Follow Me, Beth
Chapter 2

_… Then…_

Behind her was the city skyline of Atlanta, the same one Rick once rode towards on horseback years ago, on this same stretch of highway. She wasn't sure where she was headed, but she knew nothing was left back there. What other choice did she have? The only way, now, was ahead.

The car rolled to a stop on the highway. Beth leaned forwards against the steering wheel, squinting to see through the filthy windshield. She turned the ignition off and pushed open the driver's side door, stepping out and looking at the large sign going North. She fixed the stolen police issued pistol in the back of her jeans and walked ahead of the black car, a white cross still painted on its rear window and bullet holes dimpling the trunk.

She'd spent the last couple of days hiding out, lying low, staying under the radar just in case people were looking for her. She'd hidden the car blocks away from where she made her temporary camp in the storm cellar of a burned out house, knowing that eventually she would come back for it. She spent her time gathering her wits, scavenging for supplies. Jeans, a tshirt and a ratty blue hoodie. A backpack and a few cans of tuna and spam. A kitchen knife and other odds and ends. She had a gun from one of the cops at the hospital, but only two bullets and ammunition was impossible to come by out here, she soon realized. She'd use them only when necessary, and resolved that no matter how bad it got out there, neither bullet was for her. She wasn't ever going back to that mind fame. She'd come too far to even imagine giving up.

If asked how she'd managed to escape, let alone with the same car that she'd started this horrible nightmare in, she couldn't begin to explain. All that mattered was that she was out and, now, she knew where to go. As her blood-spattered sneakers scuffed against the asphalt, coming to a stop, Beth looked up. She felt a laugh bubble up into her chest as she smiled. It was brief and quiet, but it was what hope sounded like in that moment, for she'd found the first sign.

"Daryl…"

She noticed the large arrow pointing towards one of the broken down cars on the highway, and to the hood was taped a map inside of a plastic bag. She tore it free and opened it. She followed the marked route with her finger until she reached where it was circled. Washington D.C..

_…Now…_

For those achingly fleeting moments, Daryl and Beth felt like the only two people in the world. There was a instant when Daryl wondered — even as his fingers curled into her tawny hair and he could feel the warmth of her skin against his cheek, the weight of her arms clutching to his body — was this just another extremely vivid, utterly cruel dream? But his knees were beginning to pulse with discomfort from how they'd collapsed down to the ground and rocked against the asphalt with Beth in his arms, as though — if she was a dream — he could sway her out of his mind and into existence.

Rick had dispersed most of the group that had been watching. Although Aaron was responsible for maintaining the new-comers, Rick wasn't having any interruptions. He handed the discarded surgical scissors back to Aaron and gestured for him and Denise to go about their business.

"She's our family. We've got her," he said.

Aaron took the scissors. "Monroe's going to want to speak to her," he said.

Rick nodded, "I know. He'll get his chance… after we get ours, and not today."

Aaron nodded before leading Denise back into the infirmary.

Rick turned to look at the pair who were silently holding onto each other. It was as though no words needed to be spoken and all they desired was to feel the reality of one another, solidly tucked safely into their arms.

Daryl drew back and clutched Beth's head gently between his hands, his forehead pressed against her's. Her hands came up and curled against the back of his neck lightly before lightly clutching his hair. She opened her eyes, red and glassy, seeing his still closed tightly, a sheen of tears still on his face, his chin tense and his lips firmly pressed, as though he was trying desperately not to bawl like a baby. Beth smiled, even as a tear slipped down her cheek. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly and letting her head drop against his shoulder.

"You bathed," she said, muffled against his shoulder.

His immediate response was a laugh that came out like a snort, not expecting that, of all things. "Yeah.. You need to."

She let out a tremulous, soft little chuckle before drawing in a sharp breath, holding it to keep from sobbing. "… I missed you…"

He turned his head to press his mouth against her ear once more. He nodded, struggling for his voice. "God, I missed you…"

"Daryl.. I—"

"Beth," Rick interrupted.

She lifted her head from Daryl's shoulder and looked up at Rick, then followed the line of his arm down to his offered hand, palm up. Daryl's grip seemed to slacked, reluctantly, as Beth put her hand into Rick's and he drew her effortlessly up onto her feet again before hugging her to him.

Daryl took the moment to hang his head and brush away the tears from his face, to try to collect his composure in some small measure. He slowly got himself back onto his feet, his heart in his throat. Daryl could feel her warmth still clinging to his body and yet he immediately felt her absence, despite the fact she was right there.

He watched as Rick rocked left to right with Beth locked inside his arms, kissing the side of her head with all of the affection of a brother. It was painfully clear, now, that Daryl hadn't been the only one whose heart broke at the idea of leaving her behind in Georgia, at getting so close to having her back, only to lose her all over again.

Beth pulled back from Rick and he looked at her. "You made it."

She nodded.

"I'm glad you're back." He smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into him again as he hugged her.

"Me too," Beth whispered as she leaned into Rick's chest, looking over at Maggie when she saw Rick gesture to her big sister and brother-in-law.

Rick drew back from the blonde, his hand on her back guiding her around to face her sister.

"Beth?" Maggie's voice was soft and strained, as she walked up to her sister and hugged her. She let out a sob. She was real, she could hug her. A huge part of her thought that this day would never happen. "I thought you were dead," she sobbed.

"I know…" Beth whispered, closing her eyes as she hugged Maggie a little tighter. "It's okay."

"I'm so sorry—"

"It's okay," Beth repeated, resting her chin on Maggie's shoulder as she held to her like her strong big sister might crumble if she didn't. For some reason, Lori's words that day so long ago came flooding back. You have to be strong for them. This moment was everything for Beth. She had survived. She'd found them. She was with Daryl and Maggie and Rick and Glenn, all of them, again. But she knew Maggie was falling apart, because she'd given up on her, she'd left her. Beth couldn't blame her, even if she wanted to — and she didn't want to.

Beth looked over at Glenn, who was smiling, tears running down his own cheeks. She smiled at him and pried a hand off Maggie's back to wave him over.

Glenn walked up and wrapped his arms around both Greene girls, kissing the top of Beth's head before kissing the side of Maggie's. In this moment, he couldn't help but let his mind drift to Hershel. It felt like a miracle, and he was sure that old man had a hand in it somehow, wherever he was. This was the miracle that proved to Glenn that miracles exist.

"How about we get you settled?" Rick asked.

"Yeah," Maggie said, pulling back and looking at her sister. "You'll stay with all of us. Glenn and I will show you." She slid her hand into Beth's and held tightly, starting to lead her off.

"Wait." Beth slowed and turned, looking back. "Daryl."

He lifted his head and looked over at her as she, Maggie and Glenn all stopped to look back at him. That was her sister and Daryl had been quiet and stood off on his own, not wanting to interrupt their reunion, even if every shred of his being wanted to keep her in his sights, keep her close. Then he noticed Beth's free hand coming up, reaching out to him. He hesitated and looked around, oddly aware of everyone looking at him as if they knew now, for sure, why he never gave up on her, why he left those signs, why he hugged her as though she'd vanish if he let her go.

"Naw.. You… you and Maggie—"

"Daryl," Maggie said, cutting him off. She smiled warmly and brushed her palm against her cheek to dry it some more, then casually cocked her head towards Beth. "Come on."

Daryl looked at Rick, who just nodded in a 'well, go on' manner.

"I gotta go speak with Douglas," Rick said to Daryl. "You make sure she gets settled, gets everythin' she needs."

Daryl nodded. "Alright, man."

He walked over to the group and they all headed off for the housing district of Alexandria. As they walked, he was lost in a frenzy of thoughts, but then he felt the back of Beth's hand brush against his and he looked down. He saw her slide her fingers in between his and he curled his own inward, tightening the grip.

He looked at her. Seeing her smiling up at him with those vibrant blue eyes — different and yet still so strong and full of hope — he could feel it. That spark… growing, building… like someone poured ignition fluid on a tiny flame. He realized that it'd always been there, burning beneath the surface…for her. Every moment, every day, every breath, every heartbeat. That warmth that he'd been getting closer and closer to, that had been taken from him so abruptly, just came rushing back, full tilt.

It was Beth… It was always Beth.