War Of The Damned - (Daryl & Beth) - The Walking Dead

13. Lethal Confusion

13. LETHAL CONFUSION

| DARYL |

"Are ya' sure ya' wanna go?" I asked, speakin' ta Michonne's back cause she was packin' the rest of her gear inta her little brown side bag. It wasn't much, jus' a couple of things she picked up before an' afta' findin' Maggie an' Bob.

Her most important asset was the sword on her back an' that kinda' made me nervous cause we need her here with us as much as Abraham does ta protect humanities so-called savior. "There ain't no rush ta go ta terminus. We don' even know wha' the place is or if it's still there. Hell we don' even know if Eugene's a real scientist."

Sure he had all the big words ta back him up, then again so did the Governor an' he was a righ' delusional bastard.

"I'll be fine." Is her answer when she's all packed an' ready ta go. Over her shoulder I see the ex-soldier an' the otha' two waitin' for her at the reinforced fence line. I walk with her. "They're good people Daryl. That's a rare thing these days. And lets not forget they helped saved your life and Glenn's."

True. I only nod. Bob comes ta join us, as well as every one else.

"See you soon." Keepin' optimism high I pat his shoulder lightly. He returns a half-smile, an' I can't decide whether the smile was because he believed in Eugene, or that he wasn't about to let Michonne leave alone with those people. Either way, I guess it don' matter.

The goodbyes were quick, only Beth stays until they disappear inta' the fringe of the forest.

To get my mind off of the strange heaviness in my chest, I pull my crossbow from my shoulder an' hold it out ta her. "Ya' upta' learning again Blondie?"

She gives me a shinin' smile, somethin' like the glow of the sun, an' damn I can only smile in return. Beth takes the weapon an' I lead her ta this area I'd found last nigh'. It was only small, with no tall flowers an' traps ta get caught in. Also I'd stumbled upon a couple of walkers an' tied 'em to trees on either side. They growl at us as we get closer, hungry for fresh, walkin' meat.

"Now ya' have proper targets, with no real danger." Beth makes a face, pokin' her tongue out at me. "Ya' shouldn't do tha' Blondie, unless ya' intend to use it."

I watch her face glow red.

"What were you before all of this?" She asks, holdin' the gun upta' eye-level, she aims it at the was-male walker first.

The question took me by surprise. No one bother'd ta ask me tha' before. Not even Rick. I don't really wanna tell her the truth, so I don' say anythin'. I notice tha' her posture is good, she'd remembered from the last time. She fires the first arrow...and hits the target righ' in the dome. The ugly thing instantly falls inta eternal-sleep.

Beth looks pleased with herself. "How about for every headshot you answer one question of mine? If I miss, I'll answer one of yours."

"Go 'head Blondie." I smile at her, takin' the weapon ta reload it. In jus' a few seconds Beth had retrieved the arrow an' was back at my side. She shoots the already lifeless head, effortlessly.

"So?"

"So what?" I grumble, eyes on the dead walker cause I already know what's comin'.

"What'd you do before?"

I sigh, not lookin' at her. I'm ashamed ta admit it but I guess I have ta now. "I was a mechanic."

"For real?"

"For real." I aswer. "Underwhelmin', innit'?"

"Just a little." She goes back ta readyin' the crossbow for anotha' shot. I let ma'self admire the way her denim jeans, a little torn up at the cuffs, seemed ta hug her body like a fuckin' second skin. An' it didn't help tha' all that's coverin' her upper-half is a plain black tank clingin' ta her like it's two-sizes too small an' a white sweater. She pulls the trigger, hittin' it righ' through the eye. She grins at me. "I guess I've always wanted to know...if you had any family? You know a family of your own. Children? A wife?"