A/N - I apologise for the delay in updating this story it wasn't my intention, and I can assure you it is still very much alive. I've had a busy summer and haven't been able to give it the attention it deserves. But I hope this chapter makes up for it.

I also wanted to say thank you SO much to all my loyal readers. You really do inspire me to keep going, and I am forever grateful for your input. I do have the basic storyline planned out for this, but it changes slightly all the time, so if anyone has any ideas/suggestions I would love to hear them. Either leave a review or PM me.

"Sheriff Grimes was up here again earlier, he wanted to make sure we were all taking the correct precautions, considering recent events," Hershel Greene said slowly and seriously. His wrinkled, pale blue eyes, flicked individually across the faces of his two daughters as they sat around the dinner table in the kitchen of their family farm.

"Now, I just want to make completely sure that you girls are being extra careful out there. No going out anywhere on your own, if you're stuck anywhere you call me, Glenn or Ottis - and no getting into any kind of conversations with strange men." The old man lectured, putting his fork down dramatically to stare at Beth and Maggie, fixing them with his full attention.

"Dad," Maggie rolled her eyes from where she was sat closely to Glenn.

"You might think I'm being overly protective, but you can't take any risks girls," he continued looking to Glenn for confirmation.

"It's okay Dad we won't do anything stupid," Beth smiled sweetly, reassuring her father. She knew herself and Maggie were both grown women now, but in their father's eyes they would always be his little girls. They were all he had now and he would do anything to protect them and keep them safe from harm.

"So, Rick came up here again so soon?" Maggie asked, changing the subject. "Any developments?"

"None that he chose to share with us," Hershel replied.

"I hope they catch this psychopath soon," Glenn spoke up from where he had been sat quietly next to Maggie at the Greene dinner table.

"Don't we all son," Hershel said slowly.

"Rick's a good man, he'll be doing everything in his power to find him," Maggie stated firmly.

"Best Sheriff this town's ever seen," Hershel agreed.

Hershel Greene had lived in the town his whole life, the farm having been passed down through generations of Greens. Rick Grimes was the first sheriff he had heard of that was completely by the book - not dirty, and not swayed by the promise of good liquor and beautiful woman either. He was an honest family man, sensible and headstrong, and Hershel trusted his judgement completely.

"Yeah," Maggie agreed with her father. "Him and Shane are both good guys. Not too sure about Deputy Dixon though. Lord knows why Rick took him on. He's so rude and unfriendly all the time, and aint he related to that redneck scumbag Merle Dixon too?"

Beth pushed her food around her plate with her fork. Feeling her heart rate suddenly speeding up at the mention of Daryl.

"You shouldn't be so quick to judge, Maggie. I'm sure Rick has his reasons for taking him on, and he doesn't seem all that bad to me. Even gave Bethy a ride into town the other night, didn't he?" Hershel said, turning to face his youngest daughter.

Beth nodded, feeling her cheeks flush pink as she noticed Glenn raising his eyebrows and Maggie's mouth opening slightly in shock.

"Yeah, he's actually not what you think once you talk to him, he's a decent guy," Beth found herself speaking up in defence of her secret crush and new friend, Daryl Dixon.

Maggie made a face, but before she could say anything further Beth's phone went off loudly. She pulled it out of her shorts pocket to see it was a withheld number.

"I should take this," she said hesitantly, looking to her father.

Hershel waved his hand at her indicating it was okay as he chewed on a mouthful of food.

…..

"Hello," Beth said tentatively, stepping into the quiet hall.

"That Beth?" A gruff male voice asked.

Beth felt an instant flutter rush through her as she recognised who it was.

"Yeah," she replied, biting down on her lower lip.

"It's umm..Daryl," he said, and Beth smiled that he finally seemed to have accepted that they were on first name terms now.

"Sorry to call so late," he said.

"It's fine," she was quick to respond. "I wasn't doing much," she added with a shy smile that she felt certain he would be able to detect over the phone.

"Right," he mumbled awkwardly, and Beth could tell he wasn't one for talking on the phone much.

There was a brief silence from the other end and Beth suddenly felt her stomach knotting as she started to wonder what the reason was for his late call.

"It's just I was reviewing your statement with Sheriff Grimes, and we thought it would be useful if we went back out to the same area that you saw Lizzie and that man. We might possibly find something there, or you could remember something else," he explained.

Beth nodded slowly as she replied, "Yes of course, I'm free now if you like."

"Best to wait until tomorrow and the natural light's better," he said. "I'll pick you up around midday?"

"Okay, I'll need to clear it with Andrea but I'm sure it will be fine," she replied.

"Okay, thanks."

There was another brief pause. Almost as if they were both reluctant for the conversation to end there, but didn't quite know what else to say.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow then," Daryl eventually said ending the conversation.

...

"You'll see who tomorrow?" Shane asked curiously, walking past Daryl's desk as Daryl hung up the phone to Beth. Shane had signed off, but made no secret of the fact he was about to head over to Bobs for a few beers and had been trying to persuade Daryl to join him.

Daryl glanced over at him through his long hair. They had all been working late again, working around the clock on the murder investigation. Although Shane hadn't appeared to have contributed anything particularly productive to it yet, except go out on a few 'investigations' of his own.

"Beth Greene," Daryl replied casually, putting his hand up to brush his hair away from his vision. "Going over her witness statement out in the woods where it happened."

"The blonde girl that was in here earlier?" Tara spoke up from where she had been eavesdropping at her desk.

Daryl nodded once, turning to see Tara's eye's lighting up. "I can come with you if you like?" She offered.

"Sorry, but I think you'll be needed here," Shane cut in, amused. "Best leave Daryl here to look after sweet, young Beth," he added with a cocky smirk.

Daryl just shook his head in response.

Shane walked over to the door and raising his eyebrows he added with a bigger smirk, "Warning you though, Dixon. If old Hershel Greene catches you fooling around with his daughter he'll have a shot gun to your back before you can even turn around."

"Relax Walsh, we aint all like you. Some of us actually gotta job to do around here," Daryl was quick to respond. The last thing he wanted was for rumours to get out about him and Beth.

The smirk quickly disappeared and Shane scowled slightly before his eyes narrowed and he shot Daryl a puzzled look.

Daryl knew Shane thought it was a little strange, his lack of involvement with women, considering the amount of bored housewives and damsels in distress they came across. But Daryl had never been any good with the opposite sex and women like that just didn't interest him.

The types he had used to come across in the days of following his older brother around did nothing for him either. They were usually bitching about something, with nasty looking fake nails and bright coloured lipstick, always expecting something from him and Merle, and good for only one thing if he was desperate. Then there were the types he used to admire from afar - the pretty, shy girls from nicer homes, that he knew were always out of his league, which made him mad and behave like a jerk.

So instead these days Daryl preferred his own company. It was simpler that way. Never letting anyone in or getting too close to anyone. Which also included casual encounters now too if he could help it. It just wasn't his thing.

"Haven't you got a wife and kid to get home to?" Tara interrupted, fixing Shane with an unimpressed stare.

The smirk from earlier had completely faded from Shane's face now, and was fully replaced with a fresh look of annoyance as he left the building in silence, not looking at either Tara or Daryl..

...

Hearing the door open, Beth looked up from her desk to see Daryl walking towards her in his uniform.

She flashed him a bright smile. Her blue eyes shining as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

His lips curled up into a sort of smile in return.

"Deputy Dixon," Andrea suddenly said appearing briskly out of her office. Her perfectly made up green eyes fixing on him as she flashed him a smile.

"Dr Grimes," he greeted, nodding in response to his bosses wife. "Was just wondering if I could borrow Beth here for a coupe of hours? It's important."

"Of course, borrow away," Andrea replied her eyes widening with amusement as her bright red lips smiled. "She's very helpful."

Daryl looked back to Beth to see her steady gaze on him, blinking those goddam beautiful blue eyes of hers that were starting to drive him crazy.

"Right," he mumbled, still watching as she stood up, shuffling a few pieces of paper on her desk.

"See you later, Andrea," Beth said, waving to her boss. "I won't be long."

"Take as long as you need, we can manage here, Michonne's in today," Andrea replied as Beth turned to walk out with Daryl.

...

Daryl held the door open for Beth as she climbed out of the passenger seat to his car. She turned to look at him and a shy smile played on her lips. His eyes drifted towards her legs, she was wearing trousers this time and he couldn't help but notice how they clung to her figure nicely. He glanced away and rubbed his hand over his face.

"This way," he jerked his head in the direction of the woods.

Beth nodded.

They walked along next to each other making their way through the woods at the back of Beth's family home. The same woods that all her life up until recently, she had felt completely safe in. Now though she couldn't help but feel a little more unsettled out here. Even in day light she wouldn't want to be out here alone. Daryl wasn't saying much, but she was glad he was there. With him she felt safe.

She opened her mouth to say something to him, before thinking better of it as they continued to walk deeper into the woods. Their feet crunching on the leaves carpeting the muddy ground beneath them, the only sound being the whispering of the trees around them. Beth glanced sideways to take a brief look at Daryl as he marched along beside her in silence. He looked serious and purposeful. She wondered what he was thinking, but she didn't dare ask.

"Was it down here?" he questioned as they took the path that led down to the small river running through the woods.

"Yeah," Beth responded, her soft blue eyes catching his for a second, before she blinked and looked away.

Coming to a steep slope, Daryl skidded down in seconds. Looking back with caution he saw Beth following him with ease. He was impressed. She was clearly a seasoned outdoors girl too, not quite as delicate as she looked.

"What?" Beth asked, noticing him fixing her with a look.

"No-nothing," he mumbled, averting her gaze and walking briskly on in the direction of the river.

"See anything?" She asked as she caught up to him, noticing him crouching down examining some marks on the ground.

"Someones been here recently," he muttered. Noticing there was more than one pair of prints. "These are new," he added, rubbing his chin. "Could be nothing, but I'll call it in and get someone down here from forensics to take a look."

"Right," she responded, watching him. "She hadn't known him before he was a sheriff's deputy, but it seemed weird somehow, hearing him talk like that."

He stood up, brushing the dirt from his trousers. A small thing he'd had to get used to, keeping his uniform in reasonably good condition.

"Need to see where they lead," he mumbled.

Beth felt an uneasy feeling hit her insides, studying Daryl's face. Something wasn't right.

They walked on.

"I need you to show me the exact spot you think you saw Lizzie," Daryl said, facing her.

Beth swallowed, her cheeks picking up a rosy tint with the intensity of his stare, through the edges of his long hair his eyes were so deep and expressive.

"Here," she said, stopping him. "She was stood right about here," she explained, noticing the bump in the river that she remembered Lizze had been staring at that day.

"Right," Daryl said interested, glancing around.

"She was looking at the water right here, as if she was mesmerised by it - and she had this rat crawling up her arm," Beth said, looking out at the babbling river in front of her re-enacting the scene in her head. 'What could Lizzie have been thinking? If only she'd paid her more attention!'

"There really isn't much more I can tell you," Beth said flatly, still gazing out in front of her.

"What about later? When you came back. Was it the same spot?"

"Yeah, she was still right here. But this time the man I mentioned was here too."

"Was he stood right next to her? Daryl asked, taking a step closer towards Beth, trying to get a clear mental image in his mind.

"Yeah, he was stood right about where you're stood now," Beth explained, biting down on her lip and trembling slightly, he was just inches from her, she could smell his cologne. "Maybe a little closer," she added quietly.

Daryl felt a tingle spread across him with the gentle softness to her voice, together with the closeness of her body. He looked into her eyes again, she was so damn pretty it was killing him.

He cleared his throat and took a few steps back, refocusing and glancing at the ground, "You remember anything else? Anything about their conversation?" He asked slowly.

Beth closed her eyes.

"Umm...I think he may have had something in his hand, it could have been a small plastic bag….possibly with pills in it or something. I'm not too sure. He was doing all the talking, it was like he was explaining something to her, or trying to persuade her of something. She was just staring at him - he was saying something like, 'You have to do this'..."

She paused, before adding, "I know it sounds weird saying all this now, but Lizzie was always doing weird things, it wasn't exactly unusual for her," her voice wobbled as she stopped talking, her eyes moistening with emotion.

"S'okay," Daryl said gently, witnessing her troubled expression and sensing her pain. "You weren't to know what was gonna happen," he reassured.

"Maggie always used to say they were a weird lot, the Sammuels family," Beth explained further, wiping at her eyes.

"You sure you hadn't seen the guy before," Daryl asked again just to be sure.

"No," Beth said firmly. "Never seen him before in my life."

"She lived in that direction," Daryl said, pointing to their right, "Come on, we'll head back that way."

…..

"You spend a lot of time outdoors growing up?" She asked curiously as they moved down the river a little and she noticed him examining more marks around them on the ground.

"Had to," he responded. "Tracking, hunting - being out here was all I knew," he muttered.

"Yeah," she replied. "Growing up, me and my friends used to come out here all the time over the summer, staying out till it was late and stuff."

She sighed.

"I just can't believe someone got murdered out here, it's horrible. Knowing someone bad was here. It used to be so safe."

"No-where's safe. There are bad people everywhere. You just need to know how to spot em," he said bluntly, frowning a little at her naivety.

"My Dad gave me and Maggie a lecture last night bout not going out around here alone and not talking to strange men," Beth said with a nervous laugh.

"Wise man, your father," Daryl responded with a straight-face.

"You tell him you were coming out here to do this?" he found himself asking.

"No - but this is fine. I'm with you. You're one of the good guys," she said with a bright smile, watching him to see that his eyes lit up a little, before he looked away embarrassed. She could tell he wasn't used to receiving compliments.

"Aint what most folk think," he muttered gruffly.

"Well they'd be wrong," she said, stopping as they reached the edge of the small river, to catch his eye and force him to look straight at her, the blueness of her gaze sparkling against the reflection of the water. They were unnervingly close. His eyes darted to her lips. Who was this strange beautiful girl that looked at him like she knew him - the real him?

Powerful rays of sun beamed down through the tree's above, hitting the water around them. Daryl didn't say anything in response to her last statement, he didn't know what to say. The sound of running water in the river had a relaxing, hypnotic quality, and in that moment they both wanted to stop and stay there, they just wanted time to stand still.

A sudden snapping of twigs from the trees behind them quickly brought them back to reality. They weren't alone. Within seconds Daryl had his gun raised.

"Stay there," he hissed to Beth, signalling with his hand for her to stay put.

Beth nodded, alarmed, her eyes widening as she watched him creep away from her, anxiety hitting her at the thought of who could be lurking.

With caution Daryl approached the direction the noise had come from, adrenaline building in his system. Whoever was there was silent, they had possibly been spying on him and Beth.

"Come out," he yelled. His gun still poised and ready for action, he wasn't about to take any chances. Not with Beth here.

Still there was no response as he stepped forwards, pulling back the thick branches to the tree in his vision.

"I said.." he cut off, coming face to face with a deer. It looked at him for a split second, frozen to the spot, before it darted off terrified into the distance.

"Was just a damn deer," Daryl exclaimed, rubbing his forehead with his gun, sensing Beth coming up behind him.

"Oh," Beth said, pressing herself closer in to his back to get a look at the wild animal in the distance. He smelled good. Manly and earthy with a hint of leather mixed in with his cologne, a scent she wanted to inhale more of.

"If I had my crossbow could have got a good shot from here," he muttered.

"You wouldn't shoot it, would you?" Beth questioned. "It looks so peaceful out here."

He turned to look back at her in bewilderment and shrugged. "Thats a weeks meals there." He shook his head, walking away from her, satisfied the immediate threat was now over.

"What?" She called out to him.

"Don't know much bout survival, do you girl?"

She raised an eyebrow with an unimpressed face. She knew by his standards she had led a sheltered life, but she still knew a thing or two about life in the outdoors. Perhaps she would surprise him one day.

"Know more than most, I've camped a lot, and I'm willing to learn more." Her face softened, "Perhaps you could teach me, Deputy Dixon," she added with a playful smile. "Teach me how to hunt and shoot and look after myself out here. Never know when I might need it."

She could tell by the slightly flustered expression appearing on his face, she had embarrassed him again as he marched on. His lips twitching into a faint smile, keeping his eyes directly in front of him.

The thought of camping out here with Beth should seem absurd to Daryl, but it didn't it actually excited him. Which confused him.

He looked back to her and he jerked his head. "Come on, lets get you back."

A/N - Thanks for reading! Please leave a review if you can :)