Disclaimer: They belong to TWD and AMC, except for the OC's here, Fin, Luke and Chris are my creations.

Notes: I wasn't going to post this, until Wednesday's update; but I'm so freaked out by tonight's episode (HOLY HARPY) I need something to help me calm down! And I thought maybe you guys might too!

It's one thing to deal with cannibals after the group when you're the one writing the story and you know they're safe….it's completely different to have AMC in charge of what's for dinner… O_o

In other words going to start searching my laptop, and office for listening and bug devices.

Shout outs to all the readers, reviewers and Angelinaa for beta/awesome and helping me plot to kidnap Norman Reedus for our own giddy fun. Too bad she's outside the jurisdiction of the FBI and I might have them knocking on my door soon! hahaha.

I promise to be nice to him…. : D

Chapter Sixty-One

(Daryl's POV)

"Daryl," She says his name all soft and breathy.

But it's like nails on a chalkboard:

Wrong Voice

Wrong Girl

"What Beth?" He doesn't look up from his hands. He doesn't want to see those big blue eyes; always with that hopeful look… Hell can't she just leave him alone lately?

"I heard Fin, talking to Luke…"

His jaw clenches in agitation, fist closing over the auburn braided lock in his palm.

Big surprise.

Fin talks to Luke a lot.

Fin smiles at Luke a lot.

Laughs and touches Luke…

"Yeah, and?"

"It's just…sounds like Fin is going with them when they leave…I thought you know, that might help to know that…make it easier; you know…you won't have to deal with her anymore."

Fuck. His hands freeze, nearly drops the small braid in his hand onto the floor, it catches on the calloused pads of his fingers.

Well Hell. Of course she's gonna go with them…What the hell did he expect? Luke is Family. Chris grew up with her; obviously likes her….his insides twist and burn thinking about how his hug lingered in the lot; the way he stared at her grinning…

"Hell do I care?" He snarls. But he does care. He wishes to God he didn't.

"I'm sorry," She moves closer to him. He glances up at her wary.

She doesn't look sorry. He's not sure exactly what expression that is; but it sure as Hell aint Sorry.

"Yeah Whatever." His whole body tenses when she sits down next to him. Close enough that the edge of her thigh presses to his. He keeps his eyes firmly locked on his hands.

"I just thought you'd like to know, you know before they leave…maybe you could get even with her."

His head jerks up. "Hell you talking 'bout get Even?"

Why the fuck is she sitting so close? Leaning even closer…

He pulls back frowning hard.

"Beth what the Hell are you doin?"

"Well, it's obvious there's something going on with Chris and Fin…"

Something inside him snaps.

"Where the Hell did you hear that?!" He glares down at her….doesn't even remember standing up.

"Isn't it obvious Daryl? I mean come on, everyone knows she hurt you…I can see it." Her fingers wrap around his forearm when she stands up.

He steps back, glares down at her. "I don't know what the Hell you think this is Beth." He snarls. "But I'm not interested."

"Why not? I mean, she's just going to leave with them right? But I'm not. I'm here; I've been here; and you don't even see me."

Damn right he doesn't. Beth is like a naïve kid sister.

"Did she say when they were leaving?"

Beth stomps her foot, huffing. "I don't know, but she didn't say anything when she left before either."

No she didn't.

The fact still claws at him. She was back before he even had a chance to go look for her; would have followed her to that damn roof-stopped her if they hadn't just been fooling around in the God Damn target practice room before Carl came down the ladder.

He wasn't exactly in any shape to climb to the roof in front of everyone; not with a raging boner from her tight little ass pressed up against him.

He'd made it to the roof only to find she'd just left, nearly punched Rick's lights out for letting her go. He'd gone to get his truck keys arguing with Rick the whole time about going after her when she said she'd be back in an hour…they'd just made it to the truck cussing and swearing at each other when she'd come back.

No idea the Hell she'd just put him through…

Cheeks all flushed, eyes bright, grinning 'til he'd snarled at her to get her fucking ass inside.

He barely kept his shit together long enough for them to get downstairs, where they could at least pretend they had privacy.

While everyone else had scattered like frightened rabbits. He'd demanded to know what the Hell she thought she was doing, going out there alone like that; without him or Rick or Michonne even…

He spins away from Beth and whatever fucking game she's trying to play. He doesn't have time for this shit right now. He stalks back up the hallway toward the ladder, intent on finder her.

Their fight swirling through his head; replaying the same nasty hurtful words he's been torturing himself over for two and a half days now…

"It's just town Daryl! It's ten minutes away!"

"People Die in less time!" Why didn't she get that?

"I'm fine! I don't need a damn body guard!"

"You don't go out there alone!"

"You don't get to tell me what to do!"

"Somebody needs to if you're going to keep pulling stupid shit like that!"

"I was fine before you came along…"

"Oh really? What about Caleb? Huh? And Robert? Other people like that Damn Governor!? You just forget about them?!"

"Let go of me Daryl." His hands snapped back to his sides, away from her. They glared at each other for a long time.

"Who the Hell is Luke?" Rick said she mentioned him before she lit out like a bat outta Hell. His hands clenched at his sides, biting the inside of his cheek so hard he tasted blood.

She stared up at him finally opening her mouth to speak, but he cut her off…too angry to really hear what she might have to say.

"You never mentioned him before and now you go running off chasing smoke signals, for what?" Something ugly twisted in his gut; squeezing his chest.

"I think I deserve to know who else you've been fucking before they come knocking on our door!"

Her mouth dropped open while she sputtered at that, then she shoved him back so hard he stumbled.

"You Asshole!"

"Oh, I'm the asshole? What's that make you throwing your damn cat around?"

Her eyes flashed at him furious violent green, voice going quiet. "Fuck you, you don't know anything."

That stung far more than it should. Slamming home on every insecurity he fucking has. Twists the knife further in his chest so he snarls his next reply, spit the words out at her, wanting to hurt her...

"I know enough. Shoulda known you was just like all them other girls; aint nothing but a damn slut, lying bitch. "

She faltered back a step at that. Face crumpled for a split second before going completely blank. Just long enough to tear him wide open, clawing at his heart every time he thinks about it now.

"You're an idiot. Come find me when you figure out how to get your head out of your ass."

He had to use the rag from his back pocket to wrap around his knuckles; soak up the blood trying to drip down his fingers from his split skin after she walked away. Just left the smears of blood on the back wall of the hallway marking his fist's impact on the solid concrete wall.

The damn things still ache, especially clenched into a tight white knuckled fist as they are now. He might have cracked one or two of the bones in his hand…He should probably let Carol take a look at them since there's no way Fin will…

He stops abruptly. He can hear them both talking above him now; Luke and Fin.

Of course Luke is with her.

He growls. Keeps climbing thinking about what he's going to say to her…until he catches their words and stops cold, everything he wanted to say wiped from his mind listening to them fight: about him.

She's on the sofa with him; sitting so close her side is pressed against his. There's something in her hand, she presses it to the corner of her mouth…an ice pack he realizes.

Fucking Luke gave her a split lip.

Anger flushes through him burning down his spine clenching his hands into tight aching fists at his side. Never mind Luke's obvious black eye…he should know better than to fucking injure her. Hell is that dipshit thinking?!

"You could stay."

They both fall silent on the couch while Daryl fumes over that prospect.

Life with Luke always around…constantly touching her; Chris sparing with her with his God Damn wandering hands…his teeth grind painfully at the thought; hands clenching and unclenching rhythmically at his side. His feet shift on the floor.

"I could come back after this trip; but I have to finish this; and I don't know how long it will take."

She sighs, leans her head against Luke's shoulder. Obviously she doesn't want him to go.

Daryl's insides twist into a bigger knot.

"That bad huh?"

She nods. Luke hums with some thought he's not voicing, then shakes his head.

"I could go kick his ass you know."

What? Who the Hell are they talking about now? Is it Chris? Did he do something to upset her?

His jaw clenches mouth pulled into a heavy scowl.

She snorts, drawing his attention back to the conversation; away from his thoughts of skinning Chris alive…

"What is it about this guy? I mean; I never pegged you in a million years for the pissy bad-boy type."

Daryl freezes mid-inhale nearly choking. Oh. He realizes with a start.

They're still talking about him.

His eyes narrow.

Pfft. Like Luke could ever kick his ass.

Fuck all that fancy shit they were doing earlier. Daryl knows how to brawl, he'd knock Luke's Scrawny Punk-Ass out.

"He's not pissy." Fin pulls away from his shoulder, starts to defend him while Luke scoffs.

She scowls at him. "Yeah okay, well he isn't always pissy…He can be…really sweet."

Shit. It feels like his chest is expanding with too much air, tightening and lifting like a helium balloon.

"I think you deserve better."

Something inside him bursts. It's like getting kicked in the gut.

Pain slams into his stomach, seizes his heart in his chest squeezing the air back out of his lungs with a near silent gasp of anguish at what he already knows to be true…

Seraphim is scowling at Luke, ice pack no longer pressed to her face.

"It's none of your damn business, you don't even know him."

"I know Chris has been trying to get your attention for the last 6 years now; and you never even offered him the time of day! What the hell did this guy do that has you so wrapped up that he can treat you like shit and you don't even see it?"

He's not treating her like Shit! She told him to leave her alone, he was just trying to protect her; keep her safe…alive and by his side…how could that be wrong? And what the fuck is Luke's fucking hard-on for getting Chris with Fin?!

The ice pack drops from her hand into her lap as she crosses her arms over her chest in indignation.

"We had a fight; it happens, we'll get over it."

God he wants that…he just isn't sure how to make it happen.

"And I don't like Chris…like that."

Thank God.

"You might if you gave him half a chance."

They're both glaring at Luke now. Daryl growls arms crossing over his chest. If she isn't interested, she isn't fucking interested.

"Fabulous!" She leaps up, starts to pace in quick sweeping strides, turns back to glare down at Luke once more waving her arm into the air between them.

"This just never gets old, I'm not twelve years old God Damnit! You don't get to tell me what to do, or where to go, and you most certainly do not get to tell me who to date!"

He's starting to see where he went wrong.

Obviously this is a sore spot for her; being bossed around. Since the argument is against Luke, he completely agrees with her…he frowns.

They're getting kind of loud. No doubt everyone will be able to hear them if they keep this up. And they seem to be on a serious roll…

"Oh so you're dating the guy? How's that work exactly? Does he even speak in full sentences? Has he ever said he wants to be with you, that he loves you? You don't know the first God Damn thing about this guy! I hope your being careful at least!"

Love.

Fuck.

Is he in Love with her?

His head is reeling, his hands shake pressed against his thighs, palms sweating at the thought…he can't breathe suddenly; it feels like there's a truck sitting on his chest.

"Fuck you! What I'm doing isn't any of your damn business!"

"Oh, that's brilliant Finny! What the fuck are you thinking? That settles it, you're leaving with us when we go, because it's obvious to me you've got no idea what's actually going on here!"

Daryl's head snaps up with a snarl.

No fucking way is he taking her now. He doesn't get to tell her what to do, so Luke sure as Hell doesn't get to either!

"Oh and you do? News Flash Luke: You have a PhD in Chemistry that doesn't make you Doctor Love, Dumbass!"

Luke is up off the couch, throws his ice pack down, waving his arms at her. They're both beyond yelling, he's not certain they aren't about to come to blows. God knows in his family that's where this would be headed…his muscles tense ready to jump between them if need be, they're still so busy fighting neither of them has noticed him.

"I know a Hell of a lot more then you do, I'm a guy."

Judging by Seraphim's expression Luke might want to run.

She snorts, voice dropping to an ice cold snarl. "A Dick doesn't give you the right to dictate my life! You can shove your misogynistic-"

Luke cuts her off, talking over top of her.

"When was the last time you dated Finny? Oh wait, that's right you don't. Chris asked you out how many times?"

"-I told you: I Don't Like Chris!"

His lips pull up in a fierce grin; every part of him approves when she says that; and hearing her say it will never get old.

"Fine, you don't like Chris! But you also don't know the first damn thing about men; you're fucking clueless!"

Whoa. She's the least clueless person he's ever met in his whole damn life…

"Worse than that, you're gullible as shit! This isn't some romance novel!" He gets the sinking feeling that Luke is still talking about him…his insides twist with a wave of anxiety.

He's not good enough for her; he knows it; Luke knows it.

"What exactly do you think is going on here? You spend a few weeks with a guy and suddenly you're all but married to him?"

His eyes slip shut watching her face crumple with pain. How could he be so stupid? A cold sweat breaks across his back, prickling the skin at the back of his neck. Luke's next words strike him like hammer blows.

"He's not even speaking to you! That's pathetic Finny! What are you gonna do just follow him around like some pathetic looser until he gets you killed?"

Ouch. Luke is kicking him in the gut again, the agonizingly painful truth is so intense this time he has to lean forward; brace his hands against his knees trying to pull air into his lungs around the bile clawing its way up the back of his throat.

She's breathing so hard he can hear it even from here. His head jerks up, spine snapping vertical as a steel rod the second her sob reaches his ears.

Fuck. She's crying. She's crying because of him…his breath huffs out around the lump in his throat. Watching her fight back the tears, it's killing him…his chest aches just watching every hitched breath she fights to inhale.

She draws herself up, still all of five foot nothing, looking so delicate despite the fury on her face. Girl would fight to the death, of that he's certain.

"Screw you!" She turns to leave. But Luke is grabbing her wrist with one hand; jerks her back to face him. She cries out in pain and he almost darts across the room; ready to smash his fist into Luke's face until he's nothing but a bloody pulp for touching her so carelessly.

Until Luke's next words drain all the blood from his face, make him feel light headed, eyes wide.

"Just because somebody Fucks you doesn't mean they give a Shit about you."

She can't honestly think that…believe that…fuck.

There's a knife blade twisting in his chest, slowly carving out his heart; digging under his ribs and driving the air from his lungs in tight harsh panting rasps.

"Let go of me before I turn that black eye into a matching set."

God he loves her.

It pours through him like a liquid red hot lightning bolt.

The realization tightening his gut, knocking what little air is left in his lungs out in a strangled wheeze.

He fucking loves her.

He feels dizzy, and high and somehow grounded all at once.

Love. It's painful and intoxicatingly sweet and too many swirling thoughts to focus on at once, overwhelming him where he stands, frozen in the dark listening to Luke ruin him.

"I'm serious Fin. He doesn't give a God Damn about anything but a piece of ass, that's what you are to him; that's all you'll ever be. You're smarter than this; get your head out of your ass."

His hands clench into white knuckled fists that shake against his sides.

He Loves her… and Luke thinks he doesn't give a shit about her, is trying to fucking convince her of it too.

Luke couldn't be more wrong.

She's everything to him…she's the only God Damn thing he can think about anymore.

From the second he wakes up, through every fucking tedious second of the day; doesn't matter what he's doing, or where he is; part of him can't stop…has no earthly desire to even try.

He's become completely obsessed with her: her smell, her laugh; the scent of her hair…the feel of her skin sliding under his…his cock twitches in an instantaneous rush of desire to hold her again.

It's been too God Damn long since he touched her, held her close, claimed her as his… something in him can't get enough of that; roars with approval every time she gasps his name, hands clawing down his back marking him; arching with her release.

Fuck even touching her casually is like a damn drug; his fingers itch to do it whenever she's around; and even when she's not he thinks about it…he's never wanted to just reach out and touch someone before… brush her hair back from her face; grab her hand…Shit.

He's even guilty of something as asinine as painting her fingernails while she sleeps…just so he can use the excuse to touch her…stay by her side when there's other far more important things he should be doing…

Not that he'd admit that to anyone.

Fuck. It's true.

He is In Love with her…

One more thing he has no fucking clue how to tell her.

Luke is still holding her wrist, while they glare at each other. Daryl watches her hand clench into a fist.

"I'm Serious Luke. Let Go."

"You best do as she says before we have a bigger problem." He snarls it, every ounce of possessive fury inside him poured into the words.

Luke lets go, his hand drops limp to his side. He keeps glaring at her, ignoring Daryl presence completely...which is in all honesty probably the only thing stopping him from bashing in Luke's head right now.

"Think it over Finny. You know I'm right." He grabs the dropped ice pack from the sofa and leaves climbing up the ladder towards the rest of the group.

He's right about one thing, and only that.

But it's the worst of all of it…at least for him.

Because love her or not, there is no doubt in his mind that he doesn't deserve her.

She's so far beyond him… she's not just a fucking doctor, for Christ sake; she's brave and self-less, clever and smart, and heart-stoppingly-gorgeous and fuck it all: every bit of her is perfect.

While he's a nuthin but a worthless nobody.

Seraphim keeps staring at the wall, hasn't moved a muscle since he's announced his presence.

Shit, she's probably embarrassed as fuck. He could kick himself for being such a dumbass. He's always messing things up…she should go with Luke…somewhere he can't fuck up her life any more than he already has.

Shouldn't have said anything. He feels like he has to acknowledge what Luke said, he's just not sure how. He draws a tight breath into his lungs.

"He's right. You do deserve better."

She deserves so much better than anything he has to offer; which is next to nuthin.

Her sharp bitter laugh makes him jump, tightens the knot in his chest…she can't really find that's funny can she?

The idea that he doesn't deserve her?

His eyes burn, he's infinitely grateful for the darkness hiding him.

She's shaking her head suddenly while he's still trying to figure this out, tilting her head back to look at the ceiling for a few tense heartbeats that resonant louder than drum beats in his ears.

Her face is a perfect mask of calm when she spins to face him suddenly, before he knows what to say. She thrusts her arms out backing away from him while his heart sinks turned into a heavy lead weight in his chest.

"Well, I guess that's the least of my worries if all I am is a quick easy fuck."

The air hisses out from between his clenched teeth.

She can't honestly believe that…but she does, he can tell by the look on her face. She fucking believes it and he can't seem to get his useless tongue in his mouth to form the words to tell her she's wrong. He's too busy choking on the agony throbbing in his chest where his heart used to be, trying to coax enough air back into his lungs that he doesn't black out from the pain.

She spins back toward the ladder and leaves before he can stop her.

He has to lean his back against the solid wall and gasp for air, while his eyes water to the point that his nose runs and his chest is on fire. He slides to the floor, burying his face in his hands.

He's in love with her.

And he's fucked it all up so hard; he has no idea how to fix it.

Notes: Hang in there everyone!