"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 Fourteen

Hershel had never liked guns in the house, stating time and again that there was no reason to turn the farm into an armed camp. Still, he wasn't so foolish to think that the farm didn't need some sort of protection, at least from the likes a rabid coyote or the occasional ornery black bear. One shot gun, that was all they had, and now staring at the slightly dusty weapon Beth realized that this was going to be even harder than she thought. She couldn't leave her mama her all alone with no protection so, in her mind, it was settled. She was going to leave the shot gun with Annette and she would need to find some other kind of weapon for herself. The notion made her cringe knowing that any other tool would require her to get up close and personal like last night. Speaking of which, it took her nearly all night to get the kitchen clean again and even then she was sure that some of the rotting black blood had seeped into the grout, never to be wiped away again. It didn't matter, though, in the grand scheme of things, Beth had come out on top. Her mama, Maize, and herself were all still here. The corpse hadn't been easy or light to drag out the front door. Rolling him up in a tarp from the basement she spent several sweat soaked hours hauling his lifeless body out of the house and into the driveway. She was careful not to lay him too close to any of the wells or the barn not knowing what would happen if any of his fetid, contaminated blood got into the water system or near the animals. Beth would have to burn him when morning came, not wanting to venture too far in the dark. And was it ever dark with only a crescent moon to guide her down the stairs, through the front yard, and out past the gate. Hurrying back inside she sure to check on her mama every few minutes leaving Maize at the top of the stairs with strict orders to protect.

Naturally Beth hadn't slept a wink, her heart and mind racing most of the night with so many horrifying thoughts and ideas. Immediately, she went to Daryl's room and using all her strength barricaded the door the with dresser hoping that it would be enough to hold back any unwanted guests. Then removing the dead from the kitchen, and after that filling a bucket with bleach, and scrubbing every square inch of the downstairs. She didn't know how the virus was spread, didn't seem that anyone did, for all she knew she could be infected right now. Her close combat last night more than a little concerning. Maybe it was in the air, maybe it was in their blood, and still maybe they had to bite or scratch you. Afterwards, while the house was quiet and she had plenty of time to think, her brain kept sticking on the way that thing wanted to eat Maize. Rip into her furry neck and devour her from the inside out. That was also something she had done, went over Maize's entire body with a fine tooth comb looking for any bites or scratches. The dog, having all but forgotten the horror of the past few hours, assumed it was a thorough massage and enjoyed the exercise with a thumping tail.

It was morning now and she was sure that she had missed something as she stood exhausted in the driveway. In front of her, a small fire popped and crackled as the orange flames devoured the walker into a pile of bones and ash. In addition to the dresser, she'd also barricaded the door to Daryl's room with some old barn planks. Nailing the worn wood over the door from the outside she knew there probably a better way but right now her only concern was securing her mama in the house for just long enough to get her daddy. Working the strap of the shot gun slung over her shoulder, Beth's insides shook. She couldn't do this….there was no way. She was just a nurse. She didn't know how to fight or to survive. Sure she'd learned a few things from Daryl in their short time together but definitely not enough to do this alone.

Daryl

Just thinking of him she wanted to cry. She had no idea where he was or if he was alright. At one time she thought that maybe her offer had changed his life for the better but now…now she knew that just wasn't true. Merle or not, Daryl would have seen this thing coming and been ready to fight from day one. He would have done what he had to do and then disappear back into the trees without so much as a trace. It was the advantage of not being responsible for anyone but himself. She'd ruined all that for him, though, drawing him into her world of misery and forcing him to pay a debt that he hadn't earned. Reaching up, Beth swiped a tear away. She didn't have time for this right now as she swallowed the lump in her throat.

When the fire burned out and the dead had turned into nothing more than a black spot in the dirt, Beth turned and latching the gate went back into the house. She'd done everything she could to secure the house and now the only thing left to do was go out and get her daddy. Flicking the light switch on and off, she sighed. The power was still out, her phone was dead, and there was no way to know what was going on in the outside world although she was sure she could guess. If one of those things had made it as far as the farm, she knew that cities like Atlanta had to be damn near overrun. Bringing a glass of cool water up to her lips, Beth looked at the weapons laid out on the kitchen table. It wasn't much, Hershel had always been adamant that the solution to any conflict could be found in the good book before one turned to violence.

A long sturdy kitchen knife, a machete they used for hacking at brush, and the knife Daryl had given her. Beth sighed, it was pathetic actually, but it was what she had to work with. Securing the knife from Daryl to her belt, she selected the machete simply because it had a longer blade and she wouldn't have to get as close. She wasn't stupid, she knew last night had been a fluke. Seeing Maize spread out on the living room floor about to be eaten had infused her with a special kind of rage. A single one of the dead was one thing, a whole group of them was another situation entirely. She doubted that no matter how angry she got she could fight off more than one at a time.

That wasn't going to happen, though, she was going to go straight to the rehab and then straight home. It wasn't a long trip, maybe eight miles, and it was mostly side roads, back country thoroughfares that she'd traveled all her life. It wouldn't be hard, and once she got her daddy she wouldn't be alone anymore. If she ran into a whole herd of those things on the way she would just turn around and come back home. She repeated the plan over and over to herself as she took a deep breath. Slinging the shotgun over her shoulder she marched up the stairs.

Her mama's bedroom door was open as Beth stepped over the threshold. "Mama…I'm going now." Annette turned to look at Beth, worry evident in her eyes. There wasn't anything else to say and it was more than evident that neither woman was keen on this idea. It was just something that needed to be done. Loading two shells into the shotgun Beth snapped the action closed and lay it in bed next to her mama. On the night stand she left a box of ammo although she wasn't sure her mama would have the strength the do much more than pull the trigger. Still, she was going to give her the benefit of the doubt as well as every possible chance to survive.

"Honey please be careful….if anything happens promise me you'll turn around and come straight home." Beth bit her bottom lip as she nodded.

"I promise mama, any trouble and I'll come straight home." Taking a deep breath she nodded, "You have everything, right?" Annette looked around, there wasn't much to have but she supposed that it was all here. Power was out and the phones were down; it seemed like they had been virtually cut off overnight.

"I'll be fine. Just get your daddy and bring him home." Stepping forward, Beth put her arms around her mama's thin shoulders.

"Anything comes through this door, don't wait just shoot…alright?" Resting a hand on the shot gun Annette offered a nod. Beth, not wanting to delay anymore for fear that she might not ever leave, turned sharply on her heel and stalked down the stairs. Maize followed close behind ready for whatever came next. Despite the dog's desire to follow Beth on this undoubtedly perilous mission, she had already decided that Maize was better off at home. She would be safer there and she could look after Annette, alert her if there was anything amiss around the house.

"Stay here, girl, and protect gramma." Maize came to sit at the bottom of the stairs cocking her head. Gathering the machete, a tube of pepper spray she kept in her purse, and a bottle of water Beth took one last look around. Everything was secure as it was going to be and she needed to stop putting this off and just go get it done already. Latching the door she triple checked the lock before moving the heavy bench they kept on the front porch in front of it. Nobody and nothing was getting to her mama while she was gone.

Sliding behind the wheel of the Camry, Beth frowned at the gas gauge. Less than a quarter, that was stupid…real stupid but with everything going on it had just slipped her mind. Still, she reasoned that she had enough to make it to get Hershel and get back. Once they were all safely home she would worry about it along with a slew of other issues she needed to figure out. The farm was quiet as she pulled out and headed down the long dirt driveway. Casting a wary eye toward the trees, however, she wondered if anything was lurking in the dark recesses of the forest. Just a little bit of time was all she needed to set things right as she prayed that the good Lord would grant her just that, along with a whole lot of luck.

The sun had come up as Daryl leaned his head back against the cinder block walls. Squinting against the morning light, he reasoned that he had been in the cell for almost a day now. No food, no water, no way to even go to the bathroom if needed; that matter had been settled by urinating onto a pile of papers outside the bars that now stunk almost as bad as the rotting pile of human corpses that lay next to it. The deputy and the walker that started it all lay motionless for the past eight hours with flies buzzing around them in the summer heat.

Daryl was dizzy and his stomach rolled, he was sure that he had sweat out nearly every ounce of fluid inside him as his lips stuck together and his throat burned. The kid in the cell with him had died the night before and was still laying on the ground where he had expired. Daryl knew that he had been bitten and knew that he would turn eventually although he admitted that he was surprised at how long it was taking. Not that he was hoping for that moment to come or anything, but either way might as well get it over with.

He had nothing but his bare hands that now trembled from dehydration and exhaustion. Daryl knew that there was a real possibility that he might die here, that this thing could be over for him before it even started. Bending his head to rest it against his knees he closed his eyes for a moment. God he was so tired.

'Look at you, ya little pussy.' Daryl opened his eyes and Merle stood over him, a characteristic sneer on his face. "Locked up like an animal because of some broad."

Daryl kicked his feet out weakly attempting to knock his brother right over onto that smug face of his. "Shut the hell up…don't know nothing."

Merle laughed as he squatted down so that he was eye level with his brother. "I know a hot piece of tail got you all mixed up…thinkin' you mean something to her and and her family. But you know you're trash, baby brother, no good redneck trash. Always was and always gonna be…"

"That was you, man…you were the trash. I made a life for myself after you were gone…a life I could never have had as long as you were around." Merle was quiet for a moment before bursting out with laughter. Hooting, taunting laughter that echoed against the cinderblock wall.

"Made a life…did ya boy? Then why the hell is your ass here right now? Thrown away and locked up, they done forgot about you, son, and you're still thinkin' this was all worth it ? That you were better off with them than your own flesh and blood?"

Daryl forced his gaze to the ground. What could he say about that? He knew Beth never meant for this to happen and she sure as fuck didn't make him put an arrow in Old Man Mitchell, but still the fact remained that he had been left here. Left to die.

Merle cackled a low, knowing sound. "See…I told ya…should have listened to me all along little brother." Reaching up, Merle placed a hand on either side of Daryl's face. Rough, calloused, uncared for hands gripped the soft skin of his cheeks. "You need to wake up, little brother…wake up and see what's really going on here. That you're nothing to these people except someone to clean up their mess, someone to do their work, and when it's all done they throw you out on your ass." Merle jutted his bottom jaw out the way he did when he was mad, his teeth digging into his upper lip and drawing blood, blood that dripped into Daryl's eyes as he blinked. "Wake up little brother….WAKE UP !" He shook him hard and his head snapped back against the concrete.

Daryl came to with a gasp as his eyes snapped open. Standing over him, the boy who had just seconds ago been lying inertly on the ground, his eyes misted and grey, his jaw open and hungry. Black, fetid blood dripped from his nose and mouth as he stood over Daryl growling and hissing. Something akin to a whimper escape Daryl's mouth as he rolled onto his side and away as the boy lunged toward his neck. Scrambling backwards on his ass he struggled to get his bearings as his head spun and throbbed. Crashing into the concrete wall the boy turned back toward him clearly unsatisfied. Using all the strength he had, Daryl pushed himself to his feet. He didn't have much choice but to kill this bastard with his bare hands. He'd already been in close combat with one of these pricks before but he had his crossbow and his knife. Choices and means to keep the snapping hungry teeth at least an arms length away. This time it would be different. Getting low to the ground Daryl put his hands up to protect himself the way Merle had taught him nearly a lifetime ago.

"Alright…let's go." The dead lunged for him and using all his weight and strength Daryl drove his shoulder into the kid's middle. Already off balance and shuffling, it didn't take that much to knock him onto the ground. A hiss and a moan as pale, uncoordinated hands reached up trying to latch onto his ankle and bite. Daryl was too fast though he remembered his own advice and swiftly brought his booted foot up smashing it into the kids's face. He'd only been dead a few hours so he wasn't as rotted as Old Man Mitchell in the woods. One kick subdued him but his teeth manage to latch onto the rubber sole. Seeing the resistance, a primal urge inside of Daryl snapped as he stomped, almost unhinged, over and over not stopping until the kid's face was a pile of mush on the ground. When it was over and his heart was pounding wildly in his chest, he stumbled backward gasping for air and taking stock of what he had just done.

He was dead. No doubt about that and the threat had been eliminated. But instead of pure relief he felt sick as his stomach rolled and heaved. Nothing but foam and bile came out of him as he fell onto the cement bench his head between his legs. Spitting, he collapsed back against the wall his body was covered in a sheen of sweat. Closing his eyes against the morning sunlight, Daryl's head spun. Surprisingly, the only thing on his mind right now was Beth. He wanted to see her so fucking bad right now, wanted her to take care of him, wanted to be safe at the farm in his warm bed just off the kitchen. God knows he'd never admit that to anyone, only reason he was admitting this to himself was right now was because he was so goddamn desperate. He just wanted to go home to the only home he'd ever known.

Hissing and moaning caused him to open his eyes blinking a few times. The deputy who disappeared out the door hours ago shuffled back inside the station. His neck was gashed wide open as his head hung to the side. Dragging his feet he instantly smelled Daryl and lunged against the bars. Arms with torn flesh jutted toward him grabbing at air as Daryl stood staring bluntly. Keys jangled loudly as the freak threw himself at the bars over and over.

Wait…keys…

Daryl's eyes were immediately drawn to the man's belt and the loop of keys hanging off the rear. There had to be a key to the cell on there…there just had to be. Blinking his eyes, he wiped the sweat away as he forced his vision to focus. This was his ticket out of here. Idly he wondered if he could just reach through the bars and unhook the keys. It seemed so simple and yet so dumb but maybe it would work. Getting low again, Daryl reached his arm but he was exhausted and slow and the dead lunged toward the pink flesh of his arm quicker than he could pull it back in. He missed getting bit by just a hair as he clutched his arm to his chest, his heart thundering wildly. Looking around he realized that he needed to make a weapon and put this fuck down if he had any hope of getting those keys and getting out of here. Eyes wandering to the dead kid on the ground he felt his stomach churn.

"What do you mean he just left?" The woman behind the desk put her hands up as she shook her head.

"The door locks run on electricity, without that it's a manual lock that can be flipped by anyone who can figure it out." The woman sighed as she shrugged her shoulders. "It isn't a prison….if they want to leave then they can go…"

Beth huffed as she rested her elbow on the counter, rubbing her forehead she shook her head. "I don't understand; I called here two days ago and they told me he was safe, that the facility was secure."

The woman shuffled some papers into the drawer as she refused to meet Beth's stare. Watching her, Beth got the impression that she was closing up shop. After a moment she spoke her voice low, "A man came to the door a two days ago, just before the power went out. He said he'd been attacked by one of those….those things…" She visibly shuddered. "I told him we have no doctors here, its just a rehab. He begged us to let him in, so we did. Bandaged the terrible wound on his side with what we had. I called for an ambulance, but the line was always busy. Then the power went out and it felt like we were left on our own." Beth softened her expression, she could relate to that. Idly he wondered what it must have been like at the hospital last night, and if her friends were safe. "He got sicker and sicker, we gave him Tylenol but nothing helped…." The woman paused, clearly considering if she should tell Beth the next part. After a moment she sighed and continued. "Your father said he was a doctor…"

Beth's eyes misted over. Not only because the sounded just like her Daddy, but also because she was beginning to realize that maybe she was too late. "He's a vet…a veterinarian….we have a farm.." Her soft voice trailed off.

"He told us that; we were just grateful there was a doctor here at all. He washed the wound out and stitched him up. Watched him like a hawk all night…." Beth's lips twitched into a slight smile that quickly fell flat as the woman met her eyes, "When morning came the man died….and then he turned. Turning into one of those things." Beth swallowed hard. "Attacked a nurse and a tech, tore into their neck like some kind of animal. A few of the men cornered him, beat him down. Your dad got upset, said it was just the fever and he was sick…" She looked to the door. "He took off right after that, along with half the staff and patients."

Anxiety shot through Beth as she looked between the door and the woman. "Did he say where he was going?"

She shook her head as she reached for a bag under the desk. "I assume he was going home." Beth wracked her mind trying to think if she saw anyone that looked like her father on the way here. She hadn't been paying attention, not like she should have been anyway, and was primarily looking out for any signs of the dead. Coming out from behind the desk, the woman tugged on her jacket slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"Where are you going?" Beth realized what a hypocrite she was right now, she'd been lucky enough to leave her own job before everything went sideways, this woman had probably been here for three days now not knowing if her own family was safe.

"I have to go…I'm sorry."

"What about all the patients here ? The people who haven't finished detoxing…that can't be left alone ?" The woman shrugged as she leaned her shoulder into the door.

"I don't know…but I need to find my own family right now." And with that she was gone leaving Beth standing at the front desk bewildered. With no air circulation, the rehab center was hot as sweat began to build on her brow. Wiping it away she eyed the door to the treatment area. Even if her daddy was gone, she should still check out his room and see if maybe he left a note or if she could find someone what knew which way he went. Yes, it was an obviously conclusion that he would try to get back to the farm but without a car it was a long and dangerous journey. Knowing where to look could be the difference between life and death.

Stepping through the doors, Beth quickly realized why her father had left. The hallways stunk of urine as linen hampers overflowed with dirty sheets and bedding. Beth had witnessed people coming off alcohol in the ICU many times and it wasn't a pretty or particularly clean process. She could imagine the filth many of these people were left to lay in. The hallway was long and dark, illuminated only by daylight coming through the windows. Most of the rooms were empty, the woman at the desk right about all those who could leave taking off. The ones that were left were either delirious in the throes of withdrawal or physically incapacitated. Beth had to force herself not to respond to their mournful cries of help. She was beginning to understand that the world was full of people who needed help now, and she was just one person. She was here to find her daddy, nothing more.

The only reason Beth knew that her daddy was in room 109 was because she had brought his bible to him after he got admitted. It was the only time she'd seen him since the accident and he was in awful shape, cursing her for having put him in here in the first place. Coming upon the room now, Beth found it empty and quiet. Two bed, one made and one fresh from sleep. Her daddy must have gotten a roommate at some point as Beth idly wondered if that person was still around and could provide her some information. Going to the beside table she found both drawers empty, and just a single shirt hanging in the closet. Biting her lower lip, Beth knew she couldn't search everywhere. This wasn't working out exactly how she'd imagined.

"Are you looking for Hershel ?" A tall man with swept back brown hair appeared in the doorway as she nearly fell over her own two feet. He'd always looked so much shorter, so much weaker when he was in bed. Taking a step toward her, he towered over her as he extended his hand. "Philip Blake…" She stared at him, not moving and speechless.

"Uh….Beth, Beth Greene." She let him take her hand as she shook it almost robotically. He clearly didn't remember her, and why would he? He was completely hallucinating and psychotic coming off booze during his stay in the ICU. She forced the corner of her lip to twitch up; not even a flicker of recognition crossed his face.

"Hershel's daughter." He went to the other bed and began making it, for what she didn't know. "I suppose you're here looking for him…"

"Yes..do you know where he went ?" She couldn't help but to sound hopeful. Blake finished tucking the sheets in as he let out a scoff of sorts.

"He wasn't happy with you, forcing him in here after that accident." Beth sucked in a sharp breath. What. Blake sat down on the bed crossing his legs and regarding her like he had some kind of secret. "Yeah said you should have minded your own business. Let him and your mama live how they want." This didn't even make sense, but still Beth had to turn her eyes away. "Said you brought a drifter in to work his farm, made him feel useless…."

"Do you know where my daddy went ?" She cut him off hearing enough from a man who she had once wiped his ass.

Blake stood up, adjusting himself as if he had been stung. The smile faded from his face. "They brought a man in here a few days ago. He was bitten by one of those things. Your father did what he could…" He paused shaking his head as he looked out the window. "He's an incredible man, your father, he said it was the AIDs crisis. People coming down with fever, illness, delirium and everyone too scared to help him." He paused again as Beth squinted her eyes trying to understand it all. "He stayed with the man after he died…until he turned. Your father tried to calm him, tried to tell the others that he was just delirious with fever. But they didn't want to listen…they killed him."

"Where did he go ?" It was more of a demand than a question. She didn't give a shit about this story. Those things were animals…creatures that wanting nothing more than to eat. She'd seen it herself last night.

Blake took a step toward her as he towered over her on purpose using his size to intimidate. "He didn't like what he saw here…didn't like what you did to him much, replacing him on his own land. I told him I intended to leave here, find my family and then were were going to build a community. A place where everyone can be safe…a place where we can understand this disease and find a way to treat it…" A smirk came to his face. "He seemed very interested…" Gathering a bag from the closet, Blake let out a small laugh. "Would be a good place for your mama to get the care she needs, could even find something for you to do there as well….provided you find a way to make yourself useful."

Beth had had enough, "Pardon me, but you haven't set foot outside this rehab since this whole thing started and you don't know a shit's bit about what's been going on out there." Blake's lip pulled into a thin line. "Things aren't what you think and whatever pipe dream you've been having in here will most likely not pan out. All you can do now is find your people and do everything you can to keep them safe." Her heart was pounding as her face burned hot.

"That's simple minded survival….I'm talking about making a place for the future. This isn't going to blow over, this is it….it's the end. Your father is an intelligent man and I think he'll make the right choice…." Walking past her he let out a wry laugh. "If I see him, I'll tell him you're looking for him." He turned at the door offering her a parting shot. "It's a gated community, beautiful small town America. Woodbury. Maybe I'll see you there someday."

Beth watched him go as she slumped back against the wall. Now what the hell was she going to do ?

Daryl thought the hardest part of this would be ripping someone's arm off with his bare hands. But no, the hardest part was actually figuring out which key unlocked the damn cell. Working his hands through the bars he tried key after key with no luck, sometimes missing the lock, sometimes putting it in upside down. His head was spinning and his knees were shaking so he knew he didn't have much time left. Every ounce of his strength had gone to eliminating that freak and getting these keys.

Sometime around mid morning he'd stopped sweating and he knew that was a bad sign. Not even his underarms were wet and forget pissing, the last few drops of that had painfully trickled out a few hours ago. He needed to get the fuck out of here and find some food and water. Grunting, Daryl jammed another key into the lock. He was sure that he had lost track somehow, his brain operating in a thick haze. He just wanted to hear that damn click. One turn and one click and he would be out of this cage. It was the only thing that was keeping him going at this point.

His face pressed against the iron as he blinked. What if the key wasn't on this ring? What if he never got out of here. Died right here on the floor of simple dehydration. Merle and his daddy always used to say that the only thing that could kill a Dixon was a Dixon and maybe in a round about way he had done that. Sealed his own fate when he took the fall for those drugs. He doubted it, those cops already had their mind made up about him long before the vials hit the dirt. He was a murderer, plain and simple. Forget that the dead were walking and the whole mess boiled down to nothing more than a jealous ex-boyfriend. Still if he could go back and change things, tell her to piss off that first morning in the woods, he wouldn't. Meeting Beth was honestly the best thing that ever happened to him.

Sliding of metal on metal, keys jangling, and then a click. Daryl wasn't sure he actually heard it but when the door gave way and opened he knew it was real. He was free….he'd actually done it. Exhaling with relief Daryl used all the strength he had left and pushed the door open far enough to slip out. During his time in the cell, he had studied the entire station and knew exactly where his crossbow was. Now that he was free he nearly sprinting across the small room, retrieving the weapon from behind the Sheriff's desk. Turning too fast, the room spun viciously causing Daryl to lose his balance and stumble backwards. Head meeting the desk, he heard a crack before the world went black.

Taillights illuminated in front of Beth as she laid on the horn. She didn't want to get on the highway and she tried everything to avoid it but by the time she finished up at the rehab the country road back to the farm had been blocked by an accident. She'd not gotten close enough to see what happened and was nearly pushed onto the interstate by a Georgia State Trooper with a grim expression. Her heart pounded as she merged on telling herself that it was just one exit and and then three turns and she would be back home. Sounded simple enough.

But the highway was jammed as traffic crawled along at a snail's pace. Horns blared all around her. As she imagined people were fleeing Atlanta at an alarming pace. Swallowing hard she realized that she was now also caught up in all that hysteria. Straight to the rehab, get her daddy, and come straight home. Now look at her.

"Come on….Jesus." The car was hot as she had turned off the air conditioning to save gas. It was just on exit…why was nothing moving. A few people in front of her got out of their cars and began to walk around, arms crossed and concerned looks on their faces. Careful not to chug too much water, Beth brought he bottle to her lips eternally grateful that she had remembered to bring it in the first place. A lot of the people around her looked woefully unprepared if they were stranded here for any length of time. Casting a glance in the rear view mirror she squinted her eyes trying to understand what she was seeing. Things were bobbing and weaved through the cars. As they got closer she realized that they were heads, and it was people running. Leaning out the driver's side window a man ran past.

"They're coming…Jesus Christ they're coming." What was coming ? Opening her own door Beth's eyes settled on one of the dead shuffling and lunging for people as they ran past. Then where he saw one she saw another and another until a whole herd of them came into view. Getting back into the car she shut the door and wound the window up locking all the doors. If she just stayed here and she stayed quiet, they would pass right by her…they would, right? She covered her eyes for a moment as fear shot down her spine. This wasn't happening right now, it just could not be happening….

Breathing hard with fear Beth's eyes flicked back up the mirror. A few car lengths back, she saw the dead surround a car. Presumably someone must be inside because once one stopped they all began to stop eventually rocking the car side too side, moaning and hissing so loud she could hear it even with the windows up.

Fuck

She had to move, if she wanted to survive she would need to get out of the car. It's what Daryl would do, and it's what he would tell her to do is he saw her right now. Gathering the small pack she brought with her, the machete, and turning her car off she pocketed the keys and swung the door open with more confidence than she felt. Almost immediately, one of the dead lunged for her as she stumbled backwards not even bothering to shut the door. She waited too long and now they were on top of her. Looking around she realized that she couldn't kill them all as she broke out into the sprint down the shoulder of the highway toward the exit that would lead her home.

Terror was an understatement. All around her people were running for their lives, some screaming, some paralyzing with fear unable to move. A little kid held onto his mothers hands but he kept tripping and she kept having to stop until she finally gave up and hefted the boy into her arms. Behind her, Beth heard the hissing and moaning grow louder and louder and then a terrible scream. She turned, out of reflex more than anything else, and the woman with the kid was on the ground. Beth gasped and actually found herself taking a few steps back wanting to try and help. I mean fuck that poor little boy. But even if she had been quicker, it still wouldn't have done any good. One of the dead lunged for the woman's neck as she clutched the boy. Another fell on the boy and at that moment Beth turned back around and ran. Her legs pounded the pavement but she didn't feel a thing. Eyes wide, pure terror shot down her spine.

This was insane…she was going to die.

Beyond the guardrail was a small strip of forest that eventually connected itself to the forest behind the farm. It was desolate and some of it heavy brush but right now it seemed like the best option. So hopping the guardrail she took one step over and then slipped losing her foot and sliding down a small hillside with a hard thud.

"Oh…shit!" Her ankle bent under and her shoulder twinged with pain but she hadn't been seriously hurt and for that she was thankful. To the rehab and straight back had sure gotten fucked up beyond all repair and now with the sun beginning to move into midday she realized that she needed to hurry. She estimated that she was about two miles from the farm if she cut a direct path through the brush. Standing up, Beth gathered her bearing and took a shaky step forward finding that her ankle twinged with pain that wasn't totally unbearable. She could do this.

Twenty minutes later, Beth bent over gasping for air. She thought she was in good shape from working the farm but this was something else. Her ankle now ached as she forced herself to maintain at least a fast walk. Thankfully she had't seen any of the dead since she left the highway. The image of that boy and his mother caused bile to tickle the back of her throat as she swallowed hard. It was early in this thing…whatever the hell this thing actually was and Beth would soon learn that dwelling on a past memory was the easiest way to get yourself killed.

It all happened so fast, she was walking not having seen a soul in sight and then she was on the ground, one of the dead on top of her. She hadn't seen the tree root, or the ditch she was now in, and she certainly didn't see the rotting corpse laying against the tree. Now she was as good as dead. The full weight of the walker on top of her she struggled kicking her legs trying to gain enough room to pull the knife on her belt out. Idiot…she should have had it in her hand to start with. Screaming wouldn't do no good….neither would crying. Using all the strength she had Beth pushed up trying to kick the dead off of her but it was useless. Even if she wasn't exhausted she doubted she would be able to lift the weight of a full grown man. Teeth snapped her in face, as foul smelling black blood dripped all over her. It was everything she could do to hold the sick bastard's face away from her own. She closed her eyes and she thought of her daddy lost out here wandering around, she thought of her mama at home scared and waiting, and she thought of Daryl and fucking much she missed him. God did she miss him.

She tried…she really, really did. Her arm shook as her wrist weakened and the walker's teeth came closer. Accepting her fate she took a deep breath, and then like magic the weight lifted off of her as she snapped her eyes open.

"Beth !" Her daddy stood over her looking no worse for wear as he grabbed her by the shoulders and drug her up. She blinked not quite understanding what was happening until he was standing. It was Hershel…her daddy…he hadn't run off to some cockamamie place named Woodbury…he was right here.

"Daddy…you're here..you're coming home." He nodded like she was talking crazy.

"Of course I am…" When he spoke this time she smelt something all too familiar on his breath. Her heart fell to her stomach as she forced the ghost of a smile.

"Alright…." She paused for a moment. "Then let's go home." The dead man that Hershel had thrown off of her had gathered its bearings and was now up and ambling their way. Picking the machete off the ground Beth took a step toward it, before her Daddy put a hand on her chest stopping her.

"No ! Leave him. He's just sick…He can't help what he's doing." Beth inhaled sharply.

What ?

Brining the machete back up, Hershel pushed her arm down. "Leave him, he won't bother us." Bother us ? He'd almost just killed her. "Come on…let's go !" Reluctantly she let him pull her away as they both began running toward the farm.

When the barn came into view Beth couldn't have been more relieved. She'd kept a close eye on her surroundings and an even closer one on her Daddy. The house was undisturbed and Beth couldn't have been happier that her mama wasn't under siege. Breaking out into a run she crossed the fields with her daddy not far behind. Instead of immediately going into the house, however, she turned toward the barn.

"Beth what are you doing ?" Hershel bent over onto his knees trying to catch his breath.

Undoing the chain lock she'd put in place just that morning she cast a wary glance at her father. "Go inside and check on mama. The house is secure, I made sure of it before I left this morning."

"What ?!" Hershel followed her into the barn as she knew exactly where she was going. Saddling up her horse, she wasted no time mounting the animal taking the baseball bat from the shelf and slipping it into the saddle.

Her father stared up at her red faced and confused. "I'm going to find Daryl." Hershel shook his head, words stumbling on his tongue.

"What ?! Why…He's not family…you can't go back out there, Beth !"

"He's my family. And I'm not coming back until I find him." Giving the horse a click he trotted out of the barn leaving Hershel staring at her back.

TBC….

Thanks for reading and please review !