"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 Ten
It was nearly eleven pm when Daryl finally settled himself down enough to even think about sleep. Turning all the lights off, he considered laying down on the floor. The couch was light beige and spotless, and he couldn't help but to worry that he might leave some sort of dirty smudge on it. Yes he showered, but still, Dixons were dirt and always would be. That's what he'd been told since he was a boy and he never forgot it. Sighing, Daryl forced those thoughts from his mind as he gingerly laid back on the cushions taking a full five minutes to exhale and totally relax. It was the first time in the last couple months that he'd slept on something soft. The hayloft was good enough and it more than did the job but it wasn't a bed or a couch. The last bed he slept in was that shitty Motel 6, and that was a night he would sooner forget.
Laying there in the dark he went over a mental checklist. The door was locked, the stove was off, and Annette was tucked safely into bed. He made sure to check on her once more before calling it a night. She had been asleep when he peered through the cracked door, and for that he was grateful. He only hoped that was it for the night and everything would go smoothly until Beth came walking through the front door tomorrow morning. He'd already made up his mind that he would have breakfast for both her and her mama ready when she got home. Girl had cooked and fed him more than enough, he surely could do the same for her. In the dark he set his watch to go off at six thirty am; that would give him enough time to clean up and get breakfast started before Beth got home a little after seven. Sighing Daryl closed his eyes with nothing more to do than get some rest. It sounded easy enough but he knew the strange surroundings made it a deceptively tall order. Give him the trees and the dirt over the comforts of someone else's nice, clean home any day. Just the way he was wired and he didn't think that would be changing anytime soon. Beth needed him to do this for her, though, and that was all that mattered. Taking a deep breath he relaxed back into the cushions, sleep nipping at the edges of his mind.
'Well…Well look at you, little brother. The outside cat finally snuck inside.' The lights in the living room were back on and for a second Daryl questioned if he had fallen asleep at all. Pushing the thin fleece blanket back, he propped himself up on his elbows. Wiping his eyes he saw Merle sitting on the chair across from him; his muddy boot up on the perfectly polished coffee table.
'Merle?' Daryl's voice croaked, sounding strange and not at all like he was used to.
His brother laughed, that taunting snide laugh of his, as he shook his head. 'Course it's me…ya forgotten your own brother, already ?' Merle's eyes roved the interior of the farmhouse as he let out a low whistle. 'Forgot about me and moved right on up…'
Daryl threw back the blanket sitting up suddenly angry and not wondering at all why he was talking to a dead man. 'Ain't like that. She pays me to work the farm.'
Merle cackled loudly as Daryl's nervous eyes darted toward the stairs. He needed to keep it down or else he would wake Annette. 'Sure it ain't, little brother. Got you takin' care of her mama…pretty soon you'll be takin' care of her too…." Merle began to thrust his pelvis into the air as he groaned loudly.
'Shut up. Ain't like that.' Daryl couldn't stop the blush from exploding across his face.
Merle's face fell into a pitied expression, 'What's a matter, boy, forget what your dick's for ?' He laughed. 'Wasn't like you ever knew what to do with it anyway.'
Daryl shot to his feet as he made a fist. 'You best leave me the hell alone.' Merle stood up too, his boots grinding dirt into the tan rug.
'Or what ?' He taunted, laughing as he lean in. Daryl could smell the booze, old and stale. A fine white powder, clung to his upper lip as a sheen of sweat made his face glisten. 'You helpin' these people but you couldn't help your own brother? Let me die in some shitty ass motel ? Keep me alive on a goddamn machine for five days ? Donate my heart to some black boy in Alabama…..' Merle backed off as he shook his head in disgust. 'You bendin' over backwards for this blonde bitch when you couldn't wait to get rid of your own blood. Let those bastards scrap me for parts like a broke down Chevy..'
Daryl looked away as he shook his head, 'Wasn't like that and you know it…' Bringing his gaze back up he looked him dead in the eye. 'You were already gone by the time I found you…' Shaken his head in disgust he added, 'Was gone long before then..'
Merle stared at him, 'You think whatever you want to, little brother, but when these people get done usin' you, they're gonna throw you out on your ass so fast your head's gonna spin.' Walking toward the door Merle opened it, letting in the cool night air. 'You're trash, Daryl. Always was and always gonna be.' The door slammed shut and with that he was gone.
Daryl woke with a gasp as he sat upright. It took him a minute to figure out where he was as he blinked against the darkness. The farmhouse…the couch….taking care of Annette. Right. He let out a breath as he swung his legs over the side. Merle wasn't here…he couldn't be here, he was dead. And yet somehow his words echoed in Daryl's mind making his head spin and his heart race.
Maybe he was a fool for thinking he actually meant something to Beth and she wasn't just using him. He was desperate, she must have seen that straight off when he was sitting in that hospital room wearing the same clothes for five days in a row. Maybe she was taking advantage of him, knowing he had nothing and no one. First it was working the farm, then it would be taking care of her mama, and then, after he got this place fortified and ready for whatever was to come, she would tell him to leave. Get the fuck out and don't come back. All his work going to the betterment of someone else's situation. Someone who, at the end of the day, didn't want him at all.
And that was what bothered Daryl the most. That she wouldn't want him at all. Beth paid him, more than a fair amount, he hadn't been working for free. So his work and his time had been compensated and he couldn't hold that against her. Looking after her mama wasn't part of the deal, but he did it because he cared about her and wanted to help. So far it hadn't been much trouble and he honestly didn't mind. The only thing he had given to her that he couldn't get back was himself. Beth had been the first person he had gotten even remotely close to in years….maybe ever. And, if like Merle said, she told him to get the hell out after she used him for everything she needed he would be devastated. Not because of his time or his work or anything else he gave her but because he had let her in.
Daryl stood up as he took a deep breath. Why was he even thinking this? Beth had never made him feel anything but special. Girl went out of her way to feed and take care of him when no one else wanted to. Never treated him like charity and always made the situation here at the farm fair and equitable. He worked hard and she compensated him for it. Daryl had a shitty flip phone, a watch, and a debit card with money in the bank because of her. Merle was a damn fool and didn't know what the hell he was talking about. And yet still he couldn't stop a small kernel of doubt from turning over in the pit of his stomach.
It was one thirty in the morning and he was far too wound up for sleep. Carefully he climbed the stairs slipping into Annette's room with silent steps. On the nightstand her phone sat next to a glass of water. Under the phone Daryl slipped a piece of paper.
'Went out for a walk, call me if you need anything.' His phone number printed neatly on the bottom. Daryl never understood cell phones, people walking across the street so obsessed with a screen they nearly got themselves run over, but he had to admit it did come in handy. His was obligated to see to Annette for the night, but he also couldn't stay inside the house a minute longer. He felt like a caged animal, needing to be out in a wide open space, before he snapped and lost it completely. Tugging his boots on Daryl grabbed his crossbow that he had propped against the door and quietly let himself out. As soon as the cool night air hit his bare arms he felt himself relax. He wouldn't go far, he couldn't, needing to be able to get back to the house at a moment's notice if his phone rang.
Taking a familiar path toward the dark smear of woods at the edge of the property he sighed letting all the tension in his back roll away. He didn't know why that dream bothered him so much. Daryl had never been raised with any sort of religion and didn't believe there was anything more once someone died. Nobody, not even someone as devout as Beth, could be convinced that his brother was in heaven. No siree…Merle Dixon would be lucky to wander purgatory for all of eternity, if there was even such a place. So Daryl didn't believe that Merle himself had come to visit him from the world beyond, but he did have enough insight to recognize the part of him that was Merle. The doubt, the self loathing, the belief that he could never be anything good. It was the part that held him back when he knew in his heart he could do more….be more. Daryl stepped into the inky darkness of the trees as he willed his mind to go blank. All he needed was a short walk and he would feel better.
It was the middle of the night and Pat had dimmed the lights on the unit hours ago. At the far corner against the window, Beth and Rosita sat sharing a bag of popcorn. Beth's assignment was full with a man who had wrecked his motorcycle and was now in a medically induced coma for brain swelling, and a woman whose diabetes was out of control and needed to be on an insulin drip. Hourly neuro checks in one room and hourly glucose checks in the other. She'd certainly had sicker patients but these two were still a lot of work. Rosita had the two rooms next to her with an older woman who had let her CHF get out of control and needed aggressive diuresis and Bipap to keep the fluid in her lungs at bay. Her other room was empty and all night she had been waiting for the ER to send up some kind of train wreck.
"So you left your mama home alone…with him?" Beth ignored the insinuation behind Rosita's question and simply nodded. "You really trust him that much?"
This time she couldn't ignore it as she nodded curtly. "Yes Rosita I do. Daryl is a good man and he's also become a good friend."
Sitting back in her chair she threw her hands up defensively. "Alright…take it easy. I'm just saying….he's rough. His brother was on drugs. I've dated guys like him before; talk all sweet and nice but they can't be trusted…"
Beth took another handful of popcorn as she thought that over for a moment. Oh if people only took the time to not judge a book by its cover. Daryl was so much more than what met the eye and not at all like his brother. Well, she'd never really known Merle Dixon but she imagined him to be the complete opposite of Daryl from what little she had learned. "Daryl's not like that. He's kind and considerate, always thinking of everyone else before himself…In fact he's starting to help me protect the farm, just in case." Rosita's face fell at that as she silently looked away. Beth, seeing the change in her friend's demeanor, was quick to add. "I mean…I don't think we need to but I guess better safe than sorry."
Rosita swallowed hard as she met Beth's eyes. "I didn't want to scare you with your daddy away and your mama so sick." Beth's face fell as she felt her stomach flop. "But Abraham's been telling me some pretty messed up stuff."
"Like what?" Beth's voice came out high and airy as she shifted nervously in her seat.
Rosita looked over her shoulder as if she was about to divulge some highly classified information before scooting closer. "He said the talk is that this virus will be everywhere soon." She bit her lip, shaking her head.
"I'm sure it's going to spread but they'll find a way to stop it…" Beth trailed off.
Rosita shrugged, "I don't know. Abraham heard from one of his buddies stationed over seas that China is almost wiped out now. What they're showing on the news doesn't even come close to how bad it really is. Their government is closely regulating what information gets out. They don't want to look weak to the rest of the world…"
Beth inhaled sharply, this couldn't be happening right now. "Maybe in the big cities but out here in the country….surely it won't spread this far…"
Rosita just shrugged, "Abraham has been working twelve hour days for the last two weeks, said he can't tell me everything but they're getting ready for something…something big."
"Girls ! Staff office now." Pat's voice nearly made them jump out of their chairs. Shoving the popcorn aside, Beth took a deep breath as she peeked in on both her patients before following Rosita up the hall. Internally she hoped that someone had sprung for pizza and cake although she already knew it wasn't that. Beth and Rosita squeezed into the small room that was already crowded with with every other nurse on shift tonight. The lights, which were usually turned down on the dimmer switch this time of night, were bright as the room radiated a fluorescent glow. Seeing the two of them enter Pat turned the TV off, a grim set line on her face. Sighing she shook her head.
"The main facility downtown is starting to get patients with fevers and strange wounds. They don't know if it's connected to this virus going around but they said one of the patients became violent and attacked a nurse." Everyone in the room gasped. Beth felt her stomach roll as she slid down into one of the plastic chairs.
"What do you mean attacked ?" John, an older nurse that only worked nights, spoke up with concern in his voice.
Pat paused for a moment before looking at him, "They said she was bitten…on the neck. Lost a lot of blood but they managed to save her, she's in surgery now." A hum of chaos began to flow through the room as Beth subconsciously reached over to hold Rosita's hand. "Now we aren't going to panic. So far nothing has happened here. The ER is screening everyone and anyone with a fever or a wound is going to be directed to the locked unit on three."
"What happens if one of the patients here spikes a temp ? Do we tie them down?" Rosita spoke up and a few immediately agreed with her saying that didn't care, they weren't taking a chance.
"I don't know." Pat shook her head. "Just be careful and if anyone starts to act up get yourselves and each other away from them." Questions erupted from all sides of the room and for the most part Pat had no answers for them. Everyone just needed to be on high alert. Eventually the staff dispersed back toward their assignments; hushed conversations here and there about wanting to call off and how the hospital could screw itself. "Rosita !" Both of the girls turned around as Pat hung up the phone. "You have a new patient down in the ER, Room 10. Eighty year old female, stroke. She's tubed, on the vent, and you need to take one pump down."
Pat walked away from them. It wasn't a friendly heads up, it was an order to get a monitor and go downstairs and pick the woman up. Which was the last thing anyone wanted to do after hearing the news. Beth was wrong, their far flung corner of Georgia wasn't going to be spared. Not in the least. "Last thing I want to do right now…" Rosita threw her jacket on the back of her chair as she walked into her empty room and unplugged the portable monitor.
"I'll come with you…" Beth slipped into both of her rooms, checking pupils in one and a quick sugar in the other. Her patient's were stable enough for her to leave the floor for a few minutes. Telling Pat they were both going downstairs she nodded as the wooden ICU doors swung open and they made a beeline for the elevator. "What do you think all this means?" Beth knew what it meant, she just wanted someone to make her feel better right now. Unfortunately Rosita was a harsh realist and never saw much value in sugar coating the truth.
"I think we're all fucked." She saw the sheen of tears come to Beth's eyes. All this time she'd worked so hard to take good care of her mama, daddy, and the farm and now it would all be for nothing. Softening a bit she touched her friend's arm gently, "But I think you have the right person there to help you out." Beth snapped her head not quite believing her ears.
"You just told me not to trust him like five minutes ago…" She let out a small laugh.
Rosita shrugged. "Yeah but he's a survivor…and he'll show you how to survive." She snorted as the doors opened to the ER. "People like him were made for this kind of shit."
Beth swallowed hard as she contemplated that. Even worst case scenario, she thought this whole mess would just be a few days or weeks. Not something that lasted forever. Not something that changed their very way of life and the world they lived in…not something that was the end of the world.
"Beth !?" She gasped as Rosita and the ER nurse came into focus. Her chest was heaving as she looked around, clearly she had missed something important.
"Oh sorry ! What?"
Looking at her friend she saw something strange in Rosita's face. Fear. Her friend was the toughest girl she knew and to see the tight, set of her face made Beth downright terrified. "Did you hear what she said ?" The expression on the ER nurses's face matched Rosita's and Beth felt the knot in her stomach tighten. "She said the patient just spiked a fever."
Eyes drifting to the old woman laying on the stretcher, Beth felt her heart sink.
Daryl had been walking for almost an hour when decided that he should turn back. The demons of his own self doubt had fizzled away into the cool night air. You could take therapy, meds, and every shrink in the world and nothing would ever calm him down quite like the forest. The smell of pine, the soft undergrowth, the way the wind gently tickled the treetops. It was heaven. Through so much shit in his life, nature had been the one constant that he could always rely upon.
He tried not to think of Beth, but he couldn't help himself as he wondered, and hoped, that her night hadn't been too bad. She was off tomorrow and he was glad for it as he wanted nothing more for her than to get some rest. He would work on the fences and everything else that needed done, she just needed to sleep. Daryl wondered, as he wound his way back to the farm, if this is what love was like. Even thinking that word made his face burn with a fierce blush. Still, maybe it was true. Despite Merle's warning, Daryl didn't really mind doing these things for Beth. Yes she paid him to work to the farm but he did the rest because he wanted to. And he didn't care if he got anything in return for it. Didn't even care if she was using him for his fencing building, well protecting, survival skills. As long as she was safe and taken care of, he didn't really care about himself. He would work so that she could get some sleep. He would look after Annette so that she didn't lose her job. He would be there for whatever she needed, whenever she needed it. Without any regard for payment or himself. Just because he wanted to. Daryl had no idea what love meant, but if he had to guess he would assume how he felt right now was pretty damn close. Just thinking it made him want to scream and cry and jump and punch a tree as hard as he could.
Daryl was lost in thought that he didn't notice the cow until he was almost on top of her. Standing at the edge of a ravine she mooed pathetically trying to pull her hoof loose of some thorns. On his crossbow, Daryl had a flashlight as he turned it on shining the field of light toward the animal. It wasn't one of the Greene's animals, all of their cows had a fluorescent green tail. This one was branded on the right hip and instantly Daryl knew who it belonged to.
Old man Mitchell owned the farm land that bordered the Campbell and Greene properties to the west. A surly old man who sold corn down by the roadside, Beth had once gone on for over an hour to him about what an inhumane piece of shit he was for branding his cattle. Daryl sighed as he propped his crossbow down on the ground, setting about cutting the thorns away with his knife. Didn't matter who owned the animal, wasn't right to just leave her like this. Freeing the heifer only took few minutes and as soon as she felt some movement she pulled her own leg free and began trotting away. Daryl stayed there on his knees watching her go without so much as a thank you. As the cow's hoof beats got farther way the forest fell silent again.
Daryl would never consider his hearing superhuman but he did have better hearing than most. Probably came with all the time he spent out in the forest, away from so much noise that caused permanent damage. Cocking his head to the side he listened closely. Down the hill and into the ravine he heard something that sounded like heavy breathing…moaning even. Shining the light on his crossbow down into the gully he saw a set of overalls rolling back and forth in the undergrowth. Gasping, he stood there frozen for a moment. A person? A person had fallen down the hillside in the middle of the night. It didn't make much sense. Most of the farmers around here knew these woods and this land better than anyone. No cow was worth your life, and venturing out into the forest at night was just plain stupid. But still, he couldn't deny what he was seeing.
Quickly, Daryl apprised the ravine and found an area that wasn't too steep. Carefully he sat down on his backside and slid himself, inch by inch, to the bottom. His pants and underwear were soaking wet but it was the only safe way. It wasn't in his nature to yell out but he felt the situation called for something of the sort.
"Hey! Hey! Are you hurt ?" The overalls moaned and groaned and kicked at the vines that were holding them in place. From the bottom, Daryl could see a tuft of gray hair and concluded that it was old man Mitchell. He must have fallen in the dark. Cross bow up only for the light Daryl approached the old man wondering if he had a head injury and that was why he didn't respond. He'd have to call 911 to get his ass out of here because he was damn sure not doing that by himself, especially with the bastard kicking and moaning like he was. "Hey man…ya gotta calm down." Grabbing him by the back of the overalls, Daryl flipped him face up. What happened next, he could have never predicted.
The movement must have caused the vines to loosen as he was up and lunging for Daryl within a second. Reflexively he pushed him back stumbling himself as his brain tried to catch up to what had just happened. "Take it easy…man…I'm just tryin' to help."
The dark was disorienting and it was slowing Daryl's senses down. Old man Mitchell lunged toward him again, mouth agape and teeth bared. He had a huge gash in his head and his neck bent at a strange angle. In the meager lighting Daryl could see that his skin was ghostly pale and his lips and teeth were stained with blood. Knocking Daryl to the ground this time he landed right on top of him. Crossbow laying inertly out of reach, the spray of light it cast was just enough for him to see the gray sheen of the old man's eyes. Teeth snapping he snarled in his face. A bubble of panic rose up inside of him.
It was the strangest situation he had ever been in and yet something about it was familiar.
Using all his strength he held the old man at bay. Daryl didn't know what the hell was going on but he knew the old farmer didn't need his help. Not like this anyway. Bringing his leg up he kicked him to the side, scrambling up and grabbing his crossbow. Without thinking he let an arrow fly right into the other man's chest. He stumbled but he kept on coming. Backing up Daryl loaded another arrow, his hands shaking, and just as the old man was about to lunge at him again he shot him, right in the neck…dead center, a kill shot if ever there was one. But again it had no effect. Turning he ran, if only Merle could see him now running away like a little pussy. He had no option, though, he was down to his last arrow. Loading it he let out a little whimper, what the fuck was going on here ?
And it then it clicked. The virus, whatever the fuck it was, it was here. Right here in their backyard. His mind flashed back to the TV…Walmart…those poor bastards in China shooting the living fuck out of that thing and it still kept coming. Devouring them all until they were nothing but a pile of screaming flesh. The only thing that stopped it was a shot to the head.
Right between the eyes.
Bringing the crossbow back up he lined up his last shot. Old man Mitchell lunged for him and he squeezed the trigger letting the arrow fly as it buried itself in his skull. He dropped instantly as Daryl gasped in shock. It had actually worked. He killed him.
He killed someone.
Who the fuck was going to believe that an old man had attacked him in the woods in the middle of the night. Daryl felt his stomach churn. He would go to jail, there would be no question, his life was over. Because he had just fucking killed someone. What the fuck was he thinking?
He was thinking that he didn't want to die. That no matter what he did, the old man just wouldn't quit. He was thinking that he was one of those…whatever the hell "those" were. Still, there had been no reports of anyone with the 'virus' around here. Hesitantly he flipped the body over taking stock of it. Shining his light down he saw the gash in his head was so deep brain matter had been exposed. Along with that his neck was severely bent at an angle that no one could possibly survive. He was dead before Daryl had slid down in the ravine. Pulling his arrows out he wondered what he should do next. Calling the cops seemed out of the question, they would never believe him. He didn't think the old man had any family or anyone else that might come looking for him. Squatting down, Daryl rested his head in his hands. He was legit trying to cover up a murder right now.
'The bastard was already dead. Didn't I teach you nothing boy, him or you…him or you'
Merle's voice rang clear as day. It was self defense. He had turned into one of them.
Turned
Taking a deep breath he hoped he wouldn't regret what he was about to do. Grabbing the old man by the ankles he drug him into the bushes were he wouldn't be seen. Something bigger was coming…no, something bigger was already here. He needed to put this away, at least for now, and get back to the farm. Annette was his responsibility and for all he knew more of these things could be surrounding the house right now. He would think about this and figure out what he was going to tell Beth in the morning.
Climbing back up the way he came, Daryl cast one last glance over his shoulder before hurrying back home.
Beth stood next to Rosita arms crossed as they pensively stared into the room watching as Siddiq listened to the woman's lungs. Her fever hadn't broken despite rectal Tylenol and being packed in ice. Not only was the temperature bad because of whatever the hell was going on but also because she had just had a stroke, which seemed like an after thought at this point.
The glass door slid open as Siddiq discarded his gown and gloves in the trash. Carefully he folded his N95 Mask up neatly and placed it back into his pocket. Taking in Rosita and Beth's pensive expressions she put his hand up and let out a small laugh.
"It's just a fever guys….she had no bites, no wounds, and we have no reason to believe it's anything to be worried about." He moved to the sink to wash his hands.
"Yeah but her urine is clean, her lungs are clear, and she doesn't have a white count…" Rosita quickly countered as the young doctor let out a sigh. "So what's causing it, huh?"
"I don't know what's causing it..but I'm sure it has a perfectly reasonable explanation." Siddiq dried his hands in a paper towel before offering them both a plaintive smile. "You're both exhausted…go home and get some sleep, alright ?"
Rosita huffed as he walked away. "Some shit if I ever heard it." Pausing she looked back to Beth. "Hey, you ok?"
Beth was quick to nod. She had so much to process and she just wanted to be alone, in her car, where she could freak out without anyone looking at her. "Yeah…just ready to get home."
The two women got their purses and headed toward the exit. Downstairs in the lobby Beth noticed that Amy wasn't at her usual position at the coffee cart and that all unnecessary services in the lobby were closed. It made the already creeping sensation in her spine worsen. Outside, before she could tell Rosita that she would see her tomorrow a large white truck sped up to the curb coming to a screeching halt. Inside Abraham leaned out the window.
"Hurry the hell up. They're recalling us all back to the base pronto !" Normally Rosita would bristle at being spoken to in such a way but today she simply nodded before looking back to her friend.
"I'll see you tomorrow night, alright?" Beth nodded quickly before Rosita jumped up into the truck and Abraham hit the gas speeding away.
Sliding behind the wheel of her Camry Beth shut the door and hit the locks. Exhaling a shaky breath she mentally reviewed her interactions with every patient she had tonight. Her two original patients in 14 and 15 had been fever free all night as she made sure, checking their temps every hour along with everything else. She had been exposed to Rosita's patient in 13 but only with all of her PPE on; N95, gloves, gown, and face shield.
Turning the key, she put the car in drive and headed toward the interstate. What if her mask had leaked ? What if her glove was torn ? What is she didn't wash her hands thoroughly enough ? Beth began to panic as she merged into traffic. What if it was in her hair? Or on her clothes? What if she had the virus right now, all over her and she was going to take it home to her mama? Beth's heart pounded and her hands began to shake as she drew a shaky breath in. Her anxiety was spiraling. She felt dizzy and weak and like she might pass out right here while driving. Thankfully her exit came up and she felt a little relief as she got off the highway and pointed the car toward home.
Sucking in air she blinked back the tears; just a few more turns and she would be safe. Back to the farm and her mama and Daryl. Just the thought of him made a warmth flood throughout her body. As long as he was around she was going to be ok, she believed that…she really really did. Coming up the driveway to the farm she brought the car to a stop as a feeling of dread creeped up her spine.
The sun was barely above the horizon and Daryl was already outside, soaked in sweat and feverishly working on the fence that surrounded the house. What was just a few posts yesterday was now halfway complete. He had to have been up all night working on it. Something must have happened. Slamming the car door Beth jumped out and ran up to him. "My mama ?!"
Daryl dropped the shovel as he held up his hands. He was sure this was going to cause her to panic but after the situation in the woods he couldn't just go back in the house and lay down. He had to get this fence done….now. "She's alright…Got sick last night but I cleaned her up. Just checked on her about an hour ago, made her breakfast and have some for you waiting on the counter."
Beth's face fell as her shoulders sagged. Staring at the fence she squinted her eyes, "What…Why did you did you do all this yourself ? I said I would help you…"
Daryl shrugged, didn't seem like a good time to say something. "Just couldn't sleep. Hate laying around and not gettin' things done." Beth looked at him confused before giving up and shaking her head. She was too tired to question it. Too tired and too scared. Looking between Daryl and the house a fearful expression came over her face.
"I can't go in…not without showering. I need to make sure I don't give anything to her." Daryl stood speechless for a moment. Beth left the house her normal, cheerful self and she came back a ball of nerves.
"Did something happen at work?" He took a step toward her and she looked away, her brows knit together.
"No….no. They told us they have some patients downtown they think with the virus." Daryl pulled back like he had been stung. It was here…it was fucking here !"We didn't have anyone but someone did have a fever and I don't know I'm just freaking out…"She wrung her hands together. Daryl studied her a moment before nodding slowly. There was a lot that needed done…a lot that needed taken care of. But right now, he needed to take care of Beth.
"Come on….I have some stuff in the barn." Fifteen minutes later Beth was totally naked and washing with a bar of soap under the spray of the hose. The water was cold, she must forgotten to turn the valve as the days had been so hot recently. This morning, however, fog hung low in the air and the breeze was cool making her teeth chatter. She couldn't take the chance of going in the house with anything on her though. Giving this virus to her mama was just unthinkable.
"Just another minute." Her voice wavered as she shivered violently. Daryl stood at the corner of the barn, his back turned as he listened to the water splash.
"It's alright." He held his crossbow loosely in his arms as he promised Beth he would keep watch while she washed. It was probably the girl's first cold shower and he assumed that whatever happened at work had her scared real good. He understood her fear of taking any sort of sickness inside to Annette as that was why he quickly provided her with a bar of soap, shampoo, and a clean towel when she rolled up the driveway this morning on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He himself had washed off throughly after his brush with old man Mitchell out in the woods. Also afraid that he would take some kind of disease in the house and be responsible for harming Beth's mama. The woman was just so weak, it was hard not to worry.
The water turned off as Daryl patiently waited for Beth to finish up. If the last twelve hours hadn't been so damn dire his mind might have wandered in this moment. But he didn't, he thought of nothing other than Beth's safety and how much more fence he could build before he collapsed with exhaustion.
"Alright I'm done." Her voice was soft and small and when he turned around it took him minute to comprehend what he was seeing. Beth in his clothes. Not wanting to go inside the house until she was clean, there was no other option. Daryl could have gone up to her bedroom and found her something to wear but that didn't seem right. Now looking at her wear his sweats he wondered what he was thinking. He'd never seen a girl wearing his clothes before and it did something to him, something deep in his gut. Those thoughts lingered for just a moment before he shook his head and actually saw beyond some teenage fantasy.
Her wet hair clung to her face as she shook uncontrollably in front of him. Her eyes were red rimmed and glassy and he'd never seen her look so lost or so afraid. Lowering the crossbow he took a step toward her and that was all she needed. Going to him she pressed herself against his body and without thinking about it Daryl wrapped his arms around her. She trembled in his embrace as he rubbed his hands on her trying to warm her up.
" 's alright…just need to warm up a bit." Snuggling closer to his warm chest, Beth let out a short sob.
"I'm scared Daryl…I'm so scared." His heart broke as the strongest woman he knew fell apart in his arms. "Please tell me everything's gonna be ok…Please."
Daryl moved one of his hands so that he was cradling her head against him. Running his fingers through her hair he pressed his cheek to the top of her head. "Everything's gonna be ok….we'll figure this out. I promise I'll keep you safe…I'll always keep you safe."
Looking up Daryl's eyes wandered toward the woods as he slowly exhaled. He didn't know what was about to happen but he did know that he would go to the ends of the earth to keep anything from happening to her. He didn't like to make promises but this was one he knew he was going to keep.
TBC…
Zombies are here ! Hope this wasn't too abrupt and follows the pace of the story. Please, Please, Please review !