A/N: A big thank-you to everyone who has fav/followed, or reviewed. It makes me smile. Enjoy!
"I've got to say it Beth, you gave us all a good scare, but your injuries are healing nicely."
"That's cause you do good work Bob."
"I don't know about that. I'm no doctor. Stitched you up as best I could, but I'm afraid you'll have some lasting scars."
"War wounds you mean."
"What's that?"
"Daryl once told me that people often look on scars as ugly because they don't understand the stories behind them." Beth trails a finger along the scar at her wrist. "He says that every scar a person carries on their skin is proof of what that person's lived through. What they've survived. He says we shouldn't be ashamed of our scars and that we should wear them like a badge of honor. Like a war wound earned in battle."
Bob smiles. "I like that."
"So, am I off restriction? Maggie's driving me crazy with all her fussin'. I know she means well, but I'm sure the group could use her elsewhere."
Bob laughs. "Before we get to that I want you to stretch your leg out for me"
Beth complies and Bob begins to examine her. He lifts her leg and moves it up, down, and sideways. Then he bends her knee into her chest to check for any muscle damage. "How does that feel?"
"A little stiff, but it doesn't hurt any."
"Good. Now get your rest because tomorrow you start pulling your weight around here."
"Really?" Beth beams a smile Bob's way and then wraps her arms around him in a gigantic hug.
"Light duty only! I already told Rick that unless it's a life or death situation, you need a few more weeks before you are fit for travel. Abraham won't be happy about it, but it can't be helped."
"Do you really think that guy Eugene has the cure, like his friends say he does?"
"I doubt it, but either way, if the three of them want our help they are just going to have to sit tight a bit longer."
"Thanks again Bob."
"Now get some rest. Parametic's orders."
/
Beth hears the teapot whistle on the stove as she carefully ties her hair back into a tight pony tail. "Tea's ready," she calls down to her mom. As quick as she can, Beth braids a small strand of hair to run through the center of her pony tail, tying off the end, all before bounding down the stairs of the farmhouse and into the kitchen. Try as she might Beth simply can not contain her excitement. Shaun promised that he would teach her to drive stick today. Finally she would have access to the truck. Annette takes the pot off the stove and turns around, a brilliant smile woven across her fine features as she looks upon her daughter with pride.
Beth skips over and gives her a swift kiss on the cheek. "Morning Momma."
"So today's the big day, is it?"
Beth smiles and nods her head eagerly.
"Shaun said he'd be waiting for you in the truck, and Beth honey... would you mind terribly taking the feed to the barn before the two of you get started? It's been sitting on the porch for over a day now."
"Sure thing Momma."
"Love you. Have fun."
"Love you too Momma."
The wind picks up as Beth walks across the soft cushion of grass that seperates the main house and the red wooden structure. She feels tiny bumps form on the flesh of her arms, and without warning, her blonde curls break free of their binds so that the loose strands tickle her face.
She is just about to lift the latch when a thick southern voice startles her from behind. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, I wouldn't go in there if I were you." The tall man stands directly in front of her now. How he gets there so fast, she has no idea. He wares a familiar sheriff's uniform complete with a star badge that reflects the suns' light and gives him an unearthly feel. She knows this man.
"Rick? What are you doing here?"
"You can't go in there like that Beth. You're simply not strong enough."
"Huh?"
"I think you need a doctor Beth."
Following Rick's gaze, she is shocked to look down and see the crimson liquid flowing freely from her wrist. "No! No! This is a mistake."
"Maybe so, but it's not my mistake Beth. Better run."
Slowly Rick lifts the latch to the barn door and out of the darkness Shaun emerges. His face is half gone, and his tatered clothing is layered with a gelatinous dark goo. Blinking back tears of confusion and horror, Beth looks up once more.
Rick is gone and the Barn is engulfed in a blazing inferno. The searing heat of it, causing small beads of perspiration to trickle down her forehead and sting her eyes. The pounding rhythm of her racing heart is nothing short of deafening as she watches more and more of the repulsive creatures plow through the burning doors, swarming like the locus' of biblical times. Panic being her only instinct as she stands a second to long, paralized by her own fear before finally heeding Rick's words. But it is already too late. Cold skin claws at her back, her hair, her shirt. The moans growing louder with every step she takes, as the creatures continue to gain ground.
Beth trips over her own feet, landing hard on the wet earth and lets out a mind numbing scream as the weight of the walkers pile on her back and pull at her pant leg.
/
Beth's eyes fly open and she fantically swats the air with her arms and legs. "Get off, Get off!" She cries out.
"Beth it's ok you're dreaming. Wake up," Maggie says, shaking Beth's shoulders in an attempt to wake her, but only succeeds in agitating the tiny blonde further. Still unconscious, Beth doesn't recognize her sister for who she is, and pushes Maggie back hard.
"Beth, calm down, you're safe. It just me. It's Maggie. Nothing is going to hurt you."
With worried eyes, Daryl watches the scene play out from his sleeping spot near the front entrance of the church where he has purposely separated himself from the others. He desperately wants to go over and make sure Beth's ok, but he stops himself. She has her family now and would probably consider it an intrusion of her privacy. And lets be honest, what would he say. Beth was all he could think about... dream about for months, and yet since they arrived back he hasn't so much as spoken a single word to her. It's not like he didn't want too, his timing just always seemed to be off. Beth spent the first couple weeks in the office sleeping, and when she was awake, Maggie or Bob or both were constantly by her side. The following week saw all the men out fortifying the church, and when he wasn't doing that he was either hunting or on watch. Now he feels that too many days have passed by, and the idea of simply walking over and starting a conversation with the pretty blonde, has become an increasingly awkward one for the hunter. The more he thinks about it though, the more he wonders if it's not probably for the best. Beth is young and has been through so much already. The girl hasn't even begun to sift through the trauma she has suffered. She sure as hell doesn't need to be dealing with his emotional crap as well. Beth is alive, and to Daryl, that is all that matters. He gives her one last glance before he steps outside, leaving the confines of the sanctuary to be alone with his thoughts.
"Maggie...?" As Beth's concious mind slowly begins to take over, the images from her dream start to dissipate. Her pulse still races erratic, but she is finally beginning to catch her breath. "It was so real," Beth says, swearing she can still feel the decayed hands on her flesh. "There were walkers everywhere, and Shaun was there. He was one of them, and ..."
"You had a nightmare Beth. After everything you've been through its not surprising." Maggie keeps her voice low so as not to wake the others. "Maybe now would be a good time to go somewhere and talk about what happened when you were gone. It's obviously effecting you."
"No," Beth states flatly. She can't even fathom the thought of reliving it. What she did... What she had to do.
"Beth I really think if we talk about it..."
"I said no," and with that, Beth gets up from her spot on the floor.
"Wait, where are you going? Its dark outside, you can't just leave."
Exasperated, Beth finally snaps. "I'm not child Maggie! I can take care of myself. Have done you know! I need some air, so please don't follow me." She feels bad the moment the words leave her mouth, but she won't take them back. Things are different now, she is different, and Maggie needs to know that.
As Beth steps onto the porch, Daryl's familiar scent of smoke and pine waft up through the air, flooding her senses with memories of a happier time, and it is nothing short of intoxicating. She watches silently from the shadows, not wanting to disturb him as he appears to be rolling something over in his mind while he leans on the rail of the veranda. Beth notes the sadness in his eyes and her heart suddenly aches to be closer to him, but so much time has passed. They haven't really spoken since he brought her home, unless of course you count the occasional nod, or in Daryl's case grunt, when the two of them inadvertently cross paths. Even still... the longing Beth feels for this amazing man is indescribable. Letting out the deep breath of air she's been holding in, Beth gathers up all of her courage and moves to stand beside him. Then playfully bumps his shoulder in an attempt to break the ice.
"Hey," she says, beaming a shy smile up at him in the hopes he will see on her face how very much she misses their time together.
Her close proximity has Daryl's heart thumping wildly in his chest, making it hard for him to breathe. He can't let her see that though. He won't. "Greene," he gruffs out.
The hunter's reaction isn't at all what she was expecting, and the tone of indifference in his voice leaves her frowning. It throws her.
"Ummm... well.. Bob took me off restriction today so I was kind of wondering if we could start training again?" She knows she's speaking way to fast. God help her, she's nervous.
Daryl studies her for a long moment, not saying a word as he takes a long, leisurely drag from the cigarette.
"You sure that's a good idea?"
Beth pauses momentarily as she ponders the question. "If you don't want to then I guess..."
"I didn't say I don't want to. I'm just wonderin' if you're not pushing yourself to fast. Don't want to hurt yah."
Beth can't help but smile at his concern. "I'll be fine Daryl. Besides, I trust you. You would never hurt me."
Seeing Beth like this, Daryl finds it near impossible to deny the girl anything. Especially when she's shining her bright smile his way, staring up at him with those ocean blue eyes that have shown him beautiful things. "I'll speak to Bob. If he tells me it's ok then we'll start tomorrow, first light, but don't 'spect me to go easy on yah."
The smile on Beth's face expands to an all out grin. "I wouldn't hear of it if you did. Tomorrow then, it's a date."
Turning on her heel, Beth heads back inside. Her words leaving Daryl frozen to the spot.