Beth was hoping Merle would be there to bug when they got to the body shop; as she wanted to pass the time with him while Daryl worked. Daryl got in a sort of transfixed state whenever he started putting the engine back together and barely acknowledged her existence. Merle, as most could see, didn't like not be the center of attention either, and she'd grown accustomed to his company. The shop, however, was locked up and empty when they got there. Which meant he was still pouting; which did make her feel bad. At least, momentarily. She could talk herself in to it not being the worst thing either. It'd been a long day, and while she knew she could counter his every remark, maybe it was better to just relax.

"Do you think you'll get it going today?" Beth joked, as she opened the door of the truck and slid in. Most of the time, if Merle wasn't there, she'd just sprawl out of the bench seat and nap. That, or, listen to Daryl swear to himself as he got frustrated with the truck. He'd torn it apart just fine, but apparently putting it back together was a whole different story.

Daryl let out a grumble to let her know he'd heard her but had chosen to ignore the question. Hershel's truck in particular was giving him a run for his money. It was a stubborn thing, like her dad, and it had aged with him; and it had become a well-known fact that sometimes things just couldn't return to their former glory. Beth imagined it may actually never start again, which was okay, now that she wasn't really going anywhere. But, there was a part of her that hope it would, just a reaffirm something inside her. Although, she didn't know what that something really was.

Beth made herself comfortable, and she could already hear Daryl digging through the toolbox. After a few minutes, he went to work, and she stared at the ceiling of the truck, waiting. As soon as she heard the first, fuck, under his breath, she smiled to herself and closed her eyes. There was just something that settled her and made her feel at home. She couldn't see him, but she could hear how hard he was trying.

. . .

"Did you hear me?"

"What?" Beth fluttered her eyes open and reached above her head, stretching. Daryl was standing there and had his forearms rested on the open window of the truck; looking exhausted. She didn't know at what point she fell asleep, but the lighting in the shop was a little darker and he was covered in grease.

Daryl rolled his eyes, leaning against the door. "How is it I do all the work and you get all the benefit?"

"Just lucky I guess." Beth teased, trying not to let her eyes close again. She would have liked nothing more than to roll back into the soft, worn-in leather and continue what had been an excellent nap. "What did you say. Daryl?"

"I said, turn the key, woulda?"

"Why?" Beth blinked.

"Why, do you think?" Daryl snapped, unwilling to accept the stupidity, even if it was on account of just waking up. "The engine's back together."

That, however, did manage to snap Beth awake. "Really?!"

"Yeah, let's to this."

Beth immediately sat up. She was trying not to get too excited, but she was still filled with a rush of anticipation.

"Alright, go ahead."

Beth took a deep breath and gripped onto the keys tightly. As she turned it, she could feel her heart skip a beat; and a she listened, she could feel all the anticipation wash away. The truck tried to start, that was something that she couldn't deny, but it sounded so horrible she thought it may explode if she kept it on any longer. It sounded like the thing had whooping cough. Beth immediately cut it, with a sigh.

"Dammit!" Daryl slammed the hood shut, and paced for a second.

"You don't have to get it all done tonight, Daryl." Beth smiled weakly.

Daryl stopped in his tracks and glared at the truck. Then reopened the hood. "No, this fucking thing will start tonight."

Beth glanced over at the clock hanging over the door. It was almost nine at night. But Daryl seemed a little too determined to say no. "If you say so."

. . .

"Okay, try again" Daryl said, a little far less hopeful than he'd been in the beginning.

Beth took her hand off her cheek and turned the key, for what seemed like the hundredth time. Hours had passed since they'd begun, and each time they turned the key, it sounded a little less horrible, but still not drivable. She had as much hope in her eyes as he did at that point, but they he too stubborn to save it for another day; not when they'd come that far. The constant tweaking and re-tweaking wasn't going to waste.

"Ready?"

"Come on, come on." Daryl mumbled to himself. "Work you stupid –"

Before Daryl could finish his sentence, the truck suddenly roared to life; leaving him a dumbfounded for a second, trying to figure out if it was just in his head. But, as Daryl looked at the engine vibrating softly, he knew it had actually worked.

Daryl's head snapped up try to find Beth. She was practically hanging out the driver's side door, and laughed as they made eye contact. Her blue eyes sparked with excitement, as she too processed the moment of the engine really rumbling. Her laugh soon turned into a squeal as she covered her mouth in disbelief; and if he looked closely enough, he could almost say he was vibrating as well.

He was a little less excited than her, but he couldn't help but laugh as well, as she bounced out of the driver street and over to him. She more than a yard away when she practically launched herself at him. Daryl barely managed to stay upright as she impacted, wrapping her arms around his neck. He also had hardly any time to return the hug either as Beth pulled herself off of him to do what was a very awkward happy dance that involved far too much shoulder movement.

"I can't believe it actually started!" Her voice was about three registers higher than the usual, but it wasn't coming down. "Oh my God!"

"What?" Daryl scoffed, half kidding. "You really didn't have any faith in me?"

"No – no of course I did!" Beth hopped back over to him, getting up on her tippy toes to give him another hug.

This next thing she did took him completely off guard. Just when he thought he was getting used to one thing, she seemed to decide to throw something else in the mix; and that was exactly what could be said as he lips pressed against the unshaven his stubble of his cheek.

"Thank you!" Beth chimed, laughing into his ear as she continued to hug him. In a moment of panic, Daryl quickly released his arms from around her waist and back away. He couldn't help but noticed she looked a little confused, like what she did wasn't completely out of left field.

Daryl cleared his throat. "Shut that thing off before we both get carbon monoxide poisoning."