Chapter Twenty-Eight
The early morning sun filtered through the partially open blinds and Beth groaned, turning away from them and pulling her comforter over her head. Her eyes opened slowly and she pulled the cover back just enough to see her alarm clock. It was seven thirty in the morning and the house was quiet. Unusually quiet.
"Daddy!" She gasped as realization hit and she threw herself out of bed, hurrying to the stairs and running down them faster than she ever had before.
"Daryl!" She cried out, her voice high pitched and panicked as she slid across the hardwood floors with socked feet, looking into the living room to find it empty, "Daryl!" She turned as the screen door by the kitchen slammed shut and rounded the corner, nearly colliding with Daryl.
"Whats wrong?" He asked as he gripped her shoulders and began checking her over, "Are you hurt?"
"We have to get to the hospital now." She begged as she reached up and gripped his shirt in two shaking hands.
"What happened, did Annette call? Did something change?"
"No...no phone call..." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, "We just need to go..."
"Hey, Beth, look at me." He tilted her head up and managed to make eye contact, "I promised you I would take you. Go get a shower an' we'll eat breakfast then go. I promise." She took another steady breath and nodded, thanking him quietly before turning towards the stairs. She took longer than she had originally planned but the hot spray relaxed her tense muscles and she couldn't find the will to shut the water off until it ran cold. She didn't bother blow drying her hair, just combed it back and put it in a single French braid down her back. She wrapped her large fluffy towel around herself and hurried to her room, Maisy following her and trying to lick the stray water drops off of her bare legs.
She pulled on the first outfit she could throw together, thankful it even matched and all but sprinted down the stairs and into the kitchen. She stopped and smiled, placing a hand on her chest as she watched Daryl scraping scrambled eggs onto two plates sitting on the kitchen island. She walked in and sat down on a barstool, Daryl looking up and feeling the burn in his cheeks as she looked over the food on the plates.
"It ain't nothin' special and fancy like you can make, but I figured it was better than a granola bar."
"Daryl." She reached across the counter and placed her hand over his, "It's perfect and so thoughtful. Thank you." His cheeks burned even brighter and he cleared his throat, escaping to the cabinets and pulling down a couple of Mason jars before filling them with milk and sitting back down. Beth nearly finished before Daryl, who was surprised the girl didn't choke on her food, and all but threw her dishes into the sink with a promise to rinse them later when they returned. He let Maisy out one more time and locked up the house, finding Beth already sitting in his truck waiting with her purse clutched in her lap.
"S'gonna storm today." Daryl said as he nodded towards the horizon, Beth following his gaze as the truck roared to life. Black clouds were off in the distance but she could tell they were slowly making their way towards them.
"I hadn't checked the forecast lately. I hope it won't be too bad."
"It's gettin' awful dark out." Maggie said as she looked out of the hospital window, watering the flowers that had been brought to Hershel's room by various friends and family members. Beth glanced up from where she was straightening up his growing collection of Get Well Soon cards, reminding herself to write down the names of everyone who had brought her father something so they could write thank you cards. The wind had started, trees swaying and debris scattering across the pavement.
"You girls make sure you get home before it picks up. Weatherman said it was gonna be bad." Hershel said groggily from his bed. Beth smiled and watched as Maggie walked over and kissed his cheek, patting his hand and chuckling softly.
"Don't you worry 'bout us, we'll be jus' fine." She reassured him just before Daryl, Glenn and Annette walked back into the room.
"It's about time for more pain meds and some rest. Why don't you all go get you some lunch from the cafeteria? My treat." Hershel said and motioned for his wallet, Glenn and Daryl shaking their heads.
"We'll get their lunch, Mr. Greene."
"Alright but Daryl? Can I speak with you alone first, son? The rest of ya go on ahead." Daryl nodded towards the others before moving to sit in the small arm chair next to the bed, looking up at the older man.
"How'ya been, son?"
"Been doin' alright, gettin' by." Daryl said and picked at a hole in the knee of his jeans. Hershel studied the young man, seeing the dark circles under two tired eyes. He stayed slumped over in his seat and kept messing with rips and runs in his clothing.
"When I get outta here I'm gonna need help back on the farm." Daryl glanced up in surprise, feeling a small lump in his throat, "You were the best farmhand I have ever had, Mr. Dixon. You were good for the farm and for my family. I wanna offer you your job back if you'll take it."
"Are you sure 'bout that?" He asked in shock and Hershel smiled and nodded. All the years of Merle belittling him and tearing him down ran through his head as he thought about the offer.
No. He couldn't take the job. He'd just hurt everyone again and leave. Plus, he was a no good Dixon, bad news and trouble wherever he went.
"Yes." He nearly croaked out. He was getting a second chance. Someone who knew him, who spent day and night with him, wanted him back. He wanted him back on his land, at his table, and with his family.
"Ask Beth for the key to the guest house whenever you're ready to move back in. I look forward to seein' you back on the farm, Daryl. Now go eat, I'm sure they're waitin' on you."
The wind whipped Beth's hair nearly out of her braid as soon as they stepped outside of the hospital. She let out a small shriek and covered her face from the dirt that was being kicked up. Daryl grabbed her free hand and pulled her behind him, telling her to protect her face and he would lead her to the truck. The sky was black now, making the afternoon seem like late evening.
"Let's get back to Maisy before this gets too bad." Beth said as Daryl steered the truck through the parking lot. The wind rocked the cab and he could feel the truck being pushed towards the side of the road as he made it off of the hospital grounds.
Large drops of rain began to splatter across the windshield, blurring his vision before he could flip the wipers on. Traffic was heavy and panicked as the storm picked up more speed, Daryl cursing under his breath as drivers cut each other off, slammed on breaks or swerved in both lanes overcorrecting from the push of the wind. He had never been so grateful to see the mailbox for the Greene house as he was now. He turned quickly onto the gravel road, the tail end of the truck skidding and Beth grabbing ahold of whatever she could find to steady herself.
"Sorry 'bout that." He answered and she let out a nervous laugh as she relaxed back into the seat. Lightning ripped across the sky, quickly followed by loud, ear splitting claps of thunder. They rushed into the house and Maisy ran out the door to relieve herself.
"Power's out!" Beth called from the living room, using her phone to light her path to a closet in the hall. Daryl let Maisy back in and found Beth emptying an arm load of candles onto the coffee table, pulling a book of matches out of her pocket.
"What do you usually do when the power goes out?" Daryl asked as Beth moved to the closet again and grabbed a small box.
"I'll call and report the outtage, then looks like board games from here." She answered with a grin as she pulled candle holders out of the box.
"Fun." Daryl said and began to help her light the candles, looking up and seeing her smile again at him, this time slow and sexy as the candle light flickered on her face. "Fun indeed..."
A/N: I cannot begin to explain how sorry I am that it has taken me so long to update! When I last updated I had found out I was pregnant with our first child and so it's been crazy since then! But I am the Mommy to a very happy and healthy eight month old baby boy! My mom has been doing well, and our laptops broke, I just recently got a tablet that has a document writer on it so I can update! I love you guys, thank you for your patience and for sticking around!