Wrong About You
Chapter 18
Rick-
I've been stayin' out of everyone's way, been giving Beth and Daryl space.
They've been spendin' more time together the past couple of days. I've had to sit by and watch them sit down by the graves and talk to the baby.
Sometimes, and I know I'm not the only one who has heard it, Beth sits in her cell and sings lullabies and talks to the baby. I don't know if that's her way of coping or if she's not there anymore.
Everything around the prison was quiet and still. That's how it usually is this time of night. The walkers haven't been too bad here lately but even through the snarls and moans, things seem peaceful.
When my watch was over, I made my way over to the graves and sat down beside Hannah's.
I sat there not sayin' anythin' but praying to God everythin' would get better somehow. Not for me but for everyone, Beth mostly.
Thunder crashed and lighting lit up the sky as a storm started to roll in. Maybe that's why the walkers have settled down a little.
Daryl-
Beth tossed an' turned most of tha night. All I could do was try ta calm 'er down but that wasn't workin' so I let 'er go through whatever this was.
I sat there watchin' 'er 'til it was time fer my watch shift.
I hate leavin' 'er but sometimes it's better ta not be 'round no one, 'specially her. Bein' up 'ere in tha guard tower gives me time ta think.
We've done talked shit over 'til there ain't nothin' left ta talk 'bout. I'm sick an' tired of all tha fightin'. I ain't told either one of 'em yet but I forgive 'em both fer what they did. It wouldn't have happened had I stayed. None of this would've happened, least not like this.
Maybe if I had stayed me an' Beth would be holdin' our baby girl right now, gettin' ta know 'er, watch 'er grow but that ain't ever gon' happen.
An' if it does happen fer her, it won't be with me.
I cain't go through this shit again. If it hurts this fuckin' bad ta lose a kid who probably wasn't mine, I don't wanna know what it'd be like ta lose one that is.
Rick-
I left the graves to go back inside only after I saw Daryl come out and make his way to the furthest tower.
It was almost too quiet inside, even with the thunder and lighting echoing off the walls.
No one was awake yet and I couldn't sleep so I stayed in the common room, in the dark.
I sat in there, listenin' to everythin' outside 'til I heard a noise comin' from inside the cell block. It sounded like Judith but as I passed by Beth's cell, I realized it was her.
I rubbed my eyes and raised my hand to knock on the bars when I heard her singin' through her tears. I eased the curtain that was over her door out of the way a little.
She was sittin' on the bed with a baby blanket in her arms.
I closed my eyes and the curtain and sat down against the wall outside of her cell and listened to her sing.
"Na na, na na na, na na I miss you, miss you so bad I don't forget you, oh it's so sad I hope you can hear me I remember it clearly
The day you slipped away Was the day I found it won't be the same Oh
Na na na na na na na
I didn't get around to kiss you Goodbye on the hand I wish that I could see you again I know that I can't
Oh I hope you can hear me cause I remember it clearly
The day you slipped away Was the day I found it won't be the same Oh
I had my wake up Won't you wake up I keep asking why And I can't take it It wasn't fake It happened, you passed by
Now you are gone, now you are gone There you go, there you go Somewhere I can't bring you back Now you are gone, now you are gone There you go, there you go, Somewhere you're not coming back
The day you slipped away Was the day I found it won't be the same no.. The day you slipped away Was the day that I found it won't be the same oh...
Na na, na na na, na na I miss you"
I wasn't sure when but sometime during the song the rain started comin' down.
It did nothin' to drown out everythin' that was goin' on in my head which is why I almost didn't see Beth runnin' out of her cell.
I didn't follow her out until I heard the door to the cell block slam shut. By the time I made it outside, she was almost to the graves, blanket in her hand.
When I made it to her, she was soaked and covered in mud. Even through the rain, anyone would've been able to see her tears.
"Beth," I knelt down next to her, "you need to come back inside. You'll get sick out here."
"I'm fine," she mumbled.
"No you're not. She's gone, Beth. You need to get inside and get over it."
I knew there was no getting over this but I didn't know what else to say.
She slapped me.
"How dare you tell me to get over it?! You didn't want her, Daryl didn't want her, I didn't want her. No one did," she yelled.
"You think I didn't want her?" I yelled back.
She hit me again, "you said you didn't! Daryl said it too! I know I sure as hell didn't!"
"I wanted her, Beth! I didn't think it was right though."
"If you wanted her, why didn't you say somethin'?"
"You and her both needed Daryl, not me. What we did ruined a lot of things. Sayin' I didn't want her was the only way to make things right! To let y'all be a family. That's why I didn't say anythin'."
"You son of a bitch! This is all your fault! I hate you," she screamed.
Daryl-
I could see Beth an' Rick from where I was. It looked like they were arguin' 'bout somethin'.
It hurt ta look away but I had ta do it.
I ain't given 'em a chance ta talk shit out together so I's lettin' 'em do it now.
I was sittin' against tha wall with my eyes closed when I heard a shot ring out.
A/N: the song used in this chapter is "Slipped Away" by Avril Lavigne.