Well my timing sure sucks. Week of the MSF I was damn excited about starting work on this chapter...and then I saw the MSF. What can I say? It messed me up just like it did everyone else. I thought it would be hard to get back to this story but then I realized how hard it would be for people to continue reading it (given it features certain season 5 character who didn't die painful enough deaths in canon). I mean if I had known that was how the GMH storyline would turn out in the end, I probably would have never started this fic to begin with. So if you do have a hard time to continue reading as a result, I won't hold it against you. But I think I'm at the point where I can get back and try to enjoy the Bethyl ship while it still hangs on. Much admiration for the people who have been starting AU fics after the MSF. It really did help me to move forward with this story. But as I warn all of you, it will get dark in the next chapter. Again thank you those who are reading and are still reading this fic. You are truly the strength of the fandom and ship right now during this difficult time.
Let's continue this thing.
Everyone in the family was thrilled at the news. To Beth, it meant much more than being able to help out her family, financially. It was about doing something truly worthwhile...something she was no longer feeling working the internship. Which was why, after serious consideration, that she was going to tell Dawn that she was quitting. Not an easy thing after their public confrontation. She also didn't want it to make it seem like she was quitting in spite of that.
Perhaps if Beth waited it out, she could go talk to Dawn when things were calmer. But it seemed as if Dawn was already pushing to make things harder for Beth intentionally. She and Tara were spending more time not just dealing with records, but also doing inventory on various records from other rooms, doubling their workload. Between the two of them, there were too many heavy boxes to move around, in some cases, to other rooms down the hall.
Beth found herself having to put the boxes down for a few moments and having to pick them up again to deal with their weight. After a while, she bent down to pick up one and something felt off. It only realizing the position she was in and her recognition of the surrounding noises for her instincts to kick in.
"You can stop staring now." She turned to look back at Gorman, making sure to show her discontent at him staring at her ass.
"Last I check, you're not the one who gets to give orders around here." Gorman went around Beth to face her.
"I know what you're up to," said Beth. "Tara told me everything about you."
"And why does that matter?"
"Because I'll tell Dawn."
Gorman smirked. "Dawn won't do anything. And I doubt she'll listen to anything you have to say...especially since you're gonna call it quits soon."
Beth's body jerked a bit. "But how d'you know I...?"
"I just know. And I don't think she'll be happy to hear from me that you found a better job just to spite her."
"It's not to spite her! I needed to help my dad..."
When Gorman quickly grabbed her wrist, Beth panicked but tried to maintain her cool. One wrong move and this situation could get worse. "Don't raise your voice to authority," he said with an eerie calm. "People get arrested for that sort of thing. And I know you. You're no criminal." His face getting too close to Beth but she was determined not to show any upset or bewilderment by his presence or the fact that she could feel his breath on her.
She looked at him straight in the eyes. "Go ahead. Tell Dawn. I'm not afraid of her...and I definitely not afraid of you."
His smile turned into a frown when he saw how defiant Beth was being and let go of her arm. The grip had been tight enough, that it felt really sore, but Beth wasn't going to tend to it or give into the pain just yet. Not until he was gone and out of her sight.
Once Gorman was gone, Beth felt good. Even if Dawn came up to her right now and fired her on the spot, it wouldn't change a thing. Come Monday, things were going to look up and this would all be a forgotten memory.
...
She had only returned to work at the soup kitchen once since she first started. Between all the work at the police station and her father's bad health, her failure to keep up her volunteer work there became her only shame. Throughout the day, she kept an eye out for the man...Daryl. She had hoped that he would come around again, despite his dislike of the food. But the weather was a little warmer and she knew he would only come in just to keep warm.
Beth felt guilty about going to Father Gabriel and telling him that she wouldn't have time for the soup kitchen anymore. "I'm sorry about that," he told her. "But I hope that when things are better for you, maybe you will come back."
"I want to," said Beth. "This is something I have to do though."
"I understand. Good luck to you, child."
Afterwards, Beth walked out of the mission and was thinking about heading back to Glenn and Maggie's place early. But she also wanted some time to herself. So she opted for going to the park. She rarely had time to herself since arriving in the city and took to a bench to read a book.
It was calm and quiet for the most part. She got her head out her book only once when she thought she heard a noise...other than the birds. There were other people around, but too far away from her bench to make the noise she heard. For a moment, it almost felt like she was being watched but that seemed ridiculous. She turned her head and her eyes became focused on a shiny but crushed aluminum can. After picking up the can she looked up and Beth could've sworn that she saw a familiar pair of angel wings beyond the trees. Without giving it a second though, Beth left everything on the bench, taking only the can with her, to follow the wings.
As she walked past the trees, sure enough, she saw Daryl, pushing the same grocery cart he had been pushing before.
"Hey!"
He wasn't looking back at her. She moved closer until she was just a short jog from him. "Daryl!"
That got his attention. But instead of being happy or surprised to see her, he looked rather annoyed. "Girl, can't you leave me alone?"
When Beth came up to him, she handed the crushed can. "You collect these don't you?
Daryl looked aggravated. "Told ya, I don't take charity."
"It's not charity," said Beth. "I found it on the ground. I thought maybe you missed it while you were looking."
Daryl stared at the can for a second, and eventually caved into taking it out of Beth's hand. He hoped she would let him be if he did.
"Do you live around here?" she asked him.
"I come here for the goods," he grumbled. "Where I sleep at night ain't nice. You wouldn't wanna be 'round there." Daryl started to realize that maybe telling her that was a mistake. He didn't want this to become an interview of his life story and this girl was getting annoyingly noisy about his personal life. "Not that it ain't your business anyway. Besides, already gettin' late." He turned his back to her. "Go home."
Beth didn't hesitate this time, only because at that moment, she realized that she had foolishly left all her belongings, even her purse, on the bench unsupervised. Thankfully when she got back the purse, was still there. It did feel a little heavier than usual, but that wasn't really her biggest concern. Her only thought was to check and make sure her wallet and money and ID cards were still in the big pocket and thankfully they were.
...
The next day was the day, Beth decided, that she would speak with Dawn. It was the day she would make her last at the Atlanta Police Station. The only thing she would miss about this place was Tara. She was the only person who treated her like a human being and made the place tolerable for the time she spent there. At least there would be one good goodbye in the mix.
But as soon as Beth entered the station, Dawn was waiting. No way was Beth late. She came in a good 15 minutes early to prepare for this.
"I want you in my office," said Dawn. "We need to talk."
Beth was as angry as Dawn was. Gorman must have told her about her plans to leave. But she reminded herself that it was nothing to be upset about. Her new job was waiting just a few days ahead. This would all be over soon. She sat in the chair across from Dawn's desk, ready to deal with what came her way. "I've gotten word that you're leaving us?"
"Yes," said Beth. "I've been meaning to tell you..."
"I'm sure you have. Interns who care about what they do wouldn't hide that stuff from me. You know this won't look good on your final evaluation."
"I understand." Beth tried to sound as professional as she could but Dawn still wasn't pleased. "What do you have against this?" said Dawn. "Against me? I've been a lot lenient with you compared to everyone else that did this program."
Beth was angry at the way Dawn was making it sound like she was the victim. But Beth knew better than that and wanted to make sure she knew it. "Why don't you ask Gorman? He likes to tell you things and you like to cover for him."
Dawn angrily got up from her seat. "Get out," she yelled. "You hate it that much here? Then just go! I'm through with you!"
Beth was shaken but determined to get up and leave quickly but before she could get to the door, she heard Dawn sobbing. The sobbing continued and it was starting to get to Beth as she stood just few from the door. She grunted and turned back to Dawn who was sitting back in her desk again, with her hands to her tear-stricken face. "You think it's easy what I do?" Dawn cried. "I've already had deal with enough this week without you being against me. Someone's been stealing from the police evidence locker. I know it's not you. But it's going to be on me if I don't find them."
"Sorry," said Beth, though her voice lacked the sympathy for Dawn or her situation. Dawn looked pathetic in Beth's mind. She never understood how she even got to the rank of lieutenant. But Beth still had one ounce of compassion left in her to get her purse out and find the tissue she had in one of the smaller pockets. "Here."
When she pulled out the tissue pack however, something small and made of glass also popped out and broke open onto Dawn's desk. The contents, consisting of small white crystals (resembling gravel) scattered themselves all over her desk.
Both women were shocked and confused. Beth looked into her purse and found even more unfamiliar bottles, tubes, and packets. Dawn looked at that broken glass tube that fell onto her desk. "I recognize this."
Beth was horrified when she pulled out the plastic packets filled with powder and crystals. "I...what is this?"
"You bitch," Dawn growled.
"I don't understand. This isn't mine."
"Of course it isn't," said Dawn. "Those drugs were confiscated by us. We had them locked up in the evidence locker until they started disappearing...shortly after you started here."
For the first time, Beth was shaking. She was terrified. "You don't think I...NO! I didn't! I wouldn't!
"Gorman saw you by the evidence lockers the other day."
"I was helping with moving the records like you wanted."
"Give me your bag."
Beth hesitated, only because she was scared of what else Dawn would find that even she didn't know was there.
"I SAID GIVE ME YOUR BAG!"
Dawn grabbed the purse from Beth and poured everything out. From the smaller pockets, more small unfamiliar packets appeared, filled with the same material, as well as a couple of white envelopes filled with cash. Beth never put her cash in envelopes. Even more horrifying were the words written on the packets: methamphetamine, oxycontin, ecstasy.
"I should have known," said Dawn. "You came to work here just to get something to sell on the street..."
"Are you kidding me?!" Beth cried. "I don't take drugs! Why would I..."
"Rick told me about your father. I knew you were desperate but I never thought you would stoop this low." Dawn came around and grabbed Beth. "Arms behind your back, now!"
"NO! IT'S NOT MINE!" On instinct, Beth was struggling. Her biggest mistake as Dawn was forced to radio for backup. By the time Gorman came into the office, Dawn had forced Beth's head to her desk. Gorman helped to handcuff her.
"STOP! PLEASE!," Beth cried. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
"Enough Greene," said Dawn. "You're under arrest for stealing police evidence and drug possession!"
"I DIDN'T DO IT!"
"Take her to lock-up, Gorman." Dawn sneered at Beth not caring for her cries of innocence. "The courts will decide if you're innocent, but we both know you're full of shit. You always were." For the first time in a week, Dawn was feeling confident and strong. The case was finally solved in her mind. "You're gonna rot in jail for a long time."