Beth couldn't believe her eyes, Daryl was standing there in the middle of the room, and she was sure for just a moment that he was some kind of ghostly specter or that she had officially gone insane. She squeezed her arms around her knees and blinked hard, he was still there staring at her through his dark hair. Daryl didn't look much different, his clothes a bit more tattered and his hair longer but he didn't look starved and he didn't have the look of desperation that everyone else in the room had. The others quickly surrounded him and his bag of goodies but Beth just rested her forehead on her knees, she was tired, too tired to deal with this, too tired to feel.

She must have dozed off because she woke with a start when someone nudged her shoulder, "Beth," her father smoothed the hair from her face, "Daryl is back and he brought food, Rick is back too, he said he found a place, we'll leave first thing in the morning. You need food, you'll need your strength." He smiled at her. Beth didn't look around, she didn't try to find Daryl, her heart felt heavy, she knew she should feel angry or betrayed but all she felt was sadness a deep heavy weight in her heart and stomach. She took the food and water from her father, mustering up an acceptable smile, "Thank you."

"Thank Daryl." Hershel answered. "He came right at the nick of time, we need every skilled person we can get if we're going to make that prison ours."

Beth had already tuned her father out, she was thinking of how the last time she felt this low it was Daryl that had helped lift her spirits. She had betrayed Jimmy time and time again because she thought what they had meant something, that it was special and for months she had mourned Daryl and not Jimmy but Jimmy really was dead and Daryl had just abandoned her. She ate her food mechanically nodding when she sensed she had to, she was grateful when a few minutes later Hershel left her to get some sleep. Beth curled up with her back to the room in her weakened exhausted state she was asleep immediately.

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Daryl watched Beth from across the room, Rick had roped him in to helping take a prison he'd found. The slim man locked him in with his piercing blue eyes, "It could be safe, this could be our chance. I need a safe place for Lori to have the baby."

Daryl looked the man up and down, Rick needed a safe place for his family and Daryl needed a safe place for Beth, so just like that he was part of the team.

"I'll help, but after I gotta find Merle. I ain't leavin' my brother behind."

Rick looked away letting out a deep breath. "We could use someone like you. We haven't been doing as well as you have on the food front."

"Merle's just as good as me, taught me, seems you may like havin' two of us."

"So you'd be comin' back?" Rick raised an eyebrow.

"Merle would have found Emily by now, once I find him ain't no reason he wouldn't want to come."

"Emily," Rick let out a laugh, "Well, alright. They are both welcomed if we can pull this off."

Daryl nodded, then went to settle himself in a corner of the room opposite of Beth. He couldn't get close to her, she was surrounded by her family. He wasn't sure what he had expected her reaction to be once she saw him, maybe he hadn't had time to expect anything but he was sure he would have expected something, anything. What he got was nothing, a big fat goose egg, she looked at him her eyes wide, she blinked then lowered her head to her knees and fell asleep.

He couldn't get close, not without alerting everyone that 35 year old Daryl Dixon was seeking out the, what 17? year old Beth Green, the innocent farmer's daughter, who was far less innocent since he came into her life.

The thing was that for once he wasn't just thinking with his dick, he wouldn't say he loved Beth, there hadn't been enough time for that, but he thought maybe he could if given the chance. He liked her and he respected her, if he could just explain that to her he thought maybe she would understand, Beth had an open heart and she wasn't petty. He hoped that with time she might understand that he was trying to do what was best for her, stealing her away from her family and taking her with him and Merle wouldn't have been good. He rubbed his face angrily, now he'd committed them to staying at that prison with the group, if he stayed he would sleep with Beth, he'd fuck her every chance he got and eventually they'd get caught, he'd come full circle.

He stared at her back as she slept, this time he'd have to talk, he'd explain the danger. She knew they wouldn't approve of him but she was still young and hopeful, he hated to rob her of that but in order to make things right with her he'd have to. She would have to make a decision, because when they found out he would have to leave and either she stayed with her family or she left with him.

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Beth awoke the next morning feeling slightly more energized and much more rested. She could hear voices all around her as people began getting up and packing their things. Rick was talking and she could hear a voice answer him, Daryl! It hadn't been a dream or a hallucination, Daryl was here, he was back and he wasn't dead, for a moment she was elated then a boulder fell into the pit of her stomach, he'd left her, in the middle of an attack he'd abandoned her. She squeezed her eyes shut, she couldn't start crying, not now.

"Beth."

Beth's eyes snapped open, Daryl was squatting right next to her. He glanced around nervously, most of the group was outside packing, but Rick and Carl were talking by the doorway. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a baggie full of jerky, he quickly shoved it down her pants. Beth jerked away from his touch but he held her still, with one last glance at Rick and Carl he leaned down and whispered.

"Be angry if ya want Beth, but eat that and don't share, don't even tell no one. I want to explain, I will explain, just let me help you now."

He squeezed her arm, "Daryl" it was Rick.

"Yeah, just makin' sure Beth's alrigh', she's lookin' pale."

Rick came over, "You ok Beth?"

"Yeah, just a little weak. The food helped." She glanced at Daryl unsure of why she was still covering for him.

"We'll rest soon." Rick patted her shoulder. Daryl stood and walked out with him giving her one last glance over his shoulder before he went out the door.

Once she was alone Beth took the baggie of food from pants she opened it up and took a small piece of jerky. Just one piece, she was so hungry, she'd take one piece and give the rest back, she'd make Daryl share it with the rest of the group. You could just tell everyone he gave you an extra baggie of food. Show him up for the liar he is. She was surprised at the hateful and bitter thought, she wouldn't do that, she wanted to hear his explanation, she was desperate for his explanation. You're so pathetic Beth. She sealed the bag and hid it in her jeans again.