"Never Give Up (On Each Other)"
Author: carmen_085
Disclaimer: I do not own any Walking Dead Characters. I do own all original characters.
Summary: In the months before the beginning of the apocalypse, Daryl finds himself homeless, alone, and with no direction. An adult Beth is struggling to balance her job, sick parents, and the farm. Feeling like the world is suffocating her, will taking a chance on a stranger change everything ? Can these two find what they need in each other before life as they know it ends and they must do anything to survive. AU but eventual ZA with full cast.
Chapter Four
Beth blinked against the harsh sunlight hardly able to believe her eyes. Leaning against the barn Daryl Dixon shifted his weight nervously. His fingers played with the strap of the crossbow simply for the sake of keeping them busy. They were both staring at him; Beth and the old man, Hershel.
Daryl's stomach had twisted into a knot when he rolled up to the old farmhouse and the Camry wasn't there. Maybe this was a mistake; no it was a mistake. Turning around he walked halfway back toward the road. Running away had been a survival reflex all his life, and it took nearly everything to resist it. When he was little he ran to his mama, and after she was gone he ran to Merle. When they were both gone and he was alone with the old man he just ran away. The drunken tirades and fists sparing nothing and no one. He could run from this, he knew he could, but he had no idea what he was running to. There was no where left to go and nobody left to find.
Shoulders sagging, Daryl swallowed what little scrap of pride he had left and walked back in the direction of the farm. Standing at the bottom of the porch stairs his eyes roamed over the swing gently swaying in the breeze and the matching white rocking chairs. The front door was open letting the warm spring breeze blow through the old screen door. Stepping up onto the porch, Daryl could see a cozy sitting room and an all white kitchen; like something you would see in a magazine. Blinking he shifted the greasy hair out of his eyes. He didn't belong here; his dirty ass shouldn't even be standing out in the field let alone on the front porch. Exhaling he looked down at his shoes. He should go. Turning around he was stopped at the top of the stairs by a voice from inside.
"Can I help you ?" Daryl swallowed hard as he forced himself to turn around. If he didn't state his purpose, he knew whoever this was would take one look at him and call the sheriff.
It was an older man, white hair and beard. He pushed the screen door open and came to stand out on the porch giving Daryl a look of uncertainty. Squeezing the strap of his crossbow Daryl made brief eye contact before looking away. "Beth Greene…she said there might be some work here. Said she needed help." He swallowed hard; even to his own ears he sounded pathetic.
The old man was quiet, studying him for a long moment before extending his hand. "Hershel Greene. Beth's my daughter." Daryl shook his hand but kept his eyes on the ground. Hershel hobbled over to the porch railing leaning against it for support; Daryl didn't miss the stiff way he moved his right leg. Crossing his arms over his chest he offered the stranger on his porch a small nod. "What's your name, son?"
Normally Daryl would bristle at that but for some reason it didn't bother him this time. Clearing his throat he shook the hair out of his eyes, "Daryl….Daryl Dixon."
If Hershel was surprised by the fact that Beth had offered a complete stranger a job, he didn't show it. Maybe he didn't know what to think. Daryl certainly didn't fit the bill of a Georgia farm boy, not by a long shot. Or maybe it was something else. In addition to the limp, Daryl had also noticed the old man's flushed face, shaking hands, and sweaty brow. The alcohol on his breath tickling Daryl's nostrils when he leaned over to shake his hand. He would be a fool not to notice the sweet, stomach churning stench.
After a few moments of awkward glances Hershel offered him a glass of ice tea. Politely declining, Daryl didn't want to take anything that he hadn't earned. Nodding the old man disappeared into the house leaving Daryl standing on the porch wondering what the hell had just gotten himself into. He would wait for her to come back and see if this was something he wanted to stick around for. If it didn't work out that was fine; he tried his best. A better life just wasn't for him; he would still survive, though, he always did.
He found a tree stump near the barn that he leaned against and waited, not even thinking twice about sitting his dirty self down in one of them nice white rockers. And that was where she found him, not even noticing him as she pulled up. But now…now she was looking at him as if he had hung the sun in her sky and put her world back on its axis. It was overwhelming for someone like Daryl who had never imagined more for himself than simply existing on the outskirts of society . For this beautiful, successful woman to be staring at him like he just made all her dreams come true. Swallowing hard he clutched the strap of the crossbow as she walked toward him.
"You decided to come." The first thing he noticed was her smile; so big and so bright it nearly blinded him. The second thing he noticed was the dullness of her eyes and the otherwise slack exhaustion in her posture.
"Uh huh." Daryl was never much for talking especially when he was uncomfortable. From behind Beth, Hershel eyed him with a healthy dose of suspicion although Daryl couldn't blame him. Surely this whole situation seemed more than a bit strange to him.
Beth clasped her hands at her chest as she continued to smile at him; delirious from the lack of sleep and the mere fact that this crazy chance she took had actually paid off. "Would you like to see where you can stay ?" Daryl was quick to hold up a hand shaking her off.
"I can just sleep out in the fields if you don't mind. Still have my tarp.." Beth's smile faded as she stared at him. Daryl met her gaze briefly before looking back at the ground, the tips of his ears turning red.
Beth licked her lips unsure of what was standing in the way of him being reasonable right now. Pride….mistrust….She watched him fold his fingernails underneath the strap of the bow; they were caked in dirt; torn and ragged.
Unworthy.
He didn't feel he deserved anything better than sleeping under a tarp out in the open. Beth felt her heart ache in that moment; ache in a way that she didn't even fully understand. She reasoned, however, that probably nobody had ever shown this man kindness a day in his life. Biting her lip she didn't want to force him to do something that made him uncomfortable. "Sometimes I like to sleep under the stars too." Daryl's head snapped up. He expected her to beg and plead with him to sleep in the house, forcing him to explain the uncomfortable truth that he wasn't any more worthy of such comforts than a stray dog. Shrugging her shoulders she pointed to the barn nonchalantly, "If it rains, though, you should check out the barn. It doesn't smell great but it's warm and dry." Daryl chewed his bottom lip nervously. Looking over her shoulder, Beth turned back with a smirk. "I don't need anyone else to take care of around here." And just like that he was off the hook. She wasn't going to force him into anything that he didn't want to do. Letting the breath out Daryl didn't know he was holding he felt himself relax if only just a bit.
He struggled to find something to say, coming up pathetically short. Thankfully, they were interrupted by Maize bounding off the porch making a beeline for the new arrival. Daryl seeing the dog coming his way backed up a few steps as Beth was quick to reassure him. "She's friendly. Just gets excited is all." The German Shepherd stopped in front of Daryl kicking up a cloud of dust in her wake. Sniffing every square inch of his boots and pants she took in the rest of him with wide brown eyes. Reaching down he rubbed his hand over her head as she rubbed herself against his leg. Beth crossed her arms over her chest as she shook her head. "She's pretty much useless." That earned a slight smirk out of Daryl as she gestured back toward the house. "I have to get my mama inside and then I'll come out and show you a few things." Daryl nodded looking past Beth to Annette in the wheelchair. There wasn't a ramp for the chair. How the hell were they going to get her inside? Frowning he decided it wasn't any of his business.
Beth felt like she was going crazy. Squeezing her clasped hands against her chest she gave him one last smile. "I'm so glad you're here Daryl." Shuffling he grunted something in reply as she turned back toward her mama.
"Beth are you finally getting me back inside. My face is killing me." Annette had no idea that anyone else was even there. Smile fading slightly Beth turned her around nodding her daddy toward the foot end of the chair.
"Just three steps daddy. Are you ok to do this ?" Hershel gave her a slight nod; his face flushed, his hands shaking. Beth swallowed back her doubt lifting the top of the chair. At first it seemed like everything was going fine but then she saw her daddy stumble to side. Thankfully her mama wasn't much more than a few inches off the ground. Panic surged through Beth as she felt the chair tip to the side. "Just put her down ! Daddy put her down !" The chair hit the ground with thump; Annette howling in pain from the sudden jolt, Beth relieved that she somehow managed to keep the chair upright and her mama from falling out. Exhaling she rubbed her side; the sudden sideways torque causing a muscle to pull in her ribs. Eyes wandering to Hershel she saw the way he was bent over on his knees trying to get himself together. "Daddy ?!"
Hershel's chest heaved with exertion and panic as he held a hand up to his daughter. "Dammit Beth I just need a minute." If Beth had remembered Daryl standing there watching this whole sad affair she might have been embarrassed, but she forgot all about him until he appeared standing behind her daddy; his crossbow discarded against the old tree stump.
"I can help." Beth looked up with a start, a small smile spreading across her lips. Pushing himself up to standing, Hershel gave Daryl a look before beginning to open his mouth.
"Daddy." Closing his lips, his head swiveled to Beth who shot him a stern look. "Let Daryl help me get mama back in the house." Hershel was silent as he stepped aside pulling a handkerchief from his pants wiping his face with a shaking hand. Looking the situation over Daryl stepped up next to Beth; grunting he notched his head toward the sidewalk.
"This end's heavier, you take the bottom." Beth's lips parted as a faint smile spread across her face. Looking up at the man behind her Annette's brows knit together in confusion.
"Who the hell are you ?" Beth clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth.
"Mama, this is Daryl he's going to be helping me around the farm." Daryl's stomach knotted into a ball; in illness all polite pretenses were often dropped, and he braced himself for whatever she was going to say next.
Shrugging Annette went back to rubbing her face. "Well, whatever. I just need my pill." Exhaling he looked back at Beth. He could see that both her and the old man ignored most of what Annette said, but still, if she had pointed out what a dirt ball he was he couldn't deny that he would have been embarrassed. He was dirty, poor, no good trash. Just was a fact. Shaking his head, Daryl's hair fell back into his eyes hiding the embarrassment he felt just thinking about it.
"Ready?" He just nodded. Lifting the chair was easy; Annette weighted next to nothing and in just a few steps they were on the porch. A smile spread across Beth's face at how easy that was. Daryl looked between the house and his dirty boots his lips pulling into a thin line. "It's alright. It's a farmhouse- a place for working not for looking."
Wordlessly he swung the door open, lifting Annette over the threshold without much effort. Once inside the Daryl paused to take a look around. The house was old but nice; nicer than any place he had ever been in. If Beth didn't need his help so desperately right now he might have bolted right back out the front door. Like a bird that had accidentally flown in; nearly psychotic with fear to get back out into the wild. She could say anything she wanted but the place was pretty much perfect and looking was all Daryl could do.
"I'll show you around later if you want." Her soft voice broke through his thoughts as he shook his head.
"It's alright. I'm just here to work." The words came out as more of a grunt than a coherent sentence. Looking back toward wheelchair, Daryl made a conscious effort to avoid her gaze. Thankfully they had a stair lift and Annette would not need to be carried anymore. He couldn't imagine Beth and Hershel moving her down all those stairs alone without some sort of catastrophe. He was pretty sure she hurt herself out front just now as she held her ribs moving her mama to the lift to put her in. Daryl thought maybe he should help but he didn't know anything about lifting someone up, and he was pretty sure the old woman would shriek with disgust if he tried to put his hands on her. Still he couldn't help himself from asking, "You got it from here?" Why the fuck had he just asked that ? What was he going to do if she said no? And more importantly why did he care? He wasn't here to be a nurse he was here to do manual labor outside in the fields. And yet he couldn't deny watching Beth tenderly stroke her side did something to him.
Her voice came out as a strained little puff as she lifted Annette out of the wheelchair turned and pivoted her into the stair lift. "Uh huh." A small groan and then she readjusted herself letting the painful breath she was holding out of her lungs. "I'll be down in a little bit to show you around." Locking the arm rest of the chair she pushed the button as Annette began to slide up the stairs still holding her face and moaning in pain.
"Don't gotta. I can just look around a bit see what needs fixing if…" She turned around meeting his eyes genuinely surprised that he as already wanting to start. "If that's alright." Meeting her gaze briefly his eyes fell to the ground.
"Of course it's alright. Tools are in the shed. A fence is broke down out in the west pasture and a few of the cattle are in the woods. I was going to ride out in a little while and check it out." Daryl simply ducked his head nodding.
"Alright." Behind them the screen door slammed shut as Hershel walked past without saying a word. Going to the kitchen sink he ran the tap pouring himself a tall glass of water staring out the window. Daryl spared him a quick glance before looking back to Beth, not wanting her to think that he was judging anyone here. God knows he was in no position for it.
The stair chair reached the top as Beth took her finger off the switch. "Thank you, Daryl. You have no idea how much I need this help right now." Her dull, exhausted eyes radiated nothing but gratitude. He had only just got here but he was already beginning to understand how desperately overwhelmed this girl was. She was literally carrying the entire world on her back.
"No problem." She looked at him for another moment before turning and trudging up the stairs. Daryl, not wanting to be loitering some place he shouldn't be, quickly did an about face toward the door. His eyes wandered to Hershel still bent over the sink, his hands trembling lightly as he gripped the worn, white porcelain. Turning around the old man met his eyes. He thought that he was going to tell him to fuck off, that this was his farm and his house and he had no business here. But instead, he simply nodded before disappearing around the corner. A door slammed, foot steps on stairs and then the house was quiet save for the murmur of voices coming from upstairs.
So this is how it was. How it is.
Opening the screen door, Daryl itched to be in the woods with the familiar weight of the cross bow on his back. The dog, Maize, sat on the top step surveying the property with keen eyes, her tail thumped on the old wood seeing Daryl again. Looking over the fields, and the barn, he looked back down at the dog knowing already what he needed to do first.
After getting her mama changed, situation in bed, fed, and medicated, Beth drug ass into her room shutting the door. It was nearly five pm and she still needed to talk to Daryl about what she wanted him to do and how she was going to pay him. She hadn't actually considered that as much as she should have. Really she hadn't considered it at all. Pretty stupid to offer someone a job without working out that detail first. Truthfully Beth hadn't thought he would accept the offer. Hadn't even thought he would give her the time of day actually. Falling backwards into her bed she stared up at the ceiling with a goofy, sleep deprived smile. She would figure out a way to pay him even if she had to do it out of her pocket; because Daryl Dixon showing up was the best thing that had happened in a long time.
Pulling her heating pad out from under the bed she clicked it on slipping it against her side. Beth winced; she'd definitely pulled something over there. She would need to take some Motrin tonight before she went to bed. Thank God Daryl jumped in; she cringed to think what could have happened to her mama had her daddy been the only option today. Beth sighed; they really did need to get a ramp and a few other things to make sure nobody got hurt around here. Her eye lids felt heavy as she thought it over, the heat against her side relaxing whatever was stretched and strained. On her phone she set an alarm for thirty minutes; just a cat nap and then she would be ready to go again.
The overhead lights were off and the only light came from the the windows. It was grey and dark outside illuminating the area with a meager dullness. Beth looked around the ICU she had become so familiar with and wondered why the power was out. They had back up generators; life sustaining equipment needed power. A surge of panic went through her….the patients. Running to the far end of the hallway she burst into room 14, it was empty. Breathing a sigh of relief, Beth turned the corner to 15 finding another empty bed. A small, anxious gasp escaped her lips as she looked around confused. There had to be patients here somewhere. Turning she began running down the hallways looking into every room but the were all empty.
Where the hell was everyone?
"Rosita ?! Pat ?!" She was met with silence. The nurse's station was deserted, papers were on the floor, the phone was off the hook, computers were dark. Fear began to build in the pit of her stomach as she blinked back tears that sprung up in her eyes. What was going on? A sound on the other side of the unit drew her attention as she stilled staring across the desk. A hissing, moaning; slowly she walked toward it feeling equal parts trepidation and curiosity.
The curtain was pulled in Room 5 as Beth stopped staring at the yellow fabric, preparing herself for whatever she was about to find. Heavy breathing was all she could hear as she slowly reached her hand up swallowing hard. Taking a deep breath she yanked the material aside. A patient was laying in bed; the hospital gown still intact he was looking toward the window. The ventilator was black as was the monitor and every other piece of equipment in the room. Taking a few cautious steps she stopped at the bed looking down at the man in front of her. Cocking her head to the side she studied his profile; the realization dawning on her that this was Mr. Jenkins, a frequent flier of the unit with COPD. He came in nearly twice a month severely short of breath needing put on the ventilator.
"Mr. Jenkins…" Her voice was just above a whisper. The man's head swiveled toward her his eyes wide open. Immediately Beth took a step back. His eyes were white, gray even and he had bitten straight through his breathing tube his mouth a bloody mess. He growled and hissed despite the ragged piece of plastic still stuck in throat. Beth's eyes widened as abject fear shot down her spine. Before she could turn and run, his cold hand reached out grasping her around the wrist pulling her toward him. She screamed….it seemed like the wrong thing to do although she couldn't understand why.
Her heart pounded as she felt delirious with fear. The more she struggled the tighter his grip became pulling her toward his snapping jaws. Beth felt his cold, stinking breath on her face; her knees pushed against the mattress trying to gain even a fractional amount of space between whatever the hell this was and her. She began to slip not able to fight off the strength of a grown man much longer. Closing her eyes Beth prepared to feel teeth ripping her flesh away.
The ping at the sound of an arrow and Mr. Jenkins went slack falling back into the bed. Without the forward tension on her wrist, Beth fell backwards onto the floor with a gasp and thud. Before she could even figure out what happened, though, a strong hand lifted her up and began pushing out of the room and back down the hallway. Her feet were moving but she didn't know how as a numb fear coarsed through her veins. The door to the supply room was propped open as the hand pushed her inside kicking the prop out. The door shut with a click and they were in darkness, Beth turned around exhaling into the blackness.
"What were you, thinking ? Huh? Coulda got bit." It was Daryl's voice; she would recognize that gravelly rough tone anywhere. That part was familiar, the words he spoke were not. In the darkness she moved toward him until she could feel his hot breath on her face. Both of their chests heaved with exertion and fear. "Was real fucking stupid…" She should have been hurt by his words but the tremble in his voice made that impossible. Beth was silent as she closed the gap between them stopping only when she felt his body heat on her bare arms.
She stared at what she thought was his face for a moment before reaching up and wrapping her arms around his neck. Daryl hesitated for just a second before pulling her into him. Tangling her fingers in his long hair she felt his strong shoulders sag against her. He grasped at anything he could trying to get her even closer if possible.
"It's ok…I'm ok." Her soft whisper caused him to still for a moment. Beth rubbed soothing circles over his back as she felt Daryl's stomach jerk and flop against her own. A strangled sob swirled through him escaping his lips in a mix of a whimper and a gasp. She held him tighter.
"You're all I got Beth."
Daryl didn't know much about riding a horse so when Beth said she was going to ride out to the west pasture and fix a fence he decided the ATV parked behind the barn would be a better option. He knew everything there was to know about motorcycles and machines; this would work. Loading a few split rails onto the trailer he took in the position of the sun in the late afternoon sky and headed that way. Maize sat on the porch in her usual place napping in the sun. Other than the dog Daryl hadn't seen another sign of life around the house in the last few hours. It was fine; he didn't need anyone to hold his hand. He had been doing odd jobs all his life and he figured this was no different. Still, he felt a bit strange helping himself to whatever was laying around. Wasn't his…he should have to get someone's permission before he did it.
Thinking back to Beth's tired eyes and the way she winced holding her side, he pushed his discomfort away and focused on what he was here for. They needed work done, he was going to do it. She needed rest, and if he could give her at least that much, any other screw up would hopefully be overlooked. Hitting the throttle of the ATV he bounced over the uneven terrain toward the woods line. While he was up here he also planned to make camp for the night. The skies had been clear and sunny all day and he was glad that he could avoid her offer to sleep in the barn at least for the time being. He was grateful for her kindness, but it just didn't seem right. He belonged out here.
Stopping the ATV at the woods line Daryl took a look around before cutting the engine. About an eight foot section of fence was broken down with muddy hoof prints trailing into the undergrowth. Looking back at the trailer Daryl reasoned that he had brought enough wood to get the job done. Hefting his crossbow onto his back he wondered how hard it would be to coax the steer back into the enclosure. Fixing things wasn't a problem but he was no farmer. Setting his sights toward the trees he took a deep breath. How hard could it be?
The sun was beginning to sink below the horizon as Daryl slipped in the mud again. Hitting the ground knees first with a grunt he stared up at the cow in front of him in dismay. When Beth said that farming was tough, physical work she hadn't been kidding. There obviously had to be some trick to this that he was missing because there was no way little petite Beth could be exerting herself like this. Swiping away the sweat on his forehead, Daryl felt like he was about to die. He still had a lot to do before nightfall and surely Beth was searching for him wondering where the hell he had gone. Using all his strength he shoved his shoulder into the cow's hindquarters. He had managed to get the first two steers back into the enclosure without much more than a little poking and prodding. This one, though, had gotten herself into a bit of a ditch near the creek and wouldn't budge for anything; her hoofs sinking deeper into the mud with each go.
The shade of the trees made it seem darker than it actually was as a sense of urgency shot through him. He still had to fix the fence, make camp, and find something to eat. Taking a meal from Beth was out of the question; he wasn't here to free load and was more than capable of hunting his own dinner. Looking down at his muddy, wet clothes he sent up a silent thanks that he had at least one extra set. Spending the night cold and wet would have been miserable. Using all his strength he leaned his shoulder into the cow's hindquarter grunting as his own feet began to slip in the mud. Digging in, he gave it everything he had.
"Need some help there ?" Daryl's heart seized painfully in his chest. Peering around the rear of the animal he met the questioning stare of a man about the same age as him. He had blonde hair and blue eyes and his skin was tanned; he wore coveralls and work boots, a backwards baseball cap and flannel shirt cuffed at the forearm. He looked like proper farmer, as all American as a Georgia peach. Flicking the mud from his hands, Daryl suddenly felt self conscious about how this must look. That was why he hated being around other people, he always felt they were judging him….giving him a once over and deciding they knew everything about him from just one look.
"Been tryin for an hour or better. Just won't move." His words came out together in one long grunt and the man cocked his head apparently trying to interpret the message before nodding and starting down the embankment rope already in hand. Whatever this guy was thinking, Daryl didn't really care because he was exhausted. Standing with his hands on his hips he tried to catch his breath as the other man looped the rope around the cow's neck. Briefly their eyes met as he forced a polite smile; Daryl's gaze immediately diverting to the ground.
"I'm Jimmy Campbell. I own the farm over that way." He pointed west through the trees. Eyes coming back to Daryl he looked him over suspiciously. "You working for Hershel Greene because this here is his land.."
Daryl bit back the sarcastic remark he wanted to make about trying to push a cow out of the mud for fun and silently nodded. "Started today."
Jimmy's lips quirked up in a slight smirk as he shook his head. "Didn't know he was looking to hire anyone." Daryl shrugged as he stated what he felt would be an obvious truth.
"Beth hired me. Said she needed help." The smirk faded as a cloud of something came over his face. Daryl didn't miss it; he was better than most when it came to reading people. Jimmy's jaw flexed and in that moment he knew this man had cared for Beth in someway. Maybe they were together; a sudden surge of disappointment shot through him. Why was he disappointed? Beth wasn't nothing to him, just some lady who gave him a job today. Merle's nurse before he died. The only person who had showed him any kindness in just about forever. Daryl swallowed hard. What the fuck was happening right now? "Just here to work."
Daryl didn't know why he felt the need to add that but it seemed to do the trick as Jimmy's glare faded and he offered Daryl a nod.
"Sounds good." Taking a deep breath he gestured toward the cow putting tension on the rope around its neck. "You push, I'll pull. This is usually a two man job anyway." Well that was the trick; setting himself behind the cow's hindquarters once again, Daryl reasoned that he would know that if he even had the slightest clue about farming.
With another person helping it didn't take but ten minutes and the heifer was loose and up the embankment. Jimmy left the rope around her neck telling Daryl would be easier to just lead her back. He was thankful something about today was going to be easy. Holding his dirty hands up Daryl grunted chucking his finger toward the creek, "Just gonna wash up real quick." The water was cold as he knelt down plunging his soiled skin below the surface. He would need to come out here tomorrow and wash up properly so that he didn't smell or look like the actual dirt ball that he was. Maybe he would see if there was a hose by the barn, of course, any washing with that would have to happen way past dark so that no one caught sight of him or his back. Last thing he needed was more pity. Beth had enough on her mind without worrying about him or shit that happened a long fucking time ago.
Splashing the cold water up his forearms he rubbed his hands together as his eyes wandered over the creek bed. A dead bird lay on a rock and another in the water. Daryl had seen them also laying in pasture not quit understanding how they had fallen from the sky dead in mid-flight. It made the hair stand up on his neck. Something wasn't right about it. Flicking the water off his arms he stared at the rock. The carcass was now rotting as flies buzzed around; its eyes white and staring up at the sky blankly. Taking a deep breath, Daryl shook off his apprehension as he turned to leave. He still had a lot of work to do and it was nearly dark.
Beth woke with a gasp as she sat up in bed. She had just had the strangest dream and yet also one of the best. Somehow the memory of Mr. Jenkins trying to rip the flesh from her face had melted away in a warm swirling sensation in her chest and tingle between her thighs. The feeling of Daryl's arms around her made her collapse back into the pillows a contented sigh escaping her lips. She wished she could go back to sleep and keep dreaming.
She lay there for a moment squeezing her thighs together enjoying the throb of pleasure she got from the mere idea of being pressed up against him. Exhaling Beth opened her eyes blinking a few times as she slowly came back to reality. Looking around the room she realized that it was dark as a jolt of anxiety had her out of bed and frantically searching for her phone.
What day was today? Was she late for work? What time was it anyway ? Finding the iPhone on the carpet she saw the screen was black and it was completely dead. She was still wearing her jeans and t-shirt from earlier as she swung the door open. Casting a quick glance at her mama she was relieved to see that she was in bed asleep, the TV was on as she caught sight of a Dateline episode. Shit, if Dateline was on it was at least nine pm; her mama watched the show religiously and if she was off she was would occasionally lay in bed next to her and watch it also; Maize laying between them getting more than her share of rubs and pats. Thundering down the stairs Beth saw the dog had let herself in and was laying asleep on the couch, the screen door still wide open and her daddy no where in sight. Rubbing her face, Beth looked around eyes eventually landing on the wall clock. Ten pm….Jesus Christ.
She promised Daryl she would show him around the farm and help him get started. On top of that she worried that he had noting to eat and with no car and no way to get anything. She had every intention of making him a sandwich and forcing him to eat it against his will; she had a strong feeling that Daryl despised a hand out but this wasn't that, it was her way of being fair. She wasn't paying him, not yet anyway, and he was already working. Beth planned to tell him that he wasn't a slave and this was the least she could do.
Now all of that had gone out the window and she wasn't even sure he was still here. Maybe he had taken off, got sick of waiting for her and disappeared back into the woods leaving her and this whole pathetic situation behind. Shoving her feet into the boots, Beth pushed the screen door open, a panic rising up in her throat. Daryl was nobody to her and surely she could find someone else. But the thing was she didn't want to find anyone else. She wanted Daryl here.
Eyes scanning the dark fields she saw the flickering of a flame at the edge of the west pasture near the woods line. A relieved smile broke out across her face as she took a step down not watching where she was going. Even thought it was late, Beth wanted to ride out there and apologize for just leaving him like she had. Her foot caught on something as she nearly tumbled forward catching herself at the last moment. Looking down at the stairs Beth gasped. In the dim light coming from the house she blinked not quite believing her eyes.
A ramp.
An honest to god ramp built from wood; with knee high rails on both sides so the chair couldn't tip off. Beth's mouth fell open as she took a step onto it; strong and steady she even jumped up and down to test its mettle. Daryl had even painted it white to match the house. Standing on the sidewalk Beth just stared in total disbelief as tears came to her eyes. She never asked him to do this, never even mentioned it was something that needed done. He just saw what happened and did it. She wanted to scream she was so happy. Turning toward the barn she took off running.
Daryl bent over the small fire turning the mud snake over in the flames. He'd finished all his work about an hour ago and with no one around, and the sun long set he hosed himself off behind the barn. It was late April and the evenings were still chilly but there was no other way, and he couldn't be a stinking, muddy mess in front of these people they were his employers after all. He found a bar of some kind of soap in the barn, smelled like Lavender he thought, and he used that. Not much, just enough to get the stink off of him. The whole time shivering in the ice cold water he kept one eye toward the house making sure no one would see him like this. Normally he could clean himself up in a few minutes, always quick to get a shirt onto his back before he was even dry. But given the mess he found himself in tonight and the fact he hadn't washed up in almost a week it took a bit longer. He struggled to get the fire going, shaking so hard he could barely hold the lighter still long enough for the kindling to catch. This was how he lived, though, and while it could certainly be more comfortable he didn't see anything wrong with it.
The steady gallop of a horse drew him out of his thoughts as he squinted toward the house. In the meager moonlight he could make out someone coming his way. Looking around the primitive campsite in panic, he briefly contemplated putting the fire out and pretending to be asleep when she rode up. He was sure it was Beth; who else would bother with him at this hour? Could always be someone else, someone not too happy with this arrangement, and for that reason he pulled the crossbow into his lap.
The hoofbeats stopped as he glanced over his shoulder. Of course it was Beth. Even in the flickering low flamed he could see the look on her face and he immediately knew this was going to make him feel uncomfortable. He didn't know how to handle apologies; nobody had ever been sorry for damn thing they ever did to him before.
"Daryl I am so…so sorry." She loosely tied the horse to the tree as she came to sit across from him. He looked up briefly before shaking his head.
"Got nothing to be sorry for." She was wearing the same clothes as earlier plus an old worn barn jacket that he had seen hanging on a hook earlier. Damn thing even smelled like her; soft and sweet. Daryl blinked his eyes, he had never had these kinds of thoughts about any woman; didn't really think about women period. And now..now he couldn't stop them. Swallowing hard he pulled the skewer out of the fire letting it cool for moment.
Beth's eyes wandered from the crudely strung tarp to the snake wrapped around a stick. Biting her lip she swore she wasn't going to push him into anything he didn't want to do but right now, still deliriously excited that he built her mama ramp, she couldn't help herself. "Come back to the house with me, I'll make you a sandwich."
He grunted shaking his head. His lips pulled into a scowl and in that moment she knew she had overstepped. Playing with the hem of her coat Beth looked away, the darkness hiding the flush of embarrassment across her cheeks. Finding her voice soft and small she hoped everything she said wouldn't piss him off. "The ramp you built for my mama is…" She looked up at the sky, tears again springing in the corner of her eyes. "It's amazing, Daryl. I didn't even ask you to do that."
He felt queasy with the amount of gratitude she was showing him. That and she called his work amazing. Fuck in his entire thirty-six years he didn't think he ever heard someone apply that word to him. Swallowing hard Daryl just nodded, "It's something that needed done."
Beth looked at him about to open her mouth and call him crazy. That ramp was one of the best things she had ever seen. Especially since he did it all on his own without one trip to the hardware store or Home Depot. She watched him slide the snake meat off the stick as he took a small bite; embarrassed that he was eating this right now in front of her. He was hungry, though, hungrier than he had been in a while. Daryl hadn't eaten much the last few days not wanting to stray too far from Merle's bedside and also not having the money for much more than a bag of Lay's. If she wasn't sitting here staring at him right now he would probably inhale this chunk of meat in three bites.
She watched the way his eye shifted between her and the food; his Adam's Apple bouncing up and down as he swallowed all the saliva his starving body was no doubt making. Beth saw all the work he had done today and knew that he must be dying to eat something. She also knew that while he was too proud to accept a hand out he also was humiliated that she see him eat something he had cooked on a stick. Didn't even have a five dollar bill to go to Taco Bell. Pursing her lips Beth knew if she ever wanted to get through to Daryl she would need to meet him on his own terms.
"What's it taste like?" Daryl's head snapped up not quite believing his ears. Her face was honest, though, and curious. She wasn't patronizing him. Ripping a piece off, he handed it to her across the fire. To her credit Beth didn't hesitate popping the charred meat into her mouth chewing thoughtfully before swallowing and shrugging her shoulders. "Tastes like chicken." The corner of Daryl's mouth turned up into a smirk as he exhaled a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Give me another piece." He obliged while also taking a piece for himself trying not to inhale it whole.
Beth took her time chewing, letting him eat his fill. He deserved that much…really he deserved more, way more. And she didn't care how long it took she was going to do everything she could to make him believe that.
TBC….
Brighter Days are ahead for these two, stay tuned