Beth was fed up. It had been a week since her accident in the forest with Daryl, but her father had kept her on strict bed rest. The swelling in her foot had gone down considerably so she had been allowed to walk on it now, but he rarely let her out of his sight, insisting all her meals be taken in her cell room. People came to visit her plenty, but staring at the same four walls was beginning to drive her mad. She hadn't seen Daryl since the accident either, which she found disappointed her a little, but she had seen plenty of Axel.

He had been in and out of the cell the past few days, making small talk about Judith and the farm, asking her about herself, asking her age.

'So, pretty young girl like you, must have had plenty of boyfriends before all o' this, huh,' Axel had said to her before he had left. Beth had smiled awkwardly, praying he would leave soon.

'Not really,' she had smiled.

It was Daryl who had finally saved the day, much to the chagrin of Axel, but the unexpected, yet joyful surprise of herself. Axel had stalked away, eyeing up Daryl before he did so.

'What're you doing here?' Beth asked Daryl, 'come to break my other ankle?'

'S'not broken,' Daryl said, giving her half a smile, 'nah, brought you food, came t' check you were okay, I mean, s'kinda my fault.'

'No it isn't,' Beth said, smiling up at him, 'I didn't look. Thank you, though.' She reached out to take the plate off of him. He nodded, beginning to turn away.

'Stay!' Beth implored quickly before he left, 'I mean, I'd like some company. If you want to.'

Daryl turned to look at her, his eyes searching her face. Then he shrugged, and came further into the room. Beth scooted over on her bed, then patted the space beside her. He seemed to deliberate for a moment, before sitting down beside her, leaving a considerable amount of space between them. She sat back, her back against the wall, while he sat forward, his elbows resting on his knees, chewing at the skin around his thumbnail.

'So how're things, in the prison?' Beth asked, a little stiffly.

Daryl shrugged. 'They're fine.'

'Hm, no news is good news,' she said, smiling. He didn't look round at her.

'How's your side?' she asked. Daryl nodded.

'S'fine,' he said, 'healed up well. Y'did a good job,' he turned round to look at her. Daryl wasn't a big fan of smiling, Beth had gathered, but the intensity of his looks were almost enough. His face, whilst guarded, was honest, and Beth felt like he would never lie to her.

'I'm glad,' she said, nodding. Then, whilst he was still looking at her, she pushed, 'how did you do it, anyway?'

Daryl sighed and turned away, running a hand down his face.

'I was trackin',' he grunted, stroking his beard, 'Floor was slipp'ry from th' rain, a walker, half a walker, no legs, y'know,' he turned to looked at her again, waving his hands at his own legs as if to let Beth know what he meant by legs - she nodded for him - 'they were buried under some leaves and mud an' shit, I di'n' see 'em, reached out, grabbed m' ankle,' he mimed a walker reaching out, 'I went down, got away but fell further, int'a this big ol' nasty rock, all jagged. Sliced righ' through m'side, fucker.' He grimaced as he said it, running his finger in a slicing motion across where his wound had been.

'Sounds nasty,' Beth said, grimacing herself.
'Could'a been worse,' he shrugged.

'Could'a been bit,' Beth said, to which Daryl nodded solemnly.

'So looks like we both need to look where we're going.' She chuckled, wriggling the toes of her bandaged foot. Daryl turned to look at her, and gave her a smile. It crinkled his eyes, but it made him look so much younger – almost handsome, even. The strange feelings Beth had occasionally gotten from their interactions had been founded in the intimacy of his touches, so out of place in this world, but his smile elicited something different. His face changed, and Beth found she liked it.

'So,' Daryl said, clearing his throat as he turned to stare back at the wall in front of them, 'what's with Axel?'

'Urgh,' Beth groaned, 'he keeps coming to see me, I think he, you know, fancies me or something,' she blushed as he said it. Daryl nodded slowly.

'You don't-?' he said slowly.

'What? No!' She laughed, 'god, no, he's creepy, and gross.' She shuddered.

Daryl nodded, then got up off of the bed.

'Alright,' he said, 'you heal up.'

'Do you have to go?' Beth asked.

Daryl looked at her, searching her face. She looked up at him with her big blue eyes, her blonde eyebrows raised as she questioned him. She seemed so genuine, so sweet.

'I mean,' she added, looking down at the plate on her lap, 'Daddy's put me on bed rest... it gets pretty lonely.'

'Y'family don't come see ya?' Daryl asked.

'Oh no they do!' Beth said, looking up again, 'but they're busy a lot.'

'Okay,' Daryl said, and he sat back down beside her, which made Beth unreasonably happy.

'So, tell me about you, Mr Dixon,' she smiled, feeling brave now he had decided to stay, 'what was your life like before the fall?'

Daryl shrugged.

'There's nothin' t' tell,' he said, but Beth could trace an uneasiness in his voice, 'Jus' a lowlife redneck.'

Beth frowned.

'Do you miss anything about before?' she asked, careful not to upset or offend him. He seemed tense all of a sudden.

Daryl shrugged again. It seemed as though he was constantly trying to shrug her off.

'I miss m'brother,' he admitted.

'Your brother,' Beth said, nodding, 'Merle, right?'

'Uhuh,' Daryl nodded, slowly. 'How 'bout you?' he asked, and Beth sensed he didn't want to talk about himself.

'I miss my horses,' she said sadly, 'I miss riding them, the freedom, the speed, you know?'

'Kind'a like m'motorbike,' Daryl said, pensive.

'Yeah!' Beth said, pleased he was engaging, 'yeah I guess it is. Will you take me for a ride?' she teased. Daryl turned to look at her again. He watched her for a moment, his dark eyes moving from each of her own.

'Okay.' he said. 'When you're healed up.' he nodded at her foot.

'Great,' she grinned, not really expecting him to adhere to that.

'Wha' else?' he asked.

'I miss my bedroom,' she sighed, 'it's great having a roof and a bed here, don't get me wrong, but I miss having my own stuff - my own comforts.' She paused, lost in the memory of her large double bed, white wrought iron frame, fairy lights wrapped around the bars, 'and bubble baths,' she said. 'I miss bathing.'

'Bathin'?' Daryl mused, 'we got showers.'

'It isn't the same,' Beth smiled, 'Engulfing yourself in the warm, soapy water. Being completely and utterly surrounded by it, the warmth. It's relaxing, blissful, just lying there, all by yourself, close your eyes, float away.' Beth had shut her own eyes as she spoke, but the clearing of a throat broke through her daydream.

Maggie was standing in the door way, one eyebrow raised.

'What's going on, you two?' she asked.

'Maggie,' Beth said, a little flatly, 'Daryl brought me food.'

'Oh good,' Maggie said, 'good.'

'I'll leave you two t'talk, or whatever,' Daryl said, getting up. He nodded at Maggie, who watched him closely, as he headed for the door.

'Daryl,' Beth said, before he left, 'thanks for staying.'

Daryl smiled at her again, said 'hope ya heal up fast,' and then left.

Maggie stood for a little while before taking his place.

'So, you're thawing the ice statue that is Daryl Dixon?' Maggie teased, leaning herself back up against the wall.

'No,' Beth laughed, 'we just got to talking. He's quite sweet, actually.'

'You sweet little thing,' Beth's sister said, leaning over and taking Beth's chin in her hand, 'you see the goodness in everybody.'

'Stop,' Beth said, pulling away, but she laughed anyway.

'So you like yourself a bit of surly redneck, do ya?' Maggie teased, 'the brooding, filthy type do it for you?'

'Maggie!' Beth cried, 'stop! I'm just being friendly, he's old enough to be my dad.'

'Too right,' Maggie laughed back, dropping it. But Beth felt uncomfortable as she picked at the cold food Daryl had brought her. Daryl seemed to have a strange effect over her, it wasn't strong and it wasn't serious, but she often felt like her mouth was dry, or full of cotton-wool, whenever she spoke to him. Her heart always raced at the sight of him, and strange knots formed in her stomach.

It's just because he's so much older she told herself, as Maggie chatted away about something or other, and he's so fierce and intimidating. I'm bound to be put out by him.

But she hadn't entirely convinced herself. And that smile earlier – she had never looked at Daryl as an attractive man... the scowl, the hair! But that smile had awoken something in her, something that only added fuel to the smouldering fire which he had already set. She swallowed down the cold food and tried to forget it. She was being ridiculous. She guessed the end of the world could have that effect on a girl.

. . .

Daryl wandered down the prison grounds, looking for Rick. He knew a run was going to be needed to be undertaken soon, so he wanted to figure out what the plan was, and whether he was needed. He liked going on runs, getting out into the open for a while, being by himself, using his brain, his body. It refreshed him, made him feel alive, useful.

'Hey,' a voice broke through his own thoughts, causing him to look up. He glanced up through his hair, to see Axel standing in front of him. He was standing there, his hands in the pockets of his blue prison uniform, rocking slightly onto the balls of his feet.

'Daryl, right?' he said.

'Uhuh,' Daryl grunted, looking the man up and down.

''bout earlier,' he said, 'I didn't realise she was already called for.'

'Huh?' Daryl was confused. He looked up, raising his chin.

'The pretty young'un' Axel said, 'I wouldn't have pursued her if I'd known she belonged to you.'

'What?' said Daryl, narrowing his eyes. He could feel anger bubbling in his chest as recognition began to set in.

'I'm not that kind of guy,' Axel said sincerely, looking purposefully at Daryl, 'I never meant to tread on no toes.'

Daryl ground his teeth together for a minute, taking Axel in.

'She's a pretty little one, though,' Axel continued, still rocking on his toes, 'nice blonde, young. S'Shame you got there first,' he laughed, gruffly, 'no hard feelings though, aye?'

Daryl clenched his fists and took a step closer to Axel.

'Y' stay away from her,' Daryl said, through gritted teeth.

'S'fine, I got it,' Axel said, shrugging.

Suddenly, Daryl found his hands curled into fists, a handful of Axel's white shirt scrunched up in them.

'She's a kid,' he growled, 'and she don't belong to no-one.'

'You mean she's not your-' Axel stammered.

'She aint my nuffin',' Daryl snapped, 'and she aint yours either.'

Axel spluttered, his face flushing red.

'She aint a piece of meat to be fought over,' he snapped, 'I see you talking to her again-'

'What's the big deal?' Axel cried, 'If she aint yours then what's the problem? She's old enough, and come on, there's not exactly much choice 'round 'ere.'

Daryl forcefully let go of the man, leaving him to stumble backwards, only just regaining his balance. He turned away from him, taking in a deep breath, running his hands down his face. His blood was boiling. He blew out the breath he had been holding, attempting to calm himself. He was being ridiculous, but the red mist had already descended.

'If she aint claimed-'

Daryl spun round, his fist connecting with Axel's chin. The blonde man stumbled backwards, clutching his chin, his face twisted into a mask of pain. Before he could even say anything, Daryl was on him again, landing another punch just under his eye.

'You stay – th' fuck – away from her!' He growled, as his force knocked Axel to the ground. The haze of anger which had not affronted him for a long, long time, ever since Rick had taken him in, had descended, shrouding his sanity, removing logic entirely from the situation. All he could see was Axel's slimy, greasy face, all he could hear were the filth that had poured from his mouth – 'pretty young'un', 'little' – it made him sick to his stomach to see him leering over her like that. Beth was kind and sweet and innocent – everything this man wasn't.

'Wha' were you in for?!' Daryl yelled, grabbing the man's collar and slamming his head down into the ground, 'aye? Why'd you get put away?'

'I liked ma – pharmaceuticals!' Axel cried.

Daryl did not hear the footsteps hurriedly approaching the scene, nor did he hear the raised voices, or acknowledge the presence until someone had grabbed his shoulders and was pulling him back, pulling him up off of the man beneath him. As he staggered to his feet and he spun around to advance on whoever had grabbed him, anger clouding his vision – until he saw Carol.

'What the hell is going on here?'

That was Rick's voice, punctuating the tension that surrounded them, cutting through the moans of the man who still lay spread-eagled in the mud, clutching his face and groaning.

'Daryl,' Rick's voice was firm, laced with anger, but his eyes were sober as he looked at Daryl. He trusted him. As the anger faded away, guilt washed over Daryl at the realization of what had happened.

'What the hell are you doing,' Carol demanded, staring at Daryl just as sternly. He felt like a lectured child.

'Mad man attacked me,' Axel cried from the mud below them, 'jumped on me, hitting me, hitting me!'

'Shu' up,' Daryl spat, 'he was implying...' Daryl ran a hand over his face, pausing to scratch at his scraggly beard, 'he was go'n' after Beth,' he spat.

'Beth?' Carol said, looking down at the man still on the ground.

'That true?' Rick said.

'I – no, I thought she was with him!' Axel glared up at Daryl through puffy eyes which were beginning to bruise.

'I've seen you talking to her, asking her age,' Carol said, her voice thin and dangerous, 'I didn't trust you myself.'

'No,' Rick shook his head, then ran a hand through his own scraggly hair, 'but this aint no way to sort it.'

'I know.' Daryl huffed.

'You were protecting her,' Carol said, then she looked him up and down, her deep gaze seeming to read him, scrutinize him. Daryl felt incredibly uncomfortable all of a sudden. 'Why?'

'We need t' have a calm discussion 'bout this,' Rick said, turning to look at Daryl, 'and you two need t' keep away from each other.'

'No worries there,' Axel said, finally pulling himself up from the floor.

'Nah,' said Daryl, 'I'ma outta here for a couple'a days.'

'I don't think that's so wise,' Rick said, 'you don't seem in the right frame o' mind.'

'Rick's right,' Carol said, 'stay here, cool down.'

'I can cool down better out there,' he huffed, then he turned away from them.

'Daryl,' Carol called after him, but he heard Rick say 'let him go.'

He stalked away, shaking his fists out as he went, releasing the built up tension from them. He had acted irrationally, had acted like he used to. Beth was nothing to him, why had he jumped to her defence so drastically? He didn't like Axel, had distrusted him from the start, maybe this had been an altercation waiting to happen, Beth was just the catalyst. The pent up rage and frustration had flowed freely from him, Axel was just an unsuspecting target. But he weren't going to apologise, no way. The guy was a creep, a low life, just another redneck scum... but maybe that was why he made Daryl so angry. He was him.

No, Daryl shook his head as he headed for the main gate, I'm nothing like him.

But maybe he was. The thought of Axel leering over Beth had made his skin crawl, had sent waves of anger through his entire body, settling and boiling in the pit of his stomach. It wasn't just because Beth was a kid, a kid he felt somewhat responsible for – no, it was because the thought of him with her and aroused another type of feeling in him. Which had led to yet another feeling – Beth's opinion of Axel. Creepy, Gross. If Axel was the double of himself, and Axel had elicited that response from Beth, then it was safe to assume he elicited a similar response from her himself. He wasn't sure how that made him feel – unsurprised, for one. The only way he could deal with it was the only way he knew how, the way he had grown up, the way Merle had taught him – with his fists. So he had laid into Axel until he could no longer recognize his own face in the other man's. It was stupid and it was reckless but it made sense to him. Yet as he headed out of the prison and into the wooded area beyond, he found himself wondering what Beth's reaction would be to the news. A nauseous wave of fear passed over him, before he yanked his crossbow out and over his shoulder, ready to block the entire day out.