Spiced Molasses

Chapter 32

Daryl watched Beth as she aimlessly wandered around the room. She was wearing his shirt again and as far as he could tell, not much more. She moved with complete unawareness of his gaze, comfortable and not in the least bit self conscious. As far as she knew, he was absorbed in the phone call he had received. Which was about the furthest thing from the truth. How could he truly pay attention to what Rick was saying when Beth was there and wearing less clothes than usual?

He wanted to sigh dramatically but he settled for a responsive grunt that placated Rick that he was at least vaguely listening. Maybe Rick would have had his undivided attention if he stopped beating around the bush and told him the reason he had called. Rick wasn't nearly as enigmatic as The Organisation's indoctrination process might have one believe and where he could, he was a straight shooter but right now he was hedging around something and Daryl was beginning to lose his patience. He could be having his time occupied by Beth, a far superior option.

Beth's fingers brushed along his crossbow on the table and Daryl expected to feel that familiar rush of protectiveness but nothing happened. While he was a little stunned, some part of him acknowledged that Beth was special. Somewhere along the line, he had started trusting her with the things he had kept to himself with almost possessive paranoia. Things like this cabin and his crossbow, and also things that were a little less tangible. His thoughts, his past, his feelings and Daryl grudgingly admitted that she had a good handle on things that terrified him even though he'd never overtly shared them with her.

Beth started as if only then considering she may have a crossed a line, her hand lifting up from the weapon and a flush starting in her cheeks. She flicked her gaze across at Daryl guiltily and Daryl didn't try and pretend he hadn't been watching her by adverting his own.

Instead his stare was wry, making comment on her incessant inquisitiveness but it was free from aggression or tension. Beth rewarded him with a bashful smile and he was smugly pleased he could keep her on her toes just a little. She had more power over him than any one person should rightly have and while that made his chest tight with panic when he thought too hard on it, he hadn't felt the urge to run yet.

"How is Beth?" Rick asked. It wasn't an unusual question but something in the manner it was asked made him sit up and pay attention.

"Fine," he responded suspiciously. "Why?"

"Its need to know," Rick answered seamlessly, rolling out the company line without so much as a pause.

Daryl narrowed his eyes. He could definitely appreciate the fact that chattiness was discouraged but right now he was thoroughly sick of the cloak and dagger bullshit.

"If it has to do with her then I need to know."

That comment alerted Beth to the fact the conversation had shifted to her. She sat down across from him suddenly, obviously detecting a similar element to Daryl's tone that Daryl had heard in Rick's.

There was a slight delay and then Rick said, "There was a close call."

He was being typically vague but vague wouldn't cut it for Daryl right now.

"Does he know she's here in Georgia?" Daryl demanded.

"No! Definitely not," Rick hastened to assure.

"Then explain what you meant. Explicitly." Daryl was essentially commanding his boss to do something but now wasn't time for pleasantries.

"We had to move Shawn and Andrea. Somehow the Governor got wind of where we were keeping them."

Daryl chanced a look at Beth who was nervously twisting her fingers in her lap. "Everyone alright?" Daryl pressed; doing what he had just scolded Rick for and keeping his question indistinct. He didn't want to worry Beth yet.