Enjoy!
Beth and Daryl continue to stand there, staring akwardly at each other as Rick jogs up the steps of the veranda startling them both. His forehead and cheeks are streaked with soot, but even the extra layer of grime cannot hide the relief that shines through his wide smile as he comes to welcome the hunter back into the fold. Daryl instinctively grabs hold of Rick's extended arm and the two come together in a brief man hug, each giving the other two swift claps on the back before seperating.
"Daryl, glad you boys made it back in one piece! It's been a crazy day!"
Daryl quickly glances at Beth, then looks down and clears his throat. His rich southern accent is thick, and his voice is low and rough like he hasn't spoken in days. "Yah, I can see that. Anyone hurt?"
"No, thank God! I won't get into all the details, but I will say that there have been some interesting new developments since last we talked."
"On our end too. Glen and I will need to speak on it with yah tomorrow mornin'. Shit's come up."
"Not a problem brother."
Beth listens to the conversation intently, waiting on pins and needles for an answer to a question she never asked. Truthfully she is grateful for Rick's interuption. It has given her some time to collect her thoughts.
"How are you feeling now Beth?"
Her eyes dart over to Rick and then Daryl. It's a simple question really, but one that garners an instant response from the hunter. "Why, are you sick?" The intensity of his previous stare is replaced by one of worry and concern, and Beth doesn't quite know how to respond. Her stomach is full of knots and her gut is all twisted up in her throat, it's just not from dehydration or hunger. Quietly, Beth looks up at Daryl with gentle eyes that glisten from tears already shed.
She braves a step closer and places her open palm flat over Daryl's heart. In the past she has found this to help calm the nature of his thoughts and help center his focus. Beth needs his focus now so she can ease his worry. She just couldn't bare the thought if he started fussin' on her like everyone else, because unlike everyone else, he makes her strong. "I didn't drink enough water today is all. Got a bit light-headed, but I'm fine now. Honest!"
"You sure? 'Cause you don't look fine." Daryl steps out of the invisible bubble Beth tries to so hard to keep around them, and away from the contact of her touch. He scans her body like he has x-ray vision and then slowly brings his thumb up to his mouth and naws at the quick.
How did he fail to notice the ashen grey tone of her skin, or the fact that her impossibly beautiful blue eyes are now sunken and hollow. Daryl blames himself. If he had been here instead of on the run, Beth would have had enough to eat and drink. He would have made sure of it. Hell, he should have made sure of it before leaving on the run in the first place.
As Rick stands there, all but forgotten, he begins to recognized the internal struggle that is beginning to spiral within his friend. He has known Daryl since the start of this thing. Thinks of him as a brother. He knows little about the hunter's upbringing, but what he does know helps him understand that this is a psychology not easily shattered. It's a part of who Daryl Dixon is. It's not enough to say, 'don't blame yourself.' The hunter needs to come to that conclusion on his own or he will forever be haunted by it. Daryl needs to be shown, and Rick has a sneaking suspicion that Beth knows this as well.
Rick directs his attention once more to the blonde in front of him. "Beth, I didn't get a chance to tell you earlier, but you did a great job out there today. Fought those walkers off like a champ. Probably saved Maggie's life. Remind me never to get on your bad side!"
Beth flashes a brilliant smile Rick's way. Her daddy always said pride was a sin, but she simply can't help it. Despite her concerns over Daryl and what he may be thinking, Rick's words have her standing taller. It feels good to be viewed as a valued member of the group.
"Daryl, you should have seen her out there. Storm blew up while Beth and Maggie were coming back with the water. If it wern't for their warning, things would have turned out a whole lot different, I'm sure of it."
Daryl stays quiet, carefully observing Beth transform before his very eyes. The tiny blonde stands straighter, and the light that normally gleams from her large blue orbs beams brighter than he has ever seen. It is blinding really. All at once Beth grows confident in her own abilities, and Daryl's chest swells with pride. Her smile overwhelms the hunter's senses, as he absorbs the warmth and radiance of it. Memorizing evey line, and every detail of that particular smile; Sealing it away in the back of his brain, and storing it there forever. Daryl has always known Beth Greene to be strong. Her tiny form makes it difficult for some to see, but it has always been there, hiding just below the surface.
A smile forms on Daryl's face because finally Beth knows it too. With every hard decision she has had to make, and every trial she has gone through, from the loss of the prison, to the death of her father, to her time spent in that wretched hospital, Beth's strength continually shines through. Sure Daryl's taught her a few things to round out her skill set, but Beth draws her strength from deep inside. It comes from an unwavering belief in humanity and a stubborn determination to do what's right. Daryl knows that on the hard days, it is Beth's simple belief that good still exists in the world that keeps her going. She has this unshakeable faith, and it keeps him going too. Day after day Daryl is drawn to her like a magnet because Beth is the good in his world. Beth Greene has faced more shit than any one person should ever have to, and not only has she survived. She is thriving.
Daryl knows he shouldn't worry as much as he does about her, but sometimes its hard. He knows he should simply enjoy the time they have together. Maybe he doesn't have to be so afraid that he will end up the last man standing, left alone without her light. As Daryl looks on Beth now he thinks maybe... just maybe, she can stand beside him.
Never has he ever been more attracted to one person in all of his memory. Daryl can't define it, but there is no denying the engery between them, or the need he feels to be close to her.
A smirk forms on the hunter's features and he raises a brow to her in mock disbelief. "You... Beth Greene... fought a walker?" A mischievious glint sparks in his eyes as he teases her, tests her, pushes for a reaction. "Seriously though, are you sure it was a walker and not just a wrinkled old man or somethin'?"
Beth tilts her head to the side and narrows her eyes, making sure to hold Daryl's gaze as she does. He's egging her on and she knows it, but there is something Mr. Dixon needs to learn. It is a straight forward truth about her. Beth Greene likes to win. Playfully the young woman pushes her nose high in the air and straightens her posture, causing her dirty hair to flip limply about her shoulders.
"It funny you say that because the only old man I've seen all day is you Dixon." Beth throws the hunter a cocky smirk and just barely manages to supress the giggles threatening to burst forth from behind it. She watches him and waits, curious of what his reaction to her comment will be.
Rick chuckles to himself as he gives Daryl a consoling pat on the shoulder. "Ouch, that girl's getting a might fiesty. She's sounding more and more like you every day Dixon." Daryl can tell by the smug look on his friends face that Rick is enjoying himself immensely. He ignores it though, choosing instead to focus his attention entirely on Beth and her smart little mouth.
The hunter narrows his eyes straight back at her, accepting the challenge. However he knows beyond doubt that he will not be able to hide the pink that colours his ears, and Beth will know she has embarrassed him.
"Go ahead and laugh it up Greene. I know you want to." He takes an intimidating step forward and leans directly into Beth's personal space, causing her to take a small step back out of instinct. Intimidation is a specialty of Daryl's and certainly not her strong suit. Beth can never seem to hold his stare for more than a few seconds before she always feels the need to look away. "Just... know... this..." The words slide off of his tongue in a low and threatening tone, exciting her a little. "...We'll see how well you fight when I've got you alone in our next training session."
The implication of Daryl's spoken words have goose bumps prickling up Beth's arms, but she refuses to turn away. This is a little game they sometimes play while training. Daryl's blue eyes harden into ice cold flecks and he locks them onto Beth's with a dark lingering glare that burns through her and causes her pulse to quicken. He knows it won't be long before she cracks.
Beth is determined though. No way will she allow for his sexy scent of woodsey pine and manly sweat to distract her from her goal. Daryl will not take the upper hand. Not this time! But then he moves closer. An unexpected turn, considing how shy he has been with her in the past when other people are around. He is not playing fair.
Seconds tick by like hours, and Beth can feel her cheeks heating up. Another beat passes with a shiver shooting straight down to her toes. Two more, and there it is... A nervous giggle that escapes her soft lips, and she knows she is beat. An evil smirk forms at the corner of Daryl's mouth. He steps back and squares his shoulders. "Phefft! That's what I thought. Old man my ass!"
Beth wants to wipe that smug smirk right off his face, but a greater part of her just wants to hide the butterflies that are flapping around wildly inside her tummy. She is so turned on right now, and she wonders if Daryl can tell. She hopes not. It can't be healthy for one person to have that kind of effect on another. Her legs are trembling like jello, and it leaves her feeling positively giddy. So caught up in her own head, she barely notices when Daryl lets out the breath of air he's been holding and laces his finger through hers... Barely, but she does notice.
Inside, Beth is doing her happy dance. For a man like Daryl, who despises public displays, she cannot deny the gravity of what this must mean.
Rick casually archs his sore back in an attempt to stretch out his aching muscles. Then smiles out over the field and lets go a deep sigh. "Didn't take long for Glen and Maggie to find each other. I think I'll go over and welcome Glen back." Rick has already started down the steps of the porch when he suddenly looks back over his shoulder. "Daryl, why don't you take Beth and get her something to eat. There will be plenty of work left to be done when the two of you get back."
Daryl nods in agreement, and Beth is blown away. Not once has she ever known the hunter to avoid work that needs to be done, so it means that much more to her when Daryl pulls her off the veranda and leads her around the corner of the building.