His Light in the Dark
AN: Thank you so much for the interest in my story! I'm glad to see everyone likes it so much! Review and let me know what you think!
Chapter 3
After leaving Carol to deal with Daryl, Beth ran to find Rick. He was on the south wall, just like Carol said he was. He saw her coming and hurried toward her.
"Beth? Is everything alright? Daryl?" he asked her, seeing the almost frantic look on her face.
"He woke up. He's awake, but.." Beth faltered. Rick waited, knowing that whatever she was trying to say was difficult for her. "He doesn't remember us. Any of us. He just remembers when all this started. The outbreak. Being with Merle."
Rick gasped. "Are ya sure?"
Beth nodded. "I ask'd him. He said last thin' he remembered was travelin' with his brother after the outbreak first happened."
"Oh, Beth. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry this is happenin'."
"That's not all. I tried to tell him about us, but he didn't even let me finish 'fore he was yellin' at me. When I pressed him, he just got even madder. I haven' seen him that angry in a long time. It scared me. He called me a goddamn baby and demanded a real doctor. I ran out o' there so fast."
Rick pulled her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him, needing that feeling. She wished it was Daryl that was holding her though. "Did you send Denise in?"
She shook her head against his chest. "Carol found me cryin' on the front steps and she sent me to find ya while she dealt with Daryl."
Rick sighed. "Probably for the best. Ya didn't know Daryl in the very beginnin'. He was levelheaded most o' the time, but when he lost his temper, he was a loose cannon just waitin' to explode. If he can't remember anything, it's safe to say he'll revert to how he was when all this started."
Beth stepped back. "What do I do, Rick? He don't even wan' me around right now."
Rick ran his hand over her hair. "I know it's hard, but ya gotta give him some time. He's all confused right now. He doesn' remember the last few years. Ta him, the outbreak just started. He don' have any recollection of anything that's happened after. Hopefully, this is temporary."
"That's what Carol said too. She said to give him a few days and maybe he'd start rememberin'."
"Well, there ya go. Good, sound advice. So, since Carol is takin' care of Daryl for the moment, why don' ya go on home and get changed and freshen up. Ya can't be stressing yerself out anymore, 'specially now that you'r expecting. You need to think about that little one now too."
"I know. You're right. I just…I feel like this is a nightmare and I want so badly to wake up, but I can't."
"I know it does. I also know how fiercely you love that man in there. And I know that he loves you just the same. Ya gotta believe that he's gonna get better."
"Thanks Rick. I appreciate ya sayin' that. Your' right. I need to be strong. For Daryl and for our baby."
Rick smiled. "That 'a girl. You go on home. His surly ass will still be there later." Beth laughed.
Beth started to walk away, but then stopped and turned back around. Rick cocked an eyebrow. "I asked this of Carol and I'm gonna ask you the same. When ya go in to visit Daryl, don't mention anything about our relationship. I think that it would be too overwhelmin' for him right now."
"Beth, are ya sure? You don't want him to know that…" Rick started, but Beth cut him off. "No. I don't wanna throw that on him on top of everythin' else. At least till I know if this is permanent or not. Please Rick. Just don't say anything to him. And tell the others the same thing. I don't want any of them to tell him either."
Rick sighed. "Alright Beth. If that's what ya want. I won't tell him nothin'."
"Thank you," Beth whispered.
As she headed toward their apartment, she saw Carol coming toward her. Carol smiled at her and waved. Beth waved back and stopped, waiting for Carol to meet her.
"Hi sweetie," Carol greeted.
"How's he doin' now?" Beth asked.
"Well, he said his head hurts and he still doesn't remember anythin' recent."
Beth sighed. "Is he restin'?"
"For the moment. I told him you'd be back around to check on him soon."
Beth's eyes widened. "Oh! I don't…I don't think that's a good idea. I don't think he liked me in there very much. It'd probably be best…you or Denise take care o' him for now. I made him pretty angry, and I don't want to do that again."
Carol grabbed her shoulders and looked right into her eyes. "I want you to know somethin'. When I was in there with him, he kept lookin' toward that door. He was expectin' you to walk back through it. Now he may not be your Daryl right now, but he's in there somewhere. And I think that you, of all people, will be the one to bring him back out."
Beth nodded. "All right. I'll take him some soup here soon. Rick suggested I get cleaned up before I go back anyways. Probably look a fright. Can only imagine what I looked like ta him."
"Ya look like a woman in love, who's scared she's lost the man she loves. He might not understand that right now, but he's feelin' it. The fact he kept lookin' at that door proves it," Carol told her gently.
"Thank ya, Carol. I hope you'r right. I really do," Beth said. The women parted ways and Beth continued to their apartment to clean up and change.
Daryl perked up and looked at the door when a small knock sounded. It opened slightly and he caught a glimpse of blonde hair. He unconsciously smiled, thinking how brave she was too come back after how he treated her. She stepped through, a bowl with steam coming from it in her hands. Daryl's stomach growled at the smell.
She came toward him hesitantly, her eyes looking down toward the floor. She pulled a cart toward the bed where he lay and placed the bowl in front of him. She placed a spoon beside it, and reached into her pocket, pulling out a bottle of water. She set that down on the cart as well. During all this, she wouldn't meet his eyes. Daryl sighed.
"Ya gonna look at me at some point or ya gonna stare at that floor the whole damn time?" he said, slightly harsher than he intended. She backed up a few steps, but slowly raised her eyes till they met his. Daryl was struck by how blue they were. She gestured toward the bowl.
"Brought ya chicken noodle soup," she said softly, curled inward slightly as she was waiting for him to throw it back at her or something.
He grabbed the spoon and grunted "Thanks" before diving in. He devoured it in minutes, his stomach slightly fuller after being empty for too long. The spoon clinked against the bowl when he finished, and he knocked the water back just as quickly. As he set the empty bottle on the cart, he saw her reach toward the bowl to remove it. His hand reached out, grabbing hers. She gasped, freezing in place.
"Thanks. It's ma favorite." He wasn't even sure why he told her that.
Beth nodded. "I know. Why I brought it," she told him softly.
They held each other's gaze for a moment before he realized he still held her hand. He let go and she pulled her hand back quickly. "M'sorry 'bout before. Shouldn' a yelled at ya like that. Felt bad after. Not yer fault Ima bad patient," he told her. He watched a blush form on her cheeks and thought how pretty it made her look. He felt a desire to reach out and touch those pink cheeks.
The fuck man! She looks young enough ta be yer goddamn daughter. Bet she got a man that would beat ya ass fer thinkin' about her like that.
"It's ok. Just words. I know ya didn' mean 'em. You're scared and hurt and ya don't know anyone and ya don't know what's goin' on. It's alright ta feel that way."
"Beth?" Her eyes clashed with his. "That's yer name, right?" he asked. She inhaled sharply.
"Yeah, that's my name. Beth. Beth…Greene. Beth Greene."
"Well Beth Greene, do ya think ya could rustle up some more soup? Stomach feelin' a bit empty right now," he asked her.
He saw her nod again and she grabbed the bowl, heading toward the door. Just as she opened it, she heard…
"I'm Daryl Dixon. But, I guess ya already know that. Just figured on makin' a proper introduction."
He saw her head bob again before she walked out the door.
He stared at the closed door. "Beth Greene," he mumbled to himself. He wasn't forgetting that name any time soon. He put his head back on the pillow, waiting for her to come back with more food. "Beth Greene.." he whispered, his eyes closing.