The older Greene wasn't even looking surprised or shocked, when she saw her younger sister in Daryl Dixon's arms. "Bethy." Maggie was calling for her and slowly Daryl could feel how Beth's body began to wake up. Being a little confused, she first obviously didn't know where she was or what was happening, when she finally faced her sister.

"Daddy have woken up." Maggie simply told them and only then Beth began to realise. Still unsure, if she should be happy about this or not, she was searching for help up at Daryl's eyes, who was giving her an encouraging smile back and he slowly began to node his head.

"Do you come with me?" Beth asked Daryl worried and like always he just couldn't say no to her begging eyes, which were getting the sparkle from the Beth back, he adored so much. After Daryl had nodded and promised Beth so to stay by her side, he began to lose their embrace and helped her on her feet.

While Maggie already ran to their father, Beth and Daryl got with slower steps afterwards. Beth's body was still too weak to be able to run. Daryl was afraid about how she will react, when she will see her father, he probably won't look that good after everything.

But his worries were for nothing, because in the second they entered the room, a big, relieved smile got on Beth's lips, when she whispered "Daddy." Hershel was laying on top of the bed like he was just asleep. The blood spots were gone, his body covered from the blanket, it almost looked like nothing had ever happened.

"He will probably wake up from time to time, but he won't be really here. I have giving him strong pain killers. It will need much time, but he will be good again." Doctor S told the Greene sisters and they both began to smile happy and with tears in their eyes they thanked the doctor for at least twenty times. "You don't have to thank me. Instead you should thank Daryl. He had saved your father's life."

Not wanting the gratitude Daryl shook his head, while he was looking embarrassed down at his shoes. He just looked up again, when Doctor S had got past him and while Maggie gave already her whole attention to Hershel again, Beth was looking so compassionate up at Daryl, like the hero he was for her.

She was looking and smiling thankfully up at him, like he had never seen her before and Daryl just wanted to tell her, that he didn't deserve the gratitude, when her soft lips formed a silent 'thank you'. He kept on looking overwhelmed at her for a few more moments, till Beth also gave her attention to Hershel and Daryl got outside the room to let the sisters some time on their own.

Daryl knew, that Maggie was next to her side at the moment. Beth was safe, so he got to his cell, picked up some clean clothes and headed downstairs to the showers. Daryl's arms, upperbody and probably also his whole face, were still covered from the dried blood from Hershel.

While the water was running down his back, Daryl silently thanked God for letting Hershel alive and he also prayed, that he will really make it, because Beth needed her father so bad. They all needed Hershel, he was also a father figure for everyone inside here.

After Daryl was done with his shower, he quickly got upstairs to see if Beth was hopefully still okay and seeing her sitting on the edge of the bed, holding the hand from her older sister made Daryl almost weak. The two sisters were always so respectful and lovingly to each other, this on front of him was a very strong connection between siblings, something Daryl never had with Merle. But at the same time he was damn glad for Beth, that she had the support of her family, that they were there for her no matter what.

Because Daryl knew, that Beth was still in good hands, he didn't even show himself the two sisters, instead he got into the prison kitchen and made a sandwich for Beth and also picked up a bottle of water, before he headed back to them.

The bottle and the plate in his hands almost fell to the ground, when Daryl finally saw, that only Maggie was next to Hershel's side any more. "Where is Beth?" He quickly asked with a worried voice, while he placed the drink and sandwich on the little table next to the bed.

"I don't know." Maggie simply answered, not showing Daryl her face and best he wanted to yell at her for not knowing where her little sister was in a situation like this. But Daryl knew, that it wouldn't change anything, so instead he started to run into the direction of Beth's cell.

He just got upstairs and wanted to get the last few meters to her room, when Daryl passed by Hershel's cell and there she thankfully was. Relieved Daryl leaned against the doorframe and watched the blond girl sitting on the floor in her father's cell and doing something with his trousers.

Slowly Daryl got closer to Beth, getting one of her sweet smiles, when she had finally noticed him. "Hey. What are you doing here sweetheart?" Daryl asked softly, while he got on his knees in front of her. "When daddy will be strong enough and we have found some crutches, the useless fabric of his trousers will bother him, while he will try to learn to walk." Beth said determined, never stopping with her work.

But Daryl could tell, that something was wrong. So he gently covered Beth's still working hands with his so much bigger ones and made her so stop with what she was doing. "What's wrong sweetheart? I know there is something." Daryl whispered carefully and only then Beth finally looked up at him and he could tell that she was very close to tears.

After a few more seconds looking unsure into Daryl's eyes, Beth finally stopped sucking her lower lip between her teeth and answered with a small voice "Maggie thinks that.. that daddy won't make it. That I'm doing this for nothing, because he won't ever need it."

Beth tried again to dodge Daryl's look, when he gently pulled the loosen strains of blond hair behind her ear and said softly "Maybe you should tell your sister the same, you have told me, when the new ones came to us. You remember sweetheart? You have told me, that it wouldn't kill me to have a little faith. Because if you don't have faith, what's the point of living, right?"

Daryl saw, that Beth couldn't suppress the need to smile any more, even when her eyes were still swimming in her clear tears. "That's right sweetheart. I like it so much more to see you smile." Daryl whispered, his hands still holding her tiny ones.

"Do you also believe, that he will make it?" Beth asked curious, her eyes so full of hope and love. "Yes, of course. You Greenes are tough." The second the air was filled with Beth's sweet giggles, Daryl just also had to, before he began to help her.

After every pair of Hershel's trousers were shorter by one leg, Daryl and Beth got to her father again, just to see, that Maggie was gone. Intead Doctor S was sitting next to the injured man on the chair now. Beth instantly took place next to Hershel on the bed, taking his hand into hers and whispered to him, that she was here now.

The doctor nodded into Daryl's direction, when he stood up and got outside the room, so Daryl could lower himself on the chair instead. He wanted to give Beth the time and place she needed, but he also didn't want to leave her alone. He had the fear, that maybe she was still too weak to handle the whole situation on her own.

Even when he knew, that it was wrong, he should better give her some privacy, Daryl just couldn't stop to look at Beth and the lovingly way she was holding her father's hand. How she was stroking the back of his lifeless hand and whispered memories and little stories from the good old time to him.

It was already silent since minutes, when Daryl carefully cleared his throat and said "Here. You should drink something Beth." He offered her the bottle. "Thank you, Daryl." She said with her sweet voice and took the bottle from his grip, to take a few swallows. "You should also eat something." Daryl tried to encourage her, but Beth just shook her head and answered "Later. I just can't right now."

So Daryl leaned back into the chair again and after a few more silently minutes the air was suddenly filled with Beth's quiet angel singing voice. Lovingly she was singing the tones for her still asleep father, never looking away from him or stopping to hold his hand.

Maybe Hershel couldn't hear his daughter singing for him right now, but Daryl could and only then he got it how damn tired and exhausting he was. His eyelashes slowly got hevier, while he listened to Beth's soothing voice. He just began to drift softly off, when her song finally stopped and Daryl remembered himself about, that he had to make sure, that Beth was good. He just couldn't fall asleep right now. He had to be there for her.

Daryl had lost his sense of time, while he was sitting in the chair and watched her. They were probably sitting like that already since hours, when Beth's eyes caught the sandwich still laying on the little table next to the bed. After she had stretched herself and pick it up, she broke the sandwich into two pieces and offered Daryl one half.

"You should eat both Beth." He said, but her look already told him, that she won't take a no. "I just can't eat the whole sandwich and beside you also have to eat something Daryl. So c'mon."

"I could have picked myself a own one." Daryl muttered, but still he took the chair closer to the bed and took the half from Beth's hand. Silently they were sitting next to each other and ate the sandwich, always looking at still asleep Hershel.

They both had already finished their snack minutes ago, when Beth suddenly lifted her head and looked so lovingly up into Daryl's eyes. "Thank you so much, for everything." She whispered, tears already glistening in her eyes again. He just wanted to tell her, that she shouldn't thank him for anything, because it was even his own fault about what had hapened to Hershel, when Maggie and Glenn entered the room and Daryl got interrupted.

He made place for let Maggie, with her sorry expression, sit down on the chair instead. Beth wasn't alone, so Daryl could go away for a few minutes to take the empty plate back into the kitchen. But the pictures of today never left his mind for just one second.

Daryl had spent the rest of the afternoon with make sure, that everyone was okay and that the gates were safe for tonight, because even after what had happened, he still had to try to be like a leader, even when he totally lost hope after today. He definitelly won't ever become a good one.

It was already dark since a long time, when Daryl entered the prison again and he had expected, that Beth would already be in bed, but instead she was still sitting alone next to her father. "You should take yourself some rest sweetheart." Daryl told her, after he had entered the room.

"I just can't leave him alone." She answered, her look already by her father again. Daryl knew that it was pointless to try to change her mind, so he just lowered himself next to her on the chair.

"You don't have to stay Daryl." Beth secured him and after looking at her for some seconds, he answered "I know." Getting a sweet smile from her for his answer, Daryl just knew, that he won't ever be able to not care about her any more. He will always, just always protect her, didn't matter what will come.

Daryl also knew, that right now it wasn't the time to tell Beth what had really happened, because she was looking so relaxed and happy, for the first time today.

About thirty minutes later Doctor S entered the room and after he had looked at Hershel, his attention got to Beth. She was still sitting on the edge of the bed and held her father's hand secure in hers. "You should get yourself some rest, some sleep Beth." The doctor told her with a worried face, because he also got it, that the young woman obviously needed it urgently.

"But I don't want to leave him alone." She answered determined, when the Doctor placed his hand on her shoulder and insured her, that he promises to not leave Hershel's side for even one second, while she will be gone.

Unsure Beth looked over to Daryl, who just nodded his head and after he had got up and closer to her, he said "The doctor is rigth Beth. You need some rest. C'mon on." Gently Daryl helped her up and leaded her slowly out of the room, after Beth had stroked her father's hand one more time, kissed his cheek and had wished him a good night.

Silently Daryl leaded Beth to her cell, only then he noticed how weak and tired her body already was. The second they had reached her room, Beth let herself sink powerless down on her bed, her eyes already half closed. Because she was that tired, Daryl got on his knees and helped her out of her boots. Thankfully Beth smiled a powerless smile, before she pulled her legs under the blanket.

After Daryl had stretched himself again and looked down at her with a smile in his face, how she made herself comfortable, he said softly "Good night sweetheart." But before he could even turn around, Beth quickly took his hand, even when she was already that tired.

Surprised about her reaction, Daryl was looking down and directly into her worried eyes. "Daryl, can you.. can you stay a few more minutes, till I will be asleep?" She begged him with her beautiful angel eyes to which he could just never say no.

Understanding Daryl nodded his head and looked around the room for a free chair, but the only chair his eyes could find, was covered from Beth's clothes. So Daryl finally let himself sink unsure on the edge of the bed, before Beth began to move closer to the wall and opened the blanket for him.

Daryl cheeks began to blush then, even when it was ridiculous after everything they had already done, but exactly that was the problem. They had never done something like this before, just laying next to each other. Still unsure Daryl bote nervously down on his lower lip, till Beth sat herself up, covered his wrist with her soft palm and whispered "I'm afraid about falling asleep alone. I would feel better, if you would lay next to me Daryl."

Beth exactly knew how the game was working, when she looked with her big angel eyes up at him and Daryl was lost. "Sure." He finally whispered still uncomfortable and carefully he laid himself next to her on the soft mattress. Lovingly Beth covered both of their bodies with the warm blanket, before she crawled closer to Daryl's side. Instinctive he lifted his left arm, so she could get even closer to his warm body and his arm took place against her back, while his finger gently stroked Beth through her shirt there.

First they were almost laying stiff next to each other, till she carefully laid her hand on top of Daryl's belly, to feel it rise and fall with his breathing. When he moved his head, so his nose was touching softly her forehead, Daryl could see, that Beth's eyes were still opened, obviously she couldn't fall asleep so easily.

And he knew, that right now the time had come, where he had to tell her the truth, even when he was still damn afraid about her reaction. "It was all my fault." Daryl whispered against the skin of Beth's face, before she slowly lifted her head and her beautiful, light blue eyes were looking up at his dark blue ones. "It was my fault, about what has happened to your father today. I should have never allowed him to come with us, I should have stopped him and it's also my fault, that.."

"Shsh.. Daryl. Please, stop it." Beth interrupted him, when she placed her index finger on top his shaking lips. Compassionate she was looking up at his sorry expression, before she pulled her finger away and framed instead his cheek with her warm palm. Instantly Daryl leaned against her touch, closed his eyes and breathed deep inside his lungs one more time, before he whispered "I'm sorry."

Lovingly Beth began to stroke his skin with her thumb, before she whispered "Don't be sorry Daryl. It wasn't your fault. Nothing was your fault. It was my dad's own decision and it would have also happened, if he would have gone with Rick. It wasn't your fault, please believe me Daryl." He had his eyes still closed, fighting back the tears, when he could feel how Beth stretched herself in his arms and finally placed a lovingly kiss against his forehead.

"Stop to blame yourself Daryl. You have done everything right. You have saved my father's life. Without you he wouldn't be here any more and don't even try to say or think any other, because it's true. It. Was. Not. Your. Fault." Beth tried to calm him down, while she was stroking softly through his hair and guided his head to lay down on her chest. That was also the moment, when Daryl couldn't hold it back any more and some tears found their way out of his sad eyes and landed on top of Beth's shirt.

"You aren't mad at me?" Daryl whispered between sobs. Lovingly Beth stroked with her long fingers through his messy hair, before she told him "I was never mad at you Daryl. How could I even manage to do that?"

"I know some reasons." Daryl said more to himself than to Beth, still unsure if or how he should tell her what he had done back at the farm. "No Daryl. Forget that." Beth secured him one more and he almost began to feel grateful, when another thought was suddenly running through his head "What about your father? Do you think he will forgive me?"

"That you have saved his life? Yeah, I think he will get over this." Beth teased him carefully and even when Daryl didn't want it, he began to smirk and lifted his head to look into Beth's beautiful eyes. "You won't ever believe me, right Mr. Dixon? It wasn't your fault and I think, that you know my father already well enough to know, that he won't blame you or be mad at you. It wasn't your fault." Beth said softly, while she pulled the strains of dark brown hair away from his face, so Daryl couldn't hide himself behind them any more.

He tried, he really tried to believe her, but he also knew, that he won't ever be able to forgive himself. They were laying that closely entwined, looking deep into each other eyes, till a half eternity had passed by, when Daryl wanted to tell her the whole truth. But then Beth was giving him that encouraging smile again, while her eyes were shining and her lips formed the words "It's okay Daryl. Everything is good." His lips stayed close again, afraid about to say it out loud.

Trying to process her words, Daryl nodded absently his head, while Beth was still stroking the skin of his cheek and moved with her fingertips gently through his beard. Finally he covered his hand around hers and made Beth so to stop her movements. Gently he was stroking his thumb over her soft fingers, before he carefully guided her hand to his lips and placed a tender kiss on the back of her hand, thanking her for what she had done and said.

Her hand still close to his lips, Daryl was looking at her and Beth's expression told him, that she was surprised, but also overwhelmed about his hand kiss. They were looking deep into each other eyes, till Daryl whispered "Can I ask you something sweetheart?" Beth just nodded her head, while he moved both of their hands away from his lips, but still he didn't let go, when he asked carefully "The condition you were, was it the same, after what had happened to your mother and brother back on the farm?"

Even when Daryl was afraid about her answer, he still just had to know. Their connection stopped, when Beth looked at their hands instead, still holding each other tight, before she finally answered with a small voice "Yeah. Not that bad like on the farm, but it was the same. It's such a helpless, terrible feeling, that you just can't do anything to safe the ones you love."

Tears were already swimming in her eyes, while Beth tried to find the right words. Watching her to fight against her own feelings, Daryl asked the one question, he was afraid about the most "Do you also wanted.. do you still want to.. make this all an end?"

Suddenly Beth's sad eyes looked directly into his worried, when she wildly shook her head and Daryl finally began to breathe again. " No." Beth answered simply and strong, before she added "Back then, I have just didn't know another way out of it. That time no one was really there for me, no one could help or understand me. I mean I didn't want to, I didn't have the need to try it today, but I don't know what I would have done, if you wouldn't have been by my side Daryl."

Tears were running silently down her face, while Beth was looking at him like he was her hero. "Thank you so much for existing Daryl. What would I do without you." Beth whispered, while she guided his hand to her soft lips, like he had done just minutes ago and placed a long, lovingly kiss on the back of his hand.

Overwhelmed Daryl was watching her with an opened mouth. How could this pure, beautiful, unique girl be so kind to someone like him? He didn't deserve her tears, kisses or trust. But still Daryl got goose bumps everywhere on his body, because of her lovingly gesture.

"What would I do without you girl." Daryl whispered still shocked, when Beth finally stopped her kiss and instead stroked carefully over the skin her lips had just touched. Giving him one of her sweetest smile, she suddenly crawled even closer to Daryl, placed her arm around his belly and pressed her face against his chest.

After a few moments of trying to process what was going on, Daryl finally replied her hug, placed his arms around her tiny upper body and pulled her even closer, never stop to place kisses into her golden locks. "I got you sweetheart. I won't ever let you go." Daryl whispered softly and his heart warmed up one more time, when Beth answered "I also won't ever let you go Mr. Dixon."

They just kept on laying that close to each other. Beth had still wrapped her arm around Daryl's belly, her face buried into the fabric of his shirt, while he could feel her belly rise and fall next to his body. Daryl also never stopped to hold Beth close and stroking her back and head gently. His nose still deep in her golden locks, he inhaled her scent inside his lungs and Daryl knew, that he won't ever want to let go.

But he also knew that he had in the end, he just couldn't sleep next to Beth, in the same bed. It just wasn't right. But still he kept laying, giving her his warmth, till Daryl could feel himself drifting off and he had to force himself to stay awake.

When he could hear Beth's regular breathing and she felt so relaxed in his arms, Daryl knew, that she had finally fallen asleep. Placing one more kiss on top of her head, he whispered softly "Good night sweetheart." Carefully Daryl pulled away, trying not to wake her, but obviously Beth wasn't asleep that deep, when she tried to hold him in place and asked worried "Where do you go Daryl?"

Feeling bad, while he was looking down at her dreamily expression, Daryl really wanted to stay, but he just couldn't, just shouldn't. "I have to go now baby girl. But I'm just a few rooms ahead, if you need something." Daryl secured her and even when he could read in her face, that she wanted him also to stay, at the same time Beth also knew that he had to go.

Daryl also didn't want to leave, but he just couldn't sleep with her together in one bed. What if her sister would catch them? What would they all think? Would they count one and one together and then they would all know their little secret?

It was breaking Daryl's heart, when he leaned down and placed one last kiss on Beth's warm cheek, before he left to lay alone in his bed.