Hope Lost: A Daryl Dixon Story (The Walking Dead/ Bethyl )

3- Decisions

A lone walker hung around the parked car. Daryl loaded his crossbow and an arrow pierced through its skull. It fell limp against the hood of the car. Daryl heard a muffled scream coming from inside the car, he probably scared Beth. Daryl made his way over to the car and tapped on the window with his crossbow. Beth rolled down the window.
"Is something wrong?" She asked, frowning at Daryl.
"Get out," he ordered.
"Is something wrong?" She repeated.
Daryl sighed and looked up before answering.
"One of the Governors friend's is camped out close by with that woman." He pointed towards Robin.
She raised her eyebrows in response, knowing they were talking about her.
Beth said nothing.
"You comin' or not?" Daryl said in a bored tone.
Beth silently got out the car.
"Are we just going to leave it here?"
"Won't be long."
Beth nodded at Robin and allowed her to guide them back, not that it was necessary for Daryl who already spotted their trail. Beth kept eyeing Daryl suspiciously. She wondered why the Governors ally was still alive if she encountered Daryl. Beth scanned his face. Light stubble formed on his chin, spreading up his cheeks. His hair was growing long, reaching past his ears. He was much older than her. She was just a child in his eyes. The child who took care of other children. She thought back to the moment in the prison before the sickness spread, when he hugged her. It took both of them by surprise. Daryl didn't care much for affection. They reached the camp. Beth was surprised at how small it was. Three tents and a small fire? That's it?
Daryl watched Beth take in the scenery and smirked. Coming from a big prison with decent protection made this tiny campsite look like hell. He spotted Tara sitting next to the skinniest man, warming themselves by the fire. Tara had stopped crying although her face was blotchy.
"Now you gon' tell me what the hell happened yesterday or what?" His voice was heavy with tension.
Tara stuttered for a while, unsure of where to begin. She shakingly told the story about Brian Herriot showing up at their apartment looking like he was about to give up on life, to taking over leadership at the campsite where they found residency after moving. Daryl and Beth listened intently. Tara was close to ending.
"Then he told us how he captured two of the prison folk because they nearly tried to kill him and.."
"My daddy ain't never hurt no one! He was a peaceful man! The world needed someone like him and the Governor just took him away!" Beth burst into tears, the memories of her fathers death flowing fresh. Daryl grunted not sure if he should comfort the girl or not. He decided against it and looked at Tara, queuing her to carry on.
"Um, we were told it would be simple. That you all would leave and we wouldn't need to use the tank or our weapons. But when he killed that old man, I just.. I.." She started crying softly.
Daryl was sick of hearing these women crying all the time.
"I don't even know where Brian is." Tara said, drying her eyes with her sleeve.
"The Governor," Daryl corrected. "is dead. Last I saw, Michonne got to him."
Tara sat quiet. There was a short period of silence.
"Well y'all must be famished." Robin said. She was unusually bright for someone who just heard such terrible stories. She handed out plates with what appeared to be squirrel meat.
Daryl raised an eyebrow, ready to protest about her stealing his kill.
"I hope you don't mind," Robin smiled warmly at him. "I had the boys skin 'em and cook 'em while Tara told her tale."
Daryl didn't return her smile and took a bite of his meat. Daryl figured they might as well spend the night here. Beth was just about falling asleep as she finished off her dinner. She yawned. Adam, the sandy haired man offered his tent for Beth and Daryl to share. He'd crash with Ted, the skinny one, for the night. Beth whispered a thanks and Daryl remained silent. Tara made her way to the tent she shared with Robin and was shortly followed by Ted and Adam. Beth yawned and said goodnight a while later. Daryl was about getting up when Robin spoke.
"I never got a chance to thank you,"
"For what?" He replied rudely.
"The squirrel," she smiled. "It would have been berries for supper if you hadn't shown up."
Daryl groaned a little. This woman was too nice for his liking. She was always smiling at him, at everyone like this was some fucking excuse of a vacation they were on.
"Don't none of you know how to hunt? You can't live off berries." He asked, purely out of curiosity instead of concern.
"We had a lot of canned food stocked up, but it recently ran out. So it was berries until I could come up with something new."
Daryl huffed in reply and got up.
"I don't mean to be botherin'," she said shyly. "But will you be leaving soon? Because you're welcome to stay with us."
"I've got my group to look for." He replied curtly and zipped open his tent without as much as saying goodnight. Whether she was still sitting there alone or back in her tent, Daryl didn't care. He just wanted to get some rest and be gone looking for Rick with Beth before the rest woke up.
"Daryl?" A small voice said.
He sighed.
"Would you, uh lay with me tonight?"
What was with these needy women?
"I don't think that's a good idea." He tried to say nicely. Beth started to cry and mumble random things. He caught the names Herschell, Maggie and Judith. Sympathy flooded him as he reluctantly lay next to her on the blanket and covered them with another. It was uncomfortable as hell. Beth's sobs subsided into hiccups. She was just a kid after all, Daryl thought. He sighed and stretched his arm out, inviting her in. She moved in and lay her head on his chest. Daryl knew he'd regret this later on.
"What happens next?" Beth asked.
"You should get some rest."
"Its okay if you're scared, you know."
Daryl felt the urge to shake her off. He remained silent.
"I don't know why you're treating me like this, Daryl. I thought we were getting close and now you, now you.." She started crying again.
"Dammit Beth, if you could just keep quiet and let me think in silence."
She rolled over out of his arm and turned her back to him. She continued to sob quietly. Daryl grunted and moved closer to her. Her body tensed as she felt the warmth of his against hers. Daryl wrapped his arm around her and snaked the other underneath her body. He pulled her into him. Beth froze. Were they..spooning?
"Look here Beth I didn't mean to be rude. But tomorrow morn' first thing we gon' ditch these people and go lookin' for Rick, okay?" Daryl said in the nicest voice possible.
His voice sent chills down Beth's spine.   A knot twisted in her stomach.
"Yeah that sounds fine." she whispered.
Daryl nodded, feeling awkward in the position he was laying. His head rested above her shoulder and the smell of her greasy blonde hair was keeping him awake. He pondered about moving away but decided he'd just upset the girl.

Daryl awoke at first light. Beth had turned over and was facing towards him, still sleeping in his arms. Daryl shifted quietly but she woke up despite his efforts.
"Morn'," she yawned.
Daryl nodded in greeting.
"We gon' have to be quiet. I don't want to cause trouble."
Daryl slowly unzipped his tent. Robin was already up, tending to the fire.
"Dammit," he cursed.
Robin turned and smiled. "Morning. I still didn't catch your name?"
"Daryl Dixon. I'm gon' go hunt." He huffed. Beth exited the tent and realised they couldn't leave. She sat by the fire with Robin. Daryl disappeared into the trees with his crossbow.
"He seems like a decent man." Robin said.
"He is."
"Decent men are hard to come by these days."
Beth watched her talk. There was a twinkle in her eye as she spoke about Daryl. Beth frowned and looked down.
She felt a pang of jealousy. Daryl had that effect on almost every woman he spoke to without even meaning too.
"I hope you decide to stay," Robin said quietly.
Beth sighed, "Daryl's in charge, I don't make decisions like that."
Robin changed the topic. "Would you like to come with me to the stream close by? Its very peaceful."
Beth and Robin curtly left the camp, with Ted and Adam still sleeping.
Daryl slowly headed back to the camp. He only managed to catch one rabbit. He heard soft groans coming from the campsite. He loaded his crossbow and sprung out of the trees.
Three walkers were hungrily tearing at the flesh of someone.
"Shit!" Daryl assumed it to be Beth. He shot all three walkers in the head. He kicked them off.
It was Adam. Most of the flesh on his arms and legs were gone and his intestines were spilling out. He couldn't be saved. Daryl shot him in the head. He pulled out all four arrows and cleaned them on the grass.
"Oh God, oh no. Oh no!" He heard Robin's voice.
She looked to Daryl for answers.
"This aint on me, I just came back from hunting and the three of them were feasting."
Daryl checked the tents. Tara and Ted were still fast asleep. He spat in disgust.
"Please, you can't leave us. We're falling apart." Robin begged with Daryl.
"It aint my problem! I aint responsible for no one, except Beth." Daryl shouted back at her.
"Please, Daryl. We need you." silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
Daryl stared her down, and looked at Beth who seemed indecisive.
"My group members are out there, some by there self. My family.. Out there all alone. I have to find them, Robin." Daryl said in a cold voice.
Robin got up, ran over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"What the hell?" Daryl yelled.
She gripped tighter and cried in his stomach.
"Please, I've been hoping and praying for rescue and then you came out of nowhere pointing that crossbow at me. Then you brought food and you can protect us even though Adam's gone."
Daryl was close to slapping her. Beth stood wide eyed and watched for Daryl's reaction.
"Just back away, dammit!" He shouted. Daryl lightly shoved her off him. Her eyes were overflowing with tears. Daryl looked up, ruffled his hair and sighed. This woman wasn't good for him. It meant more mouths to feed. They'd expect him to become their leader, something he didn't know how to be. He was Rick's right hand man, and right now Rick needed him more than ever. Staying with Robin and her pathetic camp meant slowing him down. It would be on his conscience if he left these people to die, and he knew they would.
"Well, we gon' have to find a more secure place then."