Chapter 3
Beth laid across the floor, a blanket wrapped around her to fight that cold. Winter was steadily setting in, and the small grocery store looked like a godsend once all the rain hit. Two days worth of never relenting storms that kept them huddled inside. For those that had to venture out for one thing or another, it was with a sour face's and even crabbier attitudes. Today the weather seemed to be letting up, though there was still a chill in the air that drifted through the store, and Beth shivered even as she attempted to focus on the small medical book that her daddy given her. Ordering her to try and learn the different medications so that she would know what to look for when they went on runs.
Beth questioned him at first, not understanding why she would have to know this information when he subtly said, "I'm not going to be here forever, doodlebug. Someone's going to need to know this stuff."
Beth's frowned at that, her insides aching at the thought that one day this world would rip him away from her as well. It was the first time since she'd torn up the office that the want for a blade appeared inside her chest, and she did her best to temper it down. Keeping herself busy with reading any book, but the one shoved at her or helping Carol and Lorie with the mundane tasks of cleaning and cooking. Not much they could do to spruce the place up, not that any of them wanted to when they didn't even know how long they would be here.
Still, this day seemed to be even worse as she picked up the book to stare at the pages. Reminding herself again and again that he was right. That someone else besides him and Carol needed to know all this. She was just forcing herself to start reading when Carl came down the stairs holding what looked to be a game of monopoly.
"Where have you been?" Rick asked, staring at his son with a hard look in his eyes.
Carl just held up the board game and asked, "anyone wanna play?"
Beth jumped up, her hand flying into the air despite her father's glower. Maggie and Glenn joined in and soon they had the game setup and found themselves happily giggling along. Nostalgia taking over as Maggie and Beth reminisced about games with their brother and Glenn told them about games with his sister. Carl laughed with the rest of them, admitting that he and his family sometimes played on the weekend. Beth caught Lorie and Rick smiling at each other when Carl shared this information and she couldn't stop the smile spreading across her face. Feeling hope that they might just work out their quarrels before the worst happened.
Before they knew what was happening, they found themselves in the thick of it. Carl smiled like a Chesire cat as he bought yet another hotel to place on his properties while Glen groaned because he was only a few rows away from having to pay the boy. Beth laughed at him, stifling the sound when she received a slight glower from Daryl. The man sat in the corner, making his own arrows that would hopefully work. He mentioned that it was probably a waste of time, but at this point.
When she settled down, it was to look out the window to see that there was a break from the rain. The sight made her eyes go wide as she jumped from her seat, happily announcing, "Bathroom break" as she moved to grab her bat and head out.
The others followed her line of sight. Only a few people actually standing to join her. It was one of the downfalls of the grocery store. No running water, and with its permanency being questioned, nobody was going to bother fixing it. For now, the woods were their place to go and along with Beth, Maggie, Lorie and Carl made their way out. Lorie grumbling about the conditions while Maggie turned her head to Beth and rolled her eyes.
It wasn't any real hard feeling towards her. They liked Lorie, really they did and they took pity on her and her condition, but the constant groaning and complaining was getting to be a bit much. "It's natural," Carol explained when Lorie went through one of her episodes. Beth could imagine it being hard. No actual comforts to smooth the pregnancy along, no actual doctors or equipment to check on the baby's progress and no real food. It was just a long list of what if's and maybe's making Beth never want to have a child under these conditions.
As they made their way into the woods, they separated. Giving each other their own bits of privacy without actually going to far from one another. Beth's space was even more closed in as Maggie stood a few yards away and Lorie the same on the other end. By now they all knew what she did after the farm. What Daryl had to do to make her stop, didn't stop them from keeping an eye on her. So when she was sure both women weren't paying too much attention to her, she slipped a little further out. Just a few more feet before actually finding a spot.
Making herself go quickly without incident. It was when she was standing that she felt a set of cold, brittle fingers grab at her neck. She flinched, jumping as she brought the bat up to swing at the walker. Doing her best to ignore the gaping hole in the face, and focusing only on breaking it's grip. The rotted arm fell off, leaving the other arm to contend with as it continued coming at her. Beth kept swinging, doing her best to bring the bat down hard on the walker's head, but like last time she was only making small dents in its head, when she hit the head. Unlike the last one, this one kept moving. Making it harder for her to hit her target.
For the hundredth time she wished for something stronger than a bat, something that would actually penetrate the skull and not force her to pound on her would be attacker. Taking another step back, she stumbled on a log, loosing her footing and falling flat on her back as the thing came stumbling toward her, falling down on its knees so that it could grab at her legs. Beth cried, the sound echoing through the forest as she kicked and swung, doing her best to back away to stand and get a better hit.
Maggie came out of the clearing, her eyes taking in the scene and not hesitating to rush over and grab the walker's head, pulling it's teeth away from her and slamming her blade into its skull. Beth sagged with relief, her breathing coming in short gasps as she wiped at the tears on her face.
When she looked up, it was to see a relieved looking Maggie reaching down for her. The knife in her hand covered in walker blood before wiping it off and placing it back in its sheath. Beth took her hand, standing and turning to kick at the walker.
"Stupid," she snarled, slamming her boot onto the dead's shoulder. Feeling it give away under boot. "Stupid, stupid," she repeated, bringing her foot down on the things back and feeling it's brittle bones break. "Stupid."
Maggie pulled her back, her arms wrapping around Beth's shoulders as she said, "It's dead, Beth. You don't gotta worry about it anymore. I got it."
Beth shoved away from her sister, glowering at the woman as she snapped, "That's the problem." Before storming back to the grocery store. When she returned, she was a bit calmer. Her eyes still flaring however, when she looked over at the board game still set up on the table and then to the book on the floor. "Stupid," she muttered again as she headed over to the book and slam herself onto the floor.
She could feel the weight of the other's eyes on her. Each of them probably curious as to what happened. They weren't left wondering for long as Maggie strolled in, explaining to their father -in a not so quiet voice- what happened in the woods. When Beth dared to peek out from behind her book, it was to find Daryl staring at her. A quirk in his eyebrows as he listened to Maggie repeat for the hundredth time, "honestly Daddy, it's stupid for Beth to go out there without an adequate weapon. She's not strong enough to just knock one down."
Those words, if nothing else, pissed Beth even more. Enough that she grabbed her bag, book and bat and headed upstairs where she didn't have to hear her sister' argument. It was a stupid argument. One that she couldn't argue with. She'd never been the sporting type. Sure, she was raised on a farm and could ride horses and tend to the daily duties like the rest of them, but fighting wasn't her strongest suit. Never had to fight, was never taught how to fight properly and sure didn't know have the upper body strength to do any real damage to anyone.
Didn't mean she wanted it announced to the world. That she wanted every flaw laid bare for the world to inspect and decide rather or not she was fit for this world. Taking a deep breath, she focused on the book. Remembering her Daddy's words from the day before and doing what she could now to ensure she could survive without him.
xXx
Beth fumed about that incident the whole next day, taking resisdence inside the old office, turned her sister's room in the day light hours so that she didn't have to face the other's and the embarrassement of having to be saved, again. It made her skin crawl when she thought about it, but with the rain continuing to pour down there wasn't much she could do except study her father's book. The next night the rain turned into a slight dribble, only sliding across the windows until morning came and there was nothing but a slight dew. Beth found herself forced from the room that day, her father insisting on her listening to some old home rememedies. She conceded with a scowl on her face as she came into the room. Glad to see everyone going about their own business, though she still felt like their eyes were on her. Waiting for her to mess up. Do something stupid, yet again. She hated it, just sitting there in the open, feeling like she was being judged when really no one cared. So she was saved. They'd all been saved at one point or another. She had to remind herself of this. Keep telling herself this as she absently pinched her arm. Leaving a small trail of red spots along her forearm, only half listening to her father until a door opened.
"Greene!" Daryl hollered from across the room. At the moment all three Greenes sat in the room. Hershel sitting with Lorie and Carol, going over an old remedy for heart burn. Beth sitting near them, only half listening because she remembered her mother telling her the same thing years ago and Maggie and Glenn sitting with T-dog and Carl with a pile of cards between them.
Only one of them looked up to give him a curious glance as she noticed him standing with the back door open as he nodded for her to follow. The looked to be shining outside, and it was the first morning in days that there wasn't even a light sprinkle coming down from the sky. Even with the wind still blowing, it was warmer now and Beth thought the idea of going outside, away from the smell of bodies that currently swarmed the room, was more then appealing. Though Daryl's reasoning for signaling her out when he'd done his best not to say more then two words to her for the past few days made her wonder why.
Beth raised an eyebrow at him, her curiosity getting the better of her even as she looked to her father and Carol for permission to leave. Hershel merely glanced at Daryl and then her before nodding his approval. Beth stood, following Daryl out as she watched him stomp his way toward a small stump. The moment she stepped outside, she tilted her head back to look at the sun rising just over the small grocery store.
Recognizing how much of a godsend it was that they'd managed to find their way here before the storms hit. They'd been holed up in the store for nearly a week now. The thought that it wouldn't last forever going through their conversations over and over again, but Lorie looked to be relaxing here and with her getting further along in her pregnancy that was what mattered at the moment. That and there was food, shelter. Not to mention a few hunting cabins that Daryl, Glenn and T-dog managed to come across when they could venture out. It wasn't a horrible place to stay and they'd gotten comfortable. Sort of. They still did perimeter checks every so often throughout the day, and none of them really slept at night. The slightest sound sending the more alert of the group straight up in their makeshift beds.
Honestly, no one believed the place would last, but it was the closest thing to a home they had. It kept them out of the constant shifting weather and allowed them some piece to rest their heads.
"What's this?" she asked as she made her way over, looking from the stump to Daryl, who was holding the ax out to her. Beth raised an eyebrow at him, unsure if she should actually follow along with this motion or turn back inside. Somehow, she didn't think the second option would go over to well.
Taking the ax, she weighed it in her hand, doing her best to get the feel for it. She knew it would be nice to have a proper weapon again. One that could actually take down a walker and not just mutilate it even more. Still the ax felt heavy, out of balance to her and Beth found herself shaking her head and holding it back to Daryl.
"Daryl, you know I don't got any arm strength."
"I know, that's why you're going to be cuttin wood today." He motioned toward the small pile resting next to them before bending over to pick one up and sat it on the stump. He took a step back and waved for her to go. Beth looked from him to the wood one more time. Knowing full well this had to do with her encounter with a walker a few days ago. She hated herself then for not being able to take out one mezely walker. Hated her sister for having to come help her, though it wasn't Maggie's fault. She was just doing what any sister would do. Didn't stop her from fuming about it, or from locking herserlf inside that room until night fall when Rick reminded her that Lorie needed the bed. The idea of having a proper weapon again appealed to her more then Daryl would know, but still she stood before the wood pile, hesitant about swinging the thing.
"I might cut off a limb or somethin," she said, holding her arms out to emphasize her point.
Daryl shook his head, letting out a heavy puff as he grabbed her arm to pull her in front of him. "No ya won't, Just hold the ax like this." He pulled one of her arms up, using his other hand to position one of her hnds close to the top while settling the other one somewhere in the middle. Backing up, he took in her stance as Beth positioned herself in front of the wood, preparing herself to actually swing the ax by pulling it back when Daryl barked out, "feet wider, Greene."
Beth did as he said, moving her feet an inch or two before Daryl stepped forward to kick them out a few more inches. Beth twisted around to glare at him, earning at glare from him as he motioned for her to face forward. "There, now, bring the ax back over your shoulder. Look at your target and swing."
Beth looked at the wood, taking a deep breath before bringing the ax down. Like she thought, she missed, the ax landing on the stump, barely grazing a chip off the actual block of wood. Throwing her head back, she looked at Daryl with that 'I told you so' expression.
"You're thinkin too much," he said, turning her back around. "You're not solving algebra. You're choppin wood." He came back behind her, resting his hands over hers as he brought the ax down, showing her where she was going to hit before bringing the ax back and swinging it forward. Releasing at the last moment, so it was Beth's momentum that came down the wood. "There, see."
Beth looked at the barely split wood, then back at Daryl as he shouldered his crossbow. "Where ya goin?"
"Huntin. Just need somethin to cook the meat over when I return. So get choppin." He headed toward the forest, not bothering to give her a second glance as Beth watched his retreating figure. Thinking of how nice it would be have something else besides canned beans and fruit. The thought of actual food made her stomach rumbled and she forced herself not to day dream about the meat and focus on her job instead.
She didn't know how long he planned to be gone, but there was no doubt he would be upset to find that there wasn't any wood cut when he got back. With a sigh, she picked up the ax and swung back over her shoulder, attempting to cut the wood, even as she missed more than she actually hit. With each swing her arms hurt more and more until the pain radiated into her shoulders and into the top of her spine.
A couple of the others came out to see what she was doing, not really commenting on it, but watching as she continued working. When she did a good cut, or hit a piece of wood particularly hard, she'd smile and felt like going again. Until she felt the need to drop the ax, rotate her shoulders a bit, and wipe the sweat from her forehead. She couldn't deny that even with the weather growing colder, she'd managed to work up a sweat. Her shirt sticking to her skin through her jacket, and her hair clinging to the back of her neck. When she managed to build up a small little pile of split wood, Rick came out to look at the pile and then at her.
"Think that's more than enough," he said, squinting as he took the ax.
Beth let it go. "Ya sure?"
He nodded, motioning for her to head back inside where Hershel took up her hands to look at them. Beth hadn't even realized they'd gotten sore until he ran a finger across a red spot. "Goin to blister by tomorrow," he said, looking at his youngest. Beth pulled her hand away, shrugging as she looked back at him.
"Really?" she asked, looking back at her hands. Clenching them closed, she felt a slight twinge as the skin wrinkled together and she looked back at Hershel with a shrug. "Had worse," she muttered, giving him a small grin. Hershel patted her on the shoulder, moving over to Rick who was leaning back on the door. Beth was left to her own devices, finding herself drifting over to Maggie, who looked curiously at her.
"You really don't mind him makin you do that work?" she asked.
Beth shrugged, still running her palms together as she leaned her head back. "I'm sore, and I've managed to help the group, somewhat." Maggie shook her head, still unable to understand how Beth could enjoy that. Beth doubted that her sister would ever understand, or even accept it for that matter. So with a sigh, and a reassuring smile to calm her sister's nerves, she clapped a hand on Maggie's leg and said, "and it's going to help me build up my strength, so you don't always have to save me."
"I don't mind savin ya, Beth. You're my sister."
Beth shrugged, looking at her palms as she said, "I know, but you're not always going to be there."
xXx
Beth found herself cutting up the wood a couple days more after that. By the third day her hands were raw, and she barely managed to make her small pile without wanting to chunk the ax into the forest. When she returned inside, Hershel used some of the antibiotic on her hands and wrapped them up. Rick stepped forward a little while after that holding out a pair of gloves. "You might need'em if that's what you're going to be doin all day."
Beth took them graciously and slipped them into her bag, doing her best to ignore the glare from her sister. Maggie was pissed that her sister was wordlessly doing this. Didn't fully understand that it made Beth feel better. By the time she was finished cutting up the wood her body was too exhausted to feel the itching that would come. When she clenched her hands together that small bit of buzz was enough for her to walk around the grocery store like a normal person. She could feel real concern for Lorie as the woman lay against the wall. Her stomach steadily growing as her energy was slowly depleted.
There wasn't enough food to fully support a growing baby and its mother and they'd run out of what parental vitamins they found weeks ago. Now it was just hoping for the best. Praying that mother nature would do what it was intended to do, and the mother and child would both pull through.
That night Beth found herself staring up at the ceiling, her mind whirling as it recalled, in vivid detail, that night that plagued her. The one about her mother waking up after she first turned and lunging for her. The scream that echoed around the house until Shawn stepped in and took the bite. Closing her eyes, she attempted to push the images away. Not wanting to remember how it started. Didn't even want to think about how it started.
She was pulled from her memories by the sound of the back door opening, she looked over just in time to see a crossbow slung over a shoulder disappear out he door before it shut again. Looking in the other direction, she noted T-dog still on duty, his head slumped like he was sleeping. She didn't doubt it. Sighing, she stood and slipped out the back. Finding Daryl leaning against the store wall with a cigarette hanging from his lips. He hadn't lit it yet. Just letting it hang there as Beth cocked her head, brows furrowing as she asked, "where'd that come from?"
"A walker," he said, looking up at her. Beth nodded. Still somewhat surprised whenever she noticed some of guys, especially Daryl, digging through their pockets after he killed them. Just another reminder that most of these walkers died doing everyday things, being everyday people. Beth cringed at the thought, hating it even if it was the truth.
"Heard ya hurt yourself cuttin wood," he said, taking a step toward her.
Beth shook her head, holding her hands up for his inspection whenever he held he motioned for her to let him see. "Just busted the blisters from the first day. Nothing bad," she said, watching as he unwrapped the gauze and ran his hand over the sores. They were still red, though not the irritated red that they first were before Hershel put the antibiotic on them.
"Weren't supposed to go hurtin yourself." She could hear the growl in his voice. The frustration that this might of have been his fault and it twisted in her gut. Hating that he was blaming himself. She attempted to pull away, muttering something like, "It don't hurt as bad as it looks." The look on his face told her, he knew it was a down right lie and so she sat there, quietly letting him inspect her hands, twisting them this way and that before prodding it with his thumb. When she didn't say anything, he glued two narrowed eyes on her and she finally shrugged. Knowing there was no real reason behind letting her hands get that bad. "Guess we'll be puttin you back on light duty for a couple 'o' days."
Beth gaped at him, already beginning to say, "that's not fair. I'm finally feeling useful."
"You were useful before," he muttered, starting to wrap her hands back up.
Beth scowled at him. "Yeah, playing nursemaid to a dead woman is a real help."
Daryl released her, his hand moving fast enough that Beth couldn't react before she felt him pinching her side, his nails almost digging into her skin as he flashed her a hard stare. "Ow." Beth hissed, doing her best to keep the sound down as she attempted to pull away. Glaring up at him, she only met his own burning gaze before he yanked her arm back, continuing to wrap her hand with a bit more force than necessary, but she ignored it as she whispered. "It's the truth."
Again he reached down, pinching her harder this time on the hip and Beth yanked away from him. "Would you stop that."
"Ain't gonna lose anyone else," he muttered. There was a fierceness in his eyes. A determination to keep his word that shook Beth for a moment as they stared each other down. Rolling her eye to ease the tension building up in her, she stepped closer to him again so that he could tie off the last bandage.. "Whatever you say, Mr. Dixon."
Daryl tensed up this time, his own hands pausing for the briefest of moments before he finished up and dropped her hands, mumbling, "Don't call me that."
Beth narrowed her gaze at him. Her turn to wonder about the man standing in front of her. "Why not? You call me Greene."
"Because you are green," he said, finally lighting the cigarette. "Green as a bud on the first day of spring."
Beth cocked her head at him, her lips tightening as she mumbled, "I hate you."
He smirked, the wrinkles around his eyes actually crinkling. "I know," he muttered back, looking through the doorway, to the front of the building before looking around in the woods surrounding them. She realized he was thinking about leaving again. Was probably going to do so anyways before she walked out, and she gulped. Knowing full well that she'd have to go back inside where they were all cramped together with no where to hide from one another.
When he looked back at her, there was speculation in his gaze as he took another puff on his cigarette and released the smoke. "Come on, let's do a perimeter check."
Beth smiled at that, liking the idea of doing something for the group as they made their way out. Daryl stopped at the bottom of the stairs to look at her. "Where's that ax at?"
Beth motioned toward the wood pile, and the two of them walked over to the weapon. When it was firmly in her hand, she hissed for a moment, doing her best to keep herself from making any noise. Daryl heard, studying her for a moment before he pulled some gloves out of his pocket. They were covered in blood and guts, but Beth took. Doing her best to barely touch the outside of them as she slid them on.
When they covered her hands, she flexed them for a moment, getting them to move despite the waste still on them and then gripped her ax. Glad to see that it didn't feel half as bad with the bandages and gloves between her wounds and the wood. After that they set out. Beth is making sure to remain next to Daryl and as silent as possible not to alert anything. Walking further into the woods, Beth tried to mimic Daryl's movements. Doing her best to avoid stepping on leaves and twigs. Cringing every time she did. Still, she kept at it, much to the amusement of Daryl, who was keeping one eye on her and one eye on the woods around them. Leading them in a circle around their makeshift home.
A snarling noise caught their attention, pulling them both further into the woods until they came across a rather large walker caught in some foliage. Daryl held her back for a moment, looking it up and down before looking too Beth. His eyes turned to slits as they stared at each other. Beth held her breath, wondering what he was thinking and why he wasn't dealing with the walker. When he brought his cigarette back up for another puff he looked to have made up his mind.
"Take care of it," he mumbled, nodding toward the walker. Beth's eyes went wide, glancing from Daryl to study the walker. The man used to be big. With broad arms and wide shoulders. The sight of him and his peeling skin making her take a step back and give a questioning glare to Daryl before glancing back at the walker. Noting how he towered over her, and a lump formed in her throat as she shook her head.
"No way, he's twice my size."
"So," Daryl mumbled, walking up to her. He grabbed her ax, correcting the way she held it before turning to point at the walker steadily pushing himself through the bushes. Beth took another step back, her breathing becoming ragged as she used her eyes to plead with Daryl. Daryl noticed the panic rising up inside of her, dropped the cigarette he been smoking before stepping back to her side. Forcing her to focus on him and him alone as he said, "Just bring him down to your size. Take out his knees, or gut him." He pointed to each area in turn. "Once he's down, you know how to deal with him."
Beth nodded, assessing the walker in front of her as she took in a deep breath and raised her ax. She swung it down on the walker's leg, nearly falling over herself as she realized she underestimated how much strength it would take to cut clean through his leg. The walker toppled down, nearly landing on top of her as she tried to gain her balance. He landed with a thud, and as Beth righted herself, she brought her ax up over her head and swung down. Piercing the walker's skull clean in half.
The brain and blood already nothing more than a gooey mess that fell onto the forest floor, leaving a rotting stink that filled her nostrils and made her gag. Beth doubled over, her evening meal coming up to mingle with the blood and guts left over by the dead man. The sight and mixed smell made her gag again and more came up, forcing her to heave as she emptied everything. When she finished, she turned around, taking in deep breaths of fresh air. She looked up to see Daryl already searching the body, a victorious smirk spread across his face as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes. "Did good," he said, lighting it up.
Beth shook her head, a smile spread on her lips as she said, "I so, so hate you right now. You know that?"
He nodded his head, "Yeah, I know." Beth knelt over, rubbing the sweat off of her brow as Daryl stood next to her, clapping hand around her shoulders and pulling her back to the grocery store. "Come on, Greene, let's get you back to Daddy."
Thanks for all the comment and follows thus far. I'm glad to see that people are actually enjoying this story.