It was safe to say that for once Daryl Dixon was out of his comfort zone, he was currently in Beth's cell alone at night. Beth had dragged him there and then left him saying she needed to get a bucket from the storage room so he was sat on her bed and personally felt like he would prefer to take on a pack of walkers at this moment in time.

He was holding his hand trying to stop blood from going on Beth's bed or floor, he heard footsteps down the all and suddenly tensed. What if it wasn't Beth headed his way, normally he doesn't care what people thought of him but if someone looked inside Beth's cell and saw Daryl sat on her bed it wouldn't give off a good image.

The footsteps got closer and Beth walked in to the cell smiling "got it" she said holding a bucket that had two bottles of water in it. She set the bucket down under Daryl's hands and took his hands again and started to wipe it with a cloth that was already in her room.

He hissed at the contact "sorry" she said softly. She then opened a bottle of water and looked at Daryl "this is going to sting" she warned, her eyes were so innocent and sorry at the same time "just do it" he said through gritted teeth.

She poured the water over his hand and he physically tensed up, he didn't make a noise but his face was one of pure pain. Beth stopped the water and was glad his hand was now clean enough to remove the glass. She leaned over and pulled out a pair of tweezers from a small box that was by her bed.

She once again looked up a Daryl, to her surprise she could actually see pain on his face. She smiled sadly and moved the tweezers towards his hand when he spoke "give me them a minute" Beth was confused but did as she was told. Daryl held them with his bad hand and with his good hand he pulled out his lighter "got to sterilize it" he said with a smirk as he held the tweezers over the flame.

When he was done he handed them back to her and took a deep breath "you ready?" she asked not at all sure if she herself was, he merely nodded but was obvious he was grinding his teeth.

She put the tweezers into his hand and the pain Daryl felt was incredible, he had felt much worse pain in his life before but that didn't help him much when you have tweezers in your hand looking for glass. He was trying his hardest not to shout the prison down, it was a miracle he hadn't made a sound at all but he could tell he was sweating from the pain.

Beth lifted the tweezers from his hand and out came a surprisingly big piece of glass. She dropped it in the bucket, the bucket itself was filling with the water from earlier and was now collecting a lot of his blood that was dripping from his hand again.

She saw Daryl's face and she felt pain go through her chest, he looked awful. He was sweating and a little pale but she knew this had to be done and she also knew he wouldn't go to Hershel for help. It was actually a surprise that he was letting her help him.

"Only two more to go" she said as she prepared to take out the next one.

/

Carl was on his bed staring at the ceiling when his father came into the room "Hey you al right?" Rick asked as he sat down on the bed.

"I should be the one asking you that" Carl said with a slight smile "hows Michonne?" Carl asked remembering how she had come back.

Rick sighed "she done some real damage to her leg but Hershel thinks that with time she will make a full recovery" he knew that Carl looked up to Michonne ever since she got him that picture from their home town.

"So is she going to be stuck in bed all that time?" Carl asked curiously.

Rick shook his head "she will be using the crutches that Hershel used before we found that prosthetic leg so she will still be around" he said smiling at his son who returned his smile.

Rick patted his son on the shoulder and then got up to left until his son spoke up again "dad?" he said turning to look at his father.

"Yeah?" Rick asked looking at his son.

"How long before I can go on a run?" he asked in all seriousness.

Rick sighed, this wasn't the only time that Carl had brought this up but in all honesty Rick had normally just brushed it off saying he was busy but now he actually had a proper answer for his son. He walked back over to him "listen Carl, I cant let you go on a run yet but I got an announcement to make tomorrow that does effect that so wait till tomorrow ok?" he said hoping he would leave it be for tonight.

To his surprise Carl smiled and nodded "ok dad, goodnight" he said and rolled over to get some sleep. Rick smiled at his son and walked out of his cell.

/

Beth had just got the last bit of glass out of Daryl's hand and for that she was thankful because he looked as though he was about to pass out. She put the tweezers on the ground near the box they came from and looked at him "you ok?" she knew it was a stupid question but she needed to say something.

Daryl did look in a state but he managed to smile "just dandy" his voice was rough from holding in his shouts and curses but he was glad the hardest bit was over.

Beth smiled at his smile. It amazed her how strong willed he was "just let me pour some more water on it to clean it then I will put a bandage on" she said picking up the same water from earlier and started pouring it on his hand.

Daryl prepared for the worst but found that it didn't hurt as much as last time so this time he didn't even flinch "how do you know how to do all this anyway?" he asked.

Beth for one was shocked, was Daryl Dixon starting a conversation? She wasn't upset by it, far from it really but she wasn't going to miss a chance to talk to the man "some time after you left I started watch my dad treat people that came back with injuries, that's why I have this box of medical stuff in my room" she said as she got the bandages out and started to wrap it round his hand.

Daryl nodded, it only made scene that she would do that considering everyone wasn't too keen to send her out on a run. He then smirked "so im your test subject?" he asked.

Beth laughed a little "i guess you can say that" she looked at him and saw he was slowly returning to normal colour and she was glad then a thought crossed her mind, she was talking to Daryl in private. She wasn't thinking anything alone the lines of what girls her age normally thought but she did want to get to know the man better and she wasn't going to waste this chance so she slowed her pace of wrapping his hand.

'Guess its now or never' she thought. "You said you left because you were mourning your brother, I know what its like to lose a brother so if you feel that you need to talk then im here for you" she said with possibly her softest voice ever. The truth is after hearing her say that out loud it sounded really awkward and not something to just blurt out. She felt embarrassed but didn't look away from the man in front of her.

Daryl's face didn't change much and he didn't say anything for awhile so Beth was convinced she had blown it, her only chance to talk to him one to one. She looked down at his hand that she was wrapping wishing she didn't say anything at all.

Daryl just sat there with one thought going through his head, why was she so caring? In this world is was almost every person for themselves but this girl always seemed to care about others. The amount of time she looked after Judith was evident enough for that.

He then saw her look down and disappointed and realised he hadn't said anything but the truth was what could he say "im not really one of those people that talk about how their feeling" he started, she looked up at him with curious eyes "but if I ever feel the need to I will come to you first" he smiled towards her and even though he didn't share much she was so happy that he would come to her if he needed.

Daryl couldn't help but notice how happy her eyes seemed when he spoke and that also made him feel happy "and if you ever have any trouble, you can come to me" he offered. He had said it before he even realised it but the strange thing was that he really meant it.

Beth had a look of surprise for a split second but then it softened "thank you Daryl" she said as she finished wrapping his hand and let it go.

"No problem" he said and for a second they merely looked into each others eyes. Daryl felt the urge to lean in but quickly stopped himself 'what the hell you doing. Get control of yourself' he mentally screamed at himself and was thankful when Beth let out a yawn.

"Tired?" he asked as he stood up and made his way over to the cell door.

"Just a little bit yeah" she said also standing up and walked over to him "ain't you?" she asked curiously.

"A little but I haven't slept much since..." he trailed off and she knew what he was talking about but put on a brave face for him.

"Remember my offer" she said and she couldn't help herself but she pulled him into another hug.

Daryl was surprised like he was last time however this time he wrapped his arms around her and brought her closer. He would never admit it but Daryl needed someone sometimes and he wouldn't want anyone else at the moment except the girl in his arms right now. He also hated to admit it but she had done a number on him in such a short amount of time. He had practically fallen for her and for that he knew he was going to hell because this hug felt incredible and part of him never wanted to let go.

Beth was in a world of her own at the moment, the man that was distant, socially awkward and her crush was hugging her, she never even imagined she would get this much off this man. She was convinced he saw her as nothing more than a kid but the fact that he talked to her, was honest with her and now hugging her surely he saw her as a grown women.

She was disappointed when Daryl broke the hug and muttered a thanks before walking off. Beth couldn't move, it was only a hug but to her it felt amazing. She wasn't much experienced with the opposite sex. The most she ever done with Jimmy was a quick kiss on the lips so a quick kiss and hug was all she knew. She made her way to her bed and fell asleep thinking about nothing except Daryl.

/

Daryl made his way outside, he was in drastic need of a smoke and to clear his mind, what the hell did he almost do it there.

He made it outside and got the smoke in his lungs he desperately needed. It was a very quiet night which helped him with his thoughts however it was short lived as someone called his name. He looked to his left to see the older Greene sister walking towards him.

"How are you doing since you got back?" she asked not really sure how to start a conversation with the red neck.

"S'alight" he muttered as he took another inhale of smoke, he felt somewhat weird talking to Maggie as he was having certain feelings for her younger sister.

"I just wanted to thank you" she suddenly said, Daryl looked at her as if she had lost it. Maggie noticed his face and laughed "for saving my sister and then bringing her back safety" she said sincerely.

"No problem" he said waving his hand like it was nothing and also threw away his cigarette.

"You don't understand" Maggie said taking a stop closer to him "family is all we have and me and Beth have lost a lot of our family, we nearly lost our father and during the time he was on the bed dying all I could think about was making sure Beth never got hurt so I had to make sure I thanked you for that" she finished then hugged him which shocked Daryl but it wasn't a hug that lasted like his last one.

"Don't worry, she is a strong girl but if I have to I will protect her again" Daryl said and as she pulled away he could see Maggie had tears rolling down her face "i promise" he said.

Maggie smiled at him and softly said "thank you" and she left him standing there alone.

Daryl smiled as she left because without realising it Maggie had helped him make up his mind what to do about his feelings.

R&R please :)

I in NO way, shape or form own the walking dead.