Shattered Wings

Chapter Sixteen: Still Fighting

It had been twelve days since Daryl dropped Beth off back in Alexandria. Beth started to plan her own supply run and just take someone else with her, but Maggie pleaded that she wait for Daryl to come. As the afternoon sun heated up the sky Beth heard the sound of a motorcycle roll into town. Beth was in the garden picking some vegetables for the kitchen, she hoped she could gather what they needed and get back to the house before she had to see Daryl, deep down she was angry with him. Luck however was not on her side, because she rested the basket on her hip and turned to start walking toward the street when she spotted Daryl walking toward her. Beth looked away quickly and started to walk in the other direction from him.

"Beth!" He called after her, knowing sure as hell she saw him, but she kept walking. "You're ignoring me?" Beth kept walking. "Hey!" He jogged up to her, reaching to grab her arm gently but as he touched her she pulled her arm away, the basket toppled to the ground accidently and Beth looked down and sighed. "Sorry..." Daryl crouched down and began to pick up the veggies, stopping with a tomato in his hand and looking up to her, "Wha's your problem?" Beth pursed her lips as Daryl finished picking up the veggies and stood back up, holding the basket out to her. Beth took it with a bit or force, this made Daryl angry, "Come on girl, talk to me!"

Beth locked eyes with him, "I wanted to talk to you! I've wanted to talk to you for days!"

"Well I'm here now, talk!" He held his hands out.

"You don't get it!" She turned around and started to walk away.

"Come on Beth!" He started to follow her.

Beth stopped and turned around, "Is this soon Daryl? Over a week? What I have to look forward to your scruffy face once every few weeks?"

Daryl crossed his arms, "I'm busy."

"I bet you are." She shook her head.

"Come on." Daryl looked around.

"No, you come on." Beth crunched her nose as she was annoyed.

"What do you want girl?" Daryl shrugged, "I'm not gonna be around everyday! My life can't change like that because you've come back!"

Beth had tears forming in her eyes, "Forget it." Beth began to walk away.

"Beth stop!" He walked with her, she stopped and looked at the ground.

"It's..." He took a deep breath, frustrated, "It's hard. Ok?" Beth looked over to him almost reluctantly, "It's been ten years." He sighed, "It's hard seeing ya."

"Hard?" She asked softly, glaring at him from the corner of her eye.

"Yeah, it's hard." He stepped back and gestured around vaguely, "Everything is different. I moved on from having you around. I adjusted."

"Adjusted? Was I that much of a nuisance?" Beth looked away.

"Complete opposite." He paused, she looked back over to him, "I had to adjust not seeing you every day." He looked away, "Come on, I'm not good at this shit."

"What shit?" She shook her head.

"Emotions and shit." Daryl shrugged, his voice getting softer.

They stood in silence for a moment Beth looked at the ground and took a deep breath, "You hungry?"

"Yea." He shrugged.

"Come on..." She started to walk again, Daryl trailing behind her.

Back at the house Maggie put together some sandwiches for lunch. Setting the plates at the table and passing one down to Daryl she pulled out a chair and sat down. Judith grabbed her plate, followed by the boys, and they ran out of the room. Beth laughed, watching them huddle around the coffee table in the living room to finish their game of Monopoly.

"It's not too much, but if we have to do a C-section we will need it." Maggie passed Beth's list down to Daryl who looked it over carefully.

"Alright." He nodded, biting into this sandwich. "I'll have to go out to Warren." Daryl looked up.

"Where's that?" Beth looked between the two.

"Most of the hospital and medical centers have been looted. There isn't a lot left. Last time we went as far out as Warren, we did find a lot still locked away." Maggie nodded, "It's three hours there and back total. That's driving."

"Won't take too long. In and out." Daryl shoved the list in his pocket, "Wasn't too littered with em when we went last." He meant the walkers.

Beth shook her head, "No, I'm going with you."

"No." Daryl shook his head, "I'll be faster alone."

"I don't care, I'm going. I know what I need and if there are more medical supplies we can carry more between the two of us." Beth looked over to Maggie, "I'm goin."

"Beth I'm no..." Daryl started.

"I'm goin!" She stood up, but she didn't have to prepare her speech, Daryl looked over to Maggie and sighed.

"Fine." He shrugged, "We can carry more."

"Take a truck." Maggie started.

"No," Daryl shook his head, "We're taking my bike. It's easier to get in and out faster and I'd rather take the trip on that."

"Alright." Maggie stood up and took their empty plates.

"When we goin?" Beth turned back to Daryl.

"We can go today. Be back by nightfall." Daryl stood up and pushed his chair back in.

"I'll get you some clothes." Maggie smiled and lead Beth up the stairs.

Beth looked around the room, she turned to Maggie and sighed, "I hope Rick and Michonne are ok."

"Me too." Maggie smiled, pulling some clothes from the closet, "Now I've got my stuff. Michonne's may fit you better. You're more tone than you use to be."

"Yeah I worked out a lot at Grady. Tried to get my muscles back." She picked up one of Michonne's leather vests and looked at it.

"You got them back plus some." Maggie laughed, "Here." She handed Beth a pair of jeans.

Beth got dressed, she put on the jeans Maggie gave her and tucked them into her lace up boot's Scarlett had given her. Then a beat up gray long sleeve top and the dark brown leather vest over it. Standing in the mirror she hardly recognized herself, this was adult Beth. No longer worried about the pretty clothes or the clean look. This was the world they lived in, this was more practical.

Back downstairs she grabbed her gun and knife, tucking the knife in her boot, and said goodbye to the kids. Maggie walked them out, leading up to the bike she grabbed Daryl's shoulder, "Take care of her." Daryl nodded. Maggie hugged Beth tight, "Please be careful...I know you got to us, but I still worry. Even if you aren't a kid anymore." Beth smiled, "I'll see you in a few hours." Beth nodded and pulled the backpack she grabbed over her shoulders before climbing on the bike and wrapping her arms around Daryl's waist.