"Rick," he distracts him from Judith and Carl and Beth.
Ever since he's been back from watch, even gone and back again from scouting the road, he's felt Beth's eyes on him. It's not bad, but he feels his neck heat up everytime.
He tries to act normal, keep up with business, but sometimes he gives in and looks back, and each time she gifts him with a smile. He tries to keep her from being a distraction.
He pulls Rick aside. "We gotta figure out what we're doing."
Rick nods. "I know."
"Whatever you decide... stay or go, we gotta be smart." It's hard for him to say what he does next, it's confessing to things he isn't sure he's come to terms with yet. It's showing need- and it's terribly uncomfortable, but still, he must: "Can't lose 'em again."
It's strange, he's still not used to it: the way Rick understands. Merle, he was a smart son of a bitch, and could read things, just like Daryl could. Somethin' their daddy had actually taught them. But Merle used the information, even against his baby brother; found weaknesses and exploited them for his benefit. It's still abnormal, it still makes him want to flinch inside, waiting for a blow that he logically know won't come when he feels Rick see into him without ever needing a word.
Rick goes from serious, nodding, agreeing, to a half smirk, a raised eyebrow. "You and Beth?"
It's just enough to make him shuffle his feet. Next to whatever Hershel thought of this in the afterlife, he's most worried here. Under Rick's close, amused scrutiny. He finally mumbles, "Ain't- It ain't anything..."
But Daryl can tell, Rick's heard the unsaid yet at the end of his sentence.
Daryl's relief is so acute it almost hurts when Rick, instead of asking more, hammering him with all the questions Daryl's seen on each of their faces since Beth was back with them, he hollers out, "Family meeting!" for the others to hear.