Beth felt something warm and hard pressed against her side, and she scrunched up her face in confusion as she shifted on the sheets. She couldn't feel her left arm. The realisation that her arm was trapped underneath something slowly dawned on her.
She tried to move the fingers on her right hand, and they tightened easily against the…thing she was pressed against. It felt like fabric, but different to the sheets. Underneath it was something large and solid. She jolted a little as it flinched against her grasping touch. The skin…a slight tremor ran through her body. Skin.
Oh dear.
In her sleepy state she remembered waking in the middle of the night and hearing Daryl having another nightmare. Now, here she was with her arm trapped underneath him, her head pressed against the crook of his neck and her right hand groping at his chest. She forced her hand to relax against him.
She wondered if he was awake. His chest rose and fell steadily, but otherwise he did not twitch. His heartbeat remained strong and consistent, reverberating through his chest like a bass drum but she couldn't shake the feeling that he was awake. Regardless, she kept her eyes shut. She wanted to lie there for a little while, enjoying the warmth and the feeling of his body next to hers. He was as solid as anything, but still pliant under her body. She was surp-
"You gettin' up any time soon?"
Beth opened her eyes suddenly at the sound of Daryl's voice and looked up at him with an embarrassed smile. She was relieved to see that he didn't look annoyed, though he only let his eyes linger on her face for the barest of moments with a wry look before staring up at the ceiling.
"You're warm," she mumbled, shifting slightly. He tightened his grip on her shoulder briefly and she smiled into the crook of his neck. She pulled on her arm slightly and they unknowingly both grimaced.
"My arm…" Beth started to explain, and he grunted in acknowledgement, lifting his torso off the bed with a wince, long enough for Beth to pull her lifeless arm out from underneath him.
"That's what was digging into my back all night," he huffed as he dropped back down on to the bed.
Beth rolled her eyes. "That's what was crushing my arm all night," she retorted impishly.
"Same thing," he drawled, deadpan.
Beth shifted on the bed, giving herself some room to rub some life back into her arm. Daryl stayed where he was, folding his arms behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. The room was still mostly dark as the curtains were heavily drawn but she could make out his features in the dim light streaming through the edges.
Frowning, she concentrated on her arm, feeling the pins and needles creep into her skin and along her arm as she squeezed her right hand into a fist.
Beth looked up to see Daryl watching her with raised eyebrows as she shook her arm, and couldn't hold back a smile.
"How did you sleep?" She asked shortly, rolling on to her side to face him, thinking back to the night before. He chewed the inside of his cheek for a moment, before clearing his throat.
"Slept good." He looked down at her, his gaze softening. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." Beth felt herself lean forward a little, and she could have sworn he did too. They stared at each other for a second before they leaned in, their lips meeting firmly. They both tensed, frozen for a moment before their lips moved against each other slowly. Beth shifted on the sheets, her legs brushing against his, their knees knocking together.
His lips were warm against hers, and he kissed her the same way she imagined he did everything – thoroughly and deliberately. They broke apart breathing heavily, Daryl bowing his head briefly before pulling back a little and shaking his head.
"You deserve better than me," he told her quietly.
Beth contemplated him for a moment. "I deserve to have a say."
.
.
.
Beth sat at the dining table with a textbook next to her plate as she ate her omelette, reading the chapter summary intently. So focused was she that she did not hear the front door open.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and jumped, looking up with wide eyes. Her father smiled at her softly as he walked past, his hand leaving her shoulder.
"Mornin' Daddy," she smiled, relaxing in her chair.
He picked up the plate on the counter that had the remainder of the omelette Beth had cooked, minus what she had given to Daryl, and sat down at the table with her with a heavy sigh. His face and hands were covered in dirt, and it struck Beth that only a short time ago her father never would have sat down in the kitchen without having ensured he was dirt free after a morning's work out on the farm. Now, he did not even seem to realise something was amiss.
"How was our patient?" He asked, picking up his fork.
Beth chewed for a moment, eyes on her plate. "Good," she said lightly, nodding. She leaned over to look at her textbook again, feeling her father's watchful gaze. "I gave him some breakfast."
They resumed sitting in silence, Beth turning a page in between mouthfuls of food. The chink of the cutlery against their plates filled the large room, until a loud creak drew their attention to the doorway of the kitchen.
Daryl stood in the doorway holding his empty plate, the knife and fork balanced on top. Beth leaned back in her chair, preparing to stand.
"S'all right, I'll do it." He said to Beth, and nodded to Hershel, who watched him from his seat. He moved over to the sink, and while his usual swagger was absent, he did not seem impeded, only careful. Beth couldn't stop her eyes flicking up to him at the sink as he washed his plate and cutlery.
"How're you feeling?" Hershel asked him.
Daryl nodded as he put the cutlery in the holder on the dish rack, snapping the hand towel off the rail next to the sink. Beth tilted her head as he dried his hands. He put the towel back and opened the cupboard below the sink and put the detergent in the exact spot it belonged, before closing the door without a sound. It seemed as though he knew his way around quite comfortably. He turned to face her father, who was still waiting for a response.
"Feel fine," he said quietly. He cleared his throat, tilting his chin up. "Think I'll go home today."
Beth dropped the pretence of reading her textbook completely and stared up at Daryl.
"What?" She looked over to her father, hoping to see him object.
"It's been three days Bethy. He's ready to go home. He'll be all right." He stood up slowly, the chair scraping across the floor.
Daryl stepped forward, and held his hand out to Hershel. Her father stared down at the outstretched hand briefly before reciprocating the gesture. They shook hands firmly.
"I 'preciate it." Daryl held her father's gaze before stepping back, glancing down at the floor.
"Well, I'll put together a couple of things in case you need them." Hershel glanced at Beth before turning and shuffling out of the room.
Once he had left the room and they heard his footsteps on the stairs, Beth stood up and took her plate and cutlery over to the sink.
"Um, I'll wrap some leftovers up for you. And I'll get your clothes, they're in the laundry." She turned around to face him.
He raised his hand to his mouth before dropping it. "Thanks."
She nodded. They stood in silence for a moment before she moved to walk over to the fridge, when he put his hand on her arm lightly as she brushed past him.
"'Bout earlier…"
Beth stopped.
He pursed his lips, looking frustrated. "Look, this ain't about what happened earlier."
Beth hesitated before nodding. "Okay."
He looked down at her intently, his eyes searching hers before he seemed to relax a little, seemingly satisfied.
"You're just more comfortable at home?" She hadn't meant it as a question, but that's how it came out. It wasn't an accusation or a guilt trip either. Beth knew that she would want to go home too. It had a different meaning to him, though. While Beth would go home for her family, he would go for the comfort the place provided. Her house, her home, was not what he was used to.
He chewed the inside of his cheek for a moment before sort of nodding shortly.
"I'll pack some dressings so you can change the bandages," Hershel's voice startled the pair as he entered the kitchen. Beth turned and smiled at her father before she resumed walking to the fridge to get the leftovers.
.
.
.
The day was quite mild, the sky sunny and the grass dewy. Beth stood next to Daryl at the side of the road as her father parked the truck near the trees. The three of them were going to walk to Daryl's cabin together, as Beth was going to carry the food and Hershel would carry the other supplies. The line of trees stood forebodingly to their left, all signs indicating that it was the edge of civilisation. Nothing should dwell beyond that line.
After an intensive surgery and four days in bed, including the day in hospital, his energy levels weren't as high as they usually were. Beth could see though that he was getting back to normal. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, and they both caught each other eying the other one before quickly looking away. Again, Beth wished that she could just drive her father's damn truck.
It seemed to take an age for her father to get out of the truck and walk over to join the pair where they stood. Hershel's gait had become more pronounced in the past few months, which worried Beth, though he smiled as he reached them.
They walked through the trees slowly, keeping pace with Hershel. Beth eyed him with concern as they walked, and was surprised when she glanced at Daryl to see him looking at her pointedly. She furrowed her brow, and he raised his eyebrows, eyes flickering briefly back to her father.
Beth was deep in thought as they reached the cabin. In the sunlight, it looked ageing and plain, but solid and…like a home. Beth and her father waited behind Daryl on the balcony as he unlocked the door. Once inside, Daryl walked over to the couch and sat down heavily. Beth put the containers of food in the fridge while Hershel put the bag of supplies on the table. She waited while her father spoke quietly to Daryl, before they shook hands. Her father turned around to look at Beth.
"I'll wait outside Bethy."
She moved over to the couch, sitting down carefully and bringing her knee up to rest on the cushion. Daryl looked at her as she leaned back into the couch, and she smiled faintly. He brought his arm up to rest on the back of the couch, his gaze turning curiously blank, yet she could sense guardedness about him.
Taking his cue, Beth sat up so that she could shift over a little so that her leg grazed his. She leaned against him lightly until she felt his arm wrap around her shoulder. The gap between their bodies was erased as he gathered her into the side of his body, her head leaning on his shoulder. Beth brought her legs up to fold into her body so she was comfortable.
"This okay?" She asked breathily, looking down into their laps where one of her hands rested on her knee.
He nodded shortly, the motion reverberating into her body. They sat together for a minute or so, Beth closing her eyes and enjoying the feel of his body and the quiet.
"I'm glad you're okay," she said softly. "I better go, 'fore my Daddy comes back."
He inhaled, groaning a little as he unwrapped his arm from her shoulder. He rolled his head as she sat up, arching her back. Days of bed rest could leave your body quite stiff.
"If you need anything, let me know." Beth looked at him seriously as they stood up. He smirked back at her.
"Yes ma'am." He let his eyes linger on her. "Good luck studyin'."
Beth smiled. "Thanks." She hesitated. "I might come by, after my exam?"
Daryl blinked, his eyes squinting slightly as he seemed to consider the idea. He looked down and reached in his pocket, and she heard the jingling of keys. He fished them out, looking at them in his hand for a second before holding them out to her. She stared at them.
"Keys to the truck."
Beth looked up at Daryl. "Won't they need it?"
He shrugged. "Prob'ly not, they got Merle's tow truck. This one's mine."
"Daryl, I don't…" She trailed off when he used his free hand to gently take her hand and hold it out so he could press the keys in to her palm. He swallowed as she wrapped her warm fingers around the cold metal, grazing his hand.
"So, are you…is it…mine?" She couldn't quite believe it, or accept the keys if it was. He shrugged again.
"For now…whenever you need it, use it. I'll need it back for work, but you can drive to your exam. An' if you still wanna get your own car, I'll help you out."
She stepped forward abruptly and hugged him, mindful of his abdomen. "Thank you."
His arms tightened around her briefly, before they parted. "You deserve more'n that, Beth."
She smiled ruefully as she stepped back. "I know I do," she said softly.
He walked her over to the door and when she glanced back, he was watching her walk away with her father back to the road.
A/N: I know, I suck at updating! Hopefully this sort of makes up for that. Let me know what you think!
Thanks so much for all of your follows, favourites, reviews and for reading. I can't actually believe I have more than 400 reviews!