Chpt 10: Prison Break
Daryl wakes just as the sun is thinking about rising. There's a veil of blond waves tickling his nose, and he can't move his arm. Beth is wrapped around his bicep, squeezing it to her chest. Her forehead is pressed into his shoulder and her leg is flung haphazardly across his. He is more than happy to be stuck right where he is. He sweeps her hair off his face and tries to gently pat it down to her side, but it won't stay. Just like Beth, it has a mind of its own.
"I should have braided it before I fell asleep," she says. Her voice thick and scratchy with morning haze.
"Didn't mean to wake ya'."
She uncurls from his side and stretches out on her back like a cat. When she opens her eyes, she sees that Daryl has flipped to his side and propped his head on his fist. He's watching her come alive. A shy and sleepy smile spreads across her face. "You didn't. I was already awake," she whispers. The way Daryl is looking at her brings back the memory of last night in a rush. Beth's stomach clinches pleasantly, and she turns to her side to face him. Daryl scoots down in the bed so that they are eye to eye. He flops his arm across her waist and, in one deft move, rolls her to her back and pulls her beneath him. Beth makes a quiet, squeally-giggly noise that reminds him of everything they shared last night.
"You a'ight," he asks, worried she might be sore or maybe even regret what happened between them.
"I am," she says, and cradles his cheek in her hand. She runs her thumb lazily back and forth across his jaw.
Flashes of last night, like photographs, pop across his brain. He thinks about how she fit in is arms when he swept her up and carried her to the bed. How she trembled beneath him, naked and vulnerable, but trusting him completely. He is still fascinated by Beth's beautiful assent … in awe of her trust in him as he explored every part of her while she climbed higher and higher… arching into his push and retreat until finally shattering against him in waves. The way she breathed his name when she crash-landed. He had never seen nor heard anything more beautiful. He remembers her shy, satisfied smile when she opened her eyes and caught him staring at her.
She was so damn worried about taking care of him, she barely gave herself time to recover. Daryl tried to explain that this night was all about her. How it gave him the most pleasure he's ever experienced to be the one to pull those desperate moans from her lips. To see her tumble over the edge under his touch. But Beth, being beautiful Beth, was not having it. She pushed him back against the mattress. Fumbled awkwardly with his pajama pants until they landed in a heap on top of hers. Sat back on her knees and studied him for a minute, eyes at first growing wide, before settling into a narrowed focus. Beth ran a quivering hand lightly along his inner thigh. Goosebumps prickled across Daryl's arms and legs. When she closed in on her intended target, it seemed to reach for her, pulsating in anticipation. She hesitated. Her hand hovering over his center. When she peeked at him through her lashes, Daryl took over. He grabbed her hand and gently pulled her to him. Rolled them over and kissed her worry away. But Beth was not willing to leave things undone. Determined to take care of Daryl in the same way he had taken care of her, Beth's fingers inched their way down his chest, turned and made a slow decent across his abdomen.
"Daryl," she whispered, and he knew exactly what she was asking. What she needed him to do.
So, he covered her hand and guided it to his center, offering her silent instruction. He moved her hand up and down his length, increasing the pressure and gaining speed as the heat rose in his gut. He hummed his pleasure, and his hand fell away from Beth's. Beth kept working with a single-minded determination to please him as much as he had pleased her. Daryl rolled to his back and brought Beth with him. She settled against him. Planted soft, open-mouth kisses on his neck and chest sending him closer and closer to the edge. His hips jerked forward. Fell into rhythm with Beth's unwavering cadence. As he reached the precipice, he grabbed at the sheet and covered himself, protecting Beth from his release. Beth felt the eruption beneath her grip. Held her breath as Daryl's fingers squeezed her bottom and pulled her tight against him. She watched him tumble over the edge with a deep grunt and a long, satisfied moan. Beth let go of him and pushed up on her elbow. A slow, sheepish smile spread across Daryl's face. Beth tucked her lip between her teeth and smiled right along with him. He opened his eyes to find Beth watching him, wide-eyed and flushed.
"Come 'ere," he whispered, still a little breathless. He met her halfway and kissed her tenderly. "You okay?"
Beth nodded and smiled at him sweetly. Daryl swung his legs around and cleaned himself up with the sheet. He handed Beth her t-shirt and boxers, pulled on his pajama pants, and scooted back in the bed on his back. He pulled Beth to his chest and ran his fingers through the mess of curls that had finally dried.
"You were perfect, Sweetheart," he said, knowing what it's like to need reassurance now and again.
"Yeah?" she said rather smugly.
"Hell, yeah," Daryl agreed.
Beth hugged him close and felt an overwhelming need to close her eyes. She drifted off to sleep to the even rise and fall of Daryl's chest.
They are both lost in their thoughts of last night when a knock on the door steals their attention.
"Daryl, you up?" Merle hollers and rattles the doorknob. "Daryl?" Thank goodness, Daryl had the presence of mind to lock the door before he literally swept Beth off her feet last night and carried her to bed.
"I'm up," Daryl grouses, yanks on his t-shirt, and opens the door, just enough to lean through it. "What?"
"You gonna' let me in lil' brother," he asks with a suspicious grin.
"No, I ain't. What do ya' want?"
"You got somethin' in there you don't want me to see? Something 'bout yay high," he says and holds his arm up to his chest, "topped with those pretty, blond curls you're sa' fond of?"
Knowing how Daryl hates lying and figuring he's gonna' be apologizing for days if he has to rat her out, Beth decides to do it herself. She crawls off the bed and sidles up behind Daryl. Slides under the arm he has raised against the door and peers up at Merle.
"Busted," she says. "Is there somethin' we can help you with at this hour of the mornin', or are you just bein' an asswipe for fun?"
Merle stares at her for a long second before he throws his head back and barks a laugh toward the ceiling. "Damn, Daralina. You got yer'self a real spitfire here, huh. I like you, Blondie."
"I like you too, Merle. Most of the time anyway, but not when you call him that awful name. Trust me, your brother is no Daralina," she says suggestively.
"That right?" Merle says curiously.
"Absolutely."
Daryl drops his hand to Beth's waist and gives it a grateful squeeze.
Merle laughs again and nods in resignation. "I apologize for the intrusion. But I was hopin' Daryl, here, might help me with somethin' before the rest of the prison decides to rise and shine."
"What's up," Daryl asks.
"Got another walker build up. Back side of the prison. Just like last week. Found somethin' I wanna' show ya'."
Daryl and Beth both frown at that. Beth turns to look at Daryl, but he and Merle seem to be having a silent conversation. "I'm gonna' go get dressed. Help Carol with breakfast," she says. "See ya' later?"
Daryl bends down and plants a quick kiss on Beth's lips. "Later."
Beth scoots past Merle and hops down the stairs. He watches her all the way to the bottom and then turns to follow Daryl into the perch.
"You done good, lil' brother. Blondie there's quite the catch."
Daryl ignores him and pulls on his boots.
"I'm serious," he says, and his tone completely changes. "You deserve to be happy."
Daryl eyes his brother warily but seems to accept him at his word. Nods his "thanks"
"What do ya' wanna' show me?"
They walk to the fence at the back of the prison. The furthest point from cell block C. There is nothing behind it but deep woods. Merle shows him the pile of dead walkers on the other side of the fence. "Killed 12 last night. Saw 'em from the tower. Thought maybe they'd grabbed one of us through the fence the way they were actin'. All riled up. Saw this when I got here." He points to a board with three gutted rats nailed to it, lying against the fence, right in front of the pile of walkers.
"What the hell," Daryl says.
"Looks like somebody's havin' fun playin' with biters."
Daryl starts chewing on the inside of his lip. "This ain't good. Any idea who?"
"Carol thinks it might be one a' the kids. One a' the girls, but she ain't sure, exactly."
"We gotta' figure it out. Fence might not hold next time." He picks up the board and carries it with him. "Get some sleep. I'll burn them walkers after while. Gotta' talk to the council."
Daryl gathers the council after breakfast and tells them about the rats and the walkers. They decide to go ahead with the Big-Spot run, but only two of them will go. Daryl and Sasha will take the pick-up, get there and back as soon as possible. Beth won't like it when she hears the plan, but Daryl agrees it makes sense. He doesn't like the thought of leaving Beth here without him. Considers asking her to come with him.
Daryl heads to the make-shift garage where all their vehicles are parked. He needs to check the engine on the pick-up. Make sure its ready for the run. He's under the hood when the smell of smoke wafts across his nose. He sees the black cloud dissipating from the east and blowing his way. The sun is past its highest point, and Daryl realizes he has missed lunch, just as his stomach growls in protest. He is surprised Beth didn't come and find him. Hopes she ain't too mad at him for not showing up to eat with her, considering he's leaving first thing in the morning. He decides he'll make it up to her tonight. Make sure she knows exactly how he feels before he leaves. He wipes his hands on his rag and curls his nose at the smell of the burning walkers. Michonne and Hershel volunteered to take care of the bodies. Kind of them to wait to start after lunch is done. He looks around the yard for Beth. It's a beautiful day, warm and breezy. Figures she's probably outside somewhere, maybe with Judith, but he doesn't see her yet.
Daryl makes his way to the commons. Finds Carol in the kitchen finishing up the dishes. "I put a few sandwiches back for you and Beth," she says with a coy little grin.
"Beth missed lunch?"
"I didn't see her. She's not with you?"
He shakes his head and picks up a sandwich.
"Maybe she's with Hershel. I didn't see him at lunch either."
Daryl frowns a little at that. His spidey senses are tingling and he has a sudden need to find Beth. Outside, he runs into Sasha and Tyreese. "Y'all seen Beth," he asks.
Sasha says she saw Beth walking with Hershel and Michonne across the yard this morning. Daryl nods and heads east toward the smoke. The dead walkers are smoldering, and the smoke is starting to clear, but there is no sign of Beth or Hershel or Michonne. Daryl talked to Michonne about cutting a hole in the fence by the walkers. They agreed that was safer than going outside the fence and walking all the way around to the back of the prison. He squats down next to the hole. Eyes the bolt cutters lying on the concrete next to the three bungie cords and the roll of duct tape he gave Michonne for the temporary repair. He and Merle had planned on reinforcing the fence before supper. Daryl ducks through the hole and follows the three sets of foot prints that circle the melted pile of walkers. His heart seizes when he sees more foot tracks… four pair, leading from the woods and fanning out ten feet or so from the pile. All seven sets meet and disappear back into the woods. His first instinct is to charge out after them and get his family, his Beth, back. But he knows the odds are better with help. He darts back through the hole and takes off at a dead run toward the front of the prison. When he rounds the corner, he sees his family tucked behind a wall, looking at something he can't yet see, past the tower and the gate. He slides to a stop behind them.
"Where's Beth," Maggie demands.
"I dunno'. I think somethin' happened. Somebody…" He's having a hard time saying out loud what he knows to be true.
"Maggie… Maggie!" Glenn shout-whispers. Maggie jerks her head around to Glenn. He looks stricken. Pulls her forward in front of him so she can see around the wall. The governor has Hershel, Beth, and Michonne on their knees in front of a row of vehicles, including a tank of all things. Maggie gasps and her hand flies to her mouth. Daryl hasn't seen the governor and his entourage yet, but Maggie's reaction tells him exactly who is on the other side of that wall. He sees the barrel of automatic rifles they have stashed behind the barricade. They all knew that prick would be back eventually. Daryl just never imagined Beth would be across the yard in his possession. He pushes off the wall and heads for the barrel. Rick spins and steps in front of him, but Daryl isn't stopping.
"Daryl, wait," he says and puts a hand to his chest. "Listen to me brother. You grab a rifle and start shootin'? Beth ends up dead. You can count on it."
Daryl freezes. Shoves Rick off him, but Rick keeps on. "Let me talk to him. See if I can get him to let 'em go. You get ever'body in position. Be ready up here if this thing goes south."
Daryl gives Rick a hard stare, eyes narrowed. He thinks it over. Backs away. When he turns, he sees the fear in Maggie's eyes. It's a reflection of his own.
Rick and Glenn run to the gate. Glenn pulls it back and Rick bursts through. He holds his hands up on his way to face the governor. Slows a bit when the governor levels the katana at Hershel's neck. Rick tells him it's not too late. They can still work together. Find a way to exist together at the prison. No one has to die. "We're not too far gone," he says. "We can all change." Rick pleads with the governor's better nature. Thinks maybe he is getting through when the governor lowers his weapon.
Daryl can barely hear what Rick is saying for the pounding of his pulse. Everyone has taken cover. They are armed and ready to battle if need be. Daryl stalled in plain sight and caught Beth's eye. She is on her knees, arms behind her back, between Hershel and Michonne. He stands where she can see him, next to the barricade his brother built. Merle is squatting on the other side. Carol is between them, fully hidden and protected for now. Daryl's eyes never leave Beth's.
Suddenly, Beth's face contorts in shock. Her mouth opens, and Daryl is sure she is screaming, but he can't hear her. He can't hear anything. He grabs the fence with both hands and howls her name. It is then that Hershel falls into Daryl's line of sight and lands on the ground in front of Beth. His focus widens, and he sees the governor swing the katana in her direction. He is pounding on the fence, screaming at Beth to move. Michonne slams into her. Sends Beth careening back between two trucks. Daryl loses sight of her. Sees Michonne disappear in the same direction. He's running down the fence line trying desperately to find her when a bullet pings off the end cap of the fence right next to his face. The noise of battle rushes over him and nearly knocks him to his knes. Maggie is screaming. Guns are firing in rapid succession all around him. Carl throws a rifle to the ground and grabs another one by the strap slung over his shoulder. Daryl is sent barreling, head first, back into the harsh, thundering reality unfolding around him. He lifts his automatic from his side and slides the end trough the chain link. He forgets to aim. Simply holds down the trigger and fires. He catches a glimpse of blond ponytail behind the bed of the blue pick-up. Remembers to aim and starts picking the enemy off, one by one. When the tank rolls through the fences, Daryl takes off toward it. The downed fence is his best chance at getting to Beth. It also gives him something to destroy with the one grenade he carries. He pops it into the gun and waits for the clowns to exit the car before the whole thing goes boom. One guy pops out. He's actually crying over his tank until he turns and sees Daryl aiming his crossbow at his heart. "Asshole," Daryl mumbles and lets the bolt fly. He rips the bolt from the guy's chest and leaves him to his fate. He takes out another three of the governor's men on his way across the field.
Daryl spots the blue-pick up and marks a path for its back bumper, the last place he caught a glimpse of Beth. He is careful to clear the few remaining vehicles as he goes, but the governor and his men have all hauled ass toward the prison by now. He rounds the front of an old sedan and spots Hershel's decapitated body lying in front of it. His head has rolled a few feet further and landed on its side. Hershel's glassy eyes bore into him, mouth snapping in frustration. Daryl's shoulders slump. He pulls his knife and squats next to Hershel. It takes three starts and stops before he can finally bury the blade into Hershel's temple. He mumbles an apology and swallows his tears.
Things behind him in the prison are starting to quiet. He is running out of time.
"Beth!" he hollers. Looks this way and that. "Michonne!"
A rustling from behind the cab of the last pick-up catches his ear. He lifts his bow and moves silently toward it. Beth appears in front of the truck, dragging a rifle loosely by her side. She still has a bit of rope tied around one wrist. Her lips are white, and she is shaking from head to toe. Daryl straps his bow to his back and reaches for her. He wants to grab her and hug her to him as tight as he can, but he doesn't want to spook her. He slides his hand down her bare arm and cups her elbow. When she doesn't pull away, he gently lifts her chin and catches her eyes. "Beth," he whispers. His voice is rough and strained. She frowns like she is confused. He says her name again and she gasps. Remembers to breathe. Clarity floods her eyes. "Daddy!" she calls and starts past Daryl. He grabs her about the waist and spins her away from the direction where her dad lays. He doesn't say anything. Holds her in place and tells her without words that he has taken care of Hershel. Nothing else needs to be done. She collapses forward into his chest. Her gun falls to the ground and Daryl wraps her up in his arms.
Daryl's heart is breaking for her. He wants nothing more than to hold her until her tears dry up, but they are out of time. "I know. I'm sorry, Beth, but we gotta' go."
Beth pulls back and looks at him like his words don't make sense. "But, the others… Maggie and Judith. I can't leave without Judith."
Daryl shakes his head. "We can't go back for 'em." He pleads with her silently to understand. "Beth, we gotta' go… now"
He picks up her gun, hands it to her and starts walking backwards. Pulls her along with him. Its then that he sees the man and woman slumped against the back side of the truck. They have been shot in the chest and stabbed in the temple. No way a bullet from the prison got to them at this angle. He looks to Beth who is pointedly ignoring the dead. Damn. Beth takes off at a run, headed for the woods, without looking back. Daryl falls in beside her.
A/N: Too much detail? Not enough? I struggled a little with this one. More soon! Thanks for reading!