A/N: so this isn't the whole chapter but I needed/wanted to get something out. I wanted to show Beth thinking about Riley, thinking about Daryl, thinking about her family and thinking about getting out no matter the cost….let me know what you think. There will be another chapter to come that will be longer and more detailed. I just had to get something out! Hope you like it and it gets you thinking….

Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Necklace

Beth awoke to the sound of a ticking clock, as her eyes adjusted to the light that shone in from the large widows, she took in her surroundings, the beeping of machines, the working clock, the IV connected to her arm, sitting up her bare feet hit the cold tile floor, slowly she stood walking towards the open landscape of the city below. She was back in Atlanta, back where it all started. Raising a hand she went to feel for the necklace that swung at her chest, her fingers came up empty and panic filled her heart, turning she walked towards the door placing a hand on the wood, she stopped breathing, listening, waiting, after a moment she heard shuffling of feet outside

"hey…hello…." she called banging on the door. Instantly she felt stupid, Riley would be so disappointed; she had no idea who or what was out there and here she was brining unneeded attention to herself. As she heard people approach she stepped back gently removing the IV needle from her arm holding it out in front of her, her eyes widened and her heart sped up as the door was pushed open. Her eyes floated over the two people who entered, one wore a police uniform the other a white doctors coat

"hey…everything is okay"

Beth's eyes floated to the officer who spoke holding her hands out "put it down…" Beth watched as her eyes went to the needle that was clasped tightly within her fingers, Beth looked nervously between the two people before dropping her only weapon onto the floor.

"I'm Dr. Steven Edwards" Beth's eyes went over the to doctor as he spoke "This is Officer Dawn Lerner… how are you feeling…"

Beth's mind was mulling over every possible outcome for how she ended up here, her eyes going to the officer "where am I"

Beth knew better than to answer their questions before hers were, Riley had taught her to never let her guard down even if people seemed to be in charged, seemed to have the power….it was her life, her well-being…

"Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta"

Beth swallowed biting the inside of her cheek, she was back in the city, that meant miles and miles away from where Riley and her family was…Daryl…Daryl had been with her, he wouldn't have left her "how did I get here"

The office looked to the doctor before back at Beth "My officers found you on the side of the road surrounded by rotters, your wrist was fractured and you sustained a superficial head wound."

Beth glanced down at the cast that enclosed her right hand her eyes jumping back up as the officer spoke again "can you remember your name…"

"Beth…" flew from her lips before she could stop it, quickly she added "the man…..the man I was with is he here too…."

Beth watched as the officer looked at the doctor once again before she took a step forward causing Beth to take one back "You were alone, if we hadn't saved you, you'd be one of them right now…so you owe us…."

Beth was left alone with the order to change into the scrubs that were provided. Once clothed she walked over to the mirror that hung on the wall, her eyes drifted down to her neck, the familiar silver chain that had become part of her no longer there, the one thing that kept her connected to Riley, that gave her a piece of her heart gone, without it she felt empty, felt bare, felt broken. Before Dawn left Beth had questioned the whereabouts of the necklace; Dawn had explained to her once her debt was paid it would be returned for now it was safe. Staring at her reflection as she pulled her hair up and off her neck, her mind worked on trying to process everything that she had heard, that had happened and knowing that she would have to fight to survive, fight to get out and fight to get back to the one she loved….

"people are gonna underestimate you, and that's not always a bad thing….just remember your strong, smart and capable…." Beth squeezed Riley's hand "why you talking like this" Beth spoke cutting the Dixon off "cause you need to know, you need to believe it, you need to understand…" Beth released Riley's hand "understand what" "that you have what it takes to be alone…..to be without someone and make it out alive…."

With one last look Beth took a deep breath and walked from her room, determined to do whatever she had to, to get back to the only person that mattered….

A/N: in the next chapter I might give you guys an idea of where my head is at and what I will do involving the matter of Beth... reviews and PMs welcomed and loved!