Yes, I'm still here. Still writing. I've been trying to work on Redneck Takes a Wife and Angel Mine recently but this one would not let go. I'm hoping to start writing steadily again, and hey, if my area goes on quarantine I won't have much to do but write. Hope you enjoy. Stay Safe, stay well.
Stronger Where Broken
"The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry." Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms
The Walking Dead, all recognized characters and situations belong to AMC, the writers, creators, and actors. I own this idea only. This work has been posted to only, if you are reading on a different website, it is done without writer's permission, please report.
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x X*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
It was a sight that would haunt him until his dying day. Coming to him in random moments that would make him catch his breath. Invading his nightmares that would have him jerking awake, sometimes screaming in a way that even his worst childhood demons wouldn't.
"I get it now."
Beth's hand came up with a flash of silver. Then the cop's gun was in her hand and there was a gunshot, deafening in the confined space. Beth's head snapped back, blood spurting. She dropped back into Rick's arms. Daryl brought his gun up and fired before he really even thought the action through. The woman's face showed her shock, her mouth speaking words Daryl didn't hear, didn't care to. Then a hole appeared in her forehead and she dropped back, crashing to the floor as no one attempted to catch her. Daryl ignored the tears that fell down his cheeks and Carol's hand on his arm, as he focused on the other cops standing in the hallway.
He couldn't do it.
He couldn't look down at her.
He couldn't see her dead.
.
He wondered, if he killed himself, would they bury them together.
.
"Bethy, baby can you hear me?" Rick asked desperately.
Daryl spun around and dropped to her side. Beth lay in Rick's arms as he knelt on the floor. Blood poured from the side of her head, but her eyes were open, and she gasped for breath. Alive. "Beth?" At the sound of his voice, her eyes searched wildly. He grasped her hand and moved into her line of sight. "I'm here. I'm here."
Her lips moved, formed his name. Then her eyes rolled and her back arched. Beth's grip on Daryl's hand tightened to a painful level.
"She's seizing! Let me in there!"
Someone pulled at Daryl and he growled in response. Then there were more hands on him and an arm looped around his neck, cutting off his air. He brought his free hand up, still clutching the gun, but someone yanked the gun away. Then Tyreese's voice was in his ear, "Ease back man, let the doctor in there. Come on!"
He struggled but Tyreese was strong and had the leverage to pull him back. He held on to Beth's hand, their arms stretching out as the distance between them grew. Suddenly Beth's grip released and her whole body went limp. Daryl breath hitched in his chest as more tears streamed down his face. His feet struggled for traction, then he realized he was slipping in blood. In her blood. He closed his eyes as her hand fell from his grasp.
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
They'd taken over a hospital room so Carol could lay back down. Sasha and Tyreese had dragged a couch in from somewhere and she was curled up with her head on her brother's lap. Noah was sitting in the corner with his knees drawn up, staring at the floor. Rick leaned against the wall, watching Daryl as he paced the remaining space.
The doctor walked in with a nervous look at them. Daryl couldn't remember his name, nor did he care. The man took a deep breath then said, "I'm sorry."
Carol let out a loud sob and covered her mouth with both hands. Sasha sat up with tears filling her eyes, "She's gone?"
The doctor sighed, "Not yet."
"What does that mean?" Rick asked.
"She was shot in the head. She should have died instantly. I don't know why she didn't."
"She's alive," the hope was bright in Carol's voice.
"No. She's not. She's just not dead yet."
"So, help her!" Tyreese demanded
"I can't."
"I thought you were a doctor!" Carol snapped.
"I AM! But I'm not a surgeon! I'm definitely not a brain surgeon." The doctor paused and rubbed his face. "She was shot in the head. Her skull is fractured and her brain is swelling. There isn't enough skin to stitch the wound closed. I can't do anything to help her. I can't even monitor brain functions but she is unresponsive now. A few weeks, maybe a month, and she'll go. She's dead. Her heart just hasn't given up yet."
"It won't," Daryl said. "She won't never give up. She's gonna live."
The doctor shook his head, "No she won't."
"You don't know shit, and you don't know Beth," Daryl snarled as he shoved by. He paused in the hallway and one of the cops pointed silently at a room down the hall. He stood in the doorway for a long moment, staring at her in the bed. Her skin was as pale as the bandage around her head. Her eyes were closed and she was so still under the blankets. But she still breathed and the monitor next to her beeped in a steady rhythm. "You're alive," he whispered as he approached her bedside. He pulled a chair over and sat down, taking her hand in his. Her warm hand with a strong pulse under his fingers. "You're alive," he repeated.
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
"Daryl," Rick's voice startled him. Daryl hadn't heard him enter Beth's room. "We gotta go."
Daryl turned to him, confused. "What?"
"We can't stay here Daryl. I've got to get back to Carl, Michonne, and Judith."
Daryl just grunted in response.
Rick sighed, "Daryl. We have to go."
"So go."
"Daryl, you need to come with us."
"No."
"Daryl."
"I ain't leavin' her."
"She's gone Daryl."
"SHE AIN'T! She's alive. Can't you see? She's breathin', her heart's beatin'." Daryl protested. "She's alive!" He'd turned to stare Rick down. Then he saw the gun in his hand and leapt to his feet.
Rick clicked the safety off with his thumb and started to raise it. "Daryl. She's gone. We can't take her with us. We need to just…"
Daryl yanked his own gun and leveled it at Rick's face. "Back off. Now."
"Don't do this, brother."
"Don't call me that. Don't you ever call me that again. We ain't brothers." Daryl stepped around the bed to place himself between Rick and Beth. "I had a brother. I left him to follow you. Biggest mistake of my life. He came to the quarry for me. Soon as he was able."
Rick scoffed, "So he told you."
"Merle wouldn't lie to me," Daryl retorted. "Followed you away from the quarry 'cause you decided the CDC was best. Mistake, wasn't it? That's all you do, make mistakes. Handcuffing Merle to that rooftop. CDC. Sophia. Trustin' Shane. One fuck up after the other with the Governor. The choices you make get people killed. Lori. Andrea. Hershel. Bob. Merle." He blinked rapidly to clear the tears. "Beth's alive. She's gonna get through this just like she got through ever'thin' else. She's strong. You see just another dead girl, but she ain't. So if you gotta go, go. We don't need you."
They stood glaring at each other, guns aimed, until Tyreese stepped into the doorway and cleared his throat to get their attention. With a sigh, Rick clicked the safety back on and holstered his gun. After a long moment, Daryl lowered his. He ignored the group at the door and returned to his seat and took Beth's hand again.
Rick stalked out of the room, "Say your goodbyes," he snapped.
Sasha and Tyreese came in together. Sasha leaned over Beth and stroked the uninjured side of her face. "If you could open your eyes right now, it would be great, sweetheart." Tyreese was silent, just gave Daryl a quick squeeze of his shoulder.
Noah limped in next, grief apparent on his face as he stared down at Beth, "You shouldn't have done this. Not for me, Beth. You should've just left with your family. I got out once, I could've done it again. You shouldn't be hurt because of me."
Daryl swallowed his fury at the young man, "She thought you were worth it. She thinks everyone is worth it. And she's gonna be fine."
Noah nodded sadly and walked back out of the room.
Carol came last. She fussed over the blanket covering Beth, smoothing it out. She gave Beth a kiss on the forehead. "You are the strongest person I know Elizabeth Greene. You wake up as soon as you can. Take care of Daryl, OK? You two are good for each other." She walked over to Daryl and wrapped her arms around him.
He hugged her carefully, "You could stay."
Carol smiled as she pulled back, "You don't need me. You two don't need anyone but each other. I'll see you again, Pookie. When the time is right." She glanced out the door to where the others gathered, then lowered her voice to a whisper, "You do what's right for you. For you and her. Don't worry about anyone else. She's what matters." Daryl nodded. Carol pulled his head down and kissed his forehead too.
"We gotta go," Rick said.
Carol pulled back with one last squeeze of Daryl's hand.
"Daryl... are you sure?" Rick asked.
Daryl glared at him, "Do me one favor. When your daughter asks questions about her mother, be sure to tell her about the person who was there from day one when you weren't. The one who fed and changed and bathed and dressed and walked miles up and down the halls with her. The one who sang to her and made her smile and giggle. The one who left the safety of the bus to try to find her when the Governor attacked." Rick clenched his jaw but gave Daryl a single nod. Daryl turned his back on the door and focused on Beth.
About ten minutes later, one of the cops came to the doorway, "They got through fine. Tracked them as far as the highway." He paused, staring at Daryl who nodded in response. "You need anything?"
"Nah," after a pause, Daryl added, "Thanks."
The cop nodded and with a sad look at Beth, he left. Daryl listened to his footsteps fade down the hall. He got up and crept over to the doorway. No one was in sight. He'd been left alone.
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
"Beth's alive," Michonne said. Maggie gasped in shock. Glenn wrapped his arms around her. "Daryl found her. He and Carol. Rick, Sasha, and Tyreese went to get her."
"How?" Maggie asked. "I mean how is she…"
Michonne smiled, "It's a long story. I'll tell you on the way."
They turned as a car drove up. Rick was in the driver's seat, with Tyreese next to him, Sasha, Noah, and Carol in the back. Rick met Michonne's gaze and slowly shook his head. He sat in the car for a moment, readying himself, then climbed out of the car as Maggie ran to him.
"Where's Beth?" Maggie asked excitedly.
"I'm sorry, Maggie," Rick replied. "Beth… Beth was shot during the rescue."
Maggie stumbled back, "She's dead?"
"No!" Carol denied.
"Carol!" Rick snapped with a glare as hope flared in Maggie's eyes. "Technically she is alive, but the doctor says there's no hope. She's… gone."
Maggie collapsed with a keening wail. Glenn stooped to hold her. Judith began to fuss in Michonne's arms as Carl stared at his father in shocked disbelief. Maggie wept in Glenn's embrace as the news sank in for Carl who turned away to cry. Rick pulled him close. Carol watched angrily as they grieved for the still alive Beth.
"Where's Daryl?" Michonne asked with a shaky voice.
"He wouldn't leave her," Carol replied before turning and walking away.
Abraham and Rosita caught up to her. Carol let Rosita pull her arm over the younger woman's shoulders as Abraham braced her from the other side.
"Can I ask a question?" Abraham asked softly. "Who is Beth?"
"Maggie's sister," Carol replied.
Abraham made a soft sound, "Huh." He looked at Rosita who gave a one shoulder shrug
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
They were leaving. Going north. To take Noah back to Virginia. To go to DC where Eugene swore there would be safe haven in government bunkers.
Carol sat against a wall in an apartment above one of the stores in the town near the church. The others were asleep or on watch. She considered slipping out again, like she had at the church. But where would she go? She could go back to the hospital. Or just away. But it all seemed like just too much effort.
"Found some," Rosita said, handing Carol a box of stationery and a pen.
"Thanks."
"Leaving a note for Daryl?"
Carol nodded, "And Beth."
Rosita glanced around. To where Maggie, Glenn, and Tara slept side by side. To where Rick sat on watch, with Carl, Judith, and Michonne curled up together nearby. "Do you really think she'll be alright?"
"Yep."
"Maggie doesn't. Rick doesn't."
"They don't know her. They think they do. Think they care. But they're walking away," Carol fiddled with the pen for a moment. "Part of me wonders if I really should leave a note. If they don't know where we're going, they won't be able to follow. Live their life here in Georgia."
Rosita smiled, "Write it. Leave it. If they're supposed to find it, they will." She stood up and walked over to where Abraham lay against a wall. He raised his arm to pull her down next to him, tucking her under his blanket.
Carol nodded and opened the box. The papers inside were an assortment. The first sheet was bordered by red roses. The next were Cherokee Roses. With a smile at the memory, Carol began to write. In the early morning hours, she slipped into the church and left the envelope on the altar.
Daryl and Beth. Rosita says you'll find this if you're supposed to, part of me hopes you never do.
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x X *x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
That Doc said it would be weeks or months. He said she would just stop breathing at some point. That her heart would go still and silent. One of them, whose name he'd already forgotten, told him that when it happened, one of them would take care of her so he didn't have to. They were remorseful, at least they appeared to be, but Daryl didn't trust them.
They let him keep his crossbow, gun, and knives. They brought him food, water, and a sofa to sleep on. He accepted the food and water, realized he'd need the sofa before long. He let them come in and care for Beth, bathing, changing, exchanging an empty IV bag for a full one, administering medications that the doctor identified to Daryl like he'd know what they were. He let them because he had no real choice in the matter. But he refused their offers for a break, to have one of them sit with her so he could sleep, or shower or go up to the roof for air. They still offered every four or five hours that first day, only slightly less often the second. He refused but wondered how long he'd be able to realistically. Weeks or months, according to the doctor. He knew as much as he wanted to, he couldn't sit there nonstop for weeks or months.
But in the end, it wasn't weeks or months. It was barely long enough to be measured in days. Two days, about fifty hours after the bullet ripped her from his life again, she moaned.
The heart monitor's audible beat had been silenced the first day, but it still showed a steady rhythm. Her chest rose and fell as she breathed. There was no other obvious change and Daryl wondered if he'd imagined it. Then she did it again. A long slow groan.
"Beth?" he whispered, barely willing to hope. Maybe it was nothing. Then her eyelids fluttered. "Beth?" he tried again, slightly louder. He clutched her hand to his chest with one hand, stroking her face with the other.
Her eyes opened slowly. Blinking closed again, then reopened in a squint. "Daryl?"
"Hi," he laughed as tears filled his eyes. "Hi there."
She opened her eyes fully to see his face, then closed again with another moan, "Daryl. So bright."
He shaded her eyes with his hand. "Try now."
"Mmm," she blinked and squinted. "Head hurts."
"I know. I know," he nodded. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Hang on, OK. Stay with me. HEY!" he shouted, knowing one of the cops was probably on watch down the hall. Beth groaned again. "Sorry. Gotta get the doc. Hey who's out there! Get the doc!"
He heard the shuffle of feet and turned. It took a second to recognize the cop, now dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. "She's awake," he said in a harsh whisper. "Get that doc."
The cop moved further into the room, hand on a knife at his hip. Then his eyes widened as they met Beth's gaze. "Holy fuck. She is awake," he turned and ran.
People swarmed into the room. Cops. Prisoners. Then the doctor, who pressed through to Beth's bedside. "I can't believe it," he whispered as he checked the heart monitor. "Hello. How are you feeling?"
"Her head hurts," Daryl reported.
"I need her to tell me," Edwards whispered.
"My head hurts," Beth repeated.
Edwards laughed out loud, causing Beth to wince. "Sorry. I just… this is miraculous. Do you know your name? Where you are?"
Beth blinked for a second, "Beth. Hospital."
"Do you remember what happened?" Edwards asked as he shined a penlight into Beth's eyes.
Daryl yanked it out of his hand and threw it across the room, "Light hurts her, asshole!"
"I need to check her pupil response, Daryl."
"Then make it stop hurtin' her!"
Beth squeezed his hand. Edwards retrieved the light and with a nervous look at Daryl, moved back to Beth. "Beth, I need to shine this light in your eyes. I'll be very quick then we'll turn the lights down in here, OK?" Beth nodded slightly, and Edwards very quickly checked both of her eyes, cringing as she whimpered. Once done, he turned and nodded to the officer at the door who turned off the overhead lights. "There, is that better?"
"Little bit," Beth whispered.
"What do you remember?"
"Everything, I think," Beth replied. "This is Grady Memorial in Atlanta. Gorman kidnapped me and brought me here to work." Her voice broke off. "Carol?"
"She's OK," Daryl nodded. "You remember Rick and me comin' to get you? With Sasha and Tyreese?"
"Uhm…" Beth's eyes closed. "Not sure."
"That's OK," Edwards replied. "That's enough for now. I'll get her something for the pain."
Licari turned, "Can you do that with a head injury?"
"I'm not leaving her in pain," Edwards shrugged with another nervous look at Daryl.
"What happened?" Beth asked.
"Bitch cop shot you," Daryl replied.
"Then your hero here shot Dawn," Licari said. When Beth looked from Daryl to him fearfully, Licari held up his hands, "It's OK Beth. It's over now. You're safe. Both of you." He stepped back and began ushering the others from the room. "Let's let her rest now."
Daryl waited until the room cleared, then whispered, "I seen Maggie. Glenn. Asskicker and Carl and Michonne. They all survived."
"Daryl, you have to go," Beth hissed. "It isn't safe here."
"It's OK."
"No, Daryl. These aren't good people. I killed two of those cops, plus another man. Edwards is a liar and a coward. The cops are…" footsteps returning interrupted her harsh whisper.
Edwards walked back in with two syringes, that for the first time he injected into the IV without identifying. "This will help, Beth." The lines of pain quickly relaxed from Beth's face. Then her eyes closed again. Daryl stroked her face worriedly. "She's OK, just sleeping."
"You said there weren't no hope," Daryl growled.
Edwards shook his head, "I know. I have never been so happy to be wrong. I have no idea how she survived the initial gunshot or woke up, much less how she woke up so fast. Brain injuries were difficult to anticipate recoveries before the world ended. But her pupils are reacting normally. Her speech is coherent and logical."
"She's gonna be OK."
"I don't know. Really…"
"Wasn't askin' yah. Was tellin' yah. She's gonna be fine."
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
"This is amazing!"
Daryl glared at the doctor who'd been repeating the same phrase. Beth had woken up the next morning, alert and aware again. She'd sat up with Daryl's help, now was taking a few unsteady steps across the room. She clung to Daryl's arm, but was keeping her balance and moving. They'd given her a second hospital gown to wear as a robe so that her backside wasn't showing.
"OK I think that's enough for one morning."
Beth glowered but Daryl gently scooped her up and returned her to the bed.
"We'll start you on a very light diet today," Dr. Edwards advised. "Broth, rice, applesauce. Any of that sound good?"
Beth sighed, "Not really. Feel kinda queasy."
"Beth, you have to tell me your symptoms," Edwards reprimanded. "I'll go get something for the nausea. And you're due for pain meds too."
"You OK?" Daryl asked.
"Yeah," Beth replied. "Headache's coming back."
Edwards swept back in and injected two syringes of medicine into the IV. "That should help. We'll get you both some lunch then she'll probably sleep awhile."
The nausea medication kicked in enough for Beth to eat some of the broth mixed with a little rice. Then despite fighting it, she fell asleep.
Daryl stared at her. She was so still, sleeping so soundly. The heart monitor was gone so the only sign of life was the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. Then she muttered in her sleep and shifted from her back, onto her side. Into the position she usually slept. One hand tucked under the pillow, knees drawn up slightly. He smiled and reached over to pull the blanket up over her shoulders. "You're alive," he whispered.
"Mm," Beth smiled in her sleep.
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
"Doing your laps, sweetie?"
Beth smiled at the old man, "Sure am, Mr. Percy." She waited until he moved away before continuing their conversation. "No matter what, no matter how they act, I don't want to be here anymore."
"OK" Daryl nodded, "We'll leave at sunrise."
"Why not tonight?" Beth asked.
Daryl shook his head, "Ain't takin' you through the city in the dark. Too risky. We'll leave soon as it starts gettin' light. I saw a few cars on the way in I can probably get runnin'."
"They have cars in a fenced in lot. Noah and I ran through them tryin' to get away." Beth saw Daryl's jaw clench tight. "He didn't have a choice but to leave me."
Daryl snorted, "Yeah he did. He had a choice and he decided to save his own ass. He did stick around and try to help but still, how many of these bruises did that bitch give you when they got you back here?"
Beth's hand went to her cheek, covering the cut and stitches there. "I'm going to have scars," she whispered.
"Prob'ly. You're still the most beautiful…" he broke off as she stared at him in shock. He coughed and looked away. "Let's go back to the room. You need to get some rest."
"OK," she nodded. "But wake me up in a few hours so you can sleep too." He grunted. "I mean it. You need rest before we do this. Probably more than me." He sighed but nodded.
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
He woke her up a few hours before sunrise and stretched out to sleep a bit, waking again just as the sky began to lighten. Beth pulled a second pair of socks on her feet and an extra hospital gown on over the two she already wore. Daryl gave her his jacket, which she accepted only after pulled the winged vest free for him to put back on. Silently they gathered the blankets from the bed and water and food from the night before, stuffing it all into the pillowcase from the bed.
Just before sunrise, Daryl slowly opened the door, then froze. Officer Licari sat in a chair directly across from the doorway eating from a can of fruit cocktail. "Morning," Licari greeted.
Daryl sighed, "How'd yah know?"
Licari shrugged and took another bite of fruit, "It's what I would do." He swallowed. "Old pickup is gassed up, we gave you some supplies, water, food. Doc got meds together. He'll be up in a minute for one last check on her. He's going to cut the cast off her wrist and put on a brace of some kind."
"Why?" Daryl asked. "Why do that? Truck and supplies?"
Licari poked at the fruit and sighed heavily. "We screwed up here. So bad. Nothing we do will ever make up for it, but Shepherd figured this was a start at least. She's got a bag of clothes together for you," he finally spoke directly to Beth as he pointed to a duffel bag just outside the door. "But let Doc do what he needs to first."
Dr. Edwards walked up. They went back into the room and shut the door. He turned to Daryl, "You can't do this. You can't take her out of here, she's not well enough."
"I'm fine," Beth protested.
"We're leavin'," Daryl growled.
Edwards sighed, "Beth you were shot in the head. Your skull… Think of it like an egg. One swift blow and the shell fractures, cracks spreading out from the point of impact. One more hit and the shell shatters completely. You need to stay here where she'll be safe."
"This place isn't safe," Beth retorted. "We are leaving."
Edwards shook his head but lifted her wrist to cut the cast off with a pair of heavy duty shears. "Keep the brace on for a month. I've written up instructions for the medication. Strong antibiotics for ten days, it's not as good as the IV antibiotics but since you're leaving it's the best I can do. Same thing with the pain medicine. Both will mess with your stomach. Try to stay hydrated as best you can." He sighed again as the cast split off. "Two weeks. If you would just stay two weeks, I could…" He broke off as Daryl glared at him. "She's not strong enough to go out there. With the injuries and the medication complications… you need to…"
"Yah need to finish what you're doin' and shut the hell up," Daryl replied.
Edwards silently cut and removed the stitches, replacing them with medical tape. "I've done what I can," he said as he secured the brace on Beth's wrist. With one last sad look at them, he walked out.
Silently Beth grabbed the duffel bag. Daryl stood with his back to her as she dressed in the jeans, flannel shirt, and hiking boots. He turned back as she gasped, to find her leaning against the bed. "Hurts to bend over," she admitted. He stooped and tied the boots securely. He stood to face her, a question in his eyes. "I'm ready. Let's go."
Outside of the room, Licari was face to face with an angry female officer. "You're just letting them go. After what they did? She killed Gorman and he killed Dawn. And what about all we've given them? What about the debt?"
"ENOUGH!" Licari snapped. "She killed Gorman in self defense and frankly you should be thanking her because he was running out of prisoners to rape and torment, how long before he turned on you. And you know that shooting was entirely justified. We are letting them go because it is the right thing to do after a year and a half of the worst possible things to do. We fucked up here. We turned this place into hell." He took a deep steadying breath. "My father was a cop. So was his dad and his granddad. It's all I ever wanted to be. A damn hero. Not a coward or worse. So yes, we are letting them go. And maybe, just maybe, when my time comes and I'm facing judgment, maybe I can look my dad in the eye." She stormed away and Licari turned to Daryl and Beth. "We couldn't find a jacket for her, but I put a couple blankets in the truck."
Daryl nodded as he handed his jacket to Beth again.
Sheppard walked up, "Shooters are ready on the roof. The swarm outside has thinned a bit so you should head out." She gave Beth a quick smile but ducked away with shame in her eyes.
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x
Daryl hadn't bothered to check the truck beyond starting it and checking the gas gauge before lifting Beth into the passenger seat. One of the cops opened the gate and let them out. The rooftop shooters took out several walkers heading toward the sound of the truck. Daryl drove carefully away from the hospital, until he reached the open highway, then he floored it. Once the hospital was out of sight and he pulled over, Beth was breathing heavily, hands shaking slightly. Daryl wasn't much better.
"You OK?" Daryl asked.
"Can't believe they just let us go," Beth admitted.
"Yeah," he took a deep steadying breath.
After a minute she settled and turned to him, "You need to tell me what happened. I don't remember anything after Dawn telling me to get dressed in my own clothes. I don't remember…" she swallowed hard, "I need to know before we see them."
"I found Rick, Carl, and Michonne a few days after I lost you. I'd found a group of men. Bad men," he broke off with a clenched jaw. She reached over and he clasped her hand in his. "After… after they attacked them, we fought back and won. Then we went to a central train station that'd left signs on the roadway 'bout creatin' a sanctuary. The others were there. Maggie 'n Glenn had hooked up with a group protectin' a scientist guy. The sanctuary was a lie, they was bad too. We fought and got outta there all together. Found Carol and Tyreese with Judith. Then Carol 'n I chased after one of the cars from Grady. Carol got hurt after we found Noah and they took her in to you…" he broke off again, then spit it out fast, " When I got back to the group, Maggie 'n Glenn had left to take the scientist guy to DC."
Beth blinked rapidly as tears filled her eyes, "She left. Did she… know I got out of the prison?"
"Yeah," Daryl nodded.
Beth wiped at her face with her free hand, "Tell me the rest."
"Nah," Daryl shook his head, "S'enough for now."
Beth looked at him, "Tell me. Tell me why if Rick and Sasha and Tyreese came to get me and Carol, why only you were there when I woke up."
Daryl sighed, "That Doc said you wouldn't wake up. Rick had to get back to Carl, Michonne, and Asskicker. Others went with him."
"You stayed."
"I couldn't leave you. Ain't never leavin' you again." Beth smiled and they stared at each other for a long moment. "You were right ya know. I missed you real bad," he admitted.
"I missed you too," she replied.
The moment was interrupted by a walker slamming into the driver side of the truck. Daryl coughed and shifted the truck back into gear. He couldn't tell her the rest. Rick, with a gun ready to put a bullet in her. And how Daryl was ready to put a bullet in him to keep that from happening.
x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*
The church had been abandoned. The door had been pushed in, a few walkers still wandered around. There was no reason to go in. They sat staring at it for a long while.
Daryl sighed, "We can either follow Maggie 'n Glenn north or try to track the group here." He looked over as Beth sat silently biting her lip. "Yah wanna do both... or neither?"
"Neither," she whispered. Then she swallowed hard. "Just not right now. Can we just find a place for a few days. Just until I... I don't know. I'm sorry."
"Ain't got no reason to be sorry."
"You probably want to catch up to them."
"Don't give a shit about anyone else. You're all that matters to me."
"Carol."
"Carol said it before she left. I don't need nobody but you." He looked at her intently.
"Oh."
He flushed and looked away. "Shoulda told you that night. Not just grunted. You. You're why I think there's good left. Light left in this shit world. If I'd lost yah back there, I'd'a been done. Yah said I'd be the last man standin'. I only can if you're standin' there too." He looked back at her, trying to judge her wide eyed expression. "I didn't mean to put all that on yah."
"It's OK. I get it. You'll have to teach me more. Huntin', trackin', fightin'."
"Pshht," he scoffed. "Think you got most of that down."
"I killed two cops at Grady. One came at me... was going to rape me. I hit him and knocked him down to another prisoner who'd killed herself and turned. She did it in Dawn's office, probably hoped to kill Dawn. The other one was... I killed him to help Dawn. Should've let him kill her. I wanted to kill her."
"Yah stabbed at her with a pair of scissors. Woulda worked if yah hit her carotid. Or if yah used something bigger."
"I don't remember that."
"S'OK. I do." Daryl pulled the truck away from the church. "We'll find a place for you to finish healin'. Start learnin' again. We'll decide later about anythin' else."
"Sounds good."