slapping the man on the forearm as he said, "W , man, come on."

"No, we ain't runnin no charity case here. Sure as hell ain't givin no second chances. Get out!" He waved toward the door, his shoulder nearly slamming into Daryl's though he stepped to the side quick enough to avoid the collision.

"I did it for my brother man," Daryl hollered. His arms swinging out as he turned to the older man. "I have nothing against you and B. All that shit I did, I did it for my brother."

The man stopped, his eyes looking Daryl over before meeting Blades. "This the same sob story he told you? This is the shit you bought?"

Blade took off his glasses, taking his time as he gazed first at the man Daryl called, W, and then to Daryl himself. Beth stepped forward, lacing her fingers with Daryl's before Blade looked away.

"No," he said, looking back to the man. "Heard the vampires talkin, after they attempted to kill him and the girl."

The old man looked at him, their gazes locking for a moment before he looked over at Daryl again. Daryl stepped forward, shrugging his shoulder as he said, "I did it cause I had to. Just couldn't let those fucker's get my brother. They would have killed him."

"Yeah and where is he now?" he asked, looking toward Beth. His eyes studying her for a moment before they fell on the way their hands were locked together.

"Figure that out as soon as I get the shit solved," Daryl answered, again shrugging as he looked toward Beth, waiting for her to nod her own confirmation. When she did, he looked back at W. "Fix me up and I'll be gone. You'll never have to see me again."

"Look at this way Whistler," Blade said, catching the man's attention. "It'll be you're way of getting him back for the shit he pulled over there." Blade shrugged his shoulders at the last part. Letting his words hang and a heavy weight fall into Beth's stomach.

Her hand squeezed Daryl's tighter, his own responding in kind as he waited for Whistler's response. "I'll do anything man. Just please, for my girl if nothing else." He motioned toward her, their eyes locking for a moment before he turned back to Whistler. "Least give me a chance to give her something better."

Whistler looked at them, studying them, possibly even dissecting them as he thought about his answer. His gaze went to Blade who merely stared at him for a moment before looking toward his glasses. Like the frames were the most interesting thing in the room at the moment. Beth wished he would say something, do something. She believed Blade had the final word in everything, but the way he was looking at this man, waiting to possibly hold this man's word as law, told her that she was far mistaking. She didn't think it was fear that made him listen to the old man, more like respect. Same thing she saw when Rick and Daryl would listen to her daddies words.

The man let out a heavy sigh, his shoulder's slumping forward as he regarded Daryl one last time.

"Listen here, Skid," he started, pointing a finger toward Daryl. "You try to fuck us over again, and I'll make sure there ain't a damn piece of you left to regenerate. Understood."

Daryl nodded, his lips turning into a thin line as his head bobbed up and down. Beth squeezed his hand, the weight finally easing up a bit as the man agreed to at least try and help them.

"Alright," he said, running a hand through his hair as he looked around the ware house. "That mess up there yours?" he asked, pointing toward the direction that Daryl's room had been.

"Yeah," he said, looking in the general direction. Beth noticed his own body tensing, like the argument to decide rather this was actually going to happen or not was the worse part. Maybe it wasn't. Maybe the words 'pay back' should have scared her more then it did, but Beth found any possibility better the none at all.

"Head up there. I'll be there when I get the stuff together." The man explained, turning around and dismissing them in the same move. Daryl pulled on Beth's hand, dragging her up the stairs and away from the two older men for the moment. Stepping into the room, Beth collapsed on the chair, her nerves shot from the evenings events. She could see the sun coming up now through one of the smaller windows and she moved to grab a blanket off the bed.

"Should probably be standing out there," Daryl said, making Beth stop to look at him. He was sitting on the bed, back against the wall and feet crossed, staring out the open window.

"Don't," she said, shaking her head as she threw the cover over the window, effectively blocking out the sun.

"The truth. Look what I did to B. Look what I let happen to you." He looked away from her, eyes focusing on his hands as he tucked them between his legs.

Beth frowned at him, her own ire rising as she listened to him sulk."You stop that, Daryl Dixon. These world needs you," she said, sitting on the edge of the bed next to him. He scoffed at her words, barely glancing at her through his dark hair. "I need you," she corrected, actually making him look up at her. She reached over, grabbing his arm to give it a squeeze. "I do."

He smiled at her, shaking his head for a moment before grabbing her arm and hauling her up to him. Beth found herself straddled across him, with his wrapped around, holding her to him. His lips lingered in her hair, a slight pressure before he turned to rest his cheek on top of her head. His breathing fanned through her hair, warm and some how comforting in that moment.

"Guess you gotta remind me sometimes," he whispered. Beth's breath hitched, her own eyes clamping shut as she nodded her head. She knew she needed to say something. Anything. But she was tongue tied. The words drying up in her throat before they even reached the tip of her tongue, so she settled on resting her head against him. Listening to his slow heart beat and taking in the coolness of his skin. Soaking up every moment she could with him. Scared of thinking when it was gonna end. If it was gonna end. His fingers trailed up her back, stopping to circle the base of her neck for several minutes as they both just laid there. Neither one finding the need to speak for a time. Taking in the silence as it settled around them. Surrounding them in a cocoon where they could just settle down and be themselves.

"Beth," Daryl whispered, his breath running down the back of her neck. Beth pulled back, brows furrowed together as she slowly sat up. He never called her Beth. Preferred her nick name to her real name and that sent a tremor through her body. One that she attempted to suppress as she stared into his eyes. "If something goes wrong," he started, his gaze lingering on their hands that he held together. Pressed against his chest as he ran his thumbs up and down the back of her hands.

"Daryl-" Beth started to protest, not wanting to hear anything about him not making it.

"IF.." he stressed, finally looking her in the eyes. "If something goes wrong. Stay close to B and the old man. They'll take care of you. Reluctantly, but they'll take care of you."

Beth nodded, her eyes moving from his face down to where his hand flipped hers over so that his thumb could make circles across the palm. Someone cleared their throat in the doorway, making them both turn to see who it was. Whistler stood there, a small black medical bag in his hand and a sour look on his face.

Beth moved off of Daryl, sliding to sit next to him on the bed as Whistler bent down on the other side.

"I should warn you that this is going to burn like a mother fucker," he began, opening the bag and taking out a few syringes filled with a yellow, pasty looking liquid. Beth gulped, her hands tightening around Daryl's arm until he pried her fingers away and ran his own across them to sooth her nerves. "The people I was working with to create this, said they attempted to make this a less painful process, but it never worked quite like it was supposed to and they lost a few willing participants."

Beth nodded, taking in a deep breath she looked from Daryl, taking in the way his body seemed to have froze for the moment as he watched Whistler lay out his supplies. Turning toward the man, she asked the question that he was unwilling to. "How long does it hurt for?"

He looked at her, his gaze lingering for a moment before he pulled out an IV. "Well. The others made it, but they had only been bitten with in fourty-eight hours. Didn't even have their first feeding yet." He paused, his hand resting on his leg as he looked to Daryl. "I imagine you've fed already."

Beth gulped, suddenly her idea to give him blood back at the apartment seemed like a stupid idea.

"Had to," Daryl admitted, his eyes turning down casts. "Back in Moscow. You blew my arm off remember."

Whistler chuckled, the smile spread clear across his face as he nodded his head. Beth and Daryl both looked at him like he'd lost his mind. "You're lucky we were surrounded by Reinhardt and the others."

Daryl nodded, a smile of his spreading across his own face as he met Whistler's gaze. They went silent after that, Whistler pulling out some tubing and then moving to grab for Daryl's arm.

"It's gonna hurt for a while," he said, wiping a sterile wipe across Daryl's arm. "Gonna be best to put you to sleep until the process is finished."

"How long is that?" Beth asked, her throat closing in on her.

"Three days." He held up the three syringes. "It's gonna take three doses. Each of them twelve hours apart."

"But when he wakes, he'll be human again," she said, needing him to confirm it.

Whistler shrugged, his gaze once again going to finding a vein in Daryl's arm. "Mostly human, yes. That's the idea."

"What do ya mean mostly?" Daryl asked, speaking up for the first time. Beth noticed the shake in his voice and she moved to rub her hand across his shoulders.

"Vampire virus isn't something you can fully get rid of," he explained, moving to grab the IV. Daryl grabbed his arm, stopping him from inserting the needle into his vein before he finished talking. "You'll should wake up feeling mostly normal. You'll be hungry, probably sore. Most definitely irritable, but you'll be alive. You'll age, get old just like the rest of us. The only real draw backs are, we don't know what the effects the lingering vampire blood will have on your immune system or strength. The previous candidates seem to be normal enough, they just never get sick and are some what stronger then an average human."

"All pluses if you ask me," Daryl said, smirking at the man.

Whistler nodded in agreement, his mouth going firm for a moment before he focused back on putting the IV in Daryl's arm. They let him, remaining silent as they both watched closely. When the IV was in and the tubing set up, Whistler held a smaller syringe up.

"I would get to saying you're good-nights."

Beth shook her head, her eyes meeting Daryl's as he gave her a confused stare. "Good-night sounds a little like good-bye right now and I don't say good-bye," she explained, leaning in close as she cupped his face in one hand, the other folding their hands together. "I'll be here when you wake up. I promise."

"You gonna wish me sweet dreams at least?" Daryl asked, smiling at her.

Beth nodded, leaning further down so that she could leave a soft kiss on his lips. "Sweet dreams."

He nodded, his other hand shooting up around her head to pull it back down, locking their lips together in a hard kiss that left Beth breathless and wishing for more. When they pulled apart, Beth stared at him. A smile on her lips, even while she could see Whistler pushing the clear liquid into the IV.

Her fingers stroked his chin, a light touch that had one side of his lips propped up and his eyes closed until she could hear his breathing deepened. The lines on his face smoothed out and his lips fell, making him look peaceful. At least for the moment. When she looked up Whistler was looking at her, a strange sort of look that made Beth glare back at him. He didn't say anything, just grabbed the other syringe filled with the yellow pasty liquid and inserted it into the tubing.


Beth sat curled up on the bed next to Daryl. Her back against the wall, with her legs curled up close so that she could wrap her arms around them and lay her head down all while her eyes remained glued to the television. The evening shadows clawing in between the curtain, telling her that it was late evening. She gazed over at the sleeping man on the bed, his body looked to be sweating through his shirt though Whistler swore that was normal. When his head tossed from side to side, Beth kept her eyes glued on to him for a moment, focusing on his chest moving up and down and noting his color was still normal before going to back to staring at the television.

The show on is something she'd seen before and she could easily dismiss it as she stared off into space. Whistler came into the door way, two mugs of coffee in his hands as he made his way over. Beth glanced at him, giving him a slight smile before looking back at the television.

"Figured you want some coffee seeing as you don't plan on sleeping," he said, handing over one of the drinks.

Beth took it, smiling gratefully as she straightened up. "Thank you," she muttered taking a sip. The man came around the bed, checking Daryl's pulse and the IV tubing before coming back to sit on the abandoned chair next to the bed. Beth looked at him when he was settled, waiting for the silent confirmation that Daryl was okay. He nodded, though his eyes didn't leave her. It was several minutes before Beth looked back at him. "What?" she asked, unable to take the feel of his eyes on her anymore.

"Just tryin to understand why you're with him," he said, nodding toward Daryl in explanation.

Beth's jaw locked, her focus once again going to the television. She didn't need to tell him that it was none of his business, he could read it in her face as she locked her gaze away from him.

"I'm sure you could do better. He's liable to get you in more trouble then you know."

Beth shook her head. "You don't know him. He's a better man then you think."

"Hmm," Whistler mumbled, slowly nodding his head.

Beth snapped her mouth shut, her eyes burning as she attempted not to glare at him. Had to remind herself that he was helping Daryl. Willingly, though she would argue that he did it mostly for Blades sake. Whistler followed her gaze, taking in the mindless reality TV show appearing on the screen.

"Blade says you came up with this wild story about being from the future, a future, something like that." He shrugged his shoulder's looking down into his own coffee before looking back up at the screen. A young blonde started talking on the television, the familiar name flashing across the screen as Beth's breath hitched in her throat. "Said you mentioned a pop singer that hadn't even made it to the radio yet."

Beth shrugged, her own gaze going to her mug as she realized where this is going. "Don't know how you could know that unless you know someone on the inside," he continued. Beth glanced at him, her eyes narrowing as he raised an eyebrow at her.

"Fair enough, suppose if you are from the future there's been a lot you've guessed correctly this past year."

"No, I've been trying stay away from doing any of that." Beth admitted, her gaze going back to the television. A new contestant was auditioning now and Beth drowned them out again.

"You know him from this future of yours?" Whistler asked, once again nodding toward Daryl.

Beth bit her lip, unsure if she should answer him or leave it be. It didn't sound like he was mocking her, didn't mean the laughs weren't coming. Then again getting someone elses opinion on the whole ordeal could help. Maybe even get her to believe that it was some crazy dream. Her gaze flicked down to her wrists, the one that was still wrapped up from when she gave Daryl blood and she wondered if her brain was playing tricks on her.

"Look, I don't know a lot about time travel or whatever it was you did, but don't you think meeting him now would cause some sort of trouble in the future. Like, maybe him not making it to wherever you are in that time."

Beth felt her muscles tense, her own body feeling the weight of his words. It was the same thing that she thought to herself a hundred times. Something she was so scared of happening that she was thankful Daryl was far away from her. In a place where he couldn't get wrapped up with her, until last night.

"According to Blade, you said yourself this guy saved your life more then you could count, if he's not there because you're here now..." Whistler paused, his head nodding to one side as he shrugged. "Can't imagine that would be good for your younger self."

"What are you getting at?" Beth snapped, her eyes darting to his. She let all the anger and frustration she'd been feeling for the past week into that stare. Hating the man for saying everything she'd been thinking. All the what if's and the maybe's bubbling to the surface as she glared at the man sitting on the chair beside her.

"Just wondering if it's such a good idea for you to be here, with him?" he asked, his eyes softening as he took in her angry glare. Beth let out a heavy breath, tears prickling at her eyes as she looked away to get herself under control.

"I don't have anywhere else to go," she said, telling him the same excuse she used on herself. "If I were to hunt down my family or any one I know...it would be the same thing." She shrugged, the anger leaving her, deflating her as the hopelessness took over. "The same questions of, what have I changed? What hasn't changed? What if?"

The words hung there, filling up the silence as they both stared at the television. The unknown pressing down on her as she once again went through the possibilities. The man on the television was announcing the winners, the contestants that would continue on to perform in the show. The blonde woman flashed before the screen, all smiles and screams for a moment and Whistler looked at her. A thoughtfulness in his gaze now as Beth let out a shaky breath.

"Thought about leavin to," she admitted. "Just gettin up and disappearin from him. Tried talkin myself into it, but found I didn't have the strength. I'm not strong. Not like he is."

Whistler nodded, his gaze again going to his own, now cold, cup of coffee. "Gonna get harder to leave the longer you stay."

"I know," Beth whispered, her gaze going toward the still sleeping Daryl. "I know my family, my future family," she clarified when Whistler looked up at her. "Is going to need him. My younger self is going to need him and I know I can't be there. It would be too weird, throw to much out of whack. I just don't know how I'm going to leave yet."

Whistler looked back at the young man resting on the bed, his eyes taking him in as he cocked his head to the side. Beth could see his head turning. Some thought forming behind his eyes before he turned toward her. "What if it don't happen? What if this is you're new future. With him."

"Again..What if? I just don't know."

Whistler nodded, his eyes turning sad as he finally understood her constant dilemma. He stood at that point, looking to leave her with her own thoughts before he paused at the door way and turned. His eyes took her in, studying her for a moment before saying, "You ever see that happening. With the dead coming back and find you still need some place to be. You look for Blade and me. We'll help you."

Beth smiled, a genuine smile as she nodded her head and mouthed "Thank you."


Thanks everyone again for taking the time read this. You wouldn't believe how much harder it was to figure out what kind of music a 10 year old Beth would be listening to compared to a almost thirty year old Daryl. I literally had to Google popular singers from that time period and then try to guess what Maggie maybe listening to that Beth would go a long with. So many possibilities, but there you have it. Hope you liked it.

Updates from here are probably going to be a little slower because I don't have the other chapter written out yet. I was trying to keep ahead but things kind came up and it is what it is.

I do hope you enjoyed this one though. This portion of their story is actually coming to a close, just a few more chapters after this. Which leads to my next question. Would you rather me stick with Beth's POV once the walkers come into play or maybe do like I did originally which was go with Daryl's POV where we saw glimpses of him meeting the younger Beth and how that went? Maybe a mixture of both? I have so many ideas playing for both of them though that part won't be for a while. Still have to work on it.

Thanks again for reading and I will try and work on the next chapter and have it up for you in a couple of days.