Your Love Echoes
Chapter 8: Only human.
Warnings: mentions of past abuse, use of pain killers and past under age drinking, more Rick and Beth moments (finally yay!)
My beta Spitfire47 helping me with editing of chapters.
Jimmy was getting on Beth last nerve. Her father had asked Jimmy to watch Beth which she annoyed with – bad enough Jimmy was asked. He had attached himself to her side and didn't let her go anywhere by herself. She was going through a rough patch every now and then and last night was one. Beth had another nightmare last night, a bad one, no doubt Beth had woken the whole house and the group camping outside.
When Beth first walked out she couldn't look at the group, she walked passed them with her eyes forward. She did hear some of the group say good morning but she didn't reply Beth silently chastised herself. Forcing herself to relax she walked at a fast pace forcing Jimmy to run to catch up.
There were a lot of things she couldn't tell her sister and father but the nightmare she had last night was her biggest secret and shame. The most regret was tied to it but it was something that needed to be done and was never to be, another thing she was never to have and the only person she told was her mother. A few days after her mother was bitten, her mother didn't judge her nor was she mad, she just hugged her, told her she was proud of her and loved her. Thinking about it, Beth thought it was Nathan's, but wasn't completely sure but the fact, the possibilities alone it still hurt Beth but then she would remember her mother and what she said it calmed her, the thought she wasn't alone helped.
But no one else knew not even Liam or Nathan, which Beth was thankful for it was the only good thing about it, god only knows what they would have done if they knew. Jimmy was calling her name but by the time Beth turned Jimmy wasn't in sight, she had reached the end fence of the farm and no idea how she got there. The well for the animals were ahead so she worked her way over not bothering to answer Jimmy it didn't matter if he went to her father she needed time alone to think and clear her head, from last night.
She was tired from the previous night only sleeping 2-3 hours before waking in a cold sweat. Pain shot up her body making Beth cry out.
Her mind raced backwards as if on rewind to the point where she had taken up drinking in the early days before telling her mother anything. Just Beth and whatever was cheap hidden in a hole in her wall she cover up with loose bricks. Paying guys at school who were looking for a quick buck, before Maggie found out, Beth refused to tell her sister how she got the alcohol, or why but promised to stop in exchange for Maggie not to tell their father but still had some stashed away for really bad days. Maggie looked but never found where Beth hid it, but Beth had never really dealt with it so she still had thoughts of taking a drink every now and then but fought it. Even though she was not a kid any more she still under age.
Beth reached the well and leaned on the side for a moment only to gasp and fall back, there was something down there in the water.
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Meanwhile Rick was still working out how to approach Beth, her words from last night still fresh in his mind. The way Beth acted this morning it was clear something was wrong, but he didn't want to approach her just yet. He had seen and been involved with abuses cases before when he was deputy sheriff, though the cases are rarely the same, they have the same outcome if forced to talk. They will protect themselves by shutting down completely, their body language changes.
Rick needs to show her she can trust him, show her she can talk to him, that she could came to him if she needs to. Then he wondered if she actually saw him standing there when she left last night and if so why she didn't say anything or had he imagined the whole thing? Before he could continue his thoughts, Lori snapped him out of his thoughts putting her arms around him kissing his check.
"Where did you go?''
Rick smiled returning Lori's kiss.
''Nowhere, I am here" but Rick's attention was elsewhere.
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Beth moved a little closer to look in to see what was there, a soft growling and moaning emitting from the well. She moved to the side of the well to remove to wood covering it, a thick rope was tied and secured to a bar when not used. She saw Jimmy running towards her Beth turned her attention back to the well placing one foot on edge wanting a closer look. Beth gasped and slipped, not being able to regain her balance in time she fell in the well, grabbing at the rope falling half way down before grabbing the rope hitting her shoulder and side on her head on the bricks, causing Beth to cry out she held on half way above the thing making the noises.
Jimmy saw Beth fall in and broke into a run, sliding slightly on the dirt as he reached the well. He leaned over the well seeing Beth hanging on to the rope half way down with a walker just below her and her head and shoulder cover in what looks like blood.
''Beth?! Oh god, Beth, just hold on, I'm gonna get some help just hold on!''
Breaking into a run back to the farm, Jimmy prayed that Beth could hold on just a little longer, long enough to get help.
xxxx
The group had just finished breakfast, and was getting ready to continue their search for Sophia. T-dog and Carol had left early with their area grid map Lori insisted on going this time and wouldn't listen to reasons let alone from Rick. Making the point their son laid shot and the promise of Sophia being found alive, she didn't even give Rick a chance to respond before Shane give her a gun and they got in the car and left.
Rick didn't argue there was no point, Rick ran his hand over his face before turn away and face the next group and grind area to take. There was Daryl this surprised Rick because he figured Daryl would go with Carol a friendship seemed to developing between them. Glenn, Andrea, Dale and himself, but Andrea seemed more interested in watching then the search and Dale wouldn't leave his van, so it was just him and Glenn, his was just about to head out when the car Shane headed on in came back and Jimmy jumped out.
''I need help Beth fell in the well at the back of the farm, we only use it for the cattle and animals but there is something in the bottom of the well. Beth hurt her shoulder and head I don't know how long she can hold on please help!'' Jimmy was out of breath, breathing sharp and heavy.
Rick was the first to speak. "Stay calm, deep breaths, can you show us where she is?'' Jimmy nodded and Rick, Glenn, Maggie who heard it coming over to ask Jimmy where Beth was? Refused to be left behind this time and was forced on Beth, Andrea, Shane, and Lori all made their way to the well. Jimmy rushed to the edge, '' Beth?! Oh no, no, Beth come on stay wake help is coming''
The rest of the group got there and Beth was hardly hanging on, and couldn't keep her eyes open, every now a then would jolt at the noise of the thing at the bottom of the well trying to grab her.
Glenn spoke up,'' Oh shit that's a walker in there with her...How long it been down there?"
Maggie started to panic, "Who cares? We have got to get Beth out of there!''
Rick moved forward silently looking around, before pulling on the rope testing it, without another word he moved over to the car removing more rope and tied it beside the first knot. He wound the other end to his waist.
"I'm going need you to lower me down to Beth, the when I have her I need you guys to pull us back up''
Shane scoffed, "seriously Rick you got a thing for her or somethin'? That's the second time you jumped in to save her.''
Rick glared at Shane, '' there isn't any time..'' but didn't finish when Rick went to the rope followed by Maggie, Glenn, and Daryl. Shane scoffed then joined them, leaving Lori to watch.
Inside the well, Beth finally saw that she was stuck with a walker and her pulsing wounds didn't help either.
By the sounds of it, there was nowhere else to go so Lori knew it was the right thing to do, Wether it was Rick or somebody else, but what Shane said made Lori wonder whether Shane was right. Was it just concern, Rick looking out for Beth and helping her or was there something more to it something Rick wasn't telling her?
Rick was lowered down to where Beth was just above the walker, the rope still jolting him a bit when it suddenly stopped. Rick looked up and heard a few say sorry, he reached out to Beth carefully lifting her chin to check her wounds, suddenly Beth stirred jolting at Rick's touch.
''Hey, shh, Beth it's okay its Rick. I am with some others, Jimmy saw you fall in and went for help. We're going to get you out of there okay? Can you hold on to me? Can you do that?''
Beth didn't trust herself to speak so she nodded Beth felt sleep and couldn't concentrate, she felt Rick place his hand under her chin.
''Hey, hey, you hit your head pretty good, I need you to stay awake for me can you do that? I will get you out of there and get you looked out okay just stay awake a little longer.''
Rick put Beth arms round him feeling her hold on to him he secured her making sure he had a good hold before giving the signal to pull them up. Rick carried Beth back to the car to take her back to the farm, the group gave questioning looks, going between Rick and before but said nothing before going back to trying to get the walker out of the well, worried about contamination to the water.
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When they got back to the farm, Hershel was sitting at the table when rick carried Beth inside in his arms Beth.
Beth felt safe in Ricks arms though she still was unsure why she was holding on to Rick's neck with one arm and shirt with the other hand gripping tightly. His scent seemed to calm her, it was a mix of earth, sweat and something else she couldn't quite place but she felt calm and safe with him. He was different to them he helped people, reached out to them, and his genuine concern for them. No doubt would protect the people he cares for, his calmness and strength, but why he cared about what happens to her was still a mystery to her.
But could she trust Rick? He was smart, gentle. Kind and caring, seemed protective and he helped prefect strangers. He was a good father and friend to his group, and a good leader. He help her, saved her life three times now, the men she prayed for, was there for her was there for her more than once and may have been there listening last night but if he had he had said nothing which made her wonder if he was or if she was imagining it? She chastened a little more, can she trust Rick? To her it was simple: yes.
Then she saw her father, Patricia and Rick standing over her bed.
Her father running his hand over her face and stroking her hair.
'Tomorrow' she thought to herself ' tomorrow I will talk to Rick, thank him, and see where else it leads.' That was the last thought Beth had before she slipped away in to the darkness of sleep from the pain killers her father gave her.
A/N; well lovely readers what do you think? Will Beth finally start opening up to rick? And what do you think Beth is hiding? Is it more about Liam and Nathan or something else entirely? And what will happen between Lori and Rick? Stay tuned to find out, until next time lovely readers. Reviews welcome ox.