"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 Thirty
It was dark but he could hear voices. Not far but also not close enough for him to make out what they were saying. Male voices, mostly, low conversation punctuated with a snickering laugh or a hoot of satisfaction. He opened his eyes, his head hurting more than he thought possible. It didn't take long for him to realize that he was tied up; albeit with some shitty knots, but tied up nonetheless. His crossbow was gone and the sheath he kept his knife in empty. Sighing he rested his head back again the tree. The last thing he remembered was Rick yelling his name, telling him to get down. And then blackness- nothing.
They'd found the old man easy enough, bent over the bar just like Beth said he'd be. He'd not wanted to come back at first resisting Rick's pleas and assuring the younger man that Beth could handle whatever Lori needed. It was her farm and she handled most everything these days. Daryl didn't miss the bitter hook at the end of that statement and chose not to acknowledge a drunken old man and his pitiful blithering. It was easy enough to keep watch while Rick all but begged him to get in the truck and come home.
Hershel only relented when the boy was brought into the equation. Could he let Carl watch his mother die? Painfully screaming in agony as her insides twisted up. Daryl had to hand it to Rick he could be convincing when he wanted to be. Knowing exactly what to tell someone to get what you want was something he surely learned as a cop. Tactful manipulation; Daryl would never be much good at that. Unlike Rick, whose mouth perhaps ran too much, Daryl took his time considering exactly what to say and when he did speak be meant every word.
They were halfway out the door, Daryl feeling the beginnings of a certain lightness in his step knowing that he would be back with Beth tonight and everything was going to be alright. And then the truck rolled up, seemingly out of nowhere. The three of them quickly retreated back into the bar. He hoped they would just pass by, but the idling bronco out front gave their position away instantly. That was a dumb move that he'd warned Rick about; the other man insisting it would let them get out quicker if a herd moved in. The living wasn't something he'd even considered. As Daryl took up position behind the bar he realized what a mistake that had been.
There were three of them; a fat son of a bitch, a smart mouth, and a skinny kid. Rick thought barring the door with a broom handle would do the trick, but they were determined. If someone had claimed this bar for themselves there must be something inside worth taking. Daryl kept his finger on the trigger of the crossbow; while they'd all been in relative comfort on the farm the rest of the world had been growing more desperate. The smart mouth took immediate exception to the bow being aimed at his head, and as Rick motioned for him to lower it Daryl reluctantly pulled back ever so slightly. He doubted talking would resolve this, but as always Rick wanted to try. The more questions they asked, though, the more uncomfortable he became.
'How many are you ? Where's your camp? Oh you got a farm…how far ?'
There wasn't a chance in hell he was taking these asshole back to where Beth laid her head at night. No fucking way. Talking soured, lines were drawn; they all stared at one another daring for the first move to be made. The smart ass reached into his waist band but Rick was too fast dropping him where he stood. Daryl took no time planting an arrow into the fat one as he slid down the wall, shotgun falling inertly at his side. In the chaos the kid slid out the back, no one realizing he was gone until the howl of pain echoed against the brick buildings.
The coast was clear and Rick was intent on getting back to the farm as fast as possible. He'd gotten what he'd come for and with Hershel ambling behind they had no need to stop for the boy. No need to even spare him a second look. But as his screams echoed in the night, attracting every walker in Georgia, Daryl felt a bolt of something shoot through him. What would Beth think about this ? She was smart and tough, no doubt about that, but she also cared and was fair. He was just a kid and they were leaving him skewered on a post like a big piece of bait. Wasn't right. He at least deserved a chance to get away. Maybe before, when he was just running around with Merle, he could have took off without a second thought. But things were different now, he belonged to someone- belonged to her- and the last thing he ever wanted to do was let her down. He could imagine the look on Beth's face when she found out. Girl wasn't stupid but she'd also not yet become cold. She did what she had to; keeping everyone safe, fed, and cared for in the process.
It wasn't the first time he ever got clubbed over the head, and he doubted it would be the last. Hurt like a son of bitch and even now as he rubbed his scalp against the tree behind him he could feel the lump forming under his hair. What these asshole wanted with him he wasn't sure. Maybe they weren't even sure, talking it over now and entertaining themselves with the possibilities. No matter what he'd never tell them about the farm. He'd die before he led anyone back to Beth. Sighing he began working the bindings against the rough tree bark.
The green Hyundai was quiet as they backtracked toward the highway. In the passenger seat Beth sighed as the flickering candlelight of the farm disappeared behind them. She would never endorse torturing anyone, much less a kid, but this was Daryl and not getting him back wasn't even an option. So when Shane said that he would get the answers they needed, she didn't stop him. What happened in the shed, she didn't much care. Her daddy went out to patch the boy up- until they had Daryl home safe he would remain in the shed under guard. After that he was Rick's problem, and Beth made it very clear that he would not be welcome to stay. This whole situation never had to happen if only Lori had come clean and told them what the problem was to begin with. Beth rubbed her temple, really she couldn't even blame Lori entirely. Maybe things had really gone sideways long before that, when Maggie and Glenn showed up with a walker in the trunk. It was hard to say anymore, in this new world one thing just seemed to lead to the next.
"We're going to find him." Shane's eyes flicked to her from behind the wheel. "Ain't nobody left in this world stronger or smarter than Daryl." He said the last part staring straight ahead. Beth studied him for a moment before her lips twitched upward ever so slightly. He was right; Daryl was the strongest person she knew- both before and after the turn. Sadly, she thought she was the only person who saw that in him right from the start.
"I know." They were going to find Daryl, because there was no way Beth was going home without him. Whether it took a few hours or every day she had left on this earth she would keep looking until she found him. She loved Daryl and he loved her; there was no Beth anymore unless he was right there beside her.
Shane was quiet for a while as the car rumbled along in silence, weaving in and out of abandoned vehicles and other debris. When he spoke again he sounded wistful- remorseful even. "I never had anything like what you two have….Always thought I would one day but I guess I ran out of time…" He trailed off and she took the opportunity to look at him although he didn't meet her gaze. Beth licked her lips wondering, for a moment, if she should say what she was about to say but then decided it didn't really matter anymore. Beth already knew the big secret, she just didn't know why- or how.
"What happened between you and Lori ?" Shane didn't speak at first and she thought he might tell her to fuck off and mind her business- which he wouldn't have been wrong to say. But instead he sighed deeply shaking his head.
"I never looked at her before everything changed….not once. She was my best friend's wife." He rubbed a hand through his hair. "And then Rick got shot…was laid up the hospital. I tried to to get him out, Beth. The national guard showed up and they started shooting patients in the hallway, the dead took the place over….I barely got out."
Beth's own mind flashed back to the ICU, her last day there, and the gunshots going off as she and Daryl sped away. She knew what came of the place, that was no mystery, the destruction evident on their return trip back a month later. Meds for her mama was all that she came for but what she got was much more. Even though Amy was the only actual person they found, it was evident that many more of her coworkers had also perished. Blinked she looked back toward Shane. "Carl and Lori would have been alone then."
Shane met her eyes before shaking his head. "My mama, my sister…I don't even know what happened to them. I went straight to get Lori and the boy. We got out of Atlanta just in the nick of time…bombings started that night."
"What bombings ?" Atlanta had been in tatters when she and Daryl ventured to that doctor's office on the outskirts but bombings? This was the first she'd heard of that.
"Ah man, Beth. I never seen anything like it." He exhaled still trying to wrap his head around the whole thing. "Napalm being dropped in the streets. Lori grabbed onto me that night and she never let go. We were both terrified." She was quiet thinking that over. Her and Daryl had their fair share of brushes with danger in the beginning, but nothing like that. The closest she'd come to that kind of hysteria was the afternoon on the highway when she left her car and ran for her life. Being immersed in that sort of terror on a regular basis could make a person do just about anything she supposed.
"I understand how one thing could lead to another…" She didn't want to seem probing but she also didn't want him to mistake her silence as judgement. "No one was prepared for what was happening." She pursed her lips looking down at her hands. By in large they'd been quite sheltered- and lucky- on the farm.
"When we settled into our first camp at an abandoned quarry…thought maybe it wold be a couple of weeks before the army showed up and took us to a refugee camp. There was no Army, though, no refugee camps, and no one was coming." Shane shook his head sighing. "One night things just happened. I wasn't planning it….and I never looked at her like that before." They merged onto the black, deserted highway Shane weaving the Hyundai between abandoned cars. The kid- Randall- told them that their camp was along the highway, a couple miles from the farm on the opposite side Beth nodded listening to him while keeping her eyes roving the side of the road. "When Rick turned up alive it all stopped. I never touched her again." He was quiet for a moment, reflecting, "Was too late though, I suppose."
Beth could think of nothing to say so she rested her hand over his lightly. It was shit situation with a shit outcome that no one could have forseen. There was nothing to be said about it, and certainly nothing to be done. Beth reluctantly pulled her hand back folding it in her lap as her eyes continued to search the inky woods. Her mind involuntarily wandering to tiny baby Judith buried in the woods- cold and alone.
The flicker was momentary, so fast that she couldn't be sure she had actually seen it. Blinking she squinted her eyes. It was there- the flickering of a flame, a campfire. Gasping Beth felt Shane bring the car to a stop before she'd even said a word.
"Well…well…what do we have here ?" Daryl looked up through slitted eyes. He was almost loose, the bindings holding him against the tree loose and nearly about to give way. Cursing himself for not hearing the bastard coming, Daryl hedged his bets and gave the bindings one last tug. Feeling the snap he shot to his feet bringing his fists up ready for the fight that was surely coming. The man, shorter than Daryl but much wider, threw down the bottle of booze he'd been carrying and reached for his knife. Wasn't going to be a fair fight and he knew that. Nothing about this world was fair anymore, why would this be any different. All this, the price he paid for trying to be decent, for going back to get a boy he'd never met. "Fellas…you better get over…" He didn't finish before Daryl hit him square in the face. The man, too drunk to gain his wits stumbled and screamed, totally forgetting that he had a knife in his hand to begin with. It was quite pathetic and one would wonder how he'd survived this long. Daryl wondered where his crossbow was much less his knife, however as voices closed in around him, he decided the smarter decision was to run.
"Not so fast sport…" Someone grabbed him from behind, a muscled arm closing around his throat just as he'd turned to make a break. He wanted to kick himself, how could these idiots get the jump on him so quickly? Damn near humiliating. Daryl struggled, bucking against the one who held him back. "Come on, now. We can't just let you go. Killed two of our men, took the third…." He let out a taunting laugh. "Course if you take us back to your camp- show us what you got. Maybe we can talk about a trade."
Daryl growled jerking himself violently. "Ain't got no camp…." He'd die before he ever led any of these assholes to Beth.
The shorter man, regaining his wits but still holding his bleeding nose, took the opportunity to get into Daryl's face. "Your two buddies ran off somewhere quick as fuck….and don't tell me that old man is living in a tent." This guy must have been in the car that rode up on him. Rick and Hershel didn't exactly paint an inconspicuous picture. They were both obviously clean, well fed, and cared for. It didn't take a genius to conclude they had a place to rest their heads.
Daryl narrowed his eyes refusing to say a word. The arm tightened around his neck as he tugged him back toward the road. "Let's go for a little drive…huh….and figure out where exactly you call home."
They could drive him around all night; he'd never tell them a thing. Daryl resisted but the guy holding him was too strong. Driving a fist into his back he pushed him forward. "Guys!….Guys…we'll be right back." Surely everyone- and everything- in a one mile radius had heard that. How this group hadn't been eaten by walkers yet, he could barely understand.
They had lanterns on the farm- sustainable and reusable- as well as a few battery operated flashlights for emergencies. As the three of them moved away from the fire of camp and into the inky forest, a pen light was produced to light the way. Daryl couldn't help the snicker that fell out of his mouth. A shove from behind let him known no one else thought he was very funny. "What's so funny shit head?" He refused to speak angering them even more as his face met the side of a tree. Yanking him back by the neck he pushed him forward again. "Shut up and keep walking."
The forest was dark but Beth had a small light, a lantern she'd brought from the farm. It was just enough light for them to see where they were going but no more. Daryl had taught her to walk silently in the woods, placing her feet instead of stomping about; listening to the sounds around her rather than making them. For this reason, Shane followed her keeping a close lookout and staying no more than a step behind. This could be a wild goose chase, the flame of a lone survivor hunkered down for the night or a family huddled in fear. Something was telling her that wasn't the case, though, and as they got closer she felt something. Call it a welling in her chest, a bubble that felt ready to burst. Her body could sense he was near before her mind knew it was true.
Her thoughts got the better of her for a moment and it was actually Shane who saw them first. Pulling her down behind a tree she immediately followed knowing that she'd missed something important. Killing the lantern they were silent as they watched two men; a short one and a tall muscular fellow leading Daryl their way. Beth gasped softly when she saw the blood on his face, still he was upright and walking and very much alive. It was just the three of them heading back toward the highway- this was their opportunity, maybe their only one with the rest of them- thirty men according to the kid- some distance away. She had her gun tucked into her waistband and her knife on her belt. Reaching down she made sure they were both right where she left them. And then a startling thought occurred to her.
She was going to have kill a person. A living, breathing human being.
Could she do it? Did she have it in her ? Beth released a ragged exhale watching as the men pushed Daryl, choking him with a bicep around the neck as they walked. She loved this man and whatever it took to bring him back to her safely she was willing to so- how she felt about it would be something she'd deal with later.
Shane felt the tension radiating off Beth like she was the damn sun. He knew what she was thinking about and God willing he could deal with both these pricks leaving her out of the equation. Not that he didn't trust her, he would't be out here with her if he didn't, but he'd already killed someone before and he knew what came after- the guilt, the doubt, the questions. Beth was tough as nails but she was also still good and kind and if he could spare her that he would. Falling back to what he knew, Shane sized up the situation for what it was. One very large, muscular man with his arm around Daryl's neck and another idiot tripping and fumbling around with a penlight. A reasonable person would have to assume that they were both armed, but if he could get Daryl free quickly it would be three against two and those were odds they could work with. Reaching for his gun he left it in the holster with a sigh. It was dark and they were moving over uneven terrain. He was a good shot- a great shot actually- but even he didn't have the balls to take that chance. The larger man and Daryl were walking in tandem, their heads just inches apart. It was a shot he couldn't risk, not with Beth standing right here, and not ever for that matter. He would have to take him down by hand. Shane had taken larger men down in his day- it had only been a few months and he'd certainly not forgotten how- but never had there been so much riding on him getting it exactly right.
As they passed he saw a flash of opportunity, the shorter man dropping the penlight and the scene dissolving into complete darkness. He didn't say a word to Beth, didn't tell her what he was doing, and yet she followed anyway trusting that whatever was about to happen was exactly what needed done.
Daryl knew that he wasn't alone, he could sense someone in the shadows. The two men bickered over the light as the shorter one blindly groped for it on the forest floor. They didn't hear the footsteps on the undergrowth, didn't realize they weren't alone until it was too late. He was pitching sideways before he could stop himself, the man's arm bent backwards and snapping causing a howl of pain. The rock into his ribs was a surprise, one of several moments tonight that he never saw coming. Air whooshed form his lungs as he grunted in pain completely incapacitated for a moment. In that moment he heard a gun click and level, neither him nor Shane in much of a position to do anything about it. The fat little prick had more than knife and now the penlight bumbling idiot was in a position to end them both. What a fucking crock of shit.
But someone else was there and he should have known that. He should have felt her presence the way she'd felt his. Strangely enough it was nothing but her on his mind. The muzzle flash as a momentary burst of light and in that second he saw her face; terrified yet determined she leveled her target with just one shot. It was all the motivation he needed, pain forgotten he jumped to his feet and grabbed the gun from her shaking hand.
Pinning to the ground the larger man had gotten the upper hand on Shane and was now about in the process of squeezing his neck. For his part, Shane did everything he could rearing up and not making the fight an easy one. Still, the larger man had quite a bit of size on him and he could only struggle for so long before the lack of oxygen began to render him weak and useless. The final gunshot sent his ears ringing, it was too close and while it relieved the pressure on his neck it did little to reassure him that this was indeed over. Not until he felt Daryl yanking him to his feet did he realize the need to run. Voices and footsteps were getting closer and he doubted they could possibly get lucky twice in one night.
Beth's heart was racing as the three of them burst out of the forest and onto the highway. Behind them voices were closing in as light bounced of the trees and ground. Naturally the ruckus had attracted walkers from all around as their only saving grace was the dead mucking up their trail and slowing their pursuers. They raced toward the car, her only thought getting into as quickly as possible and racing back to the safety of the farm.
"Wait !" Shane put his hand up taking a second to catch his breath as he shook his head. "It's no good…we can't go back." Beth's eyes searched his face for any clue as to why he was saying this, the crescent moon providing just a sliver of light now that they were out in the open. Daryl paused, he'd not considered anything but getting Beth someplace safe. Now he wondered if perhaps Shane was on to something.
"What are you thinking ?" Another reason Daryl liked Shane, he was always thinking tactically and was always working on a plan. Shane shook his head, satisfied that they still had a few moments.
He came to the back of the Hyundai and opened it revealing a cache of guns and a bag of supplies. It dawned on Beth, in that moment, that Shane had no intention of returning to the farm with them. That what Lori had done had fractured his position in the group beyond repair and he was setting off on his own from here. She fought the urge to plead with him to change his mind, they didn't have time for such things though. Right now, the only thing they could worry about was their survival and what to do next.
He handed both Daryl and Beth a rifle and two magazines, he also resupplied Daryl with a hunting knife clearly remorseful he also didn't have a crossbow in the trunk. "You guys hunker down in one of these cars, wait until morning and then make your way back to the farm." Daryl nodded, but Beth just couldn't accept it.
"What about you?" Her eyebrows knit together as she restrained the raw emotion behind her voice. Shane looked at her smiling that half smile, half smirk she'd become familiar with.
"I'll lead them in the opposite direction." He closed the trunk shaking his head. "They'll never catch me and by sun up I'll be in Alabama somewhere…" He trailed off, the implication clear that this was it. Beth couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks as she pitched herself forward into his arms.
"Are you sure about this ?" Daryl shook his head, there had to be another way. Returning Beth's hug, Shane sighed deeply.
"If we go back they'll follow us….take back their man and anything else they want." He looked off into the distance. "It's the only way. Besides…there's nothing left back there for me anyway…"
Beth let him go turning her back so that Shane couldn't see the way her face was contorted with raw emotion. Pulling him into a quick hug Daryl slapped him on the back once. It was the most affection two men like them could share and they both knew they'd made a brother for life in each other. "If there's nothin' in Alabama though…you know where to find us…" Shane smiled as the two men parted ways for the last time.
There was no more time for good byes or tears, and they all knew it. Giving the two of them a nod, Shane climbed into the driver seat of the Hyundai and turned the engine. Just beyond the guardrail a voice echoed in the night the hissing and moaning of walkers not far behind. "There he is…let's get him !" The accelerator floored, the SUV pulling out and careening south. Shane had done all he could do to keep Beth, Daryl, and the place they'd made together as safe as possible. He'd kept watch, disposed of walkers, rescued Beth from Jimmy and Daryl from Randall's group. He'd walked two miles covered in walker slop with a near broken ankle to save Carl, and he'd preserved Lori's dignity and marriage by keeping a secret that felt like it might kill him. Now he only hoped that Rick didn't go and screw everything up. That he would do the right thing with Randall and keep the group safe, protected, and together.
Beth's brain was still trying to catch up to what had just happened when Daryl pulled her behind an old truck, and the two of them ducked down to the ground. Under the chassis they saw feet step over the guardrail; first two sets and then three, four and five until Daryl estimated there had to be eight or nine men. All heavily armed and ready to kill whoever they found. Beth pressed herself against him. All but two of the men got into a truck and headed south following Shane's taillights just as he knew they would.
"Someone could be hiding right here…what you say we have a look ?" The other man wasn't nearly as keen to roam the highway, the dead closing in around them his voice was unsure.
"Too many roamers out here man…I say we get back to camp before we ain't got a camp to go back to." They hemmed and hawed for a few minutes bickering about what was best before an influx of walkers, drawn by the noise, made their decision for them and they raced back to the others. Only when their boots disappeared back over the guardrail did Daryl exhale the breath he'd been holding. A couple of walkers finally catching his and Beth's scent they stumbled toward them arms reaching and teeth bared. It would have been great to have his crossbow but the knife worked just as well as he dropped them both with minimal effort. Turning back he grabbed Beth's hand and started walking. Shane had been right, it was too dangerous to try and make it back to the farm tonight. However he also didn't think it prudent to camp out in these asshole's back yard.
They walked north for about a half mile when they came across a camper van. Back doors left wide open, the previous owners had set it up for camping with a mattress in the back and two sleeping bags. This was as good a place as any to stop for the night and after clearing the immediate area of any threats the two of the crawled inside. Only when the doors were shut and locked did Beth throw herself into his arms and begin to cry. Daryl didn't need to ask what it was about- so much had happened in the last day, least not of which was him being kidnapped and her having to kill a man to get him back. Stroking her blonde hair he pressed his lips to her ear.
"It's alright…I'm here. I'm here." She dissolved against him, her body trembling all the adrenaline of the last few hours draining out of her as she was rendered incoherent. It was such a massive let down all she could do was shake holding onto the front of his cut off flannel for dear life. He held her in return gathering her against him and sitting against the side of the van, cradling her like a small, scared child. He hated that she had to do that for him, that it was what it came to. This wasn't about him, though, he was here to support her right now. "Shh…Shhh.." He rubbed her back gently as she cried even harder if possible. "Did real good, Beth. Real good."
She paused for a moment, quieting slightly as he continued to hold her close. Beth held him just as tightly and wrapped together they fell asleep like that, the night quiet around them for the time being.
It was still dark out when Daryl woke with a start. For a moment he had no idea where he was, and then as he blinked several times he realized that he and Beth were in the back of a van. Groaning and hissing was all around them as heavy bodies crashed into the car on all sides. A particularly loud thump caused Beth to wake with a gasp. Instantly Daryl went to her clapping a hand over her mouth as their eyes met. "Shhhh…" He hissed silently before leaning in and planting a gentle kiss to her forehead. As long as they were together somehow everything would be alright. She nodded slowly, showing him that she understood. Only then did Daryl release his hand and pull away from her. Carefully he wiped at the dirt on the back windows his own eyes widening at what he saw.
Walkers. Everywhere. A whole damn herd.
Pushing himself off the window he went back to Beth taking her into his arms and dragging the rifle with him. Pressing his lips to her ear he whispered. "Walkers…looks like a herd." Her eyes widened but she stayed silent. They'd seen a herd in Atlanta and knew what they could do, taking over a piece of land and flattening a whole house if they felt like it. "Just gotta stay quiet and they'll pass by." She exhaled holding on to him and listening as the dead bounced off the van; some pounding on the windows and others mindlessly gnashing their teeth in the air. The scent of living humans strong but impossible to pinpoint. Eventually they would get bored and move on leaving the next wave to the same mindless process.
The sounds of shuffling came from the south and Beth had to feel somewhat relieved that whoever was left in the camp behind them was mostly gone or dead. She hoped that Shane had missed all this somehow and was half way to Alabama like he said. A smile came to her face thinking about it. A few moments later, however, that smile faded as another realization dawned on her. If the walkers were moving from the south that meant they were headed north…right toward the farm.
Sitting bolt upright she grabbed her gun and made for the doors. Daryl, thoroughly shocked by her sudden action, reached out and grabbed her hand puling her back. She looked at him with fear on her face. "The farm ?!" His lips drew into a thin line and she realized he already knew exactly where they were headed. Nothing they could do about it though. Pulling her back into his arms he offered the weakest of reassurances.
"They'll be ok….the farm's safe- the fences are sturdy." She was still for a moment before she reluctantly nodded. "Soon as the sun's up and we can move we're heading back." Exhaling a shaky breath she said a silent prayer that daybreak would come quickly.
Beth wasn't sure how it happened but somehow she'd fallen asleep. The first hints of daylight on the horizon she realized that the back door of the van was open and Daryl was sitting on the bumper. She smiled, the herd had passed and they were now clear to return to the farm. Gathering the rifle, she slide down beside him.
"Mornin'." He offered her a bottle of water and she took it smiling gratefully.
"Thank you." She screwed the cap back on. "You think it's safe to head back." Daryl swept their surroundings one last time before nodding.
"Should be. Let's stick to the trees just to be safe though." He estimated it was a mile or so to the farm, straight north and then slightly west. Beth wasn't the only one apprehensive about what they might find. After she'd fallen asleep he'd gently laid her on the sleeping bg covering her with the other one and appointing himself watch. Crouching behind that rear window he'd made it to a thousand before he stopped counting the walkers. It was unreal and he knew the farm was right in the path of this plague like migration. Just like Shane, there wasn't much left for him there either. Everything he cared about was right here with him. Still, he was't dumb enough to not see they were much better set up there than in a tent along the road. They had beds and running water, food and animals, vegetables, canned goods, and other provisions. Medical supplies that they'd risked their life to amass and fences- was damn near impossible to survive nowadays without a fence.
But for Beth she had all that along with her memories. Even though her and her daddy hadn't been on good terms for a long time now, he knew that she still cared about him and he shuddered to think what would happen if they found him turned- or worse. He only had one leg, how far could he run ? The others- Rick's group- they were good people but they weren't his or Beths and whatever happened to them was up to Rick. Despite that he was sure if they found Carl or Lori, Carol or T-Dog turned and wandering around it would destroy her, especially after what happened last night.
They set out from the highway both quiet and lost in thought but the closer they got to the farm the more apprehensive Daryl became. The ground was torn up with walker tracks zigzagging right to left, there was no way things would be just as they left them. Coming over the hill he saw the white crest of the house, he'd seen it many times before out in the forest hunting and that whisp of white had always been a beacon calling him home. Now it filled him with dread and he stopped abruptly turning to Beth.
"Let me go ahead and see…alright ?" Her eyes narrowed at him. That wasn't going to work and he felt like an idiot for even suggesting it. This was Beth- strong, capable, grown independent woman Beth- not a silly teenage who needed protected. Last night didn't make her weak- it made her human. She didn't even justify him with a response as she pushed past walking faster than before intent to see for herself what was left.
Bursting out of the forest she gasped so loud Daryl's eyes slammed shut for a second as he said a silent prayer it wasn't as bad as he thought. Falling to her knees she surveyed the piece of land she'd once called home. Walkers were everywhere milling about mindlessly. The barn was gone, burnt to nothing and still smoldering. The house was standing obviously but the fences were down and windows were broken. All the cars were gone. Beth's eyes glassed over. Her home was gone. But just then when she felt like everything was lost a lone bark echoed across the pasture. She would recognize that bark anywhere.
Maize.
Shouldering the rife and unsheathing her knife she took off toward the house running faster than she ever had before.
TBC….
Well I was WAY over confident in my time mgmt abilities during the holidays. I won't be done by Christmas but I hope to get another chapter out before the holiday. Thank you for reading and sticking with me. Still planning on 35 chapters !
I WOULD NEVER kill the dog so don't worry Maize is in it until she drops over from old age
Some pointed out their lack of sympathy for Shane in the last chapter. They have assumed that this story is canon until the quarry group shows up. Yes that's true but I've rewritten Shane and I like to think that this version of Shane would not attempt to rape Lori at the CDC. So the convo between him and Beth is to clear that up.