They quickly made their way to the parking lot and headed over to Rick's. Daryl rode in Rick's car, left the truck in the lot, while Beth climbed back in the Toyota.
"He definitely broke Zach's nose. Probably a rib or two."
"His hands were a mess."
"Do you think he'll press charges?"
"Nah, then Beth would."
Beth didn't have anything to say as Maggie and Glenn talked excitedly back and forth in the front seat. All she could picture was the defeated way he looked at her, the guilt she saw in his face was eating away at her. Her heart sunk a little at the way he had taken a step toward Maggie's car as she got in and then turned to Rick's instead.
It was a short drive to the house but Rick and Daryl were already inside when they got there. They sat in the backyard, a cooler was pulled up close to the picnic table. Rick was sitting there, a beer popped open in front of him, while Daryl paced on the patio. Maggie and Glenn sat with Rick.
They drank a few beers, Rick brought up some fight he remembers Daryl getting in years ago. Bragged about how scrawny Daryl Dixon broke his hand on some kids face, left the bigger guy laid out on the ground after spearing him onto the hood of a car.
Beth watched the way Daryl sat on the edge of the group, not really looking at anyone, save for the way his eyes constantly darted to and from her face.
"Gotta get cleaned up." Daryl mumbled to no one in particular, but then looked to Beth.
"I'll help you."
She followed him into the kitchen and watched him scrub his hands clean from the drying blood. She looked over his hands, carefully ran her fingers over the rough callouses and smooth lines, his knuckles were a little banged up, swollen. His shirt was spattered with specks of blood. It wasn't as bad as she thought.
He stood at the sink, looked down at the dirty dishes soaking there. His eyes darted over to her feet. "I shoulda been there."
When Daryl glanced up at her Beth knew all he could see were the faint bruises, the violent marks she had gained in his absence.
"Beth, I'm sor…"
"Daryl." She cut him off, "I'm fine. He was a jerk, I got away. You took care of the rest."
He nodded, only half believed what she was saying, but the throbbing in his hand reenforced her words.
Daryl followed her back outside, explaining that he had to go home so the aid could go. He told her he would come back if his father was asleep.
His good bye was awkward, stilted. Beth had to step into his touch and place a kiss on his cheek. He stilled at the contact.
"Thank you." She whispered it softly, just for him to hear.
He nodded a little and pushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "I'll see you."
She stood on the sidewalk outside of Rick's fence until she couldn't see him fading in and out between the streetlights.
Maggie handed her a beer when she sat to straddle the bench.
"That was not the show we were expecting."
"No, it wasn't."
Rick brought Glenn in to get a shot, leaving the sisters outside.
"You think he overreacted?"
Beth took a sip from the bottle, "I mean… I dunno. He didn't know what had happened, he was standing up for me."
Maggie looked at her sister. Stared her right in the eye. "You love him."
Beth's eyes snapped up. It's been a few weeks, carefully dancing around the feeling that she's found what she wants. Maggie just laid it out right in front of her and she can't do anything but finally see it.
"I do."
"Don't know how he's gonna take that." It's Rick's voice behind her.
"Whadda you mean?" Maggie's tone was biting just a bit too much. Sometimes, like right then, Beth was so grateful for her sister.
"Just, don't think he's had much experience there." Rick sighs, "I mean, I don't know if he even knows how deep he's already in."
"Can't say he's not there too. He might not know it yet, but he's worse off than she is."
Her phone vibrates when they're saying goodnight. It's just after ten but feels later.
still there? hes sleeping
We're leaving now, meet me at my place?
k