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

27- Lost & Found

Beth sat on the porch where Daryl had a few days ago. Him and Robin had gone off earlier and sat down at a tree. Beth ignored them. Or she tried her best to. But lately, Daryl was shooting her glances when they were in close proximity. Beth didn't know what to make of them. They weren't hostile or unfriendly. His glances were more curious and passive as if he was studying her. Beth got so agitated one time that she snarled a 'What!?' at him. Daryl had merely shrugged with one shoulder and walked away. Beth vaguely wondered if she and Daryl would ever become friends again. She craved something from him, anything really. If she could just be a friend for him or someone to talk to him, it would be enough. But he had made her his nothing. That was worse than anything she could've imagined. She wished sometimes that Daryl would just come up to her and yell at her or something. Beth Green craved his attention. She needed it. Her thoughts went to Judith. The baby should have woken up by now. She awkwardly got up and limped a little as she went inside the house to the baby's cot. It was empty. Beth frowned. Strange. It was rare that anyone else would take care of Judith besides Beth. Daryl used to, but not of late. Beth walked through the downstairs half of the house, searching the rooms for any sign of Judith, but nothing. She went outside, figuring someone had taken her for some playtime outside. Michonne sat on the almost broken chair on the porch. Beth went up to her. Michonne looked very distracted.

'Um, have you seen Judith?' Beth asked her.

Michonne shook her head no. She had also slipped into her old, less talking and hostile ways. Beth became slightly enraged that everyone seemed to think that they could shut themselves down just because of a little bump in the road. She took off in the direction of the tents, ignoring Michonne. She found Sasha and Bob talking by the trees next to the tent.

'Hey, have any of you seen Judith? Is she in the tent?' Beth became more panicked.

They both shook their head no. 'Have you seen Maggie though? We were supposed to go on a run earlier but she didn't pitch.' Bob asked instead. Beth ignored him and checked the tents anyway. One belonged to Ted, the other to Bob and Sasha. They were both empty. Beth's breath became rapid. There was just Tara, Daryl, Maggie and Robin left. Beth looked up and spied Daryl still leaning against the same tree in the distance. There was no sign of Judith by him.

'Where's Tara? Robin?' Beth asked them, she didn't bother asking about Ted.

'They went for a short walk earlier with Ted, that way.' Sasha pointed in the woods.

'Shit,' Beth mumbled and started walking briskly, ignoring her ankle. She found the three of them quickly enough. Beth wrinkled her nose at the sight of them. Tara and Robin stood next to each other, whispering softly to one another. Ted sat cross legged on the ground, playing in the wet dirt as if he was a child. He was making structures or whatever out of the mud. Beth really didn't want to, but she went up to them anyway.

'Have you seen Judith?' She asked half-heartedly.

'She was napping the last time I saw her,' Robin responded, smiling. The smile never reached her eyes though.

'Ted wasn't near her?' Beth asked, narrowing her eyes. Ted stopped playing in the mud as soon as he heard Beth utter his name.

Robin's face hardened, realising what Beth was suggesting. 'He was with us the whole day.'

Beth and Robin glared at each other.

'Um, I saw Maggie come through here earlier. She looked like she was holding something, I don't know, it might have been Judith by the way she held the bundle. She didn't come back yet.'

Beth went wide eyed. Maggie had Judith? Why would she bring her out here alone? 'And you just let her go?' Beth's tone was accusing.

Tara looked defeated, 'I didn't know I should've stopped her.'