Chapter 6

He threw his compound bow on the beat-up mattress, and slammed the iron door of his cell. Daryl was thankful that Carol had tied an opaque sheet on the door, which blocked all of the outside world from the inside of his concrete cell. Daryl knelt down in the dark, running a rough hand through his hair. He couldn't fathom what he was feeling. Beth was far more of a mystery than he ever anticipated, and now everyone here agitated the hell out of him. Rick, Carl, Maggie and even Carol were crawling under his skin, but the one person he actually wanted to be around hated him beyond belief.

Daryl stood up, he needed to shred all the layers of Beth and his time together off his body-Especially since he couldn't shake her from his mind. He started rummaging through his knapsack, looking for a crumpled maroon flannel. He stripped, tugging on the shirt and buttoning it up. Daryl kicked off his boots, unzipped his pants, and flopped onto the thin mattress. He threw a blanket over his body, and closed his eyes.

Beth set down her plate of vegetables, and hugged Maggie goodnight. She walked through the cell halls, holding a small candle in front of her to guide her through the dark.

Everything since she arrived back to the prison was vivid in her mind, swarming around like angry bees. Rick, Carl, and Maggie were so happy to see her, and everyone was more than overjoyed with the supplies they had brought back.

Rick had happily babbled in her ear while leading her up the dirt walk to grab some dinner. Beth had seen Daryl disappear into the cellblocks, and she desperately wanted to find her and apologize to him. She knew now how wrong she was, with everything, and was ready to unveil their relationship, but as Beth started to tell Rick how 'tired' she was, Carl came outside holding Judith. Beth forgot everything and rushed to hold her, as Rick brought over some food. Everyone was gathered around, eating, talking, laughing, and Beth blended in to the atmosphere seamlessly.

Now, Beth's throat burned with what she would say when she found Daryl. She just wanted to press herself deeply into him and feel the safety that electrified her when they were together.

She reached his cell door, and quietly knocked on the concrete.

Daryl woke to the sound of her voice, soft whispers of his name echoed throughout his cell. He sat up, groggily rubbing his eyes. Was this a dream, or was this really her? Daryl thought to himself, as he opened his mouth to say 'come in,' when he heard another familiar voice outside.

"Beth?" a voice asked, and Beth spun around to smack right into Rick Grimes.

"Oh," Beth breathed. Rick smiled down at her, taking a step back. "Sorry, if I woke you. I wanted to check on Daryl…"

Rick nodded, "I'm sure he's just sleepin'." Rick examined Beth's face, the bruises under her eyes, and a look of concern spread through his expression. "You should probably get some rest, too."

"Yeah, I just really need to talk to Daryl-"

"That can wait." Rick urged, interrupting her completely. He put a firm hand on her back, and guided her two cells down, stopping when they reach Beth's cell. Beth desperately glanced down at Daryl's cell, and shook her head. If he wanted to see me, he would have made an effort to. She thought to herself, and smiled at Rick before opening her cell door. Rick caught her hand, and spun her around to face him.

"Uh, Rick?" Beth asked, awkwardly pressed against the cell door, the bars digging into her back.

"Beth I know you used to have a little crush on me," Rick whispered, smiling down at her.

Beth swallowed, Rick was clearly drunk, but he was also right. She did have a crush on him, back when they first got to the prison. But things were different now. Beth had Daryl.

"Look, I know somethin' happened with you and Daryl," Rick scoffed. "I mean you could do better, since you're so pretty." He breathed in her face, and Beth caught the smell of vodka hot in her nose. "You could do me."

"Rick-," Beth began but was stopped by the strong pressure of his lips locking with hers. Her eyes widened, as hi hands moved from his sides to her hips, and further up her body. Rick kicked open her cell door, and moved them over to her bed. Beth was speechless. She knew this was wrong, but Daryl hated her, and she did like Rick…

His lips brushed every place of vulnerable skin. And Beth started to unbutton his shirt, slowly then hungrily, desperate for a form of escape from the pain she was feeling. Rick's hands moved down her body, and Beth did the same. She couldn't believe this was actually happening. Beth use to dream of how her and Rick would fit together, and now she was living the moment. All thoughts of Daryl were pushed back in her brain as Rick's hands moved to the waistband of her jeans.