A/N Thanks so much! We had a bit of a scary ending last chapter, let's see what happpend next.
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Triggers: Assault
Whoever it was he was rough, he was hurting her and she was so scared. She tried to yell but she couldn't. It was like her vocal cords weren't working, the sound just wouldn't come out. He pulled her around pushing her back hard up against the lockers. That's when she saw it was Jimmy.
"C'mon farm girl don't play with me. I heard how much you like me, that you want me. You just don't want Dixon to know the truth. Hell I still can't believe you let him get close to you like that. You're going to like it with me a whole lot better." He had her pinned, his legs were between hers and the whole time he'd been talking he was rubbing his body against her. Now he smashed his lips onto hers so hard she tasted blood as her teeth hit the tender tissue. He was trying to force his tongue in her mouth while his hand grabbed at her bottom.
She tried to do what Maggie had always told her to do, to jerk her knee up as fast and as hard as she could into his crotch. But with his legs between hers that way she couldn't manage it. Then Jimmy let out a loud yelp as his pain began - Trouble had been worried and he'd come looking for his Sunshine.
He pulled Jimmy away from her and began throwing blows, punching him in the face and body, "Ya sumbitch I told ya stay away from her." Jimmy may have landed a random punch or two, but this was all Daryl's show and his adrenaline fueled rage was showing Jimmy no mercy. Beth was crying and begging them to stop.
About that time a huge red haired man, the football coach Mr. Ford, appeared and managed to pull the boys apart. "Knock it off you two."
Daryl, Beth and Jimmy all wound up in the principal's office.
Daryl's insides felt like they were on fire as his body continued to shake with his adrenaline rush. That asshole had touched Beth and she was still crying. She looked hurt, scared and all he wanted was to kill Jimmy and get Beth the hell out of there, be alone with her and hold her close.
He was angry at Jimmy, but maybe even a little more angry with himself because he hadn't been there to stop it sooner, hadn't protected her.
And then the principal said, "The first thing I'm going to do is contact everyone's parents so they can be present when you tell your stories."
Bad just got worse, Daryl knew his Dad would kill him for sure.
To avoid any further confrontation between the two male students, Mr. Mamet had the boys vice principal take Jimmy to his office. He turned to Daryl, "I know you have a job, do you want to call your boss and tell him why you won't be in or shall I?"
"Me." The principal slid the phone across the desk and Daryl punched in the digits, "Yeah boss it's Daryl. I can't come in now cuz I'm in trouble at school." There was a pause while his boss spoke, and when the young man replied there was anger boiling in his voice, "Yeah I'll tell ya what happened, some asshole tried ta hurt my girl an I had ta set him straight. That's what happened." He listened again, "Yeah I'll call but I'ma be in tomorrow no matter what an I'm real sorry I let ya down."
Principal Mamet had just gained a new respect for Daryl Dixon, and now he was anxious to hear their story about this fight. He was also aware of something else, if he called Daryl's Dad it was likely the young man would wind up paying a very steep price, so instead he settled on calling Hershel Greene in regards to both Beth and Daryl.
Jimmy's parents had been called first and they arrived first. Mr. Mamet had Daryl go with the boys vice principal and left Beth with the school nurse. He didn't want them alone together and possibly collaborating on a story. Daryl tried to protest, "I need ta stay with her, she's hurt an I need ta take care a her."
"I understand you're worried Daryl, that's why I want to have the nurse see her. Don't you want the nurse to make sure Beth is okay?"
The look that passed between the young people almost made the principal give in, but in a whispered and emotional voice Beth spoke, "Its' alright Daryl. I'll be okay I promise. Just don't leave here without me."
"I won't. I never would."
That had served to diffuse the young man enough to let her go with the nurse.
When the principal questioned Jimmy in front of his parents regarding exactly what had happened, his response was that Beth Greene had a crush on him and had asked him to meet her later so they could spend time alone. When he told her he couldn't she grabbed him and started kissing him. Daryl Dixon had happened upon them and in a jealous rage had started to beat Jimmy.
It appeared Jimmy's parents believed every word he said. Principal Mamet didn't believe a minute of any of it, although he left it at, "I'm about to question the other two students and get their versions."
While he'd been interviewing Jimmy, Hershel and Annette Greene had arrived. He explained to them what had happened; the Football Coach had found Jimmy and Daryl fighting in the hallway while Beth looked on crying uncontrollably.
Mama wanted to go to her daughter immediately and the principal lead her to the nurse's office. Although Beth still had tears, she'd calmed down considerably. But she was too embarrassed to say what had happened in front of the principal, so he agreed to let the nurse interview her.
Mama was emotional as she watched her little girl tell the story, but she tried hard to mask that emotion. Mama was seething with anger toward this Jimmy fellow as her daughter spoke. Beth told the nurse about Jimmy grabbing her arm in class, saying bad things about Daryl and trying to get her to agree to give him a chance. She said how Daryl had told him to stay away, not to touch her ever again. Then just today Jimmy had touched her hair, putting his fingers in it. She told the nurse what the other boy had said, and that Daryl had again warned him away.
She told about the unexpected period, about rushing to her locker and about Jimmy grabbing her from behind. How at first she didn't know who it was but she'd known right away it wasn't Daryl, he would never do anything like that. He would never treat her so roughly. And Beth described how Jimmy had forced his mouth on hers hard enough to draw blood, how he was touching her bottom, and she said how she tried to do what Maggie had always told her. Mama nodded her head, yes that sounded just like her older daughter.
Finally Beth told how suddenly Daryl was there pulling Jimmy off of her, calling him a bad name Beth did not want to repeat in front of her Mama. She said Daryl had punched him several times and told him he better never come near Beth again, that he'd already warned him enough. She cried about how angry he was and how this didn't have to happen if Jimmy would have just left her alone.
Mama didn't care for violence, she did not see fighting as a way to resolve problems, yet she found that she was glad Daryl had punched this boy. She'd like to punch him herself.
The principal told Daddy, "I've asked you here rather than Daryl's Dad because I know how busy the man is, and I was sure you'd be coming with Mrs. Greene anyway." Daddy knew exactly why the principal chose not to call Daryl's father and he was glad he hadn't.
Daryl sat wordless, looking down. It seemed every muscle and nerve in his body was twitching, like a caged animal ready to bust out. Hershel clasped onto his shoulder, "Take a deep breath son, we'll get this straightened out."
Daryl didn't look at the man, just nodded once and mumbled, "Yessir."
"There was an incident today right after school..." and the principal repeated the story of the Football Coach and the fighting boys. Then he said, "Daryl why don't you tell Mr. Greene and myself your version of what happened."
His hands were in fists rapidly tapping on his knees with nervous energy. When he spoke his voice was hoarse and the rage it held was evident. "That asshole's been touching Beth in class, homeroom. He grabbed her arm one day, said sumthin' ta her, she never would tell me what. She didn't want me gettin' mad an in trouble on accounta him. I told him ta keep his hands offa her, I thought he understood I meant it. Then today he put his hand in her hair, said sumthin' ta her again. I didn't like it an I knew she didn't like it either. I told him ta keep his fuckin' hands offa her or I's gonna hurt him."
He was too angry to think about his language and neither of the men interrupted the story to reprimand him. "Today after school I waited by the bus, I's gonna say g'bye ta her before she went home an I went on ta work. When she didn't come for a long time I's worried so I went lookin' for her, thought she might be havin' trouble with her locker or sumthin'. When I got close I seen him. He had her forced up against the locker, he was touchin' her butt an his face was all pushed into hers. I saw she was tryin' ta fight it an I broke into a run ta get ta her. I pulled him off an went ta teachin' him a lesson. I'd already told him twice ta leave her be, I knew she didn't want him touchin' her, an now he was tryin' ta make her do sumthin' she didn't want."
The principal excused himself to confer with the nurse. While he was gone Daddy spoke to Daryl, "You know I'm a man who doesn't believe in fighting but I understand why you did what you did, and I'm grateful to you for protecting Beth…"
That was as far as he got before the boy interrupted, "Nah that's just it, I'm s'pose ta protect her, she's my girl. But I didn't an that sumbitch got hold a her an what if he woulda hurt her bad? That'd be on me."
As concerned as he was for his daughter Hershel was just as concerned for Daryl, "Oh no Son, that would be on him. Think about it Daryl, how in the world would you have known someone was going to force themselves on her during school? This is not your fault, this is the other boy's fault. You remember that. What you did was react to a violent situation with violence of your own. Maybe not right but certainly understandable. And I want you to know I'll fight for you before I let anyone punish you for protecting my daughter. I'm relieved you were there and I'm grateful to you."
His words made Daryl feel better but also embarrassed by the praise, and he still felt guilty. If anything would have happened to Beth he would never have forgiven himself.
When the principal came back Daddy was on it, "I won't sit back and see Daryl punished, he saw a situation and he reacted to it. I'm forever grateful to him for that."
"Your daughter's story agrees with his. For now I'm going to send everyone home with their parents, in Daryl's case we'll call that you, if you're willing to take responsibility for him."
"I am."
"I'll be contacting the superintendent immediately to discuss this situation with him. I think he'll want to act swiftly on the matter and I'll advise you as soon as I have his decision."
Hershel stood and Daryl followed suit. "Thank you Mr. Mamet, I'm more than willing to take responsibility for Daryl."
Daryl again found himself bewildered by everything, but still he did as Hershel Greene had done and extended his hand to the principal, "Thanks sir. I didn't want no trouble, just wanted my girl ta be okay."
When they stepped from the principal's office there stood Beth and Mrs. Greene in the hall. Daryl had her in his arms before her Daddy and Mama knew what had happened. "Ya okay Sunshine, did he hurt ya?" He was softly touching the side of her face with his fingertips, looking into her red rimmed and puffy eyes, noting her swollen lips. This boy that had gone so hard on the other boy, who in his anger had beaten him with all that he had, had suddenly turned gentle, quiet.
"I'm okay Daryl, thank you for saving me." And they held each other while Mama and Daddy just looked at one another.
Then Daddy spoke, "Alright let's get home. Daryl will you follow us?"
"I wanna go talk ta my boss an tell him I'm sorry 'bout not comin' ta work. I can't lose my job."
"Alright, we'll meet you at the shop." It wasn't just that Daddy had taken on the responsibility of keeping an eye on Daryl, but he also wanted to be there for him in case he was needed.
Daryl didn't understand why they'd all be coming but he just nodded in agreement. Without thinking he gave Beth one more hug, "Ya sure you're okay?"
"I promise."
Beth and her Mama sat in the back seat while Daddy drove. Mama held her daughter in her arms and quietly ran a hand along her hair trying to sooth her.
When they got to the shop Daddy stepped out of the car and told the young man, "If you need me to vouch for you I'm right here, just come get me."
He walked up to Mr. Horvath and asked to speak to him, to explain himself. They went in the man's office, "I didn't wanna miss work but they wouldn't let me leave school 'til they asked me a million questions, my girl too."
"What happened Daryl?" Mr. Horvath was always concerned that Daryl may get singled out for blame. Not for anything he might have done, but more because of where he came from, who he came from.
"Some asshole from our homeroom class got her pinned up against her locker, he was tryin' ta kiss her an touch her. I kicked his ass for him."
Dale nodded, "Did they call your Dad?" The man knew if they did it could spell disaster.
"Nah they called Mr. Greene cuz he was comin' anyway for my girl, Beth. I'm real sorry I missed today, I won't let it happen again. Please don't fire me."
"I'm not going to fire you Daryl, you did what you thought you had to do. I'm glad you could be there for your girl, is she doing okay?"
"Yeah I guess, but she's real shook up."
"Alright, you go on now and I'll see you tomorrow after school."
"Thank ya sir." Daryl's head went down and he was chewing that bottom lip as he walked out the door.
When they got to the farm Daddy told them, "You two go on in the living room and relax, I'm going to help my wife in the kitchen."
Hershel peeled the potatoes while Annette got the rabbit in the pan, he spoke to her as they worked, "If we didn't know before this certainly left no doubt, our daughter and this young man are serious about each other."
"I know and I love Daryl I honestly do, and I appreciate him so much for so many things. Not the least of which is the way he defended our daughter today. He saved her from something I don't even want to think about. I know he's a good boy, a hardworking boy, but they're just so young Hershel. It scares me."
"I know, I'm worried too. I like him and I have respect for him, of course I'm grateful to him too. But I've known since the day he first knocked on our door he was Trouble, and it seems our daughter has a great fondness for Trouble."
Daryl wanted her to tell him everything that had happened. What kept her so late that the halls would be empty? When she told him why she'd been in the bathroom so long they both blushed fire engine red. And when she told him about being grabbed from behind, how it hurt and frightened her, how she knew it couldn't possibly be him, he turned red with renewed rage.
"I'm sorry Beth, it's all my fault I shoulda been watchin' out for ya. Shoulda took better care."
"You quit that. I won't have you talking like that Daryl. You didn't do anything wrong, you did everything right and you always make me feel safe. You stopped him Daryl, you stopped him."
They all sat down to supper and for once Daryl felt those prayers as Daddy thanked God that Beth was kept safe from harm. But he was embarrassed when Daddy thanked God that he'd been there to protect her.
They tried to do their homework after supper, but they just couldn't get their minds on it and Daddy and Mama didn't push it, they were all still reeling from the day they'd had. Then the phone in the hallway began ringing shrilly and the sound startled them all.
Daddy answered saying, "Greene residence." It was quiet for a few minutes after that as Daddy listened, occasionally saying, "Uh huh, yes, I see, it's probably best, I'll speak with Beth." When he'd hung up he told them what the call was about.
The principal had indeed spoken with the superintendent who in turn had spoken with Jimmy's parents. The boy's parents had decided he would not be returning to classes, they were going to be sending him to a military academy in Southern Georgia. Maybe they hadn't really believed his story after all. "He asked if we want to pursue this, maybe take legal action. I told him I'd check with you Beth, this is your decision."
"No Daddy please I don't want to. I just want to try and forget it. I don't want everyone to know about what happened and be talking about it at school. I'm just so glad he's going to be gone, I never want to see him again."
Mama saw Daryl take her hand under the table and just like Daddy, she knew he was Trouble. But they'd already decided they were going to have to learn to live with this new situation, because he and their daughter were definitely love-struck.
Daddy actually offered to let Daryl stay the night this one time, but he declined saying he should get on home otherwise his Dad might worry.
Twenty-five minutes after he left he was in Beth's room and they were hanging on tight.
"Ya sure Sunshine? Ya sure you're alright? If he hurt ya I swear I'ma track him down an kill him."
"I'm fine Daryl I'm just glad he's gone and out of our lives for good. I don't want to talk about it anymore, okay?"
He nodded slightly as he chewed that lip, "Yeah sure Beth, whatever ya want."
They sat on the floor holding hands and trying hard to talk about other things when he let go of her hand and moved his arm around her shoulders. He drew her close and bent down to kiss her, then he worried about those swollen lips. "Did I hurt ya?"
"No your kisses always feel good."
He smiled at her words and began kissing her again while his open hand softly rubbed along her back and up through her hair. He moved his lips away from hers, looked in her eyes and whispered, "I'm feelin' real sure that I love ya Beth Greene, an that I'm always gonna love ya."
For the first time that day the tears that came to her eyes were happy tears, "I'm feeling real sure that I love you too Daryl Dixon, and that I'm always going to love you."
They began kissing with a new kind of tenderness, they'd finally admitted to something they'd both been feeling. Their relationship had moved forward and they were certain they would always belong to each other.
Soon they were laying on the floor and she had her back to him. Her head was resting on one of his arms and his other was wrapped around her, holding her close to his body. He had his face nuzzled in her hair near her ear and they were talking about this love they had, and how happy it made them. They talked about everything it could mean. Someday they'd have their own place and they'd be each other's family. They even talked about the children they'd have and the kind of life they would live.
It had been a long day, an emotionally and physically exhausting day. The young couple were both spent and they fell asleep right where they were.
Mama woke about two in the morning with a pounding in her head. She knew it was probably the stress and emotion of the day that had caught up with her. She rose from the bed in search of an aspirin but they were gone from her medicine cabinet. Then she remembered that day last week, Daddy had been working bent over in the vegetable garden all morning. She'd run up to get the bottle so she could give him a couple to sooth his aching back. She'd left them in the pantry cabinet. She slipped into her robe and house shoes to go retrieve them.
As she stepped into the hall she saw the light coming from under Beth's door. The poor girl must have fallen asleep studying.
Normally she knocked on a closed door before entering but it was the middle of the night, she didn't want to wake her daughter if she was sleeping. She turned the knob slowly and quietly and walked softly into the room. She held an open palm over her mouth to keep from gasping at the sight before her.
There was her young daughter lying on the floor cuddled into the body of Daryl Dixon. Mama's mind was flooded with what seemed like a million thoughts. She was relieved they were both fully clothed, they even had their shoes on. They weren't on the bed, they were laying on the floor. Not that she didn't understand things could have happened on the floor, but a bed just seemed more intimate.
That afternoon Mama had seen how the two acted when they weren't worried about what others might think or say. She'd seen the way they looked at each other and how they seemed to take comfort in one another.
Although this was definitely romantic in its way, and they were absolutely lying way too close for her own comfort, Mama did feel it was more like they were drawing support from each other. More than anything she wanted to believe they were both still very innocent.
She thought for a moment about what was the best way to handle the situation, then she bent down and lightly shook Daryl's shoulder, "Daryl," she whispered.
He immediately woke and looked up at her, stunned, realizing where he was and what was happening he reacted, "Oh shit, I'm sorry Ma'am."
"You come with me Daryl." Beth hadn't stirred at all. She was still sleeping soundly.
As scared, nervous and guilty as he felt he still moved carefully, not wanting to wake her. He even reached over to the bed and pulled the quilt down to cover the sleeping girl. Mama wished he wasn't so sweet because right now she wanted to be angry with him.
He followed her down to the big old kitchen where she instructed him to sit on the stool. She went right to a cabinet, got the aspirin and took two pills. Then she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and in a hushed voice asked, "Do you care to explain yourself Daryl?"
He was thinking "no," he really didn't care to explain anything at all, but he answered, "I'm sorry Ma'am please don't be mad at Beth it wasn't her fault. She didn't invite me ta come back I just did it on my own. It's just that I's worried about her. I wanted ta see her for a few more minutes just ta make sure she was really okay. I'm sorry Ma'am. I promise nuthin' happened. I mean, I did kiss her, I ain't gonna lie ta ya about that. But it didn't go no further, honest Ma'am."
Mama was looking in his eyes, she almost wanted to smile at how in spite of the fact he was obviously nervous and afraid, the first thing he'd wanted to do was protect Beth. And she did believe it had gone no further than kissing, but it still wasn't right. "I don't want to unexpectedly find you hiding somewhere in my home ever again. Do you understand?"
"Yes Ma'am I do."
"Alright now are you going home or do you want to stay in Shawn's room?"
"I best go home Ma'am but ya ain't gonna get mad at Beth are ya?"
"No, but I'm going to have a talk with her just like I did with you." She surprised him as she reached out and took him in a hug. "Thank you for always being so protective of my little girl. Now I want you to keep your promise to me."
She went to the kitchen door and opened it for him, "You be very careful on your way home and I still expect to see you for supper tomorrow night."
"Yes Ma'am. I promise. Thank ya an I'm real sorry." And right then in that moment the young man did have every intention of keeping his promise, and not coming around and hiding out in her home ever again.
Yep, right in that moment he had every intention of keeping that promise.
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A/N Yay Daryl! It looks like he taught Jimmy a pretty good lesson. Mama and Daddy have realized Beth and Daryl are serious, and poor Mama walking in on the scene of them sleeping together. I thought she handled it pretty well. Thanks so much and please share your thoughts, comments / review. x gneebee
The chapter photo is posted on my tumblr blog, bethylmethbrick. If you get a chance, please check out some of my other stories, including my current Bethyl multi-chapter, The Wood Sculptor. Thanks so much my friends and I'll see you next Saturday! You know it, I love Ya Large! xo gneebee