"Maggie!" Beth's body lurched forward, falling onto the ground with hands outstretched in front of her, "No. No. No!" She could feel the onset of blood making its way through her fingers and connecting with the gravel beneath her. That wasn't painful. That was nothing in comparison to watching her sister collapse in front of her while teeth connected to her shoulder's tight flesh.
Somewhere behind her she felt Daryl's hand pull her roughly away, but all of Beth's senses were fully aware of the screams coming from Maggie's mouth. In that moment, Beth could see the Walkers' hungry eyes slowly changing from their position on her sister's neck to Beth and Daryl. Their grumbles and groans gurgled with fresh blood dripping from Maggie's once beautiful skin caught between deadman's teeth. The sight horrified Beth.
Her cries and screams made her whole body numb to Daryl's frantic tugs.
"Get up!" He managed to yell loud enough for her subconscious to understand. Shaky knees somehow held up underneath her. Beth's heart fluttered even more as she heard Maggie's screams subside and her body drop gracelessly to the ground from the dead hands that were holding her up. Beth stumbled backwards, letting Daryl pull her away from the pursuing bodies that now left her sister's corpse and towards the pair in front of them. If it wasn't for Daryl's tight grip around her wrist, Beth wouldn't have minded letting the bastards take her away-just the same as her sister's awful fate.
"Daryl-" Beth's sobs interrupted her own self, sending violent shakes throughout her body. They had escaped the crowded street and managed to collapse onto the police station steps. Beth's vision blurred the more her tears escaped. Trembling hands flew to her face as she curled into herself. Why'd we have to go alone? Why?
"Beth, we gotta get inside. We can wait for the others where it's safe." She could feel the warm pressure of his chest as his arms hooked underneath her shoulders. She was light weight-an easy person to push around, but Daryl still struggled to hold up her hyperventilating body.
Daryl's anxiety increased the longer they waited on the small love seat in the corner of the front room. He didn't know how this would play out with Merle. He knew Beth would be in hysterics, but knowing his brother's unpredictable ways of coping with loss, it was anyone's bet. He worried mostly for being blamed. Guilt set in the more he felt his shirt dampen by Beth's tucked in head on his chest. If he only could've got them out sooner. If only he wouldn't have agreed to splitting up.
Lori watched from the single seat across the room, holding Carl in her arms as he cried for his father. She hushed him, cringing at the way he seemed to cry harder the more she tried to quiet him down. She was scared to death, especially after opening the doors and finding one less person with the couple that stumbled in. There was a forceful power within her making it clear that this wasn't a good time to break down in fear of her husband ending up like Maggie. So she kept quiet, letting the worry and anxiety eat her up as she waited for anyone-even Michonne-to arrive back from their poorly executed supply run. She locked eyes with Daryl who quickly jerked his head downwards. He only grunted to her as she opened the door early that Maggie was gone. No more words were spoken; only tense silence lingered between the four.
An hour passed before the large wooden doors swung open, claiming the stiff tension and bringing in more fear and exhaustion. Rick appeared first. He gripped his knees while Shane followed suit. Their lungs collapsed and expanded rapidly; their attempts to calm themselves were useless.
"Dad!" Carl ran towards Rick, attacking his knee only to be pushed lightly away.
"Son, don't get too close. There's blood." Rick's appearance was much different than when he had left early in the morning along with Shane as well. Their uniforms splayed and splattered with darkened liquid accompanied by tears throughout the material. Lori stepped hesitently closer.
"Where are the others?" Her question was the same as Daryl's who now stood next to Lori; his hand close to his mouth out of nervous habit.
"Where's my brother," His tone was harsh, needy even, "Where the hell is my brother?"
"He said he knew a place a mile out that had some canned food. We tried to go towards the area, but those things outside surrounded us. We had to make a run for it," Rick watched the way Daryl's face twisted with anger. He made sure to choose his words carefully, "I saw him running behind us. Michonne was right with him. They'll be back soon."
"Best hope he comes back."
Shane watched the way he stalked back towards the shied away blonde. He could see the way she flinched when Daryl touched her, only to look up towards him and cry back into her gathered up knees again.
"Where's Maggie?" The words slipped from his mouth. It was the first real concern he had for the others that barged into his station the night before. Lori looked towards him, shaking her head dejectedly. He nodded towards her, understanding things a little better now. He watched his partner's reaction.
"Oh god, I'm so sorry Be-"
"Don't touch her." Daryl growled at the way Rick's hand went towards Beth's shoulder.
"He's fine, Daryl," Beth's swollen cheeks and red-rimmed eyes looked towards Rick, "Thanks for your concern. I just hope Merle takes it better than me." Daryl fidgeted next to her. He wasn't so sure that would be the case.
Shane mumbled under his breath about Merle, walking towards the door that once again swung open as if on cue.
Michonne called out towards Merle, letting him run in before she slammed the door shut, sinking to the ground with her back up against the wood. Their breathing was just as heavy as Shane and Rick's were; blood stained their clothing as well, maybe even a little worse.
"Damn sons of'bitches nearly knocked my gun from my hand!" Merle chuckled at the thought. His nervous laugh sent Daryl's anxiety over the edge. He could feel Beth's head rise towards the sound of Merle. Daryl wasn't prepared to tell his brother. Merle looked around at the eyes staring back at him, "What y'all lookin' at.." He noticed the empty presence of Maggie.
Daryl watched his brother drop his gun, looking past him and locking his gaze onto Beth. She could do nothing more than hold in her tears without success. She could hear a loud thud as Merle's body dropped to the ground; knees connecting with the cold tiles forced Beth to look away.
"No," Merle groaned, "You're fuckin' with me." He asked himself the question, not them. His head spun as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Merle, I tried protectin' her," Daryl spoke quietly, "I tried, but there was too many of those damn things in that store. I-"
"You shut the hell up, god dammit! She's gone because of you! You could've helped her and you left her for dead! What kind of piece of shit brother are you!?" Merle's rage scared everyone, even Shane. His voice had risen to incredible heights, locked and loaded towards Daryl, "You fuckin' piece of shit! She was the best thing I've ever had and you let her die!" He picked himself up from the ground as his hands connected with Daryl's throat, stumbling backwards. Merle's strength was nothing to compare to as the adrenaline snaked through his body.
"Shane, grab him!" Rick yelled towards his partner as he attempted to pry the oldest Dixon brother off of the other. It was no use; Merle's hand that gripped his brother's neck now connected with Rick's jaw. The blow to his face left him on the floor, dazed and unaware of Lori's hands pulling him away from the fight. Shane continued though, finding what strength he could grab from within himself and closing in on Merle. He released Daryl and pounced on Shane. Knuckles flew past Shane's head as he dodged them with much luck.
"Stop it!" Beth's voice trembled as she held half of Daryl's body in her lap on the cold floor, "Merle just stop! What makes you think that'll bring her back?" Merle dropped Shane, letting him walk away with only a few blows to his head and chest.
He stood in front of the fearful people, watching the way they cowered from him. He saw his brother's fear in his eyes as he held onto his bruised neck. Beth held Daryl's head in her shaking arms, waiting for Merle's anger to come back full speed.
"Oh God," Merle's voice was hoarse and tired. Agony was apparent and he once again fell to the floor, "Please God why did you take her from me." The years of consistent smoking made his voice sound more dry that it was. He held his face in his hands, completely breaking down.
The storm had passed and slowly, one by one, everyone left the room. Beth, Daryl and Merle were the ones that remained. Merle-never leaving his spot on the ground-became silent for quite some time. He only looked at the floor now; tired eyes fixed on a cracked tile in front of him. He hadn't looked up at the now quieted sister of his once true love, but he heard her quiet down from her earlier cries.
"'m sorry," Merle looked up at his brother, "I jus' never thought I'd lose her. I was thinkin' like a jackass."
"Don't be."
Daryl felt Beth pull away from him and walk towards Merle. Her steps were timid and wavering, but she made her way to him, leaning down and stretching her arms around his shoulders. Daryl watched the way his brother's face sunk into her chest, letting out a few mumbles about what he could've done to save her and asking why he didn't just go with them instead.
"I loved her, man." Merle's thickened accent came off completely heartwrenching. Beth squeezed him a little and pulled away.
"She loved you too."
"Jus' leave me be. I need some time ta think." Beth nodded at Merle and walked back to the bunk area with Daryl. His arm wrapped around her shoulder, leading them away from the broken man on the floor. She looked over her shoulder, catching a quick glance at Merle's large hand wiping away fallen tears he had tried so hard to keep unnoticed.
"Is he going to be a danger to us?" Rick asked as he looked up at the two entering the hallway. Lori sat with Carl in her lap while Michonne shuffled through the small duffle bag Merle had gave her as they ran away from the abandoned convenience store. Shane left the four and headed into his bunk area; he had enough human contact for the day.
"He wasn't a danger to begin with," Beth stated, "People do crazy things when they're morning a loss."
Michonne looked up from the bag, "Think he'll be able to handle one more night here?"
"Yeah, why?" Daryl looked at what she was holding. Nothing more than broken containers and unappetizing canned goods were near her.
"Well we spent all day looking for food so we could get on the road to the refugee center, but since it's getting dark and we barely have anything to eat, we may as well stay one more night."
"Looks like we'll have to," Rick shook his head. He hadn't even known what to do earlier in the day. They all didn't have much of a plan. Find food or find people. Or both. Splitting up sounded like the right option, but obviously that didn't help. He was unsure now of where to go, what to do, when. He sighed, "Daryl, mind talkin' to your brother? I'm sure he'll respond better to you than me if I asked him to watch over us for the night." Daryl nodded, leaving the room.
"How are you Beth?" Lori let go of her son and wrapped an arm around Beth's sulking shoulders. She was concerned about the young girl the minute she saw just how broken she was after losing her sister. It was a little unsettling to see Beth's blank expression now. She did nothing more than look up with vacant eyes.
"I'll live," She remembered how easy the Walkers tore into her sister, "hopefully." She added, making Lori sigh and bring her in for a hug.
Daryl sunk onto the small cot just after one in the morning. He ended up sitting with his brother on the station's steps for a few hours in the night's darkness. He recalled their short conversation with unease.
"She's lucky, y'know?" Merle's question surprised Daryl. They had been sitting in silence for a while now, watching the way bodies shuffled aimlessly and far in the distance. They were completely hidden in the shadows of the building.
"How?" Daryl looked at his brother who was now smiling. A sad pull of his lips; it wasn't as much of a grin out of happiness, but more like a way of covering up what he was truly feeling.
"She ain't have to deal with this shit anymore. She's free from all this," Merle thought back to the way Maggie would always say death was nothing more than a way of finally freeing your soul from the earth's struggles, "no more constant worryin', no more bullshit for her."
"I guess."
"Why'd I let you guys go off without me? Hell, I don't know how I winded up with that black bitch cop by my side instead of her." He scoffed.
"Don't know," Daryl sighed, "I let her die. No wonder you nearly killed me in there."
"Don't worry 'bout it, baby brother. It's my fault n' I know it. I know ya did your best to protect her. Your best jus' wasn't 'nough. Needed me there too and I wasn't."
The guilt consumed him, so Merle silenced himself once again. They sat for a while before Daryl quietly stood up, looking down at his brother before entering the building. They both knew her death would've been inevitable, even if Merle would have come along. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's a damn shame, too.
Beth's body was curled up close to the wall. Her normal smooth skin looked washed out and pale underneath the fluorescent table lamp on the nightstand next to them. He knew she was awake by the way she sniffed softly. She had been crying while he was away, but now she kept quiet.
"Y'don't have to hide it." Daryl called out to her. She kept her back turned still, though she turned her head just a little.
"I miss her so much," Maggie's smile entered Beth's brain. She remembered recent times with her sister. They had finally started to become close after so many years of being apart, "I wish I could've done something different."
"Merle thinks that too."
"Oh God. I know she's my sister, but he was so happy with her. I'd never seen her as happy as she was with him, either. I wish I could make things better for him," Beth turned her shoulders so she faced Daryl's half turned body. He could see her cheeks were still red and sore. She choked out something along the lines of, "I don't want to lose you like that."
Daryl did nothing more than take his boots off and climb in next to her. She turned away again as he brought his body up against her back, sneaking his face into the crook of her neck. His large arms pulled her closer, taking in the pain she was feeling. He could feel her hand grab his that lay loosely around her waist. She squeezed tightly, forcing herself to catch a grip physically and mentally.
"Don't leave me." Beth sighed. She was completely exhausted now and finally out of tears. She couldn't cry anymore if she wanted to.
"I won't."
"You don't sound so sure of yourself."
"I don't want to leave you." Daryl closed his eyes for the first time that night, but after the words left his mouth he didn't get much sleep. Beth was on the same boat. Instead of tossing and turning they stayed connected, breathing in each other's scents and comforting each other with the close proximity of their bodies instead of words. They both had too much on their minds to sleep, but not enough energy to speak. Losing Dale was one thing, but losing Maggie made the outside world seem much more terrifying. It was unknown what tomorrow would bring, but the small group stuck in the police station silently prayed for a new beginning- a better beginning for the next day.
Here's a quick update before my college classes start. Thanks for all the kind words. I love hearing your insight on things and I'd love to know what you think so far. I want to take things a little slow since I really want to make this a long story. Any thoughts? Comments? I'm really feeling sorry for Merle at the moment. Poor guy just can't win. Thanks for reading and stay tuned. :)