AN: Longer than normal author's note… I apologize in advance. I need to apologize for not posting in almost a week. I received some really bad news at work on Monday and as a result, I've been working in overdrive to try to keep my head above water. It's been a nightmare. I'm going to try to write as much as I can on the weekends but going forward, that might be the only time I get to write.

Secondly, the OVERWHELMING response I got from last chapter was amazing! I appreciate every single review, you have no idea how much they all meant to me! So, as always, shouts out to UltimateBethylFicList, 2carlaa, Carowen, Christine, Trixieviv, BeteGirl09, rckyfrk, Guest, Katiegirl99, Anne, An Amber Pen, suzisnowflake, DarylDixon'sLover, Heatherrk, Joise, Mirsa, KemleS, Gabs, and mhustler. You all rock my socks off!

One more shout out to UltimateBethylFicList (Go follow her on tumblr will ya?) I appreciate your help and feedback! Couldn't have done this without ya!

Chapter 18

Daryl woke just as the first light began to drift into the room. Vision of the night before filled his mind and guilt and morning desire fought for dominance in an unrelenting manner. He looked over to see the small blonde curled up next to him on his bed. He knew he needed to get her up and out of his room before anyone realized she wasn't in hers, if they hadn't already.

He gently pulled himself upright on the bed and untangled his clothes from the pile on the floor. Once his boxers and jeans were back on he grabbed her clothes and folded them up in his spot on the bed. He shuffled his way around the room, gathering anything he would need to take a shower, forgoing the need to wake her just yet. Surely no one would be up at this time.

He undressed again as he turned the water down to lukewarm, his muscles aching to be under the flow of water. He stepped in and cringed momentarily as the semi cool water ran down his body and he hung his head under the stream. As his mind raced to the events of last night, two things stuck out in his mind.

How amazing it felt to have her wrapped around him and how wrong it was.

He couldn't bring himself to regret it though. She had come to him asking for his comfort. He knew why she had asked for him in that way. He'd done so with countless hookers and sluts back home when Merle would get too high for his own good and put a gun to his head; when tweekers got pissed off at him over cartoons; or when his life could have been taken from him in a reckless action of meaninglessness. It was that need to feel alive. Though he'd never felt emotion in the act before like he did last night. Maybe because he wasn't the only one needing comfort?

He quickly became frustrated with his train of thought and washed himself. Once done, he shut off the water and dressed. He opened the door and found her right where he had left her. If he couldn't see the rise and fall of her chest from the angle he was standing at, he would have checked to see if she were still alive. He shook his head and walked over to her side of the bed and touched her arm softly.

"Beth." She stirred slightly under his touch; her sleepy moan causing blood to race to his dick in remembrance of her clenching around him. He stifled a groan and tried again. "C'mon, wake up." He hadn't meant to sound forceful but it had gotten her attention. He watched her look up at him with confusion before her features relaxed and a smile crossed her lips.

"Morning." She whispered.

"Ya need to get goin'. Don't need anyone worryin' about ya when you're not in your room." She looked at him for a moment before nodding.

"You're right." She started to get up but a deep blush flooded her face. "Can you… give me a minute?" Daryl couldn't help but chuckle.

"Saw everythin' already, in case ya forgot." He joked. Her blush deepened and he snorted again. "Alright, gunna go have a smoke." He moved to the door and stepped out into the hallway. He was relieved that no other lights were on; no signs of anyone else awake. Even the little boy was sound asleep from the lack of giggles and gibberish.

He walked out of the hotel room and towards the elevator. As he pressed the button he heard someone walk up behind him. He assumed it was another guest leaving for the day. He had to forcibly hide his shock and embarrassment when Michonne stopped beside him. She gave him a cross glare but didn't say a word. The elevator dinged and Daryl stepped inside. Michonne paused for a moment.

"Ya got somethin' to say, do it while I'm smokin'." She stepped in without further hesitation and the two rode down and made their way to the front of the hotel. Daryl lit up the second his foot was out the door his lungs; drawing in the nicotine he so desperately needed.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Michonne's voice was laced with venom and blame.

"Didn't see you running after her last night when she ran from the room." He grumbled.

"I'm not talking about that. While yes, that was your fault because I heard you yell at her, I'm talking about what happened when you thought everyone was asleep you prick!" She punched him in his shoulder and he could instantly feel his face burn. He had thought they were quiet. "I don't think Glenn knows but I certainly heard you! What were you thinking?" She asked again.

Daryl just shrugged. "Wasn't." He muttered shamefully.

"What happened to professional? First chance you got you jumped into bed with her!" Her voice was accusatory and Daryl couldn't find it in himself to be angry at her tone.

"Wasn't like that." He meagerly defended.

"Enlighten me." Michonne crossed her arms, her brow raised while she waited for his explanation.

"I don't owe that to you." He growled back, his temper bubbling at her expectation for him to reveal the night's events to her. If Beth wanted to tell her, whatever, but he wasn't saying a damn word.

"I think Rick would disagree. You took advantage of her in a vulnerable state."

"Wasn't like that." He said through gritted teeth. However, he didn't want to hang around any longer as she spit hatred in his direction because she might see that the thought had crossed his mind as well. A shrill ring interrupted the conversation and any actions that might have been the result of it. Daryl yanked out his phone to answer. "Yeah?"

"Mr. Dixon, this is Detective Murphy." The Irish voice filled his ear.

"Yeah?" He asked again.

"Look lad, I need to tell ya, Zach died during surgery last night." Daryl's eyes blurred and he suddenly felt very dizzy. As much as he has wanted to kill that son of a bitch, he'd never actually taken someone's life before. "The case seems pretty straight forward, self-defense and what not."

"Thanks." He whispered and closed the phone. Michonne was looking at him with rage and curiosity. "Zach's dead."

Michonne's face softened slightly but before she could say anything he turned around and walked away without as much as a backward glance. A few blocks away he hailed a taxi, grateful that he hadn't forgotten his wallet back in the hotel, and asked to be taken to the nearest car rental lot. He paid the driver once they reached the destination, climbed out of the car and up to the office.

A perky blonde greeted him with a wide smile and sidelong glance. He stopped himself from thinking that he wished it was another blonde he was looking at right now.

"Need a car. Ya got a place in Atlanta I can drop it off?"

"Of course, just fill this out and I need your license and insurance information." He handed over the requested items and began scribbling on the lines before him. He pushed it back over the counter to the girl, Tracy as her nametag stated, and waited for her to finish putting whatever information she needed into the computer.

"OK, I've got a Prius," Daryl shrugged, not caring what it was that got him out of New York, just as long as it had a running engine. "Tanks full on that one, which is a surprise. It has GPS, Touch screen technology, the works. It's really nice." She beamed. "Let me go get it." She grabbed a set of keys off of the wall and bounded out from behind the counter and out the door.

He stepped outside and paced several times before pulling out his phone to look at the time. It was just after seven am. He hadn't realized just how early it was when he hailed the cab and he was now realizing just how lucky he was that this place was open. Life in the busy city where nothing ever slept, he supposed. He began to think about the kid's life he had taken and nausea threatened to overpower him.

Just as his mind started to turn to the reason of his retreat, a deep blue Prius pulled up next to him. Tracy skipped up to him and gave a grand motion to the car.

"She's all yours. There's paperwork in the car with locations in Atlanta where you can return it. Safe trip, handsome." Daryl moved wordlessly around the car and climbed in. He pulled the GPS from the dash and typed in the address of the condos to help get him back to Atlanta. He assumed he could get there with road signs, but he'd never been this far north before, so a little help wouldn't hurt. The delicate female voice flooded the car and he pulled out of the parking lot and into the busy New York streets.

He flashed a glance at the GPS as he sat in traffic. Just over 13 hours until he was back in Atlanta. That meant 13 hours alone with his thoughts. He pulled out his phone and scanned the contacts for Rick's number. After a few short rings, Rick answered.

"Daryl, what's going on, man?"

"I'm heading back to Atlanta. Be there close to 10. Can ya meet me when I get there?"

"Is Beth ok?" Rick asked.

"She's fine. Can ya meet me?"

"Yeah, sure. Call me when you get here." He sounded uncertain.

"Zach's dead." He didn't know why he said it, but he needed to tell someone. "Killed him last night." Daryl waited for Rick to say something, anything, in his best cop voice but the man stayed quiet for a long while.

"Just call me when you get back." Before Daryl could respond the line went dead. Thirty minutes later, Daryl found himself on the highway, the windows down and the wind rushing into the car. The sound was deafening and kept him mind from wondering, which he was grateful for. He's have to stop at least twice for gas on the way there, but if he could keep himself focused it might serve as a welcomed vacation from the mountains of guilt he was suddenly feeling from all directions. He switched off the phone and pressed the car harder and faster.

Daryl pulled into the underground garage near ten thirty that night. He had already called Rick to let him know he was back in Atlanta and the former cop had agreed to meet him there. As he stepped out and stretched his stiff legs, the unkempt man stepped out of his and walked over to Daryl. Confusion was evident in his eyes and he was somewhat thankful that Michonne hadn't seemed to have told him everything.

"Talked to Glenn this morning. He told me why you killed Zach. I'm sorry you had to but this is what you signed up for." Rick offered some reassurance to that portion of his guilt.

"Yeah, but I don't think I signed on to fall for the girl. Certainly didn't expect to fuck her." Daryl looked away as Rick's mouth dropped open. He waited for a backlash from the man, but it didn't seem like it was to come.

AN: Up next… Rickyl! Let me know what you think! Love ya all!