Breaking Free Chapter 6, a walking dead fanfic

Breaking Free 6

All recognized characters and situations belong to AMC, the creators, writers, and actors of The Walking Dead. A few scenes to continue including Beth in "Spend". Shorter, but she would not have been in most places/sequences of the episode. Song is cited at the end.

Spend - Another episode where I spent half the time wondering who was watching the baby. Everyone was off doing their own thing, in and out of the house with no sign of Judith anywhere. See why they need Beth?

Also this was the most brutal thing I've ever watched. It was amazingly well done. Still hate these people for Coda, even more so now (saving Noah from Grady for what? a month later this happens), but this was a wild and incredible episode.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x* X *x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Now that we're here,
Now that we've come this far,
Just hold on.
There is nothing to fear,
For I am right beside you.
For all my life,
I am yours.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x* X *x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Beth closed the windowed French doors that separated the master bedroom from the sitting room nursery. "She asleep?" Daryl asked. He was sitting on the corner of the bed watching her.

"Yeah," Beth nodded as she walked over to him. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his cheek against her chest. She rubbed his back but as his hands began to stroke and wander, she pulled away. "Wait."

Daryl blinked up at her in shock, "What's wrong?"

Beth bit her lip then took a deep breath, "Daryl do you want me? I mean, really want… me?" He stared at her for a moment, confused, then nodded. "I'm just worried that this is because it's somethin' you think I need rather than somethin' you want. You said yourself that you want to be what I need you to be."

"And you said that all you needed was for me to be me. I don't… talk about shit like this. I don't want to push you. I don't need nothin' from you. I want to be with you, however that is."

"I want you too," she said reaching out, he took her hands. "But you keep… stoppin' and pullin' back. You won't let me touch you." He huffed out a breath, and mumbled. "I didn't hear you."

He pulled her to stand close again, "I ain't got a condom. I'll get some, when I go on that run but for now… If I let you touch me… I wouldn't be able to stop. I want you so bad," he groaned.

"Oh."

"I think this place is good. I think this is where we get to live. After everythin' we been through, this we get to keep. Here with these people. We reinforce the walls, keep the water flowin', and the power goin'. It's good. I think that. But until we know for absolute sure… I can't risk you. After Lori…" he shook his head. "I can't lose you." He wrapped his arms around her again, she rested her cheek on his hair. "I love you, Beth," he whispered.

"I love you too, Daryl," she sniffled, overwhelmed by emotion. "Even though you're an idiot."

He scowled, "Why?"

"There's a box of condoms in the bathroom cabinet."

"Oh."

She smiled down at him. He stretched up to kiss her. He pulled back to yank his shirt off, she helped him remove it and toss it aside. His t-shirt quickly followed. His hands came up to the buttons on her shirt and opened them one by one, revealing her to him. "God, you are so beautiful."

"I ain't never done this before," she whispered.

He nodded, "I know. I'll drink. I ain't never done it with someone I love before."

"Me neither."

"That's cheatin'."

She laughed and kissed him again.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Daryl woke up to an empty bed. He sat up and the sheet slid off his naked chest. The doors to the nursery were open and he could hear Beth singing softly. He got up and yanked his jeans on. Beth was in the rocker he and Rick had carried back to the house. Judith was snuggled against her falling asleep. Daryl smiled as he realized Beth was only wearing his flannel shirt. He walked over and leaned down to kiss her.

"You OK?" he whispered as she resumed rocking.

"Yeah."

"I… I din't hurt you none?" he asked worriedly.

"No," she smiled at him. "Not at all. It was good. Very good." He sighed and nodded, smiling back at her almost shyly. He helped her stand up with the now sleeping baby. She laid her down into the crib and tucked the rag doll next to her. Daryl stroked Judith's hair gently.

She sighed, "When you go on that run, look for regular diapers. These expensive ones don't keep her dry overnight worth a damn."

"OK. Anythin' else?"

"Just you. Back safe to me."

"OK." He kissed her, then led her back to their bed.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

The entire group sat around the kitchen and dining room eating quietly. They filled every chair and inch of floor space. Judith was in her high chair squeezing pieces of pancake between her fingers to bring them to her mouth. She was mostly successful, but still had crumbs smeared across her cheeks. Carl grinned at her as he took a bite of his own breakfast.

"Where's Noah?" Sasha asked as she moved her food from one side of the plate to the other.

"Meeting with Reg," Maggie replied.

"He ate early, the first test batch," Carol replied as she dropped fresh pancakes in front of Eugene and Abraham. Abraham grabbed the syrup, blocking Eugene's hand.

"Hurry up," Eugene demanded.

"Hold your horses, there is an art to proper syrup deployment."

Rosita snickered at him.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Daryl came out of the bathroom. Beth was packing his backpack on the bed. His crossbow sat waiting by the door. He walked up behind her to wrap her in his arms. She sighed and gripped his wrists. "I put in your spare jeans and two extra shirts. You've got water and a few cans of food here too. Aaron has supplies in the car, but just in case."

"Thanks," he whispered. She turned around to face him and he held her tight. He took a deep breath, "You know where to go if shit goes wrong." She nodded. "There's some supplies there, enough to get you through 'til I get back. Won't be but a few days. You want me to look for anythin' while I'm out there?"

"Just the diapers," she replied.

"OK," he lowered his head to kiss her. She clutched at him as the kiss deepened. He groaned and pulled away to drop kisses across her jaw. "I love you. Ain't never told no one that before."

"I love you," she replied as her breath shuddered in her chest. "Come back to me."

"Always."

He shouldered his pack and slid his crossbow to his back, then took her hand to lead her out of their room.

Carol looked up as they walked in, "You two need to eat."

Judith looked up and grinned. She gathered pancake in her fist and offered it up to Daryl who let her feed it to him.

"Gross," Glenn scowled, "Dude that's full of baby slobber."

Daryl shrugged, "Little bit'a Asskicker spit never hurt no one." He accepted a plate and fork from Carol. Beth took hers with a strained smile but ate when Daryl looked at her firmly.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

"We'll be back in a few days," Aaron said. "Be careful and rest that ankle," he ordered Eric.

"I will, you be careful," Eric replied.

Daryl held Beth close as he stared into her eyes, silently. They'd said all they needed to in the privacy of their room. He kissed her gently, then Aaron clapped him on the back. Daryl drew away from Beth and nodded. "I'll see you soon. Love you."

"Love you. Come back to me."

"Always."

Eric stood next to her as Daryl led the way out of the gates. Aaron waved out the window. Beth and Eric lifted their hands in reply. As the roar of the motorcycle faded into the distance, Eric turned to Beth, "You OK?" She nodded. "You didn't say goodbye."

"We hate goodbyes."

They walked back slowly to the house. Beth helped Eric keep his balance on the steps then walked the rest of the way alone. Rick looked up as she entered the kitchen. He was scrubbing Judith's face. "I think she got more pancake in her hair then in her mouth," he said as Judith whined and struggled. "OK, clean enough." He lifted the table and unbuckled her to lift her out. He kissed Judith's cheek, "Mmm still sweet. Oh that's just you."

Judith giggled and patted his cheek, "Da."

Rick handed her to Beth, "You OK?"

"I'll be fine," she replied as he kissed her forehead.

"Hey," Noah came in, "Forgot my pack."

Carol walked down as he walked up, "OK, dishes are done and I'm off. I've got morning shift at the kitchens today." She smiled at Beth, "Do me a favor?"

"Sure," Beth nodded.

"When Judy goes down for her nap, get some rest," she urged. "You look tired." She cupped Beth's cheek. "He'll be back before you know it."

"Carl, if you're going with me, let's go," Rick shouted up the stairs. When Carl's pounding feet hit the steps, he yelled "Walk!"

Carl and Noah descended, laughing. Carl squeezed Judith's foot as he passed to follow Rick.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

"So he's going to start teaching me," Noah said as he and Beth walked to the departure point. Beth had Judith in a colorful sling carrier. "Architecture and building. I'll be able to make a real contribution here."

"That is so great," Beth replied. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks," Noah replied. "Maybe I'll build you and Daryl a house someday." Beth laughed.

They reached the group preparing to go on the run. Reg smiled as Noah walked by. Eugene was fretting about being forced to go. Maggie and Glenn walked out together.

"I meant to bring you all something you could eat on the road," Deanna frowned.

"We ate breakfast," Glenn replied as he kissed Maggie goodbye. "I'll be stuffed until dinner at least."

"Carol wouldn't let us out of her sight without eating," Noah laughed.

Reg laughed, "Why did you eat the oatmeal?"

Noah shrugged with a smile, "I like oatmeal."

"That's what we had for breakfast," Aidan grinned, "Oatmeal and fruit. Delicious."

"We had pancakes," Glenn retorted.

Nicholas gasped, "With syrup?"

"Of course. What good are pancakes without syrup?" Tara scoffed.

"Where did you get pancakes and syrup?" Aidan demanded.

"Carol," Glenn replied.

"How?"

Tara shrugged, "It's Carol. We don't ask, we just eat."

Glenn gave Beth a hug, rubbing her back softly, "You OK?" he whispered. She nodded and smiled. "Good." He nuzzled Judith and kissed her head, "Kiss the baby for luck."

Judith squealed as he tickled her neck. Tara and Noah both came over to kiss her too. Tara lifted her little hand for a fist bump that made Judith giggle.

"I don't believe in luck," Eugene said. "But never let it be said I refused a kiss from a pretty girl." He kissed the baby's cheek and winked at Beth.

Maggie stood with her arm around Beth as the van pulled out, blaring music. "I'll see you later, OK?" Maggie said as she went with Deanna and Reg.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Carol tiptoed into the master bedroom to find Beth stretched out on top of the blankets sound asleep. She crept to the nursery and peeked at the baby, sprawled out in her crib. Carol walked back to the bed and smiled down at Beth as she realized Beth held a torn off flannel sleeve in her fist, tucked up under her chin. She gently pulled the top blanket over her and left the room. She'd just shut the bedroom door when she heard a sound from downstairs.

Carol strode down the stairs, following the sounds to the closet at the base of the stairs where she found young Sam.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

"You're going to have to kill him," Carol said. Rick just stared at her.

"Kill who?"

Both of them whirled to see Beth standing, holding Judith. Rick took a breath to respond but Carol reacted more quickly. "I need you to listen to me," Carol advanced until she was face to face with Beth. "You stay away from Pete. You don't go over to that house. If he comes here you do not let him in. You do not talk to him unless one of us is with you. You do not go near him. Understand?"

Beth nodded, "What did he do?"

"He's beating his wife," Carol replied. "Maybe his kids."

Rick sighed, "You think."

"I know," Carol replied.

Beth looked at Rick, her face set firm, "Carol's right then. You will."

"He's a doctor," Rick sighed. "The only doctor we have."

"So it's OK?" Carol snapped.

"No! Of course not."

Beth walked over and sat Judith down into the playpen, distracting her with a musical toy. "Officer Licari said it best. A doctor we don't trust is less than worthless. Do you really trust him to treat Judith? Or Carl?" Rick sighed and shook his head. "Steven killed that other doctor at Grady without a second's hesitation. If you just confront Pete, there's no tellin' what he'll do." She took a deep breath, "He was drunk when he looked at my shoulder at the party."

"Are you sure?" Carol asked.

Beth nodded, "I saw the signs right away."

Rick sighed heavily and rubbed the beard that was starting to come back in. "I…"

Carl burst through the door, startling them all, "Dad! Glenn's back. It's bad. Real bad." Rick and Carol followed him back outside. Beth scooped up Judith and tucked her onto her hip to go behind them.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x* X *x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Shadows fill an empty heart
As love is fading,
From all the things that we are
But are not saying.
Can we see beyond the stars
And make it to the dawn?

Change the colors of the sky.
And open up to
The ways you made me feel alive,
The ways I loved you.
For all the things that never died,
To make it through the night,
Love will find you.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late,
What about now?

The sun is breaking in your eyes
To start a new day.
This broken heart can still survive
With a touch of your grace.
Shadows fade into the light.
I am by your side,
Where love will find you.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love, it never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late,
What about now?

Now that we're here,
Now that we've come this far,
Just hold on.
There is nothing to fear,
For I am right beside you.
For all my life,
I am yours.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?