A/N You guys :) Your comments always make my day and inspire me to keep writing. Thank you so much! Let's see, oh yeah, Daryl just beat the peewaddle out of some creep, Beth left the scene. At the end, there was a kiss. Let's pick up there.

00

She drew back but their faces were still no more than five inches apart. There were no words spoken, they were both too stunned by the kiss and too filled with emotion to speak. They simply looked in each other's eyes.

He placed a hand gently on her cheek and she closed her eyes, not wanting to think about anything but the tenderness of his touch. When her eyes opened he was still watching her. He whispered, "Beth I…" but he didn't know how to say what was on his mind and in his heart, and so he simply kissed her in return. He hoped somehow the kiss would tell her everything he couldn't seem to say.

They held each other closely but gingerly, both of them now a mess of cuts, scrapes and bruises. Fresh blood was coming from a wound on his cheek and she whispered, "You need a doctor, you should have stitches."

His response didn't surprise her, "Nah, it'll heal. I'm just worried 'bout you. I'm sorry ya had ta see me bein' that way. I was so damn mad and I didn't check myself. I wanted ta kill that guy for what he done to ya. I still wanna kill him."

Now it was her who was gently caressing his cheek and with a tender smile she told him, "I know, I saw. I appreciate you wanting to defend and protect me. But him? Daryl, he's not worth you going to prison for. Mick and me, we need you here."

He wondered, did she mean those words? Of course Mick needed him, but did Beth really mean that she needed him too? That didn't seem possible. Still he wanted to believe it. He pulled her as close as their wounds and blood and pain would allow, and then they heard the sound of a police siren approaching.

His look changed and he kept his voice low so as not to wake Mick when he told her, "That'll be the sheriff. Merle's gonna talk first, he's got a way a makin' himself stay calm and he knows how ta spin a good tale. I ain't askin' you ta lie, but maybe just not say he's lyin'."

"Daryl…I"

He immediately regretted what he'd asked of her. She was a good person and he shouldn't be askin' her to go along with anything Merle cooked up. He apologized, "Hey, never mind, sorry, ya do what ya feel."

She nodded and he held out his hand, helping her to her feet. Mick was still asleep and before they left the little room Beth pulled the cover up over her, leaned in and kissed her cheek. She looked at Daryl and whispered, "Thank God she missed it all." He nodded in agreement.

Beth took a deep breath, said a fast prayer for strength and courage, and they went out to face the sheriff.

The dark-haired man was now sitting on the asphalt, his hair matted with blood and dirt. Wounds and bruises showed on every inch of his skin not covered by clothing, but that didn't stop Rick Grimes from putting him in cuffs. The sheriff looked at Daryl and Beth explaining, "I got a wagon comin' for him. They'll take him to the hospital to patch him up, then he's goin' straight to jail."

He shifted his stance, rested his hands on his hips and asked, "Now, who's gonna tell me what happened here?" He didn't seem angry or accusatory, in fact he almost appeared to be pleased by what he saw.

Daryl and Beth stood quiet while Merle spun his tale, "I's busy at the pumps when it all started. Ya shoulda seen the way the guy come screechin' in here Rick, and just look at them bald tires. That's all I need ta see ta know he's a fool. Anyway, I look over an I see him jump outta the car just as Daryl's walkin' toward him."

Merle was masterful at adding to the drama as his lips pursed and he shook his head in disgust, "He says sumthin' ta Daryl and then pops open his trunk, that's when I hear Daryl yell sumthin' at him."

Merle looked at his brother and added, "That's probably when Daryl seen Beth's handbag, that's what gave away who the asshole is. Anyway, the dumbass musta realized Daryl was onto him cuz he starts throwin' punches and kickin' my brother. Shit Rick, I couldn't believe the way he was wailin' on Daryl."

The dark haired man reacted yelling, "He's lyin' this shithead hit me first! I didn't even know what he was mad about!"

The sheriff looked at the man with disgust while telling him in no uncertain terms, "I'll let ya know when I wanna hear from you. For now your best bet is to keep quiet."

Merle looked both angry and distressed as he laid a hand on Daryl's shoulder, "I don't gotta tell ya Rick, you know it yourself, Daryl's more'n capable of holdin' his own in a fight. That's why I didn't jump in right away. I finished fillin' a guy's tank then come over ta see what was what. By then little brother's got the upper hand and I tell him, 'that's enough now son,' and he gets off the guy and goes ta check on Mick and Beth."

Rick looked at Daryl, "Is that how it happened? Do you have anything to add?"

"Yeah, everythin' that Merle said, but there's more. This piece a shit told me he had some stolen merchandise he'd like ta trade me for a couple tires. I's about ta send him down the road when I seen Beth's handbag in his trunk. I admit it Rick, when he started punchin' I punched back. Maybe I shoulda quit sooner, but I didn't. Not til Merle told me ta stop."

Then the sheriff looked to her and asked, "Beth what about you? Do you have anything to add?"

She thought she might faint and her throat felt so dry she doubted she'd be able to speak even a word. When she did she didn't lie, not exactly, and she didn't tell the truth, not exactly. Her words were barely audible when she looked the sheriff in the eye and said, "I'm sorry sheriff. I didn't see the man pull up. I didn't see him open the trunk or hear what he said. I spent the morning with Mick in her little room."

The dark haired man yelled again, "She's a lyin' bitch!"

Daryl lunged toward the man ready to kill him but Merle managed to jump in front of his brother. He held him back and got close enough to say what he had to say. In a quiet voice, meant only for Daryl's ears to hear, Merle assured him he'd have his chance at revenge, "Not yet kid. His day's comin' but it ain't today. Be patient."

Rick was busy keeping the assailant controlled as he cautioned the man more harshly, "Listen you bastard, around here we don't talk to women that way. I warned you ta shut up. I'll gag ya next time."

Daryl's arm was around her shoulders and Beth's eyes were closed like she was trying to avoid the whole scene. She looked so frail to him and he was worried, he drew her closer to his side and she slipped her arm around his waist, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Things calmed down and the sheriff nodded, "Alright. Well it all seems pretty straightforward to me. Since there's more than one jurisdiction involved I have to call Atlanta. They'll wanna send a detective up this way to give the car and this scumbag both a once over. Beth, as soon as they go over everything in the trunk and catalog it you'll be asked to come to the station and identify your property. You should have it all back within a few days. Alright?"

"Thank you very much, sheriff."

Daryl let loose of Beth long enough to walk to the sheriff, lean in and quietly tell him something. The sheriff simply nodded in reply.

The two men were plenty sneaky about it, making sure the dark haired man didn't see what they were up to. The sheriff took a glove from his pocket and took a look in the trunk. He didn't have to look for long, he found them in the first place he checked. The idiot had put her keys back in her purse. Rick slipped the key ring out of the bag and handed it to Daryl. The two men acknowledged what had happened with a simple nod of the head.

Daryl walked a few feet away, his back to the group as he removed the two Chevy keys from the ring, stuck them in his pocket and then slipped the ring back to Rick who wiped it with the glove and slid it back in the purse.

The ambulance came for the dark haired man and once he was loaded up the sheriff said, "Thanks everyone. You'll have to come in and give a statement but the case seems pretty cut and dry."

The sheriff had just opened his car door to leave when she was finally able to say the words, "Sheriff, I know that man."

The stunned sheriff shut his car door, walked to her and asked, "You wanna tell me about that here or go to the station?"

Before she could answer the whistle blew and Daryl, Beth and Merle all hurried to Mick's room. She was sitting up on the cot, whistle in her hand and a frown on her face, "Where was everybody?" Then she got a good look at her Daddy and screeched, "Daddy, Daddy what happened!"

It was Merle who had the answer. "Daddy's fine Mick, just had a dang car hood slip off the hood support and land on him. But you know your Daddy, he'll be good as new in no time. You'll see he is."

Now she was standing on the cot, her little arms around her Daddy's middle and hugging him tight. "Sorry ya got hurt Daddy. You just gotta be more careful."

"I will Mick, I promise."

Her Uncle smiled as he rubbed his hand over her hair and said, "Hey Mick, whaddya say I put the closed sign up for a few minutes and you an me walk across the street ta Junior's? We'll pick up some hot dogs and bring em back ta my office, have ourselves a picnic lunch."

Mick was smiling now, "Ya think we better get some tato chips an a coke ta go with them hot dogs?"

Merle was trying hard to hold in a smile when he looked at his brother for the okay. Daryl was in no frame of mind to worry about Mick having a coke, he gave a nod of the head and her Uncle Merle told her, "I was hopin' you'd suggest that. I ain't had a coke in a while now. Let's see...yep, not since the last time you and me had one together. C'mon, let's go."

As they walked by Beth and Daryl, Merle quietly told his brother, "Me n Mick are gonna be just fine for however long ya need." Then he laid a hand on Beth's shoulder and smiled his encouragement.

Daryl nodded back, said, "Thanks brother," and took Beth's hand.

It wasn't quite enough. She needed his strength and she felt herself leaning into him. He seemed to understand and he let go of her hand and once again wrapped an arm around her shoulders as he promised her, "I'ma be right with ya when ya talk to Rick. I'ma always be with ya."

Did he know what he'd just said? Did he mean it the way she wanted him to mean it? She wasn't sure and with the sheriff walking toward them now was not the time to ask.

Daryl knew she was overwhelmed and he could see she was fading. He insisted, "We're gonna need ta sit for this talk."

Rick nodded, "That's fine. We can do this wherever ya want. Mick's room, your house or we can go to the station."

Daryl nodded, "Yeah, let's just do it in Mick's room."

Daryl directed Rick to the chair at his desk, he remained standing and Beth sat on the cot. He could hardly take looking at her without hurrying over to let her know everything was okay. There was something else too, something eating at him. Besides his deep concern for her there was a big question hanging in the air. Who the fuck was this guy and how did she know him? He was sure he wanted the answer to that even more than the sheriff did.

Rick could see her distress as well and he did his best to ease her nerves, "Beth, now remember, you're not in any kind of trouble and you're sure not on trial. I just want you to tell me how you happen to know this fella and whatever you might know about him. Okay? Take your time."

Daryl was leaning with his back against the wall as he nervously chewed the side of his thumb. He was anxious to hear her story but the look on her face had him thinking maybe they should call the whole thing off. He didn't care anymore what he and Grimes wanted to know, Beth had been through enough these past few days. There was nothing to gain that was worth putting her through more.

He'd just taken a step forward ready to pull the plug on all of it when she began to speak, "I've seen him hanging around on the corner near the phone company for a few weeks. He's there in the morning when I come to work and in the afternoon when I leave."

"He made me so nervous, I felt like he was always staring at me." She paused, her face turning scarlet as she avoided looking at either of the men, finally she drew in a breath and continued, "It was...the way he looked at me...it was in a way that made me feel like…you know…like he was interested in something with me. I tried telling myself I was just imagining it because I can be a little afraid of strange men."

"I was getting more and more nervous about him though. I couldn't imagine what business he would have being there everyday like that. I finally told my friend Enid about him and after work that afternoon she walked out with me. He was there in the usual spot but as soon as he saw us he turned around and walked off. Enid said he was probably just some girl-shy weirdo and I wanted so bad to believe that was all it was, I agreed."

Daryl could swear he saw her tremble and he couldn't just stand there any longer. He wasn't going to leave her sitting there shaking. He walked to the little cot and sat down next to her, taking her hand in his. The way she looked at him made his heart hurt, she seemed so scared. He whispered, "It's okay, remember I'm right here."

She nodded and spoke, "It was two days later and I needed an item at the drugstore. It's only two blocks from the phone company so I walked there on my lunch break." Her hand felt icy and he held it tighter, her skin had gone so pale that the cut and the marks on her face seemed to stand out even more. He understood why when she spoke again, "He was there on the corner and I had to walk passed him. I was looking down and trying to ignore him but when he said, 'Hey Miss' I just automatically looked up." Then the words spilled out all at once, "He spoke to me and he said something terrible, it was, 'I like me a little'un and you look real fresh. C'mon with me now, I'll take ya for a ride and show ya what ya been missin'."

Daryl felt the rage like a fire that started in his belly and quickly spread. If the guy had been there he would have jumped him and finished beating him to death. As it was he was fighting the urge to rush over to the jailhouse and try to get his hands on him there. But he realized it was like Merle said, when the chance came, and it would come, he'd take care of that bastard for good.

The sheriff was not inclined to put her through any more anguish, he wished he'd never have to again. But he knew that sometime in the near future there would likely be a trial and Beth would have to testify. He wished there was some other way.

At least there was a little something he could do to make this process easier. "You know I've got good notes here. Whaddya say I have my secretary type up your statements and I can bring em by later. You read em and if you agree with everything, you can just sign em and that part is done. How's that?"

Daryl looked at her, she nodded and he told Rick, "Yeah, yeah sounds better'n goin' down ta the station today. We'll likely be over at my place by the time ya get back."

Rick smiled and tried to lighten the dark mood, "Yeah? Well then I'll bring a machete so I can clear a path through the bushes."

Daryl shrugged and smiled back, "It keeps the riff raff out."

When Rick's car pulled away the first thing Daryl did was put his arms around her, "I'm so sorry. Listen, Merle's back and he'll keep an eye on the place. Lemme just shut the shop door and let's get on home. I need ta clean up and you need ta eat and rest."

She didn't argue with him. She was sure she could have run ten miles and she wouldn't feel as worn and tired as she felt that day. She was physically and emotionally exhausted.

They got back to the house and he insisted, "You sit in the chair now, just lemme get cleaned up real quick."

"Daryl let me help. I can do that for you."

"Nah, ya need rest more'n I need help. 'Sides, I've been doctorin' my own wounds my whole life."

She thought of the scars that covered his body and she knew it was true, and the fact that it was true broke her heart.

He went in the bathroom, got out the peroxide and the Mercurochrome and went to work. He wasn't worried about marks and scars and such, he'd quit worrying about those things years before. All he worried about now was stopping any bleeding and not getting an infection. Mostly he just washed everything good with hot water and his Lifebuoy soap, gave the open wounds a good dose of the Peroxide and hurried back to her.

She was still sitting in the chair looking dazed and so frail. He lay his hand over hers and asked, "Ya okay, can I get ya anythin'?"

She answered, "No, I'm fine."

She was a long way from fine but he didn't see a reason to argue about it. He went in the kitchen and made up some vegetable soup and bologna sandwiches. He didn't call her to the kitchen to eat, instead he brought her soup in a mug and set it on the table beside her. Next he handed her a napkin and a plate with her sandwich. She gave him a weak smile and a weaker, "Thank you." And he went to get his own.

He returned and sat on the couch, his mug on the coffee table and a plate with three sandwiches in his lap. He smiled at her and attempting to make her smile he joked, "Beatin' up jerks like that guy gives me a big appetite."

It did make her smile and she told him, "Daryl, I hope you know how much I appreciate you. I don't know what I'd do without you. You've taken such good care of me, fighting my battles and making sure I eat and rest. I feel bad I'm not taking care of you now."

He looked down, shook his head a little then looked at back her, "I don't mind doin' for ya Beth. I want to. I'd do anythin' for ya. And I don't need ya doin' nuthin' for me except getting better." Then he told her what he knew, "This guy, he ain't ever gonna bother ya again. You got my word on that." She believed him, he'd proved himself to her in so many ways.

She couldn't help a little smile as she watched him eat. Those sandwiches seemed to go down in two or three bites, then he picked up his mug and drank the soup down in one swallow. She didn't do quite as well with hers. She managed half the sandwich and a few sips of soup, then she apologized, "I'm sorry Daryl, it's really good I just can't eat anymore. I'm so tired all I can think about is laying down."

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than he was on his feet and helping her to her feet. He didn't ask and she didn't complain when he picked her up in his arms and carried her to his room. He set her down as he turned the quilt back on the bed, quickly kissed her forehead and said, "Crawl in."

She lay on her back and he pulled the cover up around her. Her eyes were barely open as she smiled up at him and he didn't take the time to think about it, he laid down next to her, his arm across her as he nuzzled his face in close to her ear, "I want ya ta sleep peaceful knowin' that as long as I live I ain't ever gonna let anyone hurt ya ever again." Then he kissed her cheek and added, "Sweet dreams Darlin'."

She turned toward him, laying her hand gently on his cheek. Her voice was so soft he strained to hear her, but the quiet words she spoke warmed his heart. "Even though I had to go through a lot of bad things to be here, I wouldn't change any of it. It's all been worth it for this time with you and Mick."

There was so much he wanted to say to her but once again he couldn't find the words. All he could do was draw her closer, kiss her hair and whisper, "I want ya here with me for as long as you're willin' ta stay."

00

A/N Thank you all for reading along and please leave a comment. As always, there's a chap photo on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick. If you celebrate, I wish you a Very Merry Christmas, and a Very Happy Hanukkah! I hope to see you all back next Friday for another chapter of It Matters to Me. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee