Brotherly Jealousy

Daryl was on his way to see Beth. He knew she was up, he'd heard Maggie talking about it with Glenn earlier. He'd been worried sick about her since she'd ended up in that damn bed after Shane went and opened that stupid fucking barn. He'd hated seeing her cry like that and when she'd just collapsed he'd been ready to kill Shane. He couldn't show any of his emotions though. No one knew about them. He wasn't even sure how it'd happened. Sometime after her daddy had fixed him up. He was headed to the barn where she'd be waiting for him. He hadn't expected to see her talking with Merle. He hid himself in the shadows, watching his brother. He loved his brother, but Merle was the last person he wanted talking to Beth.

"So you waitin' for someone sugar tits?" Merle asked.

Beth blushed a little and pulled her jacket closer, the cold feeling worse with Merle there. It wasn't that she was afraid of Merle, he just made her nervous. "I am," she answered.

"Who's that now?" He leaned a little closer. "It ain't that cop is it?"

"Rick?" Beth asked. She shook her head. "No, it's not Rick."

"Not Officer Friendly, the one with the crazy eyes."

Beth glared. "I'm not waiting for that monster," she growled out. Daryl smirked, that was his girl.

Merle chuckled, enjoying her reaction. "Calm down girly." He put one of his hands on the barn behind her, leaning over her. "So who is it then?" he asked.

"Merle." Daryl walked out of his hiding spot. He wasn't about to let his brother press up on his woman like that. "What are you doing?" he asked.

Merle looked over at Daryl but didn't move. "Just havin' a conversation with this little cutie." He smirked and looked at Beth. "Ain't that right sugar?"

Beth looked at Daryl, her eyes wide. "You're scarin' her. Get back to the tent. Dumbass." Merle huffed and headed back to the tent. Daryl waited until he was gone before he pulled Beth into him and kissed her. "You alright?" he asked.

She nodded her head. "I don't want to be afraid of him, he's your brother. He's just so…intimidating."

Daryl sighed and nodded. "Yeah, he can be." He leaned on the barn, holding her against him. "Think we're gonna have to tell the others. Only way to keep him away from ya."

She looked up at him. "Daddy's gonna kill you."

He shook his head. "Don't care. Not like you're underage or nothin'."

Beth nodded her head, resting her head against his chest. "Thank god for that." She sighed a little and looked up at him again. "Okay, we can tell 'em, but I don't think they're gonna be happy. Daddy's still mad at all of you for the barn."

Daryl looked down at her. "You still mad?" he asked.

She shook her head. "Not at you. Just Shane. He opened the barn; you did what you had to do, just like Glenn. Shane wouldn't have been able to kill them all." Daryl nodded his head and held her a little closer. As long as she wasn't mad at him.

The next morning he walked to the table. Merle was standing behind her, watching her, talking to her. The others were watching him like a hawk and he could see the look in Hershel and Maggie's eyes. They were going to kill Merle. Daryl walked over and pushed Merle out of the way, bent over the back of the chair and tipped her head back, kissing her in front of everyone.

"What the hell?"

"Daryl!"

"Boy, you're dead."

"Stupid redneck."

Daryl looked at everyone as he put his hands on Beth's shoulders and she stood up, getting between him and her family who had thrown their chairs back. "You're not touchin' him," she snapped. "Back off."

"Beth have you lost your mind?" Hershel demanded. "He's old enough to be your daddy."

"And you were old enough to be mom's when you married her." She glared and backed Daryl up a little bit, staying in front of him. "He's the only one who's given a damn. He didn't run off to get drunk or to have sex." He grabbed the plates of food that had been set aside for them and led Daryl up to her room. "That could have gone better," she muttered, closing the door.

They sat on her bed and ate, looking up when Merle walked in. "You two know how to make an exit," he commented.

"What do you want?" Daryl asked, getting up.

Merle put his hands up. "Easy Darlina. If you love her fine, god knows it's been forever since you had someone good for you." He sighed and ran a hand over his nearly bald head. "Look, just wanted to tell ya that I got your back. She's yours ya made that clear down stairs." He grinned a bit. "Dixons protect what's theirs."

Daryl nodded his head. "Thanks."