Dr. Edwards cleared his throat and Daryl's eyes left Beth's to glance at the doctor. His eyes went back to Beth's and rested there for a few more moments before bringing his hands from her face. He brought one hand up to his chin, rubbing the hair there. It was a clear gesture of his uncertainty and confusion.

He also gave her some space by taking a few steps back. Beth looked clearly strained and searching, as if she was having trouble finding some clear answer she could give him.

Edwards beat her to the explanation, "After you left her in that jeep in the parking lot, after the walkers ambushed you…. a couple of officers went out in search for supplies you left behind when you had to retreat…"

Beth was silent and staring off into the distance. Daryl didn't like how she seemed distant. She was uncomfortable. Daryl grunted, signaling Edwards to continue.

"We believed you weren't coming back…" Daryl nodded and urged him to get on with the story. "The next thing I know, an officer comes in carrying her saying she was left in the car outside… and that he heard her banging inside the car. She had lost consciousness again but not before they located her. I got her on an operating table, fixed her up the best I could, and she woke up a few days later. She shouldn't be alive, but she is."

Daryl was feeling all sorts of emotions. Relief, anger, guilt. He knew he had seen her take a breath. He saw her lips part slightly as he was putting her in the back of that car.

Months ago…

"She made a sound, damnit! Right as we was putting her in that car." Daryl was pacing as the group stared at him. When no one backed him up he glared at Tyreese and Sasha. "You opened the back of the car. You saw it to."

Sasha shook her head, face expressionless, "We didn't see anything, Daryl. She didn't make a sound."

Maggie was the next to speak up, "It hurts me to say this… And I know you're hurting… We all are… but… Let her… Let her rest in peace Daryl."

Daryl stopped his pacing and his glare harshened, "In a car? We bury our own… Always have. She deserves better."

Everyone was silent for a while. They might think he's gone crazy but he didn't care. There was no way he was leaving her to rot at that place, nonetheless in the back of a car.

Maggie spoke up again, "There's no use in killing yourself. Just let it go."

Daryl's eyes narrowed at the dark haired Greene sister. When he spoke his words were dowsed in venom, "Rich comin' from you. You gave up on her the day the prison fell."

Maggie's breath hitched and she charged Daryl. He grabbed her wrist before she could slap him and caught her other hand as she tried again. After she calmed down Daryl released her hands, saying nothing. He picked up his bag from the ground and started heading off.

"We can't wait for you."

Daryl stopped at Rick's words.

"Then don't." He continued walking.

Daryl crouched behind a rock, breathing heavily. He was down to his last few bullets and the herd just kept growing stronger not weaker. He had his bolts but that was it after the 3 rounds.

His spirit crushed instantly. Even if there had been a spark of life in her when they deposited her in that jeep, she was long gone now. He had failed her once again. He couldn't save her at the funeral home and he couldn't save her from Dawn.

He contemplated throwing himself into the walkers. Letting them rip his flesh from his body and devour his worthless being until there was only ruminants left.

'You're gonna be the last man standin.'

Tears prickled his eyes as he recalled her confidence in him. He slowly brought his body up from his crouching stance behind the boulder. His body resisted, wanting to give up the fight. Each step he took towards the way of the group's direction, he felt his muscles tighten. His heart ached with the emptiness he felt, a wasteland of useless space.

He stopped. He couldn't go back to them yet. He just couldn't. He had to be alone. And he was. For a long while. Days turned into more days, and then more days after that. He tracked the group a safe distance behind but when he decided to finally rejoin, the group hadn't made a big deal about it. He was relieved because even though he reunited with them, he was far from enunciating one word, nonetheless a conversation. He kept to himself for a while, broken an aching. They hadn't found food or water and excluding what had happened, the effects were getting to him.

He felt he was deemed a curse filled life. He had lost a little girl, Merle, and a best friend in the course of… almost 3 years? There were plenty of times he thought about ending it all. Just that blissful thought of the pain all going away, the memories flooding out of him as his life slipped from his body. But her voice in his head would always barge its way in. She wouldn't want that. She was strong enough to overcome and deal with her pain. He would too. He'd never forget but he would live.

Present…

His eyes flickered to Beth who was still staring anywhere but at him. He wanted more than anything to tell her about how he tried to go back for her.

"I tried." Was all he muttered and she finally brought her eyes to rest on him. She nodded but still said nothing.

He didn't like that.

"Beth..."

Edwards was about to cut in, clearly seeing this was going to be hard for her but she spoke up.

"Daryl, I don't blame you."

Her eyes betrayed what she stated. They were distant and cold. Not the Beth he saw in the funeral house. Not the Beth he escaped the prison with. It wasn't her.

She tried again but her voice failed her and just uttered a strained whine. She regained her composure and tried again, "I… I understand why."

Again, her tone was forced.

After a few moments of silence, Aaron cut in, "Its dark, we need to be heading back."

Beth gave Aaron a sideways look and then cut her eyes to Daryl. He may as well explain.

"We found a community. With walls and houses."

He didn't know why he expected her to brighten up, at least show some ounce of hope but it wasn't there. She stole one more glance at Daryl before focusing her sights on Aaron, "How far?"

Aaron shrugged, "Not far. I have room in my car."

Beth nodded and beckoned for Edwards to follow her. Aaron gave Daryl a confused look but Daryl just hopped on his motorcycle.

As Daryl was riding in front of Aaron's car he had time alone with his thoughts. He didn't think Beth blamed him entirely. She didn't seem angry, just maybe exhausted. The girl had to have gone through hell before finding them. Maybe with a decent night's sleep and some food in her system she'd be back to normal. The same bright soul he once knew and came to love.

It was wishful thinking but he had to hold on to some kind of hope.