Wrong About You

Chapter 14

Beth-

I had heard the whispers and seen the looks on their faces when I gave one last push.

They rushed around in the cell but didn't speak directly to me.

I didn't hear the baby cryin' and that worried me.

It wasn't until Maggie knelt down next to me that I knew somethin' was actually wrong.

"It's a girl, Bethie," she cried.

"Let...let me see her," I whispered nervously.

Maggie looked up to Carol, Sasha and the doctor. They all shook their heads.

"That's not a good idea, Bethie," Maggie told me, "you don't need to see her."

I sat up as best I could, "What's wrong? I want to see my daughter!"

I felt Maggie's hand shakin' as she touched mine. "Bethie, she's...she's gone."

"What do you mean 'gone'? Let me see her!"

Everyone stood there and stared at me as I began to panic.

Maggie moved so the doctor could take her place at my side. "Beth," he spoke calmly, "if we let you see her, that's how you'll remember her. Do you really want that?"

Not trusting myself to speak, I shook my head vigorously.

He nodded and moved away so Carol could place her in my arms.

Lookin' down at her as tears filled my eyes, I knew I'd made a mistake by not lovin' her.

I couldn't hold back the tears. I held her to me and closed my eyes.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered to her.

It wasn't long before I heard daddy, Daryl and Rick outside the cell.

Daryl-

I wanted ta go ta Beth when tha doctor told us 'bout tha baby.

I needed ta see for myself but when I tried ta go into 'er cell, someone held me back.

"C'mon baby brother, ya don't need ta see that," Merle told me.

"Fuck off, Merle!"

He tried ta pull me away from tha cell an' I let 'im at first. I didn't wanna believe it but Beth's cries fillin' my ears told me somethin' was wrong.

I watched everyone, prayin' it was a mistake but their actions told me it wasn't.

Maggie was cryin' on Glenn's shoulder, Tyreese had 'is arms 'round Sasha an' Carol as they cried, Hershel was sittin' in a chair with 'is head in 'is hands; an' Rick was against tha wall holdin' Asskicker as tight as he could.

The doctor put 'is hand on Hershel's shoulder, "We made sure she wouldn't turn so Beth wouldn't have to see that." Hershel kept 'is head in 'is hands an' nodded.

Merle had stopped pullin' my arm an' jus' stood there next ta me with 'is head hangin'. He patted my back then squeezed my shoulder.

"Maybe ya should go see 'em," he told me. I looked at 'im an' saw tha look on 'is face. It was one I'd never seen 'fore.

That's when it hit me. She's really gone.

I fell ta my knees an' cried like a lil' bitch.

Rick-

I clung to Judith and tried not to cry as everyone gathered around Beth's cell but I did anyway.

We could all hear her cryin'. It was a sound I'll never be able to forget.

I held Judith just a little bit tighter and watched everyone.

The baby really is gone.

We all watched Merle help Daryl up off the floor and help him to the cell.

Beth-

I kept the baby as close to me as possible and held her so I could put my forehead on hers.

I never stopped cryin', even when I saw my tears fall onto her face.

The only time I looked away from her was when Daryl staggered into the cell and climbed onto the bed with me.

I looked back at the baby. How could I have ever hated her?

Daryl reached out and ran his finger over her face then he grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

I felt him rest his head on my shoulder and his tears fell onto my skin.

I started rockin' her back and forth.

I could hear everyone cryin' and talkin' but I couldn't make out what they were sayin'.

Daryl and I stayed in the same position for what seemed like a few hours until the doctor, Sasha and Carol came back in.

Daryl-

Sasha stood at tha foot of tha bed while tha doctor an' Carol moved closer ta Beth an' tha baby.

Tha doctor reached for tha baby but Beth jerked 'er arms away.

"No," she screamed at 'im.

He moved so Carol could try to get tha baby.

"Bethie," Carol wiped 'er own tears away, "sweetie, we need to take her now. You need to get cleaned up and rest."

Beth shook 'er head 'no' an' when Carol reached down an' pulled tha baby away from 'er, she started screamin' an' cryin' worse than she had been.

"No! No, please don't take her! Please! No!"

They hurried out of tha cell with tha baby an' Beth jumped up.

I tried ta keep 'er from goin' after 'em but she did anyway an' I followed 'er.

"No! Please don't take her," she cried.

Merle grabbed 'er as she hit tha floor. I couldn't move from tha doorway as I listened to 'er an' watched ever'one starin' at 'er.

"No! No! No!" Beth cried.

Ever'one was silent 'cept fer Beth an' tha doctor.

He walked over to 'er an' asked Merle ta keep 'er still while he gave 'er a sedative.

Beth continued screamin', even as Merle picked 'er up an' brought 'er back ta tha cell.

It didn't take long for tha drugs ta work on 'er.

Slowly we all left tha cell block an' went inta tha common room where we all sat in silence for a good four hours.

Carl took Asskicker from Rick an' hugged 'er tightly 'fore he passed 'er on ta someone else.

I saw 'im pick up a hammer an' a couple small pieces of wood but no one else seemed ta notice it.

I was still in shock as I watched 'im hammer tha pieces together ta make a cross.

"She got a name?" Carl asked, gettin' ever'one's attention. He'd found some paint an' had it waitin'.

I rubbed my face an' let myself cry again.

We'd never even talked 'bout names 'cause I was too busy bein' pissed off at 'er an' Rick.

There was so much we didn't do an' now there was so much more we'd never get tha chance ta do with our baby girl. All 'cause I was bein' a dick an' wouldn't let myself be 'round 'er.

Carl jus' sat there an' waited for an answer that I couldn't give 'im yet.

"Beth may hate me for sayin' this," Maggie started, "but her favorite girls name is Hannah. She's always loved that name."

I looked over at Carl, "that's 'er name."

We all watched as he painted tha name 'Hannah' onto tha cross.