Daryl, Michonne, Rick and Beth made it to a place Daryl considered to be safe. It wasn't far away from where the stores were. It was a small two bedroom, one floor house with Daryl's bike parked out front.
Daryl kicked open the door letting them into the house, on route to the house Beth took Daryl's place supporting Michonne so that Daryl could handle the walkers that drifted too close to them.
When they entered Rick and Beth lay Michonne down on the couch in the main room, Michonne had passed out from the pain on the way to the house.
Her leg was a complete mess, it was bent in a horrible way and was bleeding heavily. "what do we have in this house medical wise?" Rick asked Daryl wasting no time in trying to help Michonne.
"Not much, a few pain killers and some bandages" he answered.
Rick cursed, that wasn't enough to last them as it looked like they were going to have to spend the night in this night. He looked outside the window and could see the darkness of night starting to creep in. Rick was worried, he didn't know what to do in a situation like this. First aid wasn't his thing, sure he had taken a first aid course to get on the force but he never trained for an injury like this.
Beth looked at the two men as she knelt beside Michonne and neither of them looked like they knew what to do. She didn't know what came over her but she started giving orders "we need to get her leg as straight as possible, get me some towels for the bleeding and get the painkillers ready" she said and was surprised when the two men started doing what they were told.
Daryl came back in the room with the painkillers and set them by a bottle of water that was on a small table by the sofa, he noticed that there was towels wrapped around her leg now but didn't see the man that had got them "where's Rick?" he asked Beth who was wrapping the last towel round Michonne's leg.
"He went to do a sweep around the house, make sure no walkers have got to close" she replied not looking at the hunter. Daryl sensed the girl was a little off but he decided not to say anything. It wasn't the time.
"She going to be ok?" he asked chewing at the skin on his thumb.
"I'm not sure, I'm just trying to make sure she survives so we can get her back to my father tomorrow" she answered in a way that gave him a sense that she didn't want to talk. She was glad to see that after all this time Daryl was safe and sound but he had just left the prison without a word to anyone and for that she was still angry at him and right now the anger was winning.
Rick walked back in to the house "It looks to be clear for now but because its dark someone is going to have to take watch" he said as he walked up to them. Without a second thought Daryl nodded and walked outside without another word.
The action took Rick by surprise, he thought Daryl would volunteer but he didn't think he would just walk out without saying a word. He turned to Beth who didn't seem fazed by his actions "what was that about?" he asked. Beth looked at him and just shrugged as she adjusted herself so she sat more comfortably by Michonne and was waiting for her to wake up.
/
Tyreese made it back to the prison and was sat in the common room with Sasha by his side "there's nothing you could have done" she said softly trying to calm her brother down who looked awful.
"bu...but I shouldn't have left them, one of them is a young girl" he said putting his head in his hands.
The doors burst open and a raging Maggie made her way over to the pair "what happened?" she shouted, tears flowing from her eyes.
"I don't know" Tyreese answered honestly "me and Rick exited our store and the place where Beth and Michonne were was crowded with walkers" Maggie's face physically dropped.
"And you just up and left? What kind of man are you?" she screamed at him as her tears continued.
"Maggie" Sasha said getting up and standing between the two "Rick told him to come back with the food and then he left to help Beth and besides Michonne is with her so I'm sure that Beth is safe" Sasha commented trying to calm Maggie down.
"She better be" was all Maggie said then left the room.
/
Daryl sat on the porch attached to the front house, smoking one of his cigarettes letting his mind roam while he kept his eyes on the perimeter. He had his crossbow on his lap ready in case it was needed, he hadn't meant to be rude to Rick earlier but Beth's attitude towards him bothered him and he didn't know why.
He had expected people to be mad at him for leaving but he hadn't expected Beth to be one of the ones to show it. He looked through the window and saw Beth still sat by Michonne talking to Rick, he guessed it was a light conversation cause both were smiling. He found himself staring with a small smirk as he stared at the blonde girl, he quickly realised what he was doing as snapped his attention back to the outside of the house.
The front door opened causing him to glance and see Rick "mind if I join ya?" he asked.
Daryl just shrugged and muttered "free country" as Rick sat by him "you've been out here for awhile, want me to take over?" he asked the red neck hunter.
"Nah I'm all right" Daryl replied not really feeling like talking much but he knew after weeks of not seeing him that Rick had other ideas.
"Is this where you been staying" he asked curiously.
Daryl shook his head no "I was staying in a small cabin a few miles that way" Daryl answered as he pointed down a road.
"I see, what were you doing at that shopping centre then?" Rick asked
"I was on my way back to the prison when I noticed the walkers all riled up and decided to take a look" Daryl answered honestly.
Rick smiled at the fact that his friend was on his way back to the prison "well I'm glad you did, if you hadn't I don't think me, Michonne or Beth would of made it" Rick commented patting Daryl on his shoulder as he stood up.
Daryl grunted not looking up at the man that had just practically thanked him. Daryl still wasn't used to being thanked.
Rick smiled and walked back inside to see that Beth was standing next to the door with her back to the wall. She had been listening to their conversation. She looked surprised to see Rick walk in cause she didn't hear Rick making his way back in, Rick smiled at her expression "you know he is still the same person as when he left, he just needed to deal with some stuff" he told her.
Beth nodded and walked back over to where the unconscious Michonne was and sat down next to her again "I know but he's meant to be part of our group and this is the second time he has left, so he is probably going to do it again" she commented as Rick took a seat near them.
"I know how you feel but he came back the first time and this time he was on his way back as you heard, he had real reasons for leaving you know" Rick told her.
Beth looked up at him confused "you know why he left?" she asked.
Rick nodded "the morning he left I spoke to him and he told me"
"Well why did he leave?" Beth asked. She knew that he wouldn't leave if it wasn't for a good reason but after seeing him and he was acting as if nothing happened she was frustrated with him and she felt if she knew the reason then she would understand.
"I'm sorry Beth but if you want to know that, you will have to ask the man yourself" he told her with a smile.
Beth nodded and looked out the window as the room fell silent.
/
The night had gotten cold as Daryl finished doing another sweep around the house before he ended up back at the porch. Rick and Beth had gone to sleep awhile ago. Rick had tried to demand that half way through the night they swap the night watch but Daryl strongly declined it.
He turned the corner and saw a figure on the porch wrapped in a blanket. Daryl smiled a little bit knowing the darkness would hide it. He walked up onto the porch and took a seat on the other end of the bench "isn't it past your bed time?" he teased.
Beth smirked a little, before he left they had these small conversations often which made it harder when he left "very funny" she said sarcastically as she held out another blanket "I thought you might be cold" she said quietly.
Daryl wasn't cold in the slightest but she was being nicer than earlier so he took it muttering a thanks and wrapped it around himself.
They sat in silence for awhile until Daryl decided to break it "you can go back inside if you want, I got things covered out here" he said.
"I know you do but I want to ask you something if that's ok?" she asked biting her lip slightly. She was confident earlier talking to him but now that she had cooled down and had that talk with Rick she felt ashamed she hadn't thought to hear him out before.
Daryl knew that he would have someone want to ask him questions. He was dreading answering them however as he sat here with Beth he didn't feel as awkward as he thought he would.
"Sure" he muttered glancing at the blonde before looking elsewhere.
"Why did you leave us?" her voice was so soft and filled with emotion. .
"The Governor killed my brother" he stated.
Beth wasn't shocked by this, it was the most logical outcome from the information they had so she waited for him to carry on.
"He turned into a walker and I was the one who put him down" Daryl's voice was heavy with emotion "The hardest thing I had ever had to do" he added.
This time Beth was shocked. She couldn't imagine the pain he must have gone through. "I'm so sorry" she said hoping it would help but she knew it wouldn't.
"Don't be" Daryl said turning to look at her and Beth, who could see fire burning in his eyes "the only one that's going to be sorry is the Governor when I get my hands on him" he was close shaking with rage.
Beth was captured by the passion in his eyes, it was so unlike Daryl to show this much emotion. Even if it was hate and anger it still was still rare, she unconsciously moved a little closer when she asked another question "Did you leave us so you could try to track down the Governor?"
Daryl saw the sympathy and sweetness in her eyes and that calmed down slightly "Nah, I left because I was grieving, wouldn't of been able to be around anyone during that time" he answered honestly.
Beth nodded as he took another look around the house "I only have one more questions" she looked at him as if to ask if it was ok to continue.
Daryl looked back at her and gave her a nod.
"Were you planning on coming back?" she already knew the answer because of what she heard earlier but she felt she needed to confirm it.
"I would be their now if I hadn't had to save your ass" he smirked at the girl who smiled back at him.
Daryl then got up and stretched "go get some sleep you will need some rest to be ready for tomorrow" he said as he still held the blanket around himself.
Beth stood up and suddenly she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. Daryl was caught off guard and he wasn't sure what to do so he placed one of his hands on her elbow. Beth mentally smiled as he did this, it was his way of returning her hug she guessed.
"Thank you for showing up when you did" she said as she released him and walked back inside the house.
Daryl watched her go in the house, he was a little surprised that she hugged him and normally he wasn't one for hugs but he had enjoyed the brief contact with Beth and wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.
I in NO way, shape or form own the walking dead.
