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 Twenty-Two

Sapling branches hit him in the face as he depressed the accelerator. The engines of the bike revved, no doubt attracting every walker in Georgia, but that's just how it goes. His crossbow attached firmly to his back, he would take care of whatever came his way. The light was starting to wane as thin slats of orange sunlight were at his back following him east, toward the highway. He wanted to get there and get back as quickly as possible, this little errand obviously needing done sooner rather than later.

Beth was one hell of a nurse, he had known that for some time now, and how she managed to stabilize Carl all on her own he would never know. The boy was in bad shape and even he could see that. Daryl seriously doubted that Hershel could do what he said, go inside and sew an artery back together, but he knew that they needed to try either way. Wasn't like they had the luxury of hospitals, doctors, or surgeons.

Before he left the farm he sat astride his motorcycle checking his bow to make sure it was loaded and securely fastened. Beth approached him hesitant at first offering him a soft smile. Daryl knew the awkwardness between them was no one's fault but his own. The way things ended with her mama, he couldn't even think about it without feeling like a piece of shit. He just reacted, like the animal that he was, and before he knew it Annette was gone- Beth was screaming, Hershel was bellowing- and it was all his fault. So when she laid her hand on his, he had to fight the urge to pull it away. To make her see- understand- that he wasn't worthy of such a gesture. Not right now at least, maybe he hadn't ever been, but he'd sure fooled himself into thinking that he was.

Beth was the most special person that he'd ever met; good and kind, smart and so very strong. And for some reason she wanted him, a nobody- a loser. Daryl couldn't deny that he loved her, and that was the only reason why he was still here. Looking after her and this farm and making sure the place was as safe as it could be. Because it would have been so much easier to run away from what he'd done, try to forget the whole situation entirely. And maybe he would have done just that if the dead hadn't been walking, but either way he was still here because of her.

Beth watched Daryl go across the pasture, the bike revving and sputtering at the same time. She hated him going off and doing this, it wasn't his problem to fix, but she also knew that Carl's mother needed fetched sooner rather than later. She tried to imagine if she had a son and how she would feel not knowing that her own child lay in a stranger's farmhouse bleeding to death. It made he shudder and as her eyes wandered to the woods behind the farm, a chill ran down her spine for an entirely different reason. A little girl- not more than twelve- lost in the woods, alone with those things. Before all this Beth would have labeled herself a tempered optimist. She'd seen enough at work to know that things didn't always work out. That sometimes- a lot of times- the worst did happen. Now after everything with her mama, her daddy, and the dead up and walking she would have to say that she'd moved onto to becoming a realist. Yes she did still hope, but that hope wasn't nearly as bright as before. Nobody was asking her ,but if anyone did, she would have to say that the girl was dead. No way a child could fight one of those things off.

Beth assumed that after the situation with Carl was settled, their next priority would be finding the girl. While she doubted there was anything to find, she also knew that the girl's mama or daddy wouldn't move on until they tried. Her eyes followed Daryl until he disappeared as she sighed. She wanted nothing more right now than him; to feel his arm around her shoulders, to be crushed into his strong chest, to fall asleep next to him knowing that she was safe. Admittedly she had not known Daryl Dixon for very long, maybe a few months, but she absolutely knew without a doubt that he was blaming himself for what happened to her mama. Daryl, as she found, blamed himself for everything, coming down harder than anyone else ever could. Even though he'd done the right thing, even though it was unavoidable, because of her daddy's reaction he thought he'd done something wrong and hurt her beyond repair. It hurt, Beth could admit now that the way the whole thing went down did hurt. But that didn't mean that it didn't need to be done. And she just didn't know how to make him see that, to make him believe that. She supposed that he just needed time, Beth only hoped that they still had some time left to wait.

The house was quiet now, most everyone gone on their own missions. Her daddy sat with Rick at the table talking quietly. Most likely about the surgery and what it would take to save the boy, Rick's pale face showed understanding as he nodded slowly. Upon entering the room, their eyes turned to her as she offered a small smile. "I'm going to get another round of vitals, check on the bleeding, see if he needs any fluids…"

Hershel nodded, a certain sense of pride in his features, while Rick simply acknowledged her with a heartfelt. "Thank you, Beth." It felt strange for her daddy to be taking charge once again after avoiding anything that resembled responsibility for so long. Lingering for just another moment, Beth turned and went into Carl's room with Maize trailing close behind. Ever since the boy had shown up, the dog had taken a particular interest in watching over him, keeping a close eye from the door at all times. Beth bent down and kissed the dog affectionately on the head. "You're my good girl and my big girl." In reply Maize nestled her head against Beth licking her face, tail thumping on the hard wood floor. She felt bad, normally Maize got plenty of attention and love but since everything changed, the dog had taken a back seat and she really was such a good girl.

Taking up her spot at the end of the bed, Maize watched as Beth checked Carl's blood pressure, heart rate and listened to his chest. He still had a strong, regular heart beat and Beth was grateful knowing the boy needed to hold out just a little while longer. His bandage had a small amount of blood on it which may have been construed as a hopeful sign for someone who didn't know any better but Beth's lips drew into a grim line. Instead of bleeding from the wound, Carl was now most likely bleeding internally. Laying a gentle hand on his belly she tentatively pushed against taut muscle. It wasn't a good sign, but he was still stable and right now all they could do was wait.

Covering the boy, she toweled the thin sheen of sweat off his chest. Despite the heavy, humid air of the farmhouse, she worried that Carl might be cold as she drew the sheet and thin blanket up to his chin. His blood pressure was good, but still she hung another bag of saline thankful that she had supplies to spare. Moving to the window she staring out at the empty farm. Jimmy and Shane had left a little before Daryl and she hoped they had found what they needed and were on their way back. Jimmy was such a fool- a complete idiot really-this whole mess was his fault entirely. Not for the first time she wondered why Jimmy was out hunting in the first place. Beth had never known Jimmy to hunt much at all, living off his own livestock as well as the crops he grew. It was strange for sure and if she had more time she would have figured out what was really going on.

They hadn't said much to each other, her and Jimmy, but still he'd made it a point to take her aside before he left.

Beth had things to do and to say that she was annoyed with Jimmy would be an understatement. Still she let him pull her around the side of the house, an unmistakeable urgency in his action. "Beth…Why is he still here ?"

She sighed loudly as she shook her head. "Because I want him here, Jimmy."

He clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth not wanting to believe his own ears. "He's no good Beth and you gotta know that by now. I'm real sorry about your mama but you need to start looking out for yourself. Come stay with me over at my place…you'll be safe there."

Beth paused considering the words that had just come out of his mouth. Come stay with me…ME. Huh. "What do you mean, come stay with you ? Where are Teresa and the kids ?"

Jimmy quickly averted his eyes to the ground, a sure sign that whatever he was about to say was a lie. "I sent them away when this all started; to her mother's place on Springer Mountain."

Beth looked at him squinting her eyes. What a load of shit. "Just Teresa and her mother to protect the kids against a whole world of this those things. Why would you do that ?"

Jimmy shrugged looking across her fields back toward his own farm. "Figured they'd be safer up there, less people." Beth wasn't sure what he was up to, but she was convinced in that moment, that there was something else he wasn't telling her. Either way it wasn't her problem. This farm, her daddy, Daryl, seeing to the boy; that was her problem.

"My daddy needs me inside…" Turning away he grabbed her arm. Beth looked at him confused. "I'm not your problem, Jimmy. You need to let this thing with Daryl go."

This time when he spoke he met her eyes, "I still care about you, Beth."

She searched his face, clearly confused. "You had your chance years ago. You're a married man, Jimmy. After this mess with the boy is over, I want you gone. Do you understand me ?"

He flinched as if stung pulling his hand back, his face screwed up with unwarranted emotion. Beth, being the kind person she was, initially felt remorse for being so harsh. She couldn't take it back though, she needed him to understand that he had no place in her life anymore. That his only priority should be his wife and kids and keeping them safe at a time like this. Softening just a bit she shook her head. "Be careful out there, ok."

"YO ! We gotta get going here man…" From around the house Shane yelled out causing Beth to jump. Since the dead had risen her and Daryl had made it a habit to be very quiet; soft steps and even softer voices. Noise attracted them, they'd seen that on their trip to Atlanta. When they got back she was going to say something to him about it. This was her farm and if they were going to be here it would be her rules.

Ducking around the porch she made a beeline for Daryl, needing to see him before he left. If Jimmy didn't get the message now, she didn't know what she would need to do to make him see the truth.

Leaning her head against the glass window Beth exhaled closing her eyes for a moment. For so long she had been alone, caring for her mama and daddy and this farm all by herself. Love wasn't even a thought in her mind let alone a tangible option. And then came Daryl at just the right time, when she was at her breaking point; and she fell in love with his quiet tentative ways, his unselfish unassuming nature, and the caring way he looked after her and this farm. It didn't take long after that for her to fall in love with Daryl himself. He was just so good and kind, so honest and hesitant about himself. It would have been impossible for her to not love him. A small smirk came to her face as she shook her head. Figures now that the world had ended she would have relationship drama.

"How's he doing ?" Beth snapped out of her thoughts as Rick walked into the room. Offering him a soft smile she nodded toward Carl.

"He's stable. Still some bleeding but no worse." It was an optimistic version of the truth. Rick nodded his understanding as he hobbled to the chair next to the bed taking Carl's hand and staring at the boy.

"His mother wanted him to stay with her, looking for Sophia, and heading back toward the highway." He met her eyes and Beth knew that he wanted her to listen to this so tentatively she sat down on the edge of the bed taking Carl's other hand out of habit. It was something she often did for people in the ICU who had no one there. Not because she cared about them that much- she'd learned long ago that patients came and went- but because she thought maybe in their drug induced haze they would feel her hand and think it was their loved on. A family member who'd come out of the woodwork to be by their side at a time like this. While she didn't particularly care for her patients emotionally, it did break her heart to see people dying alone. Rick continued shaking his head with a look in his eyes that was anywhere but the present. "But I had a hunch that maybe she was just a little further and I wanted to go check it out and he wanted to come."

Beth didn't want to interrupt, but she had to know, "How did the girl go missing in the first place ?"

A wry smirk came to Rick's face as he shook his head, "You're lucky here, Beth, this farm is safe and you had the good sense to fortify it- make it even safer. You've got a garden and crops, animals, and medical supplies with people who know how to use them." Rick let out a laugh, "Well maybe you're not lucky at all, just smarter than the rest of us." Meeting her eyes he was serious, "It's not like that out there, not like that at all. Folks have no homes, no supplies, nothing but their cars going place to place until the gas runs out. Living in tents by the side of the road, just a thin piece of nylon between them and all those things." Beth shuddered, not entirely ignorant to the world at large but still unsettled to hear it from someone who had been out there. "We were at a Quarry just outside the city, but it got overrun and we lost people…" Rick looked down stroking Carl's fingers between his own. "After that we tried the CDC." Beth perked up wondering what the status of the building was having not seen it during their brief trip into Atlanta. He shook his head as her shoulders deflated, "It's gone now…along with everything else. We were on our way to Fort Benning, last place I could think of that might still be standing." Beth looked down at the floor. When she'd run into Abraham and Rosita at the hospital she knew he and Daryl had been talking about Fort Benning. She wasn't sure what was said but she figured that if things had been in order there, Abraham wouldn't have been taking off to Texas in an armored vehicle. Still, she said nothing, not sure what was even true and definitely not wanting to upset Rick anymore than he already was. "We ran into a big traffic snarl out on the highway. Decided to stop and resupply what we could. We got overrun and the girl ran off." Beth nodding understanding now.

"I'm sure it all happened so fast, there was nothing anyone could have done." It made sense, the girl got spooked and took off before anyone could stop her. Dead crowding around them she could just imagine the terror.

Rick let out a laugh that was anything but humorous. "I ran after her, caught her and told her to hide. Two of them were right behind us. When I went back she was gone." Beth understood his guilt now, he was blaming himself for the girl and for his son. Two bad decisions and two kids whose lives were now hanging in the balance. "I told Lori Carl would be safe with me…" He bent his head down resting it on the bed, a wave of emotion coming over him. "I should have just told him to stay with his mama.." Beth got up coming around the bed. She didn't know Rick at all, had only laid eyes on him a few hours ago, but still she understood the pain he felt. Resting her hand on his shoulder, a sob escaped his throat as he stared at his son fighting for his life.

They stayed like that for a few moments before Rick reached up and seized her hand. "I need to ask you for something, Beth….something terrible but I also need you to know that I can't do it myself." Her stomach churned as her heart leapt in her chest.

"What is it?" She was afraid to know.

Rick took a deep breath in looking at his son before looking back at her. "If he dies, I'll need you to take care of it." Beth's heart stopped for a moment as she stared at him, her lips parting open with obvious question. "At the CDC, we met a man…a scientist." He took a deep breath looking away, "We're all infected." Beth felt her hand go cold in his. Her mama turning without being bitten, it made sense now. Daryl HAD done the only thing he could do. Still, what did this mean for the rest of them?

"Are we going to get sick ?" Rick shook his head.

"I don't think so. I just think that when we die now we turn; bitten or not." It made sense now, all of it. Her eyes wandering to Carl she wondered if she could sink a blade into the back of a child's head. A chill shooting down her spine she hoped that it wouldn't come to that but she understood why Rick needed her to know. "My people don't know…my wife doesn't even know…please don't tell them. I don't want to start a panic, not now."

"I won't say anything, Rick." He turned in his chair now to fully face her squeezing her hand.

"And promise me that you'll take care of my boy if it comes to it. Please he can't turn…we can't let that happen." Tears came to her eyes, his pleading, desperate tone stirring more emotion than she expected.

"I promise, I'll take care of him. We would never let him turn." She didn't know what she was saying but she knew it needed said. Staring down at Carl's lifeless form she resolved now more than ever to make sure he survived.

They weren't hard to find, a group of people walking through the woods making so much noise he could hear it over the rumble of the bike. So easily distracted and unpracticed in the wild, they all turned at the sound completely ignoring their surroundings. A blonde woman, bitching about something stomped off on her own not realizing the others were no longer with her. A walker zeroed in on her as she tripped over a rotted tree stump, the corpse immediately on top of her. The rest of the group completely distracted by his arrival, had no idea something was wrong until he cut the engine of the bike and they heard her screams. Before a single one of them could react, a bolt flew through the air embedding itself in the walker's skull, the heavy corpse now falling limply onto the still screaming woman.

"Andrea ! Andrea ! Are you alright ?" An older man ambled through the brush, the concern evident on his face. Squeezing out from under the walker, the blonde woman stood up taking a stumble step backwards, brushing herself off and throwing the group an angry glare- the worst of it reserved for the old man.

"I'm fine." Barely acknowledging Daryl, she turned stalking off and shaking her head. Collecting his bolt, Daryl barely spared her a look. They had no time for drama right now. A quick survey of the group revealed a muscular black man who was sweating profusely, a weak looking older woman with short gray hair, and a tall dark haired woman who stared back at him with wide dark eyes.

"Lori ? Lori Grimes ?" The group stilled as they all turned toward him with equal parts curiosity and shock. Daryl took a step toward her. "Rick needs you to come with me. Carl's been shot." The color drained from her face as she shook her head. They'd all heard the singular gunshot, so it wasn't impossible it just didn't make any sense. Shot ?! How ?

"What ?" It was the only thing that came out of her mouth although Daryl was sure her mind was swimming with questions.

He knew this was important, important for the boy and important for Beth. Softening his expression he spoke to her in a low voice, the same he would use if approaching a wounded animal. "There was an accident and your son has been shot. He's at the farm now, Beth and her daddy are looking after him but it's serious." She nodded although her eyes had widened even further in terror. "I need you to come with me right now." Undoing the straps of her back pack, Lori followed Daryl toward the motorcycle without hesitation. Inwardly Daryl was relieved. He was't stupid and he knew he didn't have the most welcoming look, although since he'd cleaned himself up and was keeping his hair short and trim he reasoned he looked more normal than before. Either way he was glad that this woman, who in another life would have probably crossed the street to avoid him, was coming willingly.

"Oh hell no…you can't ride off with him. We don't even know him.." The black man took a step toward Daryl and for the first time he saw the seeping wound on his arm.

"That a bite ?" Sweeping his arm back to the side T-Dog removed it from prying eyes.

"Nah…got cut on glass." Straddling the motorcycle, Daryl nodded west toward the farm.

"Beth's a good nurse, knows her shit. She can take a look, see if there's anything that can be done…" Lori got on behind him placing her hands loosely at his sides, clearly not comfortable plastering herself to a stranger. "Rick said you're stuck on the highway, that big traffic snarl." The older woman nodded, something akin to a whimper escaping her lips. "Back track to Fairborn Rd, two miles north, name on the mailbox is Greene." Daryl started the motorcycle, the engine roaring and echoing in the empty forest.

"Lori…I have to say this is not a good idea….not at all. He could be taking you anywhere…" Daryl revved the engine, they didn't have time for this.

Turning to the old man Lori spoke in a low serious tone. "Dale…I'm going." Out of the corner of his eye, Daryl saw the man clearly miffed step back and he waiting no longer hitting the accelerator and guiding the bike back toward the farm.

Beth was standing, actually pacing on the porch, when she finally heard the rumble of the bike coming from the woods. Breathing a sighed of relief she saw Daryl with a woman on the back bouncing through the pasture, coming to an eventual halt just outside the barn. Behind her Rick burst through the door, down the steps, and through the gate. He was still wearing his blood soaked undershirt and the moment Lori saw it she dissolved into hysterics, stumbling off the bike an into her husband's arms. They both ran past Beth into the house where Hershel was sitting with Carl, monitoring his vitals and checking his wounds. Beth had seen to him all day and seeing how edgy she was becoming waiting for Daryl; Hershel suggested she take a break and get some air.

"How is he ?" After stowing the bike and securing the gate, Daryl came to stand beside her on the porch. Beth nodded.

"He's hanging in…but they still aren't back yet." She wanted to throw her arms around him in relief but instead settled for brushing her forearm against his. He exhaled and leaned into her making her own eyes flutter closed.

It was almost dark, just the last streaks of light on the horizon. They should have been back by now. "There's more of them coming….four or so that I saw. One of them has some kind of wound, says he's not bit." Beth took that information and thought it over silently taking stock of their medical supplies and not for the tenth time today saying a prayer of thanks to her mama for giving her reason to horde such things .

"We have some to spare. I'll have to see it first though." Daryl nodded. He knew Beth and she would do anything to help someone in need. Eventually, though, the medical supplies would run out along with the food and everything else. With so many more people suddenly showing up resources now had to be considered. When everything with the boy settled down, he and Beth would need to decide how they were going to ration things from now on. He would also need to think about going on a run before everyone else left in the world had the same idea.

Nodding to the road, Daryl said something they both didn't want to hear, "If they're not back soon I'll have to go looking for them…" Beth inhaled sharply not liking the sound of Daryl off alone in the dark. Before she could protest however, he interrupted. "If I don't the boy dies…." She chewed on the inside of her cheek knowing he was right although not liking it one bit. Leaning into his chest she rested her forehead against him and he let her knowing it was what they both needed right now. Why she still wanted him he had no clue though.

Speaking her voice was thick with resolution that even she didn't fully believe. "They'll be back."

Night was on their heels as Jimmy and Shane pulled into the high school lot. By all accounts it looked like an ordinary building, brick and glass, wide parking lots, and ripped banner over the door that used to say "Go Titans !" Loading a shell into his shot gun, Shane looked down before his eyes wandered to Jimmy in the driver's seat. For the most part the drive had been silent, a certain air of awkwardness between that couldn't be overcome by the shared goal of the mission.

The FEMA camp was fairly easy to spot, trailers surrounded by a chan link fence perimeter. Walkers trapped inside hissed and moaned, bumping into the metal over and over again; their sound attracting more walkers which in turn filled the parking lot and surrounding areas. It was completely overrun. Shane sighed. This wasn't exactly what he had in mind although if it was what to took to keep Carl alive it was what he intended to do. Next to him, Jimmy didn't look nearly as sure as a noticeable sheen of sweat beaded up on his forehead.

"You ready for this ?" Shane eyed him suspiciously. Jimmy cast a glance at him but didn't reply directly.

"That guy at the house, Daryl, he's nobody to them just a farmhand that Beth's obsessed with." Shane squinted his eyes trying to understand where this was coming from. "He killed a man just before everything went to shit, an old farmer out in the woods who was sick." Jimmy caught his eye and seeing what he thought was an opportunity he continued. "I saw him out there wandering around, he had that virus, I was going to get him, bring him to my place and fix him up. But that….Daryl found him first, put an arrow right through his head." Shane now stared at Jimmy a mix of disbelief and shock on his face.

"They ain't alive man….those things out there…they're dead." Jimmy sighed but didn't respond and it was then that Shane realized what a mistake it had been bringing the farm boy along. He was clearly delusional-thinking that the dead were just afflicted in some way. Looking back out at the trailer and what seems absolutely impossible, Shane ran an agitated hand through his short, dark hair. "Let me tell you sumthin'….we're here for the boy. WE get what the boy needs and we get out. And I intend to kill anything that gets in my way…You understand me ?!"

Jimmy nodded although Shane didn't believe he understood one bit. Swinging the truck door open Shane grabbed the duffel bag, his shot gun, pistol, ammo, and knife. Immediately a walker began ambling his way and he wasted no time dispatching it quietly. He still had no idea what he was going to do. A plan all but evading him until he got a better look at what they had to deal with. Another wave of walkers began to come at him, standing between him and the fences. Bringing his knife up he wanted to be as quiet as he could, saving the gun as an absolute last resort.

"Come man..get ready, here they come." Behind him he heard scuffling and turning quickly he saw Jimmy bolt back for the truck jumping in the driver seat and starting the engine. "You SON OF A BITCH !" With walkers nearly upon him he had no option but to start firing in every direction, the squealing of tires echoing somewhere behind him. Letting out a furious growl Shane leveled the walkers in front of him cleaning a path to the fence. Now fueled by incredible anger he pushed the crowd of walkers slicing and shooting anything that came near. The next time he saw Jimmy he was going to kill him, no doubt about it.

It was dark when Daryl rumbled down the deserted country road toward the school. Beth had given him directions and he was sure he'd seen it before on their runs into town before everything went to hell. She'd not wanted him to go, crying silently as he loaded up the bike telling her he'd be back at the first sign of trouble. Then, just was he was about to turn the key and take off she threw herself into his arms and pressed her lips to his ear telling him something he was still trying to understand.

"Rick met a scientist at the CDC…we're all infected. Bit or not; if you die you turn."

The unsaid implication was that he'd done the right thing with her mama and had he not acted so quickly she would have been bit too. No matter what happened now…you turn. Wrapping his arms around her in return he squeezed her tightly for the first time in days. A tiny sob escaping her lips, he pressed a kiss to the side of her head and then he was gone.

Cutting through the darkness alone,Daryl was almost afraid of what he might find once he got to the high school. Jimmy was a coward and snake, that much he'd always known. Shane was a tough mother fucker, but he also had an edge to him. Something crazy and off balance- waiting to snap like a bow strung too tight.

Not much surprised Daryl; before or since the turn he'd always had an innate way of expecting the worst. But when Shane appeared in the meager sweep of his headlight soaked in walker blood staggering on one leg, he nearly crashed the bike slamming on the brakes so hard. If he didn't see the whites of his eyes shining through he would have been convinced that maybe Shane had actually turned and was a walker.

In the darkness they stared at each other for a moment before Shane let out a sigh of relief… "Man am I glad to see you…" Daryl looked past him down the road searching for Jimmy or any sign of Hershel's truck.

"Where's Jimmy…the truck ?" Shane all but growled shaking his head.

"Son of a bitch took off on me….he ain't right in the head, babbling some nonsense about people just being sick." Daryl looked down thinking that over for a moment. Fuck, now they had another problem. Not only was Jimmy in the wind he was also crazy.

"You get the stuff ?" Shane produced a duffel bag from over his shoulder. Daryl nodded to the back of the bike. "Get on…we gotta get back."

"Carl ?" Shane jumped on behind him without hesitation, the desperation in his voice when he said the boy's name easy to hear.

"He's alive…but just barely." Turning the bike back toward farm, Daryl depressed the accelerator hoping that they weren't too late.

TBC….

So I've struggled with matching the cannon story line up to this story. I'm using some of it but putting some new twists in it, and maybe Shane won't be a total asshole- we'll see.

Without Hershel's dream land of walker barn, I feel like daryl and beth are way ahead of the quarry crew in preparation and mindset. Shane is kind of there with them so I might take that in a new direction.

I was going to give Jimmy's Otis's death but honestly that's too heroic and I have something better in mind. Where are his wife and kids….hmmmm. Also his jealousy over Beth will come to a head with his obviously fraying mental state.

Hershel's off the bottle but for how long ?

Daryl and Beth are working their way back to each other and I promise some satisfaction on that front in the next chapter.

Please hang with me and review !

Also what do you guys think of Dead City ? Maggie is so hard now- even in look. Negan while a piece of shit keeps things interesting and is always good for a one liner.