A/N: Wow, this took me forever to get up. I'm so sorry, I've been super busy over the last month. The good news is that I'm now a high school graduate, the bad news is that now I have to get ready for college which starts in about 2 months. Yikes! Anyway, hopefully you all won't have to wait so long for the next instalment. I do not own The Walking Dead.

Enjoy!

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World Chapter 5: Humanity

Rise… Fall… Rise… Fall… Rise… Fall… Rise… Fall…Rise… Fall… Rise… Fall

Beth couldn't help but count each shallow breath as she ran her thumb over the cracked ridges of her father's hand. They were slow and laborious, but consistent all the same. He'd been like this for hours, drifting in and out of consciousness and barely holding on. When discussing the in-case-of-emergency-amputation-plan months ago, it had all been purely hypothetical. No one knew if it would actually work of if an infection would end it all. One thing was certain though, Hershel had been bitten and he could turn at any moment.

Maggie had all but given up on him already, and had pulled Beth aside and told her to prepare for the worst. Beth had shaken her head and chastised her sister for her lack of faith. He was going to be okay, he'd have to be. Yet as she watched each precarious intake of breath, the idea of faith seemed to become obsolete. It was scary, but somewhat expected. The world had gone to hell after all, it was only a matter of time before trivial thing such as faith and humanity would disappear.

Beth grasped his hand tighter.

"How's he doin'?" Daryl asked from the doorway.

"He's alive," She said, not taking her eyes off her slumbering father.

"Well- um, if anyone can pull through from, you know, somethin' like that, then- uh it's your dad." He said awkwardly.

"Thanks,"

"How long you been watching him?"

She shrugged

When he hadn't said anything in response, Beth assumed he'd left the cell. Frankly, she was surprised he'd shown up at all. She'd figured he'd be either clearing out the cell blocks or dealing with the lingering inmate issue. Either way, his appearance had been unexpected. This was also disregarding the fact that he was speaking to- no, acting civil towards her. Ever since their spat at the trailer park, things had been tense between the two of them. If they did speak to each other, their word were full of malic and irritation. It was no secret that they couldn't stand one another. Now they mostly dealt with their issue by an unspoken agreement of avoidance; whenever possible, of course. He hated her and she despised him, simple as that.

"When was the last time you ate?" He asked suddenly, his voice surprising her.

So he hadn't left after all.

She shrugged again.

"C'mon," He sighed.

For the first time since he'd entered the cell, Beth turned around and looked at him.

"What?"

"Carol and Lori put some food out."

"No thanks,"

"You gotta eat,"

"I'm not hungry,"

"Bull shit, now let's go."

"I ain't leavin'!" She snapped.

Daryl clenched his jaw and seemed to be having a hard time not snapped right back at her. He opened his mouth, presumably to do just that, when a soft yet steady voice silenced him.

"Bethy,"

"Dad!" She gasped and turned all her attention toward him, ignoring Daryl completely.

"Sweetheart, go with Daryl." Hershel whispered.

"I'm staying right here." She shook her head and forced a smile.

"I know that's what you want, but he's right. You need to get out of this cell a bit, get something to eat."

"No-"

"I'll be right here when you get back, now go."

"But Dad-" Beth started to protest again.

"Elizabeth Ann Greene, I will have Daryl throw you over his shoulder and drag you out if I have to." Hershel rasped sternly.

At that statement, Daryl seemed to find the dirty floor very fascinating. Eventually, Beth slumped her shoulders, accepting defeat.

"Yes sir," She said, glaring at Daryl.

"That's my girl, get on now." Hershel said as he began to drift off again.

Reluctantly, Beth stood up from her stool next to the cot and walked out the doorway, brushing her shoulder against Daryl. Daryl rolled his eyes and followed her out. With every step further away from the cell, the tension in Beth's shoulders would grow. Every few feet she'd look back to where her father was resting and would be nearly overcome with the temptation to run to his cell, consequences be damned. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't push the feeling of dread away. What if he died in the cell with no one around him? What if he wasn't in the clear and he turned? Who would deal the final blow to the head? Beth chanced a glance at Daryl who had caught up next to her. When Dale had been attacked on one of their last nights on the farm, Daryl had been the one to put him out of his misery. Would he do the same to her father? Beth shuddered at the mental image.

"He'll be alright," Daryl said.

"I know," She said, her voice laced with false confidence. "Maggie doesn't think so, though." She added.

"Oh,"

They continued to walk in silence.

"Ain't you supposed to be clearing out the cell blocks or somethin'?" Beth asked suddenly.

"We locked up the problem areas, we'll tackle the rest of 'em first thing in the mornin',"

"What about the inmates?"

"You know 'bout them?" Daryl sounded surprised.

"Yeah, I overheard Glenn say somethin' to Maggie about it."

"Hmm,"

Eventually they reached the impromptu "kitchen" area. Beth was momentarily taken aback but the pile of food that was substantially larger than it had been for a long time; definitely since the farm. She was about to ask where it had all come from, but then it hit her. They were living in a prison after all, of course there would be non-perishables in the food stores. Briefly, she wondered who'd raided the kitchen and pantries. Not that it mattered. Her eyes wandered over the pile and she quickly grabbed the closest item.

"Well?" She asked as she pried open the can of pinto beans.

"Well what?" He asked.

"Are they gonna stay? The inmates."

"Don't know yet, it's Rick's decision."

"Figured as much." She said, taking a bite.

"I-uh, we're not gonna let them in this block. Not right away, that is. Rick don't feel comfortable about convicted men sleeping in the same space as Lori and Carl."

"Makes sense,"

"Frankly, them stickin' around don't sit right for me neither."

Beth quirked her eyebrow at him, willing him to elaborate.

"I've known guys like them my whole life. Ain't nothin' good about any of 'em. Drug addicts, thieves, killers," His eyes flashed at her. "Rapists. Men like that got no place shaken' up with us. Fight the dead, fear the living. Shit like that becomes a motto to live by these days. You hear what I'm sayin'?" He asked, his gaze still locked on her's.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Good, now quit yackin' and eat."

"Yes sir," She said, rolling her eyes. "You know, this is kinda ironic. You're tellin' me to shut up and eat, while I think this is the most I've ever heard you speak at one time."

"Pfft, whatever. Don't get used to it,"

"I won't, don't worry. Once you're done feelin' sorry for me, you can go right back to hating me and pretending that I don't exist." She said nonchalantly as she focused on her can of beans.

"I don't hate you." Daryl mumbled after a moment.

Beth snapped her head up, but he was already walking away.

A/N: Thanks so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed it! As always please make sure to leave a review, I live for all of your thoughts (good and bad). Until next time!