Shattered Wings

Chapter Fourteen: Missing Part

Beth woke up gently, she looked around and realized she wasn't where she had fallen asleep, Daryl must've moved her. Leaning up she looked over and saw her boots on the floor, neatly standing up beside each other. Beth smiled, she turned to see the other side of the bed was empty. As she sat up and leaned over to pull her shoes back on she looked out the window, watching just as Lydia was exiting her trailer. Beth got up and walked down the small hallway, looking over to see Daryl asleep on the couch, the sight made her smile lightly. Slowly and quietly she opened the door, Dog looked up and excitedly followed Beth outside.

In the night she looked around, spotting Lydia over near some trees. As she walked closer she realized there was a large hammock hanging, not having seen it before with her vision. Closing in on it, she realized Lydia was lying in it. "Can't sleep?" Beth asked, Dog lying in the grass near them.

"Nah, I don't sleep well usually." Lydia shrugged.

"Can I join you?" Beth motioned to the hammock where there was more than enough room for two. Lydia nodded and scooted over as Beth climbed in. The two looked up though the trees and watched the stars.

"What was it like...being shot in the head?" Lydia was blunt, Beth liked it.

"Well...it hurt like hell." The two looked at one another and laughed. "Really though...I don't remember it. I blacked out. I thought I was dead. I should've been dead."

"There were times I wish I was dead." Lydia looked up at the sky. "Growing up wasn't easy."

"It never is. Especially in this time..." Beth looked over to Lydia, "Look..." Beth held out her arm, pointing to the large scar along her wrist, "Life gets tough...we all have our moments. The important thing is not to linger there for too long. You can feel sorry for yourself and hate everyone because they probably deserve it, but then get back up....and fight."

Lydia smiled, "I like you."

"Thanks." Beth smiled.

"I'm glad you're not dead." She nodded. "Daryl, he told me about you. He seemed so...broken when he said your name. He told me I was the first person he really spoke to about you." Beth listened, "When you died...when he thought you died...he lost a part of himself. A part he didnt know he even had."

Beth turned her head to look at Lydia, "Daryl Dixon said that?"

Lydia nodded, "Yeah...he can be deep when he wants to." Beth remembered when Daryl broke down and she had hugged him. How that was the first time she felt he really let her in. "Having you back...I can tell he feels that part is whole again."

"Lydia...thank you." Beth smiled.

"For what?" She turned to Beth.

"I don't know." They smiled at one another and Beth excused herself, walking back to the trailer and Dog at her feet. Back inside she slowly closed the door and walked over toward the couch. Daryl had removed his vest, only having a tshirt on with his rugged pants. She looked down at him, he hadn't changed much in appearance over the last ten years. Beth leaned down and reached out to touch his arm. This jarred him awake suddenly and he looked over to Beth with wide eyes.

"What the hell Beth? Scare the shit outta me!" He shook his head. Beth leaned in and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest as she hugged him. Daryl stiffened, he looked down at the top of her head, "What are ya doin?"

"In ten years Daryl Dixon hasn't learned to like hugs?" Beth muttered.

"I didn't say that." He slowly let his arms hug her back, though he didn't know what brought this on, he welcomed the action.

"I'm glad you're still here. The world wouldn't be the same without Daryl Dixon." Her words mumbled in his chest.

Daryl took a deep breath, "Wasn't the same without you." He spoke softly,  making Beth smile as she felt real emotion from him. Not something people typically got from Daryl. "Why don't ya get back to sleep?"

"Come with me." Beth pulled away and sat on the back of her heels.

"What do ya mean?" Daryl looked back at the room and then back to her, "No...that ain't...appropriate."

"For God's sake Daryl I'm not a kid anymore. You don't have to sleep on the couch while there is an entire bed for two back there." Beth stood up. "Now get your ass up."

"Time really made you mean." Dsryl rolled off the couch.

They both made their way back into the room, Beth kicked her boots off and placed them back where they had been earlier. Daryl took his off but left them closet to the bed incase he needed to quickly get them on. He watched as she pulled the blankets around herself and he really had to force his mind to understand that she really wasn't eighteen anymore. Once he crawled into the covers he laid on his back, looking up at the ceiling and taking a deep breath. That was when he felt Beth pull his arm and cuddle up against him, her head resting on his chest as his hand feel to her back. "Now what are ya doin?"

"Getting comfortable." Beth said, closing her eyes.

Daryl didn't say anything, he didn't protest. He simply closed his eyes and relaxed until sleep took over him.