A/N: Hello, my people! I'm really happy with how this last chapter turned out! I'm really excited for this! I apologize for the time between the chapters. The time between each chapter won't be as choppy as this. PLEASE REVIEW, FOLLOW, AND FAVORITE! I LOVE THOSE THREE THINGS! Anyway, HAPPY READING! HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS CHAPTER!

Beth felt a strange pull. It was like a rope was tied around her waist, but she couldn't look down to see if there was anything there. Her eyes were glued on a spec of light ahead. The rope pulled her closer towards it, as if she had no choice but to go there.

But, Beth didn't want to go to it. She was afraid, almost, of the uncertainty that it holds. She resisted against the rope pulling her, and she was winning. She felt herself walking backwards until the darkness completely engulfed her. Then she opened her eyes, and the darkness disappeared.

When Beth's eyes snapped open, a new light seemed to appear instead. One that she welcomed. The sun. She breathed in deeply, taking in the smell of hospital. She blinked a bit, as her eyes were still droopy. Beth looked down at herself, and found that she was wrapped tightly in a bundle of blankets on a hospital bed. She almost had a mini panic attack as she remembered what had happened.

She heard the beeping of the heart monitor to her left as she felt her heart pumping fast inside of her chest. Something warm touched Beth's hand and her head snapped to the side to see it. She instantly relaxed when she saw it was just Daryl, sitting in one of the uncomfortable hospital chairs.

Concern was etched all over Daryl's face and Beth was almost surprised because of it. Though she was only a little bit awake, she was very aware of his hand resting over hers on the rail of the bed.

Beth cleared her throat and swallowed, barely soothing the roughness in her throat. "What happened?" She spoke. Daryl had expected that question, yet he felt like he couldn't breathe. Relief overwhelmed him when she had woken up, and it was still there in a huge amount.

He cleared his throat as well and dropped his hand to his side before standing and striding across the room. He opened the door and yelled down the hall. "She's up! Can somebody get some water?!" He yelled out before standing back fully into the room.

Beth shot him a grateful smile as he looked back at her that almost melted his insides. His brain was still processing that she was okay. That she was safe.

"You didn't have to do that." She told him. Her voice was incredibly rough, that he knew she would need some so she could talk.

Daryl strode over to the chair again next to the bed and leaned forward towards it. "Dawn's dead. She tried to kill ya', but she didn't. We came back to get you and Carol, but it went pretty bad. You tried to kill the chick, she shot ya' in the stomach, and we took care of it." Daryl explained. It was really the only way he could explain the events.

Beth looked down at the wound in her abdomen. Of course, she couldn't see it through the blankets, but she was suddenly very aware of the pain in her stomach.

Her eyes flashed towards Daryl with about a thousand questions in them. "How is everybody? Maggie? Glenn? Judith?" Daryl's mouth opened to speak, but the door opening interrupted him before he could.

Maggie walked in with a tall glass of water in her hand. Her eyes immediately watered at the sight of her little sister lying in bed. Beth managed a weak smile at her elder sibling, but failed. Maggie walked forward almost like she was being careful. Like the whole thing was too good to be true.

She handed Beth the water and sat on the edge of the bed. Beth put the glass up to her lips and gulped down the water. The coolness and smoothness of it automatically relieved her throat and she felt it feeling much better.

Beth sat the glass on the table next to her right after she gulped the whole thing down. Maggie looked at her like a puppy with her eyes still watering. "Maggie. "She spoke. With that one word, her sister practically launched her arms around Beth, still being careful of her gunshot wound.

Beth closed her eyes and welcomed the wonderful feeling of being in her sister's arms again. She was completely relaxed before she heard Daryl start to stand and walk towards the door. Her eyes shot open, but Maggie didn't notice. Her head was buried in Beth's neck and sobs were almost coming out.

Beth looked at Daryl pleadingly as his hand closed around the doorknob. He was about to leave to let the sisters have their time together, but when he saw the look she gave him, he stopped in his tracks and went to sit back down. She felt extremely safe with him around, and she was scared whenever she was in this hospital.

Maggie pulled back and wiped her tears off. "I'm sorry that I wasn't with you when you woke up, Bethy. We didn't think you would wake up so soon. I missed you so much, Bethy." Beth's heart warmed every time her older sister called her by her nickname.

Beth got guests all throughout the day, and Daryl barely leaved. Maggie stayed in there for quite some time, too, but not as much. Beth had almost felt like something was off with Maggie. She almost acted regretful around her, as if she believed that everything that happened was her fault.

At some point, Rick came in. He was happy to see Beth was alive and seeming to do okay. He gave her a warm smile when he walked in. What he said next was not very comforting.

"We're going to need to leave soon."

Daryl almost shot up out of his seat. "What? She just woke up! None of this group is fit to go anywhere or do anything yet! 'Specially Beth!" Beth placed a soft hand on Daryl's forearm which had been hanging loosely by his side.

Beth looked over at Rick. "When?" She asked. She silently pleaded him in her mind to say something other than that day. Unfortunately, he didn't hear her.

"Today. It's not safe here, or even around here." Beth's shoulders sagged with that statement. She wasn't sure if she could even walk, let alone start to get back on the road already. But, she would just have to tough it out.

At Daryl's obvious, but unspoken, outrage, Rick's sharp eyes turned to him. "Daryl." His eyes snapped to Rick's. "Can I speak to you for a minute?" He asked. Daryl shot Beth a look before walking out of the room with Daryl.

"We need to leave here." Rick stated firmly. Daryl opened his mouth to object, but Rick interrupted him. "These people want nothing to do with us. The other police officers are making threats that if we don't leave soon, they'll force us out."

Daryl growled impatiently and looked down at the ground. "What are we gonna do about Beth and Eugene?" He asked Rick. They had brought in the pretend scientist to one of the hospital rooms. He woke up the day when they got there after a few hours.

"You and Maggie obviously can take care of Beth. Rosita and Abraham have responsibility for Eugene. We can take care of them and keep them out of trouble. Simple." Rick placed his hands on his belt as if daring Daryl to argue.

A huge sigh escaped Daryl as he looked back into the hospital room that held Beth. She was staring at a picture on the wall with her eyebrows drawn together in confusion. Daryl looked back at Rick. "Fine. We leave today. Gimme a few hours, though." Rick nodded before walking back down the hallway.

Daryl stepped back into the hospital room. In a few hours, they would be on the road again. And he was staying with Beth the whole time.