Chapter 17 - Pre-Recorded

Staring out the window didn't seem like a terrible idea. The rain poured down, leaving small streaks across the glass that Beth tracked, watching as they ran into one another and then disappeared. The thought that the earth was weeping rode through her mind again and again as she watched the endless rain. Wondering when, if, it was ever going to let up. The gray sky mimicking her mood as she stared down at her phone for the hundredth time. The service continued going in and out. Sometimes she would get a few short rings and then static on the other end, sometimes just some pre-recorded nonsense about the phone lines being busy. When the line came again, she nearly tossed the phone, her hand rearing back and grasping the small contraption for a moment as she sucked in a deep breath of air and then released it. Her anger going with it as she looked down at the thing.

"One day," she muttered, shaking the phone in her hand like she was threatening it. A laugh came from behind her and she turned to find Jackson shaking his head.

"Seems like all the services are steadily going down," he said, just as the lights started flickering on and off. Beth nodded, her head resting on the glass window. They have been doing that for the past couple of days, and Beth got the feeling that whoever was running the power was now trying to regulate it. Put on some energy saving system that would last until they could fix the world. Beth snorted at the thought. Knowing full well the world would never be right again. Not for her, not for anyone and again she pushed re-dial. Hoping for a different outcome this time.

"You know what the definition of insanity is?" Jackson asked, leaning against the wall. Beth glared at him. Her frown deepening when the operator came on the other line again. Slamming her hand against the button, she let out a heavy huff.

"Just wanna know if he's okay," she muttered, tears welling up in her eyes at the knowledge that she knew this was going to happen. That one day something was going to tear them apart. Something so big, that she would never be able to fix it.

"If you've really lived through this before then you should know the answer to that," Jackson said, coming to sit next to her. His hand rested on her knee, and Beth let out a small smile. A small way of saying thank you as she nodded her head. The tears steadily falling now as she wiped them away. Refusing to break down now. Not when there was still hope that she could find him. She knew where he was, sort of, and knew where he was going. It was just a matter of getting out of here.

"I'm not giving up just yet," she said, pushing herself off the window seal at the moment a knock came on the door. Jackson smiled, one that was meant to be reassuring as he stood with his hands in the air to calm her, and Jessica as both women looked to the door. Jackson never mentioned having visitors, but his calm demeanor told them he knew who it was.

"Just my brother, I called him as soon as we got here and asked him to come out."

"Another vampire," Jessica said, her eye widening at the thought and Beth came over to rest a hand on her shoulder as her son sat up on the couch. Excitement clear on his face as Jackson opened the door to reveal another man that looked identical to Jackson. From the thick brown hair, to the broad shoulders and long legs. The man was a spitting image of their host and Beth looked from one to the other, not needing any confirmation that this was in fact Jackson's, twin, brother.

The two men hugged each other, both of them sporting a slight smile as Lucinda rushed forward to give the man a welcoming hug. It was the first time in nearly two days that Lucinda appeared before them. Jackson explained that he didn't know if either Beth or Jessica were infected, and didn't want to risk his wife. Beth couldn't fault him for that one. She remembered all too clearly the way her father kept her locked up in the house when Rick and the rest appeared. His reasoning nearly identical to Jackson's until they proved they were no real threat. After that, it was just a matter of neither Jessica nor Beth cared to search her out. They were both frantic to hear from their husbands. Jessica's phone being far more silent than Beth's as the two women attempted calling a few times. After the second day Jessica placed her phone down and resigned to the fact that either her husband was somewhere so isolated there was no service or the worst had happened. Beth wouldn't believe either option, and continued to call. Knowing full well that eventually Daryl Dixon would pick up that phone line at some point.

When the small family pulled apart long enough to glimpse the others still in their sitting room, the new man stepped forward, his own pair of vampire teeth showing much more clearly than Jackson's as he reached a hand out. "Hey, names Theo."

Jessica stayed put, visibly swallowing as she stared at the man. True, she'd gotten used to Jackson, the man being as kind as he was, but two of them at once looked to be a bit much for her so Beth stepped forward, taking his hand.

"Z, this here is Jessica and her son Nicholas." She motioned to the other two people in the room and the man nodded at them. "Sorry, Jackson didn't say anything about anyone else showing up."

Theo nodded, biting on his lower lip as a look of understanding came across his features. He glanced back at Jackson, who was looking a bit sheepish, and then back to the two women. "Yeah, my brother has a habit of forgetting the small details."

Beth chuckled, the small sound causing Theo to smile as well as they both looked to Jackson as the man shrugged. "It's just details," he muttered. Beth rolled her eyes, again shaking Theo's hand. A bit firmer this time as she relaxed. She looked to Jessica to find the woman wasn't as pale and then to Nicholas who was standing now. A look of awe in his eyes as he stepped forward.

"You're the cool one right. The one that drinks blood from the flesh with super speed, and all that?"

Jessica popped her son on the back of his head, causing a loud, "Ow, Mom," to come from the boy as she grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back to the couch. To say that Nicholas was disappointed to find that vampires were nothing like that in the comic books was a bit of an understatement. Theo, for his part, took it good naturally and laughed. Shaking his head at the boy as he turned back to Jackson. The moment their eyes met, all laughter died on his lips and he cleared his throat.

"Well, we've got things to discuss, so if you'll excuse us."

"Discuss?" Beth asked, noting the look that passed between the two brothers. "Discuss what?"

Theo shook his head, already dismissing her so Beth stepped to Jackson. Giving him a hard glare a he cocked his head to the side. They may have only known each other for three days, but in those three days Beth proved she wasn't one to trifle with. With a stubborn streak a mild wide, and a loud mouth that she may or may not have picked up from her years with the Dixon brothers.

"Just going over rather or not leaving would be the best option," he explained, again holding his hands up to ward off any trouble. Beth's eyes grew harder, her jaw tightening as she looked from hit to Theo. She knew he didn't owe her anything. She warned him of the city, and he helped her and Jessica get out and opened his home. Everything was good between them and she planned to leave it that way. Just the unexpected word that he would back out of his deal to help find her husband threw her off. Had her second guessing the man, though the sign of him warding her off. Preparing himself for any trouble made her do a double take and back off. She needed to listen to what he had to say, cause she knew what it was to look out for your own first. To ensure that your family was safe before venturing off with some stranger and she couldn't fault him for that. She wouldn't dare.

So with a deep breath, she said, "You do what you gotta do. Just let me know the details." she gave him a pointed glare at those words and he nodded his head. "Fair enough."

Theo and Jackson made their way to Jackson's office area, or what he deemed an office area. Really, it was just a large space with a few shelves shoved in for the books and a desk in the corner. Beth followed along, standing close to the archway as Theo took a seat across from Jackson.

"What's it lookin like out there? Took you a few days longer than usual." Jackson noted, settling himself into his chair.

Theo leaned back in the chair, his head resting on his fist as he nodded. "Traffics horrendous. The military is out now. Mostly National Guard that knows as much as we do, and are only following orders."

Beth zeroed in on a spot on the floor, remembering all of this from the first time around. Her only focus now was to listen for any information that might help her get back to Atlanta, or at least out of New York.

"Are they helpin any?"

"Nah," Theo replied, rubbing at his jaw as he glanced at Beth. "Mostly herding people back to the cities, suggesting they take refuge in some camps they've sat up."

Beth shook her head, her eyes already darting to Jackson as did so. She explained how they did that in hopes to stop the spread. To contain it and found it only got worse. To the point that they bombed the places instead of actually helping the people. Theo noticed the look as he looked from his brother to her. "I take it, you've already been informed of that."

"The people stuck outside the cities, in those traffic jams, they're the lucky ones. They're the ones that are going to get away.," Beth explained.

"Get away from what?" he asked, turning fully toward her. Beth looked to Jackson in question and he merely waved his hand, already sitting back to prepare himself to hear the story yet again. Beth decided to keep it brief. Still needing to know if it was time for her to move on.

"They're not going to be able to contain this. It's going to get worse, and it's going to spread like wildfire. The military is going to freak and eventually bomb whole cities. Those on the freeways, miles outside the cities. Well..." She let her words trail off as the image formed itself. Theo raised an eyebrow at her, and then to his brother.

The man shrugged, "she's not on drugs. I've already checked, and so far anything and everything she's told me has happened. The girl's from the future or somethin." Theo nodded, regarding her with more interest now as Jackson continued, "part of the reason I stuck with her. Like I've always said, better to know than be left in the dark."

"Yeah, well, you're in the dark now. I don't know what happens from here really. Utilities cut out, and then phone lines and eventually we're all left to our own devices. Which is why I want to get home. To my family," Beth started, stepping toward the two men.

Jackson nodded his head, sitting up as he rested his palms on his desk. "Yes, I know, but I can't just go out there risking Lucinda's life and my own. If what you say is true, then it's not like I can leave her here for a few days and come back."

"I know," Beth agreed, holding her hands up to show she didn't mean to argue. "I'm just saying, rather you stay or go. I am going. I can't wait any longer." Her tone was firm, her eyes harder as she looked from one brother to another. "I thank you, for everything you've done, but I've got to find my family."

Jackson nodded, his eyes moving past her to rest on Lucinda, who was now standing just behind Beth, a soft smile of her own forming as she looked on at her husband. The love the two of them shared for each other was clear as day. Something that Beth smiled at, even as she missed seeing that same look in Daryl's eyes. She looked down, her smile lessening a bit as she thought about Daryl, about where he could be and again she pulled the phone from her pocket. Glaring at it as she willed it to ring. It didn't work, of course, nothing seemed to be working in her favor these days and she looked to Jackson and Theo as the two continued their conversation.

"No matter, what does or doesn't happen. Traveling right now is a definite death sentence to any and all. On top of the military ordering those about, and gunning down those who don't obey. You've got the looters and the murderers and just plain crazy ones causing all kinds of havoc." He looked to Beth at this point, his a sadness in his eyes that mirrored her own when she glanced at him. "I hate to say it, sweetie, but you might be better off here. Until things calm down anyways, and then if my brother decides to stay. I'll take you. Where you want to go."

Beth smiled at him, her eyes once again going to her phone as she nodded and whispered, "thank you." She looked up to meet Jackson's eyes. "Both of you."


Night fell on them, the rain finally letting up as Beth lay on the couch. She could see the moon rising high above the sky, telling her it was late. Possibly later than she thought, but she didn't bother to look. Knowing that it wouldn't matter. With the setting sun, she found herself feeling frustrated that another day had passed and she was yet any closer to Daryl. The twin brothers talking sense as they suggested they get a comfortable here.

That they let things play out before doing any traveling. She just wondered how much longer she'd have to wait. Nearly a week passed since New York. Nearly a week of doing nothing. A few random calls from Daryl, but nothing concrete as he and Merle talked. He mentioned being stuck in the city, and how they were trying to find a way out. Beth hoped that he'd gotten out like she did, and now the only reason that he wasn't able to call was because of a dead phone.

Just as her eyes started slipping closed, the sound of something vibrating woke her up. The noise coming from her phone and she flipped over, nearly knocking herself onto the floor as she reached out. The name on the display read "scud' and she let out a sigh of relief as she flipped the phone open and said a quick "It's so good to hear your voice."

Daryl chuckled, the sound causing Beth to close her eyes as she leaned back on the sofa. Soaking in the thought of him just on the other end. "Hey to you too."

"Where are you? What happened?" she asked, not being able to hold in her excitement anymore. Thinking maybe she wouldn't have to travel all the way to Atlanta, they could meet somewhere half way. Somewhere that would be far easier to get to by herself then the miles it would take to get to Georgia.

"Just outside of Atlanta, finally got out of that mess," he explained, sounding tired. She wondered if he'd had a decent night's sleep in the past few days and asked him as such.

"Not really. They had us sleeping on a cot there for a bit, camped outside somewhere when Merle finally managed to talk one of the guards into helping us get out. Explained we had wives and what not elsewhere. The man understood that at least."

Beth nodded, reminding herself to breath. That he made it out. "That's good," she muttered.

"What about you?"

Beth looked around her, feeling somewhat bad that she been sleeping a rather large couch in a nice cabin while he was stuck elsewhere, but she swallowed and said, "A guy in New York helped me, a woman and her son get out of the city and we've been hiding out in his cabin until things calm down.

"Good," Daryl muttered, his voice low as he repeated. "Real good."

"He's nice. I promise," she said, hoping to reassure him. "Him and his wife have offered to help me get down there when things settled down."

"Wife?" he asked, his voice rising a bit.

"Yes, Daryl. He and his wife."

"Good." he repeated, this time there was that hint of a teasing note in his voice and Beth couldn't stop herself from giggling. Doing her best to keep it down, knowing Jessica and Nicholas weren't that far from her. "God, I miss you," he muttered. The words barely discernable, but Beth heard them all the same as she said, "I miss you too."

"Shouldn't have let you go on that stupid girl's trip."

Beth shrugged, a lump forming in her throat as she thought about it. "Nothin ya could have done. Couldn't have known."

"But you did."

Beth could hear the hard tone he was taking and she wished for the lighter tone from moments of a go. Swallowing what she could, she did her best to ignore the way her throat was tightening up as she said, "don't do that. Don't blame yourself for this. You were right. It could have been anything. Just another stupid thing that I was paranoid about. I was always paranoid."

"Had a right to be," he said, again, his voice growing harder. She could just imagine the look on his face. The guilt he was laying on himself day in and day out for them being separated.

"You stop that Daryl Dixon," she said, doing her best to sound hard when all she wanted to do was curl up next to him. "You don't get to blame yourself for this. I let you talk me into going. I let Miranda talk me into going. You know just as well as I do that if I didn't want to go, I wouldn't have."

There was silence on the other end, and she hoped he was mulling over her words. Letting them sink in as she continued. "We'll get back to each other. We always do, don't we?"

"Yeah," he replied, barely a whisper as someone started shouting at the other end. Beth thought it sounded like Merle and she closed her eyes. Glad to know that Daryl was still with him. "What's going on there?"

"I don't know, Merle fightin with someone I guess."

"In the traffic jam?"

"Yeah, traffic hasn't moved in hours. Most of us have gotten out and started mingling. You know," he said, waving it off as nothing as again, Merle could be heard shouting.

"What's he going on about?"

There was silence, Beth could see him shrugging his shoulder as he chewed on his thumb in thought. "Someone's said somethin, not sure. He's been talkin to a man named Ed for the past thirty minutes."

"Ed?" Beth asked, her body stiffening as she recognized the name.

"Yeah, I don't care for him. Merle don't seem to either, but you know him, still chattin away." Beth nodded, racking her mind for the name until she came up with a moment, ages ago when she and Carol watched over little Judith and Beth asked why Daryl went off with his brother.

"Does he have a wife with short gray hair and a daughter with him?" she asked, not thinking about the question until it was already out.

"Yeah," Daryl replied, the word drawn out as Beth's breath hitched in her throat. "How'd you know that."

Beth shook her head, closing her eyes to keep the tears from falling down her face. She should have known. Should have realized that no matter what she did, she couldn't change the past, or future. That things were going to happen the way they were supposed to happen, no matter what.

"You remember when we lost our first," she started, taking it real slow as she tried to control her voice. Wanting it to stay even and calm so that he didn't know how she was being ripped apart inside.

Again, that slow, "yeah," formed on the other line. This time it was hard, almost daring her to continue.

"You remember how I told you about that little girl. The one you save."

A heavy silence on the other end before he said, "Beth, no."

She nodded, knowing full well that he couldn't see her. "I'm sorry, Daryl. You have to stay with them."

"Beth," he warned. "I'm going to find you first."

"Daryl, you can't. We are too far apart, and..." she trailed off. Not knowing what else she could say to explain it to him. "We will find each other. We always do, but you're goin to have to have patience. You're goin to have to trust me and stay with them."

"I won't," he said, his voice shaking now. Beth's own chest was getting heavier. The thought of not seeing him ever again, crushing her. "I can't lose you."

"And you won't. I promise. I'll be out there. Lookin for you, but right now, this has to play out. This has to happen, because..." Again, she trailed off the words failing as her vision blurred. "Because I need you."

"That don't make no damn sense," he barked, his voice breaking up with the sound of something beeping. One of the phone's dying out. Meaning their conversation was going to be cut short, again.

"I know, but you have to stay with them because they'll lead you to me. A younger me, and she needs you Daryl. She won't survive. I won't survive without you there."

"God dammit, Beth"

She closed her eyes, wiping at the tears as she said, "please. Daryl, do this for me. Just stay with them, for me."

More cursing before a reluctant, "I can't do this."

"Yes, you can. I know you can, because I have faith in you."

"Too much fuckin faith," he muttered, bringing a smile to her lips as the phone beeped again. She looked to find it was her's.

"I love you, and I'll see you again. I promise."

"Love you too, Z. I won't stop lookin."

"I know," she muttered just as the phone died. She gave it one more hard look, the image blurring as the tears finally fell from her eyes. "I know." she repeated to herself, letting the phone fall to the floor as she turned into the couch, doing her best to make her sobs quiet as she cried herself to sleep.


Sorry for the long wait on an update, but here it is. So she's found out that Daryl is sitting with Carol and them. You can take a wild guess what happens from there. From here Beth will be following her own story line and hopefully you enjoy it.

And again Thanks for all the comment and follows on this story. It's much appreciated.