A Secret Affair (Daryl Dixon) ON HOLD

Chapter 2

It had been a week since the group had been separated. A week since she last saw her sister Maggie. A week since her father had been murdered before her eyes. And a week she had been forced to survive with the most arrogant asshole in the world. Daryl had agreed to teach her how to hunt and track and she was eager to learn but he ridiculed her every step of the way.

Her aim was off. She sounded like a heard of elephants stomping through the woods. She scared away any game within a mile. It's a miracle they weren't surrounded by walkers with as much noise as she made. The list of insults was long and never ending. It seemed like every time she turned around he had a new one ready to spew at her. But the insults she could take, it was when he was quiet that she was was worried. And he was quiet far to often the past few days. All ways watching her with a strange look in his eyes, a look that reminded of her pain and anger.

She sighed as she bent down to examine the freshly made tracks on the forest floor. Daryl stood silently behinds her, crossbow at the ready in case of danger.

"What ever it is it's sloppy." She said breaking the unbearable silence. Daryl glanced over her shoulder and examined the prints.

"Well what is it?" He asked irritated that she hadn't known instantly what it was. She glared at the tracks harder and then a bright smile lit up her face as she turned to face him.

"It's a walker!" She exclaimed. Daryl sucked in a sharp breath and muttered a curse. Her smile caused something in his blood to boil and he refused to believe it was anything but anger. So he acted with anger.

"Well which way did the damned thing go? We ain't got all day." He snapped causing the smile to slowly disappear from her face as she turned back around. She felt tears spring to her eyes and she sniffed jerking her arm up she pointed a little to the left of where they stood.

"Tracks go that way." And before he could respond she rose to her feet and headed in the direction she had just pointed out. As she walked she slipped her hunting knife Daryl had giving her from her belt and held it tightly in her fist. She wanted to be ready in case the walker she was tracking was close by. She stopped walking after a few minutes and cocked her head. There was a crunching noise off to her right and without waiting for Daryl she headed towards the noise. And wished she hadnt.

There where two of them, munching on what was left of a deer. Beth took a small step back and a twig snapped under her foot causing her to hold her breath as both walkers heads snapped up in her direction. She didn't have time to think as they both lunged for her growling and snapping their teeth. She swung her knife with all the course she could muster at the one closest to her, embedding it to the hilt in what was once a woman's skull. The second one, much bigger than the first was on her before she could pull her knife out of the first causing them both to fall to the ground. The walker landed on top of her, snapping it's teeth at her tender flesh as she shoved its face away with her hands.

"Daryl." She screamed as it's face got closer and closer to her flesh. She tried bucking it off but it was too heavy, his decaying hands raking roughly at her stomach. And just when she thought she couldn't fight the creature anymore, that this was it for her, an arrow wized through the air embedding itself deep into the walkers brain. Blood and guts splattered over her face and chest as it fell heavily on top of her. Panting she pushed at it with all her might but it wouldn't budge.

"Don't move." Daryl snapped as he hit the ground next to her, pulling the walker she had killed on top of him. Her eyes meet his and he held his finger to his mouth before yanking her knife out of the walkers skull. That's when she heard them.

There had to be at least a dozen of them, all growling and snapping as they shuffled towards where they lay, covered with the dead walkers. Beth closed her eyes tightly as her heart pounded in her chest. She felt something nudge her feet and her eyes snapped open. The walkers where shuffling by them slowly, still snarling, looking for a meal. Beth's terrified eyes meet daryls calm ones. She held his gaze for what felt like hours, laying under the rotted corpse her eyes never left his.

Finally when she felt she couldn't take it anymore Daryl shoved the walker off him and reached for the one on top of her. She took a deep breath when the weight was lifted off her.

"Come on, it's not safe here." Daryl said as he slung his cross bow over his shoulder and extend a hand to her. Beth took his hand tentatively and was yanked to her feet. She tripped over the walkers arm and hit Daryls chest hard. His hands automatically came up grabbing her arms tightly. Beth's face turned red as she looked up into his furious blue eyes. Neither said anything as his fingers tightened on her arms and his gaze locked with hers.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, her face flaming as she tried to pull away. "I...I lost my balance..."

"Shut up." He demanded and she froze, her gaze snapping back up to his. When did he get so close? How is it she never noticed just how blue his eyes where? Her heart hammered in her chest and she bit down on her bottom lips to keep her self from rambling after he had told her to shut up.

Daryls gaze dropped to her mouth, watching as she chewed her her lip with her small teeth. He groaned causing her to stiffen in front of him. He shoved her back rougher than he should and glared at her.

"You're going to get me killed one of these days trying to save your scrawny ass." He snapped kicking at the walker dead at his feet. "Why are you so fuckin stupid?" She flinched at his harsh words but didn't say anything. She could have sworn he was going to kiss her before he had shoved her away. Her arms slowly came around her self as she watched him continue to kick the walker. "Wish I could have been with any one from the prison but you." He huffed. Beth's eyes widened and her arms tightened around her stomach.

"Do you hate me that much?" She whispered causing him to snap his head in her direction. "I mean I know you do...I...just..." She took a deep breath as her tear filled eyes meet his. "I think we should go our separate ways. I don't want to burden you anymore than I already have and besides, you have a better chance of surviving if you don't have to worry about me." She bent down slowly and picked up her knife slipping it into her belt. "Thanks for saving me....and for trying to teach me how to hunt and track." She turned on her heel and walked slowly away.

Daryl stood there frozen, eyes watching her retreating back. He couldn't believe she was walking away. Yeah she was a burden but only because she never had to defend her self before. And he didn't hate her, he hated the fact that he worried so much about her. He looked down at the walker she had killed. one on one he was sure she would survive but what if she came across more than one? She 'd be walker food in less than a minute. He cursed and jogged up to her, bumping his arm against hers.

"We need to find a safe place to camp, startin ta get dark." Was all he said. Beth eyed him as she whipped the tears off her cheek.

"You want to stay with me?" She whispered. Daryl sighed.

"We're stronger in numbers. it'd be stupid to separate." She nodded and with south thinking he dropped a hand on top of her head and ruffled her hair lightly. "You did good back there kid, proud of ya." Beth smiled brightly and she scoffed, dropping his hand back to his side

A/N: This chapter kinda sucked but I needed to get this out of the way. And I know I said 5 likes and one comment before I updated but I was bored today and wanted to add a chapter. I have so many ideas for this story but like I said before I don't want to waste my time and effort if no one likes it. So if at least one person comments saying they like the story then I'll continue with it.