Disclaimer: A nod to the genius Robert Kirkman for creating this wonderfully dark, post-apocalyptic world. I do not own or have rights to any of the characters/plot of this series. I'm simply a fan indulging in my post-apocalyptic fantasies.
A/N: I my first piece of fanart for H.O.P.E! the-world-is-frozen made me an amazing photoshop from the quote "What makes you think you can kill me?" from chapter 15 when Beth was talking to the Whisperer in the woods! You can go to my profile and click the link to my photobucket account to see all the fanart I've been sent in my 'Fanart' album! You guys are truly amazing and I appreciate all the support and encouragement you've given me! XOXO
…
Beth had never felt more comforted by the sight of Alexandria Safe Zone's tall, steel walls standing grandiosely before her than she did while Daryl drove them through the gates. Michonne's vehicle crept in behind them, having pulled off a few miles back so that Daryl could pass her as her vehicle wouldn't be recognized by the guards, and pulled to a stop just inside the gated entry.
A wave of relief washed over her the moment she heard the clatter of metal closing behind them. The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon and the community, for the most part, was still safely sleeping in their homes. Daryl helped Beth climb off the back of the bike and set the bike on its kickstand before swinging his leg over the seat.
"Where in tha' hell have you guys been?" Dwight's voice rang through the crisp morning air as he clambered down the metal steps, "You were supposed t'be back two days ago!"
"We ran into trouble," Daryl grumbled.
"What do ya' mean you 'ran into trouble?'" Dwight imitated Daryl's tone, "You were just supposed t'scout the place and come back."
A car door slammed and Beth turned to see Michonne approaching them.
"Is that Michonne?" Dwight inquired, looking over Daryl's shoulder.
"Is there another woman with a katana I should be made aware of?" Michonne questioned with a smirk.
"What tha' fuck is goin' on over there," Dwight countered, unfazed by Michonne's smart remark, "We've been radioing you guys for weeks."
"We'll fill everyone in on the details at tha' same time," Daryl replied sternly, "You send someone to let Rick know we're back?"
"Yeah," Dwight nodded, "I sent Cooper just as soon as I heard your bike."
"Alright," Daryl sighed, "Shit went bad at The Kingdom. We got a lot t'figure out."
"Damn," Dwight ran a hand over the scarred side of his face, "I'll get Cooper t'take over for me when he gets back and I'll catch up with you guys."
"Sounds good," Daryl agreed.
"Glad you guys made it back safe an' sound," Dwight patted Daryl on the shoulder before turning to Beth, "Morgan was awfully worried 'bout you. Coop said he'd drop by his house on tha' way back and let him know you guys were here."
"Thanks," Beth smiled tiredly.
"Sure thing," Dwight beamed and turned towards the stairway leading to the top of the wall.
"Eugene still have his fuel depot behind the office?" Michonne asked once it was just the three of them.
"Yeah," Daryl removed his crossbow from its mount on the back of his bike, "I topped off 'fore we left so there should still be some gas in tha' barrel. Don't think there's enough t'get you a full tank though."
"I'll make due," Michonne replied, "I'll fill up and meet up with you in the office."
"'Kay," Daryl grunted and heaved the strap of his crossbow over his shoulder.
Beth had taken to leaning against Daryl's bike during the brief conversation between Dwight and Michonne. She was exhausted and wasn't sure how much longer her legs could support her weight. She could only imagine how Daryl and Michonne felt as neither of them had been able to rest. She'd closed her eyes, just for a moment, while Daryl had been carrying her and the next thing she remembered was waking up with no recollection of ever having fallen asleep.
"We should-"
Beth snapped out of her daze when Daryl abruptly stopped talking mid-sentence.
"We should what?" Beth furrowed her brows, "What?"
Daryl's eyes were focused on her stomach and she noticed his jaw clenched tightly.
"What is it?" She asked; looking down in what she assumed was the general direction of his gaze.
It was then that she saw it.
A dark, brownish-red stain plastered her shirt onto her skin.
"Were you…," Daryl swallowed audibly and couldn't seem to finish his sentence.
Beth didn't reply and instead began trying to gently lift away the discolored material that had dried against her skin.
It was only a second later that Daryl's hands replaced her own and hastily tugged at the fabric of her shirt.
"Were you?" His words were sharp and panicked.
"Was I what?" Beth huffed and wrapped her hands firmly around his wrists while he continued fumbling with her shirt.
"Damnit," Daryl hissed, "Were you bit?"
"Bit?" Beth asked confusedly.
She stared up at Daryl's horrified expression and it took her a moment before realization hit.
"Oh," she shook her head, "No. No, this wasn't from 'ah walker."
Daryl swayed slightly and exhaled as soon as the words passed across her lips.
"It was tha' Whisperer," she clarified, "He was…it doesn't matter. He just nicked me on my hip."
"Nicked you my ass," Daryl grumbled, resuming his previous action of prying her shirt away from the wound, "You got enough blood on yer' shirt to attracted 'ah whole herd."
"It's not that bad," Beth rolled her eyes.
It was from this action that she realized there were several people watching them with rapt interest. Suddenly feeling very self-conscious of prying eyes, Beth tried to push Daryl's hands away.
"Daryl," she said softly.
"Your shirt acted as 'ah bandage," Daryl continued, "Gonna' have t'wet it down to get it off without reopening tha' wound."
"Daryl," Beth tried again.
"Don't look like it's too bad, but we still need t'be careful-"
"Daryl," Beth tightened her grip around his wrists.
"What?" He asked while finally looking up at her.
"It's fine," she subtly tilted her head towards the wall and glared in the direction of their audience.
Daryl immediately let go of her shirt and took a step back. Adjusting the strap of his crossbow and clearing his throat, he moved next to his bike.
"I got some first aid stuff at tha' house," he said while lifting the kickstand with the heel of his boot, "We'll get you cleaned up and 'ah new shirt before we meet up with Rick."
"Okay," Beth responded quietly.
She took once last glance over her shoulder, finding everyone had gone back to whatever it was they were supposed to be doing, before she began following after Daryl.
…
The walk to Daryl's house was uneventful. The streets were empty save for the few who's jobs required them to wake before sunrise. Beth was too tired to carry on a conversation and Daryl hadn't been inclined to say much of anything so their walk was relatively quiet. Ambling up the steps of the porch while Daryl parked his bike, Beth set her bag by the front door and toed off her boots.
"First aid kits in tha' bathroom," Daryl announced as he entered through the front door.
Beth nodded and meandered towards the hallway.
She entered the small bathroom and grabbed a blue washcloth out of the linen cabinet. Turning on the faucet and holding the towel under the running water, she then pressed the saturated cloth against her shirt. Daryl walked in soon after and began rifling through the cabinet underneath where he kept his towels and pulled out a small zipper bag. Opening it, Beth noticed several bottles with paper labels taped across the containers. He then grabbed another towel and a milky colored bottle labelled 'alcohol.'
"I'd say this'd sting, but I don't guess you'd be able t'tell," he mumbled setting the container and towel down behind the faucet of the sink.
"Lucky me I guess," Beth murmured and dipped the towel under the sink to soak up more water.
"Here," Daryl took the washcloth from her," Lemme' see it."
He then bent down on one knee, his face eye level with her stomach, and carefully pressed the wet cloth over the stained area of her shirt while his other hand rested on her uninjured hip to hold her steady.
"What happened?" Beth could barely hear his question.
"I got mouthy," Beth let her head fall back to stare up at the ceiling, "Gave away information that I shouldn't have because I didn't think he'd get the upper hand."
"What'd you say?" Daryl's tone much clearer than a moment ago.
"The guy was insane," Beth motioned with her arms, "He started talkin' about all the things he was gonna' do t'me and then when I couldn't take the pain anymore, when I started beggin' him to kill me, he was going t'skin me alive."
The grip on Beth's uninjured hip tightened, but Daryl made no reply.
"So I might've made a comment or two about him being able t'do whatever he wanted, I wouldn't feel it anyway, and I'd been able t'take down Alpha's brother on my own," she rambled quickly and then sighed, "I thought I'd be able t'get away from him before anything happened."
She felt him fumbling with the buttons of her shirt and looked down to see him slowly peeling the wet material away from her wound.
"If that fucker was still alive," Daryl practically growled as the swollen, blood-stained skin of her hip became visible.
"He's not," Beth countered tersely.
Beth could feel Daryl's short, uneven puffs against her skin and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"He's dead," Beth reiterated, "You killed him before anything too bad could happen."
"I saw him on top of you and I just…," Daryl took a deep breath and glared up at her, "He got off too easy."
"Probably," Beth shrugged, "but he's dead now. He can't hurt anyone else and you got t'me in time."
She held his gaze while his thumb brushed across her skin just under her laceration. It was soft, barely there, but Beth felt it. He slowly rose to his feet and her hands slide from his shoulders to his biceps. His thumb continued stroking her hip while the other rose to rest against her neck. She inhaled, feeling slightly panicked by the way his hand held her the same way the Whisperer had, but his touch was tender, soothing, and Beth released a shaky breath.
"I, umm…," Beth wasn't sure what she was trying to say, but she felt like she to say something, "I'm fine. Really. It doesn't hurt or anything."
He was standing so close, closer than she'd allowed anyone to be before, and he was looking at her with such intensity that she had to force herself to keep from fidgeting. He was touching more intimately than she'd ever experienced and unsure of what she was supposed to do, she found herself leaning into him subconsciously.
"I'm sorry," he whispered and she felt his words fan across her face.
She blinked and furrowed her brows, "For what?"
"I should'a been helpin' you guys. I shouldn't have worried about tha' damn vehicle until we'd taken care of 'em," he ground out disdainfully; letting his hand fall from her neck to rest at his side.
"What?" Beth's hands instantly moved his arms to cradle his face, "No. There was 'ah herd and we had no idea how many of them were waiting for us. We had to get out of there. It was my fault. I wasn't payin' attention t'my surroundings. I got too far away from you and Michonne. That is not your fault."
"If I hadn't gotten' there…," his voice trailed off.
She didn't want him to play the 'what if' game. She hadn't had much practice with trying to comfort people, as Morgan was usually the one who did the consoling on the rare occasion it was necessary, and thus she decided to take a page out of his book. Morgan had a knack for appearing calm and collected even in the gravest of situations. She aimed for sounding confident without trivializing Daryl's involvement or making herself appear ungrateful.
"I would've figured something out," Beth feigned nonchalance.
It wasn't the truth and from Daryl's expression, he also seemed to be aware of her fabrication. If he hadn't gotten there when he did, there was a high probability that she would no longer be among the living. As much as she tried to act like her 'condition' didn't affect her, that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, she'd never felt more weak and alone than she had while the Whisperers' hands had been around her neck. The fight with Michonne, running through the school, across the baseball fields, and then trying to navigate through the woods had pushed her to her limit. To be ambushed at the SUV had been more than her body could handle. If she'd been able to fully recuperate, she was certain that she would have been able to handle one Whisperer by herself, but she hadn't been granted the rest she required and her attacker had been relentless.
"Thank you for being there when I needed you," Beth whispered demurely.
It was odd sensation, admitting aloud that she had needed someone. Morgan had always been a part of her life, at least for as long as she could remember, so needing him was just understood. Daryl, however, had waited patiently. He hadn't tried to break down her walls, or even scale them; he'd just given her the time she needed to open up to him. The fortress she had built around her had crumbled of her own will for him.
"You don't gotta' thank me," he replied hoarsely.
His voice was raw and Beth felt a warm flutter run through her body. His chest was pressed against her so tightly that she felt like their hearts were racing to see which could beat faster. The tips of his shaggy hair brushed against her fingers from where she held his face. The hand that had been gently holding her hip had seized a sturdier grip, pinning her flush against his stomach. The room suddenly felt very small, filled with only Daryl and the air she was struggling to obtain.
"We should, umm…," Beth's eyes flickered from Daryl's down to his lips.
"Yeah," his voice sounded deeper.
The hand that had been resting at his side timidly slid up the side of her jeans, under the hem of her shirt, and palmed the flesh of her uninjured hip. He took a step closer and Beth was forced to take a step back. After three paces, her back met the wall and the coolness of the tile against her heated skin was a welcomed sensation.
"Tha' water is still running," she admitted dumbly when the hum of the faucet suddenly began roaring in her ears.
All of her senses felt like they were on overdrive. Her hands drifted from his face to wrap around his neck. His skin was slick and warm from the heat that surrounded them. Sliding her fingers into the damp curls at the base of his neck, she was fascinated by the way his eyes fluttered closed.
"'S fine," he muttered breathlessly.
The hand clutching the intact flesh of her side skated around to her back, pulling her impossibly closer. Her breath was coming out in short pants while she let her gaze explore his face. His eyes were still closed, but quick rise and fall of his chest told her that he was feeling the same exhilaration that was flowing through her. He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers and she stopped breathing altogether.
"Can I...?" Daryl's voice sent another wave of heat through her body.
Her mind was buzzing and she couldn't quite form an answer to whatever question he was asking. She had one thing on her mind and it had nothing to do with using her mouth to carry on a conversation. Instead, she tilted her head and pressed lips firmly against Daryl's. His reaction was instantaneous and it was then that Beth realized he'd been holding back.
His hands roved over the flesh of her back and she felt like she couldn't get close enough to him. Their lips moved awkwardly as Beth tried to maneuver hers with Daryl's. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do, letting her impulses guide her, and it wasn't until Daryl slowed down that she was able to match his rhythm. She breathed in deeply through her nose, inhaling Daryl's familiar scent, and it only further added to the searing heat she felt in the room.
She bit his lip on accident, when she had moved too quickly into the next kiss, and the sound Daryl made was electrifying. She did it again and she felt him pressed her further into the wall. There were so many sensations flooding her all at once that she wasn't sure exactly what she wanted, she just knew she wanted more. Hiking her leg over his hip, she pulled him against her and the hitch in his breath emboldened her. She released her hold around his neck and let her fingers drift down the front of his chest. The combination of her actions seemed to break Daryl's restraint and he leaned away from her just long enough to rip open the remaining buttons of her shirt, revealing her worn-out, black sports bra. Beth took the opportunity to push his vest off his shoulders, groping at the buttons of his shirt while he moved to plant hot, wet kisses against her neck. She couldn't see what she was doing, but somehow she managed to get enough of the top buttons undone to slide the shirt over his shoulders and it settled around his waist. He kissed his way up the bruised skin of her neck, to trace the soft edge of her jaw, before hesitating over her lips.
"Have you done this before?" He asked huskily.
"I'm sure I have," she replied as she attempted to catch her breath, "but not that I can remember."
There was something in the look he gave her that Beth wasn't able to decipher. He then hooked his hand under her knee resting on his side, reaching around and doing the same with the other, and lifted her off the ground. He moved her to sit on the lip of the sink before he pressed his lips against hers much more gently. Droplets of water splashed against her back from where they ricocheted off the basin of the sink and Beth reached blindly behind her, searching for the knob to turn off the cold water. No longer distracted by the faucet, Beth wrapped her arms around Daryl's neck and settled into the slower pace he'd set. Something soft and warm brushed against her lower lip and Beth vaguely recognized what he had just done. She mimicked his action, gliding her tongue along his lower lip, and their slow rhythm was abandoned. He began kissing her mouth with the same fervor as before and Beth crossed her ankles behind his back in an effort to bring him closer. His tongue twirled around hers and Beth let a noise escape her mouth. His grip on her legs tightened and it was mid-kiss when he suddenly jerked away, leaving Beth breathless and confused.
"What?" She asked as she used her hands to balance herself on the skin.
She glanced down as his waist and noticed blood on his unblemished skin.
"Shit," he cursed, "You're bleedin'."
"Oh," Beth looked down to see her droplets of crimson oozing from her wound.
The cut wasn't deep, but it spanned several inches across her hip. Looking around, she grabbed the washcloth Daryl had retrieved with the alcohol and placed it over the wound.
"We need t'clean it up," Daryl stated while sifting through his first aid kit and pulling out a roll of tap and a square of white material.
Taking the towel from her, he doused a corner in alcohol and proceeded to wipe around her gash.
"You okay?" He glanced up while he dabbed over her wound.
"Yeah," she nodded, "Can't feel 'ah thing."
Daryl continued to clean the sliced skin and once it was disinfected to his satisfaction, he placed the square material over her gash and proceeded to tape it in place.
"It's in an awkward spot," he stated while running his thumb over the last piece of tape, "so you'll have t'be careful 'til it heals over."
"'Kay," Beth hummed as Daryl's thumb left trails of heat across her skin.
She suddenly became conscious of the fact that he was still standing in front of her, effectively pinning her in place, on the sink, shirtless. He must have come to the same realization, quickly stepping back to give her space, and lifting one of his calloused hands to rub the back of his neck.
"We, uh," he cleared his throat, "Rick and everyone else is probably waitin' on us by now."
"Yeah," Beth agreed and scooted off the sink.
"I'll let you get changed," his eyes gave her a once over before grabbing his vest off the floor and turning to leave.
"Hey Daryl," Beth called out quickly.
"Yeah?" He half turned towards her.
She hesitated, not having anything in particular she wanted to say, but she'd felt compelled to stop his hasty retreat. Bending down and picking up the remains of her ripped shirt, she exited the bathroom and stood in front of him. She had no idea how people were supposed to act after sharing such an intimate moment, so she decided go with her instincts.
"Thanks," she murmured as she lifted herself on her toes to place a kiss on his lips.
He leaned down as she lowered herself back to the floor, keeping his lips pressed against her for a moment longer before pulling away. She stared up at him, tempted by the taste of his lips, but pushed the desire to the back of her mind as she knew they had more important matters to address with the group. Stepping away, in the hopes that a bit of distance between them would help clear her head, she gave him a small smile and turned towards the bedroom.
Once in the privacy of Daryl's room, she leaned against the dresser and took a steadying breath. When her heart stopped pounding, she reached into the drawer she had claimed as her own, and slipped on the first shirt her fingers touched. Feeling much more in control of her thoughts, she replayed the entire scene in her head and another smile graced her features. Reaching up to trace her swollen lips, making sure what had happened hadn't been a figment of her imagination, she smiled even wider. She'd never experienced anything quite as euphoric as the kiss they shared in the bathroom. She'd always been very careful to keep people at a distance, both literally and figuratively, but she could definitely make an exception when it came to kissing Daryl.
…
Leaning against the far wall, away from the crowd that filled the room, Daryl listened to Michonne's recap of what had transpired at The Kingdom. He'd interject details when necessary, informing Rick of the message Ezekiel had left for him, but for the most part he'd just watched the other's reactions. Rick had requested Carol, Rosita, Eugene, Tara and Sasha all attend their impromptu meeting. Since Glenn, Maggie, Noah, and Carl were all located at Hilltop, Sherry was in charge of relaying details over the radio.
Beth had been at his side for the beginning of the meeting, but as soon as Carol arrived with Morgan draped across her shoulders for support, she'd practically tackled her one-armed companion. The two of them now stood on the opposite side of the room, closest to the door, talking amongst themselves.
Movement beside him caught his attention and he looked to find Dwight standing next to him.
"Morning shift over?" Daryl inquired quietly.
"Yeah," Dwight answered, "Things have been pretty quiet the past few days. No walker activity whatsoever."
Daryl knew exactly why there hadn't been any walkers. They'd all been led to The Kingdom.
"What happened t'Beth?" Dwight questioned hesitantly, "I saw 'er neck."
"Whisperer," Daryl bit out.
Dwight kept any other questions he might have had to himself, focusing instead on what Michonne was saying to the group.
She had just reached the point in her account of when she'd come across him and Beth. She left out the detail about attacking Beth, who she had mistakenly assumed to be a Whisperer considering the last time she'd seen the young blonde was when they had buried her, and finished with their ambush at the SUV.
"Why were you at The Kingdom?" Carol spoke up first, "If Ezekiel and the others are in a secure location, why aren't you with them?"
"Ezekiel didn't feel it was safe to use the radio. He didn't want to give away our location in case they were listening. I knew that you'd send someone to check on us, so I made frequent trips back to The Kingdom hoping to keep whoever came for us from going inside," Michonne explained.
"Why did you want to keep someone from going inside?" Sasha questioned from where she stood next to Rosita.
"Daryl?" Michonne addressed him, "When I told you The Kingdom had been attacked, what was missing?"
"There whadn't any blood," Daryl uncrossed his arms and pushed off the wall, "Not 'ah drop anywhere."
"But I thought you said you guys lost people in the attack?" Rosita pointed out.
"Most of the fighting happened outside, near the buses," Michonne informed them, "They killed some of us. They took others,"
"What do ya' mean they took others?" Daryl snarled.
"I saw them," Michonne clinched her teeth, "They were dragging people away. Taking them with them. Alive."
An eerie silence fell over everyone in the room and Michonne continued.
"When we realized they'd gotten through the gate, everyone rushed to keep them out of the school. The storm we had a few weeks ago washed most of the blood away, but they must have come back for whatever remains the walkers left behind," her voice shook and for a moment the pain of her experience became visible through her schooled expression, "When I came back a few days later, the only evidence that anything had happened was the bus that had crashed into the school while we were escaping the herd."
"So what're you sayin'?" Rick placed his hands on his hips and furrowed his brows.
"They turned The Kingdom into 'ah trap," Morgan stated as Beth helped maneuver him towards the front of the room.
"How could they have known if Beth or Morgan would have gone to The Kingdom?" Tara inquired, "I mean, anyone could have gone to check things out. It was just lucky coincidence that Beth went with Daryl."
"You said you thought someone infiltrated The Kingdom?" Rick recounted, "What if they got some of their information about The Kingdom from tha' patrols sent out when you first noticed the walkers hidin' in the trees?"
"Byron," Dwight said the name in a clipped tone before Michonne could answer.
"You think they got information about us from him?" Sasha's face paled at her question.
"I'm beginning t'think we shouldn't put anything passed these…people," Rick declared intensely.
"What about the ones they took with them?" Carol queried, "Do you think they're still alive?"
"We didn't have a chance to send anyone after them," Michonne stated frankly, "The herd that hit us was one of the biggest I've ever seen. We were lucky that a majority of us got out of there."
"Why would they take people from The Kingdom if they'd already gotten inside?" Dwight's voice took an apprehensive tone.
Daryl had been asking himself the very same question. Maybe they had hoped to get information about the other communities from them? Or maybe they were like the people in Terminus? Beth had never mentioned cannibalism, but he'd come across it before and he wasn't sure there anything was out of the question when it came to these monstrosities.
"They stay close to 'ah herd for protection. They wear the masks to disguise their smell and blend in, but they don't control the walkers," Beth spoke up for the first time since the meeting began, "They're able to guide them, but they'd need incentive to get tha' walkers to follow them."
"Fan-fuckin-tastic," Dwight exhaled and turned to place a hand on the wall for support.
"Rick," Sherry's voice quivered, "Maggie has some information that I think you should hear."
"What is it?" Rick looked up from where he was leaning over his desk.
Sherry fiddled with the knobs of the radio for a moment before Maggie's voice came out loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Yesterday Jesus and his scouting party were sent out lookin' for one of our patrolmen who'd gone missing. They were attacked by a group of Whisperers. We lost two of our men, but Jesus and Darius managed to survive," Maggie explained in a serious tone, "Jesus took one of the Whisperers hostage, killing the rest of them, and brought her back to Hilltop where we've begun interrogating her."
Daryl knew Jesus was a competent tracker, being Hilltop's scout, and he'd been honorably discharged from the military a few years before the world as they knew it came to an end. Jesus excelled in close quarters combat and although he sometimes let his emotions get the better of him, it was no surprise to Daryl that he'd survived being attacked by a group of Whisperers.
"Ask her if they've been able to get tha' girl to tell them anything," Rick asked; much more composed than he had been a moment ago.
Sherry relayed the question and Maggie's voice came through the radio once more.
"Our hostage's name is Lydia an' she claims t'be sixteen years old," Maggie began, "She told us that her group lives amongst various herds, that they try to cooperate with tha' undead so that they blend in and the walkers don't view them as food. They use tha' herds for protection an' are able to use them to attack other groups of people."
"We already know all this," Dwight huffed and resumed his place standing next to Daryl.
Daryl noticed Sherry glaring from across the room and Dwight quickly settled down.
"Lydia said that we need t'try to work something out with the Whisperers or they're gonna' kill all of us," Maggie continued, "She said your community has some people they want an' they're not going to stop until they get to 'em."
Daryl's eyes immediately snapped towards the center of the room. Morgan was saying something to Beth who was shaking her head and glaring back at him. Her eyes met his from across the room for a brief moment and Daryl could see her resolve wavering at the information Maggie had revealed. Morgan said something else and her face hardened before she turned and stormed out of the room. Daryl wasted no time chasing after her.
"Beth," he called out to her as soon as he exited the building.
"You're all in danger because of us!" Beth spun around and yelled at him.
"We'll figure somethin' out," Daryl replied; attempting to soothe her as he approached, "You said you'd trust us t'handle them."
"I do trust you," she argued, her eyes glossy with unshed tears, "but they made an example out of The Kingdom, Daryl. They did that t'prove we weren't safe, even behind these walls."
"What're you wantin' to do?" He asked her sincerely.
"What do you mean?" Her face crumpled in confusion.
"What do you wanna' do?" He repeated, "If you wanna' run, I'm comin' with you."
"What?" The blond strands of her hair shifted across her face as she shook her head, "You can't…it's not safe t'be with me. Morgan and I…we can't let what happened in The Kingdom happen to this community, just because of us."
Daryl had experienced life without Beth and he had no intention of doing so ever again. Not now that he had her back. Not after everything they'd been through. Not after that brief moment of happiness that he'd had with her in his bathroom.
"Where you go, I go," he said simply.
Tears spilled down Beth's cheeks and for a moment he thought he'd said something wrong. Then she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and when she had calmed down, he loosened his grip just enough to see her face. She looked up at him with her sparkling blue eyes and he reached up with one hand, using his thumb to brush away the trails of liquid staining her cheeks.
"I don't want anyone else t'die because of us," she whispered weakly.
"We're gonna' figure this out," Daryl brushed her hair out of her face, "Me and Rick, we been through worse than this and we've always come out alright."
Beth nodded and he felt her body relax under his hands.
"We should head back inside," Daryl stated when he was sure Beth had calmed down, "We still got some things t'discuss and Morgan's probably worried about ya'."
"Yeah," Beth sighed, "He prone t'worry too much."
Daryl smirked, "Only 'cause he cares."
Beth's lips quirked in the slightest hint of a smile and Daryl dropped his hands away from her side.
"Come'on," he jerked his head towards the office and turned to lead them back inside.
His steps slowed when he didn't hear Beth walking behind him and he looked over his shoulder to find her eyes already fixed on him. He kept his gaze locked with hers as she slowly drew near him.
"I do trust you," she admitted solemnly.
"I know," Daryl replied evenly.
"I'm just scared," she confessed wearily.
Daryl wanted to tell her he would never let anything happen to her, but memories of carrying her out of Grady Memorial Hospital rose to the forefront of his mind. He wanted to say that he would protect her from whatever harm the Whisperers brought her way, but as his eyes lingered on the dark bruise forming around her neck, the words died in his mouth. The world was unforgiving and things happened in the blink of an eye. Clenching his jaw, his gaze traveled up her face and he stared into her deep, blue eyes.
"As long as I'm still breathin', I'll do whatever it takes t'keep you safe," he vowed sincerely.
Beth lifted herself on her toes and he met her halfway. The caress of their lips was brief, but it held more emotion than any of the kisses they'd shared. When he pulled away, she gave him a smile that reached her eyes and then began walking into Rick's office.
He followed behind her as they reentered the room and Morgan's concerned regard caught his attention. The older man gave him a nod and Daryl returned the gesture. The simple exchange spoke volumes to Daryl. There was an understanding between them that while everyone's safety was a concern, their main priority would always be Beth.
Daryl moved to the back of the room, where he'd been previously standing, and leaned against the wall. There was a lull in the meeting while Rick and Michonne discussed something privately behind his desk and Daryl glared down at his feet, replaying the conversation she'd had with Beth outside. He'd never meant anything more in his life than the last words he'd said to her. He would do everything in his power to protect her. He never wanted to return to the hollow, empty life he'd had the years following Beth's 'death.' Not after having a taste of what his life could be like with her. He would protect her, even if it killed him. He would keep this promise or he would die trying.
Because to Daryl, a life without Beth wasn't worth living.
...
A/N: For all of my inquiring readers/preppers who wonder how Eugene made his 'fuel depot,' I found a video on Youtube by a MrTeslonian on how to create bio crude oil and turn it into usable fuel. I googled 'how to create gasoline' and was linked to MrTeslonian's YouTube video (for those who want a summary, he basically uses the smoke from burning wood to create crude oil which he then refines into a gasoline). There are other ways to make fuel, but I thought it was best to go with wood because the area is so populated with trees and I already have Eugene using plastic and other misc 'trash' for lighter fluid and such. There is A LOT of work and science that goes into creating this fuel, but I'd like to think that if companies are no longer producing, mankind would have the ingenuity to create their own with materials they scavenge. So this video is what I used for reference!
Cooper is an original character from chapter 6 (the man who approaches Beth and Morgan about going on patrol that ultimately ends up costing Morgan his arm).
The description of Maggie's tale of Jesus (real name Paul Monroe) is straight from the comics summary courtesy of TWD wikia. It's a major pain putting address bars here (becuase loves making the lives of fanfic writers more difficult) so I just googled 'The Whisperers' and it brought up TWD wiki page!
I have a new job I'm starting in about a week. It's going to be my first full-time job in what seems like forever so updates my be sporadic until the boys and I have adjusted to a new schedule! Just letting you guys know in case I get a few days behind on posting a new chapter. Know that they are coming, I just might need a bit more time to write since I won't have as flexible of a schedule as I do now.
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I know some of you have been waiting for the moment Beth and Daryl got all kissy-faced for a while now so I hope this satisfies your shipping hearts! I changed the ending for this chapter at least ten times before I felt this one was acceptable so please share you thoughts! I'm behind on last weeks reviews so I'll be getting back to you guys over the next day or two for last week and this weeks reviews! XOXO