Ch. 22
Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing! This is where things start to pick up, and I really hope you like it.
He had been out of it for two days then spent the next five awake and in quarantine, gathering up his strength again. He used to push right on through being sick, but after not having much food or water, Daryl struggled to get back on his feet.
The doctor wouldn't let him out of the converted house clinic because he had come in with a fever, and they didn't know if he was contagious and didn't want to risk it spreading if he was. All Daryl wanted to do was walk out the door, but he rested, ate their food, and tried to come up with a solid plan of getting back to his group.
The leader, a woman named Deanna, came to visit him on the seventh day, but the conversation hadn't been a long one. He made it perfectly clear he wasn't here to audition, as she called it. He wanted to take his ass to that gate and try and track his family.
"I gotta woman out there," he told her. "I got my brother, and others that I've known since this shit went down. Ain't got time to sit around here no more. I appreciate all ya've done for me, but it's time for me to go."
"What if you brought your family back? You seem like a decent person, Daryl. We need good people here."
He stared at her long and hard as he answered, "I've only looked out that window, and I know y'all got no idea what it's like outside these walls. Y'all prolly tryin' to hold onto what that world was before, but that ain't how things work now. There's no soft left anymore."
Deanna gave him a tight smile then walked out of the room, making sure to shut the door quietly. He had followed walked to the door and heard the tail end of her conversation with Aaron.
"Find his people and bring them back," she said confidently. "You said that you followed them briefly before it went down?"
"Uh, yes, we followed them the day they got separated, but we only heard things when they stopped. Most of that time they were driving."
"And?"
"They seemed like more of a family than a group. There's a certain hierarchy, of course. Even though Daryl was sick, it seemed like he was one of their leaders just based on how they spoke of him. The man in charge, Rick, is the one that probably won't settle in well here. He doesn't seem like the type to take orders."
Daryl knew he was speaking the truth, but it still pissed him off a little. Rick was a good man, went a little cuckoo from time to time, but hell, everyone did in this world. These people just didn't realize that.
"Well, we'll need them here. Aiden and Nicholas found some more bodies in the woods with the 'W' in their foreheads. They're getting closer, and we have firepower, but we don't have experience."
Daryl backed away from the door and went back to the bed. His head was in his hands as Aaron walked inside.
"So, we were just talking and it looks like you're doing well enough to leave. This is a good place, Daryl. Your group would do well here."
Daryl knew what the Wolves could do. He had seen it himself. On the other hand, he knew what him and his could do, too. If they could keep this place safe from the Wolves, they could change things here to make it a place to stay, a good home.
He thought of Beth in a house with electricity and running water, with a nice, soft bed and clean clothes. Judith and Carl finally able to sleep through the night and grow up in a place that didn't have them running every few months.
"Yeah," he said with a nod. "Ya think you can help me find 'em?"
"Absolutely," Aaron said with a sincere smile.
He hadn't lied, he hadn't coerced, and by the look in his eyes he knew that Daryl was also keeping some things close to his chest, too.
After all, it was stupid to show your hand right off the bat.
It had taken her almost all morning, but she finally headed back to the cabin with two rabbits. She was glad that Daryl taught her how to track in the first place. Merle had gone early that morning toward the road to look around, and she had turned the opposite direction.
They had really screwed themselves over by picking that cabin to stay in. As of right now, they were about an hour from locked up D.C. and thirty minutes from any town with stores or homes to scavenge. There was little to no food anywhere. On top of all that, the cars were so low on gas that they would only be used if they had to make a run for it.
It was such a terrible situation, and there was no way to look for Daryl other than on foot for the time being. They had no choice but to stay put and hope he would come back, and after winter, they might have to move on without him.
Well, the others would move on. Beth knew that even if her family left, her and Merle would stay and continue to look and wait for Daryl.
"Got lunch," she called out when she walked back up the steps to the cabin.
No one opened the door to greet her, and for the first time she noticed that no one was on watch. Beth took a deep breath, and tossed the rabbits to the ground before pulling her knife. Slowly, she went to the window, peeking around the frame to try and see inside.
They had covered the windows as best she could, so seeing anything was hard. Plus, Abraham was standing right in her way to see who was talking.
"I've been lookin' everywhere for ya."
Beth turned around slowly, and her breath caught when she saw him. He was paler than usual and looked tired, but it was Daryl, holding onto the crossbow strap across his body like it was lifeline.
She slid her knife into its sheath and took off for him. When his arms wrapped around her, she almost collapsed in relief. Then the tears started flowing, and she couldn't stop them. "I didn't know where to look," she sobbed. "I didn't know who took ya or where ya coulda gone."
"I know," he whispered. "I know. I told 'em to take me back as soon as I woke up, arrow. I was so fuckin' worried about ya."
"Who took ya? Where?" She asked as she pulled away. Her hands were on his cheeks then in his hair, pulling him down to kiss before he could answer.
His hands went to her hips, and he pulled her against him before running his tongue along her bottom lip. Beth groaned into the kiss and tugged on his hair just a little to get him to do the same. In a matter of seconds, he had her pressed up against the nearest tree, his body caging hers in, as they continued to kiss and touch.
A throat cleared from behind them and Maggie said, "Well, that's somethin' I never thought I'd see."
Daryl leaned his forehead against hers and tried to catch his breath.
"I's in Alexandria. It's a safe zone. The people there," he whispered against her cheek, making it look like he was still kissing on her, "they're sheltered, weak. Don't trust 'em."
Beth closed her eyes and turned her face into his neck. "Is it really safe?"
"For now," he whispered against her ear before he pulled away completely.
"You must be Beth," a man she had never seen before said. He walked forward and held out his hand. "My name's Aaron. My partner and I found Daryl after you all had to run."
"You saw us run?" She asked and narrowed her eyes at him.
Aaron smiled softly. "We had been following your group, trying to get a feel for you all, and if you'd fit in where we live."
"Spyin' on us?"
"I know. It's not the best way to make friends, but I believe in transparency here. We need good people for our community, and you don't just invite anyone to live with you. We were protecting ourselves."
Beth nodded but didn't like the idea that they had been watched and listened to at all. "How in the world did ya get close enough to us? Someone woulda heard ya."
He cleared his throat and looked down. "We have long range equipment."
"Oh, well, that makes it so much better," she muttered and grabbed Daryl's hand. "C'mon, I got lunch and since you're back with me, I don't have to clean 'em."
Once they had the rabbits and were seated at the edge of the yard, Merle walked over and nodded at his brother.
"This place sounds too good to be true," he said and leaned against a tree.
"It's nice," Daryl agreed. "Those same roamers from Noah's place are around, though. The leader seems to think they're gonna try and make a play for the safe zone, and she wants help."
"They tell ya that?" Merle asked.
Daryl shook his head. "Nah, I overheard it."
Merle hummed, and they fell into silence. Carol walked over and stood next to Merle.
"I don't trust these people, Daryl."
Pretty soon, everyone but Aaron was circled around Daryl as he cleaned the rabbits, each asking him a question about the safe zone. He told them all the same things he had told her, and Rick was nodding along with him.
"I didn't get out of the house until the day me and Aaron left, so I don't know other people, but I can tell ya that the doctor is a fuckin' drunk, the leader is a politician, and Aaron might be one of the only genuine people there."
Rick sighed heavily. "So they need the man power to fight for 'em?"
"That, but they ain't never got their hands dirty before. They don't know how to kill people."
Rick nodded and looked down at his hands before tilting his head to look at Daryl. "If things fall apart in the battle, and we get left to fend for ourselves, do ya think we could turn it on 'em?"
"Ya mean, takin' it?" Glenn asked quietly.
Rick nodded but never took his eyes off Daryl. After a few seconds, Daryl nodded back.
"We play the game then," Rick said and looked at each of them. "Put on your best public face."
He held her hand tightly as they walked through the gates to the ASZ, as Aaron called it.
Deanna stood on the other side, open arms with a welcoming smile. "I'm so happy that you were able to find your people, Daryl." Her eyes flicked to Beth and back to him. He wondered what was going through her head as she looked at the young, pretty, blonde woman that was clutching his hand and her own bow in the other. "You must be the lady he was so eager to get back to."
"I'm Beth," she said and slung the bow over her shoulder to shake the woman's hand.
"Deanna Monroe."
Everyone else was ushered in and introduced briefly then taken to another section of the safe zone Daryl had never been to.
"We'll need you to surrender your weapons," she said calmly. "No one in the safe zone has them on their person. They have to be checked out through our armory."
Rick looked around and caught his eye for a second before nodding. "I've had this gun for years," he said quietly and sat it on the cart. "It's mine, so I'd appreciate it if I was the only person that got to handle it."
Deanna smiled. "Of course. Could you make a note of Mr. Grimes' gun, Olivia?"
"Absolutely." The woman pushing the cart said and took out a tag and attached it to Rick's gun.
The others filed through, each laying down their guns, Carol almost tripping over herself to get the strap over her head and Merle stepped forward to help her. Daryl didn't miss the eye roll from his brother as Carol smiled and played off her clumsiness.
"Aaron will show you to your new homes then I'd like to start the interview process for each of you. Mr. Dixon has already completed his, so that's one down for the day."
"Could ya be anymore obvious," Merle asked once they were alone in their own room.
"What do you mean, sweetheart?" She asked in such a sugary voice Merle leaned away.
"Don't like it," he muttered. "Ya keep actin' like Suzy fuckin' Homemaker, and they're gonna wonder why you're with my ass."
"Obviously, I need the protection of a big, strong man like you," she said and shrugged with a little grin. "It's such a horrible world we live in, and you were so kind to me."
He sat down on the edge of the bed and glared at her. "This ain't gonna work."
"It will," she said back I her normal tone. "It has to." She walked over to him and stood between his knees. Her hands were planted on his shoulders and he tilted his head up to look at her. "We all have to play a part, Merle. Even you."
"What's my part?" He asked and ran his hands from her thighs to her hips and squeezed a little.
"You're the hardass that gets shit done, but you're devoted to little ol' me and love your brother and his wife."
Merle nodded. "All that's true already."
Carol leaned down a little and kissed him, taking his top lip between hers. The sensation sent little sparks shooting up his spine. He tried to pull her down on the bed, roll on top of her, but she moved away, laughing a little.
"C'mon, woman, it's been fuckin' years," he whined.
"Oh, I know what you mean. I still miss my vibrator," she said jokingly. "You'll survive, buttercup."
He threw himself back against the pillows and closed his eyes as the door clicked shut softly behind her.
Beth sat on the bed, looking out the wide-open window.
The sun was shining, birds were chirping. She heard children laughing in the street and the low hum of water running from somewhere in the house. Sometime along the way, this had become foreign to her. She was out of place, uncomfortable, skittish.
Daryl sat down on the bed next to her and took her hand.
"Ya okay?"
She nodded. "I'm just overwhelmed, I guess."
"Ya should go and use the shower. Bet you'll feel like a new person," he said and bumped his shoulder with hers.
"What about you?"
She looked at Daryl, taking him in. His face and arms were covered in a thick layer of dirt. His hair was greasy and sticking to his forehead.
"Maybe one day."
Beth looked down at her own arms and hands. Dirt and grim were all over, and the underside of her fingernails were black. She didn't even want to think about her hair right now.
She stood up and took his hand, walking to the bathroom that was connected to their room. The houses in the ASZ were all built for people with lots and lots of money. There were three bedrooms upstairs and they all had their own private bathrooms.
"What're ya doin'?" He asked with a small grin that made the corner of his lip twitch up.
"We're gonna feel like new people," she answered and drug him along behind her.
Once the water was turned on and heating up, they took off their clothes. She noticed for the first time just how stiff and caked with dirt and blood her jeans and shirt were. Her bra was threadbare and almost falling apart. Her panties were in equally bad shape.
When she looked at Daryl, his jeans and flannel were tossed to the ground, slightly cleaner than hers because they had washed his stuff when he'd been laid up in bed here. He looked a little uncomfortable standing there, and she realized that they had never done this.
Just stand in front of the other, fully naked, not worrying that someone would hear or walk in on them or that walkers would show up and they'd be caught unprepared.
The steam filled the air and he looked away before crossing his arms across his chest.
"We gonna just stand around all day or we gonna get in there?"
He was trying to look like he didn't care, but she could tell otherwise. His cheeks were flushed, and it had nothing to do with the warmth of the bathroom.
"C'mon," she said and stepped into the shower, motioning for him to follow.
It wasn't big by any means, and maybe that was for the best. This way they both caught some of the hot water and one wasn't left to freeze as the other stood under the spray.
There was a little bottle of shampoo and a bar of soap inside and they took turns wiping their own bodies and cleaning their hair. She watched as some of the dirt swirled around the drain and the rest left a ring around the tub.
Once the last of the shampoo was out of her hair, she stepped out of the spray and let him lean into it and clean his own hair.
Beth leaned back against the cold tile and closed her eyes. If she wasn't careful, she would forget that all of this was temporary.
No place stayed safe for long.
"What're thinkin' about?"
She looked at him and shrugged. His hair was slicked back and without all the dirt on his face, his eyes didn't look as dark blue as they had been. His shoulders were broad and his body was lanky but muscled. His arms were strong and toned with corded muscles along his forearms.
Without speaking, she scooted forward and wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest.
Daryl didn't hesitate to hug her back.
"Ya alright?"
She made a small noise and nodded.
He lifted her chin and kissed her softly, walking her back against the wall before pressing his lower half against her.
"Don't wanna slip," he said as he pulled back. He turned off the water then got out and grabbed a towel for each of them.
She had barely gotten her upper body wiped off before he had her sitting on the counter and was spreading her legs open with his hands. His lips went to her neck for a split second before he dropped to his knees in front of her and pulled her closer to the edge.
There was nothing slow about what he was doing. He was pushing her as quickly as he could, and she tangled her hands in his hair to keep him in place while she bit her bottom lip to stop from being loud. It didn't work well, and soon her low moans were filling the small room.
"Oh my God," she whispered sharply. Her legs closed involuntarily around his head, and she hunched forward as she came.
He pushed her legs away and stood up, wiping off his mouth with his hand before he kissed her again. It was slow, and she was so warm and relaxed. Daryl pulled her against him and picked her up before walking into the bedroom and laying her down on the bed.
He wasted no time in moving over her and going back to kissing down her neck and across her chest.
"Been a long time since we had a bed," he mumbled against her breast.
"Ummhmm," she voiced and twisted under him.
Daryl gripped her thigh and pulled it up and around his waist then thrust into her in one smooth stroke.
The bed didn't squeak or hit the wall. There was no noise except the sounds of their breathing and the moans that they tried to hold back.
He tried so hard to make her come again. Daryl brought his hand down to where they met and stroked her, he sucked and nipped at her breasts, but it all seemed to be too much for him. After only a few minutes of moving over her and sliding in and out with forceful snaps of his hips, he was groaning against her neck and pulling away to come against the inside of her thighs.
"Damn," he muttered. "Sorry."
She felt herself laugh softly and smile. "There's nothin' to be sorry about, but we might need another shower."
Daryl snorted and rolled away.
With the sun shining so bright and them smelling like soap and sex with the comfortable bed beneath them, she could imagine this was all real. It was before, and life was amazing.
Beth decided right then that whenever they were in this room, that's how she would view it. Forget the rest of the ASZ. Inside this room was the real safe zone.