Daryl Dixon found the house at around the same time Maggie Greene did. Daryl had been trekking through the undergrowth for days since the prison had fallen, close enough to the road to be able to see anything or anyone approaching. He had stayed and fought at the prison for as long as he could, taking down as many of the Governor's men as possible, until he was forced to flee. Amongst all of the fire and carnage, Daryl was unable to find anyone else, and had no choice but to escape alone.
He had been walking in silence for days, brooding. His legs ached and his jaw hurt from having kept it clamped for days, but he had kept going, only stopping to sleep for an hour or so a night, and hunting squirrels as he went. His clothing was singed and caked in dried blood, the dust of the rubble and the ashes of the fires settled across his bare arms and intermingling with the sweat. His head pounded, his throat was raw and he thought he might even have a few bullets in him; something was definitely bleeding through his pant leg and soaking his thigh.
The past few days had been tough, not just on him physically, but mentally. He tried to keep his mind on walking, hoping the physical aches and pains the act caused would distract him from his thoughts. But the prison forced its way in anyway, bringing back the image of Hershel tied up on the ground, the sword hitting his flesh, the tank forcing down the fences. He thought of Rick, of Carl, and especially of Beth. All he could do was hope and pray they had gotten out, that they were holed up safe somewhere, and if he kept walking he wound find them. But every new step, every jolt of pain up his calves, felt like it was taking him further away from that reality.
He found the grove by accident, really. He was looking for something more substantial to eat when he spotted the smoke through the trees. Keeping low, his crossbow ready, he stalked towards it. It was a fairly large house, settled amongst pecan trees, a wire fence surrounding it.
Daryl kept to the trees as he surveyed the area, keeping an eye out for threats.
A figure moved into view; at first he thought it a walker, but it walked too well to be one of the undead. The figure was moving slowly, looking around itself, and Daryl thought it was probably heading for the house too.
As it drew nearer, Daryl narrowed his eyes. He was unsure whether what he was seeing was real, or just a facet of his wishful thinking – the figure sure looked a lot like Maggie Greene.
Maggie had lost track of the days since Beth had gone; she had escaped from the gas station by the skin of her teeth. Whilst she had seen Beth get out of the back door, Maggie had not been able to, the walkers had hemmed her in, forcing her backwards onto the floor of the cafe. Picking them off, she had managed to get out via the front doors, wounded and exhausted, just in time to see the car drive off with her sister.
She had lost time in circling the building and checking the back, just in case her sister was still there, but there had been nothing left of her but blood and her hunting knife.
Maggie had collapsed then in a state of panic, cradling Beth's knife to her chest. The black tire skids across the parking lot had confirmed that Beth had been in that car, but it was too late by now. Maggie had run out to the road, screaming, but she could not even see the car in the distance.
So instead she had been walking, keeping to the road and praying. As the first day had waned into night and then the night had broken back into day, Maggie had begun to lose hope. And then the second day was fading and she was beginning to realise she would have to stop for food, for water, for rest, and Beth was getting further and further away from her.
Maggie had found the house by following what she had hoped was a deer track. After several days on the road with no food, she had been desperate enough to leave the roadside to look. She was not as good a hunter as her sister had grown to be, but she was okay. The house, as it came into view from afar, had been a surprise.
Maggie was looking at this house now, trying to judge whether or not it was occupied, and whether or not it was worth her time going to check it out, when an arrow whizzed through the air and hit the ground inches from her boot.
She jumped and stepped back, looking around wildly. Her heart was hammering violently in her chest as her eyes frantically scanned the horizon. She could see no movement.
Gingerly, Maggie reached down and picked up the bow, turning it over in her hands. Frowning, she looked back up again. This time she saw him, crouched low amongst the bushes.
She gasped, blinking, making sure she was really seeing what she thought she was seeing and dehydration hadn't just broken her mind.
Daryl Dixon stood up and walked out of the trees and towards her. He stopped a few feet in front of her, and the two of them stared at one another, Maggie in open mouthed shock, Daryl in tight-jawed silence.
'Goddamnit Daryl were you tryin'a kill me!' She gasped, brandishing the bow at him.
Daryl looked at her for a moment, then his dark face broke into a small, some what unsure, smile. It was that smile that moved Maggie from her rooted spot and found her flinging her arms around the older man. Maggie surprised Daryl by instantly closing the gap between them and throwing her arms around his neck. Daryl was taken aback by the move, and he stumbled slightly beneath her. However, slowly, her body seemed to mould to his and he put his arms around her as well, feeling how small she was beneath her coat. They both seemed to relish the human contact, both secretly deeply needing to be held. Maggie's dark hair tickled his chin and Daryl couldn't help but breathe in the scent of it; behind the smell of sweat and dirt was a lingering smell of shampoo – the same kind Beth used, and Daryl's stomach dropped.
Maggie stepped back and looked up into Daryl's face; he looked just as bad as she felt. As she moved her own sore and swollen eyes over his dirty, blood splattered face, she couldn't help but smile. She had given up any hope of finding anyone on this road, let alone her sister, and now suddenly Daryl Dixon had jumped out on her. In fact, had almost impaled her.
'Where's Beth?' He asked, and Maggie's stomach dropped.
Daryl's worst fears were confirmed as Maggie's face fell. Her eyes glossed with tears and she took a shaking breath.
'We got split up,' she said.
Daryl frowned.
'Split up?' He said, blinking hard through the frown. 'So you were together? She's alive?'
'She was.' Maggie said with a sigh. Her eyes were searching Daryl's face and he suddenly felt like there was a lot riding on his reaction. He swallowed, trying to keep his exterior calm and not betray the turmoil of emotions he now felt inside.
'We got out together and we found a gas station, but we got overrun.' Maggie said. 'I saw her get out, but by the time I got out too she was gone. I think someone took her.'
'Took her?' Daryl shook his head. He wasn't understanding her. 'Wha'dya mean took her?'
'A black car with a white cross on the back sped off – I've been trying to follow it but I don't think I can.'
Daryl's hands had clenched into fists as Maggie spoke. He didn't know how much more he could take, first Beth was alive, then she was gone, and now she had been taken. His head was spinning.
'Where did they go?' he asked, grinding his teeth.
Miserably, Maggie shrugged.
'Okay,' Daryl said. He took a step back and ran a hand down his face, looking out over the area around them. 'So – let me – yer sayin' y'lost y'sister.'
Maggie scowled up at him.
'No.' She said. 'I did not lose her.'
'But she was alive an' well with you and now she's what? Gone? Dead?'
'She is not dead!' Maggie shouted, forcefully pushing at his chest. It knocked him back a little, and Maggie could have sworn she heard him growl. He rounded on her.
'Well she ain't 'ere is she!' He snapped.
'I'm gonna get her back!' Maggie shouted.
'How! You don't even know where she is!'
'Help me then!' Maggie cried, her chest heaving. 'You can track her!'
Daryl shook his head. He stepped away from the young woman, clenching and unclenching his fists. He looked out over the grove before them, calming his breathing.
He nodded. 'Alright.' He said. 'We find them. We find her.'
Maggie's own breathing was heavy, but she took a deep breath, blowing it out through her nose. She looked at Daryl, and her anger began to ebb. He's scared, she thought, and she could understand that.
She bit her lip as she looked at him; an unexpected feeling of relief washing over her as she looked across at Daryl, as he stood, crossbow in hand, face serious.
'We find her.' She said with a nod.
'You were gonna check this house?' Daryl asked her. He was still not looking at her, and Maggie thought there was an edge of shame in his voice now.
'I was thinking about it,' Maggie said. 'Were you?'
'Thinkin' 'bout it,' he said with a nod.
'Go together?' Maggie asked.
Daryl rubbed his chin and nodded again.
'We stay close together, one room at a time,' he said, his eyes narrowed at the house a little way from them.
Together, Daryl with his crossbow raised and Maggie with her sister's knife in her hand, they approached the fence. As they grew closer, Daryl put out a hand to stop her.
'Look,' he said, nodding to the ground, 'footprints, an' they aint walkers.'
'Humans?' Maggie asked, her heart sinking. That was always worse than walkers. Walkers they could judge, walkers they could predetermine - humans were different.
'Mm. And recent.' Daryl said sourly.
'Do we turn back?' Maggie asked, but before Daryl could reply, the front door opened and to both of their intense surprise, Carol appeared.
Daryl stared at her for a moment, then he shoved the fence aside and ran to her, catching her as she quickly descended the steps to the house, and pulling her into a tight embrace.
'Saw you from the window!' Carol said as he let her go.
Maggie joined them and Carol pulled her into a hug too.
'Good afternoon,' another familiar voice said.
Both parties looked up to see Tyreese in the doorway.
'Come on in,' Carol said, 'it's warm and it's safe.'
Maggie and Daryl looked at each other for a moment, then they grinned and headed in.
The house was indeed warm; it was set out like a typical farmhouse cottage, with lace across the windows, a kitchen leading into a diner, a small, round wooden table and chairs in the middle, beneath the hanging light fixtures. The floor squeaked as they stepped over it, but it was in good condition, and the walls were painted white and simple.
As the newcomers stepped through into the dining room, Sasha stood up from the table, Judith in her arms.
Maggie's hand went to her mouth as she gasped and Daryl gulped.
'Hi,' Sasha said.
'I saw the fire at the prison,' Carol said, 'I went back and I found these two. Well, three.'
'It's just you? No-one else is here? Rick? Glen?' Maggie asked.
Carol shook her head.
'No, sorry. It's just us.'
Maggie nodded. But seeing them made her feel better; if they had gotten out and survived, then there was every chance Glen had too.
'Sit down,' Carol told them, 'I can make you up a herbal tea.'
The sun was setting just beyond the grove as Maggie sat on one of the arm chairs, sipping on a hot drink, watching as Carol bandaged up Daryl's leg. There had been a shallow bullet wound in his thigh that he had been walking on, and Carol was trying her best to clean it, but Daryl was complaining.
'I aint need no stitches an' I dont need y'to do 'em,' he growled, jerking away from Carol again as she tried to dab at the hole through his trousers.
'You can't see what you need because you are refusing to take your pants off.' Carol reprimanded him.
'I aint takin' m'damn pants off so y'can forget that now, woman.' He snapped.
Carol laughed and pushed herself up onto her feet. She wiped her hands down and shook her head fondly at her friend.
'Fine. Bleed out then.' She said.
Daryl muttered something under his breath and turned away.
'How did you find us here?' Sasha asked Maggie. Herself and Tyreese were sitting at the table, baby Judith content on Tyreese's lap.
'It was an accident,' Maggie said. 'I was looking for deer.'
'We saw a deer out there,' Carol said, 'they're attracted to the pecans.'
'Maybe – maybe Daryl could find it tomorrow.' Tyreese offered. Tensions had always been a little tense between him and Daryl, but he seemed willing to keep things civil. Maggie was fond of Tyreese, he was a good man, a kind man, and he had always seemed honest and genuine to her; losing Karen had really hurt him.
Daryl turned to look at him.
'Nah,' he said, 'tomorrow I find Beth.'
The atmosphere in the room changed as he spoke; Tyreese and Sasha exchanged glances.
'We got out together, me and Beth,' Maggie explained, 'we got split up.'
'Split up?' Carol asked.
'Someone took her.'
Carol looked from Maggie to Daryl, then glanced across at the siblings before turning back to Maggie.
'What do you mean?' She asked, her voice low and serious.
'Someone in a black car with a white cross drove off with her.' Maggie said.
'You're sure?' Carol frowned.
'I'm sure.'
Carol looked to Daryl.
'You know where they went? You know where she is?' She asked.
Daryl shook his head.
'But I'm'a find her.' He said.
Carol nodded. She turned back to Maggie, her face softening.
'And Glen?' She asked.
Maggie sighed and shook her head.
'I have no idea about Glen. I know he didn't get out on the bus, but that's all.' She said.
'He will have got out,' Sasha nodded.
'You'll find him.' Tyreese said.
As the light from the sun faded, the small group moved their party through into the sitting room. There was a fireplace that they lit up, and a cot for Judith, which Tyreese explained they had found in the house. Daryl had noticed the cross outside with the baby shoes on top, so he nodded as Tyreese told him he had found a nursery.
Daryl set up next to the fire, his back leant against one of the chairs. He was staring off into the fire, watching the way the flames crackled and split over the logs, the tiny pieces of ash that drifted up, the splinters of wood that fell off and burned low in the embers. He was thinking how strange it was that they had found this place, that he and Maggie had found it at the same time, and that Carol, Tyreese and Sasha had been within it. Beth was the optimistic of the two, but he hoped this was a good sign, a sign that eventually they would all come together. That he would find Beth.
Carol approached him, Judith in her arms. She crouched down in front of him, showing Judith the fire, who looked at it with wide, interested eyes.
Daryl watched the two of them, his own eyes curiously sweeping over the baby.
'How are you feeling?' Carol asked him.
Daryl shrugged.
'You were on your own out there?'
'Yeah.'
Carol nodded.
'Jus' like you, y'dumb jerk,' Daryl muttered, looking back to the fire. 'Di'n think I was gonna see ya again.'
'I had to.' Carol said, lowering her voice. 'Rick made it clear, and he was right.'
'Does Ty-' Daryl began, but Carol shook her head fervently.
'Not yet.' She said.
Daryl looked into Carol's eyes for a long time; she looked tired, worn. He knew she believed what she had done to Karen and David, back at the prison, she did to protect the group, but he didn't know if he agreed with it. It had been rash, and she had paid for it.
'I'm glad I found ya,' he said. And he really meant it.
'Me too.' Carol smiled.
Suddenly, Judith leaned forward out from Carol's arms, her podgy hands grabbing for Daryl. Daryl stared at her, taken aback. Carol chuckled lightly.
'I think she wants you,' Carol said. She readjusted Judith, who was wriggling out of her arms, and held her out to Daryl. Daryl hesitated for a moment, then he took her.
She was heavy, warm and soft, and she smelt good, a mixture of fabric softener and baby powder. She settled in Daryl's arms and looked up into his face, wide doe eyes. Daryl frowned, unsure as to why she would want him. He gently rocked her.
'Hey, lil asskicker,' he said softly, gently running a hand over her fine baby hair, his course, dirty hands looking out of place against her soft, pale skin. 'Did'ya miss me?'
Judith offered him up a gappy smile, and Daryl awkwardly smiled back. But holding the baby brought back raw memories of Beth, who so often seemed to have the child on her hip. It was the baby that had really opened Daryl up to Beth, the soft way she held her, calmed her, sung to her.
He thought back to the very first night he had found her in the infirmary as he sought out pain killers, singing softly and privately to the baby in her arms. It had been a sweet, melodic rhythm and Daryl had felt like he was intruding into a personal, intimate moment as he watched her gently sway the babe. He could remember the way she had moved, the way she sung, the way her mass of blonde curls were pulled atop her head, strands falling down and over her slender shoulders, the soft, pale curve of her neck, her waist in her tank top.
Daryl took a deep breath, his breath shaking, realising with fear that his eyes suddenly felt a lot wetter, and his cheeks a lot hotter. He cleared his throat and handed the baby back to Carol.
'I gotta get out,' he said, pushing himself up from the floor.
Carol stood too, and Daryl wondered whether she was looking at him with sympathy.
'Need'a smoke,' he said gruffly.
'Be safe out there,' Carol said softly to him as he left the room, feeling Maggie watch him as he went.
Daryl woke early the next morning, his back stiff from having fallen asleep sitting up. He picked his way past the others as they lay in various places around the room, blankets and pillows having been taken from upstairs wrapped around them. They had given Maggie the sofa, and Daryl glanced down at her as she lay asleep across it, a large blanket covering her, pulled up to her chin. She was frowning in her sleep, her lips pushed together, but at least she was sleeping.
Daryl stepped into the kitchen and began to make up a bag of supplies, water and food they might not miss. He was inspecting his crossbow on the dining table when Maggie appeared in the doorway, her hair tousled but her jacket on.
'You're not going without me.' She said matter of factly, heading over to the table and laying her own bag down before him.
'I don't need yer help,' Daryl said.
'I don't care. She's my sister, I'm coming to find her.' Maggie said.
'You'll slow me down.'
'She's my sister.' Maggie repeated, putting her hands down on the table and leaning across it to look steadily up at him through her dark lashes. 'I'm coming.'
Daryl looked her over, and sighed.
'Fine.' He said.
'You going so soon?'
The sound of Tyreese's voice caught them both off guard, and they turned to see him approaching them through the kitchen.
'If Beth is still alive out there, we have to find her.' Maggie said as Daryl nodded his agreement.
Tyreese nodded. He moved to the cupboard and took out a few cans of preserved food.
'Take these,' he said. 'We got enough.'
Maggie regarded him for a moment, then took them and put them in her bag.
'There's a car a little way off,' Tyreese told them. 'An emergency starter in the trunk. We left it there in case we needed to make a quick getaway. Take it.'
'Cheers,' Daryl nodded.
'We planned to carry on to the next town once we'd caught out breath back here,' Tyreese said. 'I guess if you're going we should think about heading out. If you come back and can't find us, you find us there.'
'Thank you, Tyreese.' Maggie said sincerely.
'I see Glen over across town, I'll tell him you're coming.'
Maggie let out a soft sigh as she smiled, gently nodding her head.
'Be safe out there.' He said.
Daryl flung his own pack across his back and shouldered his crossbow. He walked across the wooden floor to the other man and laid a hand on his shoulder.
'Thanks, man.' He said.
Tyreese gave him one serious nod.
He followed the two of them to the front door, wanting to check the perimeter and make sure their leaving didn't draw any unwanted attention their way. He pulled the door open a crack and peered out into the morning.
'Clear,' he nodded, stepping back.
Daryl and Maggie looked at one another, their faces grave and serious. It was time to find Beth.
'Leaving without saying goodbye?' Carol asked, appearing in the hallway.
'Aint goodbye.' Daryl said to her. 'I'm comin' back.'
'Make sure that you do,' Carol said. 'And bring her back with you.'
'We will.' Maggie said.
'Good luck,' Carol nodded to them, and Maggie gave her one last smile before they stepped out onto the front porch and made their way down the wooden steps and onto the grass below. Their boots squished over the morning dew as they walked to the fence, pulling up the posts and moving it aside so they could pass. Daryl turned back to return to fence to its place, digging the pole back into the wet mud. He looked up at the house as he did, seeing a stern Carol and Tyreese watching them.
'That'a way to the car,' Tyreese called to them, pointing in the direction.
Daryl nodded.
Carol raised a hand, and Daryl saw her other was on her gun. He regarded her for a moment, then turned to follow Maggie into the under-growth of the trees, crunching across the fallen pecans as they went. No gun shots followed them, so they assumed the coast was clear.
The car Tyreese had mentioned was a few miles up the road, and both parties had begun to sweat as they walked. Neither of them spoke as they walked, their minds occupied on the task at hand, at what might find them on their journey and what they might find. Both had a feeling Atlanta was their destination, and they knew it would take them a while to get there. The sun was hot on their backs as they left the forest and found the car Tyreese had mentioned, just off the road.
There were two lone walkers ambling along the asphalt, which Maggie took care of with Beth's knife whilst Daryl rigged up the car. She returned to him, wiping the blade across the sleeve of her jacket, as he turned the key in the engine. It sputtered to life.
'Good man.' Daryl murmured, meaning Tyreese.
Maggie entered the car on the passenger side, closing the door behind her and settling into the seat beside Daryl. Daryl was busy readjusting the seat and fiddling with the controls, half slumped in the seat, one leg still outside the car.
'What are you doing? Searching for your favourite radio station?' Maggie asked him lightly as he turned the dial.
Daryl shot her a look and leant out of the car to grab his crossbow and bag, flinging them both into the back. He pulled the door shut behind him, closing them both in.
The car was warm and stuffy, a faint smell of dust and wet dog about it. There were leaves knocking about the floor and the dashboard was scuffed, but other than that it was in an okay condition.
'Where now?' Maggie asked Daryl.
Daryl leant his forearms against the steering wheel and leaned forward, peering down the road before them through the windscreen.
'Atlanta.' He said.
Maggie nodded; she had thought as much. Anyone with a car was likely to be making long trips, and Atlanta was the nearest city. If there were a large amount of people somewhere with the resources to steal people and keep them, then Atlanta was a good bet.
Daryl put the car into gear and pulled out onto the road; the surrounding forest moved away from them and Maggie closed her eyes for a while, relishing being able to sit whilst also covering ground.
'Can y'drive?' Daryl asked Maggie, making her open her eyes.
'Yes,' Maggie half laughed, 'who do you think drove the trucks on the farm?'
Daryl shrugged.
'Beth can't drive,' Maggie said softly, looking out of her side window at the fields that were dropping by. A large flock of crows flew up into the air as they passed, leaving behind the pecked at corpse.
'I'll teach 'er,' Daryl said. 'When we find her I'll teach her.'
Maggie nodded. She turned back to look at Daryl's serious profile, his eyes narrowed on the road. His hands were loosely gripped around the steering wheel and he was chewing at the side of his lip.
'You love her don't you,' Maggie said.
Daryl looked at her for a moment, and Maggie could see the hesitation in his eyes. Then he looked down at his hands against the wheel, drumming his fingers slightly.
'Yeah,' he said. 'I do.'
'I'm sorry for all the trouble I gave you,' she sighed, leaning back in her chair and leaning her head against the headrest.
Daryl glanced across at her for a moment before he returned his eyes to the road.
'I was worried you would take advantage of my sister,' she said. 'But I get it now.'
Daryl nodded ever so slightly.
'Anyway, I don't hate you.' She said.
'Cheers,' Daryl said.
'If you love her and you take good care of her then there's nothing for me to argue against.'
'I gotta find her first,' Daryl said quietly.
'You will.' Maggie nodded. 'You will.'
Daryl was silent for a while as he contemplated what Maggie had said; she really had given him stick the last few months, but he couldn't blame her. He understood entirely, and he had always known his relationship with Beth was going to cause trouble, even before it could have been called a relationship.
'I find her I ain't ever gon' let her out'a m'sight again,' he said after a while of silence.
'Good luck with that,' Maggie said softly, 'none of us have ever been very good at it.'
'Can't fuckin' keep track o'her,' he sighed, 'she used t'drive me insane.'
Maggie chuckled.
'She's strong willed, just like me, just like her daddy.'
Daryl sighed.
'I'm real sorry 'bout yer dad,' he said softly, 'he was a good man.'
'Yeah,' Maggie said, 'me too.'
The two of them sat beside one another for a while in silence, both of them wrapped up in their own thoughts. Daryl was thinking about both Beth and her father; it wasn't fair what had happened to him, a great man hacked down like that, in front of his daughters too. Daryl had respected Hershel an awful amount, he had proved himself to be a strong leader, a wise man and friend. Daryl knew what he had brought himself back from, and having grown up in his own alcoholic family, Daryl respected that. He had seen first hand the love and the support he had given his two daughters, and if there was anything Daryl could take away from his relationship with Hershel, it was that he had given him his blessing before his untimely demise. Daryl had known Hershel respected him back, admiring his methodical and calm approach to things and especially his experience as a hunter, but to know he accepted him as a suitor to a daughter, that meant a lot to Daryl. And from his position beside Maggie now, he believed she had warmed to him, too. Whether she would ever truly accept his relationship with her sister, he wasn't sure, but this would do for now.
As important as it all was to Daryl, most important was Beth, and all he needed to do now was find her, get her back.
The hours ticked by and the day began to fade.
'How much longer?' Maggie asked Daryl.
'Bout an hour an' we'll be in th'city.' Daryl said. He looked across at Maggie's profile. 'Why, y'wanna stop?'
Maggie sucked in her lips as she looked at him.
'I need to pee,' she said.
Daryl sighed, but he nodded. Slowly, he pulled the car over to the side of the road and stopped.
'Don't go far,' he said, 'I'll keep watch.'
'Pervert,' Maggie said, but she laughed as Daryl bulked, his mouth opening and closing. 'I'm joking,' she grinned.
Daryl watched her walk into the bushes, then turned his back. He had received his crossbow from the back of the car, and was watching the road.
The growing sound of an engine forced Daryl to duck down behind the car in order to get out of sight. Through the windows, Daryl watched as a black car drove past the seemingly empty abandoned car and carried on down the road. Daryl's heart leapt into his mouth as he saw it drive away – saw the white cross on the back.
Once it had passed Daryl jumped up and set about smashing the end of his crossbow into the lights, shattering them and destroying the wires.
'What the hell are you doing!' Maggie cried as she crawled back up the slope to see Daryl smashing the lights in. He's finally lost his mind, she thought.
'Get in!' Daryl snapped. 'Black car white cross just passed us.'
Maggie gasped and quickly jumped in the car. Daryl joined her within seconds and started the engine back up.
'What now?' Maggie asked breathlessly as she leant forward, her hands pressed against the dashboard.
'We follow.' Daryl said. 'Let them lead us right to her. Then we do whatever we gotta do t'get her back.'