A/N Thank you all so much for the nice notes, follows, faves and reviews, you're the greatest!
Daryl and Beth were both anxious to see Merle so even though everyone was exhausted, except Tommy, they got an early start. Beth felt that she was imposing on Michonne, but Michonne assured her that she was looking forward to visiting with the little boy and that everything would be just fine.
When they arrived in Merle's room he still had not awakened. A nurse came in and asked if they were relatives of the patient, only immediate family were allowed to visit, apparently the night nurse was far less strict. Beth was scared she'd have to leave and wouldn't be able to see Merle again, but Daryl quickly answered, "I'm his brother, Daryl Dixon and this is his wife, Beth Dixon." When she'd left the room Beth said, "Thank you Daryl, I was so afraid they'd keep me from seeing Merle." "Well it's close enough ta the truth for me," he shrugged.
Daryl talked to the doctor and it was explained that when the engine hit Merle it broke several ribs and his right arm, he had serious contusions over his entire chest, abdomen and back, he'd had some internal bleeding but the doctor felt they were able to stem that in the surgery; Merle suffered a large cut to the back of his head when he fell, which required 30 stitches, there was some swelling of the brain and they were keeping a close eye on that. He told Daryl that barring complications, they were expecting Merle to make a full recovery but that it would take a few weeks for everything to heal, and that for the first two weeks or so there would be quite a bit of pain. The fact that he was young and strong would be a benefit to his recovery.
The doctor left and when Daryl turned to talk to Beth she had her head on Merle's shoulder and was crying hard. He was confused, "The doctor said he should make a full recovery, why're ya crying?" "He said Merle was going to be in pain. That breaks my heart," she whispered.
"I'ma tell ya sumthin' Beth, I don't like the idea a Merle bein' in pain either, but he's the toughest son of a bitch I know and he can take it, I know he can. What worries me more is, how we're gonna keep him down once he wakes up," he shook his head.
After an hour or so of sitting with Merle, Daryl thought it best to get Beth home, "Ain't gonna do ya no good ta sit here all day, you'd be better off keepin' busy at home. And I need ta stop and get some groceries and such for Michonne, maybe you can help me with that. I always manage ta screw up and get the wrong thing," he smiled.
When they got back to the small apartment Michonne and Tommy were sitting at the small dinette, she immediately rose and went to Daryl, he put his arms around her, said, "Missed ya woman," and she just smiled. Beth would soon discover this was their standard greeting.
Daryl stated, "I'ma just help put this stuff away, then I'm takin' my nephew out ta help me work in that garden, I don't want Merle kickin' my ass cuz it ain't been tended," he smiled at Michonne. Beth's heart was happy, they were so accepting of her and Tommy.
Beth saw that Michonne had been teaching Tommy his letters and she asked the woman, "Did Tommy learn these?" Michonne smiled at her, "Well he didn't learn them all, but he did well, it takes a while and he's only three, but he's plenty smart." "I'm not very good with schoolwork, I didn't go to school for long," Beth looked down as she said it.
Michonne just asked, "How far did you get in school?" "I went for part of sixth grade but that was all, and for a year before that I didn't go much" she still wouldn't look up. Michonne put an arm around Beth's shoulders, "You know Beth, my Mother and Father never attended school at all, it was not uncommon in the Negro community to be denied an education. The preacher at the Southside Baptist Church taught them to read using the bible. They didn't read well, but they got by. If you got to sixth grade you have a good foundation, I can help you with your reading if you'd like."
Beth looked at the woman and smiled broadly, "Really, can you help me with my writing too? I get so embarrassed when I have to write something down for Merle. He never says anything, but I know my words aren't right and my writing is hard to read."
"I would feel honored to help you Beth. I've taught a lot of young people like yourself, although you'll be only my second white student," she smiled.
"Is that your job Michonne, are you a teacher?" Beth inquired. "No, I'm a lawyer and work with the NAACP." "What does that mean," Beth asked. "It's the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. It's a civil rights organization. I write arguments for them. I have a lot of my work here with me that I'm reviewing, and a small portable typewriter, so I can at least try to keep my work up while we're here."
"Arguments? How do you write an argument?" now Beth was confused.
"Well in simple terms, and lawyers never like to make anything simple," she laughed, "it's a clear set of reasons supporting a point of view; either for or against a matter under discussion or dispute, does that make any sense?"
"A little, but I'm not smart like you Michonne," Beth's cheeks were suddenly pink. "Oh nonsense, you're every bit as smart as me, probably far smarter. The difference between you and I is I have a formal education, but that doesn't mean I'm smarter than you it means I'm more educated than you. I know lots of very well educated people who have a genuine lack of intelligence," and now she laughed. "I'll tell you what, let's all have some lunch, I assume Tommy will lay down for a nap after that, and you and Daryl can start your lesson, Daryl is my other white student; and yes, Daryl needs a bit of help with his reading as well, and he's one of the smartest people I've ever known," she had such a beautiful and genuine smile, it put Beth at ease.
Daryl and Beth returned to the hospital that evening, and there was still no change with Merle, he remained asleep. It made Beth uneasy, but Daryl continued to reassure her that it was probably better that Merle was "out", he wasn't trying to get up out of bed, or breaking open any stitches.
The following morning was the same routine, followed by lunch and lessons with Michonne. Beth was not only enjoying the lessons, she enjoyed being with Daryl and Michonne, they had such a sweet and subtle way of showing their love for one another, and they were both so good to her and Tommy.
Late that afternoon she and Daryl were back in Merle's room. Beth was leaning over the bed softly stroking Merle's hair when his eyes opened. "Beth," he said so quietly she might have missed it if she weren't right there. "Yes it's me Merle, I'm so glad you're awake." Daryl watched the interaction and just smiled.
"Where am I?" he asked her. "There was an accident at the shop Merle, you were hurt, you're in the hospital," she told him quietly. But he immediately tried to get up, "Well I ain't stayin' in no hospital, I got things ta do." That's when Daryl made a move toward the bed, but he stopped when Beth said, "Merle Dixon you lay back down in that bed right now and don't you dare try to get up again until the doctor says you can. You're hurt and I want you to heal up and come home so you can marry me like you promised." Daryl was actually laughing a little as he said, "Big brother ya got ya a good one right there."
Merle glanced over and saw his brother for the first time, "Baby brother, what're ya doin' here?" Daryl walked over by the bed and half smiled, "someone's gotta take care a your family and your business while you're layin' around here like ya got nuthin' else ta do."
Merle was weak, but he asked a million questions about what had happened, what was going on, how Beth and Tommy were doing, how was Michonne. They answered his questions, and Daryl told him he'd closed the shop down for two days, but he'd be opening back up in the morning and not to worry he, the guys and Tara had it all under control.
Beth told him excitedly, "Michonne is helping me with my reading and my writing Merle. She's the best teacher in the world and so nice and so beautiful." Merle smiled, but Daryl was beaming and said, "I can't argue with that, luckiest day a my life when I met that woman."
Merle's doctor and a nurse came in the room then and checked him over thoroughly. The doctor told them all he was pleased with Merle's progress, and that the next day they would begin getting him out of bed and having him sit up for a few hours every day. Beth got worried but the doctor reassured her that it was best to not let him just lay in bed, he could get bed sores and his lungs could fill with fluid.
By the time the doctor and nurse left Merle was exhausted again and could barely keep his eyes open, Daryl told him, "I'ma take Beth home now Merle. She's had a big day, you've had a big day and ya both need yer rest. We'll be back in the mornin' after breakfast." "Thanks baby brother, for everythin'," Merle gave him an intense look, and Daryl responded, "You're my brother Merle, ain't anything I wouldn't do ta help ya out. You got a fine woman here and a nice boy at home, I'll be lookin' out for 'em."
Beth leaned over and gave Merle a soft kiss on the lips, he looked at her and said, "I love ya Lil Darlin'ya get that dress made cuz I'ma heal up fast and marry ya as soon as I can." She smiled and said, "I love you so much Merle."
For the next ten days they settled in a routine of Daryl and Beth leaving early to visit Merle, Daryl taking Beth back to the house, and then going to the shop. After the shop closed he'd go back to the house, he, Michonne, Beth and Tommy would eat in the apartment, and then he and Beth would go back to the hospital.
Michonne had taught Tommy to call her Auntie, and they had become fast friends. He could nearly recite the alphabet, just a few stumbles, and he could count from one to ten. Beth was feeling more and more confident about her own reading and writing. Michonne suggested she get a library card and had given her a list of books she thought Beth would enjoy, as well as a few she suggested for Tommy. Beth made plans with Lori to visit the library that afternoon.
One day Beth asked Michonne how she and Daryl managed to live as man and wife in North Carolina since their laws were similar to Georgia's. Michonne laughed softly, "My husband is a solitary man by nature he doesn't care to be around a lot of people, he loves to wander around in the woods by himself, hunting, fishing or just enjoying the solitude. Before we were ever married he bought several acres of land in the forest. He built a comfortable two bedroom cabin, he had the well and septic dug, but he rigged up the generator that powers the place and did the construction himself. We're so far out we never see another human. We each keep a small place in Jacksonville to keep up appearances, but try to spend most of our time at the cabin, together."
"Well how did you get married if it's against the law?" Beth was curious. Michonne didn't mind answering her questions. She knew the young woman was innocent about so many things, "one Friday we took the train to New York City, of course Daryl was in one of the white only cars and I was in the colored car. Once in New York we were able to get a room together in the village, they're a little more accepting of things there, and we got married on that Monday, we came back to North Carolina the following Friday. It was our honeymoon trip," and then she laughed out loud, "as much as Daryl isn't comfortable with much about city life, every few months we go to New York where we can actually eat in a restaurant together, and he takes me to listen to music at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. It's not an easy way to have to live Beth, but Daryl and I love each other so we just make do."
Beth had tears in her eyes as she rose from her chair, went to Michonne and hugged her. "I'm so sorry Michonne, I don't know why people would be so mean to you and Daryl and not let you just be married if you love each other." Michonne smiled at her, "thank you sweetheart, you're a good person with a pure heart, but sadly, there are many people whose hearts have more hate and fear than love in them."
After two long weeks of Merle being in the hospital the doctor felt like it was safe for him to return home. Beth was excited but also nervous, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to "keep him down," and he had become cranky and restless from being cooped up.
She had moved her things from the master bedroom to the guest room, which was now Tommy's room. Daryl moved the small bed up from the apartment so Tommy and Beth would each have a bed. And then they went to the hospital to pick up Merle.
Although Merle was able to walk fine, he was still bruised and sore, his ribs were still wrapped and his right arm was in a cast. But now that he was going home his spirits were better, and he was happy he would be in his own home with Beth and Tommy, and his brother and sister in law just yards away.
That night, sometime around midnight, Beth went to the master bedroom and crawled in bed next to Merle, he stirred and turned to look at her, "Whatcha doin' Lil Darlin'?" "I couldn't sleep. I just can't stand to be away from you Merle, I'm so relieved you're finally home and I want to be near you," she told him softly. "Well I ain't complainin' darlin', I don't want ta be away from you either, cuddle up next ta me and give me your little hand ta hold," he said, his voice just above a whisper. And so they slept.
A/N It may be a couple days before the next update, work calls, but don't worry; I won't be gone long because, as I've told you before, this story has my heart, oh, and so do you. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing.