Beth approached the van with caution. She just had to know if Carol was alive or dead. If there was a chance to help her she was going to take it. She pulled out her knife as she peered into the dark van. She noticed an arrow from Daryl's weapon and grabbed it. He must have dropped his crossbow nearby. She cautiously stepped in and felt around. As her hand felt the familiar metal of the crossbow she was also able to see a partial outline of a body. Beth slung the crossbow over her back and placed in the arrow she had found in her mouth. She tugged at the exposed leg and brought out the body into the bit of daylight that shown through the van windows. If it had been a walker it would have tried to attack her by now. If was Carol and she was still alive then she could tell her to hold on and secure the van while she continued to find the others. Instead, her heart sank as Carol's head came into the light with an arrow sticking through it. Tears came to Beth's eyes immediately. Her mouth had opened and dropped the arrow. Her body was shaking at the sight of her friend. The thought of having to kill her must have torn Daryl apart. She felt horrible for him. She could not imagine the choice he had to make.
Beth secured the van so that no walkers could get at her. Time was running out and she had to find the others before Daryl succumbed to his wounds. She ran as fast as she could following all the signs Daryl told her. She finally came upon the dirt road which led to the clearing by the church. Beth stuck close to the trees for fear of running into strangers or worse, the hospital staff. She was almost to the clearing when she heard Rick yelling not to shoot. Beth quickly hid behind a tree and tried to see what was going on.
Beth counted five people facing Rick, Michonne, Maggie and Glen. She did not recognize the others but they seemed to be with Rick since they pointed their guns at the group standing before Rick. Beth then heard a familiar cry. It was Judith. Beth remained calm as she gripped the crossbow. She looked around the tree again and saw that one of the men had Judith in his arms while the rest of that group faced Rick and the others with guns drawn.
Beth held her breath as she aimed her weapon at the man closest to Rick and fired hitting him directly in the skull. Rick didn't hesitate before drawing his weapon and shooting at the other men. Soon one by one the men in that group dropped to the ground as they tried to shoot their weapons, missing Rick and the others. The man holding Judith managed to fire off a few shots then ran with her towards the trees. Unbeknownst to him, he was running directly into Beth's path.
Beth held her weapon steady at she let the man pass through the trees. She had to think carefully about how she was going to stop him with Judith in his arms.
"Hey!" she yelled and he reached the trees just behind her.
He pressed his back against the tree just as Beth fired off an arrow into the man's head. Beth was able to grab Judith as the man slumped against the tree, dead. She held her close as Judith let out a big scream. Beth was thankful to hear that scream, it meant she was alive and okay. Within seconds Rick and the others came upon them. All of them became wide-eyed at the sight of her. Rick's eyes welled with tears as he hugged them both then kissed their foreheads. Then Maggie and Glen hugged her as she handed Judith to Rick. Beth was relieved to see Maggie again but there was no time, no time for any of this. Beth had to get back to Daryl before dark.
"We need to go" Beth said as she picked up the crossbow and removed the arrow from the dead man's head. She gave Rick a look and hoped that he understood as she walked towards the vehicles parked next to the church.
It seemed to take forever as the two cars drove down the road and towards the little house. Beth could tell that Maggie wanted to ask her a million questions but she made it clear that she didn't want to talk about anything other than giving directions to where Daryl was. As they drove up the barely noticeable dirt path she noticed something different about the house. The front door was wide open. She had made sure it was closed and secure before she left him. The cars stopped before the house and everyone jumped out with weapons ready. Beth suddenly found herself frozen. She could not take another step. She couldn't breathe as she watched Rick, Glen, and Michonne enter the home. Maggie stood by Beth as the others went in. Only a few seconds go by before they hear gunshots. Beth's eyes glaze over as she hits the ground.