Hey y'all! Sorry this chapter took a bit to get out. It's been a rough couple of days! This isn't as long as I would have liked but unfortunately my time is limited at the moment. I will hopefully have more free time tomorrow and I should be able to get another (longer) chapter out! I'm glad to see some new reviews for this! I really, really, appreciate reviews guys! It makes me feel good to know that y'all like what I'm writing and want me to continue our story. I hope ya enjoy this next part!

Christ, it was ridiculous how slow time could pass sometimes. He shifted in his seat for what felt like the thousandth time and tried to get comfortable. It was no use. He wasn't getting any fucking sleep tonight. Not with the girl over there so close, yet so far away from him.

Fuck. He could still smell her on his fingers.

He had tried to focus on the plan for the morning, but his thoughts kept drifting back to her. He shouldn't have pleasured her. He fucking knew better, but he hadn't been able to help himself. She had been so fucking wet and turned on that he had almost busted his load in his pants like a fucking teenager. The worst part about the whole damn thing was that he still had to finish out his training with her. He still had to be around her, had to be reminded of how she looked when she came apart at the seams and how she tasted. The taste of her was burned onto his tongue.

She shifted in her sleep and he glanced at her. He had been harsh with her afterwards and she had turned from him. He hadn't missed the hurt in her eyes, but there wasn't anything he could do about that. Women were good at making faces and he wouldn't be swayed. It had been a one time deal that wouldn't be repeated. The only thing he had to worry about now was anyone else finding out. He didn't think she would say anything though. She wouldn't want anyone to know about what she had done. He almost felt guilty about it though. Almost. After all she had practically begged him for it, hadn't she? She had been the one to make the first move on him. If he hadn't have let his dick do his thinking for him, then he might not have kissed her earlier and maybe this wouldn't have happened. They could have just kept on going like they were and everything would have been fine.

She shifted again and moaned softly in her sleep and he sighed. At this rate, he would be better off to sit on top of the damn truck and keep watch all night. If she kept making noises like that, he wasn't going to be able to control himself. He laughed softly to himself. It never ceased to amaze him the situations he could get himself into.

Little did Merle Dixon know, that this girl might just be the one to break him.

Beth slowly came to consciousness as she realized someone was shaking her shoulder. She opened her eyes and blinked several times until she remembered she had slept in the truck. With Merle. She sat up and turned to look at him. He was staring at her expectantly. She stared back at him silently. She was still upset and hurt about what had happened between them.

"Get yer shit together girlie. Got a long walk ahead o' us," He said as he opened the truck door.

She nodded and shifted about in the seat to make sure that she had everything. The only thing she really had was her knife. Everything else they had with them, Merle had brought along. She turned the rearview mirror around so that she could see her reflection. She grimaced at the face that stared back at her. She could really use a shower. Even the cold showers at the prison were better than nothing. She ran her fingers through her hair and fixed it so that it didn't look quite so terrible. Taking a deep breath, she turned and found Merle staring at her.

"Is something wrong?" She asked.

He sucked his teeth, "Nope," He replied shortly.

She stared at him for a moment longer, her eyes narrowed. It was just fine with her if he wanted to act like that. Just fine. She wasn't going to pine away for Merle Dixon. She was worth more than that. She opened her truck door, muttering under her breath and cursing the man for all that he was worth where he couldn't hear her. That was exactly why she didn't see the walker until it was nearly on top of her, its rancid breath washing over her. She shrieked and heard Merle curse from the other side of the truck. The walker wrapped its grotesque fingers around her wrist and with her other hand she grabbed for her knife. Without thinking, she reared back and slammed her knife down onto the head with so much force that she was showered with bits of blood and flesh. The walker fell forward and she pulled her knife out, shoving the body off of her hurriedly. It fell out of the way to reveal Merle standing just behind it an expression of almost admiration on his face. For a moment she forgot her anger at him and she smiled. She hadn't choked. She had been so angry from stewing about Merle all night that she had just shifted all of that anger into bringing the walker down. Maybe that was how the others made it look so easy.

"Ya gonna stand there all day or we gonna start hoofin' it back ta tha prison?" Merle's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Her smile faded, her good mood ruined by his surliness, "Yes master," She mocked him, rolling her eyes. She gave him a two finger salute.

Something sparked in his gaze and she saw his jaw clench. The look he gave her should have sent her running, but instead it only made her want to throw herself at his mercy again. She wanted to feel his rough fingers stroke inside of her and his mouth on her breast.

What was wrong with her?

Luckily they only had to walk for about thirty minutes before they spotted one of their vehicles driving down the road. Initially, they had almost hopped over into the safety of the woods, but Merle had recognized the car as one of theirs. Maggie was driving and Daryl was riding passenger. Maggie screeched to a halt next to them and before Beth could even speak her sister was out of the car and in Merle's face.

"You son of a bitch! What the hell did you do to my sister?" Maggie cried.

Beth gaped at her before she realized how it must look from their end. She was covered in bits of walker and she was sure she looked near crazy. Daryl was quicker than her to respond though and he grabbed Maggie by the wrists, pulling her backwards.

"Easy Maggie. I'll take care o' this. Tend ta Beth," He said to her.

Maggie nodded, her eyes sending a silent challenge to Merle. Beth noticed that Merle's face was void of all expression though his shoulders had tensed considerably. She swallowed hard and took Maggie's hand, leading her away from Daryl and Merle, "I'm fine Sis," She said.

Maggie's expression softened when she looked at Beth, "What happened? We were going crazy with worry! We thought the Gov-," Maggie's voice choked off and Beth realized exactly what her sister must have been going through all night while they had been stuck out there.

Beth wrapped her arms around her sister and tried to soothe her, "The truck wouldn't start so we had to end up spending the night inside of it. I'm fine though. I promise," She insisted.

Maggie sniffed and Beth felt her nod against her shoulder. She pulled back then and sent a glare in Merle's direction, "That bastard try anything?" She whispered.

Beth shook her head. She would never tell her sister about what had happened between herself and Merle, "No. We just slept. Can we go though? I really want to clean up a little," Beth said. Maggie nodded and Beth glanced over to where Merle and Daryl were having a heated conversation on the side of the road. Merle's eyes drifted up to hers as if he could sense her gaze on him and then he looked back down at his brother. Daryl seemed to be doing most of the talking and from Merle's expression, it wasn't things that he wanted to hear.

Her sister opened up the rear door of the car, "Daryl we need to go. It's too open here," Maggie called.

Daryl turned back to them and nodded. He paused to say one more thing to Merle and then he climbed into the driver's seat of the car while Merle took the other seat. The drive back to the prison was silent and uneventful. The atmosphere in the car was one big bundle of tension and Beth was very relieved when they pulled up at the gate and Michonne was there to let them in. They were greeted by the others as they exited the car and Beth noticed that Daryl walked quickly over to talk to Rick. Rick's expression was a mixture of relief and suspicion, no doubt directed at Merle. Beth walked over to her Daddy and hugged him. She knew he had been worried and she hated when he worried.

"Bethie," He murmured against her shoulder.

"I'm fine Daddy. Just mechanical trouble is all," She explained.

He let out a deep sigh, "I imagined the worst."

She gave him a small smile, "You always do. I'm fine though. Promise," She stated. He nodded once and squeezed her hands in his. "I think I'm going to go and clean up a bit," She told him.

She escaped the crowd gratefully and headed to her cell, intent on making it to the showers as quick as possible. She didn't relish being covered in walker gore any longer than she had to be. She grabbed up some clean clothes from her pile and turned to exit the cell when she was stopped by Merle blocking her exit. As always his very presence filled the room, dominating the air around him. She hated to admit it, but the man excited her in a way that she had never had with Jimmy. She wanted more of him, but she didn't want him to know that. He entered the cell slowly and with purpose. She swallowed and stood her ground.

He stopped inches in front of her, "We're keepin' with tha same schedule fer trainin'. I expect ya ta be out there after ya shower an' ready ta go," He said.

She raised her chin defiantly, "And if I'm not?"

His eyes darkened and his voice lowered, "Don't make me come an' get ya."

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