Welcome to Daryl's monologue. I swear that's all I get out when I write him, but enjoy.
Chapter Six
Daryl jerked awake, twisting so that he could turn and see what woke him up. A figure stood in the doorway. Tall and foreboding and for a moment Daryl forgot where and who he was as his blood went cold. His insides tensing, preparing for an attack as the figure stepped forward. He felt nine years old all over again, cowering in the corner of his room trying to stifle his cries cause he knew that would only make the lashing worse.
The old man's gray hair was the first thing he noticed as he stepped into the room, his hand raised to calm the younger man down from whatever fright he must have given him. Daryl's chest sank. The relief palpable as he laid his head back and closed his eyes. Thankful that it was just a momentary lapse until the small weight pressed against his side moved. A muffled whimper coming from the small blonde girl laying on his arm and Daryl froze again. Realization dawning on him of where he was, who was in bed with him and who the man standing in the doorway was.
He didn't know how long they were in that bed. Didn't really remember lying down to fall asleep, though he did remember staying to talk to Beth. Long after Maggie brought up whatever meat they decided to cook that night, and promptly leaving when it was obvious she wasn't needed at the moment. Slowly, Daryl pulled his arm out from under the girl, doing his best not to wake her as he turned over to sit on the side of the bed.
Already preparing himself for the lecture that was sure to come. How a sorry redneck like him shouldn't be curling up next to a small girl like that. And she was small. 'Too damn small,' Daryl thought as he caught another glimpse of her curled up on the bed. Recalling how her body fit against his side with her head easily tucked up underneath his chin. How small her hand was as it rested against chest, resting just under his own larger one. Couldn't stop the image of this same small girl taking an ax to the man at the river. A man a good head taller than her, with enough bulk to knock the wind out of someone like him. Recalled how it took both, him and Rick, to carry that man and the other through the woods to their burn pile.
There was a new found respect for the young girl still lying on the bed. Couldn't stop that feeling of pride well up in his chest when he looked at her, even as his heart ached for what she had to do. Knowing full well that the situation changed her, stained her a little. Even if she is stronger for it.
He glanced the old man standing in the corner of his eye, still staring at him as he stared at Beth. Daryl swallowed, scared to think of what the man was thinking, but preparing for the worse as he mumbled, "Hershel, man. I'm sorry." He kept his head down, barley able to look at the girl's father as he tensed at the man's intake of breath.
Hershel surprised him yet again as he chuckled, causing the younger man to look at him like he'd lost his mind as he said, "if carin about my little girl is wrong, then I guess I'm going to hell too."
Daryl smirked. Turning back to look at the small girl still lying asleep. Wondering when did he start caring about her. When it started to become obvious to the rest of the group. Running a hand over his face, he turned to the window, barely glimpsing the morning sky peaking through the curtains. It was dark and gray, and made it impossible to tell exactly what time it was, but he knew it was daylight as he rubbed at his face again.
"I was supposed to have watch last night," he said, turning to Hershel for an explanation.
The man shrugged. "You two were sleepin pretty hard. Looked like you need the night off."
Daryl scoffed at that, his head falling for a second before moving off the bed. Beth grumbled something and rolled over, pulling the blanket over her head. Daryl looked at her and then at Hershel with a questioning stare.
"She's a light sleeper, just not a mornin person."
Daryl's neck heated up at that. The thought that she heard his grumbled apology and her father's words. Shaking off the odd sense of embarrassment coming over him, he shoved past Hershel, mumbling something that sounded like, "goin to do a perimeter check," before heading out the door. Not bothering to look back to see if the father or daughter were looking at him. He was already berating himself for drifting off with the girl in his arms. Hating it even more that he actually felt rested. That he actually had a full night's sleep and didn't wake up every few hours from one nightmare or another. Good lord, she was only sixteen. Six-fucking-teen, and somewhere in the back of his mind, he could hear Merle saying, "knew you liked that jail-bait ass."
"Good mornin, Pookie," Carol chimed the moment Daryl walked into the kitchen. He glowered at her, a quick "huh" leaving his lips as he stood next to her. "Should have woken me up for watch."
Carol shrugged. "There are others willing to do it. Looked like Beth needed you more."
Daryl shook his head, his frown deepening as it was dawning him that he needed to put some space between him and the girl. That people were getting too comfortable with the idea of them spending so much time together. 'She's only sixteen' he repeated as he looked at Carol, 'and I'm a thirty something dirty old redneck who shouldn't have any right to be around her like that.'
"What's for breakfast?" he barked, determined to steer the conversation elsewhere, hoping to get his mind off it for a little while. Carol held up a can of peaches and Daryl grimaced. "Should of fuckin known."
Pushing the can away, he made his way out of the kitchen as Carol hollered, "you need to eat."
"I'll find somethin," he threw over his shoulder, not looking back until he was outside and able to breath in the fresh air. Rick stood off to the side, resting his head on the porch like he was thinking or praying. Daryl couldn't decide which, so he hung back for a moment. Chewing on his nail until the man looked at him.
"Hey," he said, almost a whisper. Rick nodded in reply as he looked out at the ongoing forest. "How's Carl?"
Rick shook his head. "Fine. I guess."
Daryl nodded, coming to sit on the railing. Following Rick's gaze out to the woods. The two remained silent for a moment. The morning air blowing past them, causing goose bumps to rise on Daryl's neck as he thought he should have grabbed his jacket. Not that he was looking to head back inside to find it. He believed he left it in the room with Beth and there was that thing about needing space from the girl.
"It was a stupid move," Rick said, ripping Daryl from his thoughts as he looked to Daryl for confirmation. When he only received a blank stare he explained. "Letting our youngest go out there alone."
Daryl shrugged. "They handled it," he said, not looking at the man. Knowing he would take it as a disagreement. He didn't agree or disagree with the thought. He cursed himself for only letting Carl go out there with Beth. Knowing full well, anything could happen, but wanting to trust that she could take care of it. It was only to the creek. Not like they were heading into the next town. How were they supposed to know there were other people in the woods when the place been quiet for nearly two weeks. Not a sign of another living soul out there.
"Shouldn't of had to," Rick continued, leaning his head against the porch again. Daryl nodded at that. Agreeing with him on this statement at least as he thought about the way Carl just shut down, and the fear in Beth's eyes.
"Just need to be more cautious in the future," he said. Rick nodded, his eyes once again going to the forest and Daryl followed his gaze; trying to see what it was Rick was looking for. When the man looked to him again, he raised an eyebrow in question.
"Carl said the men had a camp with some friends there."
Daryl stiffened, his eyes meeting Rick's in the same knowing look. That if those two men were close enough to find Beth and Carl by the river, the others couldn't be that far off. Maybe even moving closer now; wondering where their buddies were. "Think we should look for it?" he asked, forcing himself to sound calm. The idea that more men like that were around unsettled him. Almost made him want to pack up and leave this place, but he waited to see what Rick wanted to do. Whatever the man decided he would go along with. Not like he had anything better to do with his time.
"Thinkin we moved those bodies far enough away, threw them on top of a pile of already dead corpses and lit the match. If they do happen to come across that and happen to recognize their buddies, they would have to back track..."
"And the rains comin again," Daryl finished for him, glancing up at the gray sky before looking back at Rick, who was nodding his head, a smile spread across his face. "Exactly."
They grew silent for a moment, both of them scanning over the forest before Rick said, "still wanna have an extra set of eyes out at night, and someone on watch throughout the day. No one goes out of these fences alone. Two, three people at a time, especially with those that don't fend for themselves as well. Carl and Beth the two most obvious." He counted off with his fingers to emphasize the people and Daryl nodded along.
Though he could argue that they took care of themselves quite well considering the circumstances. He didn't say anything, just chewed on his nail as he looked around the space. "Guess, I'll take first watch since you dumb asses let me sleep last night."
Rick smirked at him, shaking his head as he looked back at the house to see Lorie coming out with two cans of peaches in her hand. She handed one to Rick, and the other she held out to Daryl with a narrowed gaze.
"Carol said if you don't take'em, she's going to tie ya down and force feed ya."
Daryl snorted at that, mumbling "like to see her try" even as he took the can and stared at the fruit shoved inside. His face came up in a grimace again and he placed it on the railing.
Rick placed a hand on his shoulder to give it a quick squeeze before following his wife back inside. Daryl watched them until the screen door slammed closed and he was left alone. His thoughts wandering to the men that assaulted Beth and Carl and wondering how close they really were. Looking back at the door, he noticed a flash of blond beyond the screen door and decided to check the perimeter. Ensuring nothing was out of place. Allowing his thoughts to wander as he did so, and taking double the amount of time it would normally have taken by going over the space twice. Doing his best to rule out the event of someone his size, squeezing through the gaps. He knew they could jump the fence, could even cross the river if they really wanted to freeze. Hell the latch was still nothing but a piece of wood haphazardly thrown over it.
The place wasn't as fortified as it should be. They didn't even get a day's rest before a new threat was already popping up. Threatening his family, and their newly found home. With a heavy sigh, and the knowledge that all they could do was watch and wait, he headed back to the front porch.
Stopping momentarily when he noticed Beth leaning against the post, swirling the fork inside the can of peaches that he left on the railing. He watched for a moment, realizing that she must be thinking about something as she gazed at the can. After a minute, Beth looked up, looking directly at him as a smile spread across her face. Daryl met her gaze, taking the last few steps toward until he was standing a few inches from her.
"Sleep good?" he asked, clearing his throat the moment the words were out because he already knew the answer. The girl didn't move all night, barely made a sound when he swore he could hear her waking up every few hours every other night.
Beth shrugged, not bothering to answer him as she looked back at the food in the can and taking a bit. Daryl looked away, grateful that someone was eating the food. He was starting to feel guilty for letting the fruit go to waste because of his stubbornness. When she looked up, she must have noticed the glower on Daryl's face as he glanced at the peaches.
"I've tasted better," she said, giving a half grin as she looked back at the food. "Mama use to pick them straight from the trees and make some of the best peach cobblers. Won first place in the county fair one year because of her peach preserves. She loved peaches."
Her smile turned somewhat sad as she swirled the fruit around in the can. "These are nothing like her's, but when I take a bite I try to imagine they are and it makes them taste a little better."
Daryl's face softened as Beth looked up at him, her smile brightening just a bit more before she speared one on the fork and held it out to him. "Come on, give it a try."
Daryl shook his head, already turning away. Beth side stepped him, moving in front his path with the damn peach still held out to him. "Please, just imagine they're melt in your mouth sweet."
"They're not," he barked, feeling annoyed and amused at the same time.
"For me?" she asked, her eyes getting wider and the smile disappearing. Daryl glowered at her, his gaze resting on hers as he opened his mouth and allowed Beth to place the peach in his mouth. Her smile grew wider, and Daryl chewed a few bites before forcing the food down. Beth took another bite and hummed, "mmm, sweet as Georgia," she said, her eyes twinkling as she held another out to him.
Daryl took another bite with the sound of Merle in the back of his mind steadily cursing him out for letting a little girl feed him. When she swallowed yet another one, Beth looked up at him expectantly as she asked, "good right?"
Daryl rolled his eyes back as he said "yeah, it's a fuckin Georgia peach."
As he made to turn away, he spotted Beth glancing at someone behind them, turning his head, he spotted Carol in the hallway with that mischievous smile on her face as she winked at Beth.
"Fuckin hell," he muttered, snatching the can and fork from Beth to take the last bite and shove it back at her. The sound of laughter erupting from the hallway made him squint his eyes to see Glenn and T-Dog hanging behind Carol with shit eating grins on their faces.
The idea to only go out in groups, and be more vigilant went well with the group. Though the suggestion to keep the youngest inside went down the drain. Carl fumed, screaming that he already proved he was grown enough to deal on his own, and Beth could be seen nodding her head in agreement.
Lorie tried to defuse the situation by explaining that "it was for their own good." Daryl even huffed at that one, rolling his eyes as he looked to Beth who placed a hand on her hip and glowered at the woman. Carl was the outspoken one in this argument, screaming at them for being so hypocritical. When it was agreed that the rules that there must be three more to go out the gates applied to them as well, things calmed down. Carl nodded in agreement, though Beth still didn't look too happy. The way she glared at each of them -including him- made him realize that this wasn't going to be easily forgotten about.
Maggie's own instance proving as much as she said, "are we really gonna to expose them to that again?"
Luckily, it was Hershel that saw sense when he replied, "we can't protect them forever. That has already been provin. All we can do is keep a better eye out for all of us."
The group agreed with that, falling silent as they thought about the coming days. How things were going to change. Their chances of privacy were going to dramatically decrease until they felt secure that the threat passed through. That meant for him too, and his skin bristled at the thought of someone being near him nearly twenty-four/seven. He liked what was starting to be termed their family. Felt like they could pull through anything together as long as they had each other, but like with any family, he needed his space. Needed a moment of quiet, where he could sit think on his own. That didn't happen with this lot around each other all the time.
With a heavy sigh, he took himself back outside. Determined to get through this night shift with T-Dog by his side. And so their new routines started. The woman heading out together in the morning to collect pales of water, wash off and what not until they returned and the men followed suit. Doing their best to stay together and keep their modesty. Though that was going straight out the window with each passing day.
By the second day, Daryl was ready to pull his hair out and he knew Beth and some others weren't doing much better. He attempted to move to the bathroom at one point and found T-dog curled up in the tub, a finger brought to his lips when the door opened. Daryl raised an eyebrow at him for only a moment as the man rested his head back and closed his eyes. Closing the door, he didn't mention a word about it and moved to the porch outside.
With the day shifting into evening, the first stars were starting to appear in the sky and Daryl found himself staring at them. Nothing really going through his mind as the quiet settled around them. The stillness in the woods was unsettling on most days, leaving him with a tightening in his stomach as he thought about the possibilities. The not knowing weighing down on him more than it should, but at this moment it was calming. Allowing him a moment to breath a he stared up at the sky with the cigarette hanging from his mouth.
He knew the moment wouldn't last. Something would happen. Someone would say something. If they thought they could get a moment to just live, then they should also know that they never got that lucky.
As if on cue, shouting started up in the house. Causing Daryl to turn his head to see Beth rushing down the stairs with Maggie following right behind her.
Her face was contorted in frustration as Maggie screamed, "I know what I saw, Beth!"
Everyone turned their attention on the two sister's at this point, and with the door propped open to let the cool air into the house, Daryl got a good earful that he could focus on as he looked through the living room window.
"You saw nothin but a cat scratch. You know that cats still wonderin around the house," Beth snapped back, barely looking at her sister over her shoulder as she moved to the living room. She looked to be searching for something when she looked up to find everyone looking at them. Maggie came up behind her, still completely unaware of their audience as she spun her sister around. "Don't treat me like I'm stupid, Bethy. I know a scratch when I see one."
Her eyes bored into Maggie's and Daryl felt his own muscles tensing. Ready to stand up for the younger Greene. Knowing full well that a cat scratch wasn't far from believable. The girl curled up with the fuzz ball every moment she could. Steadily turning it back into that domesticated animal it once was before the turn.
Beth closed her eyes, her head falling back as she took in a deep breath. Looking for all the world like she needed an escape. Daryl was tempted to go in there and give her one. Help her out just this one time when he remembered his promise to stay away from her. Reminded himself there was no need to get involved when her family was finally stepping up. When she opened her eyes again, she looked out the window catching his gaze. He shifted under her searching stare. Obviously waiting for him to come to her rescue. Instead, he looked back out at the forest and listened as Beth told her sister "to just back off" before storming out the other end of the house. He raised his head at the sound, not liking the idea of the girl away from the group and he stood up. Pausing long enough to let Maggie know that she needed to stay put before walking around the house.
Maggie's look of defeat bothered him. He knew the older Greene sister was trying to help, but couldn't help but feel she was only making it worse. Maybe in the way she was. He noticed himself the way Maggie would glare at her sister when she emerged from a room alone. Her eyes getting even smaller than it did when Beth returned from her time outside with him. To him, he expected that to be the bigger problem. Her sixteen year old sister spending any amount of time with the older redneck. None of that came up though, and Daryl felt told himself it didn't mean nothing. Just meant there was bigger problems at the moment.
When he reached the other side of the house, Beth sat on the porch steps, knees bent with her hand in her hair. Frozen, like she was trying to make a decision. Daryl pulled the lighter from his breast pocket, making sure to make enough noise as he lit up his cigarette to get her attention.
"You comin out here to keep an eye on me too?" she asked, the frustration leaking through her tone as she glared at him.
Daryl held up his cigarette. "Don't flatter yourself," he said with the cigarette between his lips. Taking a long draw, he kept the girl in the corner of his eye, not wanting her to feel watched. Even if she knew that was what he was doing. The smirk on her face told him she knew, but neither of them commented on it as she looked back out at the forest, and he leaned against the wall.
"It's just not fair," she said after a minute, breaking the silence between them. Daryl raised an eyebrow at her. "Carl went through the same thing and no one's hovering over him."
"Carl's a different problem all together," he said, not really commenting on the boy's calm demeanor on the whole thing was just wrong. Creepy even, if he had to put a word to it. He couldn't understand how a boy his age was able to remain so calm. So matter of fact. Telling him that he needed to keep an even greater on that kid, but his dad knew that as well and Rick was more than capable of handling his own son. Daryl hoped anyways.
Beth shook her head, pulling his attention back to her as she looked down at her arm. Tracing the outline of her scar as she lost herself in thought. Daryl just stood there, smoking, knowing the girl would speak when she was ready. Learned a while back that Beth was not as shy as they first believed her to be. The girl spoke volumes if anyone ever cared to really pay attention to her.
"Just tired of people treatin me like glass," she said, still staring at her arm. "Like I'm going to break at any moment."
Daryl shuffled his feet, not having anything to say to that. She was right, of course. They tiptoed around her. Making sure to keep the major problems from her ears, and did their best to give her the easy jobs. The jobs that kept her huddled inside where everyone could keep an eye on her.
Looking up, he met the hard blue eyes of Beth Greene. "I'm not that broken girl anymore, Daryl. I'm not."
"Don't got to tell me that," he said, her eyes softening a little as he looked at her. Beth attempted a half smile. Her gaze darting back down to her scars before looking out at the forest. Looking for anything out of place in the backdrop. Daryl followed suit, watching for anything out of place. When nothing came up immediately he looked again; repeating the movement until Beth once again broke the silence.
"Maybe I just need to get out of here for a bit."
She looked at him, something akin to hope spreading across her expression as she stared him down, and Daryl shook his head. Not liking that look one bit. Meant she was looking at him to help her out; to do whatever it was she wanted. It wasn't going to happen this time.
Seeing the refusal in his eyes spurred her on, bringing her to her feet as she continued. "Just for a couple of hours. Just let me check the traps with you tomorrow. Just to get away from everyone and their constant watchin."
Again Daryl shook his head, not liking the idea of her outside these fences. Also, knowing no one else would agree to that insanity, the incident at the river was one too many times.
Beth brought her hands together, taking a step closer to him. "Daryl, please. You don't watch me like the rest of them do"
Daryl bit his tongue, stopping the words that threatened to spill out and made the mistake of meeting her blue eyes with his own. Whatever breath he was holding was released when he noticed the silent cry in her eyes. The way she truly believed she was going to go crazy if she stayed confined within these walls. Carol was right, he was completely and totally screwed when it came to this little girl. Knew it the moment he exhaled another puff of smoke and said, "gotta talk to your Daddy, but I don't see the harm." Even as everything inside of him was screaming, 'why?' Could hear Merle chuckling in the back of his mind as Beth beamed up at him.
"Thank you, I will." She wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him into a brief hug that held him frozen in place for the whole two seconds that she remained there before she pulled away to head back inside.
It was when the screen squeaked open that he stood up and said, "but you gotta pay attention out there, girl. You wanna go, you're gonna learn to skin and clean the meat too. Understood?" He gave her one pointed glare and Beth nodded her head, the smile widening on her face. "Yes, sir."
Daryl took another cigarette out of his pocket, a bad feeling already creeping up on him as he took a long draw. Wondering why the hell he agreed to take the girl out with him, and what he was going to do to fix the problem.
So, I realized while rereading this that's it's starting to read like a true Bethyl pairing. Just a heads up, I'm not heading in that direction, yet. Beth is still only sixteen, and while I don't see her family having an issue with Daryl looking out for her, I don't see them accepting a romantic relationship this soon. They are just starting to call each other family, as mentioned in the chapter. So anyways, just wanted to point that out in case any of you might have concerns about her current age or what not.
On another note, I do enjoy seeing Carol pick on Daryl in the show, and I know at the beginning of season three there was some teasing going around the group. I loved seeing those moments on the show, and wish there was more of them now, but whatever. I did enjoy getting Beth in on Carol's antics. LoL. Hope you enjoyed as well, and thanks for all the follows and comments. They mean bunches.