"In the Other Room"

Author: carmen_085

Disclaimer: I do not own any Walking Dead characters. All original characters are mine.

Summary: It started with a cough and then a terrible pain. Sometime was terribly wrong and Daryl didn't know what to do; Merle had always been the toughest son of a bitch he knew. His last hope was the only hospice nurse brave enough to set foot in their trailer. Eyes never wavering from his, she extended her hand "Hi, I'm Beth" NON-ZA. Companion piece to "Never Give up on Each Other"

Prologue

It rained all night and now as Daryl sat on the front steps of the trailer smoking a cigarette his eyes roamed the forest. A gray, hazy light illuminated the trees and for a moment he closed his eyes relishing in this brief moment of peace. No matter what was going on, no matter how shitty his life was; he always found solace in the woods. The smell of the trees and dirt, crunchy fallen leaves, and tracking a buck through the undergrowth; it was literally the only thing on earth that made him feel even remotely alive. His eye drifted shut as the cigarette perched between his fingers was momentarily forgotten.

When it came, the cough was deep and wet; rattling him to his core as he retched in bed gasping for air and groaning in pain. Daryl's eyes snapped open as he refocused on the smoke bringing it back to his lips and taking a long drag. He hated this limbo, living and waiting on something to happen; unwilling to go forward and unable to go back. Who knew the business of dying could be so protracted as he almost wished it was done and over with. Taking another drag on his cigarette he shook his head, he should be giving these things up- seeing what smoking and hard living can do to a man close up. Fucking unbelievable; cancer- metastatic cancer- fuck if he knew what that meant when the doctor said it. Didn't take long for him to figure out though.

It started with night sweats and a dry hacking cough that kept them both up half the night. Irritated and exhausted, Daryl snapped more than once telling him to see a goddamn doctor already. Merle just laughed and shook his head telling Daryl to drink more and he'd have no trouble sleeping at all. Rationally, it didn't seem all that alarming, knowing the amount of drugs he'd done over the years. An irritation in his lungs from that bad batch of meth he smoked last spring- that was all. Daryl shrugged it off knowing nothing in the world could kill Merle except Merle. It would go away, dumb bastard just needed to lay off the cheap ice for a while.

But it didn't go away, morphing instead into a body wracking spasm that doubled him over. The first time Daryl saw the blood he knew, something was wrong- really wrong. But Merle quickly wiped his chin and shot him a dirty look telling him to mind his own goddamn business. Doctors were out, hospitals even less likely; the only hope Daryl had of getting Merle checked out and cleaned up was a trip to jail. And then, almost like magic, the phone rang one night and it was Merle- he gotten picked up in Atlanta with a stolen gun. Wouldn't be home for sixty days, don't worry-everything would be just fine. It wasn't unusual for this to happen and honestly this time Daryl was relieved. They'd get him sorted out and clean and when he come back hopefully his brother would be good as new.

Like always when Merle went away, Daryl found a job. Nothing special, just a work as a temporary mechanic in one of the small garages in town. The owner, an older guy named Dale, tried to get him to sign on part time or even full time seeing his obvious skill and knowing that wasn't something easy to find nowadays. But Daryl always turned him down saying as soon as his brother got home he would be gone. That's how it always was- and always would be- he woke up each and every day and they did whatever Merle said they were going to be doing that day. Not that Daryl didn't want more, he'd always wanted a real honest life, but as long a Merle was around he knew it would never be possible. His own flesh and blood came before everything else.

Sixty days came and went, and one afternoon when Daryl came riding up the shitty little path to their trailer he saw his brother sitting on the porch. Initial happiness quickly turned sour when he realized Merle looked worse than when he left, much worse. When he uttered the word cancer for the first time, Daryl stopped cold. Merle wasn't even fifty years old, sure he looked older, but cancer was something old men got not his brother. Started in his liver apparently and was now in his lungs and a few places on his spine; the prison sent him for a cat scan and then to see a special doctor. He'd lost his case but in the end it didn't matter much, the prison system seeing him as more trouble than what he was worth and kicking him out on his ass. He could do nothing and wait for this thing or take him, or he could see some fancy ass prick in Atlanta and start treatment.

While Merle didn't seem to care one way or another, Daryl insisted. Dixons don't lay down and take this kind of bullshit, they fight. So there was no question about it, he was going to see the doctor and he was going to do whatever it took to survive. They went to Atlanta and after taking one look at the side effects of chemo- the relentless nausea, the fatigue, the never-ending pain he told the doctor and Daryl they could fuck right off. Wasn't for him and if he was going to go out it wouldn't be laying in a hospital bed begging for a bed pan, it would on his own terms. So that's exactly what he did- rounding up all his old buddies to go on a demented farewell tour of sorts. Smoking all the meth he could get his hands on, drinking himself into oblivion nearly every single night. All parties come to an end, though, and when the music stopped Daryl was left holding the bag of shit.

Another cough followed by a gasp and groan and then a weak call for help. Daryl opened his eyes blinking as he took one last drag on the cigarette before discarding it into the dirt. Now that Merle was back, and sick, the trailer had become quite a mess- stepping over a bag of trash, Daryl wound his way toward the back bedroom where his brother had all but quartered himself. Confined to bed without the strength to do much else he was practically rotting away. Even before Daryl came to the threshold of the room he cold smell the stench. Piss and sweat and a curious rotting odor that he'd never smelt before. It was enough to make his stomach churn and his throat ache.

"Daryl…help me out here little brother." His eyes landed on the bed where Merle had obviously pissed himself- again- the soiled sheets beneath him turning a stale shade of yellow. "Musta pissed myself sometime in the night…" Daryl sighed putting everything he felt about the situation away.

"Gotta change the bed…get you in some dry clothes…" Merle put a hand up, swatting him away.

"Just throw a towel down, hurts too damn much." He gasped, coughing again, his body bucking and rolling as he let out a howl of pain. A splatter of blood in his hand, he quickly wiped away on the already soiled sheets leaving a bright red smear.

"Nah man…can't let you just lay here like this." This time Merle pushed himself up and squaring his gaze at Daryl he bellowed.

"YOU DON'T WANT TO HELP. LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE !" The exertion caused him to inhale sharply all the air in his body temporarily sucked away as his eyes rolled back into his head and he collapsed once again. Daryl stayed there for a moment taking in his brothers emaciated, broken body, the filthy sheets on the bed, and the brown stained underwear soaked against him. The sick stench making his head spin as he turned on his heel and torn through the trailer grabbing his crossbow in the process. Slamming the door, his feet didn't stop as the tears in his eyes blurred green leaves and brown dirt together as one. Daryl had no idea where he was going but he knew he couldn't do this alone.

Beth cracked her eyes open hearing a familiar sound on the hardwood floors. It had been raining gently all night and now with the light of dawn a crack of thunder rolled across the farm shaking the windows of the old house. Tiny feet raced across the hallway and then without warning her door slammed open.

"Mama !" The little boy, barely three, launched himself into her bed clutching a stuffed dog against his chest. Automatically Beth raised the cover as her son snuggled himself tightly against her. His little body was trembling and her heart sank as she knew it wasn't without good reason. Wrapping herself around him tightly she stroked his hair gently.

"It's alright, honey, you're safe. I won't let anything happen to you." He whimpered pinching his eyes shut. Beth had to swallow back the acid on her tongue.

Teddy, or Theodore Hershel Greene, was a quiet, gentle boy right from the start. Beth had been so stupid, feeling lonely she did the dumbest thing possible and went out to a bar, got drunk, and had a one night stand. His name was Zach, she never actually got his last name, and when she tracked him down a couple months later to tell him she was pregnant he simply ignored her. Didn't fight or yell or ask her how she could be so stupid he turned his head and walked away. She could have forced this responsibility on him if she wanted, but looking at the back of his head she wondered why she would ever want this man around her or her baby. So she walked away and resolved to raise this child on her own.

Her mama and her daddy said they would help, and despite everything Beth knew they would do their best. But then everything changed, her mama always with MS had a terrible relapse and in her weakened state fell in the shower and hit her head. The bleed was so big there was nothing they could do for her and at the age of sixty two Annette was buried in the cemetery on the edge of town. Her daddy took it rough, Beth knowing she was spared so much grief by the constant joy and distraction her infant son. In the house all day alone while Beth worked and Teddy was in daycare; Hershel began to slip first letting his veterinary practice go, then the farm, and lastly himself. So many days now, Beth stared at her daddy and wondered if this was always coming or if the situation with her mama triggered the disease prematurely.

First it was forgetting, then it was mixing up words, dates, and people; the past he could recall with such clarity it was astonishing but anything beyond that seemed to disappear into a clouded mish mash. She didn't feel unsafe leaving Teddy with her daddy while she worked and the boy knew how to the use the phone to call for help if needed. She gone over 911 with him no less than a dozen times. He was smart and kind and so very gentle; it made Beth's heart ache sometimes when she looked at him. The innate goodness of her little boy almost too much to bear.

The daycare had to close because of air conditioning and Beth didn't have any other option, so she left her son with her daddy for the day. Hershel laughed and said that they would have a grand time playing games and watching movies. But as a sweaty summer Georgia thunderstorm rolled across the valley, her daddy inexplicably got in his truck and left the house leaving Teddy all by himself. When Beth got home and found her little boy in her bed, covers over his head crying and trembling with saturated pants she was livid. Her daddy no where to be found, it took her the better part of the night to clean and calm Teddy down enough that he would go to sleep. For a week afterwards he refused to leave her side and just last night she'd gotten him to sleep in his own bed again. When her daddy did finally resurface he had no explanation for his behavior and insisted that he never left the boy alone at all. Beth knew right then that she had a problem and even at the expense of her job she would never leave her son alone in this house again.

Another flash of lightning and roll of thunder as Teddy squirmed in her arms. "Mama !" Beth couldn't hold him any closer or any tighter as she pressed her lips to his forehead.

"Shhh…I love you so much my Teddy bear.." The bed jostled as a German Shepherd came to cuddle on the other side of them nearly smothering the boy with her fluffy coat. After the debacle with her daddy, Beth decided having another set of eyes on the place wouldn't be the worst thing. So after work one night she went to the local humane society and that was where she found Agatha. A middle aged shepherd that had recently been turned over by owners who just didn't want her anymore she was the sweetest dog and immediately upon seeing Teddy she was completely in love following the boy everywhere and letting him rest his head against her sturdy middle. Beth smiled reaching over to pet her as she sniffed the tears on Teddy's face licking them away and making the boy squeal with surprise. "See Aggie's here too…She's always keeping an eye on you too my love."

In her arms Teddy shifted taking a deep breath as he reluctantly nodded, the added presence of the dog helping him to relax. Beth hoped that her son would calm down enough to go to daycare because she had just started a new job a few weeks ago and she didn't want to miss already. The hours in the ICU proving too demanding; she'd bid a tearful goodbye to Pat and Rosita and transferred to home hospice. The work was no less taxing but the hours were more flexible and right now that was exactly what she needed. Seeing the way patients died in the hospital often times flogged with futile treatment to the very end; she knew there had to be a better way. And there was a better way, something much quieter and gentler than all that.

Sighing she closed her eyes again knowing they couldn't stay like this forever but nonetheless wishing that they could.

Sitting in her Jeep, Beth sorted through the files in front of her. She'd seen all her patients today and there had been no changes in their condition. All very stable, all no where close to the end as far as she could tell. She drew their blood monitoring their liver and kidney function, adjusting fluids and medications accordingly. She provided injections for pain, managed nausea, and made sure each person was clean, dry, and free of any bed sores. But more than all that she provided support for their families answering questions and giving reassurance when needed.

Cutting the engine she took the papers in her hands and began to walk toward the office that served as her home base. Still in Grady Senoia she often popped into the ICU if she knew Rosita was there bringing her friend a coffee and an excuse to take a break. Today she wouldn't have time for that and needed to get straight to the daycare to get Teddy before they closed.

"Good day, Beth ?" Carol, their office manager, smiled up at her as she took the files from Beth's hand.

Beth paused for a moment before nodding as a smile came to her face. "Yeah….I really feel like I'm connecting with all of my patients and their families…" Carol smiled back before she looked at a file on her desk and shook her head.

"Well I wish I could say the same for this one." Beth cocked her head as Carol continued knowing she was now gossiping just for the purpose of doing it. "They sent Kelly out on this case, apparently it's a trailer in the woods, absolutely filthy. She didn't even get out of her car." Beth sighed, she knew Kelly having worked with her briefly in the ICU and now here in home hospice. She knew her job but she wasn't a nice person; mean and antagonistic she was the last nurse who should ever work hospice. Nonetheless she had some sort of special arrangement with their boss and apparently could do no wrong. Carol looked back down at the file opening and closing it briefly. "Shame too…sounds like the guys in pretty bad shape."

Beth chewed on her bottom lip. "Let me see that." Carol smiled handing it over. She'd only just met Beth a few weeks ago but she already liked her so much. Mature and capable she was an experienced nurse who could handle most anything. And her little boy, Teddy, was the cutest thing she'd ever seen. All big blue eyes and curly brown hair his smile was so big it nearly broke his face.

Looking at the chart for a few moments Beth quickly decided this might be a the challenge she needed to really get her feet wet here. Her patients were sick so far but she knew that Carol had held back some of the more difficulty cases until she got more experience. She could do this, and by the sound of things she needed to do this as no other nurse in the agency would. Kelly having come back and told them all it was a meth lab. Sighing she nodded.

"Add him to my caseload. I'll go out tomorrow for the first visit." Carol smiled before raising her eyebrow in that motherly way of hers.

"Are you sure ?" Beth hesitated for just a moment before nodding.

"I grew up on a farm, out in the country. These sort of people don't bother me." She shrugged. "Besides if they need help someone should help them." Carol took the file back but not before Beth scribbled a name down. Her first real challenge, she was equal parts of nervous and excited. Looking down at the paper in her hand she rubbed her finger over the name.

Merle Dixon

TBC…..

How do you guys feel about this ? Not originally what I had planned for one shots but a sort of companion piece to Never Give up on Each Other. Let me know what you think. !