AN: As promised here is 11! Thank you to everyone who reviewed yesterday! DarylDixon'sLover, 2carlaa, Carowen, heartherrk, sillymommy2010, guest AKA 2 lazt 2 sign in (lol) and Trixieviv! I appreciate all your support! I don't have much more to say so I'll just let you get to it.

Chapter 11

The rest of the concert went on without event. Everyone cheered for her and she appreciated everything. At the end of the show she announced that she would be stage front signing autographs for about thirty minutes, much to the surprise of both Daryl and Michonne. She made her way back stage, seemingly fully prepared for the verbal tongue lashing she was about to receive.

"Why didn't we know about this?" Michonne demanded.

"It was a spur of the moment idea. Besides, you said everything out front was fine. The crowd was excited." Glenn walked up behind her and interjected.

"I think it's a great idea. The more positivity around her name the better." Daryl was seething.

"And this threat with Zach just doesn't matter anymore?" He barked at the two. He instantly regretted it when he saw her visibly flinch at his tone.

"No, it matters. You'll be by her side and Michonne will be watching the crowd." Glenn said nonchalantly.

"Don't pull this shit again. We can't prepare properly if you do whatever the hell you want!" Michonne growled and turned to find Tyreese. Daryl could hear her tell the man to get everyone that wasn't staying for an autograph out of the stage area. He protested the orders as the two walked out of earshot. Glenn pulled his phone out of his pocket and walked off leaving a hurt looking Beth standing before Daryl.

"I didn't think it'd be a big deal. I haven't played for a group like that in a long time." Daryl sighed and looked around anywhere as long as it wasn't on her sad blue eyes at that moment.

"This ain't no game. Not when this asshole could show up anywhere." He grumbled. She nodded and started to walk back to the vanity.

"I'm sorry." She murmured as she passed him.

As he escorted her back to the front of the stage there was a small table in place with a chair and a line of people waiting to see her. He stood by and watched every person come up to her and praise her for her performance and she smiled and thanked everyone as she signed whatever they handed her. She answered questions, gave advice, and pretended each person was the only one in the room with her. She was a natural with them and they seemed to love her for it. The thirty minutes passed quickly and once the last person was finish he reached over and touched her shoulder. She looked up him with a wide grin on her face.

"See, nothing happened."

"Let's get ya home before somethin' does." She nodded and stood with a wave to the people standing around. Michonne and Glenn approached them and they made their way to the back, Glenn having already taken care of everything with Tyreese. They made their way to the cars and Beth stopped short with a gasp. There was a single rose sitting on Michonne's car.

Daryl was the first to grab it and toss it aside. He and Michonne scanned the back lot and saw no sign of anyone around. Daryl was furious. He had been here. He turned to look at Beth who seemed visibly shaken. "Get her outta here." Daryl growled and headed for his car.

"Daryl, wait." Beth's voice was suddenly so small, a tenth of what it was back in the club. Her confidence was gone and fear clouded her eyes. He felt and fought the urge to walk over and wrap her in his arms. "Can I ride with you?" At her simple request his resolve crumbled and he nodded. He looked over at Michonne and Glenn as they seemed to approve and get in the other car. Daryl walked over to the passenger side, his hand guiding her by the small of her back, and opened the door for her. She smiled weakly and thanked him softly as she got in his car.

Daryl got in the on the other side and pulled out of the lot behind Michonne. She wasted no time in getting everything off her mind.

"Do you think he was in there?"

"Nah, we had the place covered. No one woulda let him in."

"But he was there." Her voice broke slightly. Without thinking, Daryl reached over and grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently.

"Nothin's gunna happen to you." He assured her with a quick glance. She squeezed his hand back but didn't let it go.

"I trust you." She was quiet after that moment. He let her keep hold of him if it offered her a small bit of comfort. Being honest with himself, it brought him comfort to feel that she was safe with him. They pulled into the garage and when she released his hand he couldn't help but feel the loss of contact. She gave him a final glance before extracting herself from the car to meet up with Glenn. Daryl got out and watched them talk for a few minutes before Glenn got in his own car and drove away. Michonne stepped up beside him, her face deadly serious.

"We need to figure out how to get this guy to the locals." Daryl nodded.

"Any ideas?"

"Short of offering her up as bait, no. Think on it tonight. We've got two days before we leave for New York." Daryl noticed her pull out of her phone and look at the missed calls and texts on her screen.

"Go up to your kid. I'll get her upstairs." Michonne gave him her appreciation and headed for the elevator. Daryl continued to watch her move slowly back to him.

"Michonne already head up?" Daryl nodded. Beth fidgeted in front of him. "Do you want to go for a walk or something?" Daryl was a bit shocked by her question.

"Don't think that's a good idea."

"Yeah, you're probably right. I just… tonight was good. I don't want to let this get to me. I don't want this fear controlling my life." He didn't know what to say. He couldn't offer any more comforting words or positive hope. It was never his strong suit so he kept quiet and waited for her to say something else, something he might be able to actually respond to. "Ok… well enjoy your night." She said with disappointment and headed to the elevator. He followed a few steps behind her but something caught his eye at the entrance of the garage.

There was a dark figure watching them. He couldn't make out the face but from the build he could tell it was a man going out of his way to hide in the shadows.

"Beth." She turned and looked back at him, her eyes following the direction he was looking at. "Get upstairs and lock the door. Don't open it until you hear me." He instructed. "And call Rick." He didn't wait to see her on the elevator as he began walking to the dark figure. Daryl didn't need to see the face to know it was Zach. Just as he started to move to him he turned and walked out of sight. Daryl broke into a run and turned the corner only to have Zach sucker punch him in the nose. Daryl ignored the pain and grabbed him by the shoulder and shoved him into the side of the building, his forearm pressed into his neck.

"What the hell is your problem?" He growled at him.

"You fucking my girlfriend?" Zach spat back.

"She ain't yours. Now we're gunna sit here and wait for some people to get ya and you're going to thank me for not killin' ya for what ya did in Kentucky."

"She's mine and I'm not going anywhere you fucking redneck! I'll get her back!" Daryl wasn't expecting Zach's knee to make contact with his groin causing him to double over in pain and drop his hold on him. He took advantage of the situation and darted off down the street and into a waiting car. Daryl tried to catch up to him but was at least able to commit the plate number to memory before he drove out of sight.

Daryl was furious. This was the second time the kid got away from him and now he thought he was fucking Beth. The kid was out of his mind. Daryl bent over and put his hands on his knees trying to control the pain that was radiating through him. He noticed blood drip down on the pavement and realized his nose was bleeding from the punch. He ripped off a piece of his shirt and put it up to his face to control the bleeding as he limped back to the building and up to her door.

"It's me." He called without knocking. She flung open the door and gasped at the sight of him.

"Oh my god! What happened?" She pulled him inside and set him down on the couch while she scurried around in the kitchen getting ice and tissues.

"Fucker got away again." Daryl growled as he threw his head back. "You call Rick?"

"Yeah, he'll be here in a few minutes. Here, let me." She took the torn cloth from his face and replaced it with the clean tissues and held it up for him. He tried to push her off but she insisted. "I said let me. It's the least I can do." He resigned to her mothering and relaxed only slightly. "He say anything to you?"

"Just that he thinks I'm screwin' his girlfriend." He couldn't help but notice her face flush as she pulled the tissue away to check the bleeding.

"I think it's stopped." She reached for the wet cloth and gently wiped the blood off his face and their eyes caught for a moment. Something seemed to pass between them in that moment and Daryl couldn't figure out what. Whatever it was, it was terrifying and wrong at the same time. He broke the contact first and reached for the ice she had brought to him. She cleared her throat and moved to the other side of the couch. "Doesn't look broken. Probably going to have a black eye tomorrow." Daryl laughed.

"Certainly wouldn't be the first." She smirked. "Shouldn't have let him get away." He muttered to himself.

"It's not your fault, Daryl."

"I shoulda done something. Shoulda pulled my gun on him or somethin'. I was stupid." He countered back a bit sharper than he meant to. He stood up and paced the living room for a moment, his anger at himself growing. She started to stand when there was a knock at the door. Daryl quickly answered it to find Rick on the other side. He took in the situation and brushed past him.

"What happened?"

"Got away. I screwed up but I got the plate on the car he's driving." Rick handed him a note pad and Daryl scribbled the letters and numbers for him and returned it to him. Rick pulled out his phone.

"Hey, Jack. I need you to run a plate for me." Rick read him the plate and waited in silence for a few minutes. Daryl looked back at Beth to see sadness in her eyes. It hurt him to know that he was the reason for it too. "Fantastic." Rick broke the silence with his sarcasm. "Thanks." He ended the call and turned to the two. "Apparently, the car was reported stolen this afternoon. He just keeps racking up the charges. Alright, nothing we can do now. Beth, why don't you get Michonne to stay with you tonight?"

"No, she's got Andre, I can't ask her to do that."

"What about Maggie? I don't think you should be alone if he's still nearby." She shook her head.

"I'm not going to inconvenience anyone else because of this… this bullshit." Daryl raised a brow at her and tried not to laugh at the pure and innocent Beth Greene attempting to cuss.

"I'll stay." Daryl said. Rick shot him a glance and thought it over for a moment. He turned to Beth.

"That alright with you?" She shrugged her shoulders and offered no more protest.

"Alright. We'll figure this out, Beth. Get some rest. Daryl, a word?" Rick demanded as he walked to the door. Daryl followed him out into the hallway. "Tell me everything." Daryl sighed and recounted the events with Zach.

"I fucked up." He finished.

"Why does he think you're sleeping with Beth?" Rick asked.

"Why the hell does he think she's his girlfriend?" Daryl countered.

"Fair enough. Keep some ice on that." He said pointed to Daryl's nose and then smirked. "And maybe those, too." He pointed to Daryl's groin.

"Fuck you." Rick laughed and walked off down the hall. Daryl walked back into the condo to find that Beth had changed into shorts and a tank top. Her hair was pulled back into a high pony tail in the back and she'd washed off her make-up while he had been outside. She looked absolutely stunning.

"You can stay in the spare bedroom if you'd like." Daryl had to swallow several times to get some moisture back in his mouth.

"Thanks." She surprised him by walking over to his and lifting herself on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. He stiffened at the feel of her lips on his face and he fought the inner struggle to turn his head slightly to kiss her in return. He knew he couldn't and he knew it was wrong. But it didn't make the struggle any less real.

"Goodnight, Daryl." She whispered softly. "And thank you." She turned and walked into her bedroom and Daryl was able to appreciate the view her shorts provided. He groaned when the door closed and adjusted himself gently and with slight shock that he could become somewhat aroused by just a simple kiss on the cheek, her stunning body, and not to mention so soon after taking a blow in that area.

Yes, Daryl Dixon was screwed.

AN: Hope you enjoyed the subtle Bethyl moments. It's taking a while but for a reason and I hope it will be worth the wait! Let me know what you think, please please please?