The Baker and the Butcher

Chapter 16

Merle had been living with him for about a week now.
He'd never felt smaller than with Merle in his living room.
"Hey brother grab me a beer , my shows are on."
And like a bitch he'd cuss him out but get the damn beer anyway.
Chucking the beer Merle's way he heard the annoying beep Beth had set for his phone when she texted.
"On my way back from a run can I drop by? Ill bring donuts :) - Beth"
Daryl laughed only Beth would buy donuts after exercising. He looked over to Merle and bit his lip.
Merle hadn't met Beth yet and he didn't want him to offend her.
He sighed texting back.
" sure."
He was a man of few words.
He dropped his phone on the couch and flipped the tv off standing in front of Merle.
"What the hell darylina?! Can't you see..."
"Shutup. I got a friend stopping by, I don't want you to say anything nasty to her y'understand? Say one thing and you're outta here for good."
Merle raised an eyebrow.
"It's a lady friend. Well then little brother I'll be on my best behavior. Cross my heart and swear to die."
He looked too innocent to even be somewhat believable.
Twenty minutes had passed before the tell tale knock came from his front door .
She was leaning against his doorframe in a pair of black yoga pants and a white sports bra tied together with a pair of sky blue running sneakers.
Her blonde ponytail was a mess and her cheeks were bright pink.
Shoving the box of donuts into his arms she walked into his kitchen and grabbed the water bottle siting on the counter.
"I ran here from downtown, you wouldn't believe how hot it is today" she panted.
He was so distracted by the little beads of sweat running down her perfectly sculpted abs, he didn't even notice Merle make an entrance into the kitchen.
"Well ain't you gunna introduce me to your friend Daryl."
He purposely stuck out his arm where his hand had been chopped off still wearing the bloody gauze.
Oh he was definitely out of here by tonight.
Beth gasped loudly and just as Daryl opened his mouth to apologize she cut him off.
"Oh my! This hand should not still be bleeding. When did you get it removed? Two weeks right? Oh no definitely not. Did you get stitches? Oh Of course you did. But did you do them? They could be infected. Yes they definitely are. I could take a look at the stitches , I can re wrap you and fix your infection. I used to work on the animals at the farm I live on, I know how to do a good stitch job. Would you like that?" She rambled on staring him directly in the eyes as quirking an eyebrow offering a soft smile.
Merle stood there jaw dropped and a look of complete shock across his face.
"I .. Uh.. You want to.. Look at my uh my stitches? I.."
"Well alright" she smiled showing all of her teeth grabbing his upper arm gently and pulling him into the bathroom.
She kissed Daryl on the cheek when he tried following them into the bathroom.
"I can handle this. Don't worry I'll call if I need you." She nudged him away from the two before closing the bathroom door.
Half an hour later of muffled curses and Beth's soft voice they came out of the bathroom.
Beth's once bright white sports bra was covered in bloody patches and Merle had on clean white bandages.
"Well I have to get back home To help daddy cook, carol is supposed to be coming over to stay the night, figure it's better than that halfway house. And you Merle I'll be giving Daryl those pills tomorrow at work and I better see you keeping those stitches clean, I'll be checking up."
Merle watched her with a curious smile
" you got it doc" he nodded respectfully.
Daryl grabbed her by the waist leading her to the door.
"How can I thank you doctor Beth Greene." He smiled as soon as they made it out into the cool night air.
"Well Mr.Dixon I've always heard that a kiss is the ultimate form of gratitude." She smirked tapping her lips.
He stiffened eyes wide as he choked.
Her smile fell
"That's okay Daryl , you don't have to kiss me I get it. You're not interested, it's fine I should've never.."
Daryl lunged for her pushing her against the tree next to the porch. His lips finding hers as her hands grabbed at his face then his hair before landing on his biceps gripping hard. He pulled her up by her thighs wrapping them around his torso. His mouth traveled to her neck as she whimpered and buried her face in his hair.
At the sound of her moans he pulled away quickly.
"Oh god Beth I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to have it be like that, I.."
She gently pressed her lips to his and smiled.
"That was amazing."
He rested his forehead against hers closing his eyes before she slowly pulled back
"I've Gotta go. I promise well talk about this tomorrow after work okay?"
He nodded biting his thumb nail.
As she turned to run off home she looked at him
"Oh and Daryl?"
He looked up thumb still in his mouth
"Hmm"
"Don't overthink this okay? This is right."
He nodded slowly again watching her run off until she wasnt visible anymore.
Walking back into the house Merle was waiting at the couch
"Thank god brother, what took you so long?anyway now you and I both know I owe that little darlin my life, but damn can she talk? About anything I mean she had a whole conversation about the best type of honey but damn did she smell good and that tiny ass half shirt thing wooooh..."
He babbled on as Daryl touched his lips and leaned back against the couch.
He couldn't remember a time when he had been happier.
But with happiness always came pain and Daryl knew one thing.
He was screwed.